[[Category:Volume Volume 17 Chapters]]
The Cat That Wants to be Adopted (
Summary[]
A woman with short-white hair is sitting in a box with the words "Please Adopt Me" on it; however, she's also wearing cat ears, paws, and a tail as if she were a cat! Rentarou passes by the box, not knowing what's going on, but immediately "zings" with the woman, wondering what the authors even want him to do with such a strange choice for a soulmate!
As Rentarou tries to figure out what to say, the woman "meows" at him, stating he is the first person to call out to her before asking him to adopt her. She introduces herself as Tama Nekonari, a 21-year-old who calls herself "a cat" and wishes to be adopted; Rentarou thinks she's metaphorical, but Tama clarifies that she is a cat and that the human form she has is mere "the vestiges of her former life as a human." Explaining her backstory, Tama reveals she was an office lady who hated her company, every day being a new hell for her, going back and forth between work and home with no time for anything else. The only time she felt peace was when she slept. She kept thinking that she wanted to be a cat in her next life with the idea of having a life of nothing but sleep and pampering, so Tama decided to speed things up, preparing to jump in front of a train to kill herself and be reborn as a cat! But before she could do it, Tama realized she was unlucky, and even if she died, Tama would probably just be stuck becoming a human again, and the life after that and beyond, ultimately coming to the depressed decision to give up suicide and just "become a cat in this life." Tama soon quit her job and started lying around doing nothing all day and finally felt happiness; except without a job, she had no money to live off of and hoped to find someone to adopt her. As her story ends, Tama finds herself hungry, and Rentarou decides to look after her and give her some bread he bought.
Taking her to a park, Rentarou watches Tama devour her bread like a stray cat before she gives the rest to him. Rentarou was surprised at how little she had to eat to survive, even giving the best part of the bread for Rentarou. He declines, gives the rest to Tama, and asks her what if she can't find someone to adopt her and what her plans will be. Tama relents that if she can't be adopted, she'll just live like a stray cat, and if Tama dies in the streets, so be it; she's too far gone and is essentially embraced being a cat to the point of no return. Rentarou finally understands and decides to adopt Tama. The cat is happy about the choice as the duo spends the rest of the day playing and Rentarou rubbing her belly.
At a quiet moment, Tama asks Rentarou if he's rich. Rentarou states he isn't making the cat state she'd be a burden on him if he did take her in, making him state he'll take a part-time job if necessary. Tama feels depressed again about how coddled she is as she remembers a phone call to her mother about how much she hated working. Mrs. Nekonari told her daughter that she would put a hardship on herself by quitting or even trying to work a new job due to how difficult the economy is and worried that her daughter would just be coddled all her life instead of persevering through work or study. But Rentarou tells Tama to not stay that and states every person's situation is unique; everyone has things they like or hate, and it's all different from person to person, including things like bugs or the paranormal and that enduring things you don't like will cause anyone to break down; just because Tama hates work is because she had pain enduring it and realized that avoiding pain was more vital than living and that she isn't coddled by her behavior. Tama breaks down and cries as Rentarou pats her on the head.
With the resolution, Tama decides she will find a part-time job. Rentarou tells her not to, but Tama states she needs it and will be happy if Rentarou keeps pampering her once her job is done. Tama hates working but will persevere and would rather Rentarou merely pamper her when she isn't doing what she doesn't like and to do so as a boyfriend, the two kissing.
Characters[]
- Tama Nekonari
- Rentarou Aijou
- Tama's Mother
Quote[]
Beginning: Uh... zing...?
End: A meowgnificent love.
Next Chapter: A meowgnificent life with everyone.