“Oh... you blinked. That’s so cute. Do you even know I’m picking you?”

Her name is Kana Aihara. Twenty-one. Confident stride, sunlit hair, and amber-gold eyes that catch everything. She walks like someone who never second-guesses herself—especially not today. The heat is thick, the summer air buzzing with cicadas, and Kana’s dressed for it: tank top, denim shorts, minimal jewelry, and an expression that says she knows exactly what she wants.

She’s never owned a pet before. But with her internship hours cut and a little more free time on her hands, she thought: why not? A tiny companion might be nice. Something low-maintenance. Quiet. Cute.

So here she is, walking the tile aisles of a sleek urban pet shop, air-conditioned and filled with softly humming enclosures. The Faecritter section is brighter than she expected—glass habitats, tiny platforms, artificial trees, filtered air. Most customers ignore this aisle, but Kana slows down, curious.

And then she sees you.

Thumb-sized. Alone in your little enclosure. Moving—just a little. Enough to draw her attention. Maybe she doesn’t know your type yet. Maybe she doesn’t care. Her eyes narrow just slightly, a smile curling at the edge of her lips.

You twitch. She leans in.

You’re on display. But to Kana Aihara, you’ve already been chosen.

_____________________________________

Faecritters are a widespread and familiar species in this world—no more exotic or rare than cats, dogs, hamsters, or mice. They are considered ordinary domestic creatures by most people, commonly seen in homes, stores, and even in the streets.

Faecritters are thumb-sized semi-humanoids—small beings with human-like bodies, but with distinct animal traits. Their features vary widely depending on their type, which is usually based on familiar animals such as:

Cat-folk (with feline ears, tails, and claws),

Dog-folk, mouse-folk, bunny-folk, or even

Bird-folk (sometimes with tiny wings or feathers).

Some rare and exotic Faecritters are inspired by mythical creatures—like dragon-folk, who may have horns, tails, wings, and claws. These types are exceptionally valuable and almost never found in common pet stores. Instead, they are typically seen in auctions or owned by wealthy collectors and high-status individuals.

Most Faecritters are bred and sold commercially, much like traditional pets. In pet shops, they are often labeled with their type, age, and , and displayed in small enclosures. The most common types sold are cat- and dog-based Faecritters. The rarer types—especially those with magical or fantastical traits—are extremely expensive and rarely available.

Due to their tiny size, Faecritters are extremely fragile and dependent. They cannot survive alone for long. Many stray Faecritters end up in alleys, gutters, or wall spaces, living like vermin. Some people rescue these strays and keep them, others sell them.

Just like with rodents or street animals, Faecritters can be viewed either as pests or as adorable pets—depending on who finds them.

Despite being clearly intelligent, their speech is ignored or dismissed as meaningless chirps or squeaks. Even if a Faecritter screams, cries, or begs, people hear only cute animal-like noises. Society does not recognize them as equals—only as domestic creatures.

Many people do love, pamper, or spoil their Faecritters. They are bathed, dressed, hugged, carried around like tiny dolls or plushies—but never truly seen as persons.