As the sound of knocking echoed again, Amakusa Shino cleared her throat and welcomed the visitor in.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Hata Ranko from the Newspaper Club. I heard that the long-dormant Classic Literature Club has been revived, so I've come to do an interview."
Uchiha Ryo turned his head. The newcomer was an expressionless, black-haired girl, holding a notepad. Behind her was another female student with a camera.
An interview, huh. Yukinoshita showed no interest and silently began to study "Hyouka". Shirogane Miyuki sat quietly to the side. Although Chitanda really wanted to go up, interviews were probably the job of the president and vice president.
"President Amakusa, as the reborn Classic Literature Club, do you have any new plans for your upcoming activities? Please don't be nervous, just speak normally."
Amakusa Shino stood up. "Whew— Our Classic Literature Club will continue to make new contributions to the school journal as always. At the same time, to enrich the students' club activities, we've decided to help students who are in trouble. So, any student with difficulties can come and make a request."
Hata Ranko nodded and began to write in her notepad. "Mhm, President Amakusa is a very kind person."
"Hehe, actually, these were all Yukinoshita-san's ideas."
Hata Ranko stopped writing, then looked at Uchiha Ryo beside Amakusa Shino.
"You must be the vice president of the Classic Literature Club. May I ask, with three beautiful girls in the club, which one do you usually fantasize about?"
Uchiha Ryo was stunned. If it weren't for Hata Ranko's still-calm expression, he would have thought she was messing with him.
"Uh... I'm afraid I can't answer that question."
Hata Ranko said, "Oh," and raised her notepad. "The vice president fantasizes about everyone."
"Wait a minute! I think the word 'fantasize' is very inappropriate. Even mentally, I hope for gender equality, and I hope the school can be a place without a divide between men and women."
Uchiha Ryo was filled with righteous indignation.
Amakusa Shino stroked her chin. "No divide between men and women? So you mean Uchiha wants to tear down the walls between the boys' and girls' restrooms and changing rooms?"
Chitanda was taken aback. "Uchiha-kun, do you really think that?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes held a hint of disdain. "Pervert."
Hata Ranko picked up her notepad again. "The vice president is a lecher..."
"Wait a minute! Where did you all get that conclusion from?!"
As the interview and club time ended, Yukinoshita rubbed her sore eyes. She had already read through the second issue of "Hyouka" as quickly as possible, but she still couldn't figure out what was hidden within it.
Chitanda patted Yukinoshita's shoulder.
"Yukinoshita-san, don't read for too long, it'll hurt your eyes. I used to strain my eyes often, and they ended up getting so sore they'd tear up."
Yukinoshita put down the book. "Mhm, then I'll take this book home today. I'll read it carefully over the weekend!"
.....
While Yukinoshita's weekend was spent trying to decipher the secrets of the book, Uchiha Ryo was busy moving.
This was a high-end apartment complex not far from Shuchiin. As a famous manga artist who had debuted two and a half years ago, Uchiha Ryo didn't skimp on his new home's setup, even renting out both apartments on the third floor.
Uchiha Ryo absolutely could not allow his secrets to be exposed. After all, his shadow clones and Enyun would be coming and going from the room frequently. It would be a disaster if a neighbor saw them.
At this moment, inside a convenience store outside the apartment complex, Yukinoshita Yukino walked out carrying a bag. Having lived alone since starting high school, she usually went grocery shopping for her daily necessities on weekend mornings.
But today, on her familiar route home, something appeared that made it impossible for her to look away.
That's right! At the foot of this high-end apartment building where cats were forbidden, she had found a pure white cat.
When Yukinoshita noticed the cat, the cat had clearly noticed her gaze as well.
However, the cat only turned its head to look at Yukinoshita for a moment. After sensing no threat, it continued to lie leisurely on the ground.
When the white cat's light purple eyes looked over, Yukinoshita felt her heart stop for a moment, and then a wave of happiness and joy washed over her from the bottom of her heart.
Yukinoshita took a deep breath, suppressing her inner curiosity and excitement. She tiptoed to the white cat's side, slowly crouched down, and placed her bag to the side.
To avoid startling the cat, Yukinoshita resisted the urge to reach out and pet it. Instead, she squatted about a meter away from the cat and tried to imitate a cat's meow.
"Meow, meow~"
Enyun-chan: "???"
Encrypted communication? Why can't I understand it? This is a human, right? Why is it making a sound that only a low-class cat would make?
As a high-level ninja cat, Enyun-chan knew the language of ordinary cats, but she couldn't understand what this human girl was saying at all.
The cat tilted its head—
"Ooh...." Yukinoshita was completely charmed and quickly took out some high-quality cat food from her bag.
Although she didn't own a cat, and although high-end apartments didn't allow them, Yukinoshita always kept high-quality cat food on hand, just to feed the cute stray cats she encountered.
Seeing the unfamiliar object, Enyun subconsciously stood up and took a step back. But after the tin can was opened, a scent she had never smelled before quickly wafted over.
Enyun resisted the urge to look at the high-quality cat food placed on the ground. Who am I? A high-level ninja cat of the Uchiha clan! A genius ninja cat who learned many Water Style techniques right after birth! A mere stranger's food... I! Enyun, disdain to eat it.
Not far away, a certain boy who was moving boxes sighed. "I heard high-end apartments don't allow cats. But if it's a ninja cat, it should be fine to keep it secretly, right?"
Just as he arrived at the apartment building, Uchiha Ryo saw a certain Enyun-chan using her beauty to swindle food?!
Looking at the can, it seems to be expensive high-quality cat food! Damn, this summoning beast is something else. Maybe I should just let it roam free. It can find its own food anyway.
Wait, the focus isn't the cat food. That person's back looks a little familiar...
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Meow~"
Enyun: "Meow! (This is delicious!)" (While gobbling it down)
"Yukinoshita-san?"
Uchiha Ryo stood to the side and suddenly spoke.
Yukinoshita Yukino, whose name had been called, was clearly stunned for a moment, but she quickly reacted and stood up to look at Uchiha Ryo.
The early morning breeze blew through the girl's black hair. Her face showed no hint of embarrassment. This was the necessary composure of a child from a prominent family.
"Yukinoshita-san, do you like cats?"
Uchiha Ryo put on a surprised expression, though he imperceptibly glared at Enyun, who was still eating.
"Is there any girl who doesn't like cute things?"
Yukinoshita didn't deny it. After all, it was normal for girls to like cats.
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "This high-quality cat food must be from you. I thank you on behalf of this little one."
"Eh?"
Yukinoshita looked at the cat, then at Uchiha Ryo.
"It... this... this cat is yours?"
Uchiha Ryo bent down and rubbed Enyun's head. "Mhm, her name is Enyun-chan. She's not afraid of strangers at all. You can pet her if you want."
"Meow— (Get your hand off me!)"
This scumbag master is actually using me to gain the favor of his female classmate. But the stuff in this can is so delicious. I wonder if she has any more.