V1 - Chapter 2

Volume 1 - The Abandoned Kitten, Her, and Me.

Chapter 2

After leaving the park, we turned right along a narrow road that goes up a hill. The area we passed through had a consistent design, a tract housing kind of feel, though it wouldn't be appropriate to describe it as such. My house was situated in a corner of this residential area.

There was no garden and my bicycle was parked alone in the empty driveway next to the entrance. It's a 4LDK, and although each room was not very spacious, my father said that each family member had their own private spaces. My parents fell in love with the price and layout during a housing tour that was more like a date, so we ended up moving during my awkward third year of middle school when I didn't want to change schools due to club activities and exams, but thankfully we were within commuting distance by train, which at that time became a bit of funny joke.

"Can you wait here for a bit? Actually, it'd be very rude of me to just make you stand in front of the house, so why don't you come in? I want to take the kitten to the vet as soon as possible, so I think just taking my wallet would be fine, but since I'm done going out on a jog, I want to change clothes or at least wear a jacket."

"Ah, then I'll wait by the door. By the way, do we not have to tell your parents about you taking care of the kitten? Also, shouldn't I at least greet them?"

"It's fine. Besides, I'm the only one here now, so you don't have to worry too much."

"I see. Bringing a girl to an empty house without parents around, this changes my impression of you more and more, Satou-kun. So, on top of being kind, are you perhaps also a lady-killer? Or perhaps you're just pretending to be sincere and honest while actually being a frivolous playboy?"

"Even though you're damaging my image, you're actually making me laugh."

While having such an exchange with Minamino-san, I unlocked the door and invited her inside. 

Thanks for having me, she said while curiously looking around. I left her at the front door and hurriedly went upstairs. My room was on the left side, just up the staircase from the front door.

After entering my room, I noticed my uniform I had taken off earlier when I got home and my wallet lying on the floor. I picked them up, hastily donned my jacket, and made my way downstairs. As I reached the front door, I saw a pretty girl sitting there, talking to a kitten and saying, "You'll feel better soon."

I can see why she's popular. How do I say this, there was something about her beyond just her cuteness, she had a certain charm.

Moreover, I felt that she seemed to be good at maintaining a comfortable distance—not too close to make me feel uncomfortable, but not too distant to be impersonal. However, I could also feel that there was something strange from her, although I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

Oh, well. Isn't it just something you feel when you meet someone for the first time?

"Sorry for making you wait, let's go. Also, don't you feel cold, Minamino-san?"

Though it was far from winter, it was starting to feel chilly as the sun began to set.

Amidst this, I wondered if she was cold in her short skirt, so I looked at her sitting there and asked.

"Hmm? It's okay even if it's cold, I look cuter this way," she replied, holding a kitten in one hand and lightly lifting the hem of her skirt with the other in front of me.

As she did that, my eyes couldn't find something it could safely land on. Seeing my state, she laughed.

"It's fine, you know? I'm actually wearing short leggings, see."

"I don't know what that is and I am not so bold as to look at it directly."

"A gentleman, huh? Or are you just a wuss?"

"I prefer the former."

While saying that, I went outside and locked the door. I looked at the watch on my left arm. It was 4:30 PM. There was still time before the sun completely set, but I wanted to hurry considering what comes after. 

"Let's go, the clinic should be around the station if we walk from here."

　◇◆

"It's so enviable how close your house is to the school. Mine isn't that far either, but I still have to take the train."

"Well, I actually just applied to schools near my house, and I got lucky that this one is so close. Also, you commute by train, Minamino-san?"

"Yeah, it's only two stations from here in Toyota and just a short walk from Nishihachi, so it's not that far. But I wish I lived as close as Satou-kun, so I could sleep in a little more in the morning."

"I didn't have that image of you. So, you're not a morning person?"

"No, it's not that. It's just that I have to make my bentou, do my makeup and all that. You know, girl stuff."

We were walking at a comfortable distance, close enough to reach out and touch hands but not too close. In front of us, we could see a couple, probably middle school students, holding hands and walking in their uniforms.

Since we were taking a different route than the one directly from school to the station, there weren't many students from our high school around, but there were a few. I wondered if rumors would spread if a popular girl like Minamino-san walked with a guy. With that in mind, I asked her a question.

"I don't mean anything weird, but is it okay for you to walk with someone like me? It might be rude to your boyfriend, you know?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have a boyfriend, so it's okay. I understand that you are concerned, but it's fine. It's already late in the afternoon and there are many people around, and besides, you're not even wearing our school uniform, Satou-kun."

"I see, then I guess it's fine."

"Hmm, you're pretty good at smoothly getting the information that I don't have a boyfriend. I wonder what Satou-kun plans to do with that information?"

"No way, you were the one who quickly admitted you didn't have any."

"Kkh… Even if I already gave away my information, I won't hand you this child no matter what threats I receive!"

"What kind of situation are you making all of a sudden? Well, I'll go and withdraw some money to help that child, so be good and wait here, okay?"

While we were having such a conversation, I headed towards the ATM at the convenience store we had just arrived at, took out my card from my wallet, and withdrew some money. Although there was a transaction fee, it couldn't be helped. The vet would just tell me they only accept cash payments with a grin on their face.

"I think having around 30,000 yen for now should be good." 

I guess it's fine since I do have a part-time job, and with some guidance, I'm earning a decent income.

When I looked it up earlier on the way to the convenience store, I found out that things like IV injections and possibly vaccinations cost a few thousand yen each. Considering the various things needed to keep a kitten, it's probably best to have that amount on hand.

Choices, huh. You were absolutely right, Uncle.

'I understand how you feel, but money is neither clean nor dirty. In order to broaden your choices and gain freedom, you need to learn properly.'

These are the words of my benefactor, who has been teaching me various things.

Although I tend to act impulsively, I now realized that even if I wanted to take the cat to the vet, I couldn't do it without the necessary funds. It's only now that I understand what my uncle had been telling me all along.

As I began to think about such things more deeply, time passed.

While waiting for the money to come out with the sound of the machine, I reflected on these thoughts, and soon enough, the cash, card, and receipt came out.

I put the money inside my wallet and looked up outside where Minamino-san was. She was standing there looking somewhat bored. In the midst of the setting sun, a black-haired beautiful girl holding a white kitten stood still, and through the glass it was like a painting.

"Ah, I see, I understand now."

Realizing the source of the strangeness I had been feeling from her for a while, I stepped outside after a little thought.