The air in the shopping district lightened. The unease from the missing posters and shadowed figure faded as we walked to the café Daisy found. Her energy snapped back, as if the city’s pulse had reset. But a knot still twisted in my stomach, tight and unyielding, no matter how much I tried to shake it off.

"Hey, this place looks adorable!" Daisy’s voice sparked as we neared a small café tucked between two neon-lit shops. The warmth inside fogged the café windows, casting a soft glow against the chill of the evening. Swirling letters above the door spelled out Neko Cat Café, almost smiling down at us.

Oliver walked behind with his eyes lowered, taking silent steps. The clink of coffee cups and a faint chorus of meows drifted through the open door, calling us in.

I stopped, a wave of recognition hitting like a tide. Neko Cat Café. I knew this place. Kristine and I had spent hours here—*before* everything changed. Laughter and those weightless moments that felt eternal—they all rushed back. Memories that I hadn’t let myself revisit until now.

"Rei?" Daisy’s voice grounded me. "You okay? You’re, uh... staring a little."

I blinked, forcing a smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just... memories, I guess."

I tried to keep walking, but the sight of the café tugged at something deeper, an old wound I hadn’t expected to reopen. Daisy had already slipped inside, her presence lighting up the doorway.

"C’mon, Rei, it’s a cat café. You love cats, right?" Daisy grinned over her shoulder, a teasing spark in her eye. "Don’t tell me you’re going to back out on that."

With a steadying breath, I stepped forward. "Right. Cats." My voice came out flat, unconvincing even to myself.

Oliver lingered near the door, mumbling under his breath, hands buried in his pockets. "It does look... cozy in there."

I let out a slow sigh. Leaving now felt like giving in, like fleeing from an unknown threat. And the cats—they were staring at me with eyes full of knowing, as if they saw right through me. The closest one, a sleek tabby, stretched with a relaxed posture. Its emerald eyes pierced, almost whispering, "You can't hide here. Not from us."

As I stepped inside, warmth wrapped around me. The café's soft glow contrasted with the tension in my chest. Murmurs of conversation mixed with gentle purrs and meows. They clashed with memories I couldn't shake. Patchwork mats covered the floor. Patrons lost themselves in quiet moments, many cradling cats in their laps.

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"Rei? Oh, wow, you’re back." The cashier's voice was warm and familiar, her smile wide and genuine. "It’s been... a while, hasn’t it?"

I froze, words escaping me. All I could manage was silence; my mind was reeling.

Her smile wavered, a gentle question in her eyes. "And... you brought friends?"

Heat crept up my face. "Uh, no, it's not—" But before I could finish, a fluffy tabby leapt from the counter. It landed at my feet and rubbed against my legs while making a continuous purring sound.

The cashier let out a gentle chuckle. "Mr. Fluffykins remembers you. Guess you’re still his favourite."

My chest tightened. My mind flashed back to the last time I was here with Kristine. She teased me about being a "cat person" and laughed as cats swarmed us. It felt like another life.

Daisy’s gaze softened as she caught my expression. "Rei? You... know her?"

I nodded, struggling with words. "Yeah. I used to come here. With... someone."

Understanding flickered in her eyes. "We don’t have to stay, you know. If it’s too much."

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. Leaving would make this harder. I needed to face it, even if I wasn’t sure I was ready. "It’s fine," I managed, turning back to the cashier with a smile. "I didn't expect anyone to acknowledge me."

Her eyes softened with a touch of sadness. "It happens. You’re always welcome here."

Mr. Fluffykins meowed louder. He rubbed against me again, anchoring me in the moment. I bent down, scratching behind his ears, steadying the storm inside.

Daisy, sensing the silence, moved to the counter. Oliver, still by the door, sipped his drink, his eyes distant. He processed things at his own pace, content for now to observe.

The café felt like an echo from a past I wasn’t ready to relive, but I stayed for Daisy, for Oliver—and a little for myself.

As we sat at a corner table, old questions resurfaced. They were about the WEO, the rifts—about everything.

I glanced at Daisy, who was stirring her drink with a pensive expression. "Hey, Miku," I began, hesitant but needing to understand. "Why did you join the WEO?"

She paused, gaze fixed on the swirls in her cup, before finally meeting my eyes. "I want to prove to my mom that I can take care of myself," she said, voice steady but laced with resolve. "She’s been keeping me locked up like I’m helpless, like I can’t handle anything. But I’m not a kid anymore."

Her words hung heavy between us, raw and real. A familiar ache tightened in my chest, but I stayed silent, absorbing her honesty.

Oliver, usually quiet, glanced up, a shy smile tugging at his lips. "I joined because... "the captain asked me to," he said, a wry chuckle slipping through his voice. "The captain extended a personal invitation to you?"" I asked, seeing him give a small nod. "Guess my hobby of studying rift monsters piques his interest."

His eyes drifted to the cats playing nearby, his expression lightening. "I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea at first, but..." He smiled as a kitten hopped into his lap. "Guess it’s not all bad."

I raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the moment. "So the rift expert has a soft spot for kittens?"

Oliver’s face turned red, his gaze dropping to the kitten in his lap. "Maybe... they’re good for my nerves."

Daisy laughed as a tabby leapt onto the table, its tail flicking in a playful manner. "See, Rei? Even if you can’t resist a cat."

I shot her a playful glare. But, the kitten's soft purring eased my tension. Maybe not all distractions were bad.

We sat there as the café hummed around us, the cats curling close, grounding us in the moment. As I looked around, I realized something important. It was these small, peaceful spaces, amid the chaos, that kept us steady. For now, maybe that was enough.

---

In the shadows, Asher emerged from an alley. The dim streetlight silhouetted his lone figure. The mission was complete. But, a strange tension lingered. It was as if the air was bracing for something. The rift still pulsed nearby, raw and open. Somewhere down the street, a low growl echoed—a warning.

Time was running out.

[End of Chapter]