A Cat Just Like Me
I turned at the call of the cat-like employee. To do so, I had to let go of Encia’s hand. Her expressionless tail flicked in clear displeasure. Was it because I’d released her? The moment I took her hand again, the tail swayed gently as if nothing had happened.
“Customer?”
“Yes. Is there something you need?”
“You couldn’t come in because of the sign, right?”
The employee’s gaze drifted to the beastkin parts on me and Encia. She seemed to have figured out why we’d hesitated at the entrance.
“Yes. I wanted to avoid any possible conflict.”
“If that’s the reason, you’re welcome to come inside. Even with tails, you’re still people.”
“…Is that so.”
“Of course! Please visit anytime!”
With a quick bow, the employee hurried back into the store. She looked busy—probably because of the crowd.
“Encia, they said we can come in.”
“Yes. A kind establishment. Shall we enter?”
“Mhm.”
Together we stepped inside. While waiting in line, I noticed people’s eyes turning toward us. It wasn’t because of the tails… was it? I reached back and grabbed my own tail. Encia’s tail was swaying beside me, so I caught that one too.
“Hnnngh.”
The woman behind us let out a strange sound. She was clutching her chest, but I couldn’t understand why.
“Encia?”
I asked with my eyes, but she only offered a faint smile. It wasn’t just her—everyone in the store was smiling. What on earth…?
While I puzzled over it, our turn arrived. The counter was so high that only the top of my head showed. It wouldn’t be polite to speak to someone while only my eyes were visible, so I rose onto my tiptoes and showed my whole face.
“Ah, welcome. Would you like to order…?”
The employee stared down at me, hand covering her mouth. What a strange store, I thought, and placed our order.
“One cheese-flavored ice cream, please. What about you, Encia?”
“I’ll have the same as Winter-nim.”
“Two, then.”
I held up two fingers toward the employee. A dimple flashed on the part of her face not hidden by her hand.
“T-two cheese-flavored cones…!”
After we finished ordering, two ice cream cones appeared shortly after. Encia and I sat at a table inside and enjoyed them.
“This is the first time I’ve had such luxurious ice cream.”
“Yes. The same for me, in fact.”
Crunch. We both took a bite. The flavor was so shocking that my ears perked straight up.
“It’s delicious.”
“Yes.”
Encia’s tail swayed gently. As I swayed mine in harmony with hers, Sofia’s words from that morning came back to me—about how adults could control their tails to some degree.
“Encia, do you have trouble controlling your tail too?”
“Th-that is…”
Her ice cream, which had been raised to her mouth, slowly lowered back to the table. Seeing her hesitate, I realized I’d made a mistake.
“I-I’m sorry. That was a strange question.”
“No, it’s fine. It is rather amusing that an adult still cannot control her ears and tail.”
So that was it. Being unable to control one’s tail as an adult was apparently quite embarrassing. I had just learned something new about beastkin.
“I was just happy we had something in common…”
“Something in common… you say?”
“Yes. I’m just as bad at controlling mine as you are.”
Encia’s gaze drifted to the tail behind me. Then she let out a soft laugh.
“I see. No wonder we feel like family.”
“…Huh?”
Like family? Weren’t we already family? Anxious, I gripped the ice cream cone tightly with both hands.
“I-I apologize. For me to dare compare myself to Winter-nim…”
“Encia, we’re family, aren’t we…?”
At my question, Encia’s fluffy ears shot straight up. It was the first time I’d seen her react like that.
“Y-yes, of course! I misspoke…!”
Crunch— Encia bit into her ice cream with renewed vigor. She devoured it in a few swift bites, cone and all, wearing a strangely satisfied expression.
“Then I suppose I am Winter-nim’s older sister.”
“…What?”
“Ah, of course, you needn’t worry. I keep work and personal matters strictly separate. I will continue to serve you with all my heart.”
Encia looked happier than I’d ever seen her. Something felt off, but since she was happy, I decided to let it be.
**
Encia and I arrived at the animal shelter. Inside small cages were countless abandoned animals.
“Were they all abandoned by their owners?”
“Yes. It seems so.”
“…How sad.”
Encia’s ears drooped. She seemed to feel sympathy for the discarded creatures. I decided to comfort her a little.
