Feeling Catty

Hmmm.... HMMMMMMMm... Wait? Hmmm.... What could it all mean...

Oh, hey Necoco. What's with all the cats?

What does it look like, Nyaldo! We're having a kitty congregation! Necoco-brand emblem bun sales are down, so I'm doin' some fact finding with my sales reps!

I see... And what do they say?

Well, it sounds like there's a dwindling interest in drive-by cat-pats. They say it's unlike anything they've seen! I said, well maybe you guys swatted too many hands away, but I dunno!

Wait, if the cats are swatting hands away, then wouldn't the lack of pats be a good thing?

Nyaldo you nincompoop! These aren't just any cats! They are deity-certified felines! Cream of the kitten crop!

But that doesn't mean they don't get lonely when folks don't give 'em pats!

Huh. Seems like a complicated situation...

Hm... I get the feeling your lack of sales and this might be related.

Me too! That's what I'm tryin' to figure out.

What's wrong, guys?!

A traitor in the litter is it? No way!

Uh oh.

Nabeshima!

Fukurobe was just looking for you! Where've you been?

Ah... I've been...doing...some stuff... I gotta take a bath, sorry gotta run!

A bath? At this time of day?

...I smell something fishy, and it ain't sardines!

I...uh...

Mmmhmm... I see...

...You were out gettin' close and comfortable with another cat!

How'd you know?!

Shame on you! You got the pick of the litter here, and you go out to snuggle with some two-bit kitten?!

I'm SO sorry! It was just too tempting and I had to go...

Go where?

It's...a cat cafe...

A what?

I went to a cat cafe, okay?! You get to drink tea and have amazing deserts all while being surrounded by the most adorable kittens... Everyone's talking about it! I had to see it for myself...

Wait, that's an actual business?

Hm? Wait a second...

So THAT's why! The cat cafe is stealing pats AND profits!

Ah, well yeah, the stray cat custard cake and the toe-bean platter are quite good.

Nabeshima! Have you forgotten the hours we spent making buns together?

This and that are different, Necoco.

Nya-uh! I won't let some bargain bin cat cafe get away with this! Not only did they cut into my profits they've captured the hearts of my companions! Those...those...cat burglars!!!

Now what?!

Oh, there you are Nabeshima! I guess I must have just missed you. I just went out to look for you and...

How was the stray-cat custard cake?

Uh!!!

I can't believe it! You too?! Okay. That's it! Time for an all-paws meeting!

So you're sayin' this Cat-Tea Cafe place is using cute kittens and delicious desserts to lure in customers?

Exactly.

And with how popular it is, I think we can say goodbye to our bun bucks.

Girls, girls, girls. Oh, ye of little faith! You gotta think in the box, nyoutta the box! We got everything they have, but better, right?

So we beat them at their own game! Well open... a cat cafe!

That's...the same thing.

What part of that is out of the box?

Enough! Our cats are cuter and our desserts are deliciouser! There's no way we can lose!

Listen. So they are called the "Cat-Tea Cafe" yeah? Well, we're gonnabe the "Neco & Co. Cafe"! Now let's get those paws movin', ladies! We got a cafe to open! That means you too, Nyaldo!

Why me?!

Because you're here! Now go out and round up all the shrine-kittens, stat!

All right, all the shrine-kittens are here and accounted for...

Seems like things are progressing with the cafe... Maybe they'll be able to pull this off after all?

Nyaldo! Just in time! Check me out!

Hm?

You're lookin' at the official Neco & Co. Cafe uniform! Pretty cool, nya?

Hey! Not bad!

Isn't it adorable? We were thinking Necoco could be the face of the cafe!

So we just threw together a few things she had together, styled it a little, and voila!

Maneki-neko ain't got nothin' on Necoco!

Well you definitely beat them in the enthusiasm department.

And on that note, we better open up shop before she gets bored of the whole thing!

Heeere kitty, kitty, kitty. I got you a toy to play with!

I guess I should have expected that.

But I won't give up, now! It's all about the thrill of the chase!

Didn't take long for this place to become the talk of the town. Seems like this should keep Necoco busy for a while.

So that's two teas and four Necoco buns... The guy over there got the dango...

Aldo! Do you mind getting me some winter sugar from the back?

You got it!

Wait. Where's Necoco?

