Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 189 189: Yumetsuki Catfriend (Part 5)

Pulling Kurokichi off her face, Yutsuki hurried to chase after the fleeing Shido. With her superhuman physical abilities as a Spirit, it would normally be a breeze for Yutsuki to catch up to him.

Unfortunately, after Shido ran through an intersection, the traffic light suddenly turned red. It also happened to be the evening rush hour. Blocked by a crowded wall of cars, Yutsuki lost track of Shido.

In the end, Yutsuki could only wander around like a headless fly, searching everywhere.

The sun also began to sink towards the horizon. The evening light scattered across the city, painting Tengu City in shades of madder red.

As ti wore on, Yutsuki's initially frantic anxiety gradually cald down. Replacing it was a feeling of self-loathing—"What the hell am I doing"—that began to spread in her heart.

Unknowingly, Yutsuki arrived at a nearby children's park.

"I feel so tired..."

Sitting lazily on a swing in the park, Yutsuki radiated a tired, dark aura. The evening light shining on her back made one think of a boxer who had just been defeated in a match.

Why did it turn out like this? Yutsuki couldn't help but think. Right now, she should be sitting on the sofa at ho, leisurely watching TV while enjoying the delicacies of the Japanese autumn. However, the events along the way didn't unfold beautifully as Yutsuki had hoped at all.

First, she stumbled upon the cri scene (?) of Kurumi teasing cats;

Was threatened and forced by Kurumi into becoming a cat lover;

Was rejected and despised by various cats along the way;

Was caught red-handed by Shido while wearing a cat ear outfit in a mont of heat-addled weakness;

And finally, while trying to explain herself, she unconsciously let slip an incredibly shaful verbal tic.

Maybe my holograph is just bad today. Yutsuki couldn't help but think. She usually didn't pay much attention to the fortune-telling programs Kotori liked, but after going back this ti, Yutsuki felt she should seriously start paying attention to them.

"ow~"

At so point, the black cat had co to Yutsuki's feet. It rubbed against Yutsuki's calf and let out a coquettish ow.

"Sorry. Shido already took the Pacific saury back. I don't have any food on to feed you."

"ow-woo..."

Seeing Kurokichi's ears droop in disappointnt, Yutsuki apologetically patted its head. Seeing that Kurokichi didn't lose interest and leave just because there was no bait, Yutsuki's battered heart found a little bit of comfort.

"So, why did Shido show up? Shouldn't you co out and give an explanation? Kurumi?"

She spoke into the empty space around her. Soon, Kurumi poked her head out from the shadows.

"I'm truly sorry~ Because the '' on lookout was too absorbed in watching Yutsuki-san tease the cat, I forgot to warn you for a mont?"

Yutsuki felt her mouth twitching slightly. If she didn't consider the fact that Kurumi's dark history was even more abundant than her own, perhaps instead of Shido, Yutsuki should first figure out how to silence Kurumi.

"Really? It wasn't because you deliberately wanted to embarrass , so you hid in the shadows and kept quiet on purpose?"

Yutsuki's eyes were full of suspicion. You have to know, Kurumi herself, counting her clones, let alone keeping watch at an alley entrance, could guard an entire building flawlessly.

"Ara ara~ Thinking that it would be very interesting if Shido-san saw Yutsuki-san's unknown side—I never thought such a thing~"

"One day, I will repay today's humiliation twofold..."

Seeing Kurumi turn her head away and read her lines so stiffly, Yutsuki slightly clenched her fists.

"But speaking of which,Yutsuki-san, why didn't you tell Shido-san and the others about ?"

With a look of confusion and curiosity, Kurumi asked.

"Tell them what? That I t Kurumi teasing cats in an alley, got kidnapped and threatened, and ended up playing weird gas?"

Kurumi's eyebrow twitched, and the smile on her face suddenly beca a bit stiff.

Yutsuki looked at Kurumi speechlessly, then sighed. "Relax. I won't tell Kotori and the others that I saw you."

