My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Morning sun lighted up the curtains of Sui’s room. He did not manage to sleep well as the perfect dinner of the previous evening kept playing in his head.

Yuiko had been amazing. His parents adored her. Everything went just fine.

He could not help smiling when he heard the buzzing of his phone.

Yuiko: Can I come over? I need to see you.

His heart was beating faster. He answered right away.

Sui: Of course. I will wait for you.

Exactly half an hour later Yuiko was standing at his door with the tail waggling nervously and with a small bag in hands.

Sui opened the door and smiled.

"Hey, princess."

"Hey, senpai," she answered, with perked-up ears. "I hope I am not disturbing. I just... I could not stop thinking about the previous night. About your parents. About everything."

"You are never disturbing me," he answered, taking her hand and inviting to enter the room. "My mother has been saying about you all morning long."

Yuiko’s ears flatly.

"Good things, I hope?"

"Very good things," he smiled. "She said you are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Her tail started to wag. "Really?"

"Really."

They went to the kitchen where Haru was humming while preparing breakfast. When they entered the room, she looked at them and smiled brightly.

"Yuiko! You are back!" She went to them and hugged the girl. "I was hoping that you would come. I cooked a lot, and Sui cannot eat everything."

"I would be happy to help," Yuiko said, with wagging tail. "Is there something that I can do?"

"Sure! You can set the table, Sui help her."

They moved around each other with ease. Sui gave Yuiko the plates, and their fingers touched. She smiled and his heart skipped.

Haruka watched them with a soft smile.

They look so good together, she thought. They are so natural.

Their breakfast was cozy and warm.

Haru had prepared a spread of dishes – grilled fish, tamagoyaki, miso soup, rice and pickled vegetables. Yuiko ate happily, wagging her tail under the table.

"So, Yuiko," Haru said, with twinkling eyes. "I have to ask. How did you like our family dinner?"

Yuiko stopped eating and hovered the chopsticks in mid-air.

"It was wonderful," she said, sincerely. "Your cooking is amazing. And Kenji is so kind. And you..." She stopped, blushing. "You made me feel so comfortable. As if I was already a member of the family."

Haru’s eyes softened. "That is because you are."

Yuiko’s eyes shimmied. "Really?"

"Really," Haru reached the table and took her hand. "You are not just the girlfriend of Sui anymore. You are the family. And family takes care of each other."

Yuiko’s tail was waggling really fast.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much."

After breakfast Sui took Yuiko to his room.

It was small and cozy, with bookshelves along the wall and desk full of papers. His bed was neatly done, and there was one window looking out to the garden.

"This is your room," Yuiko said, looking around. "It is so... you."

"Is that a good thing?"

"It is a perfect thing," she turned to him, with warm eyes. "I feel as if I see a new side of you. Your real self."

He stepped closer and put his hand on hers. "You have always seen the real me, Yuiko. Only you."

Her tail curled around his wrist and pulled him closer.

"I love you," she said softly. "More than anything."

"I love you too," he put his forehead to hers. "More than anything."

They stood embracing each other.

Knock on the door interrupted their moment.

"Sorry for disturbing you," Haru said from the door. "But I made some tea. Would you like to join me to the garden?"

Sui and Yuiko looked at each other, then softly laughed.

"Yes, we would," Sui answered.

They went out together, holding hands. Their garden was beautiful – it was filled with flowers and with pond with koi fishes. Haru was already sitting at the table with three cups of tea in front of her.

"Sit, sit," she said, gesturing to the empty places. "I would like to talk with you both. Together."

They sat, holding hands.

Haru took a sip of the tea, thinking.

"I have been thinking," she started. "About the future. About what will happen next to you two."

Yuiko felt nervous a bit. Sui squeezed her hand.

"I know you are both young," Haru continued. "And I know how much is ahead of you. College, career, life. But I also know that what you have is unique. Rare. And it is worth fighting for."

She put the cup down, looking at them.

