Tokyo landlord: why is the panties of the lady next door in my house?!

"An unexpected night raid, got sick of sushi — this burger's too sticky, greasy, smokey, craving fried crispy skin, drumstick in hand, yet I never forgot you, the overflowing roast bird, the non-stop turning belly of the fish..."

As I reached the first floor, a bewitching tune suddenly filled my ears, sounding young and crisp, like a children's song, brimming with a desire for... food???

Haruka Yuzan looked up and immediately saw a person and a cat basking in the sun, both appearing so languid. With a rosy little mouth humming and a cute face full of yearning for a joyful life.

"Little girl, don't overeat yourself to death???"

"Hey, what are you up to?"

"Eh?"

The singing stopped, and Misaki Saki opened her eyes to see the boy before her, her pretty eyes suddenly sparkling,

"Eh, Haruka, you and Hoshina..."

Seeing the little one's suggestive face, Haruka Yuzan frowned, "Hmm? What is it?"

"What was that noise upstairs just now?" The girl's clear eyes held a mix of innocence, curiosity, and a touch of... mischief....

The tiny being was squashed under the large fat cat, momentarily uncertain which of the two was heavier.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Haruka Yuzan smiled and leaned in, whispering, "Do you want the truth?"

"What, what is it! Tell me!" Misaki Saki's eyes widened, appearing anxious,

Even the sleeping Roast Meat atop her stirred, flailing its little chubby paws and mewing. Was it having a nightmare?

"I really want to know!"

"Yes, yes, I do!!"

"Call me 'Brother.'

"Brother!"

"Call..."

Upon hearing this, even the usually oblivious Misaki Saki paused, her cute face puffing up, exhibiting an uncharacteristically coy expression,

Her eyes at the boy taking on a reproachful look,

"You, you're actually younger than me, yet you want me to call you that..."

"It's not like you haven't called me that before." Haruka Yuzan leaned down closer, peering at her innocent, adorable face, unable to resist continuing the tease,

"Misaki, as a great teacher, how can you be shy!! This isn't like you!"

"Eh, now that you say that, it kind of makes sense."

"Of course, it does! And don't you think it's exciting? It's a different kind of fresh inspiration. I'm working so hard to help you create better work. Otherwise, do you think I'm just doing this to make myself happy?"

His words were like whispers of a devil in her ear, tempting the naive, foolish believer to offer herself to the great master!

"Eh! Believe it or not, that actually sparked some different inspiration... you're pretty great!" Misaki Saki's fingers touched her lips as she pondered, her mind alight with thoughts, her eyes gradually brightening,

Her look at Haruka filled with gratitude, an epiphany!!!

"Of course! How could I deceive you...."

"Alright then, I'll call you that just this once, okay!"

"Yes, just this once, let me hear it."

At this moment, the girl seemed to have completely forgotten her original question and intent, and even the fat cat curled in her arms couldn't help but shake its chubby dumpling face, meowing as if sighing with emotion,

Though I may seem dim and foolish, surely I can't be swayed by a few words from my poop-scooping human to go be cute and coquettish! Such a matter of dignity surely demands two... no, make that three dry fish??!

Yes, it must be three little dried fishies to compensate me!

However, with things as they were, Roast Meat had no other recourse but to pity himself, bewitched by his comrade in just a few words, what could Meow Meow-san do?

In the end, as Roast Meat's soft meowing played in the background, Misaki Saki uttered those two words, "...."

The room was a bit dim, the jaundiced gloaming shining through the window, casting a gentle blush across the girl's cheeks, her long eyelashes trembling faintly in the air,

Her bright eyes like a clear lake, the ripples reflecting upon the boy, her willowy brows and red lips like a delicate, pretty doll that could quicken one's heartbeat.

For a moment, Haruka Yuzan's heart skipped a beat at the adorable little creature's word. She turned red-faced under the boy's steady gaze,

But even though she was internally shy, the Little She-Devil's nature shone through spectacularly; with her mouth puckered, and that cute, flushed face, she chuckled,

"What, Haruka, did I bewitch you? You keep staring, how embarrassing!!"

Though she claimed to be embarrassed, her entire little face radiated smugness, her whole being veering into emoji territory,

The sudden turn took Haruka Yuzan a moment to adjust to, well, the Little She-Devil was still the same Little She-Devil, unchanged.

"Alright, alright, I know I'm beautiful, can't resist my charm, can you?" Misaki Saki waved dismissively, as if being quite magnanimous, "Now tell me what you were going on about upstairs, and that'll be that!"

Seeing the cocky little creature, Haruka Yuzan smiled, moving in a bit closer, and whispered, "We were just discussing upstairs about packaging you up and selling you off tonight..."

Peering into her eyes, he added, "What do you think, Misaki?"

"Ah?!"

On hearing that the boy was considering packing her off for sale, Misaki Saki froze on the spot, a second passed, then two, until the fat cat in her arms meowed, snapping her back to reality,