A Special Snack for Nero
"Divide it into small portions in plastic bags, and all that's left is to let it cool."
"Oh..."
The smell is a little different from the store-bought stuff I've been feeding her, but the quality of the ingredients is leagues above anything you could find on the market, so I can't help feeling a bit excited. Honestly, when she first said she was going to make churu, I was half-skeptical, but now that it's done, the familiar color is right there in front of me.
"That's impressive."
"Right? As expected, I'm... well, you know."
You know...? Ah. "Yes, as expected of you, Chef."
She seems to like being called Chef, so when I give her the answer she wants, she covers her mouth with one hand and laughs happily.
"Ehehe... It's nothing special. By the way, you looked pretty comfortable in the kitchen yourself?"
"I can only manage simple meals for myself. Nothing like the variety of dishes you can make, Chef. If I ever get the chance, I'd love to learn properly."
"Really...?"
Creak...! Crack...
She suddenly moves, and the joints in her legs and torso make an unsettling sound. It reminds me of the sound effects in horror movies when a ghost or zombie forces its stiff body upright.
"..."
Even as a chill runs down my spine, I keep reminding myself that she means me no harm and desperately suppress the reaction. I need to keep the conversation going before she notices anything strange.
"Ah... haha. I guess seeing someone enjoy the food I make just makes me happy."
I finally manage to speak, but even to my own ears the laugh sounds painfully awkward.
"...You're a good person."
"No, I don't think I've done or said anything to deserve that."
"You are a good person."
She leans in close, stubbornly insisting on something I can't deny. Her eyes... they're terrifying. I won't argue anymore. The small eyes on her forehead that show only the red pupils, and the larger red pupils set in what should be the whites of her eyes, all staring at me at once—it's far more repulsive than I imagined.
But... I have to endure it. I have to endure it. I'm just not used to it yet. I can't let my rude reaction ruin her experience.
"Look at you. You're not even turning away or running."
"Huh...?"
"I know how I look to humans. You're just forcing yourself to hold it in, aren't you?"
"No...! It's just that I'm still not used to it. You're a kind and respectable chef, and... well, I couldn't be that rude in front of a lady..."
My somewhat rambling excuse makes her eyes blink silently a couple of times. Then—
Shhhk...!
She vanishes from right in front of me in an instant, sucked up into the darkness of the ceiling like some kind of rope action scene. The only thing left behind is a small paper bag containing the finished churu, which she drops onto the counter.
"Um, Chef...?"
I can hear her muttering something, but the kitchen ceiling is too high for me to make it out clearly. Did I do something wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have? Maybe she noticed I was trying to hide how scared I was and it was too obvious...?
"...Could you head back for today? I need to start preparing dinner soon."
"Ah, understood."
Now that I think about it, maybe I've taken up too much of her time.
"Thank you for letting me help even though you're busy!"
I bow my head toward the darkness, still not having heard her real thoughts, and carefully step outside, making sure not to trip over any threads near my ankles.
[ RL.5 - ARACHNE ]
"...So it was Arachne."
She seemed to prefer being called Chef. The idea of having containment subjects work as staff... I have to admire the President's talent for cutting labor costs.
Rustle.
"Thanks to her help, I made plenty of churu... I hope Nero likes it."
After the counselor leaves, the facility's top-class chef and head of the kitchen should be starting dinner prep as she said, but she can't bring herself to move. A burning heat lingers on her smooth, pale-blue skin—that's probably why.
"In front of a lady..."
She's still mulling over the counselor's words. He wasn't unafraid of her. He tried to hide it, but except for when he was focused on cooking, she could see him trembling with awareness of her presence.
But... not as some monster or mutant, but...
"...He saw me as a woman."
At least, that's how he treated her. The management team staff who come to collect the completed dishes either freeze on the spot or knock over their trays and run when they see her. If he hadn't mistaken her for a kitchen assistant, she wouldn't have shown herself at all. She thought showing this hideous appearance would only make both of them uncomfortable.
"...What a strange guy."
*
"Nero...? Nero?"
"..."
"Still mad...?"
Glare.
"...Yeah, I guess you are. Want to see what I brought?"
"..."
"I heard you haven't eaten. I borrowed the kitchen and made you a snack..."
"Haa..."
Flinch.
Nero finally speaks, but the sigh in her first words makes me shut my mouth on reflex.
"...This time you came back reeking of all sorts of weird smells again."
"...!"
"Another woman? Of course it's another woman."
She's too accurate for me to deny it. I had lunch with the President, did a cooking lesson with Arachne, then went to see Harpy with ice cream to share the good news. All three are biologically female—undeniable facts.
