.
[-Continuation-]
[-Next Day(:Hikigaya Household)-]
.
[-Third Person View-]
Early Morning.
Right before heading to school.
"..." - "..."
Hachiman sat cross-legged, his eyes locked in an intense staring contest with Kamakura - a silent standoff unfolding in the living room.
thud-! thud-!
Suddenly, the patter of footsteps broke the silence.
Komachi burst into the room wearing her school uniform. Her eyes widened as they darted between her brother and the cat.
"Big bro... What in the world are you doing with Kai?"
Komachi's voice was a disgust of curiosity and bewilderment, as if she had stumbled upon a secret ritual.
Kamakura, ever the picture of feline grace, remained unperturbed. His tail swished lazily, the only acknowledgment of the interruption.
Hachiman raised a finger to his lips, his expression comically serious. "Shh…"
He whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "You are interrupting a very important meeting."
Komachi's eyebrows shot up, disappearing beneath her bangs. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, words failing her in the face of her brother's absurdity.
"This is a grown-up business."
Hachiman continued, his tone dripping with exaggerated gravitas.
"Run along now, little one."
A mischievous glint sparked in Komachi's eyes.
She stuck out her tongue and pulled down her eyelid. "Blehhh!" She exclaimed, her voice a perfect blend of bratty defiance and sisterly affection.
"Mom!" Komachi's voice rang out, echoing toward the kitchen. "Big brother is being weird again!"
The clinking of dishes in the kitchen paused, followed by a weary sigh that only mothers can perfect.
"Hachiman." The siblings mother's voice floated from the kitchen, a mix of exasperation and amusement. "What are you up to this early?"
"Just working on securing my future, Mom. Nothing to worry about." Without missing a beat, Hachiman replied, his voice steady and earnest.
"..."
There was a brief silence, one could almost imagine their mothers contemplating whether this was worth addressing.
Finally, her voice returned, tinged with the resignation of a parent who'd learned to pick her battles. "Komachi, come help me set the table for breakfast. Let your brother... do whatever it is he's doing."
Komachi's cheeks puffed out in a pout, her last-ditch attempt at drama falling flat.
"Fiiiine." She drawled, each syllable stretched to its limit as she trudged towards the kitchen, even her exaggerated stomps were more for show than actual frustration.
As Komachi's footsteps faded, Hachiman turned back to Kamakura.
Blink.
The cat blinked slowly, his golden eyes reflecting an air of regal indifference.
To the untrained eye, Kamakura appeared completely disinterested in the morning's theatrics, lazily licking his leg like the world around him had no bearing on his existence.
Hachiman knew better.
That uninterested look and half-lidded eyes?
It was all an act.
He couldn't fool Hachiman - not after all these years.
He could see through Kamakura's seemingly aloof demeanor with ease.
Hachiman leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Now then, Mr. Kamakura." He intoned, his words carrying the weight of a high-stakes business negotiation. "Shall we continue our discussion?"
Kamakura's ear twitched, a subtle acknowledgment of Hachiman's words.
His tail swished once, twice, before he resumed grooming his paw with practiced nonchalance, as if to say - 'What do you want? Make it quick.'
Undeterred by the cat's 'apparent' disinterest, Hachiman reached behind him, producing a well-worn plush snake.
The negotiation was far from over.
It just began.
The toy was a sorry sight, its once vibrant scales now faded, its stuffing peeking out from battle scars earned in countless tussles.
Yet, as soon as it came into view, Kamakura's attention snapped to it like a compass finding true north.
The cat's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, his grooming forgotten. The tip of his tail twitched, betraying his interest - weighing the potential benefits of this so-called 'deal.'
Hachiman allowed himself a small, triumphant smile. He had Kamakura's full attention now, the toy snake dangling between them like a peace offering... or perhaps a bribe.
"Here's the deal." Hachiman began, his voice low and intense, as if he were about to reveal the secrets of the universe.
"I am offering you the world, Mr. Kamakura." His eyes gleaming with the fervor of a used car salesman on the verge of his biggest sale.
"Your favorite treats - yes, even those fancy imported ones. Uninterrupted naps that stretch into eternity. And the jewel in the crown-"
He motioned toward his favorite sunlit spot right beside the windowsill.
"Your very own throne, bathed in golden warmth, where you can survey your kingdom for hours on end."
