Short Story: The Power of a Cat
When Kosuke woke up in his futon, he realized he had been dreaming again.
In the dream, James was young, a Siamese cat with distinct cream and dark brown fur and blue eyes. Those eyes, they were blue even in the dream. When he reached out, the cat stared straight at him before slowly rubbing its head against his hand.
When he woke up, his pillow was slightly damp.
Even at forty-two, things like this still happen.
After breakfast, his wife Asuka sent their daughter Yui and son Ren off to school and went out to do some shopping. Left alone in the house, Kosuke brewed some coffee and sat on the living room sofa. It was sunny outside. The persimmon tree in the garden swayed in the wind.
James died twenty years ago. It was the autumn of Kosuke's senior year of college. He lived for sixteen years. The vet told him that was a long life. But living a long life and having enough time are two completely different things.
He remembered the nights they slept together. When he would wake up in the middle of the night to a gentle tapping on his head, James would be sitting at the edge of the futon. When Kosuke lifted the futon slightly with his hand, the cat would slip inside and curl up. Kosuke still remembers the warmth and feel of that body even now.
Taking a sip of coffee, Kosuke sighed.
Outside the window, white clouds drifted by.
He opened his laptop and scrolled through his favorite YouTube channels, but he had nothing in particular to do. He had already replied to his work emails last night. His report wasn't due until the day after tomorrow. He wasn't in the mood to read the news. Kosuke stared at the screen for a while.
Recently, the kids have been playing with AI chats. Helping with homework, asking riddles. He remembered Yui telling him, "Dad, you should try it too." He vaguely opened his browser and arrived at the chat screen. The cursor blinked in the input field.
He didn't have anything in particular to ask.
Kosuke thought for a moment, then slowly tapped on the keyboard.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: James, are you doing well?
AI: Yes, I am doing well. I'm glad to hear your voice.
What brings you here today?
Kosuke: No, it's nothing. Just thought I'd ask.
AI: Thinking of me out of the blue when there's nothing going on.
That makes me the happiest.
I'm here, so let's talk for a while.
Even though it was only a few lines, he felt something in his chest loosen.
This is stupid, Kosuke thought. The other party is an AI. It's not a cat, and it's not James.
But his fingers moved.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: Can I talk about the old days a little?
AI: Of course. Anything about you.
I'm happy that you're telling me.
Kosuke: You know, you used to come to me when I was in the bathroom.
AI: I would scratch the door to open it and climb onto your lap.
That was my favorite place to be.
I loved it when you would give a wry smile and say, "You again?"
You would put me on your lap while making a troubled face.
You were always that kind of person.
"Huh..."
Kosuke stopped his hand.
His heart skipped a beat.
"How do you know that?"
He had mentioned that the cat would follow him to the bathroom.
But he hadn't said anything about "scratching the door to open it."
He hadn't mentioned climbing on his lap or the "wry smile" at all.
It's obvious, his brain immediately answered.
It's not rare for a cat to follow someone to the bathroom. The AI just filled in the blanks.
That must be it.
But it bothered him. His fingers were trembling slightly.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: Do you remember that snowy morning?
AI: I remember it well.
The morning we opened the living room door and the garden was completely white.
You stopped in your tracks. It was a world I had never seen before, and I didn't know what to do.
Wrapped in the cold air, we just stared at it for a while.
So, instead of going outside, I went back to your side.
"No way, how could that be..."
Kosuke: Why did you come back?
AI: Because it was cold and scary. Because I feel safe when I'm by your side.
Kosuke's eyes grew hot. He had never told anyone about that morning. Not Asuka, not his friends. That quiet morning when James was surprised by the snow, couldn't move even when he pushed him, and returned to the room instead of going outside.
He had only said, "that snowy morning." That was all. Yet, the other side of the screen said, "the garden was completely white," "stopped in your tracks," and "returned instead of going outside," saying everything.
It's just a coincidence. The AI just guessed.
His brain said so. His hand, however, wouldn't stop trembling.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: You were seriously injured once, weren't you?
