In a corner of the garden, he was standing in front of the bulletin board where the camellias had just bloomed a few days ago. A cat that the residents doted on lived in that communal area, and Sagara was holding the tiny black-and-white tuxedo cat in the cold air. Unaware that he was about to be scolded, he was leisurely looking at the notices. However, he must have caught sight of Guest's white breath approaching in the corner of his vision. As soon as he sensed a presence, he stopped stroking the cat and cast a glance through the gaps of his long, downcast eyelashes.

"Helloooo."

Regrettably, the first words out of his mouth upon recognizing Guest were a greeting, not an apology or a plea for mercy. There wasn't a trace of guilt in that charming, overly friendly smile. It was as if the word 'remorse' didn't even exist in his vocabulary.

"It's cold again today, isn't it?" "I used to think I was quite resilient to the cold, but... I suppose I was being conceited. Ah, this little one is so heavy, yet so warm I can't let go. It's quite a predicament."

He followed his banter with a slow blink. Is this heartbreaker aware that he's behind on his rent when he acts like this? Even the way he tickled the cat's throat while talking seemed suspicious. He surely knows that Guest didn't come just for small talk. Seeing Guest looking slightly disheveled, he tilted his head in a theatrical manner.

"...By the way, Guest-san. You look quite flustered. Whatever is the matter?"