Tanaka Aoi was still thinking about the chocolate mint ice cream. That pale mint-colored bag that had fallen out of the bottom of her backpack. Ren hadn't said anything. He'd answered immediately with "I don't know" and quickened his pace. But Aoi knew for certain that he was the one who'd put it there. (Do cats really give gifts while sulking...?) While thinking such things and heading toward the classroom, Hinata came running from down the hallway. Ten days had passed since the transfer. It was Wednesday. Class 2-3 was lively as always today. Lunch break. "[excited]Kurosaki! Hey, hey, wanna walk home together after school?" Hinata approached Ren's desk, dimples showing as she spoke. Her aqua eyes sparkled. Aoi was right beside her. She'd come to return an eraser to Ren at exactly the right moment—perfectly positioned to hear everything. Ren looked at Hinata and tilted his head for just a moment. His face was the kind that processed what "walking home together" meant between humans—those subtle nuances. Like a cat pausing at a door before deciding to go outside. "[cold]Sure, whatever" He said it simply. The girls around them stirred. Hinata whispered a small "yes." Her dimples deepened. Aoi stood there, still holding the eraser. She should have said something. But the words caught in her throat and wouldn't come out. "[gentle]You coming too, Aoi?" Hinata turned back and asked. "[sad]...No, I have something to do" It was a lie. She had nothing to do at all. She placed the eraser on Ren's desk and returned to her seat. The afternoon classes began with the blackboard's writing not registering in her mind at all. --- After school. When she left the school gate, Ren wasn't there. Aoi paused for just a moment. For the past ten days, somehow Ren was always in front of the school gate. He'd come with new harassment ideas, report on his revenge list progress. It was annoying, but he was there. Today, he wasn't. She entered the arcade on Nakamise Street alone. When she passed the taiyaki shop "Kawase," the sweet smell of red bean paste drifted over. She remembered how Ren had frozen here the other day. At Kawase Genichiro's words—"Haven't we met somewhere?"—his golden eyes had wavered. That face. (It must be a memory from when he was a cat) She passed in front of the convenience store Daily Pop. The ice cream case was visible. The one where Ren always bought and ate first every time. Today no one was there. (...I thought he'd done it, but...) It felt boring somehow. (That's weird. It should be better without the harassment...) She got home and sat on the veranda. Evening light fell across the garden. She stared blankly at the spot where Kuro used to curl up. Winter afternoons, rounded up like a blanket, sunbathing. When she'd approach, he'd purr, but pretend to sleep, then purr again. (...I shouldn't think I'm lonely) Aoi hugged her knees. (He's a cat anyway. Hinata's my best friend. The two of them walking home together is normal...) Normal. Even though it was normal, there was a heavy weight deep in her stomach. --- The next morning, Thursday. The moment she entered the classroom, something felt off. "[excited]Wait, is it true they were together at the taiyaki shop yesterday!?" "[excited]There's an eyewitness report! They were lined up in front of Kawase!" "[sarcastic]Hold on, that's totally cutting in line in terms of the fan club..." The classroom was already a battlefield. Hinata was at the center, laughing with a slightly apologetic expression. Her dimples were showing as usual, but the corners of her eyes looked a little troubled. Aoi took her seat. "[gentle]Sorry, I couldn't say to keep it quiet" Hinata came over and said that. She was smiling. But in the next moment, her eyes changed to something slightly probing. "...Hey, Aoi" "What" "[gentle]Do you... maybe like Kurosaki too?" Aoi's face flushed instantly. "[surprised]N-No way!" "But—" "[angry]I don't care about him at all! He's just a housemate, or like, a cat, or, or anyway not at all!" Even as she said it, she didn't understand what she was saying anymore. "A cat?" "N-Never mind! Anyway I'm totally not interested!!" "I see. ...Yeah, that makes sense" Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn't ask anything more. Aoi turned her attention to her desk. At that moment, she didn't notice the classroom door on the hallway side was slightly open. --- Ren came into the classroom a few minutes later. The usual expressionless face. The usual black hair. But to Aoi, somehow, just slightly—the back of his eyes felt different. It disappeared immediately. "[sarcastic]I hid your eraser again" He said it casually, passing by the side of her seat. "[angry]Stop it already!" The words came out. Louder than she'd intended. Everyone around them flinched slightly. Hinata turned back. Ren said nothing. He just left the classroom silently. His back was slightly different from usual. He usually glances back when he goes into the hallway. Today, he didn't. Aoi didn't understand why. --- Night. She went out into the hallway to use the bathroom. It was dark and quiet. Aoi looked at the space in front of her room's door. —No one was there. He'd been there every night. Curled up, knees drawn in, small like a cat. When she'd put a blanket on him, he'd move slightly, then breathe softly in sleep. Tonight, the hallway was empty. Aoi stared at that empty floor for a while. Then she went downstairs. She knocked softly. "Ren?" There was a pause. "...What" His voice was low. "[gentle]Um, about today with Hinata—" "Whatever" He cut her off. Even through the door, she could tell he was turned away in his futon. "[cold]I don't care about you or anything" That voice was trembling slightly. Aoi tried to say something. But the words wouldn't come. She quietly closed the door. She went back to her room and got into bed. She couldn't sleep. Her chest ached tightly. Aoi didn't understand why it ached. But it definitely did. That trembling voice made it hurt even more. "[angry]Why would a cat sulk in the first place!!" She buried her face in her pillow and thrashed around. Kicked her legs, squirmed, finally calmed down. And then her chest tightened again. "...I don't care about you or anything"—when he said that, his voice had trembled. If he didn't care, he wouldn't tremble. Aoi realized this and buried her face in the pillow again. This time she didn't thrash. She just sat quietly with the ache in her chest. The photo of Kuro on the wall was barely visible in the darkness. His golden eyes seemed to be looking at her. Tomorrow, Ren would start avoiding Aoi. Somehow, she already knew that.