A brief interlude wouldn't change his nature. Natsukawa Kanade didn't even bother trying too hard to clear his name—he was simply too exhausted. After all, no one wants to be seen as the kind of weirdo who does that in public.
With the desserts they'd ordered now packed away, he and Iino Miko made their way toward the cat café they'd reserved in advance.
Kanade had been here a few times beforeu. It was actually the very first place they'd ever gone on a "date," which probably should've made it feel special… but for him, it was just another visit. For Iino Miko, though, it was clearly a whole different story.
From the moment they stepped through the door, her face practically sparkled with wonder. Her eyes darted everywhere, drinking in every detail like a child seeing snow for the first time.
"Uwaaah… it's bigger than I imagined… and so clean!" she whispered in awe.
Understandable. Despite also serving food, the café's standards were high. The place was spotless. The floor gleamed. Not a stray cat hair in sight. And instead of the musky odor some animal cafés had, this one was filled with a gentle, almost soothing scent of jasmine. Just enough to relax you without being overwhelming.
The café itself was actually well-known, not just for its adorable residents, but also its chill, calming vibe. It wasn't packed with chairs or crammed with tables either—the design made sure the cats had space and didn't feel crowded by guests. The downside? Fewer seats meant that if you didn't book ahead, you were basically out of luck.
Hence why Kanade had made a reservation ahead of time. Even if the café wasn't in Tokyo's most central district, it was still Tokyo. Prices weren't cheap. The entry fee covered a fixed period, and if you wanted to stay longer, you had to pay by the hour. But honestly? Most people didn't mind. Between the cozy vibes and stylish décor, it felt worth every yen.
After checking in and paying, the two were taken to a small disinfection room to sanitize their hands and change into slippers. Only after that were they allowed into the main café area.
And just like that, the atmosphere changed completely.
Everywhere they looked—cats. Lazy, elegant, fuzzy creatures in all colors and patterns. Some curled up in sunny patches, others batted at toys or chased their tails. A few were sprawled on guests' laps, looking as smug as royalty.
"Waaah… sooo many cats… kawaii…" Miko gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. Her eyes darted back and forth in a state of sensory overload. "Which one do I even look at first?!"
Then, as if she suddenly remembered something very important, she turned to the staff member who had led them in and asked with intense seriousness, "Excuse me… which of the cats here is the boss?"
"Eh?" The staff girl blinked, clearly surprised by the question—but smiled kindly. "Ah, you mean the most senior member? That would be Chocolate-san."
She pointed to a black cat lounging atop the front counter, a tiny red bow tie around its neck like a little feline CEO. It didn't even acknowledge them—just kept grooming its paw like it had a meeting in ten minutes.
"Chocolate-chan has been with us the longest. She's a bit aloof with people, but very good with the other cats," the staff explained. She must've sensed it was Miko's first time here, because she went on to explain the basics—how to interact with cats, how to use the small toys at each table, and most importantly, what not to do.
"Please don't force the cats to interact," she warned gently. "And definitely don't try to sneak one home. We've had… incidents."
Miko nodded earnestly, as if she were attending a sacred orientation. She even took mental notes like she was preparing for an exam.
Once the staff left, Kanade expected her to grab a toy or sit quietly like most first-timers. But nope. Miko marched straight up to the "boss," stood at attention like a new recruit, then bowed low and declared:
"Reporting for duty, Boss!"
"…"
Kanade blinked.
What the hell was she doing?
But while he didn't get it… someone else clearly did.
The black cat, Chocolate, paused mid-lick. With the slow, elegant grace only cats possess, she raised her head and looked straight at Miko. Then, in perfect silence, she stood, stretched, and leapt from the counter.
Kanade's brows furrowed.
What's going on?
Miko, meanwhile, looked a little down, thinking she'd been ignored. But the next moment, Chocolate circled around behind her, let out a soft "meow," and rubbed up against her calf.
"Ah…!"
Miko's eyes lit up. Today, to match her white one-piece dress, she'd worn short white socks—and now her ankles were under adorable assault. The soft fur brushing against her made her shiver with a ticklish delight, but her face shone with joy.
She'd been acknowledged.
Senpai ni mitomete moratta…
Even if it only lasted a moment, it was still enough to make her day. After rubbing her leg for a bit, the "boss" cat lazily walked over to a nearby cabinet, leapt on top, and returned to her nap like a true veteran.
Miko watched her leave with shining eyes, thinking that was it.
But then…
One cat came over.
Then another.
Then three more.
In less than a minute, a small army of curious felines had gathered around her legs, nuzzling, sniffing, and rubbing against her.
"Ahaha… eehh… i-it tickles! Yamete, hontou ni…" she laughed, half-panicked but clearly enjoying every second. She crouched down, gently reaching out to stroke them like the staff had taught her. "Like this, right? Senpai… is this okay?"
