One afternoon, as Harry sat alone in the apartment, doing homework, he heard a faint squeaking coming from behind the refrigerator. Intrigued, he got closer and saw a small pair of ears peeking out at him. With a small smile, Harry reached out to touch the ears, but the animal retreated deeper into the shadows.
Curious, Harry placed a piece of bread in front of the refrigerator and waited. After a moment of hesitation, a tiny nose emerged, followed by a set of whiskers, then finally a face. It was a mouse, no larger than Harry's fist, with eyes as big as saucers. Harry coaxed the mouse out with more treats, and eventually, the mouse allowed itself to be held in Harry's hands.
Meanwhile, his father was still talking with Sunakake-Babaa in her room, which is where the only TV in the whole building is. Crookshanks was with him.
Harry's fingers lightly stroked the tiny creature's soft fur as he watched the little mouse curl up in his hands. It squeaked quietly but didn't try to escape. Harry smiled, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the dim light of the apartment. His one good eye, emerald green, gazed curiously at the mouse, while his missing eye, covered by a simple patch, gave him an air of mystery the other children found strange, even unsettling.
"You're a brave little one, aren't you?" he whispered as the mouse nuzzled into his hand. For the first time in what felt like ages, Harry didn't feel so alone. The other kids at school never wanted to play with him. They laughed at his strange accent, called him names because of the eye patch, and whispered behind his back. But this little mouse didn't care. I was just happy to have some crumbs and company.
He sat there on the floor, entertaining himself with the mouse, letting it scurry up his arm and back down again. The squeaking sound it made seemed to match his own tiny giggles, filling the quiet apartment. It felt like the two of them were sharing a secret.
Suddenly, Harry heard a familiar voice approaching the door. His father, James, must be coming back from Sunakake-Babaa's room.
"Harry, I'm back! Sunakake-Babaa and I got you some—"
Panicking, Harry glanced down at the mouse still in his hand. Crookshanks, their cat, would pounce on the poor thing the moment his father opened the door, and he didn't know how his dad would feel about having a mouse in their home. He quickly cupped his hands around the small creature and scurried over to his backpack, tucking the mouse safely inside one of the smaller pockets.
Just in time, too. The door creaked open, and James entered the apartment.
"Harry? What're you doing on the floor like that?"
"Oh, nothing," Harry said quickly, standing up and brushing off his pants. "Just... thinking about schoolwork."
James, his father, passed him while riding Crookshanks head. The cat shot Harry a suspicious glance as though it could sense the new addition to the apartment but was too lazy to investigate just yet. Crookshanks jumped to the center table, where James decided to climb down the cat. Then, the feline continued to walk until it got to its usual spot by the window, curling up in a patch of sunlight. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. The mouse was safe for now.
The next morning, Harry made up his mind. He couldn't risk leaving the mouse behind, not with Crookshanks wandering around. He'd have to take it with him to school. Quietly, he packed his backpack, making sure to leave enough space in one of the side pockets for the mouse to breathe and move around.
"Ready for school, Harry?" James's voice called out from the kitchen.
"Yeah, coming!" Harry glanced at the mouse, which peeked up at him with its tiny eyes. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."
As they walked to school, Harry could feel the small weight of the mouse moving slightly in his backpack. He smiled to himself, happy that his new friend would be with him all day. Even if no one else at school wanted to talk to him, at least he had the mouse.
The morning classes went by uneventfully. Harry sat quietly, as usual, in the back of the classroom. He wasn't sure if the other children noticed him, but they certainly didn't speak to him. Sometimes, he would catch a few of them glancing in his direction, whispering things he couldn't understand. Their words always made him feel like there was something wrong with him.
But now, he didn't care. The mouse was there, safely hidden in his bag. During recess, when all the other children left the classroom to play, Harry finally had time alone with his new friend.
When the bell rang for recess, Harry waited for the other kids to hurry out of the room. Once the last of them had left, he quickly unzipped his backpack and gently pulled the mouse out. It squeaked softly as if thanking him for the freedom. Harry laughed quietly, letting it climb onto his hand once again.
"You're my only friend, aren't you?" he said softly, a bittersweet smile on his face. "I'll call you… Squeaks."
