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It was on his way home from School with Hanazawa that Mob found out about Teruki’s love for animals, especially cats.
The conversation started off with questions about each other’s days, and how classes were going, but quickly turned to more personal questions about each other’s interests.
“Do you like animals, Kageyama-Kun?” Hanazawa asked him, a content smile on his lips as he looked at him from the corner of his eyes.
Mob didn’t hesitate to respond, a spark of fondness flickering to life within him at the thought of animals. “Yes!” He smiles, looking up at the sky as he talks. “I love all animals, I think, but I especially love cats.. I wish I could have one, but I’m happy with feeding the strays.”
When Mob looks back at Hanazawa he’s surprised, but not at all disappointed, to find he’s smiling just as brightly back at him. “Yeah? I really love cats, too! I’ve never had a pet before.” There’s a pause, and the smile slowly slips off of Hanazawa’s face.
Mob falters a bit in his steps, frowning a bit. He can feel the change in the air, the happiness suddenly drained from the conversation.
Mob may not be totally in touch with other people’s feelings, but he’s aware of enough to know that Hanazawa is about to talk about something more private.
“Ever since mom and dad left, I’ve been a bit lonely, I suppose. I have you, and my other friends, but I guess.. I sometimes wish I wasn’t always alone in such a big apartment.” He smiles a bit sadly, before continuing. “I want to get a pet one day, to fill that space, but I never got around to it.”
There’s silence, as Mob considers what to say, but Hanazawa beats him to it with an apology.
“A-ah, I’m sorry Kageyama-Kun- I didn’t mean to drop that onto you so suddenly.. I don’t know what came over me..”
Mob shakes his head, moving in front of his friend. “You don’t have to apologize to me, Hanazawa-Kun. I’m glad you told me. I don’t want you to bottle up how you feel.”
He places his hands on his shoulders, squeezing in comfort.
Hanazawa looks up at him, surprise evident on his features, before he smiles at him.
Mob feels his heart stutter at the smile, but doesn’t know why exactly.
They fall back into step after that and continue their old light hearted conversation, but Mob never really did forget what Hanazawa said.
The clock chimes on the wall, and Mob looks up. It’s 7 PM, around the time Mob usually returns home from work.
He hesitates this time, though, eyes lingering on the calendar.
The date that stares back at him is the eleventh. Mob’s acutely aware of the fact that Hanazawa’s birthday is in less than two days, and that he has yet to get him anything at all.
He has an idea, but..
“Oi, Mob,” Mobs head perks up at the sound of his Shishou’s voice. Reigen is staring at him lazily, head propped up on his curled fist. “You should head home, before your brother calls complaining again.”
Mob grabs his bag, stands up, but pauses.
He looks back at Reigen, who stares right back.
There’s a moment of silence as Mob hesitates to speak up before Reigen does it for him.
“What is it, Mob?”
Mob sighs gratefully, before finally uttering out what he wanted to in the first place. “Where can I.. Get a cat?”
Silence.
Reigen slowly sits up, staring at him in confusion. “Your parents are letting you get a cat?”
Mob shakes his head. “Not for me.”
“Oh! For that Hanazawa kid.”
Mob flushes. He guesses it’s kind of obvious.
Reigen smirks at his reaction, but doesn’t say anything about it, thankfully.
“Well, first things first, Mob! Adopt not Shop!” His Shishou says, hands moving in the usual crazy fashion. “Of course, you also have to buy it food and water.. toys..” Reigen trails off, almost like he’s never had an animal— Mob’s almost sure he hasn’t— before speaking up again. “Never mind that for now though, Mob, I know a place where you can adopt one for free!”
Mob smiles thankfully as Reigen scribbles something on a piece of paper and presents it to him. Mob walks up to him and accepts it gratefully, squinting at the neat hand writing.
It was an Adoption shop not too far away from the Office, so it shouldn’t be too much work.
He’s snapped out of his reverie by Reigen asking, “Why are you getting him a cat, anyways? I’m sure he’d be happy with whatever you give him, Mob.”
Mob pauses, before looking back up at his Shishou. “He’s always wanted one. And I..” Mob trails off, uncertain, but Reigen’s looking at him so patiently like he always has. Mobs thankful Serizawa and Tome-San aren’t here today, and it gives him enough courage to admit,
“I want to confess my feelings to Hanazawa-Kun.”
Mob expects Reigen’s eyes to widen dramatically, but doesn’t expect him to start choking on air suddenly.
Mob frantically pats him on the back until he’s finally able to breathe properly again.
Reigen clears his throat, blinking away the tears in his eyes. “Ah, Sorry Mob, you just caught me by surprise.” He says, straightening himself into composure.
Mobs surprised when he lifts his hand and gently tousles his hair, beaming at him brightly. “You’re really growing up, Mob. Hanazawa’s a good kid, so I know you can do it!”
Mob blushes at the encouragement, and smiles back at him softly.
This would be easy.
The next day It was, in fact, not easy. At least, not at first. Finding the place was harder than he thought it would be, since it wasn’t on the main road, instead down a cross of alleys.
At one point, he had to call Reigen to get directions, before he finally arrived in front of the adoption shop.
The sign read “Paws Adoptions”. A bit of an uncreative name, but Mob didn’t care much for the details.
