Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Stray Cat
Once again, he had gained a skill point!
A surge of joy welled up in Anhe’s heart; skill points were truly wonderful things. The skills awarded by the system still required Anhe to learn them himself, but investing skill points would directly infuse all the experience and technique into his body’s instincts.
He had felt this most vividly the first time he used skill points to improve his piano skills.
Free rides are always the truth!
Just as he was rejoicing, the soft sensation on his lips faded, and Anhe returned from the thrill of gaining a skill point.
He looked up, only to see Shiko Kurorai’s cheeks flushed, her gaze fixed intently upon him.
Seeing Anhe look her way, Shiko’s eyelashes trembled. She spoke softly, “Yusei-kun, do you dislike me?”
“Of course not! I like Mrs. Kurorai very much!” Anhe denied outright, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. Hearing this, Shiko lowered her head, pressing it against Anhe’s chest, her tone tinged with disappointment.
“Is that so? But just now, Anhe-kun, you were clearly thinking about something else, weren’t you?”
Her words caused Anhe’s lips to twitch, but he quickly thought of a way to respond. Leaning close to Shiko’s ear, he whispered, “I was indeed thinking, but what I was pondering was whether, if I boldly stuck out my tongue, you would blame me.”
Suddenly, Shiko lifted her head, her mouth slightly agape, her beautiful eyes wide as if she had heard something unimaginable.
Now is the moment!
Anhe seized the opportunity and bit down.
“Mmm~”
Her lips were suddenly sealed, and Shiko let out a soft cry. Her body tensed for two seconds before gradually relaxing, finally reaching out to embrace Anhe’s neck.
On the eaves beside the alleyway, two stray cats—one large, one small—witnessed the scene and bashfully turned their heads away. Soon, the larger cat, feeling the awkward atmosphere, stealthily stretched its paw toward its companion. Though it was quickly swatted away, the big cat was undeterred and kept trying again and again…
After a while, Anhe noticed that the person in his arms was breathing harder and released her.
Under the streetlamp, a strand of shimmering hair broke away.
Seeing this, Shiko’s watery eyes instantly cleared, and she hurriedly let go of Anhe, wiping her mouth in a flustered manner.
“You taste sweet, Shiko,” Anhe said with a grin, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, as if he hadn’t noticed that he was calling her by her name.
Anhe could pretend not to notice, but Shiko could not.
The moment she heard him call her name, her heart, sealed for nearly ten years, beat violently and uncontrollably.
Bewilderment, panic, delight—all sorts of emotions surged forth, and Shiko finally turned her head away, avoiding Anhe’s gaze as she hurriedly shifted the topic.
“I’m almost thirty, there’s nothing sweet about me. But you, Yusei-kun, you look sixteen or seventeen and yet you’re so skilled…”
As she spoke, Shiko’s voice grew softer, until she fell silent, head bowed.
Seeing this, Anhe understood what she was thinking. He reached out to lift her delicate face, making her look at him, and said gently, “Miss Shiko, I like you.”
---
The sudden confession struck Shiko Kurorai’s heart like a heavy hammer.
She stared at him, her pretty face transforming from disappointment to delight and then to bashfulness. Coming to her senses, she quickly slapped away Anhe’s hands, stood up from his lap, turned her back, and began tidying her disheveled clothes, muttering in a small voice.
“To confess at a time like this, Yusei-kun, you really are a rascal.”
Anhe chuckled and didn’t press further.
These few minutes of rest had calmed him.
Standing up, Anhe glanced at his tracksuit, a hint of struggle flashing across his face before he decided to take it off, leaving only his boxer briefs.
Hearing the rustle behind her, Shiko instinctively glanced back, catching sight of Anhe changing clothes—and his strong, muscular physique.
…
After a moment of silence, Shiko withdrew her gaze, her already reddened cheeks now glowing like a sunset.
“He looks so slender, but his body is so well-built…”
Remembering what she had just seen, Shiko hesitated, but stole another glance.
Then…
She met Anhe’s eyes, his face wearing a sly, victorious smile.
Realizing she was caught, Shiko quickly turned away, her heart pounding wildly, her face flushed with shyness.
[New secret detected: Shiko Kurorai is heavily in debt]
[New secret detected: Shiko Kurorai has a hidden nymphomaniac personality]
[Current secrets discovered: 4/17]
The sudden appearance of the light screen only made Anhe pause briefly before he ignored it.
Secrets no longer mattered to Shiko, whose favorability had already reached over seventy.
After changing clothes and seeing Shiko had returned to normal, Anhe took out his phone and checked the time.
7:20 p.m.
So late already?
Anhe raised his brows, remembering that Amamiya Sawu was still waiting at home. He picked up the bag containing Shiko’s belongings and walked to her side, patting her shoulder.
“Shiko, you should change out of that outfit. The maid costume is too conspicuous.”
Her blush faded as she nodded, pulling herself together. She took the bag and found her daytime clothes: a pencil skirt, ladies’ suit, white blouse, and a pair of black stockings.
As for the other pair…
Both Anhe and Shiko glanced at the ball of black silk on the ground nearby. Shiko’s cheeks grew even redder.
She put the stockings back in the bag, holding her clothes, and hesitated. “Should I change here?”
---
Hearing this, Anhe looked around; not a soul or camera in sight, not even a stray cat. He nodded.
“In the corner, I’ll stand outside and keep watch for you.”
Though her face reddened further, Shiko did not refuse. She nodded softly, carrying her clothes into the shadowed corner.
Watching her back, Anhe patted his chest in reassurance.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep watch. Not even a mosquito will get past me without a slap.”
Half a minute later.
“Yusei-kun, could you turn around? It’s embarrassing to be watched.”
“No. You must stay in my sight at all times—only then can I protect you.”
“……”
Half an hour later.
Shiko, now changed, and Anhe appeared in front of a hair salon.
Seeing the stylist inside, Shiko hesitated. “Yusei-kun, is it really necessary to dye my hair?”
“Absolutely.” Anhe replied without hesitation, lifting Shiko’s flaxen hair and sniffing it before continuing, “You’ve already been seen by them, so now you must hide. Once your hair is dyed, you can wear a mask and it’ll be very hard for anyone to recognize you.”
Hearing this, Shiko lowered her eyes and nodded.
Yes, after all that happened, those people must be frantically searching for her.
Thinking of this, Shiko remembered her daughter.
She wondered if the teacher Yusei mentioned would bully Sari…
With mixed feelings, Shiko walked into the salon.
When she came out again, her hair was a vivid shade of pink.
“It suits you perfectly,” Anhe praised sincerely, making Shiko blush.
Seeing that it was getting late, Anhe helped Shiko book a hotel room for a week before heading home.
As he left, Shiko handed him her house key, asking him to fetch some things from her bedroom.
Anhe did not refuse.
After a gentle kiss, the two parted ways.