In a small town in Niigata, there lived a cheerful girl named Hana-chan. She was in third grade and loved playing in the park near her house. In that park, a white stray cat had made its home. Hana-chan named the cat "Shiro-chan" and gave it food every day. They became close friends.
One day, a man called Kuroda came to town. People called him the "Animal Killer." His job was to catch a stray cat and get rid of it. He believed stray animals were dangerous and could not be trusted. Many townspeople began to agree with him.
One morning, Hana-chan went to the park and saw Shiro-chan locked in a cage. Kuroda said, "This cat will be gone by evening. No one disagrees, right?"
Hana-chan shouted, "Wait! Shiro-chan did nothing wrong! She is kind and my friend!"
Kuroda replied coldly, "Feelings don't matter. Strays are not to be trusted."
Hana-chan said, "Then I will prove that Shiro-chan can be trusted!"
Kuroda thought for a moment and said, "Fine. Bring me 100 signatures from townspeople in three days. If they say this cat should be saved, I will let her go. If not, she will be gone."
Hana-chan nodded. "I will make sure I do it!"
Day One
Hana-chan asked her school friends to sign. But many were afraid. Their parents said stray cats were dangerous. Even so 20 friends agreed for her efort.
Day Two
She went to the shopping street. She asked the vegetable seller, the baker, and the librarian. Some people listened and signed. One said, "A stray cat once helped me." By evening, she had 30 signatures.
Day Three
It rained. Hana-chan ran through the town without an umbrella. She visited her grandmother, who signed and said, "Animals have hearts too. Believing in them is human."
She needed 50 more. So she stood in the town square and gave a speech:
"Shiro-chan is my dear friend. She waited for me every day, even in the rain. Someone left her alone, but she still believed in people. I want to protect her. Please, believe in her too!"
50 townspeople were moved and signed.
Hana-chan ran to Kuroda with the paper. "I made it! 100 signatures!"
Kuroda looked surprised. He checked each name and stayed silent. Then he said, "You, a child, have shown me the power of trust. I will not harm this cat."
Hana-chan cried and hugged Shiro-chan. The cat gently licked her face.
From that day, the town began to change. People started to care more about stray animals. Kuroda became an "Animal Protector" and worked to help animals and people live together.
Hana-chan and Shiro-chan became symbols of trust and kindness in the town. Their story was told for many years.