Mewgendai - Chapter 2
*Chapter 2 : Cute animals and celestial sparkling power*
The next morning, Subaru woke up with an unbelievable headache. He could have drunk a hundred bottles of vodka and the result would have been the same. Well, given the terrible nightmare he had had… Dreaming of himself being crossdressed, kissing a gross unknown guy? Where did his subconscious find that crap? After the kissing episode, he couldn’t remember anything. He must have fallen asleep in the Yamada's flat, and had woken up on the floor a few minutes before the owner was back. He tried to convince himself that the rest, the mutant rabbits, had only been a dream.
In the kitchen, his sister Suika had left him a bento. Strange, she didn’t use to cook exclusively for him -the miso soup the other day was leftovers. He really must have acted weird when he got back home last night. He opened the fridge, once again driven by a strong need of milk. And of fish. Without being able to stop it, the memory of his transformation into a cat came back to his mind. He shook his head, and took out the bottle of milk, then opened the bento…which was filled with sardines. Only sardines. Not a single grain of rice, not a drop of seasoning. And as a side dish, a small paper fold in half. Subaru took and opened it.
« Congratulations, Mew Paprika ! ❤︎ You have been elected by all Kanjaville’s inhabitants to ✰✰✰ become one of the 5 saviors of Earth ! ✰✰✰
If you wish to know more about it, and/or why you have kitty-like reactions, please come to the ✿MEW CAFE in Shibuyan after school.✿
Ah, yeah, it’s you we’re talking to, Subaru Shibutani. ❀❀❤︎
PS: If you don’t believe me, look what’s hanging at your neck»
Subaru blinked several times, the text’s neon pink tickling his eyes. Mew Paprika? Save the world? What the hell was this shit? Who wanted to make fun of him ? He held up his hand to his neck without believing it a second. But then his hand did touch something. He rushed to his living’s mirror and saw that a tacky pendent decorated his cleavage. A pink pendent, with at the center of it a red « infinity » sign on a golden background. Yuck. He swore and told himself all of it could only be a bad joke. Someone with crap humour had put this on him the day before, maybe Mrs Yamada. But the necklace wouldn’t leave his neck : There wasn’t any clasp, and the chain was too short for him to pull it out. Even with some scissors or a knife, he wasn’t able to cut it, and worse of all when he tried it felt like it was his hand he was trying to cut. Subaru bit his lower lip, the transformation scene repeating in a continuous loop before his eyes. Lost between reality and dream, he tried to follow the straight line that the kitchen’s table formed to get a hold on the real world. He saw the sardines, and then couldn’t stop himself to catch the box and stuff it all down his mouth.
-Grumpf yum yum miom shhhardines are shurely delishious. Fishhhhhhh~~~ ARG WHAT AM I SAYING ??!!
Whatever, he would not be able to live in kitty mode the rest of his life. Impossible. Perhaps that those reactions were provoked by some sort of drug ? The odd guy that had given him the pendent, perhaps had he given him some pills at the sat time ? And later, he had had hallucinations of mutant rabbits and him crossdressing. However, the kitty symptoms had begun earlier in the day… Raaaaah, he didn’t understand a thing. The kittyboy threw a heinous look to the card. It seemed that he was forced to go to this fucking « MEW CAFE ».
*-*-*-*
-Hullo, Subaru !, laughed Rocky.
-Subaru, Hullo !, fake cried Hiro.
-What are you two up to again, today ?, sighed the latter sitting on the bench where his friends had settled.
-We’re each other’s contrary, so…
-…we contradict each other and talk together…
-…so that no one can know who’s who…
-What’s the logic in that ?!
-For exemple, right now, would you be able to say…
-…who’s Hiro and who’s Rocky ?
-Uuuuh, you’re Rocky and you’re Hiro, Subaru said pointing the two in order.
-HOW COULD YA FIGURE THAT ?!, cried out Hiro.
-YA COULD FIGURE THAT HOW ?!, followed Rocky.
-‘Cause Rocky is blond. Stupid thingies.
-Well well well, Subaru is strong indeed.
-Indeed, strong you are Suba-
-Raaah just quit talking like that, it’s really straining.
Hiroki didn’t answered, lowering their heads, apparently hurt. But that prostrated attitude did not last long and Hiro quickly looked up.
-Ah, by the way, seems that Yuko’s looking for you.
-…Wut? Yuko? Yuko Odashi?
A.k.a the girl who he had declared his undying love to a few days earlier and who had rejected him like an old eggplant? Naaah.
-Yup, Yuko-chan, the whole class says she’s looking for you. She wants to talk to you, completed Rocky.
-Then why didn’t you tell it me earlier, dumbmyaasses ??
That freaking kitty accent, Subaru couldn’t take it anymore.
-Uh, well…
-…We forgot…
-…And you didn’t ask us…
-Raaaah, but why the hell would I ask somyathing like this ?
He got up and went in the direction of Odashi’s classroom without even addressing a sign to Hiroki, who themselves followed him with suspicious eyes. ’Tis possible, Hiro even whispered to Rocky, that Subi had become a sort of magical girls anime otaku. A mewing guy indeed is indeed fishy. On ‘Subi’s side, those two guys depressed him.
Arriving next to the targeted girls group, he tried to send a discrete sign to Yuko, but the only scarf’s he’d managed to find to cover his pendent was flashy red. As a result, his not-so-discrete arrival brought smiles on the pupils’ mouths and a few girls guffawed.
-Shibutani-kun, Odashi said seeing him come.
-Odashi-san.
-Hihi, that indeed changes from your heated ‘Yuko-chan’.
Subaru blushed and lowered his eyes.
-I heard you’re looking for myae ?, he said without finding the courage to face her.
-That’s true. But what I’d like to tell you is not something to be told in public. There’s still a bit of time left before class begins, let’s go to the roof, she answered a smile in her voice.
The boy nodded and followed her in the stairs, feeling curious looks on them as they were climbing up. The roof was empty, just like in a cheesy anime’s confession scene. Subaru’s heartbeats firmly fastened. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking that, perhaps…
-There it is, we’re better up here. So, what I wanted to tell you is that… perhaps I turned you down a bit fast the other day. And Hiroki told me you had bought us tickets for the Kitten Café, very expensive ones… And that because of that you went there with your little sister and she got scratched…
Oh, yeah, that’s what he had told his friends. While he was in a bad mood, Subaru always tended to lie and exaggerate everything. Plus, they never would’ve understood what had happened with Ryo. But anyway, they shouldn’t have told it to Odashi…
-Ah, uh, yeah.
-I’m truly sorry for your sister, is she okay ?
-Yes, it’s completely forgotten, Suika, err, myay sister is okay.
-Suika ? Hihi, that’s your sister’s name ? So Cute !
