It didn't take long for Haru's group to reach the front of the line.

Back at the rest area, Utaha and Shizuka were still resting. Haru figured they'd want to watch the audition too and planned to ask the director for permission once things got going.

"You can go in now. Good luck."

With a professional smile, the staff member gestured toward the room.

Haru nodded, hugging his plump orange cat—Jelly—and walked in with practiced ease.

Yukino, by contrast, was clearly a bit tense.

But her mental fortitude kicked in, and she quickly followed behind.

"It'll be fine."

A soft voice drifted into her ear.

Surprised, she turned—Megumi stood beside her, giving a gentle nod.

"…Mm."

Yukino gave a small nod back.

Even Kato's this confident. I, who raised Jelly from a kitten, have even more reason to believe.

With that conviction solidifying in her chest, Yukino stepped forward—

—just as the director came into view.

The man appeared to be in his early forties—mature, with softly permed wavy hair and an artfully maintained mustache.

Overall, his vibe leaned toward the androgynous.

Anyone who saw him might think: Ah, this director-san probably gives off strong "artsy bottom" energy.

At least, that was what Haru thought to himself.

"So, this orange cat is the one auditioning?"

The director looked clearly surprised.

But when his eyes landed on Haru, they lit up again.

"You there—young man, are you an actor?"

"No," Haru shook his head, "We're all just high school students."

That seemed to surprise the director even more.

"High schoolers? That's odd… You and that girl next to you both have such stunning looks. Why didn't I see you in last winter's 'Most Beautiful High Schoolers' magazine?"

Haru chuckled, teasing,

"Probably because I didn't pay the media?"

The director blinked—then burst out laughing.

"Makes sense. Those click-hungry outlets only care about profit. If you don't bring buzz or pay them, they won't bother featuring you."

He covered his mouth while laughing, making his already soft aura even more pronounced.

Megumi, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed about being overlooked.

She'd come here for one reason only—to see Jelly's . Her focus remained squarely on the cat.

As Haru set the orange cat down, it hadn't even gotten a chance to explore before Yukino stepped up and politely asked,

"Director-san, some of our friends are also here to support us today. Would it be possible for them to come in and watch?"

"If there are too many, then I'm afraid not," the director replied, but his tone was gentle.

Yukino thanked him and went to bring in Utaha and Shizuka, who were waiting outside.

"So this little orange one is our candidate today?" the director asked, whispering a few words to his assistant before shifting his gaze to the well-behaved Jelly.

Haru nudged Yukino with his elbow, silently signaling her.

She blinked in surprise, but caught on quickly—he was asking her to handle the talking.

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. As high schoolers, chances to interact in a setting like this were rare, which is exactly why Haru gave her the stage—it was a perfect opportunity to grow.

The others noticed too.

Utaha bit her lip. I could've done that…

Megumi remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned.

As for Shizuka… her gaze wandered. Lost in thought? Daydreaming? Who knew what was going on in her mind.

"Yes, Director-san. This cat's name is Jelly. He's two and a half years old, highly intelligent, and very obedient."

Yukino's voice was steady and graceful, quickly hitting the key points.

The director and his two assistants perked up, curiosity tinged with doubt.

"Obedient? For a cat?"

"Yes," Yukino nodded with a polite smile.

"Jelly has a level of obedience that's rare in most cats."

The director straightened up in his seat.

"Now you've got my attention. Just before you, we had an American Shorthair audition—known for being clever and lively. But even with its owner present, it was running around like crazy. Didn't listen at all."

Yukino didn't offer excuses. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Jelly, who had been casually surveying the room, immediately looked up—his big round eyes locking onto her.

The finger-snap was a cue Haru had trained in.

Thanks to Yukino's usual pampering—and Haru's training—the orange cat obeyed her effortlessly.

As everyone watched, Yukino slowly raised her hand.

Jelly shifted his weight onto his hind legs and stood up like a little dog.

"Huh?"

The director and assistants sat up straight, expressions shifting.

Lowering her hand, Yukino signaled him to crouch again—and Jelly followed flawlessly.

Then she raised a single finger and moved it in a slow circle.

Jelly instantly crouched, coiled, and launched into a clean backward flip.

Even Shizuka, watching from the back, had her eyes wide in awe.

She suddenly had the impulse to adopt a cat.

It had to be orange.

No orange, no deal!

The director and crew were now standing, mouths slightly agape.

"I've never seen a cat with this level of obedience before…"

Yukino smiled with quiet pride.

All those snacks and toys weren't wasted after all.

"Does he know any other tricks?" the director asked, clearly itching to see more.

Yukino understood instantly: curiosity meant the audition was already a success.

So she generously began showcasing Haru's full training routine.

Roll, jump, stealth crawl…

The more Jelly performed, the more stunned the director and crew became.

When the routine ended and Jelly calmly sat beside Yukino, the director slapped the table.

"He's the one!"

The assistants had no objections either.

Filming with animals was always a pain. A cat this obedient would dramatically reduce the team's workload.

And the fact that he was just a chubby, ordinary orange tabby? That was a bonus—chubby meant adorable.

Hearing the decision, Utaha smiled.

She tugged Haru's sleeve and whispered,

"Next time there's an opportunity like this, it's my turn, right?"

Haru chuckled quietly,

"Of course, my dear Bunny-senpai."

Utaha blushed slightly—but unlike Yukino when teased with "Miss Meow," she didn't get flustered. Instead, she boldly gave him a teasing smile in return.

So cute. He wanted to—

Haru quickly shut down that train of thought.

Now that the decision was made, it was time to discuss contracts.

Shizuka, being the responsible adult, stepped in to help.

Even though she wasn't a legal expert, she listened carefully, jotting down everything the director said as she considered which lawyer to call.

At that moment, the quiet Megumi stepped up beside them.

"Shall we upload some of Jelly's training videos online? Could help build hype for the commercial."

Her sudden appearance startled the director—but he quickly smiled.

"Great idea. If you want to start promoting, I suggest showcasing more impressive tricks. With editing these days, we can make magic—but if the cat can actually do it, that's even better. The sponsors would love that."

Megumi's suggestion, spoken openly, was naturally overheard by the rest of the group.

Haru was a little surprised—because he had been thinking the same thing earlier.

Yukino blinked thoughtfully.

"So Megumi has been quiet all this time… thinking about what comes next?"

Utaha added,

"She really likes Jelly. I've seen her phone—it's full of videos and pictures of Jelly."

Once everything was settled, Hiratsuka-sensei stepped out to call her lawyer friend.

Megumi returned to Haru's side.

"I hope you don't mind me acting on my own."

Haru smiled.

"Not at all. I'm glad you're willing to offer your ideas."

"That was a good suggestion," Yukino added sincerely.

"I'm happy if I could help."

Megumi's tone was calm and composed.

But deep down…

She was secretly very pleased.

After all, this way—her presence had become just a little more meaningful.

~~~~~~~~~~

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