Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 287: Interlude - 6: To Hear the Roar of Thunder
"And then, this scary dog ran out of the alley and Jotou caught it by the neck! She tried intimidating it, but then started to calm it down.
Then the owner came by and took the dog, then gave us a job; which we accepted!"
"So you two’ll be out tomorrow too?" Hotaru sat with a cup of tea in the palace’s tea room, her hair up in a bun. She and Fumeko listened to the tale Asobi spun of her day out with Jotou. "Wait, if the dog was tamed, why did it come after Jotou to attack?"
Asobi poked a wand to her chin, "Hm... Oh! We were both disguised as cat-part-humans! Must be the case!"
Hotaru’s ears pricked, "Interesting choice, but I guess there’s no chance of recognition if you’re part-humans."
Fumeko took another piece of coconut candy Asobi and Jotou had brought back, "Never mind that, you said you guys were down a street with other people. Why’d the dog only jump out then and not before?
It’s not like the dog caught the scent of part-humans and came running, your disguise was an illusion."
"Okay, cat-humans would still smell like humans, do I smell like a wolf to you?" the redhead side-eyed.
"I don’t know, I’m not a dog," Fumeko shrugged. "All I know is you smell like sea dandelions."
Hotaru reluctantly blushed before averting her gaze away to sip her tea.
"Oh! I got it! I think it was because Jotou’s meowing was so convincing."
"Wat?"
Hotaru nearly spat out her tea. She gulped, "Excuse me?"
Asobi giggled, "Yeah! I said something that rhymed with meow, then Jotou said meow, then I actually meowed and she tried it too!
We both mimicked cats pretty well, it was fun! Although, I think the dog ran after Jotou because she kept meowing."
Fumeko stared into the void as she silently bit into the pinkish candy.
"Anyway," Hotaru fake coughed and hid her face behind a teacup, "So, you two’ll be working as waitresses?"
"Mhm; and it’s filled with pets! It’s why me and Jotou agreed. I’m sure it’ll be fun!"
"Luckily you’re just part-timing so, have fun checking it out and tell me all about it. The pay seems up to code, a little above minimum wage. What about all the paperwork?"
"Oh, Jotou asked about it and he said it was fine since we’re just part-timing. If we want to stay longer though we have to give our documents."
"Well, I’m not sure if that’s legally okay... But as long as you’re getting paid properly. If you need false documents, I’m sure for the reasoning of avoiding attention, the government can make some for you two."
"Thank you! We’ll see; it’s just for a little fun. But who knows, maybe me and Jotou will start a new life there!"
She flashed a slight glare to the elf, but Hotaru immediately shook it off, "Let’s hope you come back here instead," she chuckled.
"What’s wrong Meko?" Asobi took notice.
Fumeko had shrunk into her seat, her face as pink as the candy she finished. "Huh?" she snapped out of it. "It’s nothing. Just spaced out a bit... Where were we? Talking about meowing or something, right?"
"I think we’ve had enough tea and snacks," Hotaru stared to her empty cup to hide her embarrassment. "Don’t wanna ruin dinner and all..." she got up. "I’ll see you two there."
The detective connected the dots and narrowed her eyes to the fleeing Hotaru, "You’re going to the source, aren’t you?"
The wolf-girl halted her steps, "...I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Sure you don’t..." Fumeko pushed the chair back slowly and got up on her feet. "You wouldn’t happen to know where Jotou is right now, would you?"
Hotaru’s eyes began to narrow with her back turned to the brunette, "She’s, probably talking to Daiyu on the fourth floor balcony. I’m just going to my room though."
"That’s inaccurate... Jotou just came back from a whole day in the city and knowing her, she’s probably in the shower as we speak..."
Asobi’s head swivelled between the two, over and over; Hotaru frozen in place and Fumeko about to move forward—both with shady gazes... "Am I missing something?"
"Woosh!" Shadows whipped out the doors.
"GET BACK HERE!" Hotaru shouted and broke into a sprint. The thought of the blonde meowing cutely plagued both their minds...
_
Jotou gently fluffed her golden locks with a towel, staring into the mirror. ’What a day. It’s been, so nice... I remember a car almost crashed into a radio shop. Granted, it wasn’t going that fast.’
She cocked her head to the side and kept drying her hair, "How have I not thought to bring a radio in here...?
I miss having music. Then again, it’s all old-timey music... Then again, some of them’re relaxing and nice... Violins and pianos sound especially good. Didn’t realize music in this world would be my guilty pleasure."
She spotted her expression in the reflection; no wonder her face felt sore. ’Huh, would you look at that. I don’t think I had many pessimistic thoughts the entire day while I was out with her... I just felt, happy.
That homeless guy got an armite today. He could be using it for drugs or is an alcoholic; it wasn’t the best idea to flip him that much... I didn’t overthink it.
Maybe he really did need a little luck? Guess I’ll never know. And I guess it’s out of my hands. I’ve got no control over his choices, just mine; and I don’t think I can really regret what I did.’
"KNOCK! KNOCK!"
