Sleepy Time

18+ Owner

[eldiatricc]

Master List of Translations and Summaries

Shinsouban Clover no Kuni no Alice Part 1

Shinsouban Clover no Kuni no Alice Part 2

Heart no Kuni no Alice Twin World

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Pierce Villiers Event 01

Event List

Scene - Forest - Alice's Room

Another span of hours passed, and I was steadily growing used to this new life.

Even though I say I’m “living in the forest,” the truth is that I’m staying at an inn, so there’s nothing inconvenient about it. I’ve started to get used to my new job, and I can now clearly recognize the faces of my coworkers.

Life here is becoming my new normal. And whenever that thought crosses my mind, it brings with it a pang of guilt.

The place I chose to stay—wasn’t just where Boris was. It was also the amusement park with Gowland and the other staff. Not here.

Alice (And yet...)

Alice (...)

Scene Change - Forest - Arrows and Doors

Since I had the day off, I came to the forest. Whether I’d run into Boris or Pierce was, as always, up to chance.

There were places they were likely to be, but that didn’t guarantee anything. I wandered, looking around for a familiar face.

Alice (Ah... it’s Pierce.)

I spotted Pierce alone. When I called out to him, he ran over with quick, nimble steps.

No sound actually accompanied him, but that’s how it felt. Then again, since he’s a mouse, maybe “scurrying” is more appropriate...

Alice (...Not that it really matters.)

Pierce "Alice, Alice! You getting used to the forest? I heard it was your first time moving, right?"

Pierce "And being surprised by a move? That’s pretty rare too. You really are full of surprises."

The moment he reached me, Pierce started talking like that.

He probably heard it from Boris. Still, bringing it up now, of all times, felt like digging up something I’d already moved on from.

I knew I was being selfish, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

And being treated like some kind of curiosity wasn’t exactly flattering.

Alice "Don’t talk about me like I’m some rare animal."

When I voiced my irritation, Pierce just stared at me, confused.

Pierce "???"

Pierce "Why are you mad? It’s rare for someone to have never moved. And rare to be surprised by moving, too."

Pierce "See? Everything about it is unusual. I’m not wrong, right?"

He tilted his head and leaned closer with a bright, innocent smile. It made staying mad seem pointless.

Alice "Ahh, fine, fine, I get it."

Alice "You’re right, from your perspective, anyway."

Honestly, I was the outsider in this world. Pierce technically wasn’t wrong, which somehow made it even more annoying.

Pierce "Alice, Alice! A rare lost thing, I found a lost thing!"

Pierce "You’re mine, so don’t forget it, okay?"

Still completely unconcerned with my mood, Pierce sang those words like a little rhyme.

Alice "...Are you still going on about that?"

He’d said that over and over when we first met, and it still didn’t make sense. Why was I being treated like something lost or picked up?

Alice "I’m not a lost item or something you picked up. And obviously, I’m not yours either, okay?"

Pierce "Eh?! You’re still saying things like that? That’s a problem... I picked you up fair and square, so why don’t you get it yet...?"

Alice "I could say the same thing! Why don’t you get it?"

Pierce "Maybe it’s because I just picked you up recently? I guess I should make it more clear that you’re mine, huh...?"

He tilted his head again, mulling it over. Clearly, he wasn’t listening to a word I said.

Soon, he seemed to arrive at a conclusion, looked at me dead-on, and said—

Pierce "Want to kiss?"

Alice "...Huh?!"

Alice (What did he just say…?)

This was another one of those things he’d said before—something I’d already wanted to ask "Are you still saying that?" about.

A kiss… Why does it always come back to that? I truly have no idea how he even arrives at that conclusion.

Pierce "I said, do you want to kiss? A kiss, a kiss."

Pierce "See, kissing really is the best thing. Because you’re mine, I’ll give you a kiss… I mean, that’s just the natural thing to do, and I think it’s the best."

Pierce "So come on, let’s kiss, Alice!"

Alice "I’m not kissing you."

(What part of that is supposed to be natural? In what world is that the best?)

Said in a sleepy, offhand voice, it sounded like a joke at best. I had no interest in taking it seriously.

(And honestly, what he’s saying is completely absurd…)

Then again, the people in this world are all absurd.

(…But this mouse is in a league of his own.)

A sleepy-looking, giant mouse.

He’s so absurdly big there’s no sense of realism. And like many girls, I don’t particularly like mice.

Pierce "Let’s kiss, yeah? C’mon."

Alice "No. I said no."

Pierce "But let’s kiss. A kiss, kiss."

Alice "I’m not kissing you!"

(…This is bad. I’m starting to catch it again…)

“Kiss”… That is, “chu.”

Even I’ve started saying “chu” without thinking. Ever since I met him, I’ve been catching his weird way of speaking.

(Strange words really are contagious… It’s like a habit…)

(Like how dialects are easy to pick up… Well, dialects aren’t bad, but still…)

“Chu” is just embarrassing. Chu.

Alice "How can you say something so embarrassing so easily?"

Pierce "Embarrassing? What is?"

At some point, his hazy eyes were suddenly very close.

(Wh—when did he get this close…?)

He has a way of lowering your guard, and despite looking sluggish, Pierce is incredibly fast. His appearance is misleading.

Alice "A ch… a ch-chu… or whatever…"

Saying it again just made it even more embarrassing.

(Chu…)

(I actually said “chu”… out loud…)

The word kiss doesn’t feel embarrassing to say—but “chu” is something else entirely.

Alice "See? It is embarrassing, right?"

Pierce "Chu is? Why? Why would chu be embarrassing? Chu is embarrassing?"

Pierce "Chu, chu~"

Alice "Don’t go chu chu chu chu-ing all over the place!! It’s embarrassing!!"

(Ugh… I said it again…)

(Again… I said it again…)

This is humiliating.

Alice "Even just saying it once is mortifying for me… and you’re over here saying it over and over without a care… C-chu…"

Pierce "A kiss is embarrassing??? But saying 'chu chu' is totally normal!"

Pierce "Because I’m a mouse. There’s no such thing as a mouse that doesn’t say 'chu chu.'"

He tilted his head like, “I’ve told you that before, haven’t I?”

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Mice are such embarrassing creatures, then."

Pierce "Eh!? Wh-What’s that supposed to mean!? I’m not an embarrassing mouse! I’m a totally not embarrassing mouse!"

Pierce reacted with absurd exaggeration. His sleepy-looking eyes popped wide open in disbelief.

You could practically hear the dramatic BANG sound effect.

Or maybe something like hyururururu~.

Alice (That reaction…)

Alice "…………"

Alice "Any creature that goes around saying 'chu chu' is just plain embarrassing."

Pierce "Eeeeh!? But mice are supposed to say 'chu chu'…!"

Alice "Then I guess mice are, overall, just embarrassing animals."

Pierce "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? Th-That’s a complete rejection of all mice!?"

Alice (…His reactions are hilarious.)

Alice "I’m not saying I reject them entirely, but they are embarrassing."

Pierce "N-No way…"

As a small animal’s sound, maybe “chu” wouldn’t be that bad. But when Pierce says it, it’s unbearably embarrassing.

Alice (He’s not a small animal, after all… He’s a mouse bigger than I am…)

Alice (…Which, when you think about it, is kind of terrifying.)

And the “chu chu” he’s saying doesn’t even refer to a squeak—he means kissing. Not a sound. Not cute.

Pierce is a mouse, sure, but he’s a boy about my age.

Alice (It’s just… a little too embarrassing.)

Alice (Ugh, so embarrassing…)

Pierce "Alice… do you hate mice?"

Alice "Yeah, I’m not really a fan."

Pierce "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!? You—you don’t like mice!? Alice, you hate mice!?"

Alice "………… I mean, I don’t think most people like mice…"

Pierce "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!? That’s how it is in your world!?"

With an over-the-top GAHHHHN!!, Pierce reeled in shock.

Alice (…He really is fun to watch when he’s like this.)

Alice (Is that really so shocking, though…?)

It’s unfortunate for Pierce—who is apparently a mouse—but in my world, mice are despised creatures.

Alice "I mean, maybe people like hamsters or something, if it’s a pet species…"

Alice "But stray mice—well, I don’t know if that’s even what you’d call them—but wild ones, like the kind that scurry around the streets… not so much."

Mice are considered carriers of disease, blamed for plagues. They’re filthy animals directly associated with death.

There was even a time when people couldn’t keep hamsters as pets. That’s how serious disease transmission was.

Alice "In this world, are mice actually liked?"

Pierce "Well, that’s…"

Alice "…………"

Pierce looked thoroughly dejected. His ears drooped sadly.

Pierce "…I guess… mice aren’t that well-liked, huh…"

Alice "…………"

Pierce "B-But, hey, I’m not dirty, okay!? I take baths regularly!" "And! And I’m good at cleaning too. I like cleaning!"

Alice "I see…"

1. That's a good thing 2. That's just basic decency

1. That's a good thing

Alice "That’s a good thing."

Taking baths is just expected (or maybe in this world, it's not?), but being fond of cleaning is definitely a positive trait. When I praised him, Pierce beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

Pierce "Right?! Right, it’s a good thing, isn’t it!? Cleaning may be plain, but it’s super important!"

Alice "Yeah, I think so too. But…"

That doesn’t necessarily mean people will like you. Even a tidy mouse is still a mouse.

2. That’s just basic decency

Alice "But, I think that’s just what anyone should be doing."

Bathing and cleaning—those are just basic parts of living. Nothing to brag about.

Being good at cleaning is fine, but bathing is just a given (or maybe not, in this world). It’s not enough of a reason to be well-liked.

Pierce slumped again with a dramatic gaaahn, but it’s just the truth.

[Choices Converge]

Alice (So even in this world, mice aren’t all that popular…)

Alice (…………Still…)

I glanced at Pierce.

This larger-than-me mouse still looked completely dejected, his big ears drooping.

Pierce "Ugh… yeah, that’s right… I’m a clean mouse… so why does no one like me…?"

Alice (…He kind of looks like the type who gets picked on.)

Alice (…The type who practically invites it…)

He reacts in such an obvious, exaggerated way—it’s kind of cute.

Annoyingly cute, and oddly entertaining. I’m not the kind of person who enjoys teasing others, but with him, I feel the urge to poke and prod him a little.

Pierce "Is it because I say chu chu that people don’t like me…?"

Alice "…I don’t think it’s the chu chu. It’s probably just because you’re a mouse."

I gave the sulking mouse a little poke.

Pierce "Ugh…!? Th-That’s too cruel…"

Pierce "But I mean… I am a mouse. I can’t help it if I’m a mouse…"

His eyes welled up with tears.

Pierce "~~~~~~~~…"

Teary-eyed… on the verge of crying, but not quite. Just barely holding it in. If I poked him just a little more…

Alice "…………"

Alice (W-What do I do…) (…I want to tease him…)

I’m not the type who picks on people. Or… I thought I wasn’t.

Alice (But I really want to tease him right now…) (I’m starting to understand why Boris chases him around all the time…)

Scene Change – Clover Town – Inn

Waitress "So? Are you getting used to the job now?"

Waitress "From the looks of it, you’ve gotten pretty used to things. You’re handling everything on your own without needing anyone to teach you."

Alice "The basics, maybe. But I’ve still got a long way to go. It’s not like I can really do everything by myself."

Alice "Sometimes I can’t answer a guest’s question and have to ask someone else to help."

Waitress "A question you couldn’t answer? Like what?"

Alice "Like where the nearest pharmacy is, or a shortcut to the Clover Tower."

Since it’s an inn, guests often ask questions about the town.

Waitress "That’s understandable, though. You’re still new to this town."

Waitress "Before long, you’ll remember all kinds of things and won’t have any trouble at all."

Alice "Yeah, I hope that happens soon. I’ve been walking around a lot, trying to memorize the layout of the town and the shops."

Waitress "Now that you mention it, you do go out pretty often on your days off. But you don’t have to use up your free time like that, you know?"

Waitress "Seriously, you should actually rest on your days off. There’s no need to think about work all the time."

My coworkers are kind. They worry about whether I’m pushing myself too hard.

Alice "Don’t worry, I’m not overdoing it. I am getting proper rest."

Waitress "Really? Well, if you say so."

Waitress "But you’re almost always going somewhere, aren’t you? And when it’s not around town… where exactly do you go?"

Alice "Eh? Oh… the forest, I guess."

Now that I think about it, I’ve been visiting the forest quite often. Sometimes I visit other territories, but by far, the forest is the most frequent.

Waitress "The forest? Why would you go to the forest of all places???"

Waitress "You know people get lost there easily, right? You’re not even from around here, and you’re not familiar with it either…"

The looks on my coworkers’ faces turned grim. Clearly, they didn’t approve.

Alice "I know."

Even I have places in the forest I’d rather avoid—like that area full of trees with doors stuck to them. I don’t like it there.

Alice (But Pierce and Boris live in the forest.)

Even the door to my room leads into the forest if I picture it while opening it. Half of my daily life is rooted in that place.

A forest where a cat and a mouse are constantly chasing each other. It’s not exactly a lively place, but its cartoonish charm reminds me of the amusement park.

Alice "I just end up going there a lot. There are… animals I care about."

Waitress "Huh…?"

Waitress "……??"

My coworkers tilted their heads in confusion. Now that I’ve thought about them, I’m starting to wonder if those two are fighting again.

Alice (Maybe I should head over there after work…)

Scene Change – Forest – Arrows and Mushrooms

Alice "Boris!"

This time, I spotted the pink cat. When I approached, he smiled and walked up to me.

Boris "Oh, hey Alice. Out for a stroll?"

Boris "I’m on a walk too. Since we’re both out here, why don’t we stroll together for a bit? C’mon, let’s go."

Alice "Ah, wait!"

Without even waiting for my response, he starts walking. He’s always like this—doing things at his own pace—but I don’t dislike that about him.

He’ll quiz me with riddles, or tell me stories I’ve never heard. When I’m with Boris, there’s never a dull moment.

When I used to live at the amusement park, we’d play around the grounds a lot. But even if that hadn’t been the case, I don’t think I’d ever be bored.

Walking ahead of me, Boris began to speak as if talking to himself.

Boris "The forest is nice and all, but sometimes I really start to miss the amusement park~"

Boris "…Well, more than the park itself, it’s the attractions I miss. What about you? Don’t you ever get homesick for it?"

Alice "Huh?"

It was probably a casual question with no deeper meaning—but since I’d been thinking about the park too, it caught me off guard.

Alice (Do I miss the amusement park…?)

1. I always miss it 2. I don’t really miss it 3. More like, I hate it here

1. I always miss it Alice "…If anything, I always miss it."

It was a place I really liked. I chose to stay in this world because I liked it so much.

Of course I miss it.

Boris turned around with a surprised look.

Boris "Eh, seriously? That much? Why though…? Were you that into the amusement park?"

Boris "…Or what, do you actually miss the old man? Wow, I had no idea you liked him that much."

Boris "…Kinda makes me jealous. Like, am I not enough to make you feel at ease?"

Alice "What? What are you talking about?"

Alice "I never said that. I miss everyone—not just Gowland."

Gowland was there, Boris was there, and all the other staff, too. I miss the amusement park as a whole.

Boris still looked skeptical, but when I insisted, he finally nodded in acceptance.

2. I don’t really miss it Alice "Not particularly. I don’t miss it."

…Though honestly, there are times I do. But I didn’t want to say that—it felt unfair to Boris.

If I said I missed it, it would sound serious. Considering everything Boris has done to set me up here with a place to live and a job… I couldn’t say it.

Boris "Really? I totally do. Stuff like the roller coasters and go-karts."

Boris "…Crap, just talking about it is making me really miss it."

Whether or not he knew what I was really thinking, he just kept chatting casually.

3. More like, I hate it here Alice "…More like, I kind of hate it here."

Boris "Seriously? I think it’s pretty fun in its own way."

Boris "What don’t you like about it? Tell me—I’ll fix it if I can."

Alice "Eh…"

I panicked at his sincere response.

Alice "…I was just joking. Don’t take it so seriously."

I’d just meant to tease him a little, but I didn’t expect him to take it at face value.

Alice (Boris really can be unexpectedly earnest sometimes.)

If I really hated it here, I wouldn’t keep coming back like this.

Boris "I see…"

“Jeez, don’t tease me like that,” he said—but there was clear relief in his expression.

Choices Converge

Chatting about how he wants to ride a roller coaster again, Boris kept walking ahead. After a while, he turned back as if something had just come to mind.

Boris "You’ve been living here for a while now, right? Are you having trouble with anything? I mean, you’re a girl, so maybe there’s stuff I wouldn’t think of."

Boris "If something ever comes up, talk to me, okay? …Rely on me more than the others, alright?"

Alice (……)

Alice (…This kind of thing—he acts like he’s used to taking care of others.)

As far as I know, that shouldn’t be the case.

And yet, there’s nothing forced about it—just a natural attentiveness. It’s annoying how endearing it is.

Alice "I’m not really having any trouble. I’ve got everything I need."

When he asked again, "Really?", I nodded. Boris looked a bit let down.

Boris "You seriously have no material desires, huh? I mean, yeah, there’s plenty of stuff you’d struggle without, but not much that’s a problem to have."

Boris "Or is it just that you don’t have anything and that’s the problem?"

Boris "If that’s the case, just tell me, okay? I’ll get you whatever you want."

Alice "It’s not that. I really am satisfied with what I have."

Alice "…Is that what it means to not have material desires?"

I ended up asking aloud, which made Boris laugh.

Alice (But… I really am satisfied.)

My life feels full. I might miss the amusement park sometimes, but I have no complaints about my current life.

If anything, I feel guilty for not having complaints.

Later

Even after parting ways with Boris, I continued wandering on my own.

Alice (I wonder if Pierce is around…?)

Not seeing him made me curious. After a bit of searching, I found him.

Pierce "Hey, Alice! You came again—I'm so glad! You came to see me, right?"

1. I came to see Pierce 2. I came to see Boris 3. I was just taking a walk

1. I came to see Pierce Alice "Yes, I came to see you, Pierce."

When I told him I’d been looking for him, he looked bashfully pleased.

Pierce "Hehe, thanks~"

Pierce "So, what should we do? Want to go into town together? Or I could show you someplace you’ve never been."

Alice "Either’s fine. I didn’t have anything specific in mind."

Pierce "Really? Nothing in mind? So that means… you came just to see me?"

Alice "Huh? Well… yeah, I guess you could say that."

Honestly, I just hadn’t thought that far ahead. But seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, I decided to go with that answer.

Alice (Since all I’d really thought about was meeting him, it’s not exactly a lie…)

Pierce "Ehehe~ so that’s it. You came because just seeing me was enough. That makes me really happy! And not because you wanted to tease me or chase me or anything—just to see me."

He looked so happy, he was practically skipping.

Alice (…That’s kind of a heartbreaking reason to be happy.)

2. I came to see Boris Alice "No, I came to see Boris."

I’d already met with Boris and was now searching for Pierce. But once again, my mischievous side got the better of me.

Pierce’s ears twitched sharply as he tensed up.

Pierce "…You came to see the cat? That terrifying beast? You’re pretty brave…"

Alice "…Well, after Boris, I was planning to see you too. I’m glad I found you."

Alice "Not that I had a set order or anything."

When I admitted the truth, Pierce’s ears perked back up and he lit up.

Pierce "So that means you were planning to see both me and Boris!? You were just messing with me, Alice!"

Pierce "That’s so mean… but wait, you did come to see me too, so actually it’s not mean at all! Yeah, not mean. Not mean!"

Alice (I tried to tease him, but he just got happy…)

3. I was just taking a walk Alice "I was just out for a walk."

I had been looking for him, but I didn’t say that out loud.

Somehow, I always end up teasing him. Maybe I just want to see that disappointed look on his face…

Pierce "Oh… so you weren’t here to visit me? That’s… kinda disappointing. Really disappointing."

Pierce "But hey—can’t you change it from a ‘walk’ to a ‘visit’? You can walk anytime, but spending time with me is rare, right?"

Just as I expected, he pouted—though his follow-up suggestion was oddly optimistic.

His eager little request was honestly kind of cute.

Alice "Alright. Sure, let’s say that’s what it was."

Choices Converge

Later

Pierce "Alice… do you… hate mice?"

He asked this out of the blue as we walked through the forest together. At some point, he had crept closer again—those sleepy eyes were right near mine.

Alice (…So fast. He's ridiculously fast.)

Despite the way he talks—slow and drawling—he moves surprisingly fast. His agility makes me think maybe I shouldn't let my guard down around him, but at the same time, he always seems sleepy.

Alice (…I don’t really know much about Pierce, do I?)

We haven’t known each other for long. Maybe that’s exactly why we became close so quickly, without any baggage.

If the amusement park disappeared and I suddenly grew close with someone I used to be on bad terms with, it would feel a bit awkward.

Even if we’d gotten along before, using someone as a replacement would just feel sad.

But with Pierce, there’s none of that hesitation. I can be friends with him without overthinking it.

Being with him is easy. Even his slightly foolish side makes him approachable.

Alice (But… what kind of person is he, really?)

A mouse.

Alice "……"

Alice "I don’t like them. Mice aren’t well-liked creatures in my world."

Alice (…Didn’t I say this before?)

No, I did. And now I’ve gone and said something again that hits him where it hurts.

Pierce "Not well-liked… So… hated…"

Just as expected, Pierce gives a painfully obvious reaction—like a mental "gaaaaaan" sound effect.

Alice (When I’m with him, that sound keeps playing in my head…)

Alice "……"

Alice (Really now… I wasn’t supposed to be the type who bullies others.)

But when Pierce gets all sulky, I can’t help myself.

Alice (What is it? Just seeing him makes me want to tease him…)

Alice (And the way he immediately gets all weepy when poked at is just…)

Alice (……)

Alice (No, no, I shouldn’t. That’s just mean.)

Alice "Maybe… there are people who like mice, you know?"

I try to offer some kind of comfort.

Pierce "But you don’t like mice, right? You don’t like me, do you?"

Pierce "I found you just lying there, so I picked you up… But when you find something, it’s supposed to become yours..."

Alice "I wasn’t lying around for someone to pick up. I wasn’t even lost to begin with."

I’m not some lost item. He’s been saying this since we first met, and I’ve been denying it just as long.

Pierce "You were. You were all alone, just lying there."

Pierce "You were a lost item. That’s why I picked you up."

Alice "People don’t get ‘picked up.’"

Alice "I’m a person, you know? Not an object."

Pierce "So… are you already someone else’s property?"

Alice "Listen…"

Alice "…I don’t belong to anyone. I belong to myself—"

Pierce "If you don’t belong to anyone else, then you’re mine. I’ll make you mine."

Pierce "You’re my possession. You’re mine."

He declares this entirely on his own.

Alice "…………"

Alice (…He's not the same as Peter, but…)

Even if they’re different types, they’re similar in that you just can’t reason with them.

Pierce "I picked you up, so you’re mine."

Pierce "I love cute things. I collect cute things."

Pierce "…Yeah, I knew it. We need to kiss! Let’s kiss, okay?"

Alice "N-O."

I block his face with my hand as he suddenly leans in.

Pierce "??? I can’t kiss you like this, you know?"

Pierce "Move your hand. It’s in the way—I can’t kiss you…"

Alice "I said N-O, didn’t I?"

Alice (Peter…)

Alice (…He really is another Peter, isn’t he…?)

He reminds me of that rabbit.

That said, Peter and I have settled into a kind of friendship lately, and I’ve come to trust him in his own way.

He does think about me. (Even if his way of doing so is… completely off.)

As for the kiss—Pierce feels like something else. His forceful attempt at a kiss does bring Peter’s early days to mind, but the vibe is entirely different.

It’s like… writing your name on something you own. That’s the kind of "kiss" this feels like.

Pierce "Why not? Why can’t we kiss? That’s so weird…"

Alice "The weird one is you! Why are you trying to kiss me in the first place!?"

Pierce "Because you’re my possession…"

Pierce "Why not? Let’s kiss, come on, kiss…"

Alice (Kiss kiss, kiss kiss…)

My head is starting to ache. I’ve heard it so many times, it’s like I’m desensitized—even to how embarrassing the word itself is.

Alice "In my world, we don’t go around kissing so casually! It’s something you do with family, or friends, or… with someone you love!"

Pierce "Hmmmm… but we’re not family, or friends, or lovers, right…? …But that’s fine. Let’s kiss anyway."

Alice "No, it’s not fine."

Alice "If we’re not family, not friends, not lovers, then there’s no kissing!!"

…It’s completely rubbing off on me.

Alice (Kiss…)

Alice "Not just in my world—people in this world don’t go around kissing so casually either, do they!?"

It might be a desperate excuse, but I had to say it.

Pierce "Eh… ehhhh… well… y-yeah we do, we kiss…"

Alice (…………) (Wow… you are such a terrible liar.)

It’s such a transparent lie, I don’t even feel like getting mad.

His eyes dart everywhere, fidgeting all over.

Alice "…………"

Pierce "Kiss… w-we… we do… we do kiss…"

His ears droop pathetically. When I look down, even his long tail has gone limp.

He’s just so obvious.

Alice "…Really? From what I’ve seen, people in this world don’t seem to kiss all that easily either."

Pierce "…………"

Pierce "…We do… They just don’t let me…"

Pierce "I want to kiss cute things… But every time I try, they all run away…"

Pierce "Is it because I’m a mouse…?"

Pierce "Mice are hated, aren’t they? Am I hated? Why do people push me away when I try to kiss them…?"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…The people you try to kiss—are they your family, your friends, or your lover?"

Pierce "No. Just cute creatures. They’re not family or friends or lovers."

Pierce "But they’re so cute."

Pierce "Why do they push me away when I want to kiss them…? Is it because I’m a mouse…? Being a mouse is rough…"

Alice "…I don’t think it’s just because you’re a mouse."

If someone who’s not family, not a friend, not even a romantic partner tries to kiss you—especially a mouse—anyone would push them away.

Alice "You shouldn’t kiss someone who isn’t family, a friend, or a lover."

Pierce "Eh? But… they’re cute."

Pierce "When you see something cute, you have to kiss it. Otherwise, someone else might take it."

Alice (…He really does think of it like writing your name on something to mark it.)

Alice "I don’t think kissing someone out of the blue makes them yours…"

Pierce "Even if they don’t become mine, if I think ‘soooo cute,’ I have to kiss them!"

Pierce "When you see something cute, don’t you want to kiss it? Right? Right??"

Alice "Well… maybe…"

Alice "…I guess you’re not completely wrong…"

Alice (…Wait?)

Alice (No, hold on… Am I seriously agreeing with this…?)

He’s overwhelming me with his weird logic, and I’m about to give in.

Pierce "Exactly! You see something cute, and you kiss it!"

Pierce "I’m a mouse—so I should kiss! Kisses!!"

Alice "………S-So… maybe…???"

With him declaring it so confidently and passionately, it kind of started to feel true.

Alice (I’m losing to the momentum…)

Pierce "Yup! So let’s kiss! Kiss!!!"

Alice "Not happening."

I was close to giving in—but I held my ground.

As his face rushed toward mine with enthusiasm, I smacked him—hard.

Pierce "Ow—OWWWWW!! That hurt, Alice!! What was that for?!"

Alice "What was that for? That’s my line."

Pierce "What do you mean what!? I was just trying to kiss you! Just a little kiss!"

Alice (Just trying to kiss me? Just—he says??)

Alice "That’s more than enough reason to hit you."

Smack! Another hit, just as solid as the first.

Pierce "OWWWWWWW!! It hurts!! You’re so mean!!"

Pierce "Is this because I’m a mouse?! Am I being persecuted because I’m a mouse?!"

Alice "I’d hit you even if you weren’t."

Mouse or human, if someone I’m not close to tries to kiss me, I will resist.

And if they keep pushing? I’ll take appropriate action. It’s self-defense.

Alice (There is no world where kissing—sorry, “chu”—is done that casually!)

Alice "Listen. I don’t kiss people I’m not close with—not unless they’re family, a friend, or someone I’m dating."

Alice "It doesn’t matter what the customs are in this world, or whether you’re a mouse or not."

Alice "I just don’t kiss people I’m not close to. A kiss is something you give out of affection."

Pierce "…………"

Pierce "Then… let’s become family or friends or lovers! If we do, then I can kiss you, right?"

Pierce "Right?? So let’s do that! Let’s become one of those so we can kiss!"

Alice "…………"

Alice (He’s not listening to a word I’m saying…)

Alice (Is it because he’s a mouse? Is that why I can’t reason with him…?)

After a brief silence, Pierce started squealing in excitement again. I let out a sigh. I could feel myself slipping into mouse prejudice.

Alice (I mean, cats are still somewhat reasonable… but mice—mice are just…) (Mice.)

Pierce "Chu chu! I can’t wait to kiss cute things. I’ll wait until we’re family or friends or lovers, okay?"

Pierce "I wanna hurry up and become one of those so I can kiss you!"

Alice "Sigh…"

Alice (How should I put this…)

Alice (He’s even more of a simpleton than Peter…)

Peter’s behavior was outrageous, but he’s actually smart. That mix of intelligence with his eccentric actions made him scary in a sort of stalker-ish way.

But with this kid, there’s none of that.

Alice (He’s just an idiot… A complete idiot…)

An exhausting idiot.

Pierce "Family, friend, or lover… hmm… Which one should I pick? Which sounds best?"

Pierce "Hey, Alice! Which one do you think is good? Which should I be?"

Alice "…Thinking about it normally, I’d say ‘family’ is off the table."

You can’t just decide to become blood relatives.

