The moment I woke up that morning, something was wrong. I reached toward the bedside. The thing that should've been there wasn't. Mio slowly pushed herself up and looked at the table. The black-patterned plushie—its nose a little faded from five years together—was gone. "[surprised]Huh?" Still half-asleep, I headed to the kitchen. I opened the fridge to make café au lait with the milk I'd bought yesterday. The carton was there. But it felt way too light. I shook it. No sound. Empty. I didn't remember drinking it. And last night there should've been more than half left. Mio gripped the carton and turned around. Rei, who'd been sleeping on a futon on the floor, was already up. Arms crossed, standing next to the cat tower, staring at me. His golden eyes narrowed with amusement. "[sarcastic]The milk was delicious." "[angry]You drank it!? All of it!?" "Cats like milk." "[angry]You said you were human now!" That's when I noticed my phone. Still plugged into the charger, screen on. The lock screen wallpaper had changed. Where the cherry blossom photo had been yesterday, a black cat's face filled the screen in close-up. Furrowed brow, glaring straight at the camera—I recognized that expression. It was from right after I'd trimmed his claws. From about three years ago. Kuro's most irritated face. "[surprised]…You touched my phone." "[sarcastic]First move of my revenge. Got a problem with that?" Rei leaned his arm against the top of the cat tower—the space originally meant for large cats—and said it coolly. The missing plushie. The milk gone. The wallpaper swapped. A three-hit combo. Mio took a deep breath, still holding the empty carton. "[angry]Give it back. The plushie." "[cold]No." "[angry]Where'd you hide it?" "Who knows." Rei walked toward me as he answered, like it was obvious. Then he held out his hand in front of my face. "[serious]So where are you taking me today?" "[surprised]…Huh?" "I want to see this human society. Show me around." Anger and exasperation hit me at the same time. He'd said he was going to get revenge for five years of grudges, but here he was, completely naturally demanding I take him somewhere. *(Cats really are just like this, huh…)* Mio sighed and opened the closet. * * * The first incident happened at the entrance. Rei picked up a sneaker from the shelf and stared at it for a while. Flipped it over, looked at it from the side, brought it to his nose and sniffed. Then he set it on the floor and tried to shove his foot in without tying the laces. "[surprised]Wait a second. You didn't tie them." "Is it necessary?" "They'll fall off!" "[cold]I don't understand why humans need something this complicated on their feet. Cats' feet were simple." Rei looked genuinely frustrated. He seemed to have fundamental doubts about the entire human shoe system. Mio crouched down and tied his laces for him. Moving her fingers, crossing the laces left and right, making loops, pulling tight. A motion she'd practiced countless times as a kid. While Mio's hands moved, Rei stared down at her silently. When she looked up, their eyes met. His golden eyes were close. Mio stood up quickly for some reason. Her face felt a little warm. "[serious]Watch how I do it. Next time you do it yourself." "…I was watching." Rei said it shortly, then looked away. * * * On the way to Minase Station on the Naruse Railway—an elevated station where about 28,000 people board and exit daily—Mio noticed Rei intently observing how to press the elevator button on the bridge. Once inside, Rei stood in front of the buttons. Then instead of using his index finger, he pressed his entire palm flat against the panel. Four buttons lit up at once. The salaryman next to us froze. Mio froze too. "[angry]Press just one! One!" "[surprised]Why just one? All of them lit up." "That's not how it works! We'll stop at every floor!" The salaryman quietly pressed the buttons again. Mio bowed deeply. Rei watched the salaryman's movements this time with genuine focus. "[cold]…I see. Press one point. Understood." "[sarcastic]You're slow!" * * * When we entered the Kagerou Shopping Arcade, the calm atmosphere of a weekday morning hung in the air. The ceiling was low with remnants of the Showa era, and the fruit vendor was sweeping in front of his shop. The smell of coffee drifted from the coffee shop Lamp. "[serious]Want to stop somewhere? Thirsty?" Rei's nose twitched. "[serious]That way first." Looking that direction, I could see the Hakomart sign—a convenience store. Rei headed there without hesitation. The automatic doors opened, and along with the cool air came the smell of tuna mayo. By the time Mio realized it, Rei was standing in front of the refrigerated onigiri section. He picked one up—tuna mayo. Then another. One more. He took three to the register. The young clerk rang them up. "That'll be 390 yen." Rei stopped. Didn't move. Completely frozen in front of the register after hearing the price. Didn't even reach for a wallet. Didn't have a wallet in the first place. His face showed he didn't understand "paying" as a real concept. More customers lined up behind us. Two, then three. "[cold]…You do it." "[angry]Why are you saying that like it's obvious!?" While we whispered back and forth, Mio pulled out her wallet. 