A Branch in the Story / She and Her Cat (Part 1)

"Hey, Honami said she'd marry me when she grew up after I gave her a present in first grade. She was smiling when she said it, too!"

Kitagawa Ryo picked at his nails indifferently. He hadn't noticed anything amiss and continued talking with Ichinose Honami as usual.

"You can't hold me to something I said back then."

Sure enough, Ichinose Honami quickly picked up where Kitagawa Ryo had left off. She propped her pretty chin on her right hand, looking lazy.

"My birthday's coming up soon."

"Didn't you say ages ago that you were too old to look forward to birthday presents?"

"What if I suddenly want one again this year?"

"..."

Kitagawa Ryo let out a long sigh, leaned over, and quietly brought his lips close to Ichinose Honami's ear. He whispered:

"Okay, okay. I'll make sure to get you a present."

Whether it was because of Kitagawa Ryo's words or the warmth of his breath against her earlobe, Ichinose Honami's face—usually so composed—showed a rare hint of fluster and embarrassment. Her body trembled, and she answered softly:

"Fine. I'm not mad at you anymore."

Karuizawa Kei just stared at the photo. The boy in it stood beneath the last rays of the evening sun outside the window. Her social media app, usually so quiet, kept chiming nonstop. Beneath the post, people were expressing confusion, offering congratulations, asking questions, and giving explanations.

She was almost lost in that illusory happiness. The photo became a world, another realm—a nest that made her feel warm. It was as if, just like the girl in the picture, she really had a boyfriend she could throw herself into the arms of whenever she wanted. She was a tiny, parasite-like being, and the words "couple... cheese" had wrapped her up completely. For a moment, she felt she must be innocent and fragile, someone who deserved pity and affection. She hadn't felt that way in a long time.

Then Karuizawa Kei raised her head and saw Kitagawa Ryo leaning close to Ichinose Honami's ear. She saw the joy shining from within Ichinose Honami and the blush on her cheeks.

Intense, intoxicating feelings weren't proof that love existed. They only showed how lonely and bored those men and women had been beforehand.

[Story CG: False Love, read]

Chapter 8: A Branch in the Story

[Day 5: After a conversation with Ichinose Honami about Karuizawa Kei's current situation, she gave you permission to proceed. And so, news that you and Karuizawa Kei were dating spread quickly through your respective social circles. Quite a few of Karuizawa Kei's so-called "friends" scoffed at the truth of this relationship, but as you kept posting updates with Karuizawa Kei, plenty of people began to believe that you were passionately in love. The girls who still doubted it were naturally turned on by the tide of public opinion and branded as jealous of their friend's boyfriend.]

[That night, you received a message from Karuizawa Kei. She was both frightened and delighted by how quickly the situation had changed. In this day and age, women no longer needed to rely on men to increase their worth, but for someone like Karuizawa Kei, who had been bullied for so long, a high-quality boyfriend was enough to become a thick wall of protection. Still, she knew that wall was false and could be knocked down at any moment. The Little Match Girl could at least hold on to her own faint light, but the light warming Karuizawa Kei now wasn't in her hands. All it would take was for you to flick off the switch, and she would return to a world without sunlight.]

[You were a little surprised by how she thought. From your conversation that night, you learned that Karuizawa Kei was a clear-headed girl who knew how to adapt. She might be briefly fooled by an illusion, but every step she took was actually the result of careful thought, just like the plea she made that night.]

[Story branch point reached. The outcome will be determined based on the talents held by the player.]

[Branch 1: Accept Karuizawa Kei's request. This branch leads to the ending—Phantom Dream. Unlockable story CGs: "She and Her Cat," "Actor," and "Fireworks Are Cold."]

[Branch 2: Refuse Karuizawa Kei's request. This branch leads to the ending—Summer's Over. Unlockable story CGs: "Sisters," "Fireworks," and "I Like You."]

[Detected talent "Tokyo Handsome Guy" among the player's talents.]

[Detected talent "Protector of Flowers" among the player's talents.]

[Branch 1 selected.]

["All right. I'll do it."]

[You made the same promise as yesterday, and readily accepted her parasitic dependence on you.]

[Perhaps this was the wrong decision. Perhaps it was the right one.]

[Day 6: As you drove Ichinose Honami to her workplace, you noticed that she seemed a little down. She explained that her younger sister had been unhappy these past few days. You remembered Ichinose Honami mentioning a couple of days ago that the cat Ichinose Maki had raised wasn't feeling well, so you asked if she had contacted the veterinary clinic you'd told her about. Ichinose Honami said their cat had already been to the clinic and was gradually getting its energy back.]

[Once you ruled out the possibility that Ichinose Maki was upset because of the cat, you could more or less guess why she was unhappy. But just as you were weighing whether to bring it up, Ichinose Honami took the initiative and asked what you'd been doing these past two days. You casually replied that you'd just gone out with Karuizawa Kei to take some photos. After hearing that, Ichinose Honami fell silent for a while, then abruptly mentioned that her part-time job would be over by tomorrow and she'd saved enough to buy her younger sister a hair clip. She hoped you could spend the day after tomorrow with her. You readily agreed.]

