One evening, two days before school was scheduled to start again, Souda lay in his bed and worked on a list of ways to strike up a conversation with Sonia once she returned from Novoselic. He had starred "have Hinata be a damsel in distress to attract Lady Sonia's attention," "blow spitballs (a classic)," and "wait in front of her room until she comes out." Hearts littered the paper, cluttering around each instance of Sonia's name like adoring fans, and Souda felt confident that at least one plan would succeed.

I've made so much progress on my resolution and it's only the second day of the year! the mechanic thought, giving himself a mental pep-talk like the self-help books told him to. Damn, I'm a stud. You're a stud, Souda. You deserve a break. He tucked the paper into his pillowcase and hopped up, heading for the door.

It slammed open and almost hit him in the nose.

Souda screeched, reeling back and putting his hands defensively in front of his face. Familiar footsteps stomped past, and Souda's trembling hands lowered to reveal a very grumpy Tanaka setting his suitcase on the floor.

"Damn, what's your beef?" Souda huffed, crossing his arms and trying to regain his composure.

"If there exist gods that solely endeavor to grant safe and pleasant trips, I have not been blessed by their kind," the breeder replied, taking his hamsters from his scarf and guiding them to their cage. "The seas roared, the skies wept, and the Four Kings took offense to crude sailor songs."

"Why'd ya even bring them, then?"

"Their safety is best ensured with me. I doubt you would have taken care of them with the proper reverence or caution."

Souda pinched the bridge of his nose, wondered why he bothered asking, and left the room as quickly as possible. Not for the first time, he regretted not pushing the principal more into letting him get a new roommate, but he figured there wasn't much he could do about it now. Running a hand over his eyes, he padded down the hallway and out the door to the cafeteria. He'd been distracted all day and forgot to eat lunch, a decision that he began to regret as his stomach lurched against itself. He pushed open one of the heavy double doors and stepped over to the buffet, heading over to his usual table after piling his tray with half a day's worth of food. A few minutes later, Hinata entered alongside Nanami, and Souda waved them over.

"Hey, Hinata!" he grinned, reaching out to slap his friend on the arm. "How was your break?"

Hinata muffled a yawn and said, "Pretty good. I forgot how tiring my little siblings can be, though."

Nanami let out a yawn of her own. "Are you still up for going to the convention tomorrow?"

"O-oh, yeah, of course! I just need some rest tonight."

"'Ey, what about a convention?" Souda asked around a half-chewed mouthful of food.

Hinata winced, glancing at Souda's mouth, and replied, "Nanami wanted to go to some kind of gaming thing and asked me to go with her."

"Sounds cool! Can I come?"

"Um..." Hinata glanced at the gamer, who was staring at Souda's rice and salivating slightly. "I think it's kind of a date, so... sorry, I'd prefer if you didn't. We can catch up another time, though."

Souda sighed and stuck out his tongue. "Fine, whatever! Leave me alone on the last day of break."

Wiping at her mouth with her sleeve, Nanami said, "Sorry, Souda. Maybe we could double-date sometime if you ever get Sonia to date you."

"Hey, y'sounded a bit skeptical there! I'll have you know that I've been thinkin' of ways to talk to her all day."

Hinata raised an eyebrow. "Souda, it's not that hard to just go up to someone and talk to them."

"But I've tried talkin' with her and she's still makin' goo-goo eyes at Tanaka!"

"Then maybe you should back off a bi-"

"No!" Souda pounded the table to emphasize just how unthinkable that was. "It's my resolution to get her to date me and I need to make it happen!" Shoveling the last of his food down into his mouth, he picked up his tray and stood up. "I'm gonna go think of more scenarios right now and then we'll see who needs to back off!" He stormed off.

Hinata watched his friend walk away and sighed. "He really needs to get over her at some point."

Nanami nodded. "His determination is admirable, but even the best hero needs to know when he's been beaten."

"I wouldn't exactly call Souda a hero..."

...

