Coffee

That day during break.

Kitagawa Kai was wandering alone in the hallway.

Just as he stepped out of the school building, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Kamuro Masumi.

She was carrying a freshly made coffee from Palette, hurrying along in a rush.

Kitagawa Kai greeted her casually and naturally: "Ohayou, little cat."

Kamuro's steps faltered, the coffee in her cup sloshing and nearly spilling.

"Gah? It's afternoon already, what are you saying ohayou for?"

Even so, she didn't immediately walk away.

"Good afternoon works too." Kitagawa Kai smoothly corrected himself, his gaze sweeping over the coffee in her hand. "In such a hurry—something up?"

His tone was very ordinary, carrying just the right amount of concern.

But Kamuro Masumi clearly didn't see it that way.

"None of your business?" She pouted, looking away. "More to the point, don't just loiter around the path getting in the way. You're an eyesore."

Kitagawa Kai smiled, then suddenly pointed at the coffee: "Iced Americano, no sugar, no milk."

"A way of drinking it that means either you're a true fan, or..."

"I didn't know you had a taste for coffee. Could that be for Sakayanagi?"

"I'm just passing by."

That's quite the detour.

From the school building to Palette Café, and then back to the school building.

Kitagawa Kai raised an eyebrow. "Oi oi, since when did you start running errands for Sakayanagi?"

"Did you start looking for thrills again, and she caught you?"

Kamuro Masumi's face took on a look of misery.

(눈_눈)

Full of displeasure.

"How did you know?"

"Guessed." Kitagawa Kai shrugged. "You like chasing thrills, Sakayanagi likes ordering people around."

"Practically a perfect match."

"Something like that."

"That morning, I just wanted to try and see if I could get the spare key to the office. Not really steal it—I'd have put it back after."

"But the moment I touched the doorknob, a terminal message came through."

"Scared me to death."

She pulled out her phone, tapped it a few times, and held the screen toward Kitagawa Kai.

On it was just one line:

[Kamuro-san, could you buy me a coffee?]

"You know what the craziest part is?"

"When I got the message, I looked up, and there she was standing on the opposite hallway, waving at me through the glass window, with that 'sorry for the trouble' smile on her face."

That was very Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Then you're really too pathetic."

"I can't control myself either."

Kamuro's voice was muffled. "If I don't do something, I feel all itchy, like ants crawling on me."

"Why didn't my little cat tell me?"

"What good would telling you do?" Kamuro Masumi pouted. "You'd just say something weird like last time."

So being a little cat wasn't thrilling enough anymore.

"Is that so?" Kitagawa Kai suddenly stepped half a pace forward.

The distance closed in an instant.

She could smell the faint scent of sunshine mixed with him on his clothes.

"How about I take you to try something even more thrilling?"

"Completely risk-free. Once you try it, you won't be a kid anymore~"

"Oh? So even pervert Kitagawa isn't well-behaved. You know about chasing thrills too?"

Spill it, spill it.

Kamuro's eyes flew wide, curiosity plain on her face.

The moment her words fell, Kitagawa Kai suddenly reached out and gently placed his hand on top of her head.

That hand was very warm, its palm carrying a dry heat as it ruffled her hair.

Like petting a cat.

The motion was natural, practiced, even carrying a hint of casual intimacy.

"You—" Kamuro's pretty face flushed red, her mouth opening and closing. "Wh-what are you doing?"

Kitagawa didn't speak. Instead, his fingers slid from her hair to behind her ear, lightly pinching her earlobe.

"Eep~"

Kamuro Masumi's breathing grew unsteady.

She wanted to step back.

Wanted to slap away this presumptuous hand.

But her body stood frozen, like a nail hammered into the ground.

Kitagawa Kai's hand traveled downward, his thumb gently tilting up her chin.

The motion was slow—slow enough that she could have resisted ten times over.

But she didn't.

She just stared at him with wide eyes.

Up this close, the guy was actually kind of handsome.

"I'll teach you another way to find excitement besides stealing."

The moment his words landed, his other hand slid around her waist. With a slight pull, he drew her into his embrace.

He leaned in.

His lips pressed against Kamuro's.

Kamuro Masumi's mind went completely blank.

The world dissolved into nothingness in that instant. All Kamuro could feel was the warm touch and the rich, bitter coffee taste lingering in her mouth.

Very bitter.

And yet, somehow, a little sweet.

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +1]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +1]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level -1]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +1]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level -1]

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Current Affection Level: 62 (Shy / Conscious)]

[Affection Level Reward Obtained: Shoulder Throw]

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Time lost all meaning.

Clatter

The coffee cup hit the floor, slipping from her unconsciously loosened fingers.

"Hah... hah..."

Kamuro Masumi finally found her breath again, gasping heavily.

She could feel her cheeks burning, and worse, her legs had gone weak.

Kitagawa Kai spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear. "You okay there, kitten?"

"Who said you could touch me?! Pervert! Disgusting!"

Kamuro Masumi's voice pitched higher, but if you listened closely, you could catch the thread of panic beneath it.

"You seemed pretty into it just now."

"Who was into it?!" Kamuro Masumi was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "You're just too strong—I was trying to break free! It was you... you held me too tight!"

Kitagawa Kai's thumb brushed across her cheek, his gaze locking onto her evasive eyes. "Do you really hate me that much, Masumi?"

"I..." Kamuro Masumi's throat felt like it was clogged with something.

Hate her?

As if.

He could only stiffen his neck and retort, "What else? What's gotten into you all of a sudden! Touching my head, pinching my ear, and forcing a kiss on me! How do I know you don't do this to every girl?"

"That's not true, you know~ This is my first kiss in this world."

First kiss?

Who's she trying to fool?

The way this guy teased her so effortlessly, he didn't seem like someone with no experience at all.

"Don't play innocent! Who'd believe that!" Kamuro scoffed.

Kitagawa Kai reached out, grabbed her hand, and pressed it against his left chest. "See, I'm more flustered than you. Want to listen? It's still pounding."

Beneath her palm, that heart was beating powerfully.

Kamuro's mind uncontrollably flashed back to the scene just now.

That's just cheating~

Could it be that I actually like him?

Pfft, no.

No, no.

It must be that the kiss was too sudden, plus he deliberately pressed her hand there to play pitiful.

Yeah, that's it.

"I'm going to bring Sakayanagi her coffee. Yeah, that's it!"

She suddenly lifted her chin, as if grabbing onto her last lifeline, and turned to run toward the school building.

Sakayanagi Arisu was quietly reading a book in the classroom, her expression focused and elegant.

Click.

The classroom door was shoved open violently. Kamuro Masumi rushed in, panting, with a lingering flush on her face.

"Kamuro, where's my coffee?"

Kamuro froze, her mind still not fully recovered from the chaos just now, and blurted out:

"I couldn't find the coffee shop."

???

What are you even saying.