Just as he was about to take the mouse out, a piece of paper hit him in the head, and then another kid ran and grabbed the backpack, yelling. "The professor said that we need to go out of the classroom!"
The two kids started to run away from Harry, who chased after them, asking them to give the backpack back, but the kids continued to run while smiling and laughing. They ran towards the oldest building in the school and entered.
Harry went after them, but after a turn, the hall was empty, and they only saw one door being closed. Harry hurried and tried to open the door. The lock was on, and he thought that he finally had them. "Hey! Quit it already!" yelled Harry while trying to open the door.
Suddenly the door opened, but the one on the other side was not the boy who had taken his backpack, but the one who showed up was the most popular, beautiful girl in the class. "What do you think you are doing?"
Harry fell back on his ass, his eyes wide open, as he saw Nekomusume and, behind her, an old-style bathroom.
Smack*
"There is a lady in here. You are a pervert, Harry!" said Nekomusume just after slapping Harry. She then walked away, leaving Harry with his cheek red and confused. The recess was over, and Harry walked back to the classroom, only to find that his backpack was again in his seat.
He went and checked inside to confirm that the little mouse was still there, and to his relief, it was.
"Harry!" called the professor, and Harry's head snapped to watch the professor. "Eyes in the blackboard!"
Harry could hear some kids giggling about it, but he did not care. He put his backpack down and tried to pay attention to class.
The rest of the class day passed without a hitch. Harry is even able to hide a small piece of food and give it to the mouse inside his backpack.
When it was time to go back home, Harry again stayed behind to try to take his little friend for a while, thinking that the little mouse should have felt bad for being trapped inside his backpack the whole day.
Just as he was about to place the mouse on the desk to let it run around, the classroom door creaked open. Harry froze, clutching the mouse close to his chest. His heart pounded in his ears. He wasn't supposed to have pets in school. What if it was a teacher?
But instead of a teacher, it was a girl, a girl with large, bright eyes, her brown-reddish hair tied in a bun, and a big red bow sitting atop her head. She wore a pink-reddish dress, her hands clasped behind her back as she took a few tentative steps into the room.
Harry recognized her. She was Nekomusume, the girl who slapped him. She always seemed different from the other kids, but he had never spoken to her before. She was staring right at him, her eyes narrowing with an intensity that made him a little uneasy.
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but before any words could escape, a strange change washed over Nekomusume's face. Her soft, gentle features began to twist—her once innocent eyes narrowing into fierce slits, glowing with an eerie light. Her lips curled back, revealing sharp, glistening fangs, and her face elongated, becoming more cat-like with each passing second. Her nails grew into sharp, terrifying claws as long as talons, glistening like silver under the dim classroom light.
Harry's breath caught in his throat. "Wha-What are you…?" he stammered, stepping back instinctively, clutching the mouse tighter in his hands.
But Nekomusume didn't answer. Her pupils dilated into thin slits, her ears twitching as though she could hear the mouse's tiny heartbeat. In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward with the speed of a wild animal, her movements inhumanly graceful and quick.
Harry's heart raced. "No!" he cried, spinning around and running after her. He knew he had to stop her, but she was too fast. His legs pumped furiously as he chased her through the classroom, his missing eye making it harder for him to keep track of her agile movements. She darted around desks, chairs, and bags, her claws scraping the floor with every leap.
The mouse squeaked in terror and wriggled free from Harry's grip. It shot across the floor, its tiny legs moving faster than Harry had ever seen. But Nekomusume was quicker. She dashed after it, her fangs bared, her nails stretching further, sharper with each step.
Harry stumbled over a chair as he tried to keep up, shouting, "Stop! Please, don't hurt it!" But his plights were on deaf ears. He could only watch helplessly as Nekomusume's monstrous form closed the gap between her and the terrified mouse.
Just as the mouse reached the far side of the room, Nekomusume seized with deadly precision, her claws outstretched, and snatched the little creature in one swift motion. She held the mouse in her claws, her mouth spreading into a wicked grin. Then, to Harry's horror, she opened her jaws wide and, in one brutal motion, devoured the mouse whole.
Harry froze, his blood running cold. His body trembled with shock as the reality of what had just happened sank in. Nekomusume had eaten his friend, his only friend.
