All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

As Kotomi prepared to send the chapter to Tomoka, she suddenly realized something embarrassing:

The scene she wanted to send wasn't even written yet!

Sitting at her desk, she let out an awkward laugh. The scene where Kirito brutally punished Sugou was planned for Volume 4, but she had only just completed the opening of the volume.

"Well, this is a bit awkward." Kotomi chuckled sheepishly.

With some time left before dinner and her parents still out taking the sea cucumber kitten to the vet, she calculated that she had just enough time.

"I think I can manage."

And with that, she got to work, her famously strong sense of action kicking in. Her fingers flew across her mechanical keyboard, the soothing sound of the tea-switch keys filling the room. After a while, the rhythm wasn't satisfying enough, so she swapped it out for her recently purchased blue-switch keyboard.

The clatter of the blue-switch keys resounded as she typed, creating an energetic, almost therapeutic melody.

Meanwhile, in her room downstairs, Aimi was working on her homework when her delicate brows furrowed. From upstairs, she could hear a peculiar noise—consistent, loud, and rhythmic.

What on earth was that?

Curious, Aimi set her pen down and crept toward her sister's bedroom door. Gently opening it, she peeked inside to find Kotomi fully immersed in her writing. Her gaze was glued to the screen, her fingers moving with almost superhuman speed across the noisy keys.

The moment Aimi opened the door, the sound became deafening.

"That keyboard is so loud!" she thought, startled.

Kotomi, completely absorbed in her writing, failed to notice her sister at the door. Aimi decided not to interrupt and instead tiptoed back downstairs to grab a cold bottle of Pepsi for Kotomi.

Twenty Minutes Later

Kotomi finally paused, stretching as she reviewed what she'd written. After a quick read-through, she saved the file and sent it to Yuigahama Tomoka via email.

By this time, she could hear the sound of her parents returning home. The faint sound of the door opening downstairs confirmed that they were back from the vet.

"Guess it's almost dinnertime," Kotomi muttered as her stomach growled. She opened her desk drawer, pulling out a small cookie for a quick snack.

"Huh? Why does it feel like my cookies are disappearing? I just stocked this drawer a few days ago!"

She frowned for a moment, then quickly pieced things together. Aimi had likely been sneaking them.

Her brows softened as she laughed. "I'll make sure to stock more strawberry cream cookies next time."

Aimi loved strawberry-flavored snacks.

Having completed her math homework earlier than usual, Kotomi decided to check in on her sister. She walked to Aimi's room, only to find a cold bottle of Pepsi placed just outside her door.

Picking it up, she noticed how icy it felt.

Glancing at Aimi's door, Kotomi smiled knowingly. It was obvious who had left the drink there.

In Aimi's room, she sighed, her pen flying over her homework sheets.

"Sis, I hope you know my room doesn't have air conditioning," Aimi grumbled as Kotomi entered.

"Then turn it on!" Kotomi teased.

"It's already September. Why would I use the air conditioning now?!"

"Hehehe, then don't turn it on."

"But I'm hot!"

"Then use the the air conditioning."

"You're the reason I'm hot in the first place!" Aimi sighed, glancing over at Kotomi, who had thrown herself over her back like a warm, affectionate scarf.

"Ehehe~ How much homework do you have left?" Kotomi asked mischievously.

"Just one assignment."

"Alright, I'll stay here and keep you company. I'll play games quietly while you finish up. Don't worry; I'll use headphones!"

Kotomi let go of her sister and sprawled out on Aimi's bed, slipping on her headphones and diving into her mobile game.

Aimi rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Once I graduate middle school, I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson!"

After finishing her homework, Aimi stretched and heard Kotomi's voice break the silence.

"Oh, by the way, we're officially a two-cat household now!"

Aimi froze. "What? Did Mom and Dad think one wasn't enough, so they bought another one?"

Kotomi blushed and explained sheepishly how she'd accidentally brought another stray home—this time, a tiger-striped munchkin cat.

Aimi stared at her sister in disbelief. Sure, Kotomi had always been a magnet for cats, but this was ridiculous.

"Two days in a row? Are you kidding me?"

She gasped, realization dawning. "Sis, are you secretly walking catnip?"

Kotomi giggled nervously. "Anyway, it's downstairs if you want to meet it. Mom and Dad just got back from the vet."

Aimi had planned to study a bit longer, but the thought of a new kitten was too tempting. Grabbing her sister's hand, she practically dragged her downstairs to see the cats.

In the living room, both kittens were sitting near the couch. One was the "small propane tank" from yesterday, while the new arrival—a tiger-striped munchkin—sat nearby, looking sleek and shiny after its bath.

"Wow, it really does look like a sea cucumber!" Aimi exclaimed.

The tiger-striped kitten seemed to understand her words. It froze, staring at her with wide, shocked eyes as if thinking, "Wait… I'm a sea cucumber?!"

...

"These two cats still don't have proper names," Akina remarked as she glanced at the two furballs. "We can't keep calling them Big Kitty and Little Kitty forever."

Only then did Kotomi remember that after bringing the two cats home, she had never officially named them.

Though… she already had two perfect names in mind.

"Onee-chan, what do you think we should name them?" Aimi asked curiously.

"Me?" Kotomi pointed to herself to confirm.

"Of course! You're the writer in the family, so naming them is obviously your job," Aimi declared, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Well, if that's the case, I'll give these two grand and unforgettable names!"

