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For the first few days, Megumi felt as if all she worried about was Koyuki. It made her feel a bit silly. Isn't this what you wanted? she scolded herself. You told that doctor that you would be able to do this, didn't you? Haven't you learned anything from when you were young?
Aoba did try to help, even though Megumi knew that adults were far better suited to taking care of a kitten than children, no matter how responsible or mature. And that doctor had praised Aoba, hadn't he? Why, without Aoba's pleading, the doctor might not have agreed to let Megumi take care of Koyuki at all. And yet Megumi felt that in being given Koyuki, she had been given - not a second chance, but a chance to atone. She had failed Yuki; she would not fail Koyuki.
And as days became weeks, Megumi started worrying less. It was as if her days became longer somehow, just so she would have enough time to do all the things she needed to do: work, clean, shop, cook, and so on.
For example, when Megumi cooked, Koyuki would often wander into the kitchen. Megumi had tried to shoo her out of the kitchen at first. A place where humans prepared human food was no place for a kitten. But Koyuki kept sneaking in, even when Megumi kept the door closed.
Megumi would be cutting meat or vegetables, and suddenly, she would feel Koyuki butt her little head against her legs. It was too adorable.
And so Megumi decided to let Koyuki stay in the kitchen while she cooked. It was nice to have some company. A few days after she reached this decision, she looked at Koyuki and Koyuki looked at her and mewed, as if to say, Isn't this nice? and it was nice, Megumi decided. Before, she had always felt rushed when preparing food, thinking about all the chores there were left to do. With Koyuki to keep her company, she felt more restful.
Cleaning was another activity Megumi was used to doing in a rush.
Initially, Koyuki seemed very frightened of the vacuum cleaner. It made Megumi laugh, but then, as soon as the laughter escaped from her mouth, she felt guilty. How mean-spirited of her, to laugh at Koyuki's fright! She resolved not to do it again, to help Koyuki realize a vacuum cleaner was nothing to be afraid of.
So far, that hadn't really worked. Koyuki simply refused to stay in the room when Megumi rolled in the vacuum cleaner.
Perhaps, Megumi reflected, that was a lesson too: sometimes, when you knew something unpleasant was about to happen, you could go away and avoid it, and nobody would mind.
At their next meeting she told the mum friends that she didn't have as much time to meet with them anymore. They made understanding sounds, and yet Megumi felt a prickling certainty that any time the mum friends would gather without her, her actions and behavior would be discussed and judged. Walking home, she felt embarrassed and foolish. Had she really been so simple-minded as to make such a reckless decision based on something a cat had done? Even if that cat was Koyuki, Megumi felt she should have known better.
Coming home, she sank into her seat, wondering if she was about to become depressed. That would be funny, wouldn't it? After all the fuss she'd made over Aoba maybe becoming depressed. Then Koyuki jumped into her lap and started purring, and just like that, Megumi didn't feel so foolish anymore.
"So what if they talk about me behind my back?" she asked Koyuki. "I have a family. I can make new friends." It occurred to her that she hadn't spoken to her younger brother for weeks, perhaps even months. Perhaps she should call him.
Perhaps he would even remember Yuki, too, and agree what a funny coincidence it was that now she had adopted Koyuki.
"And you know, there was a poster at the supermarket, advertising dancing classes for beginners. Maybe I'll sign up. That might be fun. And the library organizes all sorts of activities too. Or I could go to a cooking workshop for inspiration." Suddenly, the ideas started coming one after another.
Koyuki's tiny claws kneaded Megumi's legs, as if to say, Slow down there, Megumi!
Megumi had to laugh. "You're right. I shouldn't be so quick to fill up all my spare time again, should I? But I'm not going to be stuck in the same routine day after day anymore. I'm going to live a good, full, happy life."
Koyuki started purring even louder as Megumi softly stroked her little head.
Megumi decided to take it as a good sign.