"Whatever... soone like ... is naturally hated by cats anyway..."
Unlike her usual confident and casual self, Yutsuki was currently crouching in a corner of the alley, hugging her knees, her eyes completely devoid of light.
Looking at Yutsuki radiating a negative aura, Kurumi broke into a sweat.
Along the way, Kurumi had led Yutsuki to interact with nearly twenty cats. Basically, the mont they saw Yutsuki, they fled as if they saw a terrifying monster. The worst one actually lost control of its bladder out of fear. Even though Yutsuki wasn't a cat maniac to begin with, she still suffered imnse ntal trauma.
Like this, let alone making Yutsuki like cats, it had given her a psychological shadow instead.
Kurumi couldn't help but imagine: if she were rejected by cats like Yutsuki was, her condition would probably be even worse than hers.
"...ow~"
Just then, Kurokichi, having finished her Pacific saury, ca to Yutsuki's side.
"Kurokichi?"
"ow~"
As if to comfort the heartbroken Yutsuki, Kurokichi jumped onto Yutsuki's lap and gently rubbed against her cheek.
Tears welled up in Yutsuki's eyes, and crystal-clear droplets rolled down her cheeks.
"Kurokichi—you're the only truly good cat!"
"ow~"
"As long as I have Kurokichi, it's enough. I just want Kurokichi. Even though I'm just a normal person who wants to live a peaceful life, all those cats treated like a terrifying monster. That's so an... Ah, right~"
Hugging the black cat, the girl muttered complaints dissatisfiedly. Finally, as if she thought of an idea, she looked at Kurumi with a radiant smile on her face.
However, this smile looked sowhat chilling to Kurumi.
"Say~ Kurumi, I suddenly thought of a great idea to make cats like ~"
"Wh-What is it?Yutsuki-san."
Kurumi asked nervously.
"Since Kurokichi is the only cat in the world who can get close to , if I kill every single cat in the world except Kurokichi, won't I be loved by all the cats in the world~"
In that instant, both Kurumi herself and the clones hiding in the shadows felt a chill run down their spines.
"Ara ara, Yutsuki-san sure knows how to make scary jokes."
"Do you think I'm joking~"
"Hahaha..."
Because Yutsuki's eyes were so serious it was terrifying, Kurumi could only wipe the sweat from her forehead and laugh dryly.
"This is bad. If this continues, Yutsuki might really start a plan to eradicate all cats in the world. And if that happens, I'll beco the mastermind behind the extinction of the feline species (leaving only one female). Just imagining that future fills with despair."
I have to think of a way to salvage this...
Kurumi racked her brains, trying to think of a viable thod.
"You can't give up yet~ Yutsuki-san."
Under the gazes of the other Kurumis, who looked at her as if she were a hero, a Kurumi holding an exquisite parasol and wearing a sweet Lolita dress peeked out from the shadows.
Myself from seven years ago? Kurumi's eyes widened in surprise.
Actually, whether it was the eyepatch Kurumi or bandage Kurumi from before, or this sweet Lolita Kurumi now, they were all versions of herself from an era Kurumi couldn't bear to look back on. Kurumi genuinely didn't want Yutsuki to see them.
[Well, Kurumi used to have quite innocent and romantic maiden hobbies too (laughs)]
If Yutsuki said sothing like that, Kurumi would have to seriously consider silencing her.
Although she really wanted to shove this clone back into the shadows imdiately, seeing that the sweet Lolita Kurumi seed to have a good idea, Kurumi decided to observe for now.
"How is that possible." Yutsuki smiled bitterly and said, "You saw it just now too, those cats and I are naturally incompatible. The only one in this world who can accept is Kurokichi."
"Ehehehehe... That might not be the case."
The sweet Lolita Kurumi's lips curled up, and she raised a hand.
"This is..."
Everyone's eyes widened.
That's right. What the sweet Lolita Kurumi took out was a set of fluffy paw pad gloves, a brown cat ear headband, and a cat tail.
"Um... Kurumi... are you sure you're not ssing with ?"
Yutsuki looked at the sweet Lolita Kurumi, her eye twitching.
"How could I be.Yutsuki-san, I'm completely serious." The sweet Lolita Kurumi said with a serious face. "The reason Yutsuki-san is hated by cats is definitely because you lack elents that resonate with them. As long as you wear this cute kitty set,Yutsuki-san's cat power will definitely skyrocket."
What kind of energy stat is 'cat power'... Kurumi herself was completely dumbfounded.
Being forcefully handed the cute kitty set by the sweet Lolita, Yutsuki's face was full of suspicion.
"Will this thing really work?"
The sweet Lolita Kurumi nodded affirmatively.
"I rember when the old '' put it on, I also instantly beca cute..."
Kurumi imdiately shoved this clone back into the shadows.
"ow~"
Kurokichi seed very curious about the cat paw pad gloves. In Yutsuki's arms, she kept reaching out her paws to touch the gloves. Looking at the cute kitty set forcefully given to her by the sweet Lolita Kurumi, Yutsuki's expression constantly shifted between doubt and hope.
Slowly exhaling, strong resolve appeared in Yutsuki's eyes.
