Chapter 17: Business Is Cold (2)

“It’s already been several days, and I haven’t been able to talk to anyone…”

Even though she had never interacted much with her peers, she couldn’t help but notice the strange atmosphere among the first-year students.

‘Was it because of the sparring? But isn’t that normal for a sparring session?’

Originally, sparring should be as close to a real fight as possible to be helpful.

Isn’t that right?

If Nine had known, she would have thumped her chest with her paw in frustration, but the young orca lady, lacking common sense, had already decided that the sparring wasn’t the issue.

“…You.”

“Meow.”

“I came here to calm my troubled mind, but I didn’t expect it to get even more complicated.”

A pure white cat.

If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, it was the same adorable intruder who had boarded her carriage.

White cats are rare, but you can find them if you look hard enough.

However, a cat with heterochromatic eyes and a familiar collar could only be one.

Orca’s face began to light up with joy.

‘Her fur was so fluffy and soft…’

Lost in her thoughts, Orca approached the snow-white cat with uncharacteristically cautious steps, careful not to startle her.

Nine sat still, watching Orca approach.

As the saying goes, a seasoned tiger shouldn’t show too much affection to humans.

Business should always be conducted coldly.

That rule didn’t change, even for VIP customers.

“I didn’t expect to see you again.”

The city centered around Pelisse Academy was vast.

It would take a long time by carriage to reach the other end.

Finding a cat that had wandered into such a city was no easy task.

In fact, it was nearly impossible.

Even if the Linnaeus family mobilized all their resources, finding a single cat navigating through narrow gaps was close to impossible.

But to meet like this at the academy…

For the first time, Orca felt a sense of fate.

“…I heard fate comes unexpectedly.”

What kind of cat is this, to have such a fateful reunion?

“Have you been well?”

A voice so gentle that anyone who knew her would doubt their ears drifted through the midnight garden.

‘Why does she look like she’s misunderstanding something?’

This isn’t fate!

You’re just projecting onto me!

But with no one to confess the truth or explain, she only sank deeper into the swamp of misunderstanding.

“I’m glad you’re doing well.”

Orca’s hand gently stroked Nine’s forehead.

Not too rough, not too timid—just a soft touch.

Nine closed her eyes and accepted Orca’s touch.

The soft fur under her palm.

Just touching it seemed to wash away her gloom, and a smile bloomed on Orca’s lips.

How long had she been petting her?

Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Orca’s mind.

A farewell that might have been a hallucination born of deep regret, or perhaps real.

[See you later.]

Should I ask?

Or not?

Orca smiled wryly at her own absurd dilemma and muttered under her breath, unheard by anyone.

“A cat talking… that couldn’t possibly happen…”

“Why do you think it couldn’t?”

“Eek?!”

Orca let out a rare, feminine scream and fell back.

————

Wow, I got to see Orca scream.

She’s usually so hard-boiled that even if her side were torn open, she’d just grunt… once.

Is it really that surprising for me to talk?

“Y-you just…”

“Is it really that strange for a cat to talk?”

“H-how…”

With a reaction this entertaining, I kind of want to tease her more.

“S-so it wasn’t a hallucination…”

“You thought it was?”

“Anyone would think that. Cats can’t talk, after all.”

“Well, you could search the entire continent and not find another cat like me.”

As a reincarnated being, I retained my human intelligence and have a peculiar vocal structure that allows me to speak.

If another cat could talk, I’d be jumping in frustration.

“Probably.”

“Probably?”

“You never know with the world.”

“Well… true.”

I never thought installing a free DLC would turn me into this mess.

“…Why did you reveal to me that you can talk?”

Finally, she asks.

I had prepared an answer for this inevitable question.

“Because I thought you were trustworthy.”

“Me…?”

“The world is harsh. I need at least one person I can trust.”

Orca Linnaeus.

Her reputation might be bad, but there’s no one as sincere and tight-lipped as her.

So even if I reveal my secret, she won’t spill it.

The reunion came sooner than expected, but I can’t let this opportunity go to waste.

“I-I see.”

“Living as a cat is hard. So I thought I should have someone reliable to back me up.”

I honestly shared my thoughts and looked up at her.

Orca’s expression was complicated.

It must be bewildering to hear a cat talk, but also to hear such calculated words from a cat.

“…That’s quite calculating for a cat.”

“Otherwise, I’d die.”

“…You must have had a hard time.”

Oh, I’ve had it rough.

The three years of grueling hardship flashed through my mind like a montage.

Sigh.

I can’t live through that again.

Today, I’ll make Orca my second can opener.

“This might take a while, so shall we sit?”

“…Sure.”

“Follow me.”

I led Orca to the bench where I usually sat.

Once we were close enough, I hopped onto the bench and tapped the spot next to me with my paw.

“Sit here.”

“Uh… thank you?”

Orca sat down, still unsure how to treat me.

So, where to start?

To build intimacy, it’s best to start by listening to her worries, right?

“Coming to the garden at this hour means you have a lot on your mind, huh? Don’t worry, I don’t talk to others, so you can open up.”

“This feels weird.”

“Why? You practiced making friends in front of me…”

“Ahhh!”

Wow, her expressions are so vivid.

Seeing Orca’s flustered face, something I’d never see in the original story, gave me a strange thrill.

It made me realize that Orca Linnaeus is a living, breathing human.

“I-it’s embarrassing…”

Why is she so embarrassed?

I tapped Orca’s knee with my paw and got straight to the point.

“Making friends is hard, huh?”

“…It’s embarrassing, but yes. It’s harder than hunting a bear alone as a child.”

What did she hunt as a kid?

“I don’t know how to get closer to people.”

“There are three reasons why you can’t make friends.”

There are three main reasons why Orca can’t make friends.

First.

Her aura is too intimidating.

Unless you know Orca’s inner thoughts like I do, the average student would find her aura terrifying.

Second.

Her voice is cold.

Her icy voice could give you chills even in the middle of summer.

If you’re not intimidated by that, you’re a social butterfly.

Even a social butterfly would shut their mouth and sneak away when combined with the first reason.

Third.

She lacks common sense.

Unless it’s among knights, her aggressive actions are considered abnormal here.

“But, Cat…”

“Don’t call me Cat. Call me Nine.”

“But Nine, you’re not…”

“Not scared? I can tell at a glance. You have to be sensitive to these things to survive in the wild.”

Reading people is a must for a seasoned tiger.

Fail this, and you’re done.

You’ll end up as a carpet.

Of course, I only know this because I’m a reincarnated being.

Anyway, my words seemed to have some persuasive power, as Orca began to listen seriously.

“The most important thing in making friends is empathy.”

“Empathy…?”

Orca tilted her head slightly at my solution.

She looks kind of cute like this.

Though her eyes still look like she could drown someone without changing her expression.

“The most important thing in making friends is having common interests. You need something to talk about to get closer.”

“I-I see.”

“But right now, no one approaches you, right?”

“…Yes. So I don’t know what to do…”

“I’ll create an opportunity for you.”

“Huh?”

I’ll use this chance to secure a can opener for the next three years.

“So tell me. When’s your liberal arts class tomorrow?”