After school that day, Yukino and Utaha walked ahead side by side, the two beautiful girls deep in conversation about filming new videos of the orange cat.
Even though Utaha still had work to do as a director, she had temporarily shifted her focus to the comrcial for the cat. To her, that lazy yet obedient and intelligent orange feline had beco an indispensable part of her daily life.
She wanted this project to be perfect.
Yukino, of course, shared the sa sentint. So the mont Utaha brought it up, she imdiately got into a serious, planning mode.
anwhile, Haru and gumi followed behind at a leisurely pace, almost like outsiders to the mission.
"You're not going to join them?" Haru asked casually.
gumi replied calmly, "You already have the entire shooting plan worked out in your head, don't you? Yukinoshita and Senpai both have strong opinions too. With the three of you working together, I'd just be getting in the way."
Haru, who had known her long enough, imdiately caught on to her real aning. "So what you're saying is...?"
gumi, still wearing her usual calm expression, said softly, "I want to stop by the pet store. Would you co with ?"
"You're thinking of getting a cat?" Haru raised an eyebrow.
"Not for . It's for a classmate. She saw one of the videos I had saved on my phone. She's been wanting a cat for a while but hadn't decided on a breed," gumi explained.
"I see," Haru chuckled. "So she's officially joining the Orange Cat Army?"
"Even though that na sounds a little weird… yes, I guess she is," gumi agreed.
Haru's grin didn't fade. "But what if she chooses an orange cat, only to find it's not nearly as well-behaved as the one in your video?"
"That could definitely be a problem," gumi admitted, gently pressing a finger to her chin in thought.
After a mont, she looked up, eting his gaze. "If that happens… can I ask you for advice?"
"Advice on how to train a cat?" Haru considered. With his [Hypnosis] skill, it probably wouldn't be hard to teach.
gumi nodded slightly. "Yes."
Naturally, Haru wasn't going to refuse.
But given their past interactions, he couldn't help but wonder—was she really just helping a friend? Or was this simply an excuse?
He was all too familiar with this kind of subtle maneuver.
Still, since gumi wasn't saying anything outright, he had no proof.
"What are you two chatting about?" Utaha turned around and asked.
Before Haru could speak, gumi casually explained the situation.
"Oh, that's all?" Utaha didn't seem very interested. "I've shown the orange cat videos I took to so classmates too. They were really surprised—and totally smitten."
Yukino was the only one present who hadn't shared any of her videos.
It wasn't that she had no friends at school. Thanks to Haru's efforts last year, she had built a decent reputation.
But her excellence made her sowhat unapproachable. Every ti she talked to her classmates, the mood never felt like a conversation between equals—it was more like they were speaking with a celebrity.
Yukino understood that many girls admired her, but when they were too enthusiastic, she simply didn't know how to respond.
That's why she had never shared any of her orange cat footage with others—not even with Utaha.
"Yukinoshita, would you like to co with us?" gumi invited her.
Utaha's gaze flicked to Yukino curiously.
But to her surprise, Yukino declined. "I want to try filming sothing with Jelly when I get ho. You two go ahead."
gumi nodded, accepting her decision.
The four of them parted ways at a nearby intersection. Utaha looked back at Haru and gumi's retreating figures, falling silent for a mont. Then she finally asked, "So… you've stopped being cautious around her?"
Yukino, instantly catching her aning, replied in a flat tone, "Rather than being wary of Kato… I'm more on guard around you now."
Utaha blinked, confused. "? Why?"
Yukino stared straight ahead, voice calm but firm. "You really haven't noticed? You've beco more and more…"
She lowered her voice slightly."Bold. And reckless."
Utaha smiled with clear amusent. "Are you still mad about last night?"
"What do you think?" Yukino shot back.
Utaha tried to hide the grin tugging at her lips. "I figured we were close enough now that you wouldn't get upset over sothing like that."
That hit a nerve.
Yukino suddenly stopped in her tracks, her not-so-impressive chest rising and falling as she tried to calm herself. "Do you have any idea how sleepy I was at school today because of your little disruption?"
"I was a bit tired too… I'll make you so coffee when we get ho," Utaha replied, barely able to contain her laughter.
She loved seeing this flustered, annoyed side of Yukino—it was rare and adorable.
The kind of thrill you get from teasing a fierce cat and almost getting clawed. Utaha thought to herself, God, this is fun.
"I can make my own coffee," Yukino said coldly, and began walking again.
Utaha followed at her side, just about to make another teasing comnt when Yukino suddenly said, "So things… can't be stopped."
"…What do you an?"
Utaha was confused at first.
But when she noticed the complex emotion in Yukino's eyes, she quickly understood—she was talking about gumi.
Tentatively, Utaha asked, "Yukino… what do you really think of Kato?"
"I don't want to talk about that," Yukino cut her off decisively.
Utaha pursed her lips, then said lazily, "You really do live up to your 'Miss ow' nickna. Cats are impossible to reason with half the ti."
Yukino gave her a frosty glance, her emotions hard to describe.
Back when they both ca at Haru together, she had assud he wouldn't be able to handle it.
But in the end… she was the one left reeling.
The future? She didn't want to think about it.
Because the more she did, the more anxious and conflicted she felt.
There was also sothing she hadn't told Haru at lunch today.
When she was pretending to rest with her eyes closed, she had sensed his approach instantly—almost the mont he got close.
In the past, that would've been impossible.
Haru didn't wear cologne, just his usual lemon-scented shampoo.
And yet she had recognized him by scent and presence alone.
Can just training really make this sharp? Yukino thought.
She was no fool—her gut told her otherwise.
Even though Haru had tried to explain so things to her before, as ti passed, the doubts crept back in.
Just like last year… I can't help but feel that Haru's true physical abilities, or rather his limits, are sothing beyond my imagination.
If that's true… then he really might be a superhuman.
Yukino walked in silence, lost in thought.
_ _ _ _
Elsewhere…
Haru and gumi arrived at a nearby pet shop.
The place had both cats and dogs, with a decent variety of breeds. But to Haru, the breed hardly mattered. With his cheat skills, any pet could beco obedient and intelligent.
gumi, unaware of this, looked around seriously.
A young female shopkeeper spotted Haru's good looks and imdiately perked up. She looked eager to approach and strike up a conversation, but—
"We'll just take a look around first. Please don't trouble yourself," Haru said politely with a smile.
Disappointed but unable to argue, the owner nodded and backed off.
gumi's eyes soon landed on a tiny orange kitten. It looked no more than four months old—right at the peak of cuteness.
Haru admired the kitten for a bit, then felt his phone buzz.
It was a ssage from Haruno.
Haruno: Are you ho? I've got sothing for you.
Haru excused himself and stepped outside to reply:
Haru: What is it?
Haruno: So fancy snacks my mom bought for you. They're pretty expensive, so don't even think about turning them down. Otherwise, she'll nag forever.
Haru smirked, knowing that last part was probably a joke. He explained where he was.
Haruno: Pet shop? Perfect. I'll co by. Send the address.
Haru: Didn't know you were into pet shops.
Haruno: Shizuka told about the comrcial shoot. She couldn't stop gushing over it on the phone. Now I'm curious if that fat cat of yours is really all that amazing. I've petted him before, and aside from being lazy and a little chubby, he didn't seem all that special.
~~~~~~~~~~
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