“It is too much. Of course it is. Would make it impossible to do things right. Let’s not go forward with the second cat.”
What is he talking about? The doctor’s half smile offended Tomoka. Since Tangerine the Ragdoll was so low-maintenance, she was confident she could manage an additional cat. Besides, if she could observe another cat, she might get more inspiration.
“Don’t worry. If it’s just two weeks, I can care for them both. I’ll look after Tangerine and the other cat,” insisted Tomoka.
The doctor nodded. “Sounds good. This time, I’ll actually prescribe Tank. Oh, and I realize it’s a bit late, but let me give you the instruction leaflet for the cat I have already prescribed you.”
It was, indeed, too late. Tomoka felt a surge of frustration as she read the leaflet given to her.
Name: Tangerine. Female. Four years old. Ragdoll. Feed moderate amounts of cat food in the morning and at night. Water bowl must always be full. Clean kitty litter as needed. She is beautiful, mild-mannered, and likes interacting with people, and thus has a tendency to become clingy. Please maintain a certain distance from her. If you notice any strong side effects, such as hallucinations or delusions, please consult your physician. That’s all.
Tomoka felt a twitch in her cheek. It described the cat at home perfectly. She recalled countless times she’d experienced hallucinations and delusions. Maybe another cat would be too much to handle.
“Is everything okay, Ms. Takamine?” Seeming to sense Tomoka’s unease, the doctor peered at her intently. “It’s too much, isn’t it? You won’t be able to manage.”
“No, no, that’s not the case. I’ll be fine,” she said.
“Oh, good!” The doctor let out a chuckle. “Oh, by the way, if you’re going to take the cats in combination, please make sure to finish both completely. If you stop taking them halfway through, you’ll build a resistance to them, and they won’t be as effective. Chitose, will you bring the cat?”
He should have said that earlier. Before Tomoka could utter a word of complaint, another pet carrier arrived.
According to the Internet, this was apparently known as the night zoomies.
Tomoka was slumped on the floor while the cat darted around her with incredible speed. How can I make this cat stop? He was too fast to catch. Besides, cats were not creatures meant to be caught.
Tank’s body was like a mochi dumpling. No, more like melted cheese. The American shorthair launched himself from the sofa, bounded off the wall with a swift kick, and leaped onto the table—an acrobatic move she’d seen only in action movies. The force of his landing sent the tablecloth sliding, resulting in Tank tumbling to the floor, wrapped in cloth. Fully entangled, he thrashed about in a frenzy.
Tangerine, too, became agitated, clawing everything in sight. The two chased each other, toppling everything in their path. Their adorable, cream-puff-like paws had turned into dangerous weapons.
Tank jumped back onto the table, and from there he leaped onto the top of a kitchen cabinet. Tomoka, who had been watching in a daze, suddenly snapped to attention.
“Daigo, catch him. He could get hurt if he falls from such a high place.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Daigo, who had been immobilized by shock, reached out toward Tank, who had flattened himself in the small gap between the ceiling and the cabinet. Just as Daigo’s hand almost found the cat, Tank twisted his body and jumped from the cabinet like a spring-loaded toy. Daigo and Tomoka held their breath.
Tank landed gracefully, hardly making a sound. It was as if a cotton ball had fallen to the floor. His paw pads, so pink and fleshy and gel-like, absorbed the impact.
“It’s no use, Tomoka. Let’s just give up and get some sleep.” Daigo was nodding off.
Tomoka glared at him. All he’d done was chase Tank around, unable even to touch his tail. She alone had put in real effort to catch him, and as a result, her hands were covered in scratches.
Light gray coat with black stripes, perky ears, and an oval face. Tank, the American shorthair, was the cat described in the first leaflet she’d been given. He possessed a classical cuteness and a small, determined-looking mouth. His large frame exuded lively vigor.
Tank’s eyes were a light, yellowish-brown shade and held a beauty different from Tangerine’s blue eyes. Cat eyes were truly mysterious—when you viewed them from the side, half of the sphere appeared transparent. It was like peering through a glass marble.
After bringing Tank home from the clinic, Tomoka had tried to let him out of the carrier in the living room, but he’d immediately hidden in the corner of the carrier and refused to come out. They’d offered him food and water, but he’d remained in his corner, observing them. Unlike Tangerine, who’d warmed up to them on the first day, Tank seemed wary. As night fell and Tank still hadn’t emerged, Tomoka and Daigo left the two cats in the living room and turned off the light.
Then, at midnight, the zoomies began.
A curtain was halfway off its rod because Tank had been hanging from it, and there were scratch marks on the china cabinets. Tomoka had had no idea cats could be so wild. Even the usually calm Tangerine was tumbling around. She regretted leaving out the cushions, the mantel clock, and the fancy silverware case.
“Just leave them be. They’ll tire themselves out and fall asleep,” said Daigo.
“But not before they destroy the house…”
“Don’t worry—I’ll clean up tomorrow. I’ll tidy up the living room and give the American shorthair some exercise. He must be stressed, being in an unfamiliar house,” Daigo assured her.
“K-tan.”
“What?”
“I think the American shorthair’s nickname should be K-tan. The Ragdoll, Ta-tan,” explained Tomoka.
“Um, okay…I’ll make sure to play with K-tan.”
That’s right, Daigo’s at home day and night now. It dawned on Tomoka that she was the only one who needed to get enough sleep for tomorrow. Thankfully, Tank and Tangerine, seemingly satisfied, fell quiet.
When they awoke in the morning, the living room looked like a tornado had ripped through it. Daigo had promised to clean up, so Tomoka turned a blind eye and headed to the store. Despite her lack of sleep, she thought she could act like everything was normal.
As soon as Mitsuki saw her, she had something to say. “Is all that fur on your back part of the design of your top?”
