"Eh, Teacher Hiratsuka, is that my business now?" Renji Kamisaka's voice broke the tense silence in the teacher's office.
Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed, a gesture that showed her surrender. "Alright, you two go back first."
"Okay." Renji Kamisaka nodded, then looked at the cat, now calm in Yukinoshita Yukino's embrace.
"Um, Yukinoshita-san, my cat..." Renji began, a little awkwardly.
"How do you plan to take them back?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked seriously, her blue eyes fixed intently on Renji.
"Use a school bag. That's all we can do."
"Can your school bag hold three cats?"
"It's still possible if we try," Renji smiled faintly.
"No, I'll go with you later!" Yukino declared, her tone firm.
"Huh? You're coming to my house?" Renji was slightly surprised.
"Why? Am I not welcome?" there was a challenging note in her voice.
"No, you're welcome."
Just like that, Yukinoshita Yukino decided their next travel plan, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Shizuka Hiratsuka stared at the well-matched pair, a sight that somehow reminded her of her own failed blind date. Suddenly, she felt a piercing wave of jealousy.
She waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing a pair of lovers from her sight, and said, "Yukinoshita, Renji Kamisaka, you two should go back first." Shizuka sighed. "By the way, Yukinoshita, I will seriously consider your application for the club. Great people are indeed qualified to establish clubs."
"Alright, thank you, Teacher Hiratsuka." Yukinoshita Yukino thanked her politely, then turned to look at Renji Kamisaka. "Let's go."
"Oh," Renji replied simply.
"Goodbye, Teacher Hiratsuka."
Shizuka Hiratsuka merely waved her hand dismissively, still shrouded in mixed feelings.
On their way, Renji Kamisaka and Yukinoshita Yukino remained silent. The atmosphere between them was a little melancholic for a moment, accompanied only by the sound of footsteps and the wind.
After a long time, Yukinoshita Yukino stopped, her beautiful, serene face looking at Renji seriously. "Student Renji, do you have a secret?"
"Huh? What secret?" Renji feigned confusion, furrowing his brow.
Yukinoshita Yukino's face flushed slightly, and she felt a little embarrassed. "It's the secret to getting cats to like you."
"Well, there doesn't seem to be such a secret. I don't even know why cats like to stick to me," Renji said casually, but inwardly, he knew. However, he would never tell anyone about props like the cat bag. How else would I trick Miss Yukinoshita if I told others about it?
"An enviable man," Yukinoshita Yukino snorted coldly, gritting her teeth and turning her head away, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Renji Kamisaka held back his laughter and said, "I see you, Yukinoshita, you really like cats."
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't deny it, a small nod serving as her answer. Renji Kamisaka fell silent for a moment.
"But, are you really going to my house?" Renji asked again, making sure.
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded slightly and said seriously, "Don't misunderstand. I just don't feel comfortable with you taking three cats home alone." There was a note of concern in her voice.
"I know." Renji Kamisaka waved his hand and continued to speak naturally. "Excuse me, Yukinoshita-san, are you going to apply to establish a club?"
"Impossible?" Yukinoshita Yukino retorted with a cold face, her expression returning to her usual demeanor. She didn't want to be too enthusiastic or too gentle towards boys. If people misunderstood her, it would lead to unnecessary trouble.
"Of course, I just think that a club established by someone as beautiful as Yukinoshita would definitely be popular," Renji said to himself, as if it were a simple fact.
"Why do you think so? Will you be popular if you're beautiful?" Yukino couldn't help but ask back, a little surprised.
"Generally, yes. Who doesn't like pretty girls?" Renji Kamisaka said lightly, a faint smile on his lips.
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed. "Go back, send the cat home, and I'll leave." She clearly didn't want to say anything more.
Renji Kamisaka shrugged indifferently and didn't press the conversation. Anyway, we just met, and the impression I left is already good, that's enough, he thought, satisfied with this small progress.
When they arrived at Sakurasou, Yukinoshita Yukino gazed at the beautiful scenery formed by the surrounding cherry trees and fluttering petals, a captivating sight. She couldn't help but show genuine surprise.
