A Catgirl's Last Chance for High School Romance - COMPLETE

Get yourself together, Hanako! You steel yourself and turn more fully to face the bobbing light. You're not going to get scared off just because of some weird glow in the woods. You live for this kind of danger! Right? Yeah. One hundred percent. You chew on your lower lip as you wait, watching as the light gets closer and closer. You can feel your heart pounding and you find that you're even sweating a little--but ghosts aren't real. They aren't. You've got this Hanako. You steel yourself for a moment and then--

Then you make out that it's just someone with a lantern. Not someone you know, but someone. She's a lean, toned young woman, maybe a year or two older than you if you had to guess, and she's dressed in a dark tank-top, sturdy looking hiking boots, and has a flannel tied around her waist. Her shorts are jean cutoffs and they look almost scandalously short, if you're being honest. Her hair is... actually kinda hard to tell what color it is originally, as right now it's a riot of bright purples and blues, though you suspect it matches the fur on the ears poking out of her short styled hair. They're fox ears that are an auburn red tipped in silver to match her the same coloration on her tail. Each ear has piercings--one has two studs, the other a ring. She stops short as she notices you and blinks, then lifts her lantern a little higher. In her other hand she has what looks like a fishing pole and a tackle box.

"Whoa. Didn't expect to see anyone else out here this time of evening." Her accent is strange, almost foreign? You're having a hard time placing it.

"Oh! I--I wasn't either!" You reply hurriedly. She frowns for a moment.

"You okay?"

You feel a bashful rush of warmth in your cheeks and you cough.

"...I thought you might be a, um. A fox spirit or a ghost or something..." The young woman laughs at that and grins, shaking her head. Her fluffy tail flicks behind her and she finally recovers from her laughter long enough to smile at you.

"No, not a fox spirit. Just a fox. Like you're a cat." She stifles another laugh and rests her hand on one short-clad hip. You can see the markings of a tattoo peeking out under the strap of her tank-top and you feel a rush of curiosity that mingles with your embarassment. She's staring at you with a keen interest and you can feel yourself blushing before you glance down at yourself. You'd dressed for the outdoors. Shorts, your hiking boots, and a t-shirt with a stylized rainbow on it. One of the subtle little pieces of pride gear you'd slowly picked up. She's looking at the shirt more intently than you expected and you feel the urge to speak up overcome you.

"So, uh, what brings you out here?" You ask, trying to contain the nerves in your voice. "Oh! Um. I'm Mikuru Hanako. N-Nice to meet you!" God you sound like an idiot. Why do you always sound like an idiot? She just grins and hefts the box and pole she carries in the hand opposite her lantern.

"...Evening fishing. You get more bites this time of evening. At least I think so. You ever do any fishing? Also this is a really good spot to get a look at the stars." She's quite for a moment, then seems to remember something. "Oh, yeah. I'm Kaylee. Kaylee Yamada."

"Kaylee." The foreign name feels awkward in your mouth in a way that Erika's doesn't (though you're pretty sure Erika has a foreign name because her parents thought it was exotic or something). "Cool. I've fished before but only at sea, never really in fresh water."

"Cool, you won't be super squeamish then. Wanna sit with me for a bit while I fish? What're you out here for, anyhow?" Her smile is soft and inviting and seems very... genuine. And pretty. Definitely pretty in a way that you're not sure you have a word for because it's a new kind of pretty different from Erika or Akane or anyone else you know. A kind of pretty that derails your train of thought and sends it careening into the ravine of distraction for a moment until you realize that she asked you a question.

"Uh, sure." You scramble after her as she moves to the edge of the pool to start setting up. "Oh. I'm here to see if I can spot the ghost."

"Ghost?" She cocks an eyebrow.

"Yeah, the ghost!" You say with renewed enthusiasm as you begin to get back on course. "There's a story about how back during the civil wars a girl threw herself off the cliffs after her fiance was killed in battle and now you can see her jump during the hour of the Bull. Er... that's about two in the morning." She snorts a little but she's smiling, not incredulous.

