Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"Hehe~ I finally passed my driving test, so I have to treat everyone properly."

"...Didn't you get your driver's license a few months ago? And why is it a treat for everyone?"

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head.

"Is rewarding everyone also a way of rewarding myself?"

"It's only natural," said Ichiji Nijika, then sighed softly.

"Okay, I just bought a little too much because I was a little excited."

Dusk was falling, descending upon the city below.

What has the kitten been busy with today?

"I went to a live show with Ryo, helped Yu Dai with her studies, and then just stayed home with everyone. How about you? How was school today?"

"Well... how should I put it? After the initial novelty wore off, I felt that college was just so-so."

Ichi Nijika pondered.

"Going to class, going to class... going to class with Yuyuko... and then it seems like that's it?"

"Didn't you make any new friends?"

"No, I've been thinking about you all day."

Ichi Nijika sighed.

"I'm suddenly starting to regret going to university~"

"Ok?"

Nekoyashiki Haru blinked, then chuckled softly.

"That won't do. You're already one of the few highly educated people in the family."

"That's true, it's good to have some college students in the family..."

Ichi Nijika walked ahead with her hands behind her back.

"But I really didn't expect that Dad would pass so easily."

"...I didn't expect that either. I thought I'd at least get a beating..."

Nekoyashiki Haru whispered.

"I can't bear to see you get beaten up."

Ijichi Nijika turned to look at Nekoyashiki Haru, her back turned as she walked away, a look of dissatisfaction on her face.

"Don't assume you'll get a beating every time you meet your parents."

"Feel sorry."

Nekoyashiki Haru apologized softly.

"... "

Ichi Nijika was slightly taken aback, her cheeks flushed, and she turned around.

meow~

A meow suddenly came from under the streetlight beside me.

Ijichi Nijika paused in her steps, and Nekoyashiki Haru narrowed her eyes.

"..." × 2

The two looked into a cardboard box under the streetlight, where a grayish-blue cat poked its head out and observed them.

Ichichi Hongka glanced at Nekoya Shikiharu.

“…scheming…”

"Nekoyashiki Haru said with dissatisfaction."

"Scheming? She's just a little kitten..."

Ichi Nijika sighed and walked towards the blue cat.

"Who dumped it here?"

"No matter who it is, their moral character is probably not very good."

Nekoyashiki Haru walked over and said.

"If no one adopts them, it's just a slow death."

"Little cat, you're right too."

Ichi Nijika sighed.

"...You still want to take it back?"

Nekoyashiki Haru looked at Ijichi Nijika and asked.

"Hmm... never mind, we already have four corners at home, and you probably don't like them anyway, right?"

"If you like it a lot, I'll try my best to like it."

Nekoyashiki Haru crouched down and said.

"Should we take it back? Or find someone to adopt it?"

“…Ugh…”

Nijika Ijichi reached out to hug the cat, but was stopped by Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Let me carry you."

He picked up the cat.

"Meow~"

The blue cat squinted its eyes and seemed to be very happy as it let out a meow.

"...This guy..."

Nekoyashiki Haru frowned.

"It's a female kitten...it seems to like you a lot."

"Ichi Nijika smiled."

"...Don't get me wrong, I'm not your parent...Even if you make that cutesy sound, I won't give you a kind look..."

Nekoyashiki Haru said coldly.

"Little cat, you clearly hate cats, but you understand them better than most people..."

"Ichi Nijika whispered, then took a deep breath and pretended to be sad," she said.

"You just told me you'd try to like it? Were you lying to me?"

"What? No, no, no, how could I be lying to you! It's just that liking something takes time... and... ugh, it doesn't feel clean..."

Nekoyashiki Haru explained in a panic.

"I know, I was just teasing you."

"Ichi Nijika smiled."

"…Ugh…"

Nekoyashiki Haru sighed and hugged the blue cat with both hands.

"If... if you really like it, Hongxia, I'll definitely like it too."

"is it?"

"Ah."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded seriously.

"Because I love you, it's only natural that I'll become more and more like you."

"But what about everyone else? What will you become, little cat?"

"Ichi Niji Natsumi asked."

"I don't know... but it will definitely be a positive change."

Haru Nekoyashiki picked up the cardboard box with her other hand and continued walking forward with Nijika Ijichi.

His gaze was gentle, and he swayed his arm slightly.

Blue Cat slowly closed its eyes and fell asleep in the young man's arms.

"... "

Ichi Nijika's pupils trembled slightly before she looked away.

"Well, I'm not so sure what the kitten will turn out to be, but there's one thing I'm pretty sure about."

"what?"

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment and asked.

"You will definitely be a good dad."

Nijika Ichi turned her head and smiled.

"!"

Nekoyashiki Haru's colorful pupils contracted, and her cheeks quickly flushed crimson.

"...this statement..."

As she passed the trash can, Nekoyashiki Haru threw the cardboard box into it and turned to look at Ijichi Nijika again.

"me?"

"Hmm, but the kitten isn't ready yet, is it?"

"Ichi Niji Natsumi asked."

"...Well...after all, I don't know how to be a good 'dad' either."