Chapter 30

He spoke half-truthfully, and of course she just took it as a joke.

Because of that incident, Naoko had nightmares for several nights in a row. In her dreams, there were always several pale arms trying to drag her to the bottom of the lake.

But everything was just as Amemiya said, Suzuki-kun did not reveal a single word about that night to the police.

And Amemiya also rejected her suggestion to call the police, as if nothing had happened, and it was just Naoko who was making a fuss.

Summer vacation came in the blink of an eye.

Amemiya-kun seemed to be really trying to become Naoko's close friend.

For example, he began to learn about her secret preferences, like her favorite panty color (isn't that harassment?), her favorite lipstick shade, her skirt and shoe sizes...

To keep her in conversation, he even bought a lot of makeup and asked her, pretentiously, "Would it be easier for you to relate to me if I dressed up as a woman?"

Naoko scoffed, "Hey, I'm looking for a female friend, not a transsexual. You better save your energy."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Is that the regretful tone you use?"

He coughed softly and turned away, avoiding her gaze. "If you dress up as a woman, can't we hold hands while shopping?"

Naoko was speechless for a moment. "You're always holding hands with me the way you are now, aren't you?"

He then gave a look of sudden enlightenment and nodded slowly, "That's true." "

..."

Truly, there might be nothing in this world that Amamiya couldn't do.

A casual photo always looked amazing; a casual makeup look was better than anything she'd spent the whole day mulling over.

Although things weren't much different from before, Naoko's company made her more cheerful.

She spent two relatively satisfying months. Aside from the gender difference, Amamiya-kun was a perfect friend.

But sometimes he'd say something strange, like, "Huh? Did I lose to him again?"

"'He'? Who's 'he'?" Naoko was puzzled. "I just said the eyeshadow you put on me before looked better."

He was speechless, snorted, and said, "Nothing," before falling silent.

The black cat, Bubble, was doing better at Amamiya's house.

This was probably thanks to Naoko's frequent visits and the cat food she fed at regular times.

The cat had never been very close to Amamiya, and they were still a bit disliked by each other, but after a few months, they'd grown accustomed to each other's presence, at least not fighting as often as before.

Naoko bought a wooden cat climbing frame online. The seller described it as the cat's equivalent of a slide.

What child can't live without a slide?

She enthusiastically placed her order.

The result of not watching the instructional video was that she fiddled with the cat climbing frame until dark, but it still didn't stand.

Amemiya, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded, watched her. Seeing sweat on her forehead, he couldn't help but ask, "Is a poor cat worth all your trouble?"

His tone was sour from the moment he spoke.

Perhaps to make amends, he added, "It usually just stays on the sofa anyway."

"Maybe it'll like it," she insisted.

Naoko tried to hammer in the nail with a hammer, but after a few minutes of hesitation, she couldn't find the perfect spot.

He walked around behind her and impatiently pulled the tool out of her hand.

"Never mind, just consider it a good deed."

He was barely finished when he let out a soft cry of pain.

Amemiya had accidentally mistaken his finger for a nail and hit it hard. The dull sound of the hammer hitting flesh gave him goosebumps.

"..."

"Amemiya-kun, are you okay?" There was a two-second silence before she spoke, suppressing a laugh, breaking the silence.

"It hurts so much, it's all because of this damn cat." He was in so much pain that even two blushes appeared on his pale face, and he stared at the innocent Bubble next to him.

He should feel more embarrassed than the pain.

Although it was useless, she still carefully blew on it for him: "Blow it, it should be much better..."

When he raised his eyes again, Amemiya's ears were red, and he coughed lightly and looked away.

Naoko poked his swollen finger: "Does it hurt?"

He stared at the floor to the side and didn't speak for a long time. After a while, he suddenly shouted: "Hey, Naoko."

The sudden low voice seemed very abrupt in the quiet hall.

"Huh?"

His face was against the light, and Naoko couldn't see his expression clearly. She could only hear his somewhat gloomy question:

"Are you afraid of pain?"

"Ah?" Of course she was afraid, very afraid.

"Don't stare at me like that all the time," he pressed her head down to hide her expression. "Sometimes I feel like I might as well kill you. Then make a specimen out of you and soak it in formalin.

" "Why are you just an ordinary person?"

If not an ordinary person, could he be a superman?

She didn't understand what he meant at all and retorted, "Then I can't be a ghost, can I? A fairy?"

"Isn't being a ghost good? That way," he lowered his eyes, "you can stay with me forever. But, Naoko."

He seemed a little embarrassed, turned sideways, and asked hesitantly, "Do you like the current Amemiya or the old Amemiya?" "

Huh, is there any difference?"

Although he seemed to have become a little more arrogant, he was actually very gentle towards her.

