A brief misunderstanding couldn't tarnish his reputation, and Natsukawa Kanade quickly cleared up the situation with little effort. However, it was undeniably exhausting. No one would want to be mistaken for someone who might casually get "excited" in public.
After collecting their previously ordered desserts, the pair headed toward the reserved cat café.
Natsukawa had been there a few times before, usually with Mahiru. It was even the location of their first outing, so returning here felt routine for him. For Miko Iino, however, it was an entirely new experience, and her face lit up with eager anticipation.
From the moment they stepped inside, she was brimming with curiosity, her head swiveling left and right to take in the surroundings.
"Wow… It's bigger than I expected, and so clean and tidy!"
Since the café also served food, maintaining cleanliness was a priority. Because it was just the start of the day's operations, the floor was spotless, with barely a trace of cat hair. Most importantly, there was no trace of the characteristic animal odor—instead, the air was filled with a faint jasmine fragrance, perfect for those sensitive to strong smells.
This café had an excellent reputation, with high ratings and loyal customers. To ensure the cats didn't feel overwhelmed, seating was limited and spread across different areas. This was why Natsukawa had made a reservation beforehand—just showing up without one could have meant leaving empty-handed.
Of course, this exclusivity came at a price. Located in Tokyo, even outside the central district, the café charged a steep admission fee. Time extensions also incurred hourly charges. Yet, with its beautiful décor and soothing atmosphere, the experience felt worth every yen.
After paying and disinfecting their hands at the washroom, they finally entered the café itself, where the entire scene transformed. The room was a paradise of adorably furry creatures. Some cats strolled about; others basked in the sunlight, curled up in cozy spots. Most were happily playing with the guests.
"Wow, so many cute kitties!" Miko gasped, covering her mouth in awe. She looked around excitedly, captivated by the sheer number of cats, each one seemingly more adorable than the last. "Oh, right, I need to…"
Suddenly, something seemed to occur to her, and she turned to the staff member who had escorted them inside. "Excuse me… Which one of these cats is the boss?"
"The… boss?" The staff member appeared slightly puzzled but maintained her professional smile. "Do you mean the cat who's been with us the longest?"
She pointed toward a sleek black cat perched on a counter. It wore a red bow tie around its neck and was lazily grooming itself, occasionally yawning as it licked its paw.
"Choco is our café's most senior 'employee.' It doesn't particularly enjoy human interaction but gets along well with other cats," the staff member explained helpfully.
Noticing that Miko was likely a first-time visitor, she also offered tips on interacting with cats, such as using toys to engage them and respecting their boundaries. She emphasized certain rules, such as not forcing interactions and never attempting to take the cats out of the café.
Miko listened attentively, taking mental notes as if preparing for an exam.
When the staff member left, Natsukawa expected Miko to grab some toys and start luring the cats over. Instead, she marched straight up to "the boss."
Standing solemnly in front of Choco, she lowered her head in a deep bow and declared with utmost seriousness, "I've come to report for duty, Boss!"
"…"
Natsukawa stared, dumbfounded. What on earth is she doing?
While he remained baffled, someone else seemed to understand—Choco.
The black cat gracefully lifted its head, regarded Miko with a calm gaze, then stood up and leapt down from the counter. Silently, it padded behind her.
Miko's initial disappointment at being "ignored" quickly turned to delight when she felt a soft rub against her leg. Choco had brushed up against her, purring softly.
Miko beamed, her white ankle socks matching her dress as the cat's fur tickled her skin. Though it felt itchy, she couldn't help but smile—it was a sign of acceptance!
Choco, however, soon resumed its nonchalant demeanor, lazily hopping back onto a nearby cabinet to continue its nap.
Miko blinked, thinking the interaction was over. But moments later, several other cats, previously busy playing or lounging, began gathering around her.
"Ahaha! Stop! That tickles!" Miko giggled as the cats rubbed against her legs, her voice both pleading and joyful. Though she claimed she couldn't handle it, her actions betrayed her words—she crouched down, reaching out to pet the affectionate felines.
"Is this the right way to pet them?" she asked, glancing at Natsukawa for guidance. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she awaited his approval.
"…"
Having witnessed the entire scene, Natsukawa was at a loss. He had never seen anything like this before.
Aside from the few cats still playing with other guests, most of the café's feline residents had now gathered around Miko. Some lay at her feet, while others rolled onto their backs, exposing their bellies—a rare display of trust.
"How… how did you do that? I've never seen anything like this," Natsukawa finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Huh? I didn't do anything special," Miko replied, tilting her head in confusion. "I just reported to the boss like you're supposed to…"
Her expression suddenly brightened. "Could it be that I've been recognized? Wow! I didn't realize it was such a rare honor!"
"No, no, no. This is weird no matter how you look at it! Who reports to a 'boss' at a cat café?" Natsukawa rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache coming on.
"But… that's what the internet said to do," Miko admitted sheepishly.
"The internet…" Natsukawa muttered. He extended a hand. "Let me see."
