"So I looked up some information as a rehearsal for life."
As he said this, Hachiman took Kamuro's big cat and changed the way he held it, gently patting its chest. The cat seemed to relax all at once.
Then Hachiman lowered it into the water.
First came its four little paws. Perhaps because the water only covered its feet, the Ragdoll cat was not afraid and simply stood there.
It looked quite calm as well.
"You really are good at this sort of thing," Yukino said.
At that moment, though, it was unclear whether she meant Hachiman wanting to take care of children earlier, or taking care of the kitten now.
"I have a cat at home, after all," Hachiman said. "If you return to Chiba someday, then maybe... if you do not mind, helping bathe it would be a huge help to me."
"I see..."
"Even though you might graduate sooner than I do... if I can return to Chiba..." Yukino seemed to be tempted already.
Hachiman felt that his earlier attempt to remind Yukino to stay vigilant had been completely wasted.
He had not even taken her to see the cat yet, and she was already interested.
Still, that was also proof that she trusted him.
Just like Horikita did.
With that in mind, Hachiman began directing Yukino to help.
After all, two fists could not beat four hands. Kamuro's Ragdoll cat was huge and difficult to control, so one person needed to hold it while the other assisted.
And so.
The two worked together to apply shampoo to the cat, wash its fur, rinse it, and so on.
The entire process took over twenty minutes.
It was not over until they placed the cat in front of the warm-air dryer and waited for its fur to