Under the dim streetlights, the air itself seemed to freeze.
The steady hum of the vending machine echoed clearly through the silent street.
Beside Fujiwara Ai’s feet, the black-and-white Holstein cat shamelessly rubbed against his pant leg while letting out sweet purring sounds.
It even rolled over and exposed its belly, trying its hardest to seduce this two-legged creature radiating lethal charm.
Standing opposite him was the famous “Untouchable Flower of Sobu High School,” Yukinoshita Yukino, who was currently frozen stiff while holding out a cat treat stick.
Her slender pale fingers had already slightly deformed the expensive imported cat treat package from gripping it too tightly.
Within her clear, icy eyes swirled a complicated mixture of surprise, frustration, and a faint sense of doubt toward her own charm.
“This cat…”
Yukino took a slow breath, trying her best to maintain her composure, but the slight tremble at the end of her sentence still betrayed her emotions.
“…seems to have rather unique tastes.”
“Perhaps.”
Fujiwara Ai lowered his gaze toward the utterly infatuated “perverted cat” at his feet and crouched down helplessly.
The moment he moved, the cat became even more excited.
It immediately placed both front paws onto his knees, pink nose twitching while approaching his hand, even boldly trying to lick his fingers.
“It just likes attractive people.”
Fujiwara Ai casually stated the truth.
After all, the description of the 85-point Charm skill [Succubus Aura (Pseudo)] clearly mentioned that animals would actively approach him.
This cat was obviously also a shameless face-con.
Yukino’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
The statement sounded narcissistic, yet under the current lighting, Fujiwara Ai’s flawless appearance somehow made it impossible to refute.
“What a superficial creature.”
Yukino coldly commented while retracting the hand holding the cat treat, clearly preparing to leave.
Since the cat refused to acknowledge her, there was no point in humiliating herself further.
At that moment, the system notification suddenly appeared.
[Ding!
Random Side Quest Triggered: The Furry Lover Beneath the Iceberg]
[Quest Description: Yukinoshita Yukino may appear cold and sharp-tongued, but she is actually an incurable cat lover.
Unfortunately, she possesses a special constitution called “being disliked by cats.” She is currently suffering from the emotional state known as “wanting to pet but being unable to.”]
[Quest Objective: Use your animal affinity to help her successfully pet the cat.]
[Quest Rewards: Yukinoshita Yukino Favorability Unlocked, Skill: [Cat Language Proficiency (Beginner)], Charm +1 (Progressing further toward a non-human domain).]
Fujiwara Ai silently sighed after reading the system panel.
This system really refuses to spare even cats.
Still, when he noticed the faint loneliness hidden in Yukino’s departing back and the subtle reluctance in the sidelong glance she cast toward the cat, he eventually spoke.
“Wait.”
Yukino stopped walking and turned halfway around, arms crossing defensively in front of her chest.
“Is there something else?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You…
aren’t wearing a school uniform.”
Her observation skills were as sharp as ever.
Even though Fujiwara Ai wore only casual clothes and a cap, she still accurately recognized him as a student around her age.
“It wants that.”
Fujiwara Ai pointed toward the cat treat in her hand.
“But it refused to eat earlier.”
Yukino frowned lightly.
“That’s because you were feeding it incorrectly.”
Fujiwara Ai spoke with complete seriousness despite clearly making things up.
The real reason was simply that the cat had been completely distracted by his charm earlier.
Now that he was here, the cat would naturally cooperate with anything in order to gain his favor.
He gently scratched beneath the Holstein cat’s chin.
“Meow~”
The cat immediately let out a long satisfied purr while narrowing its eyes comfortably.
“Come here.”
Fujiwara Ai looked toward Yukino calmly.
His voice carried an inexplicable force that naturally guided others.
“Hold out your hand.”
Yukino hesitated briefly.
Logic told her she should leave immediately and avoid getting involved with this strange, somewhat dangerous boy.
But as an extreme cat lover, watching the previously arrogant cat become this obedient and angelic beneath Fujiwara Ai’s touch rooted her firmly in place.
The desire of “I also want to pet it” easily overwhelmed her pride.
Slowly, she walked back and crouched beside him.
The distance between them shortened to less than half a meter.
Fujiwara Ai could smell the faint citrus fragrance lingering on her body, cool and refreshing like spring air.
