Monogatari Series - Volume 8 - Chapter 1.19

019

“Could you please wipe your feet before you come in?”

Waiting for me when I returned to the apartment was Hitagi Senjogahara, nyow holding a wet towel.

I thought I’d nyopened the door without alerting anyone to my presence, and of course without making a sound, but it seemed like the woman had already arisen.

“It’s easy for me to wake up in the morning. It’s because I’m high-strung. Didn’t I tell you?”

“Well, nyot to me.”

“But you’re Miss Hanekawa, aren’t you?”

Here, Hitagi Senjogahara held out the wet towel like it was a nyormal thing to do. I just took it.

I wiped my feet, just like she told me to. I wasn’t paying much attention, but it made sense to me when I saw the towel turn black. I must’ve been pretty dirty.

“I guess it is the first time I’m meeting you… Black Hanekawa, right?”

“Sure, that’s good enyough.”

“I see,” she said, nyow holding out her other, empty hand.

“…? What’s the idea?”

“Oh, I just thought we’d shake hands because we’re meeting for the first time.”

“Do you nyot listen to a word anyone says to you?” She seemed hopeless, but I educated her. “My special trait as an Afflicting Cat is my always-active enyergy drain. Touch me and I’ll suck up your vitality─I’m nyot giving anyone a handshake.”

“Energy drain. Yes, I’ve heard,” Hitagi Senjogahara stated plainly, “but it’s not like you suck it all up in a single moment, right? I should at least be able to shake your hand.”

“……”

I started to say something─but decided nyot to.

It didn’t seem like saying anything would make a difference with her.

So I silently took her hand─but only for a meowment.

“Ugh─” she groaned for that one meowment─and that was all.

Enyough lassitude to make a lot of people fall to their nyees should have been assaulting her whole body, but she didn’t even show any sign of distress. True, my enyergy drain wasn’t enough to make someone pass out after a single meowment, but most people couldn’t take it─and I’d shaken her hand nyowing that.

I guess my plan had failed.

Still, and while I’m sure these were my myaster’s feelings─some part of me went, Nyaturally.

Nyaturally.

Nyaturally, this woman.

“……”

Well.

I─and of course, my myaster, too.

It’s nyot like either of us wanted to see her in pain.

But something about that nyon-reaction of hers tore into my heart.

“Nice to meet you. And please, take care,” she continued as if to pile it on, with a smile, even. “Please, take care of Miss Hanekawa.”