Cats and the Camellia Train - Chapter 1

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Student Council Room

Souma: H-Hasumi-dono, Kiryuu-dono.

Keito: So it’s you, Kanzaki. Today there are no Akatsuki activ-...

K, Ka-Ka- Kanzaki!?

Keito: What is wrong with your belly!? It looks like it’s about to burst? Seriously, what happened!?

Souma: Umm, ummmm… I- I just gained a few pounds!

Keito: A few!? Your belly is more than twice as big as it was yesterday, though!?

Souma: Hasumi-dono, I hit a growth spurt. Because of this, it’s not unlikely to gain this much weight within a single night!

Keito: No way! Besides, it’s unthinkable for only your stomach to grow in size!

Kuro: Calm down, Danna. Kanzaki, too. Stop sayin’ such incomprehensible stuff and explain yours-...

?: “Meow ♪”

Keito: Meow…?

Souma: Ah~! Ah~! My stomach made that noise because I’m hungry!

Keito: Your stomach cries “meow” when you’re hungry!?

Souma: Because of my growth spurt, my stomach is crying out for nourishment! That said, I shall now go and satisfy my appetite! Farewell, my brethren!

Keito: Kanzaki? Hey, Kanzaki~?

Location: 1st Floor Passageway

Souma: Huff, huff, haa, haa….!

Now that I’ve ran this far I should be safe. “Hana”, are you okay? I carried you so roughly, so I’m worried you might feel sick.

Kuro: He~ey, Kanzaki!

Souma: K-Kiryuu-dono!? Wh-wh-what is it!?

Kuro: I went after you because you were actin’ so strangely. I won’t press the matter, but if you wanna talk I’ll hear you out.

You’re my precious comrade. You don’t have to take everything upon yourself.

Souma: Kiryuu-dono…

I’ve made a mistake. I’m sorry for running away!

Here, “Hana”. Come out.

Kuro: So it really was a cat after all. What’s up? Don’t tell me you started keepin’ it.

Souma: Well. I happened to find it while I was walking along the “gaaden supeesu”.

I thought the student council might have received a missing pet notice, so I headed there.

Kiryuu-dono and Hasumi-dono were talking about the health department... So I thought it’d be bad to bring out “Hana”, and made up a lie in the spur of the moment!

I am honestly so sorry! I’ll apologize by committing seppuku!

Kuro: Hasumi tells you this all the time, but don’t go committin’ seppuku so easily. I wouldn’t want my comrade to die, and in this case, the both of us are in the wrong, too.

Kanzaki, I’m sorry for worryin’ you. Just because you picked up a cat that’s gotten into school grounds doesn’t mean we’ll call the health department right away.

The official stance of the student council might be that we’re gonna let the health department deal with it, but.

Hasumi is making all kinds of arrangements. Like finding foster parents or the like.

It’s not like Hasumi bears some kinda grudge against cats and dogs. And even I kind of like animals.

Souma: Kiryuu-dono…

Hearing that gave me peace of mind!

Ooh, “Hana” is meowing too. Seems like you’re relieved as well, there, there ♪

Kuro: Haha, you look real happy.

Hm? Wait, Kanzaki, aren’t you looking for that cats’ owner... How do you know its name?

Souma: Yes, well. The name “Hana” was written on the collar.

But since there was no address or name written on it, I have no choice but to look for its owner with no other clues but the name.

Kuro: Hmm. So it’s a female cat, huh.

Souma: No, it’s a boy. I’m not his owner, so I have no idea why they would call him “Hana”.

In any case, do you happen to have any acquaintances who keep cats, Kiryuu-dono?

Kuro: Hm~... There’s one who keeps rabbits, but I don’t know anyone who’s got cats.

Souma: In that case, I have no choice but to search around seriously. ...Aah, but I haven’t asked if there’s a missing pet notice yet. I guess I could return to the student council room.

By the way, Hasumi-dono doesn’t happen to dislike cats, right?

I didn’t think of it earlier, but if he does dislike cats, I’d feel awkward about returning to the student council room with “Hana”.

Kuro: Don’t worry yourself none. I don’t remember when it happened, but one time he was staring at his smartphone and smiling.

When I asked him about it, he said “A cat I’ve been concerned about for a while had babies. Kiryuu, come have a look.” and happily showed me pictures of cats…

So I don’t think he dislikes ‘em or anything.

Souma: In that case I can return without worry!

Let’s hope we find your owner, “Hana” ♪