"Be good. I wasn't joking earlier."
Hearing that, the little black cat reluctantly settled down. With its future now in someone else's hands, resistance was pointless.
"You're quite the feisty one."
Zane chuckled. He was starting to get a decent read on this little black cat.
"Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm! (As expected of the boss, took it down in one move!)"
Seeing the black cat obediently nestled in Zane's arms, Panta was both shocked and impressed. He raised his arms and cheered.
No surprise—his boss could do anything!
"Easy work."
Zane smiled at Panta.
Thinking the cat base wasn't far from here, he cradled the little black cat and walked toward the alley.
...
A moment later, man, cloth, and cat arrived at the base.
Within seconds, Zane—a complete stranger—was surrounded by a dozen or so cats of all kinds, their meows ringing nonstop.
But they weren't friendly meows—they were filled with wariness, caution, and even a faint warning.
Clearly, these strays were highly alert around Zane.
To them, it looked like the little black cat had been "kidnapped."
"Meow—"
The black cat let out a feeble meow, seemingly surrendering completely to Zane. As soon as the other cats heard it, it was like he'd shown a pass—they all backed off.
The two that didn't leave became noticeably more relaxed too, their meows softening.
"Wow, didn't expect that. You must have some status around here."
Zane, watching the cats' reactions, spoke in surprise.
No wonder it was so aggressive—turns out it's a boss too. No wonder it acts tough.
"Meow."
The little black cat meowed again, no longer resisting Zane's petting. In fact, it seemed to be enjoying it.
Well, if you can't fight it, might as well go along with it.
"I forgot to bring some dried fish for you little guys."
Squatting down, Zane gently stroked a striped cat that had come close and murmured.
This visit was just on a whim. He should come prepared next time.
He smiled, surrounded by the little furballs. It was actually a nice feeling—unlike that first time being swarmed.
"Zane?"
A voice suddenly called from behind.
"It's me."
Without turning, Zane scratched the chin of a white cat and responded.
"Huh? You know about this place too?"
Seeing Panta nearby, Nekomata confirmed who it was and walked over. When she saw the black cat in his arms, her eyes widened.
"Whoa, it's letting you hold it?"
"You come here often? Wait, I don't remember seeing you before..."
Zane looked up at her and replied softly,
"This is only my second time."
Nekomata looked even more surprised, glancing back and forth between the black cat and Zane in disbelief.
"It let you hold it on your second visit?"
"There've been some bad people around, trying to hurt the other cats. It usually steps in to protect them. Doesn't like getting close to people unless it really trusts them."
"It took me a long time to gain its trust. How did you manage it on just your second visit?"
Nekomata puffed out her cheeks and crouched beside him, genuinely feeling the unfairness of it all.
She was supposed to be the cat person here!
Could Zane secretly be a cat in disguise?
She instinctively looked behind him—no tail lurking in the shadows.
No, that's impossible. Zane can't be a cat!
"Haha, maybe cats just like me more."
Sensing her frustration, Zane chuckled. The black cat in his arms let out a meow in protest.
It was forced into this!
This guy never tried to earn its trust—he just spouted "logic" and grabbed it!
"Huh?"
Nekomata could understand the black cat and looked at it, confused. It wasn't resisting at all, just calmly lying in his arms.
This doesn't match what the cat said...
Shaking her head, she decided not to dig too deep since everything seemed fine. Curiously, she asked,
"By the way, Zane, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
"No choice. Poor me doesn't have a place to stay, so I'm wandering like these little guys..."
Zane sighed and joked.
"Eh?!"
Nekomata's eyes widened.
"You? Wandering?"
In her mind, Zane got along with everyone, had a good personality, and handled things well. How could someone like him be drifting around like a stray cat?
"Yeah."
Zane nodded. He couldn't exactly tell her that he'd only just left the Hollows and hadn't even had time to find a place to stay.
This two-tailed cat probably didn't know he was actually an Ethereal.
"I never would've guessed... You look like you've got it all together, but turns out you're just like me..."
Nekomata crouched next to him. Surrounded by cats, she gazed at Zane, her expression unreadable.
Beneath the polished exterior... he was just like her.
Zane had no idea what she was thinking. He just kept petting the cats.
To him, this was just the result of leaving the Hollows too recently to settle down.
But to Nekomata, he looked like someone who had been wandering New Eridu for twenty years—completely alone.
Nekomata rested her hands on her knees, tails drooping behind her, and quietly looked at him from the side.
Someone as capable as Zane—he couldn't have grown up in an orphanage, right?
He must have been taken in by a gang when he got older, just like her.
But now, with no word of the gang, things must not have gone any easier for him.
Even so, he stayed so positive, left such a good impression...
She figured he must be carrying a lot inside. Maybe because they were alike, she suddenly wanted to comfort him.
On impulse, she reached out and ruffled his hair.
Zane froze mid-pet. He turned to look at her, confused.
Wait—did I just get head-patted?
By a cat?
Nekomata realized it was a weird move and quickly pulled her hand back. Standing up awkwardly, she forced a laugh and scrambled to change the subject.
"Ah... Right, Zane, with your relationship with Belle, why aren't you staying with her?"
"Having someone by your side is kind of like having a place to call home, right?"
"What relationship?"
Zane looked baffled.
"You know... that kind."
Seeing her flustered face, Zane got the hint and sighed.
What's going on in this girl's head...
She'd only seen him and Belle together at the restaurant...
What he didn't know was, the one truly to blame—was Billy.