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Chapter 30: If My Lord Does Not Abandon Me, This Kitty Is Willing To Swear Allegiance As An Adopted Child!
"Demonic Aura?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's mind was full of thoughts about Yukino. Upon hearing this, she looked confused, "What Demonic Aura?"
"Of course, I mean it literally."
Kaito was also a bit curious, "Demonic Aura means the aura of a Yokai. Where did you go? How did you get tainted with this kind of thing?"
In this world, spiritual energy was already quite scarce, and it was not far from the end of the Dharma age. Yet, in this tiny Japan, there were both ghosts and Yokai.
'And, as always, the Demonic Aura is weak.'
'It is probably just a little Yokai that hasn't even taken human form yet. Not worth worrying about.'
"Yokai?", Hiratsuka Shizuka was startled. If it wasn't Kaito saying this, she would have thought the person had gone crazy from fever.
She couldn't help but let out an awkward laugh,."In the real world, where would there be Yokai?"
'Kaito looks reliable on the surface, but is he actually some kind of weird chniby?'
"Just think of it as chniby."
Kaito wasn't angry, only raised an eyebrow slightly, "Hiratsuka-sensei, may I ask, what did you just come from, what did you do?"
'The Demonic Aura on sensei is still very faint. This means she has come into contact with that little Yokai not long ago.'
"What I did?", Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated. If any other student dared to pry into her private life, she'd definitely give them a taste of her iron fist.
But facing that face, she felt no one could say no, "Yukinoshita seemed to be sick, so I took her to the hospital for a checkup, then drove her home to rest."
Didn't sound like anything was wrong.
Kaito continued asking, "During that time, did anything strange happen?"
"I don't think so?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka pinched her chin, thinking, "The hospital was normal, Yukino's home was normal too, and there was a really cute kitten there."
"When I was leaving, that kitty even walked me to the door," Speaking of this, her expression was a bit odd, "It felt all fluffy to touch, no wonder so many people like to keep pets."
'Kitten?'
'Seems like I found the culprit.'
"What, are you really that interested in Yukino's illness?"
Seeing his pensive expression, Hiratsuka Shizuka simply suggested, "I'll be going to her place again after school. Since you're curious, why not come along and check on her?"
'Though Yukino always says she is fine on her own, the look in her eyes when she first saw Kaito was definitely not fake.'
'If Kaito can visit her, Yukino's mood might improve a bit too?'
"Then I'll be in your care, Hiratsuka-sensei," Kaito thought for a moment and didn't refuse.
He was also quite curious, 'What differences might there be between the Yokai of this world and those from the cultivation realm?'
The afternoon class just so happened to be Hiratsuka Shizuka's classical literature lesson.
After school, the two went together to the parking lot and stopped in front of a silver-gray Aston Martin Vantage.
Vroooom!
With the thrilling sound of the engine roaring, Hiratsuka Shizuka gripped the steering wheel with one hand and used the other to dial Yukino's number.
"Hello? Yukino."
"You're already awake What, my call woke you?"
"Ahem! Don't sweat the details. I'll be at your place in a bit. Anything you feel like eating?"
"No appetite? Sorry, I can't seem to buy anything called 'no appetite,' so I'll bring you a large bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
"Alright, alright. That's it then. See you later."
Listening to the repeated busy tone in her ear, Yukino felt a little helpless.
Hiratsuka-sensei was the same as always, doing things her own way.
But she didn't mind too much, just shook her head and put her phone back on the bedside table, intending to nap a bit more.
Half an hour later
The car stopped in front of a high-end apartment building, "This is the place."
Hiratsuka Shizuka turned off the engine and got out of the car, carrying the tonkotsu ramen she just bought at a roadside shop, and led Kaito to Yukino's door on the 29th floor.
Ding! Dong!
After pressing the doorbell, they waited about half a minute before sounds came from inside.
Yukino rubbed her eyes and weakly opened the door, "Hiratsuka-sensei and Kaito-kun?"
Faced with her surprise, Kaito didn't reply.
He simply cleared his throat and subtly turned his gaze away, as if something indecent lay before him.
The girl was only wearing tight-fitting pajamas. Though the design wasn't too revealing, maybe because she just woke up, her appearance was a little disheveled.
