#014 Neko Cafe
Title: Neko Cafe
Author: akoikawtayo
Length: One-shot
Genre: Slice of life, Humor (if you squint a little)
Pairing: Matsumiya, Junba (friendship), Aimiya (friendship/owner-pet relationship).
Disclaimer: A story is only a story, until we make it into something else.
Summary: Jun is an owner of Neko Cafe - an eccentric coffee shop where customers enjoy their coffee while playing with cats. Business was running smoothly, until Aiba arrived at the cafe with a new stray cat called Nino.
To own a café was Matsumoto Jun’s ultimate dream. A small place would do, where people could come and relax after a days work, or just simply kill their time before an important meeting of the day. There was nothing fancy about his dream, nor imagined that things would turn out the way it is. But maybe when you’re friends with Aiba Masaki things could turn into something unimaginable.
“Welcome to Neko Café!” The very enthusiastic man greeted the newly arrived customers. He handed them the menus and put cats on their laps. Cats. It is a unique concept of the café; each customer is given the chance to pet adorable cats while enjoying their refreshments and sweets, which made the Neko café popular. And it’s name, obviously.
It was not always been like this though, Jun remembered after putting the next batch of cinnamon roll in the oven.
The café was even on the brink of closing, less customers where coming each passing day, until one day Aiba arrived with a box with 4 kittens on his arms instead of a bag of groceries that Jun had asked him to buy.
Jun was furious.
He wanted to send him out together with the four whiskered animals. But as always Aiba won when he confused Jun with his nonsensical argument and so he just gave up because he needed the man to buy the things he ought to buy before the café opens. Aiba went off to the grocery, again, but not after receiving a threat from him of being struggled to death when he does it again.
After a few days it happened again.
The kittens were placed at one the corner where normally customers won’t seat - a dimly part of the café that no matter how much he tried to look inviting, nothing seemed to be working. Increasing in numbers and creating more noise, the kittens only added to Jun’s concerns; rent, hygiene, electricity, hygiene, burned cinnamon bread, hygiene, dreams going down the drain, hygiene, Aiba’s idiocy like forgetting to securely putting the kittens in placed, hygiene - because his anal that way.
One Tuesday afternoon, Jun’s concern became so evident in the form of kitten walking in the middle of the café - he’d become a murderer using a spoon with cinnamon, to pound a sense into his friends skull.
Containing his anger, he hurriedly removed his apron to take the sleepy looking kitten away before any of the customer noticed, but bad luck seemed to have dawned on his café because at that very instant a young girl together with his mother entered and saw the kitten on Jun’s hand.
The little girl screamed, Jun was ready to apologized and explained that his café has passed hygiene inspection just a few days ago, but to his surprised the little girl was actually screaming with excitement and asking permission to pet the kitten. Still in total shock, he handed the sleepy looking kitten to the kid. Other customers were requesting to pet the kittens, and so Aiba brought the others out the corner and let the other customers take turns in petting them. And the rest was history.
Jun smiled at the memory. Somehow he felt that he should do something special for his friend, and give credit on the man’s folly from time to time. Especially that the very existence of the café is owed to him.
Night had already fallen. He glanced at the clock at the wall, it was getting late and Aiba hasn’t come back yet from buying cat food, which was odd because it was only located a few blocks away.
In the middle of making dinner, he heard Aiba called out. Jun hurriedly ran from the kitchen, sensing that the panic in his friend’s voice. He wanted to ask Aiba what had happened, but all words were stuck in his throat. A figure was sitting on a chair which he had suspected as a boy because it’s too big to be a cat. Later he had known that the little boy was actually an adult, and a few months older than him. Also, he would be living with them at Neko café for the time being because he has no place to stay, no other explanation offered. Jun wanted to refuse, yet something overpowered him the moment he got a glimpsed of the smaller man’s eyes.
And so Nino’s became part of the Neko Café.
