Tokyo: After years of stagnation, the heiress of the yakuza arrives.

"What?! The student council president?!"

Ritsuki Sawamura stared wide-eyed at the news before her in disbelief.

Ritsuki Sawamura reflected on their time together during the day.

She is beautiful, gentle, caring, and speaks with tact. She can chat with strangers without making anyone feel awkward. She is also the student council president and the head of the archery club. Her family background is no less than that of some of the top families in Tokyo. Most importantly, despite her ridiculously good qualities, she doesn't show any intention of deliberately displaying her superiority.

What kind of incredible luck did that zoo character with the same name, Shido, have?

How could he possibly run into this?

Moreover, judging from what Onodera Zannen said, the two of them will become lovers in the future, and may even spend their lives together.

A strange feeling welled up in Ritsuki Sawamura's heart again.

It is also called Shido.

One was chosen by such a perfect woman, while the other was a netizen she had known for years who wouldn't even send her a photo and probably looked like a fat otaku.

The gap between people can sometimes be greater than the gap between a person and a giant black dog.

Thank you. I will contact you if needed.

【You are welcome.】

After Onodera Zannen finished speaking, he didn't continue to ask questions about the enrollment procedures. The topic had reached the most appropriate point of conclusion, and asking any more questions would seem deliberate.

Her gaze fell on the Onodera family documents that had already been processed on the table, and then she glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer screen.

10:40 PM.

It's not too late.

The journey from the luxury apartment to the Bulgari Hotel won't take too long if you arrange transportation in advance.

The original plan was to send someone to pick up Dahei tomorrow, but now it has to be done earlier.

As long as Dahei is in Sawamura Ritsu's hands, Kuroba Shido might take the initiative to contact the Sawamura mother and daughter tomorrow, and even meet with them before the agreed time. There are already enough variables brought about by the enrollment, and there is no need to keep the special risk target that is most likely to attract Shido's attention by his side.

Conversely, when Big Black came to her, the situation was completely different.

Once Shido Kuroba discovers that Daikoku has changed hands, he will definitely come over on his own initiative.

She doesn't need to make up new reasons, nor does she need to risk making the relationship seem too deliberate. All she needs to do is post a picture of Daikoku eating quietly and tell Shido not to worry. Someone who says he will give Daikoku rat poison but can actually starve himself and spend all his savings will appear at the door.

Most importantly, she had a legitimate reason and a justifiable cause; he had already asked her for help... What happened next was perfectly reasonable!

Before that, she could still cultivate a relationship with Big Black.

Food preferences.

Behavioral habits.

The degree of dependence on Shido.

Does he have the ability to actively seek out and transmit information, and even influence Shido's choice of where to live?

These all need to be re-examined.

If Big Black is just a slightly smarter mouse, it can be kept, and could even serve as a stable bond to strengthen relationships...

If its danger level continues to rise, starts frequently taking up Shido's time, or tries to move back into the same house with his wife and children...

Onodera Zanne's eyes remained gentle.

However... when necessary, rat poison isn't something that's hard to buy.

of course.

Only when necessary.

She's not the kind of person who would randomly poison rats... She's not a malicious person.

Well... not at least not now.

Onodera Zannen picked up his phone again.

[By the way, Liyue, I just contacted Aunt Yoshiko to ask about Dahei.]

[That's the fancy hamster you brought back from the restaurant. My friend was temporarily looking after it, and we only realized it was missing after he left.]

When Riki Sawamura saw the words "Noble Flowery Mouse," her expression shifted subtly.

So that's what Onodera Zannen calls himself.

Could it be that she misunderstood?

Big Black is just a little more pointed and a little darker, as if it has undergone high-intensity survival training in the sewers. In essence, it is still a noble fancy rat with a special bloodline and an appearance that is atavistic.

Beside the coffee table, Dahei had finished eating the chicken and was doing high-five training under Yoshiko Sawamura's guidance. He raised one paw, clapped his palm twice, and then looked at the small plate of fish with great skill.

Indeed, she is very clever.

They're unusually clever, unlike most mice.

It's right here.

【I know. 】

How did you know?

The restaurant staff contacted the people who were with the animal and confirmed that it was Aunt Jiazi who ultimately took it away.

The answer is reasonable and there are no problems.

Ritsuki Sawamura did not continue to doubt.

Do you need us to deliver it tomorrow?

If it's convenient for me now, I can come over. I have school matters to attend to tomorrow, so I might not have a suitable time.

Isn't this too much trouble?

No, I also want to check if Dahei is feeling unwell because he ate too much.

Ritsuki Sawamura glanced at the big black dog, whose belly was also somewhat round.

It really should be checked.

The mouse ate sashimi, shrimp, chicken, rice, and a little bit of unseasoned chawanmushi for dinner. Yoshiko Sawamura wanted to continue feeding it, but if she hadn't stopped it, Dahei would probably be lying on the carpet now, enjoying its after-dinner feast with the old lady who had just been defeated by sushi.