For a moment, there was only silence. The wild, savage glint in Nekomusume's eyes slowly faded as her features softened back into their human form. Her elongated face, sharp teeth, and deadly claws retracted, leaving behind the same sweet, innocent girl Harry had seen just moments before.
But now, her eyes were wide with horror, her hands trembling as she stared at them as though they belonged to someone else. "What… what have I done?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Harry took a hesitant step forward, still too stunned to speak. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
Nekomusume suddenly broke into sobs, her small frame shaking uncontrollably as tears streamed down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands, her voice choked with guilt and fear. "I-I didn't mean to! I didn't want to… It just happened!" she cried, collapsing to her knees. "It just... happens sometimes, I can't control it."
Harry swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to be angry, to shout at her for what she had done, but couldn't do it. She wasn't just a strange girl anymore. She was a scared little girl who had lost control.
"I... I'm a monster," Nekomusume sobbed, hugging her knees tightly as her body shook with sorrow. "Everyone will know now. They'll hate me."
Harry's voice, small and shaky due to the loss of his little friend, finally found its way out. "No... you're not a monster," he said. He didn't know why he said it, but he couldn't bear to see her cry like that, even after what she had done.
Nekomusume looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes filled with confusion and despair. "But I... I ate it. I can't control myself. I… I turn into that thing, and... people are going to find out. They'll hate me. They'll never let me live here again."
Harry sat down beside her, his own heart heavy with loss but also with sympathy. "I… I don't know why it happens," he said quietly, "but you're not a monster. You just need help. You didn't want to do it. I could see that."
She shook her head violently, burying her face in her hands again. "It doesn't matter! Once people know what I am… my life is over. I'll be thrown out… or worse."
Harry hesitated, unsure of what to say. His mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened, but seeing Nekomusume cry like that stirred something deep inside him. He knew what it felt like to be different, to be feared or hated. People avoided him because of how he looked; his uncle and aunt hated him because he had magic. Maybe... maybe they weren't so different after all.
Without thinking, he said, "We can keep it a secret. No one has to know."
Nekomusume's tear-streaked face slowly lifted, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you'd do that? Even after what I did?"
Harry crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes. I know what it's like to be different. I know what it's like when people don't understand."
For the first time, Nekomusume didn't look afraid. She still looked sad, but there was a spark of hope in her eyes. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and gave Harry a small, trembling smile.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Harry offered a weak smile in return, still processing everything but feeling a strange sense of relief. Maybe he had lost Squeaks, but he had won another friend.
The next day at school was a normal one, except for one thing: Harry did not show up.
/
The following days were the same, and his absence was beginning to bother Nekomusume more than she wanted to admit. After that strange incident with the mouse, she thought that she had won a person to talk to, but it seems that he had decided to stop the possibility of giving away the information about her nature by stopping coming to the school altogether.
By Thursday, her curiosity had turned to concern. Harry's seat remained vacant, and none of the other kids seemed to care. They barely acknowledged Harry to begin with, but Nekomusume couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her gut.
Finally, on Friday, her teacher asked her to go to the teacher's lounge after class. Nekomusume obeyed and walked alone to the teacher's lounge, unsure why she was being singled out.
"Nekomusume, can I ask you a favor?" the professor began, adjusting his glasses. "Harry hasn't been to school all week, and I'd like you to take him the assignments he's missed."
Nekomusume blinked. "Is Harry... sick?"
The professor sighed, "His grandmother called the school and said he was sick, but... I'm not so sure." The professor took a cigarette and lit it up, "Harry's been having trouble fitting in. And I am afraid that he is becoming a hikikomori."
Nekomusume had heard that term before. But even when Harry was different, he had always come to school, even when he didn't speak much to anyone.
"Could you try to give him these notes? Perhaps if you visit him, it will encourage him to come back," the professor added, handing Nekomusume a small stack of papers.
Nekomusume nodded, taking the papers. She wasn't sure what to say, but deep down, she felt responsible. After all, he may have stopped coming to school to keep her secret. Maybe she could help him come back.
The professor exhaled smoke from the cigarette and wrote it down on a blank piece of paper. "This is the address we have from him."
