My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 - Yuiko’s Tears

Sunlight bathed the classroom, filtering through the windows as students wrapped up their cleaning duties and went home.

Yuiko carried some worksheets towards their teacher’s desk.

"I’ll bring these back to the staff room," she announced softly.

"Thank you, Nekozawa," their teacher replied with a smile.

She bowed properly and entered the hallway.

It was empty except for some lingering students either headed to their clubs or hanging around by the locker racks.

Yuiko passed the stairwell and heard several familiar voices.

"...Have you been paying attention to Aoyama recently?"

She was not listening on purpose, yet the mention of Sui’s name caught her attention.

"I have."

"Yes. He’s always helping everybody."

"He’s such a kind person."

"And he’s got a quiet, yet good-looking personality."

One of the students giggled.

"To be honest, he deserves somebody more outgoing."

The words made Yuiko freeze involuntarily.

"...Well... I suppose Nekozawa is also a very nice girl, but she is so quiet," somebody else murmured.

"Yes."

"I really cannot imagine them talking the whole day."

"Exactly."

"Aoyama always takes care of her."

"He is always doing the work, like always taking care of her."

"Maybe, he’d be happier with somebody who could make him smile more often."

The conversation was not harsh or rude.

Nobody was trying to hurt Yuiko.

They were just exchanging their opinions.

Nevertheless, every sentence sounded more and more heavy.

Yuiko lowered her gaze.

"...Maybe..."

She whispered so quietly that even she could hardly hear it.

The girls continued to talk, going away further and further into the hall.

Yuiko remained there where she was.

She knew she should continue walking.

She remained silent, staring at the ground in thought.

A memory flashed in her head.

Sui always waiting for her every morning.

Taking the heavier grocery bags from her without being prompted.

Going slower when she stopped to stroke a stray cat.

Sharing his umbrella with her.

Smiling whenever she smiled.

"...He always thinks of me."

Yuiko gently squeezed the stack of papers she held in her hands.

"...What do I do for him?"

The question sounded painful in her heart.

She tried to think of an answer.

She put some additional side dishes in his lunch box.

She told him which books he would probably like.

She was worrying about him whenever he looked tired.

Yet, comparing this to everything that Sui did for her...

Suddenly, it was not enough anymore.

Yuiko’s ears hung low.

Her tail wrapped itself around her legs.

"...Maybe..."

"...maybe they are right."

It frightened her.

She did not want to believe it.

Yet, having arisen, she could not get rid of it.

A teacher appeared in the hallway.

"Nekozawa?"

Yuiko immediately lifted her gaze.

"Oh..."

"I was just returning these."

The teacher accepted the stack of papers.

"Thank you."

"Are you alright?"

"You look pale."

Yuiko managed to flash a small smile.

"I am fine."

The teacher seemed somewhat unconvinced, but nodded.

"If you do not feel well, you do not need to strain yourself."

"I will not."

Yuiko bowed and left quietly.

Instead of going to the school gate, she went to the courtyard.

The orange kitten was sleeping under a tree.

Normally, seeing it would make her smile.

Today, she only knelt by it.

The kitten yawned, stretched and nuzzled her hand.

"...Hi."

Her voice sounded shaky.

The kitten happily purred, ignorant of the storm in her heart.

Yuiko caressed its head gently.

"You think..."

"...that he would be happier without me?"

The kitten only blinked at her.

A tiny tear dropped on the ground.

Yuiko quickly wiped it off.

"I should not cry."

"If Sui saw me now..."

"...he would worry."

She took a deep breath.

"No."

"I will smile."

"I always smile whenever I am with him."

Even as she said it, a tear escaped her eye.

She buried her face in her hand.

"I do not want to become a burden for him."

The bell announcing the beginning of the clubs’ activities rang throughout the school campus.

Somewhere far away, people were laughing.

Everything usual and everyday was happening around her.

Yet, for Yuiko, everything sounded surprisingly quiet.

The words she overheard were not letting her go.

"Aoyama deserved somebody better."

For the first time since meeting Sui, doubt appeared in the place where her usual quiet happiness resided.

She stood up and forced herself to take a step towards the school gate.

Tomorrow she would smile at Sui as always.

