Two Jewels

Onesuko received the uncut gemstone as if scooping it up with both hands.

Then she let out a shriek that sounded like joy and confusion mixed together.

“Eh!? Eeh!? Eeeeh!? Why, how!? Something I couldn’t get no matter how hard I tried since morning—how did you get it so easily!? Why, why, why!? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy—!?”

She was as excited as a little girl who had finally found a star she could never reach resting in her palm.

“I’m glad you’re that happy.”

Onesuko snapped her face up and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“I-It’s not just happy! I’ve always wanted a gemstone! L-Leopin-kun! Th-thank—!”

She suddenly froze at the word about to slip out, then clapped a hand over her mouth.

After clearing her throat, she said,

“I-I suppose… I’ll thank you, at least.”

I voiced a simple question.

“Weren’t you just about to say ‘thank you’?”

At that, Onesuko shot her eyes wide in protest.

“Of c-course not! That word represents the highest form of gratitude to my knightly family! It is spoken with a kiss, and it means pledging one’s very life to that person—a knight’s oath! It’s not something to say lightly!”

“I see. Sounds rough.”

“Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!!”

A piercing scream tore through the air between us.

A flash of light dazzled my eyes for an instant.

A huge white bird with wings broader than my outstretched arms dove in and attacked Onesuko.

The bird pecked and yanked at her hair with its beak, then raked her hands with its talons before flying off.

As Onesuko stumbled backward with a “Kyaa!?” from the kick of its hind legs, I reached out and pulled her into my arms.

She turned pale in my embrace.

“Ah! The gemstone’s gone!? That bird took it! W-Wait!”

She tried to dash off, but I kept an arm around her shoulders.

“L-Let go, Leopin-kun!”

“Calm down, Onesuko. It’s flying. We can’t reach it from here.”

Onesuko was completely beside herself.

“H-How can you be so calm!? It stole my precious gemstone! I finally got it—I can’t just give up! Without it, I—I…!”

“That’s why I said calm down. I’m not giving up either. I only said we can’t reach it ourselves.”

“Huh?” Onesuko blinked in confusion.

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s the same as the gemstone deep in that small hole. If we can’t do it, we ask a teammate who can. Look.”

I pointed at the bird flying away.

The moment Onesuko looked up—

…Shubaa…!

A black shadow danced down from a tall tree.

It was the supple silhouette unique to a feline.

If I ever opened a sporting-goods shop, I might have used that shape as its logo.

Yes—I had ordered Tom, who had been waiting silently behind us like a shadow while Onesuko was attacked, to climb the tree.

As a backup plan, in case the bird escaped.

Tom and the bird tangled violently in midair.

The white and black creatures twisting together looked like the yin-yang symbol from the Eastern lands.

The bird desperately tried to kick Tom away with its talons, but once Tom’s bite clamped onto its neck, the fight was over.

Using the bird like a cushion, Tom slammed down to the ground with a thud.

He trotted back with the recovered gemstone in his mouth.

Onesuko stared in utter shock.

“H-Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!?”

Just moments ago she had been trying to get away from me, yet now she clung tightly to my arm.

“A-A b-black panther!?”

“It’s fine. He’s my pet.”

“Y-You’re kidding!?”

Onesuko gaped at me, her pupils blown wide.

“When I heard about it from Lady Monaka, I thought it was just a big kitty or something… I-I never imagined it was real…!”

Honestly, I didn’t expect Onesuko to be on the same level of misunderstanding as the male students.

“Here—Tom wants to give it back. Take the gemstone.”

“O-Okay…”

Onesuko cautiously held out her hand.

When Tom dropped the gemstone into her palm with a soft plop, she twisted with barely contained delight.

“S-So cuteee—! Aah! Why are you so cute!?”

When Onesuko petted him, Tom flopped onto his side like he was striking a pose of submission.

She squealed, completely ignoring the gemstone as she rubbed his belly nonstop.

“Aaaah! Kitty, kitty, kitty! A big kitty! Leopin-kun, what’s this kitty’s name!?”

“Tom.”

“Aaaahn! Tom-kun, Tom-kun, Tom-kun! Cute, cute, cute—so cuuuute!”

Onesuko was usually the picture of a model student, with sharp eyes and a composed expression.

She always radiated an unapproachable aura, but right now she looked like a different person.

No—she was bubbly and squealing like a girl her age.

While Onesuko played with Tom, I collected the drop items from the bird Tom had defeated.

“Alright! That’s another item for Akemi’s request! And I even got a rare piece that looks worth processing!”