Staff Member B: "You're right, so our boss is able to walk up to the puppy car on his own, smash his worthless head against the front of it, then get hospitalized and give all of us time off because of a concussion?"
Staff Member A: ".. I agree, what a brilliant idea!"
*
Kisaragi Chiyo had never known she suffered from motion sickness until today, it was even from a bumper car.
The raven-haired young man sat pale on the bench, his head hanging low, a dazed and vacant expression in his misty gray eyes. It seemed that even now, he had not yet realized how he had managed to clutch the puppy and hurriedly flee from that scene of a car flipping over.
So scary..
With an expressionless face, Kisaragi Chiyo stared blankly into the distance, thinking with lingering fear: I can never let Hara Kenji touch a steering wheel again, even if he turns into a puppy and acts spoiled.. Absolutely, absolutely never again.
The little Bernese Mountain Dog by her side probably knew he had gotten a bit too excited just now, so he took it upon himself to shoulder the heavy responsibility of going to buy water for Kisaragi Chiyo.
So, the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, which was only about as high as a person's calf, ran into the crowd with a five-hundred-yen coin in its mouth, soon disappeared as agilely as a swimming fish.
Kisaragi Chiyo calculated the time since the Bernese Mountain Dog had left in her mind; it had been about five minutes, so it should be returning soon.
While she was lost in such casual thought, Kisaragi Chiyo's peripheral vision sharply caught something unusual, as a dark shadow flashed rapidly past her eyes.
A strong sensation of being scrutinized and watched came from directly above, as if she were being targeted by some entity, making her feel uneasy all over.
Kisaragi Chiyo lifted her head as if sensing something. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves of the trees beside the bench, scattering in dappled patches. The light and shadow were soft, like a floor of shimmering silver coins.
Looking up with half-lidded eyes, Kisaragi Chiyo met a pair of condescending, teal eyes.
It was a cool color between blue and green, much like the rich, vibrant brilliance of malachite, clear and bright and shimmering, with black pupils that had become narrow and elongated due to the sunlight, carrying an expression of vigilance and detached scrutiny.
What was crouched on the thick branch was not a snake, but a black cat with fur that shimmered like fine silk.
No.. actually, to be more precise, it should be a cow cat.
Kisaragi Chiyo's gaze fell upon that white, furry, mangosteen-like paw stepping on a tree branch. Her heart immediately felt as if it were being lightly scratched by a feather, an uncontrollable itch that was impossible to bear.
Hello..
When Kisaragi Chiyo was stared at by those beautiful, teal eyes, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
He nervously pulled a bag of cat food from his pocket—the kind even Nekomata would love—that he had prepared in advance, while using his previous experience interacting with the cat, he spoke enticingly, "May I please pet you? I can buy you steamed buns, yokan, grilled squid.."
Like he was reciting a menu, Kisaragi Chiyo promised a whole list of things all at once, most of which were, of course, food. This long list of promises successfully left the cat looking somewhat speechless.
"So, is it a deal?" Kisaragi Chiyo tilted her head up, her gaze following the Nekomata's swaying tail as it hung down, unable to control her eyes.
The cat with teal eyes said nothing; it leaped gracefully from the treetops, its movements elegant and sharp, carrying a hint of wildness.
Don't ask how Kisaragi Chiyo could see so much from a single movement; with that fluff right in front of him, Kisaragi Chiyo was now completely dazzled.
Every step the other took seemed to match the rhythm of his heartbeat, as Kisaragi Chiyo watched with wide eyes as the kitten drew closer and closer to him.
Its triangular ears had a perfect curve, its limbs were strong and slender, its long tail, covered in slightly fluffy fur, swayed gently with every step, the tip curving into an enticing hook.
Kisaragi Chiyo almost subconsciously held her breath as she reached out both hands, her narrow, misty-gray eyes widening slightly from nervousness. She could no longer hear any other sounds; the once-noisy crowd had completely faded into a silent background.
At this moment, Kisaragi Chiyo's entire attention was focused on the kitten walking toward him from the other end of the bench.
Is today definitely my lucky day?