Heeere Neco, Neco, Neco! Heeere Neco, Neco, Neco! Look at what I got!

Nyo.

Nyow we're talkin'! Can't say no to some sardines!

Necoco what are you doing? Can't you see this place is packed?

Uh? Duh? I'm working? What do you think a CCO, Chief Cat Officer, does? I wander around, refuse to do what anyone says, look cute, and eat. That's the job, Nyaldo.

I don't think that actually counts as work, Necoco.

What time period are you from, again? Necoco puts the butts in the seats.

Necoco, stop talking with the bus boy and come in for some pats!

OH! I get it.

You're not a waitress...

You're one of the cats!

Welcome back to the present, Nyaldo! The "Cat" in CCO is literal. So, that's why I'm here doin' all the cat things.

Well, I suppose we all have to make a living somehow.

Right. Well, at any rate, it seems like whatever this is is helping business.

Well now, sure seems like business is boomin'!

Otonya!

Welcome to Neco & Co. Cafe! Pretty awesome for just opening, nya?

You've done good, Necoco. What's good for the Shrine, is good for me.

Purrrr...

How did she get Necoco to purr like that?!

You've still got time to prepare for our next exorcism, though, yeah?

I totally forgot that was a thing! I don't even have the prayer memorized! Purrrrr...

I figured as much. Remember Shrine stuff comes first!

Fiiine... I guess Necoco & Co. Cafe will have to settle for being a pop-up shop...

So we better get as many customers as we can before the doors close forever!

Y'all come back now, ya hear?

I can't believe how well we did!

Hopefully that gave us enough mindshare to improve our emblem bun business!

Maybe we can do this as a seasonal thing? Huh?

You pesky felines have really done it this time!

What did we do?!

Don't act like you don't know! A catastrophe has fallen upon Izana!

What kind of catastrophe?!

SHUT UP! Damn't I knew I shouldn't have come here! All these cats around I... I can't... I CAN'T RESIST THE URGE!

WAIT! What in the world was that about?

We should just go to Izana, and see what the fuss is all about ourselves.

Okay, well here we are. Doesn't look like there's been any kind of catastrophe to me?

In fact, it looks like regular old Izana?

I dunno, that guy over there looks like he might be up to somethin'! Time to hit the streets, Nyaldo!

Sounds like a plan.

......

Sorry, do you mind if I ask you a question?

...Me...ow?

Meow?

Meow meow MEOW!

Use your words, lady!

Meow meow!

MEOW!

Doesn't anyone speak human around here?

I'm afraid the problem goes beyond mere words, Nyaldo. These people truly believe that they are cats.

You can't be serious.

Meeeeowww. Meowmeow.

Okay, so I speak a little Purrsian, and they seem to be totally okay with the whole deal?

In fact, they don't even know they are actually human nyat all!

Meow!

Gives a whole new meanin' to "cat got your tongue", don't it.

Right, so why did that guy think the cafe is responsible?

Why don't we just go ask him?

Yeah! He'll be able to tell us!

Hey there. So, about that thing you were talking about...

Meee....ooooww?

Damn! We're too late!

There's gotta be someone around here that's still human. Let's ask around.

Meow meowwww Meeeow!

I see... Interesting...

What'd he say?

He said... "A cat's 'job' is to bask in the sun. For the feline is above what man considers 'work'." "If it is nourishment I need, I simply reach out my claw and take it." "If I am lonely I simply brush my whiskers upon the leg of the closest hoo-man and they shower me with love." "This is the life I had always wished for, and it is bliss." ...Or something like that.

M....

Nyou okay, Fukurobe?

Me...ow.... Me...ow...

MEEEEEOoooooooooooooooooW!

Fukurobeeeeee!! Oh no, what have they done to my poor Fukurobe...

Meowww...

We need to find out why this is happening before the rest of us go cat-crazy.

Meowmeow meooooooow purrrrrrr...

Yeah, uh, you too buddy.

Any idea what he's saying?

He's speaking with a thick accent, so I'm not exactly sure if this is right, but...

Ever since I saw yada, yada, jealous of their life, blah, blah, now I get to do whatever, so on and so forth. Now he's happy, though.

Well, as long as he's happy, I guess... The "yada, yada" part, that's not a cat, is it?

