Chapter 27: The Cat is Out of the Bag

She is sleeping on the sofa, wrapped in three blankets, snoring softly. Her temperature is normal. Her spiritual core is stable, humming with a low, steady rhythm like a refrigerator. The crisis has passed. The winter in the Hoshi household has thawed.

But a new storm is brewing. And this one isn't supernatural. It is much, much worse.

It is Sunday morning, three days after the Eclipse. Hajime is at the grocery store, buying ingredients for a celebratory "Our Cat Didn't Die" feast. This leaves Naomi alone in the house with us.

Usually, Naomi spends Sunday mornings watching anime or doing homework. Today, she is doing neither.

She is sitting on the floor in the center of the living room. She is sitting in seiza—the formal Japanese kneeling position. Her hands are folded in her lap. Her back is straight.

In front of her, lined up like suspects in a police lineup, are the four of us. Yoshi (Blackie), Muji (Tiger), Kenuji (Grey), and Inoe (Mimi). Haruka (Snowy) is excused due to medical leave.

Naomi is staring at us. She has been staring at us for ten minutes without blinking.

The air is thick with tension. It feels heavier than the gravity on Tokyo Tower.

"She knows", Kenuji projects, his mental voice trembling slightly. "Her aura is different. It is focused. Analytical. She is putting the pieces together".

"She doesn't know anything", Yoshi argues, sitting tall and licking his paw casually. "She thinks we are cute, dumb animals. Just act cute. Muji, roll over".

Muji rolls over. He exposes his belly. He makes a cute chirping sound.

Naomi does not smile. She does not coo. She narrows her eyes.

"Stop it, Tiger", she says. Her voice is flat. "I know you understand me".

Muji freezes mid-roll. He looks at Yoshi. 'She told me to stop.'

'Coincidence,' Yoshi insists. 'Just purr.'

Muji starts to purr. It sounds like a broken engine.

"I said stop", Naomi repeats. She reaches into her pocket. She pulls out her smartphone.

"I have evidence", she says.

She places the phone on the floor, screen facing us. She presses play.

It is a video. The timestamp is from the night of the Eclipse.

The video is shaky. It is shot from the window of Naomi's bedroom. It shows the backyard. It shows the darkness, the purple sky, and the chaos.

And it shows five figures.

Five human figures.

Running out of the back door.

The video zooms in. It is grainy, but the details are unmistakable.

There is a tall guy in a leather jacket (Yoshi). There is a shirtless guy with orange hair (Muji). There is a guy with glasses and a button-down shirt (Kenuji). There is a girl with multi-colored hair (Inoe). And there is a girl in a white dress (Haruka).

The video continues. It shows the five humans jumping over the fence. Not climbing. Jumping. Clearing a six-foot fence in a single bound like Olympic athletes.

Naomi pauses the video.

She looks at us.

"That jacket", she points at Yoshi. "I have seen it before. I found a piece of leather exactly like that in your bed last week, Blackie".

Yoshi stops licking his paw.

"And you", she points at Muji. "That orange hair. It is the exact same shade as your fur. And you have a scar on your shoulder. Tiger has a scar on his shoulder".

Muji tries to cover his shoulder with his tail.

"And you", she looks at Inoe. "Mimi. You are always watching my makeup tutorials. I found my lipstick in your bed. Don't try to hide it".

Inoe looks away, guilty.

"And Grey", she looks at Kenuji. "You read. I have seen you turning pages. I thought I was crazy. I thought I was hallucinating from exam stress. But I'm not crazy, am I?"

She leans forward. Her eyes are watery, but her voice is fierce.

"Who are you? What did you do with my cats?"

Silence fills the room. It is a suffocating silence.

"We have to tell her", Inoe projects. "She has video proof. We cannot gaslight her out of this".

"If we tell her, the masquerade is over", Kenuji warns. "We break the ancient law. We might be forced to leave".

"Leave?" Muji panics. "I like it here! The food is good!"

"She thinks we kidnapped her cats", Yoshi says. "We have to show her that we are her cats. Or she will call the police".

Yoshi stands up. He walks toward Naomi.

