Cosplay Elf from Another World

3. I Saved an Elf from the Isekai Route (3)

Kou visited the nearby park and brought two packs of cat food with him, the usual routine. The ground was damp after the midnight rain that lasted for an hour. He sat on the unique bench named solely for him and waited for the cat to come down the tree. As the cat sat beside him, he opened his first pack.

"You know, Sphynx-san, I might be in a pinch... But I'm not blaming you, you know! I'm just thinking about how karma was accurate. When Mom knew that the figurine's clothes were removable, she scolded me like what she always did with my father. I suddenly lost my will to live. I did save someone so they shouldn't experience what I went through, but I think it didn't feel worth it. I couldn't even focus on the Mangas and Animes I binged yesterday."

He named her Sphinx, representing the cat's breed, yet she wasn't very talkative. She only half-meowed when seeing the pink-colored packaging Kou always bought for her. After giving her the second cat food, Kou continued,

"Why would Mom care for that stranger with no name? That girl just left Mom paying her million yen ruckus without any thanks. She's driving me nuts. Even if she's a Shizu-sama lookalike, she's still a thief. It's a fact that she benefited from us without anything in exchange, literally a win-win."

Meow. Meow. Meow. Kou's eyes widened after the cat responded to his rants. Usually, she would climb up the tree and hide. It was the first time for Kou to witness this.

"What meow meow? Are you still hungry? You're really a cunning one. I didn't expect you to be so talkative– Wait, where are you going?"

The cat stepped down the bench and walked towards the nearby playground. She entered the bottom end of the enclosed spiral tube slide. Kou felt that she was nudging towards a hint, hence he followed her. When another set of meows caught his attention, Kou peeked into the hole in anticipation of getting a treasure from a hidden side quest. Yet, what he witnessed instead was the same sleeping woman whose clothes were partially wet.

Her see-through dress showed the bright glow of her chest's skin color, indicating that she didn't have any underwear on her top. She unconsciously shivered, wrapping herself with only her arms. Even with her mouth closed, her chattering teeth made repeated sounds.

"M–M–Masochistic Shizu-sama thief!" His face blushing, Kou shrieked. His loud squeak called Sera out of her sleep.

Sera groaned and scratched her red-appearing eyes after waking up. When she sat straight, her head bumped into the roof of the slide. "Aw!" Covering her head, she hissed to ease the pain on her forehead.

"W–What are you doing here!? Don't you have a home?" Kou asked, still gazing at her bright melons.

"You... YOU!?" When Sera noticed his gaze, her arms flew before her chest, her cheeks appearing red out of embarrassment. "W–W–Where are you looking at!?"

Pouting and averting his eyes, Kou replied, "N-Nothing? Literally nothing in there. Weren't you cold? It must be a pain sleeping in wet clothes throughout the night."

"That's none of your business," Sera replied. The loud growling of her stomach accompanied it, making her blush.

"Without food, clothing, and shelter, you're so pitiful. You haven't even said any hints of thankfulness yesterday. I thought you're going back home?"

"I..." Lost in thought, Sera pressed her lips and averted her gaze. Kou didn't know that she lost her way home. However, he couldn't let go of how she's currently suffering, like he was blessed he had a delightful life even after the incident.

"Wait here, don't leave. Also, don't eat the cat."

"Are you... bringing those blue guys again?"

"Heck, no. Those guys won't bother you unless you're found guilty. However, I still don't trust you." Kou left her to buy a bun, hot chocolate, and a bottle of water at the nearby convenience store. He saw Sera and the cat sitting beside each other at the end of the slide. While she caressed the cat, they both stared into nothingness.