"The weekend is almost here."
At noon, Saito Asuka and Nakayama Megumi sat opposite Seiun Sky, eating lunch.
Midway, Saito Asuka took out his phone to check the time, then after a brief thought, said to Nakayama Megumi sitting beside him: "...How about I go out with you this weekend?"
"Go out with me?"
Nakayama Megumi frowned, a reluctant expression on her face.
"Go out in this hot weather? Isn't it better to stay home with the air conditioning?"
After saying this, she shifted to the right, then looked at Saito Asuka, who had moved away: "...I think you should just go out by yourself."
"Then how about I play games with you?"
Saito Asuka stuffed a mouthful of fried rice into her mouth, her voice a little muffled: "...What have you been playing recently? Are you still playing Final Fantasy XIV?"
"Oh, that. No one plays with me, so I just log on for daily roulettes and then log off now."
Nakayama Megumi thought for a moment, then replied: "But I've been playing APEX recently."
"APEX, huh...?"
Hearing Nakayama Megumi say that, Saito Asuka showed a hesitant expression, then nodded uncertainly: "...Then I'll play games with you tomorrow."
"You...?"
Nakayama Megumi looked at Saito Asuka beside her, and for a moment, a look of disdain appeared on her face.
"Wait?! Why are you making that face?!"
Saito Asuka, who caught the fleeting look of disdain on Nakayama Megumi's face, showed a shocked expression: "I can help too..."
"By 'help,' do you mean two-digit damage for the whole game or getting knocked out right after landing?"
Nakayama Megumi sighed: "...Why do I feel like you're more of a hindrance?"
"Ahem... The me now is not the me from before!"
Saito Asuka, reminded of this, showed an awkward expression: "...After that, I did practice my aim well."
"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to your performance tomorrow."
Nakayama Megumi replied, then looked up at the Black-haired Horse Girl sitting in front of them.
"Fūga, what do you usually do on weekends?"
"What do I do on weekends...?"
Seiun Sky murmured, repeating Nakayama Megumi's words: "For me... it's still the same as usual."
"I wake up in the morning, go for a run outside, then come home, eat breakfast, and then start thinking about what to do to pass the time today."
"Isn't that exactly the same as every day you spend at the academy?"
Nakayama Megumi couldn't help but complain: "...Don't you have any hobbies or anything?"
"Hobbies? Running is my hobby, isn't it?"
Seiun Sky replied with a grin.
"No, I mean, do you have any other hobbies besides running?"
Nakayama Megumi pointed to herself and Saito Asuka: "For example, Saito and I, we play games together to relax on weekends."
"Oh... So that's what you mean."
Seiun Sky nodded understandingly, then thought for a moment, resting her chin on a slender finger.
"If I had to say... does reading count?"
"Reading? Those novels online?"
"Hmm, those online novels are indeed very good, but I read physical books, you know~?"
Seiun Sky extended a finger and replied with a grin: "Lying on a lounge chair, with my back to the sun, sunbathing while reading a book, isn't that a very comfortable life?"
"Hmm, that kind of life does sound very nice."
Nakayama Megumi nodded in agreement, then added: "...But from my perspective, it would be even more perfect with a cat."
"A cat... Oh!"
Hearing Nakayama Megumi say that, Seiun Sky's eyes lit up, then she clapped her hands, looking surprised: "How could I not have thought of that?"
"Getting a cat... getting a cat... Mm-hmm! That's a good idea!"
Seiun Sky, increasingly convinced of the idea, looked up, her eyes sparkling like stars: "Miss Megumi, do you have any suggestions regarding this?"
"I do have suggestions, but before that, I think some things need to be made clear to you."
Nakayama Megumi said seriously: "Cats are not like you; they only live for a little over ten years."
"If you want to get a cat, then once you bring it home, you must be prepared to care for it for its entire life, and not let it become a stray after you get bored."
"Mm-hmm, I won't let it become a stray, you know~"
Seiun Sky nodded.
"In that case... then I have a lot to say!"
Hearing Seiun Sky's assurance, Nakayama Megumi's expression became excited.
She stood up, sat next to Seiun Sky, and started chattering, telling her everything she knew about keeping cats.
...It seems I can't join this conversation.
Watching Seiun Sky and Nakayama Megumi chatting happily, Saito Asuka scratched his head, then silently lowered his head and took a sip of the soup in front of him.
However, Seiun Sky with a cat...
He didn't know why, but a scene suddenly appeared in his mind: a small cat clinging tightly to the Black-haired Horse Girl's ears while she ran, and he couldn't help but smile.
...It feels like it would be very interesting.
Saito Asuka thought to himself.
...
"Miss Nakayama Megumi seems to be very good at keeping pets."
Seiun Sky, walking back to the dorm, recalled Nakayama Megumi enthusiastically sharing a lot of knowledge about keeping pets in the cafeteria.
She even remembered trivial things clearly, like how pets adopted from a pet store need to be gradually introduced to new food to prevent diarrhea.
...Miss Megumi knows so much; she must have some pets at home, right?
Moreover, just from what she said, it's clear that Miss Megumi really likes small animals.
"...Next time, I'll find an opportunity to visit Miss Megumi's house."
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Seiun Sky murmured to herself.
What kind of pet does Miss Megumi have at home?
Is it a cat? Or a bird? Or... both?
Guessing as she went, the Black-haired Horse Girl ascended the dorm stairs.
Well... no matter what, as long as it's not a dog, there's no problem!
Seiun Sky thought to herself.
But... a little kitty...
Mm-hmm! This week, I'll go to a nearby pet store and see if there's a little kitty willing to come home with me!
A girl as beautiful as a flying flower like me... of course, I have to pick the cutest little kitty to take home~?
The Black-haired Horse Girl's lips curved upwards, and she hummed a song cheerfully.
Little kitty... cute little kitty~?