[While wandering around with Karuizawa Kei today, you learned that yesterday someone with the username "Ichinose Maki" had sent Karuizawa Kei a friend request. Karuizawa Kei had wondered if the person might be a relative of Ichinose Honami's, so she accepted. But after they became friends, the person had inexplicably sent her a long string of strange messages and asked to meet up. To be safe, Karuizawa Kei asked you to go with her.]

[After glancing at the person's phone, you recognized from the profile picture and posts that it was Ichinose Maki herself. You hadn't seen her in a long time, and had been looking for an opportunity to resolve everything between you. So you agreed to accompany Karuizawa Kei to the meeting, and made a point of buying a cup of orange juice beforehand.]

[Ichinose Maki had picked a café on the third floor of a department store. When you walked in, you spotted her sitting by the window. She didn't seem surprised that Karuizawa Kei had brought you along. Her mother and older sister had raised her well, setting a good example for her. In your memories, Ichinose Maki had always been a lively child around her family, though a little quiet around outsiders.]

[You didn't know whether she'd chosen a café because she'd seen it in a TV drama or read it in a novel. One glance at the nearly untouched coffee on the table told you all you needed to know. How could a thirteen-year-old like Ichinose Maki possibly enjoy coffee? You set the orange juice you'd brought in front of her, then nodded to Karuizawa Kei to sit with you.]

[After ordering an iced Americano for yourself and an iced cocoa for Karuizawa Kei, you were taken aback by Ichinose Maki's question.]

["Why aren't you dating my sister, big brother?"]

[To an outsider, the question might sound confusing or even a little incestuous. But in the context of your relationship with the Ichinose family, it was easy to understand. You'd been Ichinose Honami's childhood friend, and had always thought of Ichinose Maki as your little sister. As the person closest to both you and Ichinose Honami, Ichinose Maki was practically the one who understood your relationship best. That was exactly why she'd chosen to suppress her own vague feelings for you.]

[It wasn't just her. Everyone around you, including your friend Hirata Yosuke, probably thought you and Ichinose Honami were a match made in heaven. Rumors that you were already dating in secret had even spread before. But you knew perfectly well that, even now, your relationship with Ichinose Honami was still nothing more than that of childhood friends.]

["Answer me."]

[While you were lost in your memories, Ichinose Maki across the table grew impatient. She barely touched even the orange juice she loved, taking only a couple of distracted sips before setting it aside. She leaned her small body toward you. Her face, so similar to Ichinose Honami's, made you feel a little dazed.]

["Are you still taking care of the cat I gave you?"]

["Hmm? Yeah, I am. And a few days ago, when Hotaru got sick, didn't you give me the number for a veterinary clinic?"]

["She's all better now." Ichinose Maki perked up as soon as she started talking about the cat.]

["But what does that have to do with why you and my sister aren't dating?"]

[You took a sip of your iced Americano, letting its bitter taste fill your mouth. You began to remember the first time you'd tried it.]

["Maybe it does."]

[That was your answer.]

[Story CG unlocked: She and Her Cat]

[She and Her Cat: Today, I was once again like an artificial satellite, circling the words I really wanted to say while responding to him. I like the cat he gave me. I like cats. I like him.]

[Read this story CG? It may help with your upcoming game.]

Chapter 9: She and Her Cat (Part 1)

It was late spring, and rain drifted down from the sky. The gentle drizzle grew heavier within an hour, and soon wind and rain were raging together. Pedestrians hurried along the road. Those without umbrellas could only grimace and stamp their feet beneath shop awnings or eaves, praying for the rain to let up.

The wind tugged at my school uniform, pressing it tightly against my body. Groups of elementary school students poured out of a nearby school, struggling through the storm beneath their umbrellas. Their rubber shoes splashed through puddles.

The rain soaked the dust on the road, and the wind carried the earthy smell of wet soil.

In the pouring rain, I lay quietly by the roadside, curling as close as I could to the wall.

The pedestrians who passed glanced at me briefly, then hurried away.

At last, I didn't even have the strength to lift my head. I could only keep one eye open and stare up at the dark sky.

It was terribly quiet all around me. The only sound was the thunderous rumble of a train in the distance.

The train ran along the elevated tracks. Its sound was powerful and rhythmic, like the vigorous heartbeat of a lively, thriving creature.

I had always longed for that sound.

If the faint beating of my heart could give me life, then how vast a world would the train's tremendous rumble set in motion?

It had to be the heartbeat of the entire world—a powerful, perfect world. And I had never been part of it.

Raindrops fell gently and steadily through the eaves. I could feel the rain easing, but as it did, so did the last of my strength. I pressed my face against the bottom of the cardboard box and sank into the soggy, cold mud, which seemed about to melt away. I imagined rising to the other end of the sky, to anywhere I wanted to go.

It wouldn't be long before I left this world forever with a final "thump."

