When the girls rejoined the company, the companions continued their casual conversation.Meanwhile, Kaguya tried to strike up a conversation with the children, much to Catherine's barely restrained amusement—her godlike senses had allowed her to overhear the earlier whispered conversation between the Neko sisters.Even Cassia, who understood the situation perfectly, showed emotion for the first time in a while, glaring at her mistress with an expression that could kill.
[Bless the Beast God, how embarrassing! What am I supposed to do? I'm a girl too, you know! This is all Mistress's fault with her games! But I can't reveal my real identity... If only Mistress would help me out instead of just teasing!] Cassia thought, feeling increasingly strange and even frightened by the situation.
"Boy, how old are you? Why do you look so sad?" Kaguya asked, sitting down next to Catherine.
"I'm three years old," Grey replied, nudged forward by his mother.
"You look quite grown-up for three. But why are you so sad while everyone else is having fun?" the girl pressed gently.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" the boy asked unexpectedly, earning a pinch from his mother.
Kaguya was momentarily at a loss. [Afraid of you? Why would I be?] she thought, puzzled.
"Don't mind him," Catherine intervened smoothly. "He's been through a lot and now fears driving strangers away. He's a good boy, and he doesn't mean anything bad toward you."
Thus, the conversation continued lightly.Under the night sky, in the shadows of towering trees, the group sat around the crackling fire.Grace would occasionally laugh and join in the adult chatter.Grey mostly listened silently, though his gaze kept drifting to Kaguya's gray cat ears.
"Is something wrong?" Kaguya asked suddenly, tilting her head curiously.
"Your ears!"
She touched her ears, then asked again, "My ears?"
"Can I?... Can I touch them?" Grey asked shyly.
Kaguya was stunned. No one had ever made such a request before.Had any adult man asked, she would have blasted him away with magic without hesitation.But this was a bashful little boy, speaking voluntarily for the first time that evening. How could she refuse?
"Hee-hee-hee!" Aika giggled from the side.
"Alright, just a little, okay?"
"Okay," Grey answered hesitantly, truly missing the comforting touches he used to receive from Cassia, who had been far less affectionate lately.He stood up from his mother's lap and reached out toward Kaguya, who leaned down slightly to give him access to her furry ears.
Her pale skin turned pink, glowing orange under the light of the fire.Noticing the familiar shy twitch of her ears, Grey reached out and gently touched one.It was soft and fluffy—comfortingly familiar, yet new.
Under the boy's tender, almost surprisingly skillful touch, Kaguya gave a soft purr.
"Ah~" Kaguya gasped aloud when she realized what she was doing, quickly pulling back and covering her mouth in embarrassment.
But the damage had already been done.Grey jerked back too, fear flashing in his eyes.He thought he had scared her away.That old fear resurfaced—that he would always drive people away just by existing.He remembered the village elder's warnings, his lips trembling as emotions spiraled chaotically in his mind.
He didn't understand that he had merely embarrassed Kaguya, not frightened her.The situation confused him deeply.
Seeing his reaction, Kaguya became even more flustered.Before she could explain, Chris burst out laughing.
"Ahahahaha!" he doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"Chris!" Aika snapped, noticing that something was off.
"Hahaha! I'm sorry, dear... I never thought I'd live to see the day when little Kaguya got snuggled by a child! Hahaha!" Chris managed between fits of laughter."My stomach hurts! The great Kaguya... tamed by a kid... hahahaha!"
"Chris!" Aika repeated sharply, her voice full of warning now.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," Catherine quickly intervened, desperate to calm Grey."Kaguya was just a little embarrassed. She actually liked it. Right, Kaguya?" she subtly signaled the girl to back her up.
"Yes, Alex, I did like it," Kaguya said hurriedly, forcing a reassuring smile."It's just... you have to understand, for beastkin, ears are very sensitive.Wouldn't you feel strange if someone touched your ears?" she asked, gently pointing at Grey's own cat-like ears.
