The two walked side by side toward the Cunning Hares' residence. With each step, Ye Qingfeng's mind grew clearer about the reality he was bringing home.
He felt it was necessary to explain the situation to Nekomiya. After all, living alone was one thing; being part of an organization with established members and rules was another. Besides, whether Nekomiya could stay wasn't ultimately his decision—it was Sister Nicole's. But he had already started formulating a plan.
Given Sister Nicole's… pragmatic and somewhat greedy nature, she wouldn't just let anyone join the Cunning Hares, especially considering their current financial situation, which could barely support the existing payroll.
Ye Qingfeng glanced at the girl beside him, who was practically bouncing with every step, her tail swishing happily behind her. She was undeniably cute, but she didn't seem to possess much obvious fighting prowess. Otherwise, why didn't she struggle more back in the alley? he thought.
Although he considered himself somewhat handsome… it couldn't be that she had really taken a liking to him that quickly, could it?
Forget it… I'll cross that bridge when I come to it…
If it really came down to it, keeping her in a little apartment wouldn't be out of the question. Besides, he still had nearly a million Dennies. He wouldn't have to worry about money for a long time.
Come to think of it… didn't he still have four lottery draws left?
"Qingfeng! Qingfeng!"
Nekomiya's voice, tinged with impatience, cut through his thoughts. She had called his name several times without a response. Finally, with a flash of mischief, she opened her mouth wide, revealing two sharp little fangs, and chomped down gently on the back of his hand.
"Hiss—! Nekomiya, what are you doing!" He flinched, more from surprise than pain.
"You're the one who was ignoring me for so long! Hmph!" Nekomiya let out a soft, indignant hum and turned her head away, puffing her cheeks out in an exaggerated pout. It was a ridiculously adorable sight.
"My fault, my fault!" Ye Qingfeng conceded with a sigh. "Nekomiya, let me tell you about my… family's situation."
At the word "family," Nekomiya's puffed cheeks suddenly deflated. That's right… Qingfeng had his own family, his own people.
A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. Would Ye Qingfeng's family accept her? And there was still that one unresolved matter hanging over her…
Seeing Nekomiya with her back turned, Ye Qingfeng mistook her silence for continued sulking over being ignored.
He really couldn't do anything with this cat girl! He'd have to use the ultimate weapon—a canned good—to pry her out of her mood!
"Here, a mackerel can! Forgive me, o—kay—" He began the bribery, reaching for his pocket, only to freeze. "—no—wait—!"
Oh no. He was out of cans.
Luckily, fortune seemed to favor him. As he looked up, searching for a solution, he spotted a small supermarket glowing invitingly just a block away.
"Alright~" he said, his tone softening into a coaxing one. "I'll go buy you a couple of cans right now, so don't be angry anymore." He reached out and gently patted the top of her head, but his gaze was already fixed on the distant storefront.
His mind raced ahead. Although what Sister Nicole and Anby said earlier was infuriating…
Sister Nicole was probably doing it for his own good… Anby was just purely infuriating!
Forget it… I'll just be the bigger person! Seeing how hard they worked to complete commissions in the Hollows, he could make them a big meal tonight. It could serve as both a peace offering and a potential bribe for Sister Nicole regarding Nekomiya.
Come to think of it, if Nekomiya did join the Cunning Hares, what would she be? A mascot? A lucky cat?
That's right! He'd also promised Nekomiya a full fish banquet. He should buy a couple of fresh fish while he was at it. Braised fish, steamed fish, boiled fish slices… he didn't know which one she'd prefer? He'd just make a variety. He could treat it as a welcome feast for Nekomiya joining the Cunning Hares!
"Nekomiya, let's go to the supermarket together. I'll buy you some delicious cans!" When she remained silent, he assumed she was still upset. His voice took on a kinder, more patient tone. "Actually, you wait here for a bit. I need to buy ingredients for dinner, too, so it might take a while. Don't wander off, okay?"
"Mhm…" came a soft, non-committal murmur from the puff-cheeked silhouette.
"Good girl!" Relief washed over him. He gave her head one final reassuring rub before turning and striding purposefully toward the supermarket.
He didn't look back.
After waiting for what felt like a few dozen heartbeats, Nekomiya slowly turned. She watched Ye Qingfeng's retreating back until his figure grew blurry in the distance.
