The afternoon in FoxTown and the neighboring Pleasantburg was always warm and lively. On the village streets stretching beneath the snow-capped mountains, various citizens, residents, and animals passed by, laughing and chatting. Today, too, the snow leopard Ollie called out to Toby with a bright expression.
“Toby! Wait!”
Ollie was a snow leopard with soft white fur, always acting like a kind older brother. He handed Toby a prettily wrapped box. Inside were two slices of strawberry cake.
“Ollie, what’s this?”
Toby asked with his big round eyes wide open. The six-year-old Shiba Inu boy’s tail wagged slightly.
“Mr. Theo Lion and Mrs. Cleo Lion baked a strawberry cake earlier. This is for you and your big brother Acstlu to enjoy together. He said he was a bit busy today.”
“Wow… Thank you, Ollie!”
Toby bowed politely and carefully held the box with both hands. The faint strawberry scent already made him happy. He hurried along the path home.
But the moment he turned the corner—
“Ugh!”
Toby bumped into someone’s back. He nearly dropped the box and quickly regained his balance.
“Hey! What the heck?! Why are you suddenly pushing me from behind?!”
A sharp voice burst out. The one who turned around was a bright blue-furred fox girl named Blair. She was famous in FoxTown as a kid you “shouldn’t mess with,” always wearing colorful clothes. Right now, she glared with her pink hair and light green ribbon flying.
Toby drooped his ears and mumbled quietly. His tail tucked between his legs.
“S… sorry… I didn’t know you were there, Blair…”
“Sorry? You bump into me and think ‘sorry’ fixes everything?!”
Blair stepped closer and shouted. Her gaze fell on the box Toby was holding.
“What’s that? Something tasty you’re carrying around?”
She quickly snatched the box from Toby’s hands. When Blair opened it, her face twisted.
“Strawberry cake? Tch, only little kids would eat this.”
“T-that’s from Ollie hyung. I was going to eat it with my brother…”
“Shut Up You Young Man! Stuff like this should just be stomped on!!!”
Blair roughly threw the box to the ground. The lid opened, and the soft cake fell onto the dirt. She lifted her foot and stomped on it hard. Strawberry pieces and cream squished and made a mess. Tears welled up in Toby’s eyes.
“N- No… my cake…”
“You little brat, Are You crying now? What’s the point of crying after the fact? If you tell anyone I stepped on this cake box, I won’t let it slide. You Got it?”
Blair leaned close to Toby’s face and threatened him in a low voice. Her tail waved threateningly.
Toby couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears. Tears fell drop by drop. He hung his head low and ran home. The cake pieces left on the ground grew farther away.
By the time he was almost home, Toby was still sniffling. He worried about what to tell his big brother Acstlu and what to say to Ollie hyung… His mind was a mess. It was a peaceful afternoon in FoxTown, but for one child, it became a sad memory.
At Acstlu’s house in Pleasantburg, Toby arrived in front of the house still crying. His nose was red and swollen, and his tail dragged completely limp across the ground. When he opened the door, the warm smell of home greeted him, but today it brought no joy.
“Toby?”
Acstlu (Akuru Kasukabe), sitting on the living room sofa, jumped up when he saw his little brother. The young Shiba Inu with bright brown fur and a blue polo shirt looked at Toby with worried eyes.
“Toby, why are you crying? What happened? Why is your face such a mess?”
Acstlu approached and reached out, but Toby kept his head down, avoiding his brother’s gaze. Tears streamed down again.
“…It’s nothing.”
With only a small, trembling voice, Toby brushed past his brother and ran into his room. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house.
“Toby! wait!”
Acstlu hurried to the door in confusion, but only heard the lock click from inside. He sighed and scratched his head. Toby rarely cried this hard and locked himself in his room.
Just then, the front door opened and someone came in.
“Hey, Acstlu! I’m here~”
It was Phursie. The gray fox youth with deep gray fur and striking purple eyes was Acstlu’s close friend. Wearing a green top and pants, he usually wore a relaxed smile, but he immediately noticed the strange atmosphere in the house.
