[Fic] Azure (2/?)
Characters: Naoki, Makidai, Tetsuya, Naoto
Pairing: Hmm.
Rating: G
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3
=========================
The newest member of his household was curled up by the heater, purring contentedly in his sleep.
Looking at the shredded mess of newspaper strewn all over the floor, Naoki rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily.
He really needed to stop taking these animals under his wing.
=========================
The pet shop two blocks away from Naoki’s home was probably the only one in the state with a loyalty point system. It worked out just fine for him, who, by now, had accumulated enough points to exchange for two months’ worth of cat kibbles.
Taking a basket from the entranceway, he made his way towards the shelves, browsing for items that he might need.
“AH!” A crash resounded from the next aisle.
When Naoki went over to see what the matter was, he found a young shop employee on the ground, with bags of birdseed around him.
Naoki stretched out a hand to help the man up, which the other accepted after a good ten seconds of embarrassed silence.
“Are you alright?”
Before the man got a chance to answer, the shop manager materialized at their aisle.
“I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience. This boy here is new, and is still learning the ropes. Please excuse him.” Makidai shot a disapproving look at his staff.
Naoki shook his head. “It’s no bother…”
“I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience.” The young man sketched out a quick bow before bending down to pick up the fallen bags.
=========================
Naoki saw him again one evening as he was returning home from work.
He was seated on a bench by the river, surrounded by all sorts of birds. As Naoki watched, the man took a handful of grain from his bag and scattered it on the grass around him.
Naoki could not help thinking that, despite the company, that man looked lonely.
=========================
“Say, Makidai-san. About that new staff at your shop…”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just saw him in the park the other day, that’s all. I’ve never seen him around before, and it’s a small neighbourhood.”
“He’s a bit of an oddball, isn’t he? He came in for a walk-in interview one day with no resume, no nothing. Said that he needed a job, and that it was quite urgent. I was really shorthanded at that time, so I just hired him out of convenience. Thankfully, now he isn’t as clumsy as before.” Makidai laughed.
Naoki smiled before taking a sip of his coffee.
=========================
Naoki let out an exasperated sigh.
Despite his still-healing hind leg, Tecchan had been bringing back bird corpses to lay at the foot of his bed.
Naoki scratched behind Tecchan’s ears as the tomcat let out a contented purr.
At least he’s getting better.
=========================
Naoki saw him once again the next evening, seated on the same park bench, gazing into the sunset.
“The view here is lovely, isn’t it?”
The man started, head snapping around towards Naoki. He relaxed just a little when he saw who it was.
“Oh, it’s the customer from the shop. Good evening.”
“Sorry for startling you. May I join you?”
The man shifted over on the bench, leaving enough space for Naoki to sit.
“I saw you feeding the birds the other day.”
“Yeah, well. They deserve a treat once in a while.”
“Do you have any pets at home?”
“No. But you have a cat?”
At Naoki’s enquiring look, the man let out a short laugh, “Your basket had everything cat-related in it.”
Ah. That made sense. “I used to have a dog too, but she just passed away half a year ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It’s all right. She’s in a better place now anyway.” The sun had already set beyond the horizon.
Naoki brushed off his pants as he stood up. “I have to go now, my cat must be waiting for his dinner. It was nice talking to you.”
After taking a few steps, he turned back to the other man.
“Ah, I just realized that I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Naoki, and you are…?”
The man smiled.
“It was nice talking to you, Naoki-san. My name is Naoto.”
Pairing: Hmm.
Rating: G
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3
=========================
The newest member of his household was curled up by the heater, purring contentedly in his sleep.
Looking at the shredded mess of newspaper strewn all over the floor, Naoki rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily.
He really needed to stop taking these animals under his wing.
=========================
The pet shop two blocks away from Naoki’s home was probably the only one in the state with a loyalty point system. It worked out just fine for him, who, by now, had accumulated enough points to exchange for two months’ worth of cat kibbles.
Taking a basket from the entranceway, he made his way towards the shelves, browsing for items that he might need.
“AH!” A crash resounded from the next aisle.
When Naoki went over to see what the matter was, he found a young shop employee on the ground, with bags of birdseed around him.
Naoki stretched out a hand to help the man up, which the other accepted after a good ten seconds of embarrassed silence.
“Are you alright?”
Before the man got a chance to answer, the shop manager materialized at their aisle.
“I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience. This boy here is new, and is still learning the ropes. Please excuse him.” Makidai shot a disapproving look at his staff.
Naoki shook his head. “It’s no bother…”
“I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience.” The young man sketched out a quick bow before bending down to pick up the fallen bags.
=========================
Naoki saw him again one evening as he was returning home from work.
He was seated on a bench by the river, surrounded by all sorts of birds. As Naoki watched, the man took a handful of grain from his bag and scattered it on the grass around him.
Naoki could not help thinking that, despite the company, that man looked lonely.
=========================
“Say, Makidai-san. About that new staff at your shop…”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just saw him in the park the other day, that’s all. I’ve never seen him around before, and it’s a small neighbourhood.”
“He’s a bit of an oddball, isn’t he? He came in for a walk-in interview one day with no resume, no nothing. Said that he needed a job, and that it was quite urgent. I was really shorthanded at that time, so I just hired him out of convenience. Thankfully, now he isn’t as clumsy as before.” Makidai laughed.
Naoki smiled before taking a sip of his coffee.
=========================
Naoki let out an exasperated sigh.
Despite his still-healing hind leg, Tecchan had been bringing back bird corpses to lay at the foot of his bed.
Naoki scratched behind Tecchan’s ears as the tomcat let out a contented purr.
At least he’s getting better.
=========================
Naoki saw him once again the next evening, seated on the same park bench, gazing into the sunset.
“The view here is lovely, isn’t it?”
The man started, head snapping around towards Naoki. He relaxed just a little when he saw who it was.
“Oh, it’s the customer from the shop. Good evening.”
“Sorry for startling you. May I join you?”
The man shifted over on the bench, leaving enough space for Naoki to sit.
“I saw you feeding the birds the other day.”
“Yeah, well. They deserve a treat once in a while.”
“Do you have any pets at home?”
“No. But you have a cat?”
At Naoki’s enquiring look, the man let out a short laugh, “Your basket had everything cat-related in it.”
Ah. That made sense. “I used to have a dog too, but she just passed away half a year ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It’s all right. She’s in a better place now anyway.” The sun had already set beyond the horizon.
Naoki brushed off his pants as he stood up. “I have to go now, my cat must be waiting for his dinner. It was nice talking to you.”
After taking a few steps, he turned back to the other man.
“Ah, I just realized that I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Naoki, and you are…?”
The man smiled.
“It was nice talking to you, Naoki-san. My name is Naoto.”