After school that day, Yukino and Utaha walked ahead side by side, the two beautiful girls deep in conversation about filming new videos of the orange cat.

Even though Utaha still had work to do as a director, she had temporarily shifted her focus to the commercial for the cat. To her, that lazy yet obedient and intelligent orange feline had become an indispensable part of her daily life.

She wanted this project to be perfect.

Yukino, of course, shared the same sentiment. So the moment Utaha brought it up, she immediately got into a serious, planning mode.

Meanwhile, Haru and Megumi followed behind at a leisurely pace, almost like outsiders to the mission.

"You're not going to join them?" Haru asked casually.

Megumi replied calmly, "You already have the entire shooting plan worked out in your head, don't you? Yukinoshita and Senpai both have strong opinions too. With the three of you working together, I'd just be getting in the way."

Haru, who had known her long enough, immediately caught on to her real meaning. "So what you're saying is...?"

Megumi, still wearing her usual calm expression, said softly, "I want to stop by the pet store. Would you come with me?"

"You're thinking of getting a cat?" Haru raised an eyebrow.

"Not for me. It's for a classmate. She saw one of the videos I had saved on my phone. She's been wanting a cat for a while but hadn't decided on a breed," Megumi explained.

"I see," Haru chuckled. "So she's officially joining the Orange Cat Army?"

"Even though that name sounds a little weird… yes, I guess she is," Megumi agreed.

Haru's grin didn't fade. "But what if she chooses an orange cat, only to find it's not nearly as well-behaved as the one in your video?"

"That could definitely be a problem," Megumi admitted, gently pressing a finger to her chin in thought.

After a moment, she looked up, meeting his gaze. "If that happens… can I ask you for advice?"

"Advice on how to train a cat?" Haru considered. With his [Hypnosis] skill, it probably wouldn't be hard to teach.

Megumi nodded slightly. "Yes."

Naturally, Haru wasn't going to refuse.

But given their past interactions, he couldn't help but wonder—was she really just helping a friend? Or was this simply an excuse?

He was all too familiar with this kind of subtle maneuver.

Still, since Megumi wasn't saying anything outright, he had no proof.

"What are you two chatting about?" Utaha turned around and asked.

Before Haru could speak, Megumi casually explained the situation.

"Oh, that's all?" Utaha didn't seem very interested. "I've shown the orange cat videos I took to some classmates too. They were really surprised—and totally smitten."

Yukino was the only one present who hadn't shared any of her videos.

It wasn't that she had no friends at school. Thanks to Haru's efforts last year, she had built a decent reputation.

But her excellence made her somewhat unapproachable. Every time she talked to her classmates, the mood never felt like a conversation between equals—it was more like they were speaking with a celebrity.

Yukino understood that many girls admired her, but when they were too enthusiastic, she simply didn't know how to respond.

That's why she had never shared any of her orange cat footage with others—not even with Utaha.

"Yukinoshita, would you like to come with us?" Megumi invited her.

Utaha's gaze flicked to Yukino curiously.

But to her surprise, Yukino declined. "I want to try filming something with Jelly when I get home. You two go ahead."

Megumi nodded, accepting her decision.

The four of them parted ways at a nearby intersection. Utaha looked back at Haru and Megumi's retreating figures, falling silent for a moment. Then she finally asked, "So… you've stopped being cautious around her?"

Yukino, instantly catching her meaning, replied in a flat tone, "Rather than being wary of Kato… I'm more on guard around you now."

Utaha blinked, confused. "Me? Why?"

Yukino stared straight ahead, voice calm but firm. "You really haven't noticed? You've become more and more…"

She lowered her voice slightly."Bold. And reckless."

Utaha smiled with clear amusement. "Are you still mad about last night?"

"What do you think?" Yukino shot back.

Utaha tried to hide the grin tugging at her lips. "I figured we were close enough now that you wouldn't get upset over something like that."

That hit a nerve.

Yukino suddenly stopped in her tracks, her not-so-impressive chest rising and falling as she tried to calm herself. "Do you have any idea how sleepy I was at school today because of your little disruption?"

"I was a bit tired too… I'll make you some coffee when we get home," Utaha replied, barely able to contain her laughter.

She loved seeing this flustered, annoyed side of Yukino—it was rare and adorable.

The kind of thrill you get from teasing a fierce cat and almost getting clawed. Utaha thought to herself, God, this is fun.

"I can make my own coffee," Yukino said coldly, and began walking again.

Utaha followed at her side, just about to make another teasing comment when Yukino suddenly said, "Some things… can't be stopped."

"…What do you mean?"

Utaha was confused at first.

But when she noticed the complex emotion in Yukino's eyes, she quickly understood—she was talking about Megumi.

Tentatively, Utaha asked, "Yukino… what do you really think of Kato?"

"I don't want to talk about that," Yukino cut her off decisively.

Utaha pursed her lips, then said lazily, "You really do live up to your 'Miss Meow' nickname. Cats are impossible to reason with half the time."

Yukino gave her a frosty glance, her emotions hard to describe.

Back when they both came at Haru together, she had assumed he wouldn't be able to handle it.

But in the end… she was the one left reeling.

The future? She didn't want to think about it.

Because the more she did, the more anxious and conflicted she felt.

There was also something she hadn't told Haru at lunch today.

When she was pretending to rest with her eyes closed, she had sensed his approach instantly—almost the moment he got close.

In the past, that would've been impossible.

Haru didn't wear cologne, just his usual lemon-scented shampoo.

And yet she had recognized him by scent and presence alone.

Can just training really make me this sharp? Yukino thought.

She was no fool—her gut told her otherwise.

Even though Haru had tried to explain some things to her before, as time passed, the doubts crept back in.

Just like last year… I can't help but feel that Haru's true physical abilities, or rather his limits, are something beyond my imagination.

If that's true… then he really might be a superhuman.

Yukino walked in silence, lost in thought.

_ _ _ _

Elsewhere…

Haru and Megumi arrived at a nearby pet shop.

The place had both cats and dogs, with a decent variety of breeds. But to Haru, the breed hardly mattered. With his cheat skills, any pet could become obedient and intelligent.

Megumi, unaware of this, looked around seriously.

A young female shopkeeper spotted Haru's good looks and immediately perked up. She looked eager to approach and strike up a conversation, but—

"We'll just take a look around first. Please don't trouble yourself," Haru said politely with a smile.

Disappointed but unable to argue, the owner nodded and backed off.

Megumi's eyes soon landed on a tiny orange kitten. It looked no more than four months old—right at the peak of cuteness.

Haru admired the kitten for a bit, then felt his phone buzz.

It was a message from Haruno.

Haruno: Are you home? I've got something for you.

Haru excused himself and stepped outside to reply:

Haru: What is it?

Haruno: Some fancy snacks my mom bought for you. They're pretty expensive, so don't even think about turning them down. Otherwise, she'll nag me forever.

Haru smirked, knowing that last part was probably a joke. He explained where he was.

Haruno: Pet shop? Perfect. I'll come by. Send me the address.

Haru: Didn't know you were into pet shops.

Haruno: Shizuka told me about the commercial shoot. She couldn't stop gushing over it on the phone. Now I'm curious if that fat cat of yours is really all that amazing. I've petted him before, and aside from being lazy and a little chubby, he didn't seem all that special.

~~~~~~~~~~

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