Just thinking about Miss Yukinoshita, Nozomi heard a voice from behind.
"Matte, Nozomi."
Turning back, he saw Yukinoshita Yukino standing there in her Sobu High School uniform. Her cool demeanor remained unchanged, but her expression was laced with hesitation.
She was undeniably beautiful—her delicate features framed by long, silky black hair, her fair skin almost translucent under the morning light. Her lips, slightly parted as if she were about to speak, were soft and pink, stirring an unexplainable allure. Her slender figure, though not particularly curvaceous, carried an elegant charm, her black knee-high socks subtly highlighting the smoothness of her legs.
She looked like a character straight out of a shoujo manga—graceful, refined, and seemingly untouchable. It was no wonder she was often compared to the likes of Shiina Mashiro; girls like them possessed a natural allure that was most striking when unguarded.
Yet, despite her outward perfection, her gaze carried something else—a mix of concern and irritation.
"What's wrong, Yukinoshita?" Nozomi asked, keeping his voice light.
She exhaled softly, her gaze shifting toward the car idling near the school gate. "Is my sister in that car?"
"Aa, Yukinoshita Haruno was looking for me about something. Doushite?"
"..."
She hesitated for a moment before clenching her fists slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She didn't do anything weird to you, did she?"
Nozomi almost burst into laughter but managed to suppress it, shaking his head in amusement. "Why so wary? I think I'd know if something happened."
Yukino clicked her tongue. "Just be careful around her."
Her tone carried a weight that piqued his curiosity.
"I don't mean to sound harsh, but... everything Haruno has taken an interest in—every single one—has been broken in the end."
A wry chuckle escaped Nozomi's lips.
Yukino frowned. "What's so funny?"
He shrugged. "Just thinking, it's kind of an honor to have Haruno take an interest in me. She's a beautiful, intelligent, and wealthy young woman. It's better than being completely ignored."
Yukino was momentarily stunned. He was right.
Haruno was not the type to waste time on things that didn't interest her. If she disliked something, she wouldn't go out of her way to interfere—she would simply discard it from her mind. Like Hayama Hayato, for instance.
Ever since they graduated from elementary school, Haruno had barely acknowledged Hayama's existence, only offering polite greetings when necessary. Despite his popularity and polished social skills, he was utterly insignificant in her eyes.
But that wasn't important right now. What puzzled Yukino more was why her sister was so involved with Nozomi in the first place. This was already the second time she had sought him out so openly. What was she planning?
Before she could press him further, a pair of soft meows interrupted her thoughts.
Two cats scurried toward Nozomi, rubbing affectionately against his legs.
Yukino's body stiffened for a moment before her eyes widened in delight.
The moment the cats turned toward her and let out sweet, pleading meows, she was completely defenseless.
She hurriedly reached into her bag, pulling out a small pouch of cat food that she always carried. Carefully, she poured some into her palm and let the cats eat from her hand, her face glowing with a rare, unguarded happiness.
Nozomi smirked inwardly. His plan had worked. The cats had been in his bag the whole time—his secret weapon for dealing with Yukino.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "Yukinoshita-san, now isn't really the best time for this. We're technically breaking school rules."
Yukino froze, her face flushing slightly.
Then, as if to deflect the blame, she shot back, "You're the one who keeps bringing them into the school in the first place!"
"Hey, I didn't do anything. You saw it yourself—the cats just jumped out on their own."
"And yet, they're gathered around me now," she grumbled. "Who do you think the teachers will blame?"
He chuckled. "I'd say we're both guilty, but you do look more suspicious right now."
She sighed, rubbing her temple. "Can you at least help me? Take them to my clubroom so they don't wander around."
"Hai, hai." Nozomi bent down, effortlessly scooping up one of the cats.
Yukino narrowed her eyes. "Be gentle! What if you hurt them?"
"Relax," he said, lifting the cat by the scruff of its neck. "Mother cats carry their kittens like this all the time. Look, it's not even struggling."
Yukino bit her lip. She knew he was right, but it still didn't sit well with her. Seeing a cat dangling like that made her uneasy.
"Just... hold it properly," she muttered, cheeks reddening. "It deserves to be carried with care."
Nozomi let out a short laugh. "Wakarimashita, wakarimashita. I'll carry it like a prince carries a princess. Happy now?"
She turned her face away. "Just hurry up."
As Nozomi carried the cats toward the clubroom, a small smile played on his lips.