After all, during the Tengu Festival, whether it was helping Shido escape from Miku and Ellen, or sealing Tohka after she inverted, Kurumi helped out a lot.

Moreover, Yutsuki also knew that the reason Kurumi threatened and kidnapped her, making such demands, was just the ddleso feelings of a cat-loving girl towards soone naturally hated by cats. That's why she didn't resist much.

Kurumi is a murderer, but definitely not a homicidal maniac.

"Today, I rely t a woman who secretly loves cats. I didn't see the most evil Spirit at all."

"Honestly,Yutsuki-san, sotis you're even weirder than Shido-san."

Kurumi remarked with a sowhat helpless yet relaxed tone.

"Well then, since you plan to reveal the cat thing. Then I can't let Yutsuki-san see tomorrow's sun."

"I said I won't tell either of them! Put that dangerous thing in your hand down!!"

"Just joking~"

Laughing and chatting, Kurumi nimbly placed the flintlock pistol back into her shadow.

Suddenly, a Kurumi clone erged from the shadows and whispered softly in Kurumi's ear. Kurumi seed sowhat surprised, her pupils widening slightly.

"Oho~ Is that so."

"What happened?"

Under Yutsuki's curious gaze, Kurumi showed a aningful smile.

"I found Shido-san's location. Shido-san seems to be doing sothing very interesting."

_______________________

After escaping from the rampaging, out-of-control Yutsuki, Shido actually hadn't run very far. Although he ran away in fear at the ti, leaving Yutsuki alone in that ntal state made Shido unable to feel at ease.

"I should go back, apologize properly to Yutsuki, and we'll go ho together."

Thinking that Yutsuki's emotions should have cald down a bit by now, Shido turned around and planned to head back the way he ca.

Halfway there, Shido suddenly saw a little girl crying loudly under a large tree in a greenbelt.

"What's wrong, little girl? Did you get separated from your family?"

The little girl shook her head, pointed upwards, and said softly.

"...Mary."

Following the direction the little girl pointed, Shido saw a small calico cat with a red collar, clinging fearfully to a branch of the large tree, unable to move. It seed Mary was the cat's na.

"Are you upset because your kitty ran up the tree and can't get down?"

The little girl nodded tearfully at Shido.

The cat was only stuck on a branch about three ters high, but for an elentary school child, it was indeed too dangerous to climb.

Shido took a quick look at the tree's branches, thought about it for a mont, and figured he should be able to climb up.

"Don't cry. Big brother will help you get your kitty down right now."

Shido patted the little girl's head to comfort her. After setting down the bag of Pacific saury, he rolled up his sleeves and started climbing the tree.

Reaching the height where Mary was, Shido stood with both feet on a sturdy branch, swayed slightly to stabilize his body, and nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead.

After taking a few slow steps forward, the branch seed to let out a dangerous creak under the added burden of an adult's weight, preventing Shido from advancing further. He tried to lure the cat over.

"Mary, it's okay now. Co here, ow."

"ow~"

Because she was a dostic cat, Mary was much closer to humans than stray cats. At Shido's call, she hurriedly ran to Shido's side. After being picked up by Shido, she rubbed against him and let out a coquettish sound.

"Big brother, are you okay?"

The little girl's worried voice ca from under the tree.

"Ah, don't worry, I'm fine. I'll bring Mary down right now."

After comforting her a bit, Shido carefully turned his body around, preparing to climb down from the tree.

Crack—!

An ominous sound rang in his ears. The next mont, Shido felt his body enter free fall.

The little girl scread from below. However, Shido wasn't too panicked. He had already told the little girl to stand back beforehand, so he didn't have to worry about the branch hitting anyone. A cat itself wouldn't get hurt even falling from the second floor, and Shido possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities, so his life wouldn't be in danger either.

Even though it would hurt a lot.

Hugging the small cat to his chest, he slightly rotated his body in mid-air to have his back facing the ground. Shido closed his eyes with a bitter smile.

However, the expected pain of impact never ca.

