Wearing a worried expression, Sato headed toward the kitchen, an inexplicable sense of foreboding tugging at his heart.
He had the overwhelming urge to turn around and see what was happening between the two girls.
Yet deep inside his mind, it felt as though someone was screaming at him.
Keep walking. Don't look back.
Thinking back to the last time they had met, realization suddenly dawned on him.
Gulp.
Sato immediately quickened his pace.
...
The living room was completely silent.
Fujimiya Konomi and Yukinoshita Yukino sat at opposite ends of the sofa. Their expressions were as calm as still water, making it impossible to guess what either of them was thinking.
The two girls couldn't have been more different, especially in temperament.
Yukino possessed delicate, picturesque features. Her expression was cool and distant, like an untouchable flower blooming atop a snowy mountain, beautiful enough to admire from afar but impossible to approach casually.
Konomi, on the other hand, wore a naturally gentle expression. She resembled a tranquil lotus floating upon calm water, warm and approachable, like the friendly girl next door.
Two completely different kinds of beauty.
And when those two opposing temperaments collided...
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
It became...
Subtle.
Like a powder keg waiting for a single spark.
In the kitchen, Sato, who was washing a cup, suddenly shuddered.
He immediately withdrew his Observation Haki and unconsciously slowed his movements.
If I move slowly enough and keep my head down... maybe this won't involve me.
Someone quietly muttered that to himself.
...
"So, Yukinoshita-san has been taking care of Sato-kun's cats these past few days?"
In the quiet room, Konomi was the first to break the silence.
Sato-kun?
Yukino paused for a brief moment before realizing it was Konomi's way of addressing Sato dearly.
"Yes."
She answered calmly.
"Whenever he returns to the countryside, I'm usually the one who feeds them."
"I see."
Konomi smiled warmly.
"Then thank you for taking care of them. Sato-kun isn't here right now, so let me thank you on his behalf."
Yukino's brows knitted ever so slightly.
She lifted her gaze and glanced quietly at Konomi.
Thank me on his behalf?
Is she emphasizing how close they are?
From what position is she saying that?
The lady of the house?
"No need."
A faint glimmer passed through Yukino's eyes.
She lowered her gaze slightly, her expression hidden beneath lowered lashes.
"Vanilla was originally the kitten I rescued before Nohara-kun adopted her. I also bring cat food over regularly."
"So, in a way, we're raising these cats together."
"Since he was away, naturally I should take care of them."
As she spoke, the fair, composed face of Yukino briefly flushed with an almost imperceptible blush.
But with her exceptional self-control, it disappeared almost instantly.
Her voice remained calm and cool.
She was still the same Snow Queen who rarely let her emotions show.
Whoa!!
Konomi screamed inwardly.
She's a formidable opponent!
Why does it sound less like you're talking about raising cats... and more like raising children together?!
An invisible pressure descended upon her.
This opponent was far more troublesome than she'd imagined.
Are all the girls in this city this terrifying?
What am I supposed to do? I have zero experience with this!
Regret suddenly welled up inside Konomi.
I should've just accepted his confession on the train.
This is getting troublesome...
Who could have expected her rival to be this powerful?
She realized she had been completely overwhelmed in their first exchange.
She hadn't even managed to fight back before being utterly crushed.
Then she thought about all the other potential rivals...
Maybe...
I should chop him up and bury him back in the countryside.
That way no one can steal him.
Just as Konomi's thoughts were beginning to drift toward a rather dark direction, Sato finally emerged from the kitchen.
Normally, pouring a glass of water should have taken only a few seconds.
Yet he'd deliberately stretched it out for nearly two whole minutes.
The moment he walked out, he glanced over.
Yukino remained as calm and composed as ever.
Meanwhile, Konomi looked at him pitifully.
I lost...
Sato's expression turned rather strange.
He almost laughed.
Some people were simply destined to meet their natural nemesis.
Thinking about it carefully, though, it wasn't all that surprising.
Konomi was a genuinely kind girl.
At most, she had a slightly mischievous, black-hearted streak.
Yukino was also a kind girl.
But one of her defining traits...
Was her razor-sharp tongue.
A little scheming simply couldn't beat weaponized sarcasm.
For some reason, Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly appeared in Sato's imagination.
She stood with her arms folded beneath her chest, wearing a confident smirk.
Across from her stood Yukinoshita Yukino, her face dark with frustration.
Black-hearted.
Sharp-tongued.
And constantly making dirty jokes.
That...
That was probably the true apex predator of the food chain.
"Yukinoshita."
After placing the glass of water in front of her, Sato sat down not far from Konomi.
"Thank you."
Yukino picked up the cup and took a small sip.
After looking around the room, she asked,
"Where are Vanilla and Chocola?"
"Ah... they probably went out."
"I just got back myself."
Sato thought for a moment before realizing he hadn't seen either cat since returning.
"I see."
Yukino acknowledged it softly before standing up.
She gave Sato a slight bow and looked at him with her clear eyes.
"In that case, I won't disturb you any longer."
"Hm? You're leaving already? Why not stay a little longer?"
"No."
She then turned toward Konomi.
Maintaining the same calm expression, she said,
"Goodbye, Fujimiya-senpai."
"Goodbye."
Konomi also stood, looking slightly dejected.
After escorting Yukino to the door, Sato returned to the living room.
Seeing Konomi sitting there with a gloomy face, he couldn't help laughing.
"What's wrong with you?"
"When she looked at me just now..."
Konomi puffed out her lips.
"I'm sure she was feeling smug."
"Why would you think that?"
"I thought Yukinoshita looked perfectly normal."
"Hmph!"
She snorted.
"I've changed my mind."
She looked directly at Sato.
"I'm promoting you."
"From now on, you're officially my boyfriend."
"Oh."
"..."
"...Your reaction is way too calm!"
"What kind of reaction am I supposed to have?"
"You should be overjoyed, you idiot!"
"Then..."
Sato planted his hands on his hips and burst into exaggerated laughter.
"Hahaha!"
After laughing for a few seconds, he lowered his head and looked at the pouting Konomi.
"Like this?"
"Get lost!"
Konomi angrily swung her hand at him, glaring with a deeply resentful expression.