22 A simple night

Anemachi hasn't been a religious person for most of her life but she does acknowledge the existence of soul after her unbelievable reincarnation. Still, she had never seen or heard of the so-called 'God' in this world.

However, if she really must choose a God to worship, she would want this God to be the glorious God of coffee so that she can ask for stronger caffeine when she has overtime again. This was the thought of her as she sipped down the cup in her hand.

The hot expresso flowed down Anemachi's throat and warmed up her stomach. Her mind dwelling in the pleasure of a delicate drink in the cold, dark night where the soft wind kissed her face. This was one of those times where she truly felt it's good to be alive.

The caffeine in the drink stimulated her mind and blood, suspending the tiredness of Anemachi temporarily. She prayed to the God of coffee while walking back to her office. She hoped that this stimulant she bought at Familymart can help her through the dark night full of work.

The sounds of her feet were covered by the bustling of the road. The street was still booming with activity despite the time they were in with some night business opened for their consumers. Anemachi then joined the crowds to cross a traffic light to become one among the many in the breathing city.

Eventually, she moved on, leaving the busy street and the anonymous crowd behind.

Anemachi was a simple girl. She ain't a saint nor a demon. She hoped for a life where she can finally sleep as much as she can without waking up from a nightmare, a life where she can eat what she wants without concern of tomorrow's bill, a life where she can watch as much anime and play games as she wants without being called by A-chan for another days of work.

Anemachi wished that the people around her could have their happiness. Mom who still has that sad face from time to time, Suisei who was overly dependent on her older sister, Mio who was still trying to accept Anemachi's fate , Miko who was still trying to pick herself up.

"...God I really hate myself," Anemachi scratched her silky long hair in frustration.

Her plan of leaving everyone out of her life has completely failed. It lasted for around three months which wasn't a long time. So she concluded that all she had done was for nothing.

And now, she has to deal with them face on, especially Suisei who knew nothing about her situation yet.

'How do you expect me to tell her a message like that...'Anemachi sighed as warm air came out from her mouth.

More importantly, Anemachi was scared, scared that it might happen again.

"Nyan..."

A sound which Anemachi recognized as a cat echoed through the quiet alley. The sound was small and barely audible, like a child who was on the brink of starvation, weak, and vulnerable.

"Mom, should we help that small cat?" a boy's voice came ahead of Anemachi. He was asking his mother, "It looks like it will die any minute…"

Following the finger of the boy was a cardboard box which contained a small, orange furred cat. The cat with green irises stared towards the human nearest to it. Its body was trembling from the cold night as it hadn't eaten any food for days. It sat down in the cardbox box and waited, waiting for its mother that has been gone for days in search of food.

"It will be fine, don't worry," the mother waved off the boy worries, "there will be people taking care of it. Let's go back already. It's chilly outside."

"But-"

"No buts to me. We are going home now. I still need to cook dinner and we don't have time for this."

The impatient mother proceeded to grab the boy's hand and walked with a faster pace. She remembered her useless husband that couldn't make ends meet, her stressful job that robbed her of her time and energy. She has many things to do and helping a stray cat isn't one of them.

The footsteps of the two then faded to silence as they left the creature alone. The sound from the cat echoed still in the empty alley and reaching nowhere. It hoped its mother would come back soon.

Anemachi felt the cold wind hitting her face again but this time it penetrated her heart. She tightened her jacket and began to walk past it. After all, countless stray cats die on the street everyday, she can't possibly save all of them.

"Nyan…" the small cat witnessing another human passing by began to meow with a weak voice. Its instinct told it that if it does this enough some human might consider helping it out.

Anemachi stopped beside the box while looking in front. She began murmuring words.

"Don't nyan at me, I don't have anything to give you…" Anemachi spoke as if she was convincing the small cat, "I can barely take care of myself now after all."

The small cat of course doesn't understand a single word. It continued to meow at Anemachi. Its small head hovering over the ledge of the box, eyes glimmer with hope.

Anemachi turned her head to the cat finally. She observed it. The small cat's body was small, thin, its fur barely resisting the harsh weather. Most importantly was its eyes. Its eyes reminded her of something, perhaps, the cat reminded her of herself.

"Nyan…?"

"..."

Anemachi moved on, leaving the cat behind, taking away what hope it had left.

Seeing that the human has again left it. The cat clearly down curled into a ball as it tried to keep itself warm. It's only hope now was that its mother will be back soon, hopefully with food.

The cat closed its eyes. It felt sleepy as the weather got even colder but its instinct told itself not to sleep. But it can't hold on for too long.

The small creature thought of its mom. It once had seven other brothers and sisters but all of them had fallen asleep at different times, never to wake again.

'Perhaps falling asleep isn't that bad after all' the cat thought to itself as its consciousness began to fade. It wished that it would have food after it woke up, it would have a warm shelter where it could sleep comfortably.

And then, the cat felt itself being held high, and it felt a warmness around it. It felt comfortable.

Then, the cat slept.

Anemachi looked at the small cat sleeping in her arms. The body of the cat was so cold that she thought she was holding a dead body just now. It was only through the small breathing of it that she knew it wasn't dead.

"I'm just making sure that it won't die, I'm just making sure that it won't die," Anemachi repeated the words as she warmed up the cat in her arm, "what does a cat eat anyway? Can it eat my leftover bento?"

Anemachi looked at the small cat who was now covered with her jacket. It was sleeping calmly without a fuse, like a child who had found her mother.

She really was planning to ignore it. But something in her heart made her go back, to not leave it alone to its demise.

The cat triggered something in her heart. She felt nostalgic. Because…

She was similar to it too in some way. Alone, abandoned, hoping that someone can help them.

Anemachi wanted to be that someone.

Soon, Anemachi brought the cat to her personal office, insulating them from the cold darkness outside.

"So you're a girl huh?" Anemachi checked the cat's body and made a conclusion, "no visible injury. Looks like your mother took care of you."

"...n-nyan?" the cat meanwhile slowly awoke from her slumber.

"Ah, you are awake," Anemachi rubbed the head of the cat softly, "hungry? Let me get you fed up."

Anemachi then opened up a carton of milk on the table that she had brought from the convenience store and poured it into a plate that the company had laying around. She mixed it with some water too. "here, enjoy your meal."

The plate was then put on the floor. The cat, although cautious at first, with her weary eyes eventually determined that Anemachi wasn't a threat and began eating.

And there Anemachi sat and watched the cat slowly feast. Her mind was empty as a warmth feeling arose from her heart when she saw the cat licking the milk.

"You must be lonely right? Staying in the cardboard box for days… alone, cold, hungry. You can rest now…" Anemachi murmured to herself, "you know, a lot of people came for me when I was gone. I feel that I'm a much luckier being than you."

Anemachi suddenly felt sleepy. And without much of a fuss, she allowed the darkness to take over her.

Soon, the cat finished her meal. The cat, also sleepy, turned her eyes to Anemachi and jump onto her thighs, finding a warm spot to sleep.

It was a good day for her. She had food, shelter, and perhaps a kind human.

'Good night, human.' the cat thought before she slept.