My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - The Tail Does Not Lie

When the next morning came, the sky was crystal clear, as if the previous day’s rainfall had never happened.

Sui left his house at precisely 7.15.

In no time, the neighboring front door opened.

Yuiko left the house, fixing the strap of her school bag.

The coordination of the timings seemed to be perfect.

But nobody planned it or mentioned it.

"...Morning."

"Good morning."

Though the greeting was still awkward,

but now it did not feel like a forced one.

They casually walked toward the school together through the tranquil streets of the neighborhood.

For some time, neither of them said anything.

Rather, they just heard the sounds of the morning.

Chirping birds.

Passing by cyclists.

A train whistle in the distance.

It was peaceful.

Sui looked at Yuiko.

She looked like always.

Her face was calm.

Her posture was neat.

Whoever will see her for the first time would think that she was hard to approach.

But then he looked down.

Her tail.

It was swaying from side to side.

Not too much.

Only enough to catch attention.

She looks... relaxed.

On the previous day, it had puffed up from embarrassment.

During the assembly, it was curling behind her legs.

But now it was swinging gently with each step she took.

Did it reflect her current mood always?

Right at that moment, a middle schooler riding a bicycle went past them.

"Be careful!"

The cyclist dodged a puddle in the last second.

Splash!

Water was sprayed toward the sidewalk.

Yuiko subconsciously moved closer to Sui, trying not to get wet.

Their shoulders touched each other.

"...Sorry."

She immediately took a small step away.

"It’s okay."

Sui noticed something interesting.

While Yuiko had apologised with her usual calm tone of voice...

Her tail puffed up suddenly.

Was she... embarrassed?

He almost laughed lightly.

Interesting.

After several minutes, they arrived at a crosswalk.

The pedestrian signal showed the red color.

A few students were standing around them, waiting.

A small rabbit beastgirl was standing near Yuiko.

She looked up.

"Your ears look really nice."

Yuiko blinked.

"...Thank you."

There was no change in her facial expression.

But there was something else in her tail...

It was swaying fast and cheerfully.

Once.

Then another time.

Until it settled down.

The rabbit girl smiled warmly.

"I want to have such fluffy ones."

Yuiko awkwardly touched one of her ears.

"...I think your ears are cute."

The young girl beamed brightly.

"Really?"

Yuiko nodded.

"Yes."

When the traffic light went green, the rabbit girl happily skipped away.

Sui looked at Yuiko.

"You like compliments."

Yuiko tilted her head.

"...What?"

"You seemed happy."

"I did not."

"You did."

"I do not think I smiled."

"You did not."

"...Then?"

Sui looked forward.

"Nothing."

He did not want to tell her why.

Otherwise, he would probably spend the whole day watching her to make sure she did not move her tail.

At the school building, Sui silently concluded something.

Yuiko’s face was difficult to read.

Yuiko’s words were carefully chosen.

Yuiko’s actions were politely performed.

But Yuiko’s tail...

Yuiko’s tail was completely truthful.

It wagged when she was happy.

It curled when she was nervous.

It puffed up when she was embarrassed.

It was swaying lightly when she felt comfortable.

It was not betraying her.

It was just expressing the feelings she was unable to say aloud.

While changing their indoor shoes, Yuiko looked at Sui.

"...Is there something wrong?"

"Hm?"

"You looked at me a few times today morning."

Sui hesitated.

"I did?"

She nodded.

"...Did I somehow spill something?"

He shook his head negatively.

"No."

"...Then?"

Sui smiled lightly.

"I was only thinking about something."

"About what?"

He put on his indoor shoes and stood up.

"About nothing important."

Yuiko was not able to ask any more questions.

So Sui left for the classroom.

She watched him leave, being slightly puzzled.

"...That was suspicious."

Without realising it, the tip of her tail flickered in curiosity.

From a bit distance, Sui noticed it.

He smiled to himself.

Yep.

The tail does not lie.

By the lunch period, the atmosphere of the classroom had changed considerably.

The desks were moved closer together.

One by one, the lunch boxes were opened and the room was filled with the smell of home-made food.

Sui quietly opened his own lunch by the window.

Just when he took his chopsticks, Haru suddenly appeared in front of him and sat down in a chair.

"You’re always eating alone."

"It’s okay."

"I know, but I don’t want you to."

Sui sighed.

"You always invite yourself."

"But you never complained about it."

"I considered the matter."

"Mere thinking doesn’t count."

Before he was able to reply, Haru noticed someone eating alone at the back of the classroom.

Yuiko.