"Mister Souda, you are my hero," Sonia sighed, handing one very large suitcase over to the mechanic. "This is the last one, thankfully! My citizens had quite a few gifts to give my family and me for New Year's, and I wished to bring some back here... I didn't realize it would be such a hassle."

"Hey, it's no problem!" Souda grunted, setting the baggage down as gently as possible. "I'm glad I caught ya on your way back. Let's get this last one back to the dorm, yeah?"

"That sounds lovely," Sonia said, eyes closing for a moment and opening halfway. "The trip was a bit tiring, so I'm very glad to have your help." She set off in the direction of the girls' dorm, and Souda waddled after her as quickly as he could, mentally gloating over the fact that he got to help Lady Sonia before Tanaka could swoop in and steal the glory. He then realized that the silence had been stretching on for just a bit too long.

"So did ya have a good break?" he huffed, adjusting his grip on the suitcase.

"Yes, it was wonderful! I missed my home country quite a bit, but I'm also glad to be back here with all my friends now." Sonia slowed down a bit to compensate for Souda's staggering footsteps. "Are you sure you can carry this one all the way back?"

"Yeah, I'm good." Souda casually attempted to lift the suitcase over one shoulder and toppled over.

Sonia gasped and ran over to him. "Are you okay, Souda?" she asked urgently, brows knitting. She extended a hand to help him up, which he took with a distracted grin splitting his face.

"I'm good!" he repeated, brushing off his arm and picking up the suitcase again. Looking straight to the dorms, he saw Tanaka walking toward the two and lost his grin. "Crap," he muttered, then quickly glanced over to Sonia to see if she heard. Luckily, she hadn't; she was too busy waving both arms above her head and yelling cheerfully at Tanaka. She didn't respond like that when she saw me, Souda sulked, dumping the suitcase onto the ground and crossing his arms at the approaching figure.

Once Tanaka had walked closer, Sonia ran up to him and held her arms out for a hug. He stared, eyes widening in bemusement, before slowly patting her shoulder, which Sonia somehow took as a cue to throw her arms around his waist and jump up and down. After a few moments, Sonia pulled away and delicately cleared her throat.

"I apologize. That was very improper of me, wasn't it?" she said, smiling nonetheless.

Tanaka raised two gloved hands to cover his face and didn't reply for a long stretch of time. He eventually shook his head and mumbled, "Apologies are not necessary." His fingers slowly slid from his eyes until they were at his sides again, and he attempted to stand up straight.

"Have you just returned from your trip, Mister Tanaka?"

"Indeed, and what tales of woe could be spun with the threads of time revealed in such a short time on this Earth! Tales of treacherous journeys, suffering species, careless, foul human beings, and-"

"Hey," Souda interjected, "I don't remember you talkin' in such a show-offy way when you first came back here!" He glared at Tanaka, stepped closer, and hissed, "I know you're just tryin' to impress her. Cut it out."

"Gentlemen," Sonia said icily. "I am quite tired and not in the mood to put up with your bickering."

Said gentlemen separated immediately, still glaring at each other. Tanaka cleared his throat. "Perhaps once your supplies have been returned to your abode, Lady Sonia, we could exchange stories of our travels."

"Yes, that would be wonderful," she replied, brightening slightly. "I haven't dined yet, and I'd love to hear about your vacation! It sounds very exciting."

Souda sighed theatrically, and Sonia turned to him. "If you are too tired to carry my luggage any longer, Mister Souda, Mister Tanaka or I could take it from here."

Tanaka began to extend a hand toward the handle, but Souda quickly slapped it away. "No, it's fine! It's just a little longer to the dorms, anyway." He picked up the suitcase with both hands and started waddling forward. "Do you wanna hear about my vacation, Lady Sonia?"

"... and the fireworks were incredible this year, as well! They truly outdo themselves every year; I wish you all could have been there to see it," Sonia said to Tanaka, who was nodding solemnly.

