Kurosawa Ren frowned and stepped in front of the girl.
"Please move aside."
Yukinoshita Yukino raised her eyebrows. Her face darkened instantly, eyes filled with a quiet defiance.
"I'm going to save it."
Ren turned away, not bothered by her sharp, frosty glare.
Instead, he strode quickly toward the rooftop's edge, covering the distance in just a few quick steps. Without hesitation, he reached out toward the pale yellow kitten perched precariously on the ledge.
"Ren-kun, be careful!"Kato Megumi's heart jumped to her throat as she watched his bold move. Her palms were damp with nervous sweat.
That's too dangerous!
"Come on, little one."
Ren showed no signs of fear.
With his current physique and constitution, even falling from this height—cat in arms—would barely scratch him.
"Projection, activate."
Concealed from the girls' line of sight, a small gray grappling hook shimmered into existence in Ren's palm.
He secured the hook to the ledge, leaned forward carefully, and lifted the trembling kitten to safety with one fluid motion.
"Thank goodness..."
Seeing both the boy and the cat safe and sound, both girls exhaled in relief.
"Sorry... I lost my temper back there," Yukino admitted quietly, her earlier rudeness replaced with a hint of guilt.
"Haha, I guess I'll forgive you this once."
Ren grinned, holding the kitten in one arm. With his free hand, he made a goofy gesture with the kitten's paw, as if it were saying, "It's all good."
Yukino couldn't help herself—her tightly held expression cracked into a smile.
"I'm Yukinoshita Yukino, senior class, 2-B. You've probably heard of me."
"Kurosawa Ren, Class 1-A," he replied casually.
"This little guy's probably a stray. Doesn't look like he belongs to anyone."
Yukino watched the kitten curl playfully in Ren's arms, her cool blue eyes shimmering with tenderness.
"You want to hold it?"
"Huh... c-can I?"
The usually composed girl carefully cradled the kitten, her arms gentle and sure. A rare, radiant smile softened her face as the tiny creature snuggled into her.
Even Ren was a little dazzled by her sudden warmth.
She really is Harmono's main heroine...
Though a bit more petite than Hirano's Rei, her elegance, slender frame, and mile-long legs gave her a quiet, refined charm.
"..."
Meanwhile, behind them, Kato Megumi watched in silence. Her expression soured just a little.
We haven't even resolved the "main girl" situation… and now there's a new rival?
"Ren-kun, what are you going to do with the kitten?"
Yukino asked gently, stroking the cat's fur with a look of genuine affection.
This helpless creature reminded her of her own fractured family—how alone she'd felt growing up.
"I live alone, so keeping a cat's no big deal," Ren shrugged."But maybe it'd be better to drop it off at an animal shelter."
Megumi chimed in, clearly not thrilled by the growing chemistry between the two.
"It's fine, Megumi. I'll take good care of it," Ren replied with a grin."You're welcome to come visit and help out. Pretty soon, I'll have it doing backflips."
"Backflips?" Yukino blinked in confusion.
No way a cat could do that.
"With enough patience, anything's possible," Ren said smugly."I'm pretty good at training… cats, I mean."
Taking the kitten gently from Yukino, he transferred a small stream of magical energy into its body.
"Meow~"
The kitten purred loudly and affectionately rubbed against his arm.
Ren's magical artifact, the [Grimoire], had recorded a range of useful spells—many from the Moon World. Basic animal bonding magic was child's play for him now.
"Looks like Mr. Pan really likes you."
Yukino smiled, watching the kitten curl up in Ren's arms once more.
They had named him Mr. Pan together.
23. Curse – The Cursed Ring
Time flew by.
As the school day ended, Ren hopped on his Motorcycle Armored Cavalry, Mr. Pan riding in a little carrier on the back. He stopped home first, dropped off the kitten, and ordered a bunch of cat care items online.
Then, carrying the chicken soup he'd prepped early that morning, he headed to Kirisu Mafuyu's apartment.
Knock knock knock...
The soft knocking echoed through the quiet hallway.
Inside, the woman stirred.
Wrapped up like a cocoon in blankets, Kirisu Mafuyu opened the door slowly.
"Oh... Ren. School's out already?"
"It's already evening, Mafuyu-sensei. How are you feeling?"
Ren stepped inside, slipping off his shoes and reaching for his familiar set of indoor slippers.
He followed the cherry-haired beauty—still bundled up like a caterpillar—to the living room.
"Not great. Fever's still high. You should keep your distance, so you don't catch it."
"You sit down and relax. I brought soup. Let me tidy up around here a bit."
Rolling up his sleeves, Ren grabbed the cleaning supplies without hesitation.
To her colleagues and students, Kirisu Mafuyu was known as a stern, aloof beauty. But behind closed doors, she was… well, kind of lazy.
Ren, who was well aware of the "real her" thanks to the original story, had no trouble dealing with her private quirks. After a "chance" meeting, they quickly grew close. As they spent more time together, even her sloppy, vulnerable side was revealed to him.
"You know… you're still my student. If anyone found out, it'd be really bad."
Kirisu folded her arms and leaned back into the sofa, trying to sound aloof.But the warmth in her heart was unmistakable.
He was the first one to come see her since she'd fallen sick.
"If you're thinking of repaying me with your body, I'm open to it."
Ren smirked.
"W-What?! Baka! What kind of nonsense—?! I-I'm your teacher!"
Kirisu's pale face turned crimson as she stared at him, equal parts flustered and furious.
This boy… When did he get so shameless?!
Trying to seduce your teacher, huh?! No way I'm letting that happen!
She grabbed a spoon, sipping the chicken soup he'd made.
Despite herself, her thighs squeezed together a little, betraying her nerves.
She might've said she was annoyed, but soft, pink bubbles of warmth floated up in her heart.
Ever since he took her home after that drunken night, the walls she'd kept up so carefully had started to crack.
If I became his girlfriend… I could drink this delicious soup every day…
The thought made her body freeze.
No, no, no—bad idea! I must be feverish!
A teacher-student relationship is taboo! I'm an educator! This is wrong!
Before long, Ren had the place looking spotless.
But as he approached her, his eyes suddenly locked onto something on her hand—a bright red ring on her slender index finger.
"Mafuyu-sensei… what's that?"
The magical meter strapped to his waist buzzed to life, flashing a warning.
His gaze narrowed.
The ring on her finger looked like a crimson eye.
"This? Oh, I picked it up at a flea market a while ago."
She lifted her hand to show it off, clearly unaware.
"I know it looks a little creepy, but I thought it was beautiful."
"Take it off. Now. That ring's draining your life force!"
Ren rushed forward, reaching for her hand.
But the next second, the ring pulsed with a blinding red glow and shot toward him like a bullet.
"Huh? Wait… It's not attacking—it's asking for help?"
The ring didn't strike him, but instead floated gently into his hand, glowing faintly.
Kirisu Mafuyu gasped and shrank back, terrified by the supernatural event unfolding in front of her.