After school, she set off to find Harry's house, following the directions the professor had given her. As she made a few turns, she realized that she was heading toward a part of town she didn't recognize. The buildings began to look older, their structures strange and twisted, as though they had been there for centuries. The street signs were in odd, faded script, and she noticed fewer people as she went deeper into the district.
"What kind of place is this?" Nekomusume muttered to herself. She had lived in this town her whole life, but she had never ventured into this part. It felt... off. There was a strange stillness in the air, a quiet that made her fur stand on end.
Eventually, she found the address the professor had given her. It was an old, rundown apartment building with cracked windows and moss growing on the walls. The building didn't even have a proper sign. The door creaked as she pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit hallway with flickering lights.
Nekomusume hesitated at the threshold, but she took a deep breath and stepped inside. She could smell the faint scent of incense and dust. It wasn't just an old building; it felt ancient, like something from another time. The air was thick with an unfamiliar energy, making her tail twitch with unease.
She climbed the creaky stairs to the floor where Harry supposedly lived. When she reached his door, she knocked softly at first, then louder when there was no answer. "Harry? It's me, Nekomusume. I brought your homework," she called.
Still no response.
After waiting a moment, she tried the handle. To her surprise, it was unlocked. The door swung open, and she hesitated again, feeling like she was intruding. But her curiosity—and worry—won out.
"Sorry to disturb," Nekomusume called as she stepped inside.
The apartment was small, just one room, barely furnished. There was a worn-out futon in the corner and a lone backpack resting by the wall. It looked like Harry's, the same one he always carried to school. But there was no sign of Harry.
Nekomusume's ears twitched as she caught the soft padding of feet behind her. She spun around, startled, only to see an orange cat with a bushy tail and intelligent eyes. It sat in the doorway, watching her with an intensity that was almost unsettling.
She had thought it was just an ordinary pet, but now, something about the way it looked at her made her pause.
Suddenly, to her surprise, the cat meowed softly, and the sound wasn't just a regular meow. It resonated in her ears as though the cat was communicating in a way she could somehow understand.
She blinked, confused. "Did... did you just say something?"
The cat meowed again, and this time, the message was clear. *Harry isn't here. He was taken.*
"Taken? What do you mean?" Nekomusume asked, her heart racing. She took a step toward the cat, her mind spinning with questions. "Who took him? Where is he?"
Before she could get any answers, the door behind her creaked open again. Nekomusume jumped, whirling around to see an elderly woman standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing in here, child?" the woman asked with a rough voice.
Nekomusume swallowed nervously. "I-I'm sorry, I was just… I came to give Harry his homework. The door was open, and I didn't mean to…"
The old woman stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
Nekomusume stood frozen in place, feeling as though she had been caught in. "I... I just wanted to make sure Harry was okay," Nekomusume stammered. "The professor said he might be... well, turning into a hikikomori."
Sunakake-Babaa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that what they think? Hikikomori? Tch." She let out a dry laugh. "No, child. Harry isn't hiding away in here. He's not here at all. He's been taken."
Nekomusume's heart sank. "Taken? By whom? What's going on?"
Sunakake-Babaa's eyes narrowed as she watched Nekomusume. "Hmm" she muttered, scrutinizing the girl from head to toe. "You wouldn't know anything about his sudden disappearance, would you?"
Nekomusume looked startled, but before she could reply, a growl filled the room. Crookshanks jumped up and positioned himself defensively in front of Nekomusume. His tail stiffened, and his eyes flashed as if to say, She's not to blame!
Just then, James emerged from Sunakake-Babaa's tangled, gray hair. He focused on Crookshanks and Nekomusume, the eyeball let out a sigh.
"Hold it, Sunakake-Babaa," James's voice sounded slightly muffled. "If Crookshanks trusts her, maybe we should, too."
Nekomusume blinked in shock. She had thought she imagined seeing something in Harry's hair a few days ago but never thought that what she saw coming from Harry's hair that day was 'that.' "You… you're just an eye!" she exclaimed.
James's eyes narrowed. "There's no time for explanations. Harry's missing, and I can't rest until he's found." He knew, somehow, that Harry had stumbled into more trouble than usual. He was determined to find his son, no matter how strange or exhausting the journey might become.
