When Humanity Bowed

The elevator shuddered as its doors opened.

At the end of the hallway, Hasegawa unlocked the apartment door, and a faint scent of tatami and old wood drifted out to meet them.

“Sorry, it’s a bit messy. I wasn’t expecting anyone today.”

Inside, the place was small but tidy; a low table, a TV, a shelf crammed with files, and a gas stove beside a dripping sink.

Koori tilted her head curiously while the two men slipped off their shoes in the genkan.

Then she looked down at her own half-melted pink slippers.

“Should… I take mine off too?” she asked.

“Yes, please,” Hasegawa said politely.

Koori set her slippers neatly side by side, and for a moment looked almost sad to leave them behind.

But when her bare feet touched the tatami, her face lit up again.

“So soft,” she murmured. “Almost like… moss.”

Moments later, Hale glanced around the room while Hasegawa boiled some water,

“Why are you living all the way out here now?” he asked eventually. “What happened to your old place? The one near Asakusa?”

Hasegawa didn’t answer right away. Only after he placed three cups of tea on the table and sat down did he meet Hale’s eyes.

“Districts like Asakusa, Shinjuku, and Ginza are off-limits to humans. Unless you have a K-Pass.”

“K-Pass?” Hale frowned.

“Without it, you can’t stay in the central zones. Most of us stay here, in the H-Zones. Everything west of the Sumida is basically Neko territory now.” 

He took a sip of tea, lowering his gaze. “Back then, people resisted. But the Nekos’ magic… it wasn’t something humans could stand against. Too many lives were lost.”

Hale remembered the underpass, the crushing power of the magic, the fear in Koori’s eyes.

Hasegawas voice stayed flat, almost toneless. “No one likes to talk about it. They call it the Great Order. To us, it was simply the end.”

A long silence followed.

Only the distant rumble of a train seeped through the thin walls.

“So…” Hale finally asked, “the cats took over the whole world? What about the other countries?”

Hasegawa sighed heavily. “No one really knows. The borders are sealed, communication cut off.”

He pulled out his phone and held it up. “There’s still the Internet, but everything’s censored. Messaging, email… monitored constantly. Most of us barely use phones anymore.”

Hale nodded slowly, staring at the device in Hasegawa’s hand.

“I left mine at home before I set out hiking. Guess it’s history now…”

“History,” Hasegawa echoed quietly. “Like so much else.”

He glanced toward Koori, who was silently sniffing her tea.

“Is she… your girlfriend?” he asked at last.

“Yes!” Koori answered instantly, her face beaming, the hot water nearly spilling over.

Hale flailed. “No! I mean… she’s a friend, not… you know...”

Koori blinked in confusion. “We are no friends?”

“Well, yes we are, but there’s a difference between a friend and a girlfriend!”

“Ah.” She tilted her head, thinking. Then she nodded firmly. “Then I’m both.”

Hale gasped. “W-what!? No, you’re…”

“But… I am a girl, and your friend.” she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Hasegawa watched the whole exchange in silence, clearly overwhelmed, teacup halfway to his mouth.

“Ah… iya, sorry! That was a weird question, forget I said anything.”

Hale let out a defeated sigh. “That’s not it…” He rubbed the back of his neck, then nodded toward Koori.

“Show him your eyes.”

She hesitated first but obeyed, sliding her sunglasses slowly from her face.

Hasegawa nearly choked on his tea, eyes widening as he stumbled back.

“Nani?!”

Her eyes glowed faintly in the light, tiny galaxies of violet stars swirling in them.

Hale closed his eyes wearily. “Sit down, Hasegawa-san.”

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the spiral mark on his wrist, glimmering faintly blue.

“I’ll explain everything. But it might sound… a little insane.”

Hasegawa struggled to collect himself, exhaled deeply.

“After everything that’s happened, I doubt anything you say could still surprise me.”

Hale only nodded, then began to tell him everything.

***

No one spoke; only the faint ticking of the gas stove and the distant roar of a train filled the silence.

Hasegawa sat with his arms crossed, forehead creased, visibly processing every part of Hale’s story.