Kamakura's tail twitched ever so slightly, a minuscule movement that spoke volumes in the silent language of felines. It was as if an invisible switch had been flipped, transforming the aloof cat into a creature of keen interest.
Hachiman watched, fascinated, as Kamakura's body language shifted. The cat's whiskers quivered, his ears perked forward, and his pupils dilated in a telltale sign of feline excitement.
It was like watching a statue come to life, each subtle movement a victory in Hachiman's eyes.
With the grace of a seasoned diplomat, Kamakura padded forward.
His gaze locked onto the plush snake toy as if it were the Holy Grail of cat-kind.
His paw reached out, hovering in the air, mere centimeters from claiming his prize.
Fush–!
But Hachiman was quicker.
His hand shot out like lightning, covering the toy just as Kamakura's paw was about to make contact.
"Not so fast, my feline friend." Hachiman declared, his voice a mix of amusement and stern resolve. "This isn't free-for-all. You can only lay claim to this treasure if you agree to my terms first."
Kamakura's amber eyes widened, his pupils contracting in surprise.
"..." - "..."
For a heartbeat, cat and human engaged in a silent battle of wills, neither willing to concede ground in this high-stakes negotiation.
Then, like a master actor switching roles, Kamakura's expression morphed. His eyes softened, taking on a look of such heart-melting adorableness that it could have swayed the coldest of hearts.
It was a look that had likely earned him countless treats and belly rubs in the past.
Nice try.
He thought, secretly impressed and taking pride in the cat's manipulative skills.
Hachiman, however, was made of sterner stuff.
Kamakura's paw hovered in the air, trapped in a moment of feline indecision. Then, with a quiet huff that sounded suspiciously like a sigh, he lowered his head slightly.
His body language screamed - 'fine, human. You win this round. I will play your game.'
"That's more like it." Hachiman muttered, a hint of triumph coloring his voice. Slowly, as if disarming a bomb, he removed his hand from the toy.
With the solemnity of a diplomat signing a peace treaty, Kamakura reached out once more.
This time, his paw made contact with the snake toy, tapping it gently as if sealing their agreement.
Victory.
For added formality, Hachiman extended his hand.
"Deal." He announced, his voice carrying all the gravity of a United Nations declaration.
To his amazement, though he would never admit to being surprised - Kamakura placed his paw in Hachiman's palm, his version of a handshake.
It was a brief moment, a feline handshake that lasted no more than a second, but in that instant, Hachiman felt as if he had just signed a contract with the very spirit of cat-kind.
The serious atmosphere dissolved in an instant as Kamakura, overcome with excitement, leaped into the air as he pranced around his newly claimed prize.
"Alright, time to hold up your end of the bargain." Hachiman declared.
As if a switch had been flipped, Kamakura halted his celebration.
He turned to face Hachiman, his expression so solemn and focused that for a moment, Hachiman could almost believe he was dealing with a seasoned business tycoon rather than a house cat.
Hachiman pulled out his phone, opening the camera.
He focused on Kamakura through the screen, watching as the cat, now the seasoned model, seemed to mentally prepare himself for the task ahead.
This was serious business, after all.
"Give me your best pose, okay?" Hachiman urged, adjusting the angle of his phone for the perfect shot. "The fate of my peaceful life hangs in the balance. No pressure or anything."
Kamakura, sensing the gravity of the moment, gave me a sharp, focused look.
His whiskers twitched with tension, and Hachiman could have sworn he saw a bead of moisture on Kamakura's nose - either a sign of intense concentration or just some expertly timed dramatic flair.
Either way, it was working.
With a quick shake of his head, as if dispelling any last doubts, Kamakura struck his first pose.
The pose was regal, majestic, and his posture was screaming 'bow before me, peasants' in a way that only cats can achieve.
Without missing a beat, Kamakura twisted, offering a side glance that would make any film noir detective proud.
His tail curled into a perfect question mark, adding an air of mystery to his already undeniable cat charisma.
Hachiman's finger flew across the phone screen, capturing shot after shot.
Click–!
It was the Royal Sit pose that could easily make any cat-loving audience swoon.
Click–!
The Sphinx Pose.
Click–!
Perfect.
Each pose was more refined, more extraordinary than the last.
He wasn't just giving his hundred percent, no, he was giving beyond that.
Kamakura was a natural - born supermodel in a fur coat.
His commitment to the cause, his dedication to ensuring the success of this operation, was clear in every movement.