She carefully unwrapped her lunch box and ate in complete silence.

Haru lowered his voice.

"The new girl hasn’t made any friends yet."

Sui looked at her.

Yuiko didn’t seem lonely.

But she definitely seemed to be... alone.

The most of students still weren’t willing to talk to her.

Some of them were intimidated.

Some others simply didn’t know what to say.

Haru scratched the back of his head.

"I should invite her."

"I see."

"...And you should come along."

Sui gave him a dry look.

"So that I won’t have to say anything?"

"Exactly."

"...Well, at least you’re honest."

A few minutes later, Haru stood up and waved excitedly.

"Nekozawa!"

Half the class turned their heads.

Yuiko looked up, surprised.

"...Yes?"

"Come and eat with us!"

For a while, there was silence in the room.

Yuiko blinked.

"...Me?"

"Yep!"

She looked around.

"...Are you sure?"

"Sure!"

She hesitated.

Then slowly got up and came over.

She sat down respectfully leaving the distance between herself and Sui.

"...Thank you."

"No problem!" Haru smiled.

"My name is Haru."

"I know."

"...Okay."

"You loudly introduced yourself this morning."

"I have a loud personality."

"...I see."

Sui nearly smiled.

After that, the conversation went rather smoothly.

Practically because Haru talked enough for the whole company.

"So, Nekozawa..."

"Do you really chase laser pointers?"

Yuiko looked at him.

"...No."

"Really?"

"...No."

She hesitated.

"...Once."

Haru burst out laughing.

"I knew it!"

"It was an accident."

"Yeah."

"...It was a red bug."

"...Maybe."

Sui silently covered his mouth with his hand.

Yuiko noticed it.

"...Are you laughing?"

"A bit."

"...Do you find it funny?"

"Just a bit."

She folded her arms.

"...You’re irritating."

Her tone was completely flat.

If anyone else would hear it, it might be a real irritance.

But Sui already knew better.

Without looking directly...

He noticed her tail.

It was quietly swaying side to side beneath the table.

Not quickly.

Not provocatively.

Complacently.

As a cat enjoying a sunny afternoon.

She isn’t really irritated.

He calmly took another bite.

"I will try harder next time."

Yuiko blinked.

"...You’re supposed to deny it."

"I probably do."

"...You’re becoming more and more annoying."

Again...

The same quiet swish.

Back.

Forward.

Back.

Forward.

Her tail looked almost... happy.

Sui concealed another smile under his lunch box.

He didn’t mention it.

He didn’t mock her.

He simply replied as if she really meant what she said.

The conversation went on.

Haru told an awkward story of how he had been locked outside his home because he was chasing a tennis ball.

Yuiko laughed.

With a true laugh this time.

Softly.

Cheerfully.

She quickly covered her mouth, blushing.

"I..."

"...Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Haru asked.

"I laughed."

"...It’s okay."

"...It is?"

"Actually," Haru said dramatically, "it’s highly recommended."

Yuiko looked at Sui.

"...Is he always like that?"

Sui nodded.

"Every day."

"...That must be exhausting."

"It is."

"I can hear you two," Haru complained.

Neither of them answered.

For a moment...

Yuiko and Sui looked at each other.

Then...

They both laughed.

It wasn’t loud.

Just a little for Haru to raise his hands.

"Hey! You’re already teaming up!"

"We aren’t," Yuiko replied immediately.

Her tone was calm.

Perhaps even too quick.

"We’re just agreeing."

"Hmm..."

Haru narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Yuiko looked aside.

"...You’re just imagining things."

Under the table...

Her tail swayed faster.

Sui noticed.

He silently looked out of the window.

If he would say anything, she would become embarrassed and wouldn’t talk anymore.

So he kept silent.

Not because he didn’t notice.

But because pretending that he didn’t notice was kinder.

At the end of the lunch break, Yuiko packed away her empty lunch box.

"...Thank you."

"For what?" Sui asked.

"...For the lunch."

"It was... pleasant."

After a slight pause she added,

"...Even though Aoyama is somewhat annoying."

Sui nodded as if he was taking her comment to heart.

"I will consider your words."

"...Good."

She stood up and went back to her own desk.

When she went away, the tip of her tail quietly swayed behind her.

Sui looked at it only for a while before turning his gaze away.

He smiled to himself.

She was still hiding her emotions behind the calm face and the blunt words.

But gradually...

Unknowingly to both of them...

She stopped being as reserved as she used to be in his presence.

And without mentioning her expressive tail, Sui unknowingly became someone she could feel comfortable around.