Kanade, who had been silently watching this entire sequence unfold, felt like he'd somehow slipped into a parallel dimension.
"…"
What just happened?
Did she trigger a cat event flag?
He had no idea how this girl who was nervous and stammering just a few hours ago had suddenly turned into a cat whisperer.
At Miko's feet, a miniature feline festival had begun. Not just one or two cats, but nearly all the idle ones in the cafe had gathered around her, some curling up and exposing their bellies with gleeful purrs, others gently rubbing against her legs like she was some kind of long-lost cat queen.
Kanade blinked slowly. "This... this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this. How did you do it?" he asked, genuinely baffled.
"Eh?" Miko tilted her head, her long hair brushing over her shoulder as she looked at him in confusion. "I didn't do anything special… I just reported to the 'boss' like I was supposed to, ne?" She giggled, clearly proud of herself. "Maybe they recognized me! Maybe I've been accepted by the tribe!"
Kanade's eyebrow twitched. "Oi, who even reports to a cat like it's some kind of yakuza don?" he groaned, pressing his fingers to his temples. "This is a cat café, not a shounen manga!"
"Ehh? But that's what people on the internet said to do!" Miko looked a little flustered, her cheeks puffing up in embarrassment.
"The internet... I should've known." Kanade held out a hand. "Let me see."
Without hesitation, Miko unlocked her phone and passed it to him.
Kanade squinted at the search page still open: 'First time at a cat café – what to do?'
The top result? A suspiciously detailed guide that read more like a ritual scroll than advice. The first step: 'Be sure to report to the cat café's boss as soon as you enter.'
Kanade narrowed his eyes. "Seriously?"
He scrolled further: 'To show submission, lower your posture and act harmless… then, wait patiently. If you do everything correctly, the cats will come to you, curl up on your lap, and consider you one of their own.'
Kanade froze. "…This is some next-level LARPing…"
He looked back up at Miko, unsure whether to be impressed or deeply concerned.
"Senpai? What's wrong? You're making a really weird face…" she said, peering up at him innocently.
"…Here." Kanade handed her phone back, shaking his head slowly. "Just read the rest yourself."
"Hmm?" She took it back and scrolled through, her eyes moving quickly—then suddenly stopping.
Her expression shifted rapidly from curiosity… to confusion… to complete and utter horror.
"EHHH?! I'm supposed to jump into someone's lap and curl up?! B-but… I'm not a cat!!" she cried, voice cracking.
Kanade smirked, folding his arms. "You finally noticed, huh?"
"Se… Senpai…" Miko's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Don't tell me…"
"That's right," Kanade said solemnly, "you did all of it. Step by step. Just like the guide."
"Uwaaaahhhh!" Miko groaned, covering her face with both hands. Her body began radiating steam like an overheated kettle. Around them, they could hear whispers from nearby tables.
"Wow, that girl's amazing! Look at how many cats she attracted!"
"She must have some kind of cat aura, ne~?"
The heat in her cheeks doubled. "Nooo, I can't take it! I'm gonna die of embarrassment!"
Kanade winced in sympathy but couldn't help chuckling. "Come on, it's not that bad. You pulled off a perfect operation. A flawless infiltration into the feline world."
"But… but…" she sniffled, looking up at him with big, watery eyes. "They think I'm one of them!"
Just as she said it, one of the cats gently licked her palm, as if to comfort her.
"Ugh… well, I guess… it's not completely terrible…" Miko muttered. Slowly, the corners of her mouth turned upward.
Kanade let out a long breath. Girls' emotions change faster than the weather, he thought. But seeing her cheer up again somehow made the chaos worth it.
Soon enough, Miko had fully bounced back, giggling as she crouched and interacted with the cats surrounding her.
"Ah, this one's so fluffy! Is it a British Shorthair, maybe?" she asked, eyes sparkling. "And this little one looks like a Siamese! So pretty! And this sleepy one over here, is it a Ragdoll?"
Then her gaze stopped on a cat rolling lazily on its back. "Hmm? What about this one? It looks kinda familiar… but I can't quite place it…"
Kanade followed her gaze. The cat in question was sleek, with a misty blue-gray coat and striking green eyes. It rolled on the floor like royalty, perfectly at ease.
"…Ah," he muttered. "It looks like Tom."
"Tom?" Miko blinked.
"You know, from Tom and Jerry," Kanade explained, crouching beside her. "Back in the early days, Tom looked more like a standard gray tabby, but as time went on, he started looking more like this. That's a Russian Blue, by the way."
"Ehhh? Really? So this kitty is a star actor?" Miko beamed.
The Russian Blue yawned, stretched dramatically, and then meowed as if acknowledging the compliment.
Miko clapped her hands. "Sugoi~! I love this place already!"