by misacchi
Before the competition, he and Calevik had heard their classmates making sexually harassing remarks about Rudin together. And Leon had told Calevik about Rudin being bullied by Mikhail and Cresus, who had pushed him into the water.
Immediately after that, he had tentatively suggested a competition, expecting to be rejected, but surprisingly, Calevik had accepted and even put his heart and soul into the competition. There was no need for him to do so, and he hadn't bet anything on it.
It might be an overestimation, but if that small Pussycat had stirred up Calevik's dark and gloomy depths…
"Haha… That would be really interesting…"
Leon muttered to himself, a sparkling light in his golden eyes.
***
"Is everyone making smooth progress on their team projects?"
Professor Kwangbeom widened his beady eyes and scanned the classroom. Everyone was busy lowering or turning their heads to avoid his gaze, so it seemed things weren't going smoothly at all.
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"It seems like it's not going so well. I'll tell you all a way to get special bonus points. That is…"
At the mention of bonus points, everyone's attention refocused on Kwangbeom. Rudin, sitting in a corner seat by the window, perked up his cat ears and sparkled his clear amber eyes. As the one with the most uncooperative teammate in this class, even a tiny bonus point was crucial.
"It's about presenting a self-made menswear outfit on a human model. Any questions?"
As soon as Kwangbeom finished speaking, students raised their hands here and there. Bertha, a Jaguarcat female student who got the floor first, asked,
"Does the model have to be selected from the team members?"
"No. That would disadvantage teams composed only of female students. The model can be anyone. You can even bring your grandfather from home."
The students laughed at Kwangbeom's words. Soon, other students' questions and the professor's answers followed in succession.
"Can we ask someone from another team to be the model?"
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"That's possible. Though I doubt they'll walk properly, given the competition."
"Can't a woman model men's clothes? I'm 178cm tall."
"It's not impossible, but you have to keep in mind that women and men have different basic body shapes, so you have to consider whether you can bring out the feel of the clothes well. Unless it's a genderless design, you must not forget that this assignment is, after all, 'menswear design.'"
"Can we make clothes for fat or short men, considering practicality and universality?"
"You can, but for your mental health, it's best to start by abandoning the expectation that those clothes will look better than those of other teams."
After the barrage of questions was somewhat over, Kwangbeom displayed data screens on the electronic whiteboard for the students to see.
"The videos I'm about to show are a collection of failure cases from past graduates' project presentations."
Expectation lingered in the students' eyes. Of course, there were many surprisingly well-made works, but to prevent plagiarism, the excellent examples would be revealed after all the project presentations were over.
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"Keep in mind that if you don't make clothes with sufficient consideration for the fact that the human body is three-dimensional and moves from moment to moment, you will meet this kind of end. Now, enjoy the 'mothers of success' to your heart's content."
The video played. The clothes whose buttock seam of the pants burst as soon as the model turned and took a vigorous step, the clothes that made the model's movements look unnatural as if they were wearing stiff plastic, the clothes where the model was buried and looked like a yeti because the fur decoration was too excessive, and the clothes that were torn at once by being stepped on by the shoes due to the model's clumsy walking followed one after another. It was a video that would gain great popularity if made into shorts and uploaded to CatTube.
Everyone burst into laughter, but the students' hearts were by no means light. Some of them would surely provide Kwangbeom with delicious prey, and that would surely become teaching material for future students. A sense of burden weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
However, Rudin Greenwood was an exception.
For the youngest son of a laundry shop who grabbed a mini sewing kit and a wrist cushion for pin cushions in both hands at his first birthday, and mastered the thread-threading sequence of an industrial sewing machine that even adults found difficult to learn at the age of five, making clothes was not difficult at all.
Besides, he already had the perfect model in his head, one that fashion designers from all over the world would want as their muse. It was neither a protagonist in a 2D animation that could never be three-dimensionalized, nor an idol member with whom you could barely shake hands after buying about a hundred of the same albums.
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'That man,' Rudin's only teammate, was sitting in the back of the lecture hall, dozing off in the warm afternoon spring sunshine.
Today, his outfit was a tattered grunge look that looked like it had just been picked up from the junkyard. The color scheme based on dark gray and khaki was extremely drab. In a lecture hall full of students wearing pastel-toned, refreshing clothes to welcome spring, he was the only one who seemed to have been hit head-on by winter, looking gloomy.
But Rudin knew very well.
That when Calevik Roshaff Alstadt was styled properly with intention, it would be hard to find someone more radiant than him in this place, no, even in this entire country.
"No."
As expected, Calevik's answer did not deviate even an inch from Rudin's expectations. It was the answer that came out without a second's hesitation as soon as he briefly explained the 'special bonus points' that Professor Kwangbeom had mentioned while he was dozing off, and asked him to be the model.
"I'll do everything from planning to design to production. You just have to wear the clothes and walk for a bit on the day of the presentation."
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Calevik, with his usual bad-tempered face, frowned unpleasantly. Rudin, who had followed him out of the lecture hall, asked again, walking as if running.
"Do you hate it that much?"
Calevik suddenly stopped walking and looked down at Rudin with sharp eyes.
"What about you?"
Rudin, who had stopped as well, widened his eyes and perked up his cat ears.
"Huh? What about me?"
"How would you like it if I made just any clothes and told you to wear them and walk in front of people?"
Rudin, lowering his cat ears hesitantly, blinked carefully.
"Um… are you worried that I might make 'just any clothes'? Did you actually want to design and make the clothes yourself?"
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Calevik made a deflating sound as if that could never be. Rudin, who was even more unable to understand his intentions, was just frustrated.
Why is this human's way of speaking so messed up? He wanted to honestly say that even if he made it haphazardly, it would be a hundred times better than the clothes he usually wear, but it was a pity that he couldn't bring himself to do so.
"If that's not it, do you hate wearing clothes and standing in front of people?"
Calevik's eyebrows twitched at Rudin's next question. He looked like a child who was full of complaints but didn't know how to express them properly.
Recalling that he was three years younger than himself, even though he was huge, Rudin soothed Calevik in the most gentle voice possible.
"I can really make it pretty. I'll definitely decide on a design that you like. If you like the 'unique style' that you usually wear, you can choose that kind of design. So, can you just wear it once on the day of the presentation?"
Calevik's brow furrowed. Rudin, suddenly frightened, took a step back in instinctive fear.