"You live here?" she asked, her voice slightly disbelieving.
"Yes, this is Sakurasou. Next to it is a school called Suimei University of the Arts High School," Renji explained. "What's wrong? Is this place not good?"
"No, I was just sighing, it's so beautiful here," Yukino replied, her eyes radiating admiration. Compared to the cold high-rise building where she lived alone, this place seemed cozy and full of warmth. After setting the cat down, she began to daydream, staring at the cherry blossom petals fluttering in the wind.
"Would you like to come in and sit down? Now that you're here," Renji Kamisaka couldn't resist offering an invitation.
"Alright, let's go in then." Yukinoshita Yukino especially wanted to see what the cats' living environment was like.
As soon as they reached the first floor, Chihiro Sengoku couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw Renji Kamisaka bringing back a super cute girl. "Renji boy, is this your girlfriend? You're not chasing Mahiru anymore?" she teased, a mischievous smile on her lips.
Renji Kamisaka spread his hands helplessly. "This is Yukinoshita-san. We're just classmates."
"Is someone here?" A gentle voice chimed. Shiina Mahiru, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen, surprised to see the two of them.
"You're Yukinoshita-san, right?" Mahiru asked innocently.
"Are you Shiina-san?" Yukinoshita Yukino was also surprised. She hadn't expected to see Shiina Mahiru, who ranked first in their class, here.
After a moment, Yukinoshita Yukino and Shiina Mahiru sat facing each other in the cozy living room. Upon hearing Yukinoshita Yukino's reason for coming—because of the cat—Shiina Mahiru showed an expression of surprise. "Student Renji didn't bring his cats this morning, so did they really run to school themselves? That's amazing." Yukinoshita Yukino seemed envious. She also wished she had some kind of "aura" that cats gravitated towards, making the furry creatures comfortable around her.
"Um, excuse me, Shiina-san, are you dating Renji-san?" Yukino asked, her voice slightly hesitant.
"Ah? No." Shiina Mahiru quickly shook her head. "Renji is the owner of Sakurasou. My cousin is the manager, Teacher Chihiro Sengoku. Thanks to her introduction, I ended up living in Sakurasou." She explained with a sincere smile. "Renji and I just happen to live together in Sakurasou. We happen to be in the same class, sit at the same desk, serve as class representatives together, and go to school together."
Yukinoshita Yukino was dumbfounded. This isn't just a coincidence anymore, is it? It's simply fate determined by heaven. But... "Renji is actually the owner of Sakurasou?"
"Yes, not only that, he's also the second-best student in his class."
The two girls began to chat about Renji Kamisaka, a topic that unexpectedly brought them together. Perhaps because they were both exceptionally beautiful girls and top students in their class, they found it easy to converse with each other. More importantly, Shiina Mahiru was very good at conversation, in a naive yet captivating way. So Yukinoshita Yukino was truly swept into her rhythm, and the atmosphere grew even better. From this perspective, Shiina Mahiru was more suited to be a girlfriend.
At the end of their conversation, Yukinoshita Yukino still felt a little unsatisfied. Unlike her own sister, who unconsciously made her wary when too close, Shiina Mahiru treated her as an ordinary classmate and wouldn't target her. Therefore, Yukinoshita Yukino also began to like Shiina Mahiru. This might be an angel's affinity, she thought. Although her family situation wasn't good and her parents didn't favor her, the Angel never gave up on trying to improve herself. Perhaps she hoped that one day her parents would see how well-behaved she was and that she would be able to return home and receive its warmth.
In the end, Yukinoshita Yukino still had to leave. Renji Kamisaka followed.
"Let me walk you," Renji offered, not waiting for her to speak. "Don't rush to refuse. There are bad people lurking around here. Do you know the librarian from Sobu High?" He paused, then added, "She lives nearby. Last time, she was surrounded by some bad guys, and I saved her."
Despite this, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't refuse his kindness. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. After all, you came all this way just for my cats, so I have to make sure you get to your car safely."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at his gentle smile, pursed her lips, and finally said nothing more. In short, she had a rather good impression of Renji Kamisaka, an impression that might change many things in the future.