Meanwhile, Yukino inevitably became enveloped by the cold yet profound aura radiating from Fujiwara Ai under the enhancement of his overwhelming charm.
Her heartbeat unconsciously quickened.
“Your hand.”
Fujiwara Ai extended his left hand, palm upward.
Yukino froze slightly before unconsciously placing her own hand into his, almost as though hypnotized.
Her fingers were slender and cool, though slightly stiff from nervousness.
The moment their skin touched, both of them paused subtly.
Fujiwara Ai did not actually hold her hand.
Instead, he lightly supported the back of it and slowly guided her toward the cat.
“Relax.”
His low voice sounded especially magnetic within the quiet night.
Yukino held her breath while watching her fingertips slowly approach the fluffy little head.
Under Fujiwara Ai’s soothing touch, the cat no longer rejected her.
Instead, it actively rubbed itself against Yukino’s fingertip.
Soft.
Warm.
At that moment, the frost lingering within Yukino’s eyes seemed to melt slightly.
“…I touched it.”
She muttered absentmindedly.
The corners of her lips unconsciously curved upward into an incredibly faint yet genuine smile.
There was no coldness in that smile, no sharpness or defensive sarcasm.
Only the softness belonging to an ordinary girl.
Fujiwara Ai quietly observed her side profile.
Through [Gods Eye], he could clearly see that the pale blue aura surrounding Yukino, previously as cold as frozen snow, now carried a faint trace of pink.
“You can feed it now.”
Fujiwara Ai released her hand at the perfect moment.
Yukino immediately snapped back to reality.
Her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment as she hurriedly opened the cat treat and fed the cat that had finally acknowledged her existence.
“Th…
thank you.”
Her voice became so quiet it was nearly drowned out by the wind.
“You’re welcome.”
Fujiwara Ai stood up and casually brushed the dust from his pants.
The quest was complete.
He had no intention of lingering.
For someone like Yukinoshita Yukino, excessive enthusiasm would only create resistance.
This sort of perfectly timed “passing encounter” was the most effective strategy.
“I’m leaving.”
He lowered the brim of his cap slightly before turning away into the night.
Yukino remained crouched there while staring at his departing figure, still holding the half-finished cat treat.
“…That silhouette.”
She frowned faintly.
Although she hadn’t clearly seen his face earlier due to the darkness and his cap, the unique aura surrounding him felt strangely familiar.
“I feel like…
I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
“Meow?”
After finishing the treat, the Holstein cat lightly pawed at her knee as though asking where the handsome two-legged human had gone.
Yukino unconsciously looked down at the back of her hand.
It still seemed to retain the warmth from earlier.
“What a strange person…”
She murmured softly, her expression growing slightly complicated.
[Ding!
Quest “The Furry Lover Beneath the Iceberg” completed successfully.]
[Rewards Distributed: Yukinoshita Yukino Favorability +10 (Current: 10/100).]
[Skill Acquired: [Cat Language Proficiency (Beginner)]]
[Charm +1 (Current: 86).]
…
Back at the apartment.
The moment Fujiwara Ai opened the door, he instantly felt a heavy atmosphere pressing against him.
Although the lights were bright and a comedy variety show played on television, the oppressive sensation filling the apartment resembled the calm before a storm, immediately activating his [Malice Perception].
On the sofa sat Yotsuya Miko with her knees drawn against her chest, wearing his oversized white shirt.
She wasn’t watching the television at all.
Instead, she stared directly toward the entrance.
The light within her amber eyes flickered dangerously.
“Ai-kun.”
Her voice sounded sweet, but there was unmistakable chill hidden beneath it.
“…You smell strange.”
Fujiwara Ai paused while changing his shoes.
Smell again?
What kind of nose does this girl possess?
At this point, it was sharper than the Holstein cat from earlier.
“What smell?”
He calmly walked into the living room and placed down his school bag.
Miko immediately crawled across the sofa with catlike agility and approached him closely, carefully sniffing around him.
At first, her brows furrowed slightly.
Then her expression relaxed a little.
But immediately afterward, it became even more suspicious.
“It’s not perfume…”
She muttered quietly.
“It’s…
the smell of an animal.”
“…And a very faint citrus scent.”
Fujiwara Ai felt inwardly alarmed.
Animal smell referred to the cat.
