Light Novel Chapter 73

吾輩はわんこである (Wagahai wa Wanko de Aru, lit: I Am a Puppy) is the seventy-third chapter of the light novel series of The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat.
==Plot==
The narrative begins from the perspective of a puppy who recalls being rescued by Yokodera Youto, a kind and sincere human who takes the puppy to his home. The puppy is bathed and cared for by Youto. However, as the puppy gains clarity, it is revealed that the puppy is actually Azuki Azusa, somehow transformed into a dog.
Embarrassed and overwhelmed by the realization, Azusa flees Youto's house, wandering the residential district in her puppy form. Observing her appearance in a car mirror, she sees a small, apricot-colored toy poodle. Azusa makes her way home via public transit, but attempts to reconnect with her parents are unsuccessful. Though gentle as always, her parents fail to recognize her as their daughter and enforce their no-pet rule, leaving her dejected.
Wandering aimlessly, Azusa finds herself in a deep forest. Believing this to be a typical body swap, she is almost ready to face a tragic end where she never sees the light of day, as another Azusa must have taken her place. Suddenly hearing a voice from above, she spots Emanuela Pollarola on top of a tree, a girl she met a year ago back when her club lost a rabbit.
Emi, possessed by a self-proclaimed god, engages in cryptic dialogue with Azusa, but loses her footing on the and slams her crotch against the tree branch she stood on. God Emi leads Azusa to a shrine and offers insight into Azusa's condition, asserting that her transformation is not a body swap but an actual metamorphosis through methods unbeknownst to her, admitting that she is powerless to reverse the change.
Azusa impulsively licks on God Emi's lips. Finding that it tastes like lemon, she continues to lick her instinctively, unable to stoo. This perceived "assault" triggers the Cat God's unpleasant memories of his interactions with Yokodera Youto. Based on this behavior, God Emi theorizes that Azusa's transformation is tied to her subconscious desires to be loved and cared for, and to kiss others easily, manifesting physically through a supernatural phenomenon. She points out Azusa's collar, which indicates her desire to belong to someone. However, she also adds that the collar is an object that does not belong in this world, and apparently something Yokodera Youto worked hard to erase.
The Cat God plays with and takes care of Azusa, showing genuine kindness and concern. Azusa feels grateful and lets out a howl of appreciation, which flusters her. She downplays her own goodness, claiming she simply possessed a nearby girl out of boredom. While she simply said this to hide her embarrassment, there is a certain level of truth — the Cat God's duty was originally to protect the Tsutsukakushi family, but with peace restored, her role has become obsolete.
Azusa finds a warm and sheltered spot beneath the shrine's floorboards, choosing it as her resting place for the night. She watches as the Cat God leaves, and begins reflecting on her transformation. Azusa questions whether her change into a dog was driven by subconscious desires to be loved and spoiled, as God Emi suggested, or if it was a supernatural accident akin to the transformation in Kafka's The Metamorphosis. She is frustrated with her own contradictory feelings — wanting to live honestly while struggling with her inner desires.
Azusa reflects on her relationship with Yokodera Youto, recalling his ability to help and change people. She acknowledges that many of her friends, including Mai and Tsukiko, admire Youto in different ways. She admits her own admiration for him as a kind and considerate friend, though she finds the memory of being washed by him deeply embarrassing.
Azusa wakes up the next morning, still in her dog form. After rolling around to shake off her sleepiness, she hears a chant and discovers Emi performing a ritual dance in shrine maiden attire, joyfully trying to appease the gods. Unlike the arrogant demeanor Emi displayed the day before, her current expression is pure and filled with genuine happiness. Emi recognizes Azusa as the "puppy from yesterday" and offers her food, which Azusa eagerly devours.
Emi complains that a piece of meat has stained her shrine maiden outfit, but then defensively explains that her father forced her to wear it, denying any interest in cosplay and claiming that it is to better honor the gods. Remembering Emi's possession by the god, Azusa becomes worried that the ritual could allow the god to exploit her further. She circles Emi, barking and tugging at her clothes to pull her away from the shrine, trying to prevent the ritual from continuing. Emi quickly grasps Azusa's concern, but she reassures her, revealing that she willingly serves as a vessel for the god because she feels they are lonely without attention.