“Why is your little brother crying? I just saw Toby run into his room with tears in his eyes… What happened?”
Phursie approached Acstlu and asked. His purple eyes shone seriously.
Acstlu shrugged and sighed.
“I don’t know. He just got home, crying without saying anything, and ran straight to his room. He went out to get cake… Maybe it’s related to that?”
Phursie crossed his arms and thought.
“Cake? The one Ollie gave him? Toby was really looking forward to it… Weird. He didn’t run into Blair, did he? I heard she’s been causing trouble again lately.”
The two friends stood in the living room, alternately glancing at Toby’s door. Small sniffles occasionally leaked out from inside the room.
A little later, the front door opened again and two big guests entered.
“Yahoo~ Acstlu! Brought Phursie over to hang out!”
Ford entered first. The charming raccoon with brown and gray fur wore a red short-sleeved shirt with small cloud patterns and striped shorts. He always had a bright, mischievous expression. Ted followed — a hyena with impressive white hair, wearing a red t-shirt and comfortable pants, hands in his pockets, smiling casually.
It seemed Phursie had brought the two uncles.
Ford scanned the heavy living room atmosphere and asked Acstlu.
“Huh? Why’s the mood so heavy in here? Where’s Toby?”
Phursie quickly stepped forward and explained.
“Uncle Ford, Uncle Ted. Acstlu’s little brother Toby came home crying earlier. He locked himself in his room and won’t come out. We still don’t know what happened.”
Ted raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Acstlu.
“Crying? Toby? That good kid?”
Acstlu nodded with a sigh.
“Yes… I just got home and asked, but he didn’t say anything and ran to his room. Mom and Dad are coming home late tonight, and all the nannies are out… Right now it’s just us in the house.”
Ford rolled up his sleeves with a grin.
“Really? Then the uncles have to step in. Let’s find out why Toby was crying. Phursie, you and Acstlu go to Toby’s door. Ted and I will prepare something to eat. Sweet things are best for a crying kid.”
Ted nodded and looked toward the kitchen.
“Right. Should we make something else instead of strawberry cake? Toby’s favorites.”
Phursie and Acstlu glanced at each other and quietly approached Toby’s door. Small sniffles still occasionally came from inside.
Ford and Ted began moving skillfully, as if taking charge of the house.
Meanwhile, even after making Toby cry and stomping on the cake, Blair’s mood didn’t improve. She walked briskly down the alley, still angry. “Tch, that little kid just ruined my mood…”
At that moment, she spotted an ivory-furred fox boy named Andy walking by. Andy was quietly walking while holding a book, wearing round glasses.
Blair smirked and approached him. “Hey, you!”
When Andy stopped in surprise, Blair suddenly reached out and snatched his glasses. “What the…? Blair, Give them back…”
“Because I’m annoyed, how about I get rid of these weird things you’re wearing?”
Blair said and threw the glasses to the ground, then stomped on them hard. The sound of shattering glass rang out as the glasses broke into pieces.
“No…! My glasses…!”
Andy collapsed, bursting into tears. His vision blurred, making him cry even harder.
Blair snorted. “Don’t wear weird glasses like that again. They’re ugly.”
At that moment, two people a short distance away witnessed the scene.
It was FoxTail the vixen warrior and Doctor Greyman. FoxTail had a muscular build and heroic attire, while Doctor Greyman was an experienced elder with a long white beard, sitting in a wheelchair.
FoxTail shouted loudly.
“Blair! What are you doing?!”
She quickly approached and stood between Blair and the crying Andy. Doctor Greyman followed, moving his wheelchair.
“I’m telling your parents everything. How dare you do something like this again!”
Blair was flustered but soon answered brazenly. “What? Andy started it first! I just…”
“Don’t lie!”
FoxTail cut her off sharply. “You did something wrong and you’re blaming someone else? We saw everything!”
Just then, Richard the British Fox, who was passing nearby, approached. Wearing a stylish blue jacket and red bow tie, he leaned on his cane and assessed the situation.
“What’s going on?”
