In a narrow alley, a figure darted through the pouring rain.
Finally, it shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Accompanied by a thud, it crashed into a cardboard box.
The black cat shook the water droplets from her body.
She didn’t want her fur to become drenched and matted, but some strands still tangled up into clumps.
She let out a resentful “Meow.”
And didn’t bother dealing with it.
The black cat stepped on the cushion beneath her.
Seeing that the pad hadn’t been soaked by the rain, she curled up with half her body tucked in, only poking her head out to peer outside.
“Meow~”
Another day has gone by.
“Meow meow.”
It really went by so fast.
The black cat stared at the rainy curtain outside.
Today’s sudden downpour had thrown off her usual routine.
Even though it was already nighttime, she didn’t feel much like sleeping.
She couldn’t help recalling the past.
Just a few days ago, she had still been a human boy.
After getting into a car accident, she woke up as this black cat.
“Meow.”
And even a yokai at that.
The black cat yawned.
She was probably a yokai.
At least, she felt that calling herself a monster fit better.
Because she could actually transform back into a human.
However, Bai Ziyu didn’t want to change back.
The reason was simple.
She was now a female cat.
So if she transformed, she would naturally become a girl too.
She still couldn’t accept it for the time being.
“Meow.”
Sigh.
The black cat let out a sigh.
Being a cat actually wasn’t that bad.
At the very least, she ate less.
And without an ID card, Bai Ziyu naturally couldn’t find any kind of job.
Her daily meals completely depended on kind-hearted passersby.
Seeing how cute she looked, they would occasionally come over to feed her some food.
However, people didn’t come by often.
So whether she was full or hungry wasn’t something Bai Ziyu could control.
She felt that perhaps she should find an owner.
After all, there was a big difference between occasional full meals and consistent ones.
Clearly the latter was better.
“Meow meow meow~”
I’ll try finding one tomorrow.
The black cat shifted her gaze.
Because a kind person had placed an umbrella on top of the cardboard box earlier, she didn’t have to worry about her entire body getting soaked by the rain for now.
However, those bits of food weren’t so lucky.
They had all been thoroughly soaked by the rainwater and covered in mud.
Obviously, they could no longer be eaten.
Bai Ziyu licked her lips.
She was actually hungry.
But there was no food nearby.
She couldn’t possibly venture out into the heavy rain to search for something to eat.
So she curled up her body, closed her eyes, and tried to fall into a deep sleep.
If she slept, she wouldn’t feel hungry.
That’s what Bai Ziyu thought.
The heavy rain outside cascaded down from the sky, slapping against the puddles and producing drip-drop, drip-drop sounds.
The black cat didn’t fall asleep.
Because someone was coming.
“Meow?”
Bai Ziyu sniffed around.
In the rain, she caught the scent of humans.
There were two distinct smells: citrus and rose.
She felt a bit strange.
On such a heavy rainy night, there were still people coming here?
It was very late now.
There shouldn’t be any students or office workers out at this hour.
The black cat shook her body.
She used her two paws to grip the edge of the cardboard box and propped up her head.
Curiously, she looked out toward the entrance of the alley.
She didn’t have to wait long.
Accompanied by the screech of car brakes, a tall girl stepped into the small alley.
With clear purpose, she walked straight up to the black cat.
The girl seemed surprised that the black cat was still awake.
Upon seeing the cat looking at her, she paused for a moment.
Then she slowly spoke.
“Would you like to come home with me?”
“Meow?”
Bai Ziyu tilted her head in confusion.
The rose scent she had smelled earlier was coming from this girl.
She actually didn’t really like this strong, stimulating fragrance.
The black cat retreated slightly.
This girl’s tone even carried a hint of arrogance.
The way she looked at her was like she was looking at a doll.
Bai Ziyu was full of vigilance as she observed the girl.
The other party seemed to come from a very wealthy family.
Whether it was her clothing or her jewelry, that necklace was sparkling even in the heavy rain.
Although Bai Ziyu couldn’t identify the brand, it was clearly very expensive.
If this girl became her owner, it might be a good choice?
The black cat gripped the edge of the cardboard box.
She felt quite conflicted.
While her thoughts were drifting, more footsteps sounded from within the rain curtain.
Someone else had entered the alley.
This time, it was a very beautiful young girl.
The young girl first glanced at the tall girl in surprise.
Then she walked in front of the black cat and casually squatted down.
A gentle, faint smile hung at the corners of her mouth.
“Little kitty.”
She reached out her hand toward the black cat, her voice very soft.
“It took me a lot of courage to come find you.”
“I think you’ve noticed that I’m not exactly rich. But I still want to adopt you. Although I can’t provide you with the best food or clothes.”
“But I can give you a home.”
She blinked her eyes.
“What do you think?”
“Meow.”
After listening to the young girl finish, Bai Ziyu simply meowed in response.
After all, she was a cat now.
She couldn’t speak human words, or she would be taken away for research.
Of the two scents she had smelled earlier, the remaining citrus one was on this girl.
The black cat sniffed.
She quite liked this fragrance.
Unfortunately, choosing an owner wasn’t decided just by who smelled nicer.
Bai Ziyu hadn’t expected that potential owners would deliver themselves so easily on this rainy night.
Was she lucky?
The black cat’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two women.
She became even more conflicted.
She still hadn’t decided who to choose.
“Are you talking to the cat?”
While Bai Ziyu was hesitating, the first girl suddenly spoke up.
She snorted lightly at the young girl.
“Do you really think she can understand you? She’s just a cat.”
She took two steps forward, standing side by side with the young girl.
But she maintained the air of a lofty flower on a high mountain.
“You might as well try luring her with food.”
“I think Little White can understand.”
The young girl pursed her lips.
“She’s quite smart.”
“Little White? Who?”
“Of course it’s her.”
“You call her… Little White?”
The tall girl stared at the black cat for a long time, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“Where is there any white on her body at all?”
“I like calling her that.”
“……”
The tall girl was rendered speechless.
The rain outside was getting heavier.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew through the alley, lightly dampening both of their clothes with raindrops.
Bai Ziyu snapped awake from her daze.
The cold wind around her urged her to make a choice quickly.
The black cat suddenly leaped out of the cardboard box.
“Looks like she chose me.”
The tall girl smiled triumphantly.
Her sparkling earrings jingled as they swayed in the wind.
She lowered her head, looking at the black cat who had taken shelter under her umbrella.
“You’re quite sensible.” She said.
“Meow.”
Bai Ziyu responded.
She felt that compared to the so-called “home” the young girl mentioned, the comfortable, well-off life right before her eyes was far more attractive.
As for the tall girl’s doll-like gaze, the black cat was confident she could escape smoothly before any danger arose.
The other party wouldn’t get the chance to harm her.
Her thoughts raced.
The matter was settled.
…Or so she thought?
“Meow, meow meow?”
Bai Ziyu suddenly found her body lifted into the air.
She had been picked up by the girl beside her.
The young girl smiled at the black cat.
Then.
She turned and ran!
👀👀👀