Chapter 24: Master and Pet

Master and Pet

Next morning.

When I entered the classroom, Nagumo, who usually arrives at school just in time to avoid being late, was already asleep in his seat.

There were some rare things.

It would be a lie to say that I wasn't curious about what had happened since we stormed into Nagumo father's company yesterday, but it would be rude to stick my nose into someone else's family situation.

It would be bad to wake someone up while they're sleeping.

Ignoring Nagumo, I put my school bag on the desk.

"...Good morning, Otome-chan."

"Oh, good morning"

Nagumo, who had been leaning his head on the desk, stretched, probably awakened by the sound of the bag being placed on the desk.

The sunlight streaming in through the window sparkled off Nagumo's pale, fine skin.

"Otome-chan, let's have a strategy meeting at lunchtime today."

"Strategy meeting?"

"Yes!"

Nagumo stood up and came around behind me.

He rested his chin on my left shoulder and whispered.

"A strategy meeting to prevent Otome-chan from raising a love flag."

...You're too close.

No, I guess this was just how the distance between a cat and its owner was supposed to be.

Honestly, it would be helpful to have someone to think with me about how I should behave in this world. 

We're missing one more person, to create the the wisdom of Manjushri.

"Okay, lunch break."

"Yeah"

His face was too close so I couldn't see his expression, but I sensed that Nagumo was smiling.

"S-Saotome-san... G-Good day..."

Ayanokoji, who had apparently just arrived at school, had pink cheeks and was covering her nose and mouth with both hands.

"Ah, Ayanokoji, good day too."

Compared to when we first met, I had finally gotten used to Ayanokoji's good looks and wealthy aura, so I returned a perfectly normal greeting.

That's right, I need to ask Nagumo for his opinion on the plan to get along with Ayanokoji.

As I was thinking about the agenda for the strategy meeting during lunch break,

"Um, well... I'm very happy that you two are on good terms, but... I think it would be best if you refrain from such an act like that in public..."

"Eh?"

It was clear that Ayanokoji was choosing her words carefully, as if she was having a hard time speaking.

However, I myself had no idea what I was being warned about.　

What do you mean?

Such an act?

"Huh? This is fine, right? What's wrong with this?"

Nagumo, who was resting his chin on my left shoulder, replied instead of me, who was not very perceptive.　

─Ah!

It's this guy!

I was completely off guard, thinking we were just two guys, but from the outside we looked like a lovey-dovey couple in class.

I pushed under Nagumo's chin with all my might with the palm of my hand.

"Hey! Get away!"

"Why not, Otome-chan? It's fine."

While I was engaged in an offensive and defensive battle with Nagumo, who for some reason was resisting, I apologized to Ayanokoji with a wry smile.

"I'm sorry, Ayanokoji!"

"No, I knew that you two had that kind of relationship..."

It's not that kind of relationship!

It's a relationship designed to prevent that kind of relationship!

"I'm sorry for spoiling things...! Excuse me...!"

"Ah, Ayanokoji!"

Without giving me time to make excuses, Ayanokoji bowed slightly and quickly returned to her seat.

I turned back to Nagumo.

"Nagumo~! What are you planning!?"

"No matter what you say, it's just skinship between master and pet."

The class became noisy after hearing Nagumo's words.

"Master and pet...?"

"So Saotome-san is the master...?"

"Making Nagumo your pet, Saotome-san is amazing~"

Wait a minute!

It's reputational damage!

I'm just doing his errands because I was threatened!

"No, no, everyone! Listen to me!"

I wanted to clear up the misunderstandings whispered by everyone one by one, but every single one of them avoided me the moment we made eye contact.

Everyone in my class thought I was a weirdo.

A dangerous woman who thinks of herself as a queen and treats her male classmates like pets.

If I met a girl like that, I would keep my distance too!

"That's good for you, Otome-chan. With this, the love flag with your classmate has been eradicated."

"That's not the issue!"

I grabbed the nonchalant Nagumo by the collar, but it only made the class more noisy.

The rumor spread quickly throughout the school, and my name soon became known throughout the entire school.