Nekomata Diary

CODENAME : PROJECTOR [投影機]

A human experiment created to test whether a human was able to perceive into a higher dimension, that is, above three dimensions. Was it an inhuman experiment? Not really. The researcher was nice, and even cared about their subject.

Especially the two who're in charge of Nekomata Kuro [ 猫又 クロ ], that is me. Even though I'm an orphan, the two treated me full of love, similar to how a parent would treat their cute daughter. Well, not that they're my real parents, but I appreciate the time all three of us have together.

Yeah sure, the experiment did involve me getting into surgery here and there but I didn't really mind. The two even asked me if I'm hurt anywhere right after the surgery too. Truly, what a good parent they would be.

I also got myself to befriend the subjects partaking in this experiment. Some are like me, an orphan child with nowhere to go. Some are older than me, it was said that they are even criminals. But the more I interact with them, the more fun I have, they can't be a criminal right? All of them are good people. It was like, I'm in a big happy family.

Truly... one big happy family...

...

Today, I was going to be the first subject to test the main theory behind PROJECTOR. I'm fully prepared. I even reread the notes and thesis that I got from my researcher like I'm taking some sort of exam. At first, all of the researchers were having second thoughts, even though they believe in my talent, they're afraid that I might suffer a minor injury in the process.

However, the one who volunteered to be the main subject was myself. Well, one way or another, I was able to convince them.

I was taken inside a room. There was a cat.

"Fufu... what an intriguing human you are."

And it talked.

Apparently, the cat was also participating in the experiment. I don't know how they did it, but they did. While waiting, me and the cat had some chit-chatting before the experiment began. After that, we were given some warning of what might happen. However, I agreed to all the terms and conditions, and surprisingly, the cat does too. And when I asked the cat why she would go through such length, she said,

"Fufu... These humans had taken care of me since I was a little kitten. Let's just say it's my form of gratitude towards them. And also..."

"And also?"

"I would've already been dead if I hadn't met them..."

At that moment, I thought about how similar our situation was. It's like I see myself inside the cat.

"We could be merging you know?"

"Fufu... When that happens, I will rely on you young lady."

With that, the experiment began.

...

How many days was it?

"K– Kuro?!"

Ah, I think I fell into a coma wasn't I? Don't worry about it you two, I've already read about it in the thesis. At best I would only suffer a minor headache.

(Truly, what an intriguing lady you are...)

Wait?! Who's that?!

(Fufu... fear not, young lady...)

Oh... so we did merge. Apparently, I grew some ears and tails too. It's like an extension to my black hair. And also, my eyes turned into that of the cat.

(Fufu! Maybe you could call yourself a black cat no? [クロネコ/Kuroneko])

She jest, inside my head. Our memory doesn't seems to merge though. That's a relief, I didn't want her to know about my memory before coming here.

In the end, the experiment was a huge success. They even threw a big party for all of us to celebrate in, the researchers and the subjects. I even got a ton of congrats from them.

(What a contented life they have huh... everyone here...)

Well, in the first place I'm sure their situation was pretty much the same as ours. With some having nowhere to go, and some, like us, even got into abuse in the outside world. So we won't really complain about getting experimented upon, plus the researcher here is nicer than those bastards out there anyway.

One way or another. Yeah, what a contented life we have. And I hope this time will last forever.

Is... what I thought...

...

One day, a group of bad people stormed into the lab. Apparently, they wanted to kidnap me. And if I don't comply, they will kill everyone here, all of my friends, all of my family.

(Kuro! Don't go there!)

But... but...

"Kuro don't do it!!!"

"Nekomata run!!! We'll hold them here!!!"

"Run away Kuro!!!"

"Nekomata don't worry about us!!!"

everyone... i don't understand... what had we done to deserve this...

(Lady!)

these... bastards... they're ruining the happiness we have built for years here in the lab...

(Lady! Run!)

why can't they just leave us alone... was it because of me...

(Lady!)

does the world... despise me...

"Kuro!" "Kuro!" (Kuro!)

what?...

"Kuro... sorry for not being able to become a great father."

"Or mother!"

"Yeah, that too."

what are you two saying... you're the best parent i would ever dream of...

"But Kuro! Right now we have to get you out of here!"

"Don't worry about us Kuro! We'll find a way out! Somehow..."

wait what... ouch! Eh! What!? Needle!?

"Sorry Kuro... this will hurt you for a moment..."

Wait! No! I read this in the thesis!

"Listen! Kuro! You're smart girl! So listen to me okay!"

No! NO! ARE YOU GOING TO ABANDON ME TOO?!

"This substance will trigger you into overdrive mode!"

NO! NO!

"You will be merged with every single copy of you in the other dimension. Creating a single unit."

NO!! STOP!! I WANT TO STAY WITH EVERYONE!!

"After that, you will gain a temporary boost to travel into a higher dimension, primarily, <TIME>"

NO!! MOM!! STOP DAD!! NO!!

"I want you to travel far away! As far as possible from this timeline!"

ANYONE!!

"We're sorry Kuro... Please... live a happy life..."

NO!! STOP!! ANY–

______

Where am I... It hurts...

(Coming to your senses now lady?)

Cat... wait... what happened...

(...)

Oh yeah... we were celebrating right?... I'm sure that I got tired...

(...)

(No... lady...)

it's okay...

(...)

i know...

...

i know...

(What'll you do now?)

After some time, I opened my eyes to see the world before us. It was the same, Earth. But, in a different timeline... just like dad said...

One way or another, my hair color turned white. May be the result of overdrive and merging. But... I don't want to think about that anymore...

All I know is that, I now have the ability to 'PROJECT' and 'CLOCKING'. With 'PROJECT' allowing me to project myself and the surrounding with anything I could imagine, even becoming invisible. And 'CLOCKING', making me able to see some tempo into the future, or even adjust someone else's tempo.

...

At first, I thought about finding a partner in this 'world'. Maybe it had changed a bit from the timeline that I'd came from.

<AHH!!! MONSTER!!!>

<Hehe... how about you help me see who's going to win this race.>

<STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!>

<I'm wounded b#tch! Heal me!>

No good... My 'PROJECT'ion are only limited by my color. Everyone would either see me as a disgusting monster, with some even tried using me to their advantage...

Maybe... maybe... if I tried a different approach...

(What're you gonna do?)

Hey cat? What do you think if I pretend to be a Yōkai or some sort?

(Fufu, interesting, you tell me.)

I'll borrow your accent or something, and... um... make an urban legend about myself... and then... um... make friends...

(Haha! That certainly would be fun!)

Haha... yeah...

(...)

...

It's just... I don't want their sacrifice to be in vain...

They wanted me to escape. To live a happy life. But maybe... maybe I'm fated to be curse–

(Stop right there lady...)

...

(It's going to be fine...)

...

Thanks...