English C.A.T. File 1
CAT File 1: The Omikuji Daruma and the Silent Meow
C.A.T. Character Overview (English Version）
🐾 C.A.T. Character Overview (English Version)
Name English Name Gender / Appearance Apparent / Actual Age Role / Title Description
ちゃる Agent Charu Female / Kitten-like Child (Rookie) Field Agent (Rookie) Cheerful and honest. Still figuring out her "cat-ness." Speaks with "nya" at the end of sentences.
遮無 Senior Agent Shamu Female / Cool and elegant Adult Senior Agent Calm and highly competent. Wears silver-rimmed glasses; has blue eyes and sharp eyeliner.
三ツ池 Agent Mitsuike Female / Petite calico type Young Field Agent Expressive, fond of sweets, and has big-sister energy.
沼田署長 Chief Numata Female / Plump and dignified Older adult Division Chief Gentle yet commanding. A dependable leader with strong mentorship skills.
ペルシャ Forensic Examiner Persia Female / Graceful and mellow Adult Forensic Examiner Laid-back speech but extremely fast at her work.
阿日 Data Analyst Aby Female / Energetic, short hair Young adult Analyst Cheerful with a quirky way of speaking. Gets the job done fast.
雨所 Agent Amesho Female / Calm and composed Late 20s to early 30s Field Agent More mature than Charu. A cool-headed, capable big-sister type.
繰津 Senior Agent Kurutsu (aka Kurz) Female / Mysterious Unknown Senior Agent A lover of classic horror. Known as Kurz. Highly knowledgeable, mentally tough, and delightfully eccentric.
サビ Agent Sabi Male / Appears 17 Actually in his 40s Field Agent Polite and gentlemanly, though mentally mature. A striking contrast between youth and experience.
大熊 Ohkuma Male / Human Adult Civilian Not a CAT member. A rare kind-hearted soul—ex-sumo wrestler turned pro wrestler.
000:Chasm Adjust Taskforce
There are countless phenomena in this world—large and small—that stem from clashes between our reality and other kinds of realities: alternate layers of order, or worlds just one or two steps removed from our own. These events often blur the borders of perception and logic.
To quietly smooth out such disruptions and gently fold them into the current reality—at least well enough to keep things running—there exists an organization known as C.A.T.
C.A.T. stands for Chasm Adjust Taskforce.
It is run by a species known as the Neko-bito:
Feline sapiens who, for convenience in the human world, appear either as people or cats. When they let their guard down, their form shifts into something in between.
This is their story.
Scene 001: The Murder of Daruma
“Whoa... that’s brutal.”
Chief Numata, round-bodied and imposing, peered down at the scene.
A small red Daruma* lay crushed at her feet, spilling fragments of its alphabet-marked core and pale brown clay-like stuffing all over the ground. The spot was just in front of the gate to a combined temple-shrine. The gate’s vermilion pillars tinted the whole view redder than necessary, making the scene look even more grotesque than it already was.
“What does ‘brutal’ mean?”
Chalu, a rookie investigator, asked the question with her notepad in hand.
She had recently joined CAT from the human world through the “Black Cat Kazoé Case,” and was considered a promising newcomer. Since becoming a Neko-bito, however, she tended to slip into cat-like habits, simply because she was still thrilled by her transformation.
“Chalu, your claws are out again… Hmm, ‘brutal’, huh... that’s a hard one…”
Veteran investigator Shamu—cool and composed, with vivid blue eyes and delicately drawn eyeliner—spoke with a hint of hesitation. Her eyes tended to revert to feline if she let her guard down, so she wore silver-rimmed glasses with lightly tinted lenses to keep them in check.
“Shamu’s always so serious. You don’t have to overthink it. ‘Brutal’ just means... yeah, like messy and awful, you know?”
Chief Numata—broad-shouldered, experienced, and emanating authority—gave a concrete and gentle explanation, clearly for Chalu’s benefit.
Shamu was quietly impressed. That’s the mark of a true leader.
“That was really easy to understand, Chief… But, if I may ask, what brings you here today?”
“I came to check in on the new human cub. How’s it going, Chalu-nyan?”
Chalu had a coat that shimmered gold in the light, but like all rookies, she wore the standard yellow CAT cap. It closely resembled the ones worn by human first-graders, except this version came with anti-ear-pop-out tech.
“I’m still having trouble retracting my claws.”
“That’s perfectly normal. Neko-bito who join from the human side usually struggle with that at first. Don’t worry—you’ll get used to it soon enough.”
Encouraged by Chief Numata’s gentle tone, Chalu smiled with the innocence of a child.
Just then, a voice called out from the distance.
“Shamu! It’s urgent!”
A petite woman with tricolored hair came sprinting toward them.
（*Daruma is a traditional Japanese doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. With its round, weighted shape, it always returns to an upright position—symbolizing perseverance and the spirit of “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”
Daruma dolls are often used as good luck charms. When someone sets a goal, they paint in one of the doll’s blank eyes. Once the goal is reached, the second eye is painted in as a gesture of gratitude and completion.
At some temples, you can find Daruma-themed fortunes: a tiny Daruma doll, about five centimeters tall, is paired with a paper fortune (omikuji) and placed together in a small pouch. These sets are popular as keepsakes, offering both encouragement and a bit of playful charm. The small Daruma serves as a gentle reminder to stay hopeful and determined, no matter what the future holds.）
Scene 002: Silent Meow
“Mitsuike-chan, what happened?”
The slender investigator Shamu quickly approached the petite Mitsuike, who was panting as she reported:
“Silent... Silent Meow has struck again...!”
“Ah yes, the one that's been causing such a stir these past few weeks...”
From behind Charu, Chief Numata rose up with a quiet presence. Mitsuike bristled her tricolored fur and saluted.
“Chief Numata! What brings you here?”
“So, what about the victim?”
“Same as usual. Male human, thirty-nine years old, company employee. Severe insomnia and malnutrition after prolonged wandering. It’s pretty bad.”
“But he's alive, right?”
“Yes. Investigator Amesho transported him to a human hospital just a short while ago.”
“I see. And you ran here all the way from the hospital, Mitsuike-chan?”
“No, Amesho-san dropped me off on his way back to HQ.”
“Oh? Then why the dramatic entrance?”
“I thought it would give the situation the right kind of urgency.”
“Nyaruhodo.”
The Neko-bito all nodded in agreement, perfectly satisfied with that explanation.
As Mitsuike began giving Chief Numata a more detailed report, Shamu stood beside her, entering information into her tablet.
Soon, two more Neko-bito strolled casually over.
“Shaamuuu~! Mitsuike-chaaaan~! Good work todayyy~!”
Persia, with fluffy curled long hair and a flowing white lab coat, waved with elegant slowness and gave a polite nod to the chief.
Beside her, Aby, who sported a bright orange short-cut and sunglasses, noticed Numata and tilted her shades.
“Chief Numata! What a rare sight.”
“Aww, Charu-nyan’s on-site today too! That rookie cap is just adorable~”
Persia gently patted Charu on the head over her yellow CAT cap, then made her way leisurely toward the Daruma. Aby followed.
“You two are early,” Shamu noted.
“Well, we thought the human male was dead, so we called them in just in case...”
“Heyyy~, can we collect the body nooow~?”
Persia called out from near the gate.
“Wait, we still need to take the scene photos, remember?”
Shamu said, and Aby replied in her own unique cadence:
“Ohhh, the photos? Already got those on our end.”
“Really? Fast work. Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Got it~”
“I wonder who killed the Daruma.”
“I’m not dead!”
The broken Daruma suddenly spoke up.
“Whaaa—”
“Did it just talk?”