"Sure." Miko unlocked her phone and handed it over.
Glancing at the screen, Natsukawa saw that she had searched, "What to do on your first visit to a cat café."
The top result read, "First-timers must report to the café's 'boss cat'…"
Raising an eyebrow, he scrolled further.
"Act harmless, lower your posture…" The detailed instructions continued until the final suggestion: "After completing these steps, wait for the guests to arrive, then casually curl up on their lap."
Natsukawa: "…"
The internet strikes again.
Natsukawa Kanade remained silent for a long moment, unsure of how to respond. When he finally looked back at Miko Iino, his expression was a conflicted mix of emotions.
"W-what's wrong, Senpai? You look weird," she asked, puzzled.
"…" Natsukawa shook his head, the corners of his mouth twitching. He handed her phone back. "You'd better see for yourself."
Curious, Miko took the phone and continued scrolling. It didn't take long before she stumbled upon the same part Natsukawa had found. Her eyes widened, and her expression turned to one of astonishment.
"W-wait! You're supposed to… curl up on someone's lap after all that? But I'm not a cat!" she exclaimed, only to freeze mid-sentence as a realization struck her.
Her wide-eyed gaze shifted toward Natsukawa, now tinged with alarm. "S-Senpai, don't tell me…"
"That's right," Natsukawa replied with a slow nod, his deadpan delivery laced with amusement.
Miko's face turned every shade of red imaginable, her emotions ricocheting from shock to mortification. Around them, other patrons began to take notice, their voices filled with admiration.
"Wow, look at all the cats around her! She must be really good with animals!"
"She's so popular with them—it's adorable!"
Miko's head drooped, her cheeks blazing as their praise reached her ears. She looked like a kettle about to boil over, emitting a soft, flustered "Woo-woo-woo" sound.
"I can't show my face anymore…" she mumbled.
"…" Natsukawa couldn't help but laugh, though he quickly tempered it into a gentle chuckle. "Hey, come on. At least you managed to attract the cats. Mission accomplished, right?"
"But… but they probably think I'm one of them!" Miko protested, her voice trembling.
As if to prove her point, one of the cats licked her hand in a gesture that seemed oddly comforting, like it was reassuring her.
"W-well… I guess that's not too bad," Miko admitted after a moment, her mood visibly lifting.
The rapid shift in her emotions was remarkable. One moment she was a puddle of embarrassment; the next, she was smiling and enjoying herself again. Natsukawa marveled at how quickly girls could swing from one extreme to another.
In no time, Miko was engrossed in playing with the cats. "Wow, they're all so cute! This one's a British Shorthair, right? And this one's a Siamese… Oh, and this one's a Ragdoll. Wait… What's this one? It looks familiar, but I can't quite place it," she mused aloud.
Natsukawa followed her gaze to a blue-gray cat rolling on the floor, its playful antics evoking an image that immediately clicked in his mind—Tom.
Yes, that Tom. The famous star of Tom and Jerry, a cat known for everything except catching mice.
In earlier episodes of the cartoon, Tom was depicted as a gray-and-white short-haired domestic cat. Over time, his color palette shifted to a bluish-gray, making him more closely resemble a Russian Blue—just like the cat in front of them.
Of course, this cat lacked Tom's cunning. It seemed rather slow-witted, reinforcing the idea that "Tom was the smartest and most capable of his family."
"It's a Russian Blue… probably a distant cousin of Tom," Natsukawa remarked dryly.
"Tom?" Miko tilted her head, puzzled. After a brief moment of thought, she lit up. "Oh! You mean Tom and Jerry, right? I know that one!"
Being such an iconic cartoon, almost everyone had seen it at some point.
"But its color doesn't quite match. Isn't Tom more bluish?"
"That's just the animation's artistic license. In reality, cats don't come in that shade of blue," Natsukawa explained, crouching to beckon the Russian Blue closer.
The cat stood up and looked around, its movements slow and aimless, as if it hadn't understood him—or simply didn't care.
He tried calling out to other cats. Most responded quickly, either sauntering over for a rub or turning away with dignified indifference. But the Russian Blue remained clueless, eventually spinning in circles as it tried to catch its own tail.
"…"
Natsukawa stared in stunned silence.
There's a saying: cats aren't stupid—but exceptions do exist.
It seemed this "Tom" might be one of them.
"Senpai… Is it just me, or does this one seem… not very smart?" Miko asked hesitantly, echoing his thoughts.
"Uh… Maybe it's because of the warmer weather?" Natsukawa ventured, choosing diplomacy over bluntness. "Russian Blues come from cold climates, so they might struggle in heat. It's like Huskies—they're clever and composed in cold weather, but in warmer regions, they can act… well, let's say less intelligently."
"Maybe it's just not used to the environment," he concluded, turning his gaze away in mild discomfort.
Behind him, the cat had resumed chasing something nonexistent, batting at the air with what could only be described as misplaced determination.
And now it's… playing with imaginary balls?
Natsukawa winced. Alright, that's enough. Let's give this one some dignity.