"Sunakake-Babaa," James continued, his voice as firm as he could make it. "We'll need all the help we can get. Let's trust her, at least for now."
Sunakake-Babaa hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright, if Crookshanks and you both believe in her…" she trailed off, her eyes softening as she looked at the worried father.
They turned toward the door, ready to begin the search, when Crookshanks let out a low, urgent meow. He glanced over his shoulder and then padded out of the room, casting a glance back to see if they would follow. Sunakake-Babaa, James, and Nekomusume exchanged glances, then hurried after the cat.
The journey was peculiar. Crookshanks led them through winding alleys and hidden pathways that seemed to twist and turn out of nowhere. It was as if he knew the secret passageways of the entire town. Finally they came to a narrow path, barely visible under the dense trees.
The group continued along the path until the trees began to thin. Suddenly, they emerged into an open area that seemed like something out of a weird dream, a village, but not an ordinary one. It was a town of only cats. Cats of every size, color, and breed lounged about, some basking in the sunlight, others curled up on rooftops or peeking from within small cottages that appeared perfectly sized for them.
"Wh-what is this place?" Nekomusume whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. The cats seemed almost… intelligent, their eyes observing the newcomers with a mixture of curiosity and mild amusement.
The town was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Cats of all shapes and sizes roamed about with an intelligence and sophistication that left her speechless. They walked on two legs, moving with the natural grace of their kind but carrying themselves as humans might. Vendors lined the streets, each tending to colorful stalls where they displayed freshly caught fish, handmade trinkets, and strange assortments of herbs. Every now and then, a cat would pause to examine a piece of produce or inspect a trinket, haggling with a casual ease that felt oddly human.
Nekomusume's eyes widened as she took in the sight, barely noticing as Crookshanks trotted ahead, weaving through the bustling crowd of felines. She had never imagined such a place existed, and for a moment, she was too enraptured by the bizarre normalcy of it all to remember why they were there. Sunakake-Babaa gave her a gentle nudge, snapping her back to the present.
They continued through the narrow streets, their eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Harry. After a few minutes, Crookshanks meowed softly and gestured with his head, indicating a general direction. Nekomusume and Sunakake-Babaa exchanged a glance before they decided it would be best to split up, each searching different areas of the town.
"Keep an eye out, girl," Sunakake-Babaa said firmly, her gaze fixed on Nekomusume. "If you find anything, let us know immediately."
Nekomusume nodded. She watched as Crookshanks led Sunakake-Babaa down a narrow alley before she turned and headed in the opposite direction.
As she wandered through the town, the surrealness of the place struck her again. She passed a grocery stand where a young cat eagerly pointed out items to its parent, tugging at their arm with a tiny paw. Farther along, she saw a group of older cats sitting together at an outdoor café, sipping from small ceramic cups and chatting in low voices. It was a place both foreign and strangely familiar as if an entire world had been hidden here, just outside the realm of human knowledge.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from behind.
"I found him!" Sunakake-Babaa said in murmur. "Crookshanks pointed me to that pet shop right over there!"
Nekomusume didn't wait for further explanation.
James said something, but Nekomusume did not hear him. She ran in the direction Sunakake-Babaa had indicated. When she finally reached the pet shop, she paused just outside, watching inside and calming her breath.
The sign above the door was written in an elegant Kanji, and through the glass, she could see rows of cages, each occupied by humans of various ages. The shop was spacious and softly lit, with shelves stacked high with supplies meant for "pet" humans.
As she pushed the door open, a soft chime echoed throughout the shop. Nekomusume froze, taking in the strange scene before her. A mother cat stood nearby, holding the paw of a young kitten who was practically bouncing with excitement. The kitten pointed eagerly toward a row of cages where several human children sat, each one looking a mix of frightened and confused.
"That one!" the kitten chirped, its eyes sparkling. "Can we get that one, Mama?"
The mother cat knelt down, placing a gentle paw on the kitten's shoulder. "Now, now," she purred, her voice warm. "Choosing a pet is a big responsibility. Are you sure you're ready?"
The kitten nodded enthusiastically, its tail flicking back and forth in excitement. As Nekomusume watched, a chill crept down her spine. She glanced from the kitten to the cages, wondering if Harry was somewhere among the rows of frightened faces.