As Persia gasped, Shamu and Mitsuike rushed over toward the gate.
“I’m not dead!!”
The Daruma shouted again.
The members of CAT looked at one another.
Then, as if they had just shared a private joke, they all burst into laughter.
Scene 003: The Revived Daruma
Scene: 003. The Resurrected Daruma
Senior Agent Shamu turned calmly to Chief Numata and reported:
"Chief, the Daruma says it’s not dead."
"I see. So, Agent Charu, what do you think we should do?"
"Should we question it?"
"That sounds about right."
"Ah, but... aren’t interrogations only for suspects? Can we do that if it’s not a perrrpetrator?"
"You remember that well."
"Chief, please don’t spoil the rookie."
Shamu proceeded to ask the Daruma for its age and occupation, and confirmed that it was not human. The Daruma nodded solemnly.
"She can’t help it—she was still a child when she was human. So cute."
"Nyaa."
"Charu, you're slipping back into full cat."
"Sorry. I still haven’t figured out my ideal cat level yet."
"Um, I’m not... dead yet, so could someone please help me...?"
The Daruma was clearly confused by the team's relaxed demeanor—but then again, this might just be how the secret police of the Nekobito operate.
To an ordinary human, the group would likely appear to be nothing more than a cluster of cats lounging by the vermilion temple gate.
But to those dwelling at the boundary—humans on the edge, or those with more... complicated circumstances—they might just look like competent law enforcement officers.
In truth, they were part of an international organization handling incidents from the boundary realms.
"Excuse me, could someone patch me u—wait, huh?"
"We already did first aid, you knowww?"
Forensic Examiner Persia replied in her usual languid tone. She worked quickly, despite her relaxed demeanor.
"But... I don’t have any hands, and you did hand-aid?"
"Good one," Shamu said dryly.
The Daruma found itself torn—unsure whether to feel indignant at being treated so lightly, or simply to be comforted by their disarming warmth.
At that moment, a pale blue Daruma came running up to them, tears streaming down its round face.
Scene: 004. The Tragic Tsukumogami Couple
“Red Daruma-samaaaa!”
The light-blue Daruma cried out in anguish, attempting to rush forward but was held back by the CAT agents securing the scene. Chief Numata gave a nod, and Aby removed the insect-catching net covering the blue Daruma, who immediately ran weeping toward the broken red Daruma and its scattered fragments.
“Oh, Red Daruma-sama!”
“Oh, Lady of Azure, mine beloved!”
“Thou art broken—thy noble form, now shattered in twain!”
“How tragic… and rather romantic,”
Persia mused cheerfully, observing them intently. A lover of the theater, she found such pathos delightful.
Meanwhile, perhaps bored or simply finished with her duties, Aby silently took one last wide-angle photo of the scene and casually walked away. Feeling someone’s gaze on her back, she responded with a flick of her fingers—a two-pointed, effortlessly cool salute.
“Aby-chaaan, wait for meee! I’m riding with youuu~!”
Persia called as she followed her partner. Even after they had gone, Agent Charu continued watching the weeping Darumas with fascination.
“Even though they don’t have eyes… how can they tell where the other one is?”
“Well now, Charu, you may become a cat if you’d like.”
“Yay!”
Charu gave a joyful shiver and transformed into a fluffy kitten. She sniffed at the two Darumas, eyes wide and golden, gently touching them with soft little paws—claws neatly retracted.
“Anything you sense?”
Chief Numata stood nearby with Shamu, both watching closely.
“Hmm… These two… They’re not ordinary Darumas. I know now—they must be tsukumogami!”
“Good guess, Charu. Most likely—”
But before Shamu could finish her sentence, the blue Daruma cried out, voice high and trembling with poetic grief:
> “Verily, thou speakest true!
We art but humble spirits, awakened from the Daruma of fortune, born of countless years and touched by many hands.
Ever did we hide from the fickle fingers of mortals who toss three hundred coins to divine their fates.
Aye, together we hath dwelt, nestled in quietude… until this day of cruel sundering!
Oh, wretched hour! Oh, tragedy most vile!”
Overcome with sorrow, the blue Daruma collapsed in a heap, sobbing. The red Daruma then lifted its head proudly and declared:
> “Take heart, my lady! Though mine shell lies broken, my spirit endureth yet!
I shall not falter, for love’s duty binds me more than clay.
Though fate be cruel and form forsake me, I remain thine—steadfast, unyielding, and thine alone!”
“Well… what a scene we have here,”
Charu murmured softly.
As the three agents attempted to console the weeping Darumas, a large shadow loomed suddenly over the shrine gate.
“Ah! Human inbound! We need to retreat!”
Turning into cat form, Chief Numata grabbed kitten-sized Charu by the scruff and whisked her away into hiding.
Scene: 005. The Large Male Human (Ohkuma)
Meanwhile, Agent Shamu, deciding there wasn’t enough time to withdraw, remained where she was. In her human form—a graceful woman with a ponytail—she knelt with perfect posture, calm and composed.
“Good afternoon,”
A large man emerged from the nearby security station, offering a gentle smile as he spoke. He was broad like Chief Numata, but noticeably taller—a remarkably large man.
“Good afternoon. Is this Daruma from the shrine here?”
“Yes… oh dear, poor thing.”
His voice was soft and slightly high, like a gentle giant. He knelt beside Shamu, carefully gathering the scattered fragments of the red Daruma in his large hands. Then, bowing slightly to the figure of the red Daruma, he made the sign of the cross with one hand.
Shamu observed this gesture silently from behind her silver-rimmed glasses.
“That motion...”
“Sumo, perhaps?”
“Ah, ha ha… it does look similar, doesn’t it? But sumo is more like this.”
The man demonstrated the difference, moving his palms left, right, and center before drawing the cross again. Shamu mimicked the gesture subtly with her fingertips, committing it to memory.
Leaning toward her just slightly, the man said in a soft voice,
“I work here at the shrine, but I’m actually Catholic. Still, this place is both a shrine and a temple, so I guess that makes it easier to blend in.”
“I see. And which does the Daruma belong to?”
“Hmm… to be honest, I’m not really sure myself. Oh, look at this red Daruma—it’s got masking tape on it. That’s a cute floral pattern… did you put that on?”
“No, someone in a lab coat applied it earlier.”
That was true—Persia had applied it. But the man gave a puzzled look. Perhaps to his human eyes, the lab coat–wearer had not appeared fully human.
“I did notice a few cats wandering around earlier… but a lab coat? A doctor, maybe?”
“Unlikely to be a doctor.”
“I see… then maybe someone in costume? Oh dear, I really ought to remind folks that cosplay photos aren’t permitted in the shrine precinct…”
He gently picked up the two Daruma and stood with quiet grace. Fishing into his pocket with one large hand, he produced a jingling of coins, which he sorted while still holding the Daruma in his other hand. Carefully, he counted out 600 yen.
He walked over to the vending station for Daruma omikuji and placed the coins into the offering box.
“I’ve always wanted to try one of these fortune Daruma, you know.”
“You don’t want to take a new one? These don’t seem to come with fortune slips.”
“Well… that’s true. But they’re quite cute. I think I just wanted to keep them, really. If you’ll excuse me now.”
With a quiet, warm smile, the man turned and walked back to the security office, the red and blue Daruma cradled gently in his large hands.
Scene 006: Chief Numata's Favorite Rikishi and an
Scene 006: Chief Numata's Favorite Rikishi* and an Emergency Dispatch
Back at CAT Headquarters, Chief Numata had grown even rounder in her office, her thick gray fur bristling with excitement. Agents Shamu, Amesho, and Mitsuike blinked in surprise at her agitated state as they gathered in the chief's office. Without a word, Numata enlarged a photo Aby had snapped—one of Shamu and the shrine's security guard—and projected the smiling face full-screen on the monitor.
