Fire In Her Eyes

Koori stood in the middle of the school library aisle, slowly turning in place, her eyes wide with awe.

“So many books… I’ve never seen this many before,” she whispered reverently.

From the other side of a shelf, Mitsuki appeared, her arms full of books.

“Ehh? Was your library in Fujinomiya that small?”

Koori tilted her head. “Fujinomiya?”

Mitsuki blinked, set the books down on a nearby table, and studied her for a moment.

“Didn’t you say you’re from there? From Fuji?”

Koori nodded. 

“Yes, I lived there. High up… almost in the sky.”

Mitsuki snorted, amused.

“So you’re really a country girl then! Tokyo must be a bit of a shock for you?”

Koori thought for a moment, then sat down, running her fingers carefully over the smooth surface of the table.

“It’s loud and crowded. It smells like metal and rain. But… I like it.”

Mitsuki stared at her, then laughed softly.

“You’re seriously from another world, Koori-chan!”

Koori blinked, puzzled.

“Oh, sorry... may I call you that?” Mitsuki asked quickly, a little flustered.

A tiny pause.

“Yes. That is my name,” Koori said earnestly.

Mitsuki’s eyes brightened. “Okay then! And you can just call me Mitsuki!”

For a while, silence lingered comfortably between them as they were reading.

Only the soft rustle of pages and the distant ticking of a clock filled the air.

After a while Mitsuki asked, flipping through one of the books, “Hey, do you want to go somewhere later? There’s this new café I’ve been wanting to try.”

Koori frowned slightly at the word.

“I don’t like coffee… it’s so bitter.”

“Ah, I see...” Mitsuki said, her voice dropping just a little, before she brightened again.

“But I can still come with you,” Koori added quickly when she noticed Mitsuki’s disappointed face.

“Really? That’s great! They have other drinks too! Sweet ones! Like… super sweet!”

Kooris eyes sparkled.

“I like sweet...”

Mitsuki lit up like a lantern.

“Yattaaa!! Okay! Then it’s settled!”

The familiar westminster chime played overhead, and Mitsuki glanced at the clock.

“The next class is starting soon. Let’s go, Koori-chan!”

Koori stood and followed, still looking around with quiet wonder.

***

When the final chime faded, a wave of relief passed through the classroom.

Chairs scraped back, bags rustled, and quiet chatter began to fill the air.

Koori still sat upright at her desk, eyes half closed, head slightly tilted.

Her pen slipped from her fingers.

“Hey, Koori-chan,” Mitsuki whispered, nudging her with the spine of a book.

Koori blinked. “Is class over already?”

“For a whole minute.” Mitsuki grinned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Come on, we’re going to that café, remember?”

“But Hale... uh, I mean Armitage-sensei told me to wait for him after school.”

Mitsuki blinked. “The new English teacher? Did he say what it’s about?”

She checked the time on her phone. “He’s probably still in the staff room. The café’s really close, so we’ll just go, have something quick, and be back before he even notices. It’ll be fine, okay?”

Koori hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Hmm… alright.”

A short while later, they walked along the main street until they stopped in front of a small café with glass windows.

A hand-painted sign hung above the door: 

Café Nyanvana - Magical Roasts & Sweets 

A bell chimed softly as they entered.

Warm air, muffled music, and the scent of coffee and baked dough embraced them.

A few Neko students sat at small tables, laughing quietly, their tails swaying to the rhythm of the gentle jazz floating from the speakers.

Koori paused, inhaled deeply, and smiled.

“It smells… wonderful.”

Mitsuki grinned. “So cozy! And right next to the school too, this place was really missing.”

Behind the counter stood an older cat with cream-colored fur and sharp eyes.

When she noticed Koori and Mitsuki, her expression hardened.

Mitsuki nodded politely and looked for a seat. 

Koori followed her, brushing her fingers across the smooth wooden surface of a nearby table.

But before they could sit down, the owner approached, her ears slightly folded back.

“I’m sorry, but… this table is already reserved, nya.”

Mitsuki blinked. “Oh, I see. No problem, we’ll just take that one over there.”

“I’m afraid all tables are reserved,” the woman said coolly.

They looked around. 

Dozens of empty tables. 

None marked with a sign.

“But…” Mitsuki began, only for the woman to cut her off.

“We don’t serve humans here, understood? This is a place for us. Our guests deserve to feel comfortable, without curious eyes watching them, nya. So please… leave.”

