A week had passed.
The chime signaling the lunch break rang throughout the classroom, immediately followed by the cheerful chatter of students as they hurriedly opened their lunch boxes. The mingling aromas of homemade food filled the air, and before long my own stomach began to growl in protest.
I sat in the third row, second seat from the front. Or rather, it was right in the middle of the classroom.
Beside me was Megumi—my close friend, who almost always had lunch together with me. She had this quirky habit whenever she didn't like her vegetables, she would casually place them onto my plate, as if it were an unspoken rule between us. In return, I sometimes gave her a piece of side dish from my own bento. Little exchanges like that had, at some point, become second nature to us.
I reached into the bag hanging behind my chair and pulled out a green lunchbox with a white lid. Placing it on the desk, I was just about to untie the cloth wrapping when—
"Mi~dorii, how are you? Feeling better now?"
That cheerful voice suddenly rang out, as if she had appeared out of nowhere. And as usual, she called my name in that familiar singsong tone. Not that I disliked it... but every time she addressed me that way, it felt like I was being treated as her little sisters.
I slowly lifted my gaze. On my right side, Megumi stood there, her bright eyes sparkling with energy as she looked at me.
"Well, more or less..." I answered, forcing a small smile in return.
Her name was Megumi Aika. A girl full of cheer, energy, and an endless supply of smiles. Her presence was like sunlight slipping into the monotonous routine of school life—not so dazzling as to be overwhelming, but enough to make the entire classroom feel different simply because she was there.
"Thank goodness... I was really worried, you know!" Megumi let out a sigh of relief, lowering her shoulders slightly. "Inari-sensei said you were in a serious accident. It was even on the news. I caught a glimpse of it, but... I couldn't bring myself to watch the rest. I was too scared..."
"Um, it's probably better if you don't," I replied.
Suddenly, the sound of chairs scraping against the floor echoed all around me. In an instant, several classmates had stood up and crowded around my desk, their faces brimming with curiosity.
"Hey, Midori! They said you actually survived that accident?!"
"Come on, tell us! Was it just like something out of a drama?"
Questions flew at me one after another, as if they couldn't wait to hear the story straight from my mouth.
Megumi, who had been standing beside me the whole time, was clearly getting pushed aside by the crowd. With her hands planted firmly on her hips, she glared at them.
"Alright, that's enough! Go back to your seats and eat your bentos quietly. If you keep being this noisy, Midori won't be able to rest at all!"
Her tone carried the weight of a class rep scolding mischievous students. Strangely enough, even though she didn't hold any position of authority, everyone obediently shuffled back to their desks one by one.
"Geez, honestly... kids these days," Megumi sighed, folding her arms across her chest before turning back to me with her usual bright smile. "Well then, let's eat together, Midori!"
Ta-daah!!
Both our lunchboxes opened almost at the same time.
My lunch today was simple, two sandwiches layered with lettuce and meat, plus three pieces of karaage that still looked tempting, their oil glistening under the light. Megumi's bento, on the other hand, was bursting with color. Two tiny onigiri with adorable smiling faces, three golden slices of tamagoyaki, two fragrant pieces of grilled salmon, and a side of broccoli with carrot slices cut into star shapes. In the corner of the box sat a shiny red strawberry, almost like a decorative final touch.
"That's a lot... are you really planning to eat all of that?" I asked, slipping a piece of karaage into my mouth with my chopsticks.
"That's why..." Megumi slid her chopsticks toward her own bento and, in one swift motion, moved a slice of salmon, a piece of tamagoyaki, and the broccoli-and-star-shaped carrot into my box. "I'll share this part with you, Midori!"
"W–wait... don't just dump it all on me! I can't possibly finish everything if you give me this much," I protested quickly.
"Besides, vegetables are good for you, you know." I added firmly.
"No way... they're bitter. I just can't swallow them," Megumi pouted.
While we were bickering back and forth, I suddenly felt someone's gaze on me from behind. That person stood up from his seat and began walking over. I already knew who it was.
"What's going on here, why so noisy? Hisaka, mind if I join you guys for lunch?"
