"So it really is here?"
Standing outside the cat café, Yukinoshita Yukino's voice sounded as cool as ever, but her eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement.
"You come here pretty often, but that doesn't stop you from enjoying it. What do you think of this place?"
"It's fine. I can tell you understand my preferences quite well."
"Of course. Just like you said, even if you're only my temporary girlfriend, I'm still going to do the best I can."
As Shirai Mio spoke, she walked into the cat café.
After washing and disinfecting their hands and putting on shoe covers, they entered the café proper.
She and Yukinoshita Yukino found somewhere to sit, after which Shirai Mio used the ability of her [Animal Affinity] card.
That card not only increased her affinity with animals, it even let her carry out a little simple communication with them. It was quite a useful ability in a place like a cat café.
Watching the cats suddenly gather around them, Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes filled with surprise. She instinctively glanced at Shirai Mio beside her, and the moment she saw the smile on Mio's face, she knew this was very likely because of her.
As for how Shirai Mio had done it, Yukino had no idea.
At that moment, Yukinoshita Yukino had eyes only for the adorable cats.
To Shirai Mio, the cats were certainly cute too, but Yukinoshita Yukino was obviously even cuter.
Seeming to think of something, Shirai Mio went to a staff member and bought two cat-ear headbands. She carefully moved closer to Yukinoshita Yukino and said, "Miss Girlfriend, try this on."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the cat-ear headband in Shirai Mio's hand, and her expression changed subtly. She cautiously looked around. Only after confirming that there was no one she knew nearby did she take it and put it on.
Shirai Mio had already prepared an entire speech to persuade her, so she had not expected Yukinoshita Yukino to put it on so decisively. Before Mio had even recovered from her surprise, Yukino was already wearing it.
Looking at Shirai Mio's surprised little expression, Yukinoshita Yukino said flatly, "I'm only wearing it because you brought me here to pet cats. Don't expect me to wear this while I walk around shopping with you."
"This is already enough. Though it would be even better if you could meow once or twice."
"Heh."
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Shirai Mio, then turned toward the adorable cat in front of her and meowed a few times.
Although the meows were not directed at her, they still dealt Shirai Mio quite a bit of damage. Even Yukinoshita Yukino's conquest rating rose by two points.
Just then, Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly felt someone poke her arm. There was no one it could be besides Shirai Mio.
She turned around, about to ask what was wrong now, only to discover that Shirai Mio had put on a cat-ear headband too. Mio was even deliberately making a cute expression and looking at her expectantly.
What exactly was Shirai Mio expecting?
Yukinoshita Yukino thought about it for a moment, then uncertainly placed a hand under Shirai Mio's chin and gently scratched it.
"That's not right, is it? Aren't you supposed to pat my head at a time like this? Who scratches someone under the chin?"
"When I pet cats, I usually like to scratch under the chin first," Yukinoshita Yukino said calmly.
"Fine."
The two of them stayed in the cat café all the way into the afternoon. Although neither of them had eaten lunch, neither felt the slightest bit hungry.
The main reason was that they had already filled themselves up on desserts at the cat café. At this point, Shirai Mio felt like throwing up at the mere mention of food.
When it was finally time to leave, Yukinoshita Yukino reluctantly walked out of the cat café and asked, "So where are we going now? I suggest we go back and pet cats."
"You've been petting cats all morning. Take a break first. We'll go watch a movie, then you can come back to my place. Once the date is over, you can pet as much as you want."
For the sake of completing the mission, Shirai Mio had no choice but to put Cake back to work for a while.
"What movie?"
"Of course, one you'll like."
Shirai Mio brought Yukinoshita Yukino to the movie theater. This time, she chose a film about the life of a cat.
The story was nothing special, but the cats in it really were quite cute.
Yukinoshita Yukino saw the poster at the theater as well. She turned to Shirai Mio and said, "Cats again? Aren't you worried I'll get tired of looking at them?"
"Will you?"
"No."
"Then there's no problem. The last time I saw you pet Cake for half the day, I already knew you wouldn't get tired of them."
After waiting for a while, it was soon their turn to enter the screening room.
Because it was a weekday, and because this movie was already near the end of its theatrical run, there were not many people in the auditorium.
There were not many people, but a lovey-dovey couple happened to be sitting directly in front of them.
The movie had not even started yet, and the two were already kissing.
Yukinoshita Yukino naturally noticed. She instinctively glanced at Shirai Mio, then silently shifted her gaze to the big screen, trying to pretend she had seen nothing at all.
Shirai Mio had originally planned to do the same, but the System would not allow it.
"As a couple, even if you're only a temporary one, you have to do something that only couples would do."
"Please find a way to actively kiss Yukinoshita Yukino before leaving the screening room. The location is limited to any part of her face. Success may earn you a Yukinoshita Yukino series deck or item reward. Failure will require you to draw a penalty deck."
"I knew you wouldn't stay quiet."
Shirai Mio gave a gloomy sigh and looked at Yukinoshita Yukino beside her from the corner of her eye.
She felt that if she tried to discuss it directly, Yukino definitely would not agree to her request. And this mission specifically required Mio to take the initiative. Since that was the case, Shirai Mio simply stopped pretending. She leaned straight toward Yukinoshita Yukino and planted a loud MUA on her cheek.
Feeling herself suddenly get kissed, Yukinoshita Yukino instinctively turned to Shirai Mio. That exceedingly friendly look in her eyes seemed to be asking what exactly Shirai Mio thought she was doing.
"Um, I just wanted to show off our relationship a little." Shirai Mio gave a couple of dry laughs.
"Tch. What is there to show off? Besides, our romantic relationship is only temporary."
"Exactly. It's temporary, so that's why I have to show it off while I can," Shirai Mio said with complete confidence.
Yukinoshita Yukino had originally wanted to say more, but after thinking about it, she decided to let it go. It had only been a kiss on the cheek. It probably was not a big deal.
Still, she felt a strange sense that she had wronged her older sister.
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