-Thanks myou…
-But personally, I feel bad that you spent your money for nothing and all, so, yeah… Would you accept this ?
The teen smiled and held out two tickets from her pocket.
-Those are tickets for an exhibition at the natural sciences museum. Would you come with me on Saturday ? You’re the animal-loving type an’t you? See you tomorrow, ten o’clock in front of the museum !
She laughed one last time and disappeared in the darkness of the stairs.
Two dates in one single day, Subaru thought. Well, seemed like he was becoming popular. Not like he wanted to go to the Mew Café though.
He had heard about this place several times already. Its was a new establishment, in vogue since a couple of weeks, and that really appealed to the ladies : the two waiters were ikemen, gentlemen and mysterious. If the date was down there, then perhaps that the evil joker was a girl ? But there was also the weird guy who gave him the pendent…
*-*-*-*
After school, Subaru directly went to that cursed café. When he arrived in front of the place, he seriously wondered how this could be fashionable. And yet it was, thing that reinforced his conviction that trendy stuff was just crap. How could someone ever think that this …thing… was beautiful ? The building was shaped in something that could look like a pear, perhaps, and was painted in an awful pink, dotted with green. Above a peanut style door, could be read a banner : « Mew Café ~ drink hot beverages for infinity~ » in golden letters on a blue background. Once more, Subaru scratched his eyes. It was WAY TOO UGLY. He pushed the door, sighed, and couldn’t remember being that demotivated in his whooooole life.
-Irasshaimaseeee !, an ikemen greeted him from the cashier.
In the room floated a delicious scent of coffee muffin. The decoration was just as garish as the Yamada’s flat, but with sparkles as a bonus. It was worth saying that this room was… kawaiingly hideous. The sort of hideousness that one can only find in this district (Shibuyan) in this city (Kanjaville) in this world. Fake plants in purple plastic hanged to the wall, and the chairs were covered in fuchsia velvet. A quick glance made Subaru understand that he was the only client. Bizarre, being in THE café of the moment.
-Hello, I’m here because I have an appointmyaent, but seems like I somehow made a mistake about the hour…
-Oooow, you must be Shibutani-kun ?
-…Yea ?
-Aaaaaaaaw, you’re eeeeeven prettier than what Toma has toooold me ! And best of all you’re talking with the kitty accent !
-Against myay will, I’d like to precise. AGAINST MYAY WILL. MYAW.
-Oh really, is planet Earth rotten to the point that even its own inhabitants don’t want to save it ?
-I don’t see the link, but you’re the one who wrote the letter an’t you ?
The man smirked, and Subaru carefully looked at him. He was relatively tall and his skin was very white. Dark, silky hair covered his brow, you know the kind of hairstyle that seems neglected but in fact is really, really polished. As he was moving closer, the teen got a better view on his beautiful chocolate eyes and even thought to glimpse a touch of eyeliner at the corner of them. His smile was hollywoodian and at the same time warm, and suddenly Subaru felt more at ease. He smelt strawberry-banana flavored chewing gum.
-Yeah Subaru, you’re right, I'm the one who wrote the letter, but…
-Uhh, Shibutani-kun please.
Shades of irony appeared on the man’s lips and he got hold of Subaru’s chin.
-Shibutani ? We are friends, an’t we ?
Subaru curled his lips and extricated himself, cheeks red with surprise and anger. No, they weren’t FRIENDS. He was actually going to be raped and some random folks would find him the next morning, floating on EitoRiver wearing only his pants. Dead. No, even the pants were a utopia. Forgive me, Suika, I’ve no been a good brother, he thought sighing. But… NO ! He finally got himself a date with Yuko-chan, he could not abandon life and virginity like that ! Subaru, take a hold on yourself !
-Ah !, the man continued, I’m forgetting myself. I am Sho Sakurai, owner of this shop, nice to meet you.
-Seems that you already know my name, I suppose I don’t need to introduce myself.
-However, you don’t know mine, a third voice uttered behind him.
The teen turned back to find himself in front of the weird guy who’d save him from the rabbits.
-Hullo ! Sorry, last time it was quite rude not to introduce myself. I’m Toma Ikuta, waiter here.
Subaru pouted. He didn’t really know why but he didn’t like that guy’s haughty attitude. His grin was too big to be sincere. Ikuta joined Sakurai and both opened wide their arm in his direction.
-Welcome to the Mew Café, a.k.a our secret base of research on aliens !, they said in unison.
-Myay god…, Subaru sighed.
-Buddy, as I was saying it in the letter, began Sakurai, you, Subaru Shibutani, are one of the five citizens Mother Nature chose. But first, take this and change !
-Change ?, repeated the student biting his lips. Why ?
-Rah, just go put this thing on you and don’t be a pain in the ass !,spat Ikuta without stopping grinning.
-Ha? Who the hell do you think you are ?
-HAAA ?
-Easy, easy, calm down both of you, we still have a long way to go through together so you’d better get along. Subaru-chan, hurry and go get dressed up before it's dark ! I will not be able to send you back home… Unless you want to stay over for the night ? Hohoho, we only own one single bed you know…
-OKAY I AM GOING TO CHANGE.
Subaru took the package and disappeared in the backroom.
-Uhhh, Toma, seems like project Mewgendai will at last begin, right ?
-It seems, yeah. But why on earth did you press the wrong button, Sho ? It shouldn’t have been him ! You said you would find me some cute and obedient girls and all. But this… We were preparing this for years !
-Huhuhu what tells you I pressed the wrong one ?
-Sho !
-Whatever, I’m sure that from where she is, Professor Heitzmann is happy to see that it has gotten that far.
-Yea, Baa-chan must be proud of us…, Toma smiled lifting up his eyes towards the glass rooftop which let them see the first stars.
Subaru came back a little while after, his face scarlet with embarrassment.
-Why… do I have… to wear…THIS ?, he managed to articulate pointing at his new outfit.
He had exchanged his uniform and red scarf with a shirt, blazer and a tie decorated in hawaiian style and shorts with geometric and rainbowish patterns. And to top it off, a mask that imitated his head with a sort of puckering lips, the type we can buy during summer festivals.
-Huh huh, you’re making the same face as the mask, mocked Ikuta.
-Well, I think that it’s probably time to explain everything to you, smiled Sho. Actually, me and Toma…We’re not what we look like we are.
-Two mad rapers on the run ?, Subaru suggested.
-…Sorry ?
-I’m saying you look like two mad rapers on the run, so if you’re not what you look like you are I’m kind of comforted you know.
-…Whatever. Actually, we are two wealthy high school students and we aim to save the world from the alien threat !
