curtains, accompanied by the soft chirping of birds outside.
Mike slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he simply stared at the ceiling, too sleepy to move. Then he tried sitting up—
—but immediately frozeSomething warm and heavy rested on his chest.
"…Huh?"
Lowering his gaze, he found Nike curled up against him, purring softly in her sleep like she owned the place.
Mike blinked.
Then he looked around.
Cats.
Everywhere.
Some lounged lazily across the sofa. Others sprawled across the floor like furry landmines. A few simply stared at him with half-open eyes, silently judging his existence.
"…I've been conquered," Mike muttered.
Carefully, he lifted the sleeping Nike and placed her on the sofa without waking her. She shifted slightly, hugging the cushion tighter before continuing her nap.
Mike chuckled and headed toward the bathroom.
The moment he entered, he found Veronica brushing her teeth while Chelsea rested nearby on the floor.
"Morning," he greeted sleepily.
Veronica froze.
Chelsea froze.
Both stared at him with identical expressions of horror.
Mike frowned.
"What?"
Before he could look in the mirror, Veronica suddenly grabbed his face with both hands and turned his head away.
"Don't look yet!"
Mike blinked in confusion.
Her hands were surprisingly soft.
And warm.
Veronica's face had turned bright red.
"You've got… something on your cheek," she said quickly. "Just stay still."
Mike narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"…Why are you acting weird?"
"N-No reason!"
Inside, Veronica was dying.
I can't let him see the lipstick mark…
She quickly soaked a towel under the tap and scrubbed his cheek clean before he could notice anything.
Mike suddenly grabbed her wrists.
"Alright, who are you," he said seriously. "And what did you do with my Veronica?"
Veronica's brain short-circuited.
"Y… your Veronica…?"
The words came out barely above a whisper.
Her face somehow became even redder.
She yanked her hands free and stormed out of the bathroom.
"I was just trying this 'kindness' thing once," she huffed. "Don't expect it again!"
Mike grinned.
"Now that's the Veronica I know—WOAH!"
A slipper flew past his face.
"Chill! I was kidding!"
SLAM!
The bathroom door shut.
Outside, Veronica leaned against the wall, clutching her chest as her heart hammered violently.
Your Veronica…
A stupid smile spread across her face before she could stop it.
---
Back inside the bathroom, Mike washed his face before glancing toward Chelsea.
The small dog was glaring at him.
He crouched down to pet her—
SNAP!
Chelsea turned her head away with a huff.
"You certainly looked comfortable sleeping with Nike and those cats," she grumbled. "They wouldn't even let me get close and you did absolutely nothing, so if you think petting me will solve everythi—"
Before she could finish, Mike suddenly picked her up.
Chelsea stiffened.
Mike lifted her until they were eye-level.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Chelsea's ears twitched.
Then she looked away first.
"…Coward," Nike's sleepy voice muttered from the living room.
Mike carried Chelsea outside and placed her upside down on the sofa.
"H-Hey!"
Before she could escape, Mike rubbed her stomach.
Chelsea's back leg immediately started kicking uncontrollably.
Her eyes widened.
What is this strange heavenly sorcery?!
The irritation she'd been holding onto vanished almost instantly.
A few moments later, Nike approached and clawed at Mike's free hand.
"What's wrong?" Chelsea asked smugly. "Feeling jealous?"
Nike scoffed.
"Please. Being pet is nothing compared to spending the entire night with him. Clearly my beauty transcends species."
Chelsea rolled her eyes.
"He was asleep when you climbed onto him. With me, he consciously chose to pet me."
"You were simply at the right place at the right time."
"And?"
"And that makes us equals, mutt."
Chelsea gasped dramatically.
"Oh? We're back to 'mutt' now?"
"It's an accurate descri—"
Silver suddenly walked between them.
Mike immediately began petting him too.
Both Nike and Chelsea stared at him with utter betrayal.
Silver purred smugly.
"Aren't you two supposed to be working together?" he asked lazily. "At this rate Veronica's going to win before either of you figures out basic romance."
