My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

The first thing Yuiko was aware of was the warmth.

It enveloped her, wrapping her in an embrace that was both comforting and protective. She felt safe. Content. Comfortable.

The second thing Yuiko became aware of was the arm encircling her waist.

Her eyes opened quickly.

She was in her bed. In her room. And there was a body snuggled up to her, an arm around her, a breath against the back of her neck.

Sui, she remembered He came to stay with me . He slept next to me .

Her heart started racing. Her tail fluffed out.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. Did something happen? Did we—did I—

Yuiko slowly turned her head.

Sui was sleeping behind her, his expression at peace. His breathing was calm, slow, and even. An arm of his circled her waist, pulling her close to his chest.

They were still fully dressed. No action happened.

But they slept in the same bed.

Yuiko’s face blushed furiously.

What am I supposed to do now? she wondered desperately. Should I wake him up? Should I act like I’m still asleep? Should I—

Then she felt it.

The warmth. The safety. The way he hugged her like she was his most precious possession in the entire world.

Her fear began to dissolve.

She relaxed in his embrace, a smile breaking out on her face. Her tail, which was puffed up in surprise, slowly relaxed.

This is nice, she thought. Really nice.

Yuiko closed her eyes, feeling her blissful peace. She felt his arm squeezing her just a little bit, pulling her closer.

She felt completely protected and adored by him.

I could get used to this, she thought.

Sui stirred behind her.

Yuiko felt him moving. She heard a little gasp from him. She felt his body taut as he woken up and realized where he was.

"Yuiko?" His voice sounded sleepy and confused.

Yuiko turned in his arms and looked at him, her smile bright.

"Good morning, Sui."

His eyes went wide. His face turned crimson red.

"Yuiko! We—we did not—?"

"We slept." Yuiko laughed softly. "That’s all we did. Only slept."

His blush deepened. "I didn’t—I wasn’t trying to—"

"I know." Yuiko touched his cheek. "You stayed because I asked you to. You slept on the floor, and then I asked you to sleep next to me. That’s all."

Relief filled him, and he exhaled deeply. "I thought I might have—"

"You did not do anything inappropriate." Yuiko smiled at him. "You were a perfect gentleman."

His blush didn’t fade, but his fear did. He relaxed a little bit, his arm still around her waist.

"Sorry." He mumbled. "I didn’t mean to get freaked out."

"It’s alright." Yuiko leaned in closer, resting her forehead against his. "I got scared too. I freaked out when I woke up."

"Really?"

"Yes. My heart was beating like crazy. My tail fluffed. I thought—" Yuiko laughed nervously. "I can’t remember what I thought."

"I thought I’d done something wrong."

"No, I didn’t." Yuiko kissed his nose. "This was perfect."

They lied there for a while in silence, wrapped up in each other’s embraces.

The morning sun lit up the room through the curtains. The house was silent and peaceful.

Yuiko’s tail curled around his leg, keeping him close to her.

"Sui?" Yuiko whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for staying here."

"Thank you for letting me stay here."

Yuiko smiled, happy.

"Would you mind if we did this again?" she asked shyly. "Sometime?"

Sui pulled her closer, tightening his embrace.

"Whenever you want it," he said softly. "I’m yours anytime."

She giggled and her tail waved against his leg.

"How about tonight?"

He laughed and kissed her head. "Tonight sounds perfect."

Finally, they dragged themselves out of bed.

Yuiko cooked breakfast—just plain toast and eggs, but she tried her best. Sui helped her, their hands touching as they worked together.

They ate at the table in the kitchen, basking in the warm sunlight coming through the windows.

"Sui," Yuiko said thoughtfully.

"Hmm?"

"I think... This was my best morning. Ever."

He looked at her, his eyes soft. "So was mine."

"I mean it." Yuiko took his hand across the table. "Waking up next to you. Feeling safe. Loved. Never felt like this before."

He squeezed her hand.

"Never had it either," he confessed. "Never had anyone who makes me feel like this. Like I’m right where I’m supposed to be."

Yuiko smiled, her eyes shining.

"We are right where we’re supposed to be," she said. "Together."

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"Forever," he promised.

Yuiko’s tail wiggled happily.

"Forever," she repeated.

Later, they sat on the couch, watching a movie.

Yuiko was leaning against his side, her head lying on his chest, her tail wrapped around his arm. His hand was in her hair, gently stroking.

"We should do this more often," she murmured.

"We definitely should."

"Every weekend?"

He laughed softly. "Every weekend."

Yuiko looked up at him, her golden eyes warm.

"I love you, Sui."

He leaned down and kissed her—soft, warm, full of promises.

When he pulled away, she was smiling at him.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Same time tomorrow," he promised.

He left, and she watched him leaving, her heart full of happiness.

Best two days ever, she thought.

And she knew, without any doubt, that there were going to be many more.

But after that weekend, things had become different.

She could feel it when he looked at her; there was warmth and certainty in the way he did it now. She could feel it in the way he touched her – the slow, soft touch of his thumb against her palm. And she could feel it in the way he kissed her when saying goodbye, spending a few seconds extra.

Things had changed between them. They had grown closer.

Now sitting under their cherry tree as the autumn leaves were falling around them, Yuiko felt the question burning inside of her.

"Sui?" she said.

"Mm?"

"Could I ask you something?"

He looked at her, his eyes glowing with warmth. "Anything."

She fidgeted with her sleeve, her tail curling around her leg and ears slightly flattened.

"I have been thinking about us," she began. "And our relationship and the future."

He waited, his hand reaching for hers.

"And I have been wondering... do you think we should tell your parents about us and about the fact that we are..."

She couldn’t even finish the sentence. She bit her lip.

"...serious?"

"That we are serious," she managed to whisper. "That we are in love. That we want to spend our lives together."

Sui was looking at her, stunned. His heartbeat was speeding up.

"You are serious, Yuiko?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "I am serious."

He stared at her.

"Yuiko," he said, slowly. "Are you sure? My parents are..."

"I know they are," she interrupted, squeezing his hand. "But I want to meet them. I want them to get to know me. To see that I am here for the long run."

He didn’t say anything for a while, but then he smiled – a real, genuine, bright smile.

"Okay," he said. "We will tell them."

Her tail started waging. "Really?"

"Really." He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "If you are ready to do it, I am ready too."

She threw herself into his arms, wrapping them around his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

He laughed, hugging her. "You are welcome, princess."

But as the dinner approached, both of them became more and more nervous.

Yuiko could not fall asleep. She was lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to imagine all the possible outcomes.

What if my boyfriend’s parents don’t like me? What if they think I am not worthy of him? What if they dislike beastfolk? What if—

She rolled and punched her pillow.

Enough! – she told herself. Your boyfriend loves you. That is the most important thing. His parents will see that.

But she couldn’t shake away her worries.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, Sui couldn’t fall asleep either.

He was lying in his bed, trying to think but failing. His heart was beating very fast.

What if my parents won’t accept her? What if they will say something hurtful? What if I will be unable to protect her from that?

He had never been nervous before while meeting his girlfriend’s parents. But this was Yuiko – the one he loved and who he wanted to marry someday.

He needed to make sure that his parents would accept her.

The night before the dinner they called each other.

"Are you nervous?" Yuiko asked, her voice trembling.

"Terrified," Sui admitted. "How are you?"

"Completely."

Both of them laughed.

"We will get through this," he said. "Together."

"Together," she agreed.

They talked for a long time, reassured each other and tried to think about everything that may happen during the dinner.

And when they hung up, both of them felt better.