During lunch break, Hitori, as usual, came to the small space under the stairs.
Today, she returned to her usual self, putting on her loose pink sweatpants under her skirt, hiding her pale legs that some people found overly attractive.
The reason she suddenly decided to wear a cute skirt and blouse that day was because she had just woken up from a strange dream and hadn't fully recovered her senses.
Now that she and Chisato had officially confirmed their relationship, she didn't need to think too much about her clothing choices anymore.
But speaking of that, he told her to be his "kitty," and she agreed. So, what exactly does this kind of relationship mean?
It's probably what she thinks it is—a sweet and youthful relationship. He just said it in a more roundabout way, and she felt too shy to ask directly, afraid it might upset him.
But even if it's not a romantic relationship, it doesn't really matter. Just being his kitty sounds nice too.
After all, a cat lives with its owner, doesn't have to work, and just stays home providing emotional and physical comfort while waiting for him to return.
Thinking this way, no matter what their relationship turns out to be, the future looks pretty promising.
Hitori couldn't help but laugh out loud.
She started counting down the days to her high school graduation, imagining the wonderful life of cohabitation, where she could just lie down and be cared for at home.
"What are you laughing about?"
A voice suddenly came from behind, startling her. The laughter caught in her throat, and she started coughing violently from the shock.
Chisato chuckled and gently patted her back, helping her calm down.
After finally stopping her cough, Hitori timidly turned her head.
"I wasn't... thinking about anything."
Her answer sounded guilty, but Chisato didn't mind.
He noticed the lunch box she had placed on the floor, picked it up, then took her hand, helping her stand up as he tidied her slightly messy hair.
"Come with me."
"Huh? Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you to meet some new friends. Be friendly, and if everything goes well, you won't have to eat lunch in places like this anymore."
Hitori kept her head slightly down, nervously following closely behind Chisato.
Suddenly saying he was introducing her to new friends made her feel uneasy.
She wanted to say that she didn't need new friends, that just having the band members was enough, but she didn't dare express her thoughts.
The reason was the same as always—she didn't want to upset Chisato.
But since it was his decision, she'd just go along with it obediently. She had to be a good kitty.
As for Chisato's thoughts, they weren't that complicated either. It was, in a sense, him planning ahead.
So far, he had four female friends with whom he shared unclear relationships.
The one who troubled him the most was Kazusa.
Unlike the other three, who naturally had high levels of affection for him, his relationship with Kazusa had been built step by step with no shortcuts.
This raised an important issue: he couldn't treat Kazusa the same way he treated the others.
After the simulated life with Iroha, Chisato's mindset had shifted significantly and gradually solidified.
He had gained a lot from those simulations—not just magical talents or tools, but also insights and personal growth.
His perspective and thoughts had evolved.
In the simulated life with Utaha, he learned that hiding the truth and deceiving someone you love doesn't lead to happiness.
That's why, in reality, he wouldn't make the same mistake again.
In the simulated life as an aristocrat, he realized that holding power and wealth could solve most of life's problems and obstacles.
So, he had started trying to accumulate wealth in real life in ways he could think of.
There were many such realizations, but in short, Chisato's decision to introduce Hitori to Kazusa wasn't spontaneous. It was well thought out.
There were things he couldn't hide forever—about the situation around him, about his desire to have everyone be part of his world.
If that was the case, then avoiding it wasn't an option. He had to face it head-on.
Hitori was soft-spoken, and Kazusa only seemed hard to approach. If he could navigate between the two, there shouldn't be any issues.
Chisato hoped things would go as planned and that the two would become friends.
But even if things didn't go smoothly, it didn't matter. Seeing Kazusa's reaction to the other girls around him would still be a valuable outcome.
As they reached the third-floor landing of the club building, Hitori slowed down, feeling nervous as she noticed a group of delinquent boys smoking nearby.
Sensing her unease, almost as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Chisato turned around and gently held her hand, leading her safely past the group without incident.
After reaching the music room floor, Chisato paused and turned to Hitori.
"If my friend asks what our relationship is, what will you say?"
"Uh... well... I'm Chisato's kitty."
"You can't say that. That's a secret only the two of us know."
"A secret... only we know?"
Hitori watched as Chisato placed his finger against his lips, flashing a faint smile. Smitten by his charm, her heart began pounding uncontrollably.
"I got it. I'm Chisato's friend."
Her dream experience helped her realize what to say right away.
"Good girl."
Chisato nodded with satisfaction and held out his hand.
Hitori quickly stepped forward.
As a kitty, she knew what she had to do. When her owner wanted to pet her, it was only natural to lean in. If necessary, she could even roll over and show her soft belly.
Besides, she didn't mind Chisato petting her. His hands were big, soft, and warm. It felt really nice. Purr...
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