Chapter Twenty-Three: Reign of the Small King

ARE YOU A CAT PERSON OR A dog person? Personally I'm a dog person. I mean you can't go wrong with a cute little puppy. MJ is more of a cat person, which makes sense since she's also pretty lazy and would like to lay around a lot. So she can relate to cats on a spiritual level, I suppose. Though if it wasn't obvious, we're now at that episode where we met that little shit. Let's just get it over with shall we.

After another day of school, Akari and Saiki were taking their daily walk back home. On their way they ran into a couple of girls fawning over an adorable cat on the side of the road. Really it was quite the cute kitty, I wish to give it a nice scratch under the chin.

"I'm often asked if I'm a dog person or a cat person." Saiki started to say, "My answer is, "who cares?" Even the cutest of gods and cats end up looking like this and this." Basically just two piles of bones. "Let me ask you this. Do you prefer the bones on the left or the right? The answer is, "It doesn't matter," isn't it?" They continued to watch the two girl scratch the cat under its chin and giggle. Akari blinked at how childish they sounded talking to it, since she doesn't get all baby-talk when seeing a cute animal. "Some people base their choices on the preconceptions they hold such as "dogs seem smart," or "cats are spoiled." But that's just a wrong assumption people make." 

Apparently the cat actually had quite a deep voice as was thinking, 'Don't touch me, you female hominoid.' How lovely. Then again, I also wouldn't wanna just be pet nonstop. I'm surprised it hasn't just bitten them yet.

"That's what they're thinking." Saiki said as he and Akari turned to continue their walk home. "Since I can hear the voices of animals with my telepathic powers, I have no preconceptions. Summer or Winter? Winter. Mushrooms or bamboo shoots? Mushrooms. But a question regarding dogs and cats is too vague for me to answer. It's like asking me if I prefer Mr. Sato or Mr. Suzuki.",

'Personally, I like cats more.' Akari mentally commented. 'Only because dogs tend to be more energetic.' Yeah, she wouldn't be able to keep up with an enthusiastic dog if all she wants to do is nap most of the time. That would just be annoying. Though it's not like Akari has any real experience with pets of any kind, since her family has never had any. She isn't exactly sure why, since her father definitely seems like a dog person and her mother seems like a cat person. Plus Rikuto and her have never asked for a pet, so there's no reason that they would have one.

Just as they were walking down the last stretch of road towards their house, Saiki spotted something out of the corner of his eye. It was an orange cat with a red bandana around its neck, and he was stuck between two buildings. How he got there, no ones really sure. Though who wouldn't help this poor, defenseless, little ball of fluff in such a situation?

Akari eyed him for a moment, a bit sympathetic with it. After all, it was a cute little thing in distress, anyone feel like helping it to safety, right? Right? Saiki just stared at it blankly, not really being swayed by the fact that it was in trouble. Akari would have been willing to help had it not been for Saiki gently pulling her along, him wanting to just forget about the cat so they could get home sooner.

Now the cat certainly wasn't happy with that as it started to whine, 'Wait! Come back, human! Stop!'

Saiki grunted, "Good grief."

Hearing the distressing meows, Akari pursed her pale lips. 'Shouldn't we at least help the poor thing?' She wondered, 'it's wedged in there quite a bit.' She's not even sure how he could have gotten in there. So am I. Why is he stuck so high up? Did he fall from above? Did he think it was a good idea to try climbing up in between the wall? We'll never know, I guess.

Saiki just gave her a side glance as they stopped walking. "After hearing his thoughts, I don't think you would want to." He sometimes admired Akari for having her sympathetic out looks sometimes, but this wasn't the time for it, in his opinion. Especially for this spoiled little cat.

'Huh?' Akari blinked in a bit of confusion. To prove his point, Saiki allowed her to have shared telepathy in order to hear the cat's thoughts. 

The stuck animal then started to rant to itself, with the two teens able to hear it now. The cat huffed, 'I can't believe those guys. How could they ignore a cute animal in distress? You would at least think that the weird looking girl would!' Akari narrowed her eyes at that, how is she weird looking? They walked back over to the crevice to stare at the cat. The cat seemed a bit excited now, thinking that he was going to be free. 'Now, hurry up and get me out! Play your cards right, and I'll let you pet me.' The two teens shared a bored glance before sliding away. No, they didn't want to help this stuck up pest. The cat started to wail in desperation, 'What? Wait! Hold up!'