But Jun was suspicious; no way would he trust an adult that looked like a teenager, who only refers to himself as just Nino, and not to mention Aiba picked him up - his hygiene is definitely in question. And so he observed.
At work, Nino smiled adorably, greeting the customers when they enter and leave the café, took their orders politely, and even able to care for the cats and kittens that only Aiba could only do because Jun was no good in handling animals - he tried before and end up with scratches on his arms, except for the sleepy looking one before. It amazed Jun that the cats would warm-up with Nino, a newcomer. He was curious and so he observed more.
During his break time, Nino would go to the corner of the café where they use o hide the kittens. He would rest his arms on the table and lay his head atop of them, taking a nap. Sometimes one of the cats would jump to his lap and sleep, especially the sleepy looking one which the smaller man called ‘Oh-chan’. When asked about the name, he simply says because it’s like Oh-chan. Aiba laughs. Later that afternoon Jun learned that ‘Oh-chan’ was actually the painter who visited the café every Friday afternoon, and Nino would spend extra time talking to him while taking orders. Jun was more curious and so he observed a lot more.
During closing time, Nino was in-charged to take the garbage and clean the kitchen because Aiba insisted that Jun needed help, which was odd because he had been doing that since the café had first opened. The smaller man complied without question, though in Jun’s eyes Nino was very hesitant to do so. Jun wondered.
They work together and apart; Jun cleans the espresso machine, oven, and pastry counter, Nino on the other hand washed all the utensils Jun used for baking and then clean the counter. Jun was impressed and so he complimented the smaller man. But he only received a mere glance from the smaller man before placing the last of the trays at the left lower cabinet and left him alone there with his words floating in the air. Jun was not impressed and so he questioned Aiba.
Like all other conversations with Aiba, Jun didn’t quite understand what was happening in the middle of the conversation, especially when his friend stated that cats are very sensitive animals. That they needed time to be familiar with people around them and showed them affection as much as possible for them to know you are trustworthy. He stopped him from talking and made it clear that he was asking about Nino, their new addition to Aiba’s adopted kids. The other rolled his eyes and told him that he didn’t know any other Nino, before disappearing upstairs. Jun was confused.
The following night, Aiba asked him to stay for a bit with the cats like they did before when Jun was still hopeful in being able to pet their own cats. He asked for explanation, the animal-lover said that he needed to practice before the real deal.
Oh-chan was placed on his lap for starters because he was the most friendly among all the cats, but Jun knew better - Oh-chan was just a lazy sleepy looking cat who doesn’t mind who pet him as long as he would let him sleep comfortably on their laps. But he didn’t argue, though he couldn’t grasp the purpose of all these trouble.
He pet Oh-chan - gently patting the head, then caress the head and ears when Oh-chan appeared not to show any sign of uncertainty. Aiba mentioned that cats particularly like their chin to be stroked but try not to rush things, and so Jun was patient.
Two weeks had passed since he started this ‘Jun will pet a pet school’ which the animal-lover called their nightly session with the café cats. He was showing improvement, a lot according to Aiba, especially now that he could hold the other cats without them going ballistic about Jun’s eyebrows and if this was actually a school, he would have received ‘the most improved’ ribbon by the end of the semester. Jun hoped that his friend won’t be idiot enough to actually give him a ribbon for his own good, because he doesn’t know what he’d do to him. Jun was vigilant, just in case.
At the end of the month Aiba was hinting that Jun was definitely ready, he could tell, because he was someone who could tell that someone is really ready to pet a pet or not. Jun was perplexed and afraid.
When night came, Jun was asked to wait at the corner of the café where Nino usually takes his nap. Because being in a familiar place is very important, Aiba has stated pointing his index finger at him, which showed Jun that he needed to remember that at all times. Jun readied himself for a full blown question and answer with Aiba, he secretly took notes at night before sleeping and read them time and again when he was waiting for the pastries to bake. To his surprise the animal-lover disappeared to the kitchen, yelling “tonight is the night”. Jun was nervous.