"Eh? Ah... s-sure, I guess," I answered a bit awkwardly.
"Yosh, got permission!" His face immediately lit up like a little kid who had just won a prize.
His name was Inui Takumi, a smart boy who always sat at the very back of the classroom. I never really knew why he chose that spot. But one thing was certain—he was the kind of person who could befriend just about anyone with ease.
"Hey, Takumi!" Megumi glared at him while still chewing. "If you're going to join us, shouldn't you ask how Midori's doing first? At least say something! Don't just sit down like that. That's rude, you know!"
Takumi, who had already settled into his seat, suddenly pressed his palms together in front of his chest and lowered his head slightly.
"Sorry, sorry! My bad. Hisaka, I'm really glad you're doing better."
Megumi stared at him for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "Good grief... saying sorry like that while sitting down makes you look like you're begging for extra side dishes."
"And besides, you're a boy. Why are you eating with girls? Don't you feel embarrassed?" Megumi squinted her eyes at him, still chewing, clearly annoyed.
"It's fine, Megumi. Really," I quickly stepped in, trying to defuse the tension.
Takumi clapped his hands together enthusiastically. "In that case... Itadakimaasu~!"
Megumi puffed her cheeks and stuffed a piece of tamagoyaki into her mouth. "Hmph, what a weirdo. But I'll let it slide this time."
As the three of us enjoyed our lunch together, I ended up giving away the side dish Megumi had earlier forced into my bento.
"Here, Takumi. You can have this," I said, placing it into his lunchbox.
"Eh? R-Really?" Takumi looked flustered, but the happiness on his face was obvious.
"Hisaka! That was supposed to be for you!" Megumi protested, her eyes widening in frustration.
I just chuckled, trying to steer the mood back into something lighthearted. Takumi gave an awkward laugh as well, though he still seemed unsure what to do.
But just as I was about to take a bite of my own food, my chopsticks suddenly slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor.
"Ah... sorry, sorry," I muttered, bowing my head in embarrassment.
"Oh geez, Midori... Hold on a sec, I'll go grab a spare pair of chopsticks from my desk," Megumi said as she quickly stood up.
I bent down, intending to pick up the chopsticks I had dropped. But there, at the tip, a tiny ant had already crawled up. A single grain of rice clung to the chopsticks, and the ant seemed busy sniffing at it.
And then, somehow, a strange voice rang out clearly inside my head—
"Food detected!!"
I froze. That voice... it was definitely coming from the ant.
"Looks like it came from that human... Before he takes it back, I have to claim this food!"
Wordlessly, I picked the grain of rice off my fallen chopsticks, carefully pinched it together, and placed it right in front of the ant.
"...Here, you can have it," I whispered.
The ant paused for a moment, then quickly bit into the lump of rice. But its tiny body immediately stopped in place—it was obvious it couldn't lift something nearly six times bigger than itself.
"Ugh... no way you can do it alone..." I muttered without thinking. "Try calling your friends."
The ant suddenly froze. Its antennae twitched nervously before that strange voice echoed again.
"Eh? Just now... did this human talk to me? No way. That's impossible. I must've misheard..."
"What is it, Midori? Did you find something down there?" Takumi asked, peering curiously at me.
"N-no, nothing at all." I hurriedly straightened up, pulled my chair in, and sat back down as if nothing had happened—doing my best to hide the panic that had just surged through me.
Not long after, Megumi returned with light steps, holding a spare pair of chopsticks in her hand.
"Here, use mine for now."
"Thanks," I said, accepting them with my right hand.
But the moment the chopsticks touched my palm, Megumi's eyes drifted down to my fingers. Her gaze widened slightly.
"Eh? That's a nice ring... Where'd you buy it, Midori?"
"Oh, this..."
***
A week ago, at the hospital—
After the commotion caused by that cat, I lay back down and tried closing my eyes again. My body still felt unbearably heavy, as though every last bit of energy had been drained away.
Father had stayed with me for a while, but eventually he returned to the next room... the one where Mother was being treated.
Right, Mother's room was only two doors away from mine. Maybe that was why my shout yesterday had reached her so clearly.
