My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Things got weird after the amusement park.

Yuiko was the first to notice. The way her mother would look at Sui whenever he visited. The way her tail would twitch whenever he spoke. The way she would look for excuses to be in the same room as them.

For a while, Yuiko believed it meant nothing. Her mother was just being protective. That was understandable.

Until the little things started to appear.

The way Yumiko’s ears would perk up whenever Sui laughed. The way she would be watching him whenever she thought nobody was paying attention. The way she would falter in her smile whenever Sui and Yuiko exchanged a tender embrace.

This is not right.

Yuiko tried to ignore the feeling of unease. She tried telling herself that she was imagining things. That her mother was simply lonely. That she was seeing more into it than what there actually was.

But the feeling would not stop.

It culminated into a late Thursday evening.

Sui had left an hour earlier, promising to come back the next day. Yuiko was lying down on the couch in the living room, waiting for the next visit of her mother.

Yumiko entered with a cup of tea in her hand. She seemed quite absorbed. Yuiko could not really understand why her mother had not seen her there already.

"Mom?"

Yumiko was startled by the sudden noise. Nearly, she dropped the tea on the floor. "Yuiko! I did not see you there!"

"I was here for an hour!"

"Oh." Yumiko twitched her tail nervously. "I must have been... distracted."

"Distracted with what?"

"Nothing important. Just... work stuff."

Yuiko scrutinized her mother’s face. The dark bags under her eyes. The way she slumped over on herself. The way she was clinging to her own tail.

"Mom," she said gently. "Can we talk?"

Yumiko took a minute before answering. But then, she sat down on the armchair across from her.

"Sure. What is it?"

Yuiko took a deep breath.

"What is the matter with you?"

Yumiko blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You have been acting strange lately. Distant. Silent. You keep watching Sui as if... as if you are trying to read something." Yuiko’s golden eyes drilled into her mother’s face. "What is going on?"

Silence followed for a long while. Yumiko tightened the tail in her lap even more.

"It is nothing," she said eventually. "I am just... adjusting."

"To what?"

"To you growing up. To you dating somebody. To you... not needing me as much anymore."

Yuiko felt like something heavy had settled in her chest. "Mom..."

"It is stupid of me." Yumiko laughed but it sounded hollow. "You are almost an adult. You are going to start your own family. Get married. Have children. And I will just be sitting on the sidelines."

"That is not true—"

"Yuiko." Yumiko’s eyes were shining with unshed tears. "I have been alone for so long. Since your father left, it was just the two of us. And I had been trying so hard to be enough for you. To be both parents. To give you everything you need."

"You have been enough." Yuiko’s voice trembled a little. "You have been more than enough."

"But now I am not needed." Yumiko’s voice broke. "You have Sui. You have your life. And I am just... I am your mother. The one you will visit during holidays."

"Mom, that is not—"

"Yuiko." Yumiko interrupted her again, golden eyes piercing through her own. "I am scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Of losing you."

The words stayed between them in the air.

Tears threatened to spill in Yuiko’s eyes. She had never seen her mother like that before. Never heard her so vulnerable.

"Mom..." She stood and went towards her mother’s chair. She knelt in front of her, holding her hands. "You will not lose me. I am not going anywhere."

Tears spilled out of Yumiko’s eyes. "But I will lose you eventually. You will get married. You will leave home. And I will sit here, alone, with just memories."

"We will make new memories." Yuiko held tighter to her mother’s hands. "You are not just my mother. You are my best friend. My hero. The strongest person I know."

"I do not feel particularly strong right now."

"Then I will be strong for the two of us."

Yumiko laughed through her tears. "When did you get so wise?"

"I learned from the best."

They sat there holding hands, tears flowing down both of their cheeks.

"I am sorry," Yumiko whispered. "I am sorry for acting so strange lately. I just... I did not know how to tell you that."

"You do not ever have to hide from me." Yuiko said. "You are my mother. I love you. No matter what happens."

Yumiko hugged her tightly. They clung to each other, those two women who had only had each other.

When they finally parted, both were smiling through tears.

"I love you, Yuiko. So much."

"I love you too, Mom. Forever."

Later that night, Yuiko lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her conversation with her mother had been cathartic. Necessary. She was glad that they had finally managed to talk.

But something did bother her.

Yumiko was scared of losing her. Was scared of her growing up. Adjusting. This made sense.

But there was something else. Something her mother had not mentioned.

The way she looked at Sui. The way her tail twitched whenever he was near.

It is nothing, Yuiko told herself. She is just lonely. That is all.

But the feeling kept bothering her.

Yumiko lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling.

She had been honest with Yuiko. She had told her that she was scared of losing her daughter. That she feared this. This was true.

But not the whole truth.

There was something else. Something she could not confess to Yuiko. Nobody.

The way her heart was racing when Sui was near. The way her tail twitched whenever he smiled. The way she found herself thinking about him at nights when she was supposed to be sleeping.

This is wrong, she told herself. So wrong. He is her daughter’s boyfriend. A child. She is a grown woman.

But the feeling would not go away.

She closed her eyes, hoping to sleep.

But the feeling of confusion remained.

And Yumiko knew with certainty that it was going to take her a long time until she felt peaceful.

The morning sun shone through the kitchen window, flooding the room in bright golds.

Yumiko sat alone, sipping her coffee, lost in thought. It was days after her discussion with Yuiko. She had told her daughter the truth about her fears and loneliness.

But she had not told her everything.