"It is Ohkuma-maru! The retired Ohkuma-maru!"
Chief Numata was an avid fan of human sumo wrestling, especially of Ohkuma-maru, who had abruptly retired the previous year. She also favored wrestlers Kaijishi and Byakkosan.
"But… doesn’t he look a bit young for a retired rikishi?"
"Ohkuma-maru retired young, sadly… His mother in the countryside fell ill!"
"So, if he's here now, maybe his mother recovered?"
"Perhaps… maybe she got well enough to live in the city."
Chief Numata muttered vaguely in front of the monitor, still displaying the giant smile. Meanwhile, Agents Mitsuike and Amesho returned to their desks with serious faces and immediately began typing, pulling up information on Ohkuma-maru. Shamu, on the other hand, sat quietly, forelegs folded neatly, eyes distant.
"Shamu-san, is something on your mind?"
"Just… wondering if that red Daruma will be alright."
"It'll be fine! Ohkuma-maru is a gentle soul!" Numata called out from her office, raising her voice to reassure them.
"True, but… If the Daruma’s broken, there’s a chance the tsukumogami spirit may no longer remain…"
"Hmm, then it's not just Daruma damage—it might qualify as murder. Or rather, Daruma-slaughter."
Chief Numata smoothed her ruffled fur, returning to a thoughtful demeanor.
"That said, from a human’s perspective, it’s just a broken doll. If I show up at the shrine repeatedly, it may raise suspicion…"
"Then why not send Agent Charu?" suggested Mitsuike. "She looks like a kid, so no one would question her interest in Daruma. She’s cute too. I’ll go with her if you’re worried."
Shamu glanced at Charu. "True… but she’s still in training. Is she ready?"
"Sending her is training," Mitsuike said confidently.
"Alright. Charu, I know it’s sudden, but can you go right after your snack?"
"Roger that!"
"Here’s your snack," said Shamu, handing Charu a dried sardine treat. Charu, who wasn’t fond of dried fish, slipped it into Mitsuike’s white jacket pocket and headed out with her.
"Time to write up the report," Shamu muttered, removing her glasses and turning back to the monitor. Just then, the black rotary phone rang loudly.
"Yes, this is C.A.T."
From the other end, a wailing siren could be heard, accompanied by heavily accented Japan-neko-go.
"This is Aoki! Is no one checking the app?! A human male with advanced Silent Meow symptoms is attacking a convenience store! Get to the scene immediately!"
"What?! Everyone, emergency dispatch! Chief, please take command!"
"Understood. Shamu, Amesho, Kurutsu, Sabi! Move out! Aoki-chan, stay at the scene but do not engage alone!"
"Understood!"
The office burst into action, the CAT members dashing off in all directions.
*
Rikishi are professional sumo wrestlers in Japan, known not only for their size and strength, but also for their deep connection to tradition and ritual. The word rikishi (literally “strong man”) refers to those who compete in sumo, Japan’s ancient form of wrestling.
Unlike typical athletes, rikishi live highly regimented lives, often in training stables where they follow strict customs, from their diet and hairstyle to how they dress and behave in public. They wear topknots, traditional robes, and perform sacred rituals before each match—such as salt throwing and stomping to purify the ring.
To Japanese people, rikishi are not just fighters; they are cultural symbols of discipline, resilience, and spiritual strength.
Scene 007: The Child Seat and the Car Navigation
Scene 007: The Child Seat and the Car Navigation
Agent Mitsuike was driving her beloved blue classic car. In the cramped backseat, Agent Charu, strapped into a child seat, checked an old-model smartwatch. It was a hand-me-down from her mother, who hadn’t yet given permission for Charu to engage in anything beyond trainee-level duties. Thus, despite her frustrations, Chief Numata had yet to issue Charu an official CAT device.
"Mitsuike-san, there’s an alert from the app."
"Oh?"
Mitsuike let out a sharp hiss toward the smartphone resting on the dashboard. Recognizing the cue, the device displayed a summons and a designated address on the navigation system, along with the locations of other vehicles.
"Hmm, let’s see... Everyone's headed that way."
"It’s a call-up!"
Agent Charu beamed, her golden eyes lighting up with delight, but Mitsuike simply smiled and returned the screen to its default.
"Let’s head to the Daruma instead. There’s nothing we can do at a convenience store standoff. We’ll go do some interviews for the Daruma case."
"Awwww..."
"Ahaha~"
The young trainee was itching to go to a dangerous scene her mom would definitely disapprove of. But Mitsuike, who absolutely didn’t want to get scolded by Charu’s mom, laughed it off. In the rearview mirror, she saw Charu visibly slump in disappointment, and continued gently.
"I get it, I really do. But honestly, when it comes to someone with Silent Meow Syndrome, there’s not much a crowd can do. And hey, if we find the culprit in the Daruma case, I bet those Daruma will be thrilled."
"I hope Mr. Daruma's okay..."
Turning the wheel through a green-lined neighborhood, Mitsuike briefly worried about the danger of the Daruma case as well. Her thoughts drifted momentarily to a nearby café they'd passed, only to be pulled back by Charu’s voice.
"Mitsuike-san, what’s Silent Meow?"
"Oh, you don’t know? Silent Meow is when a cat mouths a meow without making a sound. It’s a last-resort technique—a one-hit KO. The target can never stop thinking about that cat afterward."
"A meow with no sound... Like this?"
Charu mimed a silent meow behind her. Mitsuike, watching through the rearview mirror, grinned. They hit a red light, so she stopped the car, turned around, and burst into laughter.
"Pfft—that’s adorable. Really adorable. Though it lacks the devastating power of a true Silent Meow. But that’s what makes it good."
"What is the power of a Silent Meow?"
"Hmm... a gut-wrenching pitifulness, an overwhelming vulnerability that begs for help. And when you ignore it? Crushing guilt. That’s what the textbooks say. If you don’t help, the guilt paralyzes you."
"That’s... quite the move."
"Yeah. But it’s meant as a last resort. For abandoned kittens, or the sick and helpless. A weapon of desperation, not something to trap kind-hearted healthy people with."
The light turned green. Mitsuike faced forward again and gently stepped on the gas.
"Well, that’s just my take. Some people are immune to Silent Meow, and some cats use it to manipulate. But for today, we’re on Daruma Assault duty. Time for interviews."
"Understood."
Charu looked up from her notebook, gazing at Mitsuike’s small frame from behind. Though her face was youthful and cute, there was a certain mature presence—the air of someone who had survived life as a stray.
Sensing the gaze, Mitsuike laughed.
"Well then, can you decode the nav message?"
On the screen, cryptic abbreviations scrolled:
"NUM/HumanPolice MTG, Aok shortAttic, SabRainTk (G⑬K otherCaseQ)"
"Uhh... Numata is meeting human police, Aok is Aoki-san, short is Kurts-san... Tk... I dunno."
"Yeah, 'Tk' is 'standby.' Honestly, writing it plainly would take less effort... Oh, that’s our stop."
Pulling into the parking lot, they spotted a sleek black sports car.
"Shamu-san didn’t go to the convenience store?"
"Hmm, I was thinking about it, but it didn’t sound very interesting."
"You do that sometimes, huh, Shamu-san."
"Yup. Besides, if something happens to Charu, her mom would totally murder me."
Smiling brightly, Senior Agent Shamu began walking toward the shrine-temple path.
