My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Sui could feel that something was wrong the second he arrived at school.

The usual presence was missing.

The familiar wagging tail.

The bright smile.

There was no response from Yuiko’s number, even though he had checked his phone multiple times and even texted her asking if everything was alright.

He didn’t receive any response at all.

His stomach churned as he made his way to class, and throughout the whole first period, he couldn’t help looking at Yuiko’s empty chair.

He bounced on the chair legs, and he couldn’t stop his pencil from rolling off the table, which made Sui lose his train of thought. His mind wandered away to many different scenarios, trying to find a way to explain why Yuiko was not in class, and none of those reasons sounded plausible.

After the first period ended, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He left school without bothering to finish his classes.

Walking to Yuiko’s house, he felt like each step was heavier than the previous one. The world seemed to have lost all colors, and the silence was deafening.

When he reached her front door, he knocked, but there was no response.

Her parents’ car was not parked in the driveway, and no sound of any kind greeted him when he entered the house.

It took him a second to realize that Yuiko’s bedroom door was half open, and her scent was strong in the air. Without hesitation, he rushed upstairs.

Sui froze at the threshold of her room.

Yuiko was lying on the bed, her tiny form completely hidden by piles of blankets. Her face was flushed a terrible shade of red, her golden locks sticking to her forehead because of the sweat. Her ears drooped, and her tail did not move. They looked lifeless.

Despite the blankets covering her entirely, she was shivering.

"Yuiko!" He dropped down to his knees beside the bed. Her face was hot to the touch, but Sui could barely hold on for the second before pulling his hand back. "Yuiko! What is happening?!"

Her golden orbs opened, glassy and unfocused, and she focused on him. "S-Sui...?"

"I’m here, I’m right here."

"I... I tried to text you... but I couldn’t..."

"Shh. Don’t talk," he said, quickly pulling out his phone. "I’m calling an ambulance."

She shook her head, and her voice was cracked with fever. "No. No ambulance, please... Just stay with me."

"What about your fever—"

"I know," she whispered. "I know that it is very high, but I don’t want to be alone. Just... stay with me."

He stared at her, feeling his heart shatter, seeing her vulnerability.

"Okay," he whispered. "I’ll stay."

For the next hour, Sui took care of her.

First, he dashed to the bathroom, soaking a cloth in cold water, and placed it on her forehead, and she sighed with relief. Then he found some medicine for fever and helped her take it with sips of water.

He pulled away the blankets covering her, letting her body cool down. He adjusted her pillows, helping her breathe easier, and held her hand, stroking her fingers with his thumb.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice rough. "You didn’t have to come here."

"Of course, I came here," Sui said. "I was so worried when you didn’t show up to school today."

"I’m sorry," she murmured. "I tried to text you, but I couldn’t see anything properly."

"Don’t apologize. Just get better."

She gave him a small, weak smile, and her tail moved faintly.

"You’re my hero," she whispered.

"And your hero will make you some soup."

"Mmm... I would like it."

He got ready to leave, but Yuiko stopped him with her hands.

"Don’t go."

"Yuiko, I’m just going to the kitchen to boil water."

"Don’t leave me," her voice begged. "Please, don’t leave me alone."

He looked at her, and her large eyes were wide and filled with fear. She looked like a scared kitten.

"Okay," he whispered. "I won’t."

Her hand captured his and pulled him closer. She nuzzled against his palm, rubbing her cheek against it.

"You’re so warm," she whispered. "So warm..."

"Yuiko, you are the one with the fever..."

"Stay with me."

He didn’t even consider moving away from her side. He sat down by her bed, holding her hand, watching as she slipped in and out of sleep. Every now and then, he checked her temperature, replacing the cloth when it was getting too warm, and whispering to her to calm down.

Gradually, Yuiko’s fever started to subside, and her shivers slowly subsided. Her breathing became more stable.

But she didn’t release his hand.

Several hours passed, the sun was setting.

Sui was tired and his eyes were sore, but he couldn’t fall asleep. He needed to be with her, to watch over her.

And then, unexpectedly, Yuiko pulled him down to the bed.

"Yuiko!"

She pulled him to her, hugging him tightly. Her body was still warm, pressed against his, her face buried in his neck.

"Don’t leave me," she whispered. "Don’t ever leave me."

He froze, his heart thudding painfully fast. She was so close to him.

"I won’t," he whispered. "I’ll stay with you."

And then she bit him.

Her teeth sunk in his skin, not deep enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a very clear mark on him. A purely possessive and primitive bite that made Sui shudder.

"Yuiko!"

She released him, falling asleep, holding him tightly.

He looked at the ceiling and reached his hand to his neck. He could clearly feel how much of an indentation her teeth left. Her warm mouth.

She bit me, he realized, blushing fiercely. She actually bit me.

He was scared, he was confused. But he didn’t try to pull away. He just stayed, holding her, until he, too, fell asleep.

When he woke up, morning sun rays filled the room with gentle, golden light.

Yuiko was lying on top of him, with her tail curled around his waist and her face pressed to his shoulder. Her breathing was even and peaceful, and she didn’t have a fever anymore.

He smiled and caressed her hair from her forehead.

