Just like that we- I mean I found myself stressed out once again on the couch with Haku now that he is still retaining his appearance as a human. I absolutely thought that I was dreaming last night… even the chapter had the "What If" on the title… but "Sike" is just too powerful…!!

But don't get me wrong, I'm not really stressed about the fact that Haku is a human right now. Heck, he learned to cook in just several hours of being taught. I'm just very disoriented that what I thought was a fictitious dream was actually real.

"Should I make coffee, Aruji?"

"Yes please…"

"Should I also make some for Ojou?"

"Oh, did you hear her approaching? You've got good ears."

"And so do you, Aruji.

Wait, so Anna and Ojou don't have the same holidays?"

"I guess… I don't really know the reason though."

Just in case, I left my front door unlocked right after waking up, but it immediately sounded useless to do since she just up and went through my room and descended the stairs with vellum papers and a watercolor set.

"Haku~ Let's eat lunch together later," said that and somehow sat beside me… extremely closely.

"…

What are you up to now, milady…?"

"Nothing? Just normal."

It is as she said. She is acting very normal to the point that my ears don't hear any fast heartbeat that tells a certain excitement or anxiety.

She put down her materials and continued to sit doing nothing until she suddenly leaned her head on my shoulder, still with a straight face.

"W-What's up with you now…"

I do not read minds, okay?"

That said, she's obviously acting really weird for some reason. I could recall that she was just very fine last night in the dinner so I asked myself what in the world happened without expecting an answer from my head or even Kuro.

"Did you eat something bad, Rin? You probably need some ramen."

"Nuh, I'm just fine but I don't say no to ramen."

"What, do you want to paint with me?"

"You have work."

"So uhhh… did you somehow have more tickets than Rena?"

"She has nine more than mine, but I would probably roll around the campus if that happened."

I can't help but imagine a monotone Rin shouting all around CCI's campus with a straight face like that. I would cheer for her even if I get kicked out, actually.

But what's up with this level of fluff Rin is emitting right now…? Dear me, she's literally doing nothing right now but my brain is telling me that's absolutely adorable, and it's my heart that's beating fast.

Isn't it too late for the hypertension to kick in? It's fall already.

Oh well, I always fall for her so I guess the goldfish within me will always be like this.

"Oh!

Is it because of Haku?"

"Yup," and suddenly on my lap.

"…!"

Seriously, what's going on.

"Don't tell me that Haku being human has a side effect… and that it's making your act like a cat…?" I asked with seriousness.

"Whatever are you talking about-nyan?"

⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

"My word… why is this woman so cute…"

"Hup… I've been rolling around in bed last night since I can now talk to Haku."

"Don't say that with a straight face. And he can probably hear you."

"I don't mind. I'm just happy that I can also talk to him now without… uhh… a language barrier."

"Hm," I stood up towards the kitchen, "then can you hold the fort with Haku today?"

"Sure~"

~ ~ ~

‹Rin›

In all actuality, no words can express how happy I am right now. For several years, I have been seeing Haku in this house every time I come and visit. He was indeed an interesting one, especially when we learned that certain people are able to communicate with them. How long has it been—maybe two years since then—when Haku began to be understood? I've been watching him and Gin talk to each other while I honestly felt very left out.

Gradually, I began to see Haku not just as a cat but as someone that truly lives in this house.

And for me to now see him and even talk to him normally, it felt very surreal yet I am overjoyed.

…

With nothing to do left on his hands, Haku silently and gently sat on the couch with a tucked position whilst a pillow is between his legs and his chest as he watches me paint.

Suddenly, I started.

"This is the first thing that popped on my mind."

On the inclined surface, I continued on to paint what my memory tells me of how Haku looks like in his original form. There wasn't really a reason why I chose this, but ideas do indeed come from whims.

"Ojou… have you ever thought of wanting to hear me on my original appearance?"

"Of course I do; many many times. It sounds like you two are always having fun when talking to Potato and I can't help but feel a bit jealous.

I've always wanted that, and it feels like the many times I've wished for that is probably the reason why you became like this. Though take that with a grain of salt."