Before she could look closer, a deep, gravelly voice spoke from behind her. "Can I help you, miss?"
Nekomusume spun around, her gaze locking onto a massive black cat who towered over her, his muscular frame resembling that of a panther. His eyes were narrow, and he took a cautious step toward her, sniffing the air as if to confirm something he couldn't quite place. His gaze lingered on her face, filled with a mix of distrust and curiosity.
Nekomusume swallowed, her hands clenching nervously at her sides. She knew she must look out of place here.
The black cat's eyes narrowed further, his tone growing colder. "We don't usually allow humans in here," he rumbled. "Unless they're for sale."
Nekomusume opened her mouth to explain, but the words caught in her throat. She felt his distrust keenly, like a palpable weight pressing down on her.
After a moment, the black cat sniffed the air again, and his expression softened. He stepped back, bowing his head slightly. "My apologies," he murmured. "I can smell it on you… You're part cat, am I right?"
Nekomusume nodded her head slowly, her heartbeat beginning to calm. "Yes… I an," she replied quietly. "I'm looking for a boy… a young human boy with black hair and a green eye…"
The black cat thought for a second, "Hmm, I don't think we have something so specific." He gestured toward the cages at the far end of the shop. "But you can check our new arrivals. You may find what you are looking for," said the giant cat before winking at her and walking back to the other side of the shop.
With a nod, Nekomusume moved quickly to the back of the shop, her eyes scanning each cage as she passed. The faces of the children blurred together until, finally, she spotted him. There, in the farthest cage, was Harry.
"Harry!" Nekomusume whispered urgently.
Harry's eye widened even more, a mixture of relief and surprise flashing across his face. "Nekomusume? Is that really you?"
"Yes, it's me," she said, her voice a soft murmur. She reached through the bars, her hand just barely able to touch his shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here."
Before she could say more, the giant black cat reappeared, watching them silently from across the room.
"So, interested in buying this one?" he asked, nodding toward Harry's cage.
Nekomusume took a steadying breath, her gaze fierce. "He's not for sale. This boy has been missing for days, and he should be released immediately."
The black cat scoffed, folding his massive arms across his chest. "And why should I obey you?" he sneered, giving her a rough push that sent her stumbling backward.
Struggling to maintain her balance, Nekomusume glared up at him. "Why are you even doing this? These are human children… you're treating them like… like animals!"
The giant cat's eyes narrowed, and reply in a mocking tone. "Oh, is that so? I'm simply giving humans a taste of their own medicine. They put cats in cages and treat us as possessions. I'm just making things even."
Nekomusume clenched her fists. "And you think that makes you any better than them? You're just doing what you hate in them, trapping the innocent to settle a grudge."
A low growl escaped the black cat's throat, his eyes flashing with anger. "Watch your mouth," he snarled, his muscles tensing as he prepared to strike.
In a swift motion, he swiped a massive paw at her, claws extended. Nekomusume barely dodged, throwing herself to the side. The force of his attack hit the cage bars with a loud clang, bending the metal just enough that Harry was able to squeeze through and escape.
"Nekomusume, come on!" Harry shouted, reaching out to her.
They sprinted toward the exit together, but before they could get far, the black cat lunged forward, his claws snagging Nekomusume by the arm. She yelped in pain, struggling against his grip.
Harry bolted out of the shop, his legs pumping as he ran through the bustling streets of the cat town, his heart racing with fear and adrenaline.
Outside, Sunakake-Babaa and James spotted him almost immediately. Sunakake-Babaa's face lit up with relief as she reached out to grab him, pulling him close. Without a word, she and James turned and began running, moving quickly through the winding streets.
"Wait! Where is Nekomusume?" asks Harry as he looks around. "We can't leave her behind!" he protested, looking back over his shoulder.
"We'll be caught if we go back now!" Sunakake-Babaa said, her voice tense. "We need to get you to safety first."
Struggling against Sunakake-Babaa's hold, Harry shouted, "No! You don't understand! They judged me… all because I have Crookshanks as a pet. They said I deserved to be a pet myself!"
Sunakake-Babaa held him tighter, but her grip was soon broken as Crookshanks sprang forward, his claws flashing as he swiped at her hands. She winced, releasing Harry just enough for him to slip free.
