The Stray Who Came Home Chapter 1

I died.

In my second year after death, I was reincarnated as an orange tabby cat.

In my past life, I was an orphan. It was my cat mom who finally taught me what motherly love felt like.

One day, she grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and carried me to a house. When the door opened, I saw a familiar layout... and a familiar set of eight-pack abs.

Swallowing a mouthful of drool, I realized: this was my ex-boyfriend's apartment.

My ex skillfully opened a can of wet food and scratched my chin.

"I really want to adopt it," he murmured, "but she is afraid of cats."

It seemed he understood my cat mom's intentions. But wait... did he move on that fast?

I wanted to curse him out, but all that came out was a meow.

"Babe, who's at the door?"

A male voice drifted from behind my ex. And it sounded... familiar.

Wait a minute. Your current partner is... a guy?

* * *

I died and came back as a stray cat.

I was the only kitten in the litter to survive. As soon as I could wobble around on four legs, my cat mom stared at me with her big, round eyes for a long time. Then she groomed me obsessively, meowing as she licked.

I understood her. She was telling me to be clean so a kind human would adopt me and give me a good life.

I asked her if she would come with me.

She didn't answer. She just grabbed my scruff and carried me out into the world.

Even though I was getting used to walking like a cat, I was still terrified of heights. I had watched cat POV videos online before, but doing it in real life was dizzying.

My mom expertly navigated the complex and dropped me in front of a specific door.

My head was spinning. I stumbled around in a circle and flopped over.

Mom scratched at the door until it opened. I looked up.

I saw the apartment layout I knew by heart. And my ex-boyfriend, Liam, with his eight-pack abs.

"???"

I exploded into a fuzzball on the spot.

Liam must have just stepped out of the shower. He was wearing a towel, water droplets racing down his abs.

He crouched down, petting my mom with one hand and opening a can of food with the other.

"Sorry, I got caught up with something today and forgot to leave food out. Starving, huh?"

The towel gaped a little as he squatted.

Cover your shame, man!

I tried to yell, but it came out as a soft, sticky "Meow."

That's when Liam noticed me.

"Is this your baby? It's so cute. I think I still have some goat milk powder. I'll go make some."

He went to the kitchen. I stood at the door, peering inside.

The furniture, the placement of everything—it was exactly how I left it.

I wondered how he was doing.

Did he still... think of me?

While I was lost in thought, Liam returned with a bowl of milk. His warm hand covered my head, rubbing gently. I purred instinctively.

The last time we touched like this, I was in a hospital bed. Liam covered my eyes and whispered, "Don't be scared. My Luna is the bravest girl."

Deep emotions surged from my subconscious. I let out a stifled meow, my eyes getting wet.

I had planned to find him once I could walk properly, but I never expected my cat mom to bring me straight to him.

To let him adopt me.

Driven by that thought, I stumbled toward him.

My cat mom nudged me from behind, encouraging me.

Liam paused, seemingly understanding her intent.

He scratched her chin and muttered, "I really want to adopt it, but she is afraid of cats."

I had just rubbed my face against his ankle.

Never mind.

Retract cat head immediately.