It wasn't until all the girls from the "night raid" had finally left his room that Haru, whose nerves had been taut for half the night, was able to let out a strained sigh of relief. Just in case anyone was planning a "round two," he locked the door from the inside this time.
Granted, the lock wouldn't do much to stop Soyo-san, but at least it would hold off the others.
Unless Soyo decided to switch sides and actively lead the pink-haired general into the village.
After triple-checking that the door was indeed locked, Haru let out a long sigh. Finally starting to relax, he tugged at the corner of his lips and muttered under his breath, "Looks like it's finally quiet. Tomorrow, I swear I'm sleeping in till noon."
If he hadn't been holding himself in check the whole time, keeping his nerves on high alert to preserve some semblance of reason, he might've lost control when Soyo-san kept brushing up against him, intentionally or not, while nestled in his arms.
Now that the tension was gone, a wave of exhaustion he'd been suppressing crashed into him like a flood, dragging his limbs down with a leaden weight. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy.
He reached out and slipped under the warm covers, but as he settled in, his hand suddenly brushed against something soft.
"...Huh?"
Feeling something was off, he narrowed his dark eyes and carefully pulled the blanket aside, only to find a small head with short silver hair tucked beneath it. The already quiet air turned even stranger, almost eerie.
Haru: ?
The stray cat's sudden appearance felt like a hallucination born of pure exhaustion, making Haru question whether this was all just a dream brought on by fatigue.
No, the sensation was too real.
Maybe the commotion had woken her. With drowsy eyes, Raana slowly opened her distinct gold-and-silver heterochromatic gaze. Her soft cat-like mouth drew into a subtle smile as she looked at Haru, now gradually waking up. There was a certain glint in her eyes, as if she'd just spotted a new toy.
Expressionless, Haru rubbed his temples and quietly pulled his hand away.
"...Not going to pet me?"
With a face as innocent and radiant as a budding flower, the little cat tilted her head, her mismatched eyes shimmering with mischief. Her delicate, snow-like face seemed to glow, even in the dim moonlit room.
Haru, hearing her words, of course didn't answer directly.
The crushing fatigue that had been flooding in moments earlier vanished as if neutralized by warm milk, leaving behind only the rapid beating of his heart and the growing disarray of his breath.
"...Why are you in my room? No—how did you even get in?"
Seriously, is this door lock just decorative?
So far, the only person it had ever successfully stopped was the honest and uptight Rikki. Everyone else had breezed right through, no matter how tightly Haru locked the door himself.
"I wanted to sleep with you. I came in with Rikki."
The distracted little cat blinked as she lifted her head, seemingly remembering something amusing. Like a sloth clinging to a tree trunk, she wrapped her arms around Haru's waist and rubbed her smooth chin against his chest.
So that's who the pangolin really was.
Only now did Haru recall that when Rikki had entered earlier, she hadn't closed the door like the other sneaky cats, and his attention had been completely taken by the cool, black-haired beauty beside him.
Which meant neither Rikki herself nor Haru had noticed the stray cat following silently behind.
She had just slipped right in.
The most outrageous part was that this little cat had crawled into his blanket and fallen fast asleep, completely undetected. If he hadn't had the habit of sleeping on his side, he might never have noticed her at all and ended up sleeping beside her until morning.
And if, come morning, no one could find the cat, and they finally discovered her in his bed...
That would probably be the end of his life.
Even if he made a racket, it wouldn't be enough to cover this one up.
"Haru, not going to pet me?"
After waiting in silence for quite a while, the stray cat in the bed started getting sleepy again. She reached out her two soft paws and gently held Haru's hand, prompting him (already on edge) to quickly sit up and put some distance between them.
This retreat clearly displeased her. The once-smiling little cat now puffed out her cheeks in a sulk.
Seeing her growing pout, Haru quickly reached out to scratch under her chin. The practiced, gentle motion immediately made her narrow her eyes in pleasure, purring softly from her throat.
