[Ding! Ding! Ding!]
A streetcar sped through the neon-lit city.
'So, can you tell me why you were doing something like that?'
Natsuhi leaned gently against the train door, tilting her head to look at the expressionless, listless Yui beside her.
Yui clicked her tongue and turned her head to look at the fleeting lights outside the window.
'Tch, don't make me think about bad memories.'
'Actually, it's not a big deal. I just... had some trouble and didn't really want to go home.'
Although her tone was poor, Jinguji Yui answered Natsuhi's question honestly, like a child being asked by a parent why their grades were so bad (the pressure was immense).
Ever since seeing the intensity in Natsuhi's eyes, her words had become less sharp.
'Oh?'
Natsuhi raised an eyebrow.
'Such as?'
'Such as catching my stepfather peeping while I was changing. Is that a thrilling enough reason for you?'
She stared intently at Natsuhi's face, as if expecting to see shock or pity.
Natsuhi nodded without changing her expression.
'And then? Did you call the police?'
This overly calm reaction deflated Yui like a punctured balloon, her bravado instantly wilting.
'...No.'
The girl lowered her head, shifting her gaze back to the window.
'What could the police even do about a disgusting stare like that?'
'Oh~ I see.'
Natsuhi folded her arms, putting on an expression of sudden understanding.
'So you chose to roam the streets, punishing yourself in an even more dangerous way?'
'It's not punishment!'
Yui looked up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, but her voice trailed off again after meeting Natsuhi's clear eyes.
'I just... feel like nothing matters anymore.'
'I guess it's true that you shouldn't have too many desires in life.'
'Ow! You...!'
Suddenly flicked on the forehead by Natsuhi, Yui covered the spot and glared wide-eyed.
'Sigh, are you an idiot?'
Retracting her hand, a note of helplessness crept into Natsuhi's tone.
'If you meet a scumbag, you should turn yourself into a scumbag too? What kind of twisted logic is that?'
She leaned back slightly, letting herself rest fully against the train door.
'The outside world is complicated. If you'd really gone home with that unknown man today, who knows what might have happened.'
'You talk a good game, but that's only because you're not in my shoes. With that bastard at home, I couldn't stay there. I just had to take my chances outside.'
'Heh, maybe you were just jumping from the tiger's den into another wolf's lair.'
'I'm not interested in your situation. I'm helping you simply because I don't like seeing a young girl messing around outside. That's all.'
Yui turned her face away, the tips of her ears slightly red.'Such a busybody... Who would want to live with a rude woman like you.'
[Rude?]
For a moment, Natsuhi couldn't think of where she'd been rude.
[Threatening a stranger, forcibly taking a girl home... seems like every action was pretty rude...]
Thinking about it carefully, she was practically a villain. No wonder the girl was so resistant.
[Forget it. No use crying over spilt milk. The first impression is already ruined. It's too late to pretend now.]
'It's too late to say that now.'
The corner of Natsuhi's mouth lifted. She might as well play the villain to the end, putting on the airs of a kidnapper.
'You're the one who got on this train with me just now.'
'You clearly dragged me on...'
[The Next Station Is Shibuya]
The train announcement sounded, signaling the upcoming stop.
Natsuhi looked out at the cityscape rushing past the window and asked casually:
'We're almost there. What do you want for dinner? Instant noodles? Onigiri? Or maybe a discounted bento from the convenience store?'
'Don't trouble yourself. I'm not hungry.'
'Stubborn. Your voice is weak, you must not have eaten for a long time. My treat, don't be polite.'
'I said I'm not... grrr~~~'
The girl tried to retort, but her stomach betrayed her with an uncooperative growl first. Her fair cheeks rapidly flushed crimson, and she turned away, clutching her belly.
Perhaps she was too embarrassed to speak.
'Hahaha!'
Natsuhi, however, showed none of a girl's typical reserve. She couldn't hold back and laughed out loud, teasing incessantly,
'You're actually kind of cute like this.'
'D-don't laugh!'
She tried to mask her embarrassment with a fierce tone, but her flickering eyes and reddened ears made her completely unconvincing.
'Okay, okay, I won't laugh.'
Natsuhi said this, but—
'Ahahaha! Sorry, I just couldn't help it!'
'No, it's just... I didn't expect the protests from someone who said they 'weren't hungry' to be louder than the train itself.'
'You...!'
Yui was speechless with anger. She instinctively wanted to cover her stomach again, then felt the action would be too obvious. Her hand froze mid-air, and she could only stomp her foot indignantly in the end.
'That's... that was it acting on its own...!'
'Yes, yes, it was being disobedient all by itself.'
Natsuhi nodded agreeably, her tone laced with undisguised mockery.
'So, Miss Betrayed-by-Her-Own-Tummy, would you do me the honor of letting me buy you a meal now?'