"Why'd you go quiet again?"
"Uh...?"
"You could just say no... Haa."
Grumbling under her breath, Nero finally turns her head toward me. She slowly approaches, circling around me and poking here and there with her paws.
"Your wounds are all healed."
"Mm..."
The way she says it makes it sound like she's debating whether she needs to make new ones, and cold sweat runs down my forehead.
"So, what did you make?"
'This is the first time he's ever made something for me.'
"Ah! I tried making churu... It should be tasty, right?"
"What do you mean, 'should be'?"
Well, when I tasted a bit off my fingertip, I couldn't tell what flavor it was supposed to be at all. I think I heard cats like things for the smell more than the taste anyway... but it definitely didn't suit human taste buds.
"...Well, since you went to the trouble of making it, I'll eat it. Can't just throw it away."
"Yeah, yeah! Exactly. If we just threw it out, Arachne would be disappointed too—"
"..."
"Sorry."
I felt a dangerous vibe and apologized quickly, and it seems I wasn't too late. She had her claws out and was about to swing at me.
"...If you'd been any slower, you would've been done for."
'Who's Arachne supposed to be, huh... Obviously another woman.'
Still, she quickly lowers her paw and slips between my legs, settling comfortably against me. When I support her neck with my arm, she starts purring. She must've been lying on the hard floor staring at the wall for hours while sulking.
"...Feed me."
She asks in a small voice. I didn't have a bowl to squeeze it into anyway, so I was planning to do it by hand. Worried whether it'll suit Nero's taste, I pull one out and tear open the plastic. The churu smell I got so used to in the kitchen wafts up.
"..."
'What is this smell...?'
"...?"
Nero's gaze is fixed on my hand. More precisely, on the churu in my hand.
Whoosh. Swish. Whoosh. Swish.
When I move the churu around, Nero's wide eyes follow it like a magnet. It's pretty cute. Should I keep going a little longer?
"If you don't knock it off, I'm biting you there this time."
Pat.
"...Sorry."
The moment I think about teasing her more, she somehow knows and places one paw right on my crotch, threatening me in a low voice. I can tell she's dead serious, so I immediately bring the churu to her mouth.
Lick, lick.
"..."
'This is... good... Ah, no, this isn't the time to—'
Lick, lick...
"..."
'But I was hungry, and it's tasty... and it smells good...'
Contrary to my worries, Nero is completely absorbed in the homemade churu, and a big smile spreads across my face.
"Eat slowly, there's plenty more."
Her tongue keeps darting out without rest as she stretches both front paws forward to hold the churu and licks at it diligently. In between, she mutters things like:
"...Well, it's edible, I guess..."
"Yeah."
"...I'm only eating it because I'm hungry..."
"Mm-hm."
"...It's not like this is enough to make me forgive you... so stop grinning like that..."
"Yeah...!"
Cute. Way too cute.
Time passes as I get absorbed too, and by the time there are quite a few empty plastic wrappers around us, Nero flips over and curls up comfortably on my lap. She seems to have eaten a bit too much, but since I didn't use any unhealthy seasonings while making it, she should be fine.
"If you liked it, I'll make more for you from now on."
"...Do what you want."
'...I know you can hear everything... Is there even a point in acting prickly anymore... But that stupid grinning face is annoying to look at.'
"..."
She immediately hardens her expression, but that just confirms she knows I can hear her thoughts.
So this time I reflexively close my eyes, thinking she's actually going to scratch me—but instead, I hear her voice.
"...I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"Sorry for getting mad and hurting you for no reason."
"..."
She's apologizing...?
"I wasn't really that angry. You probably already had some idea, but... ugh, I was just a little jealous."
'This is embarrassing... Annoying. Should I bite his hand again...'
Even while feeling embarrassed, her threatening inner thoughts don't match at all. I hide my hands behind my back for no reason and answer her apology.
"It's my fault for neglecting you."
"That's true."
"..."
She agreed way too easily. It would've been nicer if she'd been a little more warm about it...
"If you know, then treat me better from now on."
'Was that too shameless just now...? I scratched him pretty hard on the head earlier... He must've been in pain...'
"I was already planning to."
"...Don't hate me either."
'That's probably asking too much... He'll think I'm annoying for getting sulky and mad so easily, won't he...?'
Even while knowing I can hear her thoughts, she can't stop her true feelings from leaking out and keeps getting anxious. It's really cute. Yeah, if she weren't like this, she wouldn't be a cat.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't hate you over something like this."
"...Yeah."
'...Thank you.'
I didn't get to hear the thanks out loud, which is a little disappointing, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of chances from now on.