Little Apostle Chapter 01

"An Unfortunate Boy and His Dog"

   Minato, a Fifteen-year-old boy was laying on a futon spread directly on the floor of his one-room apartment, he was on the brink of death.

   it was an illness akin to a common cold that Normally can be cured. But for Minato, who was struggling with malnutrition due to financial difficulties, it proved to be lethal.

   If only he had gone to the hospital one day earlier, he might have been saved. However, since the head of the household, his parent, hadn't paid the national health insurance premiums, he couldn't go to the hospital.

   He fell ill, took time off from work, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into pneumonia while he was asleep. 

   He no longer had the strength to get up.

   He was thirsty, but the water supply had been cut off last week. Electricity and gas also had been disconnected long ago.

   Even if he wanted to call an ambulance, he had no landline, no smartphone, and no computer. Besides, he didn't even have an internet connection.

"Kuun."

   Nestled beside the suffering Minato was Taro, a large dog who had been with him since birth.

   Taro was a mixed breed that his father had somehow acquired from somewhere. 

   

   Taro had long gray fur and was a very adorable dog with a large body.

   Taro anxiously brought a few pieces of dried dog food and left them by Minato pillow.

   It was a clear invitation to eat.

"It's... alright. What about you, Taro?"

   As if assuring him, Taro gently pressed his large frame against Minato.

   Last month, Taro fell ill as well. It was a condition called gastric dilation-volvulus, an ailment that would lead to death without surgery. (Tn: just called it a deadly stomachache)

   To cover the cost of treatment, Minato had depleted all of his savings.

"...My mom only comes on payday."

   His mother would come on Minato payday, collect some money, and then go somewhere.

"If Taro can make it until then... surely my mom will... take care of Taro."

   In a dazed state, Minato pondered about Taro. If he were to pass away, would Taro be alright? 

   After all, Taro was an old dog. His stamina had diminished last month due to the surgery. 

   There were ten days left until payday, or was it seven? Perhaps five. 

   At this point, he could hardly tell the date. 

   Anyway, would Taro dog food last until then?

"Taro, if you get hungry, you can eat me, okay?"

   Minato gently stroked Taro's head.

"...?"

   In his feverish haze, Minato calmly picked up the alarm clock from his bedside.

   Then, he hurled it towards the window.

   Due to Minato weakened state from the fever, the clock didn't reach the window.

"Woof?"

   Although confused, Taro picked up the clock and returned to Minato.

   It was as if he was playing fetch with the clock that Minato had thrown.

"...i have to break the window."

   Due to his excessively high fever, Minato began to show signs of delirium.

   Since they were on the first floor, if he could just break the window, Taro could go outside and get help from someone.

   That's what he thought in his confused state of and lack of judgment. 

   Minato throw the watch towards the window. Taro thinks he was playing and picking up the clock for him. 

   Though it was more of a rolling, than a throw

   Minato had lost the ability to judge that he couldn't even break the window with his own strength. 

   When Minato threw the clock for the third time, the clock collided with a plate and shattered it.

   Hearing that sound, Minato smiled.

"...Good. Taro, now you're okay."

   In his delirium, Minato felt relieved, thinking that the window had shattered, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Kuun."

"..."

   Minato weakly embraced Taro and fell into a deep, deep sleep.

   Then, he had a pleasant dream.

   In the dream, Minato was still a child, and Taro was a puppy. In a forest they had never been to. 

   Minato and Taro ran around and played happily.

◇◇◇◇

   As Minato dreamt, Taro gently moved away.

   Even for a dog like Taro, it was clear that Minato's condition wasn't good.

   Minato hadn't eaten anything yesterday or the day before. 

   Even when Taro brought the dog food to the bedside, he wouldn't eat it.

   Perhaps Minato couldn't eat the dry dog food because he was thirsty. 

   The water he had fetched from the park had run out since yesterday, so Minato hadn't been able to drink water since then.

   If things continued like this, Minato would be in danger.

   With this in mind, Taro deftly used his nose to quietly open the unlocked window.

