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[Game] Chapter 248: The Girl by the Pet Shop Window
🕑 Added 2025-06-04 19:11:20 +0000 UTCAfter school today, Utaha didn’t come to the company with Ichin. Instead, she went to the publishing house to meet with Machida Sonoko to discuss her new novel.
By 6 PM, it was time for Ichin to get off work. Tonight’s dinner was planned outside, so he needed to meet up with Utaha and Machida.
After shutting down his computer and sending a message to Utaha, Ichin left work right on time with everyone else.
He headed down to the underground parking lot, said goodbye to his colleagues, and drove off toward the restaurant.
“I wonder what kind of story Utaha’s new novel is,” he muttered to himself as he drove. “She’s been writing it in secret and won’t tell me a single thing about it.”
Even as he complained, Ichin couldn’t deny that he was genuinely curious. He was looking forward to the day Utaha finally revealed her new work to him.
With music playing and the navigation guiding him, he followed the route toward the restaurant.
Suddenly, something by the roadside caught his eye—a familiar figure crouched on the pavement. Ichin immediately slowed down.
In front of a pet shop, just outside the display window, Yukino Yukinoshita—the ever-composed second daughter—was squatting down, gazing at a pure white kitten separated from her by the glass.
The kitten stared back at her, opening its mouth as if meowing.
Though she couldn’t hear it through the window, Yukino imagined what the kitten was saying and smiled softly in response.
“Meow~~~”
“If you like it that much, why don’t you go in and take a look?”
A voice suddenly came from behind, startling Yukino so much that she nearly jumped.
Spinning around, she let out a breath of relief when she saw it was Ichin standing there.
“Oh, it’s just you, senpai. Good afternoon.”
“Afternoon? It’s already past six—it’s evening now,” Ichin said, showing her the time on his phone. He then glanced at the pet shop beside them.
“What are you doing out here so late? And alone? Where’s your sister?”
“We just had dinner together,” Yukino replied. “I was heading back to the apartment, but my sister had something to take care of at school, so she went back.”
“She didn’t offer to walk you back?”
Yukino shook her head. “It’s not that far. Just a short walk.”
“Hmm... and then you got mesmerized by a kitten on the way?”
The second young lady couldn’t help but blush. She avoided his gaze, eyes darting left and right before changing the subject.
“What about you, senpai? Why are you here?”
Ichin pointed to his car parked by the curb.
“I just got off work. Heading to dinner with Utaha and Sonoko. Saw you by coincidence, so I thought I’d come say hi. Anyway, back to what I was saying—if you like cats that much, why not go in and take a look?”
“This is a pet shop,” Yukino replied. “And pets aren’t allowed in my apartment. So there’s no point going in.”
“That’s not such a big deal, is it?” Ichin shrugged.
“If you really want a cat, just talk to your sister. I’m sure she’d help you find a pet-friendly apartment. Or... is it that your family doesn’t allow you to have pets?”
“There’s no such restriction,” Yukino said quietly.
Yukino shook her head and glanced once more at the little white kitten still watching her from behind the glass.
“I just don’t think I’m capable of properly taking care of a living creature like that.”
“Is that so?”
Ichin crouched down beside the window, reached out a finger, and playfully tapped the glass to tease the kitten.
“You know, some things you’ll never know unless you actually try. Taking care of a cat isn’t as complicated as you’re making it out to be. If you really want one, give it some thought and talk to your sister. You don’t even have to buy one from a shop—adoption is also a great option.”
After a bit more teasing of the kitten, Ichin checked the time and stood up, pulling out his car keys.
“Alright, come on. I’ll drive you back.”
“No need. I can walk back on my own.”
“Don’t think I don’t know how far your apartment is from here.” Ichin said bluntly.
“And if your sister finds out I ran into you and didn’t offer a ride, I’ll be the one getting chewed out. Get in the car.”
Seeing how serious he was, Yukino had no choice but to comply. She gave the kitten one last glance before following him into the car.
---
After dropping Yukino off at her apartment, Ichin finally made his way to the restaurant where Utaha and Machida Sonoko were waiting.
He stepped into the private room and said, “Sorry, I’m a little late.”
Utaha poured him a drink and asked, “Something came up?”
“Yeah, I ran into Yukino on the way.” Sitting down beside her and taking a sip, Ichin continued, “She was kind of stuck in front of a pet shop, staring at a kitten. I don’t know how long she’d been there. I gave her a ride home before coming here.”
“A pet shop, huh?”
Utaha nodded in understanding, not the least bit upset about his tardiness.
“If it’s her, I wouldn’t be surprised if she stood there all evening.”
After all, even Hazuki’s fat cat Mozuku—who’s basically a loaf with fur—could be held and cuddled by Yukino for an entire afternoon. Let alone a cute, tiny kitten.
“But seriously, if she loves cats that much, why not just change to a pet-friendly apartment?”
“I suggested that, but she’s worried she might not be able to take proper care of one,” Ichin replied with a smile as he picked up a piece of fried shrimp and took a bite.
“Mmm, this is really good. Anyway, I tried encouraging her a bit. Who knows if it’ll work. If she actually ends up getting a cat, she could even bring it to the office. Then Mozuku would have a playmate.”
“Oh, by the way,” he added with a sly grin, “how’s your new novel coming along? Still can’t tell me anything?”
“Nope!” Utaha rested her chin on her hand, smiling sweetly.
“I’ve finished outlining the plot, but I’ve only written a tiny bit of Volume 1 so far. Today I came to meet with Sonoko to get her feedback.”
Hearing about Utaha’s new project, Machida Sonoko beamed with excitement.
“I can’t give away any plot details, but I will say this—Utaha’s new story is really promising! I think once it’s published, it’ll definitely attract a lot of readers!”
Watching the two of them hype it up like that only made Ichin even more curious.
“Come on, really? Not even a tiny hint?”
“Nope!” x2
“Alright, alright. I’ll see it eventually anyway,” Ichin said, pouting slightly before popping the rest of his shrimp into his mouth and chewing away.
Since Sonoko was here, Ichin decided it was a good time to bring up Akane’s situation.
“So, about Akane… what’s she been up to lately?”
“Ah, Akane?” Sonoko smiled as she spoke of her classmate and friend.
“She’s been doing incredibly well. Her career’s really taken off. Even though she didn’t end up collaborating with us, she did find two solid light novel authors from our publishing house to help with her game project. Oh, and Ichin-kun—she told me herself that she sees your studio as her rival!”
“Is that so? I’m honored.”
Akane-san—or rather, her real name, Akane Kosaka—was a formidable woman.
Ichin couldn’t help but be curious about the kind of game she would eventually bring to life.
...
