My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

The text message came in the evening on Thursday.

Yuiko was looking at her phone in horror, her heart beating fast and her tail still in the middle of its wag. She had just learned that she would be left home alone this weekend, because her mother was going on a business trip, which could not be rescheduled.

Totally alone.

And she had Sui.

What if I invite him to stay over? she thought in horror. No. No, this is way too much. He will think that I’m—

She shook her head furiously, making her ears flop.

I can’t ask him to come. I just can’t. This is humiliating.

But the thought refused to fade.

She pictured them together, watching a movie, eating dinner, falling asleep on the sofa. Waking up early in the morning.

Her tail was wagging wildly.

Stop that, she told herself. Don’t fantasize like that, you’ll drive yourself mad.

But the seed had been planted.

The next morning Yuiko was a mess.

She could not concentrate in the classes, because her eyes kept drifting to Sui, sitting two rows ahead of her. Every time he glanced behind him to catch her look, she would quickly look away, blushing to the roots of her hair.

At lunch she barely ate. Her tail was curled around her leg and her ears were laid flat to the head.

"Yuiko?" Sui looked concerned. "Are you okay? You’ve been acting strange all day."

"I’m fine!" She sounded shrill. "Totally fine! Never better!"

He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You’re not fine."

"Yes, I am!"

"Then your tail says that you’re lying."

She looked down. Her tail was twice as big as usual.

She groaned, burying her face in her palms. "I can’t lie to you, it is impossible."

"No, you can’t." He smiled lightly. "So tell me, what is the matter?"

She peeked at him between her fingers. Her face was red.

"My mom," she mumbled. "She’s going away this weekend for work. The whole weekend."

"Oh." He blinked. "So you will be alone?"

"Alone." She nodded gloomily. "Totally alone."

"I see."

She waited for him to say something else, but he was silent.

She took a deep breath, listening to her heart beating as if she had a huge drum inside of her chest.

"Sui?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you... I mean, I was thinking... Do you want to... stay over? This weekend? At my place?"

His eyes got wide and he blushed.

"Stay over?" he repeated uncertainly.

"For one night! Or two! I don’t know, but I just thought—I don’t want to be alone and you are my boyfriend and—" She started to babble. "We could watch movies, you could have dinner..."

"Yuiko."

She stopped, looking at him through her fingers. Her face was scarlet.

"I’d love to," he said softly.

"Really?"

"Really." He stretched his hand over the table and held hers. "I’d love to spend the weekend with you."

Her tail started wagging again and a smile appeared on her face.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay. Good. That’s... that’s good."

But both of them panicked inwardly.

That night neither of them could sleep.

Yuiko was lying in bed, looking at the ceiling and thinking.

He is coming over tonight. To my house. Entire weekend. What if something happens? What if I make some kind of mistake? What if he thinks that I am weird? What if—

She rolled to another side and hit the pillow with her fist.

Stop that, she thought. This is just a sleepover. Just friends’ thing. Just couples thing.

But she knew that it was more than just that. That it was a step. A big step.

And she was terrified.

Across the street Sui was having similar problems.

He was lying in bed, looking at the ceiling and his heart was beating fast.

Yuiko’s house. Weekend. Together. Alone.

His cheeks burned.

What if I do something wrong? What if I make her feel uncomfortable? What if she regrets inviting me? What if—

He groaned, hiding his face under a pillow.

This is totally fine, he told himself. This is perfectly fine. I am just visiting a friend’s house. A friend, who is actually my girlfriend. My love. The one that I want to spend my whole life with.

And tossed and turned all night.

The Friday came too fast.

Yuiko was standing in front of her mirror, checking her reflection for hundredth time. She had changed clothes four times already. Her hair was an absolute mess and her tail was twitching.

He is coming in an hour, she thought despairingly. What am I going to do?

Finally she decided to wear a comfy sweater and jeans — casual but cute outfit. She tidied the living room and picked movies.

And then she waited.

The doorbell rang exactly at six.

Yuiko felt her heart jumping in her throat. She took a deep breath, smoothed her sweater and opened the door.

There was Sui standing in front of her, carrying a small bag. He was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans. He was slightly messy and his cheeks were pink.

"Hey," he said nervously.

"Hey," she answered, her voice being equally nervous.

They stood there in silence, looking at each other.

Then she burst out laughing.

"This is ridiculous," she said. "We have known each other for ages. Why are we so nervous?"

He laughed too, all of the tension vanishing. "I don’t know. It’s just different."

"Different."

"Good different."

She stepped aside. "Come in."

He came in, looking around the living room. It was cozy and warm with soft blankets and pillows.

"Nice place," he said.

"Thanks." She fidgeted with her hands. "I cooked dinner. Or rather, I ordered dinner. From your favorite place."

"You ordered food from my favorite place?"

"I wanted to make you happy."

He turned to look at her, his eyes soft.

"You make me happy just being with you," he said.