Scene 008: Officer Okuma the Guard
In the late afternoon, the shrine-temple grounds had quieted down after the ebb of tourist crowds, and a relaxed atmosphere drifted over the precinct. Officer Okuma, the security guard, took a leisurely stroll around the grounds and returned to his post with a few tiny wildflowers he'd picked. At the entrance, he noticed a calico cat and a golden kitten. Curious if there might be anything in the fridge, he peeked inside the guardroom.
"Excuse meee!"
A little girl stood at the door. She wore a yellow hat, likely a first grader.
"Yes, yes, what's the matter? Lost? Something missing?"
"Um, I'd like to ask about the daruma fortune charms sold here."
"Hmm, you might want to ask one of the shrine maidens about that..."
Okuma replied in his usual soft and gentle voice. As he distracted him with the fabricated topic, Agent Charu quickly scanned the interior of the guardroom. Two desks, two folding chairs, one elderly human dozing in a chair, a fridge, a microwave, and a TV. On the desk not occupied by the dozing elder, she spotted something red and blue.
"Oh! The daruma!"
Exclaiming with the cheerfulness of a child, Agent Charu was ushered to the desk by Officer Okuma. The daruma had its floral masking tape removed, and its fractured sections were glued together with a brownish resin. It sat atop a piece of newspaper, looking patched but whole. Googly eyes had been stuck to its face. Beside it, the light-blue daruma had similar eyes and even added eyelashes.
"Old man Nedda's going to kintsugi them. Do you know kintsugi?"
Okuma motioned quietly toward the elder, who stirred slightly in his chair.
Charu flipped open her notebook and found the appropriate page.
"Kintsugi... here it is. A traditional method of repair where broken pottery is bonded with lacquer and then sprinkled with gold. One of the most famous cases involved... tsukumonasu...? Can't read this. Something about a tea jar."
"Wow, you really know your stuff."
Just then, old man Nedda gave a snort and woke up.
"Huh? Lost child?"
"Seems she came to check out the daruma you've mended, Nedda-san."
"Ah, I see. It hasn't fully dried yet, though. Once it does, I'll add the gold powder."
"Were those the only daruma that have been damaged recently?"
"Hmm... not many incidents lately.
Scene 009: Convenience Store Commotion
Scene 009: Convenience Store Commotion
“Listen, I don’t want to ask the same question again and again. Hey? Where’s my Shirosuke? Where did you take him? Where did you hide him?! Tell me!!”
A thin male human, agitated and desperate, grabbed the female clerk behind the counter by the hair, pressing her against the counter as he shouted. A butcher’s knife lay ominously beside them. The parking lot outside was packed with human and Neko-bito police vehicles, heightening the tension. In the store’s attic, Aoki and Kurutsu peered down through a hole in the ceiling, their tranquilizer guns aimed at the male human below.
“Aoki G, ready on my signal,”
“Okay—ready to fire anytime…”
“Hold on—what do you mean ‘fire’?”
A worried voice crackled over the radio—that of a human riot squad officer.
“Ah, no, it’s a tranquilizer gun.”
“A tranquilizer? But doesn’t it take time to work...?”
“It’s okay! CAT’s tranquilizers are safe for humans and work immediately…”
“But how will we explain using it on a civilian? Since you’re unofficial, we can’t take responsibility…”
“It’s fine. CAT will take responsibility…”
Through the earpiece, the political negotiations between Chief Numata and human authorities continued. Aoki let out an exasperated sigh, while Kurutsu just smirked in amusement.
“Looks like the chief’s grey fur will be turning white again—nyah.”
Kurutsu held her freshly polished nails up to the light seeping through the ceiling hole and admired her work.
“Oh, that polka-dot design is cute.”
“Thanks. It’s modeled after octopus suckers—nya.”
“Huh…?”
Suddenly the store erupted into chaos. With a deafening crash, a motorcycle burst through the front glass, riding inside amid shards of glass. The rider wore a white-and-pink leather suit.
“Nyani!?”
“A motorcycle?! The magazine shelf is demolished. Is the rider okay…?”
The fallen rider stirred, then deftly pulled themselves from beneath the bike. Their white leather suit was pierced with shards of glass.
“Small build… female human?”
The female human rose, flung off her helmet, and shouted, “Meringue! I’m here to save you!” Pulling shards of glass from her jacket, she advanced toward the man behind the counter.
“Was it you who took my Meringue-chan?! How dare you hurt that little kitten! Give her back!”
“Who the hell do you think you are?! He’s my Shirosuke-chan!! Where did you take him?!”
“Stop! Help me!!”
The female clerk, held hostage by the man, sobbed desperately.
“Let the girl go.”
Two patients suffering extreme Silent Meow Syndrome closed in on each other, hostage between them.
“Aoki G here—this is bad! The hostage’s in danger!”
“Kurutsu can shoot too!”
“Alright! No choice—FIRE!”
Aoki’s dart struck the man; Kurutsu’s hit the woman’s neck. Both humans immediately collapsed as the sedatives took effect. Chief Numata, in her Neko-bito form, rushed forward with a blanket. The moment the shaking woman was wrapped in the chief’s fluffy arms, she broke down and sobbed loudly.
“It’s okay… just cry… you were so scared.”
“A Neko-bito… I’ve never seen one before… so fluffy! So cute! So warm!”
“Oh my, really? Hehe… I do like being praised…”
“A grown man can be this cute…”
“A grown man!?”
“Oh dear, Chief Numata—your claws are out.”
“That was nail-biting suspense…”
“…Huh? Wait—that human…”
Watching the sedated civilians being carried away into an ambulance on stretchers, Aoki Agent seemed thoughtful.
“What is it?”
“Something about that person saved female clerk… I feel like I know her…”
Scene 010: Interview with Neta
Scene 010: Interview with Neta
"Excuuushe meee—"
Standing before the small guard shack at the lush and peaceful Fukabori Temple were three figures: the tiny Chalu, the petite Mitsuike, and the tall and slender Shamu. A faint snort echoed from inside before Neta, the elderly guard, emerged and opened the door.
"Is Mr. Okuma in, pwease?"
"Oh, it’s the little lady from the other day. And… two cats?"
To Neta’s eyes today, Mitsuike and Shamu still looked like cats.
"Is Mr. Okuma in, pwease?"
"Ah, Okuma-kun? He’s off today."
"Oh? Is that scheduled leave or unplanned absence?"
Before anyone noticed, Shamu had transformed into his human form and leaned forward from behind Chalu. Flustered, Neta scrambled to sit properly on his chair.
"My, such a lovely lady…"
"Shamu-san, what’s 'unplanned absence'?"
"Hmm… usually it means someone was supposed to come to work, but ended up taking the day off. Like if they were sick."
"Is Mr. Okuma sick?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. Today… he’s got a match."
Neta smiled as he pointed to a poster on the wall beside his desk, showing a lineup of brawny, half-naked male humans—some of them masked.
"Ohhh, so Okuma-san is a pro wrestling fan!"
Mitsuike, who had just been licking her paw in cat form, quickly slipped into her human shape out of view and stepped through the door.
"Well… he doesn’t really like talking about it. Says he’s still too weak. So keep it a secret, okay?"
"Weak?"
"He’s a masked wrestler, you see. That’s him with the bear mask on the poster. But he’s just too kind, so he’s a little soft in the ring."
"Still, there are gentle and strong wrestlers too."
Judging by Mitsuike’s flaring nostrils as she stepped further inside, she was apparently a pro wrestling fan herself.
"Like Great Bob Queen—tiny but super strong—oh!"
Something seemed to dawn on Mitsuike.
"Sorry, gotta take care of something real quick!"
She dashed out the door.
"Bathroom break, maybe?"