"Yuiko," he whispered, gently trying to wake her up.

She stirred a bit and then opened her eyes.

"Sui...?"

"Yes. How are you feeling?"

She was about to answer, but then suddenly realized their current position and blushed fiercely.

"W-what are you doing here? How did you...?"

"I was pulled to the bed."

"Pullled to...?"

"In your sleep." He smirked. "You were very convincing."

Her tail puffed up.

"I’m so sorry! I didn’t—I wasn’t—"

"It’s all right." He chuckled. "You were sick and you needed some comfort."

"But..." She stopped talking for a second when her eyes fell on his neck. "Sui, what’s that?"

"What?"

She pointed at his neck and touched the place where she had bitten him and he flinched.

"You have a... a bite mark on your neck."

"Oh." His face flushed. "That. You, uh... you did that."

"I did WHAT?!"

"You bit me."

"In your sleep?!"

"In your sleep." He caressed the back of his neck. "While you had a fever."

"You bit me?!" Her eyes got wide in horror. "I bit my boyfriend like some kind of wild animal?!"

"Sui, relax, stop exaggerating—"

"I’m a monster! I’m a terrible girlfriend!"

"You were sick—"

"I’m a vampire!"

He couldn’t help himself and burst out laughing. She glared at him in disbelief and shock.

"It’s not funny!"

"A little bit."

"It’s not! I can’t believe I bit you. I’m so ashamed."

He took her hands off her face and looked directly into her eyes.

"You’re fine, Yuiko. It was just because of your fever, you didn’t want to."

"But I..."

"You aren’t angry at me. Honestly, it was pretty sweet."

"You biting me was sweet?"

"You being cute in general."

Her face was red, but her tail started to wag again.

"You’re unbelievable," she muttered.

"You love me anyway."

"Unfortunately."

She leaned closer and placed her forehead on his.

"I love you too," he said gently. "Sick or not. Bite marks or not."

She gave a weak laugh. "I love you too."

For a while, they remained like that, breathing calmly. All the anxiety and fear that plagued them yesterday vanished, leaving only the warmth and relaxation behind.

"Sui?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"I’m really glad you came."

He kissed her forehead.

"I’ll always be here. No matter what."

She smiled, and her tail wagged happily.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Yuiko’s belly rumbled loudly.

Sui chuckled. "Someone seems to be hungry."

"I haven’t eaten since yesterday," she confessed, ears drooping in shame. "I just didn’t feel like eating when I was ill."

"Just stay. I’ll make something for you."

"No, I—wait, don’t go!" She tugged on his sleeve. "Please don’t!"

"Why? I’ll be right back. I’m only going five meters to your kitchen."

"I know, but..." Her eyes shifted to the floor. "I keep remembering how scared I was this morning, how alone I felt. And then you were there, and everything got so much better. And now I’m afraid that the scary feeling will come back once you leave, even for a second."

His heart ached. "I won’t go anywhere. I’ll just stay right here, but you need to eat something. Maybe we should call for delivery?"

"You’d do that?" she asked in disbelief.

"Certainly. What do you want to order?"

She thought for a while. "Miso soup and rice. And maybe some tamagoyaki."

"Got it."

He placed the order in the nearest restaurant, holding her close all the time. He sat beside her, waiting for the food. Yuiko’s head was on his chest, and her tail was wrapping around his waist.

When the food arrived, Sui made a tray. He helped her sit up, putting some pillows behind her back.

"There," he said, putting a bowl of soup in front of her. "Be careful. The soup is hot."

Yuiko took a sip, and her ears perked up.

"Oh! It’s delicious!"

"I know. I chose the best place."

"You’re so modest."

"That’s what I try to be."

She smiled, then grimaced with pain.

"Easy does it," he said. "Do not push yourself."

She nodded and started to eat, and he was watching her with a warm smile.

"Do you want to eat something too?" she asked.

"I’ve already had my dinner. This one is yours."

"You didn’t have to—"

"I wanted to." He caressed her cheek, running fingers through the locks of her hair. "You need your energy back."

Her face turned red. "You are just too kind."

"Absolutely impossible. You deserve all the kindness in the world."

She put the empty bowl aside and grabbed his hand.

"Sui. Thank you for coming, for being here, for not giving up on me."

"I’ll never give up on you. Ever."

She squeezed his hand, her tail wagging slightly.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

When she finished eating, he took the tray downstairs. He came upstairs, and Yuiko was sitting up now.

"You feel better?" he asked.

"So much better. The food helped." She paused, her ears twitching. "I have to ask you... Did you sleep here all night?"

"Yes. Mostly on the floor, but you dragged me on the bed."

Her face turned red. "I’m so sorry—"

"Don’t be." He sat beside her. "I didn’t mind."

"But you have to feel bad about your back—"

"It’s okay. You were worth it."

She looked at him with shining eyes.

"You are impossible," she whispered.

"I’ve heard that many times."

"Because it’s true."

He kissed her forehead tenderly.

"Get some rest," he said. "I’ll be right here."

She laid on the bed, closing her eyes. He held her hand, watching her sleeping.

I’ll always come for you, he thought. Always.