-Uuuh, what sect are you belonging to ? Satanists ? Sorry but I’m a good shintoist and I’m not planning to…
-Nooooo, I’m talking about the real alien threat. As a matter of fact, Earth is currently in danger : some aliens aim to erase our civilisation and to settle down there because they don’t like their own planet. And in order to save humanity, there is only one solution, the Pink List Animals !
No need to point out that Subaru did not understand a thing about what was happening or what the pastry chef was blabbering about. On an ultimate try, he sighed and asked :
-Red List you mean ?
-No, no, the red list is the one with the endangered species. Pink List Animals are the ones who are the CUTEST IN THE WORLD ! We are going to use the celestial sparkling power of cute animals !
-… Ok, that’s enough, I’mya getting outta here. I’ll figure out somyathing with the kitty effect, thanks anyways, don’t worry the nice fellows in the white truck with the flashing lights will comya to fetch you.
-Wait, I’m not done ! Those animals have a scale of cuteness measured in the Awn unit, more they have some more the girls react to them by screaming « Awwwwwwwwn ». We have chosen five of the top ones on this scale, Toma carried on. Thanks to special benign genetic transformations, it is possible to convert Awns in magic energy useful in fights against the Chimera Animas.
-…
-The Chimera Animas are the thingies such as yesterday’s mutant bunny. They are animals -usually ones with a high level of Awn- who are momentarily possessed with an alien energy and are programed to kill and destroy every human civilisation they can find. Well, basing ourselves on yesterday, everything that moves actually. Our system analysed a few days ago who in Kanjaville had the genes more likely to welcome a DNA strong in Awn. The five animals we chose have an Awn rate that’s so high it creates a vaccine effect that the alien genes cannot influence. In conclusion, the fusion of a human being with qualified genes of an Awn high rated animal’s DNA creates a being capable of fighting against Chimera Animas.
-And… that’s what I am ?
-Yeah, that’s why you were able to transform in Mew Paprika and merge with the Hokkaido PuffPuff Cat.
-…PuffPuff…
-It’s the animal with the highest rate of Awns in the world. And you -apparently- are the guy the most likely to welcome it. Actually, we shouldn’t have chosen the Mew according to their welcoming capacities but according to their general capacities. But there was a kinda bug, complained Ikuta sending a nasty look to Sho.
-So there it is, you’re one of the five Mewgendai of this city, and you’re gonna save us from the alien threat !
-Mewgendai ?
-That’s the name I gave to Awn animal-human hybrids. Because your are going to protect us eternally, yeah !, he grinned.
-And if I say no ?
-You can’t, you’re far too much involved now, don’t you think ?, answered Toma closing his eyes and sighing. You definitely can’t.
-But I don’t wanna be a cat ! I normyally don’t like fish and I can stay awake during a long timya ! Now, I spend myay timya eating that and sleeping… And I run really fast, but worst of all, I SPEAK WITH A MYA ACCENT !
-Subaru-chan, whispered Sakurai while caressing the teen’s hands, don’t you think that all those things are awesome ? You were chosen out of thousands of people to become a special lady- uh, no, uh, a special boy. You finally have an aim in your life, and think about it, now that you’re a Mewgendai, every single girl will fall for you !
-Every single girl ?
-Yes ! And your accent is very very cute don’t worry.
-Yeah well no, grumbled Toma.
-Perhaps will you even be able to become an idol !
-An idol ? But… I’ve always dreamyed of becoming popular…
Subaru felt joy spreading through his body. Popularity, here I am ! Magazines with his head on the cover and headlines « Mew paprika, a.k.a shibutani subaru, once more saved us all from the alien threat ! ». But mainly, mainly… Yuko-chan would look at him and only him !
-Ok, I’m on it !, he said with a large grin. Hahahahahhahaha, I’ll become the most famyous guy in Kanjanville, no, in Janiland !
-Yes ! And to begin with, you need a cover. You’ll thus work here, but we already have enough waiters so you'll be musician.
-Myusician ? In a café ?
-Oh you didn’t know ? Here it’s a musical café, there are always some artists playing here and there. On this stage, Sho said pointing at a corner of the room.
-I hope you can play an instrument, crumble the other waiter.
-Uuuh…nah.
-What ? Isn’t music part of a normal education ? And we know that you’re part of the music club !
-I don’t have any myoney to spend on that ! And about the club, it’s because I lost a bet before closing clubs last year. Mya friend challenged me to learn how to sing before the end of high school.
-Poor thing.
-Posh thing.
-Stop, stop kids. Anyway, you are going to learn, it’s not that complicated. And at worst, you’ll sing. Those clothes here are your stage costume.
-…Really ? I’ll becomye an Idol wearing things like this ?
-No but he made this costume quickly because we had some cute ones prepared for girls. Because Mewgendai should have been girls. That’s also why you turn into a magical girl when you transform. You should be happy that there were some bits of fabric leftovers, otherwise you would only be wearing your pants, Toma mocked with a sadistic grin.
Oh, yes, he had forgotten that. Perhaps, eventually, it was not a good idea. Subaru wanted to take back what he’d said, but then his onyx black eyes met the two others’ ruthless ones and thought that he was really, really up to his neck in crap.
*-*-*-*
-Eita Eita !
-Shut up.
-Eita Eita !
-Shut up your myouth !, Subaru said again turning back to the thing that was following him. Sho told me that you were able to turn into a keychain, so why are you here, being insufferable ?
-Eitaaaaa !
He had eventually managed to flee from the Mew Café before the night, and to prevent both guys to rape him, and just before he got out, Sho had given him this thing : a small being, robot or ware-cute animal he didn’t really know, which looked like a sort of lamp genius, you know the one in Aladdin. Apparently, this thingy would detect aliens for him, so he was supposed to keep it with him at anytime. At first he had thought it was cute, but it made some NOISE.
-Eitaaaaa !
-Well, other than screamying and swirling in the air, you can also detect other mewgendai, don’t you ? Aaaaarh why am I even talking to you, I fucking know that you can’t answer.
The thing mysteriously smirked and happily quivered his little elf ears.
-Actually when you do that you look a bit like Ryo.
-Eita ?
-Yeah nothing.
*-*-*-*
The streets of Kanjaville were quiet around his apartment, that’s why he could allow himself talking like that to Eita -yup, that’s the name he found for it, imaginatioooon-. He didn’t feel like locking himself up in some room right away, so he decided to go for a walk through the rich neighborhoods, where he never went to. Perhaps that he could even be able to start to accomplish his first mission. He had to confess it, the idea of being a future human civilization saver didn’t look that bad to him, on the contrary he was having all sorts of thrills inside him. Sho had told him his first task was to find the other mewgendais. Toma and him had had a kinda system problem and lost their IDs. They had only found Subaru by luck. Yeah, this was not really reassuring, but what could Subaru do about it ?