"One of the few fond memories I have archived from this lifetime was the night when I could see such explosions of color in the sky; though they are loud, impractical, and a frivolous use of resources, my newly-reincarnated mind was thoroughly diverted from otherwise... unpleasant circumstances." Tanaka swallowed and adjusted his scarf. "I did not have the good fortune to see such displays recently, however."

Souda made faces at Tanaka while he was talking and then looked straight ahead when the breeder noticed. "Yeah, well, whatever! Here we are at the dorm." Souda set Sonia's suitcase down in front of the main door, which he then opened for the princess. "Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to go in, but I would'a loved to help you get set up," he said, winking and chuckling to himself.

Sonia's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion, but she picked up her suitcase and nodded at Souda before turning to Tanaka. "I will see you soon in the cafeteria, then, Mister Tanaka! Thank you for your help, Mister Souda." She smiled at them both and entered the building. As soon as she walked up the stairs and out of sight, Souda shut the door and glared at Tanaka.

Tanaka glared back. Neither said a word until the breeder finally muttered, "I believe she was asking only me to dine. You make take your leave now."

"Like hell I will!" Souda snarled back. "I've got as much of a right to talk with her as anyone else."

Tanaka scoffed and looked down at his shoes for a moment, then smirked as a thought occurred to him. "Have you finished your winter assignment yet?"

A pit of dread formed in Souda's stomach. "... Shit, did we have homework?"

"Indeed; we were instructed to finish our presentations on a topic considered to be the opposite of our expertise."

"Fuck," Souda mumbled. "You'd better not be lyin', 'cause I don't remember that!"

"Perhaps you were in the realm of the unconscious at that time."

"Ugh, shut up!" The mechanic bit at his lip, trying to calm himself. "I gotta go ask Hinata about that... for your sake, it better be true!" He ran off, calling, "Don't think I don't know what you're tryin' to do here! I'm gonna talk to her later whether you like it or not!"

Tanaka's smirk widened slightly, and he leaned against the wall of the dorms to wait for Sonia.

...

On the last day of break, Souda spent most of the day working on his presentation and mentally beating himself up for forgetting about it. When he was satisfied with his work - or, more honestly, completely sick of it -, it was around 4:00. He shut his laptop and slouched back against his headboard, exhaling in a loud puff of air that caused Tanaka to startle in his seat across the room. The mechanic snickered and placed the laptop on his nightstand, exchanging it for a heavy toolbox that he plopped beside his legs with a grunt; he needed to take something apart after all the school-related stress.

He swung himself over the side of the bed and headed out, toolbox in hand. The door slammed behind him as he turned left, intending to go down to the shop, but he quickly spotted Sonia outside the door to the boys' dorm and abandoned all thoughts of productivity.

"Good afternoon, Sonia!" Souda exclaimed, voice rising so as to carry down the hallway and through the door. Walking briskly to meet her outside, he grinned and asked, "Where are y'headed? ... And why are you at the boys' dorm, anyway?"

"I am here to meet someone," Sonia said vaguely, offering a polite, practiced smile back.

In light of recent events, it didn't take long for Souda to put the pieces together. He growled softly to himself. "That 'someone' ain't Tanaka, is it?"

"As a matter of fact, it is!" Sonia's smile grew a bit; even though she'd been found out, she certainly seemed excited about something.

"And what exactly are you two gonna do in an empty dorm room?" Souda asked, another deep feeling of dread blooming in his stomach.

"Before I tell you, you must take a vow not to interrupt us. And we won't be in this building regardless, as it is improper for a girl to enter the boys' dorm."

"Uh, I can't exactly take a vow if you're gonna do somethin' you might regret later..."

Sonia blinked slowly, long eyelashes forming shadows on her face. Souda swallowed quietly. God, she's so beautiful... why did it have to be Tanaka of all people? he thought, temporarily unaware that she was speaking. He only tuned in at the mention of a 'breeding video.'

"... Sorry, could you repeat that?"

"Certainly. I said that I do not intend to regret helping Tanaka film a breeding video for his blog."