   If Minato hadn't fallen into a state of delirium and lost consciousness, he would have noticed that Taro could go out through the window.

   Taro clenches an empty plastic bottle in his mouth, then heads out through the open window towards the park.

   It was night time. In the midst of the cold rain, Taro walking down a deserted path, and reaches the park.

   Since Taro is a dog, he can't use the park's water tap. 

   Thus, he diligently fills the plastic bottle with rainwater from puddles.

   He doesn't like getting wet in the rain, but right now he feels lucky that it was raining. 

   After filling the bottle about halfway with muddy water, he returns to the room, being careful not to spill any.

"Kuun."

   Minato still hasn't woken up. 

   Taro places the plastic bottle by the bedside, then goes outside again.

   He has to get food for Minato.

   He rummages through the park trash cans, searching for food. 

   Eventually, he finds a cream bun at the bottom. 

   It's already been opened, with a bite taken out, and it's wet from the rain. 

   The expiration date has long been past, it's a bit spoiled, and it has a strange smell. 

   But to Taro, it's a feast.

   Surely, if Minato eats this, he'll regain his strength.

   The very next moment, a shout rings out.

"This stray dog! Digging through the trash!"

   

   Taro is struck with a stick by a man reeking of alcohol.

"Kyaaun!"

"This scoundrel! Take this!"

   The drunkard beats Taro mercilessly. He's not alone.

   Five men in matching clothes gathered around Taro, gleefully continuing their assault.

   These men were members of a baseball team that played matches in this park and enjoyed a drink afterwards. 

   They felt strongly about beautifying the park, often engaging in activities like garbage collection. 

   So, for them, beating up a stray dog scavenging for trash was an act of justice.

"Kyaaun, kyaaun."

   Even though Taro was being hit, he didn't resist. And His escape route was blocked, making it difficult to flee. 

   There was a time in the past when he had jumped at a bully to protect Minato, causing the bully to stumble. 

   But Minato scolded him.

   Therefore, Taro didn't put up a fight. He simply clenched the cream bun and endured desperately.

"Hey, wait! This damn dog!"

   Finally, Taro managed to find an opening and escaped. 

   Covered in wounds, he clung to the battered cream bun, never letting it go.

   Returning to the room in a rush, Taro placed the cream bun by Minato's bedside.

"Kyuuun."

   Minato still hadn't woken up.

   When Minato was young, his mother, who occasionally came back home, would leave many cream buns. 

   Taro loved to eat them together with Minato. 

   Neither Minato nor Taro knew that overly sweet pastries weren't very good for a dog's health. 

   They were just happy to share and eat together.

   It was a joyful and cherished memory for both Taro and Minato.

"...Kyuuun."

   Dragging his body, still aching from the beating, Taro licked Minato face. 

   The surgical scar from last month operation had opened, and blood was flowing, but Taro didn't mind.

   If Minato could eat the delicious bun, he would surely regain his strength.

   It seemed like Minato's fever had subsided, and he felt colder than usual. 

   His breathing, which had seemed so agonizing before, was now quiet, almost as if he weren't breathing at all.

   Surely, Minato was on the road to recovery.

   Believing this, Taro snuggled closely to Minato to ensure he wasn't cold.

   Minato never woke up. Morning came, then noon, and night fell again.

   Minato grew cold and stiff.

   Finally, Taro understood that Minato would never wake up again.

「...Uwoooooooooon」

   Taro let out a cry that Minato had never heard before.

(Tn : i'm definitely not cry .⁠·⁠´⁠¯⁠`⁠(⁠>⁠▂⁠<⁠)⁠´⁠¯⁠`⁠·⁠. )

   Three days later, Minato boss from work came to give him a scolding for his unauthorized absence.

   The boss, with a serene expression, discovered the lifeless bodies of Minato and the bloodied elderly dog, who was nestled close to Minato.

   In the boss's eyes, it appeared as if the old dog had protected and embraced Minato.

   By Minato's bedside, there lay a plastic bottle filled with muddy water and a rotting cream bun.

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