It's Raining Cats and Dogs

They say you don't get to choose what your nightmares are because they pick you. And I felt that in my bones last night, when my hope for a speedy recovery turned into terror! I'm now convinced that cats have supernatural abilities, and I shouldn't anger them like I did last night.

Let me paint the picture for you: it was around 2 a.m., and I was browsing the internet, doing some research. After my chat with Rika and Hikaru, I was feeling pumped. So I decided to search for ways to get rid of my fear of cats as soon as possible. Everything was going great. I even managed to find a great step-by-step tutorial that promised great results.

So far, so good. The first step seemed simple enough: it involved looking at pictures of cats. It sounds silly, but desensitizing is very important, especially since I have trouble making eye contact with a cat in real life. I usually avoid them like the plague and look the other way. But more often than not, those little demons are able to sense my fear. And like the sadists they are, they start following me around like I'm covered in tuna!

Last night, I truly believed I was heading on the right path. I was able to look up cat pictures for several minutes. I kept discovering new breeds, sizes, and colors. Not only that, but I even started reading random facts about them to reduce my anxiety.

Things were going smoothly until I stumbled upon the Sphynx cat. I've always found them even scarier than other breeds because, to me, they look more like aliens than your regular cats. However, to my surprise, I happened to find a viral photo of a Sphynx cat sitting on a roasting tray. And it looked just like uncooked chicken! That made me laugh so hard that tears started to form in my eyes. The resemblance was uncanny!

But here comes the scary part. The moment I stopped laughing, the sky turned white! After a few seconds of silence, I heard the loudest thunder of my life! Although I can't say I'm scared of thunderstorms, the timing of that was oddly suspicious. It didn't take long for the wind to pick up, either, as the rain followed shortly. This was beginning to look like a scary movie, and I didn't like it.

It was around 3 a.m., and the storm didn't show any signs of stopping. I tried to sleep countless times, but every time I attempted to close my eyes, images of different cats started popping up in my head. It was terrifying! I think I might have angered the Sphynx cat's ancestors. After all, cats often like to hang out around witches. Who knows what kind of hexes they're capable of?

Now it's almost 6:00 am, and it's still raining, but at least it's not as bad as last night's thunderstorm. I'm not a fan of rainy mornings. Especially when I have to wake up this early and go to school. Ugh! But summer vacation is right around the corner! The thought of that alone keeps me motivated to get out of bed today and get ready for school.

The good thing about the rain is that it keeps the cats away. After last night, I am not ready to face them in the wild, that's for sure! And I can safely take the shortcut to school, too! I usually avoid this route because there's a group of stray cats that like to hang out in the playground near school.

With an umbrella in my hand, I slowly make my way to school. It sure feels good not to rush for once! In the corner of my eye, I saw someone in the playground. A girl with short hair and a cat-shaped backpack was looking at a cardboard box. I can't believe it! That is Yuki! But what is she doing there?

"Good morning, Yuki!" I said, trying not to sound too excited to see her.
"Oh! It's you, Akio! Good morning," she replied with a sad smile on her face.
"What are you doing here alone in the rain?" I asked.

"I was on my way to school when I heard some soft meows coming from there. And look what I've found! It's a little kitten! Someone must have abandoned it in this cardboard box. What kind of monster would do that?"

I looked down for a brief moment, and I could see a small black and white kitten. It looks like it could be a "tuxedo cat," or at least that's what I remember from my research last night. Before I could say anything, Yuki took a can of cat food out of her backpack and gave it to the kitten.

"I've sent a text to my friends at the animal shelter. They're out of town now, but they'll be here in an hour. I can't leave this poor thing in the rain! The cardboard box was already very soggy, and my plan was to leave my umbrella there until my friends arrived. However, school is still so far away, and I'll get drenched before I get there. But now that you're here, I am saved!" Yuki said with a bright smile.

She's so kind! But wait, did I hear that right? Yuki wants us to share an umbrella? I could feel my face getting warmer and warmer. What do I do next? I guess I should probably say something before she thinks I'm going to abandon her here:

"Of course! You can always count on me! But first, let's swap umbrellas. I can't let you leave yours here; it might get dirty from the mud. Here, take mine, and we'll both share your umbrella to school!"

Yuki smiled and thanked me many times. The thought of us sharing an umbrella seemed surreal to me, yet here we are. My body was naturally gravitating towards her, but I tried my best to keep a respectful distance between us. I don't mind my shoulder getting wet as long as her shoulders remain dry.

We didn't talk much on our way to school. And when we did, it was about trivial things like the weather or our homework. Nonetheless, I cherished every second of my time spent with her. Once we arrived, Yuki thanked me again, and we parted ways.

In front of my class, there was Rika, waiting for me with a huge grin.

"I saw you two! Sharing an umbrella already? Damn, Akio, you move fast! I know you said you were going to change your mindset last night, but I didn't think you would make THIS much progress! How long has it been? Less than 12 hours? At least promise me you'll tell us when you're going to get married! I want to have enough time to design some outfits!"

"Listen. You had the wrong idea. We just happened to meet, and she needed help, so..." I said, blushing.

"Riiiight..." Rika replied as she continued to tease me until I reached my seat. Thank God Yuki wasn't there to hear this! However, Hikaru was staring at me while munching on some gummy bears.

"Akio, your hair is wet. Does your umbrella have holes in it or something? Here, you can have my handkerchief!" Hikaru said while holding in his laughter. Rika must have told him! I think my friends enjoy teasing me way too much. But I wouldn't have it any other way!

The rest of the day felt like it went by fast. Maybe because I wasn't paying too much attention in class. Instead, I was busy replaying today's events in my head over and over again. I still have a lot to learn about Yuki. Apart from her kindness and generosity, everything else is still a mystery to me.

The rain had stopped before I returned home. Once I arrived, I quickly noticed a mysterious box waiting for me in the living room. It had my name and address, but I don't remember ordering anything online. What is going on?