"Didn't Rikki tell you countless times to keep a proper distance from boys? Stuff like this, being too close, isn't something you can just do with anyone..."
"I only do it with you."
Raana tilted her head, her face filled with innocent confusion, as if what she said was the most natural thing in the world.
But hearing those words only made Haru's temples throb even harder. His lips twitched as he struggled to find a proper response.
"Even if it's just me, it's still not okay!"
"Why not?"
The steady stream of rejections had finally wiped the smile from Raana's face. Sitting on the bed, she now had a slight pout and a narrowed gaze that showed her mood had definitely soured. If it were anyone other than Haru in front of her, she might've already run off.
Her sudden demand for an explanation made a strange glint flash through Haru's eyes.
Normally, he'd probably say something like "you should only do that with someone you plan to marry," but knowing this cat's personality all too well, he also knew what her response would be.
She'd probably say she wants to marry him, without a second thought.
"No means no. Anyway, go back to your own bed and sleep."
"I want to sleep with you."
The usually obedient white cat shook her head this time. Her mismatched eyes now held a hint of quiet defiance.
Seeing her this stubborn, Haru knew there was no way he could just haul her out by the scruff of her neck. If he did, she'd definitely throw a fit.
And a moody cat like her, acting on impulse as always, might just up and vanish before the next live show.
"I'll treat you to a matcha parfait, large size! Just go back to your room and sleep tonight, okay?"
"I want to sleep with you."
She stared at him, calm and unwavering, like a broken record.
With neither firm resolve nor gentle coaxing working, Haru felt like his head might split. Sure enough, ever since the night he brought her home and let her sleep beside him, she had taken that moment and filed it under "perfectly normal."
Just like a cat who has chosen its human, curling up in his arms felt completely natural to her.
If he let her stay, he'd wake up to a bloodbath of jealous girlfriends in the morning. But if he didn't let her stay, she might disappear altogether.
Caught in a bind, Haru sighed.
"...Fine. You can sleep with me tonight. But, Raana, you have to be back in your own bed before morning."
"Can you promise me that? If not, I'll have to call Rikki in here."
People's personalities always end up compromising.
This was the best middle ground, she could sleep beside him, but not long enough for the others to notice.
If even this much compromise wasn't acceptable to Raana, then he'd have no choice but to carry her back to her bed himself.
Fortunately, the stray cat's eyes lit up at his words. She smiled and gave a pleased little nod, like she'd just been promised a delicious matcha dessert.
Then, without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his waist again, nuzzling her soft cheek against his neck. Her loose nightwear slipped slightly, exposing her smooth, pale shoulder.
Looks like she agreed.
"..."
Seeing her return to her docile state, Haru finally relaxed a little.
But as the little cat kept rubbing against him, his self-control, which he'd barely held together, began to fray. A flicker of curiosity passed through her eyes. Just as she reached a hand down, Haru caught her wrist.
"Sleep."
Stop rubbing. If you keep going, I really won't be able to hold back.
He finally set his alarm for 5 a.m. and closed his eyes. With the little cat curled peacefully in his arms, he let out a long breath.
Just as he was settling in to finally rest, he felt a soft brush at the corner of his lips. His eyes snapped open, and there she was, the snowy-white silhouette still leaning in close.
Even though Haru was now wide awake, the mischievous grin on her face hadn't faded. In fact, she leaned in again, pressing her cheek to his.
Smooch~
The stray cat's kiss was unbelievably soft. With his eyes closed, he could almost taste the richness of matcha and the sweetness of fresh cream, like a dessert straight from the oven.
But this sudden "attack" sent a jolt through Haru's mind, as if struck by lightning. Dazed and unable to calm down, he grabbed her shoulders to stop whatever she was about to do next.
"...Raana, do you even know what you're doing?"
"Kiss."
The stray cat before him had a glint of mischief in her golden and silver eyes, a teasing smile playing at her lips. As if suddenly reminded of something, she wrinkled her tiny nose and continued in her soft, sweet voice:
"I saw Ryo kissing you. Ryo said you're supposed to kiss the person you want to marry."
