Matatabi Rui
TLNOTE : Matatabi = Catnip / Wandering
“Ugh…! Why am I even doing this…?!”
Utsurugi Rui was currently—gloriously—cornered.
In her dorm room on the upper floors of Prim-Libra’s Tenth Branch,
she stood before a full-length mirror she had barely ever used, comparing her usual outfit (a hoodie + shorts combo in her right hand) to an elaborate full-body ensemble (something she’d hardly ever worn) in her left.
—This is all that man’s fault…!
This had all started just days earlier, right after the tumultuous “Tenth Branch Open House” event.
[“Are you free this weekend?”]
The words spilled out from the sudden phone call, and Rui had intended to reply with a firm “No.”
“Why not?”
Yet, for some reason, her mouth betrayed her and answered differently.
The moment she said it, Rui’s willow-leaf brows twitched in irritation.
This makes me sound like some easy woman who’d jump at the slightest excuse!
Throughout her life, she had always kept her distance from others (except Hinata).
She wasn’t trying to play the lone wolf—she just had an aversion to casual familiarity (except Hinata).
That’s who she was. She wasn’t the kind of woman who would casually go out alone with a man she’d only met a month ago!
No matter his reply, she was determined to reject him outright, but—
[“I wanted to hear about Hinata-chan from your training school days.”]
“I’ll go.”
And so, Rui found herself agreeing to go out with her former nemesis—Ibuki Ibusuki.
—That man…! What a perfectly laid trap!
Inwardly, she marveled at Ibuki’s skill in using Hinata as bait to lure her out…
Time flies like an arrow.
Before she knew it, Friday—no, the day of their “education enthusiast rambling session”—had arrived.
“Why am I…?!”
Up until this morning, she had planned to go in her usual gray hoodie, shorts, and sneakers—her standard rough-and-tumble look.
But after finishing school and patrolling the streets, Rui’s eyes were drawn to the crowds of well-dressed men and women.
Of course. Sakuramura was the successor to Shinjuku, the former sub-metropolis.
In a place like this, hardly anyone would show up looking sloppy.
One hour, two hours, three hours—as she watched them, Rui grew increasingly uneasy.
—What… what should I wear tomorrow…?
A feeling she had never once experienced in her life now swirled inside the chest of this delicate fifteen-year-old girl.
The moment she got home, she flung open her closet—only to be met with a wall of clothes on hangers.
Despite her own indifference to fashion, Rui owned a staggering amount of clothing, thanks to her fashion-obsessed best friend Hinata, who often treated her like a dress-up doll.
But nearly all of them were things she’d only worn once. She had no clue about trends or styling.
After over three hours of deliberation, she finally settled on a coordinated outfit—a blouse, a long skirt, a lightweight tailored jacket, and lace-up boots—giving off a refined, mature impression.
Terrified by the thought of wearing something so unlike her usual style, Rui immediately retreated to her comfort zone…
Then, after a while, she mustered just enough courage to try it on again.
Only to chicken out once more.
This cycle repeated for over an hour.
“Ugh! Fine! I’ll just go in my usual clothes!”
And so, the Tenth Branch’s prized beauty exploded in frustration.
“I’m sorry… I cut it way too close…!”
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Standing before him was a breathtaking beauty so far removed from the girl he knew that Ibuki blinked in bewilderment.
Her hair was undoubtedly the same sky-blue as Rui’s, but now it cascaded down to her waist, braided and draped over her right shoulder.
The blouse was subtly adorned, paired with a long skirt of sturdy fabric and a lightweight tailored jacket draped over her shoulders. Even her lace-up boots, reaching up to her ankles, were flawlessly coordinated.
But above all, her beauty was accentuated by silver-framed glasses, lending her an air of intelligence far beyond her usual self.
“……Uh… Rui… san?”
She looked so mature that he instinctively added the honorific “-san.”
“What is it?”
“You’re… really dressed up today.”
Rui feigned indifference at his stunned remark.
“……It’s just camouflage to blend into the crowd.”
“O-Oh. It… really suits you.”
“Thanks.”
She replied nonchalantly while clasping her hands behind her back—
as if deliberately showing off her outfit.
“Uh… so, is this new? I’ve never seen you wear stuff like this before.”
“No, I’ve had these for a while. I usually dress carelessly, but today I dug them out for camouflage.”
“You went through all that trouble… thanks.”
“It’s for camouflage.”
“Your dedication to camouflage is impressive…”
Well, given where we’re going today, it makes sense, Ibuki thought, nodding to himself.
“Alright, let’s head in—to the zoo.”
Talking about Hinata wasn’t a problem at all.
The real issue was the location. Last time, right after the open house, they had met in Harajuku. The logic—Ibuki’s stroke of genius—was that they’d blend into the crowds and avoid standing out.
This time, the idea was the same.
Namely—”If we go somewhere that looks like a date spot, no one will suspect we’re just two nerds discussing justice and evil.”
When Rui heard this, she thought:
This guy… might actually be a genius.
……Sure, people might not think we’re from opposing factions—but won’t they just assume we’re a couple on a date?!
It would take her a full week after this zoo “date” to realize that.
Which meant that, for now, Utsurugi Rui remained blissfully unaware of how they appeared to others.
“Whoa… look at that couple.”
“B-Beautiful doesn’t even cut it…”
“Their faces… are too powerful……”
Just like in Harajuku, Rui even felt like there were fewer stares than usual—putting her in a strangely good mood (unaware that the attention was just evenly split between them).
But that lightheartedness lasted only until they entered the zoo.
“…………”
“…………”
Ibuki and Rui stood frozen in front of the bird enclosure.
The former wore an awkward expression, while the latter looked utterly exasperated.
“SCREECH! SCREECH!”
The wire mesh was completely covered in birds—a literal wall of birds.
And their focus wasn’t on Ibuki.
It was on Rui.
The reason?
Her Umbra’s compensation.
The effect of [Charm] was never limited to humans alone.
(Come to think of it, the official fanbook for [Watayume] did say: “In exchange for manipulating inorganic matter, she is universally beloved by all living things.”)
Ibuki’s gaze grew distant as he dredged up memories from his past life.
He also recalled how, about a month ago, when he went to the centennial festival with Hinata, she had lamented:
“Rui-chan is so popular with animals that they never pay attention to me…”
(Poor Hinata-chan…)
The scene before them now was like throwing a premium A5 Wagyu steak into a pit of starved raptors.
This spectacle—reminiscent of a certain classic horror movie—made it painfully clear what kind of relationship she usually had with animals.
No doubt, Hinata was always left standing beside Rui, looking longingly at the creatures who adored her best friend.
……And yes, he meant that in the most literal sense.
(Not some weird metaphor for appetite.)
By the way, the birds in question were mynahs.
“PRETTY! PRETTY!”
“BEAUTY! BEAUTY!”
Birds shouldn’t understand human speech……Probably.
“S-So this is what happens, huh…? Haha…”
Knowing full well how much Rui despised her Umbra’s side effect, Ibuki responded with a carefully neutral reaction—neither too positive nor negative.
“ ………… ”
Rui’s flawless features twisted into a displeased pout. Somehow, she still looked beautiful—which was almost impressive in its own right.
“……Let’s go somewhere else.”
“……Yeah.”
With a quick turn, Rui strode away from the cage, leaving Ibuki to hurry after her.
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