My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 - Morning Routine

The morning after the festival was Sui’s happiest.

For a few minutes, he lied on his bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the previous night – the fireworks, the sweets and the kiss.

The kiss.

He turned red and touched his lips in disbelief.

Then he checked his clock and rushed to get ready.

Late. Late, late, late.

After a hurried shower, some clothes and a backpack, he ran out of the door, almost losing his balance.

She was waiting for him at the gate.

Yuiko was standing there in her school uniform, with her tail swinging carelessly behind her. Her ears straightened up the moment she saw him.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she called.

He stopped in front of her, breathless. "You...you waited?"

"Of course I waited. Now, we walk to school together. This is the rule."

"There’s a rule?"

"Yes, there is." She smiled and fell in step with him. "I’ve made it up yesterday. From now on, we walk to school together every day."

"Every day?"

"Every single day. Without any excuses."

He chuckled and fell in step with her. "What if I’m oversleeping?"

"Then I’ll wait longer."

"What if I’m ill?"

"Then I’ll bring you some soup and walk to school alone."

"What if—"

"Sui." She stopped walking and turned to him. "From now on, I’ll be walking to school with you every morning. That’s how it’s going to be. OK?"

He stared at her with beating heart.

"OK," he replied quietly.

She smiled and wagged her tail. "Great. Come on, then. Otherwise, we’ll be late."

They walked together, touching shoulders every once in a while. Sun was rising in the morning sky and the birds’ chirping filled the air.

"You know," Sui started, "as we’re going to walk to school together every day, I think I should start bringing you some breakfast."

"Bringing me something?"

"Breakfast. You usually skip breakfast."

"How do you know I skip breakfast?"

"Because you’ve once told me. That you never have time."

She blinked. "I’ve once told you?"

"A couple of months ago, before we got together. You’ve said you wished you could find time to eat."

Her ears flattened. "You remember that?"

"I remember everything."

She stayed silent for a while, twirling her tail around her legs.

"That’s... that’s really nice of you, Sui."

"I try."

"No, I mean it." She turned to him and her golden eyes softened. "No one remembers things like that about me. No one remembers my little things."

"You’re worth remembering."

She reached out and took his hand. Their fingers intertwined.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Anytime."

Next morning, Sui woke up early. His alarm hadn’t even sounded, but he was already getting out of bed, getting ready to go out.

At the way, he stopped at the convenience store and bought two onigiris and a carton of strawberry milk. He knew she liked strawberry milk. Once, when they were passing a vending machine, she mentioned it casually.

I remember everything, he thought with a smile.

She was waiting for him at the gate again and her tail was wagging when she noticed him.

"Morning!" she called.

"Morning." He held out the bag. "Here."

She blinked. "What’s that?"

"It’s breakfast. I told you I’d bring you something."

She opened the bag and her eyes widened. "Onigiri? And strawberry milk?"

"You like strawberry milk."

"How did you—"

"You’ve once mentioned it. Months ago."

She stared at him with her mouth open. Her ears were twitching.

"Sui..."

"Just eat. Before the lessons begin."

She nodded and grabbed the onigiri. They walked to school together, Yuiko eating her breakfast on the way. Every few seconds, she offered him a bite.

"Here," she said, holding out the onigiri. "Try it."

"I’ve already eaten."

"Try it, anyway."

He bent over and took a bite. She smiled in satisfaction.

"Yummy, right?"

"Delicious."

"Right."

She finished her breakfast just in time when they came to the school gates. She crumpled the wrapper and put it into her bag.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For breakfast. For remembering."

"Always."

She bent and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she hurried inside, her tail wagging furiously.

Sui was standing there, touching his cheek, smiling stupidly.

The routine was continuing.

Every morning, Sui woke up early and went to the convenience store. He bought different food every day – onigiris, sandwiches, pastry, fruits. He always brought her strawberry milk.

And every morning, Yuiko was waiting for him at the gate with her tail wagging the moment she saw him.

"You’re going to spoil me," she said one morning when taking a croissant.

"That’s the plan."

"I’m going to get used to it. What then?"

"I’ll keep doing it. Forever."

Her ears flattened. "You can’t promise forever."

"Watch me."

She bit into the croissant and blushed a little.

"You’re impossible," she mumbled.

"You keep saying it."

"Because it’s true."

They walked together, holding hands. The routine was simple, but theirs.

One morning, it was raining. Sui stood at the gate with his umbrella.

Yuiko showed up with her umbrella raised above her head. Her tail was slightly wet.

"Morning," she said, voice muffled by the rain.

"Morning. I’ve brought you your breakfast." He handed her a bag. "It’s something special today – sweet buns and hot chocolate."

Her eyes lit up. "Hot chocolate?"

"To warm you up."

She switched her umbrella with his and stepped under it so that they both could stay dry. She pressed her shoulder to his.

"You’re going to make me cry," she said softly.

"Please, don’t. I haven’t got any tissues."

She laughed and pressed her head to his shoulder.

"I really glad we’re doing this," she said.

"Walk in the rain?"

"Walk to school together every morning. It’s... it’s my favorite part of the day."

His heart swelled. "Mine too."

She looked at him, rain falling around them.

"Sui?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too."

Weeks went by. The routine became a second nature.

Every morning, Sui woke up early, went to the convenience store and walked to Yuiko’s gate. She was waiting for him there, tail wagging. They walked together, sharing breakfast and talking.

They talked about everything – about school, about dreams and fears, about memories. The walks became their sacred time, their bubble in the world.

On one particular morning, Yuiko brought along a small box.

"What’s that?" he asked, offering her the familiar breakfast bag.

"Open it."

He did. He found a keychain inside—the tiny figure of a cat and a tiny boy, their tails connected.

"I found it at the festival," she admitted shyly, ears flattened. "I want to give you something as well. So you will never forget."

He gazed at the keychain, tears forming in his eyes.

"Yuiko..."

"Don’t cry, I’ll cry as well."

He laughed, embracing her warmly.

"I love it, I love you," he whispered.

She returned the embrace, wrapping her tail around his waist.

"I love you too."

They walked to school side by side, the keychain now hanging from Sui’s backpack. Every time it jingled, he remembered.

Remembered the mornings, the breakfasts, the rain, the warmth.

The girl who had become every morning for him.

---

The cycle went on all throughout the autumn, all throughout the winter.

From cold to warm mornings.

From exams and holidays and everything else.

Every morning without fail, Sui would find himself by the gate. Every morning without fail, Yuiko would wait for him there.

It had become their thing, their ritual, their proof of choosing each other every day.

One day, Yuiko gazed up at him while they were walking.

"Sui?"

"Yeah?"

"I’m glad it’s you."

He smiled, holding her hand.

"So am I, Yuiko. So am I."