Chapter Text
It was a particularly dreary day when Ena decided it would be a good idea to paint. Most painters liked beautiful lighting and detailed scenery, but Ena thought the bleak gray of the clouds and almost dead nature of the town made for its own interesting atmosphere. That, and she didn’t have to deal with people enjoying the weather and stumbling upon the strange scene.
A raven perched on her shoulder, reading a book she deliberately stationed to the left of her so that her talons wouldn’t bother Ena’s painting arm. The black feathers had hints of purple, making her look especially exotic and enamoring. This bird didn’t twitch or ruffle its feathers like an ordinary one; she stayed perfectly still, almost statuesque, while she continued to view the contents of the massive book laid out for her.
It seemed no matter what form Ena turned this creature into, she always caught the eyes of others. She once turned her into a toad, and to both her dismay and amazement, it was the most beautiful toad she’d ever seen. Completely unfair.
Yet, somehow, it was Ena herself that stirred the whispered curses and disgusted glares. The witch, some would whisper, ever since there had been evidence of magic being used in town. The claims weren’t based on anything other than her being a little antisocial and having a different animal watching over her everyday. Even some unrelated innocent folks were at the receiving end of the witch accusations for simply being a little out of the ordinary.
Of course, they weren’t entirely wrong about those speculations, but it wasn’t like Ena ever did anything malicious with her abilities—or anything useful either, for that matter.
And that was why this was the perfect day for Ena to paint. The sun wouldn’t be able to hit the bird’s feathers in the perfect way, and those eyes that were initially attracted by the strange animal wouldn’t inevitably land on her.
“Mafuyu, you’re gripping my shoulder too hard,” she muttered to the bird, to which she eased up almost immediately.
There were a lot of things that annoyed Ena about Mafuyu—she was popular, smart, perfect—but things like accidentally digging her talons into Ena’s flesh didn’t bother her at all. It just told her Mafuyu was getting a little anxious, maybe lost in her thoughts as time ticked on. If anything, it helped Ena conceptualize that Mafuyu had her own struggles, and even though she was currently a bird incapable of speech, she was a real person too.
Ena sighed, pulling away from her painting. She didn’t get much done, and the weather would probably be different tomorrow, but…
“I think we should stop here.” Mafuyu tilted her head, sending Ena a questioning look. “It’s windy, Mafuyu. And probably about to rain. Didn’t you notice?”
As if on cue, the pages of Mafuyu’s book flipped through, losing her place. Ena almost laughed until the gust of wind sent her easel toppling and brushes clattering all over the ground. Mafuyu flapped her wings as Ena quickly crouched down to recover her items. They were rolling all over the place, and she could definitely use an extra set of hands.
Without thinking of where Mafuyu was, she snapped her fingers, and with a poof, Mafuyu transformed into her usual human form. Luckily, she wasn’t suspended too high when Ena cast her spell. Unfortunately, she was certainly not on the ground and fell with an audible thump when she hit paved stone.
Ena didn’t have time for apologies, scrambling to pick everything up. Mafuyu eventually shook out of her daze and successfully helped her collect all of her fallen equipment.
“Stupid weather.”
“You could always paint when the weather is more favorable,” said Mafuyu with her dry monotone.
“And you can shut the hell up. Geez. I liked you more when you were a crow.”
“Raven.” Mafuyu picked up her book, closing it so the wind didn’t bend any of the pages. “Ravens have wedge-shaped tails and larger bills. Their wingspan is also—”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it.” She looked to her fallen easel, then the canvas in her arms, smearing wet paint against her cloak. That was fine. That was an easy fix. What was not an easy fix was the massive tear at the bottom.
“Ah, shit,” she cursed, putting her canvas down to inspect the damage. “This is the only cloak I have.”
“I can buy you another one.”
“Absolutely not. I don’t want your mommy’s money.”
