Subaru woke up feeling strange, nothing new to him but this time it felt physical. A small weight on his head and back, probably just sore. Except for the fact he can hear everything more clearly and everything smelled so nice.
Getting up and stretching his arms he felt really relaxed like a nice cat nap, the morning sunlight peering through his window gave him a nice warmth as a bonus.
As he walked to his bathroom he wanted to wash his face of any grim he might have accumulated during his slumber. Washing everything off with the nice flowing water he then looked in the mirror.
His eyes were wide, sweat now trailing down the side of his brow.
"What the...?"
Making up a little spot on the bed a small great spirit stirred awake sensing the giant ball of warmth that was usually next to her at night now away from the bed. It was fact that annoyed her almost every morning when her contractor got up to work. Beatrice took a great joy in laying next to Subaru and having him hold her as the slept at night.
She wants more cuddles!
Lifting her head up from the small pillow she had Beatrice was immediately greeted with her dear contractor standing right over bedside like a hawk staring her down. Both of them didn't say anything as Subaru's furious eyes bored into her large eyes and forehead.
Except... Subaru looked a little different.
"Beatrice."
Oh no. Subaru rarely uses her full name, let alone saying it in a tone like that.
"Y-Yes Subaru?"
"Did you have something to do with this?"
"With w-what, I suppose?"
"I asked, IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS!?" Subaru then pointed at the top of his head to show her the new appendages that were not there the night before.
Two dark colored cat ears usually found on cat demi-humans.
Then it hit Beatrice like a dragon cart, now she remembers what she did.
Last night she admired he contractors sleeping face like she usually does. Subaru only looked truly rested and at peace when he was resting. His face was in a form that was so soft and fragile like a child. An idea popped in her head to make him more adorable than he already was.
It was an experimental spell. Something of this magnitude will take a lot of mana and possibly make her pass out but if she could get just one glimpse of it she would be content.
She remembered the giant glow that emanated from her as Subaru was consumed by the light that surrounded her as she attempted the new transformation spell. As her fears confirmed that spell was to powerful for her to handle and she remembers blacking out almost instantly afterwards.
Now the fruits of her labor stood before her and he wasn't as happy as she was about it.
"Subaru your, your, ears!"
"Not only that! But look Beako I have a tail!" He turned to so his black and long tail swinging naturally as if it was always apart of him. "Beako what did you do!?"
"Betty made you more adorable, in fact!" She was so happy, in fact this was even better than she expected! Cat ears and a tail! She just wants to pet him and rub his little appendages like she did with bubby!
"Wha-? Beako you used some sort of spell on me in my sleep! Why would you do that!? Do you even realize what you've done!"
"Betty does, in fact. But don't worry she has gotten her satisfaction now and will now reverse the spell." She was lying of course.
"Please do this feels really weird." Subaru muttered sheepishly.
Beatrice held her hands in front of Subaru and started her incantation to reverse the effects of what she did. The small blue glow started to emanate from her small hands again but before anything big could happen it vanished.
"So did you do it Beako?"
"No, I suppose."
"Is there a reason why...?"
"Betty seems to be depleted of the proper mana needed to reverse the effects of such powerful use of her magic." Again the little spirit cruelly lied to her contractor,. Beatrice had more than enough mana to reverse the effects, which would still put her out of commission, but she wanted some time to enjoy this while it lasts.
Subaru grabbed his face and ran his hands down it in frustration. "Beatrice I can't let anyone see me like this, and more importantly I have a meeting with Crusch today! She's supposed to be arriving this afternoon!"
"Doesn't the duchess have a cat knight? Why would this be a problem?"
"Well I don't know Beako, maybe because of the fact the last time everyone saw me I didn't have fluffy ears or a tail."
"You have a point, in fact. But for due time they have to get used to you having feline features until Betty solves her mana issue."
"Something tells me this is going to be a long day." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going go take a bath now go to breakfast Beako."
Everything about this situation feels embarrassing and it doesn't help how he doesn't know how they are going to react.
"Beako where's Subaru? Haven't seen him all this morning." Emilia asked the small spirit.
"Subaru is getting dressed right now, also don't call Betty that only Subaru can do that, in fact."
