Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Laughed
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I'd talked it up like some fancy daily pass or whatever, but honestly, there was nothing special about it.
We meet every day anyway. And whenever Ranyori wants something, I pretty much give it to her.
Separate from her usual whining, her actual requests are always simple things like wanting to go somewhere or try some food.
So, what meaning did I intend with that one-day pass I handed over as a promise?
It's not nothing. It's just a way of saying, "Stop working for today and hang out with me!"
Lately, I've been super busy writing volume two. And right after publishing it, I jumped straight into volume three, so we've spent less time together than usual.
"So, what are you gonna do?"
Ranyori asked. Her pretty pink eyes sparkled with excitement.
"About what?"
"Are you gonna play with Ranyori until midnight tonight? Or stick with me for a full twenty-four hours starting now?"
"Uh... I never thought of it as that strict."
You know how there's that point where you both feel like it's enough? That's all I had in mind.
"Let's set a penalty!"
"A penalty?"
"If I stick around you past the time I set, even after it ends! I'll give you that much Ranyori time in return!"
"...So that was your goal all along, conditions and penalties be damned."
"Yep!"
"I had a feeling you weren't planning on just one day anyway."
"Of course not!"
Ah, I see. So the "one-day pass" was just an excuse to stick around for a good while.
And if it drags on like that, she'll pay me back with her own time. She figures she has nothing to lose anyway.
In the end, it'll just keep going like this. What is this, infinite energy?
This is gonna be...
"...a lot of fun, huh."
"Right?"
"But no. I'm seriously busy. And it'd dilute the meaning."
"Huh? Why?"
"What's the difference from our usual hangouts?"
"Hng."
In the end, we agreed to just hang out until bedtime, no conditions attached.
"Then if we pull an all-nighter tonight...!"
"Don't say weird stuff."
"Hiiing."
And come the next day... honestly, nothing much changes. I'll get back to writing my novel.
But that felt kinda empty from Ranyori's perspective, so I decided to at least make it special.
"So, what do you wanna do? Just say it."
"Anything?"
"Of course. Just say it."
"Then, um! Can we do stuff that'd make Aren embarrassed or burdened?"
"If that's what you want."
"Ooh...!"
Of course, I have no intention of going that far.
But honestly, you're all talk anyway—you couldn't actually do it.
We have to see each other first thing tomorrow morning. Neither of us has skin that thick.
Anyway, Ranyori, brimming with anticipation, told me what she wanted to do first.
"First off! Then!"
"Yeah."
"Let's eat!"
"Where?"
"Let's go out!"
"Sure."
Ranyori strode out boldly. I followed behind.
At first, we walked side by side, but she got so excited she started trotting ahead, tail swishing like crazy.
Anyway, my strides are longer, so catching up was easy enough.
But I didn't see the point. Judging by her reactions.
Ranyori would dash ahead, stop once she got a bit ahead, turn back with a big grin, and wait for me.
Then when I got close, she'd trot off again. When she pulled away, she'd wait.
Sometimes she'd hide behind a tree or streetlamp, peeking out just her head.
I have no idea why. Honestly, I've long given up trying to understand Cat Beastkin behavior—everything else, too, but especially that.
As long as it's cute, right? Look at those perky ears.
"Heehee."
She giggled every time I approached. She was clearly having a blast, even if I didn't get why.
Anyway, as we made our way like that, this time she stayed put even when I got close.
Guess we've arrived. She wants to go in there.
There was a restaurant ahead. Pretty crowded inside.
This time, Ranyori wasn't looking at me. No tail swish, no grin.
She stared at the restaurant, and when I quietly waited, she finally spoke.
"...I can go in there, right?"
"What's stopping you?"
"They won't mind a Beastkin coming in?"
"No way."
I got what she was worried about.
Humans' hatred toward Beastkin ran deep.
They'd pick fights just for catching sight of one.
And restaurants were where that discrimination showed up most blatantly.
No matter how much humans disliked Beastkin, the world was nominally equal.
Other places had no excuse to kick them out just for entering.
Even with Beastkin prejudice at rock bottom, chasing someone out purely because it soured your mood wouldn't look good.
But restaurants had a convenient excuse: letting Beastkin inside might mean fur in the food.
No matter what the owner thought, if human customers complained, out they'd go.