“Then what about getting it fixed? I’m sure a tailor is still open.” She looked up at the sky, and Ena wasn’t sure how she could tell what time it was from the clouds blocking out the sun. Mafuyu always had a weird knack for telling the time, having to be overly conscious of it to return home before her mom threw a tantrum about her being out too late. It already looked a bit dark, but if Mafuyu said it wasn’t closing time yet, it wasn’t closing time yet.
It’s not like Ena had anything better to do anyway.
“Are you gonna come with me or return home? It’s getting close to your curfew, isn’t it?”
Mafuyu thought about that for a moment, eyes planning her route home. She shook her head. “I should be okay to join you.”
“Okay. What do you want this time? Dog? Butterfly? Another bird?”
Mafuyu shrugged. “I don’t care.”
The exact same response she received every time she asked. But that was okay, because that meant Ena got to choose.
“Alright. Then let’s get going.” She placed her canvas next to her fallen easel and pushed it under an overhang, then took Mafuyu’s book out of her hands.
“Why are you leaving your things here? Someone might take them.”
Ena laughed. “You seriously think anyone is going to think that’s worth stealing?”
Mafuyu opened her mouth to respond, but she was interrupted by Ena snapping her fingers, changing Mafuyu into a small cat with sleek dark fur, possessing the same tint of purple she had in her raven form. Her eyes were a breathtaking blue-purple, glaring daggers at Ena for cutting her off.
Ena grinned, readjusting Mafuyu’s book in her arms. “I’ll come back for it, don’t worry.”
Mafuyu trailed next to Ena as she searched the town for a tailor, attentively looking at signs and windows. Part-way through, the gray clouds decided to bless them with the gift of the Gods, showering them in life-giving rain. How lovely. Ena tucked her bag and Mafuyu’s book under her cloak, shielding them from the violent raindrops.
She had no idea how Mafuyu was faring. For all she knew, she may have been washed away by the onslaught of rain and wind, stuck in a gutter somewhere Ena had no chance of finding.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case, since she heard a meow off in the distance. Mafuyu wasn’t the most vocal person, whether she was human or a creature of Ena’s choice, so she must have been trying to get Ena’s attention. She followed the sound, or at least where she remembered it, and eventually found herself underneath cover, looking down at Mafuyu’s dripping fur.
She couldn’t help but feel a little bit satisfied at seeing Mafuyu turn into a literal sopping wet cat. From the way Mafuyu narrowed her eyes, Ena guessed she wasn’t too pleased with her current state.
“Just be glad your clothes can’t get messed up while you’re like that,” said Ena, letting her bag rest at the bend of her elbow so she could free a hand to ruffle up Mafuyu’s fur. She didn’t seem pleased with that either.
Ena looked around at her surroundings now that the rain wasn’t obscuring her vision. She couldn’t see anything through the downpour. She doubted she’d even be able to find her way home.
“What are we gonna do now?”
Mafuyu looked up at her, then pawed at the door they were standing in front of. Ena looked through the window, noticing the beautiful dresses and suits on display, as well as more casual wear. It seemed by some miracle, they actually managed to make it to their destination.
Ena pushed open the door, holding it for Mafuyu before she stepped inside and closed it behind her, ringing a bell above her head. The incessant patter of rain quieted significantly compared to how it sounded outside. At least now she could hear herself think.
“Woah, you look a mess,” said the store clerk, leaning back in her chair with wide, pink eyes. Her hair was a similar color, tied up in a side ponytail. She stepped past the counter, hovering her hands over Ena as if unsure how to help.
“It’s fine,” Ena muttered. “I just need something fixed.”
“Seems like you need a lot more than that,” she laughed, and only after did she realize the unprofessionalism of it. “S-Sorry. That was… What can I help you with?”
“How much is it for you to fix my cloak? It got caught on something and tore.”
“Depends on the damage and how much I have to fix up. Can you show me?”
Ena lifted the bottom of her cloak, aware of the water dripping on the floorboards below. “Sorry about the mess,” she apologized.