"Bea~ko is always so me~an." The little spirit just crossed her arms and looked away.
All the members of the Emilia camp sat and ate the breakfast the four maids, (If Ram sitting around even counted) prepared for everyone. The only person that appeared to be missing still was the nasty eyed knight which wasn't like him.
"Man Cap'n is goin' miss this awesome breakfast!"
"Garfiel please don't talk while your eating." Said Frederica.
Then walking inside the dining room was Subaru wearing his usual attire of his iconic orange, white, and black tracksuit. Except he was wearing the white cloak that Emilia wears when she needs to conceal her identity.
"Hey everyone sorry I'm late. I sure am hungry now."
"Subaru-kun your here!" Rem cheered. She personally prepared a plate for him.
"Subaru your here!" Emilia said excitedly. "But Subaru why are you wearing that?"
"W-well I need to show everyone something."
"Barusu please refrain from stripping in front of everyone please." The pink haired maid teased.
"Ram! Please! This is actually really important." Subaru pleaded.
Roswaal who wasn't really paying attention now was listening in from his end of the table. This will probably be interesting, he had no idea for the world of comedy he was about to be in despite being a clown.
The faces or Emilia and Rem started to show concern for what Subaru is saying.
"So Beatrice did something to me in my sleep and for right now she can't reverse the effects so um..." He just sighed in defeat Subaru just had to get it out of the bag. "Here everyone look at this." Lowering the cloak off his head everyone saw what he was nervous about all the reactions were pretty varied.
Everyone in the room looked and saw how the knight now had two fluffy ears on the top of his head and long tail to go with them extending from his rear.
"This is what happened to me last night." He declared.
Emilia had a bright smile on her face. Her knight looked absolutely adorable! She already thought Subaru was a pretty handsome young man but this changed that outlook temporarily. With those nasty eyes of his he just looked like a grumpy cat that needed to be pet!
Rem has stars in her eyes. Subaru-kun was already super cute and now that's increased tenfold. She could already imagine what his sleeping face looks like! Oh what a blessing that would be to see it in the flesh! She felt the strongest need to move from her position to rub his head and ears to see what would happen.
Ram opened her mouth to saw something but couldn't find anything. This was just bizarre and her mind is adjusting to the fact the accursed Barusu was now some mangy feline. She already feels the cat jokes coming in.
Garfiel and Otto looked at each other and immediately started laughing out loud. Their friend and cap'n was now some kitty cat, he'd probably purr too if they pet him enough. It was just too funny.
Petra was so fixated on his ears that she almost subconsciously walked over to try and rub his head.
Frederica stood still and didn't let her professional demeanor falter, although this was amusing it would be over in no time.
Roswaal was trying everything in his power to not burst out laughing. This was glorious and will stay in his memory forever. Subaru-kun looked so uncomfortable with the fact that he was basically a cat demi-human. He would keep watch of him as this small event transpired.
"Beatrice used some sort of spell on me to, in her words, "make me more adorable and-"
"Was I wrong, in fact? Betty wants to rub your head and ears."
"Yeah Subaru! I want to pet your ears and play with them!"
"Subaru-kun is at the cutest that Rem has ever seen him! Can she touch your ears and tail?"
The red across his face from this already embarrassing situation spread all along his cheeks as these girls wanted to touch him.
"You can touch them yeah..." he said just barely above a whisper. This whole thing was so awkward!
In almost an instant the three girls came rushing over and rubbed their hands on his head. Subaru has had lap pillows before, he's had his head rubbed by these three same girls before, but this was something else entirely.
Whatever being turned in to a cat boy did to him it made this whole experience feel even better than it did before. Is this what dogs and cats feel when you pet them behind the ears like that? That genuine feeling of comfort? Everything about was so good!
He closed his eyes and felt himself relax as these loving girls crowded around him.
Puuuurrrrr*
He eyes bolted open in immediately. He didn't do that on purpose. Holy shit he purred like how an actual cat would when they felt comfortable around someone.
Rem, Beatrice, and Emilia squealed in delight together as they triggered the most adorable thing they've ever seen from Subaru.
"Subaru you purred! That was so cute I need to see more!"
"Subaru-kun, Rem wants to rub your head further to see you make cuter noises!"