Yukinoshitaher slightly exposed skin was just like her name, as flawless as fresh snow.
The only minor flaw was the overly flat curve of her chest, flat enough to land a plane on.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's personality was always straightforward. She didn't notice anything inappropriate, carrying the ramen straight inside.
As she entered, she spoke, "Ran into Kaito-kun when I returned to school. Heard you were sick, so we wanted to check in on you."
"So that's how it is," Yukinoshita slightly nodded, but her pretty face flushed faintly.
Only then did she realize her current outfit might be a little improper. After settling the two in the living room, she returned to her room to change into more conservative loungewear.
"This is the ramen I brought for you. Eat some while it's still hot," When the girl came out of the bedroom, Hiratsuka Shizuka pushed the takeout box toward her and urged her.
Actually, Yukino was a bit hungry too.
But leaving guests aside to eat by herself, that would be far too impolite.
"By the way where's your cat?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't press her, just looked around curiously. But there was no sign of that fluffy creature anywhere, which was odd.
"It was in my room just now. Should've followed me into the living room."
Yukino found it strange too.
She was sure she'd seen Yukitan by her feet just after changing. Why had the kitty suddenly disappeared?
A bit worried, she searched around and finally found it in an inconspicuous corner of the kitchen.
"So you were here!", Yukino let out a breath of relief. She thought the kitty had slipped outside while she wasn't paying attention.
She was about to pick up Yukitan when the usually obedient cat avoided her hand.
Instead, it let out a string of urgent meows, its soft fur bristling like needles, and those glowing green eyes stared unblinkingly at something behind the girl.
As if it had seen its natural enemy.
"Yukitan?", Yukino was a little worried. She subconsciously turned to look behind her, but aside from Hiratsuka-sensei and Kaito-kun, there was nothing strange.
Her worry deepened, and she was just about to say something to calm it down when the kitty suddenly darted forward in quick little steps, running up to Kaito-kun. First, it affectionately rubbed against his leg, then lay on its back, belly exposed, in a completely unguarded, submissive posture.
Yukino: ""
Hiratsuka Shizuka: ""
This series of smooth actions made the two feel, for a moment, like they could see the kitty practically begging, "If my lord does not abandon me, this kitty is willing to swear allegiance as an adopted child!"
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Chapter 31: What Bad Intentions Could a Kitty Possibly Have?
Kaito's lips curved slightly as he couldn't help but smile.
Though just a little demon who couldn't even take human form, it was somewhat clever.
Clearly scared when it first saw him just now, perhaps thinking it couldn't escape anyway, so it chose to act cute and beg for mercy.
Yet that smile was like blossoms flooding the city. Pure-white pear blossoms in the snow. Hiratsuka Shizuka clutched her chest, feeling as if her heart had just taken a critical hit.
Yukino also seemed a little dazed and murmured, "Looks like Yukitan really likes you."
"Likes me?"
Kaito neither confirmed nor denied, his smile fading as he casually grabbed the scruff of the cat's neck, staring straight into its eyes, "Are you going to come willingly, or shall I help you?"
The two girls looked a bit confused, exchanged glances, and saw puzzlement in each other's eyes.
"Meow~", Yukitan tried to keep pretending, widening its innocent eyes with effort. What bad intentions could a kitty possibly have?
But seeing the faintly unfriendly look on Kaito's face, it immediately shivered and lowered its head a bit pitifully.
The next second
A faint layer of black mist suddenly emerged around its body, visible to the naked eye. Its pupils gleamed with a strange light, and its teeth grew sharp at a speed visible to the naked eye.
At the same time, behind Yukitan, a brand-new tail suddenly sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
"W-what is that thing?!", Hiratsuka Shizuka was clearly shocked by the sudden change. She instinctively shielded Yukino behind her and swallowed hard.
"According to local Japanese belief", Kaito shrugged, "This should be a bakeneko."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "?"
The iron-fist teacher's mind was full of question marks.
She suddenly recalled what Kaito had said earlier on campus.
Back then, he looked at her once and said she had Demonic Aura on her.
'Wait a sec, dude.'
'I thought he was just another chuunibyou case, but turns out he was serious?'
Yukino's pretty face also showed a faint trace of red.