“Oh, it’s no problem. The floors needed a good rinse anyway. And your cloak doesn’t look too bad. It’s a little too damp for me to make out any other damage, so I’ll wait for it to dry before I give you a relative price.”
Ena wasn’t sure what she would do if it was out of her price range. She’d barely been able to keep herself afloat with the little she was making from her paintings and side hustle, and she already had to begrudgingly accept most of the handouts Mafuyu gave her.
“Can you hand me that real quick?” asked the clerk. She pointed to a broom leaning against a wall.
It was a small request, but the moment Ena laid a hand on it, she realized the irony of the situation. The dark cloak. The broom. The sentient cat. All she was missing was the pointy hat and she’d be all too easily sussed out as a witch.
She quickly handed it to the clerk, to which she thanked her and began sweeping the floor. “You can just leave the cloak on the desk. And the rain doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon, so you can set your stuff down. I don’t mind the company.”
Ena did as she said and watched as she tried to push the water Ena tracked in back out of the shop, but to no avail. After a few more attempts, the girl simply sighed and gave up.
“Looks like we’ll just have to wait for that to dry up too,” she laughed. “Oh, I never got your name. I’m Mizuki.”
“Ena.” She looked around at the displays, gawking at the design work of the different clothes. This was high quality stuff. She suddenly had major doubts about being able to afford the repair. Maybe she was better off just dealing with the damage or trying to fix it up herself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ena. Oh- hang on. Is that a cat?”
Ena followed the direction she was looking in, finding Mafuyu sitting politely in the corner, simply spectating as she and Mizuki conversed. Her fur was still messed up, not having straightened out yet despite them being free from the rain.
“Uh- yeah. Sorry. I should’ve asked if animals were allowed.”
“No, no. It’s fine.” Mizuki smiled excitedly, crouching down to get on a similar level to Mafuyu. “Poor thing. All soaking wet from the rain.”
“She’s fine.” Ena crossed her arms, huffing out a breath.
Mizuki’s eyes met Ena’s, and for a moment, her heart felt like it skipped a few beats.
“She’s yours?”
“U-Uh… No. She just follows me around everywhere I go.” Ena pressed her hand against her chest, wondering what just happened.
“Ah, I see. Well, she’s very cute. Aren’t you?” Mizuki reached her hand out to pet the top of Mafuyu’s head, only receiving a clawless swat to warn her off.
“I think she hears that enough.” Ena tried not to sound bitter about it, but she couldn’t help the way disdain seeped into her words.
Mizuki finally turned their attention away from Mafuyu again. “Aw, Ena, be nice. She’s just a little kitty cat. But if she’s following you around so much, it must mean she likes you.”
Mafuyu walked over to Ena, less as an agreement to Mizuki’s words and more as a way to escape any other attempts of being pet by the stranger. Mizuki made pspsps noises at her, but Mafuyu only seemed more confused, probably never having properly interacted with a real cat in her life.
With a sigh, Ena crouched down and scooped Mafuyu up, keeping her still despite the squirming and claws threatening to scratch her arms. “Maybe. She’s not very good with people she doesn’t trust. She’s got a pretty lousy owner.”
Ena ignored the glance Mafuyu sent her way and instead kept her focus on Mizuki.
“Oh, so she’s not a stray?” She stood in front of Ena, so close that the lingering scent of rainwater was overpowered by whatever floral perfume Mizuki put on that day.
“She might as well be,” said Ena, loosening her hold once it felt like Mafuyu finally accepted her fate. “Here, you can pet her. She’s calmed down, and I’m sure she’ll be on her best behavior now.”
Mafuyu let out a resentful huff, then rested her chin on Ena’s arm in defeat. She would have felt a little bad about it if it weren’t for the way Mizuki’s eyes lit up, grinning from ear to ear like a child.
“Really? I thought you said she didn’t like being touched by people she doesn’t know.”
She didn’t, but that excitement in Mizuki’s eye at the mere prospect of petting a cat was too hard to resist. Surely Mafuyu would understand.
