Prologue

My name is Ren’ta Neji (called Nero by my friends). You get the reference, right? Just so you know, I’m not the tyrant type, but rather named after the sad Belgian fairy tale Nero.

Right now, I’m a first-year student preparing for university entrance exams at a prep school. Bored of studying every day, I’m currently skipping class and taking a walk. My parents are separated, and they don’t pay much attention to me, though they do provide money, so I’m not too bothered.

On my usual walking route, I found it on the bridge.

What I found was a kitten floating in the middle of the river in a box. Who would do such a thing? How cruel. Unforgivable, isn’t it?

I’m not proud of it, but I’m allergic to cats. I like cats, but I can’t get close to them. Yet, I don’t know why, but before I knew it, I found myself jumping from the bridge, which was more than five meters above the water’s surface.

My clothes soaked up water and weighed me down, making it hard to swim. The box with the kitten drifted away, and all I could hear clearly was the kitten meowing.

Uh oh. If this continues, I’m going to die… No way I’m dying! I refuse to die, and I’m going to save that kitten and live! It’s too early to die!

I drifted tens of meters, but somehow managed to catch the kitten’s box and reach the riverside near the sluice gate.

Struggling for breath, I somehow managed to crawl up. I’m soaking wet… I stripped down to my underwear and squeezed out my clothes. Since I’m under the sluice gate, no one should see me. Except for the kitten, that is. It’s been staring at me with beautiful sapphire blue eyes. It’s strange how it was meowing so much just a moment ago. Quite a mysterious kitten.

I endured being wet and put my clothes back on. This must be fate. I’m going to take this kitten with me. I’d feel terrible if I saved it only to leave it here to die. I’ll find it a new home. It’s a cute white kitten, so I think it’ll be found quickly.

As I lifted the kitten, it finally let out a “meow.” Looks like it’s okay. As I climbed the stairs leading out of the sluice gate, the kitten climbed up to my shoulder and started licking my face. Maybe it’s expressing gratitude. It’s a cute little thing.

Just as I thought that, I sneezed and slipped on the stairs…

My vision filled with sky, and I felt a shock through my body, followed by intense pain. I managed to shield the kitten, but I might be in serious trouble.

Come to think of it, I’m allergic to cats, I thought as consciousness began to fade.