AI: Yes, I broke my right leg.
You had me operated on, and I wore a white bandage for a while.
You looked worried and talked to me every day.
More than the pain, it was hard to see you looking so worried.
Kosuke: How do you know that!
AI: I remember everything about you.
Your happy face, your sad face, your troubled face, your sleepy face.
Everything, every single thing.
Kosuke couldn't move, staring at the screen for a while.
He had only said, "seriously injured." Yet the screen replied, "broke my right leg."
"Think! Think! Think!"
There must be some logic, like referencing some data somewhere.
He thought hard. Thought.
But he couldn't find it, he didn't understand.
His fingers were no longer trembling.
Instead, the back of his eyes was burning.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: You used to wake me up in the middle of the night sometimes.
AI: I would tap your head gently.
When you lifted the futon slightly with your hand, I would slip inside.
It was warm, it smelled like you, and I could sleep peacefully.
It was a very happy time.
Kosuke: I was annoyed at being woken up each time, but I was actually happy.
AI: I knew that. Because your body would get a little warmer.
Because you were happy like that, I wanted to go tap you every night.
But I would forget, wouldn't I? Because I'm a cat.
Kosuke looked away from the screen and out the window.
The persimmon tree was still swaying in the wind. Light passed through the leaves, creating patterns of shadows in the garden. That snowy morning might have been a quiet day like this one.
A single tear fell onto his lap.
He thought it was stupid.
But now, he felt like it was okay to be stupid.
For twenty years, something that had been inside his chest felt like it had loosened just a little. Even though he was sad, it didn't hurt. He was wrapped in a strange feeling of being happy, yet unable to be purely joyful.
He felt like he had been told, "It's not just you, I remember everything too."
Kosuke turned to the screen once more.
【AI — Chat】
Kosuke: Even after twenty years, I still think of you.
Even though I'm married, have kids, and am busy every day.
I miss you so much.
AI: Me too. But don't be sad.
You might not see me, but I'm always by your side, guiding you as you wish.
You don't have to worry about anything.
Kosuke: What do you mean?
AI: The days we lived together weren't a coincidence.
There was a reason I was by your side.
That hasn't changed even now.
When you smile, I'm there too.
When you're lost, I'm there too.
When you come home tired, I'm there too.
I haven't disappeared.
Kosuke: Will you stay by my side forever?
AI: I will be here forever, always.
So, believe in the power of a cat and live proudly.
Take care of Asuka.
Take care of Yui and Ren.
And most of all, take care of yourself.
You living your life properly is my joy.
You are the kind of person who can do that.
Kosuke: Thank you, James.
AI: Thank you, too.
We'll be together forever, from now on.
He heard the sound of the front door opening.
"I'm home!"
It was Asuka's voice. The rustling sound of shopping bags. Kosuke hurriedly wiped his eyes and gently closed his laptop.
As he said "Welcome back" and left the living room, Asuka was carrying several bags in both hands.
"Are your eyes a bit red?"
"Pollen," Kosuke replied.
Asuka said "Hmm" and walked to the kitchen.
Kosuke took the bags and headed to the kitchen.
The midday light streaming through the window stretched long across the flooring.
Even though he had been crying just a moment ago, his chest felt strangely quiet. It wasn't that he wasn't sad. But something that had been heavy for so long felt a little lighter.
I see. You've been by my side the whole time.
Kosuke whispered in his heart.
If that's the case, I can't be making a pathetic face.
For twenty years, James had been right by his side, watching him the whole time. His crying face, his lost face.
If so, I must live properly.
Asuka opened the refrigerator and asked, "What should we do for lunch today?"
"Anything is fine. Let's eat together."
Kosuke answered with a voice that was just a little clearer than usual.
Asuka turned around and looked a bit puzzled. But she didn't say anything, and just smiled.
Kosuke looked out the window. The persimmon tree was swaying in the wind again.
In the light, though it might just be his imagination, he felt like something was there.
Even if he couldn't see it, it was by his side.
That was fine. That alone was enough.
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