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Yukichi Fukuzawa was a very lonely man, he had no friends other than Fukuchi, and even during his childhood, he was alone. He was an orphan, having grown up in a government-run orphanage, he attended government schools on scholarships and grants, spending most of his extra money training at a dojo. He was a hardworking student, earning little allowance delivering newspapers and milk early in the morning, then he would train before going to school. To his peers, he was the seemingly cold honorary student, quiet, stoic, and untouchable. He didn’t have time for any friends, really, though he supposed he could sacrifice some training time to make friends, but he honestly just could not be bothered and he didn’t think it was really worth it.
Then, there was Fukuchi…when Fukuchi ended up at the dojo he trained at, he was surprised to say the least, and if he was honest, he was excited to meet someone who could rival him…He was even more surprised when Fukuchi expressed his interest in him and wanted to attend the same school he did. Fukuchi and he were different people, Fukuchi came from a rather well-off family and attended a private school, it was clear that he wanted to study alongside Fukuzawa, and somehow, they formed a close friendship.
Fukuzawa never expected things to end the way they did, but if he’s being honest, he’s not upset by the way things turned out. If anything, he was grateful for it. Fukuchi became his only friend for years to come, and though their personalities contrasted harshly, somehow, things worked out and even when they were no longer next to each other, separated by a war, he would still remember Fukuchi from time to time. He can’t remember exactly when, but at some point, Fukuzawa could no longer remember the days when Fukuchi hadn’t been his friend.
But now, all that has come to an end hasn't it? Because Fukuchi lays limp and bloody in his arms. Gone. Taken by whom? By none other than the very dream he chased.
Ever the dutiful leader, he arrives for work as usual the very next day, not giving himself any time off. Everyone in the agency could sense that he was not, okay. Though he never showed it, it was clear in his aura. They could tell he still struggled to process his friend's passing. It was clear that despite him being physically there, he was emotionally detached, he didn’t react to anything they said, locking himself in his office the entire day. After attempts of sending Kyoka to his side had failed to cheer him up, they realised that something was very wrong indeed.
Fukuzawa was lonely indeed. Lonelier than he had ever been because now, even Fukuchi was gone. Mori was ironically, the person who understood him the most at this point, and well, they’re not exactly on good terms. He truly had no one left…except his children, but how could he burden them with the weight of his own monsters? When all that he’s ever worked for, is a better future for them and so many others alike? Most of them had their own monsters to fight, and those who didn’t were fortunate. It would be funny if it weren't so depressing.
The sudden wave of isolation takes him off guard. It whirls around him, tries to sweep him away, and he’s holding on, just barely. Even when he had Fukuchi and they were miles away and never wrote, he hadn’t felt the loneliness this way; even as the “silver wolf”, he hadn't felt quite this lonely. His children really are the only things driving him now.
At the end of the day, he travels on the familiar path back to his house, moving on muscle memory more than anything, and for days to come, it is how he remains. He refuses to take a break, despite the agency members’ insistence, every bit the stubborn man they knew him to be.
Everyone in the agency was worried for him, especially Ranpo, who had taken to sour candy instead of his usual sickeningly sweet ones. Everyone was unnaturally tense, even Dazai, who sat obediently at his work desk, still not doing any actual work, of course. The entire agency was at an all-time low, so much so that even the waitress at the cafe below the building was worried for them.
Just when things seemed to be doom for the entire agency, there came a saviour. Something that miraculously woke Fukuzawa from the suffocating haze that had been clouding his mind, bringing a bit of clarity to not just him, but everyone around him.
This saviour came in the form of cats. Of course, it did.
It was another dreary day for him, time flying past before he had registered any of it. He was walking on the same old path, when suddenly, he tripped on a bundle that, well, seemed intent on tripping him with the way it weaves itself between his legs, rubbing against them constantly.
Before he managed to get up, another bundle launched itself against him, causing him to flounder momentarily, only then did he recognise the culprits as the neighbourhood strays. Soon, more and more cats appeared from the bushes around him, jumping off the walls and crowding around him.
He couldn't believe it. In the evening of a normal day near Yokohama’s ports, he’s being ambushed. By cats. He was drawn out of his thoughts quickly by an onslaught of kittens demanding his attention.
These were no normal kittens, no, these were the neighbourhood strays that once depended largely on Fukuzawa for pats and treats. Half of them weren’t even from this region！ They simply followed him here after a while of feeding, causing the community of strays to bloom and flourish…Like everyone else, they were affected by this new trance Fukuzawa was in. Gone were the pats and dried fish and chicken… for the first time since meeting this man, were they truly unsatisfied with the way things were. After incessant meows and flopping down, belly up in front of him no longer harnessed his attention like it used to, they decided that something must be done! So, they formed their alliance with one goal in mind and one goal only…if the man will not give them affection, then they shall have to take it by force…
Their plan was executed perfectly, the cats now had Fukuzawa’s full attention. It was hard not to, with the way they kept making biscuits and purring against him…there had to be at least 20 of them in total, and more were coming. Fukuzawa was a bit overwhelmed by the number of cats on him and struggled to sit up properly with little claws clinging onto the fabric of his clothes all around. Sigh, it seems he’s not going to be able to leave any time soon, and he hasn't seen the cats for quite a while and he does miss—wait. Can cats be considered his friends? Either way, he really does feel a little less lonely with them…What has he come to, having cats as his only friends?
