Animal Friends That Match Their Personalities?
"It's pouring out there~ Look at the sky, it's got a hole in it."
"You expected this the moment I came out, didn't you? If it hadn't rained, Cloudy would've shown up instead."
"Such a tsundere. Don't you know mega-dere is way more in demand these days?"
"Sigh... I hate that I even understand those terms thanks to the original personality~"
Even as she said that, she was peacefully leaning against my chest.
Her ears tickled my chin, and her tail slowly swayed across the blanket before drooping limply.
After our intense second round, we were both exhausted and sprawled out on the bed like this.
It was too much effort to even look at my phone, so I just stared blankly out the window at the falling rain.
"Oh, right. Yuri, my mom said to come over for dinner."
"Today? But I told her I'd eat here before I left earlier."
"No, no, whenever you have time later."
"I do want to see her, but..."
Yuri scratched her cheek, looking troubled.
Yeah, if she went now, her social anxiety would just make her freeze up and stammer.
Knowing my mom's personality, she'd understand, but it would still be awkward for both of them.
"Should we add a small goal for this year?"
"Eating at Noah's house?"
"You're quick on the uptake. Just overcoming social anxiety on its own feels too abstract, you know?"
When you're trying to paint a big picture, you have to think about all the little ones that make it up.
It would probably help more to have concrete goals instead of suddenly chasing something vague.
"It's kind of funny, though. Making 'getting a free meal' one of this year's goals. It's not like that old show where they scrounge for a meal."
"We'll raise the difficulty gradually. First, your childhood friend's house. Next, a stranger's!"
"Why does it feel like there's no middle ground~ And wouldn't getting a meal from a stranger be impossible for you too, Noah?"
"Not if you give me a reward."
If I smacked my head hard enough to bring out Yellow, then closed my eyes for a bit, maybe it would work out somehow?
No. Without even the slightest bit of reason, Yellow might just run straight to Yuri.
"There you go again with the reward talk. You're even more obsessed than Cloudy."
"Aren't I the childhood friend who crossed the ocean just to see you, driven by that one obsession?"
"Tha~at's~ why~ I told you not to say things like that so casually!"
Ame shivered with embarrassment, then lightly scratched at my chin with her hand—scratch, scratch, scratch.
At this point, she looked less like a person and more like a cat.
Her tail curled into a neat circle, her ears slightly damp, the corners of her mouth subtly lifted, and her cheeks flushed like ripe persimmons...
Wait, and with that hint of sharpness in her eyes, maybe she really was a cat?
I liked both the sunny, dog-like Clear and the cat-like Ame, though.
'Then what animal would the rest of the personalities be?'
"Noah, what kind of perverted thoughts are you having right now?"
"They were wholesome thoughts, okay? I was just trying to find animals that match your personalities."
"Eww, that's so creepy."
"Harsh~ So? What animal do you think Cloudy would be?"
Even while scolding me, she still thought about it with me.
She tapped her finger against her lips, brain working at full speed, then came out with an unexpected animal.
"A hedgehog?"
"Look at you immediately shoving the minor animals onto someone else just because you're already the major cat. Your personality's showing."
"Ugh, hear me out first! She's all flashy on the outside, but on the inside she's incredibly delicate!"
It was surprisingly convincing.
Cloudy's hair was mostly black, but the tips were red.
'That actually draws a lot of attention.'
And the way her cheeks puffed up whenever I teased her a little definitely resembled a delicate, defensive creature like a hedgehog.
"...Fine, I'll give you that one. Then what about the original personality?"
I wanted to ask about Mist's Yuri too, but I couldn't right now.
"Honestly, isn't the original one obvious?"
"Yeah, it is. A rabbit. Definitely a rabbit."
After all, wasn't Yuri someone who got lonely easily and loved being spoiled?
I couldn't think of any animal other than a rabbit for her.
"But why are you grinning like that?"
"No reason~ I just thought of a way to tease the main body inside."
"You have a surprisingly mischievous side too. What is it?"
Ame tilted her head toward me with a sly grin.
Her breath and voice carried a faintly seductive tone.
She whispered alluringly, like a temptress.
"They say rabbits have incredibly strong sexual desires, right?"
Of all the possible reasons, she had to pick that one.
Well... there was also that saying about rabbits dying if they get too lonely.
Once they give their heart to someone, they form incredibly strong bonds and attachments.
So naturally, the desires they direct toward their chosen partner would be just as intense. Yeah, that made sense.
Besides, the original personality—Yuri—had pink hair, didn't she?
It was a classic cliché that pink hair meant someone was bold in that department.
"Hehe, that flustered look on your face is truly delicious♪"
"Shut up. Who's the one who made it like this?"
"Consider it payback for our second round earlier~"
"You've got quite the vindictive streak, huh? Isn't the inside making a fuss about this?"
