Seeing Raana obediently close her eyes, Kikukawa Kyo couldn't resist a little mischief—just like how people instinctively reach out to pet a cat when they see one.
Bringing the matcha parfait she'd been hiding behind her back to the front, Kyo took the small spoon that was stuck in it and scooped up a bit of the whipped ice cream from the top.
Then, without warning, she tapped the spoon—ice cream and all—right onto the tip of Raana's nose.
The sudden cold sensation landing on her nose made Raana instinctively yelp, "Nya!" Her eyes shot open, and she immediately sat up, raising her hands like claws, ready to pounce and scratch at Kyo.
But then, she caught a whiff of a sweet, familiar scent lingering right in front of her.
And she saw it—the green hue in Kyo's hand... Matcha parfait!
Raana's eyes instantly cleared up, and she reached up to scrape the cold, wet thing off her nose.
Upon realizing that the slightly melted, dripping ice cream she had been so eager to shake off was, in fact, the very parfait she'd been craving, her thoughts made a complete 180.
Without hesitation, she popped the chunk of matcha ice cream hanging from her finger into her mouth, a blissful expression spreading across her face.
"I want more." Raana licked her fingers clean and immediately locked onto the parfait cup in Kyo's hands, leaning forward to snatch the dessert that was still brimming with sweetness.
But Kyo casually blocked her attempt with a raised hand.
"I don't recall saying this parfait was for a certain kitty," Kyo teased, her desire to mess with Raana growing. She deliberately placed the parfait just within reach—where it seemed like a single stretch would be enough to grab it.
But the moment Raana reached out, Kyo would always pull it back in time.
After a few rounds of this back-and-forth, Raana finally stopped and settled back into her seat. Then, she resorted to her usual trick for avoiding scoldings—
She widened her mismatched eyes, blinking them with a sparkle, gazing up at Kyo with a pitiful expression.
"Kyooo~ I want it."
Though Raana deliberately stretched out her words to make it sound like she was whining,
The truth was, even her attempt at looking pitiful didn't quite work. Her facial features were all positioned correctly for the expression, but somehow, the feeling just wasn't there.
To Kyo, Raana still looked like her usual blank-faced self—her performance too obviously forced.
However, her voice had a unique charm to it. At first, it seemed as flat as her expression, lacking emotion, but upon closer attention, it resembled the soft mewling of a kitten.
Honestly, if Raana just had cat ears and a tail, she'd be a full-fledged catgirl.
If it were anyone else, they might actually fall for Raana's little act, surrendering the parfait to her, only to be immediately discarded as she indulged in her treat.
Just like a cat would.
But unfortunately for Raana, she was up against Kikukawa Kyo—a cold-hearted person utterly immune to such tricks. Watching Raana put her all into acting cute, Kyo simply smiled to herself. Adorable. And then?
"You like it that much?"
Kyo scooped up another spoonful, waving it in the air from side to side. Raana's heterochromatic eyes followed it intently.
"Mmh!"
"But this is something I wanted for myself. And then Raana suddenly pops up, saying she wants some—shouldn't she offer something in return?"
"I don't have money," Raana declared, utterly unfazed.
Then pay with your body!
Kikukawa Kyo had the urge to blurt out the joke but, glancing at Raana—who was only a year younger yet still had such an innocent, childlike air—felt like she just couldn't say it out loud.
"Well, since everyone calls you a cat, why don't you try meowing like one?"
The thought had barely formed before Kyo voiced it. Raana's usual way of speaking already resembled a cat's; if she actually started meowing, wouldn't that make her a cat for real?
"So if I do that, I'll get the parfait?" This time, Raana had learned her lesson. She wanted confirmation before acting.
Kyo nodded, watching her expectantly. Observing people was one thing, but watching a cat in action? Now that was a rare treat.
"Meow."
Without a moment's hesitation, Raana meowed. She was so quick about it that Kyo hadn't even processed it yet.
"Meow." Thinking one meow might not be enough, Raana meowed again. "Is that good enough, meow?"
"Uh…" Kyo felt oddly let down by how easily Raana gave in.
"Meow."
"You're good, but—"
"Meow."
Raana started meowing nonstop, flicking her gaze between the parfait and Kyo's face, as if silently declaring that until the parfait was handed over, she would not stop.
"…You really are a cat." Kyo sighed in defeat and placed the parfait on the table for her. "Here, it's yours."
"Meow!"
Raana, still caught up in her role, even let out a gleeful meow in place of a cheer.
Kyo couldn't help but laugh, feeling a twinge of guilt. What am I even doing to this not-so-bright little cat?
As Raana dug in, eagerly shoveling spoonfuls of parfait into her mouth, Kyo picked up her long-abandoned cappuccino and finally took a sip.
For a while, the two sat together—one human, one cat—each enjoying their treat in peaceful harmony. The scene was oddly amusing yet oddly fitting.
"Kyo is a good woman. I like you." Raana managed to slip in a compliment between bites. Sure, she had to give something in return for the parfait, but all she had to do was meow—unlike that black-haired woman with the beauty mark near her eye, who always made her pay and even scolded her!
"So my approval can be bought with just a parfait, huh?" Kyo raised a brow, recalling how wary Raana had been of her at first. "Also, I'm only a year older than you. 'Woman' feels a bit much."
"Then what should I call you?" Raana blinked, her lips still dusted with whipped cream.
"Good girl…? No, that doesn't sound right either. Hm, there really isn't a perfect word for it."
"Kyo, come closer."
"…?"
Kyo hesitated but leaned in as Raana requested—only to have her face gently cupped by Raana's hands.
If there's no word for it, then I'll just express it like everyone else in the parking lot (meaning: the cats).
That was the thought running through Raana's mind—
As she rubbed her whipped-cream-covered cheek lightly against Kyo's.