"Was that... really just an ordinary cat...? Haaah..." I muttered under my breath, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
"Still thinking about it, Midori?"
I flinched. That voice—clear and undeniable—wasn't just in my head.
My eyes darted toward the hospital door, left slightly ajar... and there, a black cat calmly stepped inside.
My heart pounded wildly. Even though I had already seen it before, I still couldn't get used to hearing a cat speak in human language.
"Wrong..."
It walked slowly toward the bed, then with a light leap, landed gracefully on top. Sitting neatly right in front of me, its tail swayed gently from side to side.
"It's not that I can speak human language," it said while scratching its body, "it's that you can understand the language of animals."
"Ehh?? M-me...? How's that possible? Could it be... that accident messed up my brain?"
"Yeah, no way," it replied casually. "What a dumb kid... though I'll admit, even for a dumb kid, you're pretty sharp." Meow~
"Haah, seriously. I thought you were the quiet, easy-to-understand type," he muttered as it rubbed its face with its front paw, clearly looking uninterested in humoring me.
"B-but still... anyone would freak out if they heard a cat talking in human language!" I blurted out, half on the verge of yelling.
"Okay, I'll give you that one."
"Then... why do I have to go through all of this? Don't tell me... this whole mess is your fault?"
The words slipped out before I realized it, even though at first they had only echoed inside my chest. I knew it wasn't fair, I knew I was wrong to say it. And yet—the part of me that still couldn't accept everything kept refusing to stay silent.
"Now that's just slander. Calm down yourself, and listen carefully, Midori."
It paused for a moment, its sharp eyes seeming to pierce straight into my mind.
"Everything that happens in this world... none of it is coincidence. It is all part of something called fate."
"Of course I understand that. The real question is... why me? Why iam the one who can suddenly understand the language of animals?" I asked, my face scrunching in frustration.
"It's all because of the ring you're wearing. Just so you know... that ring isn't some ordinary trinket."
Its words sounded so casual, as if all these bizarre events were nothing unusual in this world. That only made me more curious.
To be sure, I ran my fingers over the ring, tracing every tiny engraving along its surface. Eventually, an urge welled up inside me—what if I just pulled it off? Maybe all these strange curses would finally come to an end.
"It's useless... you won't be able to take it off."
"Then what if I grow older? My finger will get stuck!" I panicked, shaking my hand desperately.
The cat suddenly lowered its head, its expression turning somber. Its yellow eyes narrowed, as though it was imagining something terrifying.
"Well... if that time ever comes... then your finger will have to be cut off."
"EEEEHHHHHHH??!! No way! I don't want that to happen!!" I screamed, nearly exploding.
"Of course not!!" it snapped back sharply, its tail bristling upright. "Didn't I just tell you? That's no ordinary ring!"
"Then what am I supposed to dooo..." My voice cracked as I began bawling, sobbing like a little kid who had just lost his favorite toy.
The cat let out a long sigh, then rubbed its face with its paw as if exasperated. "Good grief... what a noisy brat. Listen to my explanation first before you start crying." Meow~
"You've got some nerve calling me noisy... you're the one who's been yapping this whole time!" My voice was hoarse, but I still forced myself to protest. "What a cruel black cat you are!"
Tears streamed down my cheeks like a river struck by a sudden storm.
"Don't start crying over every little thing, you brat."
The cat's voice carried irritation, yet for some reason, there was also a faint trace of pity hidden within it.
"Here, listen carefully." He flicked his tail once, as if to emphasize his words.
"That ring won't ever trap your finger. It'll grow along with you, adjusting to the size of your hand. Got it?"
I stopped crying instantly. Tears still clung to my cheeks, but my mind was locked onto those words.
"Then… what's next? What should I do?" I asked, wiping away the remnants of my tears.
The cat padded across my bedsheet, each tiny step pressing against me, before hopping onto the table and sitting calmly there. His yellow eyes shifted toward the bowl of porridge that had just been delivered earlier.
"As for that… I don't know either," he said casually, licking the back of his paw. "I was only assigned to accompany whoever wears that ring. Meow~"
"Huh? I thought you were the one who put this ring on my finger…" I said in surprise.
