Cat

"It's fine~ as long as you don't mind an older virgin like me, I'm okay with it~"

Understanding why she was so clingy yesterday, Sasaki frowned playfully and gave her a light pat under the blanket, saying,

"Don't say that about yourself. I couldn't be happier; how could I mind~"

"Because I really am just an old lady now~"

Feeling the soreness and the exhaustion in her body, as if she were about to fall apart, no matter how much Kyouka didn't want to admit it, she couldn't help but sigh.

Her focus had always been on her work, plus the frequent late nights, and she rarely took the time to care for herself.

So, even though she was around the same age as Kurashiki Reika, she looked a few years older in comparison.

Before, aside from taking care of the two little ones at home, she didn't need to dress up to impress anyone, so she hadn't paid much attention to her appearance.

But now that her heart, mind and body had found a home, and she was loved by this handsome little rascal, Kyouka couldn't stop the anxieties about her looks and figure from bubbling up inside her.

Seeing the usually composed and mature Kyouka suddenly display a rare moment of self-pity, as if she was a secluded little woman who would soon be old and abandoned by an unfaithful man, Sasaki pressed his lips together to hold back a laugh, but in the end, he couldn't help himself.

"Pfft~ hahaha~"

Even though she knew he wasn't mocking her with ill intent, Kyouka still felt embarrassed when he laughed at her like that.

Her cheeks, flushed like dewy hibiscus flowers, glowed with the youthful shame and frustration of a young girl and Kyouka, with her lips dry and pale from the loss of moisture, turned away, refusing to speak to him.

Seeing that she was throwing a tantrum like Sister Yuka, Sasaki leaned closer, pressing against her smooth, delicate back, wrapping his arm around her still-soft and firm waist, and whispered:

"I didn't mean anything by it. I just think this side of you is so cute because I've never seen it before~"

"And besides, it's precisely because I love this version of you that I can't help but want to be close to you. How could I ever think of you as an old lady? If anything, you're even more charming this way~"

Though shameless, Kyouka didn't doubt his words.

After all, his body's reactions couldn't be faked.

She had already seen and felt, how charming he thought she was.

Soothed by his reassurance, her anxieties about her appearance and figure eased a bit as Kyouka relaxed into his arms, just about to drift off to sleep when she suddenly noticed his teasing movements once again.

Unable to sleep from his teasing, she turned over to face him, her gaze meeting his playful eyes as she asked, both embarrassed and amused:

"Fuyumii, you... all night last night, and now still...?"

"This is how much I love Kyouka~"

"Is it okay?"

Once again, he asked her the same question from last night, and he even said it was a sign of his love for her... How could she possibly refuse?

She was already feeling worn out, but as a mature woman, she wasn't like young girls such as Otome or Rinka.

She wouldn't just say "no" and fall into a deep sleep, leaving him to help himself.

So, although she did not respond verbally but Kyouka silently propped up her sore body and lay on her stomach, drawing her long, slender legs together in front of him…

"You're so good, Kyouka~"

"Mm~"

Knowing that there were still other people in the house, the two of them, no matter how passionate they were, couldn't be as wild as they had been the night before.

After a simple romp that ruffled the bedsheets and a quick shower, Sasaki returned to his own room, feeling refreshed.

It was Saturday.

According to their agreement, today was the day he was supposed to meet his prospective fiancée.

They had set the meeting time for 9:00 AM.

It wasn't that early anymore, and considering that his fiancée was someone who cared a lot about appearances, Sasaki needed to leave himself some time to tidy up.

It didn't have to be too flashy, just something to leave a good impression.

With that in mind, Sasaki picked out his clothes and began to fix his hair in front of the mirror.

Once everything was in place, Sasaki, taking advantage of the fact that Sister Yuka was still asleep, grabbed his shoulder bag and, after double-checking that he hadn't forgotten anything, left the house.

Sitting on the train heading to the meeting spot, he unzipped his shoulder bag and glanced at the printed manuscript and project plans inside.

His original plan was to use the expertise of the teachers from his previous life to make some money, so after gathering his work over a period of time, it was time to submit it.

Initially, he had planned to post it directly on a website.

But during a conversation with Kurashiki Reina, Sasaki had casually mentioned what he was working on, and out of curiosity about publishing, she had suggested that he submit it directly to a publishing house.

Since their plans for the day were just a casual stroll to get to know each other, Sasaki hadn't refused.

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After getting off the train and arriving at the meeting point, he first stopped by a nearby bubble tea shop and bought two lemon drinks, then found a bench to sit on.

He wanted to kill some time by browsing his phone since watching videos was the best way to pass the time.

