"Haven't I seen you before?"

— Miaow.

After calming myself down, I find myself face to face with a white cat.

It weirdly looks like the same cat from this morning.

Though I didn't have a good look earlier, this cat looks strikingly similar to the one I saw this morning. There was one thing that I didn't get to see on that one though.

"Red and blue…" I unconsciously comment on the eyes this cat had.

It's not common at all. Blue is one thing, but the scarlet red sclera is not a natural color you see anywhere. Even on humans.

That said—

"You gave me a huge scare earlier. I thought there was a bear."

My ears burned with embarrassment after reminding myself of what happened.

But you know, it was Dad's fault. I would've been just fine if he hadn't said anything about bears.

Besides, I'll take this one to the grave.

Taking off my bag, I gave myself a short rest on the rocks.

— Miaow.

But I already wasted time earlier, I should get going by now.

Yeah, that's the correct decision.

— Miaow.

"Hmm?"

I shifted my attention to the cat which has been meowing in the background for a while now.

I wonder if it's hungry?

It's been looking at me, almost as if it was expecting something.

Would a forest cat even be comfortable with humans?

I opened my bag to find something to give it.

As I rummaged through my stuff. The only things I found were 3 cups of instant noodles, some small snacks not so suitable for cats, and a chocolate bar.

"Tough luck buddy."

Getting off the rock, I put on my bag and got ready to leave.

I took the chocolate bar that I had and opened the pack for myself.

But the moment I did so.

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— Meow!

"Ah—wait!"

The cat jumped and swiped the chocolate bar off my hand.

"Wait you can't eat that! It's bad for cats!" I yelled out to it but the cat started running off to the bush it came out from.

You know, telling a cat to stop sounds pretty stupid to me. Why did I do it anyway?

"Ah, shit."

Chocolates are bad for cats in the same way it is for dogs. It would likely get sick from it. A part of me wants to go after it and get the chocolate back, it's a dog-eat-dog world here after all (cat eat cat?). I don't think it would be fine after eating that much chocolate.

On the other hand, it might be as good as gone. The cat could've bolted to the other side of the forest.

"Mmm…! Ahhh! Fuck it!"

I chose to go after the cat, if I don't find it by a minute I'll just go back.

I'd be kicking myself on the way if I didn't try to do anything about it (and I still want that chocolate for myself).

Going over to the bush. It didn't look as thick as I initially thought it to be.

I don't have a machete or a big knife to cut my way through. The only way is to squeeze through it.

"Hngghh!'

And so, I made my way inside. But I wasn't prepared for what awaited me.

Huh?

I blinked to see myself surrounded by a dense set of bushes. One that stretched as far as my eye could see.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that (forest = lots of plants duh), but even with my limited knowledge of forests. Something felt completely off.

Maybe I should just turn back. Actually, I will.

Not worth the effort, cat-eat-cat be damned. I don't want to get lost.

But as soon as I turned back around.

My heart stopped.

"Where is it."

The bush I came out from is gone.

What's left is the sight of the wind lifting the dried leaves off the ground.

"Whoo…ok." I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.

The first ones to die in a horror movie are the people who aren't calm.

I need to think.

Firstly, I need to retrace my steps. A whole bush like that can't disappear.

But at the same time, I've never moved one step away from it.

It should be there.

Where is it?

— meow.

A familiar sound came behind me.

I turned around to see the cat from earlier, with the chocolate still in its mouth.

"Wait!"

The cat scurried away. I had second thoughts whether I should follow it or not. But I can't just stand there aimlessly either.

I made my decision and went after the cat.

The sound of the wind whistled around my ear, I could feel the twigs and dead branches snap under the weight of my body as my feet slid through the leaves.

The path I was following the cat on became smaller and smaller, the tall bushes towering over me as if it was about to crush me.

Eventually, I find the cat go through another bush. One that was similar to the bush I came through before.

There are no other options, right?

I take one last look around me. Even the direction I walked from looked entirely different.

"…"

Moving the stems aside, I took one deep breath and pushed my way through.

"…Ough!"

In reality, the stem was flimsy and light. When I tried to put some weight on it, I completely snapped it all.

— smack!

Without anything to support me, I fell face first; giving me a mouthful of dirt.

"…I should've stayed home."

The situation I'm in couldn't be any more ridiculous. It's like God himself set this up to make fun of me. Are you having fun? I hope you are.

Well, maybe it's divine retribution for earlier.

— snap.

I hear something break a bit further than me.

Footsteps, I could feel the ground shake in a rhythmic matter.

That should only happen if it has the same weight as a person.

My heart pounded with anticipation. The first thing that came into my mind was a bear walking over but I shook that thought off.

I raised my face off the ground to try and look at it, but the sunlight blinded me.

— Wow! You look like you went through a lot. Are you alright?" —

"Huh?"

There was a voice, a girl's voice.

One that I didn't recognize at all.

I shielded my eyes from the sun, I had to squint really hard to see what was in front of me.

As I slowly regain my vision;

The first thing I see is a hand outstretched over me. A jet-black chain was coiled over the wrist, extending to the shoulder.

With everything clearing up, I finally had a good view of her.

There my eyes lay on a beautiful girl.

She had the beauty that surpassed all idols, with the sunlight shining down on her; I wouldn't be surprised if she was an angel coming to take me.

Her silver, silky smooth hair came down to her waist.

Her body is what the [medium is premium!] camp would drool over, not too busty but still had assets to show; covering all of that is a white dress that had streaks of gold embroidered all over.

But what struck me the most was the same red and blue eyes that I'd seen from the cat.

"Eh? Are you trying to make me laugh with that face? But, you already made me laugh earlier…with that b-bear…Puehehe!"

Just let that gag end already.

But wait. Doesn't it mean she's the—?

"The cat... Are you—"

"No." She says, playfully placing her finger on her cheeks.

"That was my servant Millé. I have asked her to bring you here in my forest. Though I did not expect it to be that easy. Don't you have any survival instinct at all."

I see.

She said something important there but I lost my interest once she made fun of me.

I'd rather be with a bear at this point.

"Will you lie there forever or stand up? I've been reaching my hand out all this time you know!"

I have many questions but I need to ask the important one.

"Who are you?" I ask, reaching out for her hand as she pulls me up.

The girl smiles, she steps away from me and gives me a childish wink.

"My name is Sifina. You could sort of call me as a Goddess."

Something slightly, just slightly outrageous came out of her mouth but she continued.

She stretched her chain-wrapped arm to me once more.

"Ken Kazutoki, would you like to go live in a parallel world?"

"No, I don't."

I instantly replied without hesitation.