Anyhow, if a chimera anima came close, Eita would turn into an alarm mode. And in order to find the mewgendais, Subaru had to search people with a Mugendai sign somewhere on their bodies. His, a tiny infinity sign (-> mugendai), was black, on his right thigh. The only clue he had aside the mark was that they were all less than twenty-one years old, because adult genes are no longer matching. Great, what a useful information.
Above his head, street light lit up. There it was, night. Around him, the huge master houses were a bit threatening, standing up in the dark. Luckily, his flat’s building was a few streets near. He walked a little more and spotted after a while a figure walking on the other side of the road. Eita shut his mouth and went back to his keyring shape, falling into Subaru’s palm. The latter narrowed his eyes. This outline reminded him something. A large sweater, obviously too big, pitch-black hair falling on the eyes and a book in hand…Ryo !
-Ryo !, Subaru called, half-surprised, half-happy to meet his friend.
The young man lifted up his head, surprised as well. Subaru gestured him to get closer and he crossed the road.
-What a coincidence ! How can you always be around when I go out ?, the student laughed while letting his hand swipe through his hair. He seemed a little bit nervous.
-Subaru…
-Haha…What are you doing here ?
-Subaru, repeated Ryo, when you’re running, you look like a cat. Again. That’s beautiful.
-Beautiful ? You’re definitely weird hahaha.
-You, what are you doing here ?
-I’m going back homye.
-You’re living here ?
-Uh, no, it’s way too posh around here ! I live in those buildings up the road.
-Posh..?
-What about you ?
-Me I’m going home.
-Are you ?
Ryo bent his head on the side. Subaru knew, thanks to his short talking-with-Ryo experience, that when he did those kind of face, to insist would lead him nowhere.
-Your keyring’s cute, Ryo smiled.
-Ah, you think so too ? But it’s noisy though.
-Noisy ?
-Nevermyind.
The reader -now that he thought about it, he noticed that the book was once again different from the other times he’d met Ryo- lifted up his arm to touch Eita, but he accidentally dropped it and bent down to take it back. Without really knowing why he was looking in that direction, he got a plunging view on Ryo’s chest, left bare by his floating t-shirt. And there, where he was the less prepared to find one, he saw a mugendai !
-AH !
-Subaru ?
-Ah, uh, ah, actually…
This is the moment Eita chose to turn back to his normal shape but with glowing red eyes, which meant that a Chimera Anima was near.
-EITA ! EITA ! EITA !
-What, now ?!, shouted Subaru scanning their surroundings with frightened eyes.
-EITAAAAA !
In front of the line of houses, there was a park. Now that he saw it, it must be the park where he met Ryo. The street was very quiet, no way a Chimera Anima wou-
-YUUUUM YUUUUM YUUUM YUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM CRUNCH.
They turned towards where the noise came from. The manhole had been forced open and a pack of mutant rats, probably small Chimera Anima Subaru thought, bursted out.
-Ah ! I guess there’s no other way ! Mew Mew Paprika, Metamorphosis !
The heat in chest spread again, in the noise of tingling bells, up until his ears, hands, feet. The other outfit had taken over his body but once more he didn’t notice it. His cat tail bursted out at the same time his cat ears did, and, final touch, some small red nodes appeared here and there on his body. The transformation was over. Subaru, now in the shoes of Mew Paprika, had gone up in the sky in order to have a broader view of what was happening. He quickly understood that the rat’s aim was…Ryo ?
-This is something I can’t agree with, believe me !, he said with his newly unbearable voice. Ryo-mya, I’m gonna save ya ! Ribooooooon…SUGAAAAR CAAAAANDY !
He wielded his two sugar candy sticks in the shape of a cross, and, just like the previous fight, the gesture created a powerful energy that destroyed the rats. But more were coming out of the manhole. The attack’s energy having weakened Paprika, he fell back on the floor (on his feet, he is a cat after all). Before he could start again, a rat jumped on him to make him fall on the ground.
-If it goes on like his, I might not be able to win ! Miaw, sighed Paprika who, each time he tried to get up, got hit by a Chimera Anima.
Suddenly, he remembered the mark he saw on Ryo ’s chest.
-EITA !, he screamed, Do what you have to do ! I’ll handle this ! Mya miaw !
-Eita !
The little thingy sped up towards Ryo and invoked a pendent similar to Subaru’s to give it to the young man. He was curled against a wall, shivering out of fear. But he took the jewel. On the rats’ side, Paprika attacked non-stop, without it being really useful, and soon was thrown on the ground next to Ryo.
-Ryo-mya… This will seem incredible to you, but you can transform as well…Please…
In Ryo’s eyes, he could feel that his friend was overwhelmed with the same comforting heat he was.
-Just follow what your heart tells you to do, and all will be okay ! I believe in you, he mewed while collapsing on the floor.
-Subaru…
The rats were coming closer to the couple, growling and hissing. Ryo got up and did what Subaru told him to : follow his heart. He held the pendent up to his lips and felt a huge overwhelming power.
-Mew Mew Lemon ! Metamorphosis !
A yellow aura and golden sparkles formed around him. His back itched a bit, but he didn’t notice : his body was flying up, coated in a cloud of yellow feathers. He sneezed and the feathers disappeared. His sweater did as well, to let a yellow and golden skinny dress envelop him, assorted to his yellow gloves. As weird as it would seem, Ryo never felt as comfortable as in those clothes. In his back he felt that wings had grown. He had transformed into a canary.
He stretched his hand towards the sky, and quickly a wooden spoon appeared. He caught it and drew a mugendai sign in the air to gather the shining honey love particles that floated, invisible, in the atmosphere. Before that, he’d never seen any of those sparkles, but now his heart had opened. He joyfully screamed :
-Riboooooon…HONEEEEEEY !
Streams of honey escorted by a golden light bursted out of the spoon. The honey, sweet and sticky liquid, first attracted and lured the rats who were quickly stuck. They could no longer move, and slowly the liquid made them melt and run down to the sewers. Mew Lemon used his spoon to close the manhole, waving it as a magic wand. He then took the tool to his mouth to lick the last drops of honey love.
-Yummyyy~
-Myaaaaa… You’re sooo strong, mewed Paprika gaping at him.
Lemon turned towards him and smiled. Apparently, his personality changed with his clothes, just as Paprika. Then he fluttered to the kitty and landed next to him, to embrace him.
-Paprika, you’re just as strong and cool as I am, if not more, he said with a small voice. I really like you !
-I know, I’m such a cutie ! Hiiiihihihi ! Miaw Miaw !
-Paaaaaprikaaaa~
-Myaaaa~
-Thanks for saving me !
-You’re welcome, Lemon-mya !
-Piu ! Piu ! Piu !
