Cat girls don't like their tails being touched.

A new day was beginning. After a couple of years, I was finally able to establish a healthy morning routine again. I got out of bed and took a long bath. Since I didn't have any other clothes, I wore the same ones as yesterday — after washing them, of course! I left my apartment and jogged around the city for about an hour. I took the opportunity to familiarise myself with the streets and local businesses during that time. Since it was early morning, there were hardly any people around. On my way back, I stopped at a small shop intending to buy breakfast, but I was brought back to my new reality.

“I'm sorry, young man, but you don't have enough merit to shop at our store.”

I had completely forgotten what Aixa had told me and also forgotten to ask her how one earns merit.

I had no choice.

*Ding Dong*

Luckily, I remembered Aixa's apartment number, so I rang her doorbell without thinking too much about it.

There was no answer, so I rang again.

Again, nothing.

As I waited outside, I noticed a rug with a smiling Shiba Inu on it at my feet. This girl really likes animals!

Lost in thought, I didn't notice the door opening and an elf with messy hair coming out in pajamas that looked like they belonged to a character from a TV series.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” From her voice, I could tell that she had just woken up.

“Around 9:00 a.m.”

“What's so urgent that you had to wake me up so early?”

“I haven't got anything for breakfast.”

I tried to answer her fairly directly and efficiently so as not to waste her time and so she could go back to sleep. However, it didn't seem to work because she didn't look very happy with my answer.

She disappeared into her doorway for about two minutes, then returned holding a plastic container containing yesterday's biscuits.

As soon as I took the container from her, she closed her door without saying anything.

In this new world, I think my priority is going to be learning how to relate to people — something I didn't give enough importance to in my previous life.

I left the building and sat down in a nearby square to eat the biscuits that Aixa had given me.

I sat there for a long time, watching different types of people pass by: humans, elves and other species. But what caught my attention the most was the colour of their necklaces. Although they were all orange, blue or purple, the shades were all different.

When Aixa wakes up, I'm going to ask her about them.

No, wait — why should I ask her? I can't always rely on her goodwill — I'll wear her out. But if not her, who should I ask?

I haven't interacted with anyone else and I don't think it's appropriate to bother the police about something so basic.

If this place is so similar to Japan, where I come from, there must be schools — that's where they teach.

Despite walking around most of the city earlier, I didn't see any schools or universities. I have no choice but to try another approach; this time, I'm going to perform good deeds on my journey.

This world seems to be quite different from Earth in some ways, but I don't think the concept of good deeds varies much.

I walked a long way, but I couldn't find anything I could help with. The streets were sparkling clean, no one needed help crossing the street and there were no thieves to apprehend. In short, I couldn't do anything to earn merit.

About 10 kilometres from the apartment, I saw a girl who seemed a little lost.

I approached her to ask if she needed anything, and I realised that she was wearing a school uniform. Luck was really smiling on me this time!

My plan was to help her with whatever she needed and then ask her to take me to her school. Since it was lunchtime, she would have to go back soon. However, all my plans were ruined in a matter of seconds.

“Hi, do you need help with anything?”

“Why are you talking to Yui-nya? That's disgusting. Get lost.”

She had a sharp tongue for someone her age, but what impressed me most was that she was a cat girl. I had already seen semi-humans in the square while I was having breakfast, but I was surprised by the way they spoke. I didn't think they actually ended their sentences with 'nya'. More importantly, though, my chance to learn how to earn merit had gone, and on top of that, I was getting hungry.

I wandered around for a few minutes until a bright light on the floor caught my attention. Bending down, I saw that it was a fish keychain. It was made of metal and reflected the light that hit it.

It's quite nice, but I'm not sure if I would use it.

I know! I'll give it to Aixa to thank her for all her help. She likes animals, doesn't she? Fish are animals, after all. I think.

I'll go back to the apartment and ask her to explain the merit system to me properly. I have a long journey ahead of me.

Hopefully, when I get back, I'll be able to get some food.

※ ※ ※

The landscape was the same as when I ate Aixa's biscuits this morning, only now the streets were much busier. Right now, I wish I had a watch or a mobile phone. I feel very lost in this new world.

I managed to find my apartment, but there was a crowd of people nearby causing a commotion, so I approached them instinctively.

As I made my way through the crowd gathered in a semi-circle, I saw what had caused such a commotion: a criminal was being arrested. Three police officers were escorting a hooded boy into a patrol car.

Amidst all the murmurs, I heard one of the officers say that the boy belonged to an organisation trying to open the gates of hell. Indeed, when I looked at him again, I noticed that he wasn't wearing a collar.

