Chapter 7- The Tail That Won’t Stay Calm

Rei Hoshizaki had reached a terrifying realization.

Kuro Akamine’s tail was a traitor.

No matter how cold or quiet she tried to act, the fluffy black tail behind her always exposed her real emotions.

And right now—

It was swishing like crazy.

Rei leaned slightly over her desk and whispered,

“You know your tail is moving again, right?”

Kuro immediately froze.

“…It is not.”

“It definitely is.”

She glanced behind her.

The tail stopped.

Then slowly began moving again.

Kuro quickly grabbed it and pulled it into her lap.

“…Problem solved.”

Rei tried not to laugh.

“You’re holding it like it's going to escape.”

“It might.”

Rei leaned back in his chair, watching her.

“You know… this mission is going to be pretty easy.”

Kuro narrowed her eyes.

“…What mission?”

“The one where you make me fall for you.”

Her ears instantly twitched.

“…You’re not supposed to say it out loud.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes it awkward.”

Rei grinned.

“You’re already awkward.”

Kuro lightly kicked his chair.

“…Idiot.”

Rei rested his chin on his hand and looked at her.

“Anyway, if you want me to fall for you, you should probably try harder.”

She blinked.

“…Try harder?”

“Yeah.”

Rei pointed casually.

“For example… most girlfriends don’t sit two meters away.”

Kuro looked at the empty space between their desks.

Then slowly dragged her chair closer.

The legs scraped softly against the floor.

Now they were sitting much closer.

Rei hadn’t expected her to actually do it.

“…Oh.”

Kuro crossed her arms.

“…There. Happy?”

Rei smirked.

“Very.”

Kuro’s tail flicked again.

A few seconds passed in silence.

Then—

Rei noticed something.

Her ears were slightly tilted toward him.

Like they were listening carefully to every movement he made.

He leaned closer.

“Kuro.”

“…What.”

“You know your ears react to me too, right?”

Her ears instantly flattened.

“They do not.”

“They definitely do.”

“…Stop looking at them.”

“Then stop having ears.”

“…That’s not how biology works.”

Rei chuckled.

Then curiosity got the better of him.

Slowly…

He reached his hand toward one of her ears.

Kuro didn’t notice at first.

But the moment his fingers got close—

Her ear twitched violently.

Rei stopped.

“…Whoa.”

Kuro looked up.

Then saw his hand.

Her face turned bright red.

“DON’T TOUCH THEM.”

Too late.

His finger barely brushed the soft fur of her ear.

Kuro jumped like someone had shocked her.

“H-HEY—!”

Her tail puffed up instantly.

She covered her ears with both hands.

Rei blinked.

“…Was that really that sensitive?”

Kuro looked like she was about to explode.

“…You idiot.”

Her voice was quieter now.

“…Cat ears are sensitive.”

“Oh.”

“…You can’t just touch them.”

Rei scratched his head.

“…Sorry.”

Kuro slowly lowered her hands.

Her ears were still red.

Her tail was moving again.

Rei tried to change the topic.

“…So.”

She glared at him.

“What.”

“…Did it feel like petting a cat?”

Kuro smacked his arm.

“Idiot.”

Rei laughed.

But then—

Kuro suddenly leaned slightly closer to him.

Close enough that he could see her eyes clearly.

“…Hoshizaki.”

“Yeah?”

“…You said I should try harder, right?”

“Yeah.”

Her tail slowly wrapped around his wrist.

Rei froze.

“…Kuro?”

She looked away slightly.

Her voice was quiet.

“…Then don’t complain later.”

Rei’s brain stopped working.

“…About what?”

Kuro glanced back at him.

A tiny smile appeared.

“…When you fall for me.”

Her tail tightened slightly around his wrist.

Rei could feel his heart beating faster.

And for the first time—

He realized something dangerous.

This “mission” might not be one-sided anymore.