"Yutsuki-san..."
Kurumi looked at Yutsuki in surprise.
"Phew... If I just give up like this, won't it look like I lost? As long as there's even a sliver of possibility, I have to try."
Normally, Yutsuki would absolutely refuse to wear clothes like this. But when she gets stubborn about sothing, the girl's actions beco a completely different story.
_____________________________________
"Seriously, where did Yutsuki go?"
Shido walked through the shopping district, constantly looking left and right, trying to find a certain girl in the crowd.
It had been nearly an hour since he talked to Yutsuki on the phone. Normally, she should have been ho long ago. However, Yutsuki still hadn't returned, and she wasn't answering her phone, which made Shido feel uneasy.
Worried, he handed the kinako bread he usually bought for ergencies to Tohka, who had already started complaining she was hungry. After briefly explaining the situation, Shido ca to the shopping district to look for Yutsuki.
"Oh, Yutsuki-chan? After buying a lot of Pacific saury from , she walked towards the supermarket."
The uncle selling Pacific saury said.
"Ah, that little girl? After buying her things, she humd a tune and walked that way."
The supermarket clerk pointed in the direction of Shido's house after looking at the photo Shido provided.
Shido was confused. Up to this point, everything matched what Shido had told her to do. Yutsuki had indeed bought the Pacific saury and seasonings and prepared to go ho. So why did she suddenly disappear?
"Ara, isn't this the Itsuka boy?"
Suddenly, an old woman wearing neat loungewear called out to Shido.
"Ah... Hello, Granny Tamako."
Shido hurriedly bowed and greeted her.
Granny Tamako was the miko living at the shrine, and a senior figure in Tengu City. It's said she was an incredibly outstanding woman in her youth, with a spirit not inferior to any man. Even now, both the light and dark sides of Tengu City give this granny face.
Being suddenly called out by such a person made Shido feel a bit uneasy.
"No need to be nervous, I didn't call you for anything major." Granny Tamako chuckled and asked, "Um, that brown haired little girl who often cos shopping with you recently. Her na is Yutsuki, right?"
"Yes, that's correct... Do you need sothing with Yutsuki?"
Shido asked with a confused face.
"It's nothing major. I was just taking a rest, and I happened to see that child in the courtyard, using the dried fish from my fridge to tease the cat that often hangs around my house."
Isn't that trespassing?!
"I am truly very sorry!"
Shido hurriedly bowed and apologized.
"It's fine, it's fine~ Having soone visit my quiet old house is good news too."
Granny Tamako waved her hand, showing she didn't mind.
"Please tell her for : that child Niboshi acts like that towards all strangers he ets for the first ti. Tell her not to be discouraged. If she interacts with him a few more tis, he'll warm up to her."
"Hah... I'll rember that."
Although he didn't quite understand what Granny Tamako ant, Shido nodded to show he understood.
"Well then, that's all. If they want to, Granny here welcos those two children to co play often."
Granny Tamako showed a kind smile, gave Shido so small dried fish, and left.
Eh? Two? Hearing Granny Tamako's words, Shido felt a wave of confusion.
Could it be that Yutsuki ran into a classmate or sothing on the way, and they went to tease cats together? Thinking this, Shido walked towards a place he knew cats often wandered around.
Then, as he approached the corner of the alley, Shido suddenly saw two plastic bags placed on the ground, filled to the brim with Pacific saury and seasonings.
"Those are bags from the fish market and the supermarket. These must be Yutsuki's."
Since her things were here, the person herself should be nearby. Making this deduction, Shido picked up the bags and walked into the alley.
"ow~ ow~"
"ow—ow!"
There seed to be quite a few cats gathered in the alley. Before Shido even got close, he could hear ows of different pitches coming from inside.
And then, Shido saw a shocking scene.
"You really ca close, ow~ Hmph~ I knew the heavens wouldn't abandon soone who perseveres, ow~ Enjoying this soft sensation is truly fulfilling, ow~"
In front of Shido was a girl sitting on the ground in a "w-sit" position. She wore cat ears on her head, a long cat tail tied around her waist, and fluffy paw pad gloves. She was holding a small white cat, constantly rubbing her cheek against it while making cute owing sounds, her face overflowing with a blissful smile—Ryougi Yutsuki.
"Ara... this is quite..."
Because of the overly surreal scene before him, Shido's mind went blank for a mont, and he didn't notice the quiet remark coming from the shadows.
"Um... Yutsuki..."
"—Unya!?"
The girl sitting on the ground violently flinched, and the cat ears on her head pricked up. Because they were the exact sa color as her hair, Shido almost had the illusion that they were real.
"Shi... Shido..."
Like a rusty machine, Yutsuki stiffly turned her head.
"Um... I was worried because you hadn't co back for a while, so I ca out to look for you. Then I heard soone say you were looking for cats, so I thought you might be here..."
Shido's face flushed slightly, and he scratched his cheek, giving a dry laugh.
An awkward atmosphere spread through the scene, making Shido feel like he should say sothing.
"Um... the catgirl look—it really suits you."
Crack—!
And then, Yutsuki completely turned to stone and shattered.
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