Noir is an intelligent black cat with amber eyes who lives in a warm, watercolor-like world. His favorite spot is the top of an old bookshelf in his owner's study, which serves as his private 'castle.' One afternoon, Noir's owner discovers a mysterious golden bookmark—a magical item that causes the story within a book to slightly overflow into reality. When a sudden wind carries the bookmark out the window, Noir embarks on his first adventure outside the house. Following clues through the town,
Noir the Cat and the Vanished Bookmark - Episode 8: Charcoal 1
In Kyoto, as evening fell over the city.
On the roof of the Shinsengumi compound in Mibu, a black cat gleamed its amber eyes in the growing darkness.
His name was Sumi. His short fur was as black as fine ink, and when shrouded in shadow, he vanished completely—yet those large eyes alone shone with an eerie, warm light like the full moon.
The Shinsengumi soldiers were all rough-and-tumble men. But Sumi had one special "partner": Okita Soji, captain of the First Squad.
"The Shinsengumi's Black Cat and the Genius Swordsman's Flame"
On a certain tranquil spring afternoon, Sumi lay curled up as usual on the veranda of Okita's room.
Then Okita returned, wooden sword in hand, breathing heavily after intense practice. "There you are, Sumi. Found yourself a nice premium seat again, have you?"
With a friendly smile, Okita lowered himself down beside the cat. When Sumi gave a short meow and narrowed his amber eyes, Okita gently stroked beneath the cat's chin with his sweat-dampened hand.
"Your fur smells of sunshine, Sumi. How nice—your job is just lazy naps in the sun all day. I wish I could be a black cat for just one day and take a walk with you on the rooftops."
As Okita chuckled, Sumi rumbled with a purr and licked the young man's slender fingertips with his rough tongue. The swordsman feared by so many became simply a kind youth in the cat's presence.
Kondō Isami, the Shinsengumi's commander, and vice-commander Hijikata Toshizō permitted Sumi to come and go because he was "useful for catching mice." But whenever Hijikata caught the soldiers spoiling the cat, he would scold them harshly, saying it loosened discipline.
One day, Okita pulled a small paper package from his sleeve. Inside were white dango balls he'd bought in Kyoto's streets.
"Shh, Sumi. If you make a sound, Hijikata will confiscate them."
With a mischievous wink, Okita broke off a piece and offered it to the cat. Sumi sniffed curiously and munched happily. Then footsteps echoed from the corridor—Hijikata's footsteps.
Okita hurriedly shoved the remaining dango into his mouth and tucked Sumi completely inside his haori.
"Soji, was there a cat around here? I saw a black shadow in the corridor a moment ago..."
An irritable Hijikata peered into the room.
"A cat? No, I haven't seen one, Hijikata-san. I've been reading documents for the next assignment alone this whole time."
Okita lied smoothly. Inside the haori, Sumi felt Hijikata's stern gaze and widened his amber eyes, holding his breath perfectly still.
When Hijikata left with a suspicious expression, the two exchanged looks. Okita laughed silently while Sumi meowed softly with relief.
When night fell, Kyoto's streets turned tense and ominous. The Shinsengumi's duties were matters of life and death.
One night after a fierce enforcement of the code, the paper screen of Okita's room bore faint scratches. Okita lay in his bedding with a tired expression, having returned from riding the wind of swords. Recently, he had begun coughing painfully while clutching his chest more and more.
Sumi crept quietly into the room and silently approached the bedside.
"...Sumi? Did I wake you?"
Okita's voice was slightly hoarse. Without a word, Sumi placed his warm body softly on the young man's chest, fixing him with his amber gaze as he studied Okita's slightly pale face.
"You're warm... Your eyes are just like the light of an andon lamp. When I look at them in the darkness, I feel at peace."
Okita stroked Sumi's back tenderly, and the cat rumbled his purr again and again, pouring strength into the young man's palm.
Black fur dissolving into darkness, amber eyes illuminating the night.
Sumi understood. He knew how heavy a burden this young genius swordsman carried, how fiercely he burned his life away.
That is why Sumi had decided—for as long as Okita remained in the compound, he would continue to give him the time to return to being simply a "kind Soji," tomorrow and the day after, with all his heart.
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