When Two Wounded Hearts Find Solace In Each Other, Snow White (The School's Beauty) And I Were Mistakenly Labeled As A Silly Couple. - Chapter 41: Snow White and the Cat Cafe

Snow White and the Cat Cafe

“I want to go to a cat cafe.”

On a Sunday morning approaching the end of April, it was decided to go to a cat cafe at the suggestion of Himeno.

I don’t dislike animals, and if it’s a place someone I like enjoys, I’m happy to go.

It seems that Himeno likes cats, and she had apparently wanted to go for a while.

“Today, it  feels different, doesn’t it?”

“Because we’re going to a cat cafe.”

While her usual attire consists mostly of dresses, today she wore a white blouse with cropped pants, ankle socks, and pumps, something different from the usual.

Perhaps to play with the cats later, she tied her long hair in a ponytail, and the normally unseen nape looked a bit enchanting.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes.”

As we walked hand in hand, I noticed the store I had looked up on my phone before leaving home.

On the first floor of a five-story building, a cat cafe stood out with a big sign.

Although a little nervous about going to a cat cafe for the first time, I entered the shop with Himeno.

“Welcome.”

Upon entering, a female staff member greeted us with a smile.

There were already several customers, playing with cats in the back.

There were many cute cats, and the excitement of being able to play with them couldn’t be contained.

Himeno seemed to feel the same way, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Our shop operates on a one-order system, and charges are applied in thirty-minute increments.”

“I’ll have oolong tea.”

“I’ll have orange juice, please.”

After ordering drinks, we washed our hands and used alcohol disinfectant before being guided by the staff to where the cats were.

A cat quickly approached Himeno, rubbing against her legs and cheek.

The cats in the cat cafe were probably used to people, and they might be acting cute to receive treats.

It seems you can purchase treats at this store and give them to the cats.

“So, cute!”

Her eyes sparkled like never before as she found herself captivated by the adorable cats. Without hesitation, she called the staff and ordered treats.

It seemed like she had struck a chord with the cats. As long as she was enjoying it, everything was just fine.

“Here are the treats.”

Taking the treats from the staff, she placed them in her palm and offered them to the cat. The cat meowed cutely and immediately started munching on the treats.

“Wow… there are so many cats. It’s amazing.”

Cats flocked around me, hoping for treats. Despite them probably receiving regular meals, the allure of treats was irresistible.

“I’ll get some too.”

Observing the cute cats enjoying their treats, I decided to order some as well. It might have been the cheapest treat, but it should do the trick.

“But they won’t come to me…”

Even with treats in hand, cats avoided me. It struck me that not even stray cats approached me. Despite thinking that maybe stray cats were typically wary of people, it seemed that even cats accustomed to humans were keeping their distance.

I wondered if it had to do with his natural scent. Despite not having a strange smell, perhaps there was something about me that cats found less appealing. Even though we arrived hand in hand, the fact that she was surrounded by cats didn’t mean my scent was irrelevant.

“Excuse me, how can I get the cats to come to me?”

“A trick is not to look directly into the cats’ eyes too much.”

With teary eyes, I sought help, and the staff responded with a wry smile.

Judging by their reaction, it was unusual for cats not to approach even when treats were offered. Cats, like other carnivores such as lions, tend to eat when there’s food in front of them, even if they aren’t particularly hungry. In the wild, they never know when they’ll get their next meal, and it seems instinct drives this behavior.

I had seen a video before where zookeepers showed a hyena a bone, and it eagerly snapped at it. The explanation was that it wasn’t just due to lack of feeding; it was the instinct at play.

While domesticated cats may not follow this instinct as strictly, they’re essentially carnivores, and under normal circumstances, they should come when there’s food.

“Still won’t come…”

Even following the staff’s advice not to make eye contact, the cats didn’t approach me. Moreover, they gathered around Himeno, who had finished giving out treats.

“Himeno, I’ll give these to you…”

Realizing that holding treats didn’t matter, I handed the treats to Himeno and sipped the oolong tea the staff had brought, tracing patterns in the liquid with my finger.

“Well, cats don’t seem to like me anyway…”

As soon as I went to give treats to Himeno, the cats around her scattered. Unable to hold back, I muttered, “Ah,huhh…”

Seeing me sulking, Himeno could only manage a wry smile.

“At least, I wanted to pet them… Sniff…”

The cats that had approached Himeno again were happily munching on the treats.