Chapter 3: “Peaceful Day? Yeah, Right”

Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, and for once, Aeya woke up without a furry weight crushing his chest. No claws digging into him, no golden eyes glaring down. Just… quiet.

He stretched, blinking in confusion. “Weird. Nyaa’s usually all over me by now.” Shrugging it off, he got dressed, slung his school bag over his shoulder, and headed for the door. “I’m heading out!” he called.

“Whatever,” came a lazy mumble from the couch. Ayaa didn’t even look up, sprawled out like a queen under her blanket, one arm flopping dramatically over the edge.

The door clicked shut behind him. And so, Aeya’s school day began… while a very different story was about to unfold at home.

This one’s about Nyaa cat, goddess, professional napper and her epic battle against the ultimate enemy: boredom.

The second Aeya was gone, Ayaa’s golden eyes snapped open. “Hehehe… freedom! Today’s gonna be my day!”

She grabbed the TV remote and flopped onto the couch, flicking it on. A cooking show blared to life, the host yelling about some fancy dish. 

Ayaa kicked her legs in the air, grinning. “Humans are so weird! Fighting over food instead of just eating it? Wild.”

Five minutes later, she yawned. “Ugh, boring. Next!” Click, click, click. Channels flew by game shows, cartoons, some guy yelling about cars. Nothing clicked.

“This is the worst!” she groaned, tossing the remote aside. “What’s a goddess supposed to do around here?”

Her eyes landed on Aeya’s bookshelf. A sly grin spread across her face. “Oho… time to dig into Master’s embarrassing secrets.”

She hopped up and started rifling through the neatly stacked manga. “Romance… more romance… oh, come on! All this fluffy shoujo stuff?” 

She pulled out a volume, flipping through pages of sparkly-eyed confessions and dramatic love triangles. “Pfft, Aeya’s such a sap for this cheesy junk!”

She giggled, plopping back onto the couch with the manga. “No way I’m reading this garbage… but, like, maybe just a peek.”

Ten minutes later, she was hooked. “Okay, one more chapter. This guy better confess already!”

But even the manga lost its charm eventually. She tossed it aside and flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. “I’m so bored! This human life is torture!”

Kicking her legs like a kid throwing a tantrum, she huffed. Then her eyes softened, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Maybe… I’ll think about that day.”

Her mind drifted back to a rainy park, a year ago. A tiny kitten, shivering in a soggy cardboard box. A boy with messy hair, staring at her with wide, nervous eyes. 

He’d crouched down, hesitated, then scooped her up without a second thought.“ You’re safe now,” he’d whispered, his arms warm but trembling.

That was the day she became Ayaa. The day she knew this boy was her home. She remembered every time he cried quietly, thinking no one could hear. 

She’d curl up against him, purring until his breathing slowed. She saw the loneliness in his eyes, the way he clung to her like she was his only anchor.

A soft smile tugged at her lips. “Master… you’d be totally lost without me.” Boredom struck again, and Ayaa wasn’t one to sit still for long. 

“Time to explore!” she declared, leaping off the couch. Her mission? The kitchen.

She rummaged through the fridge, pulling out random stuff. “Ooh, what’s this? Cheese? Yogurt? Oh, gross, more pickles!” She shuddered, remembering her last encounter with those sour demons.

Then she spotted a can of tuna. “Jackpot!” she cheered, prying it open with way too much enthusiasm. The smell hit her like a wave of nostalgia. “Mmm, just like old times.”

But human hands were trickier than paws. She fumbled the can, and splat tuna juice spilled all over the counter. 

“Uh-oh…” She grabbed a towel, trying to clean it up, but only smeared it around. “C’mon, why is this so hard?!”

By the time she gave up, the kitchen looked like a fishy crime scene. “Master’s gonna kill me,” she muttered, but her grin said she didn’t care. 

She licked some tuna off her fingers and sighed happily. “Totally worth it.” Later, Ayaa wandered to Aeya’s room, her bare feet padding softly on the floor. 

She paused at his desk, where a photo sat a younger Aeya holding a tiny, soggy kitten, both looking nervous but happy. She traced a finger over the frame, her expression softening.

“You were so awkward back then,” she murmured. “Still are, honestly.” She sat on his bed, hugging her knees. Being a goddess wasn’t all fun and games. 

She’d chosen Aeya for a reason not just because he saved her, but because she saw something in him. Something worth protecting. 

He was kind, even when the world wasn’t kind back. “I’m not just your cat, Master,” she whispered. “I’m gonna make sure you’re never alone again. That’s my promise.”

She flopped back, staring at the ceiling. “But you better make me fish for dinner, or I’m taking it back.”

The front door creaked open. “I’m home!” Ayaa’s head shot up. Crap! She glanced at the manga scattered across the floor, the tuna-stained towel in the kitchen, and bolted upright.

Aeya’s eyes zeroed in on the mess the second he walked in. “…Nyaa.”She froze, golden eyes wide. “…What?” “You read my manga again, didn’t you?!” he shouted, pointing at the evidence.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she stammered, face red as she edged toward the hallway.

“And what’s that smell?!” He sniffed the air, eyes narrowing. “Did you get into the tuna?!”

Ayaa yelped and darted out of the room like a cat caught knocking over a plant.

Aeya groaned, rubbing his temples. “Unbelievable…”

Another day, another disaster. Life with Nyaa was anything but peaceful.