Chapter 8: Cat Rescue Mission!

Cat Rescue Mission!

"Are you taking the cat home? What are you going to do?"

I asked, running after Onizuka, who took a big step.

The red-haired delinquent lowered his slanted eyes slightly.

His ong eyelashes, wet with drops of water, looked strangely sexy.

"...I'll keep it at home for a while."

"At least I could shelter from the rain," he added, then closed his mouth.

He responded so quickly that he would keep it.

If I had picked up a stray cat in my previous life, I would have definitely caused a fuss with my parents.

I thought to myself, thinking that even in my current family situation, there would probably be some conflict.

"Is it that easy to keep one? Parents and all stuff..."

So I asked that without any ill intent.

Onizuka walked in silence for a while, then answered in a voice that was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

"...My parents aren't home much."

Maybe I'm even worse at perceiving things than Onizuka.

"Oh, are they working away from home or something?"

I asked nonchalantly, as if I understood the matter.

Onizuka sighed heavily, as if he had given up on something.

"It's not that. They've separated. Neither of them come back to the house where I live. ...they'll get divorced soon."

Geh!

By the time I realize I've stepped on a huge landmine, it's too late.

There was a heavy atmosphere between me and Onizuka.

At school, I never learned the correct words to say to a classmate whose parents were about to get divorced.

I hope that in the future this will be added to moral education classes.

In silence, we walked side by side on the way home.

We walk along the embankment.

There is no one on the riverbank.

The rain is getting stronger and stronger.

The river was dark and murky, and the current was fast.

"...How far will you follow me?"

As if remembering something, Onizuka turned to me.

It was long gone from my route to school.

Onizuka's house and my house are in opposite directions.

At this point, I was just a man, or rather, a woman, following Onizuka around.

"Ah, about that..."

Somehow, I felt that I couldn't leave Onizuka alone like this.

The longer I spent with this guy, the more likely it was that a romantic relationship would develop, but I was driven by intuitive emotions rather than rational reasoning.

Letting this man, who was tenderly holding a stray cat with an expression like that of a stray cat, return home alone to an empty house made me feel an uncomfortable sense of guilt, like turning a blind eye to a crying, lost child.

"Hey, when you bring the cat home, you'll wash it in the bathroom, right? I'll help you."

"…………"

"Look, I'm the first one who found the cat, and I'm worried about him too."

I'll add a few reasons as appropriate.

Since Onizuka had revealed that he was the only one at home, he didn't have any excuse to refuse my visit.

"...Do as you please."

And he averted his gaze from me.

At that moment.

"Meow! Meow!!"

The calico cat, which had been quietly being held by Onizuka up until that moment, suddenly began screaming.

The sound was so loud it could be described as barking.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I don't know, this guy suddenly..."

The cat is meowing frantically but does not get violent and just stares at one spot.

It's gaze was fixed on the muddy river.

"……Huh!?"

When I look closely, I can see something floating.…

…something black?

...Is it trash?

"Meow!!"

The cat meowed even louder, as if to hurry us along.　

–That thing being swept away by the muddy current...

"A cat has been washed away!"

"What?!"

The object I thought was trash turned out to be a drowning black cat.

Onizuka and I slide down the bank.

There were stairs, but we didn't have time to make such a long detour.

"──!?"

An electric current ran through my head.

I've seen this scene before...!

A scene from a shoujo manga.

In this scene, Onizuka jumps into the river to save the black cat, and the heroine takes care of him when he is exhausted, and their relationship deepens.

If this guy saves that cat, a love flag will be raised...!

"Damn, the river is flowing too fast...!"

Onizuka puts down the calico cat he was holding.

We ran down the riverbank, following the black cat that was being swept away.

Onizuka looks like he's about to jump into the river.

But we really can't just abandon a life that is about to disappear.

It's a life that could be saved.

Help others...!

That's why you should call an adult...!

I looked around, but because of the rain there were few people around and no one else was around except for us.

In other words, we are the only ones who can save that cat.

It's no good sending Onizuka to help, but at the same time, I can't abandon the cat either.

–What on earth should I do...?

It only took a few seconds for me to weigh the cat's life against my own romantic flag.

...It's easy.

I quickly came up with the optimal solution.

"I give this back."

"Eh?"

I handed Onizuka the blazer I had been wearing over my shoulder.

Then, I took off my soaked sailor uniform!

"Hey!?"

At my sudden strange behavior, Onizuka turned bright red and looked away from me in my underwear.

This guy has basic manners.

Saotome Otome was the type who wore an inner layer over her bra.

I continued undressing regardless, then put my hands on my skirt and paused.

A high school girl taking off her skirt in the open, especially in front of a male classmate.

...Is it okay for me to be in my underwear even though I'm a girl?

...Embarrassed?

...Is that indecent?

Is this the time to think about that?

Skirt is the most annoying thing when swimming!

I then took off my skirt.

"What the f*** are you doing?!"

It doesn't have to be Onizuka who saves the cat.

Of course, in terms of physique and stamina, Onizuka's swimming would be the most likely to be successful.

But I don't think anyone else would mind helping.

So I'll just go!

"Onizuka, wait here!"

"Oh, hey?!"

I jumped into the dirty, muddy river.

Towards the drowning black cat.