Souda stopped cold, the pit in his stomach growing to the point where he almost keeled over. Without another word, he turned around, sprinted back to his room, and threw open the door, rushing to Tanaka before the breeder could do more than exclaim in surprise.

Taking Tanaka's scarf in both hands, Souda pulled the taller man in with such ferocity that the latter was too surprised to resist. "What the hell is this about a breeding video?" the mechanic snarled.

"A... video? Are you referring to the vlog?"

"The what?"

"The human invention of the vlog is a manner with which to communicate with my blog viewers through a video post. Remove your disgusting hands from my person."

"What exactly is gonna be in this vlog?" Souda hissed, ignoring Tanaka's command.

"We were planning to discuss the breeding habits of the critically endangered Iriomote cat, and perhaps I will allow Miss Sonia to read the fun animal fact of the day," Tanaka responded, firmly yanking his scarf back into place and standing up to his full height. "I was unaware you were so interested in my affairs." He smirked. "Would you like the web address?"

"No, I don't wanna read your stupid blog! Just... whatever. I still don't trust you alone with Lady Sonia," Souda mumbled, crossing his arms.

"Do not assume that others have the same impure intentions as you do," Tanaka said. He picked up the laptop on his desk and walked over to the door, cape fluttering as he took wide strides; the door slammed shut behind him a few seconds later.

"... Yeah, well, you're a teenage guy! I know what you're thinkin'! You're just in denial!" Souda yelled to the empty room. He sighed and collapsed face-first on his bed before realizing he should probably go follow them and hopping back up. In front of the door, he waited for a few more seconds so he wouldn't be spotted and then sneaked into the hallway, looking both ways down the corridor. He didn't see anyone at the entrance, so he quietly jogged over and noticed his toolbox sitting outside.

He stared down at it. I musta dropped it in surprise... but I can't worry about that right now! I'm gonna lose'em! He kicked at the toolbox, stubbed his toe, swore, and gently pushed it under a bush in his second attempt before sprinting away.

...

Sonia and Tanaka walked down to the library together, chatting about their vacation and going over the script that Tanaka had written for the video.

"Not to be critical, but I am permitted to 'spice this up,' Mister Tanaka? It is important that your viewers truly feel the pressing need to help this species of cat!" Sonia said, pointing to a particularly dull part of the script in which she simply said "wow" after Tanaka listed a few facts. "This exclamation, for example, must be followed by an exclamation point!"

Tanaka put a hand to his chin, humming slightly in thought. "I suppose it would be optimal to garner enthusiasm, and yours is quite... contagious," he said, the last word catching in his throat slightly. "I will permit you to make changes if you wish."

"Wonderful!" Sonia's eyes skimmed over the pages. "This is impeccably researched! I never even knew this species existed; did you truly see them in your travels this week?"

Tanaka nodded. "Unfortunately, their mating seasons typically occur in the autumn and later in the winter, but I nonetheless came across a select number of individuals that warmed up to my dark heart in time." As they drew closer to the library, Tanaka opened the door and gestured Sonia in, following behind her. "Now, we must find a filming location with optimal lighting and acoustics as well as a charming backdrop. I rarely do vlog posts; thus, the few that are produced must be of high quality, or my viewers will be most disappointed!"

Sonia mused that, for someone who supposedly didn't care about what mortals thought, Tanaka was putting quite a bit of effort into the video. She giggled and said nothing on the matter. "The back corner on the second floor is somewhat of a go-to spot now, isn't it?"

"... I suppose so. Very well; let us see if it will suffice." Tanaka trekked up the stairs, cape billowing out behind him. Sonia was tempted to grab it to see how he would react, but he reached the second floor before she could act on her impulse. She followed him to the table in the corner and looked around.

"This whole library is so lovely that any area would provide a great backdrop, but it's nice and quiet back here!" Sonia said, moving the two chairs beside each other. "If you set your camera up on the table here, we could sit side by side in front of the window! The view of the courtyard is wonderful from here." She stopped and quickly added, "Oh, I hope I'm not being pushy! You can go wherever you wish, of course, I just thought this spot would be ideal..."