"Why do I feel like this is going to end badly…?" Aimi muttered, instinctively shrinking back.

After all, judging by nicknames like "Small Propane Tank" and "Sea Cucumber," her sister clearly had an unorthodox approach to naming. It wasn't that her choices were bad, per se, but they always carried an odd, eccentric vibe.

"Relax, leave it to me!" Kotomi declared confidently, placing a hand on her chest as if to exude reliability.

She then picked up the small munchkin dubbed "Gas Can" by the scruff of her neck. "This one will be called Dragon."

Next, she lifted the tiger-striped munchkin. "And this one will be called Phoenix. Yes, Dragon and Phoenix—what a perfect pair!"

"Wow… those names actually sound pretty impressive," Akina said approvingly.

"I like them too," added Izumi Kaneya with a nod.

With three votes against one, Kotomi successfully named the cats Dragon and Phoenix.

As if understanding their new names, the two cats appeared visibly delighted.

"Delighted? More like resigned!" Aimi exclaimed, pointing out their "annoyed little kitten faces."

Now it was Kotomi's turn to pout. Her expression turned heartbreakingly pitiful as she looked at Aimi, her voice trembling. "Do you… not like the names I chose?"

She even sniffled for added effect.

"I like them! I love them! Onee-chan, you're an absolute genius when it comes to naming! Someday, when you have kids, you'll definitely come up with the best names!" Aimi quickly shouted, eager to defuse the situation.

Kotomi immediately broke into a radiant smile.

Hearing this, Akina couldn't resist teasing Aimi. "Naming kids, huh? That's a decision your sister will make with her partner. Why are you, as the future aunt, already so invested? I doubt your sister has even started thinking about that yet."

Aimi forced a stiff smile, but her nose stung, and her chest tightened.

Mom's right, she thought. But for some reason, hearing those words hurt so much!

Compared to the calm and sleepy Dragon, Phoenix was quickly adapting to her new environment, revealing a spirited and lively nature.

She darted around the house nonstop, her little tail held high like an antenna.

Despite her short legs, Phoenix had no trouble bounding up and down the stairs.

"Phoenix has so much energy!" Akina said with a mix of amusement and exasperation as she stroked the snoozing Dragon on her lap.

"I'll take her out for a walk," Kotomi volunteered, eager to burn off some of her own post-dinner calories.

"If you're going out, I bought a transparent pet carrier backpack from the store—it's in the box over there," Akina said, pointing to a pile of cat supplies they had stocked up on.

"I don't think Phoenix will stay put in a carrier," Kotomi replied with a laugh. Instead, she rummaged through the box and pulled out a leash.

"Come on, Phoenix! Be a good girl, and I'll take you outside!"

Kotomi crouched and called to Phoenix, who was busy dashing around. The little tiger-striped cat immediately skidded to a stop, tumbling forward in the process. Undeterred, she quickly got back on her feet and dashed over to Kotomi.

"Meow!"

Phoenix stood obediently, allowing Kotomi to secure the leash. She even turned her head to call out to Dragon, who merely opened one sleepy eye before drifting back to dreamland.

After slipping a few treats into her pocket, Kotomi led Phoenix out the door—only to instantly regret her decision.

Phoenix was fast.

If dogs are known for dragging their owners on walks, Phoenix proved that cats could do it too.

The moment her tiny paws touched the pavement, Phoenix's ears perked up, and she bolted forward like a rocket.

"Phoenix! Slow down!"

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

The spirited cat led Kotomi through sharp turns and winding paths, stopping only after another tumble. This time, Phoenix froze, her eyes fixed on something ahead.

Kotomi crouched down to follow her gaze and saw a slender, elegant calico cat—a feline beauty.

"Meow~" Phoenix chirped happily, lifting a paw to approach.

But before she could move, another cat appeared—a dashing black-and-white "cow" cat.

The calico immediately trotted over to the cow cat, rubbing her cheek against his affectionately. The two snuggled close, their body language unmistakable.

Phoenix froze.

Her raised paw hovered midair as she stared at the scene, her wide eyes filled with shock and betrayal.

Seconds later, her little body began to tremble, and her head drooped low. She looked like a heartbroken girl caught in a rainy melodrama.

Kotomi glanced down at the dejected Phoenix and asked hesitantly, "Phoenix… Did you like that calico cat?"

"Meow…"

The pitiful cry was answer enough.

Kotomi sighed. "Forget about her. That cow cat is tall and handsome, and you're… well, a short-legged sea cucumber. You can't compete with him."

Phoenix whimpered softly, her heartbreak palpable.

Kotomi suddenly grinned. "Hey, this reminds me of a song. Want to hear it?"

"Meow?"

Clearing her throat, Kotomi began to sing with great emotion:

"In the rearview mirror, the world grows further away… your turning back, your profile's still so beautiful…"

Phoenix walked home in silence, and by the time they returned, she had calmed down considerably. She curled up quietly in her bed, even more subdued than Dragon.

In Chiba City, a sharp-eyed woman with dark red mid-length hair returned to the passenger seat of a parked car.

"Merii, you said you were just grabbing a coffee. What took you so long?" the driver teased with a smile.

"While I was buying coffee, I heard a girl walking a… sea cucumber—oops, I mean a cat—singing. The song sounded amazing, so I recorded it."

The woman played the clip.

"In the rearview mirror, the world grows further away…"

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