The girl had a bob haircut and simple clothing, standing in front of him with her umbrella and net.
"Oh, is this your cat?" Yoru froze and instinctively held out the chubby cat toward her.
Seeing the net, he assumed the cat was hers.
"It's not mine. Since you saved it, I'll leave it to you to take care of Kitakami-kun," Kato Megumi said calmly.
That line stunned Yoru. He blurted, "How do you know my name? Classmate?"
He was certain he'd never seen this girl before.
"Because... during the field trip a few days ago, we were in the same group," Megumi said plainly.
"Wait, that means…"
Yoru froze.
If they were in the same group during the trip, then she must've seen everything—
Including the issue of him trying to steal Kasumigaoka Utaha's panties and stockings.
He lowered his head, not wanting to say another word. He held out the black cat again. "You were the one who spotted it first. You really don't want it?"
"Nope. Someone in my family's allergic to cat fur. I just wanted to rescue it." Megumi shook her head lightly.
The rain grew heavier.
Yoru didn't respond. He lowered his head and hugged the plump black cat tightly.
Since she didn't want it, he would adopt it himself.
Living alone was lonely enough.
He didn't have any friends. Having a round little cat like himself didn't sound too bad.
The black cat didn't struggle, but its amber eyes darted around cautiously in his arms.
Plap—
With a soft sound, Megumi opened her umbrella and stepped forward to stand beside Yoru, holding it above both of their heads.
The umbrella was just big enough to shelter two people, shielding them from the increasingly heavy wind and rain.
"If you need, I can walk you to the station or find a place for you to wait out the rain."
She shortened the net and tucked it under her arm. Her delicate hand extended outside the umbrella, rain falling on her pale palm as the wind gusted by.
"R-Really?" Yoru's eyes widened. He looked at the adorable girl in front of him, hardly daring to believe it.
"Why not?" Megumi tilted her head slightly, as if the question confused her, then gestured for him to follow.
"O-okay!"
Yoru held the chubby black cat with one arm and carried his shopping with the other as he stepped under the umbrella.
Megumi silently raised the umbrella higher and led the fat shut-in away from the tree and into the rain-soaked street.
After walking a short distance, Yoru couldn't help glancing at her adorable profile. Finally, he asked, "Why are you walking me to the station? Aren't you scared of me? Don't you find me gross?"
"During the field trip… they… all of them thought I was the one who stole Kasumigaoka Utaha's panties and stockings!"
Megumi turned her head to look at him, then said after a pause, "I saw you trying so hard to climb the tree just now."
"And honestly…"
Yoru listened intently, waiting for her to continue.
In the next second, Megumi suddenly chuckled, as if she remembered something funny. "Hehe, the way you fell down was kinda silly…"
She quickly realized her slip, covered her mouth with her hand, and looked away, slightly embarrassed.
Yoru swallowed nervously.
Her gentle, adorable smile was tinged with a shyness that made his heart flutter.
Still… what was her real reason?
He grew a bit anxious but also bashful, unsure how to press her for an answer.
Megumi finally composed herself and said seriously, "Because I think someone trying so hard like you doesn't look like a criminal."
"Besides, Kasumigaoka-senpai never found any real evidence, right?"
"...Thank you."
Yoru stared at her as if trying to memorize her face, expressing his gratitude sincerely.
A quiet sense of joy welled up in his chest, along with something indescribably warm.
Someone still believed in him.
This girl… she's amazing.
Actually, there was another reason Megumi chose to believe Yoru.
Lonely people attract lonely people. The same kind understands each other best.
Despite her innocent and calm appearance, Megumi had her own unspoken struggles.
Her name was plain, she had no distinct personality, and her presence was so faint she was often overlooked.
Even after half a year—or even a full year—in the same class, many classmates still couldn't remember her name.
It was something that troubled her deeply.
"No need to thank me. It's not your fault in the first place," she replied.
"Mmm… I've actually been thinking of tracking down the real culprit. I have a small clue," Yoru said, looking out at the blurry street ahead.
"I was just too nervous to connect the dots at the time."
Megumi turned toward him, intrigued.
"That night, past midnight, I went to shower in the cabins. Everyone else was already asleep."
"When I came out, I noticed a phone light flashing near my tent. I thought someone was trying to mess with me or destroy my tent or something…"
"So I rushed back. I probably scared them off because the light disappeared right after. I didn't notice anything suspicious at the time."
"That might've been the culprit. Or maybe just someone who got up to pee…"
He spoke while observing Megumi's reaction.
Surprisingly, her brows gradually furrowed, and doubt crept into her eyes.
Uncertainty? Suspicion?
"You… do you know something?!" Yoru asked anxiously.
"Ah, sorry… I just remembered something. It's nothing," Megumi said apologetically, looking a bit troubled.
Yoru's expression clearly dimmed. He sighed and lowered his head.
Of course. Finding clues or the culprit wouldn't be that easy.
They walked a little further, and Megumi finally escorted Yoru to the station.
Before parting, Yoru stood at the station entrance and hesitated before asking her name.
Today, he really was thankful for her help and trust.
"My name's Kato Megumi, Kitakami-kun," she replied, a bit awkwardly.
The reason she hadn't told him earlier was because she felt it was unnecessary and too much trouble.
After all, she figured he wouldn't remember her anyway.
Maybe tomorrow or the day after, he'd forget she even existed.
"Thank you, Kato-san," Yoru nodded, then boarded the train with the cat and his luggage.
"Bye."
"Yaaah… I really envy someone popular like Kasumigaoka-senpai."
Kato turned away, holding her umbrella as she sighed softly.
Compared to the radiant Utaha, she was just a little nobody.