"Make a wish?" Kisaragi Chiyo repeated, sounding confused.
"Why would I make a wish?" Kisaragi Chiyo felt a bit amused, she raised her hand to catch the fingertips of Matsuda Jinpei as he tried to touch her lips.
“Don't you have any wishes you want to come true?”
A smile seemed squeezed from his throat as a casual curve hooked the corners of Matsuda Jinpei's mouth, his gaze remaining calm and sharp, concealing a hidden edge. It was as if the person who had just made such a move, crossing the boundaries of normal personal distance, was not him, but Matsuda Jinpei.
"Are you someone who can give me endless money, or someone who can bring world peace?" Kisaragi Chiyo raised her eyebrows, her indifferent expression becoming more vivid because of this gesture. Carrying a hint of provocation, it instead made Matsuda Jinpei even more excited.
Perhaps he isn't the only one using charms.
"You want those?" Matsuda Jinpei stepped a bit closer, the cat ears poking through his curly hair twitching with his movement, quickly drawing Kisaragi Chiyo's gaze.
"So the shadow isn't an illusion?" Kisaragi Chiyo's misty gray eyes slowly widened as she felt something furry lightly brush against her other hand hanging at her side.
Looking down, he saw his dream tail wagging behind Matsuda Jinpei.
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
"Where were we just now?" Kisaragi Chiyo casually released Matsuda Jinpei's fingertips, her gaze fixed intensely upon those soft cat ears nestled within his curly hair.
You want me to make a wish, don't you?
".. You might want to think it over; I'm not the type of person who lets someone go back on their word," Matsuda Jinpei warned.
"It's fine." Kisaragi Chiyo quickly thought about her own wallet; even if she had to raise another cat, it wouldn't be a big problem.
I've already decided.
"As you wish.." Matsuda Jinpei took a step back, making way for Kisaragi Chiyo.
As the five-yen coin representing a connection was dropped into the offertory box, Kisaragi Chiyo shook the bell rope and closed her eyes with a pious expression.
I want..
The wish reached Matsuda Jinpei's ears along with the sound of the bell.
It wasn't an endless supply of money, nor was it world peace.
Kisaragi Chiyo's wish could be described as simple and pure, something that could even be realized on the spot.
But..
Matsuda Jinpei slowly covered his face with both hands, his tail behind him curling into small waves and swaying slowly because of the other party's wish.
*
“Good boy, good boy.” Kisaragi Chiyo sat on the shrine steps, a black cat with white paws leaning stiffly against him in her lap.
As Kisaragi Chiyo used his hands, clad in black gloves, to gently rub the base of its ears, an incredibly incredulous and human-like expression appeared on the cat's face. Its flexible, long tail went stiff, the tip of the tail continued to tremble slightly.
"Kisaragi, wait.." Matsuda Jinpei's voice trembled, he couldn't stop making involuntary, contented purring sounds. He couldn't even manage to get a full sentence out, able only to let Kisaragi Chiyo knead his four pink paw pads with equal attention, before she stroked him from his head all the way down to the base of his tail.
Cats are liquid animals.
Looking at Matsuda Jinpei, who had turned into a long strip and was about to spill onto the floor, Kisaragi Chiyo finally gained a substantial understanding of that statement.
How is it?" Kisaragi Chiyo asked with a smile, "Lord Matsuda, are you satisfied with my service?
Matsuda Jinpei had no way to answer this question right now. He was being comfortably scratched under the chin by Kisaragi Chiyo, his fluffy and furry chest pressed against Kisaragi Chiyo's palm, his head involuntarily rubbing against the fingers that were trying to pull away, he couldn't say anything except for purring.
“You seem quite satisfied.” Kisaragi Chiyo looked at the cat, who was completely immersed in her superb technique, used her other hand to give the tip of its tail a slight squeeze.
The soft, long tail withdrew from between her fingers, swatting his palm once as if dissatisfied, only to coil around his wrist again in a spoiled manner.
Suddenly, a slight pain shot through his fingertips as the cat's fangs bit down on his finger through the glove. The pressure was neither light nor heavy, leaving a faint white mark on his skin.
“Why are you just like Hara-kun?” Kisaragi Chiyo said, feeling somewhat helpless, as he reached out to pat the Black cat's head, signaling it to let go.