But then...

"Meow~"

Just as Sasaki pulled his phone from his pocket, a soft, tickling sensation and a light meow came from beside him.

Instinctively, his right hand held onto his phone, while his left hand reached out and landed on the head of the cat nuzzling his wrist.

The smooth, silky texture of its fur met his palm as he petted the purring cat, and he turned to look at it.

Upon seeing the cat clearly, he sat up a bit straighter in surprise.

Hmm... how should he put it?

The cat looked rather peculiar.

Its body shape was similar to the tabby cats he was familiar with, but its fur was black and white.

If that were all, Sasaki wouldn't have been so taken aback.

What was unusual was that the cat was perfectly split—half white, half black, even down to its tail. Its eyes were a striking blue.

It was exactly as described—symmetrically black and white, with the dividing line right down the middle.

He had never seen a cat like this before.

Sasaki's hand moved from the cat's head to its chest as he gently lifted it onto his lap.

"You're quite the little oddball, aren't you?"

Scratching its chin as it purred in contentment, Sasaki ran his fingers down the cat's sleek, shiny back.

Judging by the texture, it wasn't dyed, and this was its natural fur color.

Hmm... looks like this cat's mother mastered symmetry.

With nothing else to do and an unusual cat keeping him company, Sasaki had no need for his phone anymore.

So, he tucked it back into his pocket and continued petting the cat, now curled up on his lap with its limbs tucked beneath it, transforming into a "cat loaf."

Watching it close its eyes, basking in the comfort, completely relaxed and unguarded, Sasaki, noticed the cat's raised haunches and suddenly an idea flashed through his mind.

Gently, Sasaki's hand slid down the cat's back, stopping at the base of its tail as he lightly pinched a tuft of fur with his fingers just above that spot.

"Meow~!"

The cat's reaction was bigger than Sasaki had expected.

After two gentle tugs, the fur along the cat's back and hind legs twitched and bristled, then smoothed back down as it gave a full-body shake.

Its startled reaction made Sasaki inexplicably think of the cat girl's nervous look with her butt clamped... well, a little shivering... so strange...

But the tickled kitten didn't find it funny.

Having never experienced such an odd combination of itchiness, pleasure, and discomfort, the cat whipped its head around, opened its tiny mouth, and stuck out its little pink tongue, licking at the spot where it had felt the sensation.

It seemed like the cat hadn't realized Sasaki was the culprit.

Once it turned back around and settled down again, he stretched out his hand once more.

"Meow~!"

This little cat appeared to be quite sensitive.

Sasaki had barely moved his fingers before it meowed again, turning to lick its fur in that same spot.

With his hand hovering close by, the cat glanced at him for a couple of seconds, as if suspicious that he might be playing tricks on it.

Then, after a brief stare, it returned to its previous position.

Seeing that it seemed to realize that he was responsible, Sasaki stopped pretending and prepared to tease it openly.

But the cat seemed to be prepared this time. The moment Sasaki moved his fingers, it turned its head to glare at him.

Its large, sky-blue eyes were filled with annoyance, as if saying:

'What are you doing?'

Smiling to show his innocence, Sasaki naturally smoothed its fur, indicating that he had just touched it accidentally.

After enjoying the stroking of his fur for a while and making sure that he wasn't up to any more tricks, the cat let out a soft meow and relaxed again.

Although he couldn't understand what it was meowing about, Sasaki figured it probably wasn't praise.

Since he wasn't familiar with this cat, and he didn't have any food on him, if he teased it too much, it might to run off in a huff.

So, for the rest of the time, Sasaki refrained from any more mischief.

Time passed slowly, and just as Sasaki was estimating how much longer he had to wait, he heard the crisp sound of sandals tapping against the stone path.

Before long, a pair of color-blocked, strap-buckle mid-heel sandals appeared in his field of vision as he sat there, head lowered, petting the cat.

It was late May, and the morning sunlight was bright and pleasant, not too hot.

Even with the sun shining directly down, it only created a faint, warm sensation on the skin.

Sasaki was sitting in the shade, where the leafy canopy overhead blocked most of the heat, casting a cool shadow over him.

But a few rays of sunlight managed to filter through the gaps between the leaves, scattering across the ground like shards of glass.

The girl's feet, pale and delicate like white jade, were standing right in one of those sunlit patches, the light reflecting off them like shimmering fragments of glass.

The dazzling white glow caught Sasaki's eye, making him instinctively turn his head.

When he looked back, the girl had already sat down beside him, bringing a faint fragrance with her, and picked up the little cat from his lap.

"I didn't expect you to be a cat person."

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