—"What are you doing here?" Noko asked, swaying on my back like a backpack.

—"We’re heading to a house I bought in the area," I replied, unsuccessfully trying to shake her off.

—"Ah! The one with the ghosts?" Noko said casually.

Zara crossed her arms.

—"How do you know that?"

—"Because I protect this forest!" Noko declared proudly, thumping her chest. —"Sometimes adventurers pass out, and I carry them back to the nearby city. Lumis, I think it’s called."

Maya rubbed her temples.

—"That explains why everyone wakes up outside the forest…"

—"Hey," Zara suddenly asked, —"do you know anything about a mysterious beast living here?"

Noko tilted her head.

—"Mysterious beast? Hmm… there are lots of monsters, but nothing like that. Oh, wait!" Her tail bristled indignantly. —"Once, some adventurers screamed ‘A beast!’ when they saw my tail. So rude! My tail’s cute, see?"

Zara sighed, then smirked.

—"I see… Mystery solved. By the way, I’m Zara."

—"Maya."

—"A-And I’m Ren…" I stammered, acutely aware of Noko’s legs wrapped around my waist. —"When are you planning to get down?"

—"Never! Your back is mine-nya."

CRACK! A log suddenly plummeted toward my head.

—"Ren, look out!" Maya and Zara shouted.

Noko reacted instantly, slicing the log clean in half with her claws in one fluid motion.

—"Huh, that was weird," Noko mused, eyeing the splintered wood. —"Guess nature wanted to hit you."

Maya snorted.

—"Yeah, things just fall on Ren all the time. Super weird."

—"Let’s go before it gets dark," I said, avoiding eye contact with the sky (and Purin’s wrath).

Zara nodded.

—"Right. Thanks for the help, Noko."

—"Bye, cat-girl!" Maya waved dismissively.

But Noko kept walking with us.

—"Noko… are you planning to follow us?" I asked weakly.

—"Duh! I’m sticking with you everywhere-nya."

Maya and Zara exchanged a glance and whispered:

—"We’ve got a dangerous one here," Maya muttered.

—"Our rivalry’s already enough," Zara whispered back. —"Maya, I know we disagree, but…"

—"Truce," Maya cut in. —"Two rivals are plenty. Temporary alliance?"

—"A truce… against me? Why?" Noko popped up between them, grinning.

—"WH—?! WHEN DID YOU—?!" they yelped in unison.

—"Ohhh, I get it!" Noko clapped. —"You two like Ren too! Makes sense—he’s super strong, right?"

—"SHUT IT!" Maya and Zara clamped their hands over her mouth.

I stepped closer, confused.

—"What’s going on?"

—"Nothing, nothing!" they said, releasing Noko. —"Let’s just go already!"

Through hissed threats and death glares, they dragged Noko aside for a final warning:

—"Fine," Zara whispered. "No fighting between us… but keep our secret."

—"Why?" Noko blinked. "I already said I like—"

—"WE CARE! And quiet!" they snapped.

—"Okay, okay," Noko raised her hands. —"Jeez, you’re both weird."

—"WEIRD?!" Maya’s eyes sparked.

Zara intervened before chaos erupted.

—"Enough! Let’s not make this worse."

I stared at the three of them, utterly lost.

—"Girls… why are you acting so strange?"

—"No reason!" Maya and Zara chorused, shoving me forward. —"Keep moving!"

As we walked, Noko vaulted onto my back again, laughing like nothing had happened.