In less than three seconds, Ho Fei-yu carried the girl to the front row. Adding the one second he had taken to kiss the girl earlier, that made four seconds total. He felt like he couldn't leave it without rounding up to five seconds, so he leaned down and kissed the girl on her other eye.
'Time resumes.'
"Alright, Hanasaku-chan, you can open your eyes now."
Hanasaku Tenkawa opened her beautiful eyes but immediately noticed something was different. A black-and-white figure was clearly visible, resting on a stump not far from her. Occasionally, it would rub against a nearby tree trunk because its rear was itchy—funny and cute.
"Wow!!" The girl's face showed an expression of disbelief. Even as a sweet, slightly naive person, she knew something was strange about Ho Fei-yu. She had known he was odd compared to his peers, but this was exceptionally bizarre. She had only closed her eyes for two or three seconds, yet the boy had managed to move them to the very front in that short time. Hanasaku Tenkawa exclaimed in surprise.
"Shh~ We'll talk about it when we get home."
"Let's watch the panda first." Ho Fei-yu saw the girl about to ask and quickly stopped her. Walls had ears, and he wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. Although he wasn't afraid—most police in the R-18 anime world were incompetent—male officers were fine, but female ones might end up falling for him.
"Mhm!" Hanasaku Tenkawa didn't say anything more after hearing Ho Fei-yu and focused on watching the panda.
Ho Fei-yu also watched the panda, but most of his attention was focused on the girl. The two were pressed very close together, after all, it was a huge crowd. He shielded the girl in his arms. Since everyone around them was female, he wasn't worried about the girl being groped. If there happened to be a female pervert, then he would be seriously impressed.
His hands slowly moved from Hanasaku Tenkawa's waist toward her navel. In no time, he was hugging the girl's entire waist. The girl was completely plastered against Ho Fei-yu. The faint scent of a young woman wafted into Ho Fei-yu's nostrils, refreshing his mind. Unconsciously, his head leaned against the girl's fragrant shoulder, his cheek pressed near her ear, and his eyes gazed at her profile.
Her fair skin was tinged with a faint blush. The beauty mark below her left eye moved delicately with her frequent blinks. Her straight, graceful nose paired with her slightly pouting crimson lips created a masterpiece of beauty.
This moment was eternal.
Hanasaku Tenkawa naturally noticed Ho Fei-yu's subtle moves, but she didn't resist. She liked the boy being this way because she could clearly feel his affection. The girl also naturally leaned into the boy's embrace.
Indeed, the man was willing, and the woman was interested—a perfect match, no suspense here.
They were having a sweet time, but it was miserable for the people behind them who just wanted to see the panda. They were forced to consume this sudden Public Display of Affection (PDA). He wondered if they would remember this 'doggish couple' the next time they came to see the panda.
Ho Fei-yu seemed to recall something and whispered into the girl's ear. His lips were only two or three centimeters away from her glistening earlobe. He watched the girl's ear slowly turn red, and her earlobe became luscious. He could clearly feel his salivary glands working overtime, with strings of saliva faintly connecting his teeth. If it weren't for the crowd, the girl's earlobe might have already been taken into his mouth and slowly savored.
Hanasaku Tenkawa felt the hot breath from the boy's mouth hitting her ear, causing her to instinctively clench her thighs and rub them together gently. She wanted to remind the boy that her ear was a sensitive spot, but the boy quickly finished what he was saying near her ear, so she didn't speak. Instead, she listened to the boy and took out her pink phone, which had the panda charm they just bought hanging from it.
The girl opened the camera and took a few photos of the panda. Then, she turned the camera toward herself—or rather, toward both of them—found a good angle, and took several selfies before closing the phone and putting it back in her pocket.
The two watched the panda until it went to rest. Unknowingly, the crowd had dispersed, leaving only a few people who were loyal panda fans. They wore, held, or had panda-related merchandise on them—true panda enthusiasts.
Hanasaku Tenkawa and Ho Fei-yu were still leaning into each other, savoring the presence of the other. The girl didn't want to break the silence, knowing they would have to go home soon, and she would be alone again. She was reluctant to leave the boy's embrace.