She had not told her about the pounding in her heart whenever Sui smiled. Or the way her tail would flick whenever he was nearby. Or how she caught herself thinking about him in bed at night when she should be sleeping.

It’s wrong, she told herself again. So very wrong.

But she could not help it.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Yuiko came down, her hair tousled, her ears perked.

"Good morning, Mom."

"Good morning, baby." Yumiko smiled. "How did you sleep?"

"Mmm." Yuiko poured herself a cup of tea, sitting opposite her mother. "Mom... can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Yuiko bit her lip. "Last night, when we talked, you said that you were scared of losing me... but... was there something else?"

Yumiko swallowed. "What do you mean?"

"I don’t know... you’ve just seemed... different recently. Distracted. Like you’re carrying a burden."

Yumiko opened her mouth to lie. But her words caught in her throat.

She looked at her daughter, the little girl she had raised alone, who meant the world to her.

You owe her the truth, a voice whispered. She deserves to know.

But another voice, more fearful, more insistent screamed: No. She’ll hate you. She’ll never forgive you.

Yumiko tightened her tail around her leg.

"Mom?"

Yuiko reached across the table, grabbing Yumiko’s hand. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I won’t judge you. I love you."

Yumiko’s eyes glittered with tears.

"I... I can’t, Yuiko. Not yet." She squeezed her daughter’s hand. "But I’m trying... I’m doing better."

Yuiko studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Okay. I understand." She smiled. "Just... please don’t keep things from me, Mom. I’m here for you."

Yumiko nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Thanks, sweetie."

That afternoon, Sui showed up.

Yuiko opened the door, beaming. "Sui!"

"Hey, princess." Sui stepped inside. "Ready for our walk?"

"Ready!"

They turned to the door, but Yumiko’s voice stopped them.

"Sui, a moment?"

Sui blinked, turning to look at her. Yumiko stood in the entranceway to the living room, her face unreadable.

"Yuiko, can you wait outside?" Yumiko asked. "I need to speak with Sui alone."

Yuiko hesitated, looking between them. "Mom..."

"Give me a second," Sui said quietly. "I’ll be right there."

Yuiko sighed, stepping outside and closing the door.

Yumiko and Sui faced each other in the doorway. The silence stretched between them.

"Sui." Yumiko’s voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her struggle. "I’ve been thinking lately. About you. About Yuiko. About... everything."

Sui waited, his expression unchanged.

"At first, I was afraid," Yumiko continued. "I was afraid of losing her. I was afraid that you would hurt her. I was afraid that she would leave me."

"Yumiko—"

"Let me finish," she said, raising a hand. "I’ve watched you with her. I’ve seen how you look at her. How you care for her. How you always make sure she’s happy before yourself."

Her voice became gentle.

"I see now that my fears are unjustified. You are not going to hurt her. You are not going to take her away from me. You will love her. Protect her. Cherish her."

Sui’s eyes went wide. "Yumiko..."

"I am giving you my full blessing," she said. "Not only as a mother, but as a person who trusts you. I trust you, Sui. Completely."

Sui stared at her, unable to speak. "Thank you," he whispered. "I won’t disappoint you."

Yumiko smiled for real this time, warmly. "I know you won’t."

They stepped outside to join Yuiko.

"Well?" she asked nervously. "What happened?"

Sui took her hand and said, "Your mother just gave us her blessing."

Yuiko’s eyes widened. "Really?!"

"Really."

Yuiko turned to her mother who was standing in the doorway. "Mom!"

Yumiko laughed. "Did I not tell you? He is a good boy."

Yuiko hugged her mother tightly, crying a little. "Thank you, Mom."

Yumiko hugged her back, tears in her eyes. "You deserve to be happy, sweetie. Both of you."

When Yuiko released her, she had a glow on her face. She tugged Sui’s hand, her tail wagging excitedly.

"Come on! Let’s go!"

They walked off, their laughter echoing in the morning air.

Yumiko watched them go with a bitter-sweet smile.

He loves her, she thought. He really does.

Her heart ached, but it was a different kind of pain now. Not of jealousy. Or longing.

Acceptance.

She would always love her daughter. She would always want what was best for her. And Sui was what was best for her.

And as for her own complicated emotions... she would deal with them quietly by herself. Time would heal that wound, she hoped.

They walked to the park, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

"Sui," Yuiko said softly. "I can’t believe that my mom gave us her blessing."

"I can," he said. "She loves you. She just wants you to be happy."

"Still... I was so scared. She’s been so strange lately."

Sui tightened his grip on her hand. "She’s just getting used to the situation. It’s difficult for her."

Yuiko nodded, then stopped walking. She turned to Sui and met his gaze.

"Sui. I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I love you." Yuiko’s voice was clear and sincere. "I love you so much. And I know that we’re young, and we don’t know anything about the future, but I want you to know that I am with you for forever."

His heart filled with joy. "Yuiko..."

"I am not going anywhere, no matter what happens. No matter how hard things get. I am choosing you."

He drew her into his embrace, holding her close to his chest. "I am choosing you too," he whispered. "Forever."

Yuiko hugged him back, her tail curling around his waist.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

They stayed there for a while, locked in a loving embrace, letting everything else fall away.

At home, Yumiko watched from the window.

She witnessed their embrace. How they hugged one another. How they were filled with love.

He is perfect for her, she thought to herself. He was everything she needed.

She smiled, despite the ache in her heart.

I will be alright, she promised herself. I will be fine.

However, when she looked away from the window, her tail flicked.

The confusion in her heart stayed.