"You idiot, I'm your master, stop always pouncing on Kuromori-kun!"
After scolding Sable, Yuigahama sighed and looked at Haruto with embarrassment. "Kuromori-kun, I've caused you trouble."
"It's fine."
Haruto quietly moved his shopping bag behind him. It wouldn't be a big deal if it was just regular doujin, but if the Genji got discovered, that would be a disaster!
Yuigahama standing beside him, noticed his movements. She blinked, suddenly leaning closer with a playful smile. "Kuromori-kun, are you here to buy study materials?"
"That's right."
Haruto replied calmly, "Just some study materials I needed."
"Eh—"
Yuigahama glanced curiously at the shopping bag. "But Kuromori-kun seems a little guilty."
Haruto pushed her away, his expression flat. "Yui, do you know what curiosity did to the cat?"
"But I'm not a cat—"
Indeed, Yuigahama's personality was more like a dog. Speaking of cats, Yukino's character resembled one more!
"Kuromori-kun's grades are so good, so I'm curious what kind of books he buys."
"Study materials!"
Haruto quickly changed the subject. "Yui, have you been having any problems lately?"
"Nope."
Yuigahama lifted her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and sighed, "I just realized something. But it's nothing."
Haruto pressed on. "What is it?"
"Hmm~"
Yuigahama hesitated and awkwardly changed the topic, "Well, Kuromori-kun, it seems like Sable really likes you."
"Don't change the subject."
Yuigahama playfully poked his arm, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "Kuromori-kun, don't ask. I'm fine, really."
"By the way, do you have some free time, Kuromori-kun?" Yuigahama looked at him hopefully.
Haruto thought for a moment and asked, "What do you want to say first?"
"Of course, it's about walking the dog!"
Yuigahama made a troubled expression. "Now that Sable has grown, he's so strong that sometimes I can't handle him at all."
That was true. Even earlier, Yuigahama had been dragged along by Sable!
Haruto looked down at Sable, who was lying at his feet, belly up, tongue out, rubbing his head on his legs. He couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth twitch slightly.
He said, "I can help train him so he won't drag you along next time."
"Train him?"
Yuigahama quickly shook her head. "No, Sable's actually really well-behaved. It's just that staying at home all day makes him uncomfortable. He's actually quite pitiful."
"Alright."
In reality, Haruto thought Yuigahama was probably overthinking it.
The training he spoke of wasn't just about discipline, but since Yuigahama didn't mind, it didn't matter.
Haruto took the leash. "Get up."
Sable immediately stood up.
"Follow me."
Sable obediently followed, behaving like a well-trained guide dog.
"That's ridiculous. You're really going to listen to Kuromori-kun just like that?"
Yuigahama couldn't help but pat the dog's head in frustration. "Idiot, who's your real master?"
However, just because someone owns a dog doesn't necessarily mean they're the dog's master. In the dog's eyes, you might just be the one who cleans up its mess!
"Woof woof."
Sable wagged his head and barked twice.
Haruto feeling curious, activated his superpower [Animal Controller] to listen to what the silly dog had to say.
"Don't touch me, foolish mistress!"
"This man is amazing. Mistress has no idea how to handle things. She's so dumb!"
"The world is so dangerous now. The only way to survive is to stick to him tightly. Do you understand?"
"Hurry up!"
"Be more like me, act playful!"
"What an idiot!"
"..."
Dogs can't talk, but Haruto could sense what the dog wanted to express.
Initially, Haruto thought Sable was just bowing down to a stronger master, but in the end, it was for Yuigahama?
Such loyalty!
But this dog was a little odd. Was it actually sensing danger?
Although animals' senses are usually sharper than humans, for a dog to detect danger from something supernatural was a bit much.
Unless this dog had seen something.
Yuigahama blinked and curiously asked, "Kuromori-kun, what's up with you? You're making a weird face."
"Nothing."
Haruto shook off his thoughts. "Let's head to the river ahead. There's an open space where Sable can run around."
"Sure."
When the two reached the river, a mature, beautiful woman with orange hair walked toward them.
What was strange, however, was that Haruto felt a sense of familiarity.
As he pondered this, he sensed the woman's gaze on him. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she softly called out, "Yui."
"Huh? Mom?"
Yuigahama's eyes widened in surprise as she saw her mother approaching. "Mom, what are you doing here?"
Yuigahama's mother?
Haruto's gaze shifted to the woman's hair, which was the same color as Yuigahama's, and their faces bore a striking resemblance.
Confirmed, it was definitely Yuigahama's mother.
Because the two looked so much alike and her mother was so gentle and beautiful, Haruto couldn't help but take another look.
It was like looking at a beautiful landscape, being tempted to take another glance—it was actually quite normal.
However, in the next moment, Haruto felt a sharp pain in his waist.
He muttered, "Yui, why are you pinching me?"
"My hands were itching."
Yuigahama glared at him, then quickly stepped forward to take the shopping bag from her mother's hand.
Mrs. Yuigahama's gaze fell on Haruto, and she smiled, "You must be Kuromori-kun, right? I've heard a lot about you from Yui."
"Mom!"
Yuigahama's face turned red, and she hurried to explain, "Kuromori-kun has been helping me out a lot, that's why I mention him. Mom, don't get the wrong idea, it'll cause problems for Kuromori-kun."