Can't We Skip Dating?

As a girl, staying overnight at a man's house she wasn't yet familiar with was clearly dangerous—especially when that man had never hidden his lustful intentions toward her.

But... she could sleep with the cats.

No, no, that definitely didn't mean Utaha's love for cats was enough for her to risk losing her chastity. 

It was simply that Akira had already done enough, both in attitude and action, to make her feel safe.

And in her current state of exhaustion—both mentally and physically—she really did need some comfort and rest.

Compared to dragging her weary body home, putting on a natural smile in front of oblivious parents, then locking herself in a dark room to endure the pain alone… a ready-made place to rest, along with two little angels that could heal the heart, was clearly a far more tempting option.

"Actually, Miss Kasumigaoka, there's no need to decide in a hurry. Because 'sleeping with the cats tonight' is only a possibility. Whether it happens or not depends on your own effort."

Utaha tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Akira pointed to the black cat crouched in the corner of the living room.

"These two were rescued when they were very young. They've lived in this two-story detached house ever since, so they're pure indoor cats. 

As a result, they're highly wary of strangers. Even when the housekeeper comes weekly to clean, they just watch from afar or hide—they've never made contact."

"So what I mean is, if you want to sleep with them, you first need to earn their trust—make them willing to be close to you."

For some reason, when she heard this, Utaha felt a strange, indescribable sensation.

She thought about it briefly, couldn't make sense of it, and decided to let it go for now, focusing instead on trying to approach the cats. She took a tentative step forward.

The black cat in the corner immediately stood up, watching her warily.

Utaha had encountered cats before. Thanks to the widespread affection for cats in Japan, most street cats weren't too wary of people. 

Many would come over with just a beckon, and plenty would let people pet them. But there were also those that ran at the sight of humans. 

She had never succeeded with those ones.

"What should I do?" she asked.

"Don't rush in. If they're on guard and you show obvious intent to get close, they'll run—just like that one did just now," Akira said patiently. 

"Start by greeting them from where you are. Let them know you won't suddenly pounce. 

If they blink slowly and turn their head away, that means they don't see you as a threat. Of course, you can do the same to show them you mean no harm."

Following Akira's guidance, Utaha stood still, waved at the black cat, and made a few playful noises—without taking a single step closer.

The cat stared at her for a while. Just when her arm started to tire from waving, it slowly sat down and turned its head away.

It even blinked slowly.

"Alright, now you can try approaching. Move slowly. Stop every few steps. If it stares at you or looks like it's about to get up, just stay put and keep talking to it."

Akira opened the drawer on the coffee table and took out something like a jelly cup, handing it to Utaha. 

"Of course, bait helps."

It was cat treats.

Utaha tore open the treat pack. The scent of salmon immediately filled the air, catching the black cat's attention.

"What's its name?" she asked.

"Kuro."

"…"

She had been about to call the cat's name and lure it over with treats, but upon hearing that name, she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud.

With a complicated look, she glanced at Akira, then at the white cat still perched on the wall platform. "What about that one?"

"Shiro."

"…What an impressive naming ability."

Akira's face darkened. "Next time I pick up a cat, you name it. Let's see what you come up with."

At least it wouldn't be something like that.

Not wanting to fall to Akira's level and be ridiculed, Utaha genuinely gave the matter some thought—only to realize the whole situation felt kind of weird.

"Meow—"

Unable to resist the delicious smell of the treat, and having determined the human seemed harmless, Kuro cautiously took a few steps forward.

Utaha quickly crouched down and held out the treat.

The black cat came closer, sniffed cautiously, and while keeping its eyes on her, slowly began licking the food from her hand.

"Though it's a house cat, it's at least seen other people and has never been hurt by them. So rather than 'wary,' it's more accurate to call it timid," Akira explained with a smile. 

"Now you can try petting it. Keep your hand within its line of sight. Pause it in front of the cat."

Utaha carefully reached out her other hand and placed it beside the treats. 

The black cat took a small step back, eyed her for a moment, sniffed her hand—and then ignored it, returning to the treat.

This time, without waiting for further instructions, Utaha gently touched the cat. 

The moment her hand made contact with the black, glossy fur, her palm sank into the soft fluff and slid along it.

Her wine-red eyes quickly took on a dazed, dreamy look.

Even though cats were known to groom themselves well, the fur of stray cats she had touched before was never this smooth. 

Sometimes they even had coarse patches due to skin issues—and let's not even mention the hygiene concerns, which made it hard to enjoy the contact.

But with a house cat, none of those problems existed. And it was a long-haired one, no less.

That moment of touch felt like a warm spring flowing down her arm and into her heart, soothing her tired soul.

"Cats like being scratched under the chin—though I probably don't need to tell you that. 

They also like being rubbed on the top of their heads, since as kittens, they'd press against their mother's belly to sleep. 

Petting their head gives them a sense of security. You can also try the cheeks and base of the tail, though don't touch Kuro's tail base—it hates being touched there."

Utaha's mind was already fogged by the incredible softness and happiness. 

She seemed to be floating in a thin layer of bliss and followed Akira's instructions without a second thought. 

Very soon, the sound of contented purring rumbled from Kuro's throat.

That feedback of satisfaction once again tugged at her happiness nerve, nearly making her lose control of her expression.

"Meow-oow—"

The white cat jumped down from its platform, its meow distorting halfway through due to the impact of landing.

Utaha's attention was instantly drawn.

With elegant steps, the white cat approached from behind her left side. 

Just before it reached her, it circled around to the right. Utaha instinctively followed its movement—but couldn't quite keep up, so she hurriedly turned the other way.

And just as she looked down, she saw the white cat sniffing her leg… then rubbing its face against her.

That almost-ecstatic ticklish pleasure made her leg tremble, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

"Well? Feeling healed yet?" Akira asked, grinning.

Utaha stared blankly and nodded.

"So, decided to stay the night?"

"Y-Yes… of course…"

"Great. In that case, room fee is 500 yen. Emotional comfort via cats: 2,000 yen. Please pay up, Miss Kasumigaoka."

"?"

___

Read 20 Advanced Chapters on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics 

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~ Actually, please leave one.

Check out the other translations too

___