Chapter 4: Close Call at the Hoshi House

"Eating fried chicken in human form is so much better than gnawing on dry pellets," Yoshi moans around a mouthful of convenience store chicken.

We are back in the living room. It is 11:00 PM. We are sprawled out, watching a late-night variety show. The coffee table is littered with wrappers. Muji is chugging a soda. Inoe is painting her nails.

"You’re getting crumbs on the carpet," Kenuji warns. "Naomi is going to notice."

"Naomi is asleep at her friend's house, and Hajime is working until 6 AM," Yoshi waves a chicken bone dismissively. "Relax, glasses."

"Don't call me glasses."

I am reading one of Naomi’s manga on the floor. "Guys, this story is unrealistic. The main character falls in love with a vampire. Why would you date food?"

"Humans are weird," Muji grunts.

Suddenly, the sound of a car door slamming outside freezes us all.

We hear footsteps on the gravel path. Keys jingling.

"Is that...?" Inoe stops painting her pinky nail.

"It’s Naomi," Kenuji hisses, his face pale. "She’s back early!"

"Panic!" Yoshi shouts, standing up and knocking the soda can over. "Panic now!"

"Don't panic, you idiot! Clean up!" Inoe screams.

It is chaos.

Muji grabs the trash bags. Yoshi tries to wipe the soda spill with his sleeve. I shove the manga under the sofa.

The key turns in the lock. Click.

"Transform! Transform!" Kenuji orders.

We dive for our positions.

Poof. Poof. Poof. Poof. Poof.

The door opens.

Naomi walks in, looking exhausted. "Ugh, study group was a disaster. Mika wouldn't stop talking about her boyfriend..."

She drops her bag on the floor and looks at the living room.

We are all frozen.

I am curled on the armchair. Inoe is on the windowsill. Kenuji is on the TV stand. Muji is under the table.

And Yoshi...

Yoshi is standing on the coffee table. On all fours. But he is standing directly over the remote control. And there is a noticeable wet spot on the rug that smells like grape soda.

Naomi stares at Yoshi. Yoshi stares at Naomi. He lets out a tentative, high-pitched, "...Meow?"

Naomi sighs, rubbing her temples. "Blackie, you aren't supposed to be on the table." She walks over, picks him up, and kisses his nose. "And did you guys knock over a drink? Bad kitties."

She doesn't notice the lack of an actual can. She just assumes we are clumsy.

"I'm too tired to deal with this," she mutters, putting Yoshi down. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, babies."

She walks up the stairs. We wait until her bedroom door shuts.

Exhale.

We don't transform back. We just lie there in cat form, hearts pounding.

‘That was too close,’ Kenuji projects.

‘She kissed my nose,’ Yoshi thinks, sounding smug. ‘She loves me best.’

‘She called us bad kitties,’ Muji grumbles. ‘I am an ancient warrior. I demand respect.’

‘Shut up and sleep, Tiger,’ Inoe sends back.