You’re the One!

　Fluffy and lumpy.

　So this is supreme heaven!

“Wow! She’s so friendly!”

　Michel-kun, your face, your face!

　Hmm, but I totally understand!!

“Michel, look at this baby! Look at her tail!”

　They have pointy eyes and ears that stand up straight. A wagging tail. It’s an affectionate baby that expresses its happiness with its whole body.

　Gosh, should I buy them all?!　

　There’s no worry! The Duke’s estate is huge!

“But what kind of store is this exactly?”

“I don’t know much about it, but have you heard of the recent trend among the nobility about breeding small animals that can be kept indoors?”

“I’ve heard some.”

“I guess they’re becoming popular among the commoners as well.”

　I see.

　What’s popular among the nobility is also popular among the citizens.

　This kind of thing appeals to people’s hearts, so they are quick to copy it!

　They’re actually cute!

“But they’re pretty expensive.”

“Maybe it’s because it used to be a pleasure for the nobility. The price will probably plummet after a little while.”

　It seems that Michel is a cat person.

　He’s been hugging all he can since a while ago.

　Michel himself is like a fickle cat, so maybe they hit it off.

　This place is like a blind date area, where you can get to know the girl you like, while searching for a young animal you have affinity with.

　By the way, I’m a dog person.

　Dogs are cute because they’re loyal to their masters.

　However, the Count of Verdigo and the Duke of Lindbeld households do not keep any animals. They have horses that pull carriages and the like, but no small animals as pets.

“I think I’ll buy one…”

　Comfort is important!

“Let’s do that! Preferably this one!”

　Michel, that’s the one you like best…

　You’ve been carrying a bunch of them, but that one’s been getting special treatment.

　It’s definitely cute, though.

“Michel, why don’t you keep it yourself?”

“I’m currently a houseguest at the Duke’s mansion, so it’s a bit…But if my master can keep it, I can also take care of it, right?”

　For me?

　Well, alright.

“But even if we buy it now and bring it home, what would my husband say?…Do you think it’s okay without consulting him first?”

“What’s the problem? You see, Claude-sama can forgive you for anything.”

　Uh, that…

　Trust building period.

　To be honest, I haven’t been too angry with him since we had that conversation.

　He realized that he has put me through a lot of things…and he seems to be reflecting on it.

　And he apologized to me, at least.

“So, let’s buy this kitten. If it’s this, I’ll pay for it myself!”

　I smiled and told Michel.

“No, I’m a dog person.”

“Uh? Then, why don’t we buy one each? I’ll take care of one of them! Maybe Claude-sama is a cat person!”

“What if he’s a dog person? He’d probably prefer a loyal pet to a fickle one.”

“Why are you talking like you’re a married couple who understand each other? But Claude-sama likes you, so I’m sure he’s more into fickle cats.”

“Yes-yes”

　I just let Michel do his thing and watched him lazing around, running around, and moving around with the young animals spiritedly.

　Even though we can keep a puppy indoors, we still don’t know how big it will grow. 

　I think if it’s a big puppy, it will grow big too.

“All young animals are cute.”

“They are cute.”

　Michel sulkily turned his face away and followed me, looking betrayed and unhappy.

　Thinking that I shouldn’t be naive here, I look around.

　Then I immediately spotted a basket stacked in the back.

　It’s a sturdy-looking basket, and I guess they keep each one in each of them.

　However, in the midst of it all, I found something inside a cage that looked sturdy enough to be out of place.

“That baby――…”

“What? You want that one?”

　Michel looked at me in surprise.

“Er…”

　One of the animals is in a small cage as if it was isolated, and it was growling at us in wariness.

　Its fur stood on ends as if to say, “Don’t come any closer.”

“Hmm, Risha-sama…Do you desire to tame a cocky guy like that?…It’s true that Claude-sama is cocky, too. But it’s not as simple as it sounds…”

　Michel says with a smirk and a sideways glance.

　Shut up, Michel!

“Excuse me, I’m just curious about this little one.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. This one’s a little――…”

　When I asked the person in the store about it, he kind of bristled and said he couldn’t recommend it.

　It’s for sale, but it doesn’t seem to like anyone, and if you try to touch it, it will threaten to bite you.

　It was unclear where they got it from, and the store was at a loss as to what to do with it.

　The staff said that if they couldn’t find anyone to take it in, they would just sell it like a mouse-trap cat or ranch dog, but that the little one was unfriendly to begin with and was only likely to be slaughtered.

　After hearing that much, I can’t stay still!

　The staff may not have been in the mood, but he recommended another puppy, but the little one was my only choice.

　Even if it’s not good at all, I decided to take it in.

　Even if it’s impossible at the moment, if we treat it with love and affection, it may eventually show a friendly attitude to people.

　Dogs are so much smarter than cats!

“Risha-sama, are you serious?”

“Is it bad?”

“…If you get hurt, Claude-sama will kill me, you know?”

“So, I’m sorry. Will he kill me?”

“You’re terrible! Aren’t you my best friend?!”

　My potential best friend, Michelle, is already non-existent.

　I asked the shopkeeper to unlock the cage.

　Then I slowly open the door.

　Whether the puppy is wary, it just looks at me and growls. Perhaps it knows that it’s useless to run away, so it doesn’t try to jump out.

　I slowly held out my hand so as not to frighten it.

　But, as expected, it bit me vigorously.

　Even though it was a puppy, its canine teeth were so strong that it seriously hurt where it bit me.

　This is the stron prey on the weak world. If you don’t show who is stronger, you lose.

　Our eyes met and we stared each other down. 

　Its eyes are a strange shade.

　They are blue, like mine, but they wavered somewhat powerfully and somewhat fragilely.

　The standoff, which was not that long, continued for a while.

　And then, as we waited patiently without doing anything, it slowly let go of its canines from where it bit me, as if it had given up.

　Then, it licked the spot where blood was flowing.

　Hahaha, I won!

“You’re so cute.”

“You won! Don’t you think so, Risha-sama? But I think I should be doing something…Oh, yes, treatment!”  

　Michel grabbed my hand and asked the shopkeeper for some medicine.

　While Michel tended to my hand, the shopkeeper let the puppy out of the cage.

　It was so quiet that it seems like its growling earlier was but an illusion.

　Rather ――…

　He’s a little dirty, but it feels so good!

　I can’t get over how smooth its fur feels, almost like it’s absorbing my hand.

　I’d bury my face in it if I could!

“I’ll buy this little one! It’s the one!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you want.”

　You sound disinterested, but you’re the one who’s going to pay for it, Michel!

　The puppy’s dull eyes stared at me, and I rubbed my cheek against its soft fur.