Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 57: Date (3)

“You remembered my favorite animal ……, Riku-kun.”

“In the past, I saw you glaring at a cat many times.”

“G-glaring at each other… we didn’t do that. We were just staring at each other.”

“I was curious about the cat café too, so I thought it would be a good opportunity. I didn’t think my friend I just met would introduce me to this cat café I was planning to go to.”

Riku and Shizuku then went to the cat café Kenta had recommended them to, and after taking off their shoes and entering the store, they sat facing each other and chatted away. Since it was still off-peak time, they could count on their fingers the number of customers, including Riku and her.

“That said, I’m a little concerned about your attire. ……”

“What do you mean……?”

Riku glanced over Shizuku’s attire and uttered these words with a raised eyebrow.

“The tights that you are wearing, if a cat scratched you, wouldn’t they tear? I don’t know much about the details.”

“T-That’s true… But it’s not enough to be a problem. If it does, I can just take off my tights.”

“Aren’t you always quite shy about taking them off….?”

“……!”

Shizuku had forgotten until now. The problem is not about the tear. It’s about what happens after.

“Riku-kun, ……. I hope you didn’t choose the cat cafe to see my bare legs and feet. …..”

Holding her thighs with both hands, Shizuku looked at him skeptically with a hint of embarrassment. It may have been the right answer, but from Riku’s point of view, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. After all, he hadn’t thought about it in the slightest.

“There’s no way that’s true…”

“E-Ecchi…”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about!?”

“Fine, whatever. I’ll leave my boyfriend, who looks at me with such lewd eyes, alone… I’ll go play with the innocent kitties.”

Shizuku, clearing her throat meaningfully, elegantly finished the tea poured into her cup and crawled on all fours towards the relaxed cats.

“Seriously… If you wanted to play with cats, you should’ve just said so.”

Riku took a sip of his café latte, smiling wryly as he watched Shizuku.

It’s quite cute that Shizuku couldn’t bring herself to say, “I’m going to play with cats!” It’s just like her.

“Hey, calico kitty, come here.”

“Nyaaa”

Unaware that Riku was watching her, Shizuku faced the calico cat while making a sweet, cat-like voice.

“I wonder if this will work…”

Well-versed in befriending cats, Shizuku brought her index finger close to the cat’s nose from below, letting it sniff her scent.

Sniff sniff.

The cat scan, also known as the “nose sniff,” was a greeting behavior between cats. It allows them to judge whether the other is a friend or foe based on their scent.

“Nyaa!”

“Your name is Choco-chan, huh? That’s a nice name.”

“Nyaa.”

This calico cat, Choco, must have decided that Shizuku was a friend. Shizuku gently stroked Choco’s fur, and Choco allowed it.

“You are amazing, Choco-chan. You’re so different from my boyfriend. Even though you are a girl, maybe I should make you my boyfriend.”

“Eh? I thought I heard something I couldn’t ignore just now…”

“Plus, Choco-chan doesn’t seem like she would cheat.”

“I heard something again…”

“It’s just your imagination, right, Choco-chan?”

“Nyaa!”

Choco, perhaps siding with Shizuku, let out a meow in agreement.

(Shizuku looks like she’s having fun… I’m glad I chose this place today.)

It hasn’t even been an hour since they started their date, but anyone could see that Shizuku’s expression was one of enjoyment. Although the two came to the cat cafe with the purpose of interacting with cats, Riku felt a sense of satisfaction just watching Shizuku.

“Choco-chaaan.”

“Nyaa!”

“Ahh, so cute… seriously.”

“Purr purr purr.”

“!”

And then, as Choco purred and frolicked, Shizuku finally realized something. Riku was watching her.

“What are you looking at…? Don’t look this way. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it…?”

“Oh, you noticed.”

“I could feel your lewd gaze…”

“That’s not it at all! Haven’t your jabs at me been a bit harsh lately?”

“Fufufu, I’m just kidding… half of it, at least.”

“Half of it is serious, huh?”

The two bickered, but their expressions were gentle, and there was no hint of an argument. It was a typical exchange between a boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Ah, Riku-kun. Could you get my smartphone from that table? I want to take a picture of Choco-chan as a memento.”

“Sure, I got it.”

On the table where Riku was sitting, Shizuku’s smartphone lay face down with a pink cover.

Just as Riku picked up the smartphone to hand it to Shizuku…

Buzz.

And then, the smartphone vibrated, a notification was received, and the wallpaper set on the standby lock screen was displayed… Riku blinked several times in astonishment.

“What’s wrong, Riku-kun?”

“When did you take this picture?”

“Ah!”

The wallpaper set on Shizuku’s lock screen was none other than a side profile of Riku himself. It was a photo he didn’t remember taking, with his gaze directed completely elsewhere, clearly taken without his knowledge.

“Th-that is… um…”

“Well, I’d usually ask you more about it, but I trust you won’t misuse it or anything, so I guess it’s fine.”

Riku handed the smartphone back to Shizuku, who was visibly flustered.

“Riku-kun… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm by it…”

“Haha, it’d be a problem if you did.”

“Um, Riku-kun… When I go home, I won’t be able to see you, right? So, I thought that at least at home, I could see you this way…”

“Ah, I see… Well, if that’s the reason, then it’s okay.”

“Mm…”

Riku hadn’t expected that there was such a purpose behind the sneaky photo and was caught off guard by the unexpected confession.

Shizuku, too, must have mustered up a lot of courage to confess. She looked up at Riku with her cheeks blushing a cherry blossom color.

“It’s gotten a bit awkward, huh?”

“Yeah, it has…”

Seemingly sensing the unique atmosphere, Choco the calico cat stood up and walked away from Shizuku, heading towards the small cat room.

At the same time, another cat appeared, shattering the atmosphere in an instant.

“Meow!”

“Eh…”

As if it had been waiting for this moment, a snow-white cat plopped down on Riku’s lap, who was sitting cross-legged.

The cat rubbed its cheek against Riku’s once, then twice, before looking at Shizuku as if to say, “How about that?”

“Oh… So you like it there, huh? Good kitty.”

“Purr purr purr.”

As Riku stroked the white cat’s head, it narrowed its eyes and purred contentedly. Its expression was very peaceful and happy.

Meanwhile, the cat continued to stare at Shizuku, as if to boast that it had stolen Riku away.

Of course, this situation would naturally upset someone…

“Hmph…”

“So, this cat’s name is Mofu-chan, huh? Cute…”

“Cu-cute…”

“Meow (triumphant).”

“Riku-kun, aren’t you petting that cat a bit too much?”

“Really? It came and sat on my lap, so I thought I should pet it… It seems to be enjoying it, too…”

“Ugh… I know, but… Still…!”

“Wait, Shizuku, you’re not jealous of a cat, are you?”

“Of course I am! It’s taking you away from me!”

“But it’s a cat, not a human girl!”

“That doesn’t matter!”

Even though she knew it was unreasonable, Shizuku couldn’t help but feel frustrated and appealed to the white cat, Mofu.

“Let me make this clear, I’m his girlfriend, okay, White Cat-san? So, please, know your limits…”

“Hmph.”

Unfortunately, her plea fell on deaf ears. Whether it understood human language or not, Mofu snorted and turned away.

From Shizuku’s perspective, it was as if she had been laughed at.

“Riku-kun!”

“What?”

“Later, please pay more attention to me than this cat…”

“Alright, alright. I got it.”

“Meow… (defeated)”

And so, the two spent about two hours at the cat cafe before leaving the store.