For Totsuka's tennis match—she must have meant that.
Back then, I really had gone all out for Totsuka. It couldn't be helped; he was just so cute. I remembered how Totsuka's trembling body had looked like a Chihuahua, so maybe that meant I liked dogs.
More accurately, I liked Totsuka. Was that liking him a little too much?
What a headache... I scratched my head, then felt Yukino pushing my shoulder.
"Could you hurry up and move forward?"
"Ah, okay."
Urged on by her, I passed through the shabby gate labeled "Woof Woof Zone."
This corner was packed with cages, on a scale comparable to two or three pet stores gathered together.
There were especially many visitors here. Puppies really were popular.
Chihuahuas, miniature dachshunds, Mameshiba, corgis... Besides these popular small breeds, there were also familiar ones like Labradors, golden retrievers, beagles, and bulldogs.
The dogs on display were all fine breeds raised by breeders, each with an impressive pedigree: competition champions, convention nominees, winners at the World Food Quality Evaluation, Good Design... It was all clearly displayed.
After entering the puppy exhibition area, Yukino stopped speaking. She was so quiet that I wondered if she had stopped breathing.
When everyone around you was lively and only one person stayed silent, they stood out all the more. No, it was more that the surroundings were simply too noisy—especially that woman who kept snapping pictures and yelling nonstop.
...Wait, that looked like Hiratsuka-sensei. I'd better pretend I hadn't seen her. Sensei, it's a rare day off, so could you please go on a date or something...
Anyway, the cat exhibition area was just beyond here. As I was about to pick up the pace, Yukino let out a soft "Ah."
We had found a corner called the "Trimming Area."
"Hm? They