Chima-chan's After-School Love! ~The Cat-Eared Transfer Student is a Diva~ - The cat-eared diva and her worshipper, and the sound from next door.

Three days had passed since that commotion. Chima had sung in the Hanamizuki Plaza. Just that alone had become the talk of the entire school. "Hey, did you hear? Apparently people kept breaking down crying in the courtyard." "Seriously? What is that, some kind of curse?" "I don't know. But that transfer student's singing is supposed to be insane." Walking down the hallway, Haruto could hear those voices. (*Insane, huh.*) Haruto let out a quiet sigh in his heart. Certainly, that song had been "insane." The moment you heard it, tears wouldn't stop. You didn't even know why. It just felt like something warm was squeezing your chest, deep inside. (*That wasn't just a song.*) Haruto was certain of it. But he couldn't say that out loud. After all, he was just a library committee member, and Chima's caretaker. Nothing more, nothing less. After school. About ten minutes after the bell rang. Something unusual happened in Class 2-B. *Clatter.* The back door of the classroom quietly opened. "...Chima." A low, beautiful voice. The students still in the classroom all turned around at once. Standing there was a girl with long black hair. Glossy, straight hair reaching down to her waist. Narrow, sharp violet eyes. Long, slender limbs. The navy blazer of the school uniform looked impossibly good on her. "Yomi... Rena?" Someone murmured quietly. Yomi Rena. A second-year student called the most beautiful girl in school. Cool, never showing emotion. A perfect honor student. Boys called her "the unattainable flower," and girls said she was "unapproachable." That Rena was now standing at the classroom entrance. And her gaze was fixed straight ahead. "Chima...!" Rena's voice suddenly cracked. "Ahh, I finally found you! My princess...!" The next moment, Rena dashed straight through the classroom. Her destination: the small transfer student dozing off at a window seat. "Funya...?" Chima raised her head, rubbing her eyes. "Eh, what, what?" "Chimaaa...! I've wanted to see you so badly...!" Rena wrapped Chima's small body in a tight embrace. "Funyaaaa!?" Chima's cat ears stood straight up in surprise. "W-wait, I can't breathe...!" "I'm sorry, I was just so happy. Because ever since that day, I've thought of nothing but you." Rena said in a dreamy voice, burying her face in Chima's hair. "Th-that day?" "The Hanamizuki Plaza. I heard you sing. In that moment, my world changed. I'd never heard such a beautiful voice in my life. It was as if light descended from heaven." "U-um... thank you?" Chima's eyes darted around in confusion while still being held. (*What is this situation.*) Haruto stared blankly at the scene from his seat. (*That's Yomi Rena, right?*) (*The one rumored to always be expressionless and never talk to anyone.*) That Rena was now clinging to Chima, eyes sparkling. "Chima, your cat ears are truly adorable. May I touch them?" "Eh, ah, yes...?" Having received permission, Rena gently reached out to Chima's cat ears. "Funya!" Chima's body twitched. "Ahh... so soft. And warm, too. They feel so real." "Th-they ARE real..." "They are? That makes them even more wonderful. This fur, this shape—perfection. Chima, you are a work of art created by God." Rena gently stroked the base of Chima's cat ears with her fingertips. "Funyaa... that tickles..." Chima squirmed, but Rena wouldn't let go. "Bear with it. I'm engraving your adorableness into my memory right now." (*Don't engrave it into your memory.*) Haruto retorted in his head. (*More importantly, what are you two doing in the classroom?*) The surrounding students were also staring at the scene, mouths agape. "Um... Yomi-san?" Haruto gathered his courage and spoke up. "...What is it." Rena's voice turned ice-cold in an instant. The meltingly sweet voice from moments ago was nowhere to be found. "No, I mean, Chima seems to be in trouble..." "That has nothing to do with you." Still holding Chima, Rena glared sharply at Haruto. Her violet eyes gleamed like ice. "You're Ayase Haruto, aren't you. The library committee member who's supposedly Chima's caretaker." "...Yeah, I suppose." "I'll say it clearly. You are an enemy targeting Chima. From today on, I forbid you from approaching her." "Huh?" Haruto couldn't help but ask again. "Enemy? How does that even make sense? I was just asked by Shiraishi-sensei to—" "The reason doesn't matter. You are by Chima's side. That alone makes you my enemy." Rena continued glaring at Haruto, as if hiding Chima behind her. "Wait, Rena-chan, hold on!" Chima wriggled in Rena's arms. "Haruto-kun is my caretaker, you know? He's really kind." "A caretaker is unnecessary. I will take care of Chima from now on." "But without Haruto-kun, I get lost in the school." "It's fine, Chima. I'll take you anywhere you need to go. Holding your hand, never letting go." "Funya... but Haruto-kun is someone important to me..." "Ayase Haruto." Rena pointed at Haruto. "I hear you can play piano. That you've been accompanying Chima's singing on the rooftop." "...How do you know that?" "I've researched everything about Chima. Obviously." (*Is that obvious?*) Haruto delivered a massive retort in his head. (*More like, isn't that just stalking?*) "Do you actually believe someone like you could support Chima's singing with your accompaniment? How presumptuous." "Presumptuous, you say..." "A duel." Rena suddenly declared. "...What?" "Face me in a contest. Arm wrestling." "Arm wrestling!?" Haruto let out a bewildered shout. "W-wait. How did it come to this?" "A contest wagering the right to protect Chima. If I win, you will never approach her again. If you win... well, that won't happen." "So you have no intention of losing." "Obviously. I'm certainly stronger than you." Rena said with absolute confidence. "Funya... Rena-chan, arm wrestling is a little..." Chima tugged anxiously at Rena's sleeve. "It's fine, Chima. I'll end this quickly. I'll prove this man's incompetence right before your eyes." "Incompetence, you..." "Come on, hurry up and put your elbow on that desk." Rena jerked her chin toward Haruto's desk. (*Why has it come to this?