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Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine—
Stretched out on a tatami mat where the evening sunlight could reach, Kuroka, still in her black cat form, let out a lazy yawn.
"Life's way too easy..."
As a pampered pet who didn't have to work, Kuroka couldn't help sighing contentedly.
Sometimes she even considered staying in this mindset forever.
No responsibilities. No worries. A mighty Governor who took care of her.
The freedom to throw her weight around in front of the leaders of all factions thanks to her status as Ryo's pet.
And whenever she got restless, she could always drag Ryo off somewhere and work off some steam.
In some ways, Kuroka felt she had it better than ordinary house cats.
At least humans usually had their pets neutered. She didn't have that problem. All she had to do was have kittens with Ryo.
"At this rate, I'm going to turn completely useless."
After several days of living in total comfort, Kuroka felt her wild instincts slowly fading away.
Once upon a time, she'd been one of the rising stars among the yokai, a prodigy who stood on the verge of becoming a Great Yokai.
Now? She was starting to suspect she'd forgotten how to fight altogether.
"And it hasn't even been a month yet..."
While she was muttering to herself, her body suddenly became lighter. The floor seemed to drop away beneath her.
Blinking in confusion, she realized she'd been picked up.
Then a familiar voice sounded beside her ear, "Have you put on weight recently?"
Ryo held her up under her front legs and gave her a gentle shake. "Looks like you've gained about a pound. Yep, definitely getting chubby."
"I used magic to make the extra weight go where it should," Kuroka replied guiltily.
Then she hurriedly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, you're finally done with work?"
"Not really." Ryo pulled the black cat into his arms and stroked her back as he spoke. "I just came back to Kyoto to find someone and take care of a few things. Want to come along?"
"Meow~ Is that so?"
The petting felt so good that Kuroka nearly purred.
Licking her paw, she lazily replied, "Sure, why not?"
She sounded completely relaxed, without the slightest hint of caution.
"Your choice. Don't blame me later."
"And why would I blame you?" Kuroka said lazily while licking the corner of her mouth. "I feel sorry for you if anything."
"Oh? Is that so? Good." Ryo grinned and gave her back another affectionate rub before carrying her out of the room.
A few minutes later, they arrived outside one of the shrine's inner chambers.
Stopping before the guards, Ryo asked, "Has Rias arrived yet?"
Rias?
Kuroka's heart skipped a beat.
A terrible premonition suddenly washed over her.
The guard, a Karasu Tengu, immediately replied, "Yes, Ryo-sama. Lady Rias and her peerage have already arrived. We're only waiting for Mr Ajuka to bring Valerie Tepes."
"Then notify Ajuka and tell him to hurry up with Valerie."
"Understood."
After giving the order, Ryo had the door opened and walked inside.
"Wait, Ryo. The Rias you're talking about couldn't possibly be..." Before Kuroka could finish, she was already being carried into the room.
The first thing she saw was Rias and Akeno.
Then the rest of Rias's peerage. Including her younger sister— Koneko Toujou.
The instant the door opened, every eye in the room turned toward Ryo.
Well, almost every eye.
Rias and Akeno were looking at Ryo. Koneko was staring directly at the black cat in his arms.
For a moment, the room fell completely silent.
A human-shaped younger sister. A cat-shaped older sister.
Their eyes met.
And Kuroka suddenly wanted to die.
Help. How do you explain being caught in a man's arms by your little sister?
"...Sister?"
Koneko's voice was filled with uncertainty.
She clearly couldn't reconcile the image before her with the ruthless, terrifying Kuroka she remembered.
Kuroka froze. Then she opened her mouth.
"Meow~?"
Perfect. She would play dumb.
Just a normal black cat.
There was no way Koneko could guess she could freely switch between a true cat form and a humanoid one.
"...Not her?"
Koneko hesitated.
Honestly, she was almost fooled.
The cat's eyes felt familiar. Its scent was familiar too. So this cat really resembled Kuroka.
"Meow~"
Kuroka lazily rubbed against Ryo's chest and nearly laughed.
'My foolish little sister. You actually fell for it.'
'You're way too easy to trick.'
"Ah, Governor, you've arrived." Akeno greeted him with her usual bright smile.
Then she glanced down at Kuroka, "Good evening, Kuroka. Back to being a cat and clinging to the Governor again, I see?"
Beside her, Rias snorted. "That's exactly what she's like. The moment she can turn into a cat, she shamelessly sticks herself to men."
Kuroka's smug satisfaction burst like a balloon.
Right. She'd forgotten. Akeno had seen her in this form before. And she'd shamelessly clung to Ryo in front of her.
She'd also forgotten how many times she'd swaggered into Ryo's room in the middle of the night while Rias watched.
Now karma had finally come to collect.
"...Sister."
Koneko's tone was flat. But certain.
Her eyes locked onto Kuroka with frightening intensity. She looked seconds away from throwing a punch.
"So," Ryo said while stroking Kuroka's back, "are you still wondering why I told you not to blame me?"
"...You set me up."
Kuroka's cat face practically collapsed.
He'd deliberately neglected to mention that they were meeting Rias's peerage.
He'd brought her in while she was still in cat form. In front of Koneko.
The dignity she'd spent years building as an older sister had just ascended straight to heaven.
Gone. Completely gone.
"Why is Sister here?" Koneko glanced between Kuroka and Ryo. "And why is she being carried around like that by the Governor?"
As she spoke, memories of Kuroka's extensive criminal record resurfaced.
Koneko's expression darkened immediately, "Don't tell me you're an assassin sent by another faction?"
Kuroka sighed. Leaping out of Ryo's arms, she transformed in midair.
A moment later, a beautiful black-haired girl with cat ears appeared.
Dressed in a revealing black kimono, she landed lightly on her feet.
"Why am I here?"
Kuroka grinned, "It's simple, nya~"
She wrapped both arms around Ryo's and leaned comfortably against him right in front of Koneko.
Then she smiled sweetly, "Isn't it perfectly normal for the Governor's woman to be standing beside him?"
Koneko froze. Her eyes widened.
The look on her face was priceless.
Kuroka's grin turned positively wicked.
"Come on, Koneko." She leaned further into Ryo's shoulder. "Say hello to your brother-in-law, nya~"
.
.
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