Yuu looked into the kitten's eyes and whispered so Haruno couldn't hear:
"That's right, I'm your master from now on."
Animal Language (Advanced Level) gave him basic communication with animals, allowing both sides to understand each other—though he wasn't sure what special effects might emerge if the skill reached expert or perfect level.
"Meow~" The gray tabby kitten meowed again, observing him with cute, curious eyes.
But in reality, it said:
"Though I don't know why you can talk to me when other humans couldn't… I understand, the contract is made."
Bumping its head against the cage, the kitten gently licked the finger Yuu placed in front of it, its tone serious:
"As a pet, from now on, my claws will follow you, and your fate will be shared with mine."
Yuu: "…"
Is your voice actor Ayako Kawasumi?! (Note: Ayako Kawasumi, voice actress for Saber)
No, how does a kitten, barely a year old, know lines like that?
This is too fantastical!
The kitten answered his question: "There's an old cat around here who understands human language. He comes by sometimes to tell us stories… He said if we meet someone willing to adopt us, saying this line is the best."
"But normal people don't understand."
He also said it doesn't matter if they understand—just say it.
"…"
Alright, cool Grandpa Cat.
Yuu's expression shifted from odd to amused, and he couldn't help but sigh—animals have their own quirks too. They can argue, tell stories, and even trick kids with anime memes. Not so different from the human world.
And this skill's usefulness was greater than he'd imagined, far from the mundane impression he'd had before.
As he quietly pondered the potential applications of the animal language skill, Haruno finished talking with the vet and approached, carrying the kitten's physical exam report and some cat food for extra nutrition.
"Eh? You're talking to Yukinon?"
Surprised, she sat beside him, eyes sparkling, leaning in to look at the kitten in the cage, her long lashes blinking twice with interest.
"Meow, meow~"
Mimicking a cute cat sound, Yuu said honestly: "I just communicated with her. She's recognized me as her master."
"Hehe~ That's amazing." Thinking he was joking, Haruno glanced at him with a smile, not taking it seriously.
The kitten, stared at by her, wasn't intimidated and instead looked at Yuu, meowing:
"Master, she was so kind to me, gave me food, took me to the doctor… I thought she was my master, but she doesn't understand my language, so no contract was formed."
Yuu raised an eyebrow.
"So you want her to be your master?"
Seeing him talk seriously to the kitten, Haruno's look at him turned strange.
But the kitten and Yuu ignored her.
The kitten shook its head: "A loyal servant doesn't serve two masters. Since the contract is set, I won't show loyalty to another human… Besides, they don't understand my language."
"I see." For some reason, Yuu felt moved.
No wonder the cats he'd kept before were always indifferent—turns out it was because he couldn't communicate…
Long live the animal language skill!
Keeping a cat isn't like keeping a boss but like keeping a servant—so thrilling it's beyond words!
The corners of his lips curved. Yuu pointed at Haruno beside him:
"Got it. Then call her 'Big Sister Haruno' from now on."
The kitten immediately meowed at her.
Haruno, who'd been watching their "interaction" with a strange look, paused, then stared at Yuu in disbelief and uncertainty.
"She… talked to me?"
Yuu glanced at the vet and nurse returning to the treatment room and said directly: "She called you Big Sister Haruno."
Still skeptical, Haruno looked back at the kitten's eyes, then tried saying: "Hello?"
"Meow~"
"She said, if you don't understand cat language, don't waste time there, dumb human."
Haruno: "…"
She gave him a faint smile, knowing Yuu was teasing her.
Before Haruno could ask more, a girl suddenly rushed in through the door, brushing past her, hurrying to the front desk while carrying a dachshund.
"Um, sorry, my Sable suddenly…"
As Haruno turned to look, Yuu grabbed the cage and items in her hands, then turned to leave.
"Nothing else, right? Let's go home."
"Hm?"
Noticing something in Yuu's deliberately lowered voice, Haruno slowly raised her eyebrows, showing an intrigued smile.
She glanced at the pink-haired girl at the counter, then at Yuu, who acted like nothing happened. Her eyes gradually lit up, her intent to stir trouble obvious.
Then, as if not hearing Yuu, Haruno said with an innocent smile: "You—"
Her voice barely started when Yuu raised the cage, blocking both their heads.
The gray tabby kitten, forced to watch from a fixed angle, blinked in confusion.
Because these two humans, male and female, suddenly started "fighting" with their mouths in front of it.
This move… Grandpa Cat never taught it…
The brief skirmish didn't last three seconds. Yuu pulled a stunned Haruno and quickly left the animal hospital.
"…No appetite, can't eat anything."
The pink-haired girl at the counter spoke, then turned in confusion as if hearing something.
But she only saw a couple hurrying away.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Forcibly kissing a woman without consent, hm, how many years in prison for that…"
Leaning against the car door, Haruno touched her lips thoughtfully.
Yuu glanced at her, unfazed: "So shameless for someone who forcibly kissed me twice to say that."
Her expression shifted instantly. For some reason, Haruno laughed joyfully, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
"Hehe, just kidding~ We're dating, so mutual intimate contact like this is normal, right?"
"Yeah." Yuu answered carelessly.
To him, men and women were always equals.
So in this rental relationship, if Haruno forcibly kissed him, he had to be ready to forcibly kiss her back.
No thoughts like "being forcibly kissed by a woman is an honor for a man, just accept it happily," or "being kissed by a woman means I must be nice to her, take responsibility for her."
Purely just the act of kissing. If needed, Yuu could accept it without emotion and do it without emotion—though, naturally, there'd be a slight stir in his heart and normal physiological reactions.
If feelings weren't involved, a kiss, a first kiss, was just mucosal contact.
So it could be used as a tool to shut Haruno up.
"In that case, we're quite a compatible couple."
Haruno said with a smile, then quickly steered the topic back on track, her clear eyes like a cool pond staring straight at him.
"Yuu-chan, you know that girl just now?"