If this kid were my little brother or older brother… it’d be exhausting. Even as a relative, it’d be tough.

Pierce "Hmm? But if we get married, doesn’t that make us family? I think that’s the easiest and fastest way to do it."

Pierce "Should we go with that? Wanna get married?"

Alice "No."

Pierce "Hmmmmm… Then I guess it’s either friend or lover… That means we’ve gotta start by getting closer!"

Pierce "What should I do…? I guess spending more time together, playing together…"

Alice (The conversation is just… moving on entirely without me.)

Still, this is better than being pestered for kisses, so I let him keep talking.

Pierce "Oh, I know!! I’ll invite you to my house!"

Pierce "Yeah! I’ll invite you over to my place and boost our intimacy! Come over, Alice! Let’s become closer friends!"

Alice "You have a house…?"

I thought he was just wandering around the forest all the time like a stray.

Pierce "Yup! I do! My very own house!"

Pierce "I’m inviting you over! Then we can get closer and become friends!"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…………"

Alice "How do I put this…"

Pierce "Hmm?"

Alice "……Just, I don’t know… how to respond to all this."

Alice (He's just… so transparent.)

It’s not exactly a “hidden motive”… or maybe it is, but either way, it’s so blatant that I’m not sure how to react.

Alice "…Most people don’t go around saying ‘boost intimacy,’ you know."

Pierce "…Really? But I do want to get closer to you! I want to increase our intimacy!"

Pierce "Then we can kiss!"

Alice "…………"

Alice (I really don’t know how to respond to this…)

Pierce "You’re so cute, I wanna kiss you soon!"

Pierce "How close do we have to be? I wanna kiss you so bad, I’ve gotta invite you over ASAP…"

Alice (How close do we have to be… I wanna kiss you… gotta invite you…)

Alice (You know…)

I’ve been tuning out all the constant “chu chu” talk, but if he wants to kiss cute things, that means…

Alice (…He’s calling me cute, isn’t he.)

He says I’m so cute he wants to kiss me—even though I don’t think I have the kind of face people usually call cute…

Alice (What a strange kid.)

Alice (How do I even describe this…?)

It’s… itchy. In that emotional, awkward kind of way.

Pierce "…Hmm, but with that size, you probably can’t fit… That’s a problem, what should I do…?"

Alice "…………"

Alice (…Is his house that small I wouldn’t even fit in it?)

Like a rabbit hutch, except for mice.

Alice (…Honestly, I don’t want to be invited over…)

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Best End

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Alice’s Room

Boris “Ah, morning, Alice. Yawn… I had a weird dream or something.”

When I returned to the room, Boris, who had been asleep, was just waking up. Still a little drowsy, he was sitting cross-legged on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

Alice “A weird dream?”

Just the other day, he was dreaming about go-karts. He’s a cat who dreams often.

Boris “Weird, or maybe… scary? Was it a scary dream?”

Alice “…What kind of dream was it?”

Boris “The kind where a friend yanked out my tail.”

Boris “…Why the hell would I dream that? Woke up feeling awful…”

Alice “Well… yeah, I guess that would be kind of scary.”

It doesn’t need to be said—he’s clearly referring to Dee and Dum. They’ve been after Boris’s tail for a while, but maybe they’ve stepped up their attempts lately.

Muttering something like “No way I’m letting them rip it out,” Boris climbs off the bed. His still-sleepy eyes blink rapidly when he sees me.

Boris “Huh? Alice, you look kinda tired.”

Alice “Eh…?”

Sharp, even half-asleep. It's true, I didn’t sleep well either, and I felt sluggish when I woke up.

Maybe I’m coming down with something. And I do have a suspicion about why.

Boris walks right up to me and peers into my face.

Boris “Yeah, you’re definitely tired. And your face is kind of flushed too…”

Boris “You okay? Are you feeling sick? Should I take you to the doctor? Or would you rather just rest here?”

He asks with concern in his voice and worry in his eyes. But…

Alice “Excuse me… but who exactly do you think is responsible for this?”

I give him a half-glare.

Boris “Wait… I’m responsible?”

Boris “Is this about that night after your bath when I got a little too excited—OW OW OW!”

Alice (You didn’t have to say it!)

He went and said something totally unnecessary, so I gave his tail a sharp tug.

Boris “Alice, are you really sick!? You’re way too strong for a sick person!”

Alice “That’s because of what you said! Honestly…!”

Still, I already figured that was probably the reason.

Boris “Aah… yeah, okay, so it was my fault. Sorry, alright?”

Boris “Next time, I’ll be more careful not to let you get chilled after a bath, so forgive—OWW!”

Alice (He’s still going!?)

Boris “Why!? I apologized, didn’t I!?”

Boris “I said I was sorry, so why are you still pulling my—OW OW OW this seriously hurts!!”

Boris “Dee and Dum don’t even go this hard on my tail! Alice, are you trying to rip it off too!? Is this prophetic—a vision of the future!?!”

Alice “If you don’t want that dream to come true, stop saying such things!”

I squeezed his tail hard. Boris quickly surrendered—this round goes to me.

Later

Boris “…Sometimes I honestly wonder if you even like me.”

Boris “Like right now, for example. How many times do I have to tell you I can’t eat hot food?”

I’d stepped out to cook in the kitchen downstairs and reheated the food once Boris woke up, then brought it back to the room.

It’s become a regular thing—breakfast for two (technically lunch, but we just woke up). Today’s menu: piping hot egg soup, salad, bread, and milk.

I just wanted to see the face you make when you hate something…

…Because you're a cat, after all

I’ll never understand, no matter how many times you say it

1. I just wanted to see the face you make when you hate something…

Alice “I just wanted to see the face you make when you hate something…”

Boris “…That’s a pretty wicked hobby, Alice. Funny, though—I love seeing your annoyed face too. It gives me the chills in the best way.”

Boris “You’ve had your fill watching me suffer, right? Now it’s my turn. Show me lots of those annoyed expressions of yours.”

Alice “Hey. That’s not very polite!”

I lightly slapped the hand that was reaching for me.

Alice “…I was kidding. Obviously.”

2. …Because you’re a cat, after all

Alice “…Because you’re a cat, after all.”

Boris “That’s right, I am a cat—got a problem with that? Cats have sensitive tongues. I can’t handle hot food! So remember that, okay?”

Boris “Seriously, I’m begging you here.”

Alice “I do remember. But this time, I had a reason.”

3. I’ll never understand, no matter how many times you say it

Alice “Who knows. Maybe I’ll never understand, no matter how many times you say it.”

Boris “…So you’re saying you don’t plan on learning your lesson, huh?”

Boris “Just so you know—even for you, I have my limits. I really can’t eat hot food.”

Alice “…I was joking. Obviously.”

Choices Converge

Alice “I just needed to warm myself up a bit. Sorry, but could you wait until it cools down?”

Like we’d already discussed, I wasn’t feeling great. If I let it get worse, it could turn into a full-blown cold—so I was trying to prevent that.

I’d been borrowing a corner of the busy inn kitchen, so I didn’t have time to heat things up separately. When I explained this, Boris seemed to understand.

Boris “Well, if that’s the case, you could’ve just said so. That makes sense.”

Alice “Yeah… sorry.”

Boris “It’s fine. I’d hate it if you caught a cold anyway.”

Boris started with the salad, then took a sip of the soup once it had cooled slightly.

Boris “Oh, this is good. Nice bit of pepper. Did you add a little ginger too?”

Alice “I did… Does the flavor bother you?”

Boris “Nah, this much is totally fine. Actually, it’s pretty good. Definitely feels like it’ll warm me up.”

Boris “You whipped up this menu to suit your condition just like that—impressive. Just like you, Alice. You’re a great cook.”

Alice “You’re exaggerating. I didn’t have much time, so it’s kind of a thrown-together meal.”

The soup was hot, after all. I actually felt a bit guilty about that.

Boris “Even if it was thrown together, it’s still really good. Honestly, anything you make for me is a treat. That’s probably why it tastes even better.”

He says the most embarrassing things so casually. Boris is unfair like that.

Even so, he kept complimenting the meal and finished everything on his plate.

Boris “Just being with you makes me feel so happy… I don’t get it. I’m not supposed to be this kind of guy…”

He placed his hands together and gave a soft “thank you for the meal”, then muttered those words with a quiet smile.

I couldn’t help but smile wryly in return.

Alice (If anyone’s breaking character, it’s me.)

I was the one who thought I’d sworn off love for the time being—and now here I am, dating a cat. That alone is unbelievable.

Living almost like we’re sharing a home, making meals for my boyfriend… None of this was ever part of the plan.

Alice (The move wasn’t the only unexpected event… this entire situation is just as surprising.)

Still, I don’t hate this life. If anything…

Alice (My boyfriend is sweet, but free-spirited, mischievous, and jealous—a Cheshire Cat through and through. I know he’ll keep stirring things up…)

But somehow, that makes it fun. I kind of want it to last forever.

And that might just be the biggest “unexpected” of all.

Scene Change – Clover Town – Inn

Man "A hangout spot for cats? Yeah, there’s one in this town too."

When I asked him, that’s what he told me.

He’s the same person who told me about the glowing mushrooms before.

Alice "There is one, huh… Well, every town seems to have at least a few of them."

A place where cats gather. A hangout, a meeting spot—for cats.

Man "Yeah, there’s one here too. The spot where the most cats gather… let me think… probably the alley off West Street."

Man "Near the park with the fountain… Do you know the place?"

Alice "Yes, I know the park. But there are a lot of alleys around there. Which one?"

Man "If you’re interested, you should go check it out. The alley is… hang on, I’ll draw you a map."

Alice "Thanks."

Even after everything that happened, he was still kind as ever.

Man "But Alice, your cat boyfriend might get jealous, you know?"

Alice "I’m just going to see some cats."

Man "Cats don’t like it when their owners look at other cats."

Alice "I’m not Boris’s owner. I’m his girlfriend."

Man "Then he’ll probably be even more jealous…"

Alice "…You think so?"

Man "Most likely… yeah."

Scene Change – Clover Town – Main Area

Meow, meow. Mii, mii.

Myah, myah…

Alice "Wha—"

Alice (thought) (…So cute.)

This is heaven for a cat lover.

Following the directions that man gave me, I arrived at the cat gathering spot. True to its name, the place is full of cats.

Meow, meow. Meow, meow.

I pet one of the cats that comes up to me. As I do, it rubs itself against me affectionately.

Alice (thought) (So… so cute…)

Having owned a cat before, I’m definitely fond of them.

Alice (thought) (It reminds me of Dinah…)

Cats are adorable. I’d forgotten just how adorable they could be.

Alice (thought) (…I was starting to forget.)

Cat "Meow."

Alice "There, there…"

Cat "Meow, meow."

Alice "…Are you hungry? I’ve got some fish. Want some?"

Cat "Meow, meow."

Alice "…Alright then. Here you go."

I offered a few small dried fish I had brought with me.

Cat "Meow, meow."

Cat "Meow meow meow."

Cat "Myah. Meow meow."

Alice "Ahh… don’t fight over it."

For the weaker ones who couldn’t get any, I hand-fed them directly.

Cat "Mii…"

Alice "…You’re a timid little one, huh? The others keep taking your food so easily…"

Alice "…Still so small. Not a kitten, but…"

Alice "…You can’t be this weak if you’re not a kitten anymore."

It was thinner than the other cats. Probably hadn’t been able to get enough food.

Alice "…Where are you from?"

Cat "Nii, nii…"

It licked at the small fish as it ate. Such a small, fragile cat.

Alice "Don’t you have a home?"

Cat "Nii…"

Alice "…………"

Alice (thought) (…Maybe it really doesn’t have a home.)

Alice (thought) (Just like me…)

??? (Boris) "It’s a stray."

Alice "!!!"

At some point, another cat had appeared behind me. I hadn’t noticed at all.

Boris "You don’t need to be feeding such a weakling."

Boris casually lifted the little cat by the scruff.

Alice "B-Boris!"

Boris "What, cheating right out in public? With some… feeble little stray like this."

Still holding the cat, Boris gave it a shake. The cat just let it happen.

Cat "Nii… nii…"

Boris "Looks as weak as it gets… It’d probably die even if left alone."

Boris "These others too… all cats I could kill without a second thought."

He glanced around, eyes sweeping the group of cats.

Cat "Meow!"

Cat "Meow meow!"

Cat "Meow meow meow!"

The cats all bolted at once.

Alice "Eh…"

They scattered in perfect unison, like frightened spiders.

Alice "…Boris, are you some kind of hated cat or something?"

Boris "No. I’m feared."

Boris "I’m a Cheshire Cat, remember? I’m not like the others."

Boris "I’m a strong cat. Every cat is afraid of me. See?"

Cat "Nii…"

Dangling helplessly in the air, the small cat looked completely defenseless.

It was being held up, so it couldn’t even run like the others.

Alice "Put it down. That’s just cruel."

Boris "It pisses me off. It’s so weak… and yet you pay attention to it. Even fed it…"

Boris "…Why are you always fussing over other cats? Do you like this weak little thing more than me?"

Boris "You feed them… live with them… You do all the things you won’t do for me."

Alice "…Do you want food?"

I asked, thinking no way he’d say "yes."

Boris "Yeah. I want you to feed me."

Alice "Not like making you a meal… you mean, feeding you? Like you’re a pet?"

Boris "I don’t care what you call it. If it means being tamed by you… I want you to feed me."

Boris said it so casually, without hesitation.

Alice "…………"

Alice "A cat…"

Boris "Huh? Yeah, I told you—I’m a cat."

Alice "…………"

He said it so confidently, I was left without a retort.

Boris "…Agh, it's your fault I’m hungry now. You feed all the other cats, but not me…"

Boris "…………"

Boris "…This one looks weak. Doesn’t it kind of look like a mouse?"

Alice "……!!!"

Alice "N-no! Don’t eat it!"

Boris "I’m not gonna eat it… Geez, don’t take it so seriously."

Boris "A cat doesn’t eat another cat. I’m a cat, so I won’t eat this one."

Alice "………… …I don’t think you’re a cat, Boris."

Boris "……?"

Alice "Cats are cute creatures. Boris, you’re not cute."

Boris "……!!!"

Boris’s eyes flew wide open in shock, and he gasped.

Alice "Boris, you're completely different from this kitten… or any other cat, really. I realized that again after petting a regular cat for the first time in a while—you’re nothing alike."

I never truly thought of him as an ordinary cat. He’s more like a human.

But being told over and over that he’s a cat had nudged my perception in that direction.

Sure, Boris is catlike. There’s a feline aspect to him. But still…

Alice "Boris, you’re not a cat. You don’t have the kind of cuteness cats have."

Boris "……!!! ~~~~~~~~~!!!!"

His not-so-cute, catlike face started to stiffen more and more.

Boris "S-So… does that mean I’ve failed as a cat!? That you can fawn over other cats but not me!?"

Alice "You’re cute, but… not in the catlike way, I guess."

Boris "So I’m worse than that thing? Is that why you won’t live with me or feed me!?"

Alice "Feeding… I mean, I do bring you food and cook for you sometimes, don’t I?"

Just a few time slots ago, we had a meal together. He said that hot egg soup, once cooled down, was delicious and ate it happily.

Boris "That wasn’t enough! Not even close! I want more!"

Alice "…Haah. Fine, I get it."

Alice "You want me to feed you like a cat, right?"

I offered him a dried fish.

Boris "!"

Boris lit up with joy and immediately chomped into it.

Boris "Ham…"

A cute gesture. Adorably catlike behavior.

Boris "Nn…"

He ate it slowly, as if licking at it.

The way he ate was exactly like the small cat from earlier. He licked his fingers with soft smacks, trying not to leave even a single piece behind.

Alice (thought) (…………)

Alice (thought) (…Yeah, he’s still different.)

Alice (thought) (Boris is different.)

He’s not just a cat. He may be a cat… but he’s something else entirely.

Alice (…Not cute.)

Boris "Give me more."

He licked his fingers.

Alice "There… there’s no more…"

I had already given the rest to the other cats. The one I gave to the cat in front of me was the last.

Alice (thought) (A cat…)

Alice (thought) (He’s a cat, but…)

Boris "…It was delicious."

His pink tongue licked his lips.

Alice (thought) (Ugh…)

Alice "…I’m glad you liked it. But there’s no more."

Boris "More…"

Alice "I said… there’s no more…"

Boris "I want more…"

He whispered in my ear.

For a cute cat’s begging, it carried an unusual force. His lips, still wet from licking his fingers, drew closer.

Alice "……"

Boris "I want more, Alice…"

That pink tongue licked me again. He kissed me.

Alice (thought) (Pink…)

There’s no other cat this pink. That’s why Boris is both a cat and not a cat.

He’s cute, but not cute. More than cute, he’s… pink.

Alice (thought) (Pink… A cute color, but… not cute.)

Boris "Alice."

That pink voice called to me.

Boris "Give me more food… Alice."

Alice "Boris…"

Boris "…Alice."

Cat "Ni—"

Alice "!?"

Boris "…!!!"

A sweet voice scattered the pink mood into mist.

Cat "Ni—"

Boris "…………"

Cat "Ni—ni—"

Alice "…………"

Boris "…………"

It was like… a young couple being interrupted by a crying baby. …A terrible comparison, but that’s exactly how it felt.

We both froze.

Cat "Ni—ni—"

Boris "…What. You want food too? You… you want more too?"

Cat "Ni—ni—ni—"

Boris "…………"

Boris "…Alice."

Boris "…If it’s not gonna eat… can I shoot it instead?"

Alice "No."

Scene Change – Clover Town – Shopping District

Boris "So you are taking it home in the end…"

On the way back. Boris was completely sulking.

In my arms was the small cat I brought from the gathering place. It was still thin, and I could feel it hadn’t been eating enough.

Alice "I couldn’t just leave it there. This little one would definitely be left out when it comes to food."

Alice "And I’ve got work, so I can’t be there to feed it all the time."

It’s hard for me to go feed it directly every day. If I keep it close, I can help.

Boris "But you won’t take me home. And now this guy you just met—you’re taking it home and planning to live together…"

Alice "…Don’t sulk."

Boris "Of course I’m sulking. How can I not? If I stop sulking, I might just shoot it, you know?"

Alice "No, you won’t! That’s not allowed!"

I snapped, and Boris let out a big sigh—“haaah.” It was like he was too shocked to even argue back.

Boris "You always say I’m fickle or whatever, but you’re pretty fickle yourself. Just when I think you’re back by my side, you drift off somewhere else again."

Boris "…Don’t make me feel so anxious."

Alice (…Hmph. Now he’s saying something all meek and tender…)

Is this some kind of “If anger doesn’t work, try acting pitiful” strategy? I don’t know if that’s even a real strategy, though.

Alice "I never meant to make you anxious."

Boris "But I am anxious. I’m your boyfriend, and yet you’re always thinking about and being nice to other cats."

He cast a resentful side glance at the cat in my arms.

Boris "…I wish your head was filled with only thoughts of me. Then I wouldn’t be constantly on edge like this."

Boris "I’m seriously a lost cause at this point…"

Alice "You don’t need to be so jealous. This isn’t what you think it is."

It’s not cheating. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Boris is completely different from other cats.

Bringing this little cat home is not a betrayal.

Boris "I can’t help it. Ugh… I feel like I’m going crazy with jealousy…"

Boris roughly ran his hands through his own hair. Watching him so out of sorts reminded me of something he said not long ago…

When was that again…? Right—after we had that meal with the egg soup.

Flashback

Boris "I never imagined I’d fall for you like this."

Boris "Honestly, I feel so uncool right now… But it’s your fault, so take responsibility, okay?"

Boris "…I’ll take responsibility too."

Boris "It’s okay if I’m full of myself, right? To think you’re mine, and I’m yours?"

End Flashback

Alice (He didn’t seem to have much composure then either…)

He’s hopelessly in love with me. Lately, I’ve been feeling that even more than before.

Alice (…Maybe it’s time.)

Maybe it’s time I made up my mind.

Being with Boris is fun. I want to keep being with him.

I love Boris. I never thought I’d fall this hard.

We’re the same now. I’ve come to think the same way he does.

Alice (I’m probably going to be dragged all over the place, though…)

Alice "Boris, listen…"

Scene Change – Boris’s Room

Alice "I’ve decided to live with you, Boris."

Pierce "G-Good for you. W-Well, that’s great and all… but… but still…"

Pierce "Th-there are two cats now... The number of cats has doubled..."

Pierce "The cats... they've multiplied... Cats..."

Pierce was visibly trembling.

Alice "This little one is our new housemate too."

Alice "…Right, Boris?"

Boris "I'm not happy about it... A cat like this..."

True to his words, Boris looked displeased as he stared at the kitten. When their eyes met, he frowned in discomfort.

Alice "………"

Cats "Nii, nii."

Boris "…You're hungry? Want some fish?"

Boris "Well, I guess I don’t have a choice... You’re pretty weak, huh."

Grumbling, Boris fed the small cat with a sulky look.

Cats "Ni~i."

The cat was already fond of Boris.

He wasn’t the one being fed—he was the one doing the feeding. Despite his complaints, Boris was surprisingly caring.

Alice "What a heartwarming picture…"

Pierce "…What a terrifying picture… A feline dinner table…"

Pierce "This is horror… I can’t even look directly at it…"

While the scene was cute enough to make one want to keep watching, Pierce averted his eyes.

Pierce "…Hey, is that cat your child, Alice?"

Alice "Huh?"

Pierce "Your and Boris’s child? Boris is the dad and you're the mom...? Did you become a cat family?"

Alice "A cat family…"

A completely absurd idea—but the phrase cat family had a certain charm.

A cat dad. A cat mom. A cat child…

I’m human, and Boris isn’t a normal cat—he’s pink and all. But the kitten is a proper, ordinary cat.

There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense, but somehow, it still feels heartwarming.

Alice (A family, huh...)

(…That sounds nice.)

It felt like home.

A place of rest. Somewhere that always exists. Unbreakable bonds.

None of us had anything like that.

Not Boris, not me, not the small cat. We’re just strays brought together.

But together, it almost feels like a family.

Alice "Yeah... I suppose it’s like we adopted him."

Watching the two cats, I felt at peace.

Adorable creatures. Someone I love.

It was like the life I had once imagined. A house, someone I love smiling beside me, a life shared with cats.

I thought it would last forever. And now, even if the form is different, it’s right in front of me.

Cat "Nii, nii."

Boris "You’ve gotta toughen up, you hear me? Otherwise you’ll die…"

Cat "Nii, nii, ni~i."

Boris "You listening?"

Cat "Nii, nii, ni~i."

Boris "Take this seriously, will you?"

Cat "Nii, nii, ni~i."

Too distracted by food, the cat didn’t hear a word of Boris’s lecture.

Boris "You gotta eat a lot, get big, and get strong, got it? You need to learn how to fight for your food. How to catch mice and stuff…"

Boris really did sound like a proper dad.

Alice (So I’m the mom, huh…)

Alice "………"

Alice "…Maybe we should get even more cats. More adopted kids. We could become one big family."

Pierce "………"

Pierce "…Maybe I should run away from the forest too. I can’t take this. I just can’t handle a forest full of cats…"

Alice "…Oh, come on. There are only two right now. Just two… for now."

This is my home. And for now, we have two cats.

Alice "If we're going to be a cat family, then we need more members."

Boris "...Cat family? You want to add more?"

Boris "But I don’t want to share you with anyone else."

Cats "Nii, nii."

Boris "See, even this one says no. Cats are super possessive, you know? Right?"

Cats "Ni~i."

Boris "If we had kittens, then maybe adding more to the family would be nice... Oh, but wait. If we’re already a family, then it’s already three of us, right? Not two."

Alice "Huh? I don’t have any kids... I mean, probably not."

Boris "That’s not what I meant... I mean if we’re talking about a cat family, then you’re a cat too. So you count as one, right? That makes three in total."

Alice "…I’m a cat too?"

Boris "Yeah. In a cat family, that makes us a three-cat household."

Cats "Nii, nii.”

The little cat chimed in as if to agree.

Alice "…A family, huh."

Counted among them, that made me the third cat.

It was strange to be considered a cat… but if it meant being part of a family, it didn’t sound so bad.

Alice "…Alright, then I’m the third cat."

Pierce "...I’m running away from home."

The mouse didn’t get counted.

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Home Event - Pierce 4

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Bar

We went into town and ended up at the same café Pierce and I visited before.

Alice (I didn’t think I’d come back here again… but, well, whatever now.)

As usual, he ordered coffee. But once it was brought to the table, he just sat there smiling at the cup without taking a sip.

Alice “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to drink it?”

Pierce “Yeah… I was just watching it, thinking how happy I am. Thanks to you, I can drink coffee even without sweets now.”

Alice “Ah…”

I remembered our last visit to this café.

Pierce had said, “I can’t drink bitter coffee, so I gnaw on sugar cubes,” and I’d told him that sugar cubes were meant to be put in the coffee.

Back then, he hadn’t even known that much—and when he tasted sweetened coffee, he seemed really moved by it.

Pierce “I didn’t know there was a way to make coffee sweet. It’s all thanks to you—I discovered something amazing.”

Pierce “You’re so smart, Alice. You know everything. You’re really clever.”

Pierce “Outsiders can do anything, huh? That’s so impressive…”

Alice “……”

Being praised this much just makes me want to take it the wrong way—at least, that’s my usual cynical self.

But this wasn’t sarcasm. Pierce meant every word.

…Still, being looked at with such sincere admiration is awkward.

He’s usually half-asleep, yet now his gaze is so intense—earnest, even. This mouse is staring at me like I’m something incredible.

Like I’m something completely different from him. Something amazing.

Alice “…Look, anyone knows that you can put sugar cubes in coffee. It just makes it less bitter.”

(Though there are people who drink it black…)

(…But that wouldn’t suit him, now would it?)

Alice “I’m not especially smart or impressive or anything like that.”

Alice “…Seriously, didn’t you notice? If you’ve ever attended one of Blood’s tea parties, you must’ve seen someone put sugar in tea, right?”

His boss prefers his tea straight, but sometimes adds sugar depending on the kind or his mood.

Pierce “Yeah, I’ve seen that… But still, I never thought of putting sugar in coffee too… I mean, it didn’t occur to me that it would be okay in both.”

Alice “Of course it is. How could you not realize that?”

Pierce “I wouldn’t realize it. I’m a mouse…”

Pierce “…I’m not smart. I’m not clever.”

Pierce “So… unless someone tells me, I’ll never figure it out on my own. It’s impossible…”

Seeing Pierce so downcast, I couldn’t bring myself to tease him.

Normally, anyone would realize that if something’s too bitter, adding sugar helps—even without being told.

Alice “…Someone should’ve just told you.”

Pierce “No one tells anything to a mouse.”

Pierce “You’re probably the only one who ever teaches me things, Alice. A kind girl who’s nice to a mouse. You treat me gently…”

Pierce “…You say you’re not especially smart or impressive, but you are especially kind and sweet.”

Pierce “You don’t need to be clever to be kind. You don’t have to be important to be nice. I… I like that about you. I like that you’re gentle and kind.”

Pierce had completely taken a liking to me.

Alice “…Don’t you have any friends, Pierce?”

Pierce “Nope. Everyone just bullies me—nobody really wants to be close. It’s all bullies. I’m always being picked on.”

Alice “…I see.”

He is easy to tease. His reactions are obvious and amusing.

(Still, I don’t think anyone actually bullies him seriously…)

Alice “…It’s kind of surprising that someone like you doesn’t have any friends.”

Pierce “? Really? Why?”

Pierce “I don’t think it’s that strange for a mouse to only have other mice as friends, you know? Since I’m a mouse, I can’t be popular.”

Alice “You don’t have to be popular to have friends. You actually seem like someone who would make friends easily.”

Pierce “Make friends easily…”

Pierce “Eh—ehhh!? N-no way! I can’t…!”

Pierce “B-but… is that how I look? Like someone who’d make friends easily?”

Pierce fidgeted shyly, clearly embarrassed.

Alice (What a silly kid…)

Alice (…So silly—and such a good kid.)

Calling him “silly” might not sound like praise, but he’s the kind of genuinely good person that makes cynicism feel pointless.

Alice “Yeah, I think you would.”

It’s strange that someone like him doesn’t have friends. In this world, it’s someone like me who seems to have a lot of friends.

Alice (How odd…)

Alice “You’re a good kid…”

Pierce “…I’m a good kid…? R-really? Hehe…”

The way he blushed and smiled—he really was a good kid.

Alice “Yeah, a good kid.”

Pierce “…Alice, you’re so kind. I love you.”

Alice “Eh… I-I mean, I’m not really…”

It didn’t feel like a conversation between two people of the same age.

At my age, people are usually more aware of the opposite sex—for better or worse.

Alice (People around our age usually have more boundaries…)

But there were no boundaries with Pierce.

Alice “……”

Alice (…He’s a strange one.)

I’m not that nice of a person, so I usually don’t get along with people who are too good.

Alice (…Or maybe I’m the one who’s not such a good person?)

Still, he really did seem like a good kid.

Pierce “Alice, Alice, I’ll put sugar in for you. It’ll be sweet and delicious.”

Pierce “If you do this, it won’t be bitter. I was taught that.”

Pierce leaned over with the sugar pot in hand.

Alice “…Huh? Ah, uh…”

Alice “…Wait, I’m the one who taught you that…”

Alice “……”

Alice “…!?”

Alice “W-wait a second!? What are you putting in there!? What!?”

Into the teacup I had taken a few sips from and set back on its saucer, he was dropping—plop, plop—white lumps.

