My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

It was late at night.

Yumiko laid in her bed looking up at the ceiling unable to fall asleep while the house was in silence; her daughter slept in her room and the city was still silent as well.

But Yumiko could not find peace for herself.

She kept thinking about what happened earlier; how Sui looked when she saw him in the hallway, his hand under her touch, his sincere glance meeting hers.

Stop it, she told herself. He is her daughter’s boyfriend. He is still a child. You are being ridiculous.

However, her tail was moving unwillingly.

She turned to another side, hitting her pillow with her fist.

Why am I acting like this? She asked herself in desperation. I am a mature woman. A mother. I should not be flustered over such a teenage boy.

But the smile of his kept rising before her eyes; he treated her daughter with care, cooking soup and tidying the kitchen, holding Yuiko’s hand as if she was something priceless for him.

He is perfect, she admitted to herself. He is everything a mother could wish for her daughter.

But why does her heart race every time he looks at her?

Next morning Yumiko woke up early.

She performed her usual morning rituals – showered, made herself coffee and ate breakfast – but her thoughts were somewhere else. She kept watching the front door, wondering if Sui would come again.

Of course, he will come, she told herself. He dates your daughter. He will come to visit her.

Her tail twitched.

Sui stood at the entrance holding a bag in his hands. He was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, his hair was messy, and his smile was warm.

"Good morning, Ms. Nekozawa. I brought some pastries. I thought Yuiko would prefer to have some light food for breakfast," he said.

Yumiko watched at him in silence, her mouth was dry.

"Good morning," she said. "That is... that is very nice of you."

"Of course." He stepped in the house, his shoulder brushed her shoulder as he was passing by. "How is she feeling?"

"Better. She feels much better. She is awake now."

"Good. Then I will go to see her."

He started to walk upstairs, but stopped there, looking back at Yumiko.

"Are you alright, Ms. Nekozawa? You look flushed."

She touched her cheek; it was warm.

"I am fine," she said. "I just... I just did not sleep well last night."

"You should take some rest. You work hard."

His concern was real; it could be seen in his eyes.

Her heart fluttered.

"I will be alright," she said. "Go to see Yuiko."

He nodded and left upstairs.

Yumiko rested against the wall with her hand touching her chest.

What is wrong with me? she thought. Why does my heart beat like that?

She tried not to meet him during the rest of the day.

She distracted herself with some chores – laundry, cleaning, tidying. Anything to occupy her mind with but her ears kept listening to the stairs trying to hear his voice.

She heard their laughter. The bright laughter of Yuiko and the warm one of Sui.

Her tail twitched involuntarily.

Stop it, she ordered to herself. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

But she could not stop herself.

When Sui came downstairs for the water, Yumiko was in the kitchen, pretending to be busy with washing dishes, but feeling his presence behind her.

"Ms. Nekozawa?"

She turned around and saw that he was holding an empty glass.

"Can I get some water?"

"Of course," she stepped aside, pointing to the sink with her hand. "Take it."

He filled his glass, and leaning on the counter, drank it slowly. She observed him from the corner of her eye.

"Yuiko is feeling better now," he said. "Her fever is completely gone."

"That is good news. I am glad."

"She wants to go for a walk tomorrow. I told her to wait for one more day."

"That is a good advice."

"She is stubborn. She is going to argue with me."

Yumiko smiled softly. "That is my daughter. Stubborn as a mule."

"I love that about her."

The words hit her as a punch into the chest. Love. He says it so easily, so simply.

She cleared her throat. "You really do love her, don’t you?"

"With all my heart," he said. "I hope that you approve of that."

"It is more than enough. It is everything."

He smiled his warm sincere smile that made her heart skip.

"Thank you, Ms. Nekozawa."

"Yumiko."

He blinked. "What?"

"Call me Yumiko. You are family now."

His smile widened. "Thank you, Yumiko."

He left upstairs, leaving her alone in the kitchen.

Yumiko grasped the edge of the countertop, her knuckles becoming pale.

What is happening to me? she thought in desperation. Why cannot I stop feeling like this?

The rest of the day passed in haze.

Whenever Sui was close to her, her heart was racing, her tail twitching, her ears perked unwillingly. She found different excuses to stay with him – bringing tea, preparing snacks, checking on Yuiko.

You are being obvious, she told herself. Stop it. He is going to notice.

But he did not notice anything. He was concentrated on Yuiko only, so devoted to her daughter.

And it only made it worse.

Because the more she was watching him together with Yuiko, the more she understood how good he was, how kind, how patient, how loving.

Everything she has always wanted for her daughter.

And everything she has been wishing to find herself.

That evening Sui was preparing to leave.

Yumiko went with him to the door, her tail coiled nervously around her leg.

"Thank you for today," she said. "For taking care of her."

"Of course." He smiled. "I will be here tomorrow."

"Good. She will be happy."

He stopped, looking at her. "Are you alright, Yumiko? You seem... distracted."

She forced a smile. "I am alright. I just did not sleep well yesterday."

"Then get some rest. You work too hard."

His concern pained her heart.

"I will," she said softly. "Goodnight, Sui."

"Goodnight, Yumiko."

He left, and his form disappeared in the evening light.

Yumiko closed the door and rested against it with her hand pressing against her chest.

What is happening to me? she thought. Why does my heart beat whenever he is near?

She was a mature woman. A mother. She could not feel this way about her daughter’s boyfriend.