-Miaw !
*End of Chapter 2*
The next morning, Subaru woke up with an unbelievable headache. He could have drunk a hundred bottles of vodka and the result would have been the same. Well, given the terrible nightmare he had had… Dreaming of himself being crossdressed, kissing a gross unknown guy? Where did his subconscious find that crap? After the kissing episode, he couldn’t remember anything. He must have fallen asleep in the Yamada's flat, and had woken up on the floor a few minutes before the owner was back. He tried to convince himself that the rest, the mutant rabbits, had only been a dream.
In the kitchen, his sister Suika had left him a bento. Strange, she didn’t use to cook exclusively for him -the miso soup the other day was leftovers. He really must have acted weird when he got back home last night. He opened the fridge, once again driven by a strong need of milk. And of fish. Without being able to stop it, the memory of his transformation into a cat came back to his mind. He shook his head, and took out the bottle of milk, then opened the bento…which was filled with sardines. Only sardines. Not a single grain of rice, not a drop of seasoning. And as a side dish, a small paper fold in half. Subaru took and opened it.
« Congratulations, Mew Paprika ! ❤︎ You have been elected by all Kanjaville’s inhabitants to ✰✰✰ become one of the 5 saviors of Earth ! ✰✰✰
If you wish to know more about it, and/or why you have kitty-like reactions, please come to the ✿MEW CAFE in Shibuyan after school.✿
Ah, yeah, it’s you we’re talking to, Subaru Shibutani. ❀❀❤︎
PS: If you don’t believe me, look what’s hanging at your neck»
Subaru blinked several times, the text’s neon pink tickling his eyes. Mew Paprika? Save the world? What the hell was this shit? Who wanted to make fun of him ? He held up his hand to his neck without believing it a second. But then his hand did touch something. He rushed to his living’s mirror and saw that a tacky pendent decorated his cleavage. A pink pendent, with at the center of it a red « infinity » sign on a golden background. Yuck. He swore and told himself all of it could only be a bad joke. Someone with crap humour had put this on him the day before, maybe Mrs Yamada. But the necklace wouldn’t leave his neck : There wasn’t any clasp, and the chain was too short for him to pull it out. Even with some scissors or a knife, he wasn’t able to cut it, and worse of all when he tried it felt like it was his hand he was trying to cut. Subaru bit his lower lip, the transformation scene repeating in a continuous loop before his eyes. Lost between reality and dream, he tried to follow the straight line that the kitchen’s table formed to get a hold on the real world. He saw the sardines, and then couldn’t stop himself to catch the box and stuff it all down his mouth.
-Grumpf yum yum miom shhhardines are shurely delishious. Fishhhhhhh~~~ ARG WHAT AM I SAYING ??!!
Whatever, he would not be able to live in kitty mode the rest of his life. Impossible. Perhaps that those reactions were provoked by some sort of drug ? The odd guy that had given him the pendent, perhaps had he given him some pills at the sat time ? And later, he had had hallucinations of mutant rabbits and him crossdressing. However, the kitty symptoms had begun earlier in the day… Raaaaah, he didn’t understand a thing. The kittyboy threw a heinous look to the card. It seemed that he was forced to go to this fucking « MEW CAFE ».
*-*-*-*
-Hullo, Subaru !, laughed Rocky.
-Subaru, Hullo !, fake cried Hiro.
-What are you two up to again, today ?, sighed the latter sitting on the bench where his friends had settled.
-We’re each other’s contrary, so…
-…we contradict each other and talk together…
-…so that no one can know who’s who…
-What’s the logic in that ?!
-For exemple, right now, would you be able to say…
-…who’s Hiro and who’s Rocky ?
-Uuuuh, you’re Rocky and you’re Hiro, Subaru said pointing the two in order.
-HOW COULD YA FIGURE THAT ?!, cried out Hiro.
-YA COULD FIGURE THAT HOW ?!, followed Rocky.
-‘Cause Rocky is blond. Stupid thingies.
-Well well well, Subaru is strong indeed.
-Indeed, strong you are Suba-
-Raaah just quit talking like that, it’s really straining.
Hiroki didn’t answered, lowering their heads, apparently hurt. But that prostrated attitude did not last long and Hiro quickly looked up.
-Ah, by the way, seems that Yuko’s looking for you.
-…Wut? Yuko? Yuko Odashi?
A.k.a the girl who he had declared his undying love to a few days earlier and who had rejected him like an old eggplant? Naaah.
-Yup, Yuko-chan, the whole class says she’s looking for you. She wants to talk to you, completed Rocky.
-Then why didn’t you tell it me earlier, dumbmyaasses ??
That freaking kitty accent, Subaru couldn’t take it anymore.
-Uh, well…
-…We forgot…
-…And you didn’t ask us…
-Raaaah, but why the hell would I ask somyathing like this ?
He got up and went in the direction of Odashi’s classroom without even addressing a sign to Hiroki, who themselves followed him with suspicious eyes. ’Tis possible, Hiro even whispered to Rocky, that Subi had become a sort of magical girls anime otaku. A mewing guy indeed is indeed fishy. On ‘Subi’s side, those two guys depressed him.
Arriving next to the targeted girls group, he tried to send a discrete sign to Yuko, but the only scarf’s he’d managed to find to cover his pendent was flashy red. As a result, his not-so-discrete arrival brought smiles on the pupils’ mouths and a few girls guffawed.
-Shibutani-kun, Odashi said seeing him come.
-Odashi-san.
-Hihi, that indeed changes from your heated ‘Yuko-chan’.
Subaru blushed and lowered his eyes.
-I heard you’re looking for myae ?, he said without finding the courage to face her.
-That’s true. But what I’d like to tell you is not something to be told in public. There’s still a bit of time left before class begins, let’s go to the roof, she answered a smile in her voice.
The boy nodded and followed her in the stairs, feeling curious looks on them as they were climbing up. The roof was empty, just like in a cheesy anime’s confession scene. Subaru’s heartbeats firmly fastened. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking that, perhaps…
-There it is, we’re better up here. So, what I wanted to tell you is that… perhaps I turned you down a bit fast the other day. And Hiroki told me you had bought us tickets for the Kitten Café, very expensive ones… And that because of that you went there with your little sister and she got scratched…
Oh, yeah, that’s what he had told his friends. While he was in a bad mood, Subaru always tended to lie and exaggerate everything. Plus, they never would’ve understood what had happened with Ryo. But anyway, they shouldn’t have told it to Odashi…
-Ah, uh, yeah.
-I’m truly sorry for your sister, is she okay ?
-Yes, it’s completely forgotten, Suika, err, myay sister is okay.
-Suika ? Hihi, that’s your sister’s name ? So Cute !
