"Sherwin, big brother!"
Klee Meow the little angel was naturally the first to pounce over.
"You're not hurt, right? Klee was so worried about you, meow!"
After the little ragdoll buried her small head against Sherwin and rubbed him fiercely for a while, she looked at him with concern and began pawing all over him, trying to check his condition.
This thoughtful behavior made Sherwin so pleased that he nearly blew a snot bubble…
Well, if Klee Meow could stop tugging at his ears nonstop, stop trying to slip her little paws into his mouth, and stop messing his hair into complete chaos… Sherwin mood would probably be even better.
Sharmi Meow, whose clinginess was no less than the little ragdoll, did not pounce on Sherwin this time.
Instead, she ran with Huamei Meow to Sanji Meow and began scolding him for his well-intentioned but disastrous actions earlier.
As a result, Sanji Meow—being lectured by two big sister Felynes at once—lost the guilty look on his face in less than a second, replacing it with an expression of bliss and intoxication…
This truly enraged Huamei. Thus, Huamei Meow once again pulled out her ultimate weapon against Sanji Meow—punishing him by making him keep his distance from all female kittens for the next month.
Only then did the incorrigible little idiot collapse to the ground in despair, his entire body turning gray and pale.
And while Sanji Meow was being jointly lectured by Huamei Meow and Sharmi Meow, the second one to pounce toward Sherwin was not any cat at all, but Shirahoshi, the huge "little" crybaby.
"Waaahhhhhhh… Boss Sherwin, it so great that you're okay! I thought I'd never get to see you again!"
Shirahoshi scooped Sherwin up together with Klee Meow clinging to him, and in the next instant, a huge flood of tears surged out of her eyes.
Massive teardrops slid from the corners of Shirahoshi eyes, gathered along her cheeks and jawline, and pooled at her chin…
Then they came crashing down onto the Sherwin she was holding.
Sherwin: "..."
Sensing danger, Klee Meow had already leapt away first, leaving Sherwin alone to be drenched from head to toe by Shirahoshi endless stream of tears.
With Sherwin strength, he could of course have easily broken free from Shirahoshi embrace, but there was no way he would do something so mood-killing.
He could only let her use those outrageously high-volume tears to give him a thorough wash.
"If you keep crying like this, you really might never see this idiot Sherwin again, meow… he about to drown in your tears!"
Haibara Meow, who had also wanted to pounce into Sherwin arms to act spoiled, couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help speaking up.
Only then did Shirahoshi, after crying her heart out, finally react. She hurriedly set down Sherwin, who had already become a complete drowned rat.
"Ah! S-sorry, Boss Sherwin! I didn't mean to!"
"It fine. Thank you for worrying about me."
Sherwin patted her fish tail with a helpless smile, then waved toward the little ragdoll who had jumped away earlier.
Without him needing to say anything, the perfectly in-sync little ragdoll transformed into a ball of flames and circled around Sherwin once, helping him dry off the tears covering his body…
Although after being dried there were still faint salt crystals left behind that made Sherwin feel a bit uncomfortable, it no longer prevented the other cats from jumping onto him to express their concern one after another.
"Hmph~ I knew an idiot like you wouldn't be caught so easily, meow!"
Always saying the opposite of what she meant, Haibara Meow swung her little cat fists and rained a crackling barrage of punches onto Sherwin head.
After that, she even took a bite of his ear before finally acting like a normal kitten, rubbing her small head affectionately against Sherwin face.
After cuddling against Sherwin for a while, Jinx patted her chest and said, "Klee Meow, little Ai, Purah Meow, and Sister Suika have already come up with a brand-new idea.
The next time we fight that big loach, we'll definitely be able to help, meow!"
Klee Meow nodded vigorously at the side. "Yeah, yeah! That idea is super amazing, meow!"
It was certainly a good thing that the kittens were so proactive, but for some reason, Sherwin felt a wave of unease rising in his chest.
