Chapter 2 -The Girl Who Hissed in Class

Rei Hoshizaki did not sleep that night.

Not even a little.

This was not because he had insomnia, nor because he had consumed an unhealthy amount of caffeine, nor even because he had procrastinated his homework until midnight like many of his classmates usually did.

No.

The reason Rei did not sleep was because a literal god had granted his wish.

Which meant that somewhere within the student population of Hoshimine High School…

There now existed a real neko kanojo.

Every time Rei closed his eyes, the same thought repeated in his mind like an alarm clock that refused to turn off.

A real neko kanojo.

Not fictional.

Not animated.

Not printed on a poster.

Real.

Naturally, this made sleeping extremely difficult.

By the time morning arrived, Rei had spent the entire night staring at the ceiling of his room while his imagination constructed increasingly absurd scenarios.

Maybe the girl would suddenly jump from the rooftops like a ninja.

Maybe she would be sitting on the school gate licking her hand like a cat.

Maybe she would—

“No,” Rei muttered to himself as he walked toward the school entrance the next morning, dark circles visible under his eyes. “I need to think logically.”

After all, the god had clearly said that the girl would appear normal to everyone else.

Which meant the ears and tail probably weren’t visible.

Which meant identifying her would require careful observation.

Rei stopped just inside the school gate and looked at the hundreds of students walking across the courtyard.

His eyes narrowed.

“This is it,” he whispered dramatically.

“Operation: Find the Neko Kanojo.”

Immediately, a problem presented itself.

There were approximately six hundred students at Hoshimine High School.

Half of them were girls.

And as far as Rei knew…

None of them had ever randomly started purring during class.

“This is harder than I thought,” he admitted.

“Who are you talking to?”

Rei nearly jumped out of his skin.

He turned around to see Haruto standing behind him with his usual expression of mild confusion and constant amusement.

“Nothing!” Rei said quickly.

Haruto squinted suspiciously.

“You’re standing in the middle of the gate whispering to yourself like a supervillain.”

“I was thinking.”

“You looked like you were plotting world domination.”

“Maybe I was.”

Haruto shrugged.

“Fair enough.”

They began walking toward the school building.

Rei tried his best to act normal, but his eyes kept scanning the crowd around them like a detective in a crime drama.

Every girl they passed immediately became a suspect.

That one just stretched.

Stretching is very catlike.

Suspicious.

Then another girl walked past holding a milk carton.

Cats like milk.

Extremely suspicious.

“Why are you staring at people like that?” Haruto asked.

“I’m observing.”

“You’re staring.”

“There’s a difference.”

Haruto sighed.

“You’re being weird again.”

Rei looked away quickly.

“I’m always weird.”

“Fair point.”

They entered the classroom just as the morning bell rang.

Students filled the room with their usual noise—chairs scraping against the floor, conversations overlapping, bags dropping onto desks.

Rei sat down in his seat near the middle of the classroom.

Then he took a slow breath.

Think, Rei.

What would a real neko kanojo do?

Maybe she would react strongly to fish.

Maybe she would have fast reflexes.

Maybe she would be sensitive to loud noises.

Rei nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes… I can work with that.”

“What are you working with?” Haruto asked from the seat beside him.

“Nothing!”

The classroom door opened.

Their teacher walked in.

“Alright everyone, settle down.”

The room gradually became quiet.

Rei leaned back slightly in his chair, trying to relax.

Okay.

Maybe I should just observe naturally.

No need to panic.

Just act normal.

For about ten seconds.

Then suddenly—

“HISSS!”

The sound was unmistakable.

It was sharp.

Instinctive.

And extremely catlike.

Rei’s head snapped toward the source of the noise so quickly that he nearly pulled a muscle in his neck.

Across the classroom, a girl had covered her mouth with both hands.

Her eyes were wide with shock.

As if she herself didn’t understand what had just happened.

The entire class turned to look at her.

Including the teacher.

“…Akamine?” the teacher said slowly.

The girl froze.

This girl was Kuro Akamine.

Kuro was known around school for several things.

First, she was extremely intelligent.

Second, she rarely spoke.

Third, she had the kind of sharp, quiet presence that made most people instinctively avoid bothering her.

And right now…

She had just hissed.

Like an angry cat.

The classroom was silent.

Kuro slowly lowered her hands.

“…I sneezed.”

Rei blinked.

That was the worst excuse I have ever heard.

The teacher blinked too.

“…You sneezed.”

“Yes.”

“…By hissing.”

“Yes.”

There was a long pause.

Then the teacher sighed.

“…Just continue taking notes.”

The class slowly returned to normal.

But Rei’s brain had completely stopped functioning.

Because the moment Kuro looked up from her desk…

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

Then she leaned slightly toward him and whispered quietly.

“…You heard nothing.”