With Crookshanks now nestled in his arms, Harry turned and sprinted back toward the street, his mind focused on only one thing: rescuing Nekomusume.
As he ran, his mind raced, recalling the place where the cats had held his strange 'trial' and sentenced him. The memory of the ancient, gray-furred cat who had presided over the judgment came to mind, and his thoughts locked onto that image with fierce clarity. The room was lit dimly, in a creepy way.
Then, without warning, the world around him shifted. The streets of the cat town blurred, and he felt a strange pull as if some invisible force was guiding him forward. In an instant, Harry found himself standing in front of the very place he had envisioned. The towering elder cat sat there, just as before, watching him with a knowing gleam in his ancient eyes. Crookshanks perched calmly in Harry's arms as if he understood the significance of this moment.
Harry had no idea how he had managed to return, but he knew one thing for certain: he wasn't leaving without Nekomusume. He looked around and saw Nekomusume on the opposite side of the strange arena. She was tied to a tall wooden post, her arms, and legs bound tightly by thick ropes. Her eyes lit up when she saw Harry.
"Hold on, I'll get you out of here," Harry whispered as he quickly worked on untying the knots. His fingers fumbled at first, but he soon managed to loosen the ropes around her wrists.
Just as he freed her arms, an angry voice echoed through the room.
"So, you managed to escape," snarled the old, gray-furred cat who had condemned him a few days ago. His eyes were blazing with fury as he glared at Harry. "You think you can defy me? Now you come back of your own free will!"
As he spoke, the elder cat extended one paw, which began to lengthen, stretching out like a snake towards Harry. The paw twisted and turned, moving at impossible angles, trying to corner him as Harry rushed around, desperately avoiding the claws.
With her hands now free, Nekomusume transformed, her features shifting into a fierce feline appearance. Her nails lengthened into claws, and her eyes dilated into thin slits with a predatory gleam. She leaped at the old cat, her claws outstretched to slash at him. But the elder cat moved quickly, dodging her attacks.
Though he managed to avoid Nekomusume's attacks, the old cat started to feel annoyed as he realized he was now up against two opponents. His eyes narrowed, and he turned his focus toward Crookshanks. The elder cat tried to make eye contact with Crookshanks to attempt to control him with his mind.
But Crookshanks fought back, his fur bristling as he resisted the magic. With a loud hiss, Crookshanks leaped into the air and latched onto the elder cat's face, digging his claws deep into the old cat's fur.
The elder cat shrieked in pain, his dignity momentarily forgotten as he tried to pry Crookshanks from his face. "I am Neko-Sennin, the King of Cats!" he roared, his voice a mixture of rage and disbelief. "I will not tolerate this insolence!"
Furious, Neko-Sennin raised a massive paw, aiming a powerful swipe at both Nekomusume and Crookshanks. Crookshanks managed to leap out of the way, his body twisting gracefully as he landed a safe distance away. But Nekomusume wasn't as lucky; the blow struck her shoulder, and she fell to the ground.
"Nekomusume!" Harry cried, rushing to her side. He knelt beside her, reaching out to help her sit up, his eyes wide with concern.
The elder cat's elongated paw stretched toward them once more, preparing for a final attack. But just as the paw was about to strike, a tornado of sand appeared, swirling around Harry and Nekomusume like a protective barrier.
From behind them, Sunakake-Babaa emerged, her face serious, and on her head sat James, who gave Harry an encouraging nod.
Neko-Sennin snarled, his eyes narrowing as he redirected his focus toward the newcomers. "So, more humans come to meddle as well?" he growled, his voice dripping with disdain. Without hesitation, he charged at them, his paws raised in preparation for an attack.
Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed through the air, followed by the sound of a heavy object hurtling down from above. Out of nowhere, Konaki-Jijii appeared, his small frame plummeting from the sky. In mid-air, his body transformed into solid stone, and with a thunderous crash, he landed directly on Neko-Sennin's back, catching the elder cat completely off guard.
The impact sent a shockwave through the room, and for a moment, Neko-Sennin lay beneath Konaki-Jijii, struggling to move. His furious yowls filled the air as he thrashed beneath the weight, trying to shake off his unexpected captor.
