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The quiet afternoon was interrupted by the voice Denji would have never thought to hear.
"You're home," he breathed out.
The statement was a collective word of wonder, surprise, and relief. The feline before him meowed back as if to acknowledge him before she went to rub herself over Denji's calf.
Denji picked her up, examining her. He didn't know how long he had gone, how long time had passed since the last time he saw the cat. It felt like forever, and he was unwilling to learn more.
A part of him was ashamed that the creature in his arms was the last thing that ever crossed his mind. In fact, Denji did not think about Meowy at all. With everything that happened, there was no space left in his brain for her to occupy.
"Having a rough day, buddy?" Denji scratched her neck. Meowy purred in response, leaning to the touch. Her white fur resembled dirty snow, her paws were covered in dirt, and she looked like she hadn't eaten proper meals for days.
The cat meowed sadly.
You and me both.
"Let's get you cleaned up, Meowy," Denji pushed the door with his foot before he walked towards the bathroom. Meowy had to understand what Denji was about to do because she sat calmly once he put her down.
It didn't take long before Denji finished cleaning her up, drying her fur with the Power's hairdryer (Power might be one messy and unhygienic fiend, but she cared a lot about her pet more than she wanted to admit), and now he had her eating a bowl of wet food.
Denji watched as Meowy munched her tuna-flavored meal, and a memory flashed before his eyes.
"How do you know she would like tuna?"
"Because Meowy is my cat!"
"Why don't we try mackerel? Maybe she will like it more?"
"Or maybe, you will? I saw you try to lick the can yesterday, Denji!"
"Did you, Denji?"
"No! I mean, I'm just testing it. What if it isn't the standardized food grade? Meowy's health is at stake!"
"I can cook us sardines if you really favor the mackerels. Just stop stealing Meowy's food."
"I did not steal it!"
Meowy meowed to announce that she had finished her bowl.
Denji blinked.
"You're really into tuna, huh?"
The cat didn't answer, but she proceeded licking her paw to suggest that the dinner was over and she had thoroughly enjoyed it.
Denji pushed another bowl filled with water to her direction.
Meowy stopped her licking.
"To wash down all those chums."
The cat flicked her tongue over the water a couple times before she resumed her previous licking session.
Denji sighed.
He stretched his limbs before plopping himself on the tatami. He was just observing the ceiling when he felt a bundle of fur nuzzling his middle, half-climbing unto his stomach.
"Meow," the cat greeted him, kneading her paws over his shirt. Denji glanced at her before he picked her up to make her sit on his chest.
Meowy settled herself, purring loudly.
Another memory flashed before his eyes.
The yesterday he longed more than he cared to admit. The peace he had been craving for.
The old times. The good times.
Where Aki was sitting in this very same room, reading the newspaper. Power, trying to disrupt the calm evening by doing whatever weird things she was doing.
And Meowy, who had become surprisingly fond of Denji, glued herself on him.
"Meowy is my cat!"
"Boohoo, she liked me more!"
"Just because Meowy sleeps with you twice doesn't mean she likes you more!"
"Make it thrice!"
"No!"
"Can it you too!"
Meowy rested her chin on Denji's chest, eyes open, staring at him, as if she could read his mind.
"Meow," she said.
Denji nodded.
"Yeah, I miss you, too," he said.
He would say that he missed Power and Aki too, but what's the use?