Mandarin Orange, Kotatsu, And A Found Cat

Chapter 82 The Cat's Memories

“Lumi~! I’m home~!”

Her still young, resonant voice comes from the corridor beyond the door.
Then, after a flurry of footsteps approached, the door to the room was opened with a bang.

“I’m home!”

She opened the door and walked into the room, and when she saw me, she said it again with a cute, age-appropriate smile.
She immediately rushed over to me and reached her hand up to my head and patted it around innocently.
Although it was not flattering petting, I do not dislike it because it seemed to convey her genuine affection.

She is Miku-san, the only daughter of the house.
I was originally a so-called stray cat, but not long ago, when I was taking a walk in this house’s yard, she took an interest in me and approached me.
Of course, I was wary and didn’t approach her at first, but after going around for a while, I decided that she was not the kind of girl who would harm me, and now she was letting me stay with her.

“Today, I talked about Lumi at school. Then everyone wanted to meet Lumi!”
“Nyan.”
“Ehehe. …I’m sure your mother won’t allow it.”

Miku-san’s face relaxed at my reply, but her complexion soon darkened.
She was not seriously depressed, but she looked like she has somewhat given up.

Her mother was not very good either. Although I rarely have direct contact with her to begin with, from what I hear through Miku, she seemed to be a very strict person.
Of course, she was not violent or abusive in any way, but I get the impression that she rarely allowed Miku any freedom.

As she said, even if it was something as ordinary as inviting a friend over, she doesn’t seem to take it very well.
When Miku-san said she wanted to keep me in her room, she was vehemently opposed.
In the end, thanks to the help of a certain cooperator, she managed to get permission, but since then, I hear that she doesn’t listen to her selfishness any more than ever before.

“Well, whatever! I’m happy as long as I have Lumi.”
“Nyan.”
“Hehehe~♪ Fluffy~”

I was ruffled and stroked as if she was washing my body.
It was a little boring that I couldn’t leave this room, as per the condition from Miku-san’s mother, but other than that, there was no inconvenience.
The family itself was wealthy, and the size of the room and the food were perfect.

Although I felt uneasy about leaving my life in the hands of a stranger, I have never felt so much love from someone in all the years I have lived on my own.
Miku has added color to my days of just living. I felt somewhat comfortable spending time with her.

　＊　＊　＊

I had become quite accustomed to living in Miku-san’s house, and I was taking on the form of a person at the right time.
Of course, I couldn’t be seen by anyone, so I would take advantage of the time when no one was at home.
My body felt a little heavy, but it was a great change of pace for me because I don’t usually get to take on the form of a person.

Miku-san was at school, her parents were at work, and the housekeeper wass shopping.
I borrowed some clothes from the back of the wardrobe. Looking at the size of the clothes, they were probably worn by Miku-san’s mother when she was in middle and high school.
I think it was put there so that Miku-san could wear it when she got a little older.

Even though I had changed into human form and put on clothes, I don’t not go out. Just like when I was a cat, I just stays in this room.
There was nothing in particular to do, but just walking around and exploring the room in this form was enough to have a different experience from usual.

I could see places I normally couldn’t see, I could pick up a book and read it, and so on.
For a while, I was enjoying myself in this way, but I was getting tired, partly because I was not used to this body.
I sighed and sat down on the couch, feeling my physical strength drop more than I had imagined it would since I became a housemate.

The first person in the house to return was the housekeeper, but as usual, there was still time before she returned.
I relaxed my body, letting the sleepiness from exhaustion take over.
I took a short nap and planned to wake up before the housekeeper returned. With this in mind, I slowly closed my eyes.

Then my consciousness fell into a comfortable slumber.

“Please wake up. Trespasser.”

What awakened my consciousness was a somewhat familiar, slightly cold voice.
In an instant, my sleepiness was gone, and I opened my eyes to immediately identify the person who had uttered that voice.

“T-Tsukiyama…san.”
“Oh my, you know my name too? It seems that you are not just trespassing.”
“Ah…”

The person standing there was the housekeeper, Tsukiyama-san, who spoke in a very calm manner.
I was so surprised that I spoke out of turn and involuntarily covered my mouth with my hand to look away from her.

I was completely caught off guard. I glanced at my watch and saw that a lot of time had passed since then.
The shopping was long done, and she was cleaning up at this very moment.

“Ah, I…Umm.”

I tried to explain, but I was at a loss for words. It was not only because I don’t have many chances to speak human language.
Now that they have seen me like this, I have no more excuses.

If I tell them that I was Lumi, there was no way they would accept it.
Or if I hide it, that would really make me a trespasser.
Either way, there was no guarantee that I could stay in the house.

“I can’t give you an explanation.”

As I kept my mouth shut, Tsukiyama-san still calmly told me so.
I wondered if it is just her age that allowed her to remain so calm in the face of a trespasser.
I don’t know her actual age, but she looked like she was still in her thirties. I even felt some admiration for her, who could behave in such a manner.

“Anyway, those clothes belong to your mistress, don’t they?”
“Y-Yes. I’m sorry…”
“…Fufu. No no, it looks on you. Lumi-san.”
“Eh?”

I was still depressed at my own inadequacy, but I involuntarily looked up when Tsukiyama-san spoke to me.
The cold look in her eyes just a few moments ago seemed to be replaced by a slightly softer expression.

“H-How…”
“A not so bright intruder. You’d better watch your appearance.”

Tsukiyama-san said and took a hand mirror out of her pocket and held it out to me.
The reflection in the mirror was my face, looking silly. And the two cat ears on my head.

“I didn’t think it was possible, but it really is Lumi-san.”

Tsukiyama-san said as she gazed at my face and body with admiration.
I could have hidden them if I tried hard enough, but I did not do so because I did not expect anyone else to see them.
But when she was so easily convinced, it was hard to believe.

“U-Um, that’s…”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t see anything today. Miku-sama will be back soon.”

Perhaps seeing my inability to formulate words properly, Tsukiyama-san interrupted me and stopped the conversation.

“I’ll ask you about the details tomorrow. See you tomorrow.”

Without another word, Tsukiyama-san left the room.

She was right, it was time for Miku-san to come home. There was nothing wrong with her judgment.

For the time being, I was fortunate that I was not kicked out of this house without question, but I cannot hide my surprise at Tsukiyama-san who was too calm.
I guess she wanted to talk to me again tomorrow after Miku-san and the others go out. …I don’t know where to start.

Unable to keep up with the situation, I spent the night in agony.