Minutes later, Nino was walking out from the kitchen. At first Jun didn’t mind at all because he knew that the smaller man would just bow and walk upstairs. What he didn’t expect is for him to walk up to him and stand in front of him without saying a word. He didn’t know what to do; he wasn’t prepared for this kind of exam - his going to kill Aiba with a spatula tomorrow morning, no, tonight so he could sleep peacefully after reviewing his cat notes.
They stood there for a couple of minutes; Nino was growing anxious, Jun could tell because his limbs were closing in to his body - something he’d learn from Aiba. And he needed to do something about it or else the smaller man would…Nino is not a cat but a fully grown man; he should just talk to him. But he didn’t know what to say to the smaller man especially that he looked so fragile the longer he stare at him.
Without any other resolve, he held Nino’s wrist as gentle as possible. Familiarity is important; he sat on where the smaller man usually seat and waited patiently, but not letting go of his wrist. Don’t appear threatening; he relaxed his body and made sure that his eyebrows were not furrowed. Be calm no matter what; he didn’t show how surprised he was when Nino slowly approached him and sat on his lap. Be patient; he waited for the smaller man to relax as he settled himself on Jun’s. And when Nino didn’t show any signs of uncertainty, Jun slowly let go of his the other’s wrist. Using the same hand he touched the other’s hair which was surprising soft, before he was fully patting him on the head.
Jun was planning to caress the other’s ear or touch his chin, but the Nino suddenly leaned his cheeks to Jun’s shoulder and gently rubbed his nose at the hollow part between shoulder blade and neck. And as sudden as it happened, it disappeared, with Nino running swiftly towards his room. Jun was more than contented. Indeed he had improved a lot.
End
A/N: I finally finished this fiction *pats on back* after two weeks of having the plot lurking inside my head like Nino's unusual behavior towards Jun. This was supposedly a humor kind of fiction but as I write Nino's character his behavior suddenly made a deeper impact on me and I can't dismiss his aloofness towards Jun and his obsession to hygiene. I hope you enjoy this one.
Comment are loved, really.
Author: akoikawtayo
Length: One-shot
Genre: Slice of life, Humor (if you squint a little)
Pairing: Matsumiya, Junba (friendship), Aimiya (friendship/owner-pet relationship).
Disclaimer: A story is only a story, until we make it into something else.
Summary: Jun is an owner of Neko Cafe - an eccentric coffee shop where customers enjoy their coffee while playing with cats. Business was running smoothly, until Aiba arrived at the cafe with a new stray cat called Nino.
To own a café was Matsumoto Jun’s ultimate dream. A small place would do, where people could come and relax after a days work, or just simply kill their time before an important meeting of the day. There was nothing fancy about his dream, nor imagined that things would turn out the way it is. But maybe when you’re friends with Aiba Masaki things could turn into something unimaginable.
“Welcome to Neko Café!” The very enthusiastic man greeted the newly arrived customers. He handed them the menus and put cats on their laps. Cats. It is a unique concept of the café; each customer is given the chance to pet adorable cats while enjoying their refreshments and sweets, which made the Neko café popular. And it’s name, obviously.
It was not always been like this though, Jun remembered after putting the next batch of cinnamon roll in the oven.
The café was even on the brink of closing, less customers where coming each passing day, until one day Aiba arrived with a box with 4 kittens on his arms instead of a bag of groceries that Jun had asked him to buy.
Jun was furious.
He wanted to send him out together with the four whiskered animals. But as always Aiba won when he confused Jun with his nonsensical argument and so he just gave up because he needed the man to buy the things he ought to buy before the café opens. Aiba went off to the grocery, again, but not after receiving a threat from him of being struggled to death when he does it again.
After a few days it happened again.
The kittens were placed at one the corner where normally customers won’t seat - a dimly part of the café that no matter how much he tried to look inviting, nothing seemed to be working. Increasing in numbers and creating more noise, the kittens only added to Jun’s concerns; rent, hygiene, electricity, hygiene, burned cinnamon bread, hygiene, dreams going down the drain, hygiene, Aiba’s idiocy like forgetting to securely putting the kittens in placed, hygiene - because his anal that way.