The glove became somewhat damp, stained by the temperature of the other's mouth. Kisaragi Chiyo thought for a moment before reaching down to remove the glove from his right hand, but his gaze suddenly froze when he noticed the knuckle of his ring finger.
Kisaragi Chiyo's other hand stroked the kitten intermittently. He raised his right hand toward the moon in the sky, a thin red line appeared on his finger.
Kisaragi Chiyo took a sharp breath and then exhaled, silently putting his glove back on, looked down at the cat sprawled out haphazardly on his lap, suddenly feeling a bit of a headache.
“Matsuda, you're being like this.." Kisaragi Chiyo sighed, vigorously rubbing the cat's head.
If Hara-kun knew, he would definitely make a scene.
In the end, I'm the one who will suffer through it all.
Regarding this, Matsuda Jinpei, who had been rubbed until he was dizzy, simply raised his head blankly. His bright, round, teal eyes stared fixedly at Kisaragi Chiyo, his whiskers twitched up and down, he let out a confused, "Meow."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Cooked up and served up quickly under a tight deadline! (Lying down peacefully)
Thanks to all the little angels for your support, mwah! I wish everyone a Happy New Year! May the new year bring new beginnings, good luck, wonderful scenery!
Chapter 51
Warm sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, landing softly on the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy's face, its purple eyes opened blankly.
The puppy let out a yawn, its nose sniffing instinctively, as a familiar scent wafted up from the plush cushion beneath it. Lowering its head, a familiar black haori covered in its own fur came into view.
What happened yesterday?
The Bernese Mountain Dog lay comfortably in its soft nest, its furry front paws crossed, a human-like expression of contemplation appearing on that cute canine face.
That's right, he went to the amusement park with Kisaragi Chiyo, even met the incredibly handsome Ikemen Matsuda, then they worked together to defuse a bomb, after that, he fell asleep from exhaustion.
Before falling asleep, he remembered that Kisaragi Chiyo seemed to have promised him something..
The Bernese Mountain Dog tilted its head. A dog's hearing and sense of smell are exceptionally keen and developed; without even having to check personally, it could feel that he was the only one in the room right now.
Has he already gotten out of bed? Did he forget what he promised him yesterday? Or was there something else that disrupted the plan?
Just as Hara Kenji's thoughts were running wild, a sound of footsteps approached from outside the door, growing closer and closer—tap, tap, tap.. The speed and sound of each step were almost identical. It was a sound of footsteps that the Bernese Mountain Dog found familiar, there was only one person.
His heart provided the answer instantly; although he wanted to pretend not to care, the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy still couldn't help but tilt his head and turn his eyes, observing the movement at the bedroom door out of the corner of his eye.
As the countdown involuntarily began in its heart, as the numbers reached zero, the footsteps stopped at the doorway.
Then, the doorknob was gripped and turned, making a faint clicking sound. The dark brown door opened inward just a crack, a familiar figure appeared outside.
Hara.. you're awake?
Kisaragi Chiyo gave a soft hum of acknowledgment; the moment he opened the door, he noticed the other man peeking through with his neck stretched out. He had originally only intended to leave to get his dried gloves, not expecting that within those few minutes, Hara Kenji would have woken from his deep sleep.
He had thought that, given how the other had fallen asleep yesterday, he would need to sleep for more than half a day to fully recover.
It was truly a miscalculation; he failed to fulfill the promise made for the very first thing he would see upon waking.
Kisaragi Chiyo felt a brief moment of guilt.
*
"Chiyo-chan," the Bernese Mountain Dog practically launched itself from its soft bed upon seeing the person outside the door. The excited, fluffy little puppy cannon had long since forgotten the previous warning not to pounce like it used to.
He wagged his tail like a propeller in excitement, completely ignoring Kisaragi Chiyo's halting gesture and the refusal that had yet to be spoken.
With a startled cry, Kisaragi Chiyo felt the world spin. By the time he had reacted, he was already lying peacefully on the ground.
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
I've said it before: he likes dogs with self-awareness, not furry cannonballs that knock people over.
"Kisaragi, Kisaragi, Kisaragi, Kisaragi.." The puppy whimpered and cooed, incessantly calling out its own name. Its wet, warm nose sniffed all over her, as if trying to take the opportunity to search for any criminal evidence on Kisaragi Chiyo.
