V1 - Chapter 7

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

Chapter 7

Minamino Chinatsu walked all the way to the station alone.

Satou-kun, the male student who had been with her until a moment ago, offered to walk her to the station. However, she declined since she felt like walking alone.

(Today has been quite an eventful day. Although earlier this morning, I felt fed up about everything, and honestly, I still feel that way, I feel strangely lighter now.)

◇◆

For Minamino Chinatsu, today marked what could easily be described as the worst beginning of her life.

Though she had known it was coming, she officially learned about her parents' divorce in the morning. Her father had already left home a long time ago and hadn't been around since spring.

She had vaguely known that the reason for the divorce was her father's affair. Her mother talked mostly about alimony and ensuring Chinatsu's child support. Her mother, who used to prioritize family above all else, had easily discarded her husband and child, while her father, who abandoned them, also talked mostly about money. And Chinatsu, who couldn't say anything, had grown fed up about everything. Driven by impulse, she had left her mother at home and headed to school.

Wearing her uniform, she naturally put on her usual mask when she arrived at the station where the school was located. No matter how tough things got, she could still play the role of "Minamino Chinatsu." She had become like that.

She was a cheerful girl who was unable to ignore those in need. Although it wasn't that she didn't want to talk to boys, she only maintained friendships and didn't seek getting into romantic relationships. Sometimes she was asked for her contact information, but she would always stubbornly refuse, saying she would only save her future boyfriend's number on her phone. She was aware that this made her seem like she had very high standards. But rather than pursuing her own romance, she made it clear she was here to support her friends' romantic relationships, appealing to them that she didn't want to be their rivals.

Since nobody knew about her middle school days, life was much easier compared to back then. But sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder.

Where can I become my true self?

If I can't even be myself at home, where should I become myself?

Feeling emotionally drained from what happened in the morning, she used an errand assigned by her teacher as an excuse to head home alone.

Taking the path by the park was a whim. Maybe she didn't want to go straight home. But she had to go home. With those mixed feelings, she started walking toward the station and then took a side road.

Meow—.

That's when she heard a faint, pleading meow.

◇◆

Walking while reminiscing. Just a little, really just a bit, her heart seemed to be beating louder than usual. Perhaps, or maybe it's quite possible, that it's because of him, the first male student to be registered on Chinatsu's messaging app, after she completely reset her relationship upon entering high school.

(He wasn't 'number two' at all.)

He, himself, and those around him had accepted that, but he was sometimes called by that nickname. In the first place, she didn't call boys by nicknames unless it had naturally spread enough that it would sound unnatural not to call them that. But she had grown tired of using that term.

She didn't have romantic feelings for him. It wasn't like she found him particularly good-looking. He doesn't even dye his hair or have a messy appearance; he had ordinary hair and an ordinary face. He seemed like the kind of person who would blend into a crowd and become invisible. Well, she didn't dislike him, though.

But even before all that, there was the matter of her middle school days and her parents. Understanding the concept of 'liking' was something Chinatsu often struggled with, especially when it concerned herself.

More importantly, it felt liberating to be allowed to be herself and not be disliked for it. Venting her frustrations, eating together until she was full, it felt like her body had become lighter, not just her mind.

In addition—

At that moment, when she saw the abandoned white kitten, she had felt an inexplicable connection.

While thinking, "I want to help the kitten," she instead shouted, "Help me."

Even though she knew that no one would actually come to her aid.

But he came.

In the midst of her overwhelming feeling of emptiness, he had found her sitting there.

They hadn't interacted much before, but he did various things for her. He had removed the mask she had been hiding behind, allowed her to pour out her feelings, and even cooked her a meal, filling her stomach. 

"...It's like he picked me up along with the kitten, too."

She mumbled softly and blushed at her own words.

Continuing at a brisk pace, she headed to the station. She was glad she had declined his offer to see her off; being alone felt right.

Once on the train, she opened her smartphone and launched the messaging app.

(Minamino) Thanks for today. I arrived at the station safely and got on the train.

(Satou) Glad to hear that.

The response came quickly, even though the messages were short. She thought he might have waited without taking a bath. She found herself slightly smiling at the idea.

(Minamino) By the way, what should we name the kitten?

(Minamino) Should Satou decide?

Two stops' worth of conversation.

(Satou) I thought we were just looking after it temporarily, so I didn't think about naming it.

(Minamino) But won't it be troublesome to call it without a name? Is it still sleeping?

(Satou) It's sleeping.

(Satou) The kitten's name, huh. Still, since Minamino found it, you should name it. 

(Minamino) Okay, but I hope you think about some names too, Satou. Let's tell each other what we've thought of tomorrow.

They had asked each other to drop the honorific when addressing each other, effectively removing '-san'. It happened at the doorstep when they exchanged contact information.

Looking for the kitten's owner and maintaining their distance within the class seemed beneficial for both of them. If they were going to keep in touch, having each other's contact information was an absolute necessity, so she had asked him herself.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had asked for other's contact information before others asked for hers.

Perhaps those who had asked her for her contact details had felt nervous just like her. That was what she thought as she lifted her face from her smartphone, gazing out of the train window at the passing cityscape.