Cats were, after all, one of the most effective ways to break through Yukino's defenses.
After keeping them for a while, they would eventually slip away on their own. Never to return again.
That was precisely why Yuigahama Yui had chosen to keep a dog instead.
Without a cat bag, Nozomi probably wouldn't have been able to keep these cats around either. Fortunately, he had a little trick up his sleeve—a skill called "Meow Star," which allowed him to communicate with animals once activated.
The activation condition? A simple "meow."
So, covering his mouth slightly, he let out a soft meow.
Instantly, the cats' responses translated directly into his mind.
"Meow! Master, we've already pestered this onee-san just like you asked!" "Where's the dried fish, meow?!" "Dried fish! Dried fish~!"
Nozomi's mouth twitched.
Using his ability, he responded telepathically:
"Relax, I'll give you dried fish when we get back."
After all, they had done a good job. It was only fair to reward them.
====================
"So, this is your club? Did Hiratsuka-sensei approve this?"
Arriving at a room inside an old, abandoned school building—more precisely, an abandoned classroom—Nozomi looked around curiously.
"Of course. After all, exceptional people get special privileges, don't they?" Yukinoshita Yukino replied matter-of-factly.
"Fair enough. What about the other club members?"
"I'm one of them."
"...Why do you sound so proud of that? I meant, besides you, are there any other members?"
Yukino gave him a sharp glare, but still answered honestly.
"No."
So blunt.
Nozomi's expression turned strange.
"You've got to be kidding me. You're beautiful, intelligent, and talented, yet no one has joined your club? Did you even try recruiting? What about your friends?"
Yukino sat down, absentmindedly stroking the cat resting on her lap. At his words, she glanced at him and replied indifferently.
"Is it necessary to have friends?"
Nozomi shook his head.
"Not necessary, no. But if you go through school without talking to anyone, without teaming up for projects, without participating in group activities... that could get awkward."
"That's not an issue. I'm used to being alone."
Yukino's expression remained completely unchanged.
"Well, as long as you're happy," Nozomi relented. "But are you really planning to keep the cats in the clubroom?"
"Of course."
"Shouldn't we let them go? Let them eat their fill, then sneak out of the campus on their own?"
He said this while subtly instructing the cats to cling to Yukino and act extra cute.
Instantly, Yukino's composed expression cracked as she visibly hesitated.
Nozomi smirked.
"Alright, Yukinoshita, I'm heading back to class. You enjoy your time with the cats."
"W-Wait! Come back here!"
Yukino hurriedly called out to him.
"What's wrong?" Nozomi turned back, feigning innocence.
"What's wrong?! What about the cats?!"
"I already told you—if we let them be, they'll leave once they've had enough."
"No, that won't do!" Yukino protested, her grip tightening slightly on the cat in her lap.
Nozomi exhaled, shaking his head. "You really like cats, huh?"
Truthfully, he felt a little envious. At this rate, he almost wished he could turn into the cat she was petting.
"Then what do you want to do? Skip class and take care of the cats all day?"
"...I still have to attend class," Yukino admitted, furrowing her brows in thought.
"Why don't we send them to Hiratsuka-sensei's office?"
"Absolutely not. That would mean putting Sensei in violation of school rules. If someone reports her, she'll be reprimanded."
"You're really thoughtful when it comes to Hiratsuka-sensei, huh?"
Yukino fell silent.
She wanted to let the cats go, but they kept acting adorably towards her, rubbing against her hands as if pleading with her to stay.
She was clearly conflicted.
"Suit yourself," Nozomi shrugged. "I'm heading back. First period is Hiratsuka-sensei's Japanese class, and I'd rather not be late."
He turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Yukino called out once again, sighing in resignation.
"Help me take the cats outside the school. We can come back together after. If you're late, I'll explain things to Sensei."
Nozomi blinked. "...Then why did we even bring them to the clubroom in the first place?"
Yukino averted her gaze. "...No reason."
Oh, he saw through her now.
She just wanted an excuse to play with the cats a little longer.
Still, he didn't call her out on it.
"Fine, let's go."
Besides, with his cat bag, he wasn't worried—this wouldn't be the last time she fell for the bait.
Nozomi almost felt bad.
He was in the middle of discussing a potential engagement with Haruno, and yet here he was, using cats to get closer to her younger sister.
...Not that he would stop anytime soon.
As they finished their little mission and released the cats outside, Yukino let out a small, content sigh.
Even if it made them late, it had been worth it.