"Don't always make such careless jokes."
"I was just dragging out the tone, what's careless about it?" Yuu put on an innocent face.
Yukino ignored him. She took off her shoes and neatly arranged them at the entrance.
It wasn't clear whether she was wearing short socks or slippers. Beneath the sway of her long skirt, her small feet, wrapped in black cotton, caught Yuu's eye. Small and delicate. Quite tempting to play with.
Of course, Yuu only looked. He had no intention of thinking strange things about his friend.
On the other hand, Yukino, as if her soul had been captivated, slowly drifted toward the little gray cat. She held her skirt and crouched down.
"Meow…"
Keeping a safe distance, she barely dared to breathe. She meowed at the cat as a test.
The cat's bright, spirited azure-yellow eyes stared at her. Though it didn't run away in fear, Yukinon tilted its head in confusion and meowed back.
"Meow?"
"!"
Yukino instantly lit up as if she'd won the lottery. Barely containing her excitement, she reached back and tugged hard at the hem of Yuu's clothes.
Her clear face glowed. The corners of her lips, unable to hold back, curved into a smile. She looked innocent, as if she'd regressed ten years.
"Look! You see! It greeted me. It must be greeting me! It's way smarter than the ones at the pet store!"
(You're way dumber than usual…)
Yuu grumbled inwardly. Then he glanced at Yukinon and said to Yukino:
"Want to know what Yukinon just said?"
Her expression returned to calm. Yukino raised an eyebrow slightly. "You can understand?"
"I speak animal language. I can communicate with animals." Yuu didn't hide it, straightforwardly stating his skill.
Realizing the other party wasn't lying or joking, Yukino frowned slightly. After a moment of surprise, she quickly accepted the fact.
Of course, part of the reason was the cat in front of her. She didn't have time to care about what Yuu said.
"So, what did it say?"
"'Is there another dumb human who doesn't know cat language and meows randomly?'… Something like that."
"…"
Crouching on the floor, looking up with her small face like a sweet Daruma doll hugging her knees, Yukino pressed her soft, pink lips together. She glared at him coldly. "You're messing with me again?"
"No, not this time, really…" Seeing Yukino's gaze grow more serious, Yuu quickly changed the topic. "Want to hold it?"
"Yes!" Yukino stood up immediately. Realizing she might have seemed too eager, she cleared her throat twice, her face slightly flushed, and repeated casually, "If it doesn't mind."
"Is this what they call cute contrast…" Muttering words she didn't understand, Yuu turned and ordered Yukinon, "Let her hold you for a bit."
Under Yukino's shocked gaze, Yukinon raised its cat head and meowed at him as if being upright:
"Meow! (Is she the new lady of the house?)"
"No, she's your master's friend."
"Meow. (Then no way. The princess's orders take priority.)"
"Just let her hold you for a bit. If she tries to go upstairs, then whip her with your tail."
"Meow~ (Fine, this is the life of a house cat. I'm resigned~)"
"Where did you learn words like that? What happened to your old Knight King vibe?"
"Meow. (Watched too much anime with the princess. Forgot long ago.)"
Yuu massaged his forehead helplessly.
(The cat in my house has gotten this weird without me noticing? Is the next step turning human?)
At that moment, he felt another tug at the hem of his clothes.
Looking down, Yukino was staring at him with wide eyes. Her pale face, partially hidden by her scarf, was faintly flushed, like someone in good health.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Perhaps influenced by her obedient, sweet demeanor, Yuu instinctively reached out, trying to pat her head.
Then, his hand was swiftly swatted away. Yukino glared at him with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Nothing, just… there was…"
"Liar."
"…A hair on your head. I didn't even finish talking." Diverting the topic, Yuu pointed at the little gray cat. "It said you can hold it."
Yukino took a deep breath, calming the inexplicable panic and embarrassment in her heart. She shifted her gaze to the cat.
Then, she carefully reached out, gently supporting the cat's front armpits and lifting it. A soft smile gradually spread across her face.
"Soft, glossy fur. Clear eyes without a speck of dirt… You take such good care of it."
"My sister mostly takes care of it. To her, this cat is like family. No way she wouldn't pay attention to it." Yuu glanced at the stairs. The stairwell was dark, with only a few strands of silver hair peeking from behind the corner wall.
"So she's the one who told Yukinon to guard here and block anyone trying to go upstairs."
"I see…" With a slightly complicated expression, unsure how to react, Yukino discreetly glanced at Yuu. She unconsciously bit her lower lip slightly. "Should I greet her directly? Or just let it go and pretend I didn't notice…"
Yuu shrugged. "Greet her. Though she probably won't respond."
Yukino nodded. Turning to the stairs with the cat in her arms, she took a deep breath, bowed slightly, and greeted softly.
Her clear, gentle voice carried clearly from below to above.
"I'm your brother's friend, Yukinoshita Yukino. Sorry for disturbing you with my visit."
"…"
Of course, there was no response from above.
Straightening up, Yukino glanced at Yuu, then at the little cat in her arms. After some incomprehensible logical deliberation, she said in a serious tone:
"If possible, please let me hold your family member!"
Yuu: "…?"
Yukinon: "Meow?"
Stairs: "…"
A few seconds later, Sora stood up from behind the wall. She glared at Yukino, who still hadn't realized her mistake, with anger and disdain. She shouted like an enraged kitten, flailing her arms and legs:
"Who do you want to hold?! I thought you seemed polite, but you're just like the others, already eyeing Yuu! You shameless woman!"
"Eh?"
Yukino froze in place, a bit confused. She didn't understand why her friend's little sister was calling her shameless.
She just wanted to hold the cat. What was wrong with a cat lover? She wanted to keep a cat too, but neither her family home nor her apartment allowed it…
Feeling confused and sad, her gaze shifted from the small, teeth-gritting face above to the little cat in her arms, then slowly to Yuu beside her.
Family, Yuu…
Her IQ snapped back from her cat-induced trance. Yukino instantly realized.
(This sounds like I want to hold Tenkuji-kun…)
Realizing this, she quietly lifted the cat, covering her face, which quickly grew hot and flushed. She tried to explain: "Sorry… I didn't mean it like that. Imouto-san, please don't worry, I'm not interested in him, not in that… way…"
"I don't believe you! And I'm not your little sister!"
"…"
Yuu decided to let Yukino deal with the ordeal there. He turned as if it wasn't his business and returned to the front door to greet the next guest.
As a side note: While being held and petted in Yukino's arms, Yukinon made the following remark:
"Meow… (Though older than the princess, she's just as flat as the princess…)"
Yuu nearly burst out laughing.