Pierce “What, you ask… sugar.”

Pierce “If you put it in, it gets sweet. The more you add, the better it tastes.”

Alice “There’s no way that makes it better!!”

Pierce “Huh…? But without it, it’s bitter. Bitter and… not tasty, you know?”

Alice “I’m drinking tea, so it’s not even that bitter to begin with! And I can drink it straight…”

Alice “I already added the right amount of sugar…”

Even if I hadn’t added any beforehand, the amount he dumped in would’ve made it overwhelmingly sweet. And I had added some. This wasn’t a matter of preference anymore—it was a disaster.

Alice (A mountain of sugar overflowing from the cup…)

Alice (Even the most die-hard sweet tooth would run screaming from this…)

He had put in so much that the sugar wouldn’t even dissolve. The lower layers were melting into a syrupy goo, but the upper cubes remained intact.

Pierce “Oh, you already added some?”

Pierce “But it wasn’t enough. It still tasted bitter. That’s why I added more.”

Pierce “Last time, I only put in one cube. But then I discovered—if you add lots, it tastes even better!”

Pierce “It gets sweeter. The taste goes from bitter to sweet!”

He started adding sugar to his own coffee too.

Alice “……”

Alice (That’s… way past the point of dissolving…)

Alice (Didn’t we do something like this in science class once? Like how the solubility changes with temperature…)

My mind started drifting somewhere else.

I felt faint. It’s the kind of scenario that might seem funny in a comedy skit, but when it’s right in front of you, it’s pure horror.

Alice (S-sooo sweet…)

It was sludgy. At this point, it was more like a sugar risotto than a beverage.

Pierce “It’s the perfect way to enjoy coffee. You don’t get sleepy, it’s not bitter—it’s the best.”

Without hesitation, Pierce took a sip of the syrupy mess.

It made a crunching sound. Absolutely not the sound coffee is supposed to make.

Alice “……”

Alice “…Isn’t that a bit too much sugar?”

Pierce “Nope. It gives it a nice texture—adds character.”

He was starting to sound like a phony food critic.

Pierce “Lately, I’ve stopped eating too many sweets or gnawing on sugar cubes. It’s thanks to you, Alice. You’ve helped me become a better person.”

Alice “…I’m not sure I’ve actually helped that much.”

Alice (At this rate, even without eating sweets, the sugar overload alone is going to give him some disease…)

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 13

Event List

Clover Tower - Assembly Hall

Boris “Another meeting, huh…? I’m so sick of this…”

Once again, the season of meetings had arrived. We were already changed and gathered in the assembly room.

Alice “Sick of it? …That’s so like a cat.”

Boris “What’s that supposed to mean…”

Alice “Cats get bored easily.”

Boris “There you go again… treating me like a cat.”

Alice “You are a cat.”

Boris “Well, yeah, but still…”

Boris “I’m only here because it’s the rules, you know? These pointless meetings… they mean nothing.”

Boris “Alice, don’t you get tired of them?”

Alice “More than tired, I’ve just gotten used to it.”

Pierce “Alice, you’re amazing—being able to adapt to anything so quickly. That’s a good skill to have!”

Alice “Well, I got used to this world, didn’t I?”

I’d even grown used to the fact that the amusement park had turned into a forest. Staying in a different place during the meeting period didn’t bother me at all.

…Though, truthfully, the only ones staying here were Pierce and Boris.

Boris “So you’ve gotten used to it…”

Boris “But I’m tired of it. Same place, same pointless discussions. These meetings are just boring.”

Alice “Hm…”

I was just tagging along. I wouldn’t be staying in the meeting hall for long.

Boris and the others didn’t have that luxury. They could sneak out sometimes, but there were many situations where they had to be present. No wonder they were sick of it.

Alice “…Sounds tough. Did something happen?”

Boris “Yeah… it’s tough. …Because I can’t shoot my gun freely while I’m here.”

Alice “……”

Alice (thinking) (Of course… here we go again.)

Boris was a gun enthusiast. No—maniac was more accurate.

Alice “…It’s not like you have to shoot guns.”

Boris “No, it’s not okay. Without guns, like thirty percent of a cat’s life stops being fun.”

Alice “Thirty percent…?”

How exactly was he calculating that?

Pierce “It’s like a mouse’s life without cheese. Everything becomes flavorless.”

Alice “Can’t you just… endure thirty percent?”

Boris “What?! No way! I can’t endure it!”

Boris “Sure, it makes sense for the authorities, but even someone like me is restricted under these agreements. I can’t take it…”

Alice “Try.”

Pierce “I can’t either! A life without cheese is unbearable!”

Pierce “I mean, I’m a mouse, so technically it’s not life, but still!”

Alice “I wasn’t telling you to endure cheese, you know…”

Boris “Ugh, this is such a pain… I just want these meetings to end already. …Alice, what about you?”

Alice “…Huh? Me?”

Alice “I guess… like I said earlier, I’ve gotten used to it by now, so I’m fine.”

Alice (It’s not like I’m upset about guns being restricted… If anything, I actually welcome it.)

Pierce “I see… But Alice, soon we won’t even need to hold these meetings anymore. Then you won’t have to come to places like this at all.”

Alice “Huh, really? Just when I was starting to get used to it…”

Clover Town had become a place of daily life for me—it was finally starting to feel familiar.

And despite everything, these meetings were safe. Even if normally hostile parties crossed paths, no shootouts broke out during this period.

Pierce “But still, there’s no cheese here, and it’s so boring.”

Boris “Exactly. All I can do is chase the mouse around.”

Pierce “P-pi!?”

Alice “…There’s no cheese in the forest either, and you chase Pierce around there too, don’t you?”

Boris “Still, I want to get back to the forest soon. These meetings are pointless for people like us. I'd rather be in the forest than stuck in these complicated talks.”

Pierce “Alice, you’d rather be in the forest too, right? I want to go back…”

(…But I don’t live in the forest. I live at the inn here in town.)

Still, being included as part of the group made me a little happy.

Later

Pierce “Ah, Alice! You finished work? Good job!”

As I entered the salon, Pierce called out to me.

I’d just returned to the tower after finishing up my duties. The only familiar face in the salon was Pierce.

Alice “The meeting doesn’t start for another two time slots… Not many people here yet.”

Pierce “Yeah, that’s true. A lot of them show up last minute. I got here way too early and I’ve just been sitting here bored.”

Pierce “Hey, Alice, want to go out for tea? Sitting around here won’t make the time pass any faster.”

He invited me, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

By the way, while Pierce occasionally arrives early like this, Boris is solidly part of the “last-minute arrival” group—at least if I’m not around.

Alice “…Sure. As long as we don’t go too far from the tower, let’s kill some time.”

(Boris probably won’t be showing up for a while anyway.)

Pierce and I had gone to a café together before. There was no reason to overthink it.

Pierce “Yay, let’s go! Let’s go have tea!”

Alice “…It’s just tea, you know? Calm down…”

With an overly excited Pierce in tow, I stepped out of the salon.

Go to Home Event – Pierce 4 Scene Change – Clover Town – Bar

Pierce “Why are tea drinkers always so intense? They’re way too intense…”

Pierce “Or maybe it’s just the boss who’s like that. Is he the only one that extreme?”

Alice “It’s definitely just Blood. Vivaldi’s a huge tea fan too, but she’s not nearly as obsessed.”

Alice “I mean, really—we don’t need two tea fanatics like Blood.”

We continued our idle chatter while killing time at the café.

Naturally, I’d asked to have my tea replaced. I’m not someone with bizarre tastes who enjoys gritty, sand-textured tea.

We were still at the café, time unchanged (at least by my sense of it). Just as I was about to suggest moving to a different location…

The café door opened. Casually glancing at the entrance, I saw a scowling Boris walk in.

Alice “Boris.”

Our eyes met the moment I saw him. He had clearly come in looking for us.

Pierce “Ny-nyan cat!? Awawa, it’s the kitty—what do I do!?”

Alice “Calm down, Pierce. There’s nothing to do. What do you think he’s going to do, really?”

Pierce “W-what if he chases me!? I have to run…!”

(…Oh. I see now.)

As usual, Pierce was simply worried Boris was going to eat him. So it wasn’t the kind of situation I had initially assumed.

As for me—I was thinking about something else entirely, since I was currently alone with a man who isn’t my boyfriend.

Alice (Boris is definitely sulking…)

He clearly didn’t like the idea of me and Pierce spending time together alone.

But there was nothing to feel guilty about. We were just killing time before the meeting—two friends, that’s all.

Boris “I’ve been looking for you, Alice. So this is where you were… with the mouse, no less.”

As expected, Boris walked over with an annoyed tone. I made sure to answer as normally as possible—acting guilty would only make things seem more suspicious.

Alice “Pierce and I both got to the tower way too early and had time to kill. So we came here to wait.”

Boris “Time to kill, huh…”

He shot Pierce a sharp glare.

Pierce “Pi!? A-are you mad? Boris, why are you mad!?”

Pierce looked terrified. It seemed he had no idea why Boris would be upset.

Boris “Of course I’m mad… Why the hell are you spending time with her? You’re a mouse—shouldn’t you be off nibbling cheese by yourself or something?”

Pierce “W-why can’t I spend time with her!? I do nibble cheese, but I drink coffee too! I drink it at home and it’s normal to drink it at a café too!”

Boris “That’s not the point… Ugh, you’re such a hopeless idiot.”

Boris let out a sigh, completely exasperated. Seeing him like that, I…

1. Don’t be mad at Pierce 2. Pierce is a good boy

1. Don’t be mad at Pierce

Alice “Boris, don’t be mad at Pierce.”

I defended Pierce. It was obvious that Boris’s anger was nothing more than jealousy.

I knew how deeply he cared for me—and how that made him overly possessive at times. Still, it wasn’t fair to take that out on Pierce, who didn’t even understand what was going on.

Boris “There you go, defending him again? That’s harsh, Alice… I really thought you’d be waiting for me in the tower’s salon.”

2. Pierce is a good boy

Alice “Pierce is a good boy.”

I vouched for him.

Sure, his way of thinking is a little… out there, but he’s not a bad person. When he invited me out for tea, there wasn’t a shred of ulterior motive.

Alice (He’s like a child—he doesn’t even think in that way.)

There was no reason to be jealous.

Boris “You’re seriously calling him a good boy!? Are you kidding me right now…!?”

Boris was stunned, then muttered with a dejected look on his face:

Boris “A good boy, she says… Alice, something’s seriously wrong with you. I’m just getting the short end of the stick here… You weren’t in the salon like I thought, and now this…”

Choices converge

Alice “Like I said, I already explained why I left. It would’ve been too long to wait in the salon.”

Alice “…Besides, if you didn’t want to be left out, you could’ve come earlier for once.”

Boris almost never shows up before the meeting starts. That’s partly why I decided to go somewhere else.

Boris “…Tch. Yeah, I guess that’s true… But I had stuff to do too, okay? I’m busy.”

Alice “? …Busy?”

Pierce “No way~! If by ‘busy’ you mean doing dangerous stuff, then sure, I believe that.”

Pierce “You’re always off doing reckless things with the twins, right? I bet that’s what it is! Definitely!”

Pierce teased him, and immediately froze when Boris shot him a deadly glare.

Alice (If you're that scared, maybe keep your mouth shut...)

(…Well, I’m starting to understand that not keeping quiet is just who Pierce is.)

Boris “Shut up, Pierce. Seriously… you’re so annoying…”

Boris “…Anyway, Alice, I was looking for you because I wanted to ask you something. When it turns to night again… are you free?”

Alice “Huh? Next night?”

Boris “Yeah, next night. Are you free? You don’t have work or anything?”

I had no idea why he was suddenly asking me that, but I tried to recall my schedule. Next night—I had that time off.

Alice “I’m free. It’s my break… Well, unless a meeting overlaps, I suppose.”

Since we never know exactly when it’ll be night, it’s a bit vague. But I prefer sleeping at night, so I tend to reserve those hours as my downtime anyway.

…Also, because Boris is nocturnal. No matter how many time slots pass, I’d still have that night off.

Boris “Great. Then make sure you absolutely don’t make any other plans. Keep it open, okay?”

His voice sounded happy, like all that earlier irritation had evaporated.

Alice “Sure, I don’t mind. But… is something happening at night?”

Boris “That’s a secret. Just don’t forget, alright? It’s next night.”

Alice “I won’t forget.”

I doubt I’d go so long without seeing the night that I’d actually forget.

Boris “Alright, in that case, let’s get out of here already. Watching you and Pierce sipping tea face-to-face is seriously irritating.”

Pierce “That’s so mean! We were having such a nice time together! Why are you mad? Boris, you big bully!”

Boris grabbed my arm, trying to pull me to my feet. Pierce, flustered but determined, protested.

Alice “…Pierce, we can redo this another time. We’ve been here long enough anyway. Let’s go for now.”

I reassured him, and though disappointed, Pierce stood up.

Pierce “O-okay… if you say so. But really—can we try again next time?”

Alice “Of course. Next time, the three of us can go together.”

Boris and Pierce blinked and looked at each other but didn’t object.

Scene Change – Forest – Trees

Night fell. Just as he promised, Boris came to get me and led me outside.

I followed his lead, walking through an unfamiliar area.

Boris “This way, this way.”

Alice “W-wait…!”

Boris “Huh? What’s wrong? You’re wobbling…”

Alice “Either slow down or walk a little farther from me!”

With his arm around my shoulders, pushing me along at that pace, I felt like I was going to trip.

Boris “If I walk farther away, you might fall. The ground here’s all uneven—it’s easy to trip.”

Boris “I can see fine in the dark, but you…”

Alice “If you don’t back off, I’m the one who’s going to trip!”

The ground was really uncertain. Boris tried to guide me, but he was so close that I kept bumping into him.

Not being able to see only made me more uneasy.

And he was fast—way faster than usual, making it downright hazardous.

Alice “Seriously, either keep some distance or slow down…”

Boris “We’re almost there…”

He didn’t listen to a word I said.

Alice “Would you listen already? I’m telling you, this is dangerous…!”

He kept forging ahead through the forest.

It was pitch black. The dark woods looked like they were opening up to swallow me whole.

If I were alone, I wouldn’t even think of going in. I wasn’t scared with Boris here, but it was still eerie.

Alice “Hey, Boris… Where are we going?”

He hadn’t even told me our destination.

Boris “Just a bit more. Almost there… We’re really close.”

Alice “I didn’t ask how far—it’s where we’re going…”

Alice “…?”

In the pitch-dark forest, a tiny light appeared.

Faintly glowing—just a small, lonely light. I squinted, wondering if someone was there, but saw no one.

As we moved forward, the lights began to multiply, dotting the path ahead.

Alice “…?”

Alice “Boris…? What is that?”

It didn’t look like a ghost or anything frighteningly supernatural. Just a gentle, small light.

I couldn’t tell what the source was—it was a faint glow.

Boris “What do you think it is?”

Alice “…??? Don’t be mean—just tell me.”

Boris “It’s something you heard about from someone, remember? Judging by your reaction, you never went with anyone else to see it. That’s a relief…”

With a pleased tone, Boris moved ahead.

And sped up even more. My footing grew even less steady.

Alice “W–wait…!”

Just because it was slightly brighter didn’t mean the ground was any less treacherous. I stumbled, nearly falling.

Alice “…Ah…”

More of those little glowing lights began to appear.

Alice “…?”

Alice “W–wow…”

It was more than just a scattering of light. It lit up the forest.

The once-dark woods now glowed softly and dreamily, almost like a fairytale.

With this many lights, I could finally tell what they were.

Alice “Mushrooms…”

Boris “Amazing, right? These are the glowing mushrooms I was telling you about…”

Alice “These… oh, right, a guest at the inn mentioned them before.”

They’d said, “There are mushrooms that glow, you know.” I’d been curious, but never got the chance to see them.

Boris “I thought you might want to see them. …Ah, but this isn’t the same place that person told you about.”

Alice “Huh? It’s not?”

Boris “The one they were talking about is closer to town. No way anyone could find this spot way out here in the forest.”

Boris “Glowing mushrooms only shine in the dark… It’s hard for townsfolk to make it all the way out here.”

Boris “The spot near town’s easier to get to, sure, but it’s crowded. And there aren’t nearly this many mushrooms.”

Alice “I see… So this is a place not many people know about, then.”

Boris “Probably only me. I found it by chance.”

Alice “!”

Alice “That’s incredible! I can’t believe you knew about this!”

People are silly creatures—if a place is unknown to others, it suddenly feels more special. Things like “secret hideouts” and “hidden places” have a powerful appeal. I’m no exception.

Boris “I searched for it.”

Alice “?”

Boris “I searched… and I found it. The one near town is famous, but I didn’t know anywhere else. So I wandered around, hoping I’d get lucky.”

Alice “……”

Alice “…You searched for it.”

Alice (Could it be…)

I remembered earlier—when Boris had shown up while I was at the café with Pierce.

Boris “…I had a lot to do, I was busy.”

Alice “Boris… When you said you were busy with a lot of things…”

(And maybe the reason he usually only came back to the tower at the last minute…)

Boris “…Yeah. This was one of the reasons. Not the only one, but… yeah.”

Even without me saying the rest, Boris understood what I was asking. He answered, a little awkwardly.

Maybe it embarrassed him, having me realize just how much effort he had gone to.

Alice (Even if that’s true… there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.)

(…He’s been searching all this time.)

I remembered—it was after the first assembly when that guest told me about the glowing mushrooms. Since then, Boris had been looking for a good place… all this time…

Alice “Why…? The famous spot near town would’ve been fine.”

To be honest, I had hoped he might invite me on a date.

He had heard the conversation between me and that guest. He must’ve known I wanted to go.

So I thought, if he didn’t want me going with someone else, then maybe he would take me.

But he never invited me.

And I couldn’t exactly ask him myself—not when there was a chance someone might get shot over a misunderstanding. If I mentioned the place I’d heard about from someone else, Boris might jump to conclusions and end up hurting them again.

Because he hadn’t asked me, I’d honestly felt a little frustrated about it.

Boris “It’s because… I didn’t want to lose to the guy who talked to you. I wanted to take you somewhere better than where he would’ve taken you.”

Alice “Boris…”

Alice “…I got irritated over nothing. I kept thinking, ‘Why won’t he just take me already?’”

I was upset that he didn’t invite me out. But knowing now that he had been looking for a place all along—suddenly I felt bad for ever being frustrated.

He’s fickle, yes, but he loves me. And even when I didn’t see it, he’d been thinking about me.

Boris “Yeah… I knew. I’m sorry I didn’t take you sooner…”

Alice “I didn’t know you were searching for a place…”

There was no reason for him to apologize. And maybe I didn’t need to apologize either. But the truth is—I hadn’t considered his side nearly as much.

Back at the café, I even told him, “If you don’t want to be left out, come back earlier.”

I didn’t know. But even so, that was a cruel thing to say. No wonder he looked so annoyed.

Alice “I…”

Boris “It’s fine. Think of it as a present. Did you like it?”

Just as I was about to fall into guilt, Boris gently lifted me up again.

Alice “Of course I did. It’s beautiful.”

Even more beautiful than I had imagined from the stories. That such a breathtaking place could be hidden so deep in the forest—it was amazing.

I was mesmerized. It was beautiful… and special…

Alice “…A surprise gift like this… was it for some special occasion?”

It was so meaningful, it actually worried me. Maybe I’d forgotten something important.

What if Boris remembered something I had forgotten? That would be terrible—as a girlfriend, that’s the worst-case scenario.

Girls are supposed to be the ones who remember anniversaries and special days.

Boris “There’s no such thing as anniversaries in this world, Alice. Every moment can be special… and at the same time, none of them have to be.”

Boris “So basically, they can all be something… or nothing. But either way, none of them are truly special.”

Alice “There you go again, with your weird rules…”

Still, he had a point. Time in this world is broken. Nonsensical. Chaotic. No consistency at all.

Alice (So we can’t really have anniversaries here.)

Even the concept of a "day" is vague.

Alice “So this wasn’t even for a special occasion?”

Boris “You don’t need a special occasion to give your girlfriend a present, right?”

Alice “Well, maybe not… but I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

Boris “That’s fine. It’s enough that you were surprised and happy.”

Alice “……”

It wasn’t a special day. Just a complete surprise.

And even if I wasn’t supposed to have something for him, I still felt bad.

In such a special place… I couldn’t do anything special in return.

Alice “I want to do something for you.”

Boris “Hmm… well, that would definitely make me happy. Then… how about a kiss to mark the occasion?”

Alice “…That’s hardly something worth commemorating. It’s not really special.”

Boris “Sure it is. It’s special, and worth remembering. Our first kiss after we started dating… do you remember it?”

As if I could forget. That was a kiss to remember.

I joked about it at the time, but later—I was glad we shared that kiss.

Alice “…I remember. That kiss was special.”

Everything changed with that kiss.

Boris “Yeah, same here. I still remember that kiss. No matter how many kisses we share, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one.”

He kissed me—softly, gently.

A different kiss than that time. But with Boris, no two kisses are ever the same.

Each one is special. But that one… that one was truly unforgettable.

More than I realized in that moment, it left a mark.

Boris “The first kiss I shared with you—after we became a couple.”

In the middle of this dark forest, in a place only he knew about. The first time he brought me here. The green of the woods bathed in a soft, golden light.

A fairytale-like space, where a pink cat kisses me. It’s all so surreal.

That pink cat is my boyfriend, and I live in this strange world now. In this fairytale land.

The very sight around me feels like the embodiment of all this strangeness and wonder.

Boris “Our first kiss… it really was special. I’ll never forget it.”

Alice “Yes… me neither.”

A dreamlike fairytale, one that might vanish any moment. But I want it to stay just like this—always mysterious, always magical.

Alice (Don’t change. Not any more than this.)

Each time our lips meet, another special kiss is added to the story.

Alice “I won’t forget this kiss either.”

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 12

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Inn

Man “There’s all kinds of rare things in the forest, but nothing’s as beautiful as the glowing mushrooms.”

Alice “They’re really that pretty?”

Man “Oh yeah. I think they’re worth seeing at least once.”

He’s a regular customer—one who still talks to me the same way he did before, even after Boris shot him.

That unchanged attitude… I appreciate it.

But at the same time, I find it terrifying. If this had happened in my original world, he wouldn’t have forgiven it.

At that time, Boris—who was just a friend—shot him. He was injured.

And yet, the next time they met, he acted completely normal. No hint of hiding bitterness or pretending.

Nothing had changed. At first, I felt relieved by that… but then I was disturbed.

Violence is tolerated here. It’s just part of everyday life.

He’s just a role-less citizen—being shot isn’t even enough to make a fuss here. In this world, even one-sided violence is simply… accepted.

It’s absurd.

Alice (But… I’m a part of this world now.)

A world unlike the one I came from. But I chose to stay. And by staying, I’ve become part of this world.

I had another dream about my sister the other day. I still remember her.

But I don’t regret choosing this world over hers. Now that I’ve stayed, I have to accept what comes with that.

Part of me is thankful that my friendship with this good man wasn’t destroyed. Another part is disturbed by how nothing was made of it—and grateful it wasn’t.

I’m fully entrenched in this world’s madness.

Boris “So, Alice... this guy’s bothering you again? Persistent, isn’t he?”

Man “!”

Alice “!”

Here comes my boyfriend—the unhinged cat who thinks nothing of pointing a gun at people.

Alice “Boris…”

Alice “What are you doing here? You didn’t say you were coming.”

Alice “We agreed on the next time zone, didn’t we?”

Boris “I wanted to see you. So I came. …What, didn’t want to be interrupted? What were you doing with this guy?”

Man “I was just talking…”

Boris “I wasn’t asking you.”

Bang!

Boris fires his gun with a loud crack.

This time, he misses—likely because I scolded him pretty harshly the last time. He took it to heart… somewhat.

That’s about the extent of his “remorse.”

Alice “Stop it, Boris! We were just talking!”

Boris “Yeah? Well, he’s too clingy. Always hanging around you…”

Alice “He’s just a customer. He’s not clinging. He just came to eat.”

Boris “Yeah, using food as an excuse to cozy up to you. Pathetic.”

Alice “That’s not it. He’s a good person—”

Boris “Getting you on his side… No way. He’s no ‘good person’—not to me. To me, he’s the enemy.”

Boris “You’re my girlfriend. And yet here you are, with some guy…”

Alice “We were just talking!”

Boris “Then don’t talk to him!”

Alice “Don’t say stuff like that—it makes you sound like an insecure boyfriend!”

Boris “I am an insecure boyfriend!”

Man “…………”

Alice “...Ah.”

Suddenly, it hits me.

We’re being ridiculous.

This is basically a lovers’ spat in public. Like clinging to your partner in the middle of a crowded street—making things awkward for everyone.

Alice (Ugh… We just put on a full-blown jealous scene for an audience…)

It wasn’t like a lovers’ spat—it was one. And we had the misfortune of putting on the whole embarrassing show in front of someone.

Man “...Fighting isn't good, you know.”

Alice “…………”

In a world so full of violence, to hear something that normal—it hits strangely.

Man “If you’re lovers, you should try to get along.”

Boris “Getting lectured by a faceless guy…”

Alice “...He is a good person.”

I swatted Boris’s hand away as he started to raise his gun again.

Boris “Don’t defend the faceless guy! You do like him, don’t you?!”

Alice “What are you saying?! The one I love is you, not—”

Alice “...ah.”

Boris “Really!?”

Alice “Really…”

Boris “Alice…”

Alice “…………”

Alice “...Ah.”

It hits me again. We really shouldn’t be doing this. Not here—not in front of a random bystander.

Man “I guess that ‘try to get along’ line was unnecessary, huh?”

He smiled warmly—kindly.

Man “You two are clearly close. You make a good couple.”

Alice “…………”

Boris “If you get it now, then stop interrupting and disappear already.”

Man “Ah—sorry for being so clueless. Well then, see you, Alice.”

He said it breezily and walked away. It reminded me of that knight.

Alice (Ugh… I really can’t handle the overly cheerful types…)

Scene Change – Forest – Mushrooms and Doors

Because Boris had arrived a time slot earlier than planned, he waited until I finished work. Now that night had fallen and my shift was over, we were back in the forest, taking a walk.

…Though walking by the creek had left me a little chilled.

So now we’re resting.

Just like that time we fell asleep together—we sat at the base of a tree, wrapped in a blanket Boris brought. His body heat and the shared cover warmed my cold body. Cozy, safe, and warm.

Alice “...Can I get a promise?”

Boris “Yeah, yeah. I get it. I promise. No pulling a gun at your job, right?”

Alice “It’s not just that. You said those things too. I asked you to stop saying that kind of stuff.”

A lover’s quarrel in front of coworkers and customers. I’m sure I’ll be teased when I go back to work.

That kind of scene—we have to avoid it from now on. I had Boris promise not to do it again.

Boris “I don’t really get the problem, though… I mean, we’re dating. What’s wrong with saying so?”

Alice “What’s wrong is—it’s embarrassing, okay?”

Boris “Embarrassing? You mean being my girlfriend is embarrassing?”

His hurt tone made me panic.

Alice “No, no! That’s not it at all! It’s just… showing that kind of thing in front of other people… it’s kind of… flustering, you know?”

Boris “You don’t have to be flustered, though. …But, if that’s the reason, I guess I can respect that. I’ll promise.”

Boris “Because I love your flustered face. I don’t want other guys seeing how cute you get when you’re embarrassed.”

He said it so naturally and kissed my cheek. A quiet smooch echoed in the still forest air.

Alice (His reason for promising is a little questionable… but oh well. If he keeps the promise, I’ll take it.)

Alice "Then promise me properly."

Boris "Yeah, yeah, I got it. I won’t say we’re dating or that I love you in front of other people. I won’t shoot my gun either. I promise. …I’ll try to be careful."

Alice (...Huh? Try to???)

That part caught my attention, but I wasn’t given the chance to ask. A hand reached out, gently turning my face—and then his lips sealed mine.

Alice "Mmph…"

Boris "Alice."

He whispered my name sweetly as he gave me soft, pecking kisses, one after another. They gradually deepened—turning into a kiss that sought connection, reaching inside, long and consuming.

Alice "Mmm… Hah…"

Boris "Nn… Hah…"

Alice "…Ah…"

Boris "…Haa…"

Again and again, changing angles each time.

I was breathless. I forgot where we even were, caught up entirely in the moment.

Boris "…"

Alice "……Nn…"

Alice "……Haa…"

When I was finally released, a long sigh escaped my lips.

I tried to turn my gaze away in embarrassment—but I couldn’t. Boris cupped my cheek and gently held my face in place.

Boris "……"

Boris "I really like how you look at night. You sparkle... you look so beautiful."

Alice "...Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden?"

Boris "Ah, don’t get me wrong. I love how you look in the afternoon and evening too, of course."

That wasn’t the point. He just threw it out there without any lead-in, so it caught me completely off guard. But Boris didn’t seem to notice that.

Boris "You're always cute, and I love you so much… I really just want to stay close and keep looking at you like this forever."

Alice "…Forever’s a bit much. I’d get tired."

Boris "Ugh… There you go again with your cold responses… You never say the kind of things that would actually make me happy."

Alice "That's just the kind of person I am."

Boris "Don't just brush it off as ‘your personality’... Haa, well, whatever. You're right, this position is kind of tough."

He said that and removed the hand he'd placed on my cheek.

Boris "I could stay like this forever and not get tired… but I might get sleepy."

