July 7th

 A cat story.
This is not a ghost story, nor is it a strange story, but it's a story that's quite cozy.

I think many people already know, but there's a cat in my house named Kureha-san. No more than two years ago she was freely going to and from my yard, and each time I'd give her a meal. But soon after that a period of time passed when I didn't see her figure at all, and when she appeared again she was a spirited mother who had brought along her three children. Since the children were small too and I thought it'd be difficult for them to pass the winter, I took them into my house to care for them, but Kureha was violent due to her maternal instinct at first, so if I even approached her she'd threaten me with a 'Hiss!' and if I touched her she'd dispatch her Treasured Sword Cat Punch as a last resort.

All the same we spent two years together, and she seemed to sense that I mean no harm to her existence, so lately she'll come close to me on her own around mealtime. Whether it's a sense of security because her children have matured, or only sleeping when she isn't eating, thanks to this her body has grown so humongous that she can be mistaken for a Tanuki in appearance.

It was just the other day. Strangely, Kureha was looking down from the window on the second floor, and crying out like 'gyaa gyaa'!
"What's wrong? Is there a bird or something? Are you okay...?" I uttered to her, but she was too noisy and kept on crying so that her formerly hoarse voice blocked me out. So, I found it suspicious as you would expect, and I tried looking down from above Kureha. Then, down there I saw a large cat with the exact same pattern as Kureha's children. Wasn't he staring fixedly in our direction?

'Perhaps you're the father? Yeah! There's no mistaking that pattern like a dairy cow. But why did you suddenly appear when I haven't seen you around the neighborhood before??' I thought, observing him. That cow-patterned cat who appeared to be the father pointed a glance my way and immediately disappeared somewhere as soon as he cried out "Nyaa~"

As if taking that as a signal, Kureha also stood up languidly and returned to her usual place as though nothing had happened, then started breathing peacefully as she went to sleep.

To say nothing at all it was like that, but I have quite a hunch that the cow-patterned cat seemed to be telling me, "Treat my wife and kids well." My heart was somehow warmed by it. It's just like, I believe I saw a cat version program of the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi who can only meet just once a year.

<Coach's Title Change>
As the author naturally declared that this isn't a ghost story, nor does it have the 'question' of a true ghost story, I'll leave the original text as it is as much as I can. The Isshi-ness is overflowing here so I can't add my hand to it... that being said, I have honest feelings. Incidentally, ahh, it's great as a warm story, but up until I read the final two lines the title was far from significant, I couldn't understand how it was related to the text? If that's the case "Kureha" or "Best Regards" would be better wouldn't it? Anyway, if it's not "July 7th" then it's not the program you had a hunch about. (Because there are children, though, it can't be a cat version of Orihime and Hikoboshi.)

 Notes:

As with the Kagrra song of the same name, this story is a reference to Tanabata, the once-a-year festival when the stars Vega and Altair can meet.

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