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Even in the midst of all this, Rudin's mind was spinning non-stop. Why does he hate it? What point bothered his nerves? I have to figure it out and soothe his heart. That's the only way to finish the team project safely and get good grades to maintain the scholarship benefits.
"Um, do you hate it because I keep bothering you? If the team project is over safely, I'll never be seen in your eyes again. I won't act like I know you, I won't talk to you, and I won't send you messages. I promise…"
Rudin felt somehow miserable as he recited the answers he had worked so hard to come up with.
No matter how he thought about it, it was just his existence itself that annoyed Calevik. Just like Mikhail and Cresus, Calevik was clearly feeling unpleasant about the lowest superior species Pussycat constantly hanging around and talking to him as if they were on the same team. If that wasn't the case, there was no explanation for why he only made angry expressions no matter what he said.
After a while, a light sigh, which sounded like annoyance or resignation, was heard.
"What exactly do you want?"
Rudin, who had been drooping his head and feeling depressed, lifted his chin at the words coming from the top of his head. Calevik was looking away as if he had never said such a thing. Rudin quickly replied, afraid that his mind would change.
"L-Let me measure your body size! And I'll show you the design of the clothes I'm going to make, so tell me if you like it! It would be nice to go buy the fabric together, but if it's a hassle, I can send you pictures. If you don't even want to see the pictures, just leave it to me. I'll definitely make the most wonderful clothes that suit you…!"
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Calevik indifferently looked down at Rudin, who was spewing out words without taking a breath, his big eyes shining. He could see that even his tail was standing up straight with anticipation.
He was burdened by humans like Kwangbeom and Rudin who had eyes burning with pure enthusiasm. Being next to such people might make his already pathetic life feel even more like trash.
"Where are you going to measure the size?"
It sounded like he was picking a fight, but it could be that he was just speaking brusquely because he was unfamiliar with this kind of situation. Rudin decided to somehow cater to his whims.
"Anywhere that can just stand is fine. An empty lecture hall is fine too…"
"No."
"Then the reference room…"
"No."
"Or even a study room…"
"I don't like places with people."
What the heck am I supposed to do? I really want to punch him. It didn't seem like such a big guy would feel pain even if Rudin punched him, but I felt like he had to scratch or pinch him to inflict even a very slight blow to relieve his anger.
But he couldn't spoil the broth. Rudin barely calmed his simmering insides. As a result, his ears were slightly flattened back, but he himself was unaware of it. Calevik stared intently at the ears that now looked almost like dumplings.
"Then, would you like to come to my house? I live alone, so there's no one at home."
Rudin muttered in an insecure voice. Of course, he would say no. Wasn't it just that he did't want to measure his size? If he kept refusing, he would have to make it by eye, but then it would be difficult for the clothes to come out pretty. No, if he tried it on him before the presentation and do some rough fitting….
"Where is it?"
Where is it? Rudin stuttered, surprised by Calevik's interrogation-like words.
"W-Well, you mean, where is my house?"
"You said let's go."
"O-Oh! Yes! Let's go! It's close from here. It's only 30 minutes by subway. Of course, you have to walk for about 10 minutes after getting off. I have a lot of design materials collected at home, so we can just decide on it today!"
Since it would take 10 minutes on foot just to get from the FDS campus where they were standing to the subway station, it would take almost an hour to get to Rudin's house. Calevik silently turned his back on Rudin and started walking.
Rudin, who was diligently moving his feet to follow him, realized after a while that he was heading in the opposite direction from the main gate where the subway station was located.
"Um, if you want to take the subway, you have to go that way…"
Calevik didn't answer those words. Judging from the situation, it seemed like he was going to drive his own car. If he was going to move by car, Rudin didn't know what to do.
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With that personality, he didn't seem like he would happily take Rudin in the passenger seat, but Rudin wasn't close enough to him to ask him to give him a ride with a good-natured attitude. Should I give him the house address and move by subway? No, if that happens, Calevik will arrive first and have to wait for a long time, so should I take a taxi?
Rudin had never experienced such uncomfortable communication with anyone in his entire life. He was confused because he couldn't accurately judge whether it was because he was a Snicat who had lived minimizing interactions with people, or because there was a problem with Calevik's personality.
Calevik, who arrived at the parking lot, got into the driver's seat of a shiny, large black car. Rudin, hesitating for a moment, plucked up his courage and opened the door of the passenger seat with a click. As he carefully sat on the seat and closed the car door, Calevik started the engine with an indifferent face.
Whew… I guess he was thinking of taking me along. Rudin, who let out a sigh of relief without making it obvious, pulled the seat belt and fastened the buckle.
"Um…, should I tell you my home address?"
At Rudin's question, Calevik pointed with his chin. It seemed like he was pointing to the navigation system between the driver's seat and the passenger seat.
Where did he learn the etiquette of the upper class? If he were my son, I would have scolded him right away. You little brat! What are you keeping your mouth for and gesturing with your chin so rudely! Unlike the shouting thoughts in his heart, Rudin's fingertips were obediently touching the home address.
「Starting route guidance.」
With the cheerful guidance sound of the navigation system, the car started smoothly. Only then did Rudin, who had relaxed a little, lean his body against the large backrest and glance around the inside of the car.
Perhaps because it was a top-of-the-line car driven by a chaebol Tigercat, the interior was very spacious, there was no noise at all, and the ride was extremely comfortable. The only cars Rudin had ever ridden in were his parents' van for delivering laundry, his sister Perry's compact car, and his brother Garnet's small car, so it was definitely a comparison.
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But that was just a byproduct of luck born into a rich family, and it wasn't something Calevik had bought with money he had earned through his own efforts. Rudin was always proud of his family who worked hard to make a living, even though they were commoners, so he wasn't blindly envious of Calevik for driving such a good car.
However, he did have the thought that if he graduated from FDS and got a job in a good place, he would earn a lot of money to repay his family's love and grace. To eat at a good restaurant that sells nutritious and delicious food, to travel to a pleasant resort, or to give luxurious and valuable things as gifts on birthdays, you need money, even if you're not as rich as a chaebol.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
Rudin, who suddenly remembered something he had forgotten, carefully brought up the topic. Calevik, who was waiting in the left-turn lane according to the navigation system's guidance, replied curtly.
"What."
"Um…, well…, what kind of gifts do the top superior species usually give when they have something to be thankful for?"
Calevik, who briefly rolled his eyes to the left, answered indifferently.
"Dunno."
