"...Hn?"
On the way home after getting into a scuffle with the Wanima brothers. He stopped when he felt someone calling him. He looked over and saw a rundown, empty house that looked abandoned. It was a one-story house, the walls are planked up with wood, covered with green ivy. The gutter was broken, and the rusted, browning, tin roof was peeling off in places. No one lives there obviously, only the weeds are sprouting lively.
"Meow."
"Ah."
On the sliding door entrance, there was a cat. It was sprawled on the cracked concrete. It had pitch black fur and golden eyes.
What a beautiful cat...
It stared at Chigiri and meowed again.
"...What's this, are you hungry?"
I fumbled his pockets for something to eat and found a karinto manju. The reason why he has that is because it is his favorite food. The manju is deep-fried, so its shell is crispy and delicious. It is the only snack he buys at the convenience store on his way home from club activities.
"I wonder if it will eat this..."
On the grounds of the dilapidated empty house, he takes a step in.
"Over here. Come."
He crouched down in front of the black cat and gently held out a karinto manju in front of it.
"Meow."
Perhaps it realized it was food, so it put up its upper body with its front paws up. It wasn't that big, but it wasn't a kitten either. It was probably a stray cat that had made this place its territory, since it wasn't wearing a collar. It is as pitch black as it looks and its golden eyes are mystical. It is staring at the karinto manju with those eyes.
"Don't be shy. You can eat it."
Those perfectly round black pupils are so cute... that's what he thought.
Scratch.
"Ouch!"
The black cat suddenly scratched him. He was so startled that he dropped the karinto manju. The black cat snatched it up with its mouth and cleverly climbed up onto the tin roof of the vacant house. Looking down at Chigiri from the roof, he began to eat the karinto manju. He was taken aback by its audacity.
"Haha... you got me."
As if it is entitled to it, there's the black cat eating the karinto manju.
"If you act like such a snob, you'll be hated. You're only good at being cute."
"Meow."
He tried calling out to the roof, but it just meowed like it was annoyed. It was as if it was saying, "Shut up"... It's cheeky, but somewhat curious.
"...You'd better remember me. I'll be back tomorrow."
While lightly stroking his scratches, Chigiri left.
*The title, Karinto Manju is a wagashi (Japanese confectionery) that are crunchy buns filled with red bean paste. Perfect with tea. This is also Chigiri's favorite food.