The lights had just come on.
When Kaito returned home with Mutsumi and the cat, it was already an hour later.
The last glimmer of the sunset had disappeared beyond the horizon. The night curtain hung low. Fantastical neon lights flickered like endless starlight, decorating this steel jungle into something dreamlike and illusory.
Opening the front door, as usual, upon arriving at the entrance, Kaito bent down, just about to change his shoes, when he heard a cheerful "meow meow" sound.
'Boss, you're back, nya!'
Just like always, upon sensing the familiar aura, Kirara couldn't wait to rush to the door to welcome its owner's return.
In comparison, a certain green-haired sword spirit was really lacking in awareness… Kaito used divine sense to scan, and saw that Kumiko was hiding in the bedroom, hugging a controller, her face full of focused concentration, unwilling even to blink.
'They say it's best to beat kids on rainy days, since I am idle anyway… It's decided. In a bit, I'll secretly check her browsing history and see what this girl has been learning online.'
After changing his shoes, Kaito casually stroked the fat cat that jumped into his arms. Kirara, who had been peaceful up to this point, suddenly exploded in fluff.
"Meow!"
'On Boss… how come there's the scent of another of the same kind?'
The cat raised its head, face full of disbelief, 'You actually secretly raise other cats outside behind my back?'
Kaito was somewhat puzzled.
He clearly hadn't touched any other, 'Wait, if I have to say, maybe yesterday I did stroke a "cat"?'
"Cat cat! So cute!", A certain cat-like girl's eyes sparkled, clearly itching to move when she saw Kirara appear suddenly.
Raana's nickname "stray cat" wasn't without reason.
She not only had a cat-like, unfathomable personality, but even her habits were similar.
For example, she had a cat tongue, and feared scalding-hot food.
For example, she liked playing with yarn, and before heavy rain, she'd scratch her face with her hand.
For example, she loved to sleep, curling up beside the heater, on school benches, rooftops, and even in trees.
And then… even though she was an ordinary girl, she could understand all cat meows.
This was an ability that a certain cat-lover second young lady(Yukino) dreamed of having.
Even her birthday, Raana's, fell on Japan's Cat Day, February 22nd.
Although Kirara was a bakeneko, its intelligence was no less than that of ordinary humans. But after all, it still retained part of its youkai instincts, habitually recognizing identity by scent, and had actually mistaken Raana as a fellow transformed kin.
At this moment, kitty's mood was very aggrieved and indignant.
'It's one thing to stroke other cats behind my back, but to even bring her home! Not even trying to hide it from me anymore!'
'Heh… so much for raising me for life. In the end, it was all just empty promises…'
Seeing it put on such a wronged expression, like a betrayed female lead from a melodramatic soap opera, Kaito didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Grabbing the cat by the scruff of the neck with one hand and lifting it up, he sighed helplessly, "What have you and Kumiko been watching all day… Clearly you're a bakeneko, why are you acting like a chaste maiden?"
"Meow~", Kirara meowed with some grievance, stretched out a little white paw, and pointed at Raana beside them, her eyes full of accusation and sorrow.
"Look closely, Raana isn't one of your kind,".Kaito flicked its forehead, finally calming down this fat cat.
Kirara sniffed again with its little nose, 'Seems like it really is a misunderstanding?'
Though the two-legged creature in front looked very much like its own transformed kind, there was still a faint human scent.
'As long as she's not a kitty, it's fine.'
'My status as the number one pet under the Boss remains unshaken.'
Originally very hostile toward Raana, Kirara now wasn't in such a rush. Facing the mismatched-eyed girl's petting, it no longer deliberately dodged.
However, kitty made a decision in its heart.
'Since Boss really likes this two-legged form…'
'Then I, kitty, must hurry and transform too!'
———
[Dinner Time]
Kumiko was still holed up in the bedroom playing video games, showing no sign of coming out. But as a sword spirit, she didn't need to eat, so Kaito let her be.
Still, he made a mental note to settle the score with that girl someday.
Given that a guest had come to the house, dessert was added to the dinner, a matcha parfait. The house had ingredients and full equipment, plus spiritual energy assistance, nothing but a small effort for Kaito.
Raana wasn't picky at all. Cat types were easy to raise, so long as there was parfait to eat, that was enough. As for the main meal?
That sort of thing, not really important~
"Parfait~ Parfait~ Parfait~", After finishing one cup, still feeling unsatisfied, cat looked at him pitifully, gently tapping the rim of the glass with her spoon. Even sitting on a stool, her petite body didn't sit still, swaying back and forth.
"You mustn't casually tap your glass in public places. It easily disturbs others," Kaito tapped her little head, like a kindergarten teacher correcting a misbehaving child.
"Mm?", Cat obediently nodded and stopped tapping the glass.
Seeing her so well-behaved, Kaito handed her another matcha parfait and deliberately reminded her, "This is the last cup. Kids shouldn't eat too much at once."
Cat's eyes lit up.
She didn't care at all what he said. Taking the parfait, she scooped a spoonful and went "ah-woo" and swallowed it down, then closed her eyes in contentment.
That genuine happiness even affected Mutsumi beside her.
The light-green-haired girl glanced at her own portion of parfait, scooped a bite with her spoon, and quietly placed it in her mouth.
'Hmm, a bit cold.'
'But… it is really delicious.'
A lovely arc lifted at the corner of the girl's lips. Her always-cold eyes curved into charming crescents.
Ever since leaving the Wakaba household, her mood had grown more and more relaxed.
Good food to satisfy the stomach. Beautiful people to please the eyes.
Maybe… this once-cold and indifferent Mutsumi, might one day smile brightly too?
———
After dinner.
Washing pots and dishes and such chores could've been left entirely to the cleaning spell.
But Mutsumi volunteered, wanting to do what little she could, so Kaito didn't refuse her good intentions.
The bathtub already had hot water prepared, and steam rose.
In the bathroom, Kaito took off his last piece of intimate clothing. Testing the water with his hand and finding the temperature just right, he stepped in.
The sensation of hot water enveloping the skin was quite delightful. He relaxed his body, leaned against the edge of the tub, closed his eyes, and silently savored this moment of comfort.
Then—
Splash.
The bathroom door slid open, and the next second, a cat walked in.
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