My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 7: Chapter 7 - Our First Walk Home

The following morning greeted with sunny sky and pleasant breeze.

For the first time in many days, Sui got up before his alarm clock.

He lay still for a while and then sat up.

"... I should go take my shower."

Nothing special was scheduled to happen today.

No tests or any school activities.

No need to hurry.

And yet, he finished his breakfast and left the apartment earlier than usual.

As soon as he stepped out, he heard a sliding door.

Click.

The door of the neighboring house opened.

Yuiko appeared, closing it behind herself.

She looked up.

Their eyes met for a split second.

She wasn’t surprised anymore.

This had been happening everyday this week.

"... Good morning."

Her voice sounded calm, although not as scared as a week ago.

Sui smiled.

"Morning."

They stayed like that for a while.

And then, almost simultaneously, they began walking.

Neither of them asked,

"Do you want to walk together?"

But both knew the answer.

Because this became a silent tradition for them already.

The neighborhood was still waking up.

An old couple was sweeping fallen cherry blossoms from their garden.

The owner of the nearby bakery put fresh bread on display and its smell spread across the street.

A mailman was cycling down and greets everyone with friendly smile.

"Morning!"

"Morning." – answered Sui.

Yuiko politely bowed.

The cyclist waved good morning and then disappeared from sight around the corner.

The two friends continued walking.

Not asking for topics to talk about,

Because this was not the case.

For a moment they were silent.

Like it wasn’t the first time already...

Because it was comfortable silence now.

Like listening to birds singing without feeling a need to interfere.

After several minutes, Yuiko quietly said.

"... The kitten."

Sui turned his gaze to her.

"I was wondering about it."

"So you do?"

She nodded.

"... Do you think everything is fine?"

"Of course it is."

"The woman working at that care center seemed to be very experienced."

"... Yes."

Yuiko smiled faintly.

"I hope that someone adopts it."

"I am sure they will."

"... I hope so."

Silence followed.

And neither of them tried to come up with a new topic.

Because they slowly learned that not everything needs explanation.

Not everything should be said.

Sometimes being on the same road is enough.

A few blocks later, they came to the bridge over the small river.

Petals of cherry blossoms were floating across it.

Yuiko leant slightly on the handrail.

"... It is pretty."

Sui stood beside her.

"Yes."

For some moments they watched the drifting flowers.

And then a wind blew through the trees.

Pink blossoms filled the air.

One small petal fell onto Yuiko’s hair.

She didn’t notice it.

Sui looked at it for a bit.

"..."

Should he tell her about it?

He hesitated.

Then quietly stretched his hand.

Yuiko tensed.

"Hm?"

Instead of touching her directly, he pointed her on that spot.

"There’s..."

"A petal."

She blinked.

"Oh."

She lifted her hand.

"... Here?"

"A bit to the left."

"... This side?"

"No."

Yuiko tried once again.

"... Now?"

"... Almost."

She frowned.

"I can’t find it."

Sui hesitated.

"... May I?"

Yuiko looked at him.

Then she gave a slight nod.

"... Okay."

Gently he touched her hair.

His fingers softly moved away the petal.

"There."

"... Got it."

He showed her the small pink blossom.

Yuiko looked at it.

"... Thank you."

"You would’ve brought it to school."

"... That would’ve been really awkward."

"Probably."

Yuiko quietly took the flower instead of throwing it away.

She looked at it for a while and put it in her notebook pocket.

Sui noticed it but didn’t ask her reasons for doing so.

Somehow...

It seemed to be one of those little things people keep because they want to remember that day.

They continued walking.

Still a few minutes to the school gates.

Yuiko looked at him.

"... Aoyama."

"Hm?"

"... May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you help me?"

Sui looked confused.

"With moving."

"Walking home."

"The kitten."

She lowered her gaze.

"You helped me since we first met."

"... Most of the people didn’t."

He paused for a bit before answering.

"I don’t know."

"You don’t know?"

"I just did what I felt."

"... Only that?"

He nodded.

"If someone needed my help..."

"I’d rather help than regret later."

Yuiko looked in front of herself.

"... You are strange."

"I heard that a lot."

"... Not in a bad way."

"I know."

She smiled.

A tiny smile.

Only enough to be captured by the morning sun rays.

Soon enough, the building of the school appeared ahead of them.

Students were pouring in from the front gates in groups.

Seeing them from the opposite end of the courtyard, Haru rushed to meet them.

"There you two are!"

He ran towards them with the same boundless energy.

"I swear, everyday I see you coming together."

Yuiko seemed embarrassed.

"We..."

"It just happened."

Haru laughed.

"Sure it did."

Sui sighed.

