"All right," Hiroshi said, eyeing Riku. "Lead the way, catboy. Let's go sell this."
"Ne~ it's Riku! Not 'catboy'!" Riku huffed, puffing out his cheeks in playful annoyance before pointing to a dirt path winding into the forest.
Hiroshi smirked and followed, the boar slung over his shoulder. He didn't know much about this world yet, but at least he wasn't hungry anymore, and maybe this strange catboy could help him learn the ropes.
As they strolled down the path, Hiroshi watched Riku skip ahead, his tail swaying rhythmically with each step. The catboy's effortless glide through the forest put Hiroshi on edge.
"By the way," Hiroshi said, breaking the silence, "what are you doing out here?"
"Nya? Me?" Riku turned, tilting his head.
"Not much. Just walking and picking herbs like these." He reached into a small pouch at his waist and pulled out some green leaves.
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "What do you do if a monster shows up? Like that boar earlier?"
Riku shrugged casually. "If it's big like that, I run to the village. If it's small, I kill it."
"Oh…" Hiroshi replied, unimpressed.
"Ne~ ne~ Henry," Riku said, swaying his tail as he turned to face him.
"It's Hiroshi," Hiroshi corrected, annoyed.
"Hii… Henry?" Riku stammered, his ears twitching nervously.
Hiroshi sighed and shook his head. "Fine. What is it?"
"Why were you lying in the grass before?" Riku asked, tilting his head again.
Hiroshi paused, trying to recall the night before. "Hmm… How should I know? I drank, got drunk, and woke up because you wouldn't stop poking me."
"Nyahaha~!" Riku laughed, covering his mouth with one hand. "So you were just a drunk hyuman, nya?"
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Hiroshi muttered, rolling his eyes as he adjusted the boar on his shoulder.
Riku, still giggling, skipped a few steps ahead. "You're funny, Henry~."
"And you're annoying," Hiroshi shot back, though he couldn't help smiling.
As they continued through the forest, Hiroshi found himself watching the little catboy ahead. Riku's tail swished lightly with each step, strangely captivating.
Why does he walk like that? Hiroshi wondered, furrowing his brow.
Riku moved with a gliding grace. It wasn't just his walk—it was everything: the bounce of his hair, the gentle curves of his slim figure, the sway of his hips. There was a softness to his body, unmistakably feminine, and even his butt had a slight roundness that made it hard to see him as just a boy.
He said he was a guy…
But nothing about him seems 'boyish.' He looks more like a girl than any I've seen.
The thought nagged at him. Maybe Riku was hiding something. Maybe "he" was actually a girl too shy to admit it. Or perhaps it was just a cultural quirk of this world?
Unable to hold back, Hiroshi finally asked, "Are you really a guy?"
Riku stopped and turned, ears twitching at the sudden question. "Nya? Yes~!" he replied with a sweet smile.
Hiroshi frowned and leaned down for a better look at Riku's face. His lips were soft and full, his eyes sparkled with innocent cheer, and his long hair framed delicate features perfectly.
"You sure?" Hiroshi pressed, tone doubtful.
"Of course, nya!" Riku chirped, tilting his head with a grin. "Why do you keep asking?"
Hiroshi scratched his head, grappling with the contradiction. "No reason…" he muttered, straightening up.
But the thought lingered. How could someone who looked, sounded, and acted so girlish not be one? As Riku turned and resumed walking, Hiroshi's gaze drifted back to that swaying tail.
I really want to touch it…