With Ren's class transfer setting a precedent, Kohei Katsuragi's transfer didn't cause too much of a stir.
Days slipped by without incident, each blending into the next.
Wearing a black baseball cap and white casual wear, Ren lay lazily on a lounge chair, basking in the sun and watching the sea.
Next to him was a barbecue grill with glowing red charcoal, where several fish sizzled.
Just then, Ren noticed the bobber on the sea suddenly sink quickly. Startled from his relaxed position, he reacted immediately, gripping the fishing rod tightly and pulling hard as he registered a heavy resistance from below.
Sensing it was being pulled by an external force, the big fish on the hook began to thrash violently in the sea, trying to break free.
"Hey, a big one."
Ren put aside his playful attitude and focused on wrestling with the fish below.
Before long, an exhausted giant grouper was reeled in by Ren.
Tug... tug...
Feeling a tug on his pant leg, Ren shifted his attention from the giant grouper to his feet.
Mochi finished the small fish Ren had given earlier, but still seemed hungry. Spotting Ren's new catch, Mochi walked over and pawed at his pant leg as if requesting more food.
Mochi's greedy actions really made Ren laugh.
He looked at Mochi by his feet, then at the giant grouper in his hand, which was more than twice Mochi's size.
"Here, Mochi. It's yours."
Ren tossed the giant grouper in front of Mochi, then, unconcerned with how Mochi would manage, baited his line again and settled back on the lounge chair to continue fishing.
"Meow?"
Mochi tilted her head in confusion and tentatively touched the behemoth in front of her with a small paw.
Flop.
The giant grouper, still alive, suddenly thrashed and flopped near Mochi. Startled by the unexpected movement, Mochi jumped back and moved away, clearly scared.
Meow doesn't understand but remains curious.
When the giant grouper stopped moving completely, Mochi carefully took two steps forward and touched it with a paw again.
Seeing that the behemoth no longer reacted, Mochi grew bolder.
Poke... poke...
Circling the giant grouper, Mochi couldn't find a place to start eating.
Mochi meowed anxiously, expressing frustration.
Mochi meowed anxiously.
Seeing the anxious kitten about to tug at Ren's pant leg again, Koharu, who had been lying by the lounge chair with a bloody mouth from eating, stood up, walked over to Mochi, and bit open a slit in the giant grouper's belly.
After doing this, Koharu, gentle as always, didn't lick Mochi as usual. She just lowered her head and nudged Mochi toward the slit in the fish's belly.
Licking the fresh blood flowing from the torn wound of the giant grouper, Mochi's eyes lit up, and then her entire head burrowed into the fish's belly.
"Katsuragi-kun, you really are leisurely."
Unnoticed, Arisu Sakayanagi appeared behind Ren, observing the heartwarming scene before announcing herself.
The two pets raised by Ren, Koharu and Mochi, were really too intelligent.
"Sakayanagi-san, isn't it still class time?"
"As the leader of Class B, you actually skipped class?"
Arisu Sakayanagi's arrival surprised Ren a little.
Skipping class would result in a deduction of class points. Arisu Sakayanagi, who had just become the sole leader of Class B not long ago, shouldn't be skipping class during such a sensitive period.
"My, my, is Katsuragi-kun so concerned about a little girl?"
"Katsuragi-kun also knows that this little girl is in poor health. Please forgive my rudeness this once."
Covering her mouth, Arisu Sakayanagi began her typical smug "little devil" speech. After finishing, she pressed down the hem of her skirt with one hand and sat properly on the edge of the lounge chair.
"This afternoon is swimming class. Katsuragi-kun knows my physical condition~."
"Unable to enter the water for vigorous exercise, I could only ask for leave."
Arisu Sakayanagi explained half-truthfully.
Swimming class, her inability to do vigorous exercise, and the leave request were all true.
So, what wasn't entirely true?
"If you want grilled fish, help yourself."
Ignoring Arisu Sakayanagi's words, Ren moved his entire body to the other side, making more room for her.
Sitting on the edge of the lounge chair was uncomfortable, so Arisu Sakayanagi didn't reject Ren's kindness.
"Katsuragi-kun is really gentle~."
"Crazy."
Ignoring Arisu Sakayanagi again, Ren focused on the fishing rod in his hand.
Ren never felt that he was a gentle person. If he had to judge himself...
Enjoy life while you can, and who cares if the world floods after I die—that was the true portrayal of Ren.
Not bothered by his silence, Arisu Sakayanagi helped herself to a grilled fish from the barbecue.
Meow~
Koharu came to the side closer to Ren, resting her head on the edge of the lounge chair, and looked at Ren eagerly.
"Okay, okay, my good girl. I'll wipe it for you, Koharu."
Ren understood what Koharu meant. He took a clean, white towel from the small cooler and began wiping Koharu's mouth, which was covered in blood from eating.
After wiping the bloodstains from Koharu's face clean, Ren patted Koharu's big head gently. "Open your mouth, I'll wipe your teeth too."
Koharu obediently opened her big jaws wide, her striped tail swaying happily behind her.
After changing two towels, Ren finally cleaned Koharu's teeth. "Done. My good girl Koharu is so beautiful."
"Are you full today?"
Putting the fishing rod aside, Ren stroked Koharu's head, already resting on his lap, and asked.
Squinting her eyes, Koharu didn't reply.
"Katsuragi-kun, your relationship is really good."
Tearing a piece of fish meat from the grilled fish and putting it in her mouth, Arisu Sakayanagi felt a little envious.
"I raised Koharu single-handedly. If we really talk about relationships..."
"She should be considered my daughter, Koharu."
Koharu seemed unsatisfied with Ren petting her with only one hand. She pressed her head against Ren's other free hand.
When Ren started scratching her chin, Koharu shook her head comfortably.
"Can I touch Koharu?"
Arisu Sakayanagi really wanted to touch Koharu.
"Sorry, Sakayanagi-san. Koharu has only been close to me since she was little."
"Alright, I was presumptuous."
Not dwelling on Koharu, Ren asked about the purpose of Arisu Sakayanagi's visit. "Does Sakayanagi-san need something from me today?"
"Yes, Katsuragi-kun. Yes."
"Katsuragi-kun, I got the ticket."
At that, Arisu Sakayanagi recalled her purpose for visiting, her attention drawn back from Koharu.
After Ren poached Kohei Katsuragi to Class A, Class B was now ruled by Arisu Sakayanagi.
The pieces on the chessboard belonging to Arisu Sakayanagi...
We're all assembled.
"But... the current leader of Class A is Ichinose."
"I'm just a loafer in Class D waiting to die."
"Why is Sakayanagi-san looking for me?"
Noticing that Arisu Sakayanagi focused only on him personally, while disregarding the fact that he wasn't in Class A at all....
Ren felt it necessary to remind her.
"Katsuragi-kun, you know. I didn't come to you for class rankings from the beginning."
"If we don't compare class rankings, Sakayanagi-san has never beaten me in chess either."
"Katsuragi-kun, this joke isn't funny."
"Not funny? Then let's go. Sakayanagi-san, I hope you really are a genius."
Patting Koharu's head, the good girl obediently moved her head away and lay down to the side.
"Good girl, don't let strangers take my things away. Otherwise, we won't have anything to eat tonight."
With a final instruction to Koharu, Ren headed toward the villa, Arisu Sakayanagi following with her cane.
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