Both turned toward him.
"…Romance?"
Silver stared at Chelsea in disbelief.
"You seriously don't understand what happened this morning?"
"That was romantic?" Chelsea asked innocently.
Nike facepalmed.
Silver sighed dramatically.
"Boss, your ally may actually be hopeless."
"Don't worry," Nike declared proudly. "I shall personally educate her in the sacred arts of seduction."
Chelsea frowned.
"I know plenty about romance. Do you have any idea how many marriage proposals I got?"
Nike blinked.
"…What's the most romantic thing you've ever done?"
Chelsea puffed her chest proudly.
"I held hands with a man once."
Silver nodded approvingly.
"Oh? Progress."
"…While stopping him from falling off a cliff."
Silence.
Nike stared blankly.
"I spoke too soon."
Chelsea tilted her head.
"After that he kept saying he loved me though. Then other men started acting weird too. They'd stare into my eyes and compare me to stars or jewels or angels."
Silver covered his face.
"…I pity every man who's ever fallen for you."
Nike sighed deeply.
"You weren't just the empire's champion," she muttered. "You were probably its greatest accidental heartbreaker."
---
A few minutes later, Nike marched into the kitchen like a strict instructor.
"Lesson one," she declared. "Confidence."
Chelsea sat obediently.
"All men love strong women."
Silver immediately interrupted and placed a paw against his chest dramatically.
"So I can sweep them off their feet and say—"
He lowered his voice seductively.
"Hey baby girl."
" Hey shut I'm the one who'll bring her to the dark side!" Nike said.
" Why are you talking about bringing me to the dark side like it's something to be proud of?" Chelsea asked but recieved no answer.
Nike instead just continued her lesson.
" The first step to confidence is to look the part, walk the talk they say. So show me your most confident walk."
Chelsea straightened up and began to march. What the hell do you think this is a war ?" Nike shouted.
" You told me to walk confidently." Chelsea responded.
"Fine looks like I've got a lot of work to do. Ok step one pump that chest."
" Like this?"
"Yes now walk like a queen, put one foot right in front of the other and walk."
Chelsea took two steps and lost balance, silver chuckled at the sight. Chelsea got up and tried again, after a moment she managed to do it without falling although her walk looked mechanic and awkward but she wasn't falling.
" That's good enough,now swing." Nike said.
" Huh? Swing?"
Chelsea began to wag her tail.
" No idiot I meant swing your hips not your tail, swing those hips like no woman's business."
"Oh ok."
The swinging motion paired with the awkward cat walk Chelsea was doing made it look worse.
She would take one step with her right paw and swing to the right then take another step with the left and swing again, it's was like she was trying to break dance.
silver was losing it he laughed so hard he fell to the side. Nike was trying to hold back the laughter, but when Chelsea tripped and faceplanted she too burst out laughing. After calming down she tried something else.
After recovering slightly, Nike cleared her throat.
"…Okay."
"Plan B."
"Physical contact."
The three approached the table.
Nike leapt gracefully onto it.
Mike nearly dropped his juice.
"Whoa!"
Nike ignored him and whispered dramatically:
"Now your turn."
Chelsea jumped.
Unfortunately, she only managed to cling desperately onto the armrest of Mike's chair while her hind legs kicked helplessly in the air.
Mike immediately grabbed her before she fell.
"Easy there."
He gently placed her on the table.
Nike stared in disappointment.
"…You somehow failed at jumping."
"How do you even jump that high?" Chelsea complained.
"Are your legs made of rubber?"
Nike ignored her.
"Fine. Continue with the lesson."
"Put your paw on his hand and look deeply into his eyes."
Chelsea surprisingly managed perfectly this time.
Mike blinked as the puppy stared at him intensely while resting her paw against his hand.
"…Uh."
"Good," Nike whispered.
"Now compliment him."
Chelsea opened her mouth—
Then noticed Mike's sandwich.
"…That bacon smells amazing."
Nike nearly screamed.
