Chapter 11

Rohr is probably standing on top of the car.

What are they planning to do with that huge dragon?

As I was thinking this, a loud thud came from above.

Could it have flown?

No way, right?

I can’t take my hands off the steering wheel, so all I can do is keep my eyes on the road.

I grip the wheel tightly to maintain control, despite its heavy feel.

The rough road jolted the truck violently.

However, I don’t let up on the accelerator and just keep pushing forward.

I don’t have the luxury to listen to the sounds outside the truck.

Just then,

A dragon descended from above, right in front of me.

It was the Blade Dragon from earlier.

Startled by the loud noise as the Blade Dragon hit the ground, I slammed on the brakes and stopped in front of it.

The front windshield was completely covered by its massive body.

"...No way, right?"

With that mutter, I got out of the truck.

The Blade Dragon was dead, its neck twisted, tongue and eyes protruding, and its legs still twitching.

Did Rohr do this?

"Still, it’s huge..."

I approached the imposing Blade Dragon and touched the scales on its blade.

The scales were sharper than I thought, and I cut my finger a little.

But where did Rohr go?

As I listened carefully, I could clearly hear Rohr’s heartbeat from behind the Blade Dragon.

I circled around to the other side of the corpse, and Rohr’s footsteps moved to avoid me.

"...?"

Is he trying to play hide and seek?

As I thought this and chased after Rohr, I ended up circling the Blade Dragon.

What is he trying to do?

"Rohr! What are you trying to do!?"

I called out to Rohr, who was on the other side of the Blade Dragon.

But there was no response.

I crept closer to Rohr, but he moved away again.

What a mischievous... or rather, troublesome guy.

"Seriously, what are you doing!? Cut it out!"

As I shouted, a faint voice came from behind, barely audible to me.

"I used the 'Stray Cat' ability... It takes 10 minutes to revert..."

I see.

So Rohr has cat ears right now.

And he didn’t show them before because he was embarrassed.

It seems he can’t revert as quickly as Kuroken.

"Hmm..."

I sprinted.

I had to see it no matter what.

"Why are you coming!?"

Rohr started running too.

"I want to see!"

"It won’t end well!"

We chased each other for a while, but I couldn’t catch up. I couldn’t even see his shadow.

It’s quite humiliating to be unable to catch a girl, but Rohr is using an enhancement ability, so it can’t be helped.

He’s too fast.

We’ve already circled the Blade Dragon twice.

Just then, I was quite out of breath and had a brilliant idea.

I just need to make the sound of chasing.

And as soon as I thought of it, I put it into action.

I hid behind the truck and made the sound of me chasing Rohr.

I haven’t been neglecting my ability training.

I tried to keep my breathing as quiet as possible and waited for Rohr to fall for it and come towards me.

Then, I leaped out from behind the truck when Rohr was close.

"What! You...!"

This time, Rohr quickly hid behind the truck.

He’s a cat... no, he’s actually a cat.

Yes, I saw Rohr for a moment.

Not just the cat ears, but the tail too.

"...You shouldn’t have seen that."

"I already did. Come out."

Honestly, I didn’t see it clearly. But at this point, there’s no way he’s not going to show it.

Then, Rohr came out from behind the truck, holding his ears and tail.

His ears and tail couldn’t be completely hidden by his hands, peeking out.

"...Sigh..."

"Your... ears and tail..."

Then I saw him face-to-face and couldn’t help but be shocked.

How can he be so cute...

Do cat ears and a tail really change a person this much? No, this is probably the effect of the 'Stray Cat' ability.

It’s like a psychological magnet.

In fact, I was drawn to Rohr, moving closer.

Too cute.

It’s the feeling of not being able to leave a stray cat alone.

I want to pet him, admire him, and rub cheeks with him.

"Rohr... this is dangerous..."

"See, it doesn’t end well.

You’re especially bad..."

Rohr sighed.

"Try to take your hands off."

"No way. You’ll pet me.

Being pet is a bit... weird."

What do you mean?

And he’s really cute.

I can’t hold back anymore. Should I hug him forcefully?

"Seriously, it’s dangerous."

"If you come any closer, I’ll punch you. You’re too much. It’s abnormal."

"Damn it! Let me hug you!"

Determined to hug Rohr, I lunged at him, but my solar plexus was hit by a fist, and I collapsed on the spot.

---

After regaining some composure, I pretended to look at the scenery from the passenger seat while secretly glancing at the cat ears and tail next to me.

The truck continued moving.

The Blade Dragon was reported to the base and would be collected.

It’s a waste to leave it there since it provides rare materials.

"...Why are you staring?"

"Because it’s... distracting."

Ten minutes is long. But it should be almost over soon.

"I should have brought a hat."

"Can I pet you just once?"

"No."

Just then, Rohr’s cat ears perked up.

A small animal appeared at the edge of my vision.

Rohr’s usually drooping cat ears were now standing straight, pointing in that direction.

"...So, it’s really cute.

Is it because you’re a cat that you’re interested in such things?"

"It can’t be helped. Sometimes enhanced animals come with instincts and habits.

But, it’s over now."

As Rohr said this, the cat ears and tail disappeared.

It seems the 10 minutes have passed.

"Oh...! The tail! The ears!"

I reached out to Rohr, but my hand was slapped away.

As Rohr’s ability completely wore off, I gradually regained my composure.

"Phew, I’m tired.

That’s why I don’t like using the 'Stray Cat' ability.

