It didn't take long for the creature lurking in the shadows to reveal itself.
A cat—or at least something that looked like one—emerged into view. Its glowing eyes were strikingly prominent in the dim light, its movements cautious but deliberate.
"Oh, it's just a stray cat…" Eriri exhaled in relief, taking a step forward to approach it.
"Wait, don't get closer yet." Kanade quickly extended an arm to block her. "Something feels… off."
The "stray cat," as Eriri called it, had gone on high alert the moment it spotted them. Its tail flicked erratically, its body crouched low, and its bright eyes locked onto them with unrelenting intensity.
Kanade frowned, instinctively pulling Eriri a few steps back.
When it came to fast-moving animals like this, distance was a critical factor. And the more he observed, the more certain he became—this wasn't just any stray cat. This was a feral one.
Unlike a domesticated stray, which might shy away from humans but wouldn't show aggression, feral cats were wild by nature, often nocturnal and inherently distrustful of people. Its defensive posture made it clear: this wasn't an animal used to human company.
"This is a feral cat," Kanade explained, his voice low but firm. "And it looks like the aggressive type. I don't know what breed it might be, but it's best to assume the worst. Eriri, keep an eye on our surroundings—there might be more. I'll keep an eye on this one."
Kanade's body tensed as he spoke, his grip on the wooden stick in his hand tightening.
Feral cats often traveled in groups. Though he hadn't spotted any others yet, he wasn't about to let his guard down. The situation was precarious enough—he was already physically worn out, and even facing one of these "wild beasts" alone would be a challenge. Adding Eriri into the mix only made things riskier.
"Got it," Eriri nodded, her usual carelessness giving way to genuine focus as she scanned their surroundings for signs of movement.
After a thorough check, she reported back. "I don't see any others… What do we do now?"
Kanade let out a small breath of relief, but the tension in his body didn't ease. The immediate crisis wasn't over yet.
"For now, we wait. If we're lucky, it'll decide to leave on its own," he said cautiously.
"Okay. I'll follow your lead…" Eriri nodded again, stepping closer to him. Her hands clenched slightly, as if to steady herself.
Then, noticing Kanade's stiff posture and trembling arms, she couldn't help but reach out, gently taking his hand in hers.
"…"
Kanade felt her touch immediately. He wanted to tell her to move back and stay safe, but instead, he quietly pulled her slightly behind him.
"Just stay alert, okay?"
"Mm." Eriri nodded obediently.
The scene could've been sweet—Eriri's gesture of support and Kanade's quiet resolve—but the feral cat had no appreciation for their tender moment.
Its expression grew more agitated, a low growl rumbling from its throat. Its tense posture shifted further, signaling an impending attack.
Perhaps it wasn't jealousy—more likely, the pair's animated movements had made the cat wary, interpreting them as a threat.
Kanade stiffened, raising his makeshift weapon defensively.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, a fragment of knowledge surfaced: when facing a wild animal, making yourself appear larger and more intimidating could deter an attack.
Though he had initially scoffed at the idea when he first heard it, the dire circumstances made it seem worth trying.
With a deep breath, Kanade stretched out his arms to their fullest and adopted an exaggeratedly aggressive posture.
"RAWRRRR!!!"
His attempt at mimicry was far from perfect, but it had one crucial advantage: it was loud.
The feral cat flinched, visibly startled by the sudden noise. It took a few cautious steps back, its aggressive stance softening into one of wary retreat.
But it didn't leave. Instead, it began pacing in a circle, as if weighing its options.
Kanade wasn't naive enough to assume the danger had passed. Retreating recklessly or turning his back could provoke the animal to attack. So, he maintained his intimidating posture, refusing to let his guard down.
For a tense few minutes, the standoff continued.
Finally, the cat seemed to conclude that the risk wasn't worth it. With a reluctant flick of its tail, it slunk back into the bushes from which it had emerged, vanishing into the darkness.
Even then, Kanade didn't move. He waited several more minutes, ensuring the animal wasn't lying in wait to ambush them.
Only when he was absolutely certain did he finally pull Eriri back onto the safety of the stone path.
"Phew…" Kanade exhaled deeply, his entire body sagging with relief.
"I can't believe we actually ran into a wild animal like that… And it had to be such an aggressive feral cat…" He muttered as he sank onto a nearby stone slab.
Though the encounter hadn't been physically taxing, the mental strain was enormous. He felt as though he'd just completed a marathon.
"Seriously, how could something like this even happen? Shouldn't the school have done a better job of checking the area? What are they even doing?!" he grumbled.
While he understood the situation was partly their fault—they had wandered off the main trail into the woods—Kanade still felt the need to vent. The whole ordeal left him feeling deeply unsettled.
"…"
Meanwhile, Eriri, crouched beside him, seemed entirely unbothered.
In fact, she was smiling.
For her, tonight had been nothing short of magical.
Watching Kanade protect her, even in the face of danger, filled her with a sense of warmth and security.
He's so cool… even when he's just complaining, she thought, her eyes softening as they lingered on him.
Her heart swelled as she replayed the moment he instinctively shielded her from harm.
Idiot… You're just making me fall for you even more.
A quiet blush dusted her cheeks as she whispered inwardly:
I like you the most.