Of course. There's no way he would have personally worried about choosing a gift for someone with that personality. According to the information RUdin saw on the blog before, Calevik hated humans so much that he's never even been in a relationship, so what more was there to say.
"Actually, I was greatly indebted to Leon Krueger at school a few days ago. I'm so grateful that I feel like I have to repay him, but I don't know anything about Lioncats, so I have no idea what would be appropriate to give him."
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Rudin confessed honestly. He had also searched portal sites with search terms like 'Lioncat male college student gift,' but most of them recommended items that you would only give to a lover, such as clothes, shoes, perfume, and wallets, so he didn't get much out of it.
"What about you guys?"
At Calevik's casually thrown words, Rudin, who recalled the gifts that Pussycats give each other, perked up his cat ears.
"If it's a reward for gratitude, we often give food. Adults sometimes give rice cakes, meat, or traditional Korean sweets, and young people give homemade cookies, pies, delicious bread and macarons, cakes, fruits, nuts, vitamins, and nutritional supplements…. Oh, these days, we also give a lot of gifticon gifts. Like gift certificates that can be used at cafes."
Listening to the food items pouring out of Rudin's mouth, Calevik let out a light puff of air. It was a mystery why Pussycats were so small even though they ate so well.
"But I'm worried that Leon might feel burdened if I give him a gift as a reward."
If you're that worried, don't give it.
"But it was a very grateful thing, and I feel like I owe him if I just pass it by…"
Then give him anything.
"But it might not have been a big deal to him, and he might not even be thinking about it now, but if I pretend to be friendly and give him something, he might feel uncomfortable…."
What the fuck do you want me to do? Calevik cursed inwardly. He felt like he knew why Rudin, who was three years older than him, was so small and skinny. He was so worried about even such a trivial matter that he couldn't gain weight.
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Rudin was so different from the people he had seen around him so far that he was uncomfortable. Calevik didn't want to get deeply involved with Rudin if possible. He vowed to quickly finish the body measurement or whatever it was, choose any clothes design roughly, and break up as soon as possible.
He was a little uncomfortable that he was going to Rudin's house by accident, but he didn't want to show any human the sight of Rudin measuring the sizes of various parts of his body. However, he didn't want to take him to his own territory even more, so he just accepted Rudin's suggestion to go to his house.
After today, he would never be near this strange Pussycat again.
Just then, a vibration rang out from somewhere. Cale's phone was automatically connected to the car's Bluetooth speaker, so the vibration seemed to be coming from Rudin's phone. Sure enough, Rudin, holding the buzzing phone in his hand, looked at Cale with a troubled expression.
"Um, sorry, but would it be okay if I took this call?"
Cale couldn't even understand why he was apologizing. When he nodded perfunctorily, Rudin muttered thanks and touched the call button.
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"Hello. Yes, that's right. As I captured and sent you earlier, I definitely sent the package to the address Riley-nim gave me. Please double-check, and it might be good to ask the next building over. Yes, I hope you find it. Thank you."
After hanging up, Rudin rattled off an explanation to Cale, who hadn't even asked.
"Well… the truth is, I've been doing a side job making and selling doll clothes for a long time. But one of my customers seems to have entered the wrong address, and the package went to the next building over."
Cale hadn't asked and wasn't curious, but with that remark from Rudin, he knew for sure what the blue doll dress still adorning the living room table in Rudin's house was.
Some time later, they arrived at the officetel where Rudin lived, parked the car in the underground parking lot, and got into the elevator. The elevator was less than half the size of the one in Cale's apartment, and he felt like he was visiting a land of Lilliputians.
Rudin, who arrived home, unlocked the door, and opened the front door, wore an awkward smile.
"Welcome. I didn't know a guest was coming, so I didn't clean up."
After passing through the entrance, which was literally the size of his palm, Cale unconsciously looked around the house.
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Seeing various pieces of furniture in the studio apartment, which was smaller than his bathroom, it looked like a dollhouse decorated in a cute way. The lemon-colored blanket on the bed caught his eye. Unlike his huge and desolate house, which was all monochrome, Rudin's room was filled with bright and warm colors.
"Wait a minute. I'll go get the measuring tape."
Rudin walked to the inside of the window. There was a work space in the corner that looked so narrow that a large person like Cale couldn't even enter. A small pink sewing machine with traces of time was placed on the table, and threads, scissors, and a triangle ruler were hung on the end of the shelf above it.
As if it was being made, a stuffed doll with large rabbit ears on its head was lying on the table. The doll was wearing a blue dress and a white apron, almost exactly like the one Cale had taken from Rudin.
In addition, a life-size torso, various fabrics neatly arranged on the shelves, and several animal-shaped dolls dressed in cute clothes caught Cale's eye. Rudin, who loosened the measuring tape hanging on the torso and held it in his hand, returned to where Cale was.
"Is it okay to measure you right now?"
Cale arrogantly nodded. Rudin brought a flowerpot stand and placed it on the floor, then suddenly made a troubled expression, flattened his cat ears, and hesitated to speak.
"Um, since we're here alone like this for once…"
Cale had no idea what he was trying to say, so he just waited blankly. After hesitating a few times, Rudin closed his eyes tightly and said resolutely.
"Um, well, I mean… could you take off your clothes?"
Cale was so dumbfounded that he let out a gasp.
"What?"
Rudin, who had slyly opened his eyes, protested with a serious face.
"I want to measure the most accurate dimensions possible. But the clothes you're wearing now are too loose and have too many decorations, so I think they'll be in the way."
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Rudin had already seen Calevik's naked body during swimming class. He bet that if he was reluctant to reveal his body in front of others, he wouldn't have appeared in front of everyone wearing only tiny swimming trunks.
He wanted to create the best clothes only for Cale, by Cale, and of Cale.
Compared to Rudin, who had a desperate look in his eyes, Cale had an expression that said he was doing all sorts of things.
Cale, who let out a light sigh, took off his top after a while. Then, he took off his tattered bottoms with lots of decorations and said to Rudin, wearing only thin boxer briefs.
"Take off more?"
Rudin's expression brightened instantly, and he shook his head violently from side to side. If anyone saw it, they would have thought he was a pervert obsessed with men's naked bodies.
Rudin, who matched his height with Cale by using the flowerpot stand as a stepping stone, began to measure his body size from above. When Rudin wrapped the measuring tape around his forehead, Cale said in a puzzled voice.