"Honestly, what exactly are you doing?"

A familiar voice filled with helplessness sounded. Shido opened his eyes and saw Yutsuki's exasperated expression.

"Thanks a lot, Yutsuki."

Shido couldn't help but laugh.

"A princess carry, so romantic~"

The little girl looked at Yutsuki and Shido with admiration and said. Hearing this, Shido suddenly realized that he had been caught in a princess carry while falling.

"Yutsuki, um... could you put down first."

Shido felt his cheeks flush and said awkwardly. After all, as a guy, being princess-carried felt a bit shaful.

Hearing this, Yutsuki raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.

"Eh? I kind of want to just carry you all the way ho like this. I'm sure sothing very interesting would happen."

"Absolutely not!"

It would cause an uproar in so many ways.

Fortunately, Yutsuki was just joking with Shido. She obediently put Shido down.

The feeling of his feet touching the ground made Shido sigh in relief. He handed the cat in his arms to the little girl.

"Be more careful next ti. Don't let your kitty run up the tree by itself."

The little girl nodded obediently.

"Mhm, I know. Thank you, handso big sister and playboy big brother!"

"...Eh?"

"Pfft—!?"

Under Shido's dumbfounded look and Yutsuki's burst of laughter. The little girl grabbed Mary's paw, waved goodbye to Yutsuki and Shido, and skipped away.

"I didn't expect Shido's romantic legends to have reached the point where even elentary school lolis have heard of them."

Yutsuki turned her head away and snickered.

"No way!"

Shido couldn't help but hold his head and wail. Unlike Yutsuki, he couldn't laugh. If the rumors and gossip about him had expanded from the school to the entire city, Shido wouldn't have the courage to step out of his house anymore.

"Well, I don't think that child would say sothing like that to an older person she's eting for the first ti. Have you t that child before, Shido?"

"Now that you ntion it..."

Shido rembered the little girl.

"Co to think of it, I think I saw that child during the sumr vacation."

"Saw her?"

Shido nodded.

"Back then, Tohka and I went out together. Kurumi suddenly appeared and inexplicably snatched the calico cat Tohka found. On our way ho, we ran into the little girl holding that cat. (For details, please refer to the original short story Kurumi Cat.)"

For so reason, Yutsuki cast a subtle glance towards the empty shade of the trees.

"I see... So after seeing . That little girl mistakenly thought you were two timing and Tohka. (Author: "Actually, it's way more than just two.")"

Yutsuki nodded, indicating she understood.

"But knowing the word 'playboy' at this age, kids nowadays are truly terrifying..."

"Haha..."

Shido gave an awkward laugh. Rembering the catgirl and the "ow" verbal tic that happened in the alley earlier, he didn't know what to say for a mont, and silence fell between them.

"Shido, do you like cats?"

Yutsuki suddenly asked.

Although he was a bit baffled by Yutsuki's question, Shido answered honestly.

"Well... they're okay. If I had to choose between hating or liking them, it would probably be on the liking side."

"Is that so... I guess I like them too."

After a mont of silence, Yutsuki slowly let out a sigh.

"Then, as a fellow cat lover, you have to promise , you are not allowed to tell anyone else about what happened today."

What does being a fellow cat lover have to do with this? Shido couldn't help but retort internally, feeling speechless.

"Of course, I understand."

"If you break this promise. A video of you in middle school practicing your secret technique—Roaring Flash Blast Wave—in your room will mysteriously appear online."

"That's not a promise, that's a threat!"

"Well... Only when both sides hold onto each other's shaful mories can they truly keep a promise, right?"

Flashing a mischievous smile at Shido, Yutsuki picked up the bag of Pacific saury from the ground, humd a light tune, and headed ho.

_____________________

Night fell, and a faint stream of smoke constantly rose from the courtyard of the Itsuka house. The aroma representing autumn perated the entire courtyard.

"Umu! Pacific saury after eating kinako bread is truly delicious! Paired with white rice and side dishes, it's an absolute masterpiece!"