'If you get any hungrier, I'm afraid you won't have the strength to walk later. I don't want to have to carry you back.'
Yui pursed her lips, glaring at Natsuhi as if putting up a final, desperate resistance with her eyes.
But the persistent feeling of emptiness, coupled with Natsuhi's infuriating 'let's-see-how-long-you-can-last' expression, made this the first time she'd ever been in such an awkward predicament.
'Hmph... whatever.'
She muttered very softly, turning her face away. Her gaze drifted to the empty ceiling of the train car, perhaps pretending to look at stars.
'...Since you insist, I-I'll reluctantly accept... It's not like I want to eat!'
'Yes, yes, I'm begging you to eat.'
Natsuhi's attitude remained flippant. Watching this'stray cat' who had already compromised but was still trying to puff up the last bit of its proud fur was incredibly amusing.
(Really, so stubborn and suffering for it... Everything's written all over her face. But, once in a while, it's kind of cute.)
Looking at Yui's flushed cheeks and recalling the disdainful expression she'd worn when they first met,
Natsuhi couldn't help but laugh even more happily. Who could resist such a contrast? Who knew this little girl had a bit of a tsundere side? Wouldn't it be more fun to tease her a bit more?
'Little Yui~ Is there anything you'd like to eat?'
'Wh-who are you calling little?!'
Her fair cheeks flushed a few shades deeper.
'And what's with that disgusting way of talking? It's really annoying... Can you not call me that? I'm getting goosebumps!'
As she spoke, she rubbed her arms for effect, looking thoroughly creeped out.
Watching her kitten-like, fur-puffed-up reaction, Natsuhi's grin widened. She deliberately leaned in closer, lowering her voice:
'Then what should I call you? Yui... little sister? Or maybe, Yui-chan? Yui-tan? Yui-chin?'
'Aah! That's even worse!'
Yui almost jumped up, pushing Natsuhi's approaching face away with her hand.
'Just use my name! Can't you just call someone by their name normally?! I really don't know where you come up with these names. Are you an otaku or something?'
'Even though you look like...'
The girl stared at Natsuhi's face, which blended soft beauty with a touch of handsome boldness. The word 'frumpy' that was on the tip of her tongue just wouldn't come out. It seemed she wasn't very good at lying.
'Hmm? Like what?'
'Can't think of a word to praise me?'
Natsuhi's expression made Yui's fists clench. She could only mutter under her breath,
'Pfft~ Who wants to praise you, you narcissistic old lady!'
The previously lively expression on Natsuhi's face froze solid at those four short words. She could almost hear it—such a short sentence, yet the damage was so immense.
Her face instantly fell, and she put on a sinister, terrifying look.
'You dare say that to me? If I don't teach you a lesson today, you really won't understand respect for your elders.'
As she spoke, Natsuhi's mischievous hands reached for the soft flesh at Yui's waist. At first, Yui endured it stiffly, her body rigid with resistance.
'St-stop it! You rude... hahaha... old lady!'
However, her defenses quickly crumbled under Natsuhi's agile assault.
Yui finally couldn't hold back her laughter. It started as suppressed giggles, then turned into clear, carefree peals of laughter. It was the first time Natsuhi had seen her smile so brightly, without a trace of shadow.
'Haha, no more... stop... I was wrong.'
She pleaded for mercy while unconsciously leaning into Natsuhi, trying to dodge the attacks. Tears of laughter even welled up in the corners of her eyes.
(This girl... says she doesn't want it, but her body's being pretty honest.)
'Hehe, what were you wrong about? If your apology isn't sincere, I won't stop so easily. Reflect on your sins in agony!'
For some reason, Yui's smile seemed to have magic, lifting Natsuhi's own mood along with it.
As the girl surrendered, Natsuhi's hands unconsciously gentled their movements, finally settling into lightly holding her to prevent her from laughing so hard her legs gave way.
'Well? Do you admit you were wrong now?'
Natsuhi raised an eyebrow, looking at the still slightly panting Yui.
'I... I wasn't...'
Leaning against her, Yui refuteed breathlessly, but the previous sharpness in her tone was gone, replaced instead with a hint of rebuke that sounded almost like behave in a spoiled manner.
She seemed to realize how embarrassing this was and lowered her head somewhat shyly, but she didn't immediately push Natsuhi away.
Looking at the unusually docile 'kitten' in her arms, Natsuhi's heart inexplicably softened.
[Her body... isn't as tense as when we first met. Take it slow. After all, wounds of the heart can't be healed immediately.]
'I'll let you off this time.'
Natsuhi released her hold and helped smooth the hair that had gotten tousled.
'Behave and come with me later.'
Yui gave a soft 'Mm,' using her small hand to tightly grip the sleeve of Natsuhi's clothes...