"Interlude, Second Gate"

Hahaha! Master here on New Year's, welcome! I am the dream cat guarding the second gate.

My name is Tamamo Cat Woof! There will be no lounging around a kotatsu eating mandarin oranges here!

Now it's a fox-girl? Fujimaru, your friends are weird.

Of course! Master has an A Rank in Endurance, and will listen to even the ramblings of a wild cat with patience!

However. However...! This cat is ticked!

I've been carefully getting ready for a nice traditional New Year's meal since the end of last year...

I was willing to skip the last battle for it. Honestly, being an all-star is so annoying.

So I was peeling my shrimp, resolved to duck out of any battles...

When Master... Master... Master ordered the New Years meal at a convenience store!

And he even ordered one for me! So considerate! But that turned out to just really make me angry!

Ah... That's no good. Don't you know why New Year's meals are so elaborate, kid?

They're made of food that lasts so that the lady of the house doesn't have to cook for three days straight.

And they're made elaborately and lovingly with as many of the husband's favorite foods as possible. It's their way of showing their gratitude at the end of the year.

？！

Yes... They say New Year's Day dictates the rest of the year, you know. So traditionally for the wife, pleasing her significant other with a homemade New Year's meal...

...is a way to infuse the relationship with love, spirit, joy, and mutual support for the whole year ahead!

And you just went out and got a store-bought one...? Even my jerk dad gets quiet in front of a New Year's meal...

？！

That's right! This kitty's chest is about to burst with sadness!

Actually, it did burst. And the result was

Happy New Year, Master! I am Tamamo Cat Woof Woof, the hawk!

Never get store-bought meals! I'm Tamamo Cat Woof Woof Woof, and I'm taking it to the danger zone!

As you can see, the sadness split my heart into three pieces! And the result was the raging feline, Tamamo Cat.

Hehehe. One's good enough, and now there's two more of us. You're gonna need a whole lot of carrots!

Now we have no choice but to open up a maid café, or rather a maid CATfé! But where do we get the cats?

Impressive, a maid enterprising enough to open up a café! How modern! Does that make Master the café owner?

That's right, kitties! So let's grab our Master!

Open Caaaaaats! Eagle, Jaguar, Bear... LET'S COMBINE!

Let's go, Master! It's time for some triple cat trouble!