Three out of the four Little Leather Cat Heavenly Kings were involved, plus Suika Meow, that hopeless drunkard… who knew what kind of thing they might end up cooking up.
Still, with Purah Meow around, maybe it wouldn't be as bad as he imagined?
Sherwin subconsciously lowered his head and looked at the little dachshund cradled in his arms together with Jinx.
"Klee Meow and Jinx are absolutely right~ That a super powerful idea, meow!" Purah Meow grinned, baring her teeth. "I did borrow a tiny bit from the design of 'Pluto,' but the main parts are all our own technology, meow~ Check it!"
(ゝω)~☆
Sherwin didn't really mind that Purah Meow had used Pluto design as reference, but after hearing her say that, why did the sense of unease in his heart grow even stronger?
"To celebrate our successful escape, how about a drink, meow?"
Just as Sherwin was stroking Purah Meow and Jinx while thinking about how to understand their "idea" without dampening the kitten enthusiasm—or maybe give them a gentle warning—a large wine saucer filled to the brim with fine liquor was suddenly handed to him from the side.
"Gulp gulp gulp… Hah! Good wine!"
Wiping away the remaining liquor at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, Sherwin finally realized that he had just been talked into drinking by Suika Meow…
Or rather, that was simply her way of showing concern.
Well, it could only be said that it was very much Suika Meow style.
"Sherwin-sama, welcome back, meow."
(=ˇˇ=)
Seijuro Meow and Link Meow were extremely frustrated about not being able to help at the very end, so both little Felynes wore very serious expressions.
"We've basically mastered the technique of 'Void Soul Possession.' If there another situation where someone has to stay behind next time, please be sure to bring us along, meow!"
"Mm, got it."
Sherwin rubbed the heads of the two Felynes and agreed without the slightest hesitation.
When it came to the Felynes, Sherwin was never the type to offer blind protection. The relationship between a Hunter and Palicoes was that of comrades-in-arms and partners.
Back when they were discussing the plan at the G-5 branch, he had actually considered leaving Seijuro Meow and Link Meow behind as well, since they could swim and were strong enough to help.
It was just that, considering the ultimate goal was still to escape, and that they might be detected by Kaido Observation Haki, he had ultimately decided to leave only himself behind.
Even so, convincing the two of them back then—especially Seijuro Meow—had taken Sherwin quite a bit of effort.
Clearly, they were still bothered by it. So after parting ways with Sherwin, the two Felynes had been relentlessly training the "Observation Killing" technique that Sherwin had developed, and in an extremely short amount of time, they had successfully gotten started.
And besides Seijuro Meow and Link Meow, the other Felynes were also doing their best in their own ways…
For example, that "idea" that Sherwin wasn't very at ease about.
"Sherwin dear~ I was so worried about you, meow~"
After scolding Sanji Meow, Charmeow hopped onto Sherwin shoulder, then hugged his head and rubbed against him fiercely for a while.
Huamei Meow followed behind her, then with a light leap jumped into Sherwin arms, placed her little paws on his chest, stretched her neck out, and gently touched noses with him.
"Admiral… it really great that you're all right, meow."
Lord Huamei rarely showed such a vulnerable side in front of the other Felynes, pressing her little head against Sherwin neck and whining coquettishly.
"Wuuuuuu…"
No need to ask—this familiar wail and that piercing gaze could only belong to that little idiot Sanji Meow again.
It took some time before Sherwin finally managed to calm down all the Felynes and Shirahoshi.
Only then did Nico Robin, who was at the very center of this whirlpool of events, finally have a chance to walk over.
Her expression was as restrained as ever, and she didn't say anything distant like "thank you." She simply walked up and gave Sherwin a very ordinary, gentle hug.
However…
Judging from the fact that she had deliberately changed into a maid outfit, Robin was definitely not as calm as she appeared.
It just…
The label of Sherwin being a pervert who likes maids seems like something he'll never be able to take off in Robin eyes.