Mike chuckled before pulling a strip of bacon from the sandwich and dangling it above Chelsea's head.
Chelsea immediately stood on her hind legs to grab it.
Nike stared at her with utter disappointment.
Chelsea chewed happily.
"Don't judge me."
"We can seduce him after breakfast."
Before Nike could respond—
Mike offered her bacon too.
Nike instinctively accepted it.
Chelsea smirked victoriously.
"See?"
"…Shut up."
At that exact moment—
Veronica stood up slowly.
"Mike."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Tell me something."
"Why do you think none of the other cats are on the table?"
Mike immediately straightened up.
"…Because they fear you?"
"Correct."
She smiled sweetly.
"Now remove your pets before I remind them why."
"Understood."
Mike quickly picked both girls up and placed them back on the floor.
After breakfast, Veronica handled the dishes while Mike fed the rest of the cats.
As he crouched near the feeding bowls,
A black cat that looked similar to Nike, only difference was it had blue eyes in contrast to Nike's purple ones quietly approached him.
The cat rubbed against his hand gently.
Mike smiled.
"There you are, Midnight."
The cat put it's head under Mike's hand and he petted it.
Mike had barely finished feeding the cats when Veronica suddenly appeared behind him.
"Looks like we've got a visitor."
Mike turned around.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Lucy?"
The blonde woman waved cheerfully from the entrance. The atmosphere changed completely when Lucy arrived.
Mike brightened instantly upon seeing her.
Unfortunately…
Veronica also saw her.
And the murderous aura radiating from her lowered the room temperature.
"Hey."
"Lucy, welcome," Mike said with a smile. "How'd you even know I was here?"
"Well, I tried calling you earlier," she replied. "But someone decided ignoring my calls was a fantastic idea."
Her smile remained gentle.
Her eyes, however, were terrifying.
Mike immediately understood the danger.
…She really does remind me of Veronica sometimes.
"My phone got soaked yesterday during the rescue," he explained quickly.
Lucy blinked.
Then sighed dramatically.
"I see."
"Yeah."
"In that case, we're buying you a new phone."
"…Okay."
Mike accepted his fate surprisingly quickly.
Veronica, meanwhile, stood behind Lucy glaring hard enough to kill plants.
Completely oblivious, Mike turned toward her.
"Hey Veronica, wanna come with us?"
"What?"
Both women answered at the exact same time before immediately looking at each other.
Veronica forced out a smile.
"Oh, no. I'm busy today. You two go ahead and have fun."
"Alright then."
Mike headed toward the door.
Lucy followed after him—
—but not before turning back and sticking her tongue out at Veronica mischievously.
A vein bulged on Veronica's forehead.
The door closed.
Silence.
Then—
CRACK.
The wooden spoon in Veronica's hand snapped clean in half.
Chelsea slowly looked up at her.
…She's scarier than the demon generals.
Veronica folded her arms.
"Lucy hasn't changed at all," she muttered darkly. "But it's fine. They're just buying a phone."
"..."
"…Right?"
Chelsea watched as Veronica began pacing nervously.
Meanwhile, Nike was pacing too.
"She's absolutely going to try something," Nike declared.
Chelsea tilted her head thoughtfully.
Then an idea struck her.
A moment later, she walked up carrying a leash in her mouth before dropping it at Veronica's feet.
Veronica blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh?"
---
Meanwhile, Mike and Lucy walked side-by-side through the busy streets.
"This reminds me of the old days," Lucy said softly. "Walking to school together every morning."
Mike chuckled.
"Back then you were such a clutz I had to hold your hand just to stop you from walking into traffic."
"Is that so?"
Lucy suddenly slipped her fingers between his.
"Then you'd better keep holding it," she said shamelessly. " Right now Bruce isn't here to save me so I'm your responsibility."
Mike stared at their intertwined hands before shaking his head with a laugh.
"Some people really never change."
Lucy puffed her cheeks.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
Then she smirked.
"Or maybe you'd prefer if I changed into some mature, red-haired, cat-loving woman?"
Mike blinked.