-Thanks myou…
-But personally, I feel bad that you spent your money for nothing and all, so, yeah… Would you accept this ?
The teen smiled and held out two tickets from her pocket.
-Those are tickets for an exhibition at the natural sciences museum. Would you come with me on Saturday ? You’re the animal-loving type an’t you? See you tomorrow, ten o’clock in front of the museum !
She laughed one last time and disappeared in the darkness of the stairs.
Two dates in one single day, Subaru thought. Well, seemed like he was becoming popular. Not like he wanted to go to the Mew Café though.
He had heard about this place several times already. Its was a new establishment, in vogue since a couple of weeks, and that really appealed to the ladies : the two waiters were ikemen, gentlemen and mysterious. If the date was down there, then perhaps that the evil joker was a girl ? But there was also the weird guy who gave him the pendent…
*-*-*-*
After school, Subaru directly went to that cursed café. When he arrived in front of the place, he seriously wondered how this could be fashionable. And yet it was, thing that reinforced his conviction that trendy stuff was just crap. How could someone ever think that this …thing… was beautiful ? The building was shaped in something that could look like a pear, perhaps, and was painted in an awful pink, dotted with green. Above a peanut style door, could be read a banner : « Mew Café ~ drink hot beverages for infinity~ » in golden letters on a blue background. Once more, Subaru scratched his eyes. It was WAY TOO UGLY. He pushed the door, sighed, and couldn’t remember being that demotivated in his whooooole life.
-Irasshaimaseeee !, an ikemen greeted him from the cashier.
In the room floated a delicious scent of coffee muffin. The decoration was just as garish as the Yamada’s flat, but with sparkles as a bonus. It was worth saying that this room was… kawaiingly hideous. The sort of hideousness that one can only find in this district (Shibuyan) in this city (Kanjaville) in this world. Fake plants in purple plastic hanged to the wall, and the chairs were covered in fuchsia velvet. A quick glance made Subaru understand that he was the only client. Bizarre, being in THE café of the moment.
-Hello, I’m here because I have an appointmyaent, but seems like I somehow made a mistake about the hour…
-Oooow, you must be Shibutani-kun ?
-…Yea ?
-Aaaaaaaaw, you’re eeeeeven prettier than what Toma has toooold me ! And best of all you’re talking with the kitty accent !
-Against myay will, I’d like to precise. AGAINST MYAY WILL. MYAW.
-Oh really, is planet Earth rotten to the point that even its own inhabitants don’t want to save it ?
-I don’t see the link, but you’re the one who wrote the letter an’t you ?
The man smirked, and Subaru carefully looked at him. He was relatively tall and his skin was very white. Dark, silky hair covered his brow, you know the kind of hairstyle that seems neglected but in fact is really, really polished. As he was moving closer, the teen got a better view on his beautiful chocolate eyes and even thought to glimpse a touch of eyeliner at the corner of them. His smile was hollywoodian and at the same time warm, and suddenly Subaru felt more at ease. He smelt strawberry-banana flavored chewing gum.
-Yeah Subaru, you’re right, I'm the one who wrote the letter, but…
-Uhh, Shibutani-kun please.
Shades of irony appeared on the man’s lips and he got hold of Subaru’s chin.
-Shibutani ? We are friends, an’t we ?
Subaru curled his lips and extricated himself, cheeks red with surprise and anger. No, they weren’t FRIENDS. He was actually going to be raped and some random folks would find him the next morning, floating on EitoRiver wearing only his pants. Dead. No, even the pants were a utopia. Forgive me, Suika, I’ve no been a good brother, he thought sighing. But… NO ! He finally got himself a date with Yuko-chan, he could not abandon life and virginity like that ! Subaru, take a hold on yourself !
-Ah !, the man continued, I’m forgetting myself. I am Sho Sakurai, owner of this shop, nice to meet you.
-Seems that you already know my name, I suppose I don’t need to introduce myself.
-However, you don’t know mine, a third voice uttered behind him.
The teen turned back to find himself in front of the weird guy who’d save him from the rabbits.
-Hullo ! Sorry, last time it was quite rude not to introduce myself. I’m Toma Ikuta, waiter here.
Subaru pouted. He didn’t really know why but he didn’t like that guy’s haughty attitude. His grin was too big to be sincere. Ikuta joined Sakurai and both opened wide their arm in his direction.
-Welcome to the Mew Café, a.k.a our secret base of research on aliens !, they said in unison.
-Myay god…, Subaru sighed.
-Buddy, as I was saying it in the letter, began Sakurai, you, Subaru Shibutani, are one of the five citizens Mother Nature chose. But first, take this and change !
-Change ?, repeated the student biting his lips. Why ?
-Rah, just go put this thing on you and don’t be a pain in the ass !,spat Ikuta without stopping grinning.
-Ha? Who the hell do you think you are ?
-HAAA ?
-Easy, easy, calm down both of you, we still have a long way to go through together so you’d better get along. Subaru-chan, hurry and go get dressed up before it's dark ! I will not be able to send you back home… Unless you want to stay over for the night ? Hohoho, we only own one single bed you know…
-OKAY I AM GOING TO CHANGE.
Subaru took the package and disappeared in the backroom.
-Uhhh, Toma, seems like project Mewgendai will at last begin, right ?
-It seems, yeah. But why on earth did you press the wrong button, Sho ? It shouldn’t have been him ! You said you would find me some cute and obedient girls and all. But this… We were preparing this for years !
-Huhuhu what tells you I pressed the wrong one ?
-Sho !
-Whatever, I’m sure that from where she is, Professor Heitzmann is happy to see that it has gotten that far.
-Yea, Baa-chan must be proud of us…, Toma smiled lifting up his eyes towards the glass rooftop which let them see the first stars.
Subaru came back a little while after, his face scarlet with embarrassment.
-Why… do I have… to wear…THIS ?, he managed to articulate pointing at his new outfit.
He had exchanged his uniform and red scarf with a shirt, blazer and a tie decorated in hawaiian style and shorts with geometric and rainbowish patterns. And to top it off, a mask that imitated his head with a sort of puckering lips, the type we can buy during summer festivals.
-Huh huh, you’re making the same face as the mask, mocked Ikuta.
-Well, I think that it’s probably time to explain everything to you, smiled Sho. Actually, me and Toma…We’re not what we look like we are.
-Two mad rapers on the run ?, Subaru suggested.
-…Sorry ?
-I’m saying you look like two mad rapers on the run, so if you’re not what you look like you are I’m kind of comforted you know.
-…Whatever. Actually, we are two wealthy high school students and we aim to save the world from the alien threat !