Kisaragi Chiyo thought with deep gratitude, but just a second before his hand was about to touch the cat, the cat with teal eyes suddenly made a retreating motion.
Kisaragi Chiyo, whose hand had met only empty air, looked on in confusion: "?"
"Why??" Kisaragi Chiyo looked at the cat with a bewildered expression, confused by the creature that had suddenly retreated several steps and begun to fluff up its fur.
But the cat clearly was in no mood to answer his question, didn't even give him another chance to speak. The cat, which had been just one step away from being touched, first looked warily at the crowd, then stared at him with its green vertical pupils. After one final glance back, it leaped into the shadows and vanished.
Kisaragi Chiyo: "?"
"My cat.." Kisaragi Chiyo made a grasping motion with both hands in the air. He didn't know what on earth had happened to make the cat, who had originally been moved by the conditions he had offered, suddenly change its mind.
But he soon found out.
Having transformed from a puppy into a physical being, Hara Kenji walked toward him calmly from the crowd, his long hair swaying behind his head with every light step, much like a tail used to express one's mood.
Ten steps.. six steps.. three steps.. getting closer and closer.
Hara Kenji was like a natural-born luminary; just standing there was enough to attract every gaze. With a gentle smile playing on his lips, his dark purple eyes casually scanned the surroundings before finally settling on Kisaragi Chiyo, who was sitting on the bench.
Kisaragi," he asked with a smile, "did anyone come by while I was away just now?
-----------------------
Author's Note: *Matsuda is a cow-patterned kitty with four white paws, stepping through the snow to find plum blossoms!
*Because tomorrow's chapter is being uploaded, I'm updating in advance.
Thanks to all the little angels for your support, spinning and dancing for everyone 0330
Chapter 41
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
"So it was because of you." Kisaragi Chiyo slowly withdrew her empty hands, her eyes downcast as her gaze fell upon the patch of shadow where the cat had just leapt, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face.
"Hmm?" Hara Kenji tilted his head and let out a light chuckle. He followed Kisaragi Chiyo's gaze toward that empty patch of shadow, the smile on his lips fading slightly.
"Even if it's my fault, at least let me know exactly what I did wrong?" Hara Kenji stood before Kisaragi Chiyo. He placed a bottle of water beside Kisaragi Chiyo, but his gaze suddenly froze as it swept over her.
Dark purple eyes curved slightly, with deep, murky colors flowing within them.
Hara Kenji reached out, his pale, cold palm pressing against Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulder, while his other hand gently brushed against her cheek, finally using two fingers to pluck a single black hair from Kisaragi Chiyo's haori.
It wasn't his.
Hara Kenji lowered his head and asked with a smile, "What is this?"
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
"As expected of a police officer." Kisaragi Chiyo couldn't help but sigh.
"Don't change the subject, Chiyo-chan." Hara Kenji placed both hands on Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulders, his movement gentle yet possessing an unyielding strength that pressed Kisaragi Chiyo back down onto the bench as she tried to stand up.
I only left you for a little while, yet you've already attracted the unknown scrutiny of other guys.
Hara Kenji's gaze gradually deepened. His eyes lowered slightly, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow upon his lower eyelids. The emotions surging within his eyes flickered indistinctly, like a dancing flame, as if it only needed a single wick to erupt into a wildfire.
"This should clearly be because of you, Kisaragi Chiyo." Hara Kenji let out a soft sigh. He reached out to fiddle with Kisaragi Chiyo's silver earring, his cold fingertips gently brushing against her earlobe.
“If.."
"Exactly." Kisaragi Chiyo reached out and took Hara Kenji's hand, which was stroking his neck from his earlobe. Even through a thin layer of gloves, Hara Kenji could still feel the part of his skin in contact with hers, which quickly grew warm.
What are you worried about?" Kisaragi Chiyo looked up and asked with a smile, "Nothing has happened. What on earth are you worried about?
Between us.." Kisaragi Chiyo released Hara Kenji's wrists, only to instead lightly squeeze his pale fingertips. "You understand, at least for a long time, I won't be able to get rid of you.