"Agh, that Mitsuike… Anyway, just to confirm, Mr. Okuma is a wrestler now?"
"Yeah, just started, it seems. Said he had an idol he looked up to since childhood. By the way, young ladies—would you like some dango? I picked some up earlier from the shop down the street."
"Yes, pwease!"
"Chalu wants the syrupy one—"
"Don’t get sticky."
In human police work, accepting gifts was a strict no-no. But for the secret Neko-bito agency, it was par for the course. Being pampered by humans was a basic feline right—even when not in cat form. Neta watched the adorable child and elegant lady eat the sweets with a deeply content smile.
"My granddaughter used to be like this… She’s in middle school now. They grow up so fast. Think she’ll become as pretty as you, ma’am?"
Apparently, Neta thought Shamu was a schoolteacher.
"Is this a field trip? One of those life studies classes? The other day there was a pale little boy sitting out in the temple grounds. Thought he might be lost, so I spoke to him—but maybe I scared him. He ran off."
"A man?"
"Chalu, ‘man’ means a grown-up male. And this boy—can you describe him in more detail?"
Ignoring Chalu’s puzzled look, Shamu followed up.
"Well, let’s see… pale, cute little face, like he was trying to say something, then ran off toward the graves out back."
"Mr. Neta, have you had any symptoms like insomnia or obsessive thoughts about that boy?"
"Nope, not really. This area’s safe, and kids these days are pretty sturdy. Why, is there a missing child?"
"No, nothing like that. It’s more of a—uh…"
"Uhhh, yokai! It’s a popular story, you know! Like a spooky ghost story!"
Not wanting to spread Silent Meow rumors among the human world, Chalu used the age-old child card to deflect.
"Ohhh, like schoolyard urban legends, huh. Speaking of yokai… hey missy, wanna see a yokai?"
Neta went over to the corner and brought out an empty “Sparrow Shortbread” cookie tin.
Scene 011: The Daruma and the False Eyelashes
Scene 011: The Daruma and the False Eyelashes
"Heave-ho."
Neta-san slowly lowered an empty "Sparrow Sablé" cookie box onto the desk and spoke gently.
"I'm opening it up, alright?"
"Oh Sir Neta! But of course! By all means!"
A voice rang out from inside, and as Neta opened the box, there sat the light-blue Daruma, now adorned with 3D false eyelashes, and the red Daruma, still fixed in place on a sheet of newspaper while the resin hardened. A tiny sake cup filled with water was placed in a corner.
"Wow, Light-blue Daruma, your lashes are so long now!"
"O noble Sir Neta! With thine own divine hands didst thou bestow upon it these lashes, fairer than the wings of seraphim! Verily, it is reborn!"
"My granddaughter shared her false eyelash stash with me."
"A thousand blessings upon thee! For thy kindness shineth brighter than the morning sun upon yon temple eaves!"
"It's really no big deal. That present you helped me pick out the other day? My granddaughter loved it. Thanks again."
"Its humble heart doth flutter like a leaf in spring, so moved is it by thy tender favour!"
"What did you get them?"
Neta and the Daruma were speaking as naturally as one would to a hamster. When Charu joined in, Neta didn’t even blink. Sham, meanwhile, couldn’t make sense of the situation. Her pupils narrowed vertically for a second in surprise, but quickly reverted to human-like eyes. Charu remained unfazed.
"Neta-san, you can hear Darumas talk?"
"Well, it did startle me at first. The red one groaned a bit. Then they started talking. You get used to it. They're like hamsters. That talk."
"They really are hamster-sized. But not fluffy."
"Dost thou cherish fluff, young Charu? Or doth thine heart leap for the curious and crawly as well?"
"I like both."
From the way Neta was interacting so easily with the Daruma, Sham assessed that Neta possessed high boundary permeability—the rare human trait of being able to accept the unseen world.
"So, Neta-san, does that mean you can also tell that we are—"
"Yes, yes?"
"That we are, in fact—"
"Oh! Are you a fan of Ohuma-kun?"
"Uhh, probably not, but—"
It seemed Neta was quite perceptive, but still unaware of CAT's true nature.
"But the Chief is a huge fan of Ohkmamaru. Neta-san, do you think you could get his autograph?"
Mitsuike, who had been examining the wall poster closely, chimed in. Sham interrupted, noting they didn’t have a shikishi board, but Neta pulled out another snack box from the shelf and happily revealed a stack of autograph boards with handprints and signatures.
"You’ll give me one of those?!"
"If you go buy me a roasted bun from the shop down the street."
"You got it. What flavor?"
"Takana."
"I want red bean."
"Me too."
The light-blue Daruma blinked its long lashes proudly as the nekomata and humans chatted away. Charu, momentarily distracted by the roasted bun talk, turned her attention back to the Daruma.
"Blue Daruma, your lashes are so cute."
"O gracious child! Thy praise is like sweet nectar to it—pray, do not stop, for its poor heart may burst with joy!"
"How’s the red Daruma doing?"
"Alas, it must remain still until the sacred lacquer doth set… But lo! Behold the golden gleam! Is it not resplendent? For Red Daruma-sama is the very image of valour and elegance—such grandeur doth gold embrace!"
The light-blue Daruma glanced fondly at the red Daruma, who was snoring peacefully. Its googly eyes sparkled beneath its false lashes.
"Glad it's getting better. You didn’t see what happened, though?"
"No, I was at the bottom of the box..."
"I see."
Charu scribbled into her notebook: "Blue Daruma → bottom of box, saw nothing."
Just then, Mitsuike returned, bursting through the door.
"I’m back! Got the goods! Here, Neta-san, takana. This one’s red bean. I got salmon."
"They had salmon?! I wanted that one."
"Secret menu. Gotta know your stuff."
"Heh heh heh~"
"Oh, right. Let’s keep it just between us, okay? That Ohkuma-kun is Sir Night Bear."
Neta said this with a serious expression, then added with a smile:
"And that these Darumas can talk, too. That’s our secret, okay?"
Scene 012: Mr. Ohkuma and Bob4Life1993
Scene 012: Mr. Ohkuma and Bob4Life
The secret organization CAT often uses regular city hospitals rather than police hospitals, to better protect its cover. The day after visiting Neta-san, Mitsuike was at the municipal hospital where Karin Onigakubi (42), the suspect arrested in the Convenience Store Commotion, had been admitted. At the bus stop outside the entrance, she spotted a large man—Ohkuma-san—sitting quietly, clad in a perfectly fitting size XXXL suit.
“Could that be… Mr. Ohkuma?”
“Oh… you’re—the lady from yesterday…”
“Thanks for yesterday—my 'sister' Charu enjoyed herself.”
Mitsuike noticed that Ohkuma was holding a small bouquet, his pale cheeks forming a gentle, subdued smile.
“Are those get-well flowers?”
“Yes… but I’m nothing more than a fan. I just hoped I could deliver them somehow…”
He offered a shy, wistful grin. Then his phone rang.
“Yes, yes… Oh, Mr.Bob4Life1993 speaking?”
“Hey! Ohkuma-san! Please call me something else!”
A sharply dressed, capable-looking man—Mr.Bob4Life1993—emerged from the shadows, looking flustered.
“Sorry—I didn’t know your real name…”
“Oh! I’m the one at fault. Please take this.”
Bob4Life produced a business card from his leather case and bowed slightly, handing it to Ohkuma. Ohkuma admitted he had no card on him, but graciously accepted the offeref card and tucked it into his suit pocket.
“To think Karin-san is… still here.”
They exchanged worried looks toward the hospital entrance.
“Wait—are you a fan of Bob Queen?!”
Mitsuike asked, and the two looked surprised, then brightened with recognition.