"I just wanted you to know that you have my support. Both of you. Whatever path you take, I will be there. Support you."

Yuiko’s eyes were glittering. "Haru..."

"I am serious," she smiled warmly. "You are not just the girlfriend of my son. You are my daughter now. And I will always support you."

"Do you know message from Haru?" Sui suddenly interrupted.

"Do not call your mother by name"

"I mean – my best friend Haru."

Haru understood her and felt relieved a bit. The emotional scene continued.

Yuiko’s tears fell over. She stood up and went to Haru, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered, through her tears. "Thank you so much."

Haru hugged her, stroking her hair.

"Thank you," she said. "For making my son so happy."

Later Sui escorted Yuiko to the front door.

"Today was perfect," she said softly. "Your mother is amazing."

"She thinks you are amazing too."

She smiled and her tail was waggling. "I am glad. I was so scared, but now..."

"Now?"

"Now I feel as if I belong." She rose and touched his cheek. "As if I am the part of something great."

He covered her hand with his and turned to kiss her palm.

"You are," he said. "You are the part of my family now. And I will never let you go."

She leaned forward and kissed his lips.

"Good," she whispered. "Because I am never going away."

He kissed her again, deeper this time.

When they broke off, they both were smiling.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Same time tomorrow," he answered.

She walked away, waggling the tail happily.

And Sui remained looking at her, with full heart.

This is everything that he ever wanted.

A week has passed since that visit, and Yuiko has been visiting Sui’s house almost every day since then.

She felt comfortable around Haru. They could easily spend time talking and sharing funny stories over a cup of tea. Haru became like a second mother to her.

However, Kenji still remained mysterious.

He was always there, reading newspapers or watching TV, greeting her politely but remaining silent.

She couldn’t understand him. It was impossible to catch anything on his face. His voice did not tell anything either.

It made her nervous.

Today, she came to Sui’s place to find out that he was not at home. He texted her earlier that he had to go somewhere on a business trip to his friend.

"Make yourself at home," Haru said, heading to the kitchen. "Sui will be back soon."

Yuiko nodded, sitting on the couch. However, her eyes kept moving towards Kenji who was sitting in his usual place and reading his newspaper.

Silence hung in the air.

Kenji lowered his newspaper and looked at Yuiko.

Yuiko’s ears flattened. Her tail curled around her leg.

"You’re here early," he noted.

"Sui texted me that he will come back soon," she answered him carefully. "So, I decided to wait here."

He nodded silently and returned to his newspaper.

Yuiko gulped.

He doesn’t like me, she thought. He definitely doesn’t like me.

The hours passed.

Haru offered them a cup of tea and then headed back to work in the garden. Yuiko sat uncomfortably on the couch, holding her cup and having her tail tightly curled.

Kenji did not utter a single word.

Yuiko’s mind raced. What did she do wrong? Was she rude at dinner? Did she say something inappropriate? What did he think of her?

Her ears flattened more.

He is so quiet, she thought desperately. What is he thinking? What does he want from me?

She hoped that Sui was coming home soon. He knew how to talk to this man. He knew how to break the tension with his gentle touch and jokes.

However, he was not here yet.

And Yuiko was left alone with the man who definitely disapproved of her.

Finally, Kenji put his newspaper down.

Yuiko prepared for the worst. He was looking at her intently with an unreadable expression.

"Yuiko," he said. "I have a question."

"Yes, sir?" she answered, her heart beating fast.

He leaned closer and rested his elbows on his knees. His eyes were serious, thoughtful.

"What do you like about my son?" he asked calmly and curiously. "Why do you love him?"

Yuiko stared at him, confused.

This is it, she thought. This is the test. He wants to hear my answer and judge it. He will decide whether I am worthy of his son or not.

Her tail tightened around her leg. Her ears were flat. Her heart was beating fast.

However, she thought about Sui, about his beautiful smile, gentle laugh, and the way he looked at her like there was nobody else in the world.