"That's enough, I'm right here." Kisaragi Chiyo said helplessly, using both hands to grab the Bernese Mountain Dog's ears, which hung on either side of its head and felt like black silk.
"You don't have to keep calling my name." A furry, heavy head rested against her chest, those round, purple eyes stared at her without blinking, filled with the innate trust and joy of a canine.
Sparkling, like a gemstone shining under the sun.
"But I just want to call you Chiyo-chan," Hara Kenji replied in a sticky tone, deliberately drawing out the end of his sentence like a tacky grape candy, exuding a cloying, sweet aura.
".. Whatever you say." Kisaragi Chiyo's hand, which was pinching Hara Kenji's ear, paused for a moment; she could never quite do anything about him in this regard. Even though she had initially felt some resistance to such an intimate nickname, she had eventually been forced to accept it through habit.
“So, how are you feeling now?” Kisaragi Chiyo rubbed Hara Kenji's puppy head with a vengeful force, but for an evil spirit turned puppy, this amount of pressure was just comfortable and perfect.
"Feeling super great.. Kisaragi's neck.. want to touch neck." The Bernese Mountain Dog was so comfortable being petted that its eyes narrowed, it made a sound that alternated between whimpering and purring, momentarily making Kisaragi Chiyo think she was holding a small engine.
".. I was asking if you're feeling unwell." Kisaragi Chiyo squeezed the paw of the Bernese Mountain Dog, who had evaded the question, noting that its thick, pink pads felt much less soft and elastic than those of a cat.
Kisaragi Chiyo was lost in thought when, suddenly, she felt the light before her eyes grow dim. Cold strands of hair, carrying a faint, chilling fragrance, flowed down like water, with a few locks landing on his face, bringing a slight, stinging itch.
And the warm, thick pink paw pad in his hand transformed into a pale, cold human palm.
Kisaragi Chiyo stared blankly at the facial features slowly enlarging before her eyes. The eyes with dark purple irises curved into a perfect arc, a large palm unceremoniously grabbed her wrist, naturally interlacing its fingers with hers.
Kisaragi Chiyo, feeling as if this scene had happened before, said, "Hara Kenji.. get up."
"Huh?" The called-for Hara Kenji tilted his head in confusion, blinking slowly, an expression of innocent goodness appearing on his face.
Don't play dumb with me." Kisaragi Chiyo used her other hand to grab the long hair of Hara Kenji that was hanging down to the ground, threatening him with a cold laugh, "Unless you want to go a whole week without a single bite of sweets.
Hara Kenji: ".."
"Fine, fine." With a reluctant expression, Hara Kenji climbed off Kisaragi Chiyo. The tall man's shoulders slumped, looking exactly like a dejected large dog.
As the weight on her body suddenly lightened, Kisaragi Chiyo felt that her shoulders no longer ached and her waist no longer hurt.
"I really think you should control your weight." After getting up from the floor, Kisaragi Chiyo ignored the other's pitiful expression and patted the non-existent dust off her clothes, intending to change out of her current outfit and wash it again.
I already told you, I'm still in my growing phase," Hara Kenji retorted in a small, self-righteous voice. "It's normal for a puppy to gain weight while growing.
Is that so?" Kisaragi Chiyo didn't even spare a glance for Hara Kenji. "When I say that, I'm obviously not referring to the weight of your puppy form.
"Then what you mean is.." Hara Kenji suddenly had a sudden sense of foreboding in his heart.
"Oh." Kisaragi Chiyo raised her head, her misty gray eyes staring at the expression on the other's face, before suddenly flashing a smile.
I saw your search history on the computer," Kisaragi Chiyo said unhurriedly. "Regarding whether evil spirits gain weight from eating, whether working out is still useful after becoming a ghost?
Look at you," Kisaragi Chiyo said, shrugging as if helpless. "You've even reached the point of seeking advice on the internet.
Hara Kenji: ".."
So, Hara-kun," Kisaragi Chiyo said, winking at Hara Kenji with a clear hint of amusement in her voice, "if you don't want people to know, you shouldn't do it in the first place.
“..”
Just as Kisaragi Chiyo thought Hara Kenji had been silenced by his words and would no longer speak, the other man suddenly let out a light chuckle.