A few heads turned from nearby tables and low murmurs rippled through the room.

Mitsuki sighed, stood up, and placed a hand on Koori’s shoulder.

“Come on, Koori. Let’s just go.”

But Koori didn’t move.

Something inside her split open, not with anger, but with an ancient cold and loneliness that suddenly flared to life.

She lowered her head slowly, fists tightening on the table.

“But… why? There is plenty of space...“

The air around her began to shimmer. The floor trembled softly, cups rattled.

“...It's unfair!”

Mitsuki stepped back, alarmed. 

“Koori-chan…?”

Koori’s eyes glowed red, the contact lenses melting away, as the mark beneath her uniform shimmered through the fabric.

Her voice quivered.

“Why are you cats... always so cruel?”

“K-Koori?” Mitsuki reached out and touched her shoulder.

When Koori turned to face her, seeing the fear in her friend’s eyes, the light faded, the heat vanished as suddenly as it had come.

Koori stood trembling, staring at the frightened café owner.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to…”

Mitsuki grabbed her arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”

The bell above the door rang again as they hurried outside.

“Koori… what was that?!” Mitsuki asked, breathless.

Koori didn’t answer. 

Her gaze was empty, her hands still shaking.

Then, in a trembling whisper as they hurried back toward the school, she said:

“I… I really don’t think I like cats…”

But as they ran, neither of them noticed the figure watching from across the street.

***

A few minutes earlier, someone had stepped out of a small convenience store opposite the café, holding a tuna sandwich in her left paw.

Her long coat fluttered in the wind, her glasses catching the fading sunlight.

She paused, lighting a cigarette, eyes following the two girls as they disappeared down the street.

Then her gaze shifted to the café, to the window where she had seen something flare just moments before.

A faint smile crossed her lips.

“Well now, isn’t this something, nya?”

She slipped the sandwich into her coat pocket and began to cross the street, slowly.

***

Breathless, they reached the school again, coming to a halt only at the door of their classroom.

“Koori-chan… what happened back there? What was that?”

Koori didn’t answer as she stared at the floor.

A nearby door opened, and Hale stepped out.

When he saw them, he froze.

“Ko... I mean, Sakuya-san! Where have you been? You were supposed to wait here!” His voice was calm, but firm.

His gaze shifted to Mitsuki.

“You’re… Kawashima-san, right?”

Mitsuki looked away. “I just wanted to show her a café… I’m sorry, Sensei, it was my fault.”

Only then did Hale notice Kooris eyes, uncovered, glowing softly like galaxies swirling in the dark.

“Your eyes…”

Mitsuki looked back and forth between them, confusion tightening her voice.

“Sensei… why does Koori-chan have… fire in her eyes?”

Koori stiffened, her breath catching.

Hale closed his eyes for a moment, as if the weight of the day finally settled on him.

“…Not even one day,” he muttered under his breath. “We couldn’t keep it secret for one single day.”

Then he straightened, his expression turning serious as he met Mitsuki’s gaze.

“Kawashima-san,” he said quietly, “what I’m about to tell you must never be repeated. To anyone. Do you understand?”

Mitsuki froze at the tone.

Then she straightened, hands at her sides, and nodded firmly.

“I understand. I won’t tell. I promise.”

Hale studied her for a long second, searching her face.

“The truth is… Saku-, I mean Koori can use magic. Just like the Nekos.”

Mitsuki’s breath caught.

Her eyes widened, not with fear, but disbelief.

She turned to Koori slowly.

“You… can use magic?”

Koori couldn’t look at her.

Her fingers tightened around the hem of her sleeve.

“But this isn’t a game, Kawashima-san,” Hale said, voice low. “If the wrong people find out, Koori will be in danger. And anyone close to her could be, too.”

For a moment, Mitsuki said nothing.

Then she balled her hands into fists.

“I won’t tell anyone,” she said, louder than she meant to.

Her voice trembled, but her eyes did not.

“You can trust me, Sensei. I’ll protect her.”

Hale blinked, taken off-guard by her resolve, then gave a faint, tired smile.

“…Thank you, Kawashima-san.”

He exhaled.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow after class. For now, go straight home.”

He turned to Koori, who still hadn’t lifted her head.

“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s go.”

Koori followed him.

Silent.

Mitsuki remained frozen in place, watching their silhouettes disappear down the stairs.

Only when they were gone did she whisper, barely audible:

“…Koori-chan.”