"Let's go, Hanasaku-chan, let's go home. We can come back and play together next time." Ultimately, Ho Fei-yu was the one who spoke. Unlike the girl, he had three other women waiting for him to return home for dinner. His affection for the girl stemmed less from the mission and more from his genuine attraction to her, both physically and personality-wise. The girl was like sweet Tofu pudding—the more he indulged, the more addictive she became.
"Oh."
The two walked hand-in-hand to the train station, bought tickets, and boarded the train. There weren't many people on the way back, as it wasn't rush hour, so there were many seats. They sat shoulder-to-shoulder, holding hands.
"What's wrong, Hanasaku-chan?" He noticed Hanasaku Tenkawa's face was slightly downcast and asked her.
"No... nothing..."
"Fei-yu-kun... can... can we go out and play together again next time?"
"Of course, we can! As long as I'm free, I'm at your beck and call."
"Who told you to admit I'm your boyfriend?"
"Isn't it my duty to take care of my girlfriend?" The girl's face blossomed into a smile upon hearing Ho Fei-yu's words, but then she blushed at his later remark, lowering her head without saying anything.
"Right, Hanasaku-chan, where are your parents? I didn't see your father or mother when I visited earlier today."
"My parents have been on a business trip outside the prefecture ever since I started high school. They only come back for a few days a year..." The girl looked hesitant, but seeing the boy's concerned expression, she told him the truth.
"It's okay. I'll keep you company from now on."
"Say, why don't you get a pet? That should keep you from being too lonely." Ho Fei-yu gently patted their clasped hands, comforting her, and then seemed to think of something.
"Eh, that's right!" A look of sudden realization appeared on the girl's pretty face. Why hadn't she thought of that? Who needed movies when you had a pet? That was a pure waste of time.
"So, how about this? On our way home, let's look for a pet store and buy a cat." Ho Fei-yu suggested.
"Mhm." Hanasaku Tenkawa nodded gently.
When the train reached their station, on the way to Hanasaku Tenkawa's home, Ho Fei-yu indeed spotted a pet store selling cats. He led the girl inside.
"Meow~ Woof~" The moment the two entered the shop, the various cats in the cages all started meowing at the sight of strangers.
The girl's eyes sparkled. There were cute cats everywhere. The girl turned to Ho Fei-yu, seemingly seeking his permission. Seeing the boy nod, she let go of his hand and rushed to the cages, watching and teasing the cats inside.
"Meow~"
"Meow."
"Fei-yu-kun, look! The cat is answering me!" The girl, in a playful mood, even mimicked a cat's meow. Seeing the cat respond, she excitedly turned to Ho Fei-yu.
"Haha, it looks like even the cat finds Hanasaku-chan adorable." Ho Fei-yu was internally speechless, but he didn't want to dampen the girl's innocent spirit, so he flattered her.
"Heh heh." The girl giggled happily at Ho Fei-yu's words.
Ho Fei-yu, seeing no other customers in the store, began to walk around, intending to choose a suitable cat.
After browsing for a while, he found a few suitable breeds.
The first was the Bengal cat—full of wildness, but it required too many accessories, which was troublesome. The second was the Tanuki Cat (Japanese Bobtail)—a native cat of the Dragon Kingdom. It was highly independent, often only home two out of three days, and also very wild, but could be considered. The third was the Balinese cat—an 'evolved, extended version' of the Siamese cat. It was gentle and perceptive of emotions, and very sensitive, which was okay. The fourth was the Cow Cat (Black and White Shorthair)—it had a black and white coat just like the panda, but its luck wasn't as good as the panda's. Occasionally, some of these cats had strange markings. He recalled a popular picture on his former Earth of a cat with penis-like markings—that was a Cow Cat.
After some thought, he decided to buy the Balinese cat. Its clinginess to its owner and its sensitivity to human emotions could regulate the owner's mood and bring happiness, making it perfectly suited for Hanasaku Tenkawa.
"Hanasaku-chan, what do you think of this cat?" Ho Fei-yu called the girl over, wanting to ask for her opinion.
"It's fine." The girl agreed without hesitation. The Balinese cat looked beautiful, and most importantly, Ho Fei-yu had chosen it.