Chapter 4: Strength Below a Cat's Level and the Hanazono Estate

Aijou Rentarou had made up his mind.

To reclaim his girlfriend, Hanazono Hakari—no matter what. Currently, Hakari’s mother, Hanazono Habari, was trying to forcibly separate them.

Money. Power. Against Habari, an adult wielding overwhelming influence… what could Rentarou—a mere high school student, a kid—possibly do?

But he didn’t give up.

For Hakari’s happiness, he would stake everything and do everything he could. That was his answer.

His plan? Sneak into the estate, extract Hakari, and escape together. A reckless, near-suicidal scheme. Realizing that even his presence endangered his friends, Rentarou told them:

"I’ll come back no matter what. So please… wait for me."

But one of them refused.

"I can’t just wait for someone who might never return.""That’s why I’m coming too."

And so—his friends, matching his resolve, offered their help without hesitation. They were just high schoolers like him. No money, no power. Just one shared desire:

To save Hanazono Hakari.

Driven by that conviction, Rentarou and his group set off toward the estate where Hakari waited…!

At a glance, this might seem like a perfectly normal romance story—until you realize the "friends" helping him are all his girlfriends, and the group’s name is the "Rentarou Family." Yeah. They’re insane.

---

"So Seibetsu… never showed up…"

"Doubtful. Seibetsu Kawa doesn’t seem like the type to ghost us."

I agree. Seibetsu Kawa—that girl’s the first to jump into trouble for a friend.

Even during the bouquet toss, she blamed herself for being "useless," but someone who tries that hard could never be useless. Maybe her methods were off, but her heart was in the right place.

And the no-response thing? Weird. She never leaves messages on read. Usually replies in seconds. Unless—

"Now that I think about it… when I was heading to Hakari’s place, I felt like someone was following me…"

"Could it have been Seibetsu?"

"Don’t tell me she… charged in alone?!"

"[Perhaps she went ahead as the vanguard?]"

The possibility… wasn’t zero. She’s all about teamwork, but if she decides solo’s the way, she’ll bulldoze forward.

Maybe… just like how I didn’t want to drag everyone in… she thought the same.

Then—a figure appeared in the distance. Staggering unsteadily toward us from the direction of Hakari’s estate.

A familiar silhouette, but unrecognizable.

Her emerald-green hair, usually sleek as a river’s flow.Her fair skin, untouched by the sun.The same casual clothes she’d worn since she was a guy.

All of it was torn, caked in blood and mud, riddled with wounds. Fresh blood still dripped from countless gashes.

"…Ugh… Ah…!"

"Sei… Seibetsu?!"

Spotting us, Seibetsu’s knees buckled—as if relief had sapped her last strength. Her body looked so fragile, so close to vanishing… before I realized I’d already caught her.

"Sh’s… destroyed…!"

"You idiot…! You really went in alone?!"

"[Who did this to you…?]"

The others crowded around Seibetsu, who gritted her teeth against the pain.

"Ghh…!"

"Stop talking! You’re hurt too badly…!"

"I’m… fine…! I’m… coming too…! This time… with everyone…!"

"Bringing injured personnel is inefficient. She’ll slow us down."

"…The hell’s wrong with you?! Yeah, she’s battered—but she wants to save Hakari just as much as we do! How can you say that?!"

That's right. I shouldn't take her like this.

I don't want to see someone so precious—my girlfriend, no, my best friend—get hurt any further. I don't want that... but...

"...Please... I can still fight...!"

The way she desperately clutches my clothes—I can't bring myself to push her away. If I do, she'll just blame herself again. No matter the reason, leaving her behind now would be like telling her she's useless.

"...You're too kind, Nagi. Even if it might make people dislike you, you still try to protect others by pushing them away yourself. But... you hate that, don't you, Seibetsu?"

Seibetsu nods weakly. Her body is small, battered, barely holding together—but the fierce determination in her eyes doesn't lose to any of ours.

"I... I want to save Hanazono too...!"

"...I take it back. More people means higher chances of success... The more allies, the better."

"...Then it's settled. Let's go, everyone... We're bringing Hakari home!"

Hang in there, Hakari! We're coming for you—no matter what!

"...Wait, so who did beat up Seibetsu?"

"Uh, well... You'll see when we get there..."

---

Meanwhile...

So, uh... yeah. It's me, Seibetsu. Man, I'm a complete wreck.

Never expected that kind of ambush. I can probably play it off until we get there, but if they find out the truth... yeah, the mood's gonna get real awkward. Oh well. Can't be helped. After all that serious buildup, the reality is... this.

Rentarou carries me piggyback to the estate. We slip past the iron fence, tension rising the deeper we go. I couldn't even get this far last time...

Rentarou pulls out a rubber ball and hurls it at a window. Close, but it hits too low, bouncing off into the darkness. Hard to aim at night. As we split up to search, that thing appears in the distance—holding the ball in its mouth.

White fur. Arrogant, disdainful eyes. Claws that have torn into me over and over. Faster than it looks.

Yeah... this bastard—!

"You damn...!"

"Mrreow!"

I lunge with everything I've got—only for it to dodge effortlessly and slash the back of my hand. Again. Fresh blood wells from the new wound. I try to pounce once more, but my feet slip, sending me flat on my back.

The little monster hops onto my stomach with mocking ease, saunters up to my throat, and presses a soft, deceptively gentle paw against my neck—before its claws dig in. Blood trickles down as it kneads, playing with me, carving fresh cuts with every flex.

I lost... again.

Frustration wells up as tears spill over. Then—rustling from a nearby bush.

Crap. If someone sees me like this...

