Alice attempts to distract Ryo away from the love of his life--the fishies.

(Also, happy one year anniversary to this fic! Long gratitude a/n at the end.)

"You don't get it! I'm so bored, Akira-kun! Come over here and hang out with me."

On the other end of the line, Akira Hayama let out an exasperated sigh. "I already told you, Alice! I'm out on an errand for Jun. And just, you know, bug Kurokiba as usual."

Alice pouted. "I can't. He went on a fishing trip."

Ah. The infamous fishing trip. Akira had war flashbacks, and wondered if Arato was doing okay.

"Hishoko is out with Erina at an engagement," Alice said, as if reading Akira's mind. "Ryo told me to stay in my room! Can you believe it?! My own aide, giving me orders?"

"And you're actually obeying him," Akira said, with some disbelief in his voice. She was at home indeed, and had been repeatedly asking him to come over.

"Well, of course. Ryo-kun is scary when he's like, seriously mad. He did say I can go out if I wanted but I have to bring security with me. And security guards are such a pain, Akira-kun!"

"...Oh, that makes sense," Akira said, more of to himself than to Alice. He could never imagine Ryo trying to exercise any authority over Alice... unless her safety was involved somehow. And they all knew Alice could be reckless if left unsupervised.

Akira sighed in resignation. "Okay, okay. I'll drop by in a couple of hours when I'm done here. Do not go anywhere, you hear?" He thought he would at least make sure Alice didn't accidentally get herself killed.

"Hours?! But I'm so bored, Akira-kun!"

"Be a big girl and learn to take orders now and then, Alice," Akira said, sounding like he was at his wits' end. "I'll text you when I'm through here. Later."

Alice stared at her wall clock, as she lay on her bed, her head hanging of the edge of the plush mattress. She watch the second hand tick, feeling so incredibly bored. She didn't have anything scheduled this day, and there were no classes, and Ryo was off with the fishies.

She let him go whenever he asked to--despite how bossy she seemed at times, she knew Ryo needed some time off now and then like a normal human being.

Besides, Ryo would often make backhanded comments about how she couldn't survive without him. She tried to show him that she could... For a short while, at least.

"But I'm so boreeed..." Alice whined, to no one in particular. She grabbed her phone again, already sick of scrolling on her social media.

She opened her message log with Ryo, staring blankly and pouting at the lack of a message from him. Not even a "good morning, how are you doing, miss?".

Alice groaned and caved in, deciding she would swallow her pride and send him a message.

Alice: Ryo-kuun. How's the trip?

Alice pressed send. And stared at the screen for the next five minutes, her frustration growing at the lack of response.

Finally, she decided to be more straightforward.

Alice: I'm bored.

Her phone actually buzzed this time, and Alice nearly jumped up from the message alert. Ryo had actually texted back!

Ryo: Then go do something, miss.

Alice groaned, lightly tossing her phone to the pillows on her bed. Why does Ryo always have to text so dryly? Did she have to be more forward?

Sighing, Alice took her phone again and decided to give it one last try. If this didn't work, she wasn't sure what would.

Alice: I miss you, Ryo.

Alice stared at the screen again. Staring, and staring and...

Seen.

"Oh, for crying out--!" Alice pounded her fists onto her bed in frustration.

What is it with fishing anyway?! It's so incredibly boring, I could fall asleep! If I knew any better, he's probably checking out some... Mermaids, or something!

"I'm so bored..." Alice said, looking defeated. To top it all off, Ryo had forbid him from leaving the residence by herself. She was bound to obey that--it was the only thing Ryo seriously asked of her. If you're going somewhere, tell me. Don't wander alone. If you're leaving, take security with you.

She disobeyed a couple times, and Ryo was never happy afterwards. Ah, it was so hard to have to live such a sheltered life.

She couldnt bother Erina--she was away at a meeting. Akira was no longer picking up, probably occupied by his errand now. Well, at least he said he would drop by. Soon, Alice hoped.

Sighing, Alice sat up, and decided to get herself together. She was never one to mope around too long. She suddenly remembered the pile of online orders she'd just stashed in a corner of her room and hadn't even bothered to open yet. Ryo had been getting on her back and telling her to sort the damn things. Makeup she hasn't opened yet, clothes she'd never worn...

