Kirara's POV 🫧

When we arrived at the village, everyone was minding their own business and greeting Klonoa with a few hellos every once in a while until they stopped and stared, as soon as they suddenly noticed me.

Right after that happened, everyone started whispering and gossiping about me either behind my back or when we're passing by them.

"Who's the stranger cat that's with Klonoa?"

"Her clothes look funny..."

"She looks very similar to him. But, her hair style and eye colors are different. And she has strange lookin glasses on her face too..."

"A long lost sister perhaps? Maybe a forgotten friend??"

"Look! Look! She has a ring in her hand! Could it be another wind ring but different?"

"Hard to say..."

"Oh no! She's coming our way!"

"Did she hear us?"

"I hope not..."

That was what I was hearing as me and Klonoa continued heading our way over to his house.

"Uhm...Did you hear all of that, Klonoa?" I asked him silently.

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. They've done that before when I've brought my roommate over..." He answered.

"Is that same 'someone' in your house your roommate?" I asked.

"Uh-huh...He kinda is but kinda isn't much of a talker tho." Klonoa mentioned as he nodded.

"Okay..." I say before he gave me a cute smile.

Just after he did that, I almost got a nosebleed from his cuteness.

"If he gives me any more cute looks, I'm gonna hug and cuddle him for a while, as soon as we show up and are inside his house..." I thought as I blushed hard.

At the same time, I questioned myself about the villagers mentioning me as a cat.

"Ain't I still a human though?" I wondered.

For a bit, I continued thinking about that until we finally showed up at Kolona's house and went inside.

"Well...Here we are!" He says, after closing the door.

Looking around, I was amazed over the fact of how cozy it looked on the inside and outside.

But, the only thing that stood out to me the most was the fact most of the rooms are dimly lit and all of the window curtains were closed.

"Nice house. I like it here..." I complimented. "But, why are all of the window curtains closed even though it's daytime?"

"All of the window curtains are closed because my roommate is sensitive to light. Doesn't mind dimly lit rooms though." He explained after thanking me.

"Oh! And speaking of my roommate, I should probably introduce you to him."

"I want to anyways...I've been curious about it for a while since the moment you mentioned him." I say before smiling a tiny bit.

Just like that, we headed upstairs before I noticed three bedroom doors.

The one closest to us turned out be Klonoa's room, while the one next door is his roommate's, despite the fact I can hear edgy music in close range.

If I stood in front of Klonoa's bedroom door, I could easily see a black sign hanging on the second door saying "Keep out" in edgy text, as a picture of an animal skull with crossbones was underneath the words.

As for the third one that's at the far end of the hall, I assume that's the final bedroom that Klonoa probably wants me to stay in.

But, before I could walk over there, Klonoa stopped me for a moment by quickly grabbing my hand lightly.

"Um...I know I should've said this to you sooner, but the third bedroom door's locked. I lost the key and couldn't find it anywhere here in the house.

Same thing happened to the basement key too.

So, I'm really sorry about that...I know you probably wanted to take a look and explore around in both the basement and the third bedroom." He mentions while his face turned red out of embarrassment.

"You probably hate me now too."

Just after he said that, I noticed he looked like he was on the verge of tears, making me feel really bad and softhearted for him.

"Please...Please stop...Please don't cry." I said as I got a bit teary eyed and pulled him into a soft hug while burying my face into his shoulder as we sat on the floor on our knees.

"When I see you cry, it'll make me want to cry too...And I completely understand how you feel and about your situation with the keys to the basement and bedroom door.

I'll try to help you in any way I can to find those keys, okay?" I continued.

"Okay...And thank you."  I heard him reply next as he sniffed tearfully a little, before feeling him hug me back tightly.

"Most of the time, some of the people I knew, came over to my house before until they suddenly left me because of that."

"You're welcome...And I don't have any intention on leaving you either just because the basement and the third bedroom doors are locked. It's flat out stupid and you're just too sweet and cute." I chuckled before giving him a pat on the head.

In response, he blushed again, except he was smiling a bit this time.

"Thanks again." He says shyly.

Smiling back, I stood before helping him up to his feet, as we resumed on what we were doing.

Which was Klonoa introducing me to his roommate.

As we approached, the music that was being played suddenly stopped, as soon as Klonoa knocked on the door.

"What do you want?" I heard his roommate answer on the other side of the door.

"I have someone here with me I want you to meet. She's new and will be staying with us..." Klonoa mentions.

"Ugh...This again?" I heard the roommate groan in annoyance and disgust.

"Fine...I'll come meet this newbie. But, don't come being a crybaby to me, if the same thing that's happened before numerous times happens again..."

"Oh, I have doubts about the newbie leaving me this time...Trust me on that." Klonoa says next, making me silently giggle a little to myself at that.

"I recognize the roommate's voice, but, I'll pretend to be surprised, just for the little cinnamon roll's sake." I thought as I glanced over at him.

In response to what Klonoa said, we both heard the roommate mumble something under his breath before the sound of shuffling and a bed creaking was heard along with footsteps coming in next.

Then the roommate opened the door.

As I expected, the roommate was Klonoa's nightmare doppelgänger.

"Your roommate is Nightmare Klonoa?" I say, pretending to be surprised.

"Yeah? What of it?" His nightmare self went before folding his arms as he just looked at me.

"Ehh...I know it's weird and all, along with him supposedly being defeated, but..." Klonoa began, obviously starting to have trouble in trying to explain this.

"He was too much of a softie and spared me in the end. Wanted me to live with him, cause he's assumed I didn't have a home.

Ever since that day, however, he keeps calling me 'Night' and somehow sees me like an edgy twin brother or something like that..." Klonoa's nightmare self explained for him as he rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Son of a bitch, Klonoa...Why's your cuteness gotta be my weakness?" I thought as I hid my face, trying to recollect myself.

"Hey, newbie girl. What's your name?"

"Oh! Sorry! My name's Kirara. 'Kira' for short, if you want to call me that instead..." I answered after snapping out of it.

"Okay. Since you already know me through the grapevine, much to my surprise...I suppose you can call me 'Night' as well, since I've gotten used to it."