She bit her lower lip, her gaze growing complex as she stared ahead, not at the supermarket, but back down the path they had come. "I'm sorry…" she whispered to the empty air where he had been. "There's still one thing I have to take care of…"
"After this is over… I'll come find you!"
Even if you don't agree… I'll find a way to stay. Even if I have to pester you relentlessly!
With a new determination hardening in her eyes, Nekomiya turned resolutely and began walking. The scene before her seemed to rewind as she retraced their steps, passing the mouth of the dark alley where their fates had first collided.
Her destination was a nearby 24-hour convenience store.
The electronic chime announced her entrance. Inside, the fluorescent lights were harsh, and the air smelled of stale coffee and processed food. Two clerks were chatting lazily by the counter.
Clerk A: "Oh, right! Let me tell you, a super handsome guy came in today!"
Clerk B:"There's a handsome guy every day, what's so surprising about that?"
Clerk A:"This one was different! He was the most handsome one I've seen this month—no! In the last six months! Tall, nice vibe. He came in and bought two mackerel cans. Maybe he was buying them to feed the stray cats nearby!"
Clerk B:"That's pretty nice of him. Got a picture? Let me see how handsome he was."
Clerk A:"No, but the security camera probably caught him. Oh! Hello! How can I help you?"
Clerk A abruptly cut off the gossip, noticing the Thiren customer now standing silently at the counter.
Nekomiya's voice was low and direct. "Do you have a cloak? The cheapest one will do."
"Yes, we do!" The clerk, slightly flustered by the customer's sudden appearance, scurried out from behind the counter and grabbed a plain, dark grey cloak from a nearby rack. "Here you go!"
Nekomiya paid quickly with the few Dennies she had, the coins clinking softly on the counter. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the sterile brightness of the store.
At the entrance, before slipping into the coarse fabric and pulling the deep hood over her distinctive ears, she couldn't help one last glance down the street, toward the alley and the path beyond where a certain someone had gone.
A strange, poignant feeling rose in her heart—a mix of longing and resolve. It wouldn't be too long before she saw Ye Qingfeng again.
But first, she had to settle this.
---
Some time later, in a different, quieter part of the district, Nekomiya completed her final necessary action. She stood alone for a moment, the weight of the task lifting slightly from her shoulders, replaced by the heavier weight of solitude.
The warm afternoon sun shone down on her, casting a long, slender, and distinctly lonely shadow behind her as she began to walk away, the cheap cloak fluttering slightly around her ankles.
---
Meanwhile, Ye Qingfeng walked out of the supermarket, a heavy grocery bag in each hand. One bulged with fresh vegetables, seasonings, and two plump fish for dinner. The other was filled to the brim with tins of mackerel, their weight a comforting promise.
His pace was unconsciously quick, eager to get back to Nekomiya with her promised bounty.
When he arrived at the spot where he had left her, his steps faltered.
The spot was empty.
Where was Nekomiya? Did some scoundrel lure her away with… more mackerel? The absurd, worried thought flashed through his mind.
He walked over to a nearby newspaper stand and gently set the two bags down. To the elderly owner, he gestured Nekomiya's approximate height. "Excuse me, have you seen a Thiren girl, about this tall, with cat ears and a tail? She was waiting here."
The owner squinted, thinking. "There was a Thiren about that tall here, yes. But she left a while ago." He pointed a gnarled finger back down the street, the direction from which they had come. "Went that way."
"...I see." Ye Qingfeng's voice was flat. "Thanks for the trouble…"
The owner, a man who had seen countless little dramas unfold on his street corner, gave him a knowing look. "Did you have a fight with your girlfriend, young man? Go give her a proper apology. A little quarrel is no big deal." His eyes flicked to the conspicuous bag full of canned fish.
"It's not what you're thinking, sir…" Ye Qingfeng sighed, the energy draining from him. "But thank you for telling me."
He bent to pick up the heavy bags, their contents suddenly feeling less like gifts and more like dead weight. He turned to leave, his mind a whirl of confusion and a sharp, unexpected pang of disappointment.
"Wait a minute, young man!" the owner called out from behind.
Ye Qingfeng paused, then slowly turned. His expression was carefully blank as he looked back at the old man. "Is there something else?"
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