"Are you really okay now?"
Sherwin still looked a bit uneasy and asked again.
"Aiya! Hunter, why are you being so fussy? I'm really fine now, meow~"
After her "rest," Shermie tone turned playful, and her movements were just like a little girl — she couldn't stay still for even a moment.
Even when Sherwin held her in his arms, she kept touching everything around her. Eventually, she wriggled free and climbed up to perch on his shoulder…
Then she started tugging at Sherwin ear.
Sherwin: "…"
Fortunately, after a few playful tugs, Shermie attention was quickly drawn to Klee Meow, who was perched on Sherwin other shoulder.
"Hello, big sister! My name Klee! You're so pretty, meow!"
"Heehee~ My name Shermie, little sister Klee. You're really cute too, meow~"
Shermie circled around Sherwin neck and scampered over to Klee Meow side.
She immediately hugged the little doll-like Felyne and affectionately rubbed her cheek against hers.
Seeing that she really didn't need any more rest, Sherwin lifted the two cats—still clinging and cuddling each other—from his shoulders, then introduced Shermie to the other Felynes and Robin.
Shermie turned out to be the ultimate social butterfly among the Felynes. She greeted each one with an equal share of hugs and cheek rubs. The result was…
A certain little yellow cat got so excited that he fainted on the spot.
"Heeheehee~ Sanji little brother, you're so funny, meow~"
The culprit showed no hint of guilt. Instead, she leaned close to Sanji Meow ear, blowing softly while pretending to pout.
"Sanji little brother, are you disliking your big sister, meow?"
"Of course not, meow!" The little yellow cat, who'd been rolling his eyes just moments ago, suddenly sprang back to life.
"From today on, I'm Shermie big sister dog! Woof!"
"..."
Sanji Meow outrageous declaration stunned even Shermie, who had only been teasing him for fun.
Unable to watch any longer, Sherwin grabbed Sanji Meow by the scruff of his neck, lifting the embarrassing little yellow cat and setting him down in front of Huamei Meow.
Seeing Huamei Meow darkened expression, Sanji Meow finally snapped back to his senses.
"I'm sorry, big sister Huamei! I was wrong, meow!" The little yellow cat immediately surrendered.
"I just got a little too excited when I saw the new big sister, meow…"
Huamei Meow still kept a stern face as she said, "For the next month, you're not allowed to come within ten meters of any girls — that includes Klee and Haibara, meow!"
tThis was a punishment method that Lord tiger had devised long ago — one perfectly suited for Sanji Meow.
Sherwin hadn't seen it used in ages, but unexpectedly, Shermie had managed to draw it out this time.
"Noooo—!"
Sanji Meow instantly turned pale and collapsed to the ground in despair, his body drooping in defeat.
Sherwin walked over and kindly picked up the little yellow cat…
Then carried him and set him exactly ten meters away.
"...I'm gonna bite you to death, you idiot meow!"
Ignoring the two fools who immediately started scuffling, Huamei Meow turned back to Shermie, speaking seriously.
"And you too! Don't behave so indecently next time, meow!"
Shermie had been about to argue, but the moment her eyes met Lord tiger imposing gaze, her body shrank instinctively.
In a small, timid voice, she replied, "I know, meow~ Don't be so fierce, big sister Huamei~"
The little doll-like Felyne leaned in close and whispered to her, "You must never make big sister Huamei angry. She super scary when she mad, meow."
"Mm-mm-mm!" Haibara Meow nodded furiously from the side.
Lord tiger, who had heard everything loud and clear: "..."
Anyway, after a rather chaotic exchange, everyone finally got to know each other.
Sherwin and the others also learned how Shermie ended up being swallowed by the Thunder Dragon...
To put it simply, Shermie had been following a Hunter who was absolutely obsessed with thunder-element equipment.
Despite lacking the strength to take on such creatures, that Hunter avoided the Gathering Hub altogether and recklessly went out alone with Shermie and another unlucky Palamute to hunt the Thunder God Dragon.
Of course, the Hunter wasn't stupid enough to challenge the Thunder Dragon head-on — he only wanted to try his luck and see if he could scavenge some of its materials.
In the end, whether his luck was good or bad was up for debate — he did manage to find plenty of Thunder Dragon materials.
The problem was there were so many around... because he had stumbled right into the middle of the Thunder Dragon and the Wind Dragon mating ritual.
Naturally, the two Elder Dragons, having been disturbed, weren't about to let that foolish Hunter go.
Shermie and the Palamute couldn't escape either. She didn't even have time to use her best Felyne skill — digging a tunnel to flee — before the Thunder God Dragon swallowed her whole in one bite.
"...When I was half-conscious, I think I heard a voice asking if I wanted to switch to a Hunter who'd treasure their Felynes more.
Of course I said yes without hesitation! And when I woke up again, I saw you, Sherwin~"
Shermie rubbed her cheek affectionately against Sherwin as she spoke in a sweet tone.
"Wait, what with calling me sherwin dear'?"
"Meow? Because I really like you, Sherwin! Isn't it more intimate that way, meow? I never even wanted to call the last Hunter by name~" Shermie gave him a pitiful look.
"You don't like it when I call you that, meow?"
"Uh… no, it not that…"
"Mua~ I knew Sherwin dear was the best, meow~"
Shermie wrapped her arms around Sherwin head and gave him a big kiss.
Why did it feel like… this cat was kind of a flirt?
Still, her personality was rather adorable to Sherwin. After all, what cat owner didn't like it when their cute Felyne acted spoiled toward them?
Hmm…
While Sherwin was petting his new cat companion, he suddenly felt a sharp sting on the back of his head.
He didn't even need to look — he already knew that jealous little yellow cat, Sanji Meow, was glaring daggers at him again.
Ignoring the silly tomcat, Sherwin took out a spiky fruit that crackled faintly with electricity — the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"This is for you. Once you eat it, you won't have to worry even if you run into the Thunder Dragon again."
Shermie had already heard Sherwin explain what Devil Fruits were, and she'd even witnessed Klee Meow turning into flames and Robin sprouting multiple arms.
It would've been a lie to say she didn't want to try one herself — especially since this Rumble-Rumble Fruit could help her completely overcome her trauma.
However, Shermie didn't take the fruit right away. Instead, she looked at the other Felynes and asked seriously,
"What about Sister Huamei and the others, meow? Aside from Klee dear and Sister Robin, the other Felynes haven't eaten a Devil Fruit yet, right?"
As expected — even though Shermie was a little flirty, she was still a good cat…
Wait, no — judging from the way she addressed Klee Meow and the others differently, it seemed like she simply added nicknames based on her own preferences.
If she were truly a flirtatious little cat, there wouldn't be such clear distinctions in how she treated people.
Sherwin suddenly recalled that Shermie character setting was something like "a mature lady on the outside, but with the heart of a little girl." In other words, she wasn't being flirty — just childishly affectionate.
Setting aside Shermie personality for now, Sherwin began explaining why he wanted her to eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"...So, it not that I'm giving you special treatment. From now on, every Felyne we summon will be given the Devil Fruit that suits them."
Hearing that, Shermie finally accepted the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. She curiously turned it over in her paws for a while, then plucked off one of its spiky tips and popped it into her mouth…
"Blergh—! It tastes awful, meow!"
(=＞＜=)