The boy hesitated, then touched his own ears—which he had almost forgotten about."I... I don't feel anything," he said quietly.
Kaguya's heart ached.Had she hurt him again?Sometimes, when a human and a beastkin had children, there could be small anomalies—nothing serious, but still considered shameful by traditionalists.
[Is everything I say just hurting him more? It feels like I'm walking on thin ice every time I talk to Alex. What a difficult child.Though he's beautiful, it's clear he's been deeply hurt. I wonder what he's been through...] she thought sadly, carefully considering her next words.
"Alex, let's be friends," Kaguya offered brightly."We'll swear it with a pinky promise.Friends always support each other, through good and bad times.This way, you'll know for sure—I'm not afraid of you."
Grey's eyes lit up slightly, but he hesitated.His mother had taught him to be very careful when choosing friends.Could he trust Kaguya?He didn't have much experience to guide him.In his mind, he weighed the importance of her offer very seriously.
For all his sharp mind, Grey was still just three years old.His lack of experience made him overly sensitive, a boy cursed by his own intelligence.
But finally, after a long moment, he extended his pinky finger toward her."Let's be friends," he said solemnly.
Catherine watched without interfering, but Grace wasn't so patient.
"Friend? I want a friend too!" the girl cried, rushing to join them.
"Sister, Kaguya is MY friend! You can't take her!" Grey said fiercely, standing protectively in front of Kaguya.
"Fu-fu-fu, darling," Catherine chuckled, finally speaking."Kaguya can be a friend to both you and your sister. Doesn't that bring you even closer?"
"If you say so, Mama..." Grey muttered, trusting her as he always did.
"Hooray! Ahahaha, Kaguya, will you be my friend too?" Grace asked enthusiastically.
Naturally, Kaguya couldn't say no.But the truth was, she didn't want to.The longer she spent with the twins, the more she liked them.Seeing the relaxed smile on the man she admired only encouraged her further.She was genuinely happy to grow closer to Alex and Anna.
"Ahahaha, would you look at her!One little ear rub, and our mighty sorceress has turned into a cuddly kitten," Chris teased.
"That's it... You're getting punished!" Aika shouted, tackling him and trying to tickle him to death.
"Kyaaa!" came a squawk that sounded suspiciously like a plucked chicken.
Watching the scene, the twins froze, strange, slightly disdainful expressions on their faces—before everyone burst out laughing at Chris's over-the-top reactions.The fire crackled, laughter filled the clearing, and a feeling of peace settled over the group.
Cassius quietly pulled out two cleaned rabbit carcasses, roasting them carefully over the fire, using a dagger as a skewer.The smell of spices soon filled the air, causing everyone's stomachs to growl in unison.
"Cassius, are all Neko men such good cooks?" Aika asked innocently, stopping her teasing of her fiancé.
Cassia, still disguised as a man, only smiled slyly, choosing not to answer.
Meanwhile, Grey, now back in his mother's lap, eagerly told Kaguya about their travels—describing impressions rather than events, cautious with his words.Despite the dark setting, he felt a happiness that grew stronger with every moment.
Catherine observed it all with quiet satisfaction.She had already formed her own judgments about their companions:Kaguya was the brains of the group, ready to sacrifice her own interests for her friends.Aika was quiet and carefree, shielded by her sister's protection.Chris was a troublemaker, but a responsible one when it mattered most.All in all, they were a tight-knit and balanced team.
By the time Grey finished his monologue—delighting both his mother and sister—the meat was done.Cassius shared it generously.The roasted rabbit was cut into small, crispy pieces.Everyone dug in eagerly, juice running down their chins.
Chris even passed around a small flask of wine they'd looted from the bandits.The adults toasted with cries of "Cheers!" while Grey and Grace had to settle for water.
After a hearty meal, wrapped in the warmth of the fire and each other, the children soon fell asleep in their mother's arms.