"Do you really think a cat could do that?" he snorted, lowering his head briefly before fixing his gaze back on me. "I only arrived here once you regained consciousness."
"Then… who was it?" I asked, my voice trembling.
The black cat watched the ants crawling across the table, his eyes tracking each tiny movement. "Most likely, the one who saved you. Don't you remember anything from back then?"
I forced myself to dig through the fragments of my memory. Though the images were blurry, there were pieces I could still recall.
"At that time… this ring suddenly rolled in front of me. Then… I heard footsteps approaching, along with the noisy voices of people around…"
"I see… well then, it can't be helped," the cat muttered, almost like a sigh.
His eyes shifted back to the table—straight to the ants crawling ceaselessly across its surface.
"With that ring, you can hear the conversations of every creature."
I looked down at the ring again, trying to confirm the truth in his words.
"You can already hear my voice. Now, try focusing on those ants. Can you hear them?"
Slowly, I tore my gaze away from the cat and fixed it on the ants scurrying across the table. On the outside, my stare might have looked empty, but in reality, I was desperately trying to dive deeper, to grasp what the cat meant. Yet it felt pointless. My face only showed a faint trace of frustration, as if I no longer had the strength to try.
"Don't rush. It's always difficult at first. Perhaps it's because of your current condition," he said calmly, watching me with composed eyes.
"With this ring… what exactly am I supposed to do?" I asked, doubt weighing down my voice.
"I don't know either."
"Then what's the point of you being here?!" I snapped, eyes wide, yelling at him like a master scolding their pet cat.
"I told you already, I don't know, you brat!" the cat pouted, ears folding back in annoyance.
"Tch, what's with that? I thought you were some kind of super cat, but turns out you're just a loudmouth!" I huffed loudly and turned my face away, cheeks puffed in irritation.
"Haaah…" the cat let out a long sigh, as though releasing a burden it had carried for ages. Its eyelids closed for a brief moment before slowly opening again.
"I don't know who the previous owner was," he said gently, though his tone was laced with secrecy. "But what's certain is that the ring once belonged to a single man. A king—wealthier than any other in his era… a figure so feared and respected that every living being bowed before him. Humans, beasts, even the jinn themselves submitted to his will."
He looked at me deeply, his golden pupils catching the lamplight, as if reflecting flashes of an ancient history that had just awakened.
"He is… King Solomon."
The moment I heard that name, it felt like a strong gust of wind brushed against my face. The name rang strangely familiar, as though it had echoed in my ears before.
"But somehow, humans of this era managed to find it. It should've been buried with time long ago," the cat continued, its voice laced with secrecy.
That's right… I remember now. King Solomon. That name was clearly written in a history book called Solomon Gate's—a book I had recently read. So the sacred treasures of the great king really did exist—and this ring was one of them.
But why did it have to end up with me? Was this some kind of new destiny I was being forced to carry? I mean… I'm only in fourth grade!
"Why are you suddenly looking so shocked? Don't tell me… you know something?" the cat asked, narrowing its eyes at me.
Wait—hold on… Did he just say Djinn?
That means—
"Relax." His voice slipped into my thoughts as if he were reading them. "The ring will adjust itself to the growth of its master. For now, neither you nor they will not be connected."
"Thank goodness…" I let out a long sigh, my shoulders dropping in relief. "For a second, I thought I was about to turn into some kind of… yokai slayer or something."
"Of course not!" the cat snapped, his mouth wide open in protest.
I fell silent for a moment, trying to recall where I had put that history book, Solomon Gate's. But after thinking it through, chances were it had already been confiscated by the police as evidence.
Haah… I guess I don't have any choice but to buy a new one, I muttered to myself in thought.
"Hey, why are you sighing like that… are you still upset?"
"Yeah, maybe… a little."
"By the way, what's your name—if you don't mind me asking?" I said, glancing at him as he continued to sit calmly on the table.
"Name? I don't know what my name is… I don't have one."
"That's kinda sad," I replied.