"Blackie?" Naomi whispers, her hand trembling.

Yoshi looks at her. He takes a deep breath. He focuses his energy.

Poof.

Smoke explodes in the living room.

Naomi screams. She scrambles backward, hitting the coffee table.

When the smoke clears, Yoshi is standing there. In human form. Wearing his leather jacket (which he magically manifested) and ripped jeans. He is kneeling on the rug, his hands raised in surrender.

"Hi, Naomi", Yoshi says. His voice is deep and raspy.

Naomi stops screaming. Her mouth hangs open. She stares at him. She looks at the black cat ears on top of his human head (he kept them for effect). She looks at his tail swaying behind him.

"You...", she squeaks. "You are... a guy".

"I am Yoshi", he says, bowing his head. "Also known as Blackie. But please never call me that again. It is demeaning".

Naomi faints.

She just slumps over sideways. Thump. Out cold.

"Well", Muji says from the floor, still a cat. "That went well".

"Idiot!" Inoe hisses. "You broke her brain!"

"She asked!" Yoshi defends himself, checking Naomi's pulse. "She is fine. Just shock. Help me put her on the sofa".

We transform. All of us.

We lift Naomi onto the sofa next to the sleeping Haruka. We sit around her in a semi-circle, waiting for her to wake up. It feels like an intervention.

Five minutes later, Naomi groans. Her eyelids flutter.

"I had the craziest dream", she mumbles. "I dreamed Blackie turned into a yakuza member and spoke Japanese".

She opens her eyes.

She sees us. Four humans sitting on her rug. Yoshi is holding a wet towel to her forehead.

"Ah", Naomi says. "Not a dream".

"Please do not scream again", Kenuji says politely, adjusting his glasses. "The neighbors will call the cops".

Naomi sits up. She pulls her knees to her chest. She looks at us, one by one. Fear wars with curiosity in her eyes.

"So", she says, her voice shaking. "You are... yokai?"

"Yes", Kenuji nods. "We are Nekomata. Cat spirits. We have lived for five hundred years".

"And you have been living in my house... pretending to be pets?"

"We weren't pretending to be pets", Muji says, scratching his ear. "We are pets. We like the free food. And the head scratches. You give excellent head scratches, by the way".

Naomi blinks. She looks at Inoe. "You used my lipstick?"

"It is a good shade", Inoe shrugs. "But you really should blend your contour more. You look patchy in direct sunlight".

Naomi's jaw drops. "My cat is giving me makeup advice".

"Constructive criticism", Inoe corrects.

"And you", Naomi looks at Yoshi. "You... you fight monsters?"

"We protect the city", Yoshi says, puffing out his chest. "And this house. We keep the bad spirits away. That time the vase broke? Evil spirit. That time the dog chased Kintaro? Evil spirit. The Eclipse?"

"You fought the Eclipse?" Naomi whispers. "The purple sky?"

"We punched it", Muji says proudly. "Haruka punched it mostly. That is why she is sleeping".

Naomi looks at Haruka, who is still curled up in cat form on the other end of the sofa. Tears fill Naomi's eyes again.

"Is she...?"

"She is recovering", I say—wait, I am narrating this, but I am asleep. Let's say Inoe says it.

"She is recovering", Inoe says softly. "She used all her power to save the city. To save you".

Naomi reaches out and strokes Haruka's fur. Her hand is gentle.

"You saved me", she whispers. "All this time. You were protecting us".

"That is our job", Yoshi says. "We are the Guardians".

"But... why?" Naomi asks. "Why us? Why the Hoshi family? You are powerful spirits. You could live anywhere. You could live in a palace".

"Palaces are drafty", Muji says.

"And lonely", Kenuji adds.

Yoshi looks at Naomi. His expression softens. He looks less like a warrior and more like a big brother.

"Because your father fed us", Yoshi says simply. "Ten years ago. It was a rainy night. We were tired. We were hungry. We were hiding in the shed. Hajime found us. He didn't chase us away. He brought us warm milk. He gave us names".

"He gave us a home", Inoe says. "Spirits don't need much, Naomi. But we need a connection. We need an anchor. You and Hajime... you are our anchor".

