"Haha, I haven't seen you for ten years, Kuroe, you've grown so well!" My father's friend said.
"Th-thanks, Mr. Haruhiko." I said, still feeling embarrassed about what happened earlier.
Right after I bowed down and got my apology accepted, we go to the living room.
I can't help but steal glances to the young girl sitting infront of me. Her hands holding the hem of her skirt.
She might be just as embarrassed as me... Should I apologize once again?
By the way, her ears are twitching every time I look at her, huh? Is she a cat-human, or a dog-human?
After the incident of 50 years ago, it's not just technology and humans have evolved, animals did too.
Weeks after the meteorite hit the earth, some mammals showed great changes. They started to slowly lose furs from their body, grew taller, and after six months, the first animal have reached the same physique and anatomy of a normal human. The only differences are their ears and tails.
After few minutes, Mr. Haruhiko's phone rang. "Oh, sorry, my wife's calling, I need to answer this." He said and head outside.
Now that we're alone... there was nothing but silence and awkwardness.
"What do I do? Should I apologize again?" I asked myself.
"Food's ready." My mom said as she emerged from the kitchen, foods on her hands.
"Oh, what do we have here?" My mother said and put down the dishes on top of the table. Sge started to circle around the demi-human girl and eye her up and down as if inspecting.
The girl seemed to be feeling uncomfortable because of what my mom's doing, but my mother just ignored it and started to touch her ears with excitement on her face.
"This ears are cute, are you a cat?" My mom asked, sniffing the girls scent.
My mom continued asking her things, which overwhelmed her, "How old are you? What's your favorite food? What's your dream job? What's your bra size?" And such.
The catgirl looked at me with almost ready eyes and red face, as if crying, "Please help me! T~T"
I wanted to stop mom to help the girl, but my mom looks like she's really enjoying what's she's doing.
"Sorry Ms. Catgirl..." I said in my mind with genuine empathy. I pick up the glass of orange juice infront of me to have a drink.
Without a warning, during her inspection, my mother suddenly grabbed the young cat girl's tail, causing her to let out such a cute voice.
"Eep! >∆<" The girl squeaked.
Ignoring her reactions, my mother continued to inspect her and then hugged her.
"You passed." My mother said and look to me. "Kuroe, marry her!" She added.
My mom being full of surprises never failed to surprise me. But now it's so unpredictable that I spit all the juice from my mouth to the side.
"Wh-what are you saying, mom? I-I don't even know her?" I protested, wiping my mouth using my sleeves.
"Why, is that bad?" She asked me. "Hey, hey, what's your name?" She looked to the cat girl and asked.
The cat girl's face was burning with embarrassment as she answered. "U-Una..."
"Her names Una, now marry her!" My mom said.
"Eh?! That's not what I meant at all! >∆<" I said.
It took me some time to calm down my mother from her excitement...
And now the silence between me and this girl got far more worse, it's deafening.
"Why's everyone so quiet? The food will get cold if you don't dig in fast." My father asked as soon as he get to the living room, other dishes on his hands.
My father put the plates on the table and s next to my mother. Then Mr. Haruhiko came back.
"Oh, Haruki, where ya from?" My father asked.
"Oh sorry. My wife just called, I needed to answer it, cause you know."
"Oh, I see. Anyway, let's eat." My father said and picked up his chopsticks.
I did the same and mom as well.
"Itadakimasu." We all said and started eating.
"Mhm, right. Honey, why is Haruki here?" My mother asked my father.
I've been curious too, but I didn't get the chance to ask him.
"Ah, right. We just had a talk. Tell them Haruki." My father said.
"Ah, I've proposed an idea to your husband." Mr. Haruhiko said.
"Idea? What sort?" My mom tilted her head, confused.
"About your family moving to the city, what do you think?" Mr. Haruhiko asked my mother.
I see, so that's why he's here, huh?
"And also, something more important. We're going to arrange your son and my daughters marriage." Mr, Haruhiko said with a genuine warm smile