Chapter 21

February 22nd.

Today is Cat Day.

One day, while enjoying peaceful days with the Tanaka family,

I noticed that my tail had split into two.

It seems I had transformed into a bakeneko.

It is said that a cat with strong spiritual power, when it lives a long life, turns into a bakeneko, a kind of yokai.

I didn't realize I had lived so long.

The split tail seemed invisible to humans.

Even though I had become a bakeneko, I hardly had any spiritual power left.

A while ago, I had given all my power to the kittens I had, thinking it was my last chance. I used all my strength to give birth to just one kitten.

I thought that now that I had become a yokai, I would awaken some kind of yokai power, but it didn't seem to be the case.

Whether it's spiritual power or yokai power, the source is life.

Perhaps my time is near.

The kitten I gave birth to was named Liu Bei.

Because he is Kongming's child, everyone in the family unanimously decided on Liu Bei, for some reason I don't quite understand.

Liu Bei, who inherited Kongming's power, had the ability to foresee the future.

He could see the future.

He would meow loudly to get Raisuke to bring in the laundry before it rained, to remind him to feed us before he forgot, and to prevent him from forgetting things.

Unfortunately, most of what Liu Bei tried to communicate didn't get through to the Tanaka family, and he was just labeled as a noisy kitten.

Recently, I've become weak against the cold.

Especially on cold nights, Kō has been secretly letting me into the entrance.

Even though I could just stay in the warm living room with the family, he insists on sitting in the cold entrance and warming me on his lap.

Even though I can no longer protect him from anything due to the loss of my spiritual power, Kō gently places me on his lap and strokes me slowly.

It was the most peaceful and happiest time.

I always wanted to be with Kō.

Kō has somehow stopped crying.

Kō has somehow grown up.

Kō has somehow stopped being afraid.

Yet, Kō is still being targeted by something.

Yet, I no longer have the power to protect him.

I can only entrust him to Liu Bei.

I really want to protect him myself.

Liu Bei foresaw a distant future.

After I die, after Liu Bei dies, after Liu Bei's children die, the future he saw was:

A future where the family is separated and there are no cats left to protect the Tanaka family.

A future where Kō is killed by something that has been watching him.

A future where the family is killed.

A future where the world steals Kō's and the family's souls.

What can I do as I approach death?

What can I do with this aged body?

Nothing.

I can do nothing now.

Liu Bei's foresight cannot be changed.

If that's the case, I will go to the world where Kō is taken.

I will wait for him there.

Cats have nine lives.

It was fortunate that I barely became a bakeneko.

If I become a bakeneko, I can live nine lives.

With eight more lives, I can surely find a way.

I will become a bakeneko, a nekomata, or even a god.

I will gather enough strength and wait for Kō.

We will be apart for a while, but it's for the sake of meeting again.

"Kōmei-san?"

Raisuke calls out.

I have no strength left to respond.

"Kōmei?"

Death is approaching.

It's nothing, just the first of nine lives.

My body is starting to stiffen.

It's nothing, just the first death of nine.

I hear footsteps.

Kō has returned from school.

Since I can no longer move, he has been running home every day.

His face is red, and he is out of breath every day, every day.

This will be the end today.

Kō, it's just for a little while, I will come back stronger.

Let's take a nap together again, okay?

Tears fall from above, onto Kō.

It's the first time I've seen Kō cry in a long time. Don't cry, don't cry.

I will definitely come back.

"Kōmei-san!"

Kō is calling.

Kō is calling.

Mina is calling.

"…meow…a…"

Raisuke is stunned.

He thought I would just sleep and go, since I hadn't responded for so long.

But there I was, desperately trying to respond to Kō's calls.

Where did that strength come from?

"Kōmei-san, please!"

"Kōmei-san, don't go!"

"Kōmei-san, I love you!"

"Kōmei-san, don't… die!"

"Don't leave me… please… please…"

"Don't go… anywhere…"

"I don't… want you to… die… I don't want to… I don't want to!"

Kō is crying.

Don't cry.

Mina, Kō.

It's okay, it's okay.

Mina, I love you too, Mina.

I love you.

Kō, when we meet again, I will be much stronger.

It's just a little while, just a little while.

But, actually, actually.

I want to be with you forever.

Hey, Kō, don't cry. I will come back… okay?

I will definitely, definitely come back.

Mina, Mina, Mina, forever, Mina…

…love…you…

The cat wakes up.

She had a dream from a long time ago.

She lovingly wraps her body around the sleeping girl next to her.

The girl, whose fur color, eye color, and name have all changed, is still Kō.

They will be together from now on.

Forever and ever.

…love…you…