"I didn't expect it to be Kanon-chan! You came here too. By the way, Kanon-chan, are you feeling better? I heard from the teacher that you weren't well and took several days off. I've been worried. And wow, so many cats! Are they yours?"
As expected of Nagisa, who could instantly get close to Ren, she rushed over as soon as she saw Kanase.
It seemed they had become friends after Nagisa recovered and returned to school.
In the original story, the two had a good relationship. After Nagisa recovered, it was natural she would make friends like Kanase.
Nagisa was chatty and extremely friendly, but her chatter was the type people didn't find annoying. Her classmates all liked her.
Since being discharged, she had memorized almost every classmate's name and even made friends like Kanase—her social skills were excellent.
Seeing Nagisa, Kanase's face lit up with surprise.
Earlier, Avrora's many sisters had blocked Nagisa from view.
Now Kanase finally noticed her.
After listening gently to everything Nagisa said, Kanase smiled softly and asked:
"Nagisa-chan, are you… working here?"
"Hehe… Ren-nii helped me a lot, so I wanted to help out here."
Nagisa giggled, then curiously looked at the cats in Kanase's arms.
"Kanon-chan, are you here to buy cat food?"
"Actually… not exactly…"
Kanase shook her head and glanced around nervously.
It really was lively here, and there were even several people who looked very similar to one another.
Slowly, Natsuki stepped forward and looked at Kanase with curiosity.
"Aren't you here to buy cat food?"
"Um… doesn't this place offer pet boarding?"
Kanase couldn't help asking, her face filled with confusion.
She had heard that pets could be left in this shop to be looked after, so she brought them here. But now it seemed things were not exactly what she imagined.
After she spoke, Nagisa and the others also showed puzzled expressions.
This place offered pet boarding?
Instinctively, everyone looked at Ren. Especially Natsuki.
"You have that kind of service here? You can board pets?"
"Of course. Isn't Giada being boarded here?"
Natsuki: "…"
She had no idea how Giada would react if she heard that.
The dignified Third Primogenitor being treated like a pet boarded at a pet food shop.
Not only Natsuki— even Remilia burst out laughing.
Great. When that woman Giada comes back, I'll personally repeat that line to her!
The moment Remilia laughed, Flandre glanced at her strangely, and their eyes happened to meet.
"Flandre, did you record what that man said earlier?"
Remilia hurried to Flandre's side, asking expectantly.
Just now Flandre had given her a look—surely it meant she had recorded it for her, right?
But Flandre only stared back in confusion.
"Why would Flandre record that?"
"Huh? Then why did you look at me like that earlier?"
Remilia was stunned. Didn't you look at me just now?
"Hehe… Sister Giada said she'll bring souvenirs from other places for Flandre. But Flandre must check if Big Sister has been talking bad about Sister Giada behind her back. So Flandre memorized all Big Sister's expressions just now! Big Sister was clearly gloating! Flandre will go report it later!"
She looked exactly like a student going to tattle to a teacher.
Remilia: "…"
Flandre, are you my sister or that woman Giada's sister? Were you bought off with a souvenir!?
Of course, even as she complained internally, Remilia still hugged Flandre tightly.
"Hehe… after Flandre gets souvenirs from other places, Flandre will share half with Big Sister. No wait—I can't share half. There are others in the Scarlet Devil Mansion…"
She began counting on her fingers.
"One for Patchy, one for Sakuya, one for Meiling! Oh, and for Cirno and the others! Uuu… Flandre is getting less and less to eat… But Natsuki-sensei said we must learn to share things we like. Seeing friends and family happy makes Flandre happy too! Yep! Flandre is a good girl!"
As she finished, she motivated herself with a joyful expression.
The annoyance in Remilia's heart from being tricked earlier melted away instantly.
Seeing Flandre like this, Remilia couldn't help smiling.
Though her sister liked pranking her and being mischievous at times, when she was serious, she was still this adorable. Flandre didn't dislike her—she had just learned a few troublesome habits.
But that was part of what made Flandre cute.
To a sister-con, even her sister's troublesome habits were adorable.
"Flandre has really grown up…"
Remilia gently stroked her head.
"Hehe… but Big Sister can't steal Flandre's food this time! Flandre prepared it for Big Sister. If Big Sister steals it again, Flandre will be really mad!"
She said this very seriously, clearly recalling the time her pudding was stolen.
Remilia chuckled and nodded like a dignified adult.
"Don't worry, Big Sister would never take her little sister's food."
She said that, but later—after Flandre fell asleep—Remilia worried the food would spoil and ate it anyway, which led to another sisterly fight. But that was a story for another time.
Ren stepped forward and took the box of kittens from Kanon.
"These little ones can be boarded here. You can come see them anytime. Since Nagisa is also here, she can keep you updated on their health."
He gave Nagisa a look.
Understanding immediately, Nagisa giggled and threw herself onto Kanon.
Seeing Nagisa's lively expression, Kanon finally relaxed.
Watching Ren handle the situation, Natsuki suddenly felt that yet another pure, kind-hearted child had fallen into this bottomless pit.