"Why there?"
"It's basic. I need it when I have to make accessories for fashion shows, and I also refer to it when I make clothes that are worn over the head."
He was learning this for the first time. He couldn't say that he majored in fashion design anywhere, even more so than before.
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The people of the Alstadt family often had suits made by top designers, but Calevik deliberately chose designer brands with terrible designs or ready-made clothes from designer shops, so this was his first experience measuring his body since he was a child.
Rudin, who was measuring his shoulder width after his head circumference, tilted his head. Cale, who noticed that he kept measuring the same spot from behind, said.
"Why."
"No, I think something's wrong."
"What is it."
"No matter how many times I measure, it's over 63cm…"
"So what."
"I've never seen anyone like this before. But it looks like it's right because I measured it five times."
It was no wonder that Rudin was surprised because the average shoulder width of a Pussycat male was 47cm. He thought it was unusual at first glance, but he never thought that the number would be so different from the average value. If he had guessed and made it about 60cm, the clothes would have been torn, so he thought it was a good idea to measure it accurately.
Then he measured his neck circumference, back height, and chest circumference. Cale felt strange as Rudin's fingertips kept brushing against his bare skin and even his slender breath touched his skin. It was closer to discomfort that made him want to run out of here right away than arousal.
Does this guy touch every corner of his body like this when he makes clothes for other people? Without any clear reason, Cale just felt unpleasant.
by misacchi
"Hey, you don't have to answer if you don't want to…"
Cale retorted nervously to Rudin, who started talking while measuring the circumference and length of his arm.
"What now."
"Do you usually exercise regularly?"
The most important part when measuring arm circumference for making men's clothing is the upper arm. This is because it is the most developed part of the muscle, so if this part is not made sufficiently loose, the clothes will get stuck in the arm and become very uncomfortable. Rudin asked Cale a question while measuring this part.
Cale didn't study, but he exercised regularly. He felt like he would go crazy if he didn't move his body. He didn't discriminate between indoor weight training, swimming, tennis, horseback riding, fencing, and other sports.
But he didn't want to tell Rudin such a story in detail, so he asked back bluntly.
"Why."
"I don't think you can get such great and wonderful muscles just by eating and breathing… I was just curious as a man, I don't have any other intentions. Oh, can you give me your wrist?"
Cale looked at Rudin, who wrapped his wrist with a measuring tape and wrote the length in a notebook. His wrist thickness seemed to be less than half of Cale's, and his hands were quite small for a man. He wondered if he was good at sewing because his fingers were so thin and delicate.
The upper body was finished, and now it was time to measure the lower body. Rudin, who measured by wrapping the measuring tape around his slender waist as if hugging it, let out a low exclamation. How can a person's body have such an artificially calculated golden ratio? Do you just have to be lucky enough to be born with it?
"Um, from now on, I may touch some sensitive areas, so I apologize in advance. I'll try to be careful not to touch you as much as possible."
Rudin, who bowed his head, measured the circumference of Cale's firm buttocks. Cale froze at the unfamiliar contact. If he had known that his body would be dissected in such detail, he would never have come here. Cale cursed the innocent Kwangbeom in his heart because it seemed like it was all because of the crazy Kwangbeom.
More embarrassing than the hip circumference was measuring the inseam length and thigh circumference. Rudin was surprised by two things while measuring the inseam, which is the length from the waistline to the crotch.
One was that Cale's underwear was a plain black pair of briefs. He chose such flashy designs even for his swimming trunks, but he wore plain underwear. Rudin, who believed that underwear, which is rarely shown to others, reflects the wearer's taste most nakedly, was quite surprised.
The second shocking thing was the clear outline of the important part revealed over the thin underwear. It was clearly showing off its presence even though it was not erect at all.
How could the original form itself be so big and thick without being stimulated at all? Rudin couldn't help but be shocked as a man because he had never imagined that such a thing existed in the human body.
Cale was just as embarrassed.
When Rudin measured his lower body, the cat ears touched his bare skin. He almost grabbed Rudin's ears with his hands because of the indescribably soft sensation. In addition, when he measured the inseam length and thigh circumference, he had to clench his teeth so that his lower body would not react because he could clearly feel where Rudin's gaze was staying.
The Tigercat's place was so sensitive and delicate that it could react even to subtle gazes, despite its huge size. It was even more annoying because it had a strong self-muscle strength that could stand independently even in situations that the owner never wanted.
Only after Rudin, who measured the calf length and ankle circumference, stepped back with a satisfied face, Cale finally breathed a sigh of relief. Calevik, who quickly put on his clothes while Rudin was organizing his records, vowed never to do such a shitty body measurement again.
"Thank you for your hard work. Now I'll show you the design data. Um… would you like something to drink?"
"No thanks."
Cale coldly rejected Rudin's hesitant offer. After thinking about something for a while, Rudin opened his mouth again.
"I also have bottled water that hasn't been opened yet…"
Cale's sharp gaze turned to Rudin. Rudin, feeling like a cat in front of a tiger, flinched and his ears flattened.
He was the owner of the house and was trying to do a favor by providing a drink, but he felt so scared, which made him feel resentful and displeased, but Rudin's instincts were always faster and more reflexive than reason.
"Give it to me."
Cale answered in a single word, looking elsewhere. Rudin, who blinked for a moment, trotted to the refrigerator and took out bottled water in a 500ml PET bottle. He thought it would be okay if it was a new product that someone hadn't cooked, not something made by someone else, and something that didn't have any preferences. It seemed that his prediction was correct.
"Sit there and drink. I'll bring the data."
Cale sat on a chair that was so small that he was worried it would break if he sat on it and drank water. There was only a small green plant pot and tissue on the round table that seemed to be used as a dining table.
The only place in this house full of crude objects was the work space with the sewing machine. The remaining space only had the necessary furniture, so the room didn't look too cramped even though it was small.
"This is the example data, and this is the design I came up with based on the data."
Rudin spread out several prints of pictorials and a sketchbook in front of Cale. Cale's eyes narrowed as he opened the sketchbook.
The spectrum was quite wide, from everyday and stylish clothes such as three-piece suits, mustang jackets, and black jeans to clothes with quite difficult designs. All of them were of a quality that would make you believe that they were drawn by a current designer.
"You drew this."
"Yeah. Pretty good, right? I learned a lot from my brother, so I'm good at drawing. My brother is a high school art teacher."