Doctor Greyman calmly explained.
“Blair snatched Andy’s glasses and smashed them. And now she’s lying about it.”
Richard’s expression grew serious.
“This is a serious matter. I’ll tell Officer Potts right away. Blair, this time we won’t let it slide.”
He gently asked Andy.
“Andy, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”
“Yes. But I can’t see well without my glasses…”
Andy wiped his tears and nodded, but he was still sniffling.
Busterfield Library’s front steps were a peaceful spot bathed in soft afternoon sunlight. Kagetora and Ollie stood by a bench next to the stairs, talking.
Kagetora, wearing a black ninja outfit with a red headband and an eyepatch over one eye, stood with arms crossed and a serious expression.
“Ollie, I just heard… Toby went home crying? And there are rumors that Blair caused trouble again…”
Ollie nodded with a worried face instead of his usual bright smile.
“Yeah. She stepped on the cake box I gave him. Toby was so scared he couldn’t even speak properly… Acstlu is probably worrying about how to comfort him at home right now.”
The two older brothers sighed at the same time. Kagetora’s tail twitched uncomfortably.
At that moment, light footsteps and a bright voice approached.
“Ollie, Kagetora! What’s going on?”
Liona stopped after overhearing their conversation while passing by the library. The orange-furred girl in a pink top and decorated shorts put her hands on her hips, looking back and forth at them with curious eyes.
“Toby was crying? What did Blair do this time? Tell me too!”
Liona wagged her tail and came closer. Her big eyes sparkled. True to being the little sister of the brave and energetic baby lion Lionel, she was ready to jump in as soon as she heard the story.
Ollie smiled gently and patted Liona’s head. “Liona, weren’t you coming to the library for something?”
“That can wait! Toby crying is more important!”
Kagetora smiled slightly too. “The little one caused trouble again. Liona, want to help us think of a solution?”
The three sat together on the bench outside the Busterfield Library and began discussing today’s incident.
At the same time, on the rooftop garden of the Busterfield Library, a warm family conversation was taking place.
Lionel, wearing a green striped shirt and a cap, stood with hands on his hips, excitedly talking.
“Dad, Mom! I just heard Kagetora and Ollie talking near the library! Toby went home crying. Blair stepped on his cake box again!”
Theo Lion adjusted his glasses slightly with a surprised look. The lion father with a lush mane crossed his arms and asked seriously. “Blair again? That child really… Did she bully Toby this time? Liona went that way too, I hope she’s okay.”
Cleo Lion, the elegant lioness mother in colorful ethnic clothing, put one hand on her hip and gestured gracefully with the other. “Oh, poor Toby… A six-year-old going through something like that. Theo, should we stop by Acstlu’s house? How about baking a new cake to bring instead? Liona is probably making a fuss after hearing the news…”
Lionel wagged his tail quickly and chimed in enthusiastically.
“I want to go too! I want to comfort Toby! If Blair does it again, I’ll step in and scold her!”
Theo laughed heartily and patted his son’s head.
“Haha, our son has grown quite mature. But we need to understand the situation accurately first. Cleo, what do you think?”
Cleo nodded with a warm smile.
“Of course we should go together. It’s not good for FoxTown kids to hurt each other.”
The Lionel family looked at each other and began discussing how to help with today’s incident. It was a moment when a warm family’s hearts gently embraced FoxTown’s small problem.
In front of the FoxTown police station, Officer Potts (a yellow fox officer) was on duty. Kagetora approached quickly.
“Officer Potts! I have something to report.”
Kagetora touched his eyepatch and spoke seriously.
“Blair caused trouble again earlier. This time she snatched Exbie’s (black fox friend) tablet, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it until it was completely broken. It was because Exbie filmed her ruining the flowerbed. Exbie is crying right now.”
Officer Potts adjusted his hat slightly and sighed. “Blair again… Her name keeps coming up all day today.”
Just then, two people approached from behind. It was FoxTail the vixen warrior and Doctor Greyman. Kagetora nodded at them and said.