Facing forward, Boris let out a yawn. “Fuaaah…”

Alice "You're not going to get sleepy—you already are, aren’t you?"

Boris "Just a little, maybe. I wonder why… Nights are usually when I’m most awake, but when I’m with you, my rhythm gets all messed up."

Boris "When I’m with you, I feel really calm. So calm that I start dozing off."

Boris "I might not even notice if someone does something to me while I’m half-asleep…"

1. “Really?”

2. “I feel calm too.”

3. (Guilty gulp)

1. “Really?”

Alice "Really?"

Boris "Yeah, really. But that might actually be a problem. You're a girl—I'm supposed to be protecting you."

Boris "But being near you feels too good… I only ever let my guard down like this when I’m with you."

Alice "…Huh."

(So when he's near me, he lets his guard down that much.)

For a cat to be defenseless—it means he really likes and trusts someone. To know that I’m the only one he relaxes around makes me feel… a little proud.

2. “I feel calm too.”

Alice "Yeah… I feel calm too."

Next to Boris, it’s warm and peaceful. Even without the blanket like we have now, I’d still feel safe with him.

When I said that, Boris beamed happily.

Boris "Haha, yeah, we do tend to doze off together a lot, don’t we?"

Boris "You can relax and let your guard down as much as you want, okay? I’ll protect you."

Alice "Mm-hm. I’m counting on you."

3. (Guilty gulp)

(Gulp.)

His “might not notice if someone does something” line struck a little too close to home. I didn't say anything out loud, but of course, sharp-eared Boris noticed right away.

Boris "…Why’d you react to that, huh?"

Alice "Eh? N-no, I mean…"

He leaned in close—really close. His face was right in front of mine.

(…I-I can’t say it.)

Boris "C’mon, be honest, Alice. You’re a good girl, right? What did you do to me while I was sleeping?"

Alice "N-nothing! I didn’t do anything!"

(When he's asleep, I touch his tail sometimes… because that’s the only time he doesn’t get mad. …But I can't say that.)

Boris "Something's fishy… But hey, nothing weird happened when I woke up, so I guess it's fine."

(Phew… thank goodness…)

Choices Converge

Alice "………"

Alice "…I’m getting sleepy too."

It’s nighttime. We’re outside, sure—but wrapped in a warm blanket.

It’d be stranger not to get drowsy.

Alice "It’s nighttime… Maybe we should sleep."

Boris "You always want to sleep at night, huh? Why’s that? Is there some reason?"

Boris "I mean, why are you so set on sleeping at night? I’m nocturnal, so I don’t really get it."

He tilted his head like he genuinely didn’t understand, though I could tell he was getting sleepy himself.

Alice "It’s just habit from my original world. But you’re sleepy too, aren’t you?"

Boris "A little, yeah. But I’m not gonna sleep. And I’m not gonna let you sleep either."

Alice "Eh?"

His golden eyes sparkled—though maybe not in the most wholesome way.

Boris "I waited a whole time slot just to be alone with you. No way I’m wasting that on sleep. That’d be a real shame."

Alice "That’s not really a—mmph…"

Another kiss. It came fast and a little rough—but quickly melted into soft heat as his lips moved with mine.

Alice "Mmm…"

Boris "Nn… Don’t fall asleep, Alice. Let’s do something more fun."

He whispered mischievously between kisses. His hands started to slide along my body, hidden under the blanket.

Alice "Wait…!"

(He thinks the blanket hides everything—!)

Though honestly, Boris would probably do this with or without the blanket…

Alice "N-no…!"

Boris "No? But why not? There’s nobody else here—so what’s the problem?"

Alice "That's not what I meant…! This is a huge problem!"

The issue wasn’t just about cuddling. Sure, snuggling under a blanket in the forest might be tolerable—but this was…

Alice "…!"

As I squirmed in protest, Boris let out a breath of laughter.

Boris "You're so shy. You only let me cling to you at night. That’s no fun—I'd want to touch you in the morning, evening, any time."

Alice "…Huh? Just because it's nighttime doesn't mean you can do whatever you—"

Alice "…Ah!"

I tried to argue, but Boris's hands moved skillfully. He remembered exactly where I was sensitive, leaving me unable to form a proper response.

Boris "…Well, whatever. It’s night now, right? So that means anything goes. I feel like seeing a whole lot of that shy face of yours tonight."

Alice "Wrong—!"

(I never said anything goes—!)

Boris "Haha, even if you say no, I'm not stopping, you know? So get ready."

Alice "～～～～っ"

Alice "…Ugh!"

He clearly wasn’t going to back off. His hands moved without restraint.

The blanket was starting to become… indispensable.

(…This is starting to feel like Nightmare’s territory.)

Visitor Event – Peter 4

Scene Change – Clover Town – Alice's Room

Boris "You had a cat…?"

Alice "Yes, I did."

I was talking about my old world. At home, we had a cat.

Today we were spending time in my room, and I’d brought it up myself.

Alice "She was called Dinah. She was so cute."

Boris "Dinah…?"

Alice "Mm-hm. Cute name, right?"

She was incredibly affectionate toward me. Of course, like any cat, she could be a bit bratty too—but that just made her more lovable.

She was a mischievous little thing, but adorable. My precious cat.

(I wish I could introduce her to Boris.)

I had no idea whether they’d get along, but still—cat to cat, I was curious what would happen.

Alice "Even when I bathed her, she didn’t thrash around much. Isn’t that amazing?"

Alice "She was a very good girl. A housecat who never went outside, always in my room… so she never fought with other cats. I’m sure she wouldn’t scratch you either."

I was definitely being a doting owner, but Dinah was adorable enough to deserve it.

Boris "Baths…? Always in your room…?"

Alice "I really loved her. Are you interested?"

Of course, I couldn't introduce her now—I was in a different world.

But Dinah was such a sweet cat, I wanted to talk about her. And I figured Boris, being a cat, might take an interest.

(I bet he would—cat to cat and all.)

Even though I had no intention of going back to that world, talking about Dinah still made me happy.

Boris "Alice…"

Alice "Hmm?"

He suddenly had a very serious look on his face.

Alice "???"

An almost tragic expression…

Boris "You were cheating on me!?"

Alice "Huh…?"

Alice “W…What? Cheating!? Cheating…? With a cat!?”

Boris “I’M a cat too!!”

Alice “Y-Yes, but…!”

Boris “You won’t live with me, but you lived with another cat!? That’s cheating! That’s betrayal!!”

Alice “Wha—whaaat!?”

Of course, I never meant it like that.

Boris “You had a pet cat… Lived with another cat…! While I have to live apart from you!?”

Alice “Eh… well… I don’t live with her anymore… It was in my old world!”

Boris “!!! A former cat!?”

Boris “You said I was your first cat! Even if it’s not happening now—still! You lied to me!?”

Alice “I didn’t lie! I’ve never had a romantic relationship with a cat until you!?”

First and last. No one expects to fall in love with a cat even once in a lifetime.

Boris “So you weren’t lovers? You lived with a cat you weren’t even dating!? That’s immoral!!”

Alice “Ehhhhh???”

Alice “But she was my pet… I said ‘my cat,’ but really she was the family’s cat.”

Boris “So your whole family approved of her!? Like you were practically married!?”

Alice “…………”

I honestly have no idea how to even respond anymore.

Boris “A cat worthy of marriage…!? You never told me you had a pet!! You kept it a secret!!”

Boris “Ughhh, even if it was a past cat, I can’t stand it…!! If it were a cat in this world, I’d shoot her dead!!!”

He’s way more worked up than when he was jealous of that guest at the inn.

Alice (Boris really is…)

…a cat. Other cats seem to pose more of a threat in his mind.

Alice “Um… you know… we weren’t getting married or anything. Dinah was a girl cat.”

Besides, it’s not like I could actually marry a cat.

(…Unless that cat was someone like Boris.)

Boris “!”

Boris “A girl… But still!! I can’t forgive that cat!!”

Boris “Alice, you were tricked by a wicked cat! It was practically marriage fraud!!”

Boris “Purring and meowing, fooling you into falling for her!”

Boris “No cat like that could really be cute! Her true nature must’ve been awful!”

Alice “Um… uh…”

Boris “I’ll make you forget that cat! So don’t ever think about her again!!”

Alice “…………”

He hugged me tight. Hugged me tight and started licking me.

Licked, kissed, hugged—wrapped up in his possessive affection.

Boris "I’ll make you forget her—that other cat. I’ll make sure you can’t remember anyone but me..."

He's serious. Boris is completely serious.

And it's because he's serious that this whole thing is incredibly awkward.

Alice (…Is this supposed to be dramatic? From a cat’s perspective…) (If I replaced ‘cat’ with ‘man’ in my head, maybe it wouldn’t sound that weird…)

Boris "…I’ll be your pet cat instead!"

Alice "I don’t need you to make me forget her, and you don’t need to be my pet…"

Boris "So you do like that old cat better!? Even when you’ve got me right here…!"

Boris is truly, hopelessly sincere. And apparently, genuinely heartbroken.

Alice "Listen, Boris. It’s not that I prefer Dinah to you or anything—"

I couldn’t finish. A large feline silenced me with a kiss.

Boris "…Even if you say no, I’ll make you forget that other cat."

He whispers sweetly, and it almost feels like something out of a romantic drama.

But…

Alice (A cat… yeah, still a cat…) (Even if I mentally swap ‘cat’ for ‘man’… it's still…) (…Nope. It’s the cat part that ruins everything.)

“Forget your old cat”—when you hear it enough, it stops sounding dramatic and starts feeling like comedy.

And Boris isn’t listening. Nothing I say will get through to him.

Alice (…I should just give up on telling him about Dinah.)

Not only did I bathe her, I bathed with her sometimes. We even slept together often...

If I said any of that, Boris would definitely lose it.

(Cats really are territorial creatures, aren’t they…)

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Pierce and Boris (Boris) Event 3

Event List

Scene – Forest

Boris "Hey, Alice... I can’t dip the fish in this…"

Alice "…Why not? It’s fine, go ahead."

Alice "Feel free to dip it and eat it—your beloved fish."

Boris "Even if you say I can… but, like, I mean… look at it…"

Alice "…Go on?"

A sweet aroma wafts into the air.

It's fondue, yes—but today, I’ve brought chocolate fondue.

Boris "…………"

Boris "…Are you mad?"

Alice "…No?"

Alice "…I just think it’s a little disappointing that no matter how many ingredients I prepare, you always only eat fish and Pierce only eats cheese."

Boris "…So you are mad."

Alice "Oh my, I’m not mad at all… I just want you to enjoy a variety of flavors."

Boris "…Like fish with chocolate?"

Alice "…A rich chocolate aroma mixed with fishy goodness. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?"

I dipped a strawberry into the chocolate and took a bite.

Delicious. Vegetables go well with cheese fondue, and fruits go perfectly with chocolate fondue.

Boris "…That looks good."

Alice "…It is. Fruits and chocolate—sweet and perfect for a snack or dessert."

Boris "…But not with fish, right?"

Alice "…Maybe not. But for a cat who loves fish like you, Boris, I’m sure it’ll be fine."

Alice "You’ll love it—chocolate-covered fish."

Boris "…………"

Pierce "Mmm, yummy, yummy! Chocolate fondue is so good!"

…Pierce really is a mouse who can’t read the room.

He’s not bright enough to notice that I’m upset. No—not upset. This is all coming from a generous heart, wanting them to enjoy many flavors…

Pierce "So good~ Chocolate fondue~ Chocolate, chocolate! Cheese, cheese!"

Boris "…………"

Alice "…………"

The mouse who can’t read the room wasn’t just grabbing random fruit…

No, he was eating cheese. The cheese I had prepared for him.

And he was dipping it into the chocolate fondue.

Alice "…………"

Alice (thinking) (Cheese in chocolate fondue...)

Worse than "cheese in cheese fondue"—a dense monstrosity. So dense I’d like to blur it out with a mosaic.

Just imagining the taste is enough to…

Alice (T-too rich…)

Pierce "Chocolate cheese~ Cheeeese~ Two flavors in one—such a deal~"

A “deal,” maybe, but the flavors are probably so overwhelming they cancel each other out. Of course, I have no intention of finding out.

Even if it remains a mystery forever, I’ll have no regrets.

Boris "…………"

Boris "…I didn’t know mice were such strong creatures."

Alice "…………"

Boris "…Should I show my cat pride and eat it out of sheer willpower? That chocolate-covered fish…"

Alice "…No need."

Alice "I’ll give you some fruit instead… Just eat this…"

Later

Alice "…Ah."

Pierce "…Ah."

Boris "You dropped it."

Alice "…………"

(…Oops.)

A strawberry plopped into the pot of chocolate fondue.

Alice "Aaah…"

(This is…)

(…In my world, this would mean…)

What about in this world? I didn’t intend to say anything.

Boris "…Punishment game."

Pierce "Punishment game, punishment game~"

Alice "…Ugh. Even this world has that…?"

If you drop something into the fondue pot, you get a penalty.

It’s a sort of traditional rule—whoever drops their food has to do a “punishment,” usually something silly decided among friends.

Boris "Of course it exists. That’s the rule—drop food in the fondue pot, and you get punished."

Pierce "Alice, you’re always picking up after others, and now you’re dropping stuff too. What a klutz~ You’ve gotta do your punishment~"

Alice "…Ugh. Just great. The worst parts of both worlds are the same."

Alice "So, what’s the rule here? Do I have to chug something?"

Not exactly admirable, but in my world, the typical punishment is chugging your drink.

Since fondue often contains alcohol, it’s treated as a kind of drunken party game—a casual tradition between friends or family.

Boris "…………"

Pierce "…………"

Boris and Pierce exchange a glance.

Boris "…………"

Pierce "A kiss."

Alice "…Huh?"

Pierce "A kiss! You know, a chu~"

Boris "Not from yourself. It’s a kiss from someone else at the table. A punishment bestowed by the group."

Alice "Uh, r-really…?"

Alice "A kiss…?"

Boris "Alice, does your world not have that custom? You’ve never heard of it?"

Alice "U-uh…"

If it were total nonsense, I could’ve rejected the idea outright.

But I have heard of it. In fact, in my world, that kind of punishment game does exist.

Dropping your food in the fondue pot? Sometimes, depending on the region, the “punishment” is getting a kiss from someone else.

It’s meant to liven things up and bring people closer together. The original version is the drink penalty, but this variation is more common among friends.

Pierce "So it exists! Then it’s okay, right?"

Pierce "I'm gonna give you a kiss~ Chu, chu~"

Alice "…W-Wait a minute. That’s…"

It’s not a loud party crowd—just two boys here. Honestly, chugging my drink would be the easier punishment.

Boris "Move, Pierce. I’m the one kissing her."

Boris said this with clear irritation.

(Well, yeah… He’d be irritated if Pierce kissed me…)

(But… he’s okay with it?)

I half-expected him to go full possessive-cat and start firing off rounds to keep everyone away. Surprisingly, he wasn’t that extreme. Even though a kiss, even as a game, feels pretty borderline…

(Well… It’s a game, I guess.)

A punishment game. That’s all it is.

In this world, games matter more than anything.

Pierce "That’s not fair. I wanna kiss too!"

Alice "…Wha—?"

Boris "Back off, Pierce. I’m the cat here."

Pierce "Even a mouse has the right to kiss in a punishment game! I’m gonna kiss too…"

Boris "Mice don’t get rights…"

Pierce "Alice, you taste sweet… Like chocolate…"

Boris "You taste like strawberries…"

Alice "It’s just your imagination… Or maybe the fondue we were eating earlier…"

Pierce "No, it’s you, Alice. You’re sweet… Like chocolate…"

Pierce "Mmm, tasty. Can I take a bite?"

Boris "I’m gonna lick… Mmm, tasty…"

Alice "…D-Don’t eat me, please."

With these two—no, these two animals—I might actually get eaten.

Alice "…………"

(Maybe I’m drunk from the fondue…)

My body feels warm all over.

(Drunk… maybe…)

But I know what ingredients I used in that fondue. I made it myself, after all.

(…There’s no way I could be drunk.)

Chocolate fondue, unlike cheese fondue, barely contains any alcohol.

Cheese fondue has a generous amount of white wine, but chocolate fondue is just cream and milk. Maybe a touch of brandy for fragrance—just a dash.

No way I’d get drunk.

Boris "…Too long. Mouse, you’re in the way."

Pierce "The cat keeps interrupting my kissing…"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…You’re both taking way too long."

This isn’t a punishment game anymore.

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Visitor Event - Peter 3

Event List

Scene – Forest – Doors and Arrows

Alice (…Huh?)

I thought I was walking toward Peter, to go see him… And yet, somehow—I’d wandered off again.

Peter “……This is exactly why I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

He had come to find me. Peter offered a soft smile that carried a hint of exasperation.

When he acts like an adult like that, it only makes it harder. It feels worse than being scolded—it makes me feel guilty.

Alice “Ugh…”

Alice “…Please keep this a secret, okay?”

Peter “?”

Peter “A secret…? About what?”

Alice “That I got lost.”

Peter “?”

Alice “That I got lost!”

Peter “???”

Alice “I said, that I got lost! Don’t make me repeat it again!”

This forest must have some kind of hysteria-inducing effect.

When I’m with Boris and Pierce, I can enjoy myself. But when I’m alone… it all changes.

Alone, I just end up yelling. Yelling at the doors, and now even at the rabbit…

Alice (thinking) (Isn’t forest bathing supposed to be calming? Forests are supposed to ease the mind, right?)

(This must be a forest lacking in negative ions.)

Instead of negative ions, it has doors.

(I don’t need doors—I need peace. Where’s the healing energy?)

There’s no healing here. Just an overwhelming number of doors…

And yet, I keep coming back to this forest. I end up here and lose my way.

Alice “It’s honestly embarrassing to get lost this many times.”

Alice “It should be a straightforward path, and yet I end up in the forest on the way to the castle… I can’t even laugh at Ace anymore.”

(Even though I try to avoid using the doors and stick to walking on my own. Maybe I’m being punished for slacking off now and then.)

Peter “……”

Alice “…And don’t you dare tell Ace, okay!? He’d definitely make fun of me!”

Peter “……”

Peter “…You’re not lost, Alice.”

Alice “…What?”

Peter “You didn’t get lost. There just happened to be a door in the direction you were heading. You walked toward it, and so you ended up here. That’s all.”

Peter “You’re not lost.”

Alice “What are you talking about? I wasn’t aiming for the forest full of doors—I was heading for the castle.”

I had no intention of ending up here. I didn’t mean to arrive in the forest.

Alice “I did get lost.”

Peter “Even if you did, it’s something you wanted—deep down.”

Peter “…But I don’t want that. Even if you wished for it, I don’t want you walking toward the doors.”

(CG: Peter in forest with gun)

Peter’s watch transforms into a gun.

He shoots a door— Bang, bang, bang. One after another. Not just one door—he begins shooting all the surrounding doors.

Not a single tree trunk is hit. Every shot lands squarely on the doors.

Though the targets are large, some are quite far away. Still, he hits them all with the same accuracy as those nearby.

It’s as if he already knew exactly what to do. He moves slowly, like the hands of a watch, gradually turning his body.

There are so many doors, the motion is slow. But the speed of his shots is fast—his hands don’t stop for a second.

Some doors are made of wood, others look like iron. Each gives off a different sound when struck.

Alice (thinking) (Talking doors… They’re not living creatures, right…?)

It’s an eerie thought. They speak, but they’re not alive… probably.

If they were alive, I would have stopped him.

But they’re just doors. Doors attached to trees, belonging to no one.

If Peter were shooting the trees, I’d stop him like I would for a living thing. But just the doors? That’s harder to judge.

Alice (thinking) (……)

Somehow… I also felt relieved.

The talking doors are eerie—frightening. They keep repeating, “Open me. Come inside.”

Alice (thinking) (…They’re scary.)

Even so, I keep ending up here again and again.

Peter shoots the doors. The gunshots drown out every voice.

Right now, there's no sound. Just the sound of Peter’s gun.

Those loud, echoing shots right next to me… they’re oddly comforting. The doors’ voices only ever try to lead me astray.

Later

Bang. A final shot.

Alice “……”

Alice “You used a lot of bullets, didn’t you?”

Honestly, I was a little dumbfounded that he hadn’t run out.

Peter had shot every door in sight—every one visible within view. How had he not run out of ammo?

He had reloaded several times, but how much was he carrying? Bullets are heavy. Carrying that many would normally slow a person down.

Alice “To shoot that much and not run out of bullets… you must’ve brought way too many spares.”

Peter “Fufu. I never run out. I have an endless supply of bullets. The only time I’ll ever be out of ammo… is when I die.”

Peter “……Now then. This looks a bit better. No more voices. Let’s head to the castle.”

Looking around, every door was full of bullet holes. The doors were finally silent.

Even now, with the gunfire stopped, the quiet remained. Peter gently took my hand.

Alice “But… next time I come here, it’ll all be back to normal, won’t it?”

It’s fine now. There’s no voice.

But the next time I come, the bullet holes will be gone. Everything will be as it was before. Like Peter never fired at all, the doors will talk to me again.

In this world, things like dirty clothes or worn-out items don’t stay that way. Cleaning, laundry—none of it is necessary.

Even if no one fixes them, things repair themselves.

Just like how people here are interchangeable, buildings and even nature get restored without notice. Time turns backward, returning everything to its pristine state.

It’s convenient—but also meaningless. What Peter did just now… it’ll be erased.

Alice “The doors will fix themselves.”

Peter “Yes, I know. Even if I destroy them all now, they’ll be repaired later.”

Peter “But… at the very least, I can buy you some time. Enough time to get to the castle and back.”

Peter “Truthfully, I’d destroy them so thoroughly they couldn’t be repaired… But that’s not allowed here. So at least, I’ll do this much. So you won’t get lost again on your way back.”

Alice “……”

Alice “Even so… they’ll fix themselves soon, right? You didn’t have to go this far.”

Peter knew. He knew it was futile—and did it anyway.

Peter “If they fix themselves… I’ll just shoot them again.”

He smiled with the same expression as someone saying “I love you.”

Later

We left the forest of doors and returned to the path.

As long as Peter was with me, I wouldn’t get lost. With his hand in mine, I felt sure even the return trip would be fine.

What did I do with Peter’s hand…?

a. I kept staring at it

b. I held it back

a. I kept staring at it

I kept looking at the hand Peter used to lead me. A white-gloved, pristine hand—soft and clean. The hand of a white rabbit.

In truth, it was a hand that could easily pull a trigger and hurt others.

But right now… I could just follow that hand. That’s all I needed.

b. I held it back

I gripped Peter’s hand tightly in return. He had been walking straight ahead, but he turned back slightly.

With a shy little smile, Peter said:

Peter “It’s alright. I won’t let go. No matter where you try to go… I’ll bring you back.”

Alice “……”

Peter would bring me back.

Even though I no longer had any intention of getting lost again… For some reason, those words made me feel safe in a way I couldn’t explain.

Choices Converge

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 11

Event List

Scene – Forest – Mushrooms and Arrows

Pierce "When you think of sea creatures…"

(Ding Dong)

Boris "…Fish! It’s gotta be fish! The sea means fishies!"

While Pierce was deep in thought, Boris cheerfully declared his (questionable) answer.

After the meetings ended, the three of them had returned to their usual days spent together in the forest.

It was nighttime. The other two had said something odd and roped Alice into coming out.

“Let’s go look for sea creatures,” they said.

But this was a forest. There shouldn’t be any sea creatures here, so what were they even talking about?

Alice (…Even though I thought that, I still came along.)

Pierce "That’s such a cat-like way of thinking."

Boris "I am a cat, so of course."

The two were talking about “what kinds of sea creatures exist,” but…

Pierce "I’d like cheese. Wouldn’t it be nice if cheese were swimming around? If it were, I’d totally catch it."

And just like that, the mouse started saying strange things again.

Boris "…You really are short a few screws. It’s kinda sad. No one associates cheese with the sea…"

Pierce "I-It’s a metaphor! I was just saying if cheese were swimming… it’d be nice… like that!"

Boris "Even as a metaphor, it doesn’t work. Cheese is…"

Pierce "B-But… I really like cheese…"

Pierce "Cheese… I want some…"

Boris "Even if you want it, cheese doesn’t swim… The only thing swimming is the fishies."

Boris cheerfully started scanning the ground.

Boris "Fiiishies, little fishiesss~♪"

Alice "…Fish."

Where Boris was looking… was indeed a fish.

The “sea creature” he had found.

Only, it was swimming on the ground. …Something like a fish.

Alice (It… kind of looks like one… I guess… but doesn’t it feel off?)

It had a vaguely fishy shape, but the fact it was swimming through dirt instead of water made a lot of things wrong.

A fish swimming through soil—at that point, could you even call it a fish?

Boris "It’s not off. It’s a fish. What else does it look like?"

With a face that said, “What are you even talking about?” Boris insisted. Pierce, on the other hand, looked devastated.

Pierce "A fish… It’s not cheese…"

Alice "…Well, I mean, it does look fish-like."

Alice (…It definitely doesn’t look like cheese.)

But just because it isn’t cheese doesn’t mean it is a fish.

What was it? It was just… something was off.

“It’s fish-like,” but it’s not the real thing.

Boris "I wanna catch it~…"

Pierce "…I wonder if it tastes like cheese if I bite it."

Boris "…It doesn’t."

The two of them were now targeting this mysterious lifeform.

Alice "…………"

And I… was just watching blankly.

Alice (More and more things like sea creatures keep showing up…)

The whale-like thing (which, in my opinion, wasn’t a whale—just whale-ish) was already enough, and now something fish-like had appeared too.

Alice (Sigh…)

I felt the same kind of weary resignation I had during my move.

Later

Boris "Let’s go fishing."

After staring at the “fish-like thing” for a while, Boris suddenly said:

Boris "Let’s go fishing."

Alice "…Huh?"

Boris "Fishing. Let’s go fishing!"

Before I realized it, Boris was holding a fishing rod. …Where had he gotten that from?

Alice "Fishing, you mean…"

Alice "…you’re going to fish that?"

Boris "Alice, even you now… Look, cheese isn’t something you can fish for."

Alice "I wasn’t thinking you could fish for cheese. I just meant… can you even fish that thing?"

Pierce "You can’t fish cheese…?"

The moment Boris said cheese couldn’t be fished, Pierce visibly deflated.

Alice (He thought it could be…?)

Alice (Don’t tell me he actually thought cheese was fishable…)

Pierce "So disappointing…"

…Apparently, he did.

Boris "When you say fishing, it’s gotta be for fish."

Alice "Fish… Well, yeah, fishing is usually for fish… but that… can that even be caught?"

It wasn’t a freshwater fish or a sea fish. It was swimming, sure, but through dirt. Dirt-swimming fish. If it could even be called a fish.

Alice (Can you really call that a fish?)

Boris "If it’s a fish, it can be caught. Fish always get caught on fishing lines."

Alice "Yeah, if it’s really a fish… But seriously—are we still calling that a fish???"

Boris "It’s a fish. It looks like one. If you grill it, it’ll be grilled fish."

Alice "Sure, if it is a fish and you grill it, you get grilled fish… But even if you grill that, I don’t think it’ll become anything at all…"

It didn’t look like it’d become anything edible. It didn’t even look tasty.

Alice "That thing’s… green. You can’t eat green fish, right?"

Boris "If it’s fish, you can eat it. The weirder it looks, the rarer it might be—could be a delicacy."

Alice "Ugh… no way…"

Alice "But what if it’s spoiled or rotten?"

Boris "It’s not rotten. Look, it’s flopping around right now. Super fresh."

It was alive and well. Swimming—no, flipping—through the soil, full of energy.

Alice (It might be fresh, but still…)

Alice (Still…)

It was green. And swimming through dirt, not water.

Alice (For something that’s supposed to be a fish, it doesn’t even seem fishy. If anything, it smells like earth.)

A green creature bounding through dirt. It was hard to see it as food.

Boris "I’ll catch it for you."

Boris grinned brightly.

Alice (Cats… bring things to their owners, don’t they?)

They present them, hoping to be praised.

To a cat, it’s a gift—something valuable, an offering to their beloved human.

Shoes, trinkets, bugs, mice… Not always welcome gifts.

But the cat thinks it’s being helpful. “Look! Praise me!” it seems to say as it rubs against you.

They’re certain their owner will be happy, that they’ll be praised. They puff up proudly just from being petted.

Alice (It’s affection… I know that.)

Alice (…Which is exactly why it’s so hard.)

Alice (Because it’s an act of affection, I can’t just push him away.)

He’s a sweet, affectionate cat.

Saying something like “I don’t want this thing”... It’s not easy.

Boris "I’m gonna catch a big one for you, so wait right there!"

Boris casts his fishing line into the ground.

A fisherman dropping bait into the dirt might seem ridiculous, but the green fish is flopping around nearby. It actually seems like it might get caught.

Pierce "If you catch any cheese, can I have it?"

Boris "I told you, that’s not gonna happen. No matter what I catch, it’s not for you. I’m giving everything to Alice."

Alice "Ah… thanks…"

Alice (……)

Alice (If he really catches that green fish… does that mean I have to eat it?)

I can’t help but hope he doesn’t catch anything.

Alice (Dear fish, dear fish, please don’t bite the hook.)

A cat’s trophy is the owner’s crisis.

Scene Change – Clover Town – Inn

Waitress "Good work today, Alice. You can go ahead and clock out."

Waitress "Thanks for your help!"

Alice "Thanks. I’ll be heading out, then."

Waitress "So, what’re you up to after this? Going out with that Cheshire Cat again?"