390 yen. Another expense this month. "[angry]I get that you're a cat and never had money. But you're human now, so you need a wallet. Got it?" "[cold]Got it. You carry it." "[angry]That's not what I meant!" Rei opened one of the tuna mayo onigiris and started walking, completely unbothered. Looking at his profile, Mio let out a small sigh. *(What am I even doing?)* But mixed with the anger was another memory that crossed her mind. Five years ago. Autumn. A rainy day. Near the south exit of Minase Station, there was a black lump in the shadow of a cardboard box. Soaking wet, skin and bones, and when I got close it hissed at me with all its might. Small as it was, scared as it was, it arched its back desperately and let out a big voice. That Kuro was now walking beside her, munching on tuna mayo. "[whispers]…Weird." It was just a murmur. Rei probably didn't hear it. * * * In the evening, the two of us went into Lamp. Eight counter seats, four tables. The sound of beans being ground, thick coffee aroma. Master Kurahashi—white-haired, slightly stooped, but with sparkling eyes at 65—looked up from the counter. And smiled warmly. "[gentle]Mio, welcome. Oh my—you're not alone today." "[sarcastic]Ah, well, this is an acquaintance…" "[gentle]An acquaintance, huh. A young, handsome acquaintance." "[gentle]Spring has finally come for our cat-loving young lady." "[angry]The cat has nothing to do with it! Well, it does, but not like that!" While Mio turned bright red denying it, Rei walked silently. Straight to the back, to the window-side table. Even though other seats were empty. Not the corner, not the center—the small two-seater right next to the window. He sat down. Like it was obvious. Mio ordered "Two coffees, please" from Master Kurahashi and sat across from Rei. "[serious]You've always sat by the window, even when you were a cat." "[cold]Coincidence." "You used to look outside every time I came here." "[cold]I don't know anything about that. Be quiet." Rei turned toward the window. Kagerou Street in the evening. Shop shutters half-closed, bicycles passing by, streetlights coming on one by one. His profile wasn't the irritated face from before. Just quiet. Master Kurahashi brought the coffees. Rei took a sip and immediately frowned. "[serious]Bitter." "You've got a cat's tongue." "[cold]Don't call it that." "It's the truth though." "[cold]…Shut up." But Rei set the coffee down and looked out the window again. The corner of his mouth slightly down, the tension gone from his brow. Not angry. Just looking outside. Mio quietly looked at his profile. When I picked up that black cat in the rain five years ago, did he have a face like this? Scared, hissing, but when he got on my lap he just looked outside. At something outside the window. *(I get that he wants revenge. But…)* If he really hated me, he wouldn't be here. That's what it felt like. * * * We left Lamp, and Kagerou Street at night was quiet. Orange streetlight stretched across the stone pavement. We walked side by side. Past Minase Station, heading toward Hazuki River. The bridge came into view. Hazuki Bridge—low railings, the water surface close enough to see. "[serious]Have you ever been here before, Rei?" Rei paused for a moment. "[cold]Who knows." He looked at the water. The night surface reflected the streetlight in wavering ripples. Rei's golden eyes turned toward it, an expression like he was seeing something, or not seeing anything. Right after that. My foot caught on the bridge's seam, and my body tilted forward. I thought, *oh*— Rei's hand shot out. I don't think he was thinking. It was reflex. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Like a cat pouncing, no hesitation. We both stopped. Rei's hand still gripping my arm. On the bridge, only the sound of the river. Neither of us moved. Mio's cheeks burned. Rei let go. "[cold]You really do fall a lot." "[whispers]…Thanks." My voice was barely there. Rei turned forward and started walking. Mio walked too. About ten centimeters of space between them, silent across the bridge. Something in my chest was beating fast. A feeling I didn't have a name for. We climbed the slope to Corpo Tsukimi-dai. The apartment lights came into view. "[cold]…If I wake up first tomorrow, what will you do?" Rei said it quietly. "[serious]I'll scream again." Rei laughed through his nose. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Mio didn't notice. I unlocked room 203 of Corpo Tsukimi-dai and we went inside. The usual six-mat room, the usual cramped space. The cat tower stood there, and Rei climbed up and sat on the floor. Collapsing onto the bed, Mio looked at the ceiling. Tomorrow, what would I tell Makoto and my classmates at university? Would the "distant relative" excuse work? What if Rei showed up at the university cafeteria? When would I teach him how to use a wallet? Would he be able to tie his own laces next time? Too many problems. But Mio just closed her eyes. The sound of the night Hazuki River still seemed to linger in her ears.