The wait wasn't long. The creature lurking in the shadows soon revealed its true form—
A cat. Or at least, something that looked like a cat. Four paws on the ground, gleaming eyes shining ominously in the dim moonlight, making its presence stand out in the eerie darkness.
"Oh, it's just a stray cat..." Eriri let out a relieved sigh, stepping forward almost instinctively.
"Wait, don't go near it yet." Natsukawa Kanade's arm shot out in front of her, barring her path. His sharp gaze was locked onto the feline, his body tense. "Something's off... It doesn't look very friendly."
The so-called "stray cat" had noticed them as well. Its tail flicked unnaturally, its sleek body crouching slightly forward, muscles taut as if ready to pounce. Those sharp, glinting eyes weren't just observing; they were analyzing, calculating. This wasn't a docile house pet.
Kanade took a slow step back, gently nudging Eriri to follow.
"For an animal this fast, keeping distance is the best move," he muttered. His instincts screamed that this was no ordinary stray. "No doubt about it… this is a wild cat."
The distinction was important. Strays, even if wary, wouldn't react like this. They'd either run or cautiously observe from a safe distance. Wild cats, on the other hand, were territorial, nocturnal hunters. And right now, they were standing in its territory.
Eriri blinked, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation. "You're saying… it could attack us?"
Kanade didn't answer right away, his grip tightening around the wooden stick he had picked up earlier. "Stay alert. Wild cats usually travel in groups. If this one isn't alone, we could be in serious trouble."
Eriri swallowed hard and did as he instructed, scanning the dark surroundings for any signs of movement. Despite her initial nonchalance, the intensity in Kanade's voice made her nervous.
A few moments passed before she turned back to him. "I don't see any others… So, what now?"
Kanade exhaled, relieved but still on guard. "For now, we wait. If we don't provoke it, there's a chance it'll lose interest and leave."
Eriri nodded. "Okay, I'll follow your lead."
She took a small step closer, instinctively seeking the warmth of his presence. Seeing Kanade's tense posture, his fingers twitching slightly from the strain of holding the stick, she hesitated for a moment before reaching out and gently grasping his hand.
"..."
Kanade flinched at the unexpected touch but didn't pull away. Instead, he subtly shifted to stand in front of her, placing himself between Eriri and the wild cat.
"Stay close, but be ready to move if something happens," he murmured.
"Got it."
Unlike the quiet, almost heartwarming moment unfolding between them, the wild cat on the other side seemed to grow agitated. Its body stiffened, ears flattening slightly. Low growls rumbled from its throat, and it took a slow, deliberate step forward.
Was it… angry?
Or perhaps, it simply misinterpreted their actions. To a territorial predator, their whispered conversation and shifting movements might have looked like a strategic discussion—an act of preparing for an attack. The wild cat wasn't going to wait for them to make the first move.
Kanade realized this instantly. His grip on the wooden stick tightened, and he quickly adjusted his stance, raising the makeshift weapon in a defensive position.
In a sudden flash of clarity, a piece of trivia surfaced in his mind—something he had read somewhere before. When facing wild animals, one of the best tactics was to make yourself appear larger and more intimidating. Widen your stance, stretch out your arms, and maintain eye contact. Show them that you're not prey.
At the time, he had dismissed the idea as impractical. But now, in this exact moment, it was worth a shot.
Taking a deep breath, Kanade spread his arms wide, lifting the wooden stick high above his head. His face twisted into an exaggerated snarl, baring his teeth as he let out a deep, guttural roar.
"Awoo!!!"
It was… probably not the most convincing sound in the world.
But it was loud. And that was enough.
The wild cat froze, clearly startled by the sudden display. Its pupils dilated, and after a brief hesitation, it took a few cautious steps backward. The immediate threat had been neutralized, if only temporarily.
Kanade wasn't foolish enough to think this was the right moment to let his guard down. Whether it was recklessly turning his back to flee or attempting to retreat on the uneven grass, both options were riddled with risks. Instead, he remained in his defensive stance, maintaining a menacing posture to deter the wild cat from making any sudden moves.
The tense standoff stretched on, seconds feeling like minutes.
In the end, biology won out—humans were larger, and despite its aggressive posture, the cat wasn't foolish enough to pick a losing battle. After pacing back and forth, its sharp eyes continuously assessing them, the creature finally decided to back off. With a powerful leap, it disappeared into the undergrowth from which it had first emerged, vanishing into the shadows of the night.
Even so, Kanade refused to lower his guard just yet. What if it was just pretending to retreat? What if it was waiting for them to relax before ambushing them? Paranoia dictated that he and Eriri remain still for a little longer. Only when he was absolutely certain that the rustling of the leaves had completely ceased did he finally let out a breath of relief.
"…We're clear," he muttered, exhaling deeply as his shoulders slumped. His body, which had been coiled tight with tension, finally relaxed.
With caution, he pulled Eriri back toward the stone path where they had originally been walking. The adrenaline that had kept him sharp moments ago was quickly wearing off, leaving behind a wave of exhaustion.
"Damn…" Kanade muttered, finding the nearest flat stone and sinking onto it. "Of all things, a wild cat? That thing was more aggressive than half the delinquents at school."
Though the encounter had ended without injury, the mental stress had taken its toll. His mind felt like it had just run a marathon, even if his body hadn't. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he let out another sigh.
"I mean, seriously, how does a wild cat like that even show up here? Isn't this area supposed to be maintained? What's the school even doing if they're letting creatures like that roam around?" he grumbled, rubbing his temples. He knew full well that they were the ones who had wandered far off the main path, but still, venting helped him process the situation.
"…Hehe."
A soft giggle reached his ears. He turned to look at Eriri, who was crouched next to him, a strangely warm and amused expression on her face.
"What?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Nothing," she replied, her lips curving into a smile as she rested her chin on her knees, eyes sparkling with something unreadable.
Kanade frowned slightly. "You're acting weird."
Eriri just shook her head, but her expression remained unchanged. She wasn't annoyed, wasn't rattled—in fact, she looked… happy? Like she had just experienced something precious.
She had been terrified of the haunted house earlier, enough to fake an injury to get out of it, but when that wild cat appeared, she had instinctively stood beside him. Was it because she hadn't realized the danger? Or…
She glanced at him, catching his questioning gaze, and quickly turned away, a light flush dusting her cheeks.
Eriri didn't care about the haunted house anymore. She didn't care about the fear or embarrassment from earlier. What mattered was this moment—
Even when he was nervous, even when he was scared, Kanade had stood in front of her.
Protecting her.
Idiot… I really like you the most.