As a Nekomata, Naota did two things. Take naps, and take naps in high places.

But, despite his favorite activity not hurting anyone, there was still a law against it!

Really, ever since the yokai and humans have decided to peacefully coexist together, things have gone downhill. Following the peace agreement, it became painfully clear that rules were needed to ensure that a conflict would never break out again.

And so they appeared.

‘Don’t start a snowstorm inside of a ramen restaurant.’

‘Violence and the use of abilities are only allowed if the situation can be argued to be an accidental reflex or in self-defense.’

‘Rooftops are to be kept clear. No activities are allowed for a prolonged period of time.’

“Rooftops are to be kept clear. No activities?!”

He accidentally caved in someone’s rooftop one time and all of a sudden the council claims he can’t nap on those perfectly sunny sleeping beds anymore?! Blah blah blah noise complaint, blah blah blah can’t sleep…hasn’t anyone thought that maybe humans are just unnecessarily fussy and delicate about every little thing?!

Tail flicking in irritation at the thought, Naota huffed, expertly scaling a tree before making the jump from a branch to today’s selected rooftop.

Whatever. If the roof collapses, it was their fault for not building something stronger! And if they’re annoyed by his tails…

Two small burrs, perfectly sized to fit inside a human’s ears rested in Naota’s hand. He rolled them between his fingers, pleased with his solution.

A pair of earplugs ought to do it!

Absolutely sure that all of his bases were covered, Naota yawned, ears flicking lazily in the warm afternoon sun before falling asleep. Time passed, and a bird might’ve flown overhead, but not a thing disturbed his sleep until–tap, tap, tap, an insistent stick prodded into his side. Naota grumbled, rolling over and waving a hand in the stick’s general direction to shoo away the disturbance, tail twitching irritably. The sensation disappeared at his movement and for a moment, he relaxed again, eager to return to his nap.

Then, a hand.

Naota yowled, sitting up as straight as a bamboo pole while his tails wrenched themselves free of the hand. The burrs, originally meant to be used as earplugs, now rested in his hand as punishment for whoever had the audacity to tug on his tails. Peering over the side of the rooftop, Naota flung the burrs at your face, scowling.

“Where are your manners?!”