Tanaka shook his head, holding up one hand to quiet the princess. "I agree that this is a good location; we may film here if you wish." He set his laptop down on the table and opened it, setting up the camera. He paused before stiffly settling down in the chair next to Sonia. "Now. I also have the script on the computer, so you may read from that while we film if you wish. It would be preferable to do a run-through first, however, so we may start anytime you feel ready."

Sonia shifted in her chair slightly and nodded. "I am ready! I'll introduce myself, then, if you don't mind." She looked into the camera on the laptop and said, "Greetings to the viewers of this blog! I am Sonia Nevermind and I will be joining Mister Tanaka today to talk to you about the Iriomote cat!" She glanced at Tanaka. "Is that okay?"

"Yes, that will do." He read from the script, "In my travels in the past week, I had the privilege to enter the territory of the critically endangered Iriomote cat. Due to the destruction of their environment as well as competition with domesticated cats, their species is quickly dying out; it is estimated that less than one hundred may still exist on this planet."

Sonia gasped. "That's awful! And you were still fortunate enough to come across one?"

"Indeed, my fellow gods blessed me in allowing this trip to be such a success. The felines could be considered difficult to spot, as they are quite small; they often weigh approximately three to four and a half kilograms and only measure seventy to ninety centimeters, including their tails. Their dark brown coats also blend with their surroundings, and though this is an awe-worthy adaptation, it can hinder mere human eyes from noticing their presence." Tanaka laughed aloud. "But as you are aware, Gundam Tanaka is no mere human, and I could sight the creatures with ease!"

Ignoring that the last sentence Tanaka said wasn't in the script, Sonia clasped her hands together and said, "Wow, that's very impressive, Mister Tanaka! What were you able to discover on your travels?"

"I spoke with a mortal there who has been concerning himself with the conservation of this majestic creature. He informed me that the population has remained relatively stable for the past few years, but it has not risen, either; thus, I will return periodically to the Iriomote island to ensure that all is well and assist when necessary, especially during their annual breeding seasons."

"Is there anything that we pathetic savages can do to help, even though humanity is to blame for the suffering of these innocent creatures from the start and so many species would benefit if humans didn't exi-" Sonia frowned. "I don't approve of this line. It's very negative."

"... I suppose you may modify it," Tanaka said. "I do believe I make a valid point, however."

"What you're suggesting is mass genocide of the human race!"

"Do you not, in the darkest of times, also contemplate how much suffering would be eliminated if humans didn't exist? No swords would clash over petty disagreements, none would die simply for the sake of bloodshed, all of history would-"

"Cease such talk immediately!" Sonia gave the breeder a firm look. "Yes, humans do cause suffering, and thinking of such things does pain me, but humans can also create wonderful things! Though we cannot right all the wrongs that have been done, there will always be hope for the future; just the fact that someone is trying to save this species should show you that humans can use their abilities to help, and though there will always be bad people, there will also always be more good people to better the world."

Tanaka bit his lip and looked down at his interlaced hands, saying nothing but appearing deep in thought. After a few minutes of contemplation, he muttered, "I apologize if I have offended you. I... do agree that perhaps not everyone is as insufferable as I am accustomed to, but I've had little experience with their type." Until you graced me with your presence, that is, he added mentally. "I simply feel that the less humans there are in existence, the less suffering there will be."

"That may or may not be true, but there are also many fantastic things that would not exist without humanity!" Sonia put a finger to her chin, thinking for a moment. "For example, you couldn't see all the species of the world if you couldn't travel long distances, yes? But with planes and boats, we can go anywhere in the world! Humans also created the written word so that one can enjoy murder mystery novels and read of all the good and bad things that have happened in history. As a species, we are constantly learning from our mistakes and improving, even if it's happening very slowly, so please don't give up on humanity, Mister Tanaka!"

Tanaka put his head in his hands and was silent again. "Your words are very persuasive," he said, rubbing his forehead. "I suppose I will have to rethink the matter in my own time... shall we continue for now?"

