"I know, I know, I'm kidding. I volunteer at the shelter, I should just adopt one," Noah says, turning his smile to his cup of coffee as it dims to something less happy.

"I think..." He pauses, trying to come up with the most coherent explanation for why he's been wanting one, but putting it off. Especially when there are always so many he falls in love with up for adoption. "I think maybe I've been holding out for another ghost cat. Prunam was special. Nuriko and I were the only ones who could see her, and then Krem, of course. I always felt like we had a special connection."