LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 13.1
For days, suspicion lingered in Momyami’s mind.
“Do people really do that kind of thing when they’re just flirting?”
It made no sense to her. Sure, there are people who pursue casual, physical relationships, but what could someone like Choi Eum-ah, so innocent and adorable, possibly see in that?
Moreover, how could a Rabbit Suin, known for her constant wariness toward the opposite sex, trust a man so easily?
“She’s a herbivore Suin. She must be getting blackmailed.”
Bang, bang. Guilty. Ju Ji-hyuk, sentenced to death.
In truth, whether Ju Ji-hyuk’s words were factual or not didn’t matter to Momyami. The charges against him were already grave: appointing her as the department representative and burdening her with endless tasks, without so much as an apology! That alone was enough to seal his fate.
Having reached her verdict, Momyami entered the classroom. As a Cat Suin with a strict daily routine, she entered at the same time as always.
But this time…
“…What’s that smell?”
A scent that had never existed at the start of her day now hung heavily in the classroom air.
She narrowed her sharp blue eyes, her feline senses honing in on the source. Following the trail, she found herself staring at Ju Ji-hyuk and Choi Eum-ah.
The two of them shared the same scent.
“No way… those two…?”
…Did they do it?
“What is she staring at?”
Fidget, fidget.
“Why has she been staring at us this whole time?”
Fidget, fidget.
I walked into the classroom and happily fidgeted with Eum-ah’s thigh, but before I could fully enjoy the mood, I noticed Momyami staring daggers in our direction.
Does she think she can drill a hole through us by staring? Go ahead, keep looking.
“Uh, uh… Ji-hyuk…”
“What?”
“Uhm… well…”
Eum-ah placed her hands over mine, which were still playing with her thigh. Was she asking me to stop? No way, I’m not stopping.
“A-about Momyami… she’s been looking at us for a while now. Do you think she’s… uh, smelling us or something?”
Oh. So that’s what it was.
Eum-ah whispered quietly, and I tilted my head, considering her words.
Fidget, fidget.
“Is that something you can smell on purpose? No one else seems to notice.”
“Well… that’s because no one else pays attention to you, Ji-hyuk. But Momyami isn’t like that…”
“Hmm. That could be it. Suins are scary, huh?”
“Ugh…”
So, she’s been paying extra attention to us? Or more specifically—to me. It’s not “us” she’s interested in; it’s Ju Ji-hyuk, the human.
“Okay, got it.”
“Got what?”
“That Momyami is a voyeur. She’s got a mental illness. We shouldn’t go near her.”
“R-really…?”
Such a bothersome cat. Why does she keep making my life difficult? Was she really that upset about those ten packs of high-end cat treats? She acts like they were worth a fortune when she clearly didn’t mind wasting my money!
But seriously, something feels off. Aren’t people with big chests supposed to have good personalities? Why is Momyami like this? Could it be pseudo-science?!
No… that can’t be right.
Looking at Eum-ah, I’m certain the connection is scientific fact. So why is Momyami the outlier? Is this some unexplainable phenomenon?
I just don’t get it!
After class, it was time for lunch.
Today, Eum-ah and I had a leisurely meal of ramen. Afterward, we decided to go for a digestive stroll.
“Ah, the weather is perfect today,” I said, taking a deep breath.
“Y-yeah! It feels so nice! Hahaha!”
“…?!”
As we walked along peacefully, Eum-ah suddenly collapsed onto the soft, green grass. Was the sunlight so overwhelmingly delightful that she just gave in?!
“Hey! You’re wearing a skirt. You can’t just lie down anywhere!”
“B-but it’s instinct…! As a rabbit, I can’t help it…!”
“You’re a Suin! Half-human, remember?”
“Hoeeet! The blue grass and the warm sunlight feel so good!!”
“Wait… I can see your panties. Pink, huh?”
“D-don’t look!”
Despite her protests, Eum-ah enthusiastically rolled around on the grass, completely ignoring my warning.
Now that I looked closer, she wasn’t the only one. A few other Suins had also sprawled out, basking in the sunlight like they were plants in photosynthesis.
Ah, it all came flooding back to me!
“I am the two-eyed person in a one-eyed world! I am the two-eyed person in a one-eyed world!”
This sense of alienation? It’s all because I was born as an outlier in this world! Fine. Thinking of it that way makes me feel so much lighter. Look at that! By abandoning the dignity of humanity, my perspective has broadened!
“Let’s lie down too!”
“Hehehe… Ji-hyuk, isn’t this nice?”
“I’m disabled!”
“H-huh? Wait, suddenly? You’re disabled?!”
“I don’t know! Just go with it! We’re free this afternoon, so I’m staying here until the sun sets!”
“Whaaat…!”
Before we could even settle into our plans, they were completely ruined. Why? Because a teaching assistant from another department barged in.
“Bird Suins are conducting flight training! Everyone, clear the grassy area! Cat Suins, please leave immediately!”
“Wait, flight training? Is there an entire department for that?”
“U-uh… maybe it’s the Avian Physical Education Department or something?”
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Whoa!”
Looking up at the TA’s shout, I saw bird Suins flying through the sky, something I hadn’t noticed before.
It was amazing. They looked so cool!
Meanwhile, on the ground, cat Suins crouched low in the grass, their butts wiggling as they stared up at the bird Suins. They were in full hunting mode!
Even I found it unsettling.
“Ji-Ji-hyuk… I’m scared! Th-the cat Suins… they’re going to hunt the bird Suins…!”
I sighed, realizing Eum-ah was more frightened than I was. I gently patted her back to reassure her.
“Do Suins even hunt each other? Wouldn’t that just be murder?”
“H-hunting, murder… it’s all the same to us. A-and some Suins are even cannibals…”
“Wow, that’s seriously terrifying.”
“Right…?”
Just imagining it made Eum-ah tremble uncontrollably.
“Let’s just go back.”
“Y-yeah. Let’s do that.”