"That's morbid. You're into that kind of stuff? Ghosts and whatever?" She asks as she begins to bait her hook.

"Oh yeah! It's really fascinating. Honestly I'd love to study folklore if I could make a living with it."

"Cool, cool. You really gonna stay out here until two? You're pretty early."

"Yeah! I've roughed it before, no big deal."

"Well. I can't leave you alone out here, what if a real fox spirit shows up?" The girl laughs. "I'll hang out with you until then. If you want me to, I mean." Your cheeks burn a bright pink. Really? She's offering to do that? That's... that's pretty cool honestly.

"S-Sure. I don't mind the company."

"Sweet. You ever do any stargazing? Astronomy? That's what I'm gonna study at university." She flicks her wrist and casts out her line, the bobber landing in the pool with a faint 'plop' and sits there, rocking gently. You shake your head.

"Not really."

"Well. C'mere. We'll start simple." She pats a spot next to her. As you sit you realize that as the night has grown darker, the night sky has actually grown brighter. The area around the pool offers a clear view up to the cloudless night sky where you can see stars stretching out in every direction. Something you can't see in the city. Unable to help it, you let out a little gasp.

"Oh my gosh! It's beautiful."

"Yeah, isn't it? Stars are like girls. Each of them is beautiful in their own way." Wait, what?

"...huh?"

"Don't worry about it. Okay, first... Let's see if we can find the North Star..." As you sit she starts to point her hand.

"Okay, there's the Big Dipper--I think you guys call it the North Dipper? Anyway if you find that constellation and look a little ways up and to the right.... Bam. Polaris, the North Star. Easy, right?" She makes it sound really easy but it takes a minute for you figure out what she's talking about and where to look. Once you do figure it out finding the star she's talking about is easy! You nod and she grins.

"Nice! Really useful star, Polaris. It can serve as a landmark if you're trying to navigate or just want to figure out what direction is north for some reason. And Polaris, by the way, is the last start in the tail of Ursa Minor or the Little Dipper. I can't remember what you guys call it, sorry..." She chuckles, her face split by an unabashedly gleeful smile.

"...That's really cool," you say. "You said you were going to study astronomy in university? Are you a third-year?"
"Me, oh nah. I graduated last year. I'm gonna be starting university next spring. I'm staying with my aunt and uncle up the road a ways while I look for a place to live in Center City."

"Oh! I live in Center CIty," you hear yourself say with may more enthusiasm than you expected. "I'm in my last year of high school."

"Nice. Exciting, right?"

"Yeah. I kinda hope I can move out when I go to university. I love mom and dad but having my own space would be cool..."

"God, don't I know it? I'm sure it'll work out, yeah?"

"Yeah. My mom is kinda overbearing sometimes but dad gets it, I think." You sigh, resting your chin in one hand. Kaylee's arm slides around your shoulders in an almost casual side-hug and your cheeks flush darker. Privately, you're rather glad she can't see it.

"Hey, don't sweat it Hanako." She's already so familiar! But she does have kind of a foreign accent. "You'll figure it out. You seem like a smart girl." You cough a little and she tugs herself away, grinning.

"...Um, if it's okay for me to ask, are you from around here?" You ask after a moment of awkward silence passes.

"Oh, no. I grew up in the States, mostly? But, uh. Moved back here with my dad a couple years ago because of reasons, I guess. Not super interesting... Actually, I just got back from there last month. Visiting my mom's side of the family, you know? Dad wants me to go to university here though, so I figure it won't hurt. Plus getting to know my other home is really cool!" You nod a little. Makes sense to you. You don't want to pry any further and let the subject drop.

"So, uh, what other constellations should I know?" You ask, trying to shift the conversation along.

"Oh! Yeah. Okay, uhhh...." She squints up at the sky, fishing pole all but forgotten in her hands. "Oh! Here!" She tugs you back in against her, sparking yet another blush as she tries to guide your gaze with her pointing finger.
"Right about... there. Cassiopeia. She was this queen who was supposedly just, super vain and beautiful and said that her kid was more beautiful than the... naiads, I think, from Greek mythology? She got thrown up into the sky to circle the Earth because she angered the gods. Most have been pretty hot to get them that steamed, right?" She laughs and you can't help but laugh along with her.