But she could not help it.

As she was walking back into the house, her tail still twitching, she knew that tomorrow would be no better.

Because Sui was coming again.

And her heart would start racing once more.

Next day , at the late afternoon sunlight shone through the bathroom window, spreading across the tiles in brilliant gold.

Finally, she was well enough to stand without support. No more fever. No more bed rest. No more sponge baths.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" Sui stood in the doorway, clearly worried. "I can wait outside."

"I’m alright." She laughed. "I’m not going to keel over in the shower."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

He reluctantly stepped out, closing the door. She heard him rest against the wall outside the bathroom.

Her heart melted. He was so protective of her. So caring.

Turning on the shower, she let it warm up. The steam started to rise in the small space, filling the bathroom with a heavy mist.

However, when she stepped in the shower, she slipped on the wet tile.

Gasping, flailing her arms, she lost her balance—

The bathroom door burst open.

Before she could fall, Sui rushed in and grabbed her. His arms snaked around her waist, dragging her close. His back slammed against the shower wall, the coldness of the tiles shocking against his heated skin.

Frozen in place, pressed against each other, they waited.

The shower continued, drenching both of them. Sui was soaked, his shirt sticking to his skin. Yuiko was stark naked, only a small towel around her.

"You’re alright?" he asked quietly, his voice ragged.

"I—I think so," she stammered. "I just slipped—"

"I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall."

His arms tightened. Her heart was pounding.

But then her tail, acting of its own accord, curled around his waist, pulling him closer.

They both froze.

Her face blushed a deep red color. His became scarlet.

"Yuiko," he whispered hoarsely. "What is... What is your tail doing?"

"I... I don’t know," she squeaked. "I can’t control it. It just... acts."

"All the time?"

"Only when you’re near."

His throat worked hard as he swallowed. "That’s... that’s great to know."

Her tail squeezed, bringing their bodies closer together. She could feel his fast and hard beating heart. His hands still rested on her waist, his fingers burned through her towel.

"Sui," she whispered. "We should... We should—"

"Should."

Neither of them moved.

Shower continued its work of getting both of them wetter, filling the room with hot and heavy steam. Her hair was plastered to her face. His shirt was drenched, sticking to his skin.

She looked up at him with her golden eyes widened.

His gaze dropped to her lips.

"Yuiko," he whispered again, barely audibly. "Can I—"

"Yes," she breathed.

He leaned in—

"I BROUGHT TOWELS!"

The bathroom door flew open.

Yumiko was standing in the doorway with a stack of fluffy towels. Her eyes widened in shock. Her mouth dropped. Her tail suddenly grew twice as big.

"What’s going on in here?!"

They both scrambled apart. Yuiko pulled the shower curtain in front of herself. Sui stumbled back, almost falling again.

"Yumiko! I can explain—"

"Mom! It’s not what it seems—"

Yumiko’s golden eyes darted from one to another. Sui, soaked, his shirt plastered to his chest. Yuiko, barely dressed, her face red with blush.

"I KNEW IT!" Yumiko shrieked. "I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!"

"Mom, nothing happened! I slipped and he caught me!"

"Slipped? CAUGHT? In the shower?!"

"It’s the truth!"

Yumiko’s tail was whirling around her body. "I don’t believe this! Not even a week since we confirmed you were dating and you’re already—"

"MOM!" Yuiko interrupted her. "Nothing. Happened. He saved me. That’s all."

Yumiko stared at him. His face was flaming red, but his eyes were sincere.

"It’s true," he said. "I heard her fall and just... reacted. I wasn’t trying to—"

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Yumiko stared at him for a long minute. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"Fine," she muttered. "I believe you."

"Really?" Yuiko asked, surprised.

"Really." Yumiko’s eyes softened. "You’re not a liar, Sui. I can tell."

He let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you, Yumiko."

But as she turned to go away, she looked back, her tail flickering.

"Just... be careful. Both of you. My heart can’t take much more of this."

With this said, she disappeared, closing the door behind her.

Sui and Yuiko stared at each other, their hearts still beating.

"Did that just happen?" Yuiko whispered.

"Definitely happened."

"Your mom just saw us—"

"In the shower."

"With me almost naked—"

"Half naked."

"With your arms around me—"

"Your tail wrapped around me—"

She blushed and covered her face with her hands. "I’m going to die of embarrassment."

He smiled softly and gently pulled her hands away from her face.

"Hey. It’s alright. She believes us."

"She’ll tease me about this forever."

"Probably."

"Not helping."

He smiled apologetically. "Sorry."

She looked at him with her soft eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For saving me."

"Always."

She moved closer to him, wrapping her tail around his wrist.

"Sui."

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me. Before I lose my nerve."

He didn’t need any second invitation.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers. Gentle. Soft. Warm.

Her eyes fluttered closed. Her tail tightened its hold around his wrist.

When they pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily.

"Wow," she whispered.

"Wow," he agreed.

Laughing softly, she pressed her forehead against his.

"Best shower ever," she murmured.

"Definitely."

Standing there, embraced in each other’s arms, they listened to the shower falling around them.

Outside the bathroom, Yumiko leaned against the wall, putting her hand to her chest.

They are in love, she thought. Truly, deeply in love.

But her heart was racing, and her tail was moving restlessly.

Why can’t I stop feeling this way? she wondered desperately.

And walking away, she thought chaotically.