My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 33: Chapter 33 - The Cat Café

The weekend came sooner than any of them had expected.

Sui had been awake from the moment the sun rose at six o’clock, running through his schedule, checking his reflection in the mirror, and adjusting the clothes in accordance with his plans for the day. He had changed his shirt three times already, he brushed his teeth twice and he checked the weather forecast for the fifth time.

You’re overthinking it, he thought. This is just a date with the person you love. Nothing to worry about.

The worry was there regardless of whether or not he was thinking about it.

Exactly at nine forty-five AM, he found himself standing in front of the doors of the cat café, nervously fidgeting with his coat. He was fifteen minutes early and his heart was flipping nervously inside his chest, his palms were sweating and he was trying to mentally rehearse what he wanted to say.

Hi, you look beautiful. No, that was too forward. Hi, it’s good to see you. That was too obvious. Hi, I love you—

He stopped himself. Not yet. Save that. Be cool.

But then he saw her coming towards him and all of his meticulously thought-out plans disappeared.

Yuiko was approaching him in her cream-colored sweater which made her look incredibly cozy. Her golden hair was lit up by the morning sun and her cat ears perked forward with anticipation. Her tail was swishing behind her in happiness and her smile, that beautiful smile, was lighting up her whole face.

When she noticed him, her ears twitched and her tail wagged even faster.

"Hi!" She ran towards him. "Sorry, I’m late."

"No, I was early," he said and swallowed. "You look... you look really beautiful."

She blushed. Her ears flattened a bit with embarrassment. "Thanks. You look nice too."

"Nice? Nice? That’s it?" He smiled trying to hide his nervousness. "I was aiming for devastatingly handsome."

She laughed, making her tail swish even faster. "Never with that haircut."

"Ouch. You cut me."

"That’s the idea. Keep you humble."

They walked into the café. The interior was warm and cozy. There were soft cushions everywhere along with climbing shelves and windows letting in the golden rays of afternoon sun. Cats of all colors could be found lying all around—the chairs, window sills, baskets. The smell of coffee and cinnamon hung in the air.

A grey tabby cat immediately hopped on the counter and meowed at them.

"Hello," Yuiko said in a soft voice, her ears perking forward. She reached out with her hand and the cat rubbed against it, purring.

Sui watched her, his heart swelling. She was so gentle, so careful. Her tail was swishing slowly as the cat circled her hand.

"You’re a natural," he said.

She looked at him with a smile. "I always loved cats. They’re easy to understand. They need only love and food."

"True. So do I."

She laughed, gently picking up the tabby. "This one loves you."

"How can you tell?"

"Because it didn’t scratch you yet."

He snorted. "That’s a very low standard."

They found themselves in a cozy corner in a large padded bench. The tabby cat followed them and curled up in Yuiko’s lap. She gently stroked its fur, her ears relaxed, her tail entwined around her own leg.

"This is nice," she whispered softly. "Just... spending time with you."

"I agree."

A calico cat approached Sui, sniffed his shoe and then jumped onto his lap and settled there, kneading his leg with tiny paws.

"Look at that," Yuiko said with warmth in her voice. "You’ve been adopted."

"I’ve been claimed as property."

"Same thing."

They sat quietly for a while, petting the cats. The cat café was playing soft acoustic music in the background. The afternoon sun was shining through the windows, spreading the golden rays on the floor.

A waitress brought them two cups of hot coffee and a plate of cookies with paw prints shapes.

"Oh my God," Yuiko gasped, her ears shooting up. "They’re so cute. I can’t eat them."

"You have to eat them. It’s a crime not to."

"It’s a crime to eat something so adorable!"

"Okay. I’ll eat mine first, so you don’t feel as guilty."

He bit into one of the cookies that looked like tiny paw print.

"You monster," Yuiko said horrified.

"Delicious monster."

She finally picked up one of the cookies, inspected it carefully and took a tiny bite. Her ears perked up.

"Oh. That’s actually really good."

"Told you."

She ate the rest of the cookie with a grin. And then, she picked up the next one – a cookie in the shape of a cat’s face.

