Tokyo Mew Mew AU where instead of looking like a generic black cat in her cat form, Ichigo actually looks like a real iriomote wildcat.
Masaya, upon encountering her in her cat form for the first time, gets SUPER concerned that this incredibly endangered cat is just. wandering the busy, high-traffic suburban area and might get hurt or worse, and resolves to take it to the proper experts instead of home. Cue Ichigo having to frantically escape a LOT faster than she did in the series.
After they start dating and he Knows she's a mew mew it's a funny story looking back, and going forward he tries to help her keep her secret!
...But Ichigo's school friends catch him carrying her in her cat form around school (trying to find a more private place to help her get back to human form) and they tearfully approach her like, hey, Ichigo, we don't know how to break it to you, but...we think the reason your boyfriend is so knowledgeable about the environment? He's smuggling animals or something. he was sneaking around with one and acting really sketchy. Your boyfriend is an endangered animal smuggler 😔
And they take her being really defensive of him as Denial. Masaya thinks this is HILARIOUS and assures her that its fine with him if they think that about him so long as her secret stays safe. Ichigo def ends up telling Moe and Miwa that she's a mew mew in this AU to clear Masaya's name in the end, though. They're mortified they accused him of that, but he assures them he appreciates their efforts to make sure Ichigo is dating a decent person and not like. An Animal Smuggler.
like even just beyond a "it's fun to draw" point of view, the whole thing with Beastlings not being susceptible to Vide or the Shadow while Hikari is literally fighting his own Shadow through his story means being a catboy might be beneficial for his mental health. fight your demons as a catboy. The "Hunter's Curse" eventually becomes the "Hunter's Blessing" but it's still not fun to have ears pop out when emotions run high (or just when fighting in general)
also Ochette-Hikari siblings agenda!! warrior Ochette and hunter Hikari are both fun and Ochette's warrior outfit is the closest to Hikari's already. Hikari is her younger brother and Ochette is his little sister. these are simultaneous. I can and will elaborate on the traveler family dynamics because it varies from person to person.
i drew lettuce already so of course i had to do the rest of the mew mews!! Tokyo Mew Mew meant a lot to me as a kid so I’m so excited that the reboot is out TwT
you can get this as a sticker sheet on my etsy here!