Amidst the cheerful laughter and chatter, the gathering at the hot pot restaurant drew to a close.
Everyone bid farewell. Billy, Nekomata, and Anby from Hare's House escorted the thoroughly intoxicated Nicole out, while Wise took his younger sister home.
As for Augetta and Augilia, they naturally returned to tanuki house with Zane. After all, neither had gone to see the old gentleman, leaving them without a fixed place to stay. Fortunately, tanuki house had made ample provisions for the sisters, considering both the cats and Zane. However, Zane was unsurprisingly relegated to the sofa.
After the trio returned to tanuki house, Zane found himself with nothing to do. While Augetta and Augilia freshened up in the inner room, he stayed in the cat café, playing with the kittens.
Yes, real kittens. Without sterilization, one of the female cats had given birth, and the kittens were now half a month old.
Zane couldn't understand why this had happened at this time of year—clearly not the mating season for cats... but that didn't lessen his affection for the little ones. Especially these tiny, half-month-old kittens, no bigger than the palm of his hand.
Moments later, Augetta emerged from the room. Spotting Zane sitting on the floor playing a game of chase with several kittens, she felt a mischievous urge to tease him. But before she could make a move, Zane turned and looked straight at her.
Her freshly blow-dried pale golden hair carried a faint, pleasant scent. Meeting Zane's gaze, Augetta gave an awkward smile, feeling as if her little scheme had been seen through.
Of course, Zane was oblivious to Augetta's inner thoughts. He spoke softly,
"How did today feel?"
Augetta crouched down opposite Zane, picked up one of the kittens from the floor, and smiled faintly.
"Sir, I can't quite put today's feeling into words. There's sorrow for those who've passed, yet also immense joy from playing with new friends.
Your friends, sir, are truly wonderful people..."
Her eyes flickered as she recalled the robot named Billy on the yacht earlier that day, making silly faces to amuse them, and the thoughtful kindness of the others.
Before the fall of the Ballet Tower, during those years spent chasing fame and art, she and her sister had rarely, if ever, encountered people like this. She never imagined every person around the gentleman would be so kind.
In that sense, the gentleman was truly, incredibly fortunate...
In any case, today brought many feelings and reflections, but one thing remained unchanged...
"Sir, I think I will always remember today."
"An unforgettable experience."
Augetta's smile was radiant, her beautiful eyes sparkling, while the little kitten in her arms remained perfectly still.
Between them, another kitten toddled curiously toward Augetta. The mother cat, lounging beside Zane, lifted her gaze briefly before lazily stretching her legs.
Come to think of it, since its opening, the tanuki house had never truly operated as a business. Occasional visitors were always familiar faces. Zane himself had never had such ambitions. If not for Nekomata's constant prodding, the cats of the tanuki house would likely have turned into one little gas can after another...
"Mr. Zane, what were you and my sister discussing?"
After exchanging a few more words with Zane, Augilia emerged. Stretching her waist, she observed Zane and Augetta before asking.
"We're talking about today's events, Sister."
Augetta lifted her gaze to reply. Augilia nodded upon hearing this, then sat down leisurely beside her.
Time flowed slowly.
Under the warm glow of the lamp, the sisters seemed to shed many inhibitions, speaking freely—from childhood memories to the present, from dance to music.
As the subject of their conversation, Zane fulfilled his role as a listener. Or rather, he welcomed their heart-to-heart exchange with open arms. His experiences across two lifetimes allowed him to connect with much of their conversation—in other words, he was the perfect conversationalist.
Under these circumstances, Augetta and Augilia naturally shared a great deal, though a significant portion of the talking was done by Augetta.
Only when the Jade Rabbit hung high in the sky, its clear radiance spreading across the mortal world, did the lights of the tanuki house finally dim.
...
"Here again..."
Zane stood on the soft grass, surveying the scene before him with a hint of resignation.
What, must I come here every time I fall asleep?
He lifted his gaze to the drowsy-faced woman beneath the nearby tree, wanting to say something, but alas, he was currently in a passive state.
Perhaps he should just stop sleeping altogether? Sleeping or not really didn't matter to him anyway...
"Not allowed."
The woman's crisp voice reached him, causing Zane's mouth to twitch.
Mind reading?
No, he was in a dream to begin with...
Meaning whatever he thought would be known? Then...
As a flicker of contemplation passed through Zane's eyes, the woman waiting beneath the tree stiffened slightly.
"Stop, stop, stop! I know your mind's active, but isn't pondering this stuff a bit inappropriate..."
The woman's exasperated interruption broke Zane's train of thought as she stepped toward him. She couldn't let him dwell on this any longer. Otherwise...
Shaking her head slightly, she recognized a harsh truth: both the world built around Zane and her "very essence" would inevitably suffer significant repercussions.
If Zane envisioned a "world father," then she would now embody a corresponding image... For instance, if not for her origin in Zane, she—or more accurately, it—would remain utterly unresponsive to anything seen or encountered.
"So what exactly are you trying to do?"
Zane looked up at the approaching woman and asked again.
But the woman clearly couldn't give him an answer.
"Let's walk together."
She murmured softly.
Hearing this, Zane nodded in understanding.
...
A white light appeared, and Zane's vision grew hazy. Just like last time, he knew he was about to depart.
But... was it really just a walk? And to end with "Did you feel it?"
That was just...
What was he supposed to feel?
So he'd been pulled into a dream only to take a simple stroll.
As Zane departed, the woman watched his retreating figure just as she had before, her gaze fixed and still.
Moments later, she let out a soft sigh.
"Hmm... His consciousness truly belongs to another world. It's just... so strange. Never mind, none of this really matters anyway..."
Shaking her head, she was once again enveloped by shards of white light, gradually fading into nothingness.
A void.
...
"Sir! Where are we going to play today?"
Augetta excitedly knelt on the sofa beside Zane, barefoot, looking at him with eager anticipation.