"…That description feels weirdly specific."
Lucy immediately looked away.
"What? No it doesn't."
"…Were you describing Veronica?"
"Absolutely not."
Mike laughed quietly.
"Well, for what it's worth…"
Lucy glanced at him.
"…I think both you and Veronica are fine the way you are."
Lucy looked away to hide her face.
"I could have done without you mentioning the competition but I'm glad you think so, oh look ice cream."
"Weren't we coming out here to buy a phone?"
"But me want ice cream, me want ice cream."
"Ok ok, we'll get some ice cream."
"Yay."
. "Chocolate chip right?"
"what ?"
"Your favourite flavour, it's Choco chip, right?"
"Awww you remember, my how thoughtful."
"I'll take-"
"Caramel." Lucy interrupted.
"You aren't the only one with a good memory." She explained Mike just shrugged before continuing his order.
" Yeah what she said one Choco chip and caramel."
"Sure, by the way we are offering a couples discount, so are you two a couple?"
Before mike could respond Lucy answered." Yes , yes we are a couple." Mike looked at her and suspiciously but she just winked at him.
"Is that so, then may I ask you for a demonstration, for proof."
"Sure."
Lucy agreed, she then got her toes and planted a soft kiss on Mike's cheek. She could hear the click of a camera and the ice cream man handed the photo to them.
"No that's good enough, come again soon."
Handing them their ice cream as well. Mike and Lucy continued walking, both their faces red enough to make tomatoes jealous.
"Idiot why did you do that, it's so embarrassing." Lucy thought to herself.
"My heart is beating so fast, can mike hear it? I hope not."
Mike was going through a similar situation, his mind I'm so much chaos he forgot the ice cream in his hands.
Lucy used this moment to lighten the mood, she took his hand and took a bite out his Ice cream.
"Hey." He exclaimed.
"It looked so lonely clearly you needed help." She replied while giggling.
"I can eat my Ice cream on my own thank you very much."
Lucy just ate her own ice cream. Meters behind Veronica watched the exchange, rage accumulating in her like a magma in a volcano.
She continued to trail them and eventually they entered an electronics store. Veronica waited for a while before entering, when she did she found the two of them Inspecting a pair of phones that one of the staff members led them to.
"This is a matching set perfect for couples, especially with valentine's around the corner, wouldn't you two like to purchase a pair?"
"Hmmm I don't know, should we, honey?" Lucy asked Mike almost whispering.
Mike cleared his throat nervously and agreed, the two walked out holding the pair of phones, their fingers still locked together.
"So what do you say to lunch?" Lucy asked.
"Come on we just had ice cream." Mike complained.
"But I'm still hungry, ok it'll be my treat." "Deal."
"That changed youe time pretty quick."
"The English do say there's no such thing as a free lunch so why would I pass the chance to have one?"
"Cheapskate."
"Are you calling the person who bought you a second phone a cheapskate?"
"Fine you win this time, let's go I know a good spot."
The pair walked ahead a fair distance behind them Veronica stood holding an ice cream.
"Damn I hate that I share a favourite flavour with Lucy, why did Choco chip have to be so good." She then continued trailing them.
In a restaurant behind her, a man holding a wine glass eyed her suspiciously, when she walked he snapped his fingers and some bodyguards in suits appeared behind him. One of them put a photo on the table and the man chuckled after looking at it.
"Veronica, you fail to understand how futile it is to run from your past."
Meanwhile Lucy led Mike to a fancy restaurant.
A burly man in a black suit stood at the entrance, he went through a list before letting them enter.
Veronica tried to follow but the man stopped her.
"No reservation, no entry."
"Is there a reservation for a lady named Veronica by any chance." She asked nervously.
The guard frowned." No, no one by that name made a reservation, I'll need you to leave."
"It was worth a shot."
She said as she walked away dejected. Nike and Chelsea just looked at her as she walked.
"Unacceptable, how did you give up so easily, find a way woman!" Nike shouted but of course Veronica didn't understand a word.
