“Yui-chan, come on…” you say, pouting sadly, “How will I explain this costume later on if we aren’t drinking? I wouldn’t be able to talk about the party! Dressing up like a cat girl completely sober? People would think something was wrong with me.”

Kitabayashi presses her lips into a line as she thinks it over, then sighs, “And that’d be right,” she says, patting your head again, “…Ah… I can’t stop doing it…”

“Don’t worry too much,” you say as you straighten your hair back down, “It’s not like I brought shots or anything. Just some cans.”

“I should be able to manage that much,” she says, then gives Kaiba a look, “Don’t you try to sneak in a drink! You’re underage.”

Kaiba looks taken aback, “I wasn’t going to!”

“Oh,” replies Kitabayashi, somewhat amazed, “Okay, I remember sneaking drinks at your age…”

She holds up an accusing finger with one hand and patting your head with the other, “But it’s bad! Don’t do it!”

“I’m not!” says Kaiba, now flustered.

“Good,” says Kitabayashi, then gets up with unmasked glee as she races towards the fridge.

She later returns with some cans of beer while you straighten your hair down.

Kitabayashi places the cans down, “Saké would’ve been nice, too,” she says, “They have those in all kinds of flavours now. Orange. Grape. Honey. All kinds.”

“Maybe next time,” you say, reaching for a can of beer, “I wasn’t sure what to bring, but saké felt a little heavy for a simple birthday.”

Saké typically has an alcohol percentage of fourteen percent.

Kitabayashi is a little taller than you so she might be able to stomach it, but with your build and size just one can of sake would make you ineligible to drive.

Not that you’ll be able to avoid an expensive taxi home with the current drink selection.

Both you and Kitabayashi crack open your cans, then raise them together as Kaiba joins in with her soda, “Cheers,” you all echo.

You take a big gulp of your drink and you feel the cold beer wash down your throat, unable to suppress the sudden shiver the follows.

Kitabyashi runs a finger across your lower arm, “Goosebumps,” she laughs.

You look down at your arm, there are indeed goosebumps there.

Not sure why she felt the need to point that out.

”So,” you say, sweeping your gaze across the room, “I see you’ve been redecorating?”

“Yeah,” says Kitabayashi, sipping her own drink, “Me and Kaiba went to some stores to give the place a bit more of a home-y feel. It was kinda bleak. Empty as it was.”

“Plants are heavy,” adds Kaiba, as she gives the large umbrella plant in the corner an accusing look.

“It does look nice though,” you say, “Very colourful.”

“Thanks,” replies Kaiba, taking another sip of her drink, “So, what have you been up to?”

> Decision

>

> >1 - Reveal that you stopped by a fortune teller during the weekend

> >2 - Share that you actually went on a sort-of date, but there was no spark

> >3 - You bought a new album at the music store, hoping to see a certain somebody there

> >4 - Diligently preparing for Chigusa Iki’s and Enatsu Mari’s idol debuts

> >5 - Share that your brother is coming to visit this week, but you don’t know when

>

> Winner

> >4 - Diligently preparing for Chigusa Iki’s and Enatsu Mari’s idol debuts

“Mostly preparing for Enatsu-chan’s and Chigusa-chan’s debut,” you say, adding a sigh, “We’re setting up a sort of livestream for their announcement. Chigusa’s gonna be doing health and cooking stuff while wearing cosplay. Enatsu’s show will be around sport and exercise.”

Kitabayashi nods, “Sounds promising, so what’s the issue?” she asks.

“Everyone’s trying to get involved, which is great, but my inbox is never empty,” you say, taking a large gulp of your drink, “Should the sequins on Chigusa’s dress be off-white or silver? You want the kitchen cabinets in the studio to be slate grey or near black? If we decide on ball sports for Enatsu’s stream: what brand should the balls be?”

“They just don’t want to be the person that messes up,” says Kitabayashi, reaching for a piece of sushi, “I guess they must’ve been burned in the past once or twice.”

You allow your head to roll backwards, “I mean, I get it, but it’s so… exhausting… to answer these kinds of questions all day…” you say, pouting.

The cat tail attached to your skirt bend out of shape when you sat down, so you try to fix it.

Kitabayashi watches you with a big grin on her face that she’s trying, but failing, to hide.

”Just hang in there,” she says, corners of her mouth twitching.

“Hah?” you say, looking towards her.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t… but …. watching you complain as a mopey little cat girl… it’s just…” replies Kitabayashi.

You frown as you bend your tail into shape, “Yui, I’m serious,” you say,

“~Nyaa,” adds Kaiba.

Kitabayashi breaks into full on laughter.

“Oooh?” you say, turning towards Kaiba who immediately freezes up, “Turning against me are you?”

“…Ah-haha… I was just….” says Kaiba, raising her hands defensively.

“Maybe I should add you to Chigusa’s stream in your current outfit,” you say, pointing at Kaiba’s cat ears, “You’d fit right in!”

Kaiba blushes fiercely, “No!” she says, hiding her face, “I’d die!”

“~Nyaa,” you add, mockingly.

Kitabayashi has recovered from her fit of laughter, then pats your head again, “Now, now. Be nice to your little idol. You’re her manager, aren’t you?”

You finish off your can of beer, “Well, yeah…” you say, “I shouldn’t be so…”

“Catty?” finishes Kitabayashi, then snorts and laughs.

Kaiba chuckles quietly, then speaks, “But, really, I’m happy that they’re gonna try livestreaming as well. I think it’ll be fun to talk about. We might even do collabs.”

“We’ll have to see,” you say, “Not sure if they’ll stick with it yet, it’s mostly for the debut right now.”

Kitabayashi wipes away a tear with her pinkie finger, then gets up to get a new drink for the three of you.