"It's obviously a total mess in there. It's a shame you can't hear what they're saying right now~"
Ame covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.
Her expression was incredibly cheeky, but even that was cute, so I let it slide with just a little ear-tickling.
"Want to eat?"
"Isn't it a bit early?"
"Playing with a cat took way too much stamina."
"At this rate, how are you ever going to keep up with Sunny, the dog~"
"She's still growing, so who knows? Anyway, get down already. We need to go to the kitchen."
Ame stayed firmly nestled in my arms, showing no intention of getting off.
In fact, she adjusted her position as if telling me to carry her down.
"You said she's growing, right? Proper exercise is essential."
"This isn't easy. You want me to carry a chubby cat who weighs over fifty kilos down the stairs?"
"I do not weigh over fifty kilos?!"
"Huh, really? Even though you're so short, I figured with your height you'd be in the early fifties."
"Ugh, you've been scratching at me since earlier! And you carried me just fine last time!"
Yuri hissed sharply and bit down on my finger.
Of course, it wasn't with her fangs—she was just pressing down, so it didn't hurt at all.
"It was because you were too skinny. This won't do. Let's add another goal. You need to get over fifty kilos. Being too thin isn't healthy either."
"H-hyaa?!"
When I suddenly stood up, she burrowed completely into my arms.
Seeing her tail wrap around my wrist like a rope, her body was honest in all sorts of ways.
Her shirt rode up, revealing a glimpse of her slim stomach. I mentally combined the ingredients in the fridge.
'Carbs, protein, a bit of fat, and cat-friendly flavors.'
"Alright. Let's go with pasta and steak."
Is this what being a parent feels like?
That nervous, hovering feeling where you want to reach out and help, but you also want to watch them accomplish it themselves and smile brightly.
That complicated yet warm emotion.
"Yeah, like that. Curl your hand like a cat's paw."
"Huu... Okay. Carefully... carefully..."
Yuri stuck her tongue out slightly as she sliced the bacon that would go into the pasta.
The way her eyebrows furrowed in concentration was incredibly cute.
She didn't want to just watch anymore—she wanted to try cooking herself.
To be honest, helping with the dishes would've been enough, but she wanted to help me more.
'So I can cook for myself even when you're not here.'
She'd told me she'd been getting by with frozen meals or what my mom made, so helping her build some independence seemed like a good idea.
That's why I'd started her off with something simple like knife work.
"Ugh, it's so uncomfortable, Noah! Wouldn't it be more stable to hold it with my fingertips?"
Yuri found the posture I'd taught her incredibly awkward.
She'd concentrated so hard that even her tail had curled into a perfect circle, but it still wasn't working properly.
"Of course it's uncomfortable at first. The real purpose of the cat paw grip is something else, actually."
I stepped behind her and gently wrapped my hand around hers where she held the knife.
"Haa... If you do skinship so openly..."
"You're less clingy than before but still getting excited. Focus for now. Try curling your hand again."
"Hmph, you're so bad at setting the mood. Here."
"Perfect. The cat paw isn't for gripping the ingredients—it's for guiding the knife's movement."
"Guiding it?"
"Yeah. See how your finger joints are sticking out forward? You rest the side of the knife against those joints for support."
I carefully moved her hand that held the knife, helping her get the feel for it.
"Use your left hand as a guide and move it up and down like this."
Yuri, who had been holding her breath, nodded and then—slice!
She successfully cut a clean line with confidence.
"There we go, that's it! You're a fast learner!"
"Hehe, the problem was that I wasn't doing it. Once I start, I'm good at it!"
Ame puffed out her chest with pride, even letting out a little snort.
She'd only sliced a long strip of bacon, but anyone watching would think she'd just competed on a cooking show.
"Don't get too cocky. That's enough for today. I'll teach you how to slice it thin next time."
"Hmph~ Are you scared I'll get too good at cooking, Noah?"
"That sounded like something from one of those overly patriotic TV shows. Still... I really do want to eat your cooking."
The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward at those words.
What should I even say? We just stood there blushing, unable to speak?
Yet our hands remained overlapped on the knife handle.
"....What kind of food do you want to eat?"
"Um... doenjang jjigae with rolled omelette and grilled spam?"
"How modest."
"And if you could feed me each bite yourself, that'd be even better."
"Haa... Then I'd have to make it really hot, wouldn't I?"
"Why?"
"Don't you want me to blow on it and feed you, Noah?"
This was exactly why you couldn't hide your desires from a childhood friend.
"Ahem..."
"Hee, that's all the answer I need. Let go. I'll finish cutting the bacon myself."
When I stepped back, Yuri adjusted her apron again and gripped the knife.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"♩ ♪ ♫ "
The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board mixed with her humming.
And there you were, standing in the corner of the kitchen bathed in the sunset glow.
'If I said you looked exactly like a wife waiting for her husband to come home from work, would you believe me?'