It’s tiring and it makes Shizune go into heat."

"...You weren’t in heat.

It was just unreasonably cute. Too cute."

"Can you stop saying 'cute' so much? It’s throwing me off..."

"Are you blushing?"

"I’m not blushing."

"A little bit, right?"

"...Well, it’s nice to be called cute."

Even without the cat ears, Rohr is cute.

Sometimes he shows kindness and femininity that makes my heart race.

Falling for him might just be a matter of time.

"Shizune, show me your cool side soon."

With that counter, I was left speechless.

It might take time to stand on equal footing with Rohr.

But I can feel that we’re gradually getting closer to each other.

After a while, we finally saw the town.

The town at the end of the road was bathed in the evening sun, making it look picturesque.

We entered the town, and Rohr parked the truck in the parking lot of the restaurant we visited earlier and got out of the driver’s seat.

The slain dragon was loaded in the back, covered with a tarp.

Leaving the truck here, the organization’s people would collect it.

So our mission is complete here.

"It’s an awkward time."

Looking at the clock, Rohr said.

The clock read just past 5:30 PM.

"Yeah."

"Are you really okay with the test?"

"Well, I’m pretty prepared. I studied a lot."

"Hmm.

How about a little fun?

Let’s have dinner there first."

Rohr pointed to the restaurant and said with a mischievous smile.

I was planning to go home and study, but I couldn’t refuse.

"Sure."

"Let’s go, then."

---

When we entered the restaurant, we unexpectedly ran into some people.

Genki, Oohashi, and Rin.

The other members of Genki’s harem seemed to be unable to keep up with Oohashi and Rin’s intense efforts, so they were less active recently.

But that’s beside the point; we discovered them studying together.

Rohr, who noticed them first, made a visibly unpleasant face.

It’s not that she dislikes them, but the acting is bothersome.

Moreover, it would be quite troublesome if it were known that we came to this restaurant on the outskirts of town together.

But why are they studying here?

Anyway, we tried to leave the restaurant without being noticed.

However, Genki and the others noticed us before we could.

Once that happened, we couldn’t leave the restaurant.

So,

We ended up sitting at a table right next to Genki and the others, and Rohr handled the barrage of questions with grace.

We ended up saying we were on a date.

"Kamiya-kun, you’re not one to be underestimated."

"I didn’t know Fūto had such initiative... I’m surprised."

"Fūto, you must have had a crush.

Congratulations."

It seems they all thought we were dating.

This might cause trouble at school.

Rohr is already quite popular in school.

I tried to assert that we weren’t dating, but Rohr said before I could.

"Could you keep our relationship a secret?"

Since Rohr said this, it seems there are no obstacles to us pretending to be dating at school.

Even if we say to keep it a secret, rumors will spread quickly.

But it might make it easier for us to act together.

I might have to endure jealous glares and some harassment from the other guys.

"Of course, I won’t tell anyone.

Since we’re in the way, let’s go."

Genki said this, and Oohashi and Rin stood up.

It seems they were leaving to avoid bothering us.

We tried to stop them, but honestly, we wanted them to leave.

The three of them, who seemed to see through our thoughts, finished paying and left the restaurant.

"Our plans are off."

After the three left, Rohr said after a while.

"What plans?"

"I wanted to spend more time with you and get closer.

Now we’re already dating."

She’s talking about school.

Rohr had various plans.

"Is there a problem?"

"I wanted to take it more carefully. But it’s fine."

"Hmm.

Let’s order something, then."

I said, opening the restaurant’s menu.

"I’ve already decided.

I’ll have the omelet rice and melon soda. What about you, Fūto?"

"Huh? Fūto?"

"It’s not a mission now. I’m still Rohr, though."

I see. We don’t need to use code names in private.

Still, omelet rice and melon soda. It’s not the kind of choice I’d expect from Rohr, who usually makes very healthy meals.

"I’ll have the same, then."

"Why are you ordering the same?"

"We’re a couple in private, right?"

"True. But it’s unbalanced nutrition, so I’ll order for you.

That’s more like a girlfriend, right?"

---

After finishing our meal, we chatted for a while and then left the restaurant.

It was around 7:00 PM.

Then, at Rohr’s suggestion, we did some light shopping at a nearby department store before returning to the base.

It was past 10:00 PM.

Rohr bought quite a few clothes, so my hands were full of bags.

She even picked out some clothes for me, saying, "You’d look good in these."

Even though Rohr has money, I didn’t want to let her pay as a matter of pride. Thanks to the reward from the mission with Kuroken and the others, I had some extra money, and I was wondering how to spend it, so this was a good opportunity.

But another 450,000 yen will be coming in at the end of the month.

My sense of money is going to be off.

"Good night."

"Good night."

After seeing Rohr to her room, I put down the bags and said goodbye.

I decided to leave the clothes she picked out for me in her room.

"Wait, hold on."

Just as I was about to leave, Rohr stopped me.

I turned around, and she was sticking her head out of the room.

"What?"

"Come here."

When I went back to the room, Rohr started measuring my back and arms with a tape measure.

"...What are you doing?"

"I’m ordering a tuxedo for you. Something easy to move in for infiltration or suppression missions."

"Really, you have those?"

A tuxedo. That’s embarrassing.

After measuring for a while, Rohr said,

"Okay, that’s enough. Good night. Study hard, okay?"

"Ah, yeah..."

With that awkward response, my day with Rohr came to an end.