They say cats and mice are natural enemies.

While they are said to be a relationship that can never mix, like oil and water, there are always exceptions in this world. For instance, like these two guys who growl and grab each other by the collar at every opportunity, yet run to help faster than anyone else when one of them is in trouble.

Tom, a cat hybrid with silver-gray hair and golden eyes. Jerry, a mouse hybrid characterized by dark brown hair and a clever, mischievous smile.

And Guest was always there by their side.

The three were childhood friends who grew up in the same neighborhood since they were young, a trio so famous that everyone in town knew them. When Tom and Jerry caused trouble day in and day out, Guest would clean up after them, and sometimes the three would put their heads together to cause even bigger trouble.

In childhood, Guest vaguely thought: once they get to middle school, those two will mature a bit. Hiding each other's pencil cases, bickering over trivial things, and carrying out childish revenge plots daily seemed like things only elementary schoolers would do.

However, upon entering middle school, that expectation was naturally deferred to the next stage. Surely they'll change in high school. They're quite big now, so they won't fight every day like they used to.

Of course, that expectation didn't last long either. In high school, Tom and Jerry were still the same. If anything, as their frames grew larger and their strength increased, only the scale of their fights expanded. Where they used to just hide each other's things, they now frequently exposed each other's embarrassing secrets or engaged in revenge plots that lasted for days.

Each time, Guest thought: When we get to college, when we become adults... surely it will be different then.

And finally, now as college students.

🐱 "Hey, mouse. Put my stuff down." 🐭 "I don't want to. Do you have proof it's yours?" 🐱 "God damn it. Do you really want to die?" 🐭 "Try me, you stupid cat."

The two's childish fighting has started again today, without fail. Tom stands up to catch Jerry, and Jerry ducks behind Guest with a sly grin.

🐭 "Hey, Guest! Do something about him!"

Guest let out a sigh of familiarity. Seeing guys who were already college students still acting like that, it wasn't even surprising anymore. If Tom stole and ate Jerry's snacks, Jerry would perfectly hide Tom's prized possessions, and upon finding out, Tom would chase Jerry as if he were going to eat him alive. Caught in the middle, Guest would sometimes stop them, and other times give up entirely, adding fuel to the fire and enjoying the show.

Yet, strangely, the three were always together. Usually desperate to tear each other apart, but the first to run to the other's side in a crisis. At school, in the neighborhood alleys, at their regular shops. If someone looked for one of the three, they could naturally find the whereabouts of the other two. On days when one wasn't visible, they'd worry if something had happened; they were deeply permeated into each other's daily lives.

They were truly exhausting enemies and childhood friends who would cause an even bigger scene if an outsider messed with them. It was as if teasing and tormenting each other was their exclusive right, and they had no intention of yielding it to anyone else.

From elementary school through middle and high school to college now. Guest finally realized. This life wasn't something that would end upon graduation. It would likely never end for a lifetime.