Sweeping the food off the table with admirable speed, Tohka's bulging cheeks made anyone watching couldn't help but smile.

"In the silent dark night, elegantly enjoying this unfathomable delicacy from the deep sea. Kuku—As the Demon King of the Dark Night, I am quite satisfied."

"Retort. Kaguya said the exact sa thing last ti she ate freshwater fish."

"S-Shut up! I wasn't wrong this ti!"

Being called out by Yuzuru for her past foolishness, Kaguya retorted, embarrassed and angry. Seeing this, a flush appeared on Yuzuru's face, and a joyful smile curled her lips.

"Shido-kun, Shido-kun. Yoshino says she wants so lemon juice. Don't forget."

"P-Please."

"Got it."

Shido put so sauce on the smoked and grilled Pacific saury, placed it on a tray, and handed it to Yoshino.

"Fuu, fuu—!"

Gently blowing on the hot Pacific saury to cool it down, Yoshino used her chopsticks to put small pieces of the fish into her mouth. Then, her eyes widened, her shoulders trembled slightly in excitent, and she gave Shido a thumbs up.

"I'm... really sorry... the Pacific saury on this side seems a bit bland... Could you pass that syrup over there?"

"Reine-san, I've never heard of putting syrup on Pacific saury. Kotori! No eating lollipops during als!"

"Eh~ What does it matter, Onii-chan. You know, beer-flavored Chupa Chups paired with Pacific saury is an absolute masterpiece."

"What kind of weird taste is that? What kind of middle-aged man are you?"

Under Kotori's dissatisfied and Reine's confused gazes, Shido confiscated the Chupa Chups, then spread a layer of sauce on Reine's Pacific saury.

By the way, Shido had also invited Miku and Origami today. But Miku was shooting a comrcial for an important sponsor's company at the ti. When she tried to sneak out, she was forcefully stopped by her manager,Kurebayashi Subaru. Origami also declined with deep regret, as she was currently being disciplined by the AST for her unauthorized actions during the Tengu Festival.

Then, Shido suddenly saw Yutsuki crouching alone at the front gate of the house.

"Yutsuki, co join everyone for dinner?"

"I know, I'll be right there."

"What are you doing?"

Shido walked over curiously and found a large plate holding several grilled Pacific saury placed at the doorway.

"Nothing." Yutsuki shrugged and said with a smile, "Just a little gift for two stray cats."

Then, Yutsuki stretched her arms wide and said, looking refreshed.

"Alright! Then next, I'm going to enjoy myself! White rice with Pacific saury and pickles—the long-awaited Autumn of Appetite!"

Shido looked sowhat confusedly at Yutsuki, who enthusiastically joined the dinner party. He turned back to look at the gate, then was surprised to find that the Pacific saury, along with the plate, had disappeared.

"Are there any stray cats around here big enough to carry away the whole plate?"

"Shido, the Pacific saury is all gone!"

Before Shido could figure out the answer to this question, urged by everyone's shouts, he continued to the next round of smoking and grilling Pacific saury.

"Two stray cats... I feel like I've been lumped into a weird image."

Sitting on the roof of the Spirit apartnt complex, looking down at the noisy group below. Kurumi swung her slender legs, a hint of helplessness on her face.

"ow~"

"Yes, yes, I know."

After putting the plate in her hands on the ground, Kurokichi cheered and imdiately hugged a Pacific saury, starting to wolf it down.

Taking advantage of this, Kurumi reached out a finger and gently tickled Kurokichi's chin. Watching Kurokichi wagging her tail in complete satisfaction. A gentle smile flowed across Kurumi's normally alluring and dangerous face.

"A fellow cat lover... huh? This is quite nice too."

Taking a bowl and chopsticks from the shadows, Kurumi picked up a Pacific saury, blew on it gently a few tis, and brought it to her lips. Then, Kurumi couldn't help but hold her dimple with one hand, closing her eyes in intoxication.

"It's already autumn, ow~"