Zenless Zone Zero: I'am a Dullahan!

"Zane, if you insist on this, then I won't help you manage your Dennies anymore! I'll give your card back. I'll still handle the café business, but that's it."

Nekomata's expression was firm, not a trace of jest in her voice. It was clear—if Zane tried to push her any further, she meant every word.

"...Alright."

Zane looked steadily at Nekomata for a few seconds. She didn't flinch, meeting his gaze head-on. A few moments later, he let out a helpless smile.

His eyes glinted with warmth, lips curling slightly as he looked away from her. Maybe this was the real reason he wanted to help them...

They were just genuinely good people.

"Geez, Zane, I know what you're trying to do, but it really isn't right. Don't take my attitude just now the wrong way, okay?"

Thinking he was upset, Nekomata immediately leaned into him, lifting her head and nudging his arm with her forehead like a kitten.

"It's just blue mackerel! Worst case, I'll catch some myself from the river. Billy and Anby will figure things out too."

Her tone softened as she hugged his arm and spoke gently.

"Honestly, I think Nicole did the right thing. A billion Dennies... sure, it sounds like the kind of despair where you'd never eat blue mackerel again in your life, but it's something we should be paying."

"Because this is our responsibility. So it's only right..."

"And having debt isn't the end of the world. If we just keep taking your kindness, what does that make us? That wouldn't be respecting you at all."

Then she suddenly flashed a toothy smile.

"Because... it's never been about Dennies. It's about people."

Zane listened quietly, remembering the time Nicole misunderstood him and had panicked, tearfully trying to explain herself.

Yeah… maybe she'd been thinking the exact same thing back then.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking it through."

Zane said softly. From a planning standpoint, his idea was solid—a win-win. But from the standpoint of a real friend, it was all wrong.

Just like Nekomata said—maybe it was disrespectful of him too.

"No need to apologize, Zane. You're just... really—really—kind!"

"I'm seriously lucky I got to meet you!"

Nekomata grinned, showing her little fangs, then let go of his arm and picked up the price list.

"Alright! Once I'm done with the café stuff, I'll head back to report in!"

She was only here to deliver the updated price list. Nicole had figured she could save on a phone call by having her drop it off while she was out.

Otherwise, everything could've just been handled over the phone—no need for a personal trip.

But Cat Thiren in person? That was worth more than a few Dennies saved on a call!

...

Nekomata soon got to work cleaning up the cat café. Besides scooping litter, she also handled feeding duties and tidied up the toys.

She even remembered the bath schedule for every cat in Tanuki House—and it was bath day for a few of them.

None of it felt like a chore. She'd been doing it all responsibly since the café opened.

Before long, the bathroom was filled with chaos...

Time passed, and eventually, it was all done.

Nekomata let out a breath, fixed herself up, and left Tanuki House in high spirits.

Zane was getting ready to rest as well. He didn't really need to sleep, but sitting around through the long night wasn't much better.

A nap, close your eyes, open them—it'd be tomorrow.

Much quicker that way.

But just as he was about to settle in and let "time leap" do its thing...

"You two... what exactly are you doing?"

"Meow—!"

"Meow—meow—!"

"Meow meow—!!!"

"Meow meow—meow—!"

The little black cat and little white cat had gotten into a dispute over the only open sleeping spot next to Zane. When negotiations failed, they started calling reinforcements.

One by one, the cats began to gather under their leaders' call—some jumping onto the bed, others surrounding it from all sides.

The air grew tense.

"Hey, seriously, you two..."

"Meow—!"

"Meow—!"

With a single signal from both feline commanders, the second Great Tanuki House Battle erupted!

But unlike last time...

That had been a three-way standoff.

This time, it was a full-on Chu vs. Han showdown!

In seconds, Zane's bedroom descended once again into total chaos...

...

Early the next morning, outside the video store.

"Oi, oi! Kid, you're a Starlight Knight fan too, huh?!"

On the street, Billy was chatting animatedly with a boy in a Starlight Knight costume, likely another fan. Not far off, Anby and Nicole were waiting for someone.

"Gah, what time is it already? Is Zane late or what? Seriously..."

Nicole tapped the toe of her shiny little leather shoes against the pavement, then lifted her hand to check the time.

Next to her, Anby quietly ate a hamburger with both hands. Hearing Nicole, she looked over and said softly,

"Nicole, maybe your watch is broken? Look—the dog over there's still sleeping..."

"Huh?"

Nicole looked up, then sighed and shook her head. Frustrated, she pulled off the watch from her wrist.

"No wonder that scammer charged me so few Dennies! Said it was some 'latest-model women's watch,' and I actually believed him... Can't trust anything from a street vendor!"

She raised the watch like she was going to smash it, but after a moment of hesitation, couldn't bring herself to do it.

After all... she had paid for it in Dennies!

"Nicole, I told you—don't be greedy over small bargains..."

Anby shook her head and went back to her burger. Her pace was slow, but the burger shrank at a speed you could almost see with the naked eye.

Soon enough, Anby finished and wiped her hands with a napkin—just as the video store door opened.

"Huh? Nicole? Anby? What are you two doing here?"

Belle had been about to open shop for the day when she spotted the two of them outside the store.

"Oh! It's Proxy!"

"How's it going? Got any commissions for Hare's House lately?"

Nicole turned and immediately bounded over with a bright smile. Belle's expression twitched a little.

That was just… such a Nicole way to say hello.

"Come on in, it's a bit chilly out here."

Belle pulled her coat tighter. For some reason, it felt colder than yesterday—even though it was a sunny day...

Nicole nodded. Since their current commission involved "Phaethon," she turned and called out to Anby.

...