My Childhood Friend Meows Under My Skirt. (GL) - Chapter 4

As I entered the park, I sensed the presence of cats everywhere—among the grassy thickets, in the shadows of the lawn, and around the bases of the trees. The unique scent of beasts, a mix of sweetness and dampness, reached my nose. This seemed to be heaven, except for the fact that all the cats gathering around were baring their claws and fangs, ready to pounce.

A few of them appeared, boldly lying in wait to block the path through the park. When I aimed my water gun at them, they retreated into the shadows of the grass, as if they understood what I was holding. Could it be that an unknown network was being utilized to relay information to the cats? Or perhaps some of them had already been following me after we had shared a few moments of contact before I arrived here.

They were also waiting for their chance. Just as I thought that, they all charged at me from diagonally behind.

I pulled out my last weapon from my tote bag, a toy mouse. As I scattered several of them on the ground, the impact caused the screws to loosen, and each toy began to move on its own.

“Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow.”

I couldn’t control them, but the cats instinctively followed their unpredictable movements with their eyes. Some even chased after them, and I felt a sense of fulfillment. Just as I was about to be swept away by that satisfaction, I was suddenly ambushed from the front. I repelled them one by one with my water gun, and they quickly retreated. However, within just a few dozen meters, the ones I had shot at revived and came chasing after me again. Gradually, the water was losing its effectiveness.

“Ugh!”

As I peered into the tank of the water gun to check the water level, a shadow fell from above. A plump calico cat, apparently hiding in a tree. I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.

I passed through the tree-covered path and arrived at an open grassy space. The hill visible in the distance was my destination. The place where I had stood up Maki. The place where Maki had decided to sever ties with me.

The number of cats chasing after me increased even more. Since the ground had turned to grass, the self-driving mice were no longer usable. Then, I had to resort to the catnip balls. I threw all that I had, and my tote bag was emptied in an instant. I kept just two balls and tucked them into my pocket, discarding the tote bag.

I dashed up the stairs leading to the top of the hill.

A fountain, surrounded by benches placed at equal intervals. The tiled ground, adorned with a cat that served as the town’s monument.

I looked around, but there were no signs of people.

Had I made a mistake?

Was it not here?

Just as I was about to call out a name, I finally spotted a figure slipping into the flowerbed. Suddenly, all sound, presence, and scent vanished.

Guided by the fragrance of flowers, I stepped into the flowerbed.

She stood with her back to me, but upon sensing my presence, she turned around.

Two white ears stood atop her head. A tail extending from her waist. Hands devoid of human resemblance, with patches of fur visible through torn clothing. Long whiskers and cat-like eyes.

And then, the voice of Maki echoed in my ears.

“Ichika. You came.”

I checked to make sure the magatama hanging around my neck was still intact, so as not to be detected. I had been struggling, running away, and getting tangled up, but the string remained unbroken.

“Ichika. I saw you come this far. You were so cool.”

“White cat, give Maki back.”

“Not like that. Call me Maki like before.”

“Please. White cat.”

As if to show her displeasure, she suddenly hid the smile she had been wearing.

I placed the magatama around Maki’s neck. If I did that, the white cat currently controlling her would disappear, and the merging would cease. After that, Maki and the white cat would have to negotiate within the same body. That was something I could only leave to her.

What I could do was to stop the outcome of the rampage that was currently unfolding.

There were just five steps left. Could I close the distance in one go? I felt like I might be detected and pushed away. But they still didn’t know what I was planning.

Just as I tried to take a step closer, the white cat pointed behind me.

“I’ll tell you something good.”

“Something good?”

When I turned around, I saw the clock tower standing at the center of the fountain. The hands were about to point to twelve. The day was almost over.

The white cat smiled again and continued.

“When that hand reaches the top, the owner of this body won’t be coming back anymore.”

“……”

“Do you think I’m lying? If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. Let’s just talk here for another three minutes.”

Eleven fifty-seven.

If what the white cat said was true, there were really only three minutes left.

“You’re being quite fair in telling me. How kind and gentle.”

“Oh, you praised me. Ichika praised me.”

A giggle, the kind a person might make. In response to her emotions, her tail began to move restlessly. It was as if a playful child was inside her.

“Hey, I’m the one for you, right? I like you more than anyone else. It’s fun being with me. I won’t betray you. Just keep petting my head forever.”

Sure, I’ll pet you. If I said that and moved closer, would there be a chance?

As I took a step closer, the white cat immediately sensed it and pulled back the same distance.

“Don’t come closer. You can come after three minutes. Then you can pet me a lot.”

“You can pet me now.”

The white cat shook her head with a laugh, refusing to take the bait.

“If you can take off that thing around your neck, then you can come closer.”

“……You really do understand.”

“Even if you hide it in your clothes, it won’t work. I can feel the bad energy. It makes me feel trapped.”

Trapped.

Maki had already lost her freedom completely, and the three minutes were slipping away. Was it okay to be leisurely talking like this? Would I find an opening? Was there any way to—

“I don’t want to hurt Ichika. So just stay quiet.”

“……Why did you decide to talk about the three-minute time limit?”

“Because I can’t be stopped anyway.”

“Isn’t that wrong?”

The white cat twitched. The tail that had been moving playfully came to a halt. All her reactions were easy to read.

“Isn’t it true that you didn’t come here of your own will? You haven’t completely taken Maki’s body yet. The reason you talked about a time limit that puts you at a disadvantage is because you were influenced by Maki’s consciousness. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not true. I’m already free. If you get in my way, I won’t forgive even you, Ichika.”

“I don’t want to resort to rough methods either. So please, give Maki back.”

I took a step forward.

In that instant, the white cat flicked a finger.

That was the signal for battle to commence.