Today is the day of my promised date with Kasha.
I dressed in comfortable pants and a t-shirt—easy to move around in—and made my way to the academy's main gate. After a short wait, Kasha showed up and greeted me.
"Hey~ Zeon! How are you?"
Kasha was dressed in jungle camouflage pants, a black tank top, and a light blue shirt left unbuttoned. The colors of her pants—green, black, and brown—resembled military uniforms, ideal for jungle camouflage. Kasha's build was impressive: her tummy was firm, hinting at abs, and her arms and legs were toned. Her whole appearance screamed the strong and tall older sister type.
"Kasha noona~! I love you." I said, making a heart shape with my hands on my chest.
"Kuhhh!" Kasha clutched her chest with her left hand, as if her heart was about to burst from the cuteness.
"Kyahahaha! How have you been?" she said, smiling brightly as she reached out and patted my head.
I looked up at her, eyes wide and sparkling, and asked, "Kasha noona, where are we going today?"
"Let's go rock climbing," she replied with a grin.
"Huh? Rock climbing? I've never tried it before… Isn't it dangerous?"
"Kyahahaha! Don't worry! It's indoor rock climbing. I'll teach you."
"Well, then, let's go."
"Hold on to my arm," Kasha said proudly, extending her arm for me. Without hesitation, I clung to her arm like a little brother.
"Ahhh, it feels so nice," I said, snuggling into her side.
"Hehe. You're soft too, my little Zeon," she teased.
As we walked arm in arm, people stared at us. With Kasha's height and muscular build towering over me, we definitely made an unusual pair, but I didn't mind the attention.
Kasha led me to a quieter part of town. "Is there an indoor rock climbing gym here, noona?"
"Yeah. Not many people use it, so it stays pretty peaceful."
Just as she said that, two muscular men with tattoos emerged from an alley, walking toward us with smirks.
"Hwiyu~~ You two seem cozy. Heh, why don't you ditch the guy and hang out with us? We'll show you a better time," one of them sneered.
Kasha sighed, clearly unimpressed. She raised her middle finger without hesitation.
"Do you idiots not know who I am around here?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
"What? You b—"
Before he could finish, Kasha cracked her knuckles and thrust her hand out toward him. "You want to see what happens to newbies around here?"
The thug grabbed her hand with a grin, clearly underestimating her strength. But Kasha didn't hesitate. With a swift yank, she dragged the man forward as if pulling a ragdoll.
"Wha—what the hell is this?" he yelped in shock.
BAM!
With a front kick that sent him flying like a football, the man crashed to the ground several meters away, tumbling across the pavement. His body twitched from the impact, making it clear he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
The second thug, realizing what just happened, immediately fell to his knees. "I'm sorry! I didn't know—please forgive me!"
But Kasha was in no mood to forgive. "Shut up. Bow your head."
"S-sorry! Please, spare me!"
"Do you want a kick or a flick to the forehead?" she asked coldly.
"I-I'll take the flick!" the man stammered, trembling.
Kasha placed her hand on his forehead and smiled wickedly. With a quick flick, a bone-chilling thud echoed through the alley as her finger connected with the man's skull. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, frothing at the mouth.
"Ugh… Guh…" His pants darkened as the stench of urine and feces filled the air.
"Sister Kasha, are you sure it's okay to do that? What if they retaliate?" I asked, a little worried.
"Pfft, don't worry about it. I could take them all on, even if they came at me in droves."
"But what if they report you?"
"Kyahahaha! The authorities around here don't care about those lowlifes. Let's forget about them and head to the rock wall."
"Alright!"
We arrived at a building with "Indoor Rock Climbing" written in bold letters above the entrance. Kasha led me inside with long, confident strides. The place was filled with all sorts of equipment—artificial rock walls, ropes, iron bars, and weights. The place was also full of beastmen.
"Kyahahaha! This place is run by beastmen. Feel free to use whatever you want."
As soon as we entered, a group of beastmen rushed over to greet her.
"Sister Kasha! Welcome!"
"Oooh~! Sister Kasha brought a guy!"
"Kasha's not solo anymore!"
"Who's the idiot that said she'd never date?!"
Kasha, flustered by the last comment, shouted, "Who said that?! You wanna die?!"