"But after saying that, the possibility isn't really far. My case is just really vague and sudden."

"In a sense… don't you think it's similar to Potato's hair?"

"Ohh…? Is something the matter with the change of his hair?"

"I'm surprised you still doesn't know, but we've basically just gave up and decided that his 'original' appearance does not have any basis or reason whatsoever."

"I didn't have any idea."

"But I think… I think apart from that, you basically know him down to his core. Granted, you may not know some things in detail, but even before your voice was heard I guess you've already understood him."

"He's the first human I've admired. Aruji never really asked about my life before I came here, but it appears that we were both surviving on our own. It might have been fine for me to live like that in the past… that is, if I didn't give up on that; but it's different for Aruji, or maybe humans generally. From what I have seen, Aruji is scarred for life, and I wouldn't want him to be alone again—because it is very dangerous for him.

His enemies aren't assassins or powerful beings. He is always fighting 'to survive' against loneliness. But what I want to happen is for him to fight 'to live' or even end the war he has stepped onto.

The final boss was never approaching—it has always been here."

Once more, I was visited with a revelation that four years of being with Gin was never enough to completely understand his feelings and his heart. It was like a tall array of stairs—when I thought I have reached the top, what appeared in front of me was only the moment of rest from the ascent and another set of steps towards something higher.

But whatever the case… I still continued to climb it tirelessly. It was only Gin's existence that made me drive myself to move forward for his and my own sake.

I have always reconsidered how much he has become a part of my life until he has become someone that is irreplaceable.

"…"

"Ahhh… I really want to be with him…"

Maybe… I think I kind of understand now the meaning behind Gin's words and the vision of his future.

"Haku, there's something I want to say to you."

"Okay?"

"But can you do me a favor and not tell Potato at any cost?"

"Okay…?"

"It's only one word, and it is…

'Yes.'"

~ ~ ~

‹Haku›

It didn't need me to become a human to understand what Ringo-ojou meant by that. She never said anything about it after that and then she continued her painting, but at the back of my mind, it's something so easy to do yet very frightening to screw up.

I may have said that the final boss has always been here, but even so, there is a side quest in which its duration is several years, yet the only thing Aruji needs to do is wait.

…

My analogies are already becoming more human-like… Hahh…

▪ ▪ ▪

"Say Haku, wanna head outside?"

"…

Umm… did I mishear that?"

"No, you didn't. But it's good that you're now completely aware."

"W-Well, I'm still a bit worried. I've never seen people with the same eyes."

"You'll be fine as long as you won't be separated from me. Besides, you know the outside a lot."

"If you say so…"

‹Gin›

There's something that I've always wondered about, more especially as the cat has now taken a human form.

Haku is very much aware of my physical abilities and sometimes he would suggest some things that he does in terms of his mobility, that is, when he was a cat. At the very least, I was able to apply what he had advised me, but I am still limited with our incompatible anatomy.

Now that he is not a cat (hopefully only temporarily), I wonder again how he would adjust to this new body, and how will his muscle memory adapt.

Fortunately, I stored away some of my old clothes and a pair of running shoes that doesn't fit on me anymore; but they were entirely usable for Haku. Thus, I made him change to the clothes I gave him and prompted to head out.

"Ahh, you'll probably need a jacket."

"If we're going to run, I don't know how I'll keep up since it's cold, then I'll be kept warm. That's just the epitome of my listlessness."

"Do you actually ever feel cranky as a cat when all you do is laze around…?"

"A stretch makes all the difference."

"Hahaha, we'll see.

Also, take a cap. You'll stand out otherwise."

Today is a bright, yet not very sunny Saturday with the usual circulation of cold air all throughout Orio. It was not yet so cold so as to burn our lungs, and we are still able to perspire.

I then taught Haku the rhythm of a jog as we began and made him follow on my tail.

lol wwwwww on my tail wwww grass

But as I expected, his claim that a stretch will do everything for him was negated. Even with a set of stretch before heading out, it is evident that with his body, he isn't in his prime. To put simply, he has gone cranky.