"Ha, yeah... That's awesome. What else should I look for?" The night starts to while itself away much like this. She'll find a constellation or a star or even a planet and point it out to you and gush about the mythology or the guy who discovered it or something and you listen eagerly. She's so excited about the subject that it's really hard not to be excited yourself. Little by little the night slips away and you have to stifle a yawn now and again. You've lost track of time entirely and by the time you DO check your phone, it's closing in on 2AM. Oh! Crap! You nudge Kaylee.

"...Hsst. It's almost two," you murmur, glancing around the darkened clearing lit only by the faint light of the moon at this point. Kaylee turned off her lantern to save the battery. Her eyes sparkle in the moonlight and her ears perk forward.

"Oh! The witching hour!" She squirms a little and peers upwards towards the cliffs. "...Wonder if we'll actually see anything."

"Maybe," you murmur. You're looking up intently when she stiffens a little at your side and suddenly tugs you in close. She's warm. Very warm. You can feel her pressing against you.

"H-Hey," you start to protest.

"...I thought this was kid's stuff but I'm actually kinda nervous," she admits under her breath. "Maybe we shouldn't stick around." You snort and grin. You're both kinda scared and that makes this all the more fun.

"...Let's give it fifteen more minutes," you whisper. "Just to see if anything happens."

"Fine, but if we get cursed or something I'm blaming you." You snicker quietly and settle down to wait, comforted by the warm companionship of your new friend. The minutes tick slowly by but sadly, no apparition makes an appearance. Defeated, you finally get to your feet, stretching and stifling a yawn.

"I should get back. My parents are probably gonna give me an earful tomorrow," you say. She laughs.

"I don't miss having a curfew. I'll walk you back to your place and then take the main road to mine, if you're okay with that?" You blink, then nod. Not an offer you expected, but you'll take it!

"Sure. If it's not out of your way?"

"I need the exercise." You're not sure that's true but you'll let it slide. The two of you trudge wearily up the trail in companionable silence, then say your goodbye as you reach the edge of your grandparents' property. She waves at you in the moonlit darkness.

"Hey, before you go..." She pulls her phone out. "Gimme your number. I know this hiking trail near here--we should hit it on Wednesday, since I think tomorrow I'm just gonna sleep." You bob your head in a nod--having someone cool to spend time with while you're here sounds excellent! you exchange numbers and then go your separate ways. By the time you get back to your room, you're exhausted and collapse into your bed without even bothering to undress. When you finally do wake-up, it's fully daylight and a check of your phone reveals that it's past noon by now. Reluctantly, you untangle yourself from your sheets and stumble out into the main room. It's empty, but there's a note on the table. Your parents and grandparents have gone into town to pick up some things for the garden, apparently, and expect to be back this afternoon. Cool. You make yourself something to eat then sprawl out in the garden with some sunglasses and your bathing suit--perfect chance to get some sun and maybe another nap. As you sit there, your phone buzzes--Kaylee! You glance over her text message, which gives a morning start time for the next day and includes a few ghost emoji. After sending back your confirmation you go back to your sunbathing, but manage to stave off a nap.

You're just changing back into some normal clothes when you hear the car returning and head back out into the main room. Mom and grandpa are unloading some sacks of soil while your grandmothersets down a grocery bag inside. She smiles at you.

"Any luck with the ghost?" She asks.

"No," you admit with a sigh. "I met a fox, though."

"Oh, so your grandfather was right?" She laughs. "You seem to be in one piece, though."

"She was a nice fox," you reply, then trot out the door to help with the unloading. The afternoon is spent rather lazily with a watermelon. Your dad is pretty relaxed about your nighttime adventure but your mom fusses over you, talking about how worried she was and how you need to say something when you go out. It's not as bad as you'd thought it would be, thankfully, and it ends up being a nice evening with the grandparents. You help your grandmother plant some things in the garden before dinner, take a long bath, and finally collapses into bed early. You're still tired and you have a long day tomorrow.

