My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 - Sweet And Ordinary

Three weeks had already passed. Three weeks filled with secretive looks, shared meals and walks home that were never long enough.

But today was different.

Sui realized it in the middle of the morning break. Yuiko was sitting in her usual place, looking at the open notebook with some sort of intense concentration, which could not be justified by the easy mathematical exercise written there. Her tail was circling her legs, while her ears were flattened.

He went closer carefully. "You alright?"

"I’m fine."

"You’re lying."

She raised her head and her golden eyes narrowed. "I’m not lying. I’m just... thinking."

"About what?"

She thought for a second. "About how you always hold my hand when we go home."

He blinked. "Is it bad?"

"No." Her ears twitched. "Actually, it is quite... nice. But I just was wondering... Do you do it because you want to? Or because you think you should?"

Sui looked at her in surprise. "Yuiko. We are dating. I hold your hand because I want to hold it. It’s not some chore."

"Are you sure? Sometimes you look like you concentrate so much, and I cannot understand whether you enjoy it or you just try not to mess it."

"I concentrate because I want to understand how to hold your hand without sweating so much."

She blinked. "You sweat?"

"Not so much! Just... a little bit. Your hands are quite soft and it makes me nervous."

Her ears perked up. Her tail started moving vigorously. "My hands are soft?"

"Yes! Stop acting proud about it."

"I’m not acting proud." She definitely was acting proud. "I’m just glad you noticed it."

"Of course I noticed it. I notice everything about you."

She tilted her head and her ears twitched playfully. "Oh, really? Then what did I have for breakfast?"

"Toast with strawberry jam and a glass of milk."

Her eyes widened. "How did you know it?"

"You eat it every morning. You told me about it once. I remember."

Her cheeks reddened. Her tail wagged even faster.

"That’s... quite sweet of you."

"I try."

"But," she continued teasingly, "you hold my hand as if you hold some fragile bird."

"I don’t do it."

"You do! So gentle that it seems like you think I would break."

"You are so precious to me that I can afford being careful."

"Careful is one thing. But you hold my hand like I am some fragile glass thing."

"I don’t!"

She raised her hand and mimicked his grip – loose and hesitant. "Just like this, you hold my hand."

He blushed. "I don’t hold your hand like this."

"Prove me wrong."

He grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers. "See? I don’t hold it gently."

She looked at their intertwined hands and then back at him, slowly smiling.

"Better," she said quietly.

"Better?"

"Much better." She squeezed his hand. "I like this better. When you are so sure about me."

His heart melted. "I am sure about you. I’ve never been so sure about anything."

Her ears flattened in shyness. "You say such things and think I won’t blush."

"I don’t think anything. I just say what I feel."

"That’s the problem. You are so honest. It’s annoying."

"Should I lie more?"

"Don’t you dare." She tightened her grip on his hand. "I like your honesty. It’s just... overwhelming sometimes."

He grinned. "Overwhelmingly handsome?"

"Overwhelmingly ridiculous."

"Same thing."

She laughed, and her laughter sounded like the sunshine. Her tail was wagging against the chair.

"Alright," she said. "Maybe a little handsome."

"Just a little?"

"Don’t push your luck."

They were interrupted by the ringing bell. Reluctantly, they broke apart and returned to their seats. But during the rest of the lesson they were looking at each other constantly and exchanging small smiles.

During the lunch they were sitting under their favorite cherry tree. Leaves were starting to change color, painting the world in gold and amber.

"So," Sui said, unpacking his lunch, "I was thinking."

"Dangerous."

"Ha ha. Very funny. I was thinking about this weekend."

She perked up and her ears became forward. "About what?"

"Would you... go somewhere with me? Just the two of us?"

Her tail wagged happily. "Like a date?"

"Exactly like a date."

She tried to act indifferent, but her tail gave her away. "I suppose I could make some space in my schedule."

"You have a schedule?"

"I lead a rather busy life, Sui. I can’t just throw it away for any boy who wants to ask me out."

He laughed. "Any boy? How many boys are asking?"

"None. Only you." She smiled. "But you are special."

"I know. That’s why you are dating me."

"Your humbleness inspires."

"I try."

She giggled, and then she bent and leaned toward him. "So where are we going?"

"I was thinking... maybe to that cat café we always pass by. You said you’ve never been inside."

Her ears lifted. "The one with all the cats?"

"That’s it."

"Yes!" She corrected herself hastily. "I mean... it sounds quite acceptable."

"Acceptable?"

"Quite acceptable. I would love to go there."

He grinned. "Then it’s a date. This Saturday afternoon?"