"See, Betty was right in fact. Betty made you more adorable than anything else besides herself, I suppose."
"You keep rubbing my head like this then- Nyaa!" A small sound of satisfaction came from him as one of the girls hit the right spot. He heard more squeals of delight from the girls.
This day was going to be really interesting is it?
"Beako I feel so embarrassed." Subaru was back in his room after the most interesting breakfast he's ever been too in his life. His face was buried in his pillow face down as red as it was when he was being pet earlier, or now actually.
Beatrice still sat next to him and was rubbing his head and playing with his tail which was swaying around in her tiny hands. "Betty can understand if this is making you feel weird, I suppose. But she is sorry that this is happening to you." Lying right through her small teeth as she was getting nothing but joy out of this.
She of course will end the spell when the day was over, but for now this show will go on.
A small knock on the door was heard before a smaller voice called out through it. "Subaru-sama it's Petra, may I come in?"
He lifted his head from the pillow and replied. "You can come in Petra."
The littlest maid shuffled in to the room shyly as she approached her crush. "Emilia-sama says that it's time to get ready to meet Crusch-sama as she is almost here."
"Okay, tell her I'll get in uniform."
Petra bowed in response. But before she would leave she just wanted one thing. "Subaru-sama if I may ask..."
"Yes you can touch them Petra."
Almost instantly Subaru felt her little hands rummage through his hair and scratch his ears. He was purring again and he didn't even attempt to stop it.
Petra was elated a bright smile and blush on her face as she pet Subaru.
"I'll take my leave now Subaru-sama!" And with that she happily walked out the door.
"Beako?" Subaru groaned in to his pillow.
"Yes Subaru?"
"Why do these things happen to me?"
"Betty wouldn't know, I suppose."
Subaru waited anxiously at the door for Crusch's arrival as he saw the dragon carriage pulling up in the distance. He knew that the woman wouldn't discriminate against him in any way, she had her own cat knight. It was the reaction he was afraid of, how would Felix even react to something like this?
He already feels the endless teasing from him. Felix already loves putting his hands on him who knows how sensitive he'll feel if he were to bite him on the new set of ears.
The carriage came to a full stop as he saw Crusch and her entourage step out of the cart. Crusch herself, Felix, and Wilhelm.
Ram offered to be the one to greet them and walk them in to the estate. Probably as a way to see the looks on their faces when they see his new look. She going to milk everything from this isn't she?
A knock on the door was heard and Subaru opened to greet his allies.
"Crusch, Felix, Wilhelm! It's nice to see you guys again!" He outstretched his hand to shake but got nothing in return. "Uh guys?"
"Natsuki-san what is with the set of ears on your head? Are you wearing a sort of headband?"
Crusch straight to the point as always. Subaru nervously scratched the back of his head as he tried to explain himself. "Well you see Crusch-san my adorable little spirit thought it was a good idea to um, "make me cuter" in her words and used a spell on me to sort of technically transform me in to a cat demi-human haha..."
If the tone of his voice as he finished his explanation didn't show he was nervous the new beads of sweat at the top of his brow sure did.
"So you are saying that they are real Natsuki-san?"
"Yes it is real, look at this too." He turned around and showed her the tail that was sticking from his butler suit, it was black like the ears and waving around aimlessly. "It's only temporary for now as my Beako refills her mana and will change it back."
"I see..." Crusch had to do everything in her power to steel herself. Subaru was a handsome man she admires and now these new appendages, that are also real, made him just adorable as her own knight. She wasn't going to say it but his spirit was indeed correct of how it made him cuter. She had the strongest urge to rub and pet his fluffy ears like she would with Ferris.
For now she'll hold herself back and keep her professionalism-
"Nyaa! Subaru-kyun you're feline like Ferri-chan nyow!"
Her thoughts were interrupted by her own knight squealing in delight.
"Yes Felix I was- H-Hey!" Just as Subaru suspected earlier Felix started putting his hands all over him with everyone watching.
"Syuch a cute tail! But myost of all look at these fluffy ears! Nya! So cute Ferri-chan adores them!" The original cat boy was sliding his hands all along Subaru-kyun's tail and rubbing his fluffy ears. He knew what he was doing, he knows how cats like him get when they're all riled up.
