My Cat Turned Into A Cat Girl!

Kenji's shop, "Kenji's Prints," was tucked between a bakery and a small cafe. The scent of fresh pastries wafted through the air, making my stomach growl as I pushed the door open, the little bell above it jingling.

Inside, the shop was cluttered with papers, ink cartridges, and half-finished print jobs. Kenji was hunched over a stack of papers at his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration. The moment he saw me, his expression shifted to one of mild annoyance.

"Oh great, Ryu's here," he said, rolling his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Hey, Kenji! I need your help again," I replied, trying to suppress a smirk. "I need to create a duplicate birth certificate."

"Ugh, do I look like a charity to you? I don't have time for your little games!" he huffed, pushing his glasses up his nose with a thick finger. Kenji was, to put it mildly, a rotund guy with a tendency to grumble, especially when I showed up unannounced.

"Come on, it's not a game! This is important," I said, leaning casually against the doorframe. "And I'll pay you for your trouble."

"Paying? That's the only reason I'd even consider helping you," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his round belly. "How much do you have? I've got rent to pay, you know."

I chuckled, knowing his financial struggles well. "I thought you had a 'sugar daddy' for that. You know, the one who brings you snacks every week?"

Kenji's face flushed slightly as he shot me a glare. "That's none of your business! Just tell me what you need so I can get back to work."

"Alright, alright. Just take a deep breath and relax," I teased, stepping closer to his cluttered desk. "I need a birth certificate—nothing too fancy, just the basics."

"Why do I always end up doing your dirty work?" he muttered, pulling out a notepad and a pen, ready to jot down the details. "I swear, one day I'm going to charge you triple for this."

"Sure, sure. Keep dreaming, Kenji. I'm pretty sure your clients would rather pay for actual prints than whatever you're offering," I shot back, chuckling as I watched him scribble.

He glared at me, but I could see the corners of his mouth twitching in a reluctant smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just give me the details already, and make it quick. I've got a stack of orders to finish before I can think about lunch."

"Fine! Just don't ask too many questions, alright?" I said, feeling a surge of nervousness. I didn't want him prying into Aoi's life.

"Questions? Please. I'm too busy for your soap opera dramas," he replied, waving me off as he began jotting down notes. "What's the name?"

"Aoi Takahashi," I said, biting my lip. "She was born on July 15, 2014, in Kyoto."

"Simple enough. What's the address?" Kenji asked, jotting it down with a flourish.

I hesitated. "Uh, just put my address," I said, giving him my home details.

Kenji's brow furrowed as he wrote. "So, what's the story? You trying to pull a fast one? You know the law, right?"

"Let's just say she's… staying with me for a bit. No big deal," I deflected, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Uh-huh. I don't want to know, do I?" Kenji muttered, rolling his eyes again. "And what if the police show up? You know I can't help you with that."

"Relax! I'll handle it," I replied, my heart racing at the thought of getting caught. "You know me; I always figure things out."

"Sure you do," he replied dryly, shaking his head as he finished typing. "You better be careful. This isn't exactly the safest business."

"Yeah, yeah. Just remember, you're the one doing the illegal stuff here, not me," I retorted, trying to lighten the mood.

"Illegal? Who said anything about that?" Kenji grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm just providing a service for my valued customers."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Right, like I'm buying a new pair of shoes. What's next? You'll be selling magic potions?"

"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it!" he shot back, pretending to be offended.

After a few more minutes filled with playful banter, Kenji finally finished the document. "Here it is, the masterpiece of the century," he said, sliding it across the counter with a flourish.

I picked it up, inspecting it closely. "Wow, looks legit! Are you sure you didn't sign me up for something else? Maybe a secret adoption agency?"

"Ha-ha. Very funny. Just take your document and get out," he replied, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Thanks, Kenji! I owe you one," I said, grinning as I turned to leave. "Don't eat too many pastries while you're at it. You might break your chair."

"Shut up, Ryu! I'm not done yet," he called after me, but I could hear the laughter in his voice as I stepped outside.

With the birth certificate secured, I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. The next step was to visit the school and start the admission process for Aoi.

With the birth certificate and residency document secured, I headed to my part-time job at the Sakura Restaurant. The familiar sounds of sizzling grills and laughter greeted me as I stepped inside.

Takeshi, my coworker, waved from the kitchen. "Hey, Ryu! How was your day?"

"Busy, but productive," I replied as I pulled on my apron. "Just getting some things sorted for Aoi."

Takeshi raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. "So, this Aoi… is she really your cousin? You two seem pretty close."

I nodded, chuckling. "Yep, she's my cousin. I'm just looking after her."

"Really? I thought she might be something more," Takeshi said, looking slightly relieved but still intrigued.

"Trust me, it's all family. Just trying to help her out," I replied, focusing on the orders coming in. "She's had a tough time, and I want to make sure she's okay."

Takeshi nodded, understanding. "Well, good luck with that. Kids can be a handful, you know?"

I grinned, remembering Aoi's playful antics. "Tell me about it. But she's also a lot of fun."

The dinner rush began, and we moved into our routines, taking orders and serving customers. The atmosphere buzzed with laughter and conversation, making the time pass quickly.

Later that night, when I returned home, Aoi greeted me with her usual energy. "Onii-Chan! What did you do today?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I knelt down, a playful smile on my face. "You'll never guess what I did!"

"Did you see a giant cat? Or a magical fish?" she guessed, her imagination running wild.

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Not quite. I got something very special for you—your birth certificate!"

