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I stared directly at the untouched cans I had placed earlier, little particles and the fragrance crossing my preferred line.
Yet not a single soul had touched it once again. I was doing something wrong but racking my brain surely gave me no answers.
Well, that was as a wrap for today.
— - — - —
I opened the door to the best shop there was, honestly compared to its neighbours it sure was an outcast—merely my opinion though hehehe.
“Hey Oda!” I said with excitement and Oda glanced back at me with a soft familiar smile. The café filled with smells of coffee with a splash of milk and a slight burnt smell lingering in the air, of course I knew better to ignore it.
“Another failed attempt?” Oda asked so bluntly that I was a little offended. “The cat is just being stubborn it loves me” I said with a huff in my chest and Oda just chuckled silently.
It was a nice moment nonetheless, I asked for my usual but Oda as usual turned a deaf ear and handed me a milkshake. At least it tasted sweet.
“I don’t even know what I did?! I bought a variety, even the expensive stuff!!!” I sat and played with the straw as I whined Oda’s ear off.
“Well maybe the cat’s got higher class.” He said with a stiff chuckle. “I even took Mori’s card to get the most expensive food too” I muttered as I slumped forward. “Honestly, that cat’s got a nasty attitude for a stray!” I huffed fuming with rage as I slowly pushed the drink to the edge.
“Sounds exactly like a brat I know” Oda said, pushing the drink back to the centre “if you make a mess you’ll clean up this time.” That was enough of a threat to make me stop my earlier tactics.
Just then, the bell rang, Ango had arrived. I greeted him with a soft smile and he returned it with a somewhat awkward one.
“Hey.” Oda said to Ango, cleaning the countertops. “How was your maths lecture?” Oda asked out of routine. To be honest doesn’t he ever get bored of his old simple routine.
I would, that’s for sure.
Ango talked about his maths lesson, in my opinion it was as boring as maths itself.
I groaned and whined while he talked about it and honestly I couldn’t care less. Either way, I needed to get that cat no matter what.
But the air was so warm and soothing that I couldn’t focus, all my worries seemed to melt away in the café and I loved that part of it. I watched Oda and Ango have their conversation and a small smile crept on my lips.
“Hey, you drank half of it this time.” Oda said with a small smile “Good job.” He said as he ruffled my hair.
A soft sensation crept up towards my heart, the coffee fragrance in the air smelled sweeter than before, I was… content.
Even if it was just for a little while.
— - — - —
The sun was particularly bright today.
It was irritating and what was even worse was the short slug walking my way.
“What do you want slug?” I asked, half interested in his tactics today. “We’re not even in school yet,” I said, shrugging .
What business could he possibly have with me first thing in the morning, wait till Oda hears this.
“I couldn’t give a damn, horse hair, about you?!” He said, his temper as short as his height.
I just replied with a smirk, as annoying as he was, it was funny seeing him get all riled up.
Chuuya looked visibly red and I couldn’t help but snicker.
“Stupid mackerel! Stop with the damn cans already?! It’s like I can smell you everywhere?!!!” Chuuya yelled, huffing and panting while clenching his fists.
“Wow, the slug is such a pervert~” I say, not helping the fact he’s already riled up.
“Oh shut up yo—“ Chuuya stops halfway, his senpai dragging him away from the scene. Kouyou-senpai definitely hates our bickering.
Well, it did manage to put a smile on my face, that’s for sure.
— - — - —
The school day was finally been over, after being constantly followed by the goth looking and weird haircut kōhais, and entirely bored out of my mind.
I dropped by the convenience shop once again, by now the old lady must've been accustomed to my face.
I browsed the cat food section looking specifically for fish.”Excuse me ma’am? Are there any new products in this section?” I asked eagerly and politely.
Target acquired: politeness. Who's the brat now Oda? I laughed mentally as I smiled looking at the old lady searching the storage.
“Dearie, this is the newest product so far. Quite expensive for some chunk of fish huh?” The lady laughed heartily, her vocal chords hoarse from her evident old age.
“Well it doesn’t matter! I just really want it!!” I said eagerly as I paid for my shopping once again.
I set up all the cans and stake out longer this time.
Hopefully—no certainly this must work, how could it not?
Something was different this time, I could feel the cat. It was approaching and I was there to catch it.
— - — - —
“That cat did a number on you huh?” Odasaku asked with his usual smirk, handing me a chocolate milkshake.
When he acts like this I’m not sure whether it’s mocking or teasing.
“Come on dude, what’s with that stupid cat I spend lots on just its food.” I whined his ear off, whenever I was here, I felt like a marshmallow.
“You mean Mori’s money.” he corrected, I folded my arms “Mori’s money is my money no difference.” I countered.
Odasaku simply nodded and proceeded to wipe the counters, the scene was peaceful—well it would be if there wasn’t a thick black cloud coming from the oven.
I wasn’t surprised I watched him panic and run all around the room, i sat quietly and took a satisfying long slurp of my drink.
It was as amusing as I thought it would be.
“Odasaku I’m gonna go take a shower, wouldn’t want Mori breathing down my neck.” I say as I headed to his apartment above his cafe.
I could hear the curses from where I stood, but I felt good, like genuinely good. Maybe my life would really be worth living.
I turned the knob and was hit with steam, seemingly cleansing away all that didn’t make me human.
The sound after each drop echoed and I couldn’t help but feel something was wrong, that this soft warmth might turn uncomfortable and shallow.
Or maybe it was Mori’s little voice in my head. Even miles away he never stops taunting me.
Steam rose, thick and suffocating blurring the line between comfort and self torment.
Or maybe I was just dizzy, I couldn’t really tell the difference.
Just then my phone rang, echoing in the shallow walls.
Silence.
I grabbed it as I headed out the shower, then a click.
”Hello”