122: Do You Think You're Funny or Something?

"Let me introduce myself. Kitahara Takashi, owner of Kuro."

That morning, Miku sat on her bed, hair a mess, still not quite awake. 

Her eyes, empty of focus, stared blankly at the wall, while her mind replayed the scene from last night—how that silver-haired delinquent-type with the earring had cornered her and said those words.

In truth, Takashi hadn't made things difficult for her last night. He hadn't even taken Kuro with him.

He really did seem like he'd just passed by, showed up, and then vanished, carrying the vibe of an old-school wandering samurai.

'Why am I thinking about him again…'

Miku shook her head, and her silky long hair swayed with the motion.

She couldn't fall back asleep, so she simply got out of bed, planning to head downstairs to check on Kuro.

Yesterday, Kuro had gotten pretty badly hurt protecting her.

And yet Takashi, as Kuro's owner, didn't seem to care at all. He left the dog at her place without saying a word, didn't follow up, didn't even offer to take it to the vet. 

He even lied and said it wasn't injured.

Did he really think she wouldn't be able to tell?

She saw it with her own eyes—Kuro had lost a bunch of fur from being bitten, and had taken a hard hit from that vicious dog.

There's no way it wasn't hurt.

Just as Miku came downstairs, the front door opened from outside.

"Takashi's really been leveling up lately. He's about to surpass me at this point."

"I can't believe you guys manage to go running every single day. That's seriously impressive."

"Mm, it's easier when you've got friends to do it with. Ichika, why don't you come run with us tomorrow?"

"I just want to mooch for a free breakfast."

Under Miku's calm gaze, Yotsuba came in through the door, holding Kuro's leash, chatting and laughing with Ichika.

"Huh? Miku, you're already up?" Yotsuba looked a bit surprised to see her awake so early, but still greeted her with her usual cheer. 

"Good morning!"

"Mm, good morning."

Miku nodded calmly.

"Where did you guys go?"

"I went on a morning run with Yotsuba and the others."

Ichika leaned one hand against the wall, her body angled toward it, right leg lifted high behind her as her long fingers playfully hooked the heel of her shoe.

Kuro trotted happily over to Miku, rubbing his head repeatedly against her leg clad in pajama pants.

Out of the five sisters, his favorite was Miku.

Because she was the easiest to deal with.

Whenever he wanted something, all he had to do was act a little spoiled around her and she'd buy it for him.

He wanted her to become his mistress.

Miku crouched down and gently patted his head, casually asking, "Who else was there?"

It was him!

It had to be him!

She'd just heard it!

Yotsuba had called him "Takashi."

It had to be that guy!

"There was Takashi too. Oh right, Miku, you don't know him. He's a really amazing person."

Yotsuba poured herself a full glass of water and gulped it down in one go. Gulp! Gulp!

"Yeah, he's good-looking, does well in school, and can cook. He's a rare high-value guy." Ichika walked to the fridge and poured herself a glass of milk.

She wrapped one arm around her slender waist, rested her elbow under her well-endowed chest, and held the glass of milk in the other hand. 

"Yotsuba, are you going for him or not? If not, give him to me."

Yotsuba's face gradually turned rosy like the evening sky upon hearing Ichika's words.

Flustered and unsure of what to do, her eyes darted around nervously while her hands waved in a panic. 

"I-I-Ichika, what are you even saying? I don't get it! Takashi and I are just ordinary friends."

Ichika tilted her head, smiling with a deeper meaning. "Do you really only see Kitahara-kun as just an ordinary friend?"

"O-Of course I do."

Yotsuba turned her face away and poured herself another glass of water.

Yotsuba, you're lying.

Miku held Kuro in her arms, watching every reaction from Yotsuba.

She knew—even if Yotsuba didn't yet treat Takashi as someone special, it was definitely not just a simple friendship.

Well, not that it had anything to do with her anyway.

Miku lowered her head and happened to meet Kuro's deep brown eyes. She unconsciously hugged him tighter.

Dogs were just better.

Loyal, never betray you, never leave you behind.

Why do people fall in love?

Having a dog is enough.

…

On Saturday morning, Takashi took the Keikyu Airport Line Limited Express to Shinagawa Station, then transferred to the JR Yokosuka Line to continue toward Chiba.

He had a date with Utaha around noon, so there was no need for him to arrive this early.

But he had heard there was a "Tokyo Cat & Dog Expo" going on, and he planned to check it out beforehand.

Although it was called the "Tokyo Cat & Dog Expo," the event was actually held at Makuhari Messe. 

And besides cats and dogs, they also showcased some exotic animals, so it was quite an interesting event.

By the time Takashi arrived, the venue was already bustling with people—some even brought their pets along.

In the past, Takashi had always come to these kinds of expos with Kuro.

Come to think of it, this was his first time attending a cat and dog expo alone.

It felt a little lonely.

Fortunately, Takashi was already used to playing chess alone, watching movies alone, traveling alone, moving alone, even seeing a doctor alone.

So visiting a cat and dog expo alone didn't bother him.

Inside the exhibition hall, Takashi spotted a penguin.

"Ugh, bad luck!"

The moment he saw the creature, it reminded him of certain major domestic internet companies. Disinterested, he quickly moved on.

Following the flow of people, Takashi soon arrived at the bird exhibit.

A dazzling world filled with parakeets, parrots, kestrels, eagles, and other birds unfolded before him.

Yellow, red, green... all kinds of birds unabashedly displayed their colors, competing in beauty and brilliance, offering an overwhelming visual feast.

Takashi stood in front of an eagle, quietly observing it. He pointed to the floor beneath his feet and asked, "Hey Eagle, is there oil down here?"

The eagle stared at Takashi like it was looking at an idiot.

"Have you finally lost your mind? Do you need me to recommend you to a psychiatric hospital?" came the cool voice of a girl from behind him.

Even without turning around, Takashi knew exactly who it was.

Well, thinking about it, it made sense. Where there were cats, how could Chiba's queen of sarcasm not be around?

Takashi acted like he hadn't heard anything, took off his backpack, and rummaged through it.

The black-haired girl's eyes showed a trace of pity as she mocked, "Looks like you've got problems not only with your brain but with your ears too?"

"Hold on, I'm looking for something—ah, found it."

Takashi pulled out a deck of playing cards from his backpack.

Under the black-haired girl's puzzled gaze, he drew two cards and held them out. "Miss, you dropped your student ID."

The girl took one look and her expression turned icy cold.

With eyes that showed no warmth, she glared at Takashi. "Do you think you're funny or something?"

The two cards in Takashi's hand weren't jokers—they were a pair of Aces!

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