Chapter 3 (1/2)

Myohan wanted to deny it, but for a second, he thought maybe the man really needed him. Perhaps his black eyes were beguiling him. He even pitied the man and his plea. But that thought didn’t last long. The man’s expression soon changed and he grinned.

“And that was a joke.”

“What?”

The man winked as Myohan gave him a shocked look. Then he closed his eyes and reclined.

“I need you for one reason. I’m so busy that I need some helping hands, maybe even helping paws, so I’m going to get your help. It would be better to do it together than to do it alone.”

Myohan couldn’t tell how much of the man’s words were genuine, but he thought he was still joking and threw his towel at him with all his might. However, the piece of cloth just landed on the man’s lap lightly.

Anyway, Myohan decided to try a different approach. Waiting for the man to explain wasn’t going to get them anywhere, so he had to point out everything that seemed suspicious.

“What on earth are you going to do when you find them?”

“Nothing bad for you, cat.”

“…Okay.”

Myohan narrowed his eyes, disgusted. He didn’t like the man’s way of talking.

“You are right. I’m a cat, and I sometimes turn into a cat, which puzzles me a lot. But it’s not like it’s troubling me a lot.”

Myohan checked and the man wasn’t saying anything. Then he continued slowly.

“Having better reflexes than others is rather good.”

He recalled how he had jumped from the sixth floor earlier in the day. An ordinary man wouldn’t have been able to do it.

“If we find those twelve and I stop turning into a cat, just like you’re promising, it would be good only for me. So why are you convincing me to find them? What will you get out of it?”

It had been bothering him all along. The man’s offer had a great flaw. He wasn’t going to gain anything by helping Myohan become a full human, but he was literally forcing him to find the twelve zodiac animals.

“And who the hell are you that you know about them?”

The man slowly frowned. Then he opened his mouth as if he wanted to talk, but he closed it again. He looked a little frustrated. Myohan went on calmly.

“I don’t want to keep talking if you’re not going to give any answers. How can I trust you and help you? Why would anyone kindly help a total stranger who talks nonsense?”

“There are many things I can’t tell you.”

“Then we’re done here.”

Myohan made it clear that he had reached his limits. The man kept playing a game of words, and it wasn’t making him feel like helping at all. Being bothered was the thing he hated the most.

“I can’t tell you who I am.”

“Then…”

“All I can tell you is that I have to retrieve something special to me, and to do it, I must find all twelve animals. And to find them, I must get your help.”

Their eyes met.

“I’ll tell you everything once we find them all. I promise you won’t be losing anything with this.”

Myohan wanted to tell him to leave, but he couldn’t, because—

“I promise.”

Firstly, the man’s voice trembled a little,

“I’m really good at keeping promises.”

and secondly, his eyes looked so sad.

“Help me, cat.”

Myohan was dull to other’s feelings naturally. He wasn’t kind enough to pity anyone, and he wasn’t nice enough to help without getting something in return.

“I don’t trust you.”

But this time, it was different. Each word the man said reached the depth of Myohan’s heart. It almost felt like he was being enchanted.

“But you find the rat within a week. Then I will help, even if I don’t trust you.”

Myohan couldn’t push the man away. His animalistic instincts were telling him so. The man’s eyes widened, and then he smiled softly.

“Of course.”

***

Three days passed. Despite the man’s promise to find the rat, he was nowhere to be seen. Myohan was supposed to feel good about it, but for some reason, he was disappointed.

‘I will distribute time to you.’

He sighed as he mopped the floor. He was thinking of the dream he had had the night before.