Finally he exhaled, leaned back, and ran a hand through his hair.

“So… all of this happened because of... you?”

Something twisted in Hale’s chest.

Only now, seeing his friend’s expression, did the weight of his actions truly hit him.

He’s right. It is my fault. All this suffering because of me...

He opened his mouth to respond, but Koori spoke first.

“He didn’t know,” she said softly. “The cat lied.”

And she warned me about her...

“If I’d just turned back at the mountain… none of this would’ve happened." 

“I believe you,” Hasegawa murmured. “But the truth won’t matter if this ever comes to light.”

His gaze hardened as it shifted between them. 

“That Neko-gami you freed… she’s here in Tokyo, you know.”

Hale jumped to his feet at the words, a spark of hope igniting in his eyes.

“She’s here!? Then we have to find her! Maybe we can undo all this! If the mark had the power to free her, maybe it can seal her again!” He turned to Koori. “Right?”

She put a finger to her lips, tilting her head. “Hmm… maybe.”

But Hasegawa crossed his arms. “You’d have to reach her first. And even with your… powers, that won’t be easy.”

He sighed, glancing toward the window.

“Her seat of power is the old Tochō Building. She rules there with the nine Arch-Felines, the highest and most powerful Nekos. One alone could level a city.”

He looked back at Hale, eyes grave.

“Do you really think you could face something like that?”

Hale’s brief spark of hope dimmed, but he refused to give in.

He glanced at his mark, then at Koori, remembering the tunnel.

If we can learn to control this power within us, then maybe…

“We’ll manage!” Koori cut in cheerfully, smiling wide. “Right, Hale?”

“Uh…” he replied, caught off guard.

Does she even know what she’s saying?

Hasegawa gave a thin smile, his eyes lingered on Koori. 

“So you’re really the daughter of Konohanasakuya-hime? I know the legend, but that she had a daughter…”

Koori only shrugged, as if unsure herself.

He was silent for a while, then placed his hands on the table, eyes closing briefly.

“Either way, the most important thing now is that no one learns who Koori-san really is… or what you two can do. If word gets out… every Neko in Tokyo will be after you.”

Hale nodded gravely. “I know.”

Hasegawa nodded back. “You can stay here for now. It’s not much, but it’ll do. I’ll see what I can do to help.”

Hale bowed slightly. “Thank you, my friend.”

Koori glanced at him, then smiled and imitated the gesture.

“Thank you, Hasegawa-san.”

The way she spoke his name, soft yet sincere, made him flush with embarrassment.

“I-ieie,” he stammered quickly, waving his hand. “No problem. And please, just call me Hiro (浩).”

Then he stood, pulled two folded futons from the closet, and handed one to Hale.

“We’ll sleep here,” he said calmly. “Koori-san can take the bedroom.”

She tilted her head, looking as though she wanted to protest, but Hale smiled wearily. “Don’t worry. We’re not far apart.”

After that, Hiro offered them towels and a few changes of clothes. 

A moment later, the faint sound of running water came from the bathroom, mingling with the smell of curry simmering on the stove.

“It’s raining inside?!” Koori called from behind the door, while Hale rubbed his face, nervously hoping she’d remember what he’d told her, and not come out until she was dressed again.

Later that night, after everyone had eaten and cleaned up, Hale and Hiro lay side by side on their futons in the dim living room.

Hale listened to the rain drumming softly against the pavement, to the steady rhythm of his friend’s breathing.

For a long time he stared into the dark, thoughts swirling, until sleep finally took him.

A faint rustling woke him again.

The soft click of a door.

Blinking, he saw Hiro slipping on his jacket at the entrance.

“Hm…? Hiro-san?” he mumbled sleepily. “Where are you going this early?”

Hiro paused only a moment, turning halfway toward him.

“Ah, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

He pulled the jacket straight, voice calm, almost apologetic.

“Don’t worry, just a quick thing. I’ll be back soon.”

Hale nodded drowsily. 

“Mm… okay. Be safe.”

“Of course. See you later.”

The door slid shut with a soft clack, and Hale let his eyes fall closed again.

Outside, the rain whispered against the rusty railings, steady and harmless.