The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, Today Volume 3

The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, Today volume 3 expands on the series premise by showing us what happens when Saku has to spend time away from home.

But first, the opening chapter sums up why Saku is so happy with her giant cat — she comes home from a work drinking party, and Yukichi feeds her a meal to help her feel better. He takes off her makeup and gets her clean and dry before putting her into bed with a massage and cleaning up her clothes and possessions. Everyone at work the next day is amazed at how put together she is, but she can’t tell them her pet takes care of her so wonderfully and thoroughly.

There’s an adorable short piece where the cat helps the neighborhood association clean up the local park so they can play croquet. The older people — they’re the ones willing to pitch in and help out — find Yukichi odd, but they appreciate his hard work. It’s a lovely little metaphor about getting past misconceptions caused by appearance and the friendship formed through working on a project together.

The high point for cuteness, though, is when Yukichi interacts with a neighborhood kitten who idolizes him. The little cat chases the bigger cat’s tail and tries to walk on hind feet the way he does, before they curl up together.

We get to see how Saku has changed through Yukichi’s positive (if sometimes brusque) influence. But it’s the company retreat, where Saku drinks without Yukichi’s steadying presence, that has her realizing how much she likes coming home to him. He misses her too, in his own odd way. I could really identify with the idea of enjoying travel but also enjoying the regular habits of home.

The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, Today remains a comfortable, enjoyable comedy of everyday life.