"I’m going to take a picture of this before eating it,"

She took out her phone and clicked a picture. Then, she turned the phone towards him.

"Sui, smile."

He blinked. "What?"

"Smile for the camera."

He made a weird face. She laughed and clicked the picture.

"Perfect. This goes into the album."

"Album?"

"Yes, you promised me that we’ll make a photo album. Remember? Key chains and all that."

His heart fluttered. "You want us to make an album?"

"Of course, I want to remember everything," she said softly. "Every single moment with you."

He reached out across the table and took her hand. Her ears twitched, but she didn’t move away from him.

"I want to remember everything with you too," he said quietly.

The calico cat on his lap meowed in protest to this movement. Yuiko giggled.

"I think she’s jealous," she pointed towards the cat.

"Jealous of you?" he asked her.

"No, of you. Because you are paying attention to me and not her."

"Ridiculous." He scratched the cat behind her ears. "You’re amazing, but she’s nothing like you – she’s not as cute as you."

Her tail waved. "Did you just say that I’m cuter than a cat?"

"I did."

"That’s quite a claim."

"Claim and true."

She smiled, her ears erecting. "You’re impossible."

"Impossible in a charming way?"

"Impossible in a ridiculous way. But I like it."

They finished their coffees and cookies, then, spent the next hour playing with the cats. Yuiko found a tiny black kitten which kept following her everywhere and meowing pitiably whenever she put it down.

"This one is special," she said, picking up the kitten and putting her face closer to it. "I can tell."

"How? What do you mean?"

"It’s because of the way she’s looking at me. She seems to know me."

"That’s how all the cats behave. They are manipulative."

"Sui! Don’t say that about her!"

"Him. He’s a boy."

"How do you know?"

"I’m just observant."

She squinted at him. "Alright then. Don’t say that about him."

He laughed. "You’re adorable when you get defensive."

She rolled out her tongue at him. The kitten meowed in agreement.

At last, they settled down in the corner once again with the grey tabby and the calico cat sitting on their laps. Yuiko leant her head on his shoulder, her tail curling around his arm.

"Sui," she said softly.

"Hmm?"

"When we’re older... do you think we could have a cat? A shared cat?"

He blinked at her. She wasn’t looking at him. Her ears were slightly flattening as if she was afraid of asking this question.

"I’d love that," he said softly. "I’d love that very much."

Her tail curled around his arm even more tightly.

"Maybe two cats," she said. "So that they would keep each other company when we are working."

"Three cats."

"Three? That’s a lot."

"Four cats."

She laughed. "You’re ridiculous."

"Ridiculously in love with you,"

The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Her ears popped out straight. Her entire body went stiff. Her tail doubled its size.

"S-Sui..."

He realized that what he said was quite embarrassing. His own face was burning red.

"I—I mean—that just slipped out—I didn’t mean to—"

"Say it again."

He blinked at her. "What?"

She turned to look at him, her golden eyes sparkling. "Say it again. Please."

He took a deep breath. Then, he said, slowly and deliberately:

"I love you."

She trembled in his embrace. Tears were glistening in her eyes, but she was smiling – the most amazing smile he had ever seen.

"I love you too," she murmured. "I love you so much."

The cats ran away, scattering as she hugged him tight, embracing him and making herself comfortable in his embrace. Her tail curled around his waist. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.

"I’m so glad," she murmured into his shoulder. "I’m so glad it’s you."

They stayed in that position for some time. The cats eventually returned, settling down around them as if they were guarding them from anyone else. The cafe music played softly. The sun kept streaming in through the windows.

When they parted at last, they were both smiling.

"So," Sui said, wiping the tears off his eyes. "Four cats?"

She laughed, also wiping her tears. "Four cats. Minimum."

"Deal."

She rested her head back on his shoulder, her ears brushing against his cheek.

"This is the best date ever," she said softly.

"It’s only our first date."

"Then I can’t wait for the others."

He kissed the top of her head. Her ears twitched joyfully and her tail wiggled against his leg.

"Me neither," he whispered. "Me neither."