Rudin, who brought up his brother's story as if he was proud, sipped his sweet milk tea and added.
"I also deliberately put in clothes that you would usually wear. So… I wondered if you liked such experimental designs."
"..."
"Um, I'm telling you this because I'm worried, but… I don't like you or want to get close to you under the pretext of an assignment! Rather, it's closer to… scary and uncomfortable…"
"..."
"The reason I drew fashion illustrations while imagining you is just because your body shape is extremely ideal as a model… That's all. Um… of course, I have nothing to say if you don't like that either…"
He was scared and uncomfortable, but he was telling everything he had to say while hesitating, so he didn't know whether to call it honest or embarrassing. Anyway, Cale said bluntly because Rudin had worked hard to explain, so the unpleasant feeling had subsided to some extent.
"You choose."
Rudin's expression brightened and his eyes sparkled. His inner thoughts were all revealed on his face like this. According to the gossip that his classmates were talking about, he was twenty-six years old, but he was such a transparent and easy-to-understand person that it was hard to believe that he was older than him.
Rudin, who was flipping through the sketchbook for a while, opened a page and held it up to Cale.
"I like this the most. It's a design that most people can't pull off, so I think it'll shine even more. I definitely want to implement unparalleled high-end haute couture."
The difference in temperature between Rudin's eyes when he was talking about clothes and when he wasn't was as extreme as the rainforest and the Arctic. Cale, who looked at the illustration Rudin had drawn again, pointed to the evening coat in the ball gown style that came down to his knees.
"Where do you get fabric with this kind of pattern?"
The gown was a design with very complex and elaborate patterns in gold on a dark-colored base fabric that seemed to be between black and dark navy. Rudin shook his head.
"I'm not buying fabric with printed patterns. I'm going to embroider each one with gold leaf thread."
"..."
Rudin said resolutely to Cale, who couldn't say anything with a flustered expression.
"I told you it's haute couture. It's a precious, one-of-a-kind garment. I can't possibly make such a thing with printed fabric used for ready-to-wear clothes, can I? I've sketched it roughly here, but the embroidery patterns will also be uniquely created with slightly different details."
Calevik let out a deflated "huh." Even if he were locked on a deserted island and told he could only leave after finishing all that embroidery, he'd give up and plot an escape by swimming across the strait. Embroidering such large clothes for a man of his size would either break his fingers, pop his eyeballs out, hunch his back, or all of those things would happen simultaneously.
"Instead, I designed the inner garments to be relatively simple. This vest has no sleeves, and the pants don't have complicated pintucks. Ah, I'm still debating about the boots. I'd like to make them myself if possible, but I've only ever made shoes for dolls, so I'll try it first, and if it's too shoddy, I'll commission a professional."
Calevik, who had never approached any task with such seriousness, was increasingly amazed as he listened to Rudin's explanation, as if encountering a creature from another world. If this much passion was required for fashion design, then he was truly unqualified to enter that world.
"The material costs."
At that sensitive and important topic, Rudin swallowed hard. He rubbed his chin with slender fingers.
"Actually, to perfectly realize the feeling I want, I need to use the highest quality fabrics. But realistically, that's impossible, so I'm trying to make it work somehow within a budget of 200,000 cables."
"Cough…!"
Calevik, who had been about to swallow water, was so surprised that he covered his mouth with his hand. He almost choked.
200,000. Could he really buy enough materials to make clothes and shoes with that? He hadn't submitted any assignments until his second year, so he didn't know the market price of fabrics, but he knew roughly how much his classmates spent on their projects.
"Don't worry about the material costs. I'm the one who's bothering you to participate against your will, so I'll pay for everything."
Calevik felt a strange mix of emotions because, while he had seen many people trying to leech off him and pick up crumbs, Rudin was the first person to be so confident with a mere 200,000 cables, which wouldn't even buy candy.
"I don't want to."
Even so, he didn't want to wear clothes made of cheap fabric. It wasn't that he wanted to help Rudin Greenwood fully realize his dreams with good materials, but simply that he didn't want to endure the feeling of poor-quality fabric against his skin.
"Really? Uh… then, should we split it and each pay 100,000?"
Belatedly realizing that the son of a conglomerate might dislike being in debt, Rudin offered a solution that he considered fair. However, Calevik's voice was cold.
"Are you making doll clothes?"
"Huh…?"
At the unexpected words, Rudin widened his eyes and looked at Calevik. He wore an expression of utter contempt. Before he could feel offended, Calevik threw out the words.
"You said it's haute couture."
"Uh… right…"
"Who do you think the target audience for such clothes is?"
Huh? …Oh. Rudin's expression turned blank.
With perhaps a few exceptions, the people who enjoy wearing expensive, high-end custom-made clothes are naturally the upper class. No matter what tricks he pulled with cheap materials, it was obvious that it wouldn't meet their standards. Not to mention his classmates, most of whom were wealthy, let alone Professor Kwangbeom, who would be evaluating the project.
"I'll choose the fabric. You pay 200,000, and I'll pay the rest."
At Calevik's words, Rudin's large, dark pupils grew even larger. It wasn't that he was surprised that he would pay.
"Th-Then… you're going to come with me to buy the fabric?"
Calevik made a sulky face. Even that face was incredibly handsome, but to Rudin, it somehow seemed like he hadn't completely shed his childishness.
"Later."
"O-Okay! Thank you. I'll adjust my schedule to fit yours no matter what."
"..."
"And if you don't mind, I'd like to add accessories too. It'll be really beautiful…"
Rudin stared into the distance with dazed eyes. He seemed to be seeing a vision of Calevik on the runway wearing the clothes he had made, which was somehow eerie. Every time Rudin Greenwood reminded Calevik of Professor Kwangbeom, he felt goosebumps rising on his arms.
by misacchi
"I'm leaving."
Thinking that he couldn't stay here any longer, Calevik got up from his chair. As he hurried to leave, he saw the small hideout placed in the corner next to the table and muttered without thinking.
"Does he have a cat or something?"
At those words, Rudin perked up his ears and blushed. Even though he hadn't been expecting an answer, he diligently explained.
"Ah, that's mine. I really like narrow spaces…"
Calevik had no idea whether Pussycats actually used hideouts like real cats. It was a TMI feast to the very end. Calevik desperately hoped that all the information he had been forced to learn about him today would be automatically deleted from his mind the moment he left this house.