Jotou twisted her head and poked out the bathroom door; she looked to the bedroom’s door, "Who is it!?"
"Fumeko! Let me in!"
"What is it!?"
"HURRY!"
"Hell... Gimme a sec!" Jotou whipped her hair back and wrapped a large white towel around herself. She knitted her brows a smidgen and hovered an arm below her neck as she rushed to the door. ’Must be an emergency.’
Jotou turned the lock on the knob and opened it, "What is it detective?"
Fumeko faced up and immediately stopped breathing... The still undried golden strands that were curling and frizzy down her shoulders drifted a scent of thundering blitzes right into the brunette’s face.
The blonde’s brows knitted till she leered, "Hey," she snapped her fingers, breaking Fumeko out of it. "What is it?"
"Uh," Fumeko steadied herself, "This is gonna sound odd, but can you mimic a cat?"
...
"...Hah?" One could see on Jotou’s face, her mind going through so many thoughts all at once... "Is this what you’re pranks’ve come to? I expected a little better than, whatever attempt this is."
"It’s not a prank! I just, can you sound like a cat?" she went redder as she requested.
Jotou held the door to keep it slightly closed, "Why? The hell is going on? Are you playing truth or dare with Daiyu or something?"
"Jotou no, it’s uh, well," Fumeko’s eyes darted to the side.
"JOTOU! DON’T LISTEN TO ANYTHING SHE ASKS!" a breathy yell came down the hallway.
"Aru?" Jotou poked her head out.
"Shit, that was fast for her," Fumeko peered over.
"Rejuvenate!" Hotaru splashed water across her face as she sprinted towards the room.
"Of course..." Fumeko cursed.
"Great, all of you just take your time, not like I was doing something or anything," Jotou’s eyes glazed over as she tried to hide herself behind the door. ’It’s not an emergency is it...’
Hotaru reached them, only for Fumeko to throw her hands out wide and block her from entering. The redhead- came to an abrupt stop, nearly tripping over.
The winded Hotaru held her knees and eventually just sat down in the hallway. She held her torso, "Oh my sides hurt..." she wheezed.
The Royal Guard around were getting used to the shenanigans enough to give a passing glance and move on. Jotou eyed the flustered brunette and the sweating wolf-woman... "Call me if it’s something important," Jotou shut the door.
"No, wait!" both of them cried out.
Jotou sighed and reopened the door, "What is it?"
Hotaru got up and cleared her throat, "What does a cat sound like?"
"Both of you-" Jotou squinted... "Asobi told you guys about the dog, didn’t she."
"Look," Fumeko tried to block Hotaru, but barely blocked anything, "I wanted to hear it before her, can you please? Just once?"
"Well we’re both here, so what’s the difference?" Hotaru argued.
"Fine, can we just hear it?"
"Please?"
"I was just doing it for fun you weirdos. Honestly," Jotou shook her head before her warm, fresh-out-of-the-shower skin flushed and she peered to the side, "It’s nothing that special..." ’Did they seriously dash all the way here just to hear me make cat noises? Idiots.’
Both of them glanced at each other and then back to Jotou. "You know~" Hotaru tried her best to mask her panting voice, "I’ve been calling you a spiteful little housecat all this time. Are you living up to the allegations~?" she walked closer...
"It’s just a little meow Jotou, it’s not a big deal," Fumeko’s voice went soft as she peered up and pouted.
Jotou took a cautious step back... Hotaru held the door so she couldn’t close it and encroached into her personal space, "We just want to hear that cute voice of yours to sing a little~" she held Jotou by one shoulder as her tail brushed against her bare leg—Jotou flinched her leg closer in.
The door was pushed open as Jotou had no choice but to take steps inside. The blonde’s blush went deeper as she tried her best to avoid both their gazes... "Gross, I can smell your sweat, go take a shower." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Jotou’s hand was grabbed by two other hands. She peered down to Fumeko holding it, "It’s not gonna hurt you, just makes us a little happier," she pleaded with a tilted head.
"This is just perverted, both of you," Jotou glared.
"Come on little housecat, you’ve messed with us so many times, you were bound to face the consequences~"
"Pretty please?" Fumeko stood on the tips of her toes.
The potent sea dandelion scent she could barely resist and the pleading face she couldn’t deny... ’I feel so stupid.’ Jotou’s glare faltered and her lips tightened. "...Meow. There, happy!?" embarrassment washed over her and she shut her eyes tight.
...
"Adorable!" Hotaru’s tail wagged.
"So cute..." Fumeko grinned with widened eyes.
Electricity ran down her arms, "Out! Both of you!" and with a huff-
"Egh!"
"BAK!"
Two zaps shocked the two of them off of her. "SLAM!" Jotou shut the door.
The two took a second to shake off the mild shock... Hotaru laughed; seeing that, Fumeko began to snicker. "You could’ve done that much sooner," Fumeko spoke to the door.
"Which could only mean~" Hotaru cooed.
"SHUT!" a muffled shriek came from the other side of the door. The two laughed more, with a memory that they would not forget anytime soon...
