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Beichuan Si didn't want to be mistaken for a suspicious stalker, so when he saw Magong Tong, he immediately followed and greeted her,
"Magong."
Wasn't Magong Tong busy preparing the items for her grandmother's visitation? Why was she wandering in a place like this? Moreover, Magong Tong was hurrying forward, seemingly not hearing his greeting at all.
Her hurried attitude made Beichuan Si quicken his pace and block her way.
"Beichuan?"
Magong Tong, who was rushing forward, finally snapped back to reality.
She clearly hadn't expected to encounter Beichuan Si in such a place, and a surprised look crossed her pale face.
"Mm," Beichuan Si responded indifferently.
Only then did he notice what Magong Tong was holding in her arms.
It was a small corrugated box, lined with thick fabric, and a snow-white kitten had its paws hooked onto the box's edge, blue eyes curiously observing this unexpected visitor.
On a small blue tag, it read, "Please adopt me."
This was...?
Before Beichuan Si could ask, Magong Tong, blushing, explained,
"I-I saw this at the street corner while buying the incense..."
She was a bit flustered, having not expected to meet someone she knew outside of school.
But compared to Magong Tong's fluster, Beichuan Si couldn't help but feel a bit touched.
This child was truly kind.
He, himself, would certainly have ignored such a situation.
He wasn't fond of cats, nor did he want to take care of one.
While Beichuan Si was silently marveling, Magong Tong suddenly stiffened and timidly asked,
"Be-Beichuan, could you adopt it?"
Magong Tong knew that Beichuan Si wasn't as difficult to get along with as he appeared, and she wanted to give the white cat to him.
But to her surprise, Beichuan Si shook his head and calmly explained,
"My sister is allergic to cats, so I'm very sorry, but I can't help with this."
Beichuan Huili's allergy to cats meant that even at Magong Tong's request, Beichuan Si couldn't compromise her health for adoption.
"Is that so..." Disappointment filled Magong Tong's eyes, but she knew she was asking too much, so she could only sigh.
After watching the white cat for a moment, Beichuan Si curiously asked,
"Why doesn't Magong adopt it herself?"
Magong Tong sighed deeply and shook her head helplessly, "I don't because all the pets I've had since childhood mysteriously died..."
Beichuan Si understood as she said this. The curse on Magong Tong had not been lifted, and under its oppressive weight, her pets naturally wouldn't have a good fate.
Beichuan Si carefully phrased his question, "Then, Magong, where were you rushing off to just now?"
Hearing Beichuan Si's question made Magong Tong snap back to reality, and she exclaimed,
"I just posted an adoption notice on SNS, and someone has already messaged me saying they're willing to adopt it. The meeting place is nearby in a park, so I have to hurry."
In Japan, SNS refers to social networking services used for various purposes, mostly for expanding friend circles and meeting new people online.
People also use SNS to post missing person alerts or to find someone to adopt pets they can no longer keep due to external reasons.
In the vast, twenty-first-century SNS network traffic of Japan, it had only been ten minutes since Magong Tong posted the message, and several people had already privately messaged her.
But the people online...
Seeing Magong Tong's gradually anxious expression, Beichuan Si's thoughts moved, and he asked,
"Magong, do you mind if I go with you? I might be able to help a bit."
"Uh... would Beichuan come too? This... okay."
Magong Tong didn't hesitate long; she understood that he was concerned for her safety as a girl going to the meeting alone.
Having someone as strong as Beichuan Si by her side meant that even if the person didn't seem suitable to adopt the white cat, she could confidently refuse.
Considering there were more people to meet, Beichuan Si and Magong Tong didn't linger. They talked while walking and soon arrived at their destination—the Sakurai Park.
As its name suggested, aside from the essential facilities such as benches and see-saws, Sakurai Park was surrounded by cherry blossom trees.
Judging by the density of the cherry trees, Beichuan Si could imagine the beautiful scenery when they bloomed.
The designated spot was a bench under the cherry trees, where a handsome young man with a sunny appearance and a shoulder bag sat early.
Magong Tong took a deep breath, stepped forward, and asked,
"Um... are you Saito-san?"
"Ah, yes, and you must be the 'Miss Wanting to be More Courageous'?"
The young man spoke warmly, displaying good manners with his handsome appearance and tall stature.
Um—
Magong Tong blushed at hearing her SNS nickname mentioned and glanced at Beichuan Si, whose face was expressionless and demeanor calm, which allowed her to relax slightly.
She asked gently, "That's me. Are you the one who wants to adopt this kitten, Saito-san?"
As she spoke, Magong Tong revealed the corrugated box in her arms.
Inside the box, the white cat was pure and spotless, its large blue eyes regarding the world like a child.
The young man's eyes lit up when he saw the white cat, reflecting his obvious fondness.
Seeing this, Magong Tong also felt a sense of relief.
The man seemed gentle and his demeanor was very comfortable; most importantly, Magong Tong could feel the genuine affection in his eyes.
Allowing such a person to adopt the white cat gave her peace of mind.
"Can I take the kitten right away?" Saito looked left and right, showing an expression of eagerness and carefulness as if even reaching out might harm the kitten.
"Uh..." Magong Tong hesitated.
She still had a few other people to meet, but having met such a kind person first, handing over the white cat seemed like a good choice.
However, just as Magong Tong was about to nod in agreement, Beichuan Si, who had remained silent, suddenly kicked the person in the stomach.
With a dull thud, Saito's cry of pain abruptly erupted!
"Be-Beichuan?!"
Magong Tong clearly hadn't expected Beichuan Si to act so suddenly. She opened her mouth, wanting to apologize, yet clueless about Beichuan Si's intentions, could only watch dumbfounded as it all unfolded.
Beichuan Si didn't respond to Magong Tong, nor did he pay any attention to the groaning Saito on the ground. He walked two steps forward, picked up the shoulder bag that had fallen aside, and reached inside.
The zipper made a crisp sound.
Something inside the bag glinted with a bright light.
Lying silently within,
was something that did not match the warm demeanor of the young man now on the ground.
Gleaming extraction pliers and a fur-stained scalpel...
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