'His voice is annoying,' Akari grunted with narrow eyes. She would have been better off never hearing that grating voice today. Though she doesn't usually get what she wants. After all, where did that cat get off on saying that she's weird looking? That definitely annoyed her a bit and less likely to help him. It wasn't cute to be rude like that. Not at all.

Saiki paused as he sighed heavily, "Good grief. What a pain." If it meant stopping those pesky whines, then he'd help.

'What are these guys doing?' The cat was then hit by a thought, 'Oh! They must be dog people!'

Saiki blinked slowly, "I wasn't either, but I feel more drawn to dogs now." He said boredly, "Anyway, do you want me to help you or not?"

The cat now just stared at him in confusion, 'What is going on? I can hear his voice even though he hasn't been talking.' 

"Yes. It's because I'm talking directly to your brain since I can't speak cat."

'Wait, is he a… cat?' Huh? Why would he think that? The cat then focused on Akari, 'you must be too, with your eyes like that.'

Akari raised an eyebrow, 'we're in an anime, people have weird and abnormal features, get used to it.'

Saiki rolled his eyes, "Neither of us are."

Disregarding that, the cat the continued, 'Oh, then it makes things easier.'

"Yes." Saiki said, "All you have to do is say, "Please help me.""

Though the cat didn't seem like he was able to even follow that simple instruction. 'Now, help me already. Play your cards right, and I'll even let you pet me.' Just how stuck up is this thing!? Akari and Saiki just about to slid away again, but the cat called out to them, 'What? Wait! Okay! Let's make a deal! If you get me out of here, you may pet me for three minutes straight! You can even touch my paws…' Yup and now they were leaving again. It's a deal that MJ might take, but eh. 'No! They're gone! Wait, okay! You can rub under my chin, too! Just hear me out at least! Why are they so arrogant?' Them? Arrogant? Don't make me laugh!

"Can't you just say, "Please help me"?" Saiki asked the stubborn cat.

Akari agreed, 'In your situation, you can be just a little nicer, you know.'

'"Please help me"? Get real!' The cat scoffed, 'Who do you think you're talking to? I'm a cat! Why would a proud, elite organism like me, bow my head to a lower being like a human?'

Saiki asked Akari, "What is he talking about?" Though she just shrugged her shoulders, not really certain what he meant.

'Humans might think they're superior, but face the reality! Humans present us with food when all we do is sleep. But that's not all! You forgive us even when we tip over the garbage can! Or if we hit reset on your video game, you still forgive us! Or if we spill ink on those panels that are almost due, you barely forgive us! The world revolves around us cats. We cats rule this world.' Okay, okay, we get it. Once more the pair of teens started walking away. 'Hey! Get back here!'

They walked back over and Saiki asked, "How many more times are we going to repeat this? This is getting tiring."

'You're the one making me repeat myself.'

"Let me just say one thing to you."

'What?'

"Say, 'Please help me.'" Saiki said menacingly, "This is your last chance. I'm not coming back again."

'What is it with this guy? How could he talk to a cat like this? Does he not want to pet me?' The cat flashed them his cutest eyes and waved his paws around towards them. A last ditch attempt to get them to help him. Though it wasn't going to work. 'No, they must be bluffing! There is no way they could abandon such a cute cat like me… There is no… they can! I'm definitely sensing that he can!' He then panicked as they were leaving AGAIN, 'Wait! Okay! I'll say it! You win!' Good grief. 'Please help me.' There, happy?"

Akari rolled her eyes, 'Looked like it pained you to say that.'

"Who would find that cute?"

'What?'

"Hurry up and get out," Saiki grunted. He then grabbed the side of the building and casually pushed it to the side. Like it was nothing but a small block instead of a giant building! 

'What is with this guy?' The cat hissed now a bit fearful of this extremely powerful human. Saiki then walked over towards him, 'What are you going to do to me? Oh! Is he going to pet me? I knew it! You can't help yourself, can you? Go on. Pet me as much as you want.' Though Saiki just grabbed his school bag and walked away. Towards Akari who was waiting for him to be over and done with this. The cat then started to rage at the slight against him and his cuteness. 'What? How dare you! I will show you how terrifying cats can be!'

