My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 41: Chapter 41 - I Won’t Apologize

The news was made public on a Friday afternoon.

"The representatives for the inter-school cultural exchange program will be selected next week. Each class will select one student to represent the school," the teacher stated. "I want you to think of whom you believe will best represent the school."

Sui glanced at Yuiko, who was seated beside him. His ears picked up the movement as well.

"Will you put yourself forward for the role?" he whispered.

"I don’t know. Maybe." Her tail waved in contemplation. "It could be fun."

"You would be perfect for this. You are intelligent, kind, and a great conversationalist."

She smiled at him. "You’re biased."

"Of course."

The list of nominations was made public the following Monday. Yuiko’s name appeared on the list.

Sui felt proud and glad for her. She worked hard, she was kind to everybody and she was the perfect representative for the school.

However, not everybody felt the same way.

It happened at lunch time.

Sui and Yuiko were passing by the corridor when they heard someone calling out to Yuiko.

"Yuiko!"

They turned around. At the far end of the corridor stood a tall female student with a stern look on her face—the student council vice president, Ishikawa. Her arms were folded and her eyes were filled with contempt.

"I need to talk to you," she said in a clipped voice.

Yuiko’s ears lowered. "Is everything alright?"

"I have received several complaints concerning your nomination." Ishikawa continued in the same tone. "There are students who do not feel comfortable having a beastfolk representing our school at the inter-school event."

Sui felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"What?" he said, stepping forward.

Ishikawa ignored him, addressing Yuiko with her icy gaze. "The event will require interacting with the representatives from other schools. There are concerns that your appearance may... distract, or worse."

Yuiko’s tail wrapped itself around her leg. "Distract?"

"Some people are not used to beastfolk. It will reflect badly on our school." Ishikawa sounded indifferent, like she was speaking about the weather. "I am not saying that you should not be nominated. I am just saying that perhaps a human student would be a better choice."

Some wire broke inside Sui.

"Better? Why?"

Ishikawa glanced at him at last. "I am talking about maintaining the good name of our school. To have a beastgirl representing our school might lead to complications."

"Complications?" His voice dropped dangerously. "Do you mean prejudice?"

"I meant practicality," Ishikawa’s eyes narrowed. "You are too emotional. I understand that. However, I have my responsibilities—"

"Your responsibility is to make sure that the best student is selected, not the safest," Sui advanced toward her, his fists tight at his side. "Not the most ’comfortable.’"

"Sui." Yuiko’s voice was low and soft. "It’s fine."

"It’s not fine!" He looked at her, feeling pain in his chest. "Everything she says is wrong."

"Sui, please—"

"Sui is right. You are wrong," he addressed Ishikawa again, feeling the rage building inside him. "And to tell me that Yuiko is unfit for this role because somebody might be distracted by her? It is not practical, it is discrimination."

Ishikawa’s face became stony. "I am not discriminating—"

"Yes, you are." He managed to speak in a controlled voice, even though his voice shook with fury. "You single her out for what she is. And I will not allow you to do this."

Silence filled the corridor. Other students stopped in their tracks to observe.

Yuiko looked at Sui, her golden eyes wide.

"Sui..." she whispered.

Ishikawa’s lips pursed into a tight line. "I am trying to do what’s best for the school."

"Then choose the best person for the job. Not the safest. Not the most ’comfortable.’ The best." He took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "And this person is Yuiko. Everybody who works with her knows it."

Ishikawa remained silent for some moments. Then she sighed.

"I will... discuss it with the other council members." She turned and walked away, her heels clicking on the floor.

Sui released a breath and his hands trembled.

"Are you okay?" Yuiko asked softly.

"Am I okay?" he looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "She was so cruel to you. And you just stood there and took it."

"I am used to it."

"And that is the problem." He took her hands in his, his grip gentle but determined. "You should not have to take this abuse."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Sui..."

"I love you," he said. "And I hate that people treat you like this."

She leaned her forehead to his.

"I know," she whispered. "But I am fine. Because you are here."

He hugged her, holding her close.

"I am sorry you have to struggle so much just to get the same treatment as everyone else."

She stepped back and smiled through the tears.

"Then we will do it together. As we always do."

He kissed her forehead.

"Together," he agreed.

Later in the day, Ishikawa found them again.

"I have spoken with the council," she said in an indifferent tone. "We have decided to retain your nomination."

Sui was surprised. "You did?"

"After a long discussion." Ishikawa’s gaze softened a bit when she looked at Yuiko. "Several members of the council pointed out that you have the best grades, the most experience in leadership and best communication skills. To remove your nomination will be... unfair."

Yuiko’s ears rose up. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me," she said. "I was wrong. I allowed my biases to blind me. I apologize."

Sui stared at her. "You are apologizing?"

"I am admitting that I was wrong. There is a difference." She turned to leave but stopped halfway. "Yuiko. You will make an excellent representative. Do not let anybody discourage you."

She left.

Yuiko watched her go, her tail starting to wag.

"Sui. Did that just happen?"

"It happened."

She laughed, an happy sound.

"I can’t believe it."

"I can." He took her hand. "Because you are exceptional."

Her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For standing up for me."

"Always," he said. "Always."

The week had been going well.

Yuiko’s nomination was confirmed. The whispers were gone. Finally, her tail was free to wag and her ears were happy again.

At least it seemed like they had reached the end of the tunnel.

He was wrong.

It happened after school.

They were walking through the courtyard, heading toward the gates, when a group of girls blocked their way. One of them was Hasegawa, one of the students who had been spreading rumors.

