I looked up at the sky and saw white clouds drifting through the blue sky.
　The sun was peeking out of the clouds and sprinkling warm sunlight.

'It's a beautiful day,'
Yeah, right!
On a day like this, I could use a leisurely stroll.
Yeah, right!
'But it's not bad to be adventurous. I'll be able to work harder than usual.
Yeah, right!

　Walking next to him, Kanade was repeating the same words.
　His tail was peeking out and he seemed nervous for some reason.

'Kanade?'
Meow, meow, meow!
You seem a little nervous. What's going on?
'No!　Not at all!　Not one bit of it!　I don't want to be nervous, okay?

　He denied it at all costs.
　No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look right...
　Well, I don't feel sick or anything, so let's leave it at that.
　Kanade is a girl of her age, and there are one or two things she can't talk to me about as a man.

By the way, what are you going to buy today?

　He asked me to go with him to shop, and we went into town.
　Kanade wouldn't tell me where we were going.

'Oh, um, I mean, I'm shopping, well... there's a store I want to go to with Rain!
Are you with me?


　Kanade turned red and wriggled and writhed.

'Yeah, eh?　There's a place that serves delicious, sweet cake.
'Huh?　Is there such a place?
Nah, I heard it's new. This town is growing quite rapidly.

　Not long ago, an official Lord of Horizon had finally been appointed.
　Unlike his predecessor, the new lord was a picture of a saintly man.
　On top of that, he has excellent estate management skills.
　It had only been a short time since he was appointed, yet Horizon had turned into a lively city.

''It's a new place, how lonely it would be if I was alone, so... uh, well... I wish I could go with Rain...''
If that's the case, shouldn't you have invited everyone else to join you?
Meow!　Well, well, first we need to do some reconnaissance!　If it's not actually a good restaurant, we're in trouble!
Oh, yeah?

　I'm not sure, but Kanade's momentum pushes me away.

'Let's go then!



----------



　It's been a while since I fell in love with Rain...
　It's time to develop our relationship.
　I wouldn't say we're lovers, but I want to get to know each other a little better.

　So, we decided to go on a date.
　To make sure there is no injustice, I date Rain in turn.
　I'm first.
　We discussed it together and got a lot of hand-holding going on.

　I'm so nervous...!

　The day before a date, for example, I'll definitely try to make progress!　I was so enthusiastic about it....
　When I looked at Rain's face, I was so........embarrassed and ashamed that I couldn't get the words to come out properly.

　Unya........am I not making a funny face?
　Doesn't he think it's cute or something...?

　I'm so worried.
　I'm so worried that my tail is getting chubby.

"Kanade?
Meow!

　I noticed that Rain, sitting across from me, had a worried look on her face.

　I've been thinking about this and that ever since I entered the store, so I guess I gave her a worrying look.

''Nya, nya, whatever!
'I don't see it that way, but ... hmmm...'
Really, I'm fine!　Well, uh... yeah!　I'm so excited for the cake, I can't get comfortable!
'That's all well and good but if you're not feeling well, just say so, okay?

　Meow!
　Rainn worried about me.
　After all, Rayne is so sweet and cool.

　My tail wags on its own accord.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

　The waitress came over and put the cake and drink in front of me and Rain.

'Ooohhhh!'

　The cake was wrapped in a generous amount of whipped cream.
　A lot of seasonal fruits were sandwiched between the sponge cake.
　It's beautiful as if snow had fallen on the ground.

Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya... It looks so delicious!
Yeah. Let's get on with it.
'Yes!　Let's have it!

　I cut the cake with the tip of my fork and took a bite.

''Mmmmm~, delicious!''
'I like this. It's not too sweet, and the fruit has a nice assertive quality to it... yes, it's good. Even a guy like me can eat it without any trouble.
'Phew, I'm glad Rain is happy.

　I want you to be happy, Rain.

Oh.

　Just as I'm about to take a second bite, I drop my fork.
　I was going to ask the waitress to replace it, but unfortunately, she seems to be busy at the moment and can't see me.

Nya, what should I do?　I want to eat right away...
Do you want me to feed you?
Huh?

　Seriously, that's what I'm talking about!

'Oh, but I don't want a fork with my mouth on it.
'No!　That's not true, I don't hate it!
Oh, yeah?

　It was too much of a bite, and Rain was a bit taken back.
　I may have been too happy and disappointed with the unexpected turn of events, I regret it.
　But that's what a damsel in love is supposed to do, right?

So, open your mouth.
Ahhhhhh....

　I opened my mouth in horror.
　I'm so nervous.

　Is this what it feels like to be a chickadee?
　It's such an unimportant thought.

'See,'
Ammo.

　I'm going to let Rain eat the cake.
　Sweet ... but I'm even happier than that.
　I'm so, so, so, so happy!


What's the matter, Kanade?　You look kind of weird, but...
No, it's nothing!

　I was just basking in the happiness of being able to have someone I love do that to me, you know?
　That's not very polite to make a funny face, meow!

Hey, hey, Lane. Can I have another bite?
Yeah, that's good. Here.


　I'm so happy and fortunate to have Rayne do that to me...
　I was allowed to eat a lot of cake, but in the end I didn't really taste it.

　That's how nervous I was...
　But it was a very happy time.