Chapter 4: "School Chaos and Scent Shenanigans"

The sun was up, casting a warm glow through my window like it was trying to drag me into the day. My chest felt heavy, as always. 

The reason? Who else but… “Get off me, Nyaa!” I groaned, pushing at the golden-haired girl sprawled across me like a lazy cat. 

She stretched dramatically, flicking her hair like a tail, and rolled off with a huff. “Why don’t you just sleep on your new couch?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.

“Blah blah… as always, disturbing my precious sleep,” she muttered, already curling up on the couch like she owned the place. 

Sometimes I thought she liked sleeping on my chest because, well… she used to do it back when she was an actual cat. Habits die hard, I guess. 

Never mind. I shook my head and started dressing for school. I was a little worried about Liea. She was way too energetic, and I didn’t think I could keep up with her vibe. 

But, honestly? I kind of liked it. For the first time, I felt like I had a real friend someone who didn’t just see me as a wallet.

“Alright, I’m leaving!!” I called, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. “Whatever. I’m gonna sleep again,” Nyaa mumbled, her voice muffled by the cushions. 

I called her Nyaa because only I could. I wanted nicknames for my friends, but every so-called friend I’d ever had only wanted my money. 

Nyaa was the only one who was truly mine flaws, laziness, and all.

The streets buzzed with students greeting each other, their chatter filling the air like background music. 

“Good morning!” Everyone radiated energy, laughing and high-fiving. Me? I braced for the inevitable explosion of joy that was Liea. 

“GOOD MORNIIIIIIING!!!!!!” There it was, blasting from across the street like a human alarm clock. I froze mid-step. “Ah… yeah. Morning,” I said, nervously raising a hand in a half-wave.

“You look depressed. Want to hang out today?” she yelled, dodging through the crowd with her trademark grin. 

“Ah, I’m… actually kinda busy today,” I stammered, scratching the back of my head. She grabbed my arm with terrifying certainty, her eyes sparkling like she’d just won a game. 

“It wasn’t a request. You know that,” she said, and with that, she sprinted off toward the school gates, leaving me blinking in disbelief.

Oh man… my peaceful day was officially doomed. Meanwhile, back at home… “Aah!! I have a bad feeling today,” Nyaa muttered, rolling back into her blanket cocoon on the couch. 

And, of course, she went straight back to sleep, oblivious to the world. School started, and I couldn’t focus on the lessons at all. 

Liea… what was she going to do? Would we even hang out, or was she just messing with me? After three classes, my stomach started to rebel. 

No matter how much I ate, I was always hungry and that went for Nyaa too. Finally, lunch break hit. “I’m gonna devour even the tray!” 

I muttered under my breath, unpacking my bento like it was a treasure.

Before I could dig in, a familiar voice interrupted. “Hey! Mind if I sit here?” Liea plopped down next to me without waiting for an answer, her tray loaded with cafeteria mystery meat and rice. 

“Of course you can sit,” I said, trying not to sound too startled. This time, she wasn’t her usual hyper self. She picked at her food quietly, her energy dialed down to a simmer.

“You’re… quiet while eating, huh?” I asked, glancing at her sideways. “What?… Yeah, I just like to eat in peace,” she replied, her fork pausing mid-air. 

For a moment, she didn’t look confident at all just a regular girl enjoying her meal. Well… now I knew something new about her. 

We ate in companionable silence, the chatter of the cafeteria fading into the background. It was kinda nice, actually. No pressure, no explosions just two friends sharing lunch.

School ended, and she approached me nervously in the hallway, fiddling with her bag strap. “Hey… I’m sorry we couldn’t hang out today. 

Hehe… my friends already made some plans,” she said. Her smile didn’t seem as natural as usual, like she was forcing it a bit. 

“Never mind. Let’s hang out on the weekend, then,” I said, trying to sound confident. Her eyes flickered with genuine excitement.

“Yeah… I’m looking forward to it,” she said before vanishing into the crowd with a quick wave. Maybe… just maybe, I found a real friend. 

I started walking home, worried about Nyaa. She loved food, and I knew she couldn’t cook to save her life. 

I stopped by a convenience store on the way, grabbing a couple of instant noodle cups her favorite spicy flavor. 

“Where are you?! I’m hungry! Come home first!” she yelled the second I opened the door, still lounging on the couch like a queen.

“I already had food this morning. This was supposed to be my lunch… and now I’m hungry!” I said, kicking off my shoes. 

She came running toward me, her golden hair a mess from napping. “I’m hungry… Wait. I’m getting the scent of another female.” 

Her eyes narrowed, her nose twitching like she was still part cat.

“Huh? Am I mistaken? Or is it actually the scent of a female?” I asked, confused as hell. 

She ignored me completely at first, snatching one of the noodle cups from my hand and ripping it open. 

“Gimme! I’m starving!” she demanded, pouring hot water from the kettle I’d prepped that morning. 

She slurped the noodles greedily, her cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk, letting out little “Mmm!” sounds between bites. 

The spicy steam filled the room, making my mouth water even though I’d already eaten.

She devoured the entire cup in record time, noodles dangling from her chopsticks as she finished with a satisfied sigh, licking her lips. 

“Ahh, that hit the spot. Spicy perfection!” She set the empty cup down on the coffee table, her eyes sparkling with post-meal bliss. 

But then, her expression shifted, nose wrinkling again as she leaned in closer to me, sniffing like a detective on a case. 

“Okay, now that I’m not dying of hunger… back to business. That scent it’s definitely another girl. Floral, kinda sweet, with a hint of… sweat? Like she’s super active or something.”

I backed up a step, feeling my face heat up. “What? No way. I just talked to a classmate today, that’s all. 

Liea she’s just a friend. Energetic type, always yelling good morning and stuff.”

Nyaa’s eyes lit up with mischief, a grin spreading across her face like she’d just uncovered buried treasure. “Oho! Liea, huh? Sounds suspicious. 

Let me investigate properly.” She circled me like a cat stalking a mouse, sniffing my shoulder, then my arm, her golden hair brushing against me. 

“Yep, right here on your sleeve. She must’ve grabbed you or something. Spill the details! Is she cute? 

Does she have cat ears? Wait, no does she like noodles? If she does, she’s competition!”

I laughed, trying to play it cool but failing as she kept poking and prodding. “Nyaa, stop! It’s nothing like that. We just ate lunch together. 

She’s loud, but… nice. First real friend I’ve made at school.” Nyaa paused her “investigation,” her playful grin softening into something warmer. 

“A real friend, huh? About time, you loner. But if she’s leaving her scent all over you, I gotta meet her. 

Make sure she’s not trying to steal my spot on your chest.” She flopped back onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, but her eyes twinkled. 

“Bring her over sometime. We’ll have a noodle-eating contest. Winner gets to nap on you.”

I rolled my eyes, chuckling as I grabbed the other noodle cup for myself. 

“Yeah, yeah. Deal.” For once, the day felt… lighter. Liea’s energy at school, Nyaa’s goofy antics at home it was chaotic, but in the best way. 

Maybe this was what having real connections felt like.Today had been… surprisingly good.

To be continued…