I no longer remembered how I'd ended up like this, lying in a cardboard box and letting the rain and wind batter me.

We couldn't fit everything into our memories. We could only remember what truly mattered. But I had nothing in particular worth looking back on.

The raindrops fell lightly on me. I could no longer feel much cold. Perhaps my body was as icy as the rain now.

I seemed to be nothing but an empty shell, slowly, slowly rising toward the gray sky.

I simply closed my eyes and waited for the moment I would leave forever.

The train sounded louder than before. I opened my eyes and saw a girl's face. She was holding a huge plastic umbrella and looking down at me from directly above the box.

When had she first noticed me?

She crouched down, resting her chin on her knees as she stared at me without blinking. Her golden-pink hair fell over her forehead. In the gloomy dusk and the dreary rain, she seemed like a ray of sunlight piercing through.

She looked as though she wanted to reach out and touch me. The rain soaked her hair, but my whole body was wet too, and I wouldn't feel nice to touch.

I struggled to lift my head and looked straight at her.

Her gaze wavered, and she looked away once.

"Meow."

I gave a soft meow. I knew it was a plea. I liked her eyes, and I thought she would take me away from there.

But in the end, she didn't. She left with her umbrella.

The sound of the train faded along with her figure, and I lowered my head once more.

"Hey, little one."

I didn't know how much time had passed when a boy crouched down in front of me. His slightly long bangs clung to his forehead from the rain, and his black eyes, visible beneath them, were fixed on me.

Mother used to say my eyes were beautiful, the color of fireflies like gemstones.

But I no longer had the strength to open my eyes. I couldn't show him my beautiful eyes or prove my worth. For an abandoned cat on the verge of death, that was fatal.

But he picked me up anyway. The earth kept turning quietly, while he and I slowly lost our warmth.

"Come home with me!"

His warm fingertips touched my body. From where I was, the cardboard box I'd been lying in looked so small. He wrapped me in his jacket, and I heard his heartbeat. It was so gentle, like a caress, yet so strong, carrying all the force of his will as it beat again and again.

He stroked my cheek with his left hand, which he'd kept in his pocket instead of holding an umbrella. In the middle of the storm, it was as fragile as a candle lit on a snowy mountain, yet the warmth was unmistakable. He didn't seem bothered by my coarse, matted fur or my slick, wet body. The warmth from his palm made every inch of my skin feel like parched earth welcoming the rainy season, greedy to drink it all in.

He carried me away. I closed my eyes in his arms, and from that moment on, my whole world began to beat again.

That day, he carried me home.

On many nights afterward, I would sit by the window and remember that gray, rainy night, when there was no moon or starlight. Beneath the glittering city lights, I remembered the beautiful, gentle eyes of the eight-year-old boy, as lovely as the night sky.

But I didn't become his cat.

"I didn't know you could get sick."

Staring at the motionless puddle of white goo on the floor, pretending to be dead, Kitagawa Ryo felt a headache coming on.

"You were a stray, but somehow you didn't have any congenital illnesses. And you've been with us for a month. This should be the first time you've been sick, right, Hotaru?"

"Meow."

When Hotaru tried to reach its chubby paw up to its ear again, Kitagawa Ryo quickly swatted the paw down.

"Honami would be heartbroken if she were here."

Looking at Hotaru's big, teary-looking eyes, Kitagawa Ryo stroked its head again.

"Okay, okay. I know you're uncomfortable, but you'll have to put up with it for now. I'll put the medicine on when it's time."

As if it understood Kitagawa Ryo, Hotaru sprawled on the floor with its white belly exposed, looking utterly hopeless.

"You could be an internet celebrity cat. The kind people make reaction memes out of."

Amused by his cat's performance, Kitagawa Ryo turned and went into his room to get the medicine.

Hotaru had been restless since morning, no longer its usual quiet self. It had been bouncing all over the place, and since Kitagawa Ryo was home alone, he'd called his father and then taken Hotaru to the veterinary clinic.

The diagnosis was ear mites, parasites that lived in cats' ears. It wasn't a serious illness, but it could be troublesome. If left untreated, the cat would remain uncomfortable and might even scratch its ears raw.

After getting the medicine from the vet and listening to the instructions, Kitagawa Ryo carried Hotaru home and waited until it was time to apply it.

"Ding-dong."

Hearing the doorbell, Kitagawa Ryo had no choice but to put down the medicine and go to the door.

Through the peephole, he saw someone he hadn't expected.

"Ryo, it's me."

After handing Ichinose Honami a pair of slippers, Kitagawa Ryo peeked outside and whispered into her ear:

"Your mom isn't home, is she?"

"Don't worry, she isn't. Maki's asleep, too."

Ichinose Honami changed into the slippers and answered proudly.

For kids their age, sneaking out to play without their parents knowing seemed like an achievement worth feeling proud of.

Ichinose Honami loved the white cat Kitagawa Ryo had picked up. After bringing Honami into the living room, Kitagawa Ryo quickly explained Hotaru's condition.