The walk home was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. I glanced down at the two cats in my arms—the white one resting calmly, the black one watching the world with sharp, alert eyes. Despite their silence, there was a certain warmth in their presence.
Pausing briefly, I adjusted my grip on them to free one hand and rummaged through the groceries I'd picked up. "I hope you both like tuna," I murmured. The white cat twitched her ear, almost as if understanding, while the black one gave me a disapproving look.
"Alright, alright, you'll get proper food," I chuckled, quickening my steps toward home.
---
As soon as we reached my apartment, I set the two of them down. The moment their paws touched the floor, they darted off, exploring every nook and cranny of their new environment.
"Hey, don't break anything!" I called after them, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
It wasn't long before I spotted the white cat climbing onto the dining table, her tiny claws scratching the surface. I gently picked her up, cradling her as I spoke in a mock-scolding tone, "Don't do this. You'll ruin it, okay?"
She tilted her head, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes. "Meow?"
My heart fluttered at her adorableness, and before I knew it, I exclaimed, "Kawaii!"
A low, annoyed growl broke my moment of admiration. I turned to see the black cat glaring in our direction, her tail flicking in irritation. As if on cue, the white cat let out a plaintive meow, and it clicked—they were hungry.
"Cats are truly a handful," I sighed, heading to the kitchen to prepare their meal.
---
After placing two small dishes of food on the floor, I watched as they eagerly began to eat. The white cat devoured her portion with enthusiastic bites, while the black one ate with a calculated grace.
"They're kind of cute," I muttered, leaning back against the counter. Seeing them eat filled me with an inexplicable sense of peace—like they belonged here, in this small part of my life.
---
Leaving them alone, I slipped into my evening routine. A quick shower washed away the day's fatigue, and I whipped up a simple meal for myself. With the cats lounging nearby, I ate in contentment, occasionally sneaking them a few scraps under the table.
Later, I found myself sprawled on the floor, a toy in hand as I played with them. The black one pounced with precision, her movements deliberate, while the white one stumbled clumsily after the toy, her playful antics drawing laughter from me.
At one point, the black cat wandered over to the balcony, climbing onto the railing. "Hey, yo—!" I called out, alarmed, but she merely tilted her head at me and jumped down gracefully.
Settling back on the couch, I realized something. "I haven't even named you two yet."
The black cat looked up at me, her ears twitching, while the white one let out a soft "Meow" from her spot on my lap.
"What should I call you?" I mused, stroking the white cat's fur as the black one approached, licking my leg. After a few moments of deliberation, the names came to me:
"For you," I said, scratching the black cat behind her ears, "Kuroyuki. Black snow—it suits your sleek fur."
Her eyes glimmered, and she let out a pleased purr.
"And you," I said, cradling the white cat, "Shirayume. White dream—for your soft, ethereal presence."
The white cat responded with a delighted meow, rubbing her head against my chest.
Satisfied, I smiled. "Kuroyuki and Shirayume. Perfect."
---
As I lounged with the two of them, a notification buzzed on my phone. It was from Yuki, reminding me of tomorrow's shoot:
"Yuki: Don't forget! Tomorrow's shoot at 10 AM. Be ready!"
"Me: Got it. See you then!" I quickly replied.
Closing the messaging app, I opened World builder app to check on Soleria progress. Notifications flooded the screen, detailing various developments:
"The birth of the Sea Folk has been recorded. They now inhabit the ocean depths."
"Beastkin settlements are expanding in the northern forests."
"Humans have established a new city in the western plains."
There were various other notification which covered the whole screen. Each notification brought a wave of satisfaction. Soleria was thriving, a testament to my efforts. I had created various races during my free time but some were born on their own without my interferance. As I was feeling happy with all of this one notification cath my attention it was:
"New Feature Unlocked: Time Acceleration. Activate this feature to accelerate the passage of time in Soleria."
Curious, I studied the feature and decided to try it. As I activated it, a timer appeared:
"Time Acceleration Active: 5 Hours Remaining."
"Well, nothing I can do now," I sighed, patting Kuroyuki and Shirayume, who were curled up on my lap.
---
The rest of the evening passed in quiet contentment. By the time I went to bed, the cats were nestled by my side, their soft purring lulling me to sleep.
---
Morning came with a wet sensation on my face. I opened my eyes to find Kuroyuki and Shirayume licking me in an enthusiastic attempt to wake me up.
"Alright, alright, I'm up," I chuckled, scooping them into my arms.
As I swung my legs off the bed, my gaze fell on my phone. The screen was still on, and I remembered about yesterday event and about the time acceleration feature I had used. Grabbing the device, I opened Soleria and froze.
The interface had changed—the once-muted colors were now vibrant and alive. But that wasn't what shocked me.
" It's no longer gray."
"Story Mode"
---
End of Chapter
[AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I wanted to focus on the MC's growing bonds with Kuroyuki and Shirayume while also delving into the ever-evolving world of Soleria. These moments may feel simple, but they hold significance for what's to come. Let me know your thoughts—any feedback or ideas are always welcome! Stay tuned for more exciting developments! And sorry for the late update I have been busy with various things]