-Uuuh, what sect are you belonging to ? Satanists ? Sorry but I’m a good shintoist and I’m not planning to…
-Nooooo, I’m talking about the real alien threat. As a matter of fact, Earth is currently in danger : some aliens aim to erase our civilisation and to settle down there because they don’t like their own planet. And in order to save humanity, there is only one solution, the Pink List Animals !
No need to point out that Subaru did not understand a thing about what was happening or what the pastry chef was blabbering about. On an ultimate try, he sighed and asked :
-Red List you mean ?
-No, no, the red list is the one with the endangered species. Pink List Animals are the ones who are the CUTEST IN THE WORLD ! We are going to use the celestial sparkling power of cute animals !
-… Ok, that’s enough, I’mya getting outta here. I’ll figure out somyathing with the kitty effect, thanks anyways, don’t worry the nice fellows in the white truck with the flashing lights will comya to fetch you.
-Wait, I’m not done ! Those animals have a scale of cuteness measured in the Awn unit, more they have some more the girls react to them by screaming « Awwwwwwwwn ». We have chosen five of the top ones on this scale, Toma carried on. Thanks to special benign genetic transformations, it is possible to convert Awns in magic energy useful in fights against the Chimera Animas.
-…
-The Chimera Animas are the thingies such as yesterday’s mutant bunny. They are animals -usually ones with a high level of Awn- who are momentarily possessed with an alien energy and are programed to kill and destroy every human civilisation they can find. Well, basing ourselves on yesterday, everything that moves actually. Our system analysed a few days ago who in Kanjaville had the genes more likely to welcome a DNA strong in Awn. The five animals we chose have an Awn rate that’s so high it creates a vaccine effect that the alien genes cannot influence. In conclusion, the fusion of a human being with qualified genes of an Awn high rated animal’s DNA creates a being capable of fighting against Chimera Animas.
-And… that’s what I am ?
-Yeah, that’s why you were able to transform in Mew Paprika and merge with the Hokkaido PuffPuff Cat.
-…PuffPuff…
-It’s the animal with the highest rate of Awns in the world. And you -apparently- are the guy the most likely to welcome it. Actually, we shouldn’t have chosen the Mew according to their welcoming capacities but according to their general capacities. But there was a kinda bug, complained Ikuta sending a nasty look to Sho.
-So there it is, you’re one of the five Mewgendai of this city, and you’re gonna save us from the alien threat !
-Mewgendai ?
-That’s the name I gave to Awn animal-human hybrids. Because your are going to protect us eternally, yeah !, he grinned.
-And if I say no ?
-You can’t, you’re far too much involved now, don’t you think ?, answered Toma closing his eyes and sighing. You definitely can’t.
-But I don’t wanna be a cat ! I normyally don’t like fish and I can stay awake during a long timya ! Now, I spend myay timya eating that and sleeping… And I run really fast, but worst of all, I SPEAK WITH A MYA ACCENT !
-Subaru-chan, whispered Sakurai while caressing the teen’s hands, don’t you think that all those things are awesome ? You were chosen out of thousands of people to become a special lady- uh, no, uh, a special boy. You finally have an aim in your life, and think about it, now that you’re a Mewgendai, every single girl will fall for you !
-Every single girl ?
-Yes ! And your accent is very very cute don’t worry.
-Yeah well no, grumbled Toma.
-Perhaps will you even be able to become an idol !
-An idol ? But… I’ve always dreamyed of becoming popular…
Subaru felt joy spreading through his body. Popularity, here I am ! Magazines with his head on the cover and headlines « Mew paprika, a.k.a shibutani subaru, once more saved us all from the alien threat ! ». But mainly, mainly… Yuko-chan would look at him and only him !
-Ok, I’m on it !, he said with a large grin. Hahahahahhahaha, I’ll become the most famyous guy in Kanjanville, no, in Janiland !
-Yes ! And to begin with, you need a cover. You’ll thus work here, but we already have enough waiters so you'll be musician.
-Myusician ? In a café ?
-Oh you didn’t know ? Here it’s a musical café, there are always some artists playing here and there. On this stage, Sho said pointing at a corner of the room.
-I hope you can play an instrument, crumble the other waiter.
-Uuuh…nah.
-What ? Isn’t music part of a normal education ? And we know that you’re part of the music club !
-I don’t have any myoney to spend on that ! And about the club, it’s because I lost a bet before closing clubs last year. Mya friend challenged me to learn how to sing before the end of high school.
-Poor thing.
-Posh thing.
-Stop, stop kids. Anyway, you are going to learn, it’s not that complicated. And at worst, you’ll sing. Those clothes here are your stage costume.
-…Really ? I’ll becomye an Idol wearing things like this ?
-No but he made this costume quickly because we had some cute ones prepared for girls. Because Mewgendai should have been girls. That’s also why you turn into a magical girl when you transform. You should be happy that there were some bits of fabric leftovers, otherwise you would only be wearing your pants, Toma mocked with a sadistic grin.
Oh, yes, he had forgotten that. Perhaps, eventually, it was not a good idea. Subaru wanted to take back what he’d said, but then his onyx black eyes met the two others’ ruthless ones and thought that he was really, really up to his neck in crap.
*-*-*-*
-Eita Eita !
-Shut up.
-Eita Eita !
-Shut up your myouth !, Subaru said again turning back to the thing that was following him. Sho told me that you were able to turn into a keychain, so why are you here, being insufferable ?
-Eitaaaaa !
He had eventually managed to flee from the Mew Café before the night, and to prevent both guys to rape him, and just before he got out, Sho had given him this thing : a small being, robot or ware-cute animal he didn’t really know, which looked like a sort of lamp genius, you know the one in Aladdin. Apparently, this thingy would detect aliens for him, so he was supposed to keep it with him at anytime. At first he had thought it was cute, but it made some NOISE.
-Eitaaaaa !
-Well, other than screamying and swirling in the air, you can also detect other mewgendai, don’t you ? Aaaaarh why am I even talking to you, I fucking know that you can’t answer.
The thing mysteriously smirked and happily quivered his little elf ears.
-Actually when you do that you look a bit like Ryo.
-Eita ?
-Yeah nothing.
*-*-*-*
The streets of Kanjaville were quiet around his apartment, that’s why he could allow himself talking like that to Eita -yup, that’s the name he found for it, imaginatioooon-. He didn’t feel like locking himself up in some room right away, so he decided to go for a walk through the rich neighborhoods, where he never went to. Perhaps that he could even be able to start to accomplish his first mission. He had to confess it, the idea of being a future human civilization saver didn’t look that bad to him, on the contrary he was having all sorts of thrills inside him. Sho had told him his first task was to find the other mewgendais. Toma and him had had a kinda system problem and lost their IDs. They had only found Subaru by luck. Yeah, this was not really reassuring, but what could Subaru do about it ?