“Hello. FoxTail, Doctor Greyman. Earlier, Blair snatched Exbie the black fox’s tablet and stomped it until it broke.”
FoxTail crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
“Exbie’s tablet…? Wait a second, that reminds me…”
She snapped her fingers as a memory came to her.
“Exbie secretly filmed a video. It shows Blair deliberately stepping on and ruining Richard’s flowerbed and then running away. Alex and Billy are visible with her. There’s even a clear shot of Blair laughing and running right after trampling the flowerbed.”
Doctor Greyman stroked his beard from his wheelchair and quietly added.
“The evidence is piling up. Today’s incidents with Toby’s cake, Andy’s glasses, and now Exbie’s tablet… Blair’s behavior is getting more serious.”
Officer Potts nodded while quickly writing in his notebook.
“Understood. I’ll compile all the testimonies and videos for a proper investigation. We’ll call Blair in soon.”
Kagetora, FoxTail, and Doctor Greyman looked at each other with determined expressions, more resolved than ever to protect FoxTown’s peace.
Inside the FoxTown police station, in a small interrogation room. Officer Potts sat at the desk, his yellow fox ears twitching slightly as he waited. The door opened, and Blair entered with a brazen expression. Her bright blue fur and pink-green hair shone colorfully as always.
“Blair, sit down.”
Officer Potts’s voice was heavier than usual. Blair crossed her arms and plopped down in the chair. “Why did you call me? Did I do something wrong?”
Potts opened his notebook and asked calmly.
“Tell me what happened this afternoon. First, is it true you took Toby’s cake box and stepped on it?”
Blair shrugged. “He bumped into me first. I just accidentally stepped on it, that’s all?”
Officer Potts narrowed his eyes and asked the next question. “And Andy’s glasses? Was smashing his glasses by snatching them also an ‘accident’?”
Blair’s expression wavered slightly. “That… he looked at me weirdly first…”
“What about Exbie’s tablet?”
Blair’s eyes widened. Potts continued. “There’s a secret video Exbie took. It clearly shows you trampling Richard’s flowerbed and running away, with Alex and Billy there too.”
Blair was momentarily speechless. Then she answered brazenly again.
“That… they all started it first! I didn’t do anything wrong! And anyway, I already broke Exbie’s tablet so it’s useless now!!”
Officer Potts sighed and shook his head.
“Blair, there are multiple witnesses. Toby, Andy, Exbie, plus FoxTail, Doctor Greyman, and Kagetora. If you keep lying, the situation will only get worse. I’ll have to contact your parents.”
For the first time, Blair showed signs of anxiety. Her colorful tail trembled slightly. The air in the interrogation room grew heavy. Blair’s day of disturbing FoxTown’s peace was about to face proper judgment.
Meanwhile, at Acstlu’s house. Small sniffles still leaked from Toby’s room.
Acstlu and Phursie carefully knocked and entered. Toby was curled up on the bed with his face buried in a pillow.
“Toby… It’s Acstlu. Phursie is here too.”
Acstlu sat gently beside the bed. Phursie sat on the other side and patted Toby’s back.
“Toby, can you tell us what happened? We’ll keep it just between us. It’s okay, you’re safe…”
Toby hesitated for a long time before lifting his head with teary eyes. His voice trembled quietly.
“Blair took the cake box I was carrying… threw it on the ground… and stomped on it. It was from Ollie…”
Toby swallowed another sob and continued.
“And… she said she wouldn’t let it slide if I told anyone… I was scared she’d get revenge… so I couldn’t tell anyone.”
Acstlu hugged his little brother firmly and said resolutely.
“Toby, thank you for telling us bravely. Blair might be scary, but hyungs will protect you now. Me, Phursie, Uncle Ford, Uncle Ted — we’re all here together.”
Phursie smiled gently and stroked Toby’s head.
“That’s right. Officer Potts already heard about it too. It seems Blair bullied other kids as well. You weren’t the only one, so don’t be scared anymore. We’ll solve this together.”
Toby, held in the warm embrace of his two older brothers, gradually stopped crying. The fear of Blair still lingered, but just having the courage to speak made his heart feel a little lighter.