Citrus scent referred to Yukino.
She can even smell that?
This was no longer ordinary yandere behavior.
This was practically a reincarnated police dog.
“I met a stray cat on the roadside.”
Fujiwara Ai selectively explained half the truth.
“It rubbed against me a few times.”
“A cat?”
Miko raised her head suspiciously.
“Only a cat?”
“Then what about the citrus smell?
Do stray cats wear perfume now?”
“That…”
Fujiwara Ai’s mind spun rapidly.
“That’s the smell from the cat treats.”
“Lemon flavor.”
“…”
Miko stared at him silently for three entire seconds.
Then she suddenly smiled brightly.
“So that’s what it was.”
She wrapped both arms around Fujiwara Ai’s waist and buried her face against his chest.
“You scared me.
I thought Ai-kun found another woman outside.”
“But…”
Her fingers slowly slid upward along his back before gently stroking the nape of his neck.
Her tone suddenly changed.
“Cats aren’t allowed either.”
“Even female cats aren’t allowed.”
“The only scent permitted on Ai-kun’s body…
is mine.”
After saying that, she stood on tiptoe and lightly bit down on his collarbone.
“Hiss…”
Fujiwara Ai inhaled sharply.
This girl was becoming increasingly skilled.
“Go take a shower.”
Miko released him and stared happily at the red bite mark left behind.
“Wash away all those stray cat smells completely.”
“And afterward…”
She leaned close to his ear, warm breath brushing against his skin as her voice became slightly husky.
“Tonight…
you’ll have to properly comfort my frightened heart.”
Fujiwara Ai looked into her moist eyes and sighed helplessly.
Tonight clearly wouldn’t involve much sleep again.
“Understood.”
He rubbed her hair lightly.
“I’m going to shower.”
…
The next morning at Sobu High School.
The moment Fujiwara Ai entered the classroom, he sensed the atmosphere felt somewhat different.
The girls still whispered and secretly stared at him with burning eyes as usual, but there was now an additional layer of gossip mixed into the atmosphere.
“Hey, did you hear?
Someone saw Fujiwara-kun near the abandoned park yesterday…”
“Really?
With who?”
“I heard it was some short-haired girl sitting on a concrete pipe…”
“Could it be that weird girl who’s always talking to herself?”
Fujiwara Ai calmly walked toward his seat.
So his encounter with Takamatsu Tomori yesterday had still been noticed.
Still, it wasn’t a major issue.
After all, Tomori possessed almost zero presence within the school and was widely viewed as a strange denpa girl.
It likely wouldn’t create much commotion.
The moment he sat down, Miko immediately turned around from the seat in front of him.
Dark circles faintly lingered beneath her eyes, clearly caused by last night’s “comfort session” becoming excessive, yet her mood looked unusually good.
“Ai-kun, good morning.”
She smiled brightly while naturally handing him a warm bottle of milk.
“Morning.”
Fujiwara Ai accepted it calmly.
“Um…”
Miko seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
At that moment, loud commotion suddenly erupted near the classroom entrance.
“Whoa!
It’s Kitagawa-san!”
“Why is she here?!”
Kitagawa Marin energetically rushed into the classroom while holding her phone, heading directly toward Fujiwara Ai.
“Fujiwara-san!
Fujiwara-san!”
Her loud voice instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
“Look!
My tweet blew up!”
She excitedly shoved her phone screen toward him.
On the screen was a photo from Sunday’s Comic Convention.
Marin wore the exquisite Kuroe Shizuku cosplay outfit while smiling brilliantly beneath the camera lights.
Behind her, partially hidden within the shadows, stood a masked boy wearing a cap.
Although his face couldn’t be clearly seen, the cool and aloof aura surrounding him practically leaked through the image itself. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The caption read:
[Thanks to my exclusive tailor and bodyguard!
The costume turned out perfectly!
Master is amazing!]
The comments had already exploded.
[Holy crap!
Who’s that guy in the background?!]
[Even without seeing his face I bet he’s ridiculously handsome!]
[That aura…
I’m in love.]
[Boyfriend perspective?!
Marin-chan is definitely in love!]
Fujiwara Ai immediately felt a headache forming.
This was exactly why he disliked Comic Convention events.
“Marin.”
Before Fujiwara Ai could respond, a soft voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Miko stood up with a terrifyingly gentle smile.
