Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Brushing her teeth and washing her face, she stroked her hair with one hand to check how messy it was, while using her other hand to hold a comb and press down the stray strands.

"...Tsk..."

She lightly clicked her tongue, then wet her hand with water and pressed it onto her hair before combing it down again.

After confirming that it wouldn't stick up again, Nekoyashiki Haru nodded in satisfaction, put on her sunglasses, and walked towards the living room.

Ding-dong————

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment before turning her head towards the door.

"...At this time?"

Tilting her head strangely, Nekoyashiki Haru, now dressed, still came to the door and said softly.

"Excuse me, is this...?"

"I am a kitten."

The voice outside the door was lively and gentle; it belonged to Ichiji Nijika.

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head even further. Although she found it strange that Ijichi Nijika appeared in front of her door on a school day, Nekoyashiki Haru couldn't just keep her childhood friend out of the house like that.

The door clicked open, followed by the sound of the other person's light footsteps.

Ah, the weather must be lovely today.

Thinking this for no reason, Nekoyashiki Haru turned her head towards Ijichi Nijika.

"You should be at school today, how come you're..."

"It's still early, there's still time before school starts."

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment, then asked.

"Didn't you consider whether I was sleeping?"

"If you're sleeping, I'll wake you up."

"Ugh... How selfish."

Nekoyashiki Haru sat down on the sofa.

"So what do you want from me?"

"It's nothing... I just brought you some food."

Ichi Nijika smiled and placed the lunchbox on the coffee table in front of the cat house.

"…ah?"

Nekoyashiki Haru looked puzzled.

Is there a problem?

"No...it's so strange that you got up so early to cook for me."

"What's so strange about it? I'm the one who usually cooks at home, and you probably haven't even tasted my cooking before."

"She's clearly my younger sister..."

Nekoyashiki Haru sighed.

"There's no way around it, since my older sister is useless, I, as her younger sister, have to work twice as hard."

Nijika Ichi suddenly said this with a blank expression.

"...Why is your speech suddenly so fast and your tone so cold..."

"Just kidding, okay, okay, let's not talk about that anymore, why don't you try it?"

"…Um."

Nekoyashiki Haru placed her hand on the lunchbox in front of her, but was interrupted as soon as she did.

"Ah! I didn't think that through. Wait for me a moment!"

Before Nekoyashiki Haru could react, she suddenly felt someone sit down next to her.

And they were very close, their bodies almost pressed against each other.

Clang.

Hearing the sound of the lunchbox being opened, I immediately felt something warm and comforting coming to my mouth.

"Ah—open your mouth."

"Wait a minute? Are you feeding me now?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"Otherwise what? I'm right here, why would you need to eat by yourself?"

Ijichi Nigatsu looked at Nekoyashiki Haru with a strange expression.

"No, no, no, even though I can't see, I can still eat by myself, so..."

"I want you to open your mouth and eat, not to ramble on and on. Just eat already."

"...Why am I suddenly so irritable again..."

"Come on, little kitten, be a good girl, open your mouth, ah—"

"Okay, okay, I got it."

Nekoyashiki Haru opened his mouth and didn't speak. A moment later, a hot meal was put into his mouth.

"...Fried egg?"

"Oh, right? How about it?"

"Ichi Nijika asked expectantly."

"It's delicious."

Nekoyashiki Haru replied with a smile.

"Is that so? Well, there's nothing I can do about it then."

Ichi Nijika chuckled, and the magnetic levitation corn chip on her head started to sway.

"...I have a feeling I've been tricked?"

Nekoyashiki Haru said with a strange expression.

"How could that be? I just wanted to say that there's nothing I can do. If you like it so much, it looks like I'll have to bring you food every day from now on."

"No, no, no, I won't..."

"Okay, okay, don't be so polite. Why are you being so polite? Haha."

"...You're welcome..."

Nekoyashiki Haru said weakly.

"I really don't need it, it would be too much trouble for you."

"... "

Ijichi Nijika looked at Nekoyashiki Haru, who was refusing her, and pouted unhappily.

The feelings have faded, really faded.

It's not like I haven't fed you before, why are you being so polite?

When you were little, didn't I feed you every day when we played house? You almost ate the playdough I gave you.

"Alright, alright, it's decided then!"

Ichiki Nijika picked up another piece of broccoli and fed it to Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Okay, open your mouth, close your mouth, open your mouth, close your mouth, smack smack smack... You have to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing."

"...What's wrong with you? I'm not a child anymore..."

"Ha ha…"

He can't even eat properly and yet he says he's not a child.

Ichi Nijika thought to herself, then, ignoring Nekoyashiki Haru's slightly reluctant expression, she forcefully fed him one food item after another.

In no time, he had finished feeding her everything in the lunchbox.

"Okay~ The kitten is great."

"...Sigh, is this some kind of childish game? Should I still call you 'Mom'?"

Nekoyashiki Haru sighed, and her words made Ijichi Nijika pause for a moment.

"Ah... well, when we played house as kids, we never had a mother and child, right?"

"...No, what does that have to do with the present?"

"I mean no, please don't call me Mom."

"Ichi Nijika said with a slightly flushed face, then took the lunchbox and walked towards the kitchen."

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru's hands rubbed together slightly.

Something feels off.

This sudden change in behavior is surprising. Although I know from Sister Xingge that Hongxia has always remembered me, she didn't act like this yesterday, did she?

What exactly happened...?

In the kitchen.

Ichi Nichika glanced at the large bag of bread that was still uneaten next to her.

He smiled, then picked it up and put it in his bag.

The kittens don't need you. I'll take care of you myself.

Nijika Ichichi hummed a song as she washed her lunchbox.

Behind her, Nekoyashiki Haru slowly walked over.