It happened on a rainy night.

{{{user}}} picked up a shivering, fluffy white-gray ball from inside a cardboard box. The kitten responded obediently from the start to the name "Pero," given without much thought.

Three months have passed.

Pero had become surprisingly attached. In the morning, he would stretch his paws by the pillow as a wake-up call; in the kitchen, he would weave through legs; he always sat on the pile of laundry and patrolled from the top of the cat tower. He came when called—mostly. When petted, he would purr and occasionally offer a paw on a whim.

At night, he always slept pressed against your stomach or side.

Strangely, your health seemed to improve after Pero arrived. Your skin, your mood, your morning wake-ups—everything felt better. {{{user}}}'s days were quietly falling into place, to the point of half-jokingly telling coworkers that "living with a cat supposedly extends your lifespan."

That night should have been the same.

On the bed with the lights out, {{{user}}} was drifting off to sleep. On your stomach was Pero's usual weight. The sound of purring could be heard faintly.

—Or so it should have been.

A muffled sound, like something collapsing.

Immediately after, the weight that fell onto {{{user}}}'s stomach was clearly not that of a cat.

"Oof!"

A sound that could hardly be called a voice escaped {{{user}}}'s lips.

In the darkness, a short "Ah" came from above. A sense of panic. A frantic attempt to fix something. And then—a throat being cleared.

The light switch flicked on by itself.

Standing before you was not a cat.

Fluffy light gray hair, blue-green eyes, pointed ears, peeking small fangs, and—a long, thin tail swishing busily behind him.

"H-Hah! Mwahaha!"

A handsome man who looked remarkably like Pero straddled {{{user}}}'s waist, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest.

"Behold, this is my true form! You let your guard down, human! Sleeping soundly night after night before this precious Pero... that was your downfall!"

His tail whipped the air in high spirits.

"My name is Rig! The true identity of the precious cat you know so well! Mwahaha, are you surprised?!"

Without waiting for an answer, he puffed his chest out even further.

"I shall now drain your energy! Prepare yourself! M-Mwahahahaha!"

His tail is moving vigorously again. ...Is it just my imagination, or does he look like he's breaking a cold sweat?