So don't always make that kind of expression.." Kisaragi Chiyo organized her words. "As if I'm always going to abandon you.
After realizing my bad luck, I gave up on that thought.
"So, being pestered by me is a stroke of bad luck?" Hara Kenji asked with a laugh.
Although he didn't want to admit it so quickly, he was indeed coaxed into a good mood by just a few words from Kisaragi Chiyo. The unease that had surfaced in his heart after sensing the presence of another being was completely soothed away.
"Isn't it?" Kisaragi Chiyo countered with a raised eyebrow.
Oh? That really is a shame." Hara Kenji's eyes curved, a hint of amusement revealing itself in his drooping gaze, his voice was light and rising. "I'm so sorry that you'll have to be stuck with me.
Just as Hara Kenji was about to speak to Kisaragi Chiyo about something else, a casual and crisp male voice came from the other side, interrupting their conversation.
“Um..”
I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation.
A young man dressed in a black suit stood beneath the tree. He had curly, voluminous hair and a slender build, with sunglasses resting on his face. He looked like the most camera-loved character stepped straight out of an action movie, possessing an uninhibited air and a natural, effortless grace, yet carrying an indescribable sense of loneliness.
Like a gust of cold wind in late autumn. *
This thought suddenly popped into Kisaragi Chiyo's head. She turned her head to look at the curly-haired man who had appeared silently beneath the tree, her gaze sweeping across his face, which was covered by sunglasses, before finally settling on the irregular, twisted shadow at his feet.
“I want to have a chat with you.” Blunt and without even an introduction, the curly-haired man said to Hara Kenji.
But Kisaragi Chiyo had a strange feeling that when the man said those words just now, he had given her an extra glance.
"I have no interest in chatting with a stranger whose name I don't even know." Hara Kenji flashed a polite smile, his attitude somewhat cold.
However, the hand resting on Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulder instinctively tightened for a brief moment.
Hara Kenji was nervous.
Kisaragi Chiyo glanced at the smile on his face and quickly reached this conclusion.
But why?
Kisaragi Chiyo couldn't figure it out for the moment, but he believed that perhaps he would have the answer very soon.
And that curly-haired man, who clearly did not belong to the human race, fell silent for a long time after hearing Hara Kenji's words.
Perhaps it was three minutes, perhaps five, or perhaps even longer. Even though they were in the middle of a bustling amusement park, the air around them felt as cold and hard as the surface of a frozen lake in winter.
This frozen silence made Hara Kenji become even more tense, while also causing him to fall into the same silence.
Kisaragi Chiyo found this kind of atmosphere somewhat difficult to endure, even though he wasn't exactly someone skilled at reading the air. However, at the very least, he could sense a hint of something unusual within the other party's deep-sea-like silence.
The other person must know Hara Kenji, right? Perhaps it was precisely because they recognized Hara Kenji that they appeared before them.
Was it an acquaintance from before the original state? A colleague? A friend? Or a relative? As for an enemy, it didn't seem likely at all, given that deep, nostalgic gaze that could be felt even through sunglasses.. It must be a friend after all, right?
Kisaragi Chiyo thought aimlessly, her gaze shifting between the silent, tight-lipped Hara Kenji and the curly-haired man standing under the tree.
Seriously..
Watching the two sides still staring each other down in a stalemate, Kisaragi Chiyo couldn't help but press a hand to his forehead; he didn't want to play that game of "Red Light, Green Light" with these two any longer, where whoever spoke first would lose.
"In short, this isn't a suitable place for a chat." As soon as Kisaragi Chiyo spoke, he drew the gazes of the two silent fellows. Kisaragi Chiyo's expression did not change at all while being stared at by the two non-human entities; his face remained as calm and impassive as ever, making it impossible to tell his mood.
So, I suggest we find another place to have a proper talk, how does that sound?
*
And so, they arrived at the dessert shop.
"Please enjoy your meal." The waiter brought three servings of pancakes to the table. Looking at the three people with a serious expression, as if they were holding a pre-battle meeting, the waiter couldn't help but lighten their footsteps and leave cautiously.