"Good morning to you too."

"Morning!"

Haru grinned from ear to ear.

"Come on, let’s go to our classes before the teacher makes the attendance optional."

They entered the school gates together.

Yuiko glanced at Sui.

Just a week ago...

Walking beside him seemed awkward.

Every silence made her nervous.

Every conversation was a challenge for her.

But now...

Unaware of it...

She started matching her steps to his ones.

And somehow the path to school became her favorite part of the morning.

.....

The last bell rang signaling the end of another school day.

Students rushed through the hallway.

Those who were hurrying to the club activities, others forming a noisy crowd already discussing the plans for the weekend.

Sui put away his notebook and stretched.

Another typical day.

Standing up, he saw Yuiko carefully packing her schoolbag with textbooks. She always packed everything in the same way. Large books on the bottom, smaller notebooks on top, pencil case placed in the side pocket.

Everything had its place.

She noticed his gaze.

"...Ready?"

Sui nodded.

"Yeah."

Neither of them needed to ask whether they should go home together.

It was already clear.

If one of them stayed, the other one would wait.

Putting on their outdoor shoes, they went out through the school gates.

The weather was cooler compared to the previous day.

With the wind blowing, cherry blossom petals scattered on the road.

For some time, they just walked.

Not because there was nothing to talk about.

But because they realized that silence was not something to be afraid of.

It could be shared.

"So..."

Yuiko started talking suddenly.

"...Did you do your history homework?"

"I did."

"...Already?"

"After dinner."

She seemed to be surprised.

"...You’re quick."

"You?"

"I..."

She avoided eye contact.

"...I forgot."

Sui smiled.

"I knew it."

"...Is it that obvious?"

"You spend half the lesson looking out the window."

"I wasn’t."

"You were."

"...I was thinking."

"About what?"

"The kitten."

Sui smiled again.

"That’s a better excuse than most of them."

Yuiko made the cutest pout.

"...You’re mocking me."

"A little bit."

"...You’re annoying."

Her voice was calm as always.

Her tail, however, showed happiness.

Sui noted it.

As usual...

He tried to pretend he didn’t notice.

Walking through the shopping street, they came to the same convenience store they used as a refuge a few days ago.

Yuiko slowed down her steps.

"...Our snack experiment."

Sui looked at her.

"We still haven’t chosen the winner."

She nodded.

"...One comparison wasn’t enough."

"I remember."

"...We’ll need more."

"So it is a scientific research?"

"...Exactly."

He laughed.

"I’ll cooperate."

Yuiko smiled.

"I’m glad."

These words came out spontaneously.

She blinked and understood what she said.

"...I mean..."

"...Thank you."

"It’s all right."

They continued walking.

Getting farther from the noisy shopping streets, they came to the calmer area.

Children were playing in the park.

An elderly couple was taking a walk with their small dog on the sidewalk.

It was all so peaceful.

In no time, they arrived at the narrow street where their houses stood next to each other.

Sui stopped in front of his front gate.

"So..."

"I’ll see you."

He was going to say Monday, but remembered that tomorrow will be Saturday.

Before he could finish, Yuiko interrupted him.

"...See you tomorrow."

The words came to her quite naturally.

Silence.

Yuiko stopped.

"..."

Tomorrow?

There was no school tomorrow.

Her ears slowly turned red.

"I..."

"I wanted to say..."

She hurriedly looked for the explanation.

"...Tomorrow... outside."

Sui raised an eyebrow.

"Outside?"

She nodded.

"...If you can."

"I often take a walk after the breakfast."

"...There is a bakery near the river."

"I heard that their melon bread is tasty."

She lowered her eyes, suddenly being interested in the ground.

"...Would you..."

"...like to go there with me?"

It was the longest invitation she ever offered him.

Sui looked at her for a while.

Then he smiled.

Gentle and warm smile.

"I’d like that."

Yuiko exhaled involuntarily.

"...Okay."

"...So..."

She smiled shyly.

"...See you tomorrow."

She sincerely meant her words.

"See you tomorrow," Sui said.

Yuiko waved at him and went into the house.

Front door quietly closed behind her.

Sui stayed at his front gate for some time.

Then, almost unconsciously, he laughed softly to himself.

She started the conversation.

She invited him.

And for the first time in his life...

She was the one who didn’t want the conversation to be finished.

Staring at the neighbor’s house, Sui couldn’t help thinking that somewhere amid awkward silences, common snacks, and rescued kitten...

The quiet girl with the cat ears began to open her heart a little by little.

Their walks home became their favorite activity.

They wouldn’t admit it yet.

But "see you tomorrow" became closer to "I’m happy you’re a part of my everyday life".