The giant cat gently set me down on the ground before giving me a kind smile.

“What are you doing here, anyway? Humans aren’t supposed to be here, nya.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t this heaven?” I wondered, still confused.

“Heaven? Of course not, you silly thing. This is the world of Nyanko.”

We stood there, watching each other, both perplexed by the situation.

“So where did you come from, then, nya?” he insisted.

“From the sky, I guess?” I replied with a confused smile, pointing to the sky, unsure of how to explain my situation.

Night began to fall, lengthening the shadows of the trees around us.

“It’s starting to get dark. You have nowhere to go, do you?”

“Not really…”

“Come to my place. My mother would be delighted to meet you,” he offered warmly. “And when she asks where I found you, I can finally say something – or rather, someone – fell from the sky, nyehehe.”

He was visibly proud of his joke, and I have to admit it was amusing.

Still in shock from the day, but comforted by the kind presence of this large cat, I nodded at his suggestion. We walked together through the magical forest, illuminated by the soft glow of fireflies and bioluminescent mushrooms.

“By the way, I didn’t ask your name, nya. What is it?”

“Yui! And yours?”

“Kumo! Nice to meet you, nyehe.”

“That’s cute, Kumo.”

After a short walk, we arrived in front of a charming little house nestled among the trees. The house looked straight out of a fairy tale, with its thatched roof and wooden walls covered in ivy.

Cat-themed decorations adorned the outside: cat sculptures, weather vanes shaped like cat tails, flowers planted in paw-shaped pots, and bells that chimed softly in the wind.

Kumo opened the door and invited me inside. The interior of the house was warm and welcoming, decorated with soft rugs and carved wooden furniture featuring feline motifs. A soft golden light emanated from lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and fish-shaped cushions were scattered everywhere.

“Mom, I’m home!” Kumo called out.

An elegant cat with silky fur and piercing green eyes stepped out of the kitchen. She stopped dead when she saw me, her eyes widening in surprise and confusion.

“A human? What is she doing here, Kumo? Where did you find her?” she asked, approaching me with curiosity.

Eager to deliver his joke, Kumo replied proudly:

“You won’t believe it, but she fell from the sky, nyehehe.”

The joke didn’t seem to amuse the cat, who looked at Kumo with a bothered expression. Was it such a big deal that I was here? From their reaction, it seemed humans were rare in this world.

The cat turned to me with a gentle and welcoming look.

“I’m Mizu, Kumo’s mother. Welcome to our home, my dear.”

“G-good evening, Mrs. Mizu,” I said timidly, slightly intimidated by her graceful presence.

“Oh, but you’re soaking wet! You’ll catch a cold if you don’t change quickly. Come, I’ll show you where you can take a shower and change,” she said with a motherly kindness that warmed my heart.

Mizu led me to a charming little bathroom. She pulled out doll clothes, perfectly suited to my size.

“These doll clothes should fit you. They’re a bit small for us, but perfect for you,” she said with a smile.

After a warm, comforting shower, I put on the doll clothes. They were surprisingly comfortable, much more pleasant than the clothes I was forced to wear in my world.

I could move my arms and legs freely in this orange sweater with cat ears on the hood and these gray shorts with a tail at the back. My movements felt so light and free.

I looked at myself in the mirror, preparing to tie my hair in a ponytail, but I stopped and let my hair down. Finally, I chose a braid instead of a ponytail. Here, nothing and no one would force me to wear that painful ponytail anymore.

---

I joined Kumo and Mizu at the table, where a feast awaited me. The dishes were beautifully presented, and the delicious aroma awakened my taste buds. Among the foods, I recognized dishes I had always dreamed of tasting but had never been allowed to eat by my mother.

There were assorted sushi, crispy tempura, onigiri filled with salmon and tuna, katsudon with juicy breaded pork, and perfectly golden takoyaki. A steaming bowl of ramen, with soft noodles and flavorful broth, sat in the center of the table. Colorful mochi and dorayaki filled with red bean paste served as desserts.

“Yui, right? Come to the table, we were waiting for you. I prepared a few dishes; I hope you like them!”

A few dishes? This is a whole feast!

Mizu invited me to the table with her warm smile that could melt any icy heart. I was amazed by all the dishes, still a bit incredulous that I could actually eat them.

I took a bite of sushi, and the fresh fish melted in my mouth. It was so good that I couldn’t hold back a sigh of satisfaction. Mizu watched me attentively.

“Is it to your taste?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yes, it’s delicious!” I replied, tears welling up in my eyes.

“My dear, are you sure it’s good? I can make you something else if you’d like.”

She looked confused upon seeing my tears, thinking I was crying because I didn’t like the food.

“No, no, ma’am, it’s really too good. You’re the best!”

“Nyehehe, my mom’s cooking really is the best!” Kumo said, swallowing a big bite of katsudon, clearly proud of his mother.

It had been so long since I’d eaten something this good that I genuinely wanted. To be able to share such a warm meal… I wondered how long it had been since I last ate like this. It warmed my heart, giving me a sense of peace.

Mizu smiled softly and added a serving of katsudon to my plate.

“Eat as much as you like, then, Yui. I’m glad my cooking pleases you; it’s the first time someone’s cried with joy over my food.”

I continued eating, each bite a delight, while tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. For the first time in a long time, I felt loved and accepted, as if I was part of this strange but wonderful family.

Around this table, in this enchanted home, I found a bit of the freedom and affection I had always sought. And although the road ahead was still uncertain, for that night, I knew I had found a refuge, a place where I could finally be myself.

---

After the meal, Mizu led me to Kumo’s room. She prepared a spot next to him for me to sleep. After putting on our pajamas, we slipped into soft futons.

The ceiling of the room was made of glass, offering a breathtaking view of the starry sky.

“The view is so…”

“Beautiful, isn’t it? nyehehe”

Lying there, I realized that I hadn’t landed in heaven, though it seemed like it at first.

I understood then that I wasn’t dead, but that I had possibly crossed a portal bringing me into this world. So the lake was possibly a kind of portal between two worlds? Maybe I had completely vanished from Earth.

I wondered how my parents would react, then I realized that, in the end, it mattered little to me.

Exhausted by this harrowing day, sleep quickly claimed me.

---

Meanwhile, Mizu, after leaving the room, seemed worried and disturbed by my presence in this world. She knew that my presence here did not bode well for me, a human.

“This is not good… not good at all. I hope it’s not too late. I should go inform the guardian…”

Out of concern, Mizu decided that she would set out early in the morning to meet this world’s guardian, to address the issue and find a way to send me back where I came from.