"Yuiko," she sweetly asked. "Can we talk?"

Yuiko’s ears flattened a bit. "I’m busy."

"Just a second." Hasegawa stepped closer. "I just wanted to say... it takes real bravery to try to become what you’re not."

Sui gritted his teeth. "Excuse me?"

"I’m speaking to her, not to you." Hasegawa never took her eyes off Yuiko. "Everyone knows that you only managed to get the nomination because your boyfriend created a scene. Without him, you wouldn’t have been able to compete."

Yuiko’s tail curled around her leg. "That’s not true."

"Really, Yuiko?" Hasegawa rolled her eyes. "Everyone knows that beastfolk like you succeed in anything only because people pity them. Or simply because they want something from them."

Sui took another step forward. "That’s enough—"

"She’s a grown-up, human," Hasegawa said in disgust. "Let her fight her own battles."

"Yuiko doesn’t need to fight. She hasn’t done anything wrong."

"That’s her sin." Hasegawa’s tone became vicious. "Existence. Thinking that she is our equal. Believing that she has the right to be here."

Yuiko’s ears laid flat. Her tail started to shake.

"Don’t say such things to her," Sui hissed.

"Or what?" Hasegawa mocked him. "Are you going to beat me up? You will make a nice representative for our school."

Then she shoved Yuiko.

Not very strong, just enough to push her. Yuiko tripped, her foot caught somewhere and she fell to the floor, scraping her hands on the asphalt.

Sui’s vision went red.

He stepped forward to protect Yuiko—but before he managed to get to Hasegawa, her boyfriend grabbed Sui by his shoulder.

"Back off," the boy growled.

Sui pushed the boy away as hard as he could. "Touch her again," he snarled, "and I will..."

"Sui!"

Yuiko’s voice stopped him.

She was standing now, with bleeding hands, with a frightened tail. But with calm eyes.

"Sui, stop."

"But she—"

"Please." She lightly touched his chest. "Let me deal with her."

He wanted to protest. All of his instincts screamed at him to protect Yuiko. But her eyes—they were calm, determined and fierce.

He took a step backwards.

Yuiko turned to Hasegawa.

The girl smirked. "Finally, you managed to control your boyfriend?"

Yuiko didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward and slapped Hasegawa hard.

The slap echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone stopped moving.

Hasegawa’s head twitched to the side. Her hand went to her reddening cheek. Her eyes widened.

"Don’t," Yuiko’s voice was quiet, but cold, "look down on me because I’m a beastfolk."

Hasegawa gaped at her in disbelief.

"I’ve spent my whole life hearing people like you calling me and my family names, pushing me around and telling me that I don’t deserve anything," Yuiko said. "But I’m done with it."

Her tail was still shaking, but her voice was calm.

"I am done with this discrimination and with trying to fit into some standards. I am done with being afraid of people like you and with living a lie."

Hasegawa’s boyfriend took a step forward. "I’ll teach you—"

"Don’t touch her," Sui hissed, stepping beside Yuiko. "Touch her again and I’ll hit you."

The boy hesitated, looking between Yuiko and Sui.

Yuiko continued her speech, not taking her eyes off Hasegawa.

"I am proud of who I am. My parents love each other. I love Sui. And I won’t apologize for any of it."

Hasegawa’s face became distorted with rage. "You little—"

"What IS going on here?"

Someone roared in the courtyard. Everyone turned to see Mr. Tanaka striding toward them, his face red with rage.

"Explain now."

Hasegawa opened her mouth to speak, but Yuiko spoke first.

"These students harassed me," Yuiko said calmly. "I protected myself."

"Harassed you?" Mr. Tanaka scanned the group of students. His gaze settled on Yuiko’s injured hands. "Is that so?"

"She slapped me!" Hasegawa screamed.

"After she pushed me and I fell down." Yuiko lifted her hands for everyone to see. "There are witnesses here. Your students, actually."

A couple of students who watched everything nodded nervously.

Mr. Tanaka sighed heavily. "Everyone involved—principal’s office. Now. No exceptions."

In the principal’s office, the truth came out.

Hasegawa tried to twist the situation somehow, but there were too many witnesses. CCTV video proved everything—the push, the fall, and the fight that followed.

Hasegawa and her boyfriend were suspended for three days. The rest received detention.

Yuiko’s hands were bandaged.

Sui followed silently, his heart still racing.

When they left the office, it was already evening.

"Sui," Yuiko said quietly.

He stopped.

"Are you angry with me?"

"Angry?" He turned to Yuiko. "I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with myself."

"Why?"

"I almost lost control. I almost hurt someone." He ran his hand through his hair. "I wanted to—"

"I know." She moved closer to him. "But you stopped in time. That’s what matters."

"I should have stopped earlier."

"You stopped when I asked you to." She gently took his bandaged hands in hers. "That means everything to me."

He looked at her, his eyes full of pain.

"You were so brave," he whispered. "You protected yourself. I’ve never seen you being that fearless."

"I was scared to death," she admitted. "My heart was beating the whole time."

"You didn’t show it."

"Neither did you. You looked like you were ready to fight the whole school."

He chuckled softly. "I was."

She smiled, her tail starting to wag.

"I know." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "And I love you for that. But you don’t always have to fight for me. Sometimes I need to fight for myself."

"Then I’ll stand beside you when you fight."

"Deal." She squeezed his hands. "Now let’s go home."

They walked in the sunset.

For the first time in his life, Yuiko knew that she could do anything.