Bab 24: 024: A Cat Allergic to Perverts
Just as Misaki was about to step into the shop, she suddenly spun around, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.
"Why on earth did you tell her you live around here?" she snapped.
Caught off guard, Kaito shrugged, avoiding her eyes. "I don't know!"
He hesitated, then muttered quietly, almost as if convincing himself, "She probably just asked out of politeness. I'm sure she's forgotten by now."
Misaki frowned but let out a reluctant sigh. "I hope you're right," she muttered before heading inside.
They wandered through the aisles, browsing pet supplies. Misaki picked up a few items, inspecting them carefully.
In the end, both of Kaito's hands were full of bags filled with cat supplies and food. His face was downcast, almost like he'd just heard bad news about someone he knew.
"I'm almost scared to ask, but… you bought all this with the money you took from me, didn't you?"
"Well done, genius!" Misaki replied with a bright grin. "I paid for these with stupidity tax."
"What tax?"
"Stupidity. It's the price you pay for your stupidity. Forgot? You'll get fined for every mistake you make."
Kaito shot her a look of mild dislike, clearly unsure if falling in love with her was a good idea.
Misaki continued, "But this time you were lucky. I mean, we spent it on your cat after all."
"What difference does it make? I just spent all of it on this... cat."
"Not cat, Lucky!"
"Whatever its name is!"
It wasn't clear if she was happy because she adopted the cat or because she'd gotten a little revenge on Kaito, but she was definitely in a good mood as they went back home.
Kaito dropped the things he was carrying as soon as he walked through the door, sighing, "I'm even doing delivery on my day off."
Tired and down about losing all his money, Kaito collapsed on the couch. Meanwhile, Misaki, full of energy, gently placed the sleeping cat on the rug and spread out the bags.
Excitedly, she filled the litter box, adjusted its position, and carefully mixed the medicine the vet had given her into the cat's food, checking twice to make sure she got it right.
When she finished, she realized she was hungry too. It was her turn to do the chores this week, and without hesitation, she washed her hands and went to the kitchen.
After putting on her apron, she called out to Kaito, who was about to fall asleep from exhaustion.
"I'll make Omurice, want some?"
"Uh-huh, yeah." he mumbled.
Then, in a tone that wasn't very confident, he asked, "If you want, I could help?"
Without even turning around, Misaki smirked and muttered, "What do you know about home cooking?"
She was right—ever since moving in, Kaito had always been seen eating ready-made meals. In fact, Misaki was sure he would've lived that way forever if she hadn't come along.
"I used to help my mom when I was little," Kaito murmured.
Then, a bit embarrassed, he added, "If you don't want me to, it's fine. At least I know how to make Omurice."
Misaki turned to him, eyeing him carefully, then, in a tone that didn't sound too enthusiastic, said, "Okay."
She was tired from a long day and thought a little help wouldn't hurt. Kaito jumped up eagerly, "I'll wash my hands, I'm coming!"
When he returned, Misaki had already done most of the prep work. She was lightly heating the pan while whisking eggs like a chief.
Kaito grabbed the onion and started chopping, but his uneven cuts didn't escape Misaki's sharp eyes.
"Chop them a little more smaller!" she instructed without missing a beat.
Struggling to keep up with her demand, Kaito muttered under his breath, "Are all women like this? My mom was always saying, 'Smaller, Kaito, smaller!' too..."
"So, you started complaining right away. If it's too much for you, just step aside and let me handle it."
"No, no, you've got it wrong! I'm just wondering... how much smaller can they even get?" he stammered defensively.
Misaki sighed, took the knife from Kaito, and gently nudged him aside with her shoulder.
Without a word, she expertly diced the slightly-too-large onion pieces Kaito had already cut, her knife moving with precision and speed. When she finished, she cast him a smug look.
"Like this," she said, as if demonstrating a basic life skill.
Kaito watched her work with a mix of awe and mild jealousy, thinking, "How is she so good at everything?"
While he was caught up in his conflicting emotions, he suddenly felt something brush against his foot.
Looking down, he saw Lucky the cat rubbing against him, clearly lured out of sleep by the smell of cooking eggs.
When he bent down to pick him up, Lucky let out a low growl. "This cat really doesn't like me," he muttered, his face dropping.
"Maybe it's allergic to perverts," Misaki teased.
Her voice dripped with mockery, and though Kaito couldn't see her face, she was grinning slyly as she said it.
He shot her a tense glance but remained silent as Misaki calmly picked up the cat and cradled it in her arms.
Then, Kaito muttered defensively, "I mean, I already know I told a dumb lie, but it was the first thing that came to mind. And hey, animal allergies are real..."
"Alright, alright, I didn't say anything," Misaki replied, carefully placing the egg over the rice.
When she finished, she took the ketchup from the fridge and held it up to Kaito, silently asking if he wanted any. He nodded.
For Lucky, she prepared a small plate with a bit of egg and cat food before the three of them sat down to eat.
Without waiting for his food to cool, Kaito stuffed a big bite into his mouth, immediately burning his tongue.
Eyes watering, he mumbled through a mouthful, "Mmm, this is amazing."
Misaki chuckled at his foolish expression. "Take it slow, dummy."
Just when Kaito saw Misaki smile, his eyes lit up with a noticeable sparkle. In that moment, his gaze fixed on her, and for a few seconds, neither of them spoke. They just looked at each other.
Eventually, Misaki, feeling self-conscious, turned her eyes away and, in an attempt to break the awkward silence, asked a casual question, pretending not to care too much.
"You mentioned your mom... I just wonder, what's she up to? I've never seen you talk to her."
"Oh, right. She's doing well, keeping busy with the farm work. We talk on the phone, but since they go to bed early, it's usually in the mornings. She's probably asleep by now."
Misaki nodded while eating, but her face darkened slightly as thoughts of her family crossed her mind. Kaito noticed and kept the conversation going.
"But… I'm still not on good terms with my dad," Kaito admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I told you, right? He wanted me to take over the farm, but when I left without saying any word, he got so mad we haven't spoken in over a year."
Misaki looked up at Kaito, her expression a mix of curiosity and sympathy. Thinking about her own issues with her father, she realized they weren't so different after all.
That evening, as they shared a meal, both Kaito and Misaki unknowingly felt a sense of family.
Yet, neither at the table nor afterward did they ever mention it. It was just a fleeting moment, like a dream, where both felt a rare kind of happiness.
While Misaki washed the dishes, Kaito kept watching her—not in a creepy way, but with genuine warmth and affection in his eyes.
The kitten, constantly brushing against Misaki's feet, filled her heart with a soft joy. She found herself thinking about finishing the dishes quickly so she could scoop the little cat into her arms.
After finishing the dishes, Misaki picked up the cat and eagerly headed to her room, ready to cuddle it.
Suddenly, she stopped and turned to Kaito, who was about to lie down on the couch to sleep.
"Uh... would it be okay if Lucky stayed with me tonight?" she asked.
At first, Kaito was puzzled why she even asked. Misaki might see Lucky as his cat, but Kaito never felt much of a bond, especially since he preferred letting it roam free.
"Huh? Sure," he said, still puzzled.
As Misaki carried the sleepy cat into her room, Kaito, already lying down, glanced at them and chuckled.
"Honestly, it looks more like your cat than mine," he said. Misaki smiled, went inside, and shut the door.
Once alone, she let her guard down. Lying on her bed, she held Lucky up in her arms and began talking to it.
"Oh my, you're so cute! I could just eat you up," she cooed.
Kaito could faintly hear her playful words from his spot. Smiling to himself, he drifted off to sleep.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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