Disclaimer: Hello again! All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. I'll be translating 10 Ways To... (You know what I'm just going to abbreviate that to just 10 Strays. It's easier this way for me.) So yeah, I'll be starting on the third arc. Ahem, enough with that, enjoy!

妻=猫

Wife = Cat

Ikeda x Kasane

"Fufufun~…"

"…"

Kasane hummed as she hanged the laundry under this sunny day. Ikeda turned his attention toward the girl. It's been six months since they married.

Overcoming everyone's objection, he married her and they now lived a peaceful life.

Kasane worked as a solider in the Oda family, but after their private wedding, the two of them left the castle and took residence in his mansion.

Kasane's smile after a day of hard work always satisfied him to no end.

The thought of his loving wife waiting for his return also lightened the heavy load of his work.

If the old him were to look at them now, he'll probably faint with disbelief.

However, it wasn't like he didn't like the current him.

In fact, it was a bit strange to think that he would like the old him, the time before he met Kasane.

His bland expression, those unchanging days…

The old him that wouldn't care whom his future wife will be, the old him that would never oppose his superior.

The very first time he defied his superior was when he took Kasane as his wife.

Reconsider.

Know your position.

Everyone opposed his relationship with Kasane.

Even so, nothing could toppled his decision to separate from her.

Once more, he looked at his wife.

Noticing that he was staring at her, his cute wife looked up and tilted her head towards him.

"Kasane."

"Yes, what is it Katsusaburou-san?"

"I am not good with cats."

"…Yes?"

At his abrupt words, her eyes widened with confusion.

"But I'm still fine when I'm with you."

"Um, well that's because I'm not a cat, after all…."

She frowned at his incomprehensible words.

"Kasane, please meow for me."

"What!?"

Doubting her ears, she cried in shock at his outrageous request.

"N-no way. What are you saying?"

Turning her waist, she now faced in his direction.

Ikeda, who didn't take back his words, only beckoned her to come closer.

"W-what is it this time…?"

Kasane hesitantly came closer to him.

Setting her on his lap, he lifted his hand and started stroking her head and thin neck, just as if she were a cat.

"Come on, please meow like a cat for me."

"…I don't want to. It's too embarrassing."

"…"

"…N-no. Please don't look at me with those eyes…"

Kasane blushed under his steady gaze.

"There are times when I want to touch a cat myself."

"Like I said, I'm not a cat…!"

Taking offense, she angrily puffed out her cheeks. Her adorable, sulking face only made his features brighten.

"To me, you are like a cat."

Kasane became more and more distressed.

"Please… Kasane."

"—"

He quietly whispered. Slowly and awkwardly she looked at him.

"Me-…Meow."

She softly cried, modified by her actions.

Hearing her voice, he thinly smiled. Still rubbing her head, like how one would do with a cat, he kissed her cheek.

"Ka-katsusaburou-san?"

She called out to him, puzzled by his sudden kiss.

"…Right now you're still a cat aren't you?"

"…~"

Unable to produce any words, Kasane discontentedly looked up at Ikeda.

"Kasane is a my family cat."

"Geez, I'm not a cat."

She raised her voice in a sullen manner.

"…I am Katsusaburou's wife!"

"…"

Taken by surprise, Ikeda's eyes widened by her embarrassed declaration.

"…You're right."

Smiling, he gave her a loving look.

"You are my adorable wife."

"…"

Abashed by his remark, Kasane looked down to her hands.

She looked so adorable. So precious.

—He never dreamed that he would one day have a life filled with such tranquility.

With his sweet, cat-like wife.

The girl who constantly changed the expression on her expressive face and sweetly leaned toward him was just like a cat.

—Ikeda may not be good at handling with cats, but it didn't mean that he hated them.

It was a constitutional weakness.

Truthfully, if he sees them at a far-away distance, he believed that they are cute creatures.

He studied her face.

Kasane had quietly closed her eyes, a thin dust of red flushed across her face.

Placing his hands on her cheeks, he leaned down to her lips.

Even if cats were an inconvenience to his health, as long as this girl continues to stay by his side…

There's no need to keep a cat.

Ikeda quietly conceded this in his heart.

Okay then, I better get started on the third arc of 10 Strays before I get back to college. I hope everyone enjoyed reading this chapter, and have a nice day!