"Oh, sister! I-I need to use the bathroom!" a beastman shouted, fleeing in terror. Kasha cursed but didn't bother chasing him.
Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, she proudly introduced me. "Hey, everyone. This is Zeon, my boyfriend. Don't mess with him."
"Yes, ma'am!" the beastmen replied in unison before scattering back to their activities.
Kasha then led me to the beginner's rock wall, where the incline was less steep, and the holds were larger.
"First, take off your shoes and socks," she instructed.
"Do we climb barefoot?"
"Yep. It's easier to grip the holds with your toes."
I glanced down at Kasha's bare feet. Her silver fur covered the tops, and her sharp claws resembled those of a wolf. I made a mental note to give her a foot massage later.
"You walk around barefoot?"
"Of course! Beastmen have thick soles. We don't need shoes, even in the jungle."
"Wow… Your feet are cool."
"Hehe. Glad you think so."
Once I removed my shoes and socks, Kasha sat down and began massaging my feet. "Humans aren't as tough as beastmen, so you need to warm up before climbing."
Her strong hands pressed into my soles, soothing the muscles and making me feel both relaxed and cared for.
"Kasha, you're so kind."
"Pfft. Only to people I care about."
"Does that mean I'm one of your people now?"
"Yeah, you are."
"Hehe, I'm happy," I said with a grin, causing Kasha to blush slightly.
After a few more minutes of foot massage, Kasha stood up, stretched, and began explaining the basics of rock climbing.
"These stones are called holds. You grip them with your hands. The stones you step on are called stepping stones. Keep your body close to the wall to reduce strain on your arms and legs. And when you step, use your toes to grip the stone instead of pressing down with your whole foot."
She demonstrated with fluid, effortless movements, climbing the wall with grace. "To move left, use your left hand first, followed by your right foot, then your left foot, and finally your right hand. It's all about balance and rhythm."
Kasha climbed to the end of the wall and back in seconds. "That's how it's done! Now you try."
As I grabbed the hold, Kasha came up behind me and lifted me by the hips, helping me place my feet on the stepping stones. Even though I was stable, she didn't let go, continuing to rub my backside.
"Shall I start now?"
"Haha… Haha… Zeon's butt… It's so firm…"
"Kasha noona?"
"Uh…! Y-Yeah, go ahead!"
Embarrassed, she quickly let go. Her flustered side was adorable.
Following her guidance, I pressed my body against the wall, grabbed the holds, and made my way across and back. Thanks to my regular training, it wasn't too difficult.
"Kyahahaha! You've got the basics down! Let's move on to the intermediate course!"
We spent hours climbing different walls, massaging sore muscles, and enjoying each other's company. By the time we finally stepped outside, the sun was already setting.
Rumble~
Kasha's stomach growled loudly, and she laughed. "Kya~ I'm starving! Zeon, are you hungry too?"
I nodded. "What do you want to eat?"
"Whole roast duck. There's a place I know that serves it perfectly."
"I'll treat you this time."
"Oh, really?! Let's go~!"
Kasha, delighted, grabbed my hand and led me to the restaurant. Her tail wagged excitedly from side to side as we made our way through the bustling streets filled with beastmen.
As we entered the small restaurant, a tiger beastwoman greeted Kasha with a smile.
"Kasha! Oh, who's this handsome guy with you?"
"My boyfriend," Kasha said proudly.
The tiger woman laughed heartily. "Well, look at that! Kasha's finally got herself a man."
"One whole duck, please!" Kasha ordered confidently, her voice full of cheer.
The tiger beastwoman behind the counter chuckled. "Don't get all high and mighty. Just act like you usually do, Kasha."
"Damn it, I am acting normal!" Kasha retorted, crossing her arms.
"Haha, yeah, sure—normal for you, Kasha! Go ahead and take any seat," the tiger woman said, still grinning as she made her way to the kitchen.
Even though Kasha was usually tough, it was amusing to see how, in front of this tiger woman, she seemed more like a child being gently teased by an older sister.
We found a spot at one of the tables while the tiger beastwoman went about her business. She effortlessly grabbed a whole duck from the kitchen, skewered it with a long metal rod, brushed it generously with sauce, and placed it into the oven.
Sizzle…
As the duck roasted, the mouthwatering smell of roasting meat quickly filled the room. The delicious aroma was almost enough to make my stomach growl.