As the dust settled, Konaki-Jijii shifted back to his normal form, his stony exterior fading into his usual wrinkled, grinning self. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, round pot decorated with a white bubble pattern on the bottom half and a tiny knob on the lid.
"It's time you go back inside," Konaki-Jijii said with a happy tone.
With a quick motion, Konaki-Jijii opened the pot wide, pointing it to the elder cat, and an invisible force began pulling Neko-Sennin towards it. Neko-Sennin's struggles intensified as he felt himself being drawn in, his furious cries filling the air. But it was no use; the magical pull was too strong. Within moments, the elder cat was sucked inside the pot, his screams fading as the lid snapped shut.
A heavy silence settled over the clearing, broken only by Konaki-Jijii's pleased chuckle as he carefully sealed the pot and tucked it back into his bag.
Everyone gathered around Konaki-Jijii, breathing sighs of relief. Harry is still close to Nekomusume. Nekomusume, still wincing from the blow, managed to sit up, nodding her thanks.
Sunakake-Babaa sighed. "Thank you, Konaki-Jijii. Who would have thought that a drunk such as yourself would save us."
Konaki-Jijii gave a modest shrug, though his face reddened slightly with embarrassment. "Ah, no need to thank me… I, uh, caused this mess to begin with."
Everyone blinked in surprise as Konaki-Jijii rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, looking slightly tipsy as he swayed on his feet.
"You see. When I was searching over some old stuff that was on sale, I found this pot. And I, uh… accidentally let him out. Though there was a nice stash of sake in there." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Turns out it was him instead!"
Sunakake-Babaa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, while James let out a small, amused chuckle. Harry and Nekomusume exchanged a look, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"Well," Sunakake-Babaa said, at last, a small smile tugging at her lips, "We better get back."
With Neko-Sennin safely sealed away and the danger behind them, the group made their way out of the clearing, each of them breathing a little easier. They stepped out into the town, which now looked completely different. The bustling cat community they had seen before was gone, replaced by ordinary cats moving about on all fours, each one acting as any other cat would, sniffing at scraps, stretching lazily, or curling up in patches of sunlight. The cats no longer walked on two legs or browsed market stalls, and the magical atmosphere had faded away.
Inside the human-pet shop, the cages holding people slowly opened, and one by one, the humans began to emerge, their faces pale and filled with confusion and fear. They glanced around as though awakening from a strange dream, and then, realizing they were free, they hurried away down the narrow alleys, eager to put distance between themselves and this strange place.
They arrived on the city streets again when the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon.
Nekomusume then stopped, "I have to go to the other side." And then started walking in the opposite direction where the rest was walking.
Harry walked with his father over his head and clutching Crookshanks, who nestled contentedly in his arms.
"Dad?" Harry asked, glancing up at James. "Do you think… do you think I could walk Nekomusume home? I mean, with Crookshanks with us, it should be safe."
James, standing over Harry's head, looked down at his son, "Of course, Harry. Just be careful, alright?" Harry nodded, and James jumped to Sunakake-Babaa's hand.
Harry hurried and was able to walk next to Nekomusume. They walked away from the quiet cat town, while the sky was still warm in pinks and oranges colors.
Nekomusume glanced at her front. Her face was not easy to see to Harry, but he thought she made a small smile. "Thank you, Harry. You… you came back for me. You didn't have to, but you did."
Harry shook his head. "No. Thanks to you… for coming to rescue me. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up."
Nekomusume looked away for a moment when she muttered. "That's what friends are for."
Harry's face drew a giant smile that made his face lit. He'd never really had a friend before, a human friend, and the realization made him smile, his heart lighter than it had felt in a long time. "Yeah," he said, nodding. "I guess that's what friends are for."
They continued in comfortable silence, the fading light casting long shadows along their path. When they finally reached her doorstep, Nekomusume turned to him, her gaze softer than he'd ever seen it.
"Thanks for walking me home," she said quietly. "I'll… I'll see you at school."
Harry nodded, watching as she stepped inside her house. As the door closed softly behind her, he couldn't help but feel that today had changed something in his life forever.
With a final glance back, Harry turned and made his way home, Crookshanks purring gently in his arms.