"I could distract the big man and you two can sneak in." Chelsea suggested.
"Good idea but I'd prefer a plan that doesn't involve sacrifice, especially because we are allies for now." Nike said.
As the two pets discussed plans Veronica stopped by a corner, she clutched her bag and looked back, she tried to take a step back towards the restaurant but hesitated and turned back, she took two steps and walked back but one again hesitated.
"Should I use it? With it no doubt I'll get past that guard but is it worth it, just to spy on Mike?"
Suddenly a car stopped up ahead, the window rolled down slowly and behind it a man with red hair looked out with a devious smirk.
Veronica felt her stomach drop, suddenly her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened in a mixture of fear and shock.
A body guard opened the door and the man walked out, at this point Veronica took a step back, her heart rate spiked, the man clearly enjoyed seeing her like this and took a step forward. Nike and Chelsea picked up on Veronica's fear and turned hostile gazes towards the man.
For the first time since she came to this world Chelsea growled, it was small but loud enough for the man to hear and in response her smiled.
Nike bore her fangs and snarled, the fair on her back straightened. Veronica suddenly spin on her heel and bolted.
As she did Chelsea and Nike followed they heard the man shout.
"You can't run forever! Boys go get her."
His bodyguards nodded and took chase. Behind the man a maid walked out of the car.
"You agreed to handle her with care!"
"Don't worry your pretty little head, my men will handle your mistress like I would handle a butterfly, and as long as you stick to your end of the bargain and convince her to come, no harm shall befall her." The man replied.
The maid's stare sharpened as she remembered how the man as a child had a habit of dissecting insects, butterflies included, in other words Veronica was not safe as long as he got his hands on her.
" I'll go after them."
"Suit yourself."
Meanwhile Veronica walked up to the guard. He raised an eyebrow upon seeing her come back. She quickly fumbled through her bag and pulled out a card.
The guard's eyes widened, with a trembling hand he opened the door muttering an apology as she entered.
When he closed the door two more men came up to him, he cleared his throat.
"No weapons allowed."
The guard said pointing at the men's belts. With an open palm the man gestured for then to hand over the weapons, one bodyguard pulled out a gun and placed in the guard's hand but the moment he tried to take it but the bodyguard gripped his hand with impressive strength before pulling him him closer and giving him a heavy headbutt. The guard lost consciousness on the spot and one of the bodyguarda entered while the other dragged the unconscious restaurant guard into an alleyway.
Meanwhile Lucy and Mike had just sat at a table with an impressive view.
"Hey the only way to get in here is through a reservation, meaning you planned this in advance." Mike said to Lucy.
She just shrugged. "Ok Mr detective you caught me red handed." She said with a wink.
"And what was all that about us being a couple, if you've got the money to come at a place this fancy you don't need the couple's discount?"
"I don't know, maybe I wanted us to be a couple, I mean we were pretty close back in a shool too."
"Really?"
"Just kidding, I won this in a prize and it said I was to come with someone so I chose you."
"What that's it?"
"Why do you sound so disappointed, did you want us to bean actual couple?"
She said looking at him straight in his eyes. Mike who believed her looked and answered.
"What if I did?"
"What really? You want us to be ... A couple." Lucy blushed and convered her face to hide it.
"Why am I like this, come on Lucy get a grip." She thought to herself.
"Well if-"
"Just kidding." Mike said suddenly.
Lucy's blush disappeared in a blink and was replaced by a pout, seeing this Mike laughed.
"The tables have been turned." He said.
"Why do I feel like I just got rejected ." Lucy said to herself. "Hmph!" She said as she looked away.
Mike laughed even more.
"You're still cute as ever, Lucy." He said.
Lucy stood up. "I'm going to the restroom."
She said before walking away, the red tips of her ears gave away the fact that she was embarrassed. Mike then dipped a fork into the lasagne they ordered and took a mouthful, savouring the wonderful taste, suddenly he felt a familiar scratching on his leg.
He looked in disbelief but was shocked to see Nike. She was panting heavily.
