In that same afternoon at another place.

A certain boy snuggled in his bed and covering himself with the blanket. He didn't turn on the light and let darkness envelop his room. Outside the window, rain poured down heavily. It's as if responding to his gloomy mood.

The boy, Mimasaka Mamoru, staring at his smartphone inside the blanket with a dead expression. In it was a photo of a girl, which he used as a wallpaper for his phone. The girl herself of course his classmate and at the same time, childhood sweetheart, Arakawa Akina.

"Akina..." Mamoru mumbled.

But perhaps rather than sweetheart, one-sided crush was more appropriate term to use.

Her words at that time still freshly remembered in his mind.

"...What is your relationship with him?!" (Mamoru)

"Sefure...?" (Akina)

Although he had never eaten pig meat before, he still knew pigs ran¹He had never done it before, but he still knew how it worked.. Mamoru did not imagine such immoral term would come out from Akina's mouth herself. As a healthy boy, naturally he also collected some erotic books. And this 'sefure' term obviously present in one of those books.

At that time Akina answered without any sign of falsehood. In fact, Akina never speak any lies as far as he knows. Which means, Akina really has... has done *nyan nyan* with that girly scum boy!

'Syitt!! SYITT!!! WHY! WHYYYY!!!' ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

Just thinking about it makes him mad!

Nekomiya Riku... Just what part of that sissy that makes Akina fall over for him?!

Looks... Compared to himself, Mamoru confident he has superior looks. He is more manly, charismatic, and taller than Riku. With this looks, he often got countless love letters from the girls, proving his popularity. This also further proven when he trusted and selected to became class representative, leading the entire class 5-2.

Sports... He doubt there was strength in that flimsy looking arms of Riku. If they fought, Mamoru confident he will be win without a hitch.
(× He didn't know Riku has trained under Kyoko's personal tutelage - with praise!)

Academics... Mamoru believed he was about equal as him.

In the last grade exam, to enter class-1 requires the students to score 95% or higher. Mamoru's exam score was 94.7%, only short 1 correct answer. If not for that single mistake, he could've entered class A as well. And with his charisma, become class rep of the class 5-A is a given. If that happens, Nekomiya Riku is just a mob!
(× Riku's score = 100%...)

But alas, what's done is done. That 1 exam question already sealed his fate.

Mamoru recalled the past. He and Akina was born at the same hospital, only just 3 days difference. They grow up together, playing together, took a nap under the sakura tree together...

They were always together and Mamoru had believed it will continue forever. But...

"When we gwou up, I will mawwy Akina..." The young Mamoru (1st grade) said it with a grin.

"Okay, if you can become my pwince, like in tis book!" The young Akina said as she pointed at one of the illustration of book she currently reads. In it was an illustration of a prince dancing with the heroine in a ballroom party.

"Then, it's a pwomise..." The young Mamoru innocently said.

TO HELL WITH THE PRINCE! TO HELL WITH THE PROMISE!!

Mamoru couldn't help but shed tears with deep regret. In the end, he couldn't become Akina's prince and become clown instead.

When did everything starts to go wrong?

But at the next moment he had a sudden thought.

"Perhaps, I was greatly mistaken... When watching TV, Akina always prefers those cute things like Pokemon or Pretty Cure than cool heroes or Gundam. If that's the case, then it makes sense that she likes Nekomiya Riku more than me..."

Mamoru's expression become depressed. He know himself best it was impossible for him to become cute.

 

♠♠♠

 

"MAMORU! UNTIL WHEN YOU WANT TO LOCK YOURSELF IN THE ROOM?"

Standing outside Mamoru's room, his mother shouted impatiently. Since yesterday, her son acting weird. Not only he went home earlier, he also refused to move a single step from his room. Later on, Akina visited their house, carrying his bag which was left behind. But the owner of the bag didn't even come out from the room.

The mother, Mimasaka Satsuki couldn't help but worried about her son. Could it be that he was bullied at the school?

When he was selected as the class rep, Satsuki still remember how happy his expression was. She and her husband naturally congratulates him and not forgetting to give him advices. Becoming a class rep means her son was trusted to become leader of the class. It was a honorable position and at the same time it's also giving him huge responsibility.

With Mamoru's personality, his parents know that it won't be a problem. On the contrary, their son became spirited to fulfill every expectation from his surrounding. But that was the past.

That same person right now is holed himself in his room, only come out when he was hungry or to take a dump. Her proud son had skipped school and even ditched his responsibility as a class rep.

What happened at the school?

No matter how she or her husband asks, Mamoru refused to answer. Even when she asked Akina, she also didn't know herself.

Waiting for an answer that will never come, Satsuki shakes her head and left. Rather than standing there like a moron talking to the door, might as well go out.

"Haah... I didn't expect raising a son is this hard. Especially when he is at the rebellious phase..." She sighed.

Satsuki took a folded umbrella from the drawer and went outside. The rain is still pouring, nevertheless, it was not heavy and did not become obstacle for her to go to a certain cafe shop in the nearby district. She walked for a few minutes before arrived at the cafe shop.

Cafe shop "HEALING PAW"

*CHIME*

She pushed the door and entered the cafe. Soon after, she was greeted by various sounds of meowing. A number of cats approached her and rubbing themselves to her feet. Looking at these cats, Satsuki smiled as she gently pat their head with affection.

"Good afternoon, everyone. How are you doing?"

*meow* *mii* *myaaa~*

The cats answered with their meowing as if responding to her words.

Yes, the "HEALING PAW" is a cat cafe.

In this place, many cats from various species freely roaming as they are the main attraction of this cafe. Other than ordering meal and drinks, the customer can also interact with the cats. Of course, the cats are vaccinated to prevent disease and fully trained so they won't disturb the customers when they are eating.

Due to many residents live in small apartments or condominiums which do not allow pets, a cat café become very popular destination for peoples looking for the companionship.

"Welcome, Satsuki-sama. Please enjoy your stay, nyan~."

A young girl that wears a maid uniform + cat eared headband & cat tail, greets her with a smile. This girl, Nakamura Kana is a senior high schooler that works as a part-timer in this shop.

Well, since this is a cat shop, naturally the employee dress code requires her to wear cat-related accessories... and add the word "nyan~" after each sentence.

"Good afternoon, Kana-chan... Is Kayo-chan here?" Satsuki asked without turning her head. Her hand is still busy caressing the cats.

"If it's Kayoko-sama, she is on the 2nd floor, nyan~" Kana answered.

"I see, thank you." Satsuki thanked her and immediately walked toward the stairs on the side.

The 2nd floor of this cafe is a partial floor that looks like a Ո character, so the floor below can be observed from above. Of course it was enclosed by a bullet-resistant glass, so no one can be hurt by falling off from the 2nd floor.

Satsuki immediately found the person she was searching for, Kitagawa Kayoko who calmly sip her tea while playing with her phone. It seems like she was in the middle of a call with someone.

In the opposite seat of her, a plump white cat can be seen napping. Upon seeing Satsuki approaching their seats, the cat immediately move from the chair and walk away.

"Kayo-chan!" She immediately called her name.

Kayoko, who the name has been called, inadvertently looked behind.

'...Another troublesome people come... Haaah...'