It is a wooden box, and the word "Bongna" written on the surface of the box indicates the true purpose of the box: it is a money box for the shrine, and it is used to put coins into it when visiting the gods.

But that's a thing of the past. In this old shrine that may have been abandoned, the current true purpose of this chest with a hole in it is:

As a home for four cats.

Yes, Tetsufumi Hirakawa saw four cats in the box behind Amamiya Night, one big cat and three kittens to be exact.

The big cat was supposed to be white, but its fur had become dull and grayish from its short wandering life. As for the other three kittens, one is white, one is black, and one is black and white.

In addition, the hair of the three kittens is very thin, and their bodies are still wet, and they are trying to snuggle up to the mother cat with their eyes that they can't open yet.

"It's ...... Just born? ”

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked at the appearance of the kitten, and the mother cat lying weakly in the box, and made a judgment at once.

"Yes."

Amamiya Ya, who was beside him, affirmed his statement.

"So, Amamiya-san's lateness in the past few days is because I'm here?"

"Hmm."

"Did you not come this morning because the kitten was born?"

Amamiya Ye's hands are on the edge of the box, and her eyes are firmly fixed on the kitten, revealing the emotion called love.

"When I came here this morning, I thought it would be just a look, because I had already promised Mr. Hirakawa. But when I was ready to leave, the mother cat started to give birth to kittens, so ......"

So you stayed because you were worried?

I really don't know what to say. Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked at the girl who was staring at the cat seriously, her attention was completely attracted by the kitten's small paws waving in midair, and the corners of her mouth showed a satisfied smile.

Originally, I wanted to say, "Even if this is the case, you can't skip class without saying a word", but after thinking about it carefully, the slightly ridiculous reason for asking for leave is really not easy to tell the teacher.

As for the mother's side...... There's a reason she's hiding her mother, right? Why?

"I didn't tell my mother because my mother didn't let me have cats...... Reasons like that? ”

Asked out of the mouth.

"No, it's not."

Who would have thought that the girl shook her head slightly.

was stunned for a moment, and then asked:

"What's the reason for that?"

There was no immediate response to this question. The girl who was staring at the cat suddenly made a very cute sound that imitated a cat "meow~".

Cats are already cute, and girls who imitate cats are even better.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa saw the mother cat yawn a long time - that's why Amamiya suddenly learned to meow.

"Because—" Amamiya turned her face after imitating the cat, looked at him and said in a very serious tone, "My mother will definitely agree." ”

“……”

I have to say that I can't understand this reason at all. She loves cats, right? So it's a good thing that the mother agreed, right?

"Why?" If you don't understand, just ask.

Amamiya looked him straight in the eye and smiled, not the kind of troubled smile, but a very intimate smile that belonged to his daughter.

"Because my mother is allergic to cats. But as long as I say it, my mother will definitely promise me, and she always does. ”

"So if I let her know that I don't dare to have a cat because of her, she'll blame herself."

"I don't want to embarrass her."

Her smile was pure, well-behaved and uncomplaining. There is also an angelic glow in the eyes.

This intimate look is definitely an angel, right?

Looking at Amamiya's eyes, Tetsufumi Hirakawa was indeed stunned for a long time.

I thought it would be a sad answer, but I didn't expect it to be so warm.

"Is that so......"

I was so warmed by this harmonious and beautiful mother-daughter relationship that I didn't know what to say.

"That's right."

Amamiya nodded, and looked back at the cat in the box.

"That's why I asked Mr. Hirakawa to hide my mother from me."

"Yes...... However, Amamiya-san's reason did convince me. ”

"Really?"

"Sign the contract...... No, I promised you, the teacher will not regret it. ”

I almost got astray again.

"Uh-huh."

After nodding like this, it was quiet.

In this deserted shrine, in the dim light of the surrounding trees, all that was left was the sound of a kitten waving its paws and touching the inner wall of the box.

The mother cat, on the other hand, licks the kitten's body with her tongue from time to time.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa and Amamiya night, next to the box, just quietly watched such a warm scene.

This kind of tranquility is really reluctant to break, and the girl around her hides all the beautiful pure eyes and is reluctant to let her disappear like this.

But it doesn't work to look at it that way.

So while a gust of wind was blowing and the leaves were swaying and rustling, Tetsufumi Hirakawa finally spoke.

"Amamiya-san."

"Yes."

"And what about these cats?"

Tetsufumi Hirakawa finally asked the most crucial question, but all he got was silence.

No matter how warm the answer is, it can't hide the current dilemma of Amamiya Night.

Cats shouldn't be able to continue to be placed here, one is that the environment here is not good for cats.

The second is that if Amamiya always comes here, she will delay time and always be late, which will also worry her mother and herself as a teacher.

Normally, the best way is to adopt them by Amamiya, who loves cats...... However, the reasons for not allowing this have been stated above, so no.

So what is the best way to deal with it......

"Find someone to adopt them, or not?"

“……”

Amamiya didn't answer him, she turned her face and stared at him with unbearable pitiful eyes.

You can't see them every day after you are adopted, can you? There must be such concerns.

Faced with this kind of look, Tetsufumi Hirakawa could only smile bitterly.

"There's no way, Amamiya-san. However, if you ask your friends to adopt them, you should still be able to see them all the time. ”

Result –

"Nope." Amamiya's voice smacked of loneliness, and she shook her head lightly and repeated, "No. ”

“……”

Nothing? Don't have any friends? I'd love to make sure of that. But you don't need to confirm it, do you?

That's definitely what the girl meant.

But why? Looking at the girl who revealed a little sadness, Tetsufumi Hirakawa really didn't understand.

Although it is not politically correct to say so...... But obviously, Amamiya Ye's appearance is very childish, in other words, cute.

The identity of a high school student is like a junior high school student. The face with a little baby fat and the sparkling eyes can shine. In short, with her appearance, she definitely belongs to the cute type that is also popular among girls.

In terms of personality, it shouldn't be bad to be so considerate of your mother, right?

- without mentioning the inexplicable threats that preceded it.

“……”

Tetsufumi Hirakawa seems to have barely guessed what the problem is.