"I hope you're not doing something suicidal," Kurumi Tokisaki said suspiciously, her expression halfway between doubt and concern.
"There's no such thing as that many coincidences in the world," Shu Ouma shrugged confidently, pretending that his luck wasn't utterly cursed.
"Thank you!" When he turned around, he found the gift already wrapped. The box was topped with a pink note that read, 'Please keep me with you forever.'
"It's fine, little brother! You're lucky—your girlfriend looks elegant and gentle, definitely a traditional, virtuous type. You've really hit the jackpot," the shop lady teased, waving her hand playfully, though her smile carried an eerie edge. Scumbags deserve divine punishment.
"Kurumi isn't my girlfriend," Shu replied, blushing slightly as he accepted the box.
"Girlfriend? Shu-kun, are you buying this for Hare Menjou then? You should. She's admired you for years, purely and devotedly. As her classmate, I think that's really admirable—you should treasure her," Kurumi said casually.
The shop lady's forehead twitched violently. So that's it? Cheating on a loyal girlfriend with your classmate? Scumbag Shu—you deserve the worst! she thought darkly.
"Heh, I agree with that," Shu said awkwardly. "But this gift isn't for Hare—it's for you, Kurumi. As an apology for yesterday." He turned and offered her the box.
"Why are you giving me a gift?" Kurumi asked, frowning slightly. "You know girls don't like two-timing guys, right? If Hare finds out, she'll be hurt."
"You're misunderstanding me. It's really just an apology for yesterday. Friends exchange gifts sometimes, right? It's totally normal," Shu said quickly, his voice betraying a hint of guilt. If Hare hadn't given her reluctant permission, he never would've dared.
"Pfft. Flirtatious and deceitful—tricking innocent girls with that fake sincerity," the shop lady muttered under her breath, her creepy smile deepening as she mentally stamped 'pervert' all over Shu's reputation.
"Oh? I didn't know friends could give each other gifts," Kurumi said softly, her eyes narrowing. She glanced again at the smiling, suspicious shop lady, taking a quiet breath to steady herself. Better be ready in case something goes wrong, she thought.
"It's wrapped so mysteriously. You picked it out yourself, didn't you?" Kurumi asked casually, deliberately setting the trap.
"Yeah, I chose it. It's really cute," Shu said proudly, nodding with a smile. The cat charm had seemed adorable at the time.
"That's right, admit it—you picked it yourself!" The shop lady's smile twisted into something almost demonic, barely containing her inner mischief. Kurumi, though suspicious, maintained her composure as she untied the ribbon and opened the box.
Buzz... A strange vibrating sound came from inside. Kurumi froze, staring blankly at the object.
"Shu Ouma... you can go to hell." Her furious voice exploded, making Shu's mind go blank. Kurumi's crimson eyes filled with tears as she hurled the gift box straight at him in rage. What should have been a surprise turned into pure horror—Kurumi was genuinely traumatized.
Smack! The box hit Shu squarely in the forehead, scattering its contents across the ground. His mind reeled.
What the hell... how did it turn out to be THAT?!
"Kurumi, I can explain!" Shu stammered, grabbing her hand in panic.
"Don't touch me!" Kurumi yanked her hand back violently, glaring at him with pure disgust before slapping him hard across the face.
"Pervert! Degenerate! Beast! Hentai—Smack!" The last sound was another sharp slap. Shu stood there, dazed and stunned, as Kurumi ran off with tears in her eyes.
"Oh dear, my mistake! That one was meant for me!" The shop lady suddenly pulled out an identical box, opened it in front of him, and held up the actual cat charm with an apologetic smile.
"You—!" Shu pointed at her, his face full of despair. What did I do to deserve this?
"What about me? You, sir—the pervert, degenerate, beast, and Hentai who just got slapped by a crying girl?" The shop lady looked down at him with open disdain, as though she were addressing a cockroach.
"When did I ever offend you?" Shu sighed. It was impossible for him to feel anger anymore—just an overwhelming sense of helpless exhaustion.
"You didn't offend me," the shop lady said coldly, her tone turning sharp. "But you are everyone's enemy, Shu Ouma. You'd better behave yourself and stop toying with innocent girls. Otherwise, every time I see you—I'll make you pay." Her expression twisted into something fierce and dangerous. I was ruling the streets when you were still playing in the mud, kid.
"Are you sure there isn't some kind of misunderstanding here?" Shu asked helplessly.
"Ha! That innocent face of yours—how many girls have you fooled with it? You think that act works on me? Get lost before I make sure you can't reproduce," she snapped, her aura radiating pure menace. Shu could only scratch his head and sigh, turning to leave. Without negative emotions, even wanting to be angry or impulsive was impossible for him.
...
"Tsugumi! Get out here!" Kurumi's furious voice echoed through the house. She was still seething, her wine-red eyes blazing with anger.
"Angel-sama..." The cat-eared girl crept forward nervously, holding a small black kitten in her arms. "Look, I found a stray cat—it's really cute!" she said, eyes sparkling in a desperate attempt to look adorable and avoid punishment.
