The Cat That Understood
“Oh, Jeonghyeon’s dozing off again.”
“...I’m not asleep.”
“What do you mean, not asleep? I saw you with your eyes closed just a minute ago, clear as day.”
I gave a half-hearted reply to Shaolin as I scarfed down the last piece of my sandwich.
“What are we gonna do~? Next class is that Mana Dynamics one you hate. At this rate, you’ll be snoring through the whole thing.”
“Gotta tough it out somehow. What choice do I have?”
Maybe pushing training so late last night was a mistake. Even chugging cool water didn’t shake off the fatigue.
“Hmm... Wouldn’t it be better to catch a little sleep? Lunch break’s got fifty minutes left—plenty of time to recharge.”
Tsuno Ume picked up a tomato from his lunchbox with his chopsticks and suggested it to me.
Not a bad idea. Since the professor let us out early today, I’d finished eating quick, leaving ample time, just like he said.
“How do you always nail the helpful advice, unlike some people?”
“Who’s this ‘some people’ I gotta hear about...?”
“You.”
“Hey! At least beat around the bush a little!”
I stood up, leaving Shaolin fuming as usual over nothing.
Just then, a great idea hit me.
“You guys take your time eating. I’ll follow Ume’s advice and grab a quick nap somewhere sunny and warm.”
“Take care~”
“Hmph, do whatever.”
With that, I tossed the plastic wrap from my sandwich in the trash and strolled out of the main building.
Oh, right—with my mask on, of course. It cut down on people recognizing me on the street, which was nice.
This was Tsuno Ume’s suggestion after I’d grumbled one too many times about getting spotted everywhere. Looks can be deceiving; the guy’s as kind and sharp as they come.
Reminded once more of his smarts, I scanned for prying eyes and slipped into a quiet, out-of-the-way spot.
Perfect.
I double-checked for CCTV, then:
Consciousness Synchronization: Alley Cat, Park Jeonghyeon
I turned into a cat.
My viewpoint dropped in an instant, the world around me shifting. The red tactile paving blocks on the ground blurred into red or green—I couldn’t tell.
“Meow.”
I let out a massive yawn and instinctively started grooming my fur—
Wait, why am I grooming?
Reason kicked in just in time. Suppressing the urge to smooth my ruffled fur, I headed to my nap spot on short legs, pattering along.
Cat vision made distant objects fuzzy, but muscle memory got me there.
The spot was a secluded path bench a bit from the main building—low traffic, but plenty of warm sun.
I hopped up, stretched out luxuriously, then tucked my legs into a loaf and settled in.
A wave of pure bliss washed over me.
“Purrrr.”
I couldn’t help it—the rumbling started.
I’m melting...
I’d picked alley cat on a whim, remembering the one that always sprawled in front of my old house. Best choice ever.
It felt like my body was gooey marshmallow, dissolving in the warmth.
Maybe I should nap like this at home too.
Cat-synchronized sleep was irresistibly tempting. Alright, quick nap it is.
“...”
I closed my eyes slowly.
And not even two minutes later, by my sense:
“...?”
Something stroked my head—or so it felt. Nah, had to be imagination. But it felt too real.
I’d been deep in dreamland. Who the hell—?
I struggled to lift heavy eyelids, and there:
“...?”
Karen, somehow seated on the bench, petting me.
Wait, why was she here? She should be at the water cooler in the corner of the main building...
Oh.
Cat eyes gave me a wider view—I spotted the bag on her lap.
A plastic bag stamped with the “KS23 Convenience Store” logo, bulging with something inside.
Then it hit me: what I’d told her before.
—If I catch you skipping lunch again, I’ll slap on interest.
Karen’s finally eating lunch...!
She still sought out empty spots, but this was progress. My eyes misted up a bit.
She must’ve wandered looking for somewhere quiet and found the bench with me loafed on it.
“...Heh, so cute.”
Karen stroked me, lunch forgotten. The girl who fretted nonstop to hide any cuteness in public turned into a normal, food-loving girl when alone.
And she especially loved cats.
I turned to look at her face.
No trace of her usual sharp scowl—just a dopey grin as she stared.
She was pretty when she wasn’t frowning all the time. She should smile more.
I wasn’t used to this side of her, but hey, familiarity breeds comfort, right?
Then.
“Ugh... I can’t take it!”
Our eyes met, her fingers twitching. In a flash, she scooped me up.
“Mrow!?”
“Hnnng... so fluffy.”
She hugged me tight, rubbing my back against her cheek.
After an eternity of nuzzling, she pulled out her smartphone and opened the camera.
“Look here.”
As if a cat gets that, Karen. I sighed inwardly and turned away—the lens followed.
Turned again, followed again. Chase, chase, chase.
“Hold still~”
She wouldn’t quit till she got a good shot of my face.
Fine, whatever.
I slumped my shoulders and faced forward.
“Good kitty~”
—Click!
Satisfied with a selfie of us, she pocketed the phone with a bright smile. The hug tightened.
It hurt a little, but more distracting was...
The soft, squishy sensation on the back of my head.
Had she... grown that much?
“~!”
“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?”
I mewled, and she finally eased up.
Pain faded, along with a twinge of regret.
“Should’ve been gentler... I’ll be careful next time?”
She set me on her lap and scratched my chin.
I eyed an escape route, but it felt too good—I’d stick around a bit longer.
“Hey, the student council was recruiting today. Seemed decent, so I applied.”
Treating me like a doll, she muttered to herself.
“Wonder if I’ll make it... Honestly, no clue.”
Her voice drooped.
Of course you will. You’re the protagonist who’ll save the world.
I wanted to say it, but cat mouth, no vote. Even human, I wouldn’t—didn’t want to spill I’m from another world.
Anyway, her hand was creeping too high. Gonna block my nose at this rate.
I nipped her fingers lightly.
“Oh, don’t do that? Got it.”
Finally releasing me—
“Guess I’ll just pet you then.”
Not yet.
Escape time? But seeing her squeal:
“Kyaa~! Too cute~!”
I decided to stay. She’s stressed all the time—let her unwind. Us adults can endure.
“Oh yeah, wonder if that guy applied to student council too.”
Petting me, she continued. That guy? Who?
“Can’t read him at all. What’s his deal with my lunch and interest? Right, Sundae?”
Oh, me. And don’t nickname me Sundae—blood sausage? Pick something classier.
“Thought he was just your typical sleazy type at first. But maybe not...”
She fiddled with my ears, mumbling.
“Still... denying I’m grateful would be a lie... Argh, no idea what to think.”
Good to hear—her guard’s way down. Worth the effort.
“Too much money, knows too much, famous... Hmm...”
She squished me, humming thoughtfully. Stop kneading already.
“...No way!”
Suddenly, she grabbed me tight and yelled.
Let go, you!
“A polymorphed dragon or something...? Nah, impossible.”
She sighed, realizing it was silly, and finally set me on the bench.
Freedom?
I watched her. She grabbed a sausage from the shoved-aside bag.
“Hungry? Want some?”
She peeled it and held it out.
Cats shouldn’t eat salty stuff. And I wasn’t hungry.
I shook my head without thinking.
“...What!?”
She shuddered like I’d shocked her.
Why the freakout? I had no—
“You... you just understood me, didn’t you?”
......Huh.