Kyoto: I just want to be a gentleman

While it was unlikely that she knew I was dating Yuria, it was clear that she knew I was with a girl.

(Perhaps she noticed it because of the lingering scent of Yuria's perfume)

It was very windy at the station today, and Kuroki wasn't completely sure.

"Is Ryota-kun dating Ai Li?"

"…No, no date!"

"Really? But I smell a little girl's scent..."

"Yes, it's from the maid cafe!"

"Maid cafe?"

"Otakus go to maid cafes on Sundays! Because there are no girls to care about them on weekdays, so they need the service of maids. What miserable creatures they are! Do you understand?"

I tried desperately to belittle myself, trying to make Kuroki lose interest.

(For example, if I act like a homebody and disgusting enough, Kuroki might let me go)

"Oh... poor Ryota-kun."

"Right, right? If you feel sorry for him, then just ignore this otaku—"

"Haha, then do you want to go on a date with me next time?"

What?????"

"Date?"

I asked Kuroki out on a date with her after she came out of a (fake) maid cafe.

(This guy... looks like he's completely calculating)

She pretended to be sympathetic and felt that I could only interact with girls in maid cafes, and that she did not really want to date me, but "had to date me because she had to", but took the initiative to propose a date. Kuroki Rui is a perfectionist, and it is obvious that she planned to date me from the beginning, which is why she was waiting for me here.

But I gave her a legitimate reason, using the maid cafe lie to cover up the real situation and let her down her guard. As a result, when I thought I had the upper hand, she counterattacked me in a clever way, just like I gave her a fatal counterattack opportunity in chess.

(She actually saw through several of my moves... This is so much like playing chess)

Still, I didn’t understand why she was so obsessed with me.

"Ryota-kun, don't be so nervous. It may be a date, but it's just a walk in front of the station in the evening."

"Kuroki, why are you doing this?"

"Do this?"

"I'm just the most insignificant shady character in the class. Even if you're a perfectionist, you wouldn't go to such lengths, right?"

"To this extent?"

Kuroki always repeats what I say like a parrot.

"I mean, you should be very tired after the track and field club practice, but you are waiting for me on the bench at the station, and you don't even know when I will come... This is not normal."

"are you happy?"

"what?"

"Will Ryota-kun be happy while I wait on the bench?"

Kuroki sat back on the bench and smiled.

"I'm not happy, but I'm surprised... Why did you do this?"

"Because...since that day, I have always hoped that Ryota-kun would like me."

There she goes again, she always mentions 'that day'.

This made me feel very uncomfortable, so I went to ask Tanaka if he had any clues.

The conclusion is... Graduation ceremony for the second year of middle school.

"But Ryota-kun is different from other boys. He is very special."

"Especially?"

"So, let's go for a walk together?"

Although the reason why Kuroki is so obsessed with me is still unclear, no matter what, she has waited for me on this windy station bench for so long, and I can't just say goodbye to her coldly.

And, she did it in a way that I couldn't refuse.

"Well, whether it's a date or not, we're going to walk home together..."

"hehe."

"why are you laughing?"

"Nothing. Let's go, then."

☆ ☆

After passing through the ticket gate of the station, Kuroki and I walked side by side on the avenue in front of the station.

The dark wood that walked with me no longer had the usual sweet perfume scent, but instead had the fresh smell of antiperspirant.

Her profile is still beautiful, with a high nose and long eyelashes.

Watching her from the side, I understood why she was called the peerless beauty.

Although she is a bit of a perfectionist and occasionally a little crazy, Kuroki is really excellent.

"Ah, there's a cat."

When passing by the park beside the road, Hei Mu saw a wild cat walking into the park and immediately chased after it.

"Hey, Kuroki!"

I followed Kuroki into the park.

Hei Mu squatted down and skillfully made a "hushing" sound to attract the cat over.

It was a fat calico cat and not very cute in appearance.

But Hei Mu still attracted it skillfully and touched its fur.

"Kuroki, do you like cats?"

I squatted down next to Kuroki and asked her.

"Hmm...Ryota-kun and cats, I prefer cats."

(What? I lost to a cat!)

"You look disappointed."

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Are you wondering why she likes cats more when she's been waiting for me at the station for so long?"

"not like this!"

To be honest, I do think so.

Kuroki saw through my thoughts at a glance, and my expression also betrayed me.

"Ryota-kun, are you jealous of cats? That's so cute. Do you want me to touch your belly too?"

"Absolutely not."

In fact, I would like to see your belly button more... I thought this evil thought silently in my heart.

"Hehe, but to me, cats are special."

There's that word 'special' again.

“Why are cats special?”

"…I used to have a cat. But it's dead now."

Suddenly the topic became very heavy...Did I step on a landmine?

"But because of that cat, I have another special thing. I am very grateful to that cat, so I like cats very much."

Another special something?

I don't quite understand it, but there is one more mystery about Kuroki."

Chapter 211 Extra: Novels Read by Watanabe Hideyuki (12)

“That’s enough, enough of the cat. Shall we go back?”

Hei Mu kept stroking the cat's belly. I felt helpless and had to stand up and prepare to leave the park.

"Are you jealous that I'm only paying attention to the cat and ignoring you, Ryota-kun?"

"No! It's just that a lot of things happened today and I'm a little tired... and you must be tired after track practice, right?"

"Yeah, I'm a little tired indeed."

After my persuasion, Hei Mu finally stood up.

"Goodbye, kitty."

Kuroki stroked the cat one last time reluctantly and began to walk away.

Kuroki is a special person. She is not very lively or silent at ordinary times, and always gives people a gentle and elegant feeling, but when she is with me, she will show a gentle smile. Maybe she just wants to attract my attention... but maybe not.

"The cat story you mentioned just now, you said that a special person appeared again, what's going on?"

"…Do you want to know?"

"Yeah, I'm a little curious."

Hei Mu has a problem of always stopping talking halfway through. If I don't ask clearly now, this mystery may never be solved. Hei Mu nodded and began to tell the story slowly.

"When I was in elementary school, my cat suddenly fell seriously ill, so we took it to a famous veterinarian in a neighboring town."

Oh, so she was talking about the cat that had passed away mentioned earlier.

"Thanks to the veterinarian, the cat recovered quickly and the problem was solved. But the problem was on the way back."

"On the way back?"