"Um… thank you so much for coming all the way here today and cooperating with taking measurements and choosing the design. I'll do my best from now on."
No, I's rather you'd stop doing your best.
"Don't come out."
Calevik said commandingly to Rudin, who was following him out and trying to put on his shoes. Rudin looked up at him with his ears flattened.
"I'll escort you to the parking lot, or at least to the elevator…"
"It's fine."
Before Rudin could say anything, Calevik yanked open the front door and slammed it shut as soon as he was out. Rudin sighed and threw the empty water bottle that Calevik had finished into the trash can.
Still, today was a very productive day.
Although he was reluctant, Calevik had agreed to be the model, he had taken all his body measurements, and he had even finalized the project design. He even said he would go shopping for materials together. It was a huge improvement compared to the beginning, when every message he sent was treated like gum to be chewed and spat out.
He felt a little embarrassed that he had rattled on about things he hadn't even asked about in an attempt to break the awkward atmosphere, but since Calevik wasn't interested in Rudin anyway, he probably wouldn't remember anything he had said.
Rudin went to the window by the workbench and looked down. After waiting a little while, he saw Calevik's huge, shiny AL-880 Limited Edition sedan pulling out of the parking lot. Rudin quietly waved his hand at the roof of the car, offering a private farewell.
And…
The clothes Rudin had been wearing fell to the floor with a thud.
Crawling out from among the clothes was a small cat with soft, light brown fur and clear amber eyes. He quickly entered the dark, narrow hideout, curled up with all his limbs tucked under his belly, and closed his eyes.
He was truly exhausted. Dealing with someone who made others so tired was mentally draining. No matter how handsome, fit, and wealthy he was, he wondered if he could ever find a partner who could handle that personality for life.
Well, whether he did or not, he was a human who could live well and eat well even if he remained single for life, so it was none of Rudin's business.
Rudin closed his eyes and relaxed with a light heart.
***
Friday rolled around. Since he had gone swimming last week, it was yoga time this time. Rudin put on comfortable black sweatpants and a light gray sweatshirt and went to school.
After putting his bag in his locker, Rudin entered the gymnasium. Individual yoga mats were spread out on the floor for the number of students, and the students were lying or lying face down on them, chatting in groups of three or five. Rudin habitually checked the location of Mikhail and Cresus, then carefully sat down on a mat farthest away from them.
Looking at the front row, Leon Mathias Krueger was talking to Bertha, a Jaguarcat female student, and Julian, a Cheetahcat male student. He had stylishly pulled off a famous brand's tracksuit, and his handsome face was adorned with a cool smile.
After much deliberation, he had decided on handmade cookies as a thank-you gift. Rudin had left home early in the morning and gone to a bakery known for its delicious treats to pack a set of freshly baked langue de chat cookies. He was planning to give it to him after yoga class, but he felt uneasy, as if he were delivering a confession letter.
Calevik Roshaff Alstadt, who had the most prominent presence in the department but appeared infrequently, was not in the auditorium. He was probably going to be late or absent again today. He hadn't run into him at school once since the day he came to Rudin's house, and Rudin hadn't contacted him separately. He was worried that he might have changed his mind about going to buy project materials together.
Soon, the yoga instructor arrived. She was a female Pumacat with a slender yet well-muscled body. She had the students loosen up their bodies with a few stretches.
"Today, we're going to do some poses that are especially useful in everyday life. The first one we'll try is a simple pose to improve the elasticity and flexibility of the spine. It's called 'Marjaryasana,' also known as 'Cat Pose.'"
Several students reflexively turned to look at Rudin and giggled. Of course, Mikhail and Cresus laughed the loudest. The instructor, who had been momentarily confused, smiled gently when she saw Rudin with his cat ears showing.
"Everyone, let's not forget that we're all feline beastmen. Now, this Cat Pose, when alternated with 'Bitilasana,' also known as 'Cow Pose,' strengthens the muscles around the spine and improves flexibility as the muscles of the lower back contract and relax repeatedly. Now, everyone, let's get into the quadruped position."
The students placed their hands and knees on the mat in a ready position. The instructor's explanation continued.
"Inhale deeply, and on the exhale, tuck your tailbone inward from the base of your spine. Articulate each vertebra one by one to round your spine as much as possible. Think of creating an arch with your back. Keep your shoulder blades taut so they don't get too close together, engage your core, and push your back toward the ceiling. Look between your thighs."
Even though their roots were feline, those gathered there were, after all, human, so they were not very flexible, with a few exceptions. Even those who were muscular and good at sports, like Leon Krueger, lacked flexibility. Everyone was straining with all their might, and the instructor, who was walking among the students, exclaimed.
"Wow! That's really excellent! Student, please stand up for a moment."
The Pumacat instructor raised none other than Rudin Greenwood. She took the bewildered Rudin to the front and placed him on the demonstration mat laid out horizontally.
"Everyone, please pay attention for a moment. I've found a student who performs the Cat Pose perfectly."
"Hmph, well, of course."
"Because he's a real cat."
Those who added comments to the instructor's words were undoubtedly Mikhail and Cresus. Some students giggled once again. Ignoring them, the instructor asked Rudin for his name and said.
"Everyone, please watch Rudin Greenwood's demonstration carefully and try to follow along."
Rudin was a little embarrassed, but at the instructor's request, he supported his body on all fours and showed the Cat Pose. On a roll, he even demonstrated the 'Cow Pose,' lowering his belly and back toward the floor and lifting his tailbone and chest toward the ceiling. Rudin had never learned yoga, but Snicats were naturally very flexible.
"The pose is really ideal. Everyone, try your best to imitate this student."
Rudin's cheeks flushed at the instructor's fuss. Mikhail and Cresus were still sneering, but most of the students couldn't help but admit that the lines of Rudin's body revealed when he took the yoga pose were very beautiful.
"Now, next we're going to do the 'Cat Stretch Pose,' so please observe Rudin's posture carefully."
The back stretch was a movement that Rudin often did when resting in his cat form, so it was not difficult at all. He stretched both arms out in front of him, completely lowered his chin, shoulders, and chest to the floor, and straightened his back, raising his hips high into the air.
At that moment, the door opened with a creak and Calevik entered. He was late again today, and the back door of the gymnasium was closed, so he had no choice but to enter through the front door.
As soon as he stepped inside, the first sight he saw was someone's small, round butt sticking up high. A long, furry cat tail was draped down between his buttocks.