As the ritual resumes, the Cat God once again enters Emi's body. The god addresses Azusa with sharp comments, questioning her adjustment to her new form and attempting to probe her conversation with Emi. Despite her dismissive tone, the god's eyes betray subtle anxiety, making it clear that she is not omniscient. Azusa stays silent, which unsettles the god further, leading her to wave her arms defensively and offer clumsy justifications for her actions.
The Cat God claims her purpose for descending is not boredom but a desire to support Emi. She explains that Emi doesn't remember a supposed alternate world, and that she feels compelled to be there for her at the minimum, her statement mirroring Emi's. Azusa likens their mutual willingness to O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, where selflessness defines their actions. At this point, Azusa begins to understand why she ended up in her current situation.
When Azusa asks if the god is happy, the god responds evasively, admitting she is bored because she is no longer needed or prayed to, though insisting that if others are happy, she is too. However, their conversation is interrupted — A gleeful Yokodera Youto appears behind Emi. Youto, displaying his characteristic perversion, comments on Emi's shrine maiden outfit and advances toward her, causing the god to panic. Powerless to intervene as chaos unfolds, Azusa can only wish for the best.
The second night falls at Kitaden Shrine. While walking, Azusa spots her childhood friend, Maimaki Mai, illuminated by the moonlight. Overcome with joy, Azusa instinctively jumps from the shadows but stops herself, realizing she cannot approach Mai in her current form. Mai does not walk away and instead seems rooted in place, confused but intrigued. To Azusa's surprise, Mai recognizes her voice and asks if she is Azusa, her trusted childhood friend. Azusa howls in response, confirming her identity and explaining her hesitation due to her current form.
Mai leans against a streetlight while Azusa sits in its shadow, and they talk casually about mundane topics. After a brief pause, Mai asks how Azusa ended up in her current form. Azusa initially claims she doesn’t know, but internally admits she has figured out the cause.
She reflects on the second summer of high school, when she noticed an unspoken connection between Yokodera Youto, Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko, and Maimaki Mai. Azusa admired this invisible bond, even though it was out of her reach. She recognizes that the collar around her neck as containing facades and emotions, represents an entire world of feelings she never fully accessed, a world where she was saved by Yokodera Youto's hands. She finds herself longing to understand and accompany the Youto of that world, just like a swallow flying next to a prince. Though this feeling is akin to love, she finds herself unable to accept it as such due to her lack of self-confidence. She describes herself as a "monster" shaped by her cowardly desires and internal contradictions, torn between self-doubt and her longing for emotional connection.
Azusa bids farewell to Mai, asking her not to tell anyone about what happened, especially Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko or Yokodera Youto. As she's ready to give in to the darkness, she finds herself unable to leave, her legs grabbed by Mai. Calling Azusa an idiot and throwing insults at Youto, she insists they face her problems together, stating that she wants to take responsibility as her friend and be there to take care of her even if Azusa remains a puppy. Azusa hesitates, worried about the inconveniences that her life as a dog may create. Mai however dismisses these concerns, offering to clean up after her.
Mai offers hope, suggesting Azusa’s transformation could be reversed if her mood improves, and even if it doesn't, they can just live together forever. Relieved, Azusa feels her body relax and lies down. Together, they look ahead on the street, reflecting on the importance of focusing on the path ahead rather than clinging to completed stories.
Mai invites Azusa to return home with her, and Azusa joyfully agrees. Encouraged by their bond, Azusa resolves to try her best and find her place in this world.
===Epilogue===
Cozy-sama questions the plausibility of a classmate becoming a dog but acknowledges Mai wouldn't invent such an elaborate story.
Mai recounts that Azusa stayed at her house for a week, causing some trouble as her parents became worried. Thankfully, she soon turned back to normal, after which she told Youto about what happened, but Mai brushes off the details as unimportant.
However, Mai's face betrays something on her mind. Cozy-sama begins her characteristics teasing by tickling Mai under the table and stealing her bra, leading to humorous and exasperated exchanges.
Mai reflects on how their friendship, though recently deepened, feels like a bond that has existed forever. She acknowledges that everyone carries personal baggage and unresolved issues, including her and Cozy-sama, who subconsciously try to recreate a bond from another world. For now, she resolves to focus on enjoying the final days of her high school career.
==Characters==
==Navigation==