I haven’t told them we’re dating, but Boris has always dropped by often, so my coworkers casually ask about him.

Alice "No, not this time. I’m thinking of going to another territory for a change of pace."

After those long meetings, I get the urge to go somewhere far. During the sessions, it’s basically just back and forth between the inn and the tower.

Waitress "Oh, I see. Well, be safe and have a good time!"

Waitress "Take care! Hope it’s a nice break for you."

Alice "Thanks. I will."

After parting ways with my coworkers, I leave the dining hall and head toward the stairs to go back to my room on the second floor and get ready.

??? "…Alice!"

Alice "!? Wah—!?"

Someone suddenly grabs me from behind, and I panic. That voice—

Alice "Boris! Don’t scare me like that!!"

I glance back, and see a swish of pink fur in the corner of my eye. It’s definitely Boris.

No one else would cling to me so unreservedly from behind.

Boris "Aw, come on, no need to get so mad. I just saw you and caught up. That’s all."

Alice "You didn’t just call out. You hugged me."

Boris "And that’s bad? I mean, I can’t help it… when I see you, I just wanna hug you."

With no trace of guilt, he rests his chin on my shoulder affectionately.

Boris "Why is it that your back just makes me want to hug you? Every time I see it, I get the urge. And hugging you feels so good, too…"

Boris "It’s like… like smoking. Once you get hooked, you can’t quit."

Boris "I’m already addicted. So I don’t think I’ll ever stop."

Alice "Don’t say things like that… If that’s a habit, I’m just going to keep getting startled all the time."

I protest, but Boris just brushes it off with a “you’ll get used to it.”

Boris "Anyway! I timed this so I’d catch you right after work. Let’s go on a date, Alice."

Alice "Huh? A date?"

He loosens his grip, so I turn to face him as I ask.

Alice "We didn’t make any plans, right?"

Boris "Nope, no plans. I just wanted to see you. But I held myself back and waited a little before coming."

Alice (“He said, ‘I heard this was your working time,’ and for some reason, he looked proud of himself.”)

Boris "A real cat would just do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, you know?"

Boris "But I held back my urge to play with you right away, and waited until your work was done."

Boris "Aren’t I amazing? So come on—give me a big reward, okay?"

Alice "A reward…"

Alice "…I’d love to, but I can’t right now. I was planning to go out during this break."

When I told him that, Boris widened the visible eye in surprise.

Boris "What? You’re going out? Alone? Even though I came all the way here to hang out with you!?"

Alice "Yes. I’m happy you came, really, but…"

Boris "You’re happy, but you’re still going somewhere else? Even when your boyfriend’s inviting you out? You’re saying going off somewhere else is more important than me?"

Alice "Ugh… don’t say it like that…"

It made me sound like some cold, unloving girlfriend. That’s not how I meant it. Still, it’s true I wanted to get away for a bit, to visit a place I haven’t been to lately.

Alice "We’ve been cooped up in Clover territory during the entire summit, haven’t we? So I just feel like getting out for a change."

Alice "I want to see my friends too…"

Though I said it clearly, I still felt a little guilty. Boris let out an exaggerated sigh.

Boris "Geez… you always do this. You’re really good at making me jealous, you know?"

Alice "It’s not like I’m trying to…"

Boris "I get lonely when you’re not around, but you don’t seem to care. You just leave me behind without a second thought. That’s pretty harsh, don’t you think?"

Boris "Man… I’m so pitiful. I care so much about you, and yet it feels like I’m the only one in love here…"

Alice "…Hey. It’s not one-sided. That’s not true."

Boris "Yeah? It’s not one-sided? Then what is it? Because honestly, it feels like I’m the only one who really cares."

Alice "Wh… what?"

Boris looked at me with probing eyes, like he was testing me.

Boris "If it’s not one-sided, then tell me what it is. In a way I can really understand."

Alice "Wh… whaaaat…?"

Alice (He wants me to say it? Right here… in the middle of the inn hallway?)

I had already left the dining area, but the door was still open just behind me. I could hear the buzz of conversation from inside. Our voices probably wouldn’t carry that far, but it was still embarrassing.

Alice (This is so embarrassing… but…)

Boris "Alice?"

He stared at me intensely, leaning in challengingly. If I didn’t answer, he wouldn’t let me go.

Alice (Ugh. Fine, I guess…)

Alice "We’re in love. That’s what we are…"

Boris "Eh? What? That’s kind of vague. I don’t really get it. Could you maybe explain in more detail, so it’s easier to understand?"

Alice "~~~~~!"

Alice (You little…!)

Boris was already grinning, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

He was definitely in teasing mode.

Alice (You sadistic cat…!)

But it would be too frustrating to back down now.

Alice "I—I love you, Boris, and you love me, so we’re in love with each other! That’s what I’m saying!"

I blurted it all out in one breath. My face was burning red.

Alice (“What is with this guy, making me say something like that in public…!”)

But despite how embarrassing it had been, Boris seemed thoroughly satisfied.

Boris “Wow, nicely said. Good girl. You looked so cute all embarrassed—I’ll let it slide this time.”

Boris “Go take your little trip and refresh yourself… but no cheating or staying overnight, okay? Be back in one or two time slots, max.”

Alice “…Yeah, yeah, I got it!”

Alice (Ugh… Why does going out for just a bit of fresh air have to be this exhausting…?)

Well, it can’t be helped. Let’s just say the person I’m going to see is worth the trouble.

……

……

Alice (…Are they, though? Worth that much?)

Alice (……)

I guess I’ll just have to find someone who feels worth the trouble. I’m not even sure what I want to do anymore, but I’m going out anyway.

1. Castle of Hearts 2. Hatter’s Mansion 3. Clover Tower

1. Castle of Hearts

Scene – Castle of Hearts: Garden

Peter “Hello, Alice. Have you had lunch yet?”

Peter “If not, would you care to join me? I found a place that I think you’d really like.”

We ran into each other in the garden, and he invited me like that.

Alice “I’ve already eaten. But if you haven’t, I can keep you company…”

Peter “No, no, if you’re not hungry, then it’s fine. I don’t mind skipping lunch. Let’s just have some tea here instead.”

Peter summoned a maid, and she quickly set up a tea service on a garden table. Thus began our rose-surrounded teatime.

Whenever he drinks tea across from me like this, Peter always seems so happy.

This time, his delight was even more obvious than usual. He set his cup down on the saucer and began to speak, looking oddly dreamy.

Peter “…It’s like a dream. I felt that way when you decided to stay in this world, but even more so now.”

Peter “It really feels like a dream. I’m so happy, it’s almost scary. Like… what if this really is all just a dream?”

Peter “I know it’s not like me to say things like this, but I can’t help it sometimes.”

Alice (“…??”)

Alice “What’s with you all of a sudden, getting all serious?”

When I asked, Peter just smiled and said, “It’s something I’m always thinking about.”

That this might all be a dream—because it’s just too good to be real.

a. You're sleep-talking b. That’s ridiculous

a. You’re sleep-talking

Alice “Are you sleep-talking? Because what you’re saying right now already sounds like a dream.”

I teased him, and Peter let out a wounded, “Whaaat?”

Peter “That’s so mean! Even if I sometimes think this is a dream, I’m definitely not sleep-talking right now!”

Peter “I would never zone out in front of you! I’m always wide awake when I’m with you!”

Alice “Reeeally? You sure about that?”

b. That’s ridiculous

Alice “That’s ridiculous. What kind of nonsense is that?”

I dismissed it with a little scoff. Peter looked visibly shocked.

Peter “Ridiculous? You really don’t hold back, do you… I didn’t expect to be shot down that hard.”

Alice “Well, it is ridiculous. You’re not the dreamy type—don’t try to act like some storybook girl.”

Peter “Is that so? Well, I suppose hearing that does make me feel better. Kinda helps convince me this is all real.”

Alice “Oh? Then I guess that’s good for you.”

Subchoices Converge

Alice (I keep my tone deliberately light. I wanted this to stay a light conversation.)

The thought that this whole world might be a dream—it’s something even I occasionally wonder.

But not for the same reason as Peter, not because it’s too happy. More like… back when I got lost in the Door Forest.

Surrounded by countless doors whispering “You can go wherever you want.” It becomes hard to tell what's real, where I am.

Alice (That kind of thinking is best saved for when I’m actually lost.)

Right now, I’m surrounded by beautiful roses and drinking delicious tea.

It’s not where I’m staying, but I do like it here. Even after moving, this place remained—one of my special spots.

Alice “…Let’s drop this topic now. Hey, could I have another cup?”

I hold up my empty cup with a touch of playful selfishness. Maybe Peter will realize how silly his “dream” idea sounds, considering how un-cute I can be.

Peter “Oh! My apologies, how could I not notice! I’ll pour you some right away!”

He responds apologetically—and then smiles, happy as can be, while pouring the tea.

Visitor Event – Peter 3

2. Hatter Mansion – Hallway

Blood “Ah, Alice. Sorry, work’s unusually busy right now. Even when you’ve come to visit, I haven’t been able to give you the time you deserve…”

I came to see Blood, but unfortunately, he seems to be swamped with work.

It’s rare to see him admit it so openly—he must be truly overwhelmed.

Blood “When things settle down, I’ll make it up to you. Think about what you’d like—whether it’s a trip, a gift, anything you want.”

Blood “Oh, but if you wished to make this your permanent residence instead, well—I’d gladly drop everything and make that happen right now.”

Alice “No thanks. That’s one request I don’t intend to make.”

I reject him flatly. One of his eyebrows twitches slightly—a sign he’s amused.

Blood “My, so you actually like living among those animals? That’s… unexpected.”

Alice “Unexpected? Why?”

He knows I’m staying in a town inn, not roughing it in the forest. What’s so surprising?

Blood “Well, it’s a cat and a mouse, isn’t it? Mortal enemies, traditionally. Natural-born rivals. Like dogs and monkeys.”

Alice “Huh? I mean… biologically, sure.”

His tone’s overly dramatic, but technically, he’s not wrong—Boris and Pierce are cat and mouse. Coexisting peacefully isn’t exactly natural.

Alice (Though I do think they’re getting along well, all things considered…)

Blood “Two men on opposing sides, and you caught in the middle. I had no idea you were into that kind of tension. And with animals, no less. Quite the connoisseur, aren’t you?”

Blood “Totally different personality types too—it must be quite the spectacle. So, whose style do you prefer…?”

WHACK. I kick him in the leg mid-monologue.

Alice “Shut up and do your work.”

Alice (…I shouldn’t have come. Seriously.)

3. Clover Tower – Salon

I visited Clover Tower. During a break, Gray offered to keep me company—but…

Gray “…Sigh. No, it’s nothing. I am listening to you.”

Gray “So, what happened next?”

Alice “Well, then my coworker helped me out, and—”

Alice “…”

Gray “…Sigh. I’m sorry. It’s not that your story is boring. I just can’t stop worrying about Lord Nightmare…”

Gray “I can’t help wondering if he’s collapsed somewhere by now… or run away… He definitely seems like he would.”

Gray is clearly distracted. He’s worried sick about his chronically ill boss.

Alice “I get how you feel, but you need to switch gears. If you don’t actually rest when you have time, you’ll be the one collapsing.”

Being dedicated and caring is great, but rest is essential too. Even as I say this, Gray just grimaces.

Alice “…Do you never take proper breaks?”

When I ask, Gray responds with, “I do when I can…” and starts to explain.

Gray “The other day, I found myself passed out at my desk. I must’ve been really exhausted. I barely remember anything before or after.”

Alice “Wha—?!”

(Faceplants at his desk? That’s… not a break. That’s collapse…)

Alice (And he calls that a break? Then he’s in serious trouble.)

I must’ve made a face, because Gray chuckles bitterly.

Gray “You don’t have to look so horrified. That day was particularly busy. I don’t normally do things like that. At least… I don’t think I do.”

Alice “…It’s not really my place to say, but… you really should be taking proper breaks.”

Alice (This is hopeless. Every time I see him, he just seems more and more pitiful…)

Scene – Clover Town – Restaurant Area

Boris “Hmm, I’m getting hungry. Want to go eat something? Don’t worry, I picked a place that serves food you’d like.”

We’re walking through the town together. As usual, Boris refuses to stop clinging to me.

But I’ve already accepted it—and honestly, I don’t really mind anymore. I’ve gotten used to this closeness.

Alice “Something I’d like? Don’t tell me it’s a seafood place again?”

Boris “Yeah, but you like fish dishes too, right?”

Alice “Well, yeah. I do. …Just, in a normal way.”

I did tell him once that I prefer fish over meat. Since then, all our meals have involved seafood without hesitation.

Boris “This place doesn’t just taste good—it looks good too. It’s neat and tidy. Totally your kind of place.”

Alice “Oh, I see. That’s what you meant by ‘something I’d like.’”

Boris “Exactly. If it were just me, I’d go for flavor over atmosphere any day. But it’s a date, so you know. …Still…”

Boris “I hope someday you’ll come with me to all kinds of places. Whether it’s mouse-hunting or meals, I think everything’s better with you around.”

Boris “Until you’re more comfortable with that stuff, I’ll stick to the places you like.”

Alice “I’m never going mouse-hunting with you. But… unless it’s really bad, I’m fine with any place. Even a cheap diner in the lower town would be okay.”

When I say that, Boris looks surprised.

Boris “Really? But wouldn’t a date at a cheap diner feel… kind of unromantic? I figured girls would care about that kind of thing.”

Boris “I thought you especially would. …Wait, was your ex the kind of guy who’d take you to places like that?”

Alice “…Huh?”

I wasn’t expecting that topic to come up now, and my heart skips a beat.

1. “How was it again…?”

2. “No, not like that…”

1. “How was it again…?”

Alice “…How was it again…”

I dodge the question. It’s not a topic I’m eager to revisit.

We only went on what you’d call “real dates” a handful of times. The relationship ended before we had many chances for romantic outings.

Boris “‘How was it again’? It can’t be that long ago, right?”

Touché. At my age, it’s not like my first relationship was that far in the past.

Alice “…Yeah. To be honest… we didn’t really go on many dates. He was coming to my house from the start…”

He was my tutor. Since he was always at my house, we didn’t have much reason to meet outside.

I give him a simple, vague explanation.

2. “No, not like that…”

Alice “No, that’s not it… It’s just…”

You firmly deny it. It's not something you particularly want to talk about, but there's no reason to hide it either.

There were only a handful of moments that could be called real "dates." It's nothing impressive...

Alice “I wasn’t telling a story about my past. I just meant it—I really don’t mind. Besides, I hardly ever went out to eat with my ex.”

Choices Converge

Boris “…I see. So you didn’t eat out much, huh…”

Boris “…………”

I feel his gaze, curious and unfiltered. Boris continues with a surprisingly casual question.

Boris “What kind of guy was he?”

Alice “What kind…? That’s kind of vague…”

But if you ask what kind of person he was...

Alice “A perfectly ordinary person.”

I try to recall him.

For some reason, everything but his face is fuzzy. He was gentle, quiet, and kind.

(Personality-wise, he’s nothing like Blood—but he did look a lot like him…)

That’s probably something best left unsaid.

He bore a strange resemblance to the mafia boss of this world, Blood Dupre. It was uncanny.

Alice “Just a very, very ordinary man.”

(If someone looks like a mafia boss, they wouldn’t be called “ordinary” here, though.)

But personality-wise, he was nothing like Blood. He was peaceful and kind to a fault.

Boris “Huh… Was he strong?”

Alice “Eh… Well… not really, I guess…”

I wonder if “strength” is what defines a good man in this world.

Alice “He didn’t go around shooting guns or anything.”

He wasn’t a criminal. Even if he looked like a mafioso, he was a completely different person.

Boris “Hm… So not that strong, then. What were his ears and tail like? Was his fur nice?”

Alice “...Huh?”

Alice (Ears?) (Tail??) (Fur…???)

Alice “U-Um…???”

Boris “Was his tail fluffier than mine? What color was it? Did he have a nice coat?”

Apparently these are important details—he’s asked about his fur twice.

(Is this his... point of pride?) (...Really???)

Alice “Um… The person I dated was a human, not a cat.”

Boris “Eh… Oh. So, the person you dated wasn’t a cat, huh?”

Alice “Of course not. I wouldn’t date a cat.”

I’m human. I don’t date cats.

Boris “? But you’re dating one now.”

Alice “…………”

Alice “…Right. You’re a cat, Boris.”

Boris “Yup. A proud cat—with perfectly good ears and a tail. From every angle, a fine feline, don’t you think?”

Boris shows off his tail. There's no need to check—I already know it’s real.

Alice “…A cat, huh.”

Boris is a cat.

He may look human, but as he says, he’s essentially feline. It’s not a person with cat ears—it’s a cat in human form.

…How different that really is, I’m not sure, but the scales tip toward “cat.”

Alice (A cat… Huh… A cat...)

Alice “So I’m… dating a cat, huh…”

There are plenty of times when I think, “Wow, Boris really is a cat.” But to deliberately reflect on the fact that my boyfriend is a cat…

Boris “Yup, that’s right. I’m a cat, and you’re dating me.”

Boris “Hey, Alice—am I your first cat boyfriend?”

Alice “Of course…”

(…Or maybe not.)

After all, I am currently dating a cat.

Boris “Ah, good. So I’m your first cat. The first cat boyfriend…”

Boris “Nice… I’m glad. Knowing you’ve never dated another cat makes me happy.”

Boris “No need to be compared to some other cat. That would totally suck.”

Alice “A cat…”

Alice “I wouldn’t date any cat but you, Boris…”

Boris “Really? Man, you say the best things…”

Boris “Don’t go straying to any other cats, okay?”

Alice “…Yeah. I have no intention of dating any other cat…”

Boris “Alice… You’re really smooth, you know that? I’m blushing here…”

Alice “No, seriously. I mean it. I’m being honest.”

Boris “Alice…”

…Well, it’s not that I intend to date cats.

But I am dating one. I’m in a relationship with a cat. A cat boyfriend…

Alice (thinking) (I came to another world… and started dating a cat…)

Alice (thinking) (It’s like a fairytale. A weird, whimsical, dreamlike fairytale…)

But my boyfriend walking next to me? Still a cat. No matter how many times I look, he’s undeniably a cat.

Alice (thinking) (Fairytale…)

…It makes me feel like some painfully cringey girl.

Boris “What’s wrong, Alice? You look tired. We’re almost there.”

Boris “See that place with the purple roof on the corner? That’s the one—best fish in town…”

Alice “…Boris, you really love fish, don’t you?”

Boris “Of course! I’m a cat, after all. I’m picky about fish.”

Boris “Get ready for some amazing flavor.”

I can feel it clearly—he’s in high spirits, happy to be with me.

Boris likes me. And I… like him, too.

Alice “…I’m looking forward to it.”

Boris is a cat.

Alice (thinking) (But… it’s fine. I like him.)

Alice (thinking) (Cats are cute. I really like cats…)

I’m in love with a cat.

Scene Change – Clover Town – Fancy Restaurant

Clerk “Thank you for waiting. Here is your main course.”

Woman “Wow, it looks delicious! Is that a jelly-like sauce on top?”

Clerk “Yes, that’s right. Since the white fish has a mild flavor, the sauce…”

Man “Ah, no need for the explanation. I don’t really get that stuff anyway. Let’s just dig in.”

Man “Mmm, this is amazing! You can tell the fish is super fresh from the very first bite.”

Woman “Yes, it’s really good. All the other dishes were great too—I'm glad we came.”

The restaurant Boris had recommended was clearly a popular one, bustling with customers.

We ordered a few dishes and began eating. As expected from a place a cat would wholeheartedly endorse, the food was undeniably delicious.

Boris, with a look of utter happiness, kept eating with great enthusiasm.

Boris “Yup, this place’s food is always a win. Ahh, so good. So gooood~ Nyaa~…”

Alice (thinking) (Oh come on. ‘Nyaa~’? It’s fine to be impressed, but…)

Alice “You’re getting too emotional—you’re basically turning into a cat, Boris. …Well, you already are one.”

Boris “???”

Apparently, he didn’t get what I meant. He tilted his head in confusion.

Alice “…Don’t worry about it. Just eat.”

As we resumed eating, Boris once again let out delighted “meows.”

Alice (thinking) (Cats… they really are cute.)

Having a meal with a cat could make even me feel blissful.

Scene – Forest – Arrows and Doors

Wanting to share another meal with the three of us, I made my way into the forest. We’d done this many times before.

I walked around searching for Boris and Pierce. The first to appear was Pierce.

Pierce “Alice! You came to visit again! I’m so glad you come see me a lot!”

Pierce “Besides the cat and those mean twins, you’re the only one who ever comes to see me. I’m really happy!”

He was practically sparkling with joy. If I’m the only one visiting him outside of Boris and the twins…

 1: “So… you don’t have any friends.”

2: “I’m happy too.”

3: “You’re kind of a bullying target, huh.”

 1: “So… you don’t have any friends.”

Alice “…So, you don’t have any friends, huh.”

Pierce “...Yeah. That’s right. I’m a mouse, so I’m not really popular. Because I’m not liked, I don’t have any friends.”

Pierce “But y’know—even if it sounds like an excuse—I’d still rather be friendless than constantly running for my life being chased around...”

Alice “I... see.”

Alice (Excuse or not, that’s pretty pitiful...)

2: “I’m happy too.”

Alice “I’m happy to see you too, Pierce.”

With how genuinely happy he looked, I couldn’t have said anything else.

Pierce “Then we’re the same. We match! Hehe, it kind of tickles—makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.”

Pierce “So this is what having a friend feels like?”

Alice “Yeah, maybe it is.”

Alice (thinking) (He doesn’t even have someone he can call a friend…) A poor little mouse. Let’s comfort him with a warm meal.

3: “You’re kind of a bullying target, huh.”

Alice “…You’re kind of the bullied type, aren’t you?”

Pierce “Oof, don’t say it so bluntly! I’m not getting bullied because I like it, you know!”

Pierce “I mean, I don’t think anyone likes being bullied.”

Alice “No, probably not.”

Pierce was, indeed, being bullied.

Choices Converge

A poor little mouse. Let’s comfort him with a warm meal.

Go to Event – Pierce and Boris 3 End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Vivaldi and Boris Event 2

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Main Area

Boris 「…………」

Vivaldi "…Cat. We meet again."

Boris "Y-yeah…"

They had run into each other on the street.

I had passed along Vivaldi’s message, as promised. Boris had given me a strained smile and asked, “...Can we pretend I didn’t hear that?”

And now, as fate would have it, they’d crossed paths again. Vivaldi looked absolutely delighted.

Vivaldi "You missed me, didn’t you? You looked for me, right? That cat food was delicious, wasn’t it?"

Boris "Ha, haha…"

Vivaldi "Of course it was, of course. It must’ve been delicious. A feast for a hungry little cat."

Vivaldi was in high spirits.

Boris "…………"

Boris, on the other hand, looked thoroughly troubled.

Alice (…Did he really eat the cat food?)

To be honest, I hadn’t asked him for the details. It felt like something I shouldn’t pry into.

Vivaldi "I have a present for you."

Vivaldi "Want to see it? I bet you do, right? You want it, don’t you?"

Vivaldi "I brought lots of things a cat would love. I’m giving them to you."

Vivaldi began rummaging through her bags.

Alice (Th-this pattern…)

Alice "It’s just like last time…"

Boris "…Yeah. I’ve got a bad feeling about this…"

Vivaldi "Here you go."

What she pulled out was… a canned item.

Boris "…Cat food."

Boris accepted it. Or rather—had it thrust into his hands.

Vivaldi "And this one too."

She pulled out another can.

Vivaldi "And this."

Another can.

Vivaldi "And this one too."

More cans.

Vivaldi "This one, and this one. And this one, too."

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Cans.

Boris "……～～～～～～!?"

Both of Boris’s hands were now full of canned goods.

Vivaldi "Hehe. They’re all different flavors. Every single one. So you won’t get tired of them, I made sure to pick out a wide variety."

Boris "…………"

A mountain of cans. Only the labels were different.

Boris "H-hey… I-I mean, I am a cat, but this cat food thing is…"

Vivaldi "Are you happy?"

Vivaldi was smiling brightly.

There was no sarcasm, no malice—just a purely innocent look on her face.

Boris "…………"

Vivaldi "Hehe, you're happy, aren’t you? It’s delicious, you know?"

Boris "…………" "…………" "…Thank you, Your Majesty."

The cat had been defeated.

Vivaldi "Hehehe. You’re welcome. I’ll bring you more next time."

Boris "…Eh?"

Vivaldi "Next time, I’ll bring even more than today."

Vivaldi "All different flavors of cat food. I’ll gather up the tastiest kinds, so look forward to it."

Boris "Uh… uh…"

Boris "Um, I’m on a diet right now. So I really don’t need that much…"

Vivaldi "Oh? A housecat might gain weight, but you’re a Cheshire Cat… I see, you must not be getting enough exercise."

Vivaldi "You’re not domesticated, so you shouldn’t be skipping your walks. Hmm… perhaps I should prepare some exercise equipment for you."

Boris "Eh? EHH?? No, no, no—I don’t need that! I’ll exercise on my own!"

Boris "I love walks! I’ve just been a bit busy and couldn’t go out, that’s all! I’m going to start walking again, so really, no need for exercise gear!!"

Vivaldi "Hmm. Then I shall bring you low-fat cat food. I’ve heard such things exist."

Boris "Uh… low-fat cat food, huh…"

Vivaldi "The taste is a little inferior, but I’ll bring you some next time. Instead of the exercise equipment."

Boris "Low-fat cat food or exercise gear…? …So it's one or the other…"

There was no escape.

Boris "By the way… you. You've been carrying around that mountain of cans this whole time?"

Vivaldi "Yes. It was heavy to carry around."

Vivaldi "But seeing you happy makes it all worth it. I’m glad I brought them."

Boris "…………"

Vivaldi looked perfectly content. Boris had no words.

Vivaldi "Hehe. I’ll bring more next time, so be ready, kitty."

Boris "…Thanks."

Vivaldi "Well then, kitty. I’m already looking forward to our next feeding time."

Vivaldi left, thoroughly pleased.

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Boris. You will eat it, right? You’re not going to throw it away, are you?"

Boris "Uuugh… I know… I can’t betray her like that… not as a cat…"

No cat could ever win against a cat lover.

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 10

Event List

Scene – Clover Tower – Alice’s Room

Boris "…Hey, how about wearing something a little less revealing? I mean, yeah, I know it’s not that revealing or anything, but still…"

Boris "I just don’t like it. The idea of other guys seeing you dressed like that. I want to be the only one who gets to see you all dressed up…"

The cat’s voice was a mix of sulking and sweetness.

He’s a cat—but not just a cat.

He’s Boris. My boyfriend.

He has the right to say things like this now. So my reaction to hearing it changes too.

Before, I would’ve just chalked it up to animal instinct—a possessive streak.

But now, I can’t hear it the same way. If it’s jealousy born from affection… if that’s what it is, my heart jumps a little.

Alice "…It’s not like I can dress just for you. The meeting requires formal attire. It’s the rule."

My heart pounded. To hide the fluster, I answered flatly, maybe a bit coldly.

Boris "I know that… but if your outfit showed a little less skin, I might not feel so irritated, you know?"

Alice "You think?"

Alice "Isn’t the real issue that I’m dressed up differently from usual? Even if I covered more, wouldn’t it still bother you?"

That desire to be the only one who gets to see someone when they’re dressed up—it's a common feeling, I think, among men in love.

Boris "…You’re so calm. Why are you always so calm…?"

Alice (Calm???)

I wanted to snap back with “where exactly do I seem calm?”

I’m not calm at all. I’m so flustered I don’t even know what to do with myself.

I’m just pretending to be composed—saying the same kinds of things I always did. But inside, everything feels different.

Boris "You’re always calm, and I’m the one freaking out over everything… I’m here getting all worked up over what you’re wearing, and you’re just steady as ever."

Alice "Boris…"

His voice sounds the same as always when he’s sulking. But somehow, it feels different now. Why is that?

Alice (Things have changed.)

Back when we started dating, I thought things might not change at all.

Alice (But they have changed.)

In a short time—maybe not that short, but short compared to how long we were friends—my relationship with Boris has become something completely different.

From friends to lovers. Not just the title, but everything between us has shifted.

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Um. I should probably get going…"

I couldn’t take the tension in the air any longer. I started to get up, as if to escape.

Boris "Wait."

That one word pinned me in place. I froze, half-risen.

Boris "Alice."

He took my hand and looked straight at me.

His ears were perked up. He was serious.

A cat’s eyes, when they’re staring intently, can look so cold and unreadable they’re almost scary.

Boris "Alice… right now, unlike before…"

Unlike before.

Or maybe… he did look at me like this back then. I just never noticed.

Boris was a friend—my cat friend in a strange, surreal world. A dear friend.

That someone like him would ever look at me like this…

Boris "If I ask you… to stay a little longer… not to go home yet… will you stay?"

Alice "……"

Being stopped just as I was about to leave.

A scene that’s happened before. Words that sound familiar.

But the feeling is different—because we are different now.

Alice "Y-You… don’t want me to leave?"

Boris "Yeah. Stay a little longer."

Alice "……"

Boris licked my lips, softly.

Boris "I never wanted you to leave. But you always go, leaving me behind… even though I just wanted a little more time with you…"

Alice "…But you’re not lonely, are you? Cats are fine on their own…"

Boris "Even if I’m not lonely, I still want you to be here. Don’t go."

Alice "B-But…"

My voice trembled slightly.