At her reaction, Amemiya curled his lips, seeming disappointed: "You have that blank expression again. Forget it, you won't understand even if I tell you..."

"Of course I like both of them."

Now it was his turn to be stunned: "...What?"

"Of course I like both of them. I don't understand why you always ask such silly questions, Amamiya-kun, but the answer is I like both.

"Whether it's the current Amamiya-kun or the old Amamiya-kun, it's still Amamiya-kun, isn't it? The Amamiya-kun who always protected me, the Amamiya-kun who comforted me when I cried, the Amamiya-kun who jumped in without hesitation to save me when I fell into the water..."

Naoko rambled on, though she actually had a lot more to say, but before she could finish, he reached out and pinched her face.

A slight curve curved the corners of his lips.

"Forget it, just be an idiot. There's nothing wrong with that. Anyway, you're destined to be entangled with 'Amamiya Tomie' for the rest of your life."

As they tugged, the sun gradually set. At dusk, the setting sun filtered through the window, illuminating the two young men clinging to each other inside.

In the small space, the ambiguous atmosphere, an unspoken love grew wildly.

Amemiya's heart pounded, and his hand unconsciously fell to her neck. He whispered again in a sticky, alluringly sweet voice, "

Want to kiss? Now. It's just the two of us here."

He had to admit, Naoko had that kind of charm.

He approved of all the foolishness of the previous seven "Amemiyas."

Frankly, he was one of the "Amemiyas," so it was only natural for him to fall for Kawase Naoko, wasn't it?

Naoko was stunned, but before she could reply, Amemiya leaned in and kissed her. A sticky, soft touch slid from her eyes, down the sides of her nose, and then to the corners of her lips.

His kiss was raw, yet as thick and lingering as spring rain, leaving her breathless.

Naoko, wrapped in those slender arms, muffled in his embrace, "Amemiya-kun, did you change your perfume?"

"Hmm?"

she replied softly, and she could feel the muffled thud of the perfume hitting his chest.

"It smells different than before. Still lovely, with the same gentle feeling."

"Hmm, really?"

But just as they were whispering, Bubble came running over with a low growl, leaping forward with a lightning-fast stride, and viciously scratched Amamiya's beautiful face.

It was so precise and swift that neither of them could react.

"...This damn cat!" He only had time to push the innocent Naoko away before the black cat pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. Moments later, two claw marks appeared on his forehead.

Naoko didn't dare hurt the cat, but fearing Amamiya would get scratched, she hurried to intervene, finally pulling the cat off his face before he was disfigured.

"This stupid cat! Doesn't he even recognize his owner?" His face was so irritated that his features were misaligned, and his eyelids twitched.

Several more scars covered his face, but thankfully, Naoko had previously trimmed Bubble's nails, so his injuries weren't too serious.

How could a human and a cat get so tangled up...

I heard there's a saying among cats that same-sex repulsion exists.

But could such a bad temper be because it's in heat?

Thinking this, she leaned over, picked up the cat, and turned it over.

As if sensing her thoughts, the black cat reacted with repulsion, meowing continuously. Its long tail flicked twice in her face, then it turned over in fear and started to leave.

Amemiya was also behind her, coldly asking, "Kawase Naoko, what are you doing?" Without

even turning, she was about to look at the cat's underbelly when it gave her two light kicks. "Of course, I'm checking the sex. I heard neutered cats live longer."

"No," he said, lifting the cat from her hands. The usually resistant black cat, for once, didn't struggle, and obediently let him set it aside.

 

"Why?" His face flushed instantly, and he gritted his teeth. "No, it's just a no."

The black cat jumped away in fear, hastily hiding in the cat house. Naoko had no choice but to submit to the wishes of both man and cat for the time being. 

Finally, with Amemiya's help, a proper cat climbing frame was erected in the lobby. However, perhaps because of his scent, the black cat seemed displeased. 

Not only did it ignore it, it even urinated on it. 

Of course, life wasn't always this peaceful. 

Irie-san, who had been missing for a while, quickly returned, and Naoko could often see him sneaking around the neighborhood. 

Meanwhile, Amemiya had been acting strangely. 

Even though they'd been scheduled for dates, he'd mysteriously disappear, ignoring calls and messages, and reappearing with injuries of one kind or another. 

Naoko was worried. "Amemiya-kun, have you messed with some weirdo like the Kamikawa Avengers? I heard they're very active lately..." 

They were reportedly recruiting members. 

Amemiya's face paled unnaturally, and he shook his head. "Oh, nothing, nothing like that." 

Since he'd said that, she couldn't bear to dwell on it, though she was still a little upset that he'd suddenly disappeared mid-movie. 

But after taking two steps, a furry head fell on Naoko's shoulder. He tilted his head and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, he was caught in her arms in time. 
 
...Amamiya-kun?" 

She raised her hand and didn't know when she had touched blood.