The minutes tick by filled with friendly conversation.

Slowly, the number of empty beer cans in the kitchen bin begin to increase.

You’re halfway down your fourth can of beer, your head resting on the table as you play with an empty can.

Kitabayashi hasn’t stopped petting you in the last thirty minutes – your hair is a bit of a mess.

“Yui-chaaaaan… “ you say, in the tones of what you hope sounds like a complaint.

“Not my f-fault,” she says, her words slightly slurring, “Cats get petted. That’s just h-how it is…”

You point an accusing finger at Kaiba, “Then what about her…!”

Kaiba freezes up, her own cat ears trembling from the sudden movement.

Kitabayashi lazily looks up at Kaiba, then back down as she continues stroking your head, “Don’t make things weird, Miho-chan…” she says, planting a small kiss on the top of your head.

Things are already weird!

Kaiba looks at you – smug.

Tch!

“There’s no point buttering me up…” you say, glancing sideways at Kitabayashi.

“Yes, yes, I know, I know,” replies Kitabayashi, adding a small sigh for effect, “You’re not interested in cute girls like me. I’m just making the most of it.”

You wince. You’re not so far gone that you don’t realize how weird it probably is for Kaiba to see her boss like this.

And with Kitabayashi’s remark just now…

Knowing Kaiba, she’s probably a blushing mess now, you think as you glance towards her.

There’s a deep frown on Kaiba’s face.

”Hah?” she says, then gives you a look overflowing with disapproval, “She’s not…Is that what she said?”

You and Kitabayashi happen to glance at each other at the same time, looking for an explanation.

Neither of you seem to know what has gotten into her.

Staring at Kaiba with half-lidded eyes, you slowly blink as you wait for an explanation.

None seems to be forthcoming. “…We talked about it before,” you say, fully aware of how awkward things have gotten, “But it wouldn’t work… as I’m not… y’know…”

Kaiba exhales heavily through her nose, “Hmpf,” she says, “I just wish you wouldn’t lie to – Ah.”

She manages to reel herself in somewhat, “I, eh, I suppose I’ll go to sleep… sorry…”

A distant door locks as Kaiba hastily excuses herself to her room.

You look towards Kitabayashi, “What was that about?”

Kitabayashi shrugs, cracking open another beer, “She’s going through a lot right now,” she says.

“Eh?” you say, gripping your tail in self-defence, “Like what?”

The fortune-teller mentioned as much, but she didn’t say what.

Kitabayashi scratches a cheek, “Just sort of knowing herself, I guess,” she says, “It isn’t a secret that I’m bisexual, I don’t hide it or anything, so she must’ve heard at the office. She’s been asking me questions and the like.”

Is that what’s going on?

“What’d you say?” you ask.

“Just answers, I guess,” says Kitabayashi, taking a sip of her drink, “I’m not trying to push her in either direction. She just asks things and I answer.”

Kitabayashi gestures towards you with her can, “She asked about you, too. How I felt about you, that is.”

Your face is probably already a bit red because of the drinking, but still, you feel blood rushing to your cheeks, “What? What’d you say?”

Kitabayashi shrugs, “The truth. Felt no need to hide it. She seemed happy for me.”

Happy for Yui-chan? Why?

I mean, you’ve both been helping out Kaiba-san in your own ways.

Then there’s also the fact that EmikoDesu55 remarked several times during her messages to Kaiba how lonely you must be – does she still remember that?

You stare ahead into nothing as you think things over.

The cat girl costumes were Kaiba’s idea. After she mentioned how Kitabayashi said she liked them.

Then there was the maid costume and Kaiba seemed strangely pushy about you putting it on…

Your face flushes full crimson as the realization dawns on you – you hide your face in your hands.

“Finally caught on?” says Kitabayashi, sipping her drink, “That took you a while.”

“You knew?” you say, peeking between splayed fingers, “What didn’t you say something!?”

Kitabayashi shrugs, “I did. Just not to you. The moment I saw you standing there,” she says, gesturing at your outfit, “In your cat girl attire. I knew Kaiba had a hand in it. I let slip how a girl during my idol days used to, ah, well… forget that. You look cute in it though.“

“What ha--” you start, but get interrupted.

“Sssh, ssh,” says Kitabayashi, finishing off her fifth can, “That was a lot of questions from you. Now I get to ask some… Why did Kaiba act like that?”

“I… I don’t know,” you say.

Honestly, you can’t think why.

“Are you sure?” says Kitabayashi with a light frown.

You try to push the memory of your alcohol-riddled mind.

What have you ever said or done that could make Kaiba think that way?

“Because I’ve never had a boyfriend?” you offer.

“I know that, but I don’t think Kaiba does,” replies Kitabayashi.

You patted Kaiba’s head that one time after a stream.

It’d be concerning if she thought those things ever since.

That would basically be sexual harassment. No?

You went clothing shopping together a while ago.

Thinking back, Kaiba acted strangely even back then.

She fled when you had to strip down to your underwear for the sizing of a dress.

Was that because she thought the situation has some kind of tension you weren’t aware of?

It must’ve been before that then…

Before that was the hot spring trip…

Your jaw drops. Oh no.

That was back when you and Watase Yoko…

During that same night Kaiba mentioned that she hadn’t been able to sleep at all…

You can’t even remember how you ended up in Watase Yoko’s bed that night.

There was so much alcohol in your system that you probably weren’t quiet about it.

That in a house with, quite literally, paper-thin walls during a night that Kaiba was doom scrolling on her phone – awake almost the entire night.

You swallow as you glance towards Kitabayashi.

Guilty.

“It seems you know something…” says Kitabayashi, smirking.