Boris "…Pfft. What, are you scared?"

Alice "I’m not scared."

A bluff.

This wasn’t like the usual Boris. No… The Boris from our days as just friends had been gone for some time now.

He changed the moment we became lovers. He’s still the same person, but everything feels different.

…Maybe it’s just that I never noticed before.

Boris "…So you’re not scared?"

Alice "No, I’m not."

Boris "Then maybe you should be."

Alice "…?"

Boris "I just want you to be more aware of me. Of us. We’re lovers, you know…"

I am aware.

Right now, I’m hyper-aware. So much so, I can barely breathe.

Boris "Alice…"

He leaned in. His lips met mine.

At first, the kiss was soft, just the slightest contact. But then it deepened—stealing my breath, claiming my mouth.

Alice "Nn…"

Boris "…Nn. Ha…"

Alice "……"

Boris "…Heh. Mmm…"

Alice "…Ha… Ah…"

From the point we touched, heat began to spread through me—flooding my insides, making it even harder to stay calm.

It always happens like this. He entangles both body and heart, leaving me helpless.

Boris "…………"

Boris "Work…"

Alice "Eh…?"

In between kisses, he said something incredibly unromantic.

Boris "You were going to leave… because of work, right? How long until then?"

Alice "…About two time blocks from now, I think."

Boris "Two time blocks, huh. Feels short… and long…"

Boris "No… it’s short. Time flies when I’m with you."

Boris "…Though, now that I’ve asked, I’m not sure it’ll be enough. Honestly, this is kind of your fault."

Alice "Wh-What? How is this my fault…?"

Boris "Because you’re just too cute… I don’t think I can let you go that easily."

Alice "…Ah…!"

Alice "Wha—!?"

He pushed me down. Like this, I can't leave.

I was trying to go. I was just steps away from the door.

Boris "I’m not letting you go, Alice."

He touched me so gently—like I was something precious. It was the kind of touch that could fool me into thinking I was special.

I knew I had to leave. But when he touched me so softly, that resolve started to fade.

I'm weak. I can resist pressure, but when someone treats me kindly… I fold far too easily.

Boris "Alice…"

He said my name like it was something sacred, touching me as though I were something fragile and cherished.

Alice (The door…)

My thoughts started to melt. Through my blurring vision, I caught sight of the door.

The door that connects this room to the forest.

Or perhaps… a door to an entirely different world.

Alice (The door is…)

So far away.

Scene Change – Clover Tower – Salon

Alice (…He’s not here.)

After finishing my work, I returned to Clover Tower. Almost instinctively, I looked around for Boris—but he was nowhere to be found.

Alice (Where did he go…?)

While glancing around the salon, I spotted someone from the forest—but not the one I was looking for.

Pierce "Alice!"

Alice "Pierce."

Pierce "Back from work, huh? You’re so responsible. Even though you’re an outsider, you always come back. And you work so hard too."

Alice "I wouldn’t say that hard… It’s just, I mean, technically we’re supposed to attend, right?"

Pierce "That’s true for us. But you’re not required to be there. You’re not one of us."

Pierce "I never told you that? Wait, didn’t I? Maybe not??"

Alice "You did, I remember. But if I’m not around…"

(You guys would have no one keeping you in line…)

How many times have I stopped them from slacking off or chasing each other through the tower?

I can’t stop everything, but I’ve prevented plenty of chaos.

Pierce "Meetings are such a pain. It’s always stuff that has nothing to do with us."

Pierce "…Hey, Alice, let’s skip it and go get something to eat. That would be way more meaningful, don’t you think?"

Alice (…He says that just as I was thinking it.)

(Well, I didn’t say it out loud, but still.)

Pierce "Huh??"

Pierce "Come on, let’s go eat~"

Pierce "Meetings don’t fill your belly, but a meal does. And when you’re full, you’re happy!"

Alice "No. Skipping is not allowed."

I shut him down flat. Pierce visibly wilted like a scolded child.

I did feel a little bad, but skipping wasn’t something I could condone.

Alice "Let’s go another time. For now, let’s do our duty and attend the meeting."

Alice "…By the way, do you know where Boris is?"

Because if left alone, he’s the most likely to skip.

Pierce "Boris? No clue… I mean, he’s a cat. How would I know where he is?"

Pierce "I never know, which is why I’m always running from him. I’ve been chugging coffee just to stay awake and keep ahead!"

Alice "I see… Thanks. I’ll go look for Boris."

Pierce "You’re going to look for the cat? Then I guess I’ll go somewhere else… See you later, Alice."

Pierce exited the salon. Now, where could Boris be?

Alice (Where should I look…?)

1. Stay in the Salon

2. Head into Town

3. Search Inside the Tower

1. Stay in the Salon

Alice (…No, maybe it’s better to wait here.)

Boris often stops by here before meetings. There’s still time before the next session, so if he’s not planning to skip, chances are good he’ll show up soon.

Alice (Better to wait here than wander around and miss him.)

With that thought, I decided to stay in the salon. After a short wait…

??? "Alice."

Alice "Hm? Oh—Vivaldi."

Turning at the sound of my name, I saw a strikingly elegant woman entering the salon.

The Queen of Hearts, Vivaldi. Even in a formal suit, she radiated glamour.

Vivaldi "Alice, have you seen the cat? No, it’s nothing urgent—I just had something I wanted to give him…"

Vivaldi "I thought he might be resting here, but it seems not…"

Vivaldi "Well, if he’s not here, I suppose I’ll just give it to him another time."

Alice "The cat? You’re looking for the cat?"

(She means Boris, right…?)

Vivaldi apparently likes cats. To her, Boris still seems more cat than man.

I learned that once when she bumped into the two of us in town.

What could she want to give him? I had a guess…

Alice (She can’t mean a real cat, right?)

It’s not like regular cats live around here. And if she did mean a regular cat, it’d be weird for her to ask me about it so casually. So then…

Alice (…Boris?)

It has to be him. Still, I was curious what exactly she wanted to give him.

Alice "Um, Vivaldi. What is it that you wanted to give him?"

Vivaldi "Hmm? Curious, are you? …It’s something very nice. Something the cat would love."

Alice "Something he’d love…?"

Vivaldi "Yes, something cats adore. I got quite a lot of it, so I’d really like to give it to him soon if I can."

Vivaldi "Alice. If you see the cat, would you tell him I was looking for him?"

a. If it’s just passing the message…

b. If I see him, sure…

a. If it’s just passing the message…

Alice "…If it’s just passing the message, fine."

I had a feeling Boris wouldn’t be thrilled to hear it. I’d rather decline, but I couldn’t outright refuse.

Alice (Whatever happens after that isn’t my responsibility…)

Vivaldi "Yes, yes, just pass it along. I’m sure once he hears it, he’ll come find me."

Alice (…I doubt that.)

Still unsure of what she was actually planning, I gave a noncommittal answer. Vivaldi didn’t seem concerned—she simply nodded and smiled.

Vivaldi "I’m counting on you, Alice. Well then, I must be off… Until next time."

With a rather pleased expression, the Queen swept out of the salon.

b. If I see him, sure…

Alice "…If I see him, sure."

I kept my answer vague, uncertain of her intentions.

Vivaldi "You’re bound to see him sooner or later, no? Don’t you always sit near him at the meetings?"

Alice "Yeah, I guess that’s true, but…"

Alice (…Well, I’ll at least pass along the message.)

Vivaldi "I’m counting on you, Alice. Now, I must be off… Until next time."

The Queen left with a suspiciously pleased expression on her face.

Subchoices Converge

Event – Vivaldi and Boris 2

2. Head into Town

Scene – Clover Town – Main Area

He’s probably wandering around outside again. Thinking that, I headed into town.

I walked around near the tower, checking shops Boris tends to like, when…

Ace "Hey, Alice! What’s up? You’re looking all around like you lost something."

Alice "…Ace."

Instead of the cat, I ran into the knight. His usual cheerful smile was plastered on his face.

Ace "Looking for someone? Oh! Wait—don’t tell me you got lost trying to find your way back to the tower?"

Alice "I’m not you. That’s not even remotely possible."

The tower is right nearby. It’s not far enough to get lost.

Ace "Ahaha, so that means you’re looking for someone. Or… knowing you, probably not someone—something. Like an animal?"

Alice "…Right. I’m looking for Boris."

Ace "The cat-boy, huh? Well, I’m one to talk, but he does tend to just wander off."

Alice "Yeah, really. Every time there’s a meeting, he immediately wants to ditch it."

Ace "And now you’re the one tracking him down. You’ve got my sympathies."

Naturally, we both started glancing around to see if Boris might be nearby. But no sign of him in the area.

Ace’s gaze drifted upward, almost absentmindedly.

Ace "Sky’s so blue and high today. Really good weather, huh?"

Alice "That’s nothing new. It’s always good weather in this world."

Ace "True, but don’t you think this time slot has especially good weather? I do! It was so nice, I ended up going for a walk… Hey, Alice, do you know where we are?"

Alice "Huh…?"

(Wait a second. Don’t tell me…)

Alice "…You got lost again, didn’t you?"

Ace "Ha! Of course I did. I’m always lost—anywhere, anytime!"

Alice "Why are you bragging about that!? That’s nothing to be proud of!"

Ace "I’m not bragging. I’m just stating a fact. Gotta own your truth, right? Nothing cool about denying reality."

Alice "No, seriously. You being lost is already plenty uncool."

3. Search Inside the Tower

Scene – Clover Tower – Hallway

Maybe I should check around the tower a bit. With that in mind, I left the salon.

As I walked down the hallway, a familiar face appeared ahead.

Nightmare "Ah, Alice. What a coincidence. What are you doing here?"

Alice "…Nightmare."

The master of this tower—and chairperson of the meetings. His face is as pale and sickly as ever.

Alice "Hello. You look terrible as usual. Are you okay?"

Nightmare "Terrible, am I? …Well, I’ve just recovered from an illness."

(Recovered? More like perpetually ill.)

Nightmare "…The next meeting is coming up. Ugh, I have to speak in front of people again… Just the thought makes me nauseous."

Ignoring my internal sarcasm, Nightmare covered his mouth with a hand, clearly distressed.

Alice "Get it together. You’re the chair, remember?"

Alice "…Honestly, you're such a poor excuse for a chairman. You just stand there and do nothing."

(If anything, he just flails around helplessly.)

Nightmare "Wha—how could you say something so cruel!? I’m not doing nothing—I’m working plenty hard!"

"Meeting periods are especially busy times! It’s a lot of work, and I’m doing my best!"

"During meetings, there’s a mountain of documents. One territory's this, another one’s that—it’s such a mess, just skimming them makes me never want to look again."

"That’s how complicated it all is. It kills any motivation I might have had. Along with motivation, I think it’s taking a few other things too…"

Alice "Oh, I’m sure. Looks like it’s draining your very life force."

Nightmare "Exactly! And yet I press on. Even if I’m coughing, feverish, or spitting blood—I face my duties! Isn’t that amazing!?"

He puffs out his chest like he expects praise. Everything about this is ridiculous, but I can’t even muster the energy to call it out.

Nightmare "I might look like I’m always running away from work, but I’m doing it! Really, I am working behind the scenes!"

Nightmare "…I mean it. I’m seriously working hard, okay?"

Alice "Yeah, yeah. I got it."

(Does he not realize the more he talks, the more it sounds like excuses? This guy…)

Choices Converge

Scene Change – Clover Town – Alice’s Room

Alice "Phew… It’s finally over."

Boris "Yeah, finally done. I’m beat…"

Pierce "Another meeting full of absolutely nothing. I almost fell asleep like three times."

Boris "You should’ve just slept. I’d have enjoyed snacking on you."

Pierce "That’s exactly why I didn’t!! I didn’t wanna be eaten by a cat!!"

Boris "What’s the problem? Nothing wrong with that. It’s not like you’d be missing anything…"

Pierce "I would be missing things! I’d be missing a lot of things! Like life, for starters!!"

Boris "Nah, nothing would be missing. ‘Cause I wouldn’t leave anything behind, you know?"

Pierce "That’s worse!! Way worse than just missing something!!"

Alice "…Stop bullying him already."

Alice "I’m going to go change."

Later

Alice "Yep, everyday clothes are the best."

Boris "Yeah, way more comfortable. Suits are too stiff."

Pierce "Wearing that stiff outfit to a pointless meeting just makes you feel extra drained and cheated."

Boris "Nothing ever gets decided at those meetings anyway. You say that like it’s new."

Pierce "I know that! I know nothing ever gets decided!"

Pierce "That’s why I always end up feeling tired and ripped off!"

Boris "Cool. Go get tired all you want. Hopefully you’ll pass out—makes things easier for me."

Pierce "What are you planning?! What are you planning to do with that knife and fork?!"

Boris "What do you think? Obviously—"

Boris "I sneak up while you're asleep… and stab you with a knife and fork. Then when you wake up, only your skin’s left behind."

Pierce "EEP!!"

Alice "I said stop bullying him already!"

I shield a pale, trembling Pierce behind me.

Boris bullies Pierce, I step in and stop it. Just another typical scene in our forest life.

Alice (…Well, it’s kind of nice how easily we can fall back into our everyday routine.)

If we return to the forest, we’ll slip right back into our everyday life.

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing…

Alice (…………)

(…We’ll be able to go back, right?)

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Pierce Home Event 3

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Main Area

Pierce "Alice, want to grab tea with me? Not tea-tea though—coffee, actually."

Pierce "See, I found this place that serves really amazing sweets. And their coffee’s great too!"

Pierce "Come on, you’re curious now, right? Let’s go together. I’ll show you the way."

Pierce "…And I’m definitely not trying to convert you to being a coffee person or anything, okay?"

Later Scene – Clover Town – Café

And just like that, I ended up going to the café with Pierce. It was our second time having a drink together, just the two of us.

Last time we sat at the counter, but this time we were at a table. True to his word, Pierce ordered several varieties of what he’d called “super delicious sweets.”

Pierce "I was heading to the meeting when I bumped into Boris right outside my room. He chased me all over the place—it was awful. I almost called your name!"

Alice "Huh? Why would you call my name?"

Pierce "Why? Because you’re the only one who’d save me!"

Pierce "Well… sometimes you don’t save me and just watch everything happen, but still…"

Alice "'Watch'? That’s kind of harsh. I mean, sometimes there’s just no way to step in…"

We chatted and sipped our drinks. Just like last time, I had tea and Pierce had coffee.

He’d pop a sweet into his mouth, then sip coffee—repeating the process in quick, twitchy motions.

Alice (…He really is like a mouse. Well, I guess he is one.)

Sweets and coffee. The sweets were fine, but...

Alice "You don’t really look like someone who’d drink coffee."

Pierce looks a bit too young to be called a grown man, but too old to be called a boy.

More juice than coffee, honestly. It just doesn’t suit him.

Alice (Not that drinks are about what suits you, but still…)

Nightmare, on the other hand, totally seems like someone who drinks coffee straight.

Pierce "Coffee keeps me alive, so I like it. But I don’t like the taste. I drink it because I have to stay awake, not because it tastes good."

Alice "Wait—you don’t like the taste of coffee?"

But just earlier, he’d said this place served delicious coffee.

Pierce "Yeah, coffee’s bitter and gross."

Pierce "But sometimes, it tastes good. Like when I’m munching on sugar cubes—I suddenly crave it. So when that happens, it tastes good."

Alice (…I see. So by ‘tastes good,’ he meant 'tolerable under certain conditions.’)

(Wait—why am I just accepting that!?)

Alice "…You eat sugar cubes?"

What a bizarre eating habit.

Alice "You’re not supposed to eat them like candy. Sugar cubes are for putting in tea or coffee."

Alice "They’re not meant to be eaten on their own."

Sugar cubes are not snacks.

Alice (You’re going to give yourself diabetes.)

Pierce "Mice love sugar cubes. We can’t help it."

Pierce "It’s a mouse thing—we have to gnaw on sugar. That’s just what we do."

Alice "…Well, don’t blame me if you get diabetes."

Pierce really does love sweet things. Even now, he was happily munching on a tableful of sweets.

Alice "You’re eating way too many sweets. That’s way beyond a snack."

Alice (Even if they are tasty…)

Alice "If you keep eating like that… you’ll get fat, you know?"

Pierce "It’s not a snack. This is my meal. This is food for me."

Alice "Meal…?"

Pierce "Yeah. It’s not a snack—it’s lunch."

Alice "…………"

Alice "Sweets as a meal… This counts as a meal…?"

Pierce "Yep, it’s food! If it’s not sweets, then it’d be cheese."

Pierce "Delicious, delicious food. I’m such a spoiled mouse, huh?"

Alice (More like a mouse on a fast track to diabetes…)

Even if not diabetes, he’s definitely headed for some kind of lifestyle disease.

Alice "It’s bad for your health. Stop it."

Pierce "Eeeeeh!? That’s so mean!"

Pierce "You’re trying to take away my food!? You want to snatch it all and keep it for yourself!?"

When I pushed the sweets aside, Pierce started whining loudly. His usually sleepy eyes popped wide open, and his ears perked straight up.

Alice "You’re a mouse, not a pig. Quit with the 'oink oink.'"

Alice "If you keep eating this much sugar, you will turn into an actual pig."

Pierce "Oink… sheesh…"

Pierce reached for the sugar cubes.

Alice "No sugar cubes, either."

Alice "You’re going to eat a real meal. I’ll order for you. In the meantime, drink your coffee."

Pierce "Coffee without sweets!? And I can’t even have sugar cubes!?"

Alice "It’s not mean. I’m doing this because I care about your health."

Alice "Eating nothing but sweets and sugar cubes is bad. You’re taking in way too much sugar. Those things aren’t supposed to be a meal, you know."

I was starting to sound like a mother scolding her child.

Pierce "But it’s my food… My food… Don’t take it away…"

Alice "Sweets are something you eat in small amounts as a snack. Not by the handful."

I swatted his reaching hand away with a light tap.

Pierce "W-wah… sniffle…"

Alice "Don’t cry! You can’t cry just because I took your sweets!"

How old is this kid…?

Pierce "B-but… Alice is being mean… I thought we were going to be friends…"

Pierce "You keep saying no, no, no… So mean… sniff sniff sob…"

Alice (…He’s way too easy to tease.)

I didn’t mean to tease him, but somehow it always ends up that way.

Alice "I’m not bullying you. I’m saying I’ll order you proper food, and you should eat it. It’s for your own good."

Alice "Just drink your coffee and wait. …Excuse me, can I place an order?"

Protecting the sweets from further assault, I called over a nearby waitress.

Waitress "Yes, how can I help you?"

Alice "Um…"

Now, what should I order…

1. Vegetable Sandwich 2. Croque-Monsieur

1. Vegetable Sandwich

Alice "I’ll have the vegetable sandwich, please."

Waitress "One vegetable sandwich. Certainly."

Pierce "Vegetable…? You mean, like… a vegetable sandwich?"

Alice "That’s right. With lettuce, cucumber, onions… a sandwich packed full of healthy veggies."

It seemed like a good healthy choice. Maybe a little too late for that, but still—it’s better than nothing.

Pierce "Packed with vegetables… That’s not sweet… It’s not sweet, right? I can’t drink coffee with a sandwich like that…"

Alice "That’s not true. Sandwiches go with coffee. Of course they do."

2. Croque-Monsieur

Alice "I’ll have the croque-monsieur, please."

Waitress "One croque-monsieur. Certainly."

Pierce "???"

Pierce "Cro… Crosh? Huh? What’s that, Alice?"

Alice "Not Crosh, croque-monsieur. You’ve never heard of it?"

Pierce "Nope, no idea. Is it even food? Is it safe? You’re not trying to bully me, are you?"

Alice "…Of course it’s food. And no, I’m not bullying you. Why would a café even let you order something dangerous to begin with…?"

The waitress left with a strained smile.

Alice (I’ve become that person with the dumb friend… I’m never coming back to this place.)

Alice "Croque-monsieur is a kind of toasted sandwich. It’s made with ham and cheese, grilled together."

Pierce "Cheese!? It’s cheese bread!? Yay! I love cheese!!"

Alice "Yeah, I know."

Obviously. That’s why I ordered it.

Pierce "You got it for me ‘cause it has cheese, right? Thanks, Alice!"

Pierce "Ah… But ham and cheese… it’s not sweet. Not sweet at all. It sounds yummy, but… it doesn’t sound sweet…"

Alice "???"

Alice "Of course it’s not sweet. Ham and cheese aren’t sweet, and the bread’s not a dessert bun either."

Choices Converge

Pierce "Uuuu… Maybe they go together, but for me…"

Pierce stopped drinking his coffee, looking utterly dejected.

Alice "Just until the food comes. You’ll be fine. Be patient."

Alice "…You’re not drinking your coffee?"

Pierce "Coffee’s… bitter. I can’t drink it. I can only manage it when I have sweets or sugar cubes to help… sniff…"

Pierce "…………"

Alice (So that’s why he said he couldn’t drink it with bread…)

Alice (…Yep. Definitely a future candidate for lifestyle-related diseases.)

I felt bad when he started to cry, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

Pierce "sniff sniff…"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Fine. Just one. You can have one sugar cube."

Pierce "I can gnaw on it?"

Alice "…No gnawing. Drop it in the coffee. And then wait for your food."

Pierce "…Put it in the coffee? The sugar cube?"

Alice "…Yes?"

Pierce "…………"

With exaggerated caution, Pierce dropped the sugar cube into his coffee. It plopped in with a soft splash.

Alice (…?)

Alice (That was an awfully delicate movement… Something about it seemed dangerously hesitant…)

Alice tilted her head at his unfamiliar, hesitant behavior.

Pierce "…………"

He watched the sugar cube sink and dissolve into the cup. Then, just as cautiously as he had dropped it in, he lifted the cup and took a sip.

Pierce "…………"

Alice "…………"

His tension was palpable.

Alice (…?) (…???) (Why is he so tense?)

Alice (If you stiffen up that much, you're going to make me nervous too!)

Pierce "…………"

Pierce "…!"

Pierce "!!!!!!"

Alice "…Wh-What happened?"

Pierce "It’s delicious…! Alice, this is so good! It’s really good!!!"

Alice "…H-Huh?"

Pierce "It’s delicious, delicious! Wow, this is great! So delicious!!!"

Pierce squealed with delight, practically bouncing.

Alice "…………"

Alice "…Um, you have had coffee before, right?"

Pierce "Yup, lots! I drink it all the time!"

Alice "…Stop chugging it. It’s bad for your stomach."

Alice "…Wait, that’s not the point—so you’ve had tons of coffee before, but never thought to add a sugar cube?"

Pierce "Yup!"

He answered without a hint of guilt.

Alice "…………"

Alice "…It never occurred to you to put it in?"

Pierce "I just gnawed on them. Coffee’s bitter, but if I eat a sweet or gnaw on a sugar cube first, it’s not so bad."

Pierce "But it gets less bitter even if you put it in too! Wow, what a discovery!"

Alice "…………"

Pierce "You’re so smart… You know so much, Alice. I’m gonna start listening to you more from now on!"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…For starters, stop eating so many sweets."

Pierce "Okay!!"

He replied with cheerful energy.

Alice "…………"

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Card Game 3

Event List

Scene – Clover Town – Alice’s Room

Alice (…Oh. I think this is a good turn.) (If the next card is a high number… maybe I can win?)

It had been a while since I played cards with Boris. We hadn’t done it in a long time, so I was the one who invited him this time.

I draw a card… Looks like luck is on my side today.

Alice "I win, Boris!"

I played my card with delight. The moment I did, Boris quickly got up and began heading for the door.

Alice "…Hey, wait a second. Where do you think you’re going?"

When I called after him, he visibly flinched.

Boris "Ahaha, I just remembered something I had to do. I promised the mouse I’d meet him… It’s about time we started our game of tag… you know?"

Alice "Can’t it wait? It’s not like you’ll catch him this time either."

Boris "Whether I catch him or not isn’t the point, okay? It’s about enjoying the process, you know? Chasing the mouse around is the fun part."

Alice "That so? Then all the more reason it can wait, right?"

Boris "No, no, the mouse is waiting for me. He’s probably stretching his neck out right now, dying for me to come play with him."

Boris "So… yeah. I’ll keep your promise next time, okay?"

He tilted his head cutely. But right now, I was in no mood to fall for it.

Alice "You will keep your promise, right?"

I mimicked him, tilting my head just as he had. I knew it didn’t suit me, but Boris was weak to that kind of cheesy behavior.

Boris "Ugh… Fine, do what you want…"

He slumped in defeat, clearly resigned.

Later

Alice "So fluffy…"

Boris "It’s my tail… I am a cat, you know…"

Before we started the game, we’d made a bet:

If I lost, I’d do whatever Boris said during this time slot. If he lost, he’d have to do what I wanted.

It was something we used to do from time to time when playing games. Since we hadn’t played since we started dating, I felt like doing it again.

And so, having secured my victory, I was now getting to touch Boris’s tail. I also borrowed his fur wrap and draped it around my neck.

Alice "I get now why the twins want this so badly…"

Boris "…Please don’t say creepy things like that. Those guys have been looking at tails with really suspicious eyes lately…"

He actually shuddered. I guess the fear of having your tail pulled out is something only a cat could understand.

Alice "I want one too…"

Boris "YOU TOO!?"

Alice "But it’s just so soft and nice to touch. I wanted to feel it—that’s why I got so serious about the game."

Boris "Yeah, I noticed… You were dead serious. I could feel the intensity in your eyes."

Boris gave a mock sulk, shrugging his shoulders.

Alice "…It feels like I used up all my luck for the year."

My starting hand had been awful. I honestly thought I had no chance of winning.

Well… "for the year" might be a bit dramatic.

Boris "Oh come on~ You’ve got pretty good luck when it comes to games. After losing by that much, it’s hard to feel like I’ll ever win again."

He gave a crooked smile as he said it.

Looking at all the games we’ve played in the past, it’s true—I do win more often.

Alice "It’s not like that… I might lose next time."

Boris "…Then let’s play again next time. That way we’ll see. Let’s keep playing until I win."

He said it gently, casually locking in another promise. Smooth as ever.

Alice "Will you really keep playing with me like this from now on, even if it’s just games?"

Boris "???"

Boris "Of course! If you’re not sick of me, I’d love to keep playing with you as much as you want!"

Alice "……… I see. Got it."

It seemed Boris didn’t quite catch the real meaning behind my question.

Alice (The way we spend time together has changed since we started dating… Am I the only one who's bothered by that?)

Boris is always so natural and relaxed. Maybe I’m the only one who’s hyper-aware of it.

Alice (I am aware of him… very much so.)

It’s frustrating, but I have to admit it. Whenever things start to feel romantic, I get nervous and can’t help but focus on it.

This time, thanks to the game and the bet, we’ve slipped back into the old rhythm—like when we were just friends.

And that’s been a relief. Without that playful atmosphere, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to touch his tail.

Boris "But still, no matter what, it doesn’t change the fact that I lost again."

Boris "This poor loser needs some comforting words… You’ll give me some, won’t you, Alice?"

Alice "…Want me to pat your head?"

Boris "Uh, no, not that kind of comfort…"

Apparently disappointed, Boris slumped his shoulders. He began mumbling, "I was hoping for more like…"

Clearly, he wasn’t satisfied with just a head pat. So what kind of comfort did he have in mind?

Alice (I can guess… but just this once, I’ll let it go.)

Even as a couple, I still want moments like this—moments that feel simple and familiar.

Boris "…Hey Alice, what are you doing?"

Alice "Can’t you tell? I’m patting your head."

I answered while enjoying the silky feel of his hair.

Boris’s hair is lovely to the touch—it really does feel like petting a real cat.

Alice "Just like a cat…"

After a while, Boris’s tail started slowly swaying, clearly in bliss.

He looked a little pouty, but his eyes softened dreamily as he smiled. His tail and expression—it was all unmistakably cat-like.

Boris "Of course I am. I’m not like a cat. I am a cat. How many times do I have to say that before it sinks in?"

Alice "…I think I understand. Or at least, I try to."

Sometimes he really does seem like a cat, through and through. But maybe because of how he looks, I still tend to see him more as a cat-like person than an actual cat.

I kept stroking his hair, and soon he started purring in his throat.

Alice (…He really does look like a cat.) (A giant, pink one… but still.)

If I overlook the size and color, he’s unmistakably a cat. Then again, those are pretty big things to overlook.

Boris "…Well, this kind of comfort isn’t bad either. But next time, I’d love it if you comforted me the way I want."

Alice "…That depends on how you want to be comforted."

I gave a light smack to the head of the oversized, pink-colored cat who had snuggled into my lap, clearly enjoying himself too much.

Later

Alice "…Let’s clean up the cards first, okay?"

She spoke in a tone like a mother calmly reasoning with her child. After tapping the stacked cards into place, she slid them back into their case.

Almost as if waiting for that moment, Boris spoke up again.

Boris "Are you done? You're done, right? Then let’s do riddles!"

Alice "…Why are you so obsessed with riddles?"

Boris "Because I lost the game and got my tail touched—nothing went my way. But if we do riddles, I can make you struggle for once, right?"

With his tail swishing, Boris smiled brightly.

Alice "…You want to make me struggle?"

Boris "Yeah, I do. I love the look on your face when you’re stumped. You’re seriously cute when you're confused… and even cuter when you get the answer wrong and pout about it."

So let’s do riddles, he said with a grin, pleading with a bright “please?”

Alice "…Only if you let me pull your tail."

Boris "…You’ve been spending way too much time around those twins."

