The morning sun painted the house in gold as the sisters stood by the front door in their freshly bought outfits. Their tails flicked nervously, ears twitching at every sound.
"Lunchboxes packed, notebooks ready, uniforms neat—" their mother counted off with a proud smile.
"Shoes tied," their father added, crouching down to check Mika's laces. "Mika, double knot them this time. We don't need you tripping on the first day."
"I won't trip!" Mika said, puffing her chest. A second later, she stumbled on the doorstep. "Okay, that doesn't count."
Nari groaned. "We're gonna be late because of you, idiot."
Sayo adjusted her cardigan calmly. "Let's just go. Being early is better than standing here arguing."
Yua lingered by the door, clutching her bag tightly. Her tail curled around her leg, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if… they stare?"
"They will stare," Sayo replied bluntly. Then, softer, she added, "But we'll handle it together."
---
The school loomed large and unfamiliar. Students crowded the gate, laughing and chattering. As soon as the sisters stepped inside, dozens of eyes turned their way.
"Whoa, cat ears?"
"Are they cosplaying?"
"They look… kind of cool."
Mika grinned and waved at the gawkers like a celebrity on the red carpet. "Yup, that's right! Take a good look!"
Nari hissed, grabbing her hoodie to pull her down. "Stop drawing attention, you idiot!"
"It's not like we're invisible anyway!" Mika shot back.
Sayo walked ahead, ignoring the whispers. She held her books neatly to her chest, her expression calm but her tail twitching with restrained irritation.
Meanwhile, Yua's cheeks burned red. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, ears pressed flat against her hair.
---
Their homeroom teacher, Ms. Hayashi, clapped her hands once they entered the classroom. "Alright, everyone. We have four new students today. Please welcome them kindly."
Four pairs of ears flicked nervously as the girls introduced themselves.
"I'm Mika!" the golden-haired one said proudly, striking a ridiculous pose. "Future queen of pranks!"
Nari smacked her from behind. "Don't say that, you idiot. …I'm Nari. Just don't bother me."
Sayo bowed politely. "Sayo. I hope to get along with everyone."
And finally, Yua stepped forward. She nearly tripped over her own feet but managed a tiny, trembling smile. "…I-I'm Yua. Nice to… meet you."
A few classmates whispered, some giggled, and one boy in the back snorted.
At lunch, that same boy swaggered over, smirking. "Hey, cat-girls. Do you, like, drink milk outta bowls too?"
Mika's ears shot straight up. "What did you just say?!" She was about to leap at him, claws out metaphorically and literally.
But before she could, Yua slammed her palms on the desk and glared with uncharacteristic fury.
"Shut up!" she snapped, her tail puffing. "We're not… animals!"
The classroom went silent. The boy blinked, then backed off with a muttered, "Geez, fine."
Mika stared at Yua, wide-eyed. "…Whoa. Didn't know you had that in you."
Yua sat back down quickly, hiding her face in her hands. "I-I didn't either."
Sayo patted her shoulder gently. "Good job."
Nari smirked, leaning back. "Guess we're not the only scary one after all."
---
By the end of the day, the girls were exhausted but buzzing with energy.
"See?" Mika said, skipping down the street as they headed home. "Not bad for a first day! We even scared off a bully!"
"You almost made it worse," Nari pointed out.
"Yua saved the day," Sayo corrected calmly.
Yua blushed and tugged at her dress. "…I-I just didn't want him to say mean things."
Their parents greeted them at the door, asking how school went. The sisters exchanged looks, tails swishing.
Mika grinned. "It was chaos."
Nari huffed. "Annoying."
Sayo said simply, "Manageable."
And Yua whispered, "…But kind of fun."
And just like that, their new life as students had truly begun.