The Strongest Sorcerer, Chapter 53: Gojo-sensei, Are You a Pervert?

“But… I read online that animal shelters often kill the strays they take in,” Yukino Yukinoshita said quietly, her brows furrowing as she spoke.

In the past, she had considered sending stray cats to shelters, but while researching online, she came across claims that these shelters euthanize the animals or, in extreme cases, even use them as food. This discovery completely shattered her faith in such organizations.

Hearing her concern, Gojo Satoru gently teased the kitten with his finger and laughed lightly.

“Proper shelters wouldn’t do anything like that. If you’re really worried, you could visit the shelter regularly to check on the cat. And if something shady happens, just call the police.”

“That’s true!”

Yukino’s eyes lit up as realization struck her.

Why hadn’t she thought of this earlier?

If she couldn’t trust the shelter completely, she could simply check on the kitten often. For a devoted cat lover like her, this was actually a good excuse to visit.

Clearly, her previous hesitation came from being stuck in the misconception that all shelters were untrustworthy.

With her slender hands, Yukino gently picked up the kitten. The tiny creature didn’t resist, only letting out soft, curious meows.

“What is this two-legged creature up to now?” the kitten seemed to wonder.

“Here, take your umbrella,” Gojo said, picking up the umbrella from the grass and handing it to her.

“Thank you.”

Holding the kitten close to her modest chest with one arm, Yukino took the umbrella with her free hand and bowed slightly.

“Thank you, Gojo-sensei. It seems you’re not as awful as I first thought.”

“Haha, so your first impression of me was that bad, huh?”

Gojo shook his head, clearly amused.

“But do you even know where to find a proper shelter?”

“Yes, I looked it up online. The closest one is only a few hundred meters from here.”

Holding the kitten in her arms, Yukino’s heart melted even more.

After all, cats were undoubtedly the most adorable creatures in the world.

“Well, since I’m already involved, let me walk you there,” Gojo offered as he stood up.

Deep down, he couldn’t help but think to himself: Man, I’m such a good person.

Yukino didn’t refuse his offer and nodded lightly.

If the shelter turned out to be shady, having Gojo—a reliable adult male—around would be helpful.

As someone who deeply loved cats, Yukino was willing to go to great lengths to ensure the kitten’s safety.

The two walked silently for a while, the only sound being the kitten’s soft meows.

After passing through the bustling crowd, they arrived at a small shop with a sign that read “Home of Love.”

Leaving their umbrellas outside, they opened the door and stepped in.

“Welcome! Excuse me, sir and miss, are you here to adopt a pet or drop one off?”

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron greeted them warmly.

“I read online that this place takes in stray animals. Is that true?” Yukino asked, her tone polite yet firm.

The woman paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to the kitten in Yukino’s arms.

The kitten, as if sensing the attention, let out another soft meow.

“Oh my, what an adorable little kitten! Ah, excuse me for being rude. Yes, we do take in strays here. Is this the one you’d like us to take care of?”

“Yes. Please make sure to look after her well. I’ll make sure to visit regularly to check on her,” Yukino said, though her tone carried a hint of reluctance as she glanced at the kitten.

Still, the thought of being able to visit whenever she wanted helped ease her sadness.

Carefully taking the kitten into her hands, the middle-aged woman gave Yukino a kind smile.

“Don’t worry. Everyone who works here loves cats and dogs. We’ll take good care of her.”

Relieved, Yukino nodded.

She then took a moment to look around the shelter. Observing that all the animals seemed well-fed and happy, her heart was finally at ease.

As they exited the shelter, Gojo finally broke the silence.

“Well, I guess I’ll head out now, Yukinoshita-san.”

“Thank you for coming with me, Gojo-sensei,” she replied, her tone sincere.

“Haha, helping out such a cute student makes me happy too,” Gojo teased with a grin.

“Gojo-sensei, are you a pervert?” Yukino asked suddenly, her expression shifting to one of guarded suspicion as she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.

“Even though I know I’m cute, you didn’t have to say it out loud.”

“Ah? How did you know I’m a pervert?”

Gojo played along, flashing an exaggeratedly sinister grin.

“If I’m already labeled a pervert, then I guess it’s okay to act like one, right?”

“…I’m calling the police,” Yukino deadpanned, pulling out her phone as though she truly intended to report him.

Of course, she didn’t actually call.

Although they had only interacted briefly, she had already gotten a sense of his personality—this teacher was playful to the point of being obnoxious. But beneath that mischief, he was clearly a kind-hearted person.

“Alright, alright. I’ll leave you alone. Oh, and remember, Yukinoshita-san, if you ever feel sad, my shoulder is always here for you to lean on. Think of me as your support system~.”

Gojo threw her a playful wink, his voice dripping with exaggerated charm.

“Gojo-sensei, that’s impossible for this lifetime,” Yukino replied flatly.

Grabbing her umbrella, she turned and walked away.

“And it won’t happen in the next lifetime either,” she added without looking back.

Watching her retreating figure, Gojo chuckled softly to himself.

He picked up his umbrella and headed off in the opposite direction, muttering under his breath.

“Alright, time to hit the supermarket.”