Anyhow, if a chimera anima came close, Eita would turn into an alarm mode. And in order to find the mewgendais, Subaru had to search people with a Mugendai sign somewhere on their bodies. His, a tiny infinity sign (-> mugendai), was black, on his right thigh. The only clue he had aside the mark was that they were all less than twenty-one years old, because adult genes are no longer matching. Great, what a useful information.
Above his head, street light lit up. There it was, night. Around him, the huge master houses were a bit threatening, standing up in the dark. Luckily, his flat’s building was a few streets near. He walked a little more and spotted after a while a figure walking on the other side of the road. Eita shut his mouth and went back to his keyring shape, falling into Subaru’s palm. The latter narrowed his eyes. This outline reminded him something. A large sweater, obviously too big, pitch-black hair falling on the eyes and a book in hand…Ryo !
-Ryo !, Subaru called, half-surprised, half-happy to meet his friend.
The young man lifted up his head, surprised as well. Subaru gestured him to get closer and he crossed the road.
-What a coincidence ! How can you always be around when I go out ?, the student laughed while letting his hand swipe through his hair. He seemed a little bit nervous.
-Subaru…
-Haha…What are you doing here ?
-Subaru, repeated Ryo, when you’re running, you look like a cat. Again. That’s beautiful.
-Beautiful ? You’re definitely weird hahaha.
-You, what are you doing here ?
-I’m going back homye.
-You’re living here ?
-Uh, no, it’s way too posh around here ! I live in those buildings up the road.
-Posh..?
-What about you ?
-Me I’m going home.
-Are you ?
Ryo bent his head on the side. Subaru knew, thanks to his short talking-with-Ryo experience, that when he did those kind of face, to insist would lead him nowhere.
-Your keyring’s cute, Ryo smiled.
-Ah, you think so too ? But it’s noisy though.
-Noisy ?
-Nevermyind.
The reader -now that he thought about it, he noticed that the book was once again different from the other times he’d met Ryo- lifted up his arm to touch Eita, but he accidentally dropped it and bent down to take it back. Without really knowing why he was looking in that direction, he got a plunging view on Ryo’s chest, left bare by his floating t-shirt. And there, where he was the less prepared to find one, he saw a mugendai !
-AH !
-Subaru ?
-Ah, uh, ah, actually…
This is the moment Eita chose to turn back to his normal shape but with glowing red eyes, which meant that a Chimera Anima was near.
-EITA ! EITA ! EITA !
-What, now ?!, shouted Subaru scanning their surroundings with frightened eyes.
-EITAAAAA !
In front of the line of houses, there was a park. Now that he saw it, it must be the park where he met Ryo. The street was very quiet, no way a Chimera Anima wou-
-YUUUUM YUUUUM YUUUM YUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM YUUUUUM CRUNCH.
They turned towards where the noise came from. The manhole had been forced open and a pack of mutant rats, probably small Chimera Anima Subaru thought, bursted out.
-Ah ! I guess there’s no other way ! Mew Mew Paprika, Metamorphosis !
The heat in chest spread again, in the noise of tingling bells, up until his ears, hands, feet. The other outfit had taken over his body but once more he didn’t notice it. His cat tail bursted out at the same time his cat ears did, and, final touch, some small red nodes appeared here and there on his body. The transformation was over. Subaru, now in the shoes of Mew Paprika, had gone up in the sky in order to have a broader view of what was happening. He quickly understood that the rat’s aim was…Ryo ?
-This is something I can’t agree with, believe me !, he said with his newly unbearable voice. Ryo-mya, I’m gonna save ya ! Ribooooooon…SUGAAAAR CAAAAANDY !
He wielded his two sugar candy sticks in the shape of a cross, and, just like the previous fight, the gesture created a powerful energy that destroyed the rats. But more were coming out of the manhole. The attack’s energy having weakened Paprika, he fell back on the floor (on his feet, he is a cat after all). Before he could start again, a rat jumped on him to make him fall on the ground.
-If it goes on like his, I might not be able to win ! Miaw, sighed Paprika who, each time he tried to get up, got hit by a Chimera Anima.
Suddenly, he remembered the mark he saw on Ryo ’s chest.
-EITA !, he screamed, Do what you have to do ! I’ll handle this ! Mya miaw !
-Eita !
The little thingy sped up towards Ryo and invoked a pendent similar to Subaru’s to give it to the young man. He was curled against a wall, shivering out of fear. But he took the jewel. On the rats’ side, Paprika attacked non-stop, without it being really useful, and soon was thrown on the ground next to Ryo.
-Ryo-mya… This will seem incredible to you, but you can transform as well…Please…
In Ryo’s eyes, he could feel that his friend was overwhelmed with the same comforting heat he was.
-Just follow what your heart tells you to do, and all will be okay ! I believe in you, he mewed while collapsing on the floor.
-Subaru…
The rats were coming closer to the couple, growling and hissing. Ryo got up and did what Subaru told him to : follow his heart. He held the pendent up to his lips and felt a huge overwhelming power.
-Mew Mew Lemon ! Metamorphosis !
A yellow aura and golden sparkles formed around him. His back itched a bit, but he didn’t notice : his body was flying up, coated in a cloud of yellow feathers. He sneezed and the feathers disappeared. His sweater did as well, to let a yellow and golden skinny dress envelop him, assorted to his yellow gloves. As weird as it would seem, Ryo never felt as comfortable as in those clothes. In his back he felt that wings had grown. He had transformed into a canary.
He stretched his hand towards the sky, and quickly a wooden spoon appeared. He caught it and drew a mugendai sign in the air to gather the shining honey love particles that floated, invisible, in the atmosphere. Before that, he’d never seen any of those sparkles, but now his heart had opened. He joyfully screamed :
-Riboooooon…HONEEEEEEY !
Streams of honey escorted by a golden light bursted out of the spoon. The honey, sweet and sticky liquid, first attracted and lured the rats who were quickly stuck. They could no longer move, and slowly the liquid made them melt and run down to the sewers. Mew Lemon used his spoon to close the manhole, waving it as a magic wand. He then took the tool to his mouth to lick the last drops of honey love.
-Yummyyy~
-Myaaaaa… You’re sooo strong, mewed Paprika gaping at him.
Lemon turned towards him and smiled. Apparently, his personality changed with his clothes, just as Paprika. Then he fluttered to the kitty and landed next to him, to embrace him.
-Paprika, you’re just as strong and cool as I am, if not more, he said with a small voice. I really like you !
-I know, I’m such a cutie ! Hiiiihihihi ! Miaw Miaw !
-Paaaaaprikaaaa~
-Myaaaa~
-Thanks for saving me !
-You’re welcome, Lemon-mya !
-Piu ! Piu ! Piu !
-Miaw !
*End of Chapter 2*