One Tuesday afternoon, Jun’s concern became so evident in the form of kitten walking in the middle of the café - he’d become a murderer using a spoon with cinnamon, to pound a sense into his friends skull.
Containing his anger, he hurriedly removed his apron to take the sleepy looking kitten away before any of the customer noticed, but bad luck seemed to have dawned on his café because at that very instant a young girl together with his mother entered and saw the kitten on Jun’s hand.
The little girl screamed, Jun was ready to apologized and explained that his café has passed hygiene inspection just a few days ago, but to his surprised the little girl was actually screaming with excitement and asking permission to pet the kitten. Still in total shock, he handed the sleepy looking kitten to the kid. Other customers were requesting to pet the kittens, and so Aiba brought the others out the corner and let the other customers take turns in petting them. And the rest was history.
Jun smiled at the memory. Somehow he felt that he should do something special for his friend, and give credit on the man’s folly from time to time. Especially that the very existence of the café is owed to him.
Night had already fallen. He glanced at the clock at the wall, it was getting late and Aiba hasn’t come back yet from buying cat food, which was odd because it was only located a few blocks away.
In the middle of making dinner, he heard Aiba called out. Jun hurriedly ran from the kitchen, sensing that the panic in his friend’s voice. He wanted to ask Aiba what had happened, but all words were stuck in his throat. A figure was sitting on a chair which he had suspected as a boy because it’s too big to be a cat. Later he had known that the little boy was actually an adult, and a few months older than him. Also, he would be living with them at Neko café for the time being because he has no place to stay, no other explanation offered. Jun wanted to refuse, yet something overpowered him the moment he got a glimpsed of the smaller man’s eyes.
And so Nino’s became part of the Neko Café.
But Jun was suspicious; no way would he trust an adult that looked like a teenager, who only refers to himself as just Nino, and not to mention Aiba picked him up - his hygiene is definitely in question. And so he observed.
At work, Nino smiled adorably, greeting the customers when they enter and leave the café, took their orders politely, and even able to care for the cats and kittens that only Aiba could only do because Jun was no good in handling animals - he tried before and end up with scratches on his arms, except for the sleepy looking one before. It amazed Jun that the cats would warm-up with Nino, a newcomer. He was curious and so he observed more.
During his break time, Nino would go to the corner of the café where they use o hide the kittens. He would rest his arms on the table and lay his head atop of them, taking a nap. Sometimes one of the cats would jump to his lap and sleep, especially the sleepy looking one which the smaller man called ‘Oh-chan’. When asked about the name, he simply says because it’s like Oh-chan. Aiba laughs. Later that afternoon Jun learned that ‘Oh-chan’ was actually the painter who visited the café every Friday afternoon, and Nino would spend extra time talking to him while taking orders. Jun was more curious and so he observed a lot more.
During closing time, Nino was in-charged to take the garbage and clean the kitchen because Aiba insisted that Jun needed help, which was odd because he had been doing that since the café had first opened. The smaller man complied without question, though in Jun’s eyes Nino was very hesitant to do so. Jun wondered.
They work together and apart; Jun cleans the espresso machine, oven, and pastry counter, Nino on the other hand washed all the utensils Jun used for baking and then clean the counter. Jun was impressed and so he complimented the smaller man. But he only received a mere glance from the smaller man before placing the last of the trays at the left lower cabinet and left him alone there with his words floating in the air. Jun was not impressed and so he questioned Aiba.
Like all other conversations with Aiba, Jun didn’t quite understand what was happening in the middle of the conversation, especially when his friend stated that cats are very sensitive animals. That they needed time to be familiar with people around them and showed them affection as much as possible for them to know you are trustworthy. He stopped him from talking and made it clear that he was asking about Nino, their new addition to Aiba’s adopted kids. The other rolled his eyes and told him that he didn’t know any other Nino, before disappearing upstairs. Jun was confused.