And she began to talk.

"I love him because he is kind," Yuiko said, her voice soft but confident. "Not only to me, but to everyone. He opens the doors for strangers. He helps people who dropped their books. He even feeds stray cats with me, even though he is very tired."

Kenji was listening to her with an unreadable expression.

"I love him because I feel safe with him. When I’m with him, I don’t need to pretend anything. I don’t need to hide. With him, I can be myself and he loves me even though I’m myself."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I love him because he remembers everything. Small things. The things I like or don’t. Things I say even if I don’t pay attention to them. He remembers them all."

Kenji’s expression softened.

"I love him because he is patient. I’m sometimes not very easy to be with. I get anxious, I get jealous. I think a lot. But he never leaves me. He never walks away."

Her tail relaxed and her voice became stronger.

"I love him because he makes me laugh. He makes terrible jokes and I can’t help rolling my eyes. But I love each one of them. With him, I can turn the bad day into a good one."

She took a deep breath.

"I love him because he is brave. Not that loud, show-off type of brave. That quiet type of bravery which allows him to stand up for what’s right. To protect the ones he loves. To fight with his parents for me."

Kenji was silent and kept looking at her.

"And I love him," she finished, her voice becoming whispering again. "When I look at him, I see my future. My home, my life I want to live. Someone I want to grow old with."

She looked at her hands.

"I love him because he is himself. And there is nobody else I want to be with."

Silence was hanging in the air.

Yuiko’s heart was beating fast. She had spoken too much. She had been too sincere. She had—

"Yuiko."

She looked up at him with her tear-filled eyes.

He was smiling.

It was a very small smile, almost invisible. But it changed his face completely. The sternness disappeared and was replaced by something warmer. Something real.

"Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for your answer."

She blinked.

"What?"

"Most of people when I ask such a question, give me silly reasons. ’He is cute’, ’he is popular’, ’he makes me laugh’", he shook his head. "But you... you gave me the answer of my heart. You gave me your heart."

Her tail started wagging hesitantly.

"I didn’t realize that you were testing me," she said.

"I was not testing you." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes warm. "I wanted to understand. I wanted to see whether you really love him. And you do."

Her eyes widened.

"You believe me?"

"I believe you." He nodded slowly. "I’ve been watching you for weeks, Yuiko. I’ve been seeing how you look at him, how you take care of him, how you check on him during dinner. How you worry about him." His voice softened. "Nobody ever loved my son the way you do."

Yuiko’s eyes were filled with tears.

"Thank you," she cried. "Thank you very much."

Kenji got up, approached her and gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"You are a good girl, Yuiko. You are good for him." He squeezed her shoulder. "I am proud to be your family."

She stood up and hugged him, unable to resist the urge.

He went stiff from surprise, then slowly returned the hug.

"Thank you," she mumbled in his chest. "Thank you for the chance."

He awkwardly patted her back. "You deserve it."

When Sui came back home at last, he found Yuiko in the living room talking and laughing with his father.

Kenji told her something about his childhood. It was a ridiculous story about a mud puddle and an enraged neighbor. Yuiko held her hand to her cheeks because she was laughing so hard.

"Dad!" Sui blushed. "You are not supposed to tell her that!"

"It is too late now." Kenji smiled brightly. "She knows everything now."

Yuiko looked at Sui and her eyes were shining warmly. "I love you," she smiled. "Even though you were a muddy little monster."

Sui sighed but smiled.

"I cannot escape from my past," he grumbled.

"Nope." Yuiko stood up, walked towards him, took his hand and her tail curled around his wrist. "But it is okay. I love you, no matter what. Even muddy you."

He smiled and pulled her to a hug.

"I love you too," he whispered in her hair.

At that moment, Haru came through the doorway, her face radiant with happiness.

"Well," she smiled, "everything turned out well."

Kenji nodded and looked at his son and his girlfriend.

"Perfectly," he agreed.

Yuiko knew it was her place.