"Om." Felix did his signature move to get the best reaction out of Subaru. A small little nibble on the ear with his soft mouth but this time it was on the fluffy ones on the top of his head.
"Nyaa! Dyon't do thyat!" Subaru screamed nearly at the top of his lungs. The feline speak he picked up from his transformation sliding out in full. He squirmed and slightly moaned at whatever the fuck Felix just did to him and now his face has the blood in his body heating it up. This was more embarrassing than anything else so far.
Ram watched in slight disgust at what these supposed "knights" are doing right in front of her. This sight killed any resemblance of what knights where supposed to be in her mind.
Old man Wilhelm watched intrigued at the sight, it was always pretty amusing to see Subaru-dono get this flustered.
But Crusch...
Oh man.
The noble Duchess let her mind run straight in to the gutter. Her face was blushing up a storm as she ogled at the event that's happening in front of her. She can picture it in her head clearly now.
Two cat boys together by her side. She's heard of Subaru's crossdressing habits, does he look good in women's clothes as much as Ferris does? If so he will wear them! Two cat boy knights that also wear womens clothes, adorable, yet volatile. Yes it's all coming together now...
Subaru finally freed himself from Felix's surprising strong grip on him. His face was flushed beyond belief the hairs on his body were standing up, his breathing heavy, and a bit of drool leaking from his lip.
"Don't ever... do that again..." He tried his best to sound threatening but it came out weak and cowardly.
"Don't worry Subaru-kyun, Ferri-chan won't do that again he promises!" He was lying of course teasing Subaru was endless fun.
Subaru wants this madness to end.
The meeting went on as normal. Crusch and Emilia discussed the state of the camp alliance between the two and the progress in the ongoing selection. Emilia and Crusch were making great strides.
Mostly the run of the mill stuff from every meeting between the two. But Subaru noticed how Crusch was eyeing him up and down as he stood by Emilia's side during the whole. It definitely was because of the cat ears. She had the smallest blush on her face as she looked at him.
Either way the meeting was coming to an end and the duchess camp will take they're leave.
"I'll escort you to your dragon cart."
"Thank you Natsuki-san you may lead the way."
"Alright then follow me!" He said cheerfully. "Don't touch me Felix." Subaru said sternly after.
"Subaru-kyun is so mean..." The cat boy whispered.
As the small group made it to the cart Crusch turned around and looked at Subaru with a small pink tint on her face.
"Natsuki-san?"
"Yes Crusch-san?"
"I apologize if this makes you uncomfortable for me to ask, and you can refuse, but may I?"
Subaru sighed in defeat knowing what she was asking for. Come one come all I guess for today.
"You may."
"Splendid." She started by rubbing in the specific area behind the ears where it would drive Ferris wild. As per her gamble if it would work she got what she was hoping to hear.
Subaru unwilling let out another string purrs that left his body much to the verdant haired woman's delight. That vision she had earlier today with having two cat boys came back to her mind. If she could make that a reality right now she would. But alas she had a position to fill as a professional and two cat boys would start drawing questions.
"Thank you Natsuki-san, I very much enjoyed that." She said.
'Really wish I could say the same.' Subaru thought to himself.
"Well I'm happy you enjoyed that. The next time we meet I'll for sure be back to my normal state."
"I'll look forward to seeing you and Emilia-sama again. Goodbye."
He waved them off as they headed back home and Subaru made his way inside.
It was a long day and the sun was finally setting, Beatrice should be ready to reverse the effects now.
When he walked inside he was actually immediately met with her standing there.
"Betty is ready to reverse the spell, I suppose."
"Thank you! I just want you to end this already!"
The small spirit grabbed both of his hands and let the spell take effect. A bright blue glow emitted around the small area they both were in and before Subaru knew it everything felt normal again.
He felt up the top of his head and saw that his ears were gone and the weight of the tail behind him has disappeared as well. Subaru smiled as this craziness has finally come to an end.
"Thank you Beako, I just couldn't take it anymore!"
"Betty has one thing to add, in fact."
"What is it?"
"Betty could reverse it the entire time, in fact. She just wanted to see what would happen as the day went on."
Subaru's eyes went bloodshot as he got on his knees and let out a yell in anguish.