Naomi is crying now. Silent tears streaming down her face.

"I named you Blackie", she sniffs. "I am so sorry. That is a terrible name for a warrior".

"It is okay", Yoshi grins. "I have been called worse. Demon. Monster. Stray. Blackie is... affectionate".

"So", Naomi wipes her eyes. She looks at us with a new resolve. "What happens now? Do you leave? Now that I know?"

"That depends on you", Kenuji says seriously. "The law says we should leave. But... we don't want to".

"Please don't go", Naomi says instantly. She grabs Yoshi's hand. "This is your home. You are family. Weird, magical, shapeshifting family... but family".

"You are taking this surprisingly well", Muji notes. "Most humans would have run away screaming by now".

"I live in Tokyo", Naomi shrugs. "I have seen weirder things on the subway".

She looks at Muji. "But seriously. No more stealing my pudding".

"Deal", Muji lies.

"And Inoe", she looks at Inoe. "Ask before you borrow my clothes".

"Fine", Inoe pouts.

"And Kenuji", she looks at Kenuji. "Can you help me with my math homework? If you are five hundred years old, you must be good at calculus".

"I invented calculus", Kenuji lies effortlessly. "I will tutor you".

"And Yoshi", she looks at Yoshi.

Yoshi stiffens. "Yes?"

"Can you... can you turn back into a cat?" she asks. "It is weird talking to a guy in a leather jacket who sits like that".

Yoshi is squatting on the sofa, his heels on the cushion. It is a very cat-like pose that looks ridiculous on a human.

"Oh. Right". Yoshi blushes.

Poof.

He transforms. He is a black cat again. He rubs his head against Naomi's hand.

"Much better", Naomi smiles. She scratches him behind the ears. Yoshi starts purring immediately, his human dignity forgotten.

"Okay", Naomi says, taking a deep breath. "This is... a lot. But we can make it work. I will keep your secret. I won't tell Dad. He would have a heart attack".

"Good plan", Kenuji agrees, transforming back into a grey cat.

"But", Naomi says, her eyes narrowing slightly. "If you guys are superheroes... does that mean you can help me with chores?"

We freeze.

"Chores?" Muji asks nervously, transforming back into an orange tabby.

"The gutters need cleaning", Naomi lists. "The heavy boxes in the attic need moving. The garden needs weeding. And since you have super strength..."

"We are injured!" Muji yelps. "I have a boo-boo on my paw!"

"You just said you punched the sky", Naomi points out. "You can pull some weeds".

"I have been tricked", Muji whispers to Yoshi. "She is an evil mastermind".

"She is our owner", Yoshi purrs. "We obey".

"Welcome to the team, Naomi", Inoe says, transforming back into a calico and jumping onto Naomi's lap.

Naomi hugs us all—well, the ones she can reach. It is a big, furry pile of love.

"My cats are superheroes", she whispers into Inoe's fur. "That is so cool".

Suddenly, a groan comes from the other end of the sofa.

Haruka stirs.

"Wha... what is happening?" I mumble, opening my eyes. "Why is everyone crying? Did Muji eat the last cookie?"

"Haruka!" Naomi screams.

She grabs me. She squeezes me. I cannot breathe.

"She is awake!" Yoshi yells.

"Ow! Ribs! Fragile!" I squeak.

"You are alive!" Naomi is sobbing into my neck. "You stupid, brave kitty!"

I look around. Yoshi is purring. Muji is grinning. Kenuji looks relieved. Inoe is smiling.

"Did I miss something?" I ask.

"Everything", Yoshi says. "The secret is out".

"She knows?" I ask, looking at Naomi.

"She knows", Yoshi confirms.

"And she is okay with it?"

"She wants us to clean the gutters", Muji grumbles.

I look at Naomi. She is looking at me with pure love. She knows what I am. She knows I am a monster, a spirit, a weapon. And she is hugging me like I am the most precious thing in the world.

"Cool", I say, purring. "I like gutters".

The winter is over. The sun is shining. The secret is out.

And the Hoshi family just got a lot bigger.

And a lot weirder.