During Renka's recovery…

An enraged Tanimoto lunged at his prey from behind!

And Kenichi Shirahama, on his way home from the grocery store, was forced to drop all of his newly procured items; instinctively, he grabbed Tanimoto's incoming arm and tossed him over the shoulder. A learned trait from Miu, perhaps?

"Huh?"

Kenichi blinked innocently, while his rival twisted his body in midair to land atop his feet. Upon seeing Tanimoto land in front of him, Kenichi stepped back, palms outstretched in guilt. Oh, no —! Wrong person to throw!

"Natsu-ku— I mean, er— Hermit-san! Are you all right?! I didn't mean to do that at all!"

But the fuming prince did not take to his apology so kindly, attempting to jab his fingers into Shirahama's chest.

"You caused me this hell!"

"What are you talking about?!" Kenichi cried, slapping his assailant's wrist upwards to deflect the fingers of death.

Tanimoto whirled to the side, aiming to strike the gardener with his elbow. "That Chinese girl is everywhere!"

"How is that my fault?!" Kenichi parried by thrusting his palm outwards, catching Tanimoto's elbow; his foot sprung forward to kick his unexpected opponent in the chest, hoping to create distance between them. "You're the one training with her uncle!"

Tanimoto gripped onto Kenichi's heel and forced it upwards, smashing his own heel into Kenichi's standing leg.

"When you told me to get her off you, she began to plague my life!"

The gardener winced as he took the brunt of the damage, pulling away to defuse the fight.

"She isn't a plague, Hermit!"

Kenichi felt a twinge of guilt. Did he make it sound that way when he was trying to run from her that day? He just didn't want Miu to be mad at him...

He took a breath and stood with his feet planted together, assuming the "apology stance." Time to try again.

"I'm sorry if she's bothering you, but you don't have to be a jerk about it! … What I asked of you was pretty messed up. It wasn't fair to you or Renka. I'm sorry."

His fist entered his open palm, bowing in the way a Chinese martial artist would; Tanimoto would be more attuned to that, right? Buuuuut, Kenichi was still mentally prepared to bring up his Seikūken, just in case the apology failed to work.

Ah, lucky gardener. Tanimoto's ephemeral rage settled. For now.

"Fine…" the steaming CEO muttered, exiting his fight stance.

"Just so you know, I had a fight with her."

What prompted him to tell Kenichi? He's not sure himself, but he did view the brunette as the cat's keeper, or something of the sort. By the time he realized that opening his mouth was a bad idea, it was too late.

Kenichi frowned with slight disapproval, unsettled that Tanimoto went against a girl. The gentle gardener could never. Nevertheless, he had to ask…

"Who won?"

Tanimoto's eyes receded behind blonde drapes, the corners of his lips diving deeper. It was an impressive victory, yet he felt no right to boast about it. Mild shame, even.

"I won't lose to anyone. No matter what," he stated in a dispirited manner, slipping his hands in his pockets before walking right past his rival. This conversation was over.

Kenichi grimaced and had half a mind to thwack the Hermit for overpowering a woman; to him, that was unbecoming of a gentleman. But it made sense. The prince's persona was just a ruse.

Besides, it already seemed like Tanimoto felt bad about it. That'll suffice for now.

"Hey Hermit. Where is she now?" he asked, stopping the blonde in his tracks.

"..."

A pause.

"At my place. Being cared for."

He internally groaned, knowing this could be interpreted in … several ways.

But to his luck, Kenichi's mind didn't deviate to the gutter in the way that Renka's father would have. The mightiest disciple nodded, grabbed his groceries, and started following the faux prince.

"I might as well see her," he muttered as he caught up to the taller boy, knowing that this situation may have been partly his fault. "I'm guessing Honoka is over there too. I haven't seen her since I took her shopping a little while back."

"She isn't," Tanimoto curtly replied. Something he was thankful for. But then a disconcerting realization dawned on him, and he began to walk with more urgency.

"Hurry up. She could be wrecking the place."

"What do you mean?" Kenichi quirked a brow in confusion, picking up the pace.

"I don't know how Renka reacts to losing…"

"Oh!... Oh… well, I'm sure your home will still be standing!"

Tanimoto couldn't help but roll his eyes. Kenichi was always so annoyingly hopeful, and it made him want to clobber the idiot. The cloaked fighter had no trust in the young catwoman, and assumed she might've been clawing his couches and whatnot. She was pure evil, after all.

The two burst into the lavish mansion. Tanimoto immediately checked the furniture for potential damage, stomping around in a tirade of paranoia. And Kenichi strolled in after him with less clamor, but still called out…

"Renka! Are you all right?"

No response.

"And Honoka, if you're still here, go home!"

Also no response. It didn't seem the mini Shirahama was around, just as Tanimoto said. But one could never be too sure, with how attached she was becoming to "Nacchi" — much to his dismay.

Tanimoto was too busy squinting at all the vases and paintings, but everything remained the way he left it. A relieved sigh escapes his lips.

"She's over here," he muttered as he gestured to the sleeping cat, buried beneath the fluffiest comforter he owned. He kept his distance — and gaze — away. Tch…

But Shirahama immediately bolted to her, looking over the dozing feline.

"Oh, oops… I don't want to wake her," he spoke in a softer tone of voice, squatting by her form.

Her injuries didn't seem particularly life-threatening. Kenichi eyed the blonde, whose attention was forcibly kept on the nearby china cabinet, simply to deflect from the current situation. In fact, knowing that Shirahama was now examining the damage he did …

… It unsettled Tanimoto to the point where he just eventually left the room. He'd rather be doing anything else but sticking around the two of them. Perhaps he'll go make tea for his conscious guest. Without meaning to do so, of course. Yes, he darted into the kitchen.

Upon Tanimoto's departure, Kenichi smiled and redirected his attention back to the girl.

"You'll be okay, Renka. He might not act like it, but he's a pretty good guy. He takes care of my sister pretty well, so I know… he'll take care of you too."