She looked at me curiously. "What's that?"

"It's something that will help you a lot," I said, holding it up for her to see. "It shows you're my little sister, which means you can start school soon."

"Thank you, I guess..." she said, looking a bit nervous.

"There'll be so many new friends to meet, and you'll learn all sorts of exciting things," I replied.

"But… Aoi is different. What if the other kids don't like her?" she asked, her expression turning earnest.

I smiled gently, pulling her into a comforting hug. "You're special, Aoi. Your differences make you unique. But we'll need to keep a low profile at school, at least for now. We want to make sure everything goes smoothly."

Aoi nodded, looking thoughtful. "What do we do?"

"Well, we can hide your tail and cat ears under your clothes. How about wearing this cute woolen hat?" I suggested, holding up a warm, cozy hat that I had bought for her earlier.

Her eyes lit up as she took the hat from me. "Aoi loves it! It's so soft!"

"Let's try it on," I said, helping her put it on and adjusting it so it covered her ears.

"See? You look perfect!" I said, smiling at her reflection in the mirror.

Aoi beamed back at me, her confidence growing. "Now Aoi can go to school with Onii-Chan!"

The next day, we made our way to the local elementary school, a modest building with a friendly atmosphere. Aoi clutched my hand tightly, her gaze darting around in wonder. The entrance was bright, and the sound of children's laughter filled the air.

When we entered the office, we were greeted by the principal, a kind-looking man with round glasses and a welcoming smile. "Good morning! You must be Ryu Takahashi. It's a pleasure to meet you!" He gestured for us to sit.

"I understand you're looking to enroll Aoi here?" the principal began, glancing over at Aoi, who was eyeing him with open curiosity.

"Yes, that's right," I replied, giving Aoi an encouraging smile. "She'll be living with me, and we'd like her to start school as soon as possible." I handed him the carefully prepared documents, including her birth certificate and health records.

The principal examined them closely, nodding. "Everything seems to be in order," he said, before looking up. "It's not often we see a case like this. Is she… fully in your care?"

"Yes, she is," I answered with a nod. "She'll be staying with me, and I'll be handling all her needs, both at home and here at school."

The principal's expression softened as he looked at Aoi. "You're very lucky, Aoi," he said warmly. "It's clear your brother cares a lot about you."

Aoi beamed, giving my hand another squeeze. "Onii-Chan is the best!" she declared with a bright smile.

I chuckled, feeling a swell of pride. "Thank you, sir. I'll do my best to support her in any way I can, so if there are any specific requirements or guidelines for us to follow, please let me know."

The principal nodded thoughtfully. "We'll work together to ensure Aoi's experience here is positive," he said. "She'll have a homeroom teacher to help her adjust, and we'll keep an eye on her progress."

"Thank you," I said, feeling genuinely relieved. This school already felt like the right place for her.

Later that evening, back at home, Aoi and I settled into a cozy routine. After dinner, we plopped down on the bed, and she curled up beside me, her woolen hat still snugly covering her cat ears.

"Onii-Chan," she began, her voice slightly hesitant, "what do we need to get ready for school?" She looked up at me with wide, anxious eyes.

I thought for a moment, trying to gauge what essentials we might need. "Well, you'll need a backpack, books, stationery, and a few other things," I explained, watching her absorb the information. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. We'll make sure you have everything you need."

She frowned, her excitement replaced by uncertainty. "But… what if Aoi doesn't know how to do anything? What if the other kids don't want to play with Aoi?" Her voice wavered, the fear of the unknown creeping in.

I took a deep breath, remembering my own first day of school. "I know it can be scary," I said softly, pulling her closer. "I felt the same way when I started school. I was terrified. I remember walking into the classroom, and everyone seemed so big and so much older. I thought nobody would talk to me."

"Really?" Aoi asked, her expression shifting from worry to curiosity.

"Yeah," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I remember hiding behind my backpack, hoping nobody would notice me. But then, one of the kids came over and invited me to play. It turned out to be one of the best days of my life."

"Did you make friends?" she asked, her eyes brightening.

"Absolutely! And you will, too. Just be yourself, and don't be afraid to talk to them. Kids can be nice if you give them a chance." I gave her a reassuring smile. "Besides, you have me, and I'll always be there to support you. No one can mess with my Aoi."

Aoi smiled back, though her eyes still held a hint of worry. "Okay, Onii-Chan. Aoi will try her best."

"That's all I ask!" I said, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Now, how about we make a list of everything you'll need for school? That way, we can prepare together!"

"Okay! Aoi likes making lists!" she replied, suddenly excited again.

We spent the next few minutes jotting down the essentials. "Backpack," I wrote, "books, notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, and maybe some snacks?"

Aoi giggled. "Aoi wants some sweet snacks!"

"Alright, sweet snacks it is!" I laughed, enjoying the way her enthusiasm bubbled back to the surface. "You're going to be the coolest kid in class with all your snacks."

As we finished the list, Aoi looked up at me again, her smile fading slightly. "Do you think Aoi will fit in?" she asked, her tone suddenly serious.

I leaned in closer, my expression earnest. "I promise you will. Everyone has their quirks, and yours are what make you special. Remember, you're unique, Aoi. Just be yourself, and the right friends will come to you."

Aoi nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Okay, Onii-Chan. Aoi will try to be brave!"

"That's my girl!" I said, giving her a playful nudge. "Now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a big day!"

END OF CHAPYER : 9 : KENJI'S PRINTS