“Th… thank you, Acstlu, and Phursie…”
Acstlu patted his brother’s back and made a silent vow.
‘It’s time for our family and friends to come together to protect FoxTown.’
A little later, Blair sat on the “Timeout chair” inside the police station. Her face remained brazen, but the surrounding atmosphere was heavy. Acstlu and Phursie paced a little in front of and behind her. Both had faces full of anger. Acstlu spoke first.
“Blair, we all know you deliberately threw Toby’s cake box on the ground and stomped on it. You even threatened a six-year-old. ‘I won’t let it slide if you tell’? What kind of thing is that to say?”
Phursie also spoke from behind in a low but sharp voice. “Do you know how scared Toby was? He’s still trembling because of what you did.”
Blair stayed silent, grumbling only to herself. ‘…Screw You Guys. Once I’m out, I’ll bully all of you and ruin everything one by one… Be ready!’
Then the interrogation room door opened and many people entered. Theo and Cleo, FoxTail, Doctor Greyman, Ollie, Kagetora, and even Alex and Billy had come.
Theo spoke in a stern voice. “Blair, you really are a very bad child. Bullying younger kids, destroying things, and even threatening them…”
Cleo sighed and added. “This kind of behavior is absolutely not tolerated in FoxTown.”
FoxTail crossed her arms and said sharply. “Not satisfied with trampling Richard’s flowerbed, you went after Andy and Exbie too… You’ve done too much.”
Doctor Greyman spoke in a quiet but weighty voice. “It’s time to Punished, Blair.”
Ollie and Kagetora looked at Blair with undisguised disappointment.
Especially Alex and Billy were very angry. Alex shouted. “Because of you we got in huge trouble with Mr. Richard! You’re the one who stepped on the flowerbed, but you dragged us into it too!”
Billy clenched his fists tightly. “Yeah! Because of you we got treated like bad kids too!”
Blair sat there under the stinging gazes and rebukes of everyone around her. Her once colorful expression gradually darkened. A serious time of reflection continued as the adults and children of FoxTown united to scold Blair for her wrongs.
After hearing sufficient testimonies and evidence in the interrogation room, Officer Potts finally spoke. His expression was very grave. “Blair, the things you did today are by no means light. Stomping on Toby’s cake and threatening him, breaking Andy’s glasses, destroying Exbie’s tablet, damaging Richard’s flowerbed… Many children and adults were hurt.”
Blair couldn’t hide her anxiety.
“So… what’s going to happen to me?”
Officer Potts said firmly.
“You will spend today in ‘timeout.’ You’ll go into the detention room with Dexter and Rudi and properly reflect on your actions. We’ll talk again tomorrow with your parents.”
Inside the detention room. In the dim room, Dexter (a deep gray fox boy) and Rudi (a deep red fox boy) were already sitting. Both had shackles on their feet.
Dexter threw his hat on the ground and stomped on it while gritting his teeth. “This is unfair! I admit I secretly stole and tore up Toby’s picture book… but who stepped on my hat?! I really treasured that hat!”
Rudi sat on the floor with arms crossed, venting his complaints. “I’m here because I swapped bread for a rock… Why do I have to stay here this long? So annoying!”
Then the door opened and Blair entered the detention room.
Blair’s eyes widened when she saw the two boys. “You guys were here too?!”
Dexter and Rudi looked up at Blair at the same time. Dexter snorted. “Oh, even Blair ended up here.”
Blair muttered in disbelief. “You guys… did things like that too?”
The detention room filled with the sighs and grumbling of the three children. It was the moment FoxTown’s little troublemakers finally gathered in one place to spend a night of reflection.
A few days later, Acstlu’s house was once again filled with bright, warm laughter. The delicious smell of pancakes wafted from the kitchen. Kagetora wore an apron and seriously flipped the pan, while Ollie helped by adding whipped cream and strawberries.
“Toby, it’s ready! Today we made special chocolate chip pancakes.”
