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IBP 50
My dog star friends had told me.
“Coco, the God said that a powerful supernatural ability can cause equally powerful side effects.”
“And if the ability is in an incomplete state, you might keep hearing hallucinations.”
“So you have to be really careful with your body!”
Could this nasty voice be a side effect?
‘Or is there some other reason?’
It felt as if a thick fog had settled in my mind.
I stared at the grapes in front of me, my lips twitching.
‘Grapes... for some reason, I don't want to eat them.’
One of the best things about becoming human was that I got to eat many things that my sister used to say dogs must absolutely never eat.
But for some reason, I hated grapes.
Duke Ardos cleared his throat a couple of times and spoke.
“Are you a picky eater, child?”
“Not really...”
“Then what is it?”
“...Ruth. Eat this.”
When I pushed the grape tart toward Ruth, he beamed with a wide grin.
“Father, she’s not being picky; she’s doing this because she wants to give me the grape tart. You’re so clueless.”
Though the one who was actually clueless was Ruth.
Like a clever puppy, I remained silent, my eyes sparkling.
“...What?”
Duke Ardos frowned as he watched Ruth eat the grape tart.
Regardless, Ruth, true to his nature as a rascal, devoured the tart in one bite.
“Ruth is a dummy!”
“Ahem, you should call him Brother Ruth.”
“But I’m smarter...”
“That is true. Ruth, call Coco ‘Noona.’”
“No! How does that make any sense!”
After listening to the two of them bicker, the hallucinations in my ears seemed to vanish.
Meanwhile, looking at my sister, who was diligently making something by herself, I spoke up.
“Um, Duke!”
“Hmm?”
“I think the cake Sister is making is for you, Duke!”
However, as soon as I spoke, my sister answered firmly.
“...It’s not.”
A puppy's paw print was drawn on top of the cake.
‘Gasp, it’s the shape of my paw!’
Sister must have made the cake for me, Coco the puppy.
‘But she’s really, really too honest...’
A chilly breeze blew between the two of them once again.
Duke Ardos made a coughing sound and looked away.
“...Well, I wasn't particularly expecting anything anyway.”
The two looked incredibly awkward.
Come to think of it, they didn't seem to talk at all when I wasn't around.
‘When on earth are these two going to get along?’
As I looked at them with a serious expression, Ruth smeared some cream on my face and said,
“Scruffy, why do you look like you’ve lived a whole lifetime?”
“...I haven't lived a whole lifetime!”
“Oh, okay. Got it.”
I smiled and smeared the cream from my cheek back onto Ruth's cheek.
At that, Duke Ardos spoke to Ruth.
“Why are you bullying such a small child?”
“What, Father? When was I bullying her?”
“...That is exactly what bullying is.”
“Hmph. It’s okay. I can just bully him more!”
“What? This little scruffy...!”
It seemed there was still a long way to go before my sister and the family became close.
But it was truly a joyful and happy afternoon.
Enough to make me momentarily forget the future where Sister and I were destined to die.
* * *
After making and eating the sweet potato cake!
I lingered around the annex where Caligo was staying.
Amius came out first and politely opened the door for me.
“Hi, Caligo! I came to give you something!”
“...Give me something?”
“Yup! Sweet potato cake!”
I handed over the cake I had brought.
“I made sweet potato cake with my family to celebrate my official adoption!”
I beamed, handing a fork to Caligo.
He took a bite of the cake and gave a small smile.
“...It’s delicious.”
“Let’s make it together next time, Caligo!”
Then, he spoke to me.
“...Right. Congratulations on your adoption being finalized.”
“Yup! It’s all thanks to you, Caligo. Thank you!”
It was a sincere congratulation.
However, a subtle bitterness could be read within it.
When I looked at him curiously, he murmured quietly.
“I just thought... that meant you couldn't go to the North with me.”
Ah, that's right.
Now that I think about it, Caligo had said, ‘If you aren't adopted, let's go to the North together,’ didn't he...?
‘Now that I think about it, he might get lonely, that prickly cat.’
Even though the tiger Amius was there, I was Caligo's first friend.
I added regretfully,
“Then, does that mean Caligo is going back to the North now? If so, I'll get permission from Sister and definitely visit the North...”
I tried to sound mature, but my lips pouted because I felt sad.
‘Caligo is still my friend.’
Then, Caligo, who had been staring at me, quietly shook his head.
“No. My brother said there is a lot for him to do at the Ardos estate, so I've decided to stay for a while.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I heard my brother is investigating a murder case. I didn't hear the exact details, but anyway, he said I could keep staying at the Duke of Ardos's residence.”
He told me that Grand Duke Rivera, who had business at the Ardos estate, had specifically requested cooperation from the Duke.
Thus, he explained that the time the two of them would spend at the Ardos estate had naturally increased.
“Then Caligo, let's play with a ball while you're here. Okay?”
“I could play with a ball, but...”
“Hmm?”
“Still, I think it'll be hard to see me for a while. I've decided to train in the shadow arts.”
I blinked, my eyes widening.
“Huh?”
“I felt like I was too weak. To protect my friend... I want to practice communicating more with the tiger and practice my shadows harder.”
Strange.
This tiny, prickly cat...
‘He seems to have grown up a lot, a lot.’
Perhaps the act of using his shadow ability to help me get adopted was a new turning point for Caligo as well?
Then, Caligo lightly bumped his hand against mine.
He made a small purring sound like a cat and murmured.
“It’s not because I like you, Coco, that I’m training, and it’s not because I’m trying hard to protect you. I’m just doing it to become strong myself.”
“Uh-huh...”
“Really. I like being strong. The North is a world of the survival of the fittest.”
I nodded and took a bite of the sweet potato cake.
“Mm-hmm, I get it! Caligo, eat more cake! You have to get really chubby to become strong!”
We both stuffed our mouths with cake at the same time and chewed.
Sweetness spread through our mouths.
* * *
After Coco, who had eaten her fill of sweet potato cake, left.
Caligo was in the Ardos annex with Amius.
“You know, I think I was narrow-minded, Amius.”
When he first heard the news that Coco had been adopted.
For some reason, he hadn't felt good.
‘Because it meant we couldn't go to the North together.’
If they went to the North, they could play with a ball just the two of them.
He could show her the portraits of his mother and father.
He had planned to have fun with Amius and Coco as a trio...
But seeing Coco smile brightly while handing him the sweet potato cake, that lingering sadness vanished completely.
He smiled faintly and stroked Amius.
“Still, I’m glad I don't have to return to the North immediately...”
Amius silently listened to his words.
“I want to make my shadow ability stronger. Shall we work hard together?”
Amius bared his teeth slightly.
Caligo could tell just by looking at him that Amius agreed.
‘...The feeling of using my ability for the right purpose is quite overwhelming.’
Caligo recalled the day he used his shadow ability to help Coco.
Then, he naturally remembered the look in Coco's eyes when she looked at Chloe.
‘It was warm and cozy.’
Caligo felt an ugly emotion digging into his gut.
‘I want to have that warm gaze of Coco's, too.’
...What was this feeling?
Forgetting that Amius was right in front of him, he murmured softly.
“That girl only treats certain people specially. I don't know why she does it, and I'm curious...”
“...”
“I wish she would treat me specially, too.”
His chest felt tight and his stomach churned, as if butterflies were trapped inside.
[Love?]
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