The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 125~♫

 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.