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Kusanagi Nene was the town’s local witch, a title whispered with both reverence and curiosity among the villagers.
She lived in a secluded cottage far from the village’s borders, nestled deep within a dense thicket where the trees grew tall and secrets ran deep. It was the kind of place few dared to tread unless they truly needed something from her. And even then, only the desperate or the bold knocked on her door. She liked it that way. Peaceful. Quiet.
Her only companion was a peculiar creature, a lanky feline with sleek, purple-tinted fur and yellow eyes that gleamed with mischief. He was an oddity, to be sure, but she loved him regardless. She had found him as a kitten, barely alive, floating down the river during a thunderstorm. Against all reason, she had waded into the churning waters to save him, bringing him home wrapped in her cloak.
Since then, he had been her constant shadow. She named him Rui. For years, Nene had lived in solitude, tending to her craft. The village sought her out when ailments spread or when crops withered too soon, and she obliged them. Her magic was subtle, soft—a whisper on the wind rather than a roaring fire. Healing salves, charms for good fortune, and the occasional spell for restful sleep.
In return, the villagers offered gratitude and the occasional loaf of fresh bread or basket of ripe fruit, though none lingered long enough to truly know her. And then came Ootori Emu. It started with a frantic knock on her door one evening, startling her from her reading. Nene rarely received visitors unannounced, and certainly not at this hour.
Peering through the peephole, she saw a girl with bright pink hair and an expression of barely contained excitement. Nene hesitated. Then, the girl knocked again, louder this time. “Kusanagi-san! I know you’re in there! Please open up!” Nene groaned. She could already feel a headache forming. Still, she unlatched the door, cracking it open just enough to glare at the intruder.
“What do you want?” Emu beamed at her. “Hi! I’m Emu!” “I know who you are,” Nene muttered. “You’re the village chief’s daughter.” “That’s me! I heard you’re really, really good at magic, and I wanted to see it for myself!”
Nene sighed. Of course. Another one of those people. She had long since grown used to those fascinated by the novelty of her craft rather than the necessity of it. Still, there was something about Emu’s wide-eyed curiosity that made it hard to simply shut the door in her face. “…Fine. But only for a few minutes.” That was her first mistake. Her second was allowing Emu to come back. Again. And again. Emu had a way of worming herself into places she didn’t belong. Into Nene’s home, into Rui’s cautious good graces, and—most frustratingly—into Nene’s heart.
At first, it was exhausting. Emu talked a lot. She had an endless supply of stories, ranging from ridiculous tales of adventure to equally ridiculous gossip about the villagers.
She asked a million questions about magic, her curiosity insatiable. Nene had never met someone so… persistent. And yet, over time, Emu’s presence became something of a comfort. The cottage, once quiet to the point of loneliness, was now filled with laughter. Emu brightened up the dim corners of Nene’s world, her energy boundless and infectious.
One evening, after months of friendship, Nene finally deemed Emu trustworthy enough to meet Rui. “This is my cat,” she said, holding Rui up for Emu to see. Emu gasped, eyes sparkling.
“KYAAA!!! RUI-KUN IS SO CUTE! I have a pet dog named Tsukasa! Maybe he and Rui can be best, best friends!”
Nene winced at the sheer volume of Emu’s enthusiasm, but she couldn’t bring herself to be annoyed. She watched as Emu gently reached out to pet Rui, who, for once, didn’t flee at the first sign of human contact. It was odd. Rui was cautious, much like Nene herself. Yet, here he was, allowing Emu to stroke his fur without a single hiss of protest. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who had been lonely.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks to months. Nene found herself looking forward to Emu’s visits, her presence now as natural as the rising sun.
They spent hours together—brewing potions, gathering herbs, talking about everything and nothing at all. Then, one evening, Nene said something truly catastrophic. They had been sitting outside, watching the fireflies dance in the twilight. Emu had leaned in close, grinning as she chattered about some silly story.
And then— “You’re cute.” The words had slipped out before Nene could stop them. Silence followed, thick and suffocating. Emu blinked at her, startled, and Nene felt her face heat up in realization. Oh no. OH NO. Her entire body flooded with embarrassment. Without thinking, she did the only logical thing. She teleported away.
Back to her house. Away from Emu. Away from this utter disaster of a moment. Heart pounding, Nene clutched Rui to her chest. “What did I just do?” she whispered, mortified. Rui blinked at her, unimpressed.
However it wasn’t long before loud knock shattered the moment.
“Nene-chan! You can’t just disappear after saying that!” Nene froze. She tracked me down?! She considered pretending not to be home, but that was pointless—Emu knew she was here.
Sighing, she opened the door just enough to peek out. Emu stood there, arms crossed, cheeks suspiciously pink. “…You called me cute,” Emu accused, though her voice lacked any real bite. Nene groaned, covering her face.
“Forget I said that.” “Nope. Not happening.” Emu stepped inside, uninvited, closing the door behind her. She was closer now, close enough that Nene could see the flicker of something softer in her expression.
“…Did you mean it?” Emu asked, voice quieter this time. Nene hesitated. Her instinct screamed at her to retreat, to brush it off. But when she met Emu’s kind gaze—hopeful, vulnerable—she found that she couldn’t.
“…Yeah,” she admitted, barely above a whisper. A beat passed. Then, Emu beamed, her entire face lighting up in a way that made Nene’s stomach twist into knots.
“I think you’re cute too.” Nene’s brain short-circuited. Before she could process what was happening, Emu leaned in, pressing the softest kiss to her lips.
It was warm, fleeting, but it sent a spark down Nene’s spine, leaving her breathless. Emu pulled back, grinning.
“See? You didn’t have to run away.” Nene, still stunned, exhaled shakily.
“…Maybe just a little.” Emu laughed, looping her arms around Nene’s waist.
“You’re stuck with me now, Nene-chan.”
And for once, Nene didn’t mind that at all.