The following night, Aiba asked him to stay for a bit with the cats like they did before when Jun was still hopeful in being able to pet their own cats. He asked for explanation, the animal-lover said that he needed to practice before the real deal.
Oh-chan was placed on his lap for starters because he was the most friendly among all the cats, but Jun knew better - Oh-chan was just a lazy sleepy looking cat who doesn’t mind who pet him as long as he would let him sleep comfortably on their laps. But he didn’t argue, though he couldn’t grasp the purpose of all these trouble.
He pet Oh-chan - gently patting the head, then caress the head and ears when Oh-chan appeared not to show any sign of uncertainty. Aiba mentioned that cats particularly like their chin to be stroked but try not to rush things, and so Jun was patient.
Two weeks had passed since he started this ‘Jun will pet a pet school’ which the animal-lover called their nightly session with the café cats. He was showing improvement, a lot according to Aiba, especially now that he could hold the other cats without them going ballistic about Jun’s eyebrows and if this was actually a school, he would have received ‘the most improved’ ribbon by the end of the semester. Jun hoped that his friend won’t be idiot enough to actually give him a ribbon for his own good, because he doesn’t know what he’d do to him. Jun was vigilant, just in case.
At the end of the month Aiba was hinting that Jun was definitely ready, he could tell, because he was someone who could tell that someone is really ready to pet a pet or not. Jun was perplexed and afraid.
When night came, Jun was asked to wait at the corner of the café where Nino usually takes his nap. Because being in a familiar place is very important, Aiba has stated pointing his index finger at him, which showed Jun that he needed to remember that at all times. Jun readied himself for a full blown question and answer with Aiba, he secretly took notes at night before sleeping and read them time and again when he was waiting for the pastries to bake. To his surprise the animal-lover disappeared to the kitchen, yelling “tonight is the night”. Jun was nervous.
Minutes later, Nino was walking out from the kitchen. At first Jun didn’t mind at all because he knew that the smaller man would just bow and walk upstairs. What he didn’t expect is for him to walk up to him and stand in front of him without saying a word. He didn’t know what to do; he wasn’t prepared for this kind of exam - his going to kill Aiba with a spatula tomorrow morning, no, tonight so he could sleep peacefully after reviewing his cat notes.
They stood there for a couple of minutes; Nino was growing anxious, Jun could tell because his limbs were closing in to his body - something he’d learn from Aiba. And he needed to do something about it or else the smaller man would…Nino is not a cat but a fully grown man; he should just talk to him. But he didn’t know what to say to the smaller man especially that he looked so fragile the longer he stare at him.
Without any other resolve, he held Nino’s wrist as gentle as possible. Familiarity is important; he sat on where the smaller man usually seat and waited patiently, but not letting go of his wrist. Don’t appear threatening; he relaxed his body and made sure that his eyebrows were not furrowed. Be calm no matter what; he didn’t show how surprised he was when Nino slowly approached him and sat on his lap. Be patient; he waited for the smaller man to relax as he settled himself on Jun’s. And when Nino didn’t show any signs of uncertainty, Jun slowly let go of his the other’s wrist. Using the same hand he touched the other’s hair which was surprising soft, before he was fully patting him on the head.
Jun was planning to caress the other’s ear or touch his chin, but the Nino suddenly leaned his cheeks to Jun’s shoulder and gently rubbed his nose at the hollow part between shoulder blade and neck. And as sudden as it happened, it disappeared, with Nino running swiftly towards his room. Jun was more than contented. Indeed he had improved a lot.
End
A/N: I finally finished this fiction *pats on back* after two weeks of having the plot lurking inside my head like Nino's unusual behavior towards Jun. This was supposedly a humor kind of fiction but as I write Nino's character his behavior suddenly made a deeper impact on me and I can't dismiss his aloofness towards Jun and his obsession to hygiene. I hope you enjoy this one.
Comment are loved, really.