The White Cat

*pop*

Kazuaki unlocked the red capsule. Inside, was a single tiny piece of paper stripe, with some words written on it. Kazuaki checked his surroundings again for one last time, making sure that this is not some prank being played by someone. Embracing himself, he let out a sigh and read the paper.

[What narrow streets are you in?]

[ここはどこの細道じゃ？]

The paper reads, asking a random question.

*Ka Tak*

The sound of a geta shoe clacks. Even though he's facing away from the source of the sound, he felt the presence of the one behind him, arriving, as if they had come from the sky above, landing gently to the ground below.

"Well aren't you an excited little soul. And here I thought about playing a little bit of mischief. Too bad I guess..."

Her words were filled with the grace of elegance. Somehow, her sudden appearance doesn't alarm Kazuaki, maybe because he had prepared for something like this to happen? Not really, but instead, he had a feeling, that this 'ghostly' individual wouldn't cause any harm to him. It was just a hunch, an instinct of some kind.

He turned to his back to look at her. About his height – albeit, a bit shorter – was a charming lass, dressed in onyx-black kimono, paired with a white obi filled with colourful kumo pattern. Short white hair, blending with the snow, coupled with her heterochromia blue-red eyes. But what stood out the most was her cat ears, and a big black bell, tied to her tail.

"Hm?... It's a problem if you stare at a lady for too long like that lad."

She jest.

"Well... It's just... how do I say this... surprising?..."

What he thought to be some kind of nightmarish monster turned out to be a refined 'cat lady'.

"Hm... your reactions lacked strength no?"

She looked dejected.

"I mean... I was expecting a scary looking Yōkai or something."

"Fufu... and you don't seem to show any kind of fear towards my presence. What a funny soul you are."

Indeed. Usually, in this kind of situation, someone would either run away or instantly engage in a fight, out of fear of the unknown. But Kazuaki seemed to maintain his calm demeanor, not showing any kind of fear. Was it a stupid move? For him, trusting his instinct took the highest priority when making decisions. And right now, his instinct tells him that she is none aggressor, but just a friendly Yōkai.

"Maybe this will change your mind then?"

The instant she said that, her body slowly mutated, forming into that of a gigantic beast. Sharp metal claws protruded from her huge paws, as she began to sprout chunks of spiky fur. Her eyes widened as she presented her needle-like teeth to his face. She huffed and puffed the air around her, creating cloudy smokes with a hint of her growl, threatening him. The cute cat lady from before had gone, and instead, being replaced by a two storey tall, tiger-like snow beast.

...

They stared towards each other for some time, yet, not a single flinch was made by Kazuaki.

"Yeah, it... kinda did. How did you even do that?"

To top it off, he even commented on her absurd transformation.

...

"Pfft..."

She chuckled, albeit her contorted voice.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!! LAD!!! WHAT AN INTERESTING ONE YOU ARE!!!"

Her voice reverberated throughout the whole area, but not a single reaction was invoked from within the neighbourhood. As if the only one who could perceive this gigantic beast at the moment was Kazuaki. After getting a good laugh, she reverted back into her original form.

"Ha... it's been a long time since I get myself off the tension. Truly, what an interesting soul you are. Lad, mind telling me the significance behind your bravery?"

She inquired.

"Hm?... Bravery?... Well... I think it's more like an instinct though..."

"Hm..."

Kazuaki answered honestly. However, her eyes narrowed.

"Alas... a fool..."

She muttered under her breath, unpleased by his remark.

"Are you aware of your action lad?"

She asked him again, now pointing towards the direction of the gachapon.

"Well... I guess?..."

In the first place, the reason as to why he was even willing to get himself involved with the gachapon was because of his worry of a long-term curse that would affect him if he were to ignore this critical encounter.

Of course, this thought was brought up to him by his mind the moment he saw the gachapon. However, something doesn't sit right, he doesn't know why, but he felt that, that wasn't the real reason as to why he even got himself involved with it in the first place. The only thing that he knew was that his instinct drove him into it.

"Fufu, I see, I see. How about this lad? For being such an interesting soul, let me elucidate your situation."

She offered an explanation to Kazuaki.

"The name's Kuroneko. Neither a Yōukai, nor am I a ghost."

Her words raised a question from Kazuaki.

"Oh, is that so? Then what about that beast form then?"

He inquired.

"Fufu, for that, I may not reveal."

Kazuaki unsated by her reply.

"Well, well, don't wear such a dull face. The fun one is not me, but this old cranky thing."

She leaned against the gachapon machine.

"A machine of fate, a machine of destiny... And the one in your hand,"

She pointed towards the red capsule in Kazuaki's hand.

"Is the future that had been played for you."

Kazuaki attentively listened to her speak, as she gave an amused smile.

"There are four colours within this machine, and each represent a sort of sight that you get."

She explained.

"And you lad. Fufu, what an unlucky bunch."

"Hm?... Why?"

Intrigued, he asked.

"As red... calls for tragedy."

"..."

Hearing this, Kazuaki thought for a bit. Looking at the message written at hand.

"Is that so? What does this mean then?"

He showed the paper to Kuroneko.

"Fool! Don't present that thing to me!"

She shunned the paper.

"Eh? Sorry, but I thought you would have known the content of it already."

"Fufu, do you think I wish for this, lad?..."

She chuckled, yet her face painted gloom. Kazuaki was going to ask for the reason, but opted not to.

"Regardless. Do you realize the significance of your situation now lad?"

She asked.

"Oh? Um... Yeah? I guess?..."

"*sigh*... there you go again with that denseness of yours..."

She fed up by his reply.

"So. You say I'm going to get into a tragedy because of what is written here in this paper?"

"Eh? Ah, y– yeah..."

However, his acknowledgement of the situation surprised Kuroneko for a bit.

"Is that so? When?"

He further inquired.

"W– When? For that, I have no clue."

"Hm... Well, I guess I'll just have to live with it then."

His reaction was not what Kuroneko had expected. Furthermore, it was her first time seeing someone so calm after such an important revelation.

"Pfft! Hahahahaha! Lad! Never in my life have I seen someone like you! People mostly got scared or even tried asking me how to change the future when they popped a red one."

She tried to control her laughter, amused by such a fascinating encounter.

"But you..."

Amidst her laughter, she narrowed her eyes, looking somewhat sad.

"What a fool you are..."

She muttered.

"Well then... may we never meet again..."

She whispered her farewell, and disappeared with a blink of an eye. Kazuaki turned his head around to look for her, yet she was no longer there, along with the gachapon. As if everything that had happened up till now was just his hallucinations. But, that wasn't the case.

[What narrow streets are you in?]

[ここはどこの細道じゃ？]

He looked back to the piece of paper on his right hand, and the red capsule on his other's. It was no dream. Although she denied being some sort of ghost. It was certain that Kazuaki had just encountered a supernatural being for the first time in his life.

He locked the paper back into the capsule and hid it inside the pocket of his coat. Wearing his earbuds back, he turned it on to continue listening to vocaloid songs. He adjusted his scarf as he walked through the quiet winter night with a thought on his mind.

"Tragedy... huh..."