The scene before her clearly shattered her worldview.
'There are actually real monsters in the world? And it is my own obedient, sensible Yukitan?'
"Could it be some mistake? Yukitan has never had the intention to harm me."
Even Yukino felt her own hollow defense was too weak and unconvincing.
The evidence was clear, and she saw it with her own eyes. How could it be a mistake?
"It certainly didn't intend to harm you."
If it had been a malicious monster with ill intent, Kaito would have suppressed it the moment he saw it.
By now, it probably would've been turned into a cat pancake or maybe Catball-chan?
It was precisely because he didn't sense the unique bloody scent of man-eating monsters on Yukitan that he gave the kitty a chance.
Kaito paused, "But even if it does nothing and just stays by your side, it's already harming you."
Monsters have Demonic Aura, ghosts have ghostly aura.
Ordinary people approaching them rashly would only deplete their own vitality. That's the origin of the phrase "humans and monsters walk different paths."
Even Mizusaki Aki, who was merely a regular earthbound spirit with little strength, still severely drained Nagasaki Soyo's vitality after possessing her, and Kaito had to step in to recharge her.
Though Yukitan was a bakeneko who couldn't even shapeshift yet, just a little monster. Even so, its strength far surpassed Mizusaki Aki's. Therefore, when Yukino interacted with it, her vitality depleted even faster.
Fortunately, she hadn't raised Yukitan for long yet. The only symptoms so far were fatigue, and with some proper care and rest, her lost vitality could recover naturally.
But if more time passed and the Demonic Aura seeped deeper into her body, it might even damage her foundation.
This statement hit like an earthquake, shaking Yukino and Shizuka's worldview to the core.
"Classmate Kaito, do you have any solution?", The first to lose patience was Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Yukino was, after all, her best friend's little sister. No different from her own in terms of closeness.
Seeing the girl's life at risk, there was no way she could stay calm.
"It's quite simple."
Kaito raised his brow, "To untie the bell, you must find the one who tied it. Since it's Yukitan that caused Miss Yukinoshita to become like this, just send it away."
That was indeed the best solution. To solve the problem at its source.
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked serious as she turned to the girl beside her, "Yukino."
She knew Yukino really loved cats. But pets could be bought anywhere. Send this one away, and the next could be even more obedient.
"But", Yukino still hesitated.
Though they hadn't been together long, emotions didn't necessarily depend on how long.
Some people click at first meeting.
Some people know each other half their lives and still find each other unbearable.
Reason told Yukino that sending Yukitan away was the optimal solution. After all, Kaito had made it clear. Humans and monsters walk different paths.
But emotionally, she couldn't bear it. It was too hard to make the decision to abandon Yukitan.
After hesitating for a long while, Yukino finally whispered, "May I ask if we send Yukitan away, where would it go?"
After all, this wasn't an ordinary kitty. It was a real, bona fide bakeneko.
You couldn't just treat it like a pet cat and release it somewhere random, right?
The most convenient method, of course, would be to kill it directly.
She was afraid of hearing that kind of answer from Kaito.
To Kaito, anything that harmed humans, whether monster or ghost, deserved to die.
But from what it looked like, Yukitan had no intent to hurt anyone, nor had it caused a major incident, so it didn't deserve to die.
He thought for a moment, then simply proposed, "How about you let me take it?"
Humans and monsters do walk different paths, that much was true.
But as someone who had once reached the Nascent Soul stage and was infinitely close to the level of 'immortal,' Kaito could be called half an immortal even without transcending tribulation.
'So then what does the path between humans and monsters have to do with a half-immortal like me?'
"Really?", Yukino's beautiful eyes lit up.
'Kurumizaka-kun can see through Yukitan's real identity at a glance and even made Yukitan fluff up in fear. He is clearly not ordinary.'
'Yukitan's Demonic Aura harmed me but couldn't harm Kurumizaka-kun.'
'He really is the most suitable person to take Yukitan in.'
"It's no trouble at all," Kaito opened the cat carrier and placed it in front of Yukitan.
The silver-white kitty seemed to understand that it had found a new owner. After a soft "meow," it stuck out its pink little tongue and licked Kaito's fingertip, then eagerly dove into the bag.