"Yes, let's!" Sonia crossed out Tanaka's original line in pen and scribbled something else down, then recited, "Is there anything that we can do to help?"

Tanaka cleared his throat and read, "Yes, I will link to various websites below this video that may be utilized to further educate oneself on this topic and to provide assistance. Additionally, if you reside on or visit the island, be wary when driving; many individual cats die as a result of traffic-related accidents. Thank you for your time and consideration." He flipped to the next page. "Miss Sonia, would you like to read the fun animal fact of the day?"

"I would be honored!" Studying the paper, Sonia read, "Though the Iriomote cat is rather small, two of the world's smallest cats include the rusty-spotted cat, which usually weighs about a kilogram, and the black-footed cat, which can weigh about two to two and a half kilograms. Oh, that's so adorable," she sighed, setting the script down with a smile. "I've always wanted a pet of any sort, but my parents say that it would dirty our castle... if it was just a little cat, though, how much harm could it do?" she giggled.

Tanaka smiled softly. "Do not underestimate small creatures; they are often the most vicious." He pointed to the earring that was always on his person. "I obtained this sacred jewel only through besting a fearsome Pomeranian from the depths of hell itself; the battle was long and taxing for the both of us, and I now keep the devildog earring on my person at all times to commemorate that day. If I ever were to separate myself from it, the world itself would end."

Sonia gasped. "Oh, that's amazing! So much power in such a small thing... it must be hard to have that much responsibility to carry with you every day."

"Pah, it is nothing for a being such as I! And do you not also carry many burdens, being the heir to a throne?"

"That is true, but I am troubled enough to have to worrying about one small country, let alone the whole world!"

"Yes, well..." Tanaka lowered his head slightly, burying part of his chin in his scarf. "It is nothing to discuss in length, really. Shall we commence filming?"

"We shall!" Sonia chirped, flipping back to the first page of the script. "I am prepared whenever you are, Mister Tanaka. Do I appear film-ready?"

"Yes, as always," Tanaka mumbled, heat rushing to his cheeks. He cleared his throat and hit the record button on the laptop.

...

Behind the bookshelf, Souda sat with his knees up to his chest and his head buried in his arms, feeling very tired and very bored of watching Sonia and Tanaka. It seemed as though they really were just talking about endangered cats, and Souda's mental fatigue had quickly gotten the better of him; he had stopped listening after the first few sentences of the practice reading and was almost asleep when he felt a foot kicking at his thigh. His head snapped up and he inhaled sharply, ready to scream in surprise before he saw Owari and Tsumiki standing over him.

He put a hand over the spot where his heart was beating out of control and hissed, "Don't do that! You scared the shit outta me."

Owari put her hands on her hips and said, "What the hell are you doin' back here? Libraries ain't exactly the best places to take naps."

Souda clambered to his feet, throwing a quick glance around the shelf to make sure his targets hadn't spotted him. "Uh, I'm just... y'know. Hangin' out. Yeah. What're you guys doin' here?"

"I put off that stupid project for too long and now I don't even know what I'm supposed to do, so I asked mousy here to help me," Owari said, scratching at her hair. "What's the opposite of gymnastics, anyway?"

"Um... professional bed tester?"

"Hey, yeah!" Owari's mouth quirked into a carefree grin. "That sounds like a great job too, actually..."

"U-um, is that really a real job?" Tsumiki muttered.

Souda shrugged. "Sure, why not? Someone's gotta make sure they're fit for sleepin' on, I guess."

"Sweet, thanks! C'mon, mousy, we're gonna find some books on this." Owari hooked her arm around Tsumiki's and began dragging her away.

"No, wait!" Tsumiki wrenched herself away, apologizing repeatedly under her breath. "I'm sorry, I just need to... c-could you wait for me over there, please?" She pointed to the rail overlooking the first floor.

"Sure, whatever," Owari said, rubbing at one eye. "Just hurry up, though! I'm gonna be too tired to do this soon." She turned after waving at the two. "See ya later, sharky."

