Capturing the Kitten

"You just need to follow my orders and enjoy the thrill I give you. Got it?"

Kamuro Masumi's brain raced at full speed.

Being caught with a weakness meant losing freedom. But accepting this proposal... seemed kind of interesting?

At least it was better than being expelled, and this man's methods and abilities clearly far exceeded her imagination.

Following him might let her see even more thrilling sights?

More importantly, this guy was pretty handsome! Short, neat hair, sharp eyes, and that calm, unhurried aura in every move he made.

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +20, current Affection Level 20 (Curiosity/Confusion)]

[Note: Target is in a wavering state, torn between fear of the unknown and excitement for thrills]

"Hmph..." She turned her head away, stubbornly refusing to agree right away. "Sounds boring. For all I know, you're just tricking me."

"You'll find out later." Kitagawa Kai didn't waste more words. Right in front of her, he directly deleted the video footage of her theft.

Kamuro Masumi fell completely silent.

Her heart was locked in a fierce internal battle. That flame chasing thrills was now being stirred by a more complex, more dangerous emotion.

After a long pause, she squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth—more a resolution to herself than a reply.

"...I'll... think about it."

"A wise choice." Kitagawa Kai's smile deepened. Naturally, he took the can of beer—the "evidence of guilt"—from her pocket.

His movements were smooth and unashamed, as if he weren't taking something from a girl's skirt but pulling it from his own bag.

"Hey hey hey, you pervert, what are you doing?!" Kamuro Masumi leaped back like a cat whose territory had been invaded, her cheeks flushing bright red in an instant.

Kitagawa Kai casually opened the beer, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

"So, to celebrate our initial agreement, want a sip?"

Celebrate? Who'd celebrate something this absurd with you!

Kamuro Masumi jerked her head away as if bitten by a venomous snake.

"Don't be so resistant."

Kitagawa Kai's tone carried a hint of mockery. "Don't forget, you put this beer in your pocket to chase 'thrills.' Now's your chance. If you don't drink it, won't all your effort go to waste?"

"Minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol!!!" Her eyes lit up instantly, her voice rising a few pitches.

"So what?"

There are no minors in Tomato.

He refuted lightly, shaking the can in front of her. "I'm helping you destroy the evidence here. Or are you too scared to drink?"

That was checkmate.

"Drink then, who's afraid of who." Kamuro Masumi, as if her tail had been stepped on, snatched the beer can, tilted her head back, and gulped down more than half.

She slammed the can heavily onto a nearby stone bench, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and glared at him defiantly. "Happy now, you pervert?"

"Very happy." Kitagawa Kai smiled from the heart. "Welcome aboard, my first 'kitten.'"

"Then please add me as a contact, Kamuro."

"I'll find you when something comes up~"

He took his terminal from his pocket, the screen lighting up to show his personal QR code.

Kamuro Masumi hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly pulled out her own terminal, unlocked it, opened the scan function, and let out a "beep" as she scanned his code.

[Friend request sent]

[Note: Class B - Kitagawa Kai]

After Kitagawa Kai accepted the request, he casually saved her profile picture—a purple cartoon cat with a haughty gaze.

"Alright, remember what you said, kitten."

He gave her one last look, then turned to leave, leaving Kamuro Masumi with a cool, retreating silhouette.

On the tree-lined path, only Kamuro Masumi remained, her heart pounding wildly.

The heat of alcohol lingered in her mouth, her pocket was empty, but her heart was filled with an unprecedented thrill.

She looked down at her own hand, then at the half-drunk beer can, which seemed to still bear the lip prints of two people.

"See it through to the end, huh..."

Her mind uncontrollably began to replay the scene.

She crept in...

She stole the beer...

She was caught...

He opened the beer...

He took a big gulp...

Then...

Then she snatched it away and chugged it down...

Wait, indirect... kiss?!

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +5, current Affection Level 25 (Confused)]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +10, current Affection Level 35 (Shy)]

[Note: Outwardly resistant, inwardly curious]

The cold chime echoed in Kitagawa Kai's mind.

Sorting through the current progress of his conquest, the smile at the corner of his mouth grew deeper.

[Personal Info]

[Name: Kitagawa Kai]

[Stamina: 7 (Energetic, strong endurance)]

[Intelligence: 6 (Above average)]

[Charm: 8 (Eye-catching)]

[Items: Universal Video Recorder]

[Abilities: Affinity, Master-Level Chess Skill, Narrator]

[Beautiful Girl Encyclopedia]

[Conquestable Characters: Yamamura Miki]

[Yamamura Miki (40/Close Friend)]

[Sakayanagi Arisu (30/Rival)]

[Ichinose Honami (30/Friend)]

[Kamuro Masumi (35/Controlled/Curious)]

'Not a bad haul,' he muttered to himself.

That evening.

Inside Room 308, the boys' dormitory.

Kitagawa Kai had just returned from a run on the track field and was wiping the thin sweat from his forehead with a towel.

The change brought by Stamina +1 was becoming more and more apparent; he could feel the resilience in his muscles.

Now, with "7" points of Stamina, he had transformed from an ordinary student into a "specialized individual" with a clear advantage.

"I need to get to know more beautiful girls quickly," Kitagawa Kai said, draping the towel over his shoulder, his gaze drifting out the window to the brightly lit campus.

For now, Yamamura Miki and Ichinose Honami's Affection Levels were fairly stable, but hard to raise.

Kamuro Masumi had just been stirred up; she'd need some time to process.

So, it's decided then—Sakayanagi Arisu.

[Beep!]

His phone vibrated, the screen lit up, showing a new message.

Sender: Kamuro Masumi.

Kitagawa Kai's eyebrow lifted slightly, the curve of his mouth deepening instantly.

Kamuro Masumi: You pervert! Don't get cocky! Don't think I'll listen to you!

Kitagawa Kai: Or what? Was I joking?

Kamuro Masumi: Who wants to be your little cat?! You hopeless hentai! Get lost!

She thought Kitagawa Kai would immediately reply with something even more infuriating, like before.

But... a minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Five minutes passed.

Kitagawa Kai read it and didn't reply.

Kamuro Masumi's smile froze on her face.

What's going on?

"Why aren't you replying to me?!!"

Kitagawa Kai: You getting worked up?

"Who's panicking?! Who said I'm panicking?!" She practically roared as she typed those two sentences.

Damn it, she'd been played again.

Kamuro Masumi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, the flush on her face refusing to fade for a long time.

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +5, current Affection Level 40 (Confused/Care)]