“Oh—could it be—are you BBQ22?”
Although Mitsuike was not BBQ22, she was a long-time fan of Great Bob Queen Karin. But being part of CAT, she couldn’t disclose this. Also, her work had kept her too busy to follow the news lately.
“Well, no—but why are you at this hospital?”
“Word spread on SNS—apparently Great Bob Queen Karin rode her bike into the convenience store to rescue a hostage.”
“Is she okay…? She seemed really down after her beloved cat died…”
“Is that so… nya?”
Mitsuike unintentionally ended that sentence in cat-speak, and quickly coughed.
“Um—that cat, it died?”
Bob4Life pulled a tablet from his bag.
“Let Bob4Life explain that.”
“But your card says ‘Tanaka’…”
“Here, I go by Bob4Life.”
He adjusted his glasses and began presenting professionally on the tablet to Mitsuike.
Scene 013: The Great Bob Queen Karin
“The mysterious masked female wrestler known as The Great Bob Queen Karin was active roughly from 20 to 10 years ago. At her debut, her strength and villainous persona electrified fans. Then—suddenly—she underwent a transformation: she began attacking both allies and opponents indiscriminately, always seeking the strongest prey. She even participated in men’s pro wrestling. Some fans dropped away, but in return, the fervent fanbase grew—and notably, female fans surged during that period. After about three years of fierce competition, she retired from the ring. She then revealed her real name, Karin Onigakubi, and started teaching self-defense and yoga classes, occasionally appearing in charity events. Off-stage, she was the doting owner of a 15‑year‑old long‑haired white cat named Meringue, and got involved in various cat‑related activities…”
Bob4Life displayed a tablet showing Karin holding her adorable white long‑hair cat and narrated sincerely. Mitsuike noticed and realized she had heard Karin owned a cat before—so she felt an odd sense of closeness—yet admitted to herself she’d never known the cat’s name, a humbling revelation of her own shallow fandom.
> “Meringue… so the cat was Meringue…”
Then, in a quiet, sorrowful voice, Ohkuma added:
> “About a month ago, Meringue passed away after a long illness…”
> “In fact, there are rumors that the change in her fighting style was triggered by either meeting Meringue—or perhaps by the cat’s illness…”
Bob4Life spoke with the solemnity of a news anchor delivering sad news, adjusting his glasses.
> “Understood. Thanks, Bob4Life. Sorry, but I must go. Ohkuma, I have a connection—I’ll make sure she receives these.”
At almost the exact moment Mitsuike received the white bouquet from Ohkuma, the automatic hospital doors glided open and Aoki appeared in a gray suit. He nodded respectfully to the two human men, then spoke kindly—but with a tone of gentle reproach:
> “Here you are. Ms. Mitsuike, the Chief did warn you not to act alone…”
“Aoki! What are you doing here?!”
> “I cannot tell. And these two…?”
“That’s Mr. Ohkuma and... um, Bob4Life.”
> “Ah… Mr. ‘Bob4Life1993’, yes, I know him.”
“W‑wait, Aoki‑san—you know him?!”
> “Well, he’s… famous. Now, Mitsuike‑chan, follow me.”
Aoki then turned on her heel and briskly strode down the hospital corridor. Mitsuike glanced back at her worried companions, smiled reassuringly—and followed her.
Scene 014: The Underground Cat People Hospital
When Mitsuike caught up, Aoki had already shifted into her blue-grey feline form and slipped through a narrow CAT-only door tucked at the end of the hospital hallway. As Mitsuike—now in her calico form—followed through the door, her whiskers twitched with a strange static shiver.
"Beyond here lies the territory of CAT and the CIA," said Aoki.
"You really are an American returnee..."
"Not a returnee. I was born and raised in the States. And please don’t say that in front of Amesho-san. She’ll get depressed."
Aoki had grown up in America and even in human form looked unmistakably American. Her colleague, Amesho, on the other hand, was an American Shorthair breed but had never been to the U.S., something she was secretly sensitive about. And Aoki, with her unusual empathy for a Cat Person, was sensitive to that, too.
Aoki returned to her human form as they passed through a dim hallway, then pressed a button tucked into the wall's corner. A mechanical hum followed, and the room began to tremble slightly. On the other side of Aoki, Mitsuike noticed a button panel that seemed to belong to an elevator.
"So what's down here under a public hospital..."
"Nothing too dramatic. Just a Cat People hospital. So, Mitsu-chan, what was going on up there?"
"A fan of Great BobQueen came to visit her, worried about her condition."
"That bouquet—was it from OHKUMA-san? How kind. It’s good to know there are still kind-hearted Human Folk. However... as for GBQ herself..."
"Great BobQueen... Is she also a victim of the Silent Meow?"
"We had assumed as much, but..."
With a clunk, the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Waiting on round cushions placed along a white corridor were Chief Numata, Amesho, Shamu, and Charu, all lounging in their respective ways.
"Chief! Shamu! And Charu, you’re here too!"
"We tried to leave her behind, but Neta-san's shift ended, so..."
"Yeah, and we couldn’t just leave her with some stranger."
"That makes sense."
"Anyway! OHKUMA-san really is Daikumaru! His mother made a full recovery too!"
"Well, that’s excellent news."
"But why did he retire...?"
"He had a dream to follow! A new one, even more dazzling than the ring!"
"Oh... could it be..."
Just as Mitsuike was about to join the circle of round chairs and say "pro wrestling," a thunderous noise erupted from deeper inside. Smoke began to drift down the pure white hallway, and a door ahead burst open from the force of an explosion.
"Ah!"
"Not good... Looks like she’s awake."
Chief Numata rose to her feet, her expression suddenly tense.
Scene 015: Bigger Than a Bobcat
Through the thick white smoke, the silhouette of a large feline could be seen. The cat let out a thunderous growl.
"That is..."
Mitsuike murmured, and Chief Numata raised her voice.
"Yes, that's GBQ Karin. She's a cat person too, and a large one at that... Reports said she was a bobcat, but she seems too big. Perhaps a lynx."
Beyond the smoke, the lynx lifted a hallway bench with ease and hurled it toward the human police officers brandishing control poles on the other side. A loud crash rang out, followed by shouts and evacuation orders from male officers.
"Chief, requesting permission to use a tranquilizer gun."
Shamu, already calmly aiming her weapon, asked for authorization, but Aoki snapped sharply:
"No! Any more and she'll overdose!"
"But with that size—"
"Taser, nya!"
"Charu, nyice one! Got one?"
"Nya..."
Charu pulled a small human-grade taser gun from her pocket.
"Hmm, good job for carrying it! But—"
"I've got ten!"
She shrugged off her shoulder bag and flipped it over. Several tasers decorated with shiny stickers and rhinestones tumbled onto the floor. Chief Numata gazed admiringly at the small bedazzled taser Charu handed her.
"Excellent work..."
"I made one for everyone. There's one for Amesho-san too, but she’s not here now..."
"Oh, this one has my name on it! 'Aoki'! How sweet!"
As everyone chose their personalized, sparkly tasers, the smoke began to clear. A large feline woman, dressed in hospital patient garb, stood tall. Tearing off her clothes, she revealed her large, fur-covered shoulders. The black tufts on the tips of her tall, swept-back ears twitched as she looked down at the agents with golden eyes. All of them immediately raised their tiny tasers.
"...Ah, there you are. I was worried."
Surprisingly, the large cat person spoke in a gentle voice. The moment of confusion allowed her to scoop up Agent Charu and dash away with blinding speed.
"Fire!"
Her broad back, patterned with luxurious spots and long fur, shrugged off the taser shots as she bolted down the hallway.
