It turns out that I have a fiancee, but she is the famous "villainess" of the school. What should I do?

Episode 39 Interlude just a Story of Higashi Kujo-kun Just Being Really Really Happy

“…I’m back~”

“Welcome home… What’s with the big luggage?”

“Well, it’s too much trouble to keep going back and forth, isn’t it? So I kind of brought all I needed.”

Then I put the cardboard box on the doorstep with a thud.

Whew… my arm hurts.

“You brought quite a lot, huh? Didn’t you say last time? That you were only going to bring what you needed.”

“That was the plan, but when I went back to my parents’ house, my dad and mom nagged me to take this and that. Ah, they said the tupperware at the top of the cardboard box has pickled cucumbers.”

“Thanks, but… that’s a lot of work, isn’t it?”

Yeah. I spent the night before at my parent’s house. No, it’s not that far of an overnight trip. Well, when I came here, all I brought was a set of clothes and such, and I thought I’d have to bring something I’d use once in a while. So I stayed at home yesterday to sort out my stuff.

“Did anything happen while I was away?”

“You’re overreacting. It was just a day… Anyway, that’s a lot of baggage. Good job.”

“Right? It was a little embarrassing to get on the train with this.”

It’s a big cardboard box, after all. The stares from everyone were painful.

“So… what did you bring?”

“I brought a bunch of reference books and a basketball… A few of my favorite mangas, video game consoles and software.

“Video games? You play video games?”

“Not so much, but… well, it’s better to have them when someone comes over. I have racing games and board games.”

I don’t play RPGs or anything like that. The rest are little action games, sports games, puzzles, and a few others.

“I see..”

Saying so, Kiryu gazes at the game console in the cardboard. Her eyes are sparkling for some reason.

“U-Uh.. Higashi Kujo-kun..”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are the games… interesting?”

“Hmm… Well, it’s not boring. I don’t particularly like to play, but occasionally I—”

Ah, it just clicked.

“You want to try?”

“Y-Yeah.. I haven’t played video games before… so I’m kinda interested.”

“Ah, you’re a young lady after all. Were games banned in your house?”

“That isn’t the case. My family is an upstart. Actually my dad often went to arcades when he was young… And remember I told you that his company was in the IT field? Computers are a must, and we’re inevitably friendly with the gaming industry. Well at the very least, he didn’t say “Games are an absolute no!” or anything like that.”

“Then why?”

At my question, Kiryu drew her chin back a little.

“Because… I didn’t have any friends.”

“Video games are meant to be played with friends, right? Since I didn’t have any, there was no reason to..”

“…I feel bad.”

I wonder why I’m feeling so sad..

“… Well then, let’s have a relaxing time playing video games today.”

“Is that okay?”

“I’m not busy anyway, so it’s fine.”

“Really? Yay!!”

Saying so, Kiryu jumps up and down on the spot. Eh? You’re so excited, hey. Did you really want to play games that badly?

“It’s my first time!”

“–Are you doing this on purpose?”

“What?”

“…… It’s nothing. So? Which one do you want to play?”

“What are the options?”

“Uh… backgammon, puzzle games, fighting games, soccer games… and also some racing games.”

“Which one of those is interesting?”

“I don’t know, I guess it depends on your taste.”

Saying that, I carried the cardboard box into the living room. I put it in front of the TV and rummaged through it.

“Uh… well, if you want to start out, maybe this one or this?”

I take out a board game and a racing game.

“I think I’ve seen this before. Isn’t this the costume the Prime Minister dressed up for in the Olympics?”

(T/N: Turns out Late Prime-Minister Shinzo Abe dressed up as Mario in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I’m guessing the racing game is Mario Kart. )

“Costume, eh? Well you aren’t wrong, so you want to play this?”

“I always thought the characters were kind of cute.”

“It’s an old guy with a beard though..”

“Not that one. Here, the one that looks like a dinosaur.”

“Oh, him?”

I guess it kind of makes sense? Not sure if that thing is cute or not though.

“… By the way, why is this girl wearing cat ears?”

“Uh.. because it’s a fad?”

“A fad… Well, maybe so. There are arrangements for the hair and cat ears too..”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, indeed. Actresses, idols, and singers do it sometimes. But it’s been so long ago that it’s hard to say if it’s actually recent or not.”

“Heh.. Well, it’s cute when a girl wears cat ears. I think it makes you feel protective of them.”

“I think I know what you mean. Like if it was a dog, it would be loyal, and if it was a fox, it would be deceitful?”

“Is that what you think?”

Well, to be honest, I don’t really know.

“…”

“.., What?”

“Well…,do you also find cat ears cute?”

“No comment.”

I’m not saying it’s not cute.. There’s just something… romantic about it.

“I see…”

Kiryu stares at me saying so.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh..”