Seeing Haru's face shift through a range of expressions, the girl tilted her head slightly, her tone tinged with confusion. "Is that not okay?"
Looking at the little cat lying in his arms, her head tilted in that adorably curious way, even Haru, rational to the end, couldn't help but take a deep breath. Worse, it seemed she had "discovered" something, as she began to subtly nuzzle her way downward.
If this kept going, sleep would definitely be off the table tonight.
Haru had never imagined there would come a day when he found himself unable to resist this little cat.
"Heehee~"
The stray cat curled up against him seemed to have located his weakness. With a smirk on her face, she was just about to burrow under the covers again when Haru pulled her back.
Taking advantage of the moment, she rubbed her cheek against his chest again, her soft voice murmuring once more...
"A kiss... isn't that okay?"
Wait, is this little cat trying to threaten me now?
Seeing her teasing, tight-lipped grin, Haru nearly choked on his own breath.
Her light, weightless body pressed against him barely registered in mass, but the way this restless feline moved was enough to make his fists clench in frustration. His blood, hot and turbulent, was now rushing from his chest to his stomach.
"Grandma said you should marry someone you love."
"I want to stay by your side, Haru."
Raana murmured with her eyes closed, still lying on Haru's chest. Her soft words left his face stiff. Her personality was too straightforward to treat these words as some game, she was seriously confessing her feelings.
This unexpected confession made Haru furrow his brows, at a complete loss.
Until now, he'd never even considered dating the little cat.
From the beginning, he had only seen her as a clueless kuudere.
But now, the free-spirited stray had spoken of love and dependence, and Haru finally realized she wasn't as innocent as he had believed. Her kisses, her embraces... They all carried emotion.
In truth, she was only a year younger than him.
"...Haru, you smell so nice."
Half-asleep, the little cat's voice was drowsy. Soon, he heard the steady rhythm of her breathing beside him.
But his own sleepiness had completely vanished.
Staring at the peacefully slumbering cat-girl beside him, Haru furrowed his brows and sighed deeply.
It seemed he really needed to start thinking seriously about Raana.
...
The next morning.
Morning light spilled through the high-rise apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow on the luxurious wooden floors. Brand-name curtains, thin and silken, softened the harsh sunlight into shimmering fragments.
Next to the oversized sectional couch lay a scattered pile of quilts and blankets, the vibrant girls sleeping across them in all sorts of poses.
Perhaps disturbed by a faint sound nearby, Nagasaki Soyo slowly opened her deep blue eyes, still hazy with sleep. Her soft, light brown curls tumbled down her pale chest as she sat up.
Gradually waking, she glanced around at the other girls slumbering haphazardly nearby.
"..."
Seeing all four girls, including Raana, sleeping obediently under the covers, Soyo forced herself to stand. Her limbs felt weak and heavy, clearly still recovering from the "chaos" that had unfolded the night before. As someone who never stayed up late, the ordeal had clearly taken a toll on her.
Even though it was her own home, this was the first time Soyo had ever slept in the living room.
Ding ding~
A faint metallic clink came from the direction of the kitchen, prompting Soyo to head toward the sound.
The moment she stepped into the kitchen, she heard the sizzle of eggs in a pan. The scent of meat and eggs mixed with the aroma of wheat, creating a warm, comforting fragrance that filled the air.
In front of her stood a familiar figure with his back turned, his long black hair tied into a ponytail. Haru stood expressionless before the gas stove, wearing the apron Soyo usually used herself.
The scene before her, so warm and domestic, felt like something straight out of a dream, like a newlywed husband preparing breakfast for his beloved wife.
Heart fluttering, the girl tiptoed quietly behind him. Just as she was about to throw her arms around him from behind, Haru suddenly spoke, not even turning his head:
"You're up early. Breakfast will still take a little time. If you want, go back and sleep a bit longer."
"...Since I'm already awake, I don't feel like sleeping anymore."