Mike picked her up and looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched before putting a glass of water in front of her face and the cat drank so fast she choked, Mike gently rubbed her back.
"Ver... Veronica... She need help... Your help."
Mike's eyes bulged as he looked down at Nike. He then took his cup of juice and sniffed it. At the same time Lucy returned.
"Hey I'm sure juice is supposed to drank not smelled." She said in amusement
"I thought I told you I don't do alcohol." He said.
"Uhhh yeah I know that."
Mike looked at Nike who got up on her hind legs a reached his ear.
"I said Veronica needs help she doesn't have much time, room 47."
Mike's was even more shocked because it was either someone spiked his drink or Bike just talked. He got up and put Nike in Lucy's hands.
"Hey Lucy please watch her for a bit, I'll be back."
"Uhhh ok... Hey wait how did you managed to sneak her in-"
before she could finish her sentence Mike was already on the run, he went to a section in the back of the restaurant meant for staff, he walked through a corridor of numbered doors. He reached a door numbered 47, inside he found it completely dark but before he could turn on a light he felt a pair of hands grab his neck and he found himself in a chokehold, he desperately tapped the hand of his assailant but whoever it was didn't relent.
With all his strength he hit a switch on the wall hoping better vision would give him a higher chance at using his environment to deal with his captor.
When the light flashed on Mike closed his eyes and he felt the grip tighten around his neck. Suddenly he heard familiar barking followed by growling.
"Ah... Hey .. Chelsea stop biting me..."
"Ver... Ronica... It's me... Mike..." "Mike?!"
Suddenly the hands around his neck released it and he desperately gasped and choked, glad to be able to breathe Chelsea stood by him defensively .
He rubbed his neck and looked at Veronica who's hair was dishevelled and she was seconds away from tears, she lunged at him and hugged him.
"Oh Mike I'm so sorry I didn't know it was you please forgive me, I didn't know I was being chased and ... The men they wore black... And and and.."
mike held her tightly to comfort her.
"I'm glad you're safe."
"How did you know where I was?"
"It's a long story."
Suddenly footsteps could be heard. A shadow appeared under the door and the doorknob turned.
A man entered but found nothing, the only thinga in that room were lockers. Another man appeared behind him.
"Any luck."
"Nah ain't nothin in here."
"Boss won't be happy."
"Come on a tiny woman like her can't get away from us, just search harder."
This statement was followed by footsteps that grew distant.
Meanwhile inside one locker Mike and Veronica stood both holding their breath. When the danger disappeared both became aware of just how close they were.
Their faces were barely inches apart, before either it then had time to be flustered someone tapped on a locker nearby, a low feminine voice followed.
"Empty."
Suddenly they heard another tap that sounded closer than the previous one. "Also empty."
Tap
"Empty."
Tap
"Empty."
At this point whoever it was was a locker away from the one Mike and Veronica were hiding in, suddenly another tap was heard followwd by a sigh, then a they heard a tap on their locker, unlike the previous lockers that produced a hollow metallic sound theirs produced a dull sound.
Suddenly the voice of one of the men could be found.
"Oi what are you doin ?"
"Oh I was checking the lockers."
"Good idea, any luck?"
"No unfortunately they are all empty."
"Damnit, keep lookin."
The man could be heard leaving and the locker door began to open, Veronica and Mike tensed up, as light made its way into their locker.
Meanwhile back at Veronica's cafe a black cat walked along the balcony.
"Strange to believe a cat like you was the demon lord." A voice said.
"What's a demon lord?" The cat asked innocently.
"Playing dumb I see? Sorry Nike but I've been observing you long enough to know what I'm talking about."
"Nike? You must be mistaken I'm not Nike, I'm midnight."
"Haha very funny, play coy all you want, but you'll find I'm not as dumb as all those cats." "No I mean it I'm not -"
before midnight could finish her sentence a silent shadow swept over her and in the next moment she was gone.
Silver who was nearby exclaimed at seeing midnight disappear in the blink of an eye and bw ran out but it was too late.
midnight was gone.