Her cheeks burned and her tail was wagging.

"Come on," she said, holding his hand. "Let’s have dinner before it gets cold."

They had dinner together, talking freely. The nervousness was gone, replaced by comfortable familiarity.

After dinner they sat on the couch, watching a movie. Yuiko was leaning against Sui, her head lying on his shoulder. His arm was wrapping around her.

Neither of them was paying attention to the movie.

"Sui?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I’m glad you’re here."

He kissed the top of her head.

"Me too, Princess. Me too."

And they stayed like that, cuddled to each other, forgetting about the world.

And for the first time that night, both of them felt at peace.

The film kept on playing, but none of them paid any attention to it.

Twenty minutes ago Yuiko gave up trying to look into the screen. She was slumbering peacefully in Sui’s embrace, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Sui was feeling every moment of it. Her warmth on his skin. Her breaths. The loose curl of her tail around his arm.

He didn’t move an inch.

She shifted a little and put her hand on his. The contact seemed so natural as if it was nothing new for them.

"Sui," she mumbled.

"Mmm?"

"Stay..."

"I’m not going anywhere."

She smiled and closed her eyes tightly. "Good."

She held his hand a little harder. Her tail coiled tighter around his arm.

Sui felt a surge of happiness.

This is everything I’ve ever wished for, he thought.

The film was over. The credits were running. There was only the soft sound of the TV in the room.

Yuiko was fast asleep.

Her head was pressed against his shoulder. She was slumbering peacefully with her ears drooping.

Sui was smiling to himself. She looked so beautiful and peaceful.

But he wanted her to feel comfortable.

So he had to take her to her room.

Carefully, he made her change position and started lifting her off the couch. She moved slightly, her head falling on his shoulder.

"Yuiko," he whispered. "I’m going to take you to bed, okay?"

She mumbled some nonsense. Her tail curled around his wrist briefly and relaxed.

He understood it as permission.

Softly, he put one arm below her legs and the other behind her back and lifted her up gently.

She stirred a little, snuggling into his neck.

"Sui..." she breathed.

"I’m here," he whispered. "I have you."

He carried her upstairs and put her in her room. It was just like he remembered it — warm and cozy with lots of soft things everywhere.

He laid her carefully on the bed. Her head touched the pillow, and she let out a soft sigh.

He covered her up with the blanket, tucking her in.

"There," he whispered. "All safe."

He wanted to turn and go...

And her tail caught his wrist.

He stopped.

"Sui..." she whispered sleepily. "Don’t go..."

His heart contracted in pain.

She pulled him gently back to her bed, her tail pulling his arm slightly.

He stumbled, grabbing the edge of the bed.

"Yuiko, I—"

"Stay," she whispered. "Please."

Her eyes remained closed. Her grasp was weak, but firm.

He had to stay.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his heart beating hard.

Her tail unwrapped itself from his wrist and entwined with his hand.

"Stay," she repeated, her voice fading away.

He squeezed her hand gently.

"I will stay," he whispered. "I’m not going anywhere."

She smiled sleepily.

And fell asleep.

Sui stayed.

He sat by her bed, holding her hand, looking at her sleeping form. Everything was silent but for her gentle breathing. The moonlight was shining through the curtains, making silver patterns on her face.

She looked peaceful. Trustful.

She trusts me, he thought. She trusts me completely.

He felt it like a flood. She allowed herself to sleep in his arms. She asked him to stay. She pulled him back when he wanted to leave.

She trusts me.

And he was going to keep this trust always.

He bent down and kissed her forehead gently.

"Sleep well, princess," he whispered. "I’m going to be here with you."

Morning came slowly.

Yuiko opened her eyes. The sunlight was gentle. Her room was warm and cozy.

She woke up dazed, feeling like something is wrong, but unable to understand what.

She blinked.

She looked down.

Sui was sleeping on the floor near her bed, his head resting on his arms. His hand was still in her grasp. His breathing was deep and even.

She looked at him, her heart overflowing with happiness.

He stayed, she realized. He really stayed.

Her tail started to wag furiously. Her ears rose.

She gently squeezed his hand.

"Sui," she whispered. "Wake up."

He stirred and opened his eyes sleepily.

"Yuiko?" He yawned. "Are you okay?"

"I’m perfect." She smiled. "You stayed."

"Of course I stayed. I promised you that."

She pulled him and pat the bed beside her.

"Come here."

He blinked confusedly. "What?"

"Come here. Sleep near me. The floor seems uncomfortable."

His face colored. "Yuiko, I don’t think—"

"Please?"

Her words were sincere and trustworthy.

He couldn’t say anything.

He climbed on the bed, still embarrassed and awkward. She immediately curled up next to him, putting her head on his chest and winding her tail around his waist.

"Much better," she sighed.

He embraced her and held her close.

"Much better," he agreed.

They were lying there in each other’s embrace while the sunlight was shining through the curtains.

And for both of them it felt like home.