Kiryu slowly brings her hands to her head and makes a paw shape with it. Then she tilts her head to the side…

“Nya~”

“…”

I hold my mouth with my right hand and turn away. No, what the hell is that thing! Oh no! It’s so destructive! How is she that cute?!

“Ara~? What’s wrong—What’s wrong nya~?”

“Nothing..”

“How is it, nya? Cute, nya?”

I glanced sideways at Kiryu and… she was grinning happily.

“You like it, don’t you Higashi Kujo-kun—Wait no, you do nya~? What do you think, nya~?”

“Please spare me. I surrender.”

“Ah..! Wait a minute… then surely..”

Saying that, Kiryu fluttered out of the living room..

“Thank god…”

No, I don’t think I’m really that happy that she left. Rather I feel like it was a waste. But…

“..Yeah, that’s pretty dangerous.”

… as expected, yeah.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, nya!”

–I mean, bwah—!

“Hey, wa-wa-what?!”

“Fufu~. What do you think, nya? I saw it in a magazine the other day, nya! A simple cat ear hair arrangement that anyone can do, nya!”

Yep.

When Kiryu came back, she had a pair of magnificent “cat ears” on her head. Huh? Are those really made out of her hair? Amazing. They really look like cat ears.

“Amazing..”

“What do you think, nya? You like it, nya? I thought Higashi Kujo-kun might like it, so I tried it, nya!”

“… Yeah. Quite simply, you look great.”

I mean, Kiryu has a cat-like character… Although we are getting to know each other little by little, I don’t feel like feeding a stray cat that’s all alert.

“..Uh…Eh…. T-Thanks..”

Perhaps embarrassed by my words or having remembered what she was doing, Kiryu turned away with her cheeks flushed red as if she had forgotten her character setting.

“Nya..”

Oh, she forgot to change character.

“ It was eye candy. Thanks, Kiryu. That’s enough.”

Yes, it was definitely a great look on her, and to be honest, it was very cute. Though despite her being so cute, I had to stop it from escalating. Mainly, for the sake of my own rationality.

“… That’s right, nya. I’m glad to hear that, nya.”

“… Are you still going on with that?”

I’m already full.

“Do-Don’t say stuff like that, nya!”

“Well by no–”

“No way, nya, No way, nya!”

Saying this, Kiryu took a step towards me.

“Well…. Right now, I’m a cat nya~!”

Say what? Eh?

“… What? Are you drunk?”

Are you okay, Kiryu? For some reason, I’ve suddenly become very calm. What do you mean, “Now I am a cat”?

“..Y-You’ve suddenly calmed down now.”

“No… Your words were so nonsensical that it brought me back to reality at once.”

I’m not kidding. Hey, Kiryu? Are you tired or something?

“Hey! Don’t look at me like how a grandfather looks at his granddaughter! Even though you got “excited” by the sight earlier…”(E/N: Excited in here is, well you know it.)

“Well excited is a bit of a stretch, but it was certainly my fault for overreacting. I’m sorry for that but..”

“Rrr…. rrr.”

“Don’t growl at me.”

Is she actually a cat?

“..Rrrr”

“Hey, wait! That’s dangerous!”

Suddenly, she glared at me with a sharp look in her eyes, and Kiryu threw herself at me. Watch out!

“Ready nya”

“Ready?”

“If you stroke my head, nya. I won’t resist, nya.”

“… What’s wrong? Are you having a bad day today?”

No, really. What’s the matter with you? Do you have a fever? I’m starting to get worried.

“…”

“Kiryu?”

“Well …, uh..I-

–was just a little lonely..”

“…”

“… You went home yesterday, right? I was the only one in the house… and I felt so lonely.”

“Kiryu.”

“I ate dinner alone, and when I got out of the bath, no one was there… and even if I watched TV or read a book, it somehow felt empty. I usually eat dinner or drink coffee while talking with you… but I felt so forlorn and I wanted to see Higashi Kujo-kun as soon as possible, so when I saw you, I was, you know, happy.”

“..Uh..Well, I’m sorry for that..”

I see. That’s why you were slightly excited when I returned.

“It’s not your fault… I was just lonely on my own.”

Despite feeling sad for Kiryu, I was also a little happy. She noticed the change in my expression and puffed out her cheeks.

“It seems I’ve been smiling, sorry.”

“What’s with the meow though?”

“Oh, God! That’s beside the point! I missed you! So get ready!”

“Okay, okay. Damn… I’m impressed. You really are like a cat.”

“Is that so?”

“You know, the ones you see in videos and such? When the owner comes back from a trip, they spoil the ecstatic pet saying “There, there””

I’m kind of in that mood right now. Well, I’m happy, though, right?

“I’m a little unhappy with the cat treatment, but… oh well.”