"This is bad! She's got Charu!"
"Are there any other exits?!"
"There's a stairwell for humans at the back!"
"Alright, Aoki, Shamu, go!"
"Roger!"
Aoki and Shamu dashed toward the human stairwell, while Chief Numata and Mitsuike jumped into the elevator they had come down in.
Scene 016: The Cat Elevator and the Hospital Salon
Inside the elevator, Mitsuike turns to Chief Numata with a puzzled expression.
"Excuse me, I still don't quite get it..."
"That's because you went off on your own and missed the briefing. But I'll give you this—you have good instincts. Great BobQueen Karin used to be a cat person. Or rather, she is one again now."
"Used to be...?"
"We cat people are inherently unstable beings... When that balance breaks, parts of us can be sealed. The human side of her—that was Onigakubi Karin. Did you notice how much smaller she was than her cat form?"
"Sealed...?"
Mitsuike opens her mouth to ask more questions, but the elevator dings—arrival at the ground floor.
Mitsuike bolts toward the cat-only passage. In contrast, Chief Numata walks unhurriedly toward the back of the room.
"Chief! That way is just a wall—"
"Not quite, dear."
Still in her human form, Chief Numata flashes a confident smile as she opens a door. On the other side lies the hospital’s beauty salon. Looking like a stylish, curvy madam with elegant gray hair, she strolls in gracefully.
"Oh! Ms. Numata, hello!"
"Numata-san, look! I tried your style today!"
Middle-aged human women call out cheerfully from the salon. Numata turns back briefly to address Mitsuike, who’s hesitating at the door.
"Hurry. Charu’s in danger."
From elsewhere in the hospital, the sound of something crashing and people shouting echoes faintly through the walls.
Scene 017: The White Cat on White Stairs
As they dashed up the blindingly white staircase, Shamu and Aoki reviewed the situation aloud.
“Great Bob Queen Karin. Former pro wrestler turned philanthropist. Victim of the Silent Meow incident.”
Shamu called out with a clear, steady voice, skipping steps in sleek high heels. Aoki, keeping pace behind her, raised her own voice to add to the intel.
“Samantha Lynx Onigakubi. Former director of CAT’s US division, NYC branch. After a failed assassination attempt, her cat-human balance destabilized. I heard she had no choice but to seal away her cat side.”
Shamu slowed in surprise. When Aoki caught up, slightly out of breath, Shamu turned halfway back toward her and asked,
“...She sealed away her cat side!?”
Then, with a sigh, she slipped off her heels and held them in one hand. Aoki, in ballet flats—her new favorite since moving to Japan—caught her breath with one hand on the wall and furrowed her brows.
“It’s awful, really. The blast we saw earlier? When a strong Cat Person loses balance, the spatial distortions can cause real damage. Sealing the cat side was a desperate measure.”
Still speaking between breaths, the two resumed their sprint side by side up the stairs.
“So she sealed her unstable cat side…”
“Yes. As long as it’s just the human side, spacetime stays stable. But the energy from the cat side all gets absorbed into the human half…”
“…And she had no choice but to release it through pro wrestling?”
“Exactly. But seriously, how far does this staircase go…? I can’t believe you took your heels off.”
“Oh, these? I was just worried the heels might snap.”
“…Nop, didn’t hear that.”
Though both were in excellent shape, they were beginning to grow anxious about how long the stairs seemed to go on without end.
“The Chief definitely picked the easier route…”
“Couldn’t agree more…”
Just then, as they eased their pace, a faint kitten’s cry echoed down to them.
“Nyaa—nnn…”
At the landing above, a small, pure white kitten was sitting quietly. Its cotton-candy-like fur seemed to absorb all sound. The cry faded into silence as if drawn in by the white walls.
The two women exchanged glances, confirming neither of them had fallen under the kitten’s spell.
The kitten meowed softly once more and turned the corner, vanishing. Then another faint mewl echoed.
They looked at each other again, nodded once, and picked up their pace.
“…Not exactly silent, is she?”
Scene 018: Ohkuma’s Feint
Ohkuma was suddenly reminded of the wrestling ring—how the world went quiet when he scattered salt, the moment of stillness before the clash, the fierce eye contact with the opponent. Mind and body becoming one. That kind of thing. But today, his thoughts raced ahead of his body. It wasn't that his body wasn't used to the motions of pro wrestling, or that his opponent was a giant cat-like creature. It was because the creature before him—the one that looked part-cat, part-woman—was speaking to a golden kitten in a voice he had admired his entire life: the voice of Great Bob Queen Karin.
"Stay there, Meringue-chan, just wait a little," said the towering Neko-bito, larger even than Karin herself, gently placing the beige kitten onto a bus stop bench and assuming Karin's signature stance.
"A-are you... Karin-san!? That costume is AMAZING!!" Ohkuma exclaimed.
"Bob-ish," muttered Mr. Tanaka as he approached the Neko-bito. He was instantly swatted away with a single blow and went sprawling. With a low growl, Karin glared past him at Ohkuma, her eyes fierce. Just then, glass shattered behind them. Numata and Mitsuike burst through the broken hospital entrance. As Karin spotted them, she shifted fully into Full Cat Mode, transforming into a giant lynx. Numata and Mitsuike faced her down.
"Definitely a lynx... Samantha Links," murmured Numata.
Mitsuike raised her bedazzled taser gun in both hands, and the thrum of a helicopter’s rotor began echoing overhead. Ohkuma called out, voice strained.
"Karin-san! Why are you doing this!?"
"Shut up! I'm not giving up Meringue-chan! Are you after her too?!"
"No, that's not—!"
"You... you people...!"
Karin's confusion only deepened as she flickered erratically between her humanoid and feline forms. Numata, Mitsuike, and Ohkuma slowly closed in, forming a triangle around her. Karin snarled low and spun, glaring at each of them. In the meantime, Officer Charu—now in her gold-furred kitten mode—slipped unnoticed from the circle, transformed back into her human-sized Neko-bito form behind a hedge near Mitsuike. Ohkuma, realizing her strategy, stepped forward to divert Karin's attention.
Karin ripped the bus-stop sign out of the ground and hurled it straight toward Ohkuma.
"Watch out!"
Numata dashed forward to push Ohkuma aside—but the heavy sign struck her instead. Though the thick fur on her body absorbed most of the impact, Ohkuma stared at the scene, stricken.
"Mother!!"
"...Mother?!" Numata gasped, stunned.
She remained motionless, shocked. Ohkuma dropped to the ground and bowed deeply.
"I’m sorry! You just looked so much like her…!"
As Numata knelt dazed, Ohkuma planted himself between her and Karin.
"You always stood up to the strongest opponents, Karin-san... this isn’t like you!"
"I said shut up!! I’m not giving her up!!"
With a roar, Karin leapt toward him. Ohkuma brought his hands together—
"NEKODAMASHI!!"
The sharp clap echoed loud. Karin recoiled, startled. Ohkuma surged forward, attempting his signature grapple. At that moment, Mitsuike fired both tasers, the electrified darts striking true. Numata, recovering, added hers, and even Charu, now back in human form, joined in.
Karin finally collapsed, unconscious.
So did Ohkuma.
"Oops, sorry-nya..."
One of Charu's tasers was lodged squarely in Ohkuma’s forehead.
"Really now... two unconscious males and a giant lynx... how do we explain this one?" sighed Chief Numata.
Straightening her back, she massaged her cheeks and practiced a gentle smile before calling the human hospital director in a sugary tone.
"Oh, hello~? Numata here~ fufufu, um, about the front entrance..."
Charu rushed over to Mitsuike.