Boris "Aaagh, why do you always go there? I’m starting to doubt if you even like me… seriously, I’m losing confidence here…"

Alice "What? How did we even get to that point?"

Boris "Because it’s true! You were way sweeter to me before we started dating… now that we’re together, you’ve gotten kind of cold."

Alice "You're imagining things. That’s not true."

Boris "Imagining it? Really…? I don’t think it’s just in my head."

Alice "I’m telling you—it is."

Alice (Don’t look at me with those eyes…!)

His upward glance made her heart skip a beat. Before, she would’ve been totally unfazed by a look like that.

Alice (………)

Alice (…I’m hopeless. I’ve got it bad…)

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 9

Event List

Scene – Clover Tower – Alice’s Room

Alice "…It’s that time again. Another round of meetings."

The third assembly period. That troublesome time has returned once more.

Boris "If you sigh too much, your happiness will slip away, you know?"

Boris "Come on, just get changed for now. It might not lift your spirits, but… it couldn’t hurt, right?"

Alice "If anything, I think it’ll just make me more depressed."

Alice "…Well, no point complaining. I’ll go get changed."

Boris "Wow, Alice, you’re such a man—so decisive and cool. I’m falling for you all over again."

Pierce "Boris, you idiot! Alice isn’t a man—she’s a girl! She’s not cool, she’s cute!"

Boris "…You’re the idiot. I know she’s a girl, and I know she’s cute. You just don’t get metaphors, do you, dumb mouse…"

Pierce "I’m not dumb! I’m a smart mouse! I’m way smarter than any cat, especially you!!"

Boris "There’s no such thing as a smart mouse. All mice are dumb. You just happen to be the dumbest of them all."

Pierce "I—I’m not dumb!! I’m not dumb!! I’m a very smart, clever mouse!!"

Alice "…Anyway, I’m going to go change."

Later

Alice "…Okay, I’m changed."

Alice "…So, what exactly are you two doing?"

Pierce was sprawled out on the floor, while Boris stomped on him repeatedly.

Boris "Welcome back, Alice. What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? I’m playing with the mouse."

Pierce "H-help me, Alice…! The cat… the kitty’s being mean…!!"

Alice "…Boris, get your foot off him."

Boris "Aww, but it was just getting to the good part…"

Alice "Just move it."

Alice "And Pierce, come on—boys don’t cry."

Alice "…Sigh."

Boris "…You look kinda drained, Alice. You sure you’re okay? You seemed exhausted just from changing."

(Who do you think is exhausting me…)

Alice "I’m fine. I’ll recover soon enough…"

Alice "But yeah, thinking about the meeting does make me tired. I wish we could have a more productive discussion for once…"

Boris "Not gonna happen. Not with that guy running the show."

Pierce "Nightmare’s trying his best! He really is trying to make the meetings meaningful!"

Pierce "Trying to make decisions… I hope."

Alice "…That sounds more like wishful thinking."

Boris "Don’t waste your time on that stupid mouse, Alice. If you catch his stupidity, that’d be a real problem."

Boris "Still, yeah, trying to keep that group in line must be rough. They’re all a bunch of weirdos with their own baggage."

Boris "And getting them all to focus on one topic? Practically impossible."

Alice "…You’ve got a point."

You could call them unique, or just say they’re a bunch of difficult personalities. Either way, managing them or getting them to concentrate on a single issue is an impossible task.

(Expecting Nightmare to pull that off is probably asking too much…)

Then again, even someone other than Nightmare probably couldn’t do it.

It’s only now that I’m realizing just how impressive that "no interference during the assembly" agreement really is.

The agreement is impressive—but the person who managed to establish it might be even more so.

Go to Event - Boris Card Game 3

Later

Scene – Clover Town – Shopping District

Man "Did you hear? Just a while ago, the lizard was dragging a Nightmare down the street."

Man "Really? I hadn’t heard."

Man "Apparently, they brought him back after he ran off. What a headache..."

Man "He probably didn’t want to attend the meeting. I mean, making him the chairman… it’s worrying in so many ways."

Man "None of us really want a Nightmare as the meeting’s chair, either…"

Woman "I feel like eating mushroom dishes. Is that okay?"

Man "Sure, I don’t mind. I’ll eat whatever."

Woman "Thanks, then let’s go with mushrooms. There’s a really good place nearby."

Woman "Oh, but the meeting at Clover Tower just ended, didn’t it? It might be crowded..."

Man "Let’s go check it out anyway. If it’s packed, we’ll just find somewhere else."

Woman "Right, good idea."

The meeting had ended, and I’d gone out into town.

I was supposed to spend time with Boris, but the twins stirred things up, and he got all worked up chasing after them.

As a result, I was left alone with nothing to do. So, I decided I might as well wander around by myself.

Later

I enjoyed a bit of window shopping. Just as I was about to call it a day, I ran into a familiar face.

Alice "…Pierce."

Pierce "Oh, Alice! Are you heading to the Tower now?"

Pierce "Me too! Want to go together?"

As soon as he saw me, Pierce brightly invited me along.

1. Go with him 2. I’ve got an errand to run… 3. Decline

1. Go with him

Alice "Sure. Let’s go together."

Pierce "Yeah, let’s go! Do you want to stop anywhere on the way?"

Pierce "I mean, being a little late is okay, right? Nightmare’s nice, he wouldn’t care."

Pierce "Ah, but the lizard assistant is kinda scary. If we’re late and he gets mad, maybe we should be on time after all."

Pierce "Instead, let’s hang out after the meeting!"

Alice "Hang out? Where?"

Pierce "Anywhere’s fine! There are tons of shops and plazas around the Tower—we can have fun anywhere."

Pierce "As long as there are no cats, I’m happy. Oh, but since a cat’s usually stuck to you, that might be a problem…?"

(“Stuck to me”…)

Alice "………"

Alice "…We’ll see. If it works out, I’ll come with you."

2. I’ve got an errand to run…

Alice "Sorry. I’ve got somewhere I need to stop by for work before heading to the Tower."

I planned to drop by the inn before returning—it's time to submit shift preferences.

Pierce "Really? You’re such a hard worker, even now."

Alice "It’s not like I’m working right away, though."

Pierce didn’t seem particularly upset. He just muttered, "Huh, okay."

Pierce "Well, I’ll head there first, then. See you at the Tower!"

Alice "Yeah, see you later."

3. Decline

Alice "…Sorry, I think I’ll pass. I want to wander a bit longer."

(If Boris saw us together, he’d definitely sulk…)

Feeling a bit guilty, I turned him down. Pierce immediately drooped.

Pierce "…So you don’t want to hang out with me? You don’t like me?"

Pierce "If even you don’t like me, I’m gonna be so sad…"

Alice "I didn’t say I didn’t like you. It’s not about you—it’s just that I’m not ready to head back yet."

Pierce "Really? So you don’t hate me? Then that’s fine! I’m just glad you don’t hate me!"

After I reassured him, he quickly perked up and walked away, cheerful again.

Alice (Good thing he’s so simple…)

Choices Converge

Scene Change – Sky

And so, after all that, I returned to the Tower and attended the meeting once more.

During the assembly period, it's just meetings and breaks over and over again. I still have work outside of this, but even then, I’m more than a little tired of it.

Boris and Pierce are probably even more fed up than I am.

Alice (I hope this ends soon…)

During the assembly period, conflict is forbidden. The peace is nice… but life in the forest wasn’t so bad either.

Alice (…Wait. When did I get so used to the forest…?)

Well, aside from the door stuck to that tree. That thing is creepy and downright unsettling.

But aside from that…

Alice (……I kind of want to go back to the forest soon…)

Scene Change – Clover Town – Restaurant Area

Boris "…I wish the meetings would just hurry up and end. Being tied down against my will seriously pisses me off. I mean it—I just want it to be over already."

Boris "…And it’s not just me, you know. What really bugs me is that you’re being dragged into this too. Only I should get to pull you around for my own convenience."

Alice "Yeah, well—hold on, I never gave you that kind of privilege, okay?"

During our free time, the two of us walked through town.

Boris had been talking nonstop for a while now, but I was only half-engaged in the conversation.

Boris "What? So, are you saying you’d let some other guy drag you around however he wants?"

Alice "That’s not what I mean. I’m saying that you dragging me around is also a probl—ah!"

Boris "OW! Hey, Alice! You’re stepping on it—you’re stepping on it!!"

Alice "What!? Wh-what!?"

Boris "My tail! You stepped right on my tail—it hurts! Ow, ow, ow!!"

Alice "!?" "Oh my gosh, I’m sorry!!"

I had been looking at Boris’s face while talking, and my feet got tangled. Sure enough, I’d stepped right on his tail—hard.

Boris "Why would you press down harder like that!? Are you sure it wasn’t on purpose!? That really, really hurt…"

Alice "Of course it wasn’t on purpose! I’m sorry, my feet just got tangled up!"

(I mean, walking in these shoes is hard…)

I hoped he could read the part I didn’t say aloud—but Boris gave no sign of catching on. He was too busy holding the tip of his tail and blowing on it.

Boris "So it wasn’t on purpose? Okay then… still, ouch. That pain made my fur stand on end—it’s been a while since something hurt that bad."

Alice (That bad, huh…)

Still, Boris didn’t blame me. He returned to his usual tone and kept walking as if nothing had happened.

Later

Boris "Suits really make your shoulders stiff, huh? I mean, they’re formal and tight—it’s to be expected. But even if you know that, stiff is stiff."

Alice "…Isn’t it the fur that’s making your shoulders stiff?"

Boris "No way! If that were true, I’d have permanent shoulder tension, wouldn’t I?"

Alice "Well… yeah, good point…"

I said something kind of silly.

I just couldn’t concentrate on the conversation. My mind kept wandering…

Boris "I don’t hate this outfit, but the downside is the color—it’s black."

Boris "It’s hot during the day, and at night I blend into the shadows. I don’t dislike black, but as a clothing color, it’s kind of... yeah."

Even though my replies were a bit lukewarm, Boris didn’t seem to care and just kept bouncing from topic to topic.

1. You usually wear black too 2. It suits your catlike nature 3. Pink is hard on the eyes

1. You usually wear black too

Alice "You usually wear black anyway."

Boris "Yeah, but the clothes I usually wear don’t make me blend into the darkness at night, right? So I don’t really mind wearing black in those cases."

Boris "What went wrong this time…? Maybe it was a mistake to go with black fur trim too… But if I went with pink, I’d probably get flak for it."

Alice "Yeah, I’d probably be the first to complain. A man in a black suit with pink fur trim? I wouldn’t want to walk next to you."

3. Pink is hard on the eyes

Alice "Black’s fine. Pink is way too harsh on the eyes."

Boris "So basically… you’re saying my usual outfit is painful to look at? No way you’d say something like that, right?"

Boris "…Why are you looking away, then?"

Alice "…Hmm, I wonder."

(He didn’t realize it was hard to look at…)

Choices Converge

Boris "Tch, seriously. You’ve never really complimented my clothes, have you?"

Alice "Can you blame me? There are more things wrong with them than worth praising."

Boris "Ehh~? Okay, maybe this suit isn’t great, but I don’t think my usual clothes have any issues…"

Alice "…Want me to list all the problems I see with them?"

Boris "…No thanks. I don’t need you insulting my casual clothes too. Ugh, I’m sick of this outfit—I wanna get out of this stuffy suit already."

Boris "Hey, Alice. Aren’t you getting tired of your clothes too?"

Boris "If you are, let’s wear something different. Like matching suits. You and me, all dressed up the same."

Boris "…Yeah, that would be dangerously cute. It’d look amazing on you. Adorable."

Alice (Huhhh!? W-what part of that sounds like a good idea!?)

2. It suits your catlike nature

Alice "I think it suits you. It’s very… catlike."

Boris "Really? If you say so, I guess the color’s fine after all."

Boris "And sometimes it’s nice to blend in instead of standing out all the time."

Alice "Exactly. You normally stand out like a sore thumb—maybe it’s good to be inconspicuous once in a while."

Boris "Stand out? That’s not a bad thing. Standing out is awesome."

Boris "Tch, seriously. You’ve never really complimented my clothes, have you?"

Alice "Can you blame me? There are more things wrong with them than worth praising."

Boris "Ehh~? Okay, maybe this suit isn’t great, but I don’t think my usual clothes have any issues…"

Alice "…Want me to list all the problems I see with them?"

Boris "…No thanks. I don’t need you insulting my casual clothes too. Ugh, I’m sick of this outfit—I wanna get out of this stuffy suit already."

Choices Converge

Boris "Hey, Alice. Aren’t you getting tired of your clothes too?"

Boris "If you are, let’s wear something different. Like matching suits. You and me, all dressed up the same."

Boris "…Yeah, that would be dangerously cute. It’d look amazing on you. Adorable."

Alice (Huhhh!? W-what part of that would look good!?)

Boris "I’m telling you, it’ll look great—I guarantee it. Come on, please?"

Alice "…Give me a break."

Alice "…………"

We continued walking as we talked.

Just a leisurely stroll with no destination in mind. We’d probably walked quite a bit by now.

Alice "…………"

Boris "～～～♪"

Alice "…………"

Boris "～～～～～～♪"

He seemed to be in a really good mood, humming a tune here and there.

Alice (…This won’t do. I should say it.)

Alice "…It’s hard to walk like this."

I finally spoke up. His reply was casual and breezy.

Boris "Yeah? Don’t worry, if you trip, I’ll catch you."

Alice "………… That’s not the point."

Boris was clearly enjoying himself. He had no intention of changing this setup.

Alice "…It’s making me walk slower."

Boris "Then just walk slowly."

And I really was moving slowly. That’s how I ended up stepping on his tail earlier.

I couldn’t help it—I had no choice but to slow down.

Even if I wanted to speed up, I couldn’t. I was going at less than half my usual pace.

Alice "You’re making it hard to walk."

Boris "! Hard to walk!?"

Boris’s cheerful expression faltered.

Boris "Come on, that’s a little harsh… I’m just trying to keep us from getting separated during our walk."

Boris "If you’re going for a stroll with a cat, you have to make sure you don’t lose them. Cats wander off easily, you know?"

Alice "Walking a cat, huh…"

Cats aren’t the kind of pets you need to take out for walks in the first place. It’s not that they get lost—they just wander off on their own.

They disappear somewhere and come back whenever they feel like it. That’s what cats do.

Alice "A cat isn’t a dog. You don’t need to put it on a leash and walk it. So there’s no reason for you to be this clingy."

Boris "Yeah, I’m not a dog, so I don’t need a leash. But since cats do tend to wander off, I need you to keep me close."

Boris "Since I don’t wear a leash, I’m the one keeping you close."

Alice "Keeping me close is one thing…"

Alice "Holding hands would be fine, but this is…"

Too much.

He had his arm around my shoulders, making it incredibly difficult to walk.

Boris "More than holding hands—it looks even closer, don’t you think? Like we’re really close. Totally gives off that vibe."

Alice "Yeah… we really do look like a couple."

Boris "Exactly! We are a couple, so it’s fine."

Boris "Anyone who sees us would know right away—we look like a close couple. I’m not doing it just for show, though."

Boris "I’m not showing off, but… this kind of thing is nice. It’s obvious to anyone that we’re lovers."

Alice "Yeah. Obvious… painfully obvious."

Obvious lovers. A couple still in their early days.

If this were marriage, it’d be the honeymoon phase.

We’re radiating sugary sweetness so strongly, you could practically see it in the air.

Alice (S-So sweet… Too sweet…)

I don’t know what to do. Not that I have to do anything—but it’s all so ticklish and overwhelming.

Boris "It’s nice, walking together like this. I like taking walks with you. It’s fun."

Alice "Y-Yeah…"

We’re just walking, and yet Boris seems totally giddy.

Boris "Huh? Alice, aren’t you having fun? Isn’t it fun being with me?"

Alice "Eh… No, I am having fun. But still…"

Alice "Being this clingy is kind of… embarrassing, I guess…"

My voice trailed off, flustered.

Boris "Clingy…? Am I really that clingy?"

Alice "You are. You’re way too clingy."

Boris "Really…?"

Alice "Yes, really."

(I wasn’t this clingy with the person I dated before…)

Granted, I only have one person to compare to, but still—this didn’t happen with my previous partner.

He was an adult man—calm, gentle, and composed.

We never did things like this. Never so clingy and obviously “couple-like.”

Alice "Yes, you’re too clingy. It’s like… so over-the-top, it’s annoying."

Boris "Annoying!?"

Alice "I mean, to people watching us. They probably think we’re a couple of idiots. Like ‘Ugh, look at those two…’"

Clinging to each other to the point that it interferes with walking—we look like a textbook example of a dumb couple.

Those kinds of couples are embarrassing to even look at. I never thought I’d become one of them.

That never happened with my previous partner. We never did anything so flashy or ridiculous out in public.

He was always cool, always composed. So much so that I sometimes wondered if he really liked me.

We never did anything foolish.

Boris "Who cares how other people see us?"

Alice "…I care. Even if we’re dating, I didn’t think we’d be walking around like this, all glued together."

Boris "…Tch. Who are you comparing me to?"

Alice "Huh…?"

Boris "You’re comparing me to someone, aren’t you? That guy you dated before?"

Bullseye. He was right—I was thinking of the guy I dated before.

Boris "I’m not him. That’s why I cling to you. I like you, I want to be close. I want to be clingy. Just deal with the awkward walking, okay?"

Alice "…………"

So obvious. Jealousy—clear as day.

It felt childish, like something out of a pretend relationship. Not even trying to hide it.

He didn’t care who saw us or what they thought. Completely free-spirited. It was embarrassing. Ridiculous.

…No one had ever been foolish like this with me before. I’ve never felt this ticklish inside before.

Alice (Ah… I see. He really does like me.)

He likes me. It’s clear to anyone—he’s showing it so openly.

Like an animal showing affection—no need to hide it. No concern for others, just focused on what’s right in front of him.

Boris likes me.

Alice (…He loves me wholeheartedly.)

I’m the one being loved. But in my previous relationship, it was the opposite.

I was the one hopelessly in love. I loved so much, I couldn’t see anything else.

Alice (That feeling…)

That same feeling I had back then—does Boris feel that way about me now?

Does he love me just as deeply as I once loved… him?

Boris "Hey, Alice… Do you still love that guy? Do you want me to act like him—keep my distance when we walk?"

Alice "…………"

Alice "…No."

He never even held my hand in public. Not once did he ever put his arm around my shoulder like this.

But I wanted to hold him. I couldn’t see anything else—I only had eyes for him.

I think I was foolish. But still… that feeling I had back then—

If Boris is giving that same kind of feeling to me now...

Alice "It’s embarrassing… but it’s fun… so, it’s okay."

I squeezed up against him, closing the distance on my own.

Back then, I was always anxious. I never felt truly fulfilled—because I was the only one in love.

Alice "It’s really… super embarrassing, though."

Boris "Heh. I’m not embarrassed. I’m enjoying this."

Boris "Going out with someone you like—it’s fun."

Alice "…You’re such an embarrassing cat, Boris."

I don’t want Boris to feel like I did. I don’t want him to ever feel unsure or unloved.

Boris "I’m not an embarrassing cat. I just like you, that’s all."

Boris "I like you, so of course I want to be close to you. You don’t have to be a cat for that to be normal, right?"

He gave me a wide, toothy smile.

His outfit today might be more muted in color, but his head is still pink. From the first time I met him, he’s always been all pink—that ridiculous pink cat.

Now, it feels like even my mind is turning pink under his influence.

Go to Home Event – Pierce 3 End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Boris Airay Event 8

Event List

Scene – Forest – Arrows and Doors

I walked through the night forest, alone.

Even when I wasn’t specifically looking for Boris and the others, I found myself coming here time and again.

The forest of arrows and doors. Sometimes I wandered into the area where the doors stood, sometimes I just sat down and spent time there.

Leaning against a tree trunk… I would dream.

Dreams of my sister—visions of her that only appeared here, or in dreams.

I had just seen her again recently. I remembered her voice saying, “I won’t forgive you.” And before I knew it, I was here once more.

I walked on. Through the silence of night...

Boris “Good evening, Alice.”

Alice “…………”

The stillness was broken by the sound of my name. The voice of my sister ringing in my head was overwritten by Boris’s voice.

That bright pink presence appearing in the darkness reminded me of reality.

Boris “Out for a nighttime stroll? It’s dangerous to be alone—so I’ll walk with you. Let’s enjoy a nice little walk together.”

Alice “Uh… yeah…”

For some reason, I felt dazed—like I was in a trance, unable to speak properly.

I had felt like I’d drifted into another dream again, but Boris’s presence pulled me right back. My head was foggy, like I’d just woken up.

Boris “Want to hold hands while we’re at it? Might as well do it like lovers. Come on, give me your hand.”

Before I knew it, he had taken my hand. In a smooth motion, he intertwined his fingers with mine.

“Let’s go,” he said, and we started walking again. After a little while, he spoke.

Boris “Wanna explore around here together?”

Boris “Don’t say something boring like ‘we’ve already explored everything.’ It’s about us exploring together—that’s what matters.”

Alice “…What’s the difference between exploring and taking a walk? Are we supposed to be looking for something?”

Even now, walking with Boris holding my hand, it already felt like a kind of exploration to me. I wasn’t really in the mood for any kind of survival-type activity, so this was more than enough.

Boris “If you want to pick a goal and search for it, we can do that. If not, that’s fine too. Just walking around wondering if we’ll find something fun is good enough.”

Alice “If we’re just walking, isn’t that a stroll?”

Boris “Is it? I think it’s different. A stroll is just aimless wandering. Exploration is when you go out hoping for something exciting to happen—together.”

(Something exciting together…)

1. “You say the cutest things.” 2. “Sounds fun.”

1. “You say the cutest things.”

Alice “You say the cutest things.”

Boris “Cute? You mean fun, right?”

Alice “It’s fun too, but it’s also cute.”

Boris “Cut it out. I’m a guy, you know? Don’t call me cute… I just wanna have fun with you, that’s all.”

2. “Sounds fun.”

Alice “Sounds fun.”

It was a childish kind of idea—but coming from Boris, it did sound fun, even to me.

Boris “Right? And it’s not just sounding fun—exploring really is fun. You’ll be excited too, I’m sure of it.”

Choices Converge

Boris “Hey, let’s go together, okay? If you’re afraid of the dark, I’ll hold your hand the whole time. …Actually, I wanna hold it even if you’re not.”

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

Not hard enough to hurt, but just enough that I could clearly feel the warmth of his skin and the strength in his grip.

(Somehow…)

His usual attitude calmed me. A smile naturally spread across my face.

Alice “All right, let’s explore. No specific goal, though—just looking for something interesting.”

Boris “Got it. And don’t you dare let go of my hand, okay?”

Alice “I won’t let go.”

Scene Change – Arrows and Mushrooms

I wonder how long we’d been walking. We must have covered quite a distance.

The "exploration" was more fun than I’d expected. As one would expect from Boris, he knew so many things I didn’t.

A spring with crystal-clear water. An area full of mushrooms big enough to use as umbrellas.

A suddenly appearing flower field. A suspicious hole in the trunk of a tree.

After such an adventurous journey, I was completely worn out, and finally leaned back against a large tree to rest.

The time of day was still night. As we sat side by side to rest, a cool breeze blew through.

Boris “The night breeze feels good. On nights like this, sleeping outside feels amazing. I think I’ll sleep out here…”

Alice “Huh? Sleep outside? Where exactly?”

Boris “What do you mean where? On a tree, of course. Where else? Wanna sleep too? Though you might catch a cold.”

Alice “On a tree!? I’ll pass.”

Maybe a cat could do that, but I certainly couldn’t pull it off.

Boris “Really? It’s nice and cool though.”

Alice “Is it really? Didn’t you say you might catch a cold?”

Boris “I haven’t caught one so far. Even if it feels a little chilly, it’s still pleasant to me.”

Alice “I don’t think chilly is pleasant at all.”

Boris “It is! The best part is just being in nature and feeling the wind while you sleep. That’s the greatest.”

Boris “The birds chirping is soothing too… Ahhh, I wish I could show you how great it is. Hey, let’s sleep together after all.”

Alice “No way. I’ll fall if it’s on a tree.”

Boris “You’ll fall if it’s on a tree? Oh, so if it’s not a tree, then it’s fine?”

Alice “…Huh?”

His eyes lit up. That look meant he had an idea.

Boris “So, as long as it’s not on a tree and it’s not cold, right?”

He pressed on, and before I really thought it through, I found myself answering vaguely, “Well… maybe.”

The moment he heard my reply, Boris sprang up from where he’d been leaning.

Boris “Okay, got it! Wait here—I’ll get everything ready so you’re comfortable!”

He dashed off. The tree he was heading toward had a door on it.

(Wait…? That tree has a door?)

This wasn’t normally part of the area with doors, yet that particular tree had one.

Boris opened it and disappeared inside—then returned quickly.

Boris “Here! This’ll do the trick, right?”

What he offered—

Alice “…A blanket?”

A pink blanket. It looked warm…

Boris “Yep, a blanket. If you wrap up in this, you definitely won’t be cold. And, look…”

He opened it up and wrapped it around both of us. Before I knew it, we were both snuggled under the same blanket.

Alice “! Wait, together!?”

Boris “Of course. With my body heat too, it’s extra warm, right?”

Boris “You’re wearing pretty light clothes, and you don’t have any fur like I do, so this is perfect. You definitely won’t be cold like this.”

With a wink, Boris gently pulled my wrist under the blanket.

It was a sign to sit down. Still wrapped in the same blanket, the two of us sat down together.

Leaning against the large tree trunk, knees drawn up.

Alice “…………”

Alice “…………”

Same posture as when I come to the forest alone. But now, Boris is by my side.

Our bodies pressed close under the blanket—just like he said, our shared warmth made everything comfortably toasty.

Alice "…It’s warm."

Boris "Yeah, really warm. Uh-oh, I might fall asleep just like that…"

Alice "…Huh? Don’t. I can’t fall asleep that easily."

It’d be lonely if he dozed off first.

…Somehow, it’s been decided that we’re going to sleep like this.

Alice (…I’ve been outmaneuvered.)

This blanket is cheating. It’s so warm.

So comfortable. Even though I’ve never slept outside before, somehow, none of this feels unpleasant.

Alice "…Stay awake a little longer. I’m not going to fall asleep just yet…"

Alice (I want to stay like this a little longer.)

If I fall asleep now, I feel like the next thing I’ll know, it’ll already be time to wake up.

Boris "Got it, I’ll stay up. You get lonely if I fall asleep first, huh… That’s adorable."

Alice "………"

He saw right through me. I suppose it was obvious, but still, it’s a little irritating.

Alice "I’m just worried something might happen! You’re the one who suggested this, so you better do your part and play bodyguard."

Boris "Getting all huffy about it… okay, okay, I’ll let you have that. I’ll protect you from anything bad… but in return, give me a reward."

Rub rub rub. He snuggles against me under the blanket.

Now our whole sides are pressed together.

Alice (…It tickles.)

And now he’s nuzzling his face closer too.

Boris "You smell like soap… Not too sweet, just like you. A scent that fits you perfectly."

Alice "Wait—were you sniffing me?"

Boris "Mmm, yeah. You smell really good…"

His voice is sluggish and drawn out. He must be getting sleepy.

What he’s saying is a little off too, but…

Alice (Well, it’s true I don’t really like super sweet-smelling soaps.)

I prefer something cleaner and more refreshing. That must be what he meant.

Boris "You smell nice. It’s warm… honestly, this might feel even better than sleeping up in the trees. Way better with you next to me."

Alice "Is that so. Good for you. I’m glad I’m not catching a chill."

Boris "That’s not exactly the nuance I meant… ah, whatever."

Boris "I like just lazing around with you. Even if it’s not daytime, it feels like lying in the sun. Warm and cozy."

He sounds so content, it makes me smile.

As I listen, I feel my own consciousness begin to drift gently.

Alice (Warm and cozy… yeah, me too.)

When I used to sit here alone in the forest, hugging my knees, I was always cold. Like sinking into icy water.

Alice (But now, I’m so warm.)

I could stay like this forever.

Alice (Forever…)

Boris "Hey, Alice. Stay with me forever, okay? This time of day, the next, and the one after that—always."

Boris "Will you stay with me… forever?"

Alice "………"

It was so perfectly timed, like he’d read my mind, that it made my heart skip a beat. I glanced over—and those golden eyes were gazing straight at me, just inches away.

That made my heart pound again.

Alice (Forever… together?)

Was he thinking the same thing I was?

It seems too perfect to be true, but somehow… it is. Boris isn’t Nightmare. He can’t read minds.Top of Form

Alice "Being together… forever, huh."

Staying together this time of day and the next—that’s impossible. I have work.

But still… I found myself thinking, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

I want to be with Boris more. I really do.

I find myself wishing this moment could last as long as possible.

Right now, everything just feels so… comfortable.

Even though I’m sitting on the ground, not even inside a house or any sort of building—it shouldn’t be comfortable at all.

Alice (And yet, even being this close together, I don’t dislike it.)

Alice (If anything… I want to be closer.)

Boris "…Sorry, I think I really am getting sleepy. Sleeping next to you like this… feels like I’ll have a really nice dream…"

His voice is slow, sleepy.

Alice "You can sleep. I’m starting to get sleepy too…"

And again, the same thought crosses my mind.

Alice (I think I’ll have a happy dream.)

Scene Change – Clover Town – Inn

A few more time slots have passed since then. This time, we’re back in my usual room.

Boris is sprawled across the sofa again, playfully clinging to me. He seems to really like cuddling like this.