Akari rolled her eyes once more, "What a nuisance."

---

Walking through the front door, Akari sighed as she slid out of her shoes. The only hiccup that she had in her day was that arrogant little fur ball. She did believe to be a bit of a cat person since they were overall lazy and slept all day, like herself. Though after meeting that cat, she's become a bit apprehensive towards them. Sure, she wouldn't wanna judge all cats because of that one arrogant one, but she'll think all cats are that stuck up to a certain extent. After all, he was somewhat right. People do treat cats like royalty.

Though after that annoyance, she and Saiki got to relax like normal with each other at his house. His father wasn't home and his mother left them alone after gushing over Akari a bit. So a normal end to her day, just how she liked it. Now, it was getting darker out and Akari felt like she should head home. So here she was, gliding into her home to get some dinner and head to bed.

"Welcome home, my shining light!" Yamato greeted his daughter warmly. "You're just in time! I'm finishing up dinner right now!" His excited personality was quite refreshing to Akari, something that she surprisingly looked forward to when she came home. 

She hummed, "smells great, dad."

Putting away the last of the used pans in the dishwasher, Yamato walked over to sit at the dinner table. He was certainly ready to wait for his children at the table like normal. "Have you heard from Rikuto? It's getting late out and I'm worried." He then gasped loudly, a sudden horrifying thought striking him like lightning. "What if he's been kidnapped!?"

"Calm down," Akari sighed at his dramatics. "He's probably fine. He's just a little late." Though she still did feel a little bad at the sight of the worried tears in her father's eyes. Still she thought it was unfounded, Rikuto wouldn't be kidnapped! He's a smart enough kid and not many people get kidnapped. Plus that would be a little too dark for this fanfic.

Just as she was saying that the front door opened. The creaking sound made Yamato's heart soar as he rushed over to it. It was Rikuto who was coming in. Though there was something a little bit off. He appeared nervous for some reason. Though Yamato disregarded that or didn't see it as he jumped over to his son with a hug. "Ah, my darling boy! You're safe!" 

"Dad!" Rikuto shouted as he fought against him, "Stop!" 

Yamato wouldn't let up, however, as the boy tried to wriggle himself out of the situation. Though that didn't work and all it accomplished was having his backpack thrown to the ground by accident. Strangely, a high pitched yelp came from the bag. All of them froze. Yamato and Akari were confused while Rikuto started to sweat due to nerves.

Akari blinked at that, "Uh oh."

The bag started to move as something was obviously inside of it. Just what had Rikuto put in his bag? Shuffling itself out of the bag, it was the same orange cat from earlier. Akari deadpanned, 'just my luck.'

"Oh my!" Yamato gushed with stars in his eyes. "How adorable! Where did you find this little guy?"

Rikuto bent down to the cat and scratched its head, "He was just meowing outside of the Saiki house, so I just picked him up and brought him in here." He turned his bug puppy-dog eyes towards his father. "Can we keep him?"

Yamato hummed, "Hmm, we'll have to make sure your mother is ok with it. But I don't see why not. I mean look at him!"

"Awesome! Our first pet!"

The two continued to gush over the cat and most likely newest member to the family. Akari wasn't sure, but it definitely seems like that little cat was quite smug at the moment as it acted all cute and adorable with them. She narrowed her eyes, 'You pest.'

Akari is alright with animals and wouldn't mind a pet. Why did it have to be this cat? Any other would do! Though she didn't want to disturb her brother and father's moment gushing over the cat and just let them be. 

Long story short, after the three had dinner and the boys kept treating the cat as royalty, Miku finally came home. She was in a good mood, most likely due to a good deal made earlier in the day. That good mood helped add to her agreeable to keeping the cat. Sure, she isn't home all that much anyway, so she won't totally interact with it. Though she's fine with that. She was happy(which would be barely noticeable to those who aren't her family.) and seeing her husband and son excited about a cat fueled her too. So… Looks like Watanabe has a new family member. Hooray?