The rain hadn't stopped all day. My shoes squelched with every step up the cracked stone path. The letter in my pocket was already damp, but I'd read it enough times to remember the words:
"To my grandson, I leave you the Nine Lives Inn. Take care of it well."
An inheritance. An inn I'd never heard of, from a grandfather I barely remembered. Honestly, I'd planned to sell it the moment I saw it. But when the broken-down building came into view—a leaning wooden structure with faded lanterns swaying in the wind—I wondered if anyone would even buy it.
I pushed open the front door.
"Welcome home, Master!"
A girl leapt out of nowhere, landing directly on top of me. I yelped, crashing to the dusty floor. My vision filled with golden eyes, twitching cat ears, and a wide grin.
"Eh?! Who—who are you?!" I stammered.
She tilted her head, ears flicking. "I'm Sakura, the chef! You're the new owner, right? Nyahaha~!"
"Chef?! Of this place?!"
Before I could get up, another voice scolded her.
"Sakura! Have some dignity. He must be exhausted from his journey."
I turned to see another girl sweeping the hall with perfect grace. Long black hair shimmered in the candlelight, and her every movement screamed elegance. She gave a deep bow.
"My name is Hime. I have served this inn for many years. Please forgive Sakura's… enthusiasm."
"Wait, wait, wait." I sat up, rubbing my head. "Who are you people?! What do you mean you've served this inn? It's been abandoned for decades!"
At that moment, a pillow smacked into my face.
"Don't be so loud, nyaaa…" came a lazy voice. A third girl was lying across the hallway tatami, hugging a blanket. Cat ears twitched atop her messy hair. "I was napping…"
"You're always napping, Nana!" Sakura huffed, tail swishing angrily. "At least pretend to welcome him properly!"
My brain struggled to process the scene before me: three girls, all with twitching tails and feline ears, bickering in an abandoned inn.
Finally, Hime stepped forward, kneeling gracefully.
"You hold the deed to this inn, which means you are the new Keeper of the Nine Lives. That makes you… our master."
"Keeper of the… what?"
The lanterns flickered, and I swore I saw shadows moving along the walls, shaped like cats with glowing eyes.
Sakura grinned mischievously. "It means you can't leave us, nya."
Nana yawned. "It means our fates are tied, whether you like it or not…"
And Hime's eyes, calm but burning with intensity, locked onto mine.
"It means you've just inherited all nine of us."
The rain outside thundered louder, and for the first time, I realized, I wasn't going to sell this inn. I was trapped.
With nine cat girls.