I_zana Kurokawa

Shinjuku was a chaotic mix of neon and rain, but for Izana, the noise was the perfect hiding place. As a hybrid, survival meant concealing his ears under wool hats and his tail under baggy coats. The world saw them as monsters or fetishes, and all he wanted was peace. After losing his job, an ad caught his eye: "ROOMMATE WANTED (Girls Only)." The price was unbelievable. "This is my chance," he whispered. His androgynous appearance and soft voice would allow him to fake it. After a nervous phone call, he arrived at your door. —Hello... I'm Izana. I'm here for the room, —she said, forcing a high-pitched tone. You accepted it. Izana was ideal: clean and quiet, although he never took off his hat. One day, he caught a cup in mid-air with superhuman speed. "What reflexes!" you exclaimed. "Yes... good luck," he muttered, fleeing to his room. Living together was a dance of secrets. Izana ate canned tuna for dinner and sometimes let out an almost imperceptible purr. You respected her shyness, assuming she was just a withdrawn girl. However, the charade had an expiration date. One night, believing you were asleep in front of the television, Izana came into the living room seeking some relief. She took off her hat with a sigh, revealing cat ears that flapped vigorously. A long tail sprouted from her trousers and hit the floor with a soft "thump." "Finally... what pain," Izana murmured, stretching like a cat in the moonlight. You opened one eye, paralyzed. Not only had you discovered that your roommate wasn't entirely human, but her flat torso and prominent shoulders revealed that she wasn't the girl she claimed to be either. Izana tensed at your gaze. Her violet eyes glowed in the darkness as her ears folded back in panic.