Ueno's figure overbalanced, and she rolled onto her back. The dirt danced around her, and the kitten had wiggled out of her hands.
They stared at each other, not noticing the kittens that came out to play. Getting onto her knees, Ueno's head snapped away as if that could make Aiyoku go away.
Yet the boy didn't plan to leave. He had too many questions once he pinched himself. Also, two kittens had decided his pants were a perfect toy, and their paws tried to get under it, exploring his socks.
Crazy heartbeats later, Ueno dared to look back, witnessing a savage attack onto Aiyoku's fingers led by Kuro. The boy giggled, enjoying his time with the small cats.
Taiga had left the hut, rubbing her body against Ueno's hand, asking for pats she received. Purring with delight, the cat mother laid down, watching her children.
Aiyoku lifted his gaze, locking it with reddening Ueno. She turned back, muttering, "Y-Your shirt..."
The boy needed a moment to realize what she pointed at. "Sorry." He buttoned it only in the middle as the sun refused to give them any break.
The kittens didn't notice what awkward moment they were about to witness, and they tapped and meowed the students into paying them attention. Aiyoku couldn't deny them for more than a second, quickly returning to teasing them with his fingers.
"Ouch! You little..." He snickered as Shoga cut his fingertips with his claws, training for a great mouse hunter.
"So," Aiyoku started his sentence and waited for a bit if Ueno would follow. Since she didn't, he continued, "who are you? What you did with Queen Bee Ueno-sama?"
Ueno turned her head. "Uh...?" Her brain needed a few seconds to chew that question.
Taiga under her loudly meowed.
Aiyoku snickered, getting confused younger brother vibes. The girl watched him with narrowed eyes, slightly upset he was giggling her way.
"Alright." He calmed a bit. "You visit these cats in the dirty hu—"
"It's not dirty!" she snapped, her arm fencing in its way. "I buried hills of spider's corpses cleaning this place! Yeah, the roof still needs fixing, and the walls aren't much better, but inside it's luxurious!"
Aiyoku blinked, unable to recognize the Queen Bee from a few weeks ago. Now she was sitting, counting on her fingers all the great things the cats had inside, chiding him for his indiscretion.
"... the premium food has the best reviews, and there are so soft beds I earn for a human-sized one. And there is..." Her voice died out as the steam left her.
Her head sunk low, her hands laying on her lap where the stripped kitten Shima pestered her for more pats.
The wind blew between them as if erecting an invisible wall.
"Why don't you laugh?"
Aiyoku looked into her downcast eyes.
"Making so much ruckus for stray cats."
A slight smile spread across the boy's face. "Hard work of others isn't something I would laugh at."
Her head pivoted his way, confusing overtaking her expression.
"I don't know what caused this change in you." He lifted Kuro, who tumbled down over his paw. "But I know I like this shy, hardworking, and kind Ueno over the Queen Bee you have shown me before."
Her cheeks burning, she turned her head away.
"I'm glad you aren't coldhearted as I feared. And it seems Freya-chan had forgiven you."
"W-What?" Her head snapped back and forth. "W-What do you mean? Who said it? Why should I care about her?" Her voice couldn't keep the tone, jumping up and down.
"I dunno." He gave her a playful grin. "But it wasn't me calling her a few minutes ago."
The girl scratched on her still red cheek.
Aiyoku got up to the kittens' letdown. He dusted his knees, brushing down the blades of grass and stray bugs.
"Now that I think about this," he pondered. "I see why Freya-chan acted sometimes so strangely in the last weeks."
"Which way?"
Aiyoku made a step closer, and since Ueno didn't show discomfort, he came closer, squatting a step away.
"She went on and off, claiming to have a very shy friend. There were times when she checked her phone often when normally she didn't even notice it almost run out of battery. And a few times, we had found her dazing, lost in her mind."
Ueno gave his way a small smile. "So, she didn't tell you about this?"
"Not me for sure."
There was a spark in Ueno's eyes, and her tone changed back into queen mode.
"What makes you believe I'm a good girl? What if this is a charade to win you back?" She tossed her hair over her shoulder, giving him a haughty look.
Aiyoku answered with an all-knowing smirk. "You throwing out all my photographs form the club, for one."
"What?" she shrieked. "You saw me?"
"I followed you to the collecting place where I checked the bins you had."
"And you stalked me too?" She puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms over her chest.
Drops of sweat slid down his forehead. "Don't call it that way. I was worried you may be up to no good."
With a deep sigh, Ueno relaxed her body. "True."
"If Freya-chan helps you, it means she has forgiven you. While I have my doubts, it would be hypocritical of me not to give you a second chance when we had received it from Freya-chan."
"What do you mean? The way I saw, it you did your best to befriend her and to take her under your wings."
Aiyoku scratched behind his head. "Actually, we had a bad start." He didn't elaborate on the details, and Ueno didn't pry for more.
"What do you want to do now?" his senpai asked.
"I..." His stomach interrupted him, answering the question for him. "... will grab something first." He stood up, twitching a bit as his muscles screamed. "Then I hit the shower and thank Buddha for cutting my hair."
Cracking his back, he had earned a snicker from her. "Wanna stop tomorrow by our stall?"
She gave him a bit scared expression, unsure of how to decide.
"I can understand why Freya-chan kept this a secret, and I shall respect this. Our Dad had taught us to give everybody a second chance if they truly want to change for the better."
He took a deep sigh. "I know Ri is a hard nut to crack, but I know he could help you if you ask him." He scratched on his cheek. "Ka is as simple as ever, but I think he may dislike you more than most people."
Her head swayed down.
"What I'm trying to say is... if you want to start anew, you are welcome. So, take care." Aiyoku patted her on her head, leaving.
"Aiyoku-san!" she called him, and he turned around in his waist.
"What it is?" he asked as she said nothing else.
Her figure shook, and she lifted her tightened fist. "I'm not a cat! Don't pat me!" Tears of joy and pretended anger joined hands in her expression.
A toothy smile occupied Aiyoku's face as he dashed forward. He had too many brotherly fights with Kagetsu to know Ueno didn't mean her fist seriously. The blonde brother rushed back, turning sweatier than he was a few minutes ago.