The Cat Who Saved Books(26)

“And yet you act just as if it’s all happening to someone else. You’re so calm about it.”

“I’m not calm at all.”

“Here you are again, stewing over things all alone as usual. If you don’t stop thinking for a moment, your brain is going to overheat.”

Sayo had pretty much nailed it. Rintaro grimaced.

“Well, at least this is the last time you’ll have to deliver my homework to me.”

“This isn’t your homework, by the way.”

Sayo held up the book she was carrying.

“I really enjoyed it.”

It was Rintaro’s turn to be surprised.

“You already finished it?”

“Yep. Thanks to you I ripped through it in two days. Barely slept.”

She pretended to be annoyed, but there was a trace of a smile around her eyes. She looked toward the bookshop.

“Recommend me something else. If you’re moving in two days, I’d better buy a few of them.”

She went in without waiting for a reply. Rintaro hurried after her, but not two steps beyond the threshold he collided with her. Sayo had stopped in her tracks.

“What’s up?” he asked, but he immediately saw what it was.

“Young love, Mr. Proprietor?”

Waiting inside was a certain large-size tabby cat with ginger fur and eyes of jade green. There was no trace of a smile on its face. It stood there in the central aisle under the bluish-white glow of the light that fell on the bookshelves.

“Good to see you’ve nothing important to do as usual,” it continued.

“It so happens I’m busy getting ready to move.”

“That’s an obvious lie. Clearly you haven’t even started yet.”

Having dismissed Rintaro’s objections, the tabby cat turned to Sayo and bowed its head with great gallantry.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for taking such care of the proprietor here.”

“You’re very welcome,” replied Sayo, obviously rather confused, but enjoying the situation nevertheless. This was the kind of adaptability that made her an excellent class rep.

“I didn’t expect to see you again.”

“Would you have preferred not to?”

“No, I was really happy to meet you. I had a wonderful time.”

The cat shook its whiskers in delight at Sayo’s earnest response, but then quickly turned its jade eyes on Rintaro.

“She’s a rather open-minded and charming young woman. Such a contrast to the backward-looking, conservative youngster before me, who can’t even act on his own feelings.”

“I won’t deny that, but it doesn’t mean you’re free to trespass in my shop. Every time you turn up without warning it doesn’t exactly fill me with glee,” Rintaro said.

“No worries,” said the cat casually. “This’ll be the last time.”

“The last?”

“Right.” The cat paused for a breath before continuing. “I need your help again.”

*

“This is the final labyrinth,” said the tabby cat, matter-of-factly.

Once again, Rintaro and Sayo found themselves walking along the inexplicably endless central aisle of Natsuki Books, its imposing stacks of books to either side of them, and lamps at intervals overhead.

“You’ve freed many books so far. Thank you for that.”

“Unusual, coming from you.”

Rintaro was a little taken aback by the cat’s lack of venom.

“Is this all in preparation for you leaving us?”

“Partly.”

As if to object to the cat’s roundabout answers, Rintaro’s tone became bolder.

“I was surprised when you turned up out of thin air. Are you going to surprise me again now by suddenly disappearing?”

“That’s out of my paws. Cats are, by nature, creatures of will. They don’t come and go at the convenience of human beings.”

“At least the other cats I know don’t have such a sharp tongue as you.”

“Such a naive young boy! There are plenty of cats just like me.”

The tabby didn’t even bother to turn its head. Rintaro gave a pained smile.

“I’m going to miss your charming way with words.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. This is a conversation for after we’ve visited the next labyrinth.”

The tabby suddenly stopped and looked back at Rintaro. There was a seriousness to its gaze that Rintaro hadn’t seen before.

“The master of the third labyrinth is kind of a pain in the ass.”

The cat turned its jade eyes on Sayo, who had been listening in silence.

“What?” she asked, frowning slightly.

“Our final adversary is a little different from the ones we’ve already met.”

“Are you trying to tell us it’s dangerous? Get us to turn back?”

The cat ignored the question and began to performatively wash its face.

“This adversary is extremely unpredictable. I’m sure that Mr. Proprietor here will be even more concerned for your safety.”

“So now you’re on Natsuki’s side?” Sayo asked.

“Most certainly not,” the cat retorted.