But if anything, I was very much the same before I got to this point of stupendous amount of stamina reserves. Running in full circles inside the Void was basically a marathon on its own. I may not have risked to train my body under dangerous circumstances otherwise my bones would have fell apart, but I started somewhere around the last quarter of a hundred times of gravity. Of course I was scared as I started very spontaneously, but things worked out in the end thankfully.

But for Haku who came from having a naturally way better mobility than that of a human, I am very sure that he will adjust in no time.

And I do hope that he would have once we have reached our destination.

~ ~ ~

"You know that I'm an Exile, right, Haku?" I asked as we entered the overgrown greenhouse.

"Is this the base you were talking about?"

"Exactly."

After a few steps down from a staircase as we feel our legs literally warmed up, the metallic door slid open in a push of a button. For some reason, Haku got startled.

"Let's get in."

"Uwaahhh… I feel like I lost my weight for a moment. It was a really weird feeling…

So this is the elevator that I always see in the TV."

I can't help but let out a chuckle with how child-like Haku is right now.

"Heeeeyyyy, 'sup."

"Oh? Ain't that a new face, Gin?" a fellow approached us.

"Ah… I think he'll be the first cat to become a companion…" I sheepishly asserted as my head slowly tilted down, scratching it. "I can't expect you all to believe me, but I'm not kidding."

"A-Ah. My name's Haku. I'm actually a cat, but I'm in this body for some reason."

Well, of course, they were pressing X for doubt.

"Alriiiight, first supporter of Gin's claim coming through~" and my brother-in-law-in-law came to the rescue with Sis beside her.

"Haaaaahhh… Ain't it quite a sight to see Sis in this place."

"Loving this place, lil bro."

"I guess this is our first proper meeting, Haku?" Hiro asked while reaching out his open hand.

"Aruji, this isn't a paw, right?"

"PFFT…!!!!!

Ahaaaahhhh… it's a handshake… A handshake."

"O-Oh," at least he knows how to grip a hand.

"Man, is this what it feels like to be able to talk to a cat? This is great."

"Nah, man. I almost launched myself up when he was an actual cat.

Anyway, is the third floor in use right now?"

"I don't think so. Feel free to use it then but talk to Makoto or Ken about it first~"

"Roooger, bossman."

~ ~ ~

While in the lift once again, Haku asked me.

"Aren't floors supposed to descend when going down, Aruji?"

"Uhhh… I don't think you would really get my first explanation but if we're talking about the z-axis… Let's just say that the literal surface aboveground is the z level 0 and the underground base is negative as we go downwards.

That doesn't make sense, right?"

"It sure didn't."

"Then basically we think of the underground base as a different dimension apart from the world, although not literally. You could think of it as the other side of a mirror, but let's not try to be poetic here. If you flip this base, then we're basically ascending. It's basically an oxymoron, though."

"It made sense somehow."

"That's good."

I may have considered the lowest floor as some kind of a training room as it definitely looked like it when I was still green in this place. But in reality, this is an all-purpose or utility floor that was used most notably on the early production of AMMs apart from the first versions made inside the Void.

That being the case, we now have an R&D for that.

I said that all, but the floor is looking very bare right now at the very least. One thing that has changed here is that it has become extremely modular. We have various kinds of engineers that helped developed this whole place to how it is now. There is even a "user manual" for this entire room, but it definitely sounded like it was only intended for my use with the way they explained and gave me a booklet.

At this point, everything that has been developed here are proprietary.

Conveniently, there were "proprietary" solid pillars lying around in one spot, and so I commenced on, well… you wouldn't really see anyone suddenly carrying a pillar the weight of two or three cars.

But after securing one while Haku watches with his jaw already on the floor, I paused.

"As a cat, you have an insane control with regards to how you land. Can you try and jump your highest and see how you are faring with that body?"

I may be a vertical jumper at most, or a high-flyer, really. But to be honest, I have never seen a human move around like an actual cat. Hence, I am not expecting Haku to do what the Romans do.

But apples, he really did leap quite a high one on a running jump. I do not know if it was his height limit, but he aimed for the pole and immediately launched himself up to the ceiling and landed effortlessly after a touch with his fingertips up there.