She would walk alongside him.

She would pretend everything was alright.

Because the thing she was afraid of more than anything else...

...was to become the reason why Sui could not be happy.

Yuiko did not head home directly.

Instead, her feet led her to the little riverside park a few blocks away from the school. This was the place she usually visited whenever she needed to read peacefully and watch stray cats wandering around in the grass.

Today, even the familiar scenery could not help calming her heart.

She sat silently on a wooden bench overlooking the river. Sunset was painting the river orange and yellow hues, but she barely noticed it.

Her hands were resting tightly in her lap.

She was repeating in her head the words she had overheard during the day.

"Aoyama deserved somebody better."

"He probably would be happier with somebody more outgoing."

She lowered her head.

"...Maybe they are right."

A tear fell on the back of her hand.

She quickly wiped it away.

"I should not cry..."

But another tear followed soon.

Very soon, she could no longer hold them.

She covered her face, trying to stay quiet with her sobs.

"I wanted..."

"...to become somebody who could make you happy."

Instead...

"I became somebody who just makes you worry."

The gentle wind carried away her trembling voice.

She did not notice the steps approaching her from the riverside path.

"S... Yuiko?"

Her shoulders tensed up.

She lifted her gaze slowly.

Sui was standing several meters away from her, still wearing his school uniform and carrying a bag over one shoulder. His face was full of worry.

For a while, nobody said anything.

Sui had never seen Yuiko crying before.

Never.

His chest tightened.

He did not hesitate to approach her.

"Yuiko..."

She hastily wiped the tears off her face.

"I-I am fine."

The words came out broken.

Sui kneeled in front of her.

"No..."

"You are not."

She tried to smile.

It only made her cry more.

"I am sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I..."

She looked away.

"I did not want you to see me like this."

Sui gently sat beside her.

He did not pressure her to speak.

They listened to the soft sound of the river flowing nearby.

Several long moments later, Yuiko whispered,

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"...Am I..."

It was difficult for her to say.

"...a burden?"

Sui turned his gaze on her immediately.

"What?"

"I overheard some classmates."

"They said..."

She bit her lip.

"...that you deserved somebody better."

Silence.

"They said I would only hold you back."

She laughed quietly through her tears.

"I know I should not pay any attention..."

"But..."

"What if they are right?"

Sui looked at her, shocked.

He could not believe that those words made her doubt herself.

He thought about all of the usual days they spent together.

Walking to school.

Reading books in the library.

Buying groceries.

Observing stray cats.

Sharing his umbrella with her.

All of these memories were not burdens.

These were the happiest moments of his life.

He looked at Yuiko.

Her golden eyes were red from crying.

He wished he could wipe away all of those tears from her face.

Instinctively, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

She took it in shaking hands.

"...Thank you."

Sui murmured softly.

"Yuiko..."

"Whenever I go to school..."

"You always wish that you could see me there."

She blinked.

"Whenever I find a new book..."

"You’re the first one I want to talk about it."

"Whenever I see an abandoned cat..."

"I always look around since I know that you will like it."

Yuiko looked at him.

"There isn’t even once when I feel you a burden."

He said calmly, and with each word, conviction echoed in his tone.

"It is just that..."

He paused.

"I..."

The words almost came out of his mouth.

"You are the most important person in my life."

His heart beat fast.

But he couldn’t utter them.

Not now.

So, instead he smiled.

"I’m a lot happier with you in my day."

Once again, Yuiko’s eyes filled with tears.

These times not tears of sadness but happiness.

She lowered her head.

"...Thank you."

Sui stood up and stretched out his hand to her.

"C’mon."

She stared at his hand.

"Let’s go back."

After a little bit of hesitation, she held onto his hand.

His hands were warm and comforting.

He didn’t drag her anywhere.

He simply remained beside her until she stood up.

Together, they started making their way back home.

Silence reigned supreme between them.

It wasn’t needed.

Slowly, the evening sky started getting darker overhead, while the gap in their hearts that had grown over these last few days started bridging itself together.

Neither of them knew that but for Sui, this walk back home will be the time that will give him the courage to stop hiding from himself and from the rest of the world the things that his heart wants to tell everyone.