—
“There’s no doubt about it—our Mei is a genius.”
My cheeks were being thoroughly squished.
Sabina unnie had grabbed my face with both hands and was stretching it without mercy.
Seriously, does she think my cheeks are made of dough or something?
“Mmrgh.”
“How can someone be this smart!”
“Mmrghhgh!”
I protested with a muffled voice, my cheeks still held captive.
But unnie just giggled and kept showering me with praise.
Her usual icy expression when dealing with others was nowhere to be seen.
“This little cutie—who’s your familiar again?”
“Stop it!!”
Eventually, I couldn’t stand the awkwardness anymore and bolted out of her grasp.
Of course, I love my unnie more than anyone else in the world!
But this relentless praise attack… is just too much!
As I crossed my arms and pouted, she let out a small chuckle—
“Gotcha!”
—and scooped me up in her arms again.
“Wah?! I told you to stop!”
“With this adorable face? You’re not scary at all!”
Unnie burst into laughter and lifted me high toward the ceiling.
After a few gentle tosses, she hugged me tightly again.
I tried to glare at her like I was letting it slide… but eventually, I threw my arms around her neck.
Because honestly… I wasn’t mad at all.
I was just embarrassed.
“Our Mei, managing to humanize all by herself… I’m so proud of you.”
“Ahem!”
She gently patted my back.
I let out a forced cough and turned my head away.
Then unnie looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“No, really—how did you do it? You always struggled with transforming before.”
I flinched, caught off guard.
Because she was right.
Up until now, whenever I tried to transform…
“Hahaha! Mei! Your ears popped out!”
“……”
…my cat ears would suddenly spring out, or I’d forget to hide my tail and it would sway behind me.
I always ended up looking ridiculous.
Unnie laughed so hard whenever it happened.
“Um, well…”
I trailed off, avoiding her gaze.
How was I supposed to explain this?
That I saw the future?
That she… died there?
‘Even I wouldn’t believe that if I heard it.’
She’d just think I had a bad dream!
Forget it.
I shut my eyes tightly and shouted at the top of my lungs.
“I just wanted to walk around holding your hand!!”
As soon as the words left my mouth, my face flushed bright red.
Ugh, I’m so embarrassed I could die!
What kind of childish reason is that?!
And then… unnie—
“…I can’t believe it.”
She stared at me blankly for a moment, then suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.
Ack.
She squeezed me so hard I could barely breathe.
“Unnie! I can’t breathe!”
I tapped her back frantically.
Then she whispered softly in my ear.
“No matter what you look like, I love you just the same.”
Her warm, laughing voice tickled my ear.
“But… seeing you try so hard like this…”
I looked up at her with wide eyes.
Then I responded firmly.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“We’re family, right?”
No matter what anyone says, we’re each other’s only family.
So—
“It’s only natural that I try hard.”
“….”
Hearing that, unnie’s expression melted on the spot.
Then she looked like she couldn’t take it anymore and—
“Eeeek!”
—showered me with kisses again.
Fine, unnie… do whatever you want.
With a resigned expression, I accepted her overwhelming affection.
A little while later—
After giving my head one final smack! with a kiss, unnie stood up.
“Come to think of it, I have something to give you.”
“A present?”
“Yup. I made it a while ago, thinking you might need it someday…”
Snap!
She flicked her fingers.
And from the crack of the open door, a small box came flying in.
Unnie caught it and handed it to me.
“Here. Take it.”
I looked at the box with a puzzled expression.
It was a neatly wrapped gift box with a ribbon on top.
Unnie gave me a gentle smile.
“Want to open it?”
“Okay!”
I nodded and untied the ribbon.
Carefully, I lifted the lid—and inside was…
‘Huh? This is…’
I widened my eyes when I recognized it.
It was a dainty choker-style necklace.
A deep red ribbon held a purple magic stone that matched unnie’s hair color.
Unnie smiled softly.
“I figured you’d be shifting between human and cat forms more often from now on.”
“…Unnie.”
“It doesn’t matter when you’re in cat form, but when you’re human, you’ll need clothes, right?”
She added with a playful tone.
“Wouldn’t want you ending up naked every time you transform. So I made this just in case.”
My throat tightened.
I had received this very magical item in my previous life, too.
Specifically, when I turned fifteen.
After successfully transforming into a human for the first time, unnie had personally fastened it around my neck.
‘…Which means she made this a long time ago.’
She’d been waiting, hoping I’d succeed… all this time.
I gazed at the necklace, lost in thought.
Then unnie smiled brightly and asked,
“Want me to put it on for you?”
“Yeah!”
I quickly nodded and turned around.
Unnie fastened the necklace around my neck.
Click.
The clasp closed with a soft sound.
I gently touched the dangling magic stone.
‘Unnie’s been loving me for so, so long.’
…Realizing that made my heart flutter.
Then, unnie asked me softly,
“So? Do you like it?”
“I love it!”
I beamed.
Finally, unnie smiled back at me, a little relieved.
Truly, I’m one happy cat!
—
Sabina rested her chin on her hand, watching Maybel with a suspicious look.
The white fluffball familiar was now locked in a fierce staring contest with her food bowl.
Tail flicking against the floor in frustration.
‘Something’s been off with Mei lately.’
Just a few days ago—
She had woken up sobbing, clinging to Sabina in tears.
And ever since then, she refused to leave her side.
Normally, she’d hiss or scamper away the moment Sabina got close—she had that sass
y charm.
But now, she was the picture of a docile little lamb.
And yesterday? She even managed to transform into a human on her own!
“Myaow? (Why are you looking at me like that?)”
Right then, Maybel sensed Sabina’s stare and looked up at her with slyly narrowed eyes.
—