Sounded like someone's name.

Yeah then we should probably find out who that is.

Wait! I think I might...

Might what?!

MEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOW!!

NABESHIMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Meowmeoooowwww...

My sweet, sweet, Nabeshima... It seems no one is safe from catching this feline fever...

Urgh...Gg....

Nyou okay, Otonya? Nya look like you're in pain...

I...can't explain...

The more I see these people and how they've embraced their inner feline... And how fun it looks... And seeing you, too Necoco... It's hard to describe, but I feel like I'm losing myself...

Meeeoowww!

That is ENOUGH!

Mememememeowwww!

I apologize, he's been acting like this ever since he went to that cat cafe.

The cat cafe?!

So you've heard of it. The boy that lives next door was the same deal.

Cat cafe? I, uh, say, where is that cat cafe located any gosh darn way?

...Nyanyway! We'll help your boy out, m'am! Nyou've got nothin' to worry about!

NYAND AWAYYYYYYY I GO!

Necoco! Wait!

Welp, a whole lotta nothin' that was.

The only thing we know is all they had in common was... The cat cafe, them wanting to be cats, feeling jealous aaand...

And what?

Nyothin'. I got nyothin'.

I know! This is all happening because...

Because of what?!

They went to the cafe, got jealous, then turned into a cat, right? Who do you think they saw?

They saw YOU! Necoco!

MMMMOI?

Think about it. The other cafe had normal cats, too. The only difference was you, Necoco.

Think about it. The other cafe had normal cats, too. And all the folks we talked to came to our cafe. What did we have that they didn't? You, Necoco! You are a close to a cat a human can be. And it made the whole town jealous!

You've given everyone feline fever!

Necoco didn't do nothin'! Nuh-uh! All I did was roll around, sleep, and eat some sardines!

I think that's the something Otoha is talking about.

Where's your proof, huh?

Proof? I've got proof.

...Ya do?

I'm the proof! I've been doing my best to contain it, but I can barely keep my jealousy in check! Those fluffy ears! That bushy tail! The way you just waste your days doing nothing!

I know! I know! I'm not a cat, I'm the Cat Deity! I can't let the inner cat... take...over!

You okay, Otoha?

I'M-EOWKAY!

Doesn't seem like for very long.

So then Fukurobe and Nabeshima just became jealous of Necoco? Seems weird. There's gotta be something else at work here.

You figure something out, Necoco?

...That's gotta be it. It was there when both Fukurobe and Nabeshima turned...

...AAAAHA! FOUND NYA!

Is that a spirit?

Otoha, I'm gonna need you to watch Nabeshima and Fukurobe. I've got a stray to catch!

You got it!

Nyaldo, you're comin' with me!

Right behind you!

Huff...Huff..You...won't...get away... this time...

Nyeah! Gave us the ol' cat and mouse, but now we got ya by the tail! It was you that turned everyone into cats, wasn't it!

...But why?

So everyone could be the same? What?

So you mean...you were a cat?

Well anyway, the reason doesn't matter. You can't just turn people to cats. At least without their consent, anyway. Is there any way we can change them back?

It says "I don't have to do anything you say! And they DID want to become cats!" "All I did was give them a little push in the right direction!"

That may be so, but...

What were you plannin' on doing once you were done?

I think I understand how you feel. Say, you wouldn't happen to...

Whoa! What's wrong?!

It's saying "Shut up and leave me alone!" Nyaldo, I think we have a problem. The bad energy it's givin' is kinda like catnip for evil.

Like these guys! Nyaldo! You ready to kick some tail?

You bet!

Whew! Well that was close.

...Come out now, I know you're still there.

You've been stuck in limbo for quite some time, huh little guy. Wander around as a spirit long enough and I guess you would pick up a weird power or two... Turning folks into cats, calling up bad spirits, you know that's why you're stuck this way, right? I think its about time someone did something about it, so let Necoco just...

Necoco, I don't think this is a good idea...

It's for it's own good, Nyaldo! When dealing with a runaway spirit, you gotta be direct!

Get ready, cause here comes Necoco!

Hey! Calm down! Once Necoco has you in her paws, there's no getting loose! Just settle down... Be quiet...

Necoco's gonna turn you back, okay?

You did it!