*) Haruto sighed inwardly for the umpteenth time. (*I was supposed to practice with Chima on the rooftop after school.*) "...Fine. I just have to do it, right? I'll do it." Haruto resigned himself and sat down at the desk. "Good attitude. Then, let's begin." Rena sat across from him and placed her right elbow on the desk. "...Chima, sorry about this." Haruto quietly apologized to Chima, who was watching worriedly beside him. "No. Haruto-kun, do your best..." Chima clasped her hands in front of her chest as if in prayer. (*Do my best, huh.*) (*My opponent is the most beautiful girl in school.*) (*I have to hold her hand...?*) Haruto looked at Rena's white, slender hand. "What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and take my hand." "...Fine." Haruto took Rena's hand. Cold. It was a hand as cold as ice. (*Is this girl even human?*) "Here we go. Ready... set..." "Wait, I'm not mentally prepared yet—" "Too slow." *Grip!* Suddenly, an intense force tried to slam Haruto's hand down. "Whoa!?" (*What is this strength!?*) It was power unimaginable from Rena's slender arm. (*This is bad, I'm going to lose...!*) Haruto desperately held on. "Hmph... you're more persistent than I expected." Rena pressed down on Haruto's hand with a composed expression. "...Are you really a girl?" "How rude. I am a proper woman. I just never skip self-defense training and strength conditioning." (*To protect Chima...?*) (*Is that determination what's become this strength?*) Haruto's hand was slowly, steadily being pushed toward the desk. "Haruto-kun...!" He could hear Chima's worried voice. (*Damn it...!*) (*At this rate, I'll lose.*) (*If I lose, I can't approach Chima?*) (*...I don't want that.*) Something began to well up inside Haruto's heart. (*It's not because I'm her caretaker, or anything like that.*) (*I want to hear her sing more.*) (*I want to see her smile more.*) "...I can't afford to lose." Haruto clenched his teeth. "UOOOOHHH!!" *SLAM!!* Haruto mustered his remaining strength and pushed back against Rena's hand. "Wh—!?" Rena's violet eyes flew wide open. (*I can do this...!*) Haruto kept going and slammed Rena's hand onto the desk in one motion. "...That's the match." Haruto said, breathing heavily. "...I can't believe it." Rena stared blankly at her own hand. "I... lost...?" "Yaaay! Haruto-kun, that was amazing!!" Chima bounced up and down with joy. "...Well, Chima's happy about it, so I guess it's fine." Haruto smiled slightly. "...I don't accept this." Rena said in a low voice. "Eh?" "This was just arm wrestling. It has nothing to do with the right to protect Chima." "You're the one who brought it up..." "That was merely a preliminary test to measure your ability. For the real thing, I'll send you a formal challenge letter another time." Rena stood up, flipping the hem of her skirt. "I'll let you off for today. But remember this: I am the only one who can protect Chima." "...Yeah, yeah." Haruto responded half-heartedly. "Chima, I'll come see you again tomorrow. Don't forget about me until then." Rena gently patted Chima's head. "Funya. Okay, I understand." Chima nodded obediently. "Until then, my princess...!" Rena blew a kiss to Chima and left the classroom. Left behind were an exhausted Haruto and a bewildered Chima. "...What was that just now." Haruto slumped over his desk. "Funya. Rena-chan is an interesting girl, isn't she." Chima smiled cheerfully. "'Interesting' is all you have to say about that...?" "But she told me she likes me so passionately, you know? That makes me happy." "...Well, if you're fine with it, I guess it's fine." Haruto lifted his head. "More importantly, Haruto-kun." "Hm?" "I'm hungry." Chima rubbed her stomach. "...You were just being hugged a minute ago. And that's your reaction?" "But I'm hungry. Ah, do you think the school store still has anpan?" Chima started to patter toward the classroom door. "Hey, wait. Weren't we supposed to practice on the rooftop now?" "Can't we buy anpan first?" Chima tilted her head. "...Fine. School store first." Haruto grabbed his bag and stood up. (*Honestly, this girl is way too carefree.*) Even as he retorted in his head, the corners of Haruto's mouth relaxed slightly. At the school store "Kobato Shop," Chima bought the Seiran anpan she'd been wanting. "Funyaa... so delicious...!" Chima held the anpan in both hands and happily stuffed her cheeks. "Good for you." Haruto bought his own bread and a drink. "Haruto-kun, want a bite?" "...No, I'm fine. You eat all of it." "But it's really good, you know? The red bean paste is sweet, and the bread is so fluffy..." "I get it, so hurry up and eat. We're going to the rooftop." Haruto lightly pushed Chima's back. "Funya. But I wanted to eat a little more slowly..." Chima pouted, but followed after Haruto. The two headed toward the emergency staircase at the east end of the school building. This staircase was officially off-limits, but the door lock was broken, and students secretly came and went. The rooftop that had been Haruto's secret place. Now it had become a secret practice spot for him and Chima. "...Hm?" Walking down the fourth-floor hallway, Haruto suddenly stopped. "What's wrong, Haruto-kun?" "...Do you hear a piano?" Haruto strained his ears. He could definitely hear it. A beautiful piano melody. Coming from the direction of the individual practice rooms in the music department area at the far end of the fourth floor. "...Amazing." Haruto caught his breath. (*Professional level.*) (*And a high one at that.*) Flowing fingerwork. Perfect pitch. And above all, emotion riding on every note. "...Who is it?" Haruto slowly walked toward the sound. "Haruto-ku

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Episode 3

Name: Chima-chan's After-School Love! ~The Cat-Eared Transfer Student is a Diva~
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