The next morning you've explained where you're going and who with to your parents (and given them Kaylee's number) when you set out to meet Kaylee at the base of the trail you'll be taking. It's nice to get outside--you haven't done this in a while. When you arrive, you don't see her at first and glance at your phone to check the time, only to have her leap at you from behind a tree with a shouted 'boo!' You yowl and jump what feels like five feet in the air while she doubles over laughing. Pouting, you cross your arms.

"That wasn't nice!"

"Yeah, but the look on your face--!" Kaylee is still laughing.

"...Ugh, jerk." You roll your eyes, but it's good-natured. Once she's recovered from her laughter, the two of you set off up the trail. It's a long hike, several kilometers that winds slowly back and forth up one of the larger hills in the area. The trail's switchbacks take your through cool, shaded wooded spots and across exposed, sunbeaten stretches and the hike upwards takes most of the morning as it begins to steadily grow warmer. At last, though, you emerge from a final stretch of woods and out onto the ridge along the top of the hill. There's a small picnic area here and a scenic viewing platform which Kaylee makes an immediate bee-line for, grinning. Surprisingly(or perhaps not) it's quiet here and seems abandoned except for the pair of you.

"Isn't this great?" She asks, gesturing out across the view in front of you. You can see the whole valley laid out with the town, the train station... You can even make out your grandparents' house from here. You laugh and give an excited nod.

"It's amazing. I can't believe I never found this place before."

"It's even better at night. You can see the whole night sky here. I wish I had a telescope..." Kaylee sighs and leans against the railing of the platform, sweaty and entirely pleased with herself. You look back out over the valley with a small grin, wiping some sweat off your own forehead. You turn back to the picnic area and plop down on one of the benches with a sore, tired groan and begin unpacking your lunch. Kaylee follows and sits next to you to do the same. The two of you eat in silence for a moment.

"So, do you want to like, study literature at university or something?" She asks. "You were talking about how you loved folklore and stuff the other night."

"Maybe?" You shrug in between mouthfuls of rice and fish. "I'm not really sure yet but I think it could be cool. Mom wants me to do something that'll land me a good corporate job or something." Kaylee wrinkles her nose.

"Well. Do what makes you happy before you do anything else, okay? S'more important." You blink, a little taken aback. It's an odd mindset to you. Doing what makes YOU happy first... But hasn't that kind of been your experience with being gay? You smile. Or try to.

"I'm trying to do that right now, kind of," you admit with a laugh. "...I dunno how well it's working."

"Yeah. I get that," Kaylee replies, her gaze locked on you steadily. You feel self-conscious all of a sudden and look away from her, cheeks flushed. She has very pretty blue eyes.

You feel Kaylee's arm settle across your shoulders as she leans in next to you. She's quiet for a moment and you're acutely aware of how warm you are, whether that's because of the hike or her nearness or both. She breaks her silence again after a long moment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm? Yeah, sure." You don't think anything of it. She's just being friendly.

"Are you gay?" The question catches you entirely off-guard. No one has ever just come out and asked about it like that. You stumble over your words, not able to look her in the face.

"I saw your shirt," she adds a little lamely by way of explanation.

"I--what? Me? G-Gay--? What gives you that ide--?" You turn back towards her finally, your cheeks burning in embarrassment. Your reply is cut off as you feel her body pressing against yours followed very (very) swiftly by soft warm lips and her arms pulling you closer against her. Your heart leaps into your throat. Girl. Pretty girl. Kissing you. Oh God. What?

[ ] Shove her off. You have a girlfriend! You can't do this! She doesn't know but you can't let this keep going on. It's not right!
[ ] You're so overwhelmed you're not quite sure what to do. Maybe just... go along with it until it's over? Then explain? Yeah. That sounds good. Gosh, her lips are soft.
[ ] Holy crap she's hot. Just go for it. Return the kiss with interest and just. Primo make-out opportunity and it's not like Erika's ever going to know. Plus Kaylee is really hot and you're only here for a week.