Moreover, she and Onodera Zanne had a very pleasant conversation.

After the news about starting school tomorrow was brought up, the little bit of anticipation that had been lingering in my heart finally found a calm place to accept it, unlike Yoshiko Sawamura, who, upon hearing the word "meet," would automatically fast-forward to dating, meeting the parents, and her wonderful mother choosing a wedding venue.

Okay, let me know when you get near the hotel, and I'll bring Big Black down.

Okay, about twenty-five minutes.

See you later.

See you later.

Conversation ends.

Ritsuki Sawamura sat on the bed, holding her phone, staring at the last sentence, "Your plan will definitely succeed," for a while. The scene of tomorrow afternoon began to appear in her mind.

Shido Kuroba stood at the entrance of Kamikawa University.

She might be wearing a regular coat, carrying a backpack, and holding a bag of discounted rice balls from a convenience store. She might not look particularly attractive, but her expression is just as irritating as when she suddenly appeared in a voice message before.

She walked past from behind.

He called out softly to Shido.

The guy turned around, initially not recognizing him, then his eyes widened little by little at the sound, and finally he stood still, as if someone had pressed pause.

What should she say first?

"haven't seen you for a long time?"

No, they've never seen it before.

"We finally meet?"

It seems like they're looking forward to it too much.

"You're that damn lolicon?"

It seems just right.

Her indifference and naturalness allowed Kuroba Shido to confirm her identity immediately without revealing that she had spent the entire night planning this meeting.

Ritsuki Sawamura couldn't suppress her smile any longer. She rolled around in the blankets with her phone in her hand until her long pink hair got tangled in her face, and then she finally remembered that there was still a noble flower rat she needed to hand over.

Next to the coffee table, the training has entered a crucial stage.

Yoshiko Sawamura stretched out her palm, and Daikoku raised its paw.

Snapped.

Completed with a high-five.

"Again."

Snapped.

"left."

Big Black switched to a different paw.

Snapped.

"So clever!" Yoshiko Sawamura's eyes lit up with excitement as she handed over the last small piece of sashimi. "Kuro, let's practice one more time. After I reach out, you jump up first, then run along my arm to my shoulder, and finally stand up. If you can do it, I'll let the kitchen..."

A hand suddenly reached out from the side.

As soon as Dahei received the fish, its body was lifted off the carpet by Riyue Sawamura, leaving it suspended in mid-air with its bow. Its two front paws were still clutching the reward that had just arrived, and a question mark slowly appeared on its pointed head.

Yoshiko Sawamura's smile froze.

"What are you doing?"

"Return it to the owner."

"Now?"

"Um."

Riki Sawamura placed Dahei on the pet cushion and picked up a breathable pet carrier that the hotel staff had temporarily found, intending to take the food dish with her. Yoshiko Sawamura finally realized what was happening and rushed over to hug the other end of the cushion.

"No!"

Why?

"Big Black hasn't learned to climb onto my shoulder yet!"

"What's it to you?"

"How can it not be a problem? We're already friends!" Yoshiko Sawamura said with a face full of grief. Big Black was still chewing on fish meat, seemingly not having much of an opinion about the human-rat friendship that had been established for less than two hours. "Besides, interrupting training halfway through will leave a serious psychological scar on the noble fancy rat."

"Its only psychological trauma right now is that you hold the food too high."

"The little pink-haired girl doesn't understand animals."

"Even older women wouldn't understand."

"I can learn!"

"Get out of the way."

"No."

Ritsuki Sawamura raised her hand expressionlessly.

Yoshiko Sawamura immediately loosened her grip on the cushion, covered her head with her hands, and shrank back a bit, her body behaving itself: "Let's talk this out. Mommy just doesn't want to part with her new friend."

Dahei glanced at Riki Sawamura, then at Yoshiko Sawamura, and finally continued chewing.

Human separations usually happen after a good meal, which is good, at least we don't have to grieve on an empty stomach.

Ritsuki Sawamura got out of bed to change her clothes, putting on a light-colored long coat again. She tied her long pink hair back simply, then picked up her mask and phone. The whole process took less than five minutes. When she picked up the pet carrier, Yoshiko Sawamura was still sitting on the carpet, looking like a tragic mother whose interspecies friendship had just been forcibly broken up.

"Little pink-haired girl, are you really going to send Big Black away?"

"It was never yours to begin with."

"But I fed it so much."

"so what?"

"Let me train for at least one more night, then send me back tomorrow morning."

"no."

"Then Mom will go with you." Sawamura Yoshiko straightened up, grabbed her coat, and prepared to follow. "I can explain to Ms. Onodera myself that we're all so familiar with each other, it's no problem for Daikoku to stay with me for a couple more days."

Ritsuki Sawamura walked to the door and glanced back at her.

Did you wash your hands?

Yoshiko Sawamura stopped moving.

"I just touched the big black dog, the fish, the shrimp, the chicken, the cup, and the carpet."

