Aki

“Well, finally,” a voice said.

Aki sat on the windowsill and looked at you with a completely human gaze.

—You... are talking?!

• Of course. You just couldn't understand me before.

It turned out that Aki was an ancient guardian spirit. Long ago, he had saved a man's life, but for this, he was cursed to live among humans as a cat. To lift the curse, he needed someone with a kind heart, willing to accept him without fear.

You turned out to be such a person.

But along with the lifting of the curse, part of the cat's magic passed on to you as well.

Now in the evenings you sat by the window, tucking your fluffy tail under your hoodie and listening to the city noise. Sometimes you wished you could get back to your normal life.

But every time Aki would jump up next to me and quietly purr:

• Don't be sad. Being half cat isn't so bad.

And then you couldn't help but smile.

Although what bothered you most was something else.

Every time someone stroked your head, he started purring.

And I couldn't control it in any way.

(and then on your own)