Now that I thought about it, I finally noticed his appearance more clearly. His fur was gray, and his eyes shone a golden yellow. But the strange part was the two thick black stripes on his eyebrows—it looked exactly like he was constantly frowning.
I had never seen a cat like this before. Could that be why he got irritated so easily?
The more I looked at him, the more I had to bite back laughter. With his grumpy attitude and short temper, he resembled a middle-aged man more than a cat.
"Hey! Why are you staring at me like that? Something weird about me, huh?"
His sharp voice only fueled my imagination, making it harder to keep a straight face.
"What's so funny, you brat? What are you laughing at, huh?"
"Pffft… hahaha! Sorry, sorry! I just can't take it—the stripes on your eyebrows! You look like some furious, hot-tempered cat!"
His eyes narrowed, a dark shadow seeming to cloud his face, his aura turning gloomier by the second.
"You… what did you just say? Are you mocking me?"
"If you don't believe me, go look in the mirror yourself!"
"No way. I won't fall for such a cheap joke." He lowered his head slightly, as if resigned to his fate.
"Didn't see that coming…" I muttered under my breath.
The cat leapt down from the table, landed softly on my bed, and walked toward the window. He sat right in the middle, gazing outside, his fine fur swaying gently in the evening breeze.
"In that case… how about I give you a name? Would you like that?" I asked.
Meow~
"No. You'll just give me some weird, ridiculous name, won't you?" he snapped.
"Don't be so pessimistic! I'll give you a cool name… something awesome! Trust me!"
I spoke with confidence, giving him a big thumbs-up. My eyes sparkled—as if tiny stars were shining inside them.
"Alright, let's start. How about… Inazuma?" I asked eagerly.
"No." His reply was quick, without even turning his head.
"Then… Kuroko?"
"No." Still curt, his tail flicking in annoyance.
I tapped my chin, pretending to think deeply.
"Hmm… Battori?"
He shot me a withering look. "Where on earth did you come up with that absurd idea?"
"What? So you want it?" I smiled hopefully.
"No." His voice grew even firmer.
"Okay then… how about Kurogami? Sounds cool, right?" My eyes lit up.
"Hmph. That sounds more like the name of a god-cat. But I'm no god."
"Then… Kuroneko! Cute, isn't it? Hehe—"
"Kuroneko? That sounds more like an insult." His piercing gaze made it seem like he was about to claw me.
"Isn't there a name that actually sounds nice?" he sighed in exasperation.
"A nice-sounding name, huh…" I placed my finger on my chin, staring up at the ceiling as if trying to draw inspiration from the universe itself.
For a moment, I furrowed my brows in mock seriousness. Then suddenly, I clapped my hands as though struck by divine revelation.
"Ah, I've got it!"
The cat immediately looked at me with suspicion, his ears twitching.
I spoke the name to him with all my heart—there was no mockery, no hidden malice. The name itself felt like a whisper from nature. Even the universe seemed to approve, as the golden light of the evening sun streamed through the window, shining like divine radiance.
"I've found it," I declared solemnly.
It was a name he was bound to like. The instant it slipped from my lips, the air grew still. He looked… moved. Maybe I was exaggerating, but his eyes trembled, as though on the verge of tears. The name I gave him was—
***
"Pirika."
I spoke it with conviction, standing before Megumi, Takumi, and the gray cat perched atop the square-shaped fence, like a guardian statue of the school.
My two friends reacted very differently—Megumi covered her mouth with a smile, while Takumi raised his brows, clearly holding back a remark.
Meanwhile, the cat only gave me a sidelong glance, his golden eyes gleaming.
"Pirika-chan, huh… such a cute name," Megumi said in awe, her eyes sparkling as she reached out, as if to stroke his soft fur.
Takumi, however, kept staring at the cat, scrutinizing every detail of its colors, its shape—and most notably, the strange markings above its eyes.
"This cat doesn't seem ordinary…" His muttered words froze me on the spot. Was he serious… or just guessing at random?
"Heeh, you've got sharp intuition for a brat," Pirika grumbled in the voice of a cranky old man, his ears twitching in irritation.
"Where did you get this cat, Hisaka?" Takumi asked.