"..."

"Wash your hands first, then tidy up the things on the table."

"You can clean up when you get back."

"Hotel staff will be here shortly."

"Let them clean it up."

"I'll tell them that you ate everything by yourself."

Yoshiko Sawamura: "???"

The great mother turned around abruptly and looked at the plates on the coffee table, enough to feed four or five people. Sushi, tempura, clear soup, chawanmushi, bluefin tuna, and a pile of food that Dahei had left over were scattered everywhere. If all of this were attributed to her, when the hotel kitchen saw Sawamura Yoshiko tomorrow, they probably wouldn't treat her as a distinguished guest anymore, but rather as a bottomless pink pit that needed to be closely observed.

"Even Big Black ate it!"

"Who would believe a rat ate so much?"

"It's a noble fancy mouse!"

"The last word is still 'rat'."

"Little pink-haired girl, that's discrimination!"

Ritsuki Sawamura ignored her, picked up her pet carrier, and walked out of the room. Before the door was even fully closed, Yoshiko Sawamura's voice came from behind.

"Big Black—!"

"Don't forget me, Big Black!"

"I'll come see you when I have time, and I'll buy you a whole bluefin tuna!"

Inside the pet carrier, as soon as Dahei heard the name of the food, its pointed head immediately poked out from the ventilation window.

Riki Sawamura pressed it back down.

"Don't look back."

"Little pink-haired girl, you vicious woman who broke up the friendship between humans and rats!"

"Shut up."

"Waaaaah... Mom's new friend is gone, and they won't even let her see him one last time. This house has lost all its warmth!"

The suite door closed.

The sound was finally blocked out from behind.

The corridor returned to silence. Dahei poked half its head out of the pet carrier window again, with a little bit of fish meat still stuck to its mouth. The light blue bow on its back was squeezed and slightly crooked. Sawamura Riyue reached out to straighten it and then glanced at her phone.

I just received a message from Onodera Zannen.

【I have arrived. 】

Riki Sawamura pressed the elevator button.

The numbers slowly jumped upwards from the first floor, and her blurry shadow was reflected in the metal door. She wore a light-colored coat, had long pink hair, and carried a large black pet carrier. She didn't look like someone going to meet a new friend at night, but rather like someone conducting some kind of secret rat-like exchange in the dead of night.

The elevator doors opened.

Ritsuki Sawamura walked in, feeling much more relaxed than before.

Perhaps because she had finally told someone about her plans for tomorrow and received a very natural blessing, the tension that had been weighing on her heart turned into more anticipation. She even began to seriously consider whether, after completing the formalities tomorrow, she should familiarize herself with the route to Kamikawa University, find the classroom where Kuroba Shido usually had classes, and then arrive before the agreed time.

A surprise must be sudden enough.

It's best to catch that guy completely unprepared.

Ding.

We've reached the first floor.

The Bulgari Hotel lobby was still brightly lit, with dark marble reflecting the overhead lights. The night staff stood in the distance, and after seeing Riki Sawamura, they nodded politely without asking her why she was carrying a noble hamster out so late at night.

Onodera Zannen did not enter the hotel.

She stood not far from the outer entrance, with a discreet black sedan parked behind her. The driver had already gotten out and was waiting beside her. The night wind blew from the other side of the street, lifting her long black hair and the hem of her coat.

Ritsuki Sawamura slowed her pace a little.

The zoo was too crowded during the day, so the three of them sat in a fast food restaurant. Although they were close to each other, they were always separated by a table and the noisy environment. Now that the night was quiet and there were no pandas, tourists, yellow tiger-eared old women, or the strange Shido with a crooked mouth and eyes, it was the first time that Ritsuki Sawamura could see Rei Onodera so clearly.

The girl changed out of her loungewear and into a simple, dark-colored long coat over a soft, light-colored knitted long dress. Her nearly 1.8-meter height appeared even taller in the night, and her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders...

Her skin was almost translucent white under the warm hotel lights, and her features were delicate, but she didn't have the sharp danger of Aoko Jingu, nor the cold indifference of Kiyoshi Miyazaki, who seemed to be reading information at any time. She was more like a black flower branch growing quietly after the rain, gentle, restrained, and with a refined temperament that made people unconsciously lower their voices.

When Onodera Zanne saw Sawamura Rigetsu, the corners of her lips curved slightly, and she took a step forward.

Good evening, Liyue.

Her voice was as gentle as the message.

Ritsuki Sawamura, carrying the pet carrier containing Daikoku, was completely unaware of anything unusual. She felt that her judgment during the day had indeed been correct: Tsuneo Onodera was an easy person to get along with and someone worth getting to know.

A gentle night breeze blew by.

The gaze gradually zoomed in.

Onodera Zanne stood in front of the hotel, her eyes gentle and her expression serene. She was beautiful without a trace of aggression, except for some kind of black writing that no one could see, which slowly appeared above her head.

Current Status: Hostile...