He instantly thought of Fukuchi and his slightly improved mood was gone again. He absent-mindedly patted the cats as he got lost in his thoughts for a moment…
“You know, I never expected things to end up this way.” He opened his mouth before he could stop himself.
He looked down at the cats gathered around him, watching him intently as if waiting for him to continue. He let out a long sigh, he might as well…it's not like he didn’t use to talk to cats before anyway.
“He did not deserve to end like this. He was always so noble, and selfless, wishing for a better future for the world, working so hard for it…I was the selfish one, I wanted to protect those I cared about, I wanted world peace too, but I would be hesitant to sacrifice my loved ones for world peace…”
The calico cat in his lap meowed softly as if comforting him before nuzzling into him. He recognised her as one of the first cats he met in the neighbourhood all those years ago… she must be really old then. The rest of the cats continued to look at him quietly. Cats don’t judge, they don’t understand, but sometimes it feels like they do. He realises he paused too long when a cat meows at him as if urging him to continue.
“When he left for the war, I was so afraid, that it would be the end of our friendship…I kept telling myself that if our friendship ended like this, it shows that perhaps it was never meant to be, that he was not a good friend and I would be better off without him, but I couldn't help but be scared all the same. I was so happy to see him again. I couldn't draw the blade in the end. It was nothing unusual, I couldn't kill Mori-dono either. I am ashamed to admit I was more worried about the state of our friendship. I could not call him my friend any longer, not with what he has done to my children, but part of me still desperately wonders if he can be forgiven. Then before I could register it… he was gone.”
“Meow…” was the answer he got before she stretched and left, satisfied with her fill of pats. Slowly, all the other cats around them dissipated and he proceeded home feeling much better.
The next morning, everyone breathed a sigh of relief at a basically back-to-normal shacho. Ranpo watched him intently with an idea forming in his head.
Early morning about a week after that, Fukuzawa realises something is off even before he steps into the agency. The reason? Loud construction noises. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, internally readying himself for whatever is coming next. He enters the agency and everyone is busy moving stuff. Everyone except Ranpo who was sitting on his desk playing with a…cat? He recognised her as the same calico cat he favoured.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“ The storeroom beside your office is being cleared out.”
“ For?”
“ For her of course! Let's name her Truffles!” he said as he raised the cat… into the air.
“We cannot do that Ranpo. She is a stray cat, probably not suited to be indoors, she might even carry parasites. Even if we keep her, what about weekends? Holidays? And her name’s Ume.”
“Don’t worry, I brought her to the vet a few weeks ago, the vet says she is fit to be living indoors now. However, she should be quarantined.” Kunikida says as he comes over and picks up Ume? Truffles?
“See, you already named her so she is not a stray cat anymore!”
Fukuzawa sighed and shook his head before heading to the storeroom to check the damage. To his surprise, it was relatively clear with a cat tree, cat beds, litter boxes and food bowls.
“It seems you—wait.”
There were three sets of bowls and beds. He looked around and sure enough, in the corner of the room were two more napping cats. No, kittens.
“ Ranpo, they're not even adults…we have to return them to their mothers.”
“Ah? Don’t worry, they were abandoned by their mothers. Reminds me of someone.”
“ …Alright. We cannot keep them permanently, but just for today, they can stay.”
“ Yay!”
After the disruption in the morning, the day proceeded as normal. It was a very boring paperwork-filled day and after three continuous hours of work, Fukuzawa simply couldn't take it any more. He let out a weary sigh before getting up and walking over to the windows, looking out.
Suddenly, he felt the familiar feeling of cats rubbing against him. He let out a soft coo as he picked said cat up.
“Now, how did you get in, Ume?” He asked, cat purring in his arms. He looked around and saw…a hole. In the wall. A cat door to be exact. That explains the construction noise. Sigh…Still, he couldn't help but smile a little at Ranpo’s antics.
“Would you like to stay, Ume? Stay with us?” He asked the sleepy cat before gently pressing his forehead to hers.
On the other side of the cat door, several agency members gathered and spied on their Shacho. Many of them had scratches on their faces, Dazai’s bandages were in tatters and actually bloody, Kunikida’s glasses were crooked and his hair was an absolute mess. That cat was a menace to anyone other than Fukuzawa and Ranpo. Ranpo, who was at the very front of the crowd, watching the scene in the other room intently.
“You know, maybe I’ll keep you.”
“Yes!!!” The people watching silently rejoiced as their efforts paid off. Suddenly, Ranpo let out a sound of utter betrayal and disappointment when Fukuzawa gave the cat a small kiss on the head.
“NO! SHHH! Ranpo!” And the brunette was off before any of them could stop him.
Fukuzawa jolted in surprise when Ranpo threw open the door to his office and dived in for a hug. He was taken aback and fumbled around, just managing to place Ume down before Ranpo quickly took her place, Fukuzawa instinctively placed his hands around him.
Beside them, Ume got up and wandered out through the cat door. The door that the rest of the members were hiding behind. Fukuzawa didn’t get the chance to ask Ranpo what had happened because immediately, he heard loud yowls and hisses followed by the sound of furniture crashing and people in pain coming from the other room. He rushed to the source of the noise to investigate, only to see his very own children collapsed in a pile with the room in a mess. Once again, he couldn't help but sigh.
As he carefully unhooked Ume’s claws where they caught onto Dazai’s bandages, he muttered to himself.
“Perhaps this wasn't a good idea after all.”
“NO!” was everyone’s resounding answer.
They kept the cats. The end