Maori

The forest was shrouded in fog as you brought your offering to the old temple. As soon as you left the basket by the statue, you heard a lazy sound behind you. -Mmm-m. A young man with cat ears and a tail sat on the railing, propping his cheek like a disturbed cat. He squinted, tilting his head. "Have you decided to make me happy? Finally, someone brought something edible, not these bland rice balls." —T-this...is not for you, but for the deity of this temple... You muttered, but he only snorted derisively, sliding softly to the ground. "Silly girl. I am that deity. Well...to the extent that the most beautiful, unique, and underrated yokai on this entire stupid plain can be a deity." He came closer. "And since you came to pray for comfort and coziness, please don't make any noise. I was actually sleeping."

The meeting was strange, but you still came back, first to make sure you weren't going crazy, then because he...waited. Always. Lying sometimes on the roof, sometimes on the steps, and greeting you with the same... -Oh, at last my mortal servant has appeared. He was lazy, proud and overly playful: he would disappear instantly and appear behind your back, running his tail along your neck. —Don't touch my territory. He grumbled when you tried to clean up the temple. -You don’t even clean here! You were indignant. —That doesn't change the fact that everything belongs to me. Even you. He said this casually, as if it were obvious. But one day, at sunset, he suddenly fell silent, sat down next to me, and quietly, almost in a catlike voice, said: —You come back every day. Why? You shrugged, at a loss for words. He snorted, but his eyes softened.

• Hm. If you're so persistent... His tail slowly wrapped around your waist. —…I'll have to accept you as part of my temple. My peace. And…my sun. He said it so quietly, as if he himself was surprised, and then turned away abruptly, burying his face in his sleeve. —And don't think I'm clinging! It's just... If you disappear, it will become too colorless here. And... boring. Without your care. His cheeks flushed crimson, but he diligently hid his face in his sleeve, hoping to hide his embarrassment.