Hachiman's finger became a blur as he captured image after image. The rapid-fire clicks of the camera filled the room.
Click–!
The Stretch and Yawn.
Click–!
The Curled Nap.
Click–!
His favorite - the Window Watcher
As Hachiman watched through his phone screen, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
This wasn't just a cat posing for photos. This was a masterpiece in the making, a work of art unfolding before his very eyes.
And so, the great cat photoshoot continued, capturing all possible angles.
….
Hachiman's lips curled into a mischievous grin as he surveyed his handiwork.
"With this arsenal of cuteness, Yukino won't be able to stay mad about that little... incident the other day." He mused, his voice a mixture of hope and self-satisfaction.
"Alright, Kamakura." Hachiman declared, his excitement bubbling over. "Let's make these last few shots count!"
Minutes ticked by, feeling more like hours in the intense world of an epic photoshoot.
Hachiman found himself sprawled across the living room floor, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Beside him, Kamakura lay in an exhausted heap of fur, looking like he had just finished a particularly grueling catwalk session.
Despite their fatigue, a smile of pure satisfaction bloomed across Hachiman's face.
He raised his arm triumphantly, holding his phone aloft like a hard-won trophy.
The screen glowed with Yukino's contact information.
Hachiman's thumb hovered on the 'send' button.
After a silent prayer, he pressed 'send'.
The best of Kamakura's modeling portfolio zoomed off into the digital ether, destined for Yukino's inbox.
"And now we wait." Hachiman murmured, his voice tinged with equal parts hope and trepidation.
For those wondering about the context of this feline-centric plot, let me clarify.
Right after being influenced by perhaps the burst of misguided bravery, resulting in me dropping the 'love you too' dialogue the other day, along with the messages I sent just moments ago.
Needless to say, Yukino had been 'playing' a bit grumpy about it.
Hence, the grand cat photo scheme was born.
I figured sending these photos of Kamakura would help break armor and smooth things over.
I could almost picture it.
Yukino, her usual composure cracking ever so slightly as she scrolled through the photos, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite her best efforts to maintain her aloof facade.
Hachiman was confident these photos would do the trick.
After all, who could resist a cat posing like a pro?
….
.
[-Same Time(Yikinoshita Yukino's Flat)-]
[-Third Person View-]
The soft hum of a hair dryer filled the bathroom as Yukino stood before the mirror, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders.
Buzz–!
Just as she clicked off the dryer, a sudden buzz cut through the silence, her phone vibrating against the counter.
One perfectly arched eyebrow rose in curiosity as she wrapped her towel more securely around herself.
Picking up the phone, she was met with a flood of notifications, all from one Hikigaya Hachiman.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, a mix of wariness and intrigue playing across her features as she unlocked the screen.
?!As the messages loaded, her eyes widened ever so slightly, surprise replacing her initial hesitation.
One by one, pictures of Kamakura filled her screen, each more ridiculous than the last.
The usually aloof cat was captured in a series of poses so dramatic and over-the-top that they bordered on the absurd.
Here was Kamakura, channeling his inner supermodel, striking poses as though he were modeling for a pet magazine.
A small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of Yukino's mouth. She fought against it valiantly, determined to maintain her composure even in the face of such feline foolishness.
But as she continued to scroll, her initial annoyance began to melt away, replaced by a warm amusement that she couldn't quite suppress.
Shaking her head in a mixture of exasperation and fondness, Yukino's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She pondered her response.
After a moment of thought, she typed something short, letting the faint smile finally win out.
["They are quite adorable."]
With a soft 'whoosh', the message was sent, and Yukino set her phone down.
As she resumed getting ready for school, there was a newfound lightness in her step.
…
Meanwhile, back in the Hikigaya household, Hachiman's phone buzzed to life, vibrating against his palm like an excited puppy.
As the words sank in, a smug grin slowly spread across his face.
"Mission accomplished, partner." He thought to himself, savoring the sweet taste of victory.
He thought to himself.
In those four simple words, Hachiman could practically hear Yukino's voice – the slight exasperation, yes, but beneath it, a soft undercurrent of amusement that she would sooner die than admit to.
With a satisfied sigh that seemed to expel all the tension from his body, Hachiman flopped back onto the sofa.
His phone above his head and staring at the ceiling, feeling a small victory in their silent exchange.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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