"Derpy llamas… that's amazing…"

"Hahh… Hah… I think I could've done better if I was a giant cat…!"

"Woah there."

But finally, I have now come to the true purpose of our coming here as several pillars have been erected in the entire floor.

"This is the only obstacle we have, but whatever.

Alright, sensei, teach me your ways to reach your mobility."

"So this is why…

But can I please see what that Step thing is?"

Thus we came up to the pillars and show him how I disappear to thin air. If anything, this environment is just as challenging as the poles I jumped on from north of Cotona to home.

Using the feet to grasp and launch myself took incredible amounts of precision and control. Really, even I am too fast for the Step as I actually got some of my bones broken for not being able to step on my brakes.

Oh my word… that entire sentence is basically a horrifying pun…

Nonetheless, it took me so long but I am now able to have control not only with my feet but also my core.

It's basically an A to B in an instant.

"I'm not going to use Step because in any other anime trope, a special move drains stamina, but let's play tag, shall we?"

"…

Alright."

~ ~ ~

Basically, what happened was that we're sprinting non-stop either on the ground, the wall, or on the pillars; swinging ourselves around while Haku gets used to the new grip of his hands. In the middle of that, I also got pointers about his firsthand experiences and techniques when he was still a cat…

Then repeat that for two more hours.

I may have faced Horach and Ryota in an extreme situation, but they didn't really take that long. Just imagine us doing the same thing but with ever changing variations of strategy for two straight hours without rest. Get tapped, immediately get chased, rinse and repeat.

It was a full-on exercise…!

▪ ▪ ▪

"Meow…? (H-Haku…? Is that you?)"

On our way back home, we met a familiar cat that asked a strange question.

"W-W-W-W-Wait, how did you know it was me, Rou?!"

"Meow. (Let's not beat around the bush, every cat that has seen you immediately recognized you as our fellow.)

Meow. (But would it be okay if I impose on you again in your house, Gin? Not for food, but I now have something to explain.)"

"O-Okay…?"

~ ~ ~

"Woah, my eyes suddenly blurred for a second…"

"You too, Aruji?"

"Huh?

…

Anyway, we're… here… Rou…"

In a prompt to look at the cat, I titled my head down, but what I saw on that very moment was not a cat, but a set of human feet.

Before we knew it, there was already a person behind us.

"…!

R-Rou…?!" Haku suddenly exclaimed.

"What did I tell you? Cats recognize their fellows.

I'm the same as you, Haku."

…

"You can also eat human food in that form, right?"

"Yes."

"Then have some tea to warm you up…"

"Thank you."

"So… I guess you have an idea why I suddenly turned like this?"

"Nope."

Bonk. We fell on our seat.

"I also woke up like this, so I don't know why I turned into a human. But that was already a while ago. I'm already accustomed to my two appearances.

I'd guess that you don't know how to return right?"

"On the spot…"

"Then let me show you…"

Anticipation immediately built up both on Haku and I, but just when we were about to witness it, my eyes turned towards my kettle that was whistling on my stove.

Even before turning it off, I turned around and saw that Rou has turned into a cat again.

"W-What in the world…?"

"Meow. (I think that no one really sees how we change, not even me. It looks like we are able to change appearances with the help of coincidences that happens on a day to day.

Meow! (Just like how you two both turned to the kettle, I then changed back to a cat. I can do it at will now, though; but I don't really do it. It's been months since I did this last because I had no reason to.)"

I ran out of words, and my back fell to rest on the couch.

"So if there's something that is very complex and has a concise reason (like the Void), there are also things that happen without any apparent reason just like this occurrence and my hair…

Sheesh… this world…"

"Meow. (I don't really understand what that means but it sounds like it makes sense.)"

"Haaaaaahhhhhh… I'm too tired to think about that… I'll just prepare for dinner even though it's early.

You can stay and eat with us, Rou."

"Yaayyy, free food again~"

"You changed again?!"

In the past, I've always thought that the world is unfair and unjust, but now…

The world appears to be just utterly bizarre, and yes, that's a reference.