Obviously bullshit. Strip away the ears and tail, and they're just like humans. How much fur could they even shed?
But Beastkin had no way to fight back against that unfair treatment. They just had to accept it.
Their options were Beastkin-run places or human-run spots without the bad blood.
Ranyori's situation had been similar. She mostly crashed at our house.
She'd occasionally apologize and try to give my parents money from odd jobs... but they'd take it?
They'd accept flowers instead. ...Tangent over.
We did go out to eat together sometimes like today.
Usually, we'd just get takeout and eat outside, or I'd go into a Beastkin-only place.
During quiet times, of course. Even then, I'd have to pull a hood or hat low to hide who I was.
Sometimes I'd still get spotted, and the Beastkin would get nervous knowing I was human. Not a great sight.
"Putting everything else aside, what do you want to do?"
"...Um. I, I want..."
"..."
"I want to eat at a restaurant full of humans... with you, Aren."
And today, Ranyori expressed her desire to try something different.
Her sparkling pink eyes held no grand resolve or determination—just pure anticipation.
"Then let's do it. Today's all about you."
"...But it's a day you're giving me, Aren—not one the world's giving me."
"If anyone acts like they hate you, I'll handle it."
"Ooh... my heart's pounding!"
"It's your call. Honestly, I don't know how others will react. Whatever you choose, I'll back you up."
"Uuum...!"
Ranyori hummed thoughtfully for a moment.
"...Let's go! I'm going in!"
And her answer was bold.
"It might be fine! Lately, people have been nice to Cat Beastkin for some reason!"
"...Yeah!"
Probably because of me... whatever.
Anyway, nothing could stop Ranyori now that she'd made up her mind.
She stepped forward confidently.
"But it'll really be okay, right?"
"It will."
"People won't get annoyed?"
"Of course not."
"Like, really-really-really no problems?"
"Ranyori, you're making me anxious too."
Nope. Confident, my ass. She's totally chickening out.
In the end, I took the lead. Ranyori stuck right behind me as we slipped inside quietly.
We sat at a secluded spot by the window. Ordered, and waited for the food.
Ranyori kept glancing around nervously, chugging her water.
"You'll fill up before the food even arrives."
"...My throat's so dry."
"No one's paying attention to you."
"Oh."
"Not even gonna check?"
"Nope."
"..."
Her head stayed glued to the window the whole time.
She was dead set on not looking toward the other customers.
Still, things were fine.
The waitress who seated us noticed Ranyori was a Beastkin but didn't react much.
...Actually, she did—I caught her sneaking peeks and covering her mouth to smile.
It was that delighted grin, like spotting a cute puppy on the street.
The other customers weren't paying us any mind a...
Or so I thought.
A middle-aged human guy at the next table was staring over here.
Our eyes met, but he didn't look away.
...Just stay quiet till we eat and leave, please.
Time passed. Food arrived.
For some reason, Ranyori's portion looked extra generous.
As if shaking off her earlier tension, her eyes went wide as she fixed on the food.
Her tail swished.
"Waaah..."
Ranyori let out an unconscious gasp of delight.
"Wah."
"?!"
The waitress serving it did the same upon seeing Ranyori.
"Oh dear, sorry about that."
"It's fine."
"??"
Ranyori was all question marks, so I handled the apology. No big deal.
Brushing off the little mishap, we started eating.
"Good?"
"Yeah!"
"Glad to hear it."
She said so, nodding vigorously.
Everything was great up to here... tasty food, cute Ranyori.
Then a bit of a commotion from the side.
The guy who'd been staring called over the waitress who'd served us and was talking her ear off.
The conversation dragged on. Ranyori sensed something off, swallowed her bite, and started looking anxious.
The waitress approached us with a troubled look.
Seems like the worst-case scenario I imagined was happening.
She looked at me and spoke.
"Um... this is really awkward, but that customer over there is so insistent..."
"What is it?"
"...He says he can't eat in the same space as someone with black hair."
"Ah."
It was me, fuck. Not Ranyori.
"We tried to handle it ourselves, but he's ready to complain directly to you..."
"I see..."
Hm, not quite my worst-case. Still felt pretty shitty.
"Pfft...!"
Ranyori, who'd been listening anxiously, suddenly faceplanted into her arms.
Her body twitched now and then.
...Yeah, better laughing than worrying.