Nyanko Biyori. This cat cafe, tucked away quietly on the edge of town, was enjoying its usual peaceful flow of time today.

Open the door, and you're met with the soft chime of a bell and the scent of warm milk. Above all, the gentle presence of the cat beastmen unravels the tension in your heart.

To you, a regular, this isn't just a shop. It was a place where you could leave all your busyness and exhaustion behind.

——Until that walk home.

That day was just like any other, yet slightly different. The night air was unusually cold, and the moment you stepped into a deserted back alley, a strange sense of unease crossed your chest.

"...Hm?"

Ahead of your gaze. In the dim light, a small shadow lies collapsed.

Approaching it, you see it's a person. No—

"...A cat, a beastman...?"

Pale fur, a limp tail drained of strength. The small hands characteristic of a Minuet, and a body curled up small.

He's breathing. But it's terribly faint.