Club Activities at Home
I mixed cheap instant coffee into a paper cup and poured in hot water from the kettle.
Then I handed one each to Santoto and Suptoto.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy this. Carrot."
"Lotus root... I really wanted an iced americano, though."
The two rabbits sat neatly on the floor and drank their coffee.
I sat facing them, took a sip of my own, and spoke.
"First of all, thank you. For supporting me all the way home."
"No need for thanks. I only did what a professor should. Carrot."
"If you're grateful, give my butt a few pats. Lotus root."
I already knew what had happened.
Yesterday I had gotten so drunk I couldn't stand, and after Isabella called for help, the rabbits had come running and carried me home.
But there was still one thing I hadn't asked.
"So why are those two in my house?"
I pointed at the mattress. A cat and a puppy were sitting there, looking awkward.
"Myaoong."
"W-woof..."
Even the puppy's bark sounded unnatural.
In looks alone, it was every bit as cute as the cat.
"Mm. Those two, you see..."
Professor Santoto answered with a faint, unreadable smile.
"You brought them yourself while you were drunk. We ran into them on the way home, and you threw a tantrum saying we absolutely had to take them with us. Carrot."
"Ah."
So that was it.
I had already suspected as much.
There was no way they had followed on their own. If I hadn't brought them, they wouldn't be here.
My memory's blank because the film cut out, but I must have brought the cat because I'd wanted one for a long time...
The puppy was a stranger, though.
I probably just thought it was pretty and grabbed it.
I never knew I had that kind of drunk habit.
"They followed so quietly. Usually animals resist when a stranger tries to take them."
"Looks like they took a liking to you. Carrot."
"But what do we do now?"
"Carrot? About what?"
"This is basically kidnapping. That puppy's coat is too well-groomed—it definitely has an owner. And the cat looks like one from the cat café we visited last week..."
"Don't worry."
Professor Santoto raised a blunt paw and waggled it— the rabbit equivalent of wagging a finger.
"Those two have no owners. Carrot."
"No owners? How do you know that, Professor?"
At my question she stroked her chin, thought for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"No human scent on them, for one... Mm. I can just tell by instinct. I'm an animal-type magic beast myself. Just to be sure I even asked the cat café, and they said it isn't one of theirs."
It felt suspiciously like a story she had made up on the spot, but...
Probably just my imagination.
Professor Santoto had no reason to lie to me about something like this.
"Then when we saw it at the café..."
"It was simply trespassing. Carrot."
"You mean it wandered in on its own?"
"Carrot. Exactly."
Not impossible.
That cat seemed unusually fond of me. Maybe it had followed my scent inside.
"Okay, so the cat's settled. And you're certain the puppy has no owner either?"
"Use common sense. A puppy wandering alone that late at night? No way it has an owner. Carrot."
Professor Santoto guaranteed it with a confident face.
I could trust her, right?
I turned and stared hard at the animals.
"Myaang."
"Woof... *sigh*... woof."
Did the puppy just sigh just now?
Another hallucination?
Well, anyway.
If they really were a stray cat and a stray dog...
"...Then can I keep them?"
I murmured, staring at them.
My true feelings had slipped out without permission.
Hearing that,
"Carrot? That's not a good idea. Raising animals costs a lot of money."
"She's right. You don't have the financial means to care for them. Lotus root."
Santoto and Suptoto both tried to stop me.
They weren't wrong.
I was still far from comfortable financially.
"But putting these pretty kids back on the street would hurt a little..."
"Meow."
"Woof."
The cat and puppy reacted to my words.
More precisely, they flinched at the phrase "pretty kids," looking almost bashful.
They seemed to understand some human speech.
Santoto gave the cat's head a few light pats.
"Don't worry. We'll take care of these adorable little psychos for now. Carrot."
"Lotus root. We were already thinking of raising a few animals since our club is the Animal Love Club. Perfect timing."
"What happens when the club disbands?"
"Then you take them. By then, if you haven't dropped out of the Academy and have become a proper hunter, you'll have money to spare. Carrot."
"Lotus root. Once you start clearing dungeons, you'll earn enough to raise dozens of them, not just these two."
I nodded for now.
I would leave the animals with Santoto and Suptoto for about a year, then take them myself once I was better off.
We didn't go to the Academy.
Today was club activity day anyway.
Club activities could be held outside the Academy grounds.
Besides, we already had two animals at my place, and Santoto and Suptoto were professors and instructors before they were club members. With Academy staff right here, there was no need to stop by campus.
So today's club activities were decided to take place at my house. Conveniently, three members were already gathered.
I set the cat on my lap, stroked its head, and asked Santoto,
"What about Seo I-eung and Isabella? Should I call them over?"
"No need. Carrot."
"Lotus root. Those two have other business today."
"They're allowed to skip club activities? Even the club president..."
"Carrot. They got our permission, so don't worry about it."
"The title of president is just for show. It's not that important a position. Lotus root."
That was news to me.
Did the two of them have something important going on?
Neither had said a word to me...
I felt oddly left out, a little hurt.
Of course I quickly washed the feeling away.
Well, it might be something hard to talk about with a guy...
Everyone has their own circumstances.
They weren't trying to exclude me on purpose. Maybe they just forgot to mention it.
Still, it's a bit of a shame.
I lowered my head and looked down.
The cat and puppy frolicking on my lap.
Comparing them to ordinary animals would be an insult—they were that cute.
Seo I-eung and Isabella are animal lovers too. Seeing such adorable little things would have driven them crazy.
Isabella had seen this cat before, but I'd hogged it then, so she never got to pet it.
I had planned to share today.
It's a pity, but... since we're raising them in the club from now on, Seo I-eung and Isabella will get to see them next time.
I finished my thoughts and stood up.
Then I called to Santoto.
"Professor. We're not staying inside the whole time, right?"
"Carrot? Got somewhere in mind?"
"The weather outside looks nice. How about taking the kids for a walk in the yard in front of the building?"
"Mm. Not bad. Carrots taste better outdoors."
"Then let's wash up and head out right away."
I scooped up the cat and puppy, walked to the bathroom, and immediately pulled off my top.
Then I dropped my pants in one smooth motion.
I felt no embarrassment.
Everyone here was an animal—what was there to be shy about?
"C-carrot!"
"Lotus rooooot!!!"
The rabbits bounced in place, cheering.
I kept my underwear on.
Taking that off too would definitely start a riot.
"I'll wash these two and come out."
"Meow?!"
"Woof...!?"
"Professor, Instructor—you two shower after me."
The moment I said that, the rabbits frantically started stripping.
"W-we're washing with you! Carrot!!!"
"Lotus root! Just give me five seconds—I'm joining!"
Their clothes must not have come off easily.
They struggled, then in their hurry simply tore them off.
Thud!
I shut and locked the bathroom door before they could get in.
The cat and puppy were fine, but bathing with animals that spoke human language felt a little awkward.
Afterward,
when I took off my underwear as well,
"Myaang... *hic*!"
"Woof......"
the cat and puppy flattened themselves on the floor and buried their faces.
What was wrong with them?