Her tail wagged uncontrollably. "This Saturday afternoon."

They ate their lunch silently. And when the bell rang, Yuiko stood up, brushing off her skirt.

"Sui."

"Yeah?"

She leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. And then she pulled back, her cheeks becoming bright red.

"That’s for planning our date."

He touched his cheek and smiled. "I should plan more dates."

"You definitely should." Her tail was wagging so fast that it was a blur.

She rushed away, and Sui watched her going, feeling his heart filled with emotions.

Saturday, he thought. Cat café. With her.

He couldn’t wait anymore.

At the end of the school day, the two left for home. Sui and Yuiko lived in adjoining houses, a short distance apart. After reaching their house gates, Sui paused outside.

"Listen," he said. "Saturday. We should go early. Maybe about 10 AM. So that we can have our lunch there too."

Yuiko raised an eyebrow, ears twitching. "Are you planning something?"

"Yes. A list."

"A list?"

He took out a scruffy piece of paper from his pocket. "See? Cat café first. Then lunch in that ramen place near it. Walk in the park later. And I checked the weather; it will be sunny."

A smile spread across her face. "You checked the weather?"

"I also called the cat café to ask if they had some special menu for couples. Yes, they have one. Comes with a complimentary dessert."

"Complimentary dessert?"

"And I thought we could take some photos, make an album. I found these cute keychains for cats in the store adjacent to it. Matched keychains."

She gazed into his eyes. He had planned everything down to the last detail. He had spared no thought.

"Sui..."

"Sorry, I know it’s a lot. But I want it to be perfect. For you."

She stepped forward, tail encircling his wrist. Then she kissed his ear softly.

"We could," she whispered. "If you want."

His face flushed bright red. "W-We could? No—I mean yes—yes—"

She pulled back with a mischievous smile. "Keychains, silly. What else did you think?"

His face went even brighter. "I-nothing-I thought—I"

She laughed, then kissed him on his cheek, which was now crimson red.

"Saturday," she said. "I’m excited."

With that, she rushed in her house, her tail wagging.

Sui just stood there, touched, with his finger against his cheek.

He remained by his door, staring at hers, reprocessing everything that happened in the past few minutes.

"Hey," he heard.

Sui turned around. Yuiko peeked through her door, her head tilted and ears pricked forward.

"Did you forget something?" he asked.

"No. I just... wanted to say... thanks. Thanks for making all those arrangements. Thanks for remembering all the little things. Thanks for caring."

"You don’t need to thank me for that."

"I know. But I want to." She approached him and stopped a few inches away. "You’re always so caring. You’re so observant. You make me feel..."

She fell silent, her ears pressed flat against her head.

"Make me feel what?"

"Special. You make me feel special, Sui."

His heart skipped a beat. "That’s... that’s all I ever want."

She raised her head to look at him, her golden eyes gleaming under the evening sun.

"Can I tell you something embarrassing?"

"Always."

She chewed on her lower lip. "I’ve been thinking about our date every day this week. I could not sleep yesterday because I was thinking about us together and how we are going to be together tomorrow in the café."

His heart began to race. "Me too."

"Really?"

"Yes. I kept worrying that I might forget something or that it may rain and that you might not like the café."

She giggled. "You worry too much."

"Someone has to. You worry that you are not enough. I worry about everything else. We complement each other perfectly."

She giggled again and reached up to stroke his cheek. "You are perfect, you know that?"

"I am anything but."

"Perfect for me. And that’s all that matters."

He leaned his head down and closed his eyes. "Yuiko."

"Mm?"

"I really, really like you."

Her tail started to wag. "I know. I really, really like you too."

She drew her hand away hesitantly.

"I better get back inside. My mom will wonder where I am."

"Yeah. Me too."

Neither one moved.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Same time tomorrow."

She returned to her door and, before stepping inside, looked over her shoulder.

"Sui?"

"Yeah?"

"I love the idea of the keychains. They are absolutely adorable."

He blushed. "They are?"

"Definitely. But you know what’s more adorable than that idea? You blushing whenever I pay you a compliment."

"My face is not red."

"It’s very red."

"It’s just warm."

"It’s red, Sui. Admit it."

He covered his face with his hands. "Go inside, Yuiko."

She giggled and her tail started to wag. "Goodnight, my very red boyfriend."

"Goodnight!"

Her door shut. Sui removed his hands and smiled stupidly.

My very red boyfriend, he thought. He liked that. He liked it a lot.

He walked into his house and kept stroking his cheek where Yuiko kissed him. The evening passed quickly for him in a whirl of happy thoughts and anticipation.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.