See? That wasn't so bad, was it. You were just a little kitten, remember? Looks like ya had it pretty rough, huh.

Too young to even know you died...

The cats wanted nothing to do with you...

The humans were too scared of you...

Alone so long, you forgot what ya even looked like. Just stuck out there with this longing to be loved...

And that's why it ended up turnin' folks into cats...

If all the humans became cats, they'd have to accept you, nyeah? The more everyone became like you... The less of an outsider you'd be? Nyou had to know that was never gonna work, right? Nya big dummy!

...What's wrong?

You see some friends over there? ...Looks like giving you back your memories was enough for them to finally find you, huh. Go on, don't keep 'em waitin', now.

Hope you finally find what you were lookin' for, little one.

Seems like it just might, eh? Gotta say Necoco, great job figuring out what it was feeling.

Well I know all about not knowin' your place in the world, and how lonely that can feel. Felt like I was lookin' at me when I was just a kitten.

I see...

Say, Necoco, you know...

The world is just a big box and if I fits I sits! And I ain't lonely, not one bit!

There's shrine kittens, Nyanji, Otonya, and Nabe. Fukurobe, and sun basking on Fridays... All my companions, Altena, and you. Who could be lonesome in such a great group?

True.

I spent all that time looking for my place in the world, now that I found it, it's time I returned the favor. All the lost and lonely kittens out there, I wanna give them a place they can call home.

"A Cat Shrine big enough for all the world's strays." That's the dream, Nyaldo.

It's very you, Necoco.

Anyway, I think it's about time we checked in on Otoha and the others back at the Cat Shrine.

Good to see things went back to normal over in Izana.

Yup! All in a days work!

Oh, you again!

Just wanted to thank you in person... FOR RUINING MY LIFE, THAT IS. Doubt I'll ever be able to show my face in Izana ever again. I'm so embarrassed my embarrassment is embarrassed! Maybe think about what people are doing BEFORE you turn them back into humans, eh?! EH?!

How is that my fault?! What, you'd rather be stuck as a cat forever? We did a good thing!

Don't try and change the subject! YOU opened that stupid cafe! It's all YOUR fault! Now fess up! How did you...

...Mew...meeeooow?

Wait, how did he change back to a cat?

Huh, it actually worked. Don't know unless you try, I guess!

Necoco... What did you do...

I mean, it sounded to me like this guy wanted to go back to being a cat. So I just wiggled my whiskers did a nod, and voila! Guess our kitty friend left a little bit of their cat magic as thanks?

Right, but can you turn him back?

Nyeh, it'll wear off. I got some power but it's pretty weak compared to the real deal.

Just so ya know, the spell only works on folks that want to become cats deep down in their heart of hearts! If you wanted to be a cat that bad, nyou shoulda just said something!

Meow meow meoooow!

Nya know, I think it's totally fine to turn off the human part of your brain. Cause being human can pretty rough. Sometimes you just need to find that bright spot on the carpet and purr.

Meeeow!

Dunno if that was the right thing to do, and I kinda don't wanna know.

There she is! Welcome home, Necoco!

Otonya! Nabeshima! You're back to normal!

Yup! Seems like it all worked out.

All thanks to you, Necoco!

NYAND DON'T YOU FORGET IT! I think this deserves at least one extra piece of sashimi for dinner!

I think we can manage that, hehe.

Hold on, where's Fukurobe?

After she went cat-crazy she took a nap. She should be waking up any minute now, actually.

Oh, there she is! Hey Fukurobe! Over here!

......

So...are we speaking human again?

....Meo.

Why?!

...Meowwwww Meeeeow.

But I thought everyone changed back?!

Necoco. You didn't do any whisker wiggling when nobody was looking, did you?

I didn't wiggle no whiskers!

......

Why's your face so red, Fukurobe?

......

Hmmm... Fishy... Tell me, Fukurobe...

...Ss...

SORRY, I CAN'T. I already turned back.

I knyew it!

What was the point of that?

I figured, if I just kept up the cat act, you'd let me off well-cleaning duty.

Nyand you woulda gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for us meddling kids! Fear not, I will help you clean the well.

Thats...rare...

I think it might just start raining emblem buns.

Leave me alone! Just felt like helpin' out a little, that's all!

If we're gonna be expecting guests, might as well make sure they gotta clean place to stay, nya?