"Ah… um, I picked him up when he was just a kitten. I raised him all by myself," I answered half-heartedly. Please, let him believe that…
"Really? When was that…" Takumi pressed, glancing my way. His sharp eyes carried suspicion. Ugh, why did he even need to know? Was it really that important?
"What a troublesome kid," Pirika interrupted with a snort, his tail flicking.
"Does it even matter?" Megumi cut in sharply, her cheeks puffing ever so slightly.
She turned to Pirika, stroking his head affectionately. "Look at him, isn't he adorable? He doesn't even get mad when I pet him~"
Pirika only snorted again, his tail swaying lazily. Meow~
"I like this girl, hehe," Pirika said with a wide grin, flashing his tiny fangs. I instantly narrowed my eyes at him, sharp as a kitchen knife.
Not long after, a white car pulled up by the roadside. Inside, Megumi's mother waved her hand.
"Mom's here. I'll head home first!" Megumi called out, jogging over to the car while waving back at us.
Silence lingered for a moment after the car drove away.
"Sorry, Hisaka… for making things confusing," Takumi muttered hesitantly. His face looked normal, but his eyes weren't really on me—they seemed to be searching for some other answer.
"It's fine," I replied casually.
"So, um… Hisaka… well, you see…"
Takumi scratched at his reddened cheek, his eyes darting from my feet, up to the sky, and back again.
"What's with this brat? So indecisive. Don't tell me he wants something from you," Pirika whispered with a snort.
I kept my eyes on Takumi. From how restless he looked, I could already guess what he wanted to say. But if I guessed it before he spoke, he'd probably think I was some kind of esper again.
"Hisaka!!"
His sudden shout startled me, almost like he was yelling.
"Do you… want to walk home with me!?"
A bright red blush spread across his cheeks. His small hands clutched tightly onto the strap of his bag, as if it were the only thing holding his courage together so he wouldn't run away.
"I knew it. Still just a kid, yet already thinking about love. Ridiculous," Pirika scoffed, her tail flicking.
I took a quiet breath, then looked straight at Takumi, who was waiting anxiously for my answer, his face filled with hope.
"I'm sorry… I can't," I said, trying to make my words as gentle as possible. "There's somewhere I need to go after this. So… you should head home first, Takumi."
His expression dimmed immediately, like a lamp losing its light. He tried to smile, but it only came out awkward.
"Oh… ah, I see. Alright then, I'll head home first."
He forced a wide grin and waved at me. "See you tomorrow, Hisaka!"
I waved back, watching his small figure walk away slowly. That smile of his looked so bright, but I still hoped my words hadn't left a scar in his heart.
"Honestly, he's just a kid and already feeling things like that," Pirika muttered. Her pupils reflected the fading figure of Takumi in the distance.
The truth was, I was heading in the same direction as Takumi. But my plan after school today was to stop by the bookstore. I wanted to buy the next volume of Solomon Gate's and continue the story.
"Alright then, let's go, Pirika."
The black cat leapt lightly down from the fence and walked beside me, her tail swaying in rhythm with my steps.
"Oi, Midori, do we really have to buy the book right now?" she asked in a lazy tone.
"I want to read the continuation. The sooner, the better," I said while slipping a glove onto my right hand.
"What's the glove for?" Pirika tilted her head in curiosity.
I glanced down at my palm for a moment, then answered softly, as though whispering a secret.
"This ring… it's a priceless ancient relic. And I'm certain something like this must have once belonged to an organization—or maybe even a major corporation."
The green glove fit snugly around each of my fingers, hiding the gleam of the ring that seemed to shine through the fabric, desperate to reveal itself.
"That's why, for my safety… and for my family's, I have to keep it hidden." I ended with a calm smile directed at Pirika.
"Heeh, Midori really is a clever kid," Pirika said with a sly grin, her eyes narrowing in admiration.
"To think you're only in the fourth grade, yet you're already thinking like an adult."
She's unusually calm today, I thought to myself.
"Come on, let's go to the bookstore…"
And so, Pirika and I walked side by side along the sidewalk, searching for the answers hidden within the missing pages that had yet to be read.
To be continued…