“We can’t save them all, but we can at least give one a home.”
“Yes. The responsibility feels heavy.”
Together we walked through the shelter while a staff member explained each animal’s story—how they’d been abandoned, where they’d been found. As we listened and moved along, I stopped in front of one that looked similar to me.
It might once have been a white cat. Its fur had turned yellowish. One eye was missing, and its ears and tail had been cut off.
“Hmm…”
You’ve had a hard life too, haven’t you? Without thinking, I reached out toward it.
“Nyaah.”
Instead of running away, the cat rubbed its face against my fingers. It was far more affectionate than I’d expected.
“It gets along well with people.”
“Yes. Very friendly, and its fur is incredibly soft. It’s exactly like me, isn’t it?”
“L-like Winter-nim?”
“Yes. Would you like to pet it?”
“W-well…!”
For some reason Encia looked excited as she reached for the cat. She stroked it gently all over, then suddenly froze in place.
“How is it?”
“I… just realized I’ve never touched Winter-nim’s ears or tail before.”
“Oh… you’re right. Here, you can touch them.”
I leaned forward, offering my head and tail. Encia flinched, her hands trembling as she drew them to her chest.
“I-is this really all right?”
“Yes.”
“…Then, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Her shaking hands rose above my head. Aside from the faint tremor, her touch was as gentle as Sofia’s. I felt a little envious.
I heard the shelter staff mutter something under their breath—a very quiet sound only I could catch. What could they possibly be envious of?
Before I could wonder further, Encia cried out in a rush.
“I-I’ve decided!”
She turned to the staff member, signaling silently for them to open the cage.
“Encia, weren’t you going to get a dog?”
“Yes. But I’ve changed my mind. This one is as splendid as any hunting dog.”
She’d figured that out just from petting its fur? Maybe it was some beastkin ability.
“You’ve chosen this one?”
The staff member approached with a bright smile, clearly delighted that another abandoned animal had found a home.
“Yes. Such a beautiful coat.”
“I’m glad. This one had so many injuries that no one had picked it before.”
“Such a pretty child, though?”
Encia tilted her head, the gesture oddly cat-like.
“Haha, right?”
We filled out the adoption papers and returned to the car. Since Encia had to drive, I held the cat for the ride.
“Winter-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Could you use this on the child?”
Encia took out a small bottle from her robes. It was a high-grade potion glowing with red light.
“Um… yes.”
It was something I couldn’t afford even if I worked for ten years. Of course, for someone as capable as Encia, it probably wasn’t much. The cat was hers, and using the potion was her decision. Without hesitation, I applied it to the cat.
Drip, drip— I poured the potion over its eyes, ears, and tail. The rest I sprinkled on my hand and fed it directly.
Lick, lick— Trusting me, the cat accepted it without refusal. Once it had licked up every drop, something amazing happened.
The discolored fur regained its vitality. The severed ears and tail regenerated, and the missing eye sparkled once more.
“Wow.”
It was incredible. The cat seemed to think so too, meowing as it examined its own body. It blinked, then licked its tail. After a long moment, it looked up at me.
“Nyaah.”
With a loving cry, it curled up on my lap. Purr, purr— It made a sound just like Saebyeok’s and began to fall asleep. The fatigue from regeneration must have caught up with it.
“From now on, this child will see Winter-nim as its savior.”
“Oh… Then wouldn’t it have been better if you’d poured the potion?”
“No. Because I’m raising it for Winter-nim’s sake.”
“Ah.”
Right, that had been the plan. Though that was for a hunting dog… but a cat was fine too. I rested my hand on the sleeping cat and stroked it for a long while. At some point, I drifted off as well. It had been a better day because Encia was with me.
**
Carrying the cat in my arms, I returned to the park. Levinas, who had been playing with Argo, spotted us and came bounding over.
“Winter! Did you bring a puppy?!”
“Um… here.”
It was a cat, not a puppy, but I supposed it didn’t matter. I showed the cat to Levinas. She looked utterly shocked.
“The puppy looks like a cat!”
“Yeah. This puppy goes ‘meow’ when it cries.”
“What?!”
Her reaction was perfect. I felt a mischievous urge rising.