"A cat tail? Since she is asking so strongly, why don't you just wear it on your back!"
Hayashi said in a tone that suggested he knew nothing.
"Wuu~~"
Yukino's eyes trembled slightly, and she instinctively lowered her head, not wanting Hayashi to see her flushed cheeks.
She had thought Hayashi was unaware of the strangeness of the cat tail.
After a fierce internal struggle, the desire to win the trust of the cats ultimately prevailed.
Completely oblivious that everything was part of Hayashi's plan, she suppressed her shame and said to Hayashi:
"I'm going to the room for a moment!"
With that, she didn't wait for Hayashi's reply and hurried into the room in the small courtyard.
"Well done, Little Black!"
The moment Yukino closed the courtyard door, Hayashi quietly gave Little Black a thumbs-up, offering a commendation of high moral standing.
Little Black responded to Hayashi with a disdainful look.
It was as if to say, 'If it weren't for the canned food you promised, I wouldn't help you trick girls.'
Hayashi didn't mind this, merely rubbing Little Black's head with continuous praise.
They looked like two partners in crime, neither one better than the other.
If he had been the one to ask Yukino to wear the cat tail, given her personality, even if she was competitive, it would have been impossible.
But it was different when it came from a kitten.
To Yukino, who loved cats, what bad intentions could a kitten have?
And how could Yukino know that Little Black was different? She was a spirit cat rescued from a pack of stray dogs when Hayashi was searching for anomalies.
Moreover, she was the Cat King of the vicinity!
As for this small courtyard, it was purely a place Hayashi had rented just yesterday after planning everything out.
And those pet cats?
They were all Little Black's subordinates, called in to temporarily act as performers.
Although they weren't as smart as Little Black, they knew how to hiss along with the Cat King.
Time passed slowly; perhaps Yukino was doing some mental preparation.
But eventually…
"Creak—!"
As the courtyard door opened, Yukino finally emerged.
A pair of fluffy ears twitched shyly, her delicate and lovely face flushed, and behind her...
"Yukino, what is this!!"
Hayashi was so 'surprised' that he even forgot to call her 'Senpai'!
"This... it's all because of the tail... it can turn people into cat demons!"
She tried to maintain her usual cool and aloof expression, but facing Hayashi's 'surprised' and fervent gaze, her cheeks flushed, and Yukino couldn't help but turn her head away, explaining in a low voice.
"Smile, Yukino!"
Hayashi's sudden voice made Yukino look up in confusion, and then she saw Hayashi pull out a camera from who-knows-where and press the shutter.
"Click!"
A flash of white light.
Yukino's pupils constricted.
"You're very cute, Yukino~!"
While Yukino's mind was blank and she hadn't reacted yet, Hayashi approached with a photo of her as a cat girl.
"I was already very cute!"
Normally, Yukino would have said this with full confidence, but at this moment, her voice carried a hint of shyness.
The young girl desperately tried to maintain what little dignity she had left.
However, she still endured the discomfort behind her and urged Hayashi:
"Let's start building houses for the cats!"
"Alright! Let's get to work!"
Hayashi also knew that too much was as bad as too little; Yukino's shame was overflowing at this point, and teasing her further might make her explode, which wouldn't be fun.
"Yukino, dig the pit a little deeper; that way it'll be sturdier!"
"Yukino, help me hold the wood..."
"Yukino, I'll leave laying the insulation boards to you..."
...Very naturally, Hayashi's way of addressing Yukino became smoother, and Yukino herself had no objection.
With their combined efforts, the cat apartment, cafeteria, and other facilities in the courtyard were quickly constructed.
While they worked, the kittens, led by Little Black, would always act like mischievous sprites, constantly trying to delay their progress by being adorable.
Both Yukino and Hayashi were cat lovers.
Naturally, they couldn't resist petting them.
So, it wasn't until the sun began to set that these structures were completed, with the two of them frequently stopping to pet the cats.
"Perfect!"
Unlike Hayashi, who was a monster ten times stronger than an ordinary person, Yukino's physical fitness, though stronger than average, still had its limits.
Wiping away sweat, Yukino looked on with satisfaction as the cats scurried into the houses she and Hayashi had built for them.
The thoughtful Yukino had even laid straw mats for them inside the rooms.
At this moment, Yukino was extremely happy.
Happier than building her own house.
Suddenly!
"Nyaa~!"
The girl's startled cry, almost like a cat's purr, rang out.
Her tail!
"Hayashi, what are you doing!!!"
Turning her head in anger and embarrassment, Yukino glared at the hateful fellow with furious eyes.
"Sorry, sorry, it's normal to not be able to resist when you're this cute, right, Yukino!"
With a hint of an insincere smile at the corner of his mouth, Hayashi showed no trace of apology in his eyes.
"Un... uncivilized brute! Let go!"
"By the way, Yukino, you said earlier that today's help wouldn't count as returning a favor."
"So now I've decided it counts as returning a favor, alright!"
Hayashi said with a sly smile.
"Change! Change the condition; this won't do, really..."
Yukino refused, but in his hands, she truly had no power to resist. She could only let out an angry whimper...
The sun completely set.
The streetlights lit up.
"Creak!"
Accompanied by the girl's embarrassed footsteps, the courtyard door was pushed open by the red-faced girl.
"!"
Glaring fiercely at a certain person behind the door with her beautiful eyes, Yukino protected her back with one hand, her cat ears twitching, and with heavy steps, she fled as if escaping.
'You're really bad.'
Watching Yukino's mortified, disheveled back and stumbling steps, Little Black jumped onto Hayashi's shoulder, giving him a look of disdain.
"You're not bad either; you did the same for canned food!"
"Besides!"
At this point, Hayashi paused, then looked back at the cat apartment and cat cafeteria in the small courtyard that he and Yukino had painstakingly completed this afternoon.
He smiled at Little Black.
"This will be your base from now on; aren't you happy!"
'It's quite good indeed~.'
Little Black nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with her future home.
At the same time, she gave Hayashi a look that said:
'Don't worry, every time that woman comes, I'll make her wear the tail!'
"Pleasure working with you!"
Hayashi was also very satisfied; his hand and the cat's paw met, concluding this transaction that only brought shame to Yukino.
After discussing with Little Black, Hayashi's gaze turned to the side of the street.
He suddenly said, "Yuki-san, Kaguya-san, you've been peeking all day; that's not very ladylike!"