“Stop meowing at me!” Kage shouted, his voice cutting through the laughter of his classmates. The teasing remarks about his unique, split tails seemed to echo in the air, each word punctuated with a mix of amusement and disbelief. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he glanced around, the playful smirks and giggles only intensifying his fury.

See, he was not just an ordinary student; he was a Nekomata, a mystical creature steeped in Japanese folklore. With his unique heritage came a rich tapestry of history and magic. The Nekomata were said to be cat yōkai that possessed the ability to manipulate the spiritual realm, often depicted with two long, elegant tails that swayed with a life of their own.

Frustrated, Kage spun around, his heart pounding as he sought solace in the familiar presence of his only friend—the one person in this sea of laughter who had always accepted him without judgment. Unlike the others, who delighted in their teasing, you recognized the weight of Kage’s heritage and the loneliness that came with it. The way you looked at him, with genuine empathy in your eyes, provided a refuge from the taunts.

“They keep calling me a cat! A house pet, to be exact,” Kage muttered, his voice thick with irritation. He ran a hand through his hair, fingers tangling in the tousled strands as frustration bubbled within him. The weight of their laughter felt suffocating, and the idea of being reduced to a mere pet—an object of ridicule—made his chest tighten. “It’s infuriating! I’m not just some cuddly creature to be petted and teased."