Perhaps feeling a little sulky at having her "sneak attack" blocked, the always temperamental Soyo puffed out her cheeks.
Even without turning around, Haru could probably guess the look on her face. He chuckled lightly.
"Are you sure? You don't look like you got much rest."
"Well, whose fault do you think that is? You kept me up all night..."
Her grumbling tone reached Haru's ears, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Anyone overhearing that might seriously believe something had happened between him and Soyo-san last night. But if it hadn't been for all the other girls barging in, with her methods, who knows what would have happened?
Smiling, Haru shook his head and turned his attention back to the golden egg frying in the pan.
Last night, Raana's confession had left him sleepless. Torn over how to respond to her feelings, Haru had stayed up nearly the entire night.
"You always brush me off with excuses when it's just the two of us..."
"But when Anon shows up... suddenly you take the lead?"
Soyo's fingers toyed with the ends of her hair as it trailed over her shoulder. Her words, laced with a sugary trap, seemed to thicken the very air around them. Haru, still facing away, began to sweat.
It was truly a blessing that Haru had carried the little cat back to her own bed first thing in the morning. If Soyo-san had discovered that scene...
Even if she might have grudgingly compromised for tonight, she would definitely unleash all her pent-up fury on him a couple of days later.
"This isn't my fault. It's yours, Soyo."
"Hmm~? Then would you be so kind, dear boyfriend, to explain exactly how this is my fault?"
Nagasaki Soyo narrowed her eyes at his words, her smiling expression offering no warmth at all. Instead, it radiated an icy chill, and her deliberately sweet tone dripped with danger like the hiss of a venomous snake.
Still flipping his fried egg, Haru turned to her with a blank face and, as if addressing a press conference, replied in complete seriousness:
"Because you're too seductive."
"...What?"
"If I'd taken one more step toward you last night, I wouldn't have been able to stop myself."
He was being honest.
That ridiculous pink-haired girl lacked curves and didn't pack much allure, but Soyo-san, mature beyond her years, was in a completely different league. Her every move, every teasing word, was on another level.
If it hadn't been for the others interrupting last night, Haru genuinely didn't know if he could've held back.
Soyo's cheeks flushed immediately. She turned her head with feigned disdain, but deep down she was clearly pleased. To have this much of an effect on him. Well, it meant her charm wasn't lost on him after all.
And that meant, if she pushed just a little harder... even her stubborn, tight-lipped husband might finally...
"..."
Still red-faced, Soyo picked up a frying pan with a blank expression. As her mind wandered, she quietly joined him in preparing breakfast.
Time passed, and soon it was already 10 a.m.
Perhaps due to the "unexpected encounters" of the previous night, the atmosphere among the girls waking up one by one remained awkward even into the morning.
Only Chihaya Anon seemed unaffected, bounding over to Haru with her usual energy. Even when she spotted the very same Soyo-san she'd scuffled with in the closet last night, Anon didn't show the slightest hint of discomfort.
Aside from her, the rest of the group remained tactfully silent about the previous night's events.
Since they had all woken up late, breakfast wasn't finished until nearly 10:30. With no training scheduled, Haru stayed in the kitchen to wash the dishes, while the now fully alert girls picked up their instruments to start practicing.
Just as Chihaya Anon picked up her guitar, she couldn't resist glancing over at Rikki. Catching her stare, Rikki furrowed her brows, her expression stiffening as she asked directly:
"...What are you looking at? Do I have sheet music written on my face?"
"Today's our last day before the live show. We can only rehearse until tomorrow morning. Let's stay sharp and practice properly!"
Anon blinked at Rikki's chilly expression, then turned to look at Soyo-san, who was just as stoic.
Her silly grin slowly transformed into something shyer and more bashful. Puffing her cheeks, she hummed in a mock-pouting, bratty tone.
"Then... I guess I'll just call you by your name from now on, too?"
"You—! Are you ever going to stop?!"
In the spacious living room, Rikki's flustered shriek echoed again and again.
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