Before I really started chasing down senpai's attention, I pretty much dug up everything there is to know about him. Like, I know his elective subject is kendo, he's all about that salted salmon onigiri for lunch—never the ones with plum, those are a hard pass. And his coffee? Has to be piping hot from a vending machine, but if it's from a cafe, then it's iced all the way. Yeah, you might think I'm bordering on stalker territory, call it whatever you want, but hell, I even caught on to the little sway he has when he's darting to the loo. But this right here? This cat obsession? Man, that's new.
So, I push forward with this nugget of info, determined to pry a little deeper. "Do you own a cat, senpai?"
And boom!
He actually replies, though it's not quite what I expected. "I don't. But I take care of stray cats… the ones at the shrine, too."
"Oh, wow! No wonder they look so well-cared-for."
"It's actually the monk who mostly takes care of them. I just stop by when I'm heading to school and back home."
Ladies and gentlemen, we have liftoff! This guy is actually engaging in a full-on chat!
Now that I really pay attention, senpai's voice, is surprisingly chill, almost like he's too lazy to bother talking. But there's something about it—like, if this guy sang, I bet his voice would be soothing. Honestly, I kinda dig it. And knowing that behind that cold, intimidating facade, he's feeding stray cats? That's… I don't know, it's like my heart's getting squeezed by something. I wanna know more—like what makes him laugh, what games he's into so we could play together, where he loves to hang out, and maybe… what kind of pastry he likes… maybe I could bake him something?
W-wait! What the fuck am I saying? Why do I sound like a lovesick schoolgirl fantasizing about us sharing an ice cream in matching Mickey Mouse headbands?
Dangerous territory, Tetsurou! Don't get carried away! This is how I end up like Sakamoto pining after Furuta.
Whack!
Something smacks the back of my head, making me groan and rub the spot as I turn around, only to see Itou standing there, a notebook rolled up in her hand, one brow raised in her classic "what-the-hell-are-you-doing" look.
"Ow, what the fuck, Itou?" I grumble, curling my lip like a kid caught doing something stupid.
"What are you doing? Lunch break's almost over," she says, but I'm more concerned with the fact that senpai is nowhere to be seen.
"Uh… wait— where'd he go?" I ask, scanning the area, hoping Itou's seen him.
But Itou just gives me another one of those looks. "Who?"
"Duh. Morikita-senpai, who else?"
She shrugs, casually. "Oh, he just walked past. You guys talk?"
"Yeah, kinda," I mutter, still feeling like my brain hasn't fully recovered from those stupid daydreams earlier. "We didn't talk much, but hey, turns out he's into cats."
For me, even a tiny conversation with senpai feels like a victory. But somehow, that's worth nothing to Itou. She raises her brows even higher and twists her lips into this sarcastic grin, like she's either mocking me or simply doesn't give a damn. Her expression screams cringe level: max.
"Geez, the fuck is with that look?" I curl my lips.
She leans against the bookshelf, arms crossed, her smirk growing. "Since when were you this hung up on anyone, let alone a guy? You didn't even fuss this much over me."
"Heh, jealous much?" I shoot back, half-joking.
"Ugh, please— spare me the cringe, Tete," she retorts, rolling her eyes, her smirk still plastered on her face. "Seriously, though, it's weird. You weren't even this obsessed when you started dating Miura because of the whole Horie-san thing."
Oh, that hits a nerve 'cause I couldn't figure it out myself either. Sure, I started following senpai around because of his connection to Horie-san, but… there's something else now, some weird pull that I can't shake off— like what's up with all those daydreams of us as this cute couple? Why the hell do I care so much about him?
Maybe Itou has an answer, who knows?
So, I lean in close, raising an eyebrow as I lower my voice, "Alright then, what's your theory? Why am I this obsessed?"
"Hm? Well, you're probably gay," she deadpans with the most nonchalant expression, like she's been waiting ages to drop that bomb on me.
Well, damn!
I don't even know what my face is doing right now, but judging by how Itou's smirking and patting my shoulder like she's sending me off to war before spinning on her heel to leave, I must look like a cartoon character that just got hit by a truck.
Yeah, her comment slams into me like a freaking freight train—totally not what I expected. But as I'm standing here, probably looking like I just saw a ghost, it starts to click. Oh shit, Itou might be right…
Am I swinging that way?