“The person in the photo…
if you didn’t specifically mention Ai-kun, people probably wouldn’t recognize him, right?”
“But now you’ve made such a huge fuss and ran directly here…”
Her smile became even sweeter.
“Are you afraid people won’t know it’s him?”
Marin froze.
Looking into Miko’s smiling yet completely emotionless eyes, she instinctively sensed danger.
“Ah…
well…
I just got excited!”
Marin awkwardly scratched her cheek.
“Besides, everyone is praising how cool Fujiwara-san looks!
Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Too many flies gathering around him isn’t a good thing.”
Miko replied meaningfully while glancing toward the surrounding girls eavesdropping nearby.
The scent of another Shuraba instantly spread across Class 2-F.
Just as the atmosphere between the two girls became increasingly dangerous, footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Immediately afterward, a cold and elegant voice sounded from the doorway.
“Excuse me.”
The entire classroom fell silent.
Standing at the entrance was Yukinoshita Yukino.
She held several documents in her hands while wearing her immaculate school uniform, carrying herself with the noble elegance of a swan.
Her gaze swept calmly across the classroom before finally stopping on Fujiwara Ai sitting between Marin and Miko.
The moment she saw his face, her eyes flickered slightly.
So it really was him.
The strange boy from yesterday who fed the cat.
Although he had worn a cap yesterday beneath the dim lights, seeing his real face now made that familiar sensation even stronger.
“Fujiwara Ai-kun.”
Yukino spoke calmly with detached professionalism.
“Hiratsuka-sensei wants to see you in the staff office.”
“Immediately.”
Fujiwara Ai looked slightly surprised.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was looking for him?
Because his recent popularity had become excessive?
Or perhaps…
He slowly stood up.
“Understood.”
He glanced briefly toward Miko and Marin, who still looked ready for battle.
“I’m leaving.”
After saying that, he walked toward the door.
As he passed Yukino, their eyes briefly met.
Fujiwara Ai activated [Gods Eye].
He immediately noticed that Yukino’s gaze wasn’t focused on his face at all.
Instead, it subtly drifted toward his hand.
The same hand that had supported hers while helping her pet the cat last night.
[Ding!
Yukinoshita Yukino’s attention detected.]
[Favorability slightly increased: +2 (Current: 12/100).]
[Current internal thought: That hand…
seems perfectly suited for petting cats.]
The corner of Fujiwara Ai’s mouth twitched faintly.
So in your eyes, I’m just an advanced cat toy?
“Lead the way.”
He spoke flatly.
Yukino nodded before turning around and walking ahead.
The two figures moved one behind the other through the hallway, instantly attracting countless sidelong glances.
One was the newly risen prince of Sobu High School.
The other was the famous untouchable flower.
Together, the image looked unreal.
“…That cat.”
Yukino suddenly spoke while walking ahead without turning around.
“What happened to it afterward?”
“It left.”
Fujiwara Ai answered calmly.
“…I see.”
Her voice remained emotionally restrained.
“Stray cats like that…
if nobody takes them in, it must be lonely.”
“You wanted to adopt it?”
Fujiwara Ai asked.
Yukino’s steps paused slightly.
“I wanted to.”
A trace of regret entered her tone.
“But my apartment doesn’t allow pets.”
“And…”
She glanced sideways at him.
“It seemed to like you more.”
Her gaze carried subtle unwillingness and a faint resentment she herself hadn’t noticed.
“Fujiwara-kun.”
She looked at him quietly.
“Do you possess some kind of strange attraction?”
“Not only toward cats.”
“But toward people too.”
It was both a test and an intuitive observation from an intelligent girl.
Fujiwara Ai met her gaze.
He didn’t directly answer.
Instead, the corners of his lips curved upward into a meaningful smile.
“Who knows.”
“Maybe I’m just naturally likable.”
Yukino froze.
She clearly hadn’t expected such an icy person to say something so shamelessly narcissistic.
But after seeing that smile…
Her cheeks uncontrollably turned red again.
“H-How narcissistic.”
She quickly turned away and accelerated her pace.
“Hurry up.
Hiratsuka-sensei is waiting.”
Watching her slightly flustered back, amusement quietly deepened within Fujiwara Ai’s eyes.
It seemed that even an iceberg could not remain completely unaffected before absolute charm.