Chapter 12
by Need_More_SleepChapter 12: A Meeting In The Greenhouse
Sitting opposite Tohyama Kanako and Aria, the couple each bit one end of a french fry. Looking at their stance, it wouldn’t be strange if they started passionately kissing the next second.
However, from Tohyama Kanako’s perspective, they looked more like some kind of animals fighting over food…
Perhaps because she had read many romance manga and watched many romantic films, Tohyama Kanako was somewhat immune to such scenes. If it were two girls, that might spark a bit of feeling in her.
The Aria beside Tohyama Kanako, however, was having a harder time. Holding her crêpe in one hand, she covered her eyes with the other, already flushed red.
Tohyama Kanako noticed the gaps between Aria’s spread fingers clearly didn’t block her view. Did she want to see or not?
“So, hurry up and eat. We’ll leave once you’re done. You’re clearly very uncomfortable here.” Tohyama Kanako urged, finishing her own crêpe in a few bites and pulling out a tissue to wipe her mouth.
“W-why should I?! They’re just a measly couple. I’m not leaving!” Aria slapped her thigh, her stubborn streak flaring up again.
“Right, you’re from England. The social climate there is so open. Have you been in a relationship before?” Tohyama Kanako subtly guided the conversation, trying to pry some information from Aria.
“N-no, I haven’t. I-I don’t have that kind of free time to g-go dating. That kind of time-wasting thing, I-I don’t care about it at all. I really don’t!” Aria forcefully explained.
Despite saying she didn’t care, Aria still stuffed the crêpe into her mouth at top speed, nearly choking.
“No friends to talk about romance topics with either?” Tohyama Kanako pressed further.
“I… have no friends, and don’t need any. That kind of topic… w-would only distract me!”
“……” Tohyama Kanako was left speechless, even feeling a bit sorry for Aria.
Although Tohyama Kanako now lived an almost reclusive life, she did have many friends in middle and elementary school, though they were out of touch now.
By observing Aria’s reactions, Tohyama Kanako had discovered one of the latter’s weaknesses.
Aria seemed to have little resistance to things like romance—shy yet curious, her reactions very immature.
Replenished with energy, Tohyama Kanako got to work, holding the photo from the commission documents to search for the cat in the park.
Now, the previously purchased catnip came into play.
Catnip, scientific name Nepeta cataria, is a perennial herb that synthesizes a volatile chemical compound. When cats inhale this compound into their nasal passages, it stimulates their sensory neurons and activates areas of the brain governing emotion and endocrine responses.
Under the influence of catnip, cats exhibit pleasurable behaviors similar to being in heat. Tigers, lions, and other felines are no exception.
Before long, over twenty stray cats were lounging around Tohyama Kanako. Unfortunately, none were her target, not a single one matched the photo.
“Let’s go, Aria. We need to change locations. It’s not here.” Tohyama Kanako said to Aria, who was playing with a stray cat beside her.
“Huh? We’re leaving already? I wanted to play a bit more.” Aria, squatting, was having a great time playing with a calico cat.
“Then stay.” Tohyama Kanako shot Aria a sidelong glance. Did she not realize this was work?
“Let’s go. Where’s the next investigation point?” Aria’s face changed swiftly. She immediately let go of the calico cat and stood up, not even glancing back at the meowing cat. Truly heartless—playing and then discarding…
“Let me think.” Tohyama Kanako recalled the previously gathered information.
Aside from Tohyama Kanako and Aria, several other couples were playing with the cats around them.
“Are you two looking for a cat?” The female of one couple inquired.
“Yes.” Tohyama Kanako responded.
“We heard what sounded like a cat when we passed over there earlier today.” The girl pointed to a corner of the park.
That corner was where the sea met a canal. Besides bordering the sea, one side of the park also ran alongside a canal, coincidentally where the canal had an outlet to the sea.
“Thank you for the information.” Tohyama Kanako expressed her thanks, then headed with Aria towards the park corner.
After searching around the corner for a while, Tohyama Kanako indeed heard a cat’s cry.
Following the sound, it led them to the edge of the canal’s breakwater.
“Ah, I see it.” Aria’s eyesight was excellent, she spotted the cat’s location instantly.
Inside a trash bin floating by the canal’s edge, a helpless kitten was crying pitifully.
“How did it end up in such a wretched place?” Tohyama Kanako compared visually and found the kitten in the bin might be her target, the bell around its neck looked very similar.
Tohyama Kanako found a discarded bucket nearby, emptied its contents, rinsed it with canal water, placed the dried fish inside, then approached the kitten with the bucket.
Standing at the canal’s edge, she stretched her arm out, offering the bucket with dried fish towards the kitten. The bucket leaned against the trash bin, hoping to lure the kitten inside.
Scenting the food, the kitten in the bin turned towards Tohyama Kanako, but its eyes held wariness.
“Come on, come on. There’s delicious dried fish inside.” Tohyama Kanako coaxed the kitten.
Perhaps too hungry, the kitten couldn’t resist the temptation of the dried fish. Mustering its strength, it leaped into the bucket and began tearing at the fish.
“Done.” Tohyama Kanako carried the bucket away from the water’s edge, lifted the kitten—still eating the dried fish—to check, and confirmed it was indeed her target.
Then, she placed the kitten back in the bucket and tossed in the remaining dried fish and catnip. This way, she didn’t have to worry about the kitten escaping.
“That’s it? It’s over?” Aria sounded somewhat disappointed.
“What did you expect? It’s just finding a cat. Did you think it would involve scaling walls and rooftops, brandishing knives and guns?”
“I was hoping… never mind.” Aria hesitated but didn’t finish.
With the bucket containing the kitten, Tohyama Kanako met with the client, delivered the kitten, received the reward, and obtained the proof of commission completion, which she needed to take back to school and submit to a teacher to earn the academic credits.
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On the afternoon of April 3rd, the day after completing the cat-finding commission, while cooking dinner in the dorm in the evening, Tohyama Kanako excused herself and, carrying a paper bag, went to the greenhouse beneath the dormitory building to meet someone.
Perhaps because the girls at Butei High generally lacked the gentleness required for tending flowers and plants, few besides the gardener ever entered the greenhouse. Tohyama Kanako had only been there during the initial school tour. Thus, it was a suitable place for a secret rendezvous.
“Kanako-sama!!!”
As soon as Tohyama Kanako entered the greenhouse, Riko Mine, who had arranged to meet her, called out her name, waving as she came running from deep within the greenhouse. A wave of cloyingly sweet fragrance assaulted Tohyama Kanako.
She’s wearing way too much perfume! Tohyama Kanako thought to herself.
Dodging Riko’s charge, Tohyama Kanako asked, “Where are the things I wanted?”
“So hurtful! Kanako-sama actually dodged my hug!” Riko covered her eyes, putting on an act as if about to cry.
“Who wants to hug you?! Let’s get down to business. My time is limited, or I’ll just return all this.” Tohyama Kanako shook the paper bag in her hand.
“Yes, ma’am! You are absolutely right!” Riko gave a playful salute.
[To be continued.]
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