I tried to leave the scene discreetly when I heard someone call my name.

“Okan-kun, what a coincidence.”

“Aixa! I'm so glad I found you; I've been looking for you.”

We both left the crowd and sat down on a nearby bench.

“I have a problem, Aixa.”

“What 's wrong?”

“I don't have anything for lunch.”

“...”

She fell silent. I don't think I said anything wrong. Ah! I know what to do.

“Here.”

I took the keychain in the shape of a fish out of my pocket and offered it to her.

“A keychain of a tuna?”

“Exactly. Since you like animals, I thought I'd give it to you as a thank you.”

“You didn't steal it, did you?”

“Why do you say that? Can't you see that I'm a good guy?”

“It's just that you don't have merit, your necklace is still transparent.”

“... That's my problem! I can't afford to buy food.”

“You paused and changed the subject. Where did you get the keyring?”

“Don't change the subject; it's all related. Please help me and I'll tell you where the keychain came from.”

“That 's blackmail, Okan-kun…”

“Blackmail at its finest.”

“You know what? You'd better follow me.”

After our little chat, Aixa took me to a place that looked like a tavern. There was a large corkboard covered in papers.

“What is this place?”

“The merit centre. You can earn merit here, or check exactly how much you have.”

“Ooooh! The bartender is a dragon!”

“You're not listening to me. It looks like I won't be giving you any more cookies.”

“I beg your pardon? Please continue.”

“See that wall? There are public and private missions there. When you complete them, you come here and receive the corresponding merit.”

“I understand the idea, but what is the difference between public and private missions?”

“Private missions are requests from ordinary people, while public missions are commissioned by the governors.”

“Thank you very much, Aixa. Now I won't have to beg for biscuits every morning.”

“I would appreciate it if you didn't do that anymore.”

“Sorry about that. I have no way of knowing what time it is.”

“I'll accept your excuse this time and forgive you, but now tell me where you got that keyring.”

I took the keychain out of my pocket again and held it up to my chest.

“I found it on the floor.”

She didn't seem to hear me. Aixa was staring blankly at the corkboard. I was about to speak, but she raised her arm and pointed at something, interrupting me.

“Look at that.”

A girl in a hoodie was pinning a piece of paper to the wall. It was a drawing of the fish keychain, and the word 'Lost' was written underneath.

“Give her back her keyring, Okan-kun.”

“No need to say it.”

I approached the girl. She was quite small, so I assumed she was still at school.

“I think this is yours.”

“You found my keyring-nya! I've been looking for it all day. Thank you so much-nya!” Haven't I seen you before-nya?”

She took off her hood to reveal that she was the same cat girl I had met that morning.

“Never mind. Let's go to the bartender-nya. Yui will give you your merit-nya.”

Before I could respond, I felt a strong presence behind me.

“A cat girl…”

“Aixa?”

“You're so cute!”

Aixa threw herself at the cat girl (apparently named Yui) and started petting her.

“Nya-?! Let go of Yui-nya!”

Although she seemed peaceful, Yui scratched Aixa's face as soon as she touched her tail.

“Gyaaaa!”

“Get away from Yui-nya, you pervert!”

It seems that Aixa's love for animals isn't limited to pets.

“Okan-kun, I can't believe you took this cutie's keychain!”

“Your nose is bleeding! But more importantly, you're in no position to scold me! You can't touch a girl like that!”

“Yui's not a girl-nya, you know. I'm already 18-nya.”

“Huh?”

“See, Okan-kun, what I did is not wrong.”

“I don't think that justifies your crime.”

“Enough, I appreciate you finding my keychain, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you touch me.' Come with me.”

Yui walked to the counter, said something to the bartender, and beckoned us over.

“Which one of you is going to get the merit?”

“I guess it'll be me.”

I approached Yui, and the bartender showed me a piece of paper that looked like a contract.

“Sign here.” he said, handing me a pen.

I quickly read it and signed. In short, I was accepting the transfer of credit. When I had finished, Yui held out her hand, waiting for me to shake it. As we shook hands, our necklaces began to glow.

“Well, Yui is saying goodbye here-nya.”

“Wait a minute!”

I have a bad feeling about this. Aixa can be quite persistent.

“Your keychain is a bluefin tuna, isn't it?”

“Nya! How did you know?”

“Well, I happen to be an expert cook and was planning to cook seared tuna for dinner tonight.”

“Don't tell me…”

“Would you like to come to my house, Yui-chan?”

“What a bold proposal!”

“Will you accept? I can teach you a lot about fish, not just tuna.”

“Okay, but only for today! Understood-nya?”

“Of course.”

If it were me, I wouldn't trust those words at all.