"Charu, you did great. I’m so sorry we couldn’t protect you... that must’ve been terrifying."
"I-it’s okay. Lynx Karin-san was confused, but... she was kind."
"You’re one brave little kitten."
As Mitsuike patted her head, Charu’s cat ears popped out.
"Nyaa! My ears! But... I’m not white. Why did she mistake me?"
Mitsuike wiped away tears and smiled.
"Maybe because you’re adorable."
"Mmm... she seemed really sad."
Charu turned to look at the human pile: flattened Tanaka, lynx-like Karin curled as if napping, and Ohkuma, collapsed like a beached whale.
"Ah..."
A pale silhouette stood atop Ohkuma’s chest.
(That must be Meringue-chan...)
Charu whispered. The white cat opened its mouth, silently saying "meow." Its eyes seemed to smile. Charu mouthed "myaa" back. The cat vanished into thin air.
"Did you see that?" she asked Mitsuike. But Mitsuike was busy tending to a shaken Numata, who had just finished her call.
"Chief! It’s okay, you’re not his mother!"
"But he seemed so sincere... and I have been feeling older lately..."
"No, you’re fine! Everyone at the salon loves you—wait, what is it, Charu?"
Just then, a panting Aoki and Shanu tumbled in.
"We’re here—ah, wait!"
"It’s over?!"
Shanu tossed her high heels aside and collapsed next to a bench. Aoki shrugged off her jacket and slumped onto the intact bus bench nearby. Still catching their breath, they surveyed the surreal scene: an unconscious lynx, a bear-like man, a crumpled glasses-wearer.
"That’s... the lynx? She’s down?"
"Looks like it... Charu-chan seems okay."
"Yeah... but seriously, who builds a hospital this deep underground? I mean, that nurse? No way she's human or even a Neko-bito. I’d bet anything she’s a Mole-bito."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Look at the hands. Definitely not paws—more like... spades."
"Oh... wait, what happened to the white cat?"
"Wanna go look?"
"...Nyaaah."
While Shanu and Aoki lay sprawled out, catching their breath, Charu tried her best to pull Tanaka out from beneath the two larger bodies.
She bit into the collar of his very expensive-looking dress shirt like a mother cat, and gave it a sharp tug—
Rrrip.
The fabric tore, soaking with drool but accomplishing little else.
She paused, frowned thoughtfully… then shouted:
"Mitsuiiike-saaan!"
Scene 019: The Daruma and the Boy
"I’m so sorry, Daruma-san."
The pale-skinned boy bowed deeply before the red Daruma, who now looked rather dashing with its golden lacquer repairs.
"Ah, well... just be more mindful from now on, yes?"
The red Daruma accepted the apology, sounding a little bashful. Mr. Neda smiled and handed out some dumplings.
"Here you go, Kota-kun, Charu-chan. And for the Daruma boys, some ceremonial sake."
"Did Kota-kun drop the Daruma?"
"Yeah... and I fell too."
The boy had a large bandage on his knee. According to Mr. Neda, Kota had tried to tie a fortune paper to the branch of a tall tree, slipped and fell. The red Daruma had apparently tumbled from his pocket at that very moment. Flustered, Kota also fell from the tree, bawled his eyes out, got taken away for first aid, and forgot to retrieve the Daruma.
"And yet we vowed ne’er to part... To be drawn like a common slip of fortune—what treachery is this?"
"I... I do confess, in that fateful moment I was overcome by slumber. I knew not I had been drawn at all..."
"Most grievous!"
The sky-blue Daruma seemed in no hurry to forgive the red one's error.
"So, what’s Mr. Okuma up to?"
"Well now, he’s thinking of returning to sumo, it seems."
"Really? Is it because what happened with Karin shocked him so badly?"
"Oh no, since she became his trainer, she's been really putting him through the wringer."
Mr. Neda spoke with a pleased smile, though Charu didn’t quite follow.
"Nyaa...?"
"Yay! Sir Knight Bear is going to get even stronger?"
Local boy Kota seemed to be a fan of Okuma.
"Let’s hope so. Oh, and he’s changing his name—he’ll be Panda Man now."
Mr. Neda expertly tapped away on his large tablet and showed everyone a picture of Panda Man: Okuma without his bear mask, with his eyes painted in black rings. The headline read "Panda Man Victorious!"
"Ah! There you are. Charu, you shouldn’t wander off on your own. Hello, Mr. Neda."
"Oh, hello there, Shanu-san, Mitsuike-san. I’ve got some dried sardines if you’d like?"
"Yes, please!"
"Charu-chan didn’t seem to know about Okuma. Haven’t you told her?"
"Well, it’s... a bit complicated at the precinct."
Scene: 020. All’s Well That Ends… Probably OK
“Still on about this, Chief Numata? You’re overthinking—Ohkuma doesn’t look like your mother.”
“Well… his mother did have him late in life, so she would be elderly… Perhaps I should ditch the gray hair…”
“But I already have gray hair, and I look fine! Your natural shade is blue-gray, Aoki—no reason to change.”
“Mmh—Mother being human… so Ohkuma really is just a regular human.”
A large lynx-form CAT casually pipes up from the visitor’s sofa.
“That’s right. That’s why we were going to persuade him back into sumo…”
“Hmm, sumo’s not a bad option. That ‘neko-damashi’ move was impressive. But he’s already Panda-man. Since painting his eyes black, he’s gained female fans. He’ll only get stronger.”
“No! I want to see Grand Champion Ōkumamaru again!”
Excited, Numata’s fur actually bristles. Aoki leans in for a soft word.
“Chief, maybe hold off… If we give Ohkuma someone to train for, like Karin, it’ll give her some peace too…”
“Ugh... to think my pet‑loss grief is now hijacked by my favorite rikishi…”
“Miss Karin, won’t you return to NYC at some point?”
Calmly, Amesho addresses Karin—she’s been peppering her with feline-English questions ever since.
“No… I pushed myself too hard there. Though I’m a Canadian lynx deep down, I tried to act human—diplomacy, politics, even balancing bullets—and ended up sealing away my cat side. Silent‑Myau seemed to be held in check by beloved Merenge‑chan. But without her, the feline energy had nowhere to go…”
Karin trails off, nostalgic about her cat.
“Right… I tried to act human, and Merenge was holding that part of me together… but when she passed, everything overflowed. Still—being a cat, being myself, that’s the best way to be.”
“So… you’ll stick around here?” asks Amesho.
“Yes. There aren’t many places I can be my CAT self. I’m thinking of renting some gym space in the next building.”
“Opening a feline-English class too, yes?”
“I will, little by little.”
Numata quietly senses more gray hair ahead if this keeps up.
At that moment, Shamu and Mitsuike push the door open, Charu in tow.
“We’re home!”
“Ah!”
Charu’s fur bristles for a moment, then she rushes enthusiastically toward Karin.
“Karin‑chan! Let’s do “jump-and-toss” again!”
It’s clear Charu and Karin already have a friendly rapport.
“Jump-and-toss? Ah… here’s too small…”
“Please!”
“Nope.”
“Charu, you can’t toss cats around indoors…”
Shamu tries to steady things while Mitsuike quietly smiles, enjoying the scene.
“Nooo! Cat‑toss! Cat‑toss!”
For two full minutes, Charu meows in every tone, everyone covers their ears, and when that fails, she unleashes her ultimate attack—the Silent‑Meow.
“Alright already, I yield.”
“Everyone, clear the area!”
And so the CAT team springs into action, ensuring that Charu’s “jump-and-toss” stunt is carried out safely.
A rookie’s first mission—wrangled. And she unveiled her devastating Silent‑Meow just in time.
English C.A.T. File 1
