Chapter 256: Chapter 113: Aoto Wants to Be a Phantom Thief with Cat Monk

"I need to go out for a bit to call the three people I’ve found for Mr. Tachibana."

"While I’m out, I’ll trouble you to watch the shop and entertain Mr. Tachibana and the others."

Suddenly receiving a new task, Mukiwa froze for a moment, then quickly snapped back to her senses: "Yes!"

"Mr. Tachibana, it will take me about half an hour to return." Kiryu picked up a burgundy feathered robe hanging on the wall, "Please be patient and wait here until I return."

"Okay." Aoto nodded, "Boss Kiryu, be careful on the road."

After casually draping the burgundy feathered robe over himself, Boss Kiryu left Thousand Affairs House with brisk steps.

With Kiryu gone, the front hall of Thousand Affairs House only had Aoto, Saito, and Mukiwa left—though to be exact, it was really only Aoto and Mukiwa, because the presence of the silent and often daydreaming Saito was so thin that it was as if he wasn’t even there.

Watching Kiryu leave, Mukiwa turned her gaze with a smile towards Aoto and Saito... but mostly at Aoto.

"Mr. Tachibana, Mr. Saito, are you thirsty? I’ll make you some tea."

Without waiting for a reply, Mukiwa’s two smooth little feet pattered along the wooden corridor, returning briskly to the inner room.

Mukiwa went to the kitchen to make tea. Chatting with Saito was like talking to a rock, so feeling a bit bored, Aoto could only droop his head, watching his nose, then his heart, and start spacing out.

While Aoto was engrossed in his daze, suddenly—a cute creature’s cry came from beside him:

Meow~ Meow~ Meow~

The sudden meowing snapped Aoto’s wandering consciousness back to his body.

Turning his head in response to the sound, Aoto saw a large ginger cat gracefully walking towards him from the inner room of Thousand Affairs House.

This large ginger cat didn’t seem to fear people. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Upon seeing this unfamiliar person, it didn’t run away but approached Aoto instead.

Aoto recognized this large ginger cat—it was the one Mukiwa was holding when he first met her at Thousand Affairs House.

He remembered this big orange cat seemed to be called "Dodo."

With nothing else to do, Aoto smiled gently at Dodo and raised his hand, beckoning to the large orange cat.

"Dodo, come here."

Meow~!

Dodo responded with a meow and quickened its pace slightly, trotting to Aoto’s side.

Aoto scratched the fur on Dodo’s head and belly.

This big orange cat was obviously well taken care of, with a glossy and sleek coat. Its belly was solid, full of flesh when touched.

Aoto glanced beneath its tail—yes, a female cat.

Dodo seemed to enjoy Aoto’s touch very much.

After a few strokes, it comfortably half-closed its eyes, then lazily lay on the floor, showing Aoto its white belly.

At this moment, Mukiwa returned to the front hall with a tray holding two cups of hot tea.

Seeing her beloved cat allowing Aoto to stroke its belly, Mukiwa was initially surprised, then softly chuckled, gracefully kneeling beside Aoto with an air of Yamato Nadeshiko, handing the tea cups to both Aoto and Saito.

"Dodo seems to really like you."

"Haha, maybe it’s because we’re both ’orange’," Aoto joked with an impromptu pun he had just thought of.

The pun was so lame that even Saito couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

Aoto merely intended to say something silly to liven up the atmosphere.

However—after hearing Aoto’s pun, Mukiwa blinked hard twice, then covered her mouth with her hands, giggling.

"Haha... both ’orange’... haha... hahahaha...!"

Laughing so happily, Mukiwa’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Mukiwa laughed so heartily at his silly joke—Aoto couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.

Was my joke really that funny?

The joke, which had been so lame that it made Saito twitch his lips, left him speechless as he watched Mukiwa, who was still laughing.

After a good long laugh, Mukiwa finally wiped the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes and gradually stopped laughing.

Because he was already familiar with Mukiwa, Aoto didn’t feel awkward or uneasy even being alone with her now.

After sipping the tea Mukiwa had just brewed, Aoto actively started a conversation with her:

"Miss Kinoshita, have you encountered any interesting or noteworthy events recently?"

Asking about interesting or noteworthy events—Aoto loved using this phrase to start a chat.

"Interesting or noteworthy events... Indeed, there have been some."

Mukiwa placed Dodo on her lap, stroking its belly as she slowly began to speak.

"A couple of days ago, I went to the market to buy groceries and went into a teahouse to get a drink because I was thirsty."

"While quietly sitting in the corner of the teahouse, I accidentally overheard a young male and female duo, who seemed to be siblings, arguing at the next table."

"Their argument was about whether the great Phantom Thief Cat Monk is actually a voluptuous female ninja."

"The brother insisted the Cat Monk was a voluptuous female ninja, quoting various ’sources’ to back his claim."