Hana still lay sprawled in the middle of the market alleyway. Her hair was a mess, her bag lay several meters away, and a banana leaf clung to her cheek. She tried to rise, but her knees were clearly bruised.
Mathien stood in silence, a few paces away from her.
He stared at the girl, squinting one eye while the other reflected pure perplexity.
"Why... did I return?"
"Why do I even care?"
"Wasn't I supposed to run away already?"
But his body moved on its own. Those small furry steps drew near—slowly but surely.
Hana lifted her head laboriously. Her eyes widened.
"C-Chiro…?"
Mathien stood beside her face. He leaned down and—with great reluctance—extended his tongue and licked Hana's dirt-stained cheek.
"Eh…?"
Hana froze.
"Stupid. Why did I do that?"
"I... couldn't stop myself."
"Forget it. Forget it, now."
But before Hana could react, Mathien straightened up. His eyes flickered. A faint blue aura drifted around his body, and a deep voice emerged from that little mouth.
"You should be more careful, human."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Hana blinked. "Huh?"
Mathien stared directly at her. His tail swayed gently, his gaze sharp, ears erect.
"Don't scream. I won't repeat this. Ever."
Hana completely froze. Her hand trembled.
"Eh… eh… eHHH—?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
Her scream echoed through the now-empty alley. Birds scattered, and another orange cat sleeping on a chili cart bolted away.
Mathien pressed his paws against his ears.
"I said… don't scream…"
But Hana was already half-standing, trembling and pointing at Mathien, who now extended a lazy claw while sitting with regal poise.
"Y-Y-Y-YOU… CAN… SPEAK?!"
Mathien clicked his tongue.
"I told you not to make this unnecessarily complicated."
"You… you can talk?!"
Hana's voice trembled, her entire body shivering. Her hand rose uncertainly, as if terrified the round orange cat in front of her might suddenly… explode.
"Am I dreaming? This… is… a hallucination?"
Mathien exhaled softly. He looked up at the growing darkness of the sky.
"Why didn't I just run earlier."
"Why did I lick her cheek."
"Crap... the royal court would laugh if they saw me now."
Hana slowly moved closer. Her hand reached out, trembling like she was about to touch a divine being.
"Chiro… I… I promise I won't tell anyone… but you… you really can… speak?" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
Mathien rolled his eyes.
Then he looked at Hana's face—which was undeniably messy. Dirty cheek, scrapes on her knees, dusty hair, and the banana leaf still stuck to her head.
He blinked once.
"I feel sick."
"Seriously. She truly has no sense of dignity."
"I want to go back to the fish bucket now."
"Stay back," he said coldly. "I'm in no mood for… affection."
Hana stopped, still staring at him like he was an alien.
"Chiro or, uh… what's your real name?"
Mathien was silent for a moment.
The evening breeze carried the faint odor of fish off his still-damp fur.
He looked Hana up and down—from muddy knees to tangled hair to her pleading face.
"I am the heir to Valtherion. The crown prince. Royal blood."
"And now I'm… being stared at like some circus act."
He closed his eyes softly.
"My name… is Mathien Caevior Valtherion. Prince of another dimension. Not Chiro. Not your pet."
"And please… remove that banana leaf from your hair."
Hana reflexively brushed her hair—
"EH? WHAT?! OH MY GOD—WHY IS THERE A BANANA LEAF—?!"
Mathien turned his face away.
"Too late. The disgust is permanent."
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That evening, by the time they finally returned home, the sky had turned completely dark.
Hana limped ahead, her knees still bruised. Mathien followed behind in prideful silence, tail held high as though announcing his royal status to the world.
Inside, they heard Grandma's voice from the kitchen.
"Where have you been, Hana?"
Hana panicked. "F-from the market, Grandma! Hehe… looking for Chiro—he disappeared earlier…"
Grandma answered, stirring soup, "If you're hungry, eat. Grandma's resting."
After Grandma left the room, Hana quickly pulled Mathien into her bedroom and closed the door softly.
Click.
Silence.
The modest room smelled of flowers. A dim light glowed. Mathien sat on his own fluffy cushion like a monarch on his throne.
Hana stared, still half in shock.
"…You really can talk?" she whispered.
Mathien just gave a cruel sidelong glance.