When Kagetora set the plate on the table, Toby’s eyes sparkled. The six-year-old Shiba Inu boy had calmed down a lot. His tail wagged slightly as he looked at the plate.
“Wow… Thank you, Kagetora! Ollie too…”
Toby picked up a fork, took a bite, and his face lit up. He nodded repeatedly with a very satisfied expression. “It’s so delicious…!”
In the living room, Acstlu, Phursie, Ford, and Ted played with Toby. Ford lifted Toby high with his raccoon mischief and did somersaults in the air, while Ted laughed his big hyena laugh and built block castles with Toby.
Acstlu stroked his little brother’s head and said gently. “You’re not scared anymore, right? We’ll all protect you together.”
Phursie smiled and handed Toby a small gift. “Toby, here’s a new picture book. There won’t be any more incidents like Blair this time.”
Toby hugged the picture book dearly and smiled brightly. “Yeah! I’m not scared anymore. Thanks to you Guys…”
The house was filled with laughter and warm conversation. The peace of FoxTown, briefly disturbed by the Blair incident, had returned through the love of family and friends. Toby, bathed in the cozy morning sunlight, ate delicious pancakes and played with his friends, hyungs, and uncles, completely shaking off the fear in his heart.
Meanwhile, at the flowerbed in front of Richard’s house. Richard the British Fox stood leaning on his cane and called Alex and Billy. FoxTail and Doctor Greyman were with him.
Richard bowed his head slightly to the two boys with an apologetic expression. “Alex, Billy. I’m truly sorry for misunderstanding you. I found out late that it wasn’t you who stepped on the flowerbed, but Blair. I checked the video too… I’m sorry for treating you like bad kids.”
Alex smiled a bit awkwardly and waved his hand. “Ah… It’s okay, Mr. Richard. We got misunderstood because of Blair too.”
Billy nodded. “Yeah. Now that the real culprit has been caught… we can just make the flowerbed pretty again!”
FoxTail uncrossed her arms and smiled softly. “It’s all resolved nicely. For both Richard and the two kids. Blair is reflecting right now, so things like this should decrease in the future.”
Doctor Greyman smiled quietly from his wheelchair. “FoxTown becomes beautiful when everyone trusts and understands each other. It’s important that misunderstandings get cleared up like today.”
Richard patted the two boys’ shoulders warmly. “Thank you. Instead, how about we plant new flowers together this weekend? I’ll prepare special snacks too.”
Alex and Billy’s faces brightened. “Yes!”
FoxTail and Doctor Greyman smiled with satisfaction. Richard’s front flowerbed was once again filled with a peaceful atmosphere — a warm afternoon as FoxTown’s small wounds slowly healed.
A few days later, in the yard in front of Acstlu’s house. Lionel and Liona arrived with bright expressions. Lionel wore his green cap slightly lowered, and Liona ran over with her usual energetic steps.
“Toby! We’re here!”
Liona waved and shouted loudly. Lionel smiled brightly at Toby.
“Toby, are you doing okay these days? You must have been really scared because of the Blair thing, right? Is everything better now?”
Toby nodded a little shyly. He wasn’t completely comfortable yet, but seeing them made him feel better.
“Yeah… I’m feeling a bit better now.”
Liona took Toby’s hand and said excitedly.
“Then come play with us at the Busterfield Library! There are lots of new picture books, and there’s a reading corner too. Kagetora oppa and Ollie oppa stop by sometimes!”
Lionel chimed in.
“Right. There’s a new fun playground in the library basement too. Let’s go read books, play, and eat tasty snacks together! We already got permission from Acstlu.”
Toby’s eyes began to sparkle little by little. His tail wagged slightly.
“Really…? I… want to go too.”
Liona hugged Toby and laughed brightly. “Yahoo! Then let’s go this afternoon! Don’t worry, we’ll stay with you the whole time. We’ll protect you so no one can bully Toby!”
Lionel patted Toby’s shoulder. “Lionel and Liona siblings guarantee it. Today will be a fun day!”
Acstlu and Phursie watched from a distance with warm smiles. It was the moment a bright, childlike smile returned to Toby’s face.
The End