Rei leaned forward slightly.

“…You definitely hissed.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Not angry.

Not embarrassed.

But something closer to mild panic.

Which was strange.

Because Kuro Akamine was the type of person who normally looked like she had complete control over every situation.

Then she slammed her textbook closed.

“Stop staring.”

Rei jumped in his chair.

“S-Sorry!”

He quickly turned back toward the front of the classroom.

But his mind was racing.

She hissed.

She definitely hissed.

And she panicked when I noticed.

Rei slowly glanced sideways.

Kuro had returned to writing in her notebook, her expression calm again.

But something about her felt different now.

Maybe it was the way her eyes seemed slightly sharper than usual.

Or the way her pencil moved across the page with quick, precise movements.

Or maybe it was just Rei’s imagination going into overdrive.

Still…

He couldn’t ignore what he had heard.

Could it really be that easy?

Did I already find her?

Rei swallowed.

His heart started beating faster.

Because if Kuro Akamine really was the neko kanojo the god had mentioned…

Then things had just become extremely complicated.

After all…

There was one small problem.

Rei had spoken to Kuro exactly three times in his entire life.

And two of those times had been accidental.

The third time had been when he bumped into her in the hallway and dropped his lunch.

Which she had silently stepped over.

Rei slowly leaned back in his chair.

Yep.

This is going to be difficult.

Then suddenly—

THUD.

Something landed on his desk.

Rei looked down.

A small eraser.

He looked up.

Kuro was staring at him.

“…You’re staring again.”

Rei panicked.

“I WASN’T!”

She narrowed her eyes.

“…You’re weird.”

Rei opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Because unfortunately…

She wasn’t wrong.

Still, as the class continued and the teacher began explaining the day’s lesson, Rei couldn’t stop glancing toward her every few minutes.

And every time he did…

Kuro seemed slightly more irritated.

Finally, she leaned back in her chair and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“If you keep staring like that…”

Rei froze.

“…people will think you’re a creep.”

Rei turned bright red.

“I’m not!”

“Then stop staring.”

“…Okay.”

He tried.

He really did.

But about thirty seconds later—

Rei looked again.

Kuro immediately sighed.

“…Unbelievable.”

Rei quickly looked away again.

But one thought kept repeating in his mind.

If she really is the neko kanojo…

Then I have exactly one month to make her fall in love with me.

Rei stared at his notebook.

Then slowly placed his head on the desk.

“…I’m doomed.”

Rei Hoshizaki did not sleep that night.

Not even a little.

This was not because he had insomnia, nor because he had consumed an unhealthy amount of caffeine, nor even because he had procrastinated his homework until midnight like many of his classmates usually did.

No.

The reason Rei did not sleep was because a literal god had granted his wish.

Which meant that somewhere within the student population of Hoshimine High School…

There now existed a real neko kanojo.

Every time Rei closed his eyes, the same thought repeated in his mind like an alarm clock that refused to turn off.

A real neko kanojo.

Not fictional.

Not animated.

Not printed on a poster.

Real.

Naturally, this made sleeping extremely difficult.

By the time morning arrived, Rei had spent the entire night staring at the ceiling of his room while his imagination constructed increasingly absurd scenarios.

Maybe the girl would suddenly jump from the rooftops like a ninja.

Maybe she would be sitting on the school gate licking her hand like a cat.

Maybe she would—

“No,” Rei muttered to himself as he walked toward the school entrance the next morning, dark circles visible under his eyes. “I need to think logically.”

After all, the god had clearly said that the girl would appear normal to everyone else.

Which meant the ears and tail probably weren’t visible.

Which meant identifying her would require careful observation.

Rei stopped just inside the school gate and looked at the hundreds of students walking across the courtyard.

His eyes narrowed.

“This is it,” he whispered dramatically.

“Operation: Find the Neko Kanojo.”

Immediately, a problem presented itself.

There were approximately six hundred students at Hoshimine High School.

Half of them were girls.

And as far as Rei knew…

None of them had ever randomly started purring during class.

“This is harder than I thought,” he admitted.

“Who are you talking to?”

Rei nearly jumped out of his skin.

He turned around to see Haruto standing behind him with his usual expression of mild confusion and constant amusement.

“Nothing!” Rei said quickly.

Haruto squinted suspiciously.

“You’re standing in the middle of the gate whispering to yourself like a supervillain.”

“I was thinking.”

“You looked like you were plotting world domination.”

“Maybe I was.”

Haruto shrugged.

“Fair enough.”

They began walking toward the school building.

Rei tried his best to act normal, but his eyes kept scanning the crowd around them like a detective in a crime drama.

Every girl they passed immediately became a suspect.

That one just stretched.

Stretching is very catlike.

Suspicious.

Then another girl walked past holding a milk carton.

Cats like milk.