“You don’t mind, do you, Yuki?” said Ena, using the alias Mafuyu came up with to maintain her anonymity.
Mafuyu remained listless in her arms, making Ena wish she acted a little more enthusiastically about it. She was starting to resemble a dying animal from her lack of movement and disheveled fur.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got the magic touch when it comes to cats.” Mizuki leaned down to get closer to Mafuyu, flashing a friendly smile to put her at ease. “Hi, Yuki. I’m Mizuki. I’m not gonna hurt ya.”
Mizuki brought their well-manicured hand closer to her, so gently, so careful as not to startle her, until her fingers brushed the top of the cat’s head. Ena could feel the tension in Mafuyu’s muscles, and she wasn’t sure if she pushed her a step or two too far for her own enjoyment.
As soon as the guilt finally began to overwhelm her and she was about to pull Mafuyu away from Mizuki, she felt a mild rumble in her arms and saw how Mafuyu leaned into the scratches they gave her behind her ears.
“No kitty can resist the power of some good ol’ ear scritches.” They smiled up at Ena, clearly proud of themself. Ena couldn’t help but smile back.
As much as Ena would have loved to see Mafuyu in an uncharacteristically relaxed state, her eyes couldn’t seem to leave the sight of Mizuki’s impossibly soft expression. Their pink eyes had a glossy sheen, almost wistful in a way. The corners of their lips lifted only slightly—not exaggerated into an insincere display of enjoyment but a tell that they were truly content in this very moment. It was a type of beauty that made Ena’s hands twitch, eager to get a brush between her fingers to immortalize such a tender scene.
All too soon, Mizuki pulled away, putting a professional distance between them. “Sorry about that. Cats don’t usually visit the store, so I got a little excited.”
“It’s fine.” Ena found herself unintentionally rubbing her thumb along Mafuyu’s fur, maybe hoping it would calm the pounding of her heart. “I can… bring her with me again, if you’d like.”
“Really? I’d love that! Only if Yuki is okay with it, of course.”
Ena looked down for Mafuyu’s confirmation or denial, instead finding her drifting in and out of consciousness, no doubt an effect from her finally being able to rest after overworking herself all day. She probably didn’t hear a thing they were talking about.
“I don’t think she minds,” Ena logically assumed. She looked out the window, noticing the downpour slowing down. As much as she was enjoying her time here, it was likely for the best that she got Mafuyu home before her curfew.
“It’s getting a bit late.” Ena approached her bag and Mafuyu’s book, wondering how she was going to avoid both of them from getting soaked without her cloak to protect them from the rain.
“Yeah, it is. Thanks for stopping by.” Mizuki lifted the items off the counter, handing them to Ena. “Here’s your bag and… book? Anatomical sciences? You some kind of scholar?”
Ena let out a quiet groan, holding onto the sleeping cat in her arms a little tighter. “No, it’s for… the cat.”
Mizuki blinked.
“I’m kidding. It’s my friend’s. She left it with me after running an errand and forgot to pick it up.”
“Ah…” Mizuki nodded, buying into the lie. “It’d be a shame for all this stuff to get wet.” She smiled that charming smile of hers. “How about this? I’ll keep it here for the night and watch over it until you can pick it up tomorrow. I’ll be on constant patrol!”
“Is that okay?” If it was an upcharge, Ena didn’t think she’d be able to afford it. “I don’t think I have enough on me right now to—”
“It’s on the house.” She winked and walked behind the counter, setting Ena’s belongings down somewhere out of sight. “Think of it as a free trial for the Akiyama Mizuki security service.”
That got a giggle out of Ena, but she quickly cleared her throat to stop the unpleasant noise.
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Will do.” She gave Ena a wave as she exited the shop.
Mafuyu was still fast asleep in her arms; maybe it was the adorable sight swaying her mood or that pleasant interaction she had with a complete stranger, but she decided not to wake Mafuyu and made the arduous trek to the Asahina house herself.