Forcibly averting his eyes in disbelief, Calevik saw Leon Mathias Krueger looking at Rudin with an amused smile. The riffraff who had been talking about his pink butt during swimming class were also swallowing hard and unable to take their eyes off Rudin.
Feeling inexplicably annoyed, Calevik casually bumped Rudin's torso with his leg as he approached the instructor.
"Ouch!"
Rudin, who had lost his balance and slumped to the side, looked up at Calevik with a wronged expression. Today, his outfit was a garish floral tracksuit that was painful to look at. Large and small colorful flowers were in full bloom on a bright blue background.
"Are you just arriving, student? What's your name?"
"Calevik."
Calevik was reporting his attendance to the instructor with a nonchalant face, as if nothing had happened. He glanced down at the floor as if he hadn't even known Rudin was there, and after checking his attendance, he strode away and plopped down on an empty mat.
"Please give a round of applause to Rudin Greenwood for his wonderful demonstration."
Some students gave a half-hearted applause at the instructor's words. Rudin returned to his mat with flushed cheeks. He glared at Calevik for a moment on the way, but he was looking away with a stoic face. If he accidentally made someone fall, he should apologize, but such basic etiquette or common sense didn't seem to exist in Calevik's mind at all.
"This time, we're going to do couple stretches. It's a movement that you do in pairs, and it's both fun and effective. First, let's pair up with a friend and stand together."
Since those who were close to each other from the beginning had already grouped together, everyone quickly found a partner. There were only two people in this class who didn't have close friends. The Pumacat instructor, looking around the room, said cheerfully.
"Has everyone found a partner? Why are Rudin and Calevik standing there so blankly? Since you're the only two left, you can partner with each other."
Rudin picked up his mat and hesitantly approached Calevik. He was worried that Calevik, who was upset about being paired with him again, would storm out of the gymnasium, but fortunately, Calevik stood still. He had a sulky expression, but Calevik usually had that face, so he was used to it.
"We're going to do a leg split movement to improve the flexibility of the pelvis and hip joints. It helps with blood circulation and lower body alignment, regardless of gender."
Calevik's eyes turned fierce at the words 'leg split.' He was probably regretting coming to school. What if that tiger's tail was sticking out? He would probably be slamming the floor with his long, thick tail until it broke. Rudin, who had unknowingly imagined that scene, slyly covered his mouth and chuckled.
"One person sits on the mat, and the other person stands behind them. The person sitting spreads their legs to the left and right as much as possible and leans their upper body forward. If it feels okay, lie down on the floor completely. The partner grabs the flat part between the waist and hips from behind and gently presses down."
At the instructor's words, Rudin looked at Calevik's expression and said.
"Um… should I go first…?"
Calevik stared shamelessly at Rudin as if to ask why he was bothering to ask something so obvious. Rudin, sitting with his legs spread to both sides, slowly stretched his arms forward and pressed his upper body against the floor.
by misacchi
"Calevik, you have to press down."
When the instructor, who had come to the side, urged him, Calevik pointed at Rudin with a sullen face.
"It doesn't look like I need to press."
Rudin Greenwood's legs were drawing a perfect sideways 'I,' like a ballet dancer. It was in stark contrast to the students around him, whose legs were at angles of 90 degrees, 120 degrees, or at most 150 degrees, so all the students who had been pressing down on their partners from behind glanced at Rudin.
"Even if it doesn't look like it, there may be gaps. Press down on his body to completely flatten it against the floor."
At the instructor's words, Calevik frowned and gripped Rudin's waist and hips with his large hand, pressing down. He felt strange, perhaps because he had never grabbed someone else's body like this before. It also annoyed him for no reason that Rudin's pants were stretched taut, clearly revealing the curve of his buttocks.
Anyway, it was a peculiar body. Soft and tender, as if boneless. He couldn't properly apply force to his hand, as if it would crumble like clay. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Calevik once again regretted coming to school.
"Now, switch places and try it."
At the instructor's words, Rudin stood up and stood behind Calevik. Calevik reluctantly sat down, spread his legs, and bent his upper body. Rudin, who had been watching him for a while, finally asked.
"…Are you doing this because you don't want to?"
"I did it."
"Huh…?"
Calevik spread his legs quite wide, but he couldn't bend his upper body much. He seemed to lack any flexibility whatsoever. Rudin asked for his understanding.
"Is it okay if I put my hand on your back?"
Calevik didn't answer. However, Rudin had experienced many times when he would vehemently say "No!" before the words were even finished when he really didn't like something, so the silence felt like permission. Rudin carefully placed his hand in the middle of his back and pressed forward.
"What are you doing?"
Calevik grumbled as if he were pathetic. Since Calevik was so large, Rudin's weak strength was not enough to push him. Feeling unfairly annoyed, Rudin said firmly.
"Don't say anything later."
"What? Ugh…!"
Calevik's upper body collapsed to the floor. Rudin had jumped onto his back. Riding Calevik like a horse, Rudin pressed down on his shoulders with his hands and said.
"How is it? It's effective, right?"
Calevik cursed inwardly. It was definitely effective, and Rudin was so light that he wondered if he was really an adult man, but he felt strange. This Pussycat made him uncomfortable every time he got involved, and he became even more irritable when their bodies were in close contact, like during the physical measurements or now.
After that, the two didn't get along well with anything. When they stood side by side, matching the edges of their feet and holding hands up and down, the height difference was so great that Calevik had to bend over excessively. When they stretched by pulling each other in that state, Rudin was so light compared to Calevik's arm strength that his body was swept away like a piece of paper.
"Why do you pull so hard all of a sudden?"
"It's because you're weak like a child. You should wear sandbags or something."
"What? Seriously…."
Rudin found Calevik somehow childish. He was always in a bad mood, but even more so today. He pushed people for no reason and spoke in a quarrelsome tone.
But Rudin decided to understand him as much as possible. He thought it might be because he didn't like being on the same team as the Pussycat transfer student that everyone else hated. In any case, he had to cater to Calevik's whims until the menswear assignment was over. Rudin was always the one who was at a disadvantage.
Rudin finished the yoga class by yielding appropriately to Calevik. Dealing with him was several times more tiring than taking the class alone. Still, it was nice that his whole body felt refreshed, perhaps because he had stretched properly for the first time in a while.
Opening his locker to find his bag, Rudin was taken aback when he saw the handmade cookie box neatly placed there. He had completely forgotten to give it to Leon during the break because he was so preoccupied with Calevik.