Souda felt at his teeth self-consciously. "What's up with all the animal nicknames...?" He looked at Tsumiki fidgeting and wrenched his fingers out of his mouth. "Ah, geez, sorry. Was there somethin' you needed to talk about?"

Tsumiki pressed the pads of her fingers together and stared at them for a few silent moments. "Um, well... I... I just wanted to thank you for being so nice the other night," she muttered, hands beginning to shake. "N-no one else has really talked to me about their experiences with bad friends, so I appreciated hearing someone else's story..." She covered her mouth and gasped. "Oh, wait, no, that's not what I meant! I-I didn't mean it's good that people treated you badly, just... um..." She turned her back to Souda and started briskly walking away. "Never mind, forget I said anything! I'm sorry!"

The mechanic was too confused to say anything as he watched Tsumiki disappear around a bookshelf, so he shrugged and turned around.

He found himself face-to-face with a chubby hamster and shrieked at a volume entirely inappropriate for a library.

"Hello, Mister Souda!" Sonia said, raising the pitch of her voice so as to imitate Cham-P. "I have taken a break from my hamster duties to bid you greetings! Be honored!"

"Miss Sonia," Tanaka interjected, swooping around the bookshelf, "the fearsome voice of Invading Black Dragon Cham-P is not nearly as... cute as that you are projecting onto him. He is a powerful breed, a Syrian, and thus has a commanding voice that turns weak hearts to ice."

"Oh, my apologies, Cham-P!" she said, frantically petting the hamster's fur as if to show her remorse. "Let me try again..." She cleared her throat and used her deepest voice to say, "Mortal Kazuichi Souda, I have come to prey on your soul! Surrender yourself to me immediately and I will satiate my hunger as quickly as possible!"

Souda shrieked again and covered his face. Tanaka's eyes widened and his mouth went slack.

Sonia giggled and nuzzled her cheek against Cham-P's fuzzy body. "Was that better?"

"That was terrifying," Souda muttered, peeking out from behind his fingers to make sure that the voice had come from Sonia and not a demon that emerged from between the wooden flooring.

"That was... certainly an improvement, my lady," Tanaka said, looking at the back of Sonia's head with a sort of awe. He blinked rapidly, trying to relax his brow. "Nonetheless, shall we resume our mission?"

"Yes, let's!" Sonia gently took Cham-P's paw between two of her fingers and made him wave. "Goodbye, Mister Souda! I'll see you in he-"

"Please stop doing that voice," Souda pleaded, pulling his beanie down over his ears.

...

By the time Sonia and Tanaka were satisfied with the video, the last red rays of the sun were disappearing and many students had already left the library. Sonia stood up with a stretch of her arms and sighed. "Thank you for letting me film with you, Mister Tanaka! I would love to do it again anytime you need my assistance."

Tanaka nodded, gathering up his supplies. "I will keep that in mind." He paused, laptop in hand. "Miss Sonia, did you truly enjoy yourself today?"

"Of course! I learned many new things about adorable little cats and about you, as well." She laughed softly to herself. "And I also learned of a new way to scare away Mister Souda when he becomes... overbearing."

Tanaka's mouth twitched upward. "Such knowledge is surely indispensable." He gazed out the window at the few emerging stars. "There are few of this world who can claim to come into my presence regularly, and... I am glad that you are one of those few. Your sincerity is apparent in your words."

Sonia smiled. "Well, I'm glad that you're glad, Mister Tanaka! Shall we go get something to eat?"

The breeder thought for a moment. "I suppose that would be best, yes. The cooking drones will likely cease their work soon." He turned with a flourish of his cape and walked beside the princess as they stepped down the stairs and outside.

As they strolled through the quiet evening, Tanaka wondered why this test of Sonia's true intentions in getting close to him only resulted in him wanting to become closer to her. His lingering distrust knocked around in the back of his brain, reprimanding him for getting too attached, warning him of the betrayal that was bound to occur, but he couldn't bring himself to listen or to care.