Alice "…Hey, Boris."

When I call out, he lifts his head with a "Hmm?" I steel myself and begin the conversation I’d been thinking about.

Alice "I’ve been thinking about what you proposed to me. I’ve actually considered it."

Boris looks genuinely caught off guard, his expression blank.

Boris "A proposal… considered…? That sounds serious…"

Boris "…You’re always so serious, Alice. That’s admirable."

Alice "Don’t tease me."

I really did think about it.

Honestly, I hadn’t given it any serious thought at all before. But after that night in the forest, when we fell asleep together… I started to feel like maybe I should.

After we both fell asleep wanting to stay close to each other… I thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to give it some real thought.

Boris "I’m not teasing. I really mean it."

Boris "…So? What did you consider? Living together?"

Alice "Not that."

What I considered wasn’t that. It was the other thing.

Alice "I won’t live with you, but… I’ll be your girlfriend."

Boris "…Huh!?"

Boris "…Wait, what…? I’d get it the other way around, but why…??? Why date me but not live with me???"

Alice "We don’t have to live together to date, right?"

Boris "Yeah, but… Saying you don’t want to live with me but still want to date… That just feels…"

Boris "…It kind of feels like you're just pitying me 'cause I seemed lonely. That’s… kinda pathetic."

Alice "Oh, don’t take it that way. I get it now—you’re not lonely."

You’ve explained that enough times. You said the amusement park disappearing wasn’t a big deal. And I believe it’s true.

Not because you’re cold, but because you trust that the people from the amusement park are okay somewhere else.

And you still have a home, even if the place you lived is gone. You’re the kind of person—no, cat—who’s fine without staying in one place. Fine being alone. …That’s just who you are. Very much a cat. Not cold-hearted. Just… feline in your thinking.

Alice "You’re fine on your own, right? That’s why we won’t live together."

Alice "But I like you, so I’ll be your girlfriend. That makes sense, doesn’t it?"

Bottom of FormBoris "Consent... You're saying it in such a serious way again... This isn't some kind of contract procedure, you know?"

Alice "Oh, but isn't it something like that? It's a procedure for changing from friends to lovers."

Boris "Ugh... Hmm... It doesn't feel like two people in love deciding to become a couple. Are you forcing yourself?"

Boris "It feels more like you're becoming my girlfriend out of some kind of friendship obligation, just because I'm feeling lonely..."

Apparently, he didn’t like the way I agreed.

Alice "That's not it... I wouldn't become someone's lover just out of friendship."

Alice "If anything, if I were trying to do something about your loneliness out of kindness, it would be the other way around. I'd agree to live with you, not to be your girlfriend."

Boris "...Yeah, you're right. But still... I don’t know..."

Alice "Ugh... Hmm, yeah... I guess I see your point..."

The way he asked, like he was troubled, made me lose my resolve too.

I had made up my mind to say it, but... maybe I approached it the wrong way.

Boris "It doesn't really feel like we're saying, 'Let's start dating from now on,' does it?"

Alice "...No, it doesn't."

We're both unsure.

Boris "Do you... really want to date me?"

Alice "I think I’d be okay with it. I like you..."

Boris "That sounds... half-hearted."

Being called half-hearted stings.

Alice "What about you, Boris? Do you really want to date me that badly?"

Boris "I do! Because I like you!"

Alice "Then we’re the same."

Boris "No, my passion is different!"

Boris "I'm more serious about this. I like you, and I'm the one who said we should date, right?"

Alice "Well... yeah. But it’s not about who said it first."

Alice "...Are you seriously in love with me?"

Boris "I love you... I really do. I want to be with you."

Boris "Because I love you and want to be with you. Stay with me, Alice."

His plea of "Stay with me" sounded just like that night we spent wrapped in blankets.

Alice "I can’t live with you. I don’t have the confidence for cohabitation."

Boris "That’s fine. I don’t care about living together. Just be with me. We don’t have to live together... let’s just see each other a lot and spend time together."

Alice "...But we’re already doing that, aren’t we?"

Boris "...Yeah. You're right."

Boris "Even now... not much is changing, is it?"

Alice "Yeah. I don’t think things will change much."

Since we both want to be together, there’s no need to force some kind of structure. Our feelings aren’t suddenly transforming, nor is there any dramatic shift.

Boris "...This whole idea of 'dating'—I don’t really get where the line is. It’s not like there’s a clear moment where everything changes..."

Alice "...True."

Nothing really changes. There’s no definite point where you can say, "This is different now."

Boris "If you knew nothing would change, why did you decide you wanted to start dating me?"

The reason. That’s hard to explain.

Alice "...Because I wanted to be with you."

Boris "But we are together, right? You said that yourself earlier."

Boris "Nothing’s changed. We’re still together now."

Alice "I want to be with you more."

Boris "Huh?"

Boris "Then we should live together. Come live with me."

Alice "That's not it... It's more like... I want to be closer to you, more than just friends..."

It was something Boris had said before. But when I say the same thing, it comes out awkward.

Alice "……"

(...I wonder if it’s not getting through.)

Boris is good with words, but I’m not. Even when we say the same thing, my meaning doesn't come across as clearly.

Boris "...Me too."

Alice "...Huh?"

Boris "I like you too, so I want to be closer to you than just friends. I want to be by your side even more."

Alice "……"

(Even though he said the same words...)

Even when we say similar things, Boris conveys it so much better. It’s a little frustrating.

Boris "Alright, let’s date, Alice. From now on, we’re a couple."

Alice "...Okay."

Alice "…………"

Alice "Still... It doesn’t really feel like we’re lovers. Maybe it’ll gradually start to feel that way?"

Boris "Hmm... Yeah, maybe."

Boris "I think we’ll get there eventually. We'll start acting more like a couple..."

Alice "...I can't really picture it."

We've always been friends. Even saying we're a couple now doesn’t quite feel real.

(I’m the one who brought it up, but... this is kind of weird.)

Even after declaring we're dating, it still doesn’t feel like we’re lovers.

Boris "Hmmmm... It’s kind of a problem if we don’t feel like a couple..."

Boris "Ah, I know! Let’s have a kiss like real lovers! A kiss to commemorate the start of our relationship!"

Alice "A-a kiss to commemorate..."

Boris "...What?"

Alice "N-no... It’s just... surprisingly fairytale-ish... You're more of a romantic than I thought, Boris..."

Boris "Hmph... Men are dreamers too, you know! Don’t you want to?"

The way Boris sulked made me want to laugh.

Alice "N-no, it’s fine... Let’s do it. As a commemoration of the start of our relationship."

Boris "Yeah, then... as a commemoration. Let’s do it..."

(...Even though, we’ve actually kissed before as friends.)

Boris is a cat. He’s a friend, yes, but also a cat, so he doesn’t make me put my guard up.

There have been plenty of times we’ve touched in ways that would be rejected if he were an ordinary man. He’s even licked me before, including kisses.

Alice "…………"

Boris "…………"

We closed our eyes and kissed. It was the first time we’d done it like this, formally.

The kisses before weren't lover-like, of course. Nor were they the affectionate kisses shared between friends.

They were animal kisses. I had never really given them much thought.

(But really, this doesn’t feel much different.)

The act is the same.

A kiss is a kiss. Lips touching.

Getting licked had actually felt more intense.

Eyes closed, lips touching... A typical, unremarkable kiss. Just a normal kiss between lovers.

(...Huh?)

Alice "……?"

(…Huh?)

Something feels strange.

I’m nervous. It feels different from usual.

(Ugh… wh-what…?)

It’s different.

Even though it wasn’t a deep kiss or anything, it feels different. I’m getting warm.

Boris "…………"

Boris "…Alice?"

Boris calls out to me as I lower my gaze.

He says my name—in the same voice as always.

Nothing about it has changed…

(Just hearing him say my name… why is that enough to make me feel this way…?)

It just feels different from normal.

Boris "Did you not like it?"

Alice "N-no, I didn’t hate it. We’ve done it a few times before, right?"

Boris "Yeah, we have… a few times…"

Boris "…But I got nervous. Wasn’t I weird?"

Boris lowers his gaze too. He must’ve been holding his breath, because he lets out a slow, shaky exhale.

Alice "Eh…"

Boris "I was… weird."

Boris "It felt strange… It was just a normal kiss… but it felt so different."

Alice "Y-yeah… it did."

(So Boris felt it too…)

Realizing that only makes the strange feeling grow stronger.

Scene Change – Clover Town – Restaurant

Waitress "Good work, Alice. I’ll take over now."

Alice "Thanks. Let’s see... there’s nothing in particular you need to know."

Waitress "Good work. You’re always zipping around the dining hall, aren’t you?"

Alice "...Are you saying I’m scurrying around? I move a lot because the customers keep calling me over."

Waitress "The customers like you, you know. Some of them even ask only you for water refills."

Alice "Really? I hadn’t noticed."

Waitress "You hadn’t noticed? You’re so oblivious... I bet a lot of them come here just for you."

Alice "What? No way…"

Waitress "I’m serious. Before long, they’ll probably start calling you the poster girl of this place."

Alice "Ehhh… No way that’s happening."

Waitress "It’s not impossible. Actually, I think it is happening. You might not like the attention, but outsiders like you are rare and intriguing."

Waitress "Yeah, it’s totally happening. If you think of it as part of your charm, it’s not a bad thing, right?"

Male Customer "Excuse meee! I’d like to order!"

Waitress "! Coming right away, sir!"

Waitress "…Well then, see you later, Alice. Get some rest."

Alice "Thanks. You all hang in there too."

I switched out with my coworker, ending my shift at the restaurant. Now I’ve got a bit of a long break.

(I want to go see Boris… but I kind of feel like going out somewhere too…)

Alice (I was with Boris before I started work. Maybe I’ll just go somewhere for now.)

Since I have a long break, I can visit Boris afterward. With that thought in mind, I start considering where to go.

1. Castle of Hearts 2. The Hatter’s Mansion 3. Clover Tower

1. Castle of Hearts

Scene – Castle of Hearts – Peter’s Room

When I visited the Castle of Hearts, Peter invited me into his room.

He seemed delighted that I didn’t turn him down. More hyper than usual—in fact, he was basically radiating crazy rabbit energy.

Peter "I love you. I adore you."

Peter "Ah, Alice. Without you, my life can't even begin—ow! What was that for, hitting me mid-love confession?!"

He was being annoying, confessing right beside me, so I shoved his cheek sideways with a “crack.” …Apparently, that hurt.

Peter "I was only trying to express my feelings for you..."

Peter "And to think, I’m not even allowed to do that? How cruel. It’s a violation of rabbit rights."

Peter "But still, I love even that kind of tyrannical you. Whether you’re unreasonable, selfish, or completely self-centered, I love you all the same."

Alice "Sorry for being tyrannical, selfish, and self-centered."

(Do you want more of it? Is that what you’re after?)

He’s quite the rabbit when it comes to provoking one’s sadistic instincts.

Peter "It’s not a bad thing, because I love you. Sure, I’d prefer a gentler version of you, but…"

Peter "No matter what kind of you it is, as long as I get to be by your side, I’m happy. Even if I can’t confess my love and you beat me instead, I’d still love you!"

Alice "…………"

(He really does sound like he wants more. Does he want to be hit…?)

Peter "...Being with you like this makes me so happy, I don’t even know what to do with myself. I’m just so happy, so happy that everything else starts to feel irrelevant."

Peter "Is that… weird?"

a. I think it’s extremely weird b. …Well, it is you c. I feel the same way

a. I think it’s extremely weird

Alice "Yeah, I think it’s extremely weird."

I answer without hesitation.

Peter "I see. It’s extremely weird, huh... But honestly, I don’t really mind."

Peter "Whether it’s weird or not isn’t all that important to me. What matters more is how happy I feel right now."

(Then why ask…)

b. …Well, it is you

Alice "…Well, it is you."

Peter "Because it’s me? I turn into this kind of person because I’m me? Hmm, I’m not sure I understand… but it’s not a bad thing, right?"

Peter "If it’s not bad, then I don’t need to worry about it. I’m still happy either way. …Although, I am a little scared of being this happy."

(I’m scared too...)

I still don’t really understand what makes him feel so blissful.

c. I feel the same way

Alice "…I feel the same way."

If I said it was weird, he’d probably go, “But why?! Tell me why?!” and pester me about it. That would be annoying, so I gave him an answer I figured he’d like.

Peter "You feel happy being with me too…? That makes me so happy… Sorry, I’m so overjoyed I can’t even come up with something clever to say…"

Just as expected, Peter was deeply moved.

Peter "Thank you. Really, I’m so incredibly happy."

(…I feel a little guilty.)

But I hope he’ll forgive me, since I don’t really enjoy having my sadistic side teased too much. It’s not like I want to be rough with Peter on purpose.

Subchoices Converge

Peter "…I had a wonderful time, Alice. Please come again. I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."

Alice "…Yeah. I’ll drop by again sometime…"

After having tea in Peter’s room, I told him I’d be heading off. Somehow, I always end up relaxing when I’m here.

(I’ll probably end up coming to see him again…)

2. The Hatter’s Mansion

Scene – Hatter Mansion – Gates

I visited the Hatter’s Mansion. This time, both of the gatekeepers were present.

Alice "It’s been a while, Dee, Dum."

Dee "We’ve been waiting for you, Sis!"

Dee "You never come to play with us anymore, so we’ve been so bored! You have to come visit more, or we’ll be sad."

Dum "Yeah, you’ve gotta come visit a lot more."

Dum "You haven’t been coming around, so we got so bored… we accidentally killed a guest we weren’t supposed to kill."

(That’s not because of me—you two have always killed people indiscriminately.)

I’d really prefer if they didn’t try to blame me.

Cute faces hiding cruel hearts—these twins may sound like they’re joking, but they never are.

Alice "Even if you're bored, you can’t go killing guests…"

I try to scold them, but they cling to the idea that it’s my fault.

Dum "If you want us to do our jobs properly, then you have to come play with us more! If you’re with us, we’ll behave."

Dee "When you don’t come around, we just lose all motivation. We end up thinking things like, ‘Where is she hanging out?’ or ‘Who’s she playing with?’ and we can’t focus at all."

Alice "Sigh… Is that so?"

They talk like they’re completely obsessed with me. Hard to tell how serious they are, though.

Dee "Don’t you think you’ve been neglecting us lately? What have you been doing, ignoring us like this?"

Dee "If you keep ignoring us, we’re gonna start sulking!"

Dum "We’re still kids, you know! If you don’t give us enough attention, we’ll go past sulking and turn bad! Are you okay with that?"

Alice "Uh… well…"

(Wait—they’re not already bad?)

Sure, they aren’t jaded like “troubled teens” in the usual sense. But they’re far from normal children.

(I wonder what would happen if these two did turn “bad”…)

A small part of me is curious to find out.

3. Clover Tower

Scene – Clover Tower – Hallway

I stopped by Clover Tower. While walking through the hallway, I noticed the tower seemed oddly noisy.

Everyone I passed was rushing around, visibly anxious or surprised.

Gray "…………"

Alice "Oh, Gray!"

It’s Gray Ringmark—Nightmare’s assistant. I spotted someone I knew and ran over.

Alice "Hey, the tower seems kind of noisy. Did something happen?"

Gray "Oh, Alice. The tower’s noisy?"

Alice "Yeah. Everyone seems kind of restless."

Gray "Ah, yeah… That might be it. Nightmare-sama is, for once, working seriously."

Gray "…It’s honestly kind of chilling."

Alice "…Huh??"

Gray "…Sorry, that slipped out. Please pretend you didn’t hear that."

Gray cleared his throat quietly, trying to cover for his slip.

Gray "…It’s true that I’m glad he’s working. But more than that, it’s just…"

Apparently, Nightmare is the kind of boss who never takes work seriously. And now, for once, he’s actually working diligently.

Alice (I wonder if it feels the same as when the twins act serious.)

Alice "So that’s why everyone looked so confused. I think I get it now."

Alice "But I’m glad Nightmare is doing his work properly. Actually, I brought something for him."

I lifted the basket I was carrying and showed it to Gray.

Alice "It would’ve annoyed me to give this to someone who was slacking off."

Alice "It’s stew from the inn I work at. There was some left over, but it’s really good. And of course, there’s some for you too."

Gray "A food gift? Thank you. I was just starting to feel hungry."

Gray "…Sorry if this was a burden on you."

Alice "It wasn’t a burden. It’s just leftovers—there weren’t as many customers as expected."

Gray "I see. Then I’ll gladly accept it. Nightmare-sama will be pleased too."

Gray took the basket I offered and gave a faint smile. He looked, somehow, a little tired.

Alice "You look tired. Is it because things are busy?"

Gray "Yeah, very busy. We’re preparing for the upcoming assembly…"

Alice "Oh, right. Another one of those meetings is about to start, isn’t it?"

I think I heard something about that from Boris or Pierce. Gray gave a heavy nod.

Gray "Just thinking about the next meeting gives me a headache…"

Gray "Whether Nightmare-sama can properly lead the proceedings, or if the invited guests are going to cause trouble… There’s just no end to the worries."

Alice "…Good luck."

(He really must go through a lot…)

Choices Converge Scene – Forest

Boris "…………"

Alice "…………"

Boris "…We’re a couple, right?"

Alice "…Yeah."

We’re lovers now. That’s what we’ve become.

Boris "If we’re a couple, then kissing should be normal, right? We should be able to kiss as much as we want. It’d be weird if we didn’t kiss."

Alice "I-it’s not that extreme…"

Boris "It is weird! Couples who love each other kiss! Not kissing would be the weird part!"

The way he confidently declares it is oddly convincing.

It’s true—couples who are close do kiss. And we’ve already kissed now that we’re dating.

I came to the forest to see Boris, so this is a lovers’ meeting. Basically, a date.

And kissing on a date is perfectly normal.

Alice (Lovers…) Boris and I are lovers. There’s nothing strange about kissing.

Boris "Let’s kiss."

Alice "…No."

I turned my face away from Boris as he leaned in.

Boris "You’ve been avoiding it this whole time… Why?"

Alice "We shouldn’t do it too much."

Alice "I think doing it too often isn’t good."

Boris "You won’t even let me do it too much! Why are you rejecting me? Do you hate kissing me?"

Boris "It’s not like we’ve done it that much…"

Alice "It’s not like we haven’t been kissing. We’ve kissed a lot. We didn’t used to kiss this much before."

Boris "That’s because we weren’t lovers back then."

Alice "But we still communicated well enough."

Boris "When you're lovers, you get more variety than just being friends. Even if we argue, maybe we could make up with a kiss..."

He’s said something like that before. But it’s not like we’re even fighting right now.

Alice "We’re not arguing, though."

Boris "Not right now, no, but…"

Boris "…So why can’t we kiss? More variety is a good thing, right? We can do more things than before."

Alice "Even if you say there's more variety, we’re still only kissing."

Before, we used to talk, go out, play games… all kinds of things. That’s decreased lately.

1. It’s not that I don’t like it, but… 2. …I feel kind of lonely

1. It’s not that I don’t like it, but…

(It’s not that I don’t like it…)

It’s not that I dislike acting like a couple.

Maybe this is what couples are supposed to do. Wanting to spend time like that is probably a form of affection, and I am happy about that.

(I am happy, but…) (……… …It’s complicated.)

2. …I feel kind of lonely

(…I feel just a little bit lonely.)

It’s not that I dislike acting like a couple.

Maybe this is normal. Wanting to be that close must be a sign of affection, and that makes me happy.

(But… I also want to spend time like we used to.)

Just hanging out, playfully goofing off without kissing. I liked that too.

Choices Converge

Alice "Lately, it’s been all about kissing."

Boris "Hmmmmm… Then do you want to do other stuff? We can expand the variety even more…"

(Ex…expand it!?)

Boris "Like, besides kissing… there are other things… Is that okay?"

Alice "!?"

Alice "N-no, it’s not okay. That’s not what I meant by variety!"

It’s not that I want things to escalate further.

Alice "You can communicate without kissing, right? There’s no need to do it."

Boris "You don’t kiss because it’s necessary."

(Ugh…)

Alice "Well, no, it’s not like we need to kiss to survive, but… that’s exactly why we don’t have to do it all the time…"

Boris "If we do it enough, maybe it will feel necessary. It might become a habit—something we need to do."

Alice "That… that would be a problem."

Which is why I don’t want to do it that much.

Getting into the habit of kissing—it’s something I never had before.

Boris "It wouldn’t be a problem for me. If I needed it, I’d just do it. I’d kiss you until I couldn’t live without it."

Alice "But…"

(It would be a problem if we broke up.)

I was going to say that, but the words caught in my throat. It’s not something I should say.

Boris looks at me intently. Animals are strange—they make you feel like they can see right through you.

Boris "We should just kiss. And if that’s not enough, we can kiss even more."

Boris "More… and more… lots and lots. It just shows how close we are, right?"

Alice "We didn’t kiss this much before. That’s why… I’m overwhelmed."

I’m confused. I don’t understand how Boris can be so calm about all of this.

Boris "Don’t be overwhelmed. We’re lovers now—of course things are going to change. It’s not the same as when we were just friends."

Boris leans in closer.

Alice (…Ah) (He’s going to kiss me.)

I shut my eyes tightly.

I can’t look directly at him. It all feels strange.

Back when we were just friends, he’d look at me. He’d kiss my cheek, even lick me sometimes.

Even back then, he had kissed me on the lips before.

Boris "Why are you resisting the kiss? I want to kiss you. If you push me away… it hurts."

Alice "B-but it just… it feels ticklish…"

Boris "Are you embarrassed? That’s adorable…"

Alice "Ugh…"

Boris "Alice, you’re so cute…"

His voice is dreamy and sweet.

Like a cat drunk on catnip—so sugary, so dizzying…

Alice (So… sweet…)

I never imagined it would be like this.

Boris had always been just a friend. Calling him a "lover" never quite felt right—he was just a close male friend.

I never thought he’d become this sweet. I never thought he’d change this much.

Alice (Boris was always a kind and gentle cat…) But being lovers makes him far more overwhelming than I expected.

I start to flail and struggle, instinctively trying to break the sugary tension.

Boris "Alice, stay still. I can’t kiss you if you keep moving… You’re so cute."

Alice "~~~~~~~~~…!"

I don’t mind being scolded for squirming, but why does he have to end it with “You’re so cute”?

Alice (T-this is too ticklish…)

I never knew… a kiss could feel this ticklish.

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Pierce and Boris Event 2

Event List

Scene – Forest

Pierce “Cheese-flavored cheese fondue… So tasty, so tasty… It’s really delicious.”

Cheese fondue in the forest. It wasn’t just a standard meal—it had been popular last time, so I prepared it again.

Pierce was happily dipping diced cheese into the cheese fondue pot and eating it. He looked utterly content.

Boris “…Of course cheese fondue tastes like cheese.”

Alice “…………” (Cheese in cheese fondue…)

Just like the name suggests, cheese fondue tastes like cheese. Aside from cornstarch and white wine, it’s basically pure cheese.

Naturally, dipping cheese into more cheese isn’t the standard way to eat it. It’s essentially cheese covered in cheese.

(That looks way too rich…)

Since cheese fondue is already very rich, the ingredients you dip in it are usually on the lighter or blander side. Occasionally people use fried foods as a novelty, but that’s rare.

Alice “Cheese on cheese is just…”

Alice “…too much.”

Cheese squared.

Way too rich. Too intense.

Alice “I’m not good with overly rich foods…”

Pierce “Huh? It’s tasty though. So delicious… like a feast…”

Boris “…You could just gnaw on a block of cheese, couldn’t you? No need to turn it into fondue.”

Pierce “Cheese on its own is good too, but when it’s fondue, it adds more depth to the flavor. It’s way deeper!”

(He’s talking like a gourmet, but…)

Alice “…Basically, it’s just overly rich.”

Even just watching was enough to make my stomach churn.

Authentic cheese fondue is traditionally eaten on its own—it stands as a dish by itself.

But I can’t handle something that rich as a main course. I like to have some salad or something on the side too.

As for what I dip into the cheese, I prefer vegetables.

Doing what Pierce does—dipping cheese into cheese—is an outrageous offense to the eyes.

Boris “…Wait, doesn’t it taste a little lighter than before?”

After taking a bite of a normal bread-dipped fondue, Boris asked.

Alice “…Oh, you noticed?”

Alice “I used cider instead of white wine this time. Apple cider.”

I don’t like strong flavors, so dry white wine—the usual base for fondue—feels a bit much for me. That’s why I tried substituting cider.

Boris “Huh. No wonder it tasted different.”

Alice “…Did it not suit your taste?”

Unlike fake gourmet Pierce, Boris actually has a decent palate.

Boris “No, it’s good. You’re a really good cook. I bet you’d make a great wife.”

Alice “…………”

(This cat…)

I can’t tell how serious he is.

Maybe he’s tipsy. Even with cider, cheese fondue contains more alcohol than people think.

Pierce “I can’t really tell the difference.”

Alice “…I thought so.”

Pairing cheese fondue with cheese is borderline taste-bud negligence. And Pierce was eating a lot.

Pierce “Why do you look so grossed out…? Am I not allowed to dip cheese in cheese fondue? Is that against the rules or something?”

Alice “It’s not a rule, but…”

It’s just not done. It probably doesn’t taste bad, but it’s so rich, you’d realize it was a mistake the moment you took a bite.

Pierce “Then what kinds of things are okay to dip in it? Besides vegetables? I don’t mind veggies, but what else?”

Alice “Let’s see…”

Alice “Not just vegetables—some proteins, like sausages, go well too.”

Alice “Seafood also pairs well…”

Boris “!!!!!”

Boris reacted like he was about to leap off the ground.

Boris “Fish! Fish counts as seafood, right!?”

Alice “Uh… yeah, technically…”

Boris “Fish! Let’s add fish! Don’t you have any fish!?”

Alice “I don’t carry fish around. I’m not a fish vendor…”

Boris “Next time! Bring some next time, okay!? I want fish! Fish in cheese fondue!”

Alice “…………” (Fish in cheese fondue…)

Not as weird as cheese-on-cheese, but still not a typical ingredient.

It’s too hefty. Fish tends to fall apart when cut into chunks, and if it has a strong smell, it can ruin the fondue’s flavor.

Boris “Fish, fish! Fiiiish…”

Pierce “Cheese, cheese! Cheese tastes better~”

Boris “What are you talking about? Fish, obviously. Fish~…”

Alice “…………”

(Same level…)

Boris really has no room to call Pierce stupid.

End Event

[eldiatricc]

SCnKnA Event Boris Card Game 2

Event List

Scene - Clover Town - Alice's Room

Alice “Boris, I win.”

Boris “Gy-nyaa!”

Alice “!?”

As I laid down the winning card, Boris gave a start and let out a strange cry. I flinched at the sound, too.

We were spending a quiet time together in the room, playing a card game. Ever since we’d played it once during the meeting period, we occasionally played like this.

Alice “W-What? Don’t make weird noises like that, it scared me.”

Boris “Ah, sorry, sorry. But I was surprised too, you know? You looked like you were struggling for a bit there, so I thought maybe I had a shot this time.”

Alice “…Did I really look like that?”

There was a point where I thought things might go badly. I can’t say my poker face is perfect, but I don’t just bare all my emotions either. I touched my cheek reflexively.

Boris “Yeah, you had a bit of a look. So I thought, ‘this is my chance!’… But wow, you’re not easy to beat.”

Boris “…Wait, did you make that face on purpose to throw me off?”

I’m not so calculating or grown-up to pull something like that deliberately.

Alice “Of course not. I didn’t even realize I was making that face…”

Boris “…Really? So it was unconscious?”

Boris “Unconsciously making a face like that to lure someone in… Alice, you’re not easy to take lightly.”

Alice “You say that, but…”

Something about Boris today felt extra insistent.

Alice (thinking) (??? Is he really that upset about losing?)

Alice “…Wanna go for another round?”

Boris “Same game again? Hmm, what to do…”

If he was that upset, I figured he’d want a rematch, but he didn’t seem too eager.

Boris “Aren’t you getting a little tired of this game?”

Alice “…I don’t think so.”

We hadn’t played this one enough times for it to be boring yet. Cats tend to get bored easily, but Boris seems especially prone to it.

Alice “If you want to switch games, that’s fine…”

Alice “But I’m not that knowledgeable about card games. Maybe poker at best…”

Boris “Ah—no, not card games. I mean something more exciting.”

Alice “…Exciting?”

I looked at him suspiciously, and Boris nodded enthusiastically.

Boris “Yeah, more thrilling… You know, like a roller coaster or spinning teacup ride at the amusement park!”

Boris “Those were thrilling! Just thinking about them gives me shivers…”

He spoke with dreamy eyes, like someone in love.

Like a maiden sighing over her crush… except his crush was a twisted amusement park ride. Something about this felt fundamentally wrong.

I had ridden that ride once myself. And whether it should even be called an "attraction" was… questionable.

It was a coaster disguised as a teacup ride. The cups spun while moving on a track.

That alone was absurd, but it would sometimes derail or come to sudden stops—truly a work of chaos and madness.

You don’t often get that kind of thrill from a single attraction. In fact, you shouldn’t.

It was that intense—Boris would call it thrilling, sure, but I’d call it dangerously absurd.

Boris “I want to play a game that feels like that. This is fun and all, but sometimes I really miss those rides.”

Boris “Hey, Alice. Do you know any games that feel like those rides?”

Alice “Nope, and even if I did, I wouldn’t play them.”

If it’s comparable to that, it’s practically a death trap. There’s no way I’d willingly play something like that.

End Event