Coincidentally, today was Friday, and the afternoon class was canceled due to the professor's circumstances. If he didn't give it to him right away, the freshness might deteriorate over the weekend, and it would lose its value as a gift. But buying a new one would be a hassle, and more than anything, it was quite expensive and beyond his means.
"Haa…. What should I do?"
Sighing, Rudin took out his phone and turned on the FDS student-only app. It was worth a shot.
[Hi, Leon. This is Rudin Greenwood.
Are you still on campus?
I have something to give you…]
After sending the message to Leon, Rudin decided to wait for 30 minutes. If Leon didn't read it or didn't reply even after reading it, he would give up and take the cookies home to share with Garnet.
But less than a minute later, his phone vibrated. Seeing Leon Mathias Krueger's name and profile picture on the chat screen, Rudin quickly pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear.
"…Hello."
"Rudin? Where are you now?"
How long had it been since he had heard someone other than his family call him "Rudin" in such a friendly voice? Rudin's heart welled up without him realizing it. He firmly held onto his mind, which was about to fall into unnecessary sentimentality, and replied.
"I'm in front of the gym where I took the yoga class."
"Wait there for five minutes."
The call ended abruptly. Rudin sat idly on a bench in front of the gym, waiting for Leon.
The sky was bright blue. The wind was still a bit chilly, but spring was definitely approaching. The FDS campus had many large and magnificent trees, so it would be incredibly beautiful when the flowers bloomed.
Just as five minutes were about to pass, he saw someone approaching quickly from afar. It was Leon, running.
"Did you wait long? Sorry. My friends kept following me, so I had to shake them off."
Leon said, sweeping back his wind-tousled hair like a movie star. Rudin shook his head.
"No, I didn't wait long. I'm sorry for making you come all the way here when it's not urgent."
"I was on campus anyway."
A brief awkward silence flowed. Then Rudin mumbled in a small voice.
"Um…, I'm really grateful that you saved me when I fell into the swimming pool last week. This is nothing special, just cookies. I wanted to repay you sooner, but I was worried about this and that…."
Rudin was so embarrassed by this situation that he couldn't even look Leon in the eye, and he held out the cookie box with both hands. It wasn't like he was confessing his love, so he didn't know why he was so awkward, and he resented his timid personality.
"I wonder what you were worried about."
Rudin looked up at Leon's gentle voice. Rudin's tongue twisted in confusion because he hadn't expected him to say this at all.
"Um, well, I mean, I was worried about how to express my gratitude…, if I gave you a gift, you might be embarrassed, or there might be some misunderstanding…."
"What misunderstanding?"
"No… um… you might not think anything of it, but if I give you something out of gratitude, um… would you feel burdened… or it might seem like I'm trying to get close…"
Rudin, who had been rambling, felt a touch that lightly stroked the area between his cat ears, that was, the center of his head, which corresponded to the space between his eyebrows and the crown of his head when he was in cat form. For Pussycats, it was a skinship that could only be done between family, lovers, or at least close friends, although he didn't know about superior species.
Startled, Rudin widened his eyes and looked at him blankly, and Leon chuckled.
"Ah, sorry. You just looked cute. I'll enjoy these."
Leon lightly tapped Rudin's head and took the cookie box. At the same time, he felt someone rushing past them.
Rudin, who had inadvertently looked that way, was startled. The back of a large man wearing a flashy floral tracksuit was quickly moving away from them.
"Haven't you had lunch yet? Want to eat together?"
Rudin's eyes wavered as he looked at Leon, who was asking in a friendly tone.
Rudin Greenwood was not a very calculating or shrewd person.
Born as a mutant Snicat with unstable genes, he barely graduated from elementary school due to frequent absences and early dismissals because of his weak body. He completed middle and high school through homeschooling and university through online courses, so he had not experienced much social life. Therefore, he was not good at discerning people's complex inner thoughts or hidden intentions.
But even he felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity in Leon's actions just now.
If he turned back the clock, the timing of Leon stroking Rudin's head was around the time Calevik had just come out of the gym's main entrance. Rudin was standing with his back to the gym, and Leon was facing him. There was no way Leon wouldn't have recognized the approaching figure of a giant man, 191cm tall with shoulders over 63cm wide, wrapped in a floral tracksuit so flashy it hurt the eyes.
Leon Mathias Krueger was someone with whom Calevik, who mostly ignored or pretended not to hear people, had at least a semblance of a conversation. For Leon to pretend not to see Calevik and then gently stroke Rudin, it didn't feel like a natural action for some reason, although he didn't know why.
"Um… th-thank you. But… I think I have to go now."
The survival instinct of the weakest, which had allowed Rudin to survive safely until now, was telling him. It would be best to leave this place immediately.
"That's a shame. Then let's definitely eat together next time. I'll treat you as a thank you for the cookies."
Leon replied with a picturesque smile. The cookies were a thank you for saving Rudin from the swimming pool last week, so it didn't make sense to give a thank you for that again. But right now, there was a problem that made Rudin's heart even more anxious.
"Thank you. I hope you enjoy them. Have a good weekend!"
Rudin, who had hurriedly said goodbye, walked away with hurried steps.
As Leon had expected, his steps were heading in the exact direction that Calevik had disappeared. Leon, who was scratching his chin with his finger, muttered.
"Hmm…. Was the head pat a bit much?"
He was just trying to gauge how Calevik would react. It was also true that the fair-skinned Pussycat, who had lowered his head and offered the cookies without even making eye contact, seemed quite cute for a man, but he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't seen Calevik coming out at that moment.
Considering that he had taken a risk, there was almost no result. Calevik didn't even glance at him and the Pussycat and just walked past. Rather, it was amusing to see the Pussycat, who had belatedly discovered Calevik, fidgeting. Wasn't it clearly presumptuous of him to reject the offer of a meal and hurriedly leave to follow him, as if to make excuses to Calevik?
"Well, I'll know if I watch a little more."
Leon shrugged his shoulders and glanced down at the cookie box in his hand. The name of a famous bakery where Pussycats lined up to eat was printed on it. On the way back to Julian and Bertha, who were waiting for him, he searched on his smartphone and found countless certifications that even if you did an open run, you had to wait for more than an hour to buy cookies and bread.
For a Pussycat to have made such a commendable effort to express his gratitude to him. Was it a cat's repayment?
A smile was added to Leon's lips.