"Would you like me to repeat that in song?"
Hana shook her head quickly. "No, no… it's just… insane. I feel like I'm in an anime."
She moved closer, sat cross-legged on the floor. Her face was serious, but also sort of comical. "So… who are you? I mean, you said prince earlier, but… how do you become a cat?"
Mathien raised his chin. "I already stated it. My name is Mathien Caevior Valtherion. Crown prince of the Valtherion Kingdom. The only heir."
Hana nodded, still trying to process.
Then she blurted out:
"Then… can I just call you Mathien?"
Mathien froze.
His head slowly turned toward Hana, eyes cold and murderous.
"You just addressed me without a title?"
Hana grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. Because it's cumbersome if—"
"NO."
Mathien stood from his cushion. His round body trembled with indignation. "I am not your peer. Not your neighbor's kid. I am His Highness Prince Mathien. Repeat."
"R-repeat?"
"Repeat."
His voice sharp, though small—because, yes… he was still an obese cat.
Hana swallowed hard. "Y-your Highness… Prince… M-Mathien…?"
Mathien sat back down, closing his eyes and nodding slowly.
"There. That makes slightly more sense."
Hana stared in disbelief. "Oh Lord, this is my life now?"
After stammering out his full title, she finally settled her legs and looked at the orange cat perched triumphantly on his cushion.
Her hair still slightly untidy, but her spirit lifted again.
"So... which kingdom were you from again?"
Mathien didn't answer.
"Kingdom Val... what?"
Still nothing.
"Valtherion?"
She leaned in, curiosity sparkling.
"That's a magic kingdom, right? You came here because... you were chased?"
Mathien slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze drilled into her.
"Do you think I'd share state secrets with just anyone?"
Hana sat up straight. "Eh? But... I'm not a stranger. I helped you. I gave you shelter. I…"
"And I never asked for any of that."
Silence.
Hana faltered.
Mathien rose from his cushion and padded to the window, tail swaying elegantly despite his one-sided weight. He looked out into the star-filled night sky.
"I was cast into a strange world. My body stripped, reduced to a four-legged creature. My magic unstable. And now... I live in a flower-patterned room with a girl who calls me Chiro."
"Of course I won't divulge anything."
Hana bit her lower lip. She looked down and fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
"I just wanted to know, Mathi—uh, Your Highness Prince Mathien."
But he didn't turn around. He continued to stare into the night.
Silence lingered in that small room. Crickets whispered outside the window. The dim light cast Mathien's shadow on the wall—larger than life.
Hana drew a slow breath. Then looked at his broad back.
"If you really are a prince," she said softly, "…and you need a place to hide… then you should stay here. At my house. Until your magic returns."
Mathien remained silent.
Didn't turn.
Then Hana added quietly, voice firmer:
"While you're here, you're safe. I won't tell a soul."
Still no response.
But his ears twitched slightly.
Then he turned around slowly. His blue eyes icy and piercing. He measured her from hair to toes.
Still messy. Still innocent. Still expecting too much from the world.
Mathien exhaled shortly. Then seated himself gracefully, chest swollen with aristocratic resolve.
"Very well."
Hana blinked. "Huh?"
"I will stay," Mathien declared flatly. "But under one condition."
"What?"
Mathien locked gaze with her, serious and unflinching.
"From now on, you'll be my personal aide."
Hana froze. "Eh?"
"Wake me in the morning, feed me quality food, brush my fur, and ensure no Earth human touches me improperly."
"And… no more calling me Chiro. Address me properly: His Highness Prince Mathien."
Hana remained dumbfounded. "You're serious?"
Mathien lifted his chin. "I'm always serious."
Hana opened her mouth. Closed it. Then reopened.
"Do I have to do laundry too?"
Mathien narrowed his eyes. "I said aide, not servant."
"Ironing?"
"I'm a cat, Hana. I don't need an iron."
Hana sighed heavily. "Oh my god… are my days like this forever now?"
Mathien stared coldly.
"No. Only until I return to how I was before."
Hana closed her eyes, then nodded slowly. "All right. I agree. But with one condition too."
Mathien raised an eyebrow.
"I get to hug you once a day."
"NO."
Oh dear. This girl was about to dismantle the last of his dignity.
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