#boris event

Scene – Clover Town – Main Area

Boris 「…………」

Vivaldi "…Cat. We meet again."

Boris "Y-yeah…"

They had run into each other on the street.

I had passed along Vivaldi’s message, as promised. Boris had given me a strained smile and asked, “...Can we pretend I didn’t hear that?”

And now, as fate would have it, they’d crossed paths again. Vivaldi looked absolutely delighted.

Vivaldi "You missed me, didn’t you? You looked for me, right? That cat food was delicious, wasn’t it?"

Boris "Ha, haha…"

Vivaldi "Of course it was, of course. It must’ve been delicious. A feast for a hungry little cat."

Vivaldi was in high spirits.

Boris "…………"

Boris, on the other hand, looked thoroughly troubled.

Alice (…Did he really eat the cat food?)

To be honest, I hadn’t asked him for the details. It felt like something I shouldn’t pry into.

Vivaldi "I have a present for you."

Vivaldi "Want to see it? I bet you do, right? You want it, don’t you?"

Vivaldi "I brought lots of things a cat would love. I’m giving them to you."

Vivaldi began rummaging through her bags.

Alice (Th-this pattern…)

Alice "It’s just like last time…"

Boris "…Yeah. I’ve got a bad feeling about this…"

Vivaldi "Here you go."

What she pulled out was… a canned item.

Boris "…Cat food."

Boris accepted it. Or rather—had it thrust into his hands.

Vivaldi "And this one too."

She pulled out another can.

Vivaldi "And this."

Another can.

Vivaldi "And this one too."

More cans.

Vivaldi "This one, and this one. And this one, too."

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Boris "……～～～～～～!?"

Both of Boris’s hands were now full of canned goods.

Vivaldi "Hehe. They’re all different flavors. Every single one. So you won’t get tired of them, I made sure to pick out a wide variety."

Boris "…………"

A mountain of cans. Only the labels were different.

Boris "H-hey… I-I mean, I am a cat, but this cat food thing is…"

Vivaldi "Are you happy?"

Vivaldi was smiling brightly.

There was no sarcasm, no malice—just a purely innocent look on her face.

Boris "…………"

Vivaldi "Hehe, you're happy, aren’t you? It’s delicious, you know?"

Boris "…………" "…………" "…Thank you, Your Majesty."

The cat had been defeated.

Vivaldi "Hehehe. You’re welcome. I’ll bring you more next time."

Boris "…Eh?"

Vivaldi "Next time, I’ll bring even more than today."

Vivaldi "All different flavors of cat food. I’ll gather up the tastiest kinds, so look forward to it."

Boris "Uh… uh…"

Boris "Um, I’m on a diet right now. So I really don’t need that much…"

Vivaldi "Oh? A housecat might gain weight, but you’re a Cheshire Cat… I see, you must not be getting enough exercise."

Vivaldi "You’re not domesticated, so you shouldn’t be skipping your walks. Hmm… perhaps I should prepare some exercise equipment for you."

Boris "Eh? EHH?? No, no, no—I don’t need that! I’ll exercise on my own!"

Boris "I love walks! I’ve just been a bit busy and couldn’t go out, that’s all! I’m going to start walking again, so really, no need for exercise gear!!"

Vivaldi "Hmm. Then I shall bring you low-fat cat food. I’ve heard such things exist."

Boris "Uh… low-fat cat food, huh…"

Vivaldi "The taste is a little inferior, but I’ll bring you some next time. Instead of the exercise equipment."

Boris "Low-fat cat food or exercise gear…? …So it's one or the other…"

There was no escape.

Boris "By the way… you. You've been carrying around that mountain of cans this whole time?"

Vivaldi "Yes. It was heavy to carry around."

Vivaldi "But seeing you happy makes it all worth it. I’m glad I brought them."

Boris "…………"

Vivaldi looked perfectly content. Boris had no words.

Vivaldi "Hehe. I’ll bring more next time, so be ready, kitty."

Boris "…Thanks."

Vivaldi "Well then, kitty. I’m already looking forward to our next feeding time."

Vivaldi left, thoroughly pleased.

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Boris. You will eat it, right? You’re not going to throw it away, are you?"

Boris "Uuugh… I know… I can’t betray her like that… not as a cat…"

No cat could ever win against a cat lover.