I don't want anyone to witness this humiliation. Please. Let it be someone calm. Please... please...!

"Not over here either... Huh?!"

...Oh no.

"Sei... Seibetsu's getting destroyed by some rich person's cat?!"

Welp. They saw everything.

---

"How weak ARE you to get beaten up that badly by a cat?!"

"Those injuries... from just an ordinary housecat?!"

"You are fundamentally unsuited for combat."

"[Heheh... this one's weaker than a cat, boss!]"

"At least you're not seriously hurt...!"

Let me explain. My biggest weakness is my terrible stamina. That doesn't mean I'm strong in short fights either. Fast opponents wreck me, and bare skin can't defend against slashing attacks (read: scratches).

...Yeah. That's about it. I mean, you'd think a chubby cat would be easy to grab and toss outside, right? Couldn't even catch the damn thing. And it counterattacks with slashes (scratches) after dodging.

My current condition? Covered in mud (from slipping) and blood (from scratches and falls). My clothes are shredded (from scraping against the ground and claw attacks). Total wreck.

"But looking at it... the cat seems attached to Seibetsu?"

"It's licking her wounds... Maybe it didn't mean to hurt her that badly?"

"No way! This thing was absolutely trying to murder me! You don't get this many injuries from—"

"The cat's claws are unusually long. Housecats typically have them trimmed. This one likely hadn't had its manicure yet. It was probably playing with you the same way it would with trimmed claws."

"...Huh?"

Wait, that can't be right. Then what about the barrage of scratches that shredded my clothes? The biting?!

"Scratching is just claw maintenance. Biting is... an intense form of affection, like with plush toys."

...You've gotta be kidding me. So this whole time... I thought we were fighting, but we were just playing? I wasn't even on the same level as an actual opponent...?!

"I'm... WEAK!"

"This is common knowledge."

"[Perhaps we weaker beings should form an alliance?]"

"You're tactically inefficient."

"Losing to a PLAYFUL CAT? What kind of weakness is THAT?!"

Of course I got roasted by everyone. But come on... That cat was my natural enemy! Right? Right?!

The others were seriously impressive after that. Using the ball I'd fought so hard for, they lured the cat to the edge of the property. While the guards were distracted, we began our infiltration. A pet means a pet door—not only did they find it, but Sakuraba kept throwing pebbles with pinpoint accuracy despite injuring her fingers, successfully unlocking the entrance. This girl's amazing.

Next obstacle: the mansion's guard dog. Dozens of times stronger than that cat, it seemed impossible—until Yoshimoto volunteered as bait, her unparalleled "weakling aura" combining with Kusuri's instant sleep drug for a perfect mochi combo from the second floor. Dog: neutralized.

Then came the infrared sensors. Impossible to see... until Kusuri's "See-Only-Infrared Eye Drops" let Rentarou and Inda spot the beams. Using their brute strength to prop up a section of wall, we slipped through near the ceiling where the sensors didn't reach.

All that was left was for Rentarou and Inda to reach the room and extract Hakari. The rest of us prepared the escape route... or so we thought.

"BEEEEEP!!!"

The alarms blared. No one touched the sensors, and Rentarou's path should've been clear. Why?!

"Why's the alarm going off?! No one triggered—OH COME ON!"

The damn cat! You... YOU little—?! Weren't you just taken away by security?!

"It's you again... Wait. I saw a shadow just now... Someone's here?!"

Crap. Hiding was one thing, but I couldn't conceal my stretched shadow in the light...!

"We're screwed... They'll find everyone at this rate!"

"Now that they know we're here, someone needs to be the decoy... But—"

"[Eeeek! I don't wanna get caught!]"

What now? Sakuraba's the only one fast enough to outrun guards one-on-one, but evading multiple in the mansion? Impossible.

...I see. The real question is: who's the slowest here? Kusuri can run fast in adult mode, Sakuraba's obvious, which leaves me and Yoshimoto... and my injuries make me the obvious choice. No stamina either.

Not that hypotheticals matter. I was going anyway. But this reasoning will help later when I need to justify it. "There was no other choice," and all that.

"I'll be the decoy... All of you are precious to Rentarou."

"What are you saying, Seibetsu?! You're precious to Rentarou too—!"

"[Stop this reckless charge!]"

Before their protests could reach me, I was already sprinting into view of the guards.

"There! An intruder!"

"This way! The small one!"

Not like I planned to just run blindly. Rich people's mansions mean expensive furniture—if they're careful not to break anything while chasing me, I can buy time by weaving through hiding spots.

Plus, if I keep the guards occupied, it'll help everyone escape—not just Kusuri's group, but Rentarou and Hakari too. I'll do everything I can in this state. I know that's what Rentarou would say.

"She's gone..."

"...Now that we're behind schedule, wasting the decoy's sacrifice would be inefficient. We must hurry."

"[Agreed.]

---

Several minutes later...

Turns out, I failed. Couldn't outmaneuver the guards... Now, completely drained from overexertion, I'm being dragged away.

From what I overheard, Rentarou's group got caught too. If only I'd acted sooner. If only I were stronger. If only, if only— Regret floods my mind.

Please, Rentarou... Be safe. Clinging to that frail hope, I arrive before massive doors. They creak open slowly—and the first words from inside the room defy all logic. Given the situation. Given the speaker.

"Rentarou-chaaaaan! Go out with me, pleeeeease! ❤︎❤︎❤︎"

..................??????????

Uh... What? How? Why?

"W-Well... um... that is..."

"Have you lost your MIND?!"

"M-Ma'am, we've apprehended the intruders..."

"...Guh!"

...What is this atmosphere?!

Seriously? We're ending here? On this note?!

...Seriously?!