Chapter 125-Little menace

Chapter 125: 125-Little menace

The sound of a small bell rang softly from Nathaniel’s bedroom. Yaya chased the little ball attached to the end of her toy, her white paws pattering across the carpet as she darted after it.

Every time the ball rolled out of reach, she would crouch, wiggle her hindquarters, and pounce with the determination of a seasoned hunter.

Unfortunately, her target was nothing more than a harmless toy. She caught it between her paws and immediately began kicking it with her hind legs.

Nathaniel watched her from the edge of his bed, a bowl of cat food resting on the small table beside him. A faint smile played on his lips as he picked up another toy and shook it gently.

"Yaya," He called out sweetly.

The cat’s ears perked up. He moved the toy to the left and Yaya’s head turned left. He moved it to the right and her head turned right.

Nathaniel couldn’t help laughing. "You’re getting predictable, little girl," He joked, smiling ear to ear.

Yaya apparently disagreed. She abandoned the ball and leaped toward the toy in his hand, landing clumsily against his lap.

Nathaniel caught her before she could slide off. "Careful!"

He settled her against his thighs and stroked the soft fur between her ears. Yaya immediately began purring, pressing her little head into his palm as though she had been waiting all day for his attention.

Nathaniel’s smile deepened. He simply sat there enjoying the quiet and her company that he’d grown so attached to in the last six years.

The ship had been through a great deal recently and even though Aymara’s system had managed to stabilize the damage caused by the pirates and the metallic birds, the repairs were still ongoing.

The occasional announcement from the ship’s system drifted through the corridor, reminding him that the danger hadn’t completely passed.

However, inside his room, with Yaya curled comfortably against him, everything felt peaceful. He opened the small container of cat food and poured a fresh portion into her bowl.

"Come on. It’s time to eat."

Yaya immediately jumped down from his lap and hurried toward the bowl.

Nathaniel watched as she began eating, her little tail swaying with each bite. "You were so impatient a moment ago but now you can’t even hear me."

The cat continued eating without reacting to his words. It acted as though it couldn’t hear him.

"Very well. I’ll remember that the next time you ask for treats."

Yaya lifted her head.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you can hear me?"

She meowed. He laughed again and reached for a small towel to wipe a little food from the fur near her mouth.

It was a simple, ordinary moment. Before the apocalypse, he might have taken it for granted. Now, with the world outside growing increasingly dangerous, even a quiet afternoon with his beloved pet felt precious.

He had lost so many things over the years. His health had taken much of his freedom, and his friendship with Aymara had once seemed beyond repair. But Yaya had remained with him through his loneliest days.

She had no expectations of him. She didn’t care whether he was strong or weak, whether he could protect an entire ship or barely manage to walk across a room without becoming breathless. She only wanted him to feed her, play with her, and let her sleep somewhere warm.

Sometimes, Nathaniel thought that was the simplest kind of affection in the world and perhaps that was why he treasured it so much.

"I love you so much, Yaya," He expressed dearly. "Always stay safe."

---

Outside the bedroom, Aymara stood before the main control panel, examining the latest repair report.

The ship’s automated maintenance units had been working continuously since the metallic birds’ attack. Several sections of the outer hull had required extensive repairs, and the propulsion assemblies had sustained additional strain from the chains the pirates had wrapped around them.

Although the cutting drones had finally removed the worst of the obstruction, Aymara wasn’t satisfied with the current report.

"Show me the remaining damage," Her eyes became lazor focused as she examined the reports on the screen.

A holographic diagram appeared before her, highlighting the affected sections of the ship.

"Reinforce the damaged areas and run another integrity test. I don’t want any surprises the next time we encounter those creatures."

[Command acknowledged, host.]

[Better to be safe than sorry. I’ll make the arrangements.]

"And keep the electromagnetic disruption pulse ready. If another flock appears, I want the system to respond immediately."

[Command acknowledged.]

Aymara crossed her arms, studying the display. The ship was her fortress. She had worked too hard to build it into a safe place for Nathaniel to allow careless repairs or unnecessary risks.

More importantly, she wanted him to feel comfortable here and not merely alive.

She had promised herself that she would never again let him suffer because of her selfishness or negligence. If she could provide him with a warm bed, good food, proper medical care, and a peaceful life despite the apocalypse, then she would do everything in her power to make that happen.

A faint sound interrupted her thoughts.

Meow.

Aymara turned toward the corridor as another meow followed, accompanied by a quiet laugh that she recognized immediately, Nathaniel.

Her expression softened before she could stop it. She had been about to check on him anyway. The ship’s system had reported that his vital signs were stable, but that didn’t mean she could stop worrying about him.

However, when she reached his bedroom door and peered through the small opening, she stopped.

Nathaniel was sitting on his bed, holding a little white cat in his arms. Yaya had one paw resting against his chest while he rubbed her cheeks. Her eyes were half-closed, and her purring was loud enough for Aymara to hear from the doorway.

Nathaniel looked happier than he had been all day. He was smiling without restraint, his usual guarded expression softened by the simple pleasure of spending time with his cat.

Aymara stood motionless. She had accepted Yaya. Well, perhaps accepted was a generous word.

She had accepted that the cat was part of Nathaniel’s life, that he loved the little creature, wanted her nearby, and that he would probably worry about her if anything happened.

She had even allowed the system to provide Yaya with a comfortable sleeping basket, toys, and a steady supply of food but none of that meant she had suddenly become a cat person. Absolutely not!

She still remembered the first time Yaya had climbed onto her lap without permission. The little creature had stared at her with bright eyes, kneaded her clothes with her paws, and settled down as though Aymara had personally invited her to take ownership of her body.

Aymara had spent the next several minutes sitting stiffly, afraid that moving would provoke some mysterious feline retaliation.

Nathaniel had laughed at her. He had actually laughed and because she loved seeing him happy, she had endured the humiliation without complaint.

That did not mean she wanted to repeat the experience. Unfortunately, the little white menace was currently occupying Nathaniel’s attention. Hard.

Aymara narrowed her eyes slightly. ’How convenient!’