Alice sat up, paused, and suddenly wailed like a little kid in excitement.

Now she had an idea of what to do for the day.

And maybe, just maybe, a way to get Ryo back home sooner.

Alice stood in front of the full-body mirror in her bedroom, tugging down on a fur-covered bra top, adjusting it so it juuuust covered her enough as to not fully expose her breasts. A tough ordeal, given how skimpy the top was.

She fixed the white, furry cat ear hairclips on her head just so they blended in with her hair.

Then all that was left was to center that bell collar on her neck, and fluff up that white furry tail attached to the matching white underwear.

Alice looked at her reflection in the mirror. She smiled in satisfaction, thinking this would have to do.

She took a couple of selfies in front of her mirror. Before Alice knew it, half an hour had passed by. It was tough taking selfies when her boobs were attempting to escape that furry excuse for a bra top every few seconds.

Laying down on her bed with her feet propped up against the headboard, Alice reviewed the photo reel on her phone. She decided on one she liked, and then...

"Sent!" Alice said, as she tapped said button, sending off the photo to Ryo.

Alice just lay there, thoughts going mile-a-minute for a few seconds. In theory, she thought this plan might work. Might.

And if it didn't... well, at least she could put some of the tamer photos up on her social media.

She nearly jumped out of bed when her phone beeped, and excitement ran through her when she saw it was indeed a message from Ryo. Was her genius, diabolical plan actually working?

Ryo: What are you doing?

Alice groaned. A very Ryo message. He was always so straightforward.

Alice: I'm a cat, Ryo. Nyaan~

Ryo: I can see that. But why?

Alice pouted. Ryo was so dense! Clearly, she had to intensify the effort. She took another picture and sent it to him--a photo of her laying down on her bed, half the shot unabashedly occupied by her chest. She had a playful little wink on her face.

Alice: How do I look, Ryo-kun?

There was a delay in his response, as if he'd been trying to think carefully for a while on how to answer that.

Ryo: Like a cat.

"Ugh, Ryoooo!" Alice groaned into her pillow. She could just imagine him saying that response with that stupid, straight pokerface he had.

Alice sighed, and thought that desperate times called for desperate measures. She got up and took a few more photos--this time getting on her hands and knees, pushing her breasts together with her arms so they looked fuller, swaying her hip to one side, stretching her back just so her bottom looked nice and round...

The things I do for photos! Alice huffed, as she sent him the picture. Ryo had better give her some type of reaction now, or she was going to lose it.

Ryo: Your dad's not going to be happy if you post that online, miss.

Alice almost threw her phone out the window.

Ugh, Ryo-kun! Why is it so hard to flirt with you?!

Alice was pouting and fuming now. When he wasn't trying to provoke her into a food war, Ryo was just so... emotionless. Like a rock. Alice swore the only way to get an outburst out of him was to outright talk smack about his cooking.

It's like he never notices the way she bats her eyes at him, the way she tries to hold onto his hand whenever she had the excuse, the way she walks so close to him even when she didn't have to...

Alice sighed. Maybe she truly couldn't separate him from the real love of his life, the fishies.

Alice: Okay, fine. Enjoy the fishing trip, Ryo-kun.

It was time to wrap up, time to give up the fight. She tried to think if she had anything else to say to him, and suddenly remembered something.

Alice: Oh, by the way. Akira-kun said he'll be here in a bit. Don't worry, I promise not to drive him mad!

To Alice's surprise, there was a reply to that message in an instant.

Ryo: Hell no.

Ryo: I'm packing up. See you soon, miss.

Alice blinked.

Well, that worked like a charm.

a/n: nsfw sequel yes or no?? I have some ideas, but not sure if it's enough.

To Spike, and a few others who asked: I don't have this up on ao3, sorry! I do have an account but uhhh I never figured how to upload stuff lol. FF with the app has been more convenient for me, since I usually type these on mobile.

Also, in a few days it would be the one-year anniversary of me publishing this fic. I have hit over 100k words, fifty-something chapters later. Am I insane or what?!

I'd like to thank everyone who reads this fic. Hi. I started out a year ago on this during a tough time, covid and all. But writing all these and getting these reviews and feedback has kept me sane. When I hear from other Ali/Ryo lovers and you guys say the fics make you happy, it makes me happy too. Thank you.

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