"It's filthy. You didn't bathe it, disinfect it, or vaccinate it. Don't you dare bring that thing anywhere near me." Kurumi pinched the kitten by the scruff of its neck and tossed it to the floor. Her crimson eyes remained cold and sharp as they locked onto Tsugumi.
"Uh... Angel-sama, didn't you say you like cats?" Tsugumi asked weakly, stepping back under Kurumi's piercing gaze. Oh no... did I just make things worse?
"You really thought I like cats? That was just to go along with your ridiculous plan—to trick Shu Ouma for fun," Kurumi said with a smirk, amusement flickering behind her anger.
"Eh?! You knew?!" Tsugumi froze, eyes wide.
"Of course I knew. Origami is my clone. Even if she acts differently, everything she sees and hears is transmitted directly to me." Kurumi placed a firm hand on Tsugumi's head and began to ruffle her hair mercilessly. "You had so much fun scheming, didn't even bother telling me. How rude."
"But I still don't believe you really dislike cats," Tsugumi protested, her hair now a tangled mess.
"Don't change the subject. Do you have any idea how far you went? You actually made that disgusting thing into my 'gift'!" Kurumi growled, her crimson eyes flaring with fury as she grabbed Tsugumi's cheeks and pulled hard. "Too much! Way too much! Absolutely revolting!"
"I'm sorry, Angel-sama! We only meant to spread rumors about that scumbag Shu, I didn't know that shop lady would pull out that filthy thing! I'm sorry!" Tsugumi pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.
Scrrratch... A grating sound echoed suddenly. The little black cat was busy sharpening its claws on the metal legs of the glass table, while Yoshino crouched beside it, watching curiously.
"See? That's why I don't like cats," Kurumi sighed, massaging her temples. "They only leave their claw marks everywhere—except on scratching posts. And once they start, they never stop." In her mind, cats were synonymous with trouble.
"Uuuh... Yoshinon!" Yoshino suddenly cried. Kurumi looked up—just in time to see the black kitten running around the room, dragging the Yoshinon puppet in its mouth, with Yoshino chasing after it, tears streaming down her face.
"See? It's already causing chaos." Kurumi groaned. Just then, the kitten dropped Yoshinon and trotted over to her, rubbing affectionately against her legs and circling her feet while meowing softly.
"Look! It likes you, Angel-sama!" Tsugumi said excitedly. But Kurumi only stared silently, her crimson eyes fixed on the kitten.
"Meow!" The kitten tilted its head adorably, resting its front paws on Kurumi's leg before extending its claws—scrrratch!
The sheer pantyhose ripped open.
"Wha—! What are you doing, you stupid cat?!" Tsugumi cried out in horror. That cat's got a death wish! she thought.
"And that," Kurumi said calmly, lifting her leg and flicking the kitten away with perfect composure, "is why I hate cats."
The kitten spun in midair and landed gracefully on its feet, completely unharmed.
"A cat's sense of balance is one of the best in the entire animal kingdom. Even if it falls from the third floor, it can still land safely," Kotori Itsuka explained casually, though her tone lacked enthusiasm. The other Spirits didn't seem interested in the kitten either.
"Meow!" the kitten cried happily, running clumsily back to Kurumi's feet. It bit into the torn edge of her pantyhose and tugged on it with all its strength.
Tsugumi froze in shock. This cat really has no sense of self-preservation...
At that moment, Kurumi silently produced a pair of scissors from seemingly nowhere and crouched in front of the kitten.
"Angel-sama! The kitten was naughty, sure, but that's not a crime worthy of death!" Tsugumi pleaded, eyes wide with panic. She really loved cats.
"What are you so worried about? I'm only cutting its whiskers," Kurumi said calmly. She held the kitten by the chin as the scissors snipped through the long whiskers on either side of its mouth.
"Let's see how much trouble you can cause now." Kurumi lifted the kitten by the scruff and casually tossed it into the air.
This time, the kitten did not land gracefully. Instead, it hit the floor with a thud.
"Meow!" The pitiful cry echoed as the kitten struggled to stand—but its legs wobbled, and it toppled over again. It tried several times, each attempt ending with another unsteady fall and another plaintive mewl.
"Angel-sama, did you cast some kind of spell on it? Why can't it stand up anymore?" Tsugumi asked worriedly, clutching the poor kitten in her arms. It looked so helpless.
"What spell? None. Cats rely entirely on their whiskers for balance. Cut them off, and they lose their sense of orientation. It can't stand properly now," Kurumi explained, her crimson eyes narrowing as a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. Finally, her anger had subsided.
"Angel-sama... it won't stay like this forever, right?" Tsugumi asked, holding the kitten protectively, her heart aching.
"Of course not. I've done this before—give it three to five weeks, and it'll recover," Kurumi said cheerfully. Her wine-red eyes glimmered with satisfaction as she tucked the scissors back into Zafkiel.