Extremely suspicious.

“Why are you staring at people like that?” Haruto asked.

“I’m observing.”

“You’re staring.”

“There’s a difference.”

Haruto sighed.

“You’re being weird again.”

Rei looked away quickly.

“I’m always weird.”

“Fair point.”

They entered the classroom just as the morning bell rang.

Students filled the room with their usual noise—chairs scraping against the floor, conversations overlapping, bags dropping onto desks.

Rei sat down in his seat near the middle of the classroom.

Then he took a slow breath.

Think, Rei.

What would a real neko kanojo do?

Maybe she would react strongly to fish.

Maybe she would have fast reflexes.

Maybe she would be sensitive to loud noises.

Rei nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes… I can work with that.”

“What are you working with?” Haruto asked from the seat beside him.

“Nothing!”

The classroom door opened.

Their teacher walked in.

“Alright everyone, settle down.”

The room gradually became quiet.

Rei leaned back slightly in his chair, trying to relax.

Okay.

Maybe I should just observe naturally.

No need to panic.

Just act normal.

For about ten seconds.

Then suddenly—

“HISSS!”

The sound was unmistakable.

It was sharp.

Instinctive.

And extremely catlike.

Rei’s head snapped toward the source of the noise so quickly that he nearly pulled a muscle in his neck.

Across the classroom, a girl had covered her mouth with both hands.

Her eyes were wide with shock.

As if she herself didn’t understand what had just happened.

The entire class turned to look at her.

Including the teacher.

“…Akamine?” the teacher said slowly.

The girl froze.

This girl was Kuro Akamine.

Kuro was known around school for several things.

First, she was extremely intelligent.

Second, she rarely spoke.

Third, she had the kind of sharp, quiet presence that made most people instinctively avoid bothering her.

And right now…

She had just hissed.

Like an angry cat.

The classroom was silent.

Kuro slowly lowered her hands.

“…I sneezed.”

Rei blinked.

That was the worst excuse I have ever heard.

The teacher blinked too.

“…You sneezed.”

“Yes.”

“…By hissing.”

“Yes.”

There was a long pause.

Then the teacher sighed.

“…Just continue taking notes.”

The class slowly returned to normal.

But Rei’s brain had completely stopped functioning.

Because the moment Kuro looked up from her desk…

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

Then she leaned slightly toward him and whispered quietly.

“…You heard nothing.”

Rei leaned forward slightly.

“…You definitely hissed.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Not angry.

Not embarrassed.

But something closer to mild panic.

Which was strange.

Because Kuro Akamine was the type of person who normally looked like she had complete control over every situation.

Then she slammed her textbook closed.

“Stop staring.”

Rei jumped in his chair.

“S-Sorry!”

He quickly turned back toward the front of the classroom.

But his mind was racing.

She hissed.

She definitely hissed.

And she panicked when I noticed.

Rei slowly glanced sideways.

Kuro had returned to writing in her notebook, her expression calm again.

But something about her felt different now.

Maybe it was the way her eyes seemed slightly sharper than usual.

Or the way her pencil moved across the page with quick, precise movements.

Or maybe it was just Rei’s imagination going into overdrive.

Still…

He couldn’t ignore what he had heard.

Could it really be that easy?

Did I already find her?

Rei swallowed.

His heart started beating faster.

Because if Kuro Akamine really was the neko kanojo the god had mentioned…

Then things had just become extremely complicated.

After all…

There was one small problem.

Rei had spoken to Kuro exactly three times in his entire life.

And two of those times had been accidental.

The third time had been when he bumped into her in the hallway and dropped his lunch.

Which she had silently stepped over.

Rei slowly leaned back in his chair.

Yep.

This is going to be difficult.

Then suddenly—

THUD.

Something landed on his desk.

Rei looked down.

A small eraser.

He looked up.

Kuro was staring at him.

“…You’re staring again.”

Rei panicked.

“I WASN’T!”

She narrowed her eyes.

“…You’re weird.”

Rei opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Because unfortunately…

She wasn’t wrong.

Still, as the class continued and the teacher began explaining the day’s lesson, Rei couldn’t stop glancing toward her every few minutes.

And every time he did…

Kuro seemed slightly more irritated.

Finally, she leaned back in her chair and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“If you keep staring like that…”

Rei froze.

“…people will think you’re a creep.”

Rei turned bright red.

“I’m not!”

“Then stop staring.”

“…Okay.”

He tried.

He really did.

But about thirty seconds later—

Rei looked again.

Kuro immediately sighed.

“…Unbelievable.”

Rei quickly looked away again.

But one thought kept repeating in his mind.

If she really is the neko kanojo…

Then I have exactly one month to make her fall in love with me.

Rei stared at his notebook.

Then slowly placed his head on the desk.

“…I’m doomed.”