Quest Updated!

[The More the Merrier]

2/8 Catgirls Successful!

By the time Peony was satiated, it was close to midnight. She returned to her room in giggling fits while Tristan went to hunt down Ara. His night wasn’t over, it seemed. Who did you trade your soul to for that kind of stamina, man?

I didn’t feel right calling it a night without finding Ceres and Keke first. I couldn’t imagine they’d be too pleased with me disappearing the full day. Guess I’d been caught up in the moment with Peony. A lot of moments.

My room was empty, and a quick peek into the gaming hall revealed an Ara with more chips than I could count and a circle of furious catgirls. But no Keke and Ceres. No luck in the restaurant, either.

Well, only one other place that’ll be open this time of night.

I went to the dressing room outside the hot spring and stripped for the second time that day. Even if they weren’t there, I could still wash myself off.

Wrapping a towel around my hips, I walked barefoot to the steaming hot springs. The Gem of Abalone really outdid themselves at night. Dark green circles shaped like lilypads floated along the water’s surface with tiny candles at their center, twinkling bright in the darkness. Beyond a few dozen of those, there were two torches in the far corners of the area and the dim light that escaped the dressing room. I had to let my eyes adjust to the sudden shift. I stood next to the spring and blinked away the black frames around my vision.

Two pairs of familiar cat ears on familiar heads bobbed near the waterfall. Keke’s soft laughter bounced across the spring to my ears, followed by a few hushed words from Ceres. No one else was taking advantage of the waters so late. That worked out.

I tossed the towel to the side before sliding into the water. After that afternoon’s exertions, the heat in my muscles and joints felt amazing. Scratches from Peony’s desperate grasps tingled and faded while the tension in my shoulders evaporated.

“Oh? Matt? Have you finally come to join us?” Keke called.

Oh. Right. [Low-Light Vision]. “Hey.”

“It is impolite to keep your ladies waiting, Matt,” Ceres added. There was no stutter or trace of a hidden ‘My Lord.’

Ouch. “I know. I’m sorry.” I paddled closer to them, at last able to make out their faces. Soft candlelight cradled their captivating features, flickering in pools of gold and blue. Ceres’ hair was out of its usual braid, flowing tendrils cascading over her shoulders. “I should have left a note.”

“Or woken us up.” Keke’s fingers poked free from the surface before she splashed me with a wave of hot water. “Don’t you think we would’ve liked to eat together?”

I brushed the streams of her attack away from my face. “Yeah. That would make sense.”

Ceres pulled her knees to her chest. “Keke and I… Well, it was odd to wake up on our own.”

“You’re very soft to cuddle. If that’s what Matt would rather, it’s fine,” Keke said, touching Ceres’ shoulder.

Are you trying to get a rise out of me? It was working. This wasn’t like her. “Keke.”

Keke huffed, a long piece of her bangs floating forward before falling back over her nose. “Last night was strange. I didn’t hate it, but it felt strange.”

Ceres blushed, then murmured, “I quite liked it.”

“We didn’t have to do it. If you wanted to stop, you could have said so,” I argued.

“And ruin your and Ceres’ fun? No.” Keke shook her head, then blew the strand of hair away from her nose once more. “I guess I thought if we all woke up together and went to breakfast together I’d feel fine. Like, yeah, it felt weird, but at the end of the day, you’re still min—” She covered her mouth, then dropped her eyes.

“Speak your mind, Keke,” Ceres encouraged.

Slowly dropping her hand, she raised her gaze to mine. “Instead, it was just us, and Ara said you’d vanished with another girl. Which I know is what you’re supposed to do and that’s fine. Because we’re not allowed to lay claim to you. Or be possessive. I know this is irrational behavior, and still I… I…”

“You what?” I asked.

Ceres rested her hand on Keke’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring nod. “As soon as kittens are considered grown, we are taught that bearing children becomes our highest priority if we ever encounter a man. We must put his needs first, and our emotions are irrelevant. We must stand aside and allow him to perform his duties. However, the reality is,” she paused and squeezed Keke’s hand, “it is not so easy.”

“I won’t ever ask you not to feel what you’re feeling.” Before I’d arrived in Nyarlea, that would have sounded like heaven. Now, each time I heard about the ‘role’ of catgirls, it twisted knots in my stomach.

“Perhaps not. But we stand in violation of numerous laws for such desires,” Ceres replied. “I have heard there are…establishments—in Nyarlothep—that rehabilitate catgirls who’ve become too attached to the men on their islands.”

Keke shuddered. “I couldn’t…I can’t—”

I felt nauseous. “Hey, no one’s getting put behind bars for that. I would never let it happen.” I pushed the tendril of hair still tickling Keke’s nose away from her face. “I’m sorry. I should have waited for you two.”

“Mm.” Keke nodded, her expression solemn.

I touched their arms, searching out both of their gazes. “You’ll always be my girls. My Party. There’s no one who can replace you.” Maybe mushy, but it’s the damn truth. “Really. I’m sorry. I won’t leave you like that again.”

They nodded, but even Ceres still looked pretty put out. I pushed their arms to the sides, sandwiching myself in between them before wrapping an arm around each of their shoulders and pulling them tight against me.

“Matt!” Keke laughed with surprise.

“It’s our last night of vacation. I won’t have sad girls just because I was a dumbass. Now, tell me you didn’t waste the day waiting for me?”

“Heavens no. We had a wonderful day together. You think us so painfully dependent that we can’t entertain ourselves?” Ceres chided.

“Wow. Guess I’m not off the hook yet, huh?”

“Not for the night, at least.” Keke leaned her head against the curve between my neck and shoulder. She lifted her hands from the water and held them forward for me to see. “Here, look. We had our finger and toenails filed and painted!”

Ceres copied the movement, tipping her fingers toward Keke’s so I could see both. Keke had picked a forest green that reminded me of her combat attire, while Ceres’ nails were a vivid pink.

“They look great,” I complimented.

“I’ve never had them done before,” Ceres marveled. “Venicia does not believe in colored nails—it goes against the efficiency virtue. And, well, the rest of Shi Island does not have the time nor luxury.”

“That makes sense.”

“I remember Aurora painting Cannoli and my nails when we were little. My mom never liked the idea.” Keke chuckled and let her arms fall beneath the water. “I’ve never bothered to try since then.”

“Well, I’ve never bothered with my nails either. So we’re even.” I shrugged.

“Do the men where you’re from perform such maintenance?” Ceres asked. “I am trying to imagine your nails in a similar pink and—” she snorted, “—it is funny.”

“Some of them do. Just wasn’t really my thing. I was bad enough about getting my hair cut. Forget trying to remember anything else.” It was probably due for a trim again, now that I thought about it. “What do you want to do with our last day tomorrow?”

“I’d like to shop for gifts. For Cannoli and Ravyn,” Keke said. “Maybe we can find something that would cheer them up.”

“That is a spectacular idea!” Ceres exclaimed. “I spotted a tea shop during our walk earlier. Perhaps something there for Ravyn?”

“I think she’d really like that. And some sweets and new hair ribbons for Cannoli,” Keke replied.

“That sounds great. We’ll all go together after breakfast,” I agreed.

Ceres relaxed her head against my shoulder, and the three of us sat in silence, watching the starlight sparkle through the waterfall.

“Hey, Matt,” Keke said.

“Hm?”

“Thanks for coming to find us.”