The door jingled when he pushed it open, and he was immediately hit with the familiar smell of animals and food.
The place looked more similar to a pet store, but a lot bigger than the usual. The animals had a lot more places to run, and they didn’t cost a thing, apparently— If Reigen’s words were to be trusted— so that was a good sign in Mobs book.
He carefully steps his way inside, not noticing any people. His shoes squeaked against the tile, and his hands shook a bit from how much cooler it was in here than it was in outside.
The sounds of many mewls caught his attention, and he followed the sound until he stopped in front of a gate. Inside the large area was at least 10 or more cats running and playing. They were all young, kittens probably, and seemed to be healthy.
Mob smiles at the sight. Many different colored cats stood before him, but he wanted to pick the perfect one for Hanazawa.
A sound to his right startles him out of staring at the cats, and he turns to look. A woman with kind eyes and a yellow sundress walked out of a side room, hair in a bun.
She looks momentarily stunned to see someone inside, before she smiles at him warmly.
He feels more at ease in her company now, and feels the tension he didn’t even know was there drain from him.
She walks up to him, gazing down at the cats he was staring at, before speaking up. “You’ve come here to adopt a cat, haven’t you?”
He nods, tilting his head to the side as he speaks. “Yes. I want to get one for my friend, it’s his birthday tomorrow..” he trails off, watching as a black cat play fights with a white one.
She nods understandingly, watching the same cats he’s watching. “I see. Is there anything that you’re specifically looking for?”
Mob pauses, contemplating this. He didn’t think of it before, but he’s sure that a cat that stood out more would match Hanazawa’s colorful personality.
He eyes a calico kitten that’s curled up in the corner, watching three other cats chase each other around. It has one blue and one brown eye, and its nose pattern is shaped like a heart.
Immediately, he thinks it’s perfect for Hanazawa. It stands out, seems gentle, and looks cute.
He feels his face redden at the thought of his friend being cute, but ignores those thoughts for now.
“Um.. actually.. Is it okay if I have that one?” He asks, pointing to the Calico one.
She follows his finger, sees which one he’s pointing at, and practically brightens. “Yes, that would be fine! She’s a real sweet heart, your friend would really love her.”
He watches as she opens the gate, closes it, and walks towards the kitten.
The cat blinks up at her, but does nothing else as she picks her up in a cradle, like a baby.
She stands before the gate, the only separation between Mob and her as she explains the cat to him.
“Her name is Sugar, but that’s only been a temporary name and she isn’t quite used to it. Feel free to name her anything else! She loves to cuddle and she’s real sweet, but she gets a bit anxious if you carry her any other way than in a cradle, so be aware of that.”
She moves her arms over the gate, offering the cat to Mob.
Shyly he picks it up, immediately cradling it to his chest.
The cat looks up at him, blinking, before meowing gently.
Mob feels his heart melt at the sound. She’d be perfect.
She explains that she already got her shots and the kind of food she eats and where to get it.
Mob smiles up at the woman, and thanks her, before taking his leave.
Mob sweats as he makes his was to Hanazawa’s house, Sugar still cradled in his arms. He didn’t think ahead when he got her, figuring he probably should’ve brought a crate along, but thankfully she seems to be the type to be calm as she hasn’t moved since he left.
The list of things Sugar likes is stuffed in his hoodie pocket, and it crunches a bit with each step he takes. He’s a bit anxious, knowing that he might get rejected twice in his life now, but it was now or never.
Reigen was planning a surprise party for Hanazawa tomorrow, so he figured he’d give him the cat today before his birthday.
Mob comes to a halt in front of Hanazawa’s apartment, sucking in a deep breath.
Almost as if she’s sensing his sudden uncertainty, Sugar pushes her head against his chest, a purr rumbling deep in her throat.
Mob feels his lips wobble slightly, fond and weak when it comes to animals, but smiles nonetheless. Even if Hanazawa rejects him, as long as he’s happy, that’s all that really matters.
With that, he treks his way up the steps, all the way to Hanazawa’s door.
He pauses, hesitation seeping into his bones, before he finally knocks once, twice.
There’s a long moment of silence, before footsteps start walking towards the door.
Mob inhales as the lock clicks and the door opens, and he’s met with Hanazawa’s bright face.
“Ah- Kageyama-Kun! What are you doing here?” Hanazawa smiles at him warmly, a blush settling on his cheeks.
Mob feels himself mirroring the blush and smile, before presenting the kitten that Hanazawa thankfully didn’t notice beforehand.
Hanazawa’s eyes widen, but Mob speaks before he gets the chance to.
“I remembered what you told me before, about wanting a cat.. And how lonely you were, and I didn’t want you to be anymore.. So I thought—“ Mob stops when he notices tears spilling down Hanazawa’s cheeks, a shaky smile on his face.
Immediately he panics, assuming he’s hurt his friend, “A-ah, I’m sorry, did you not want-“
He’s cut off when Hanazawa leans forward, throwing his arms around him in a hug.
He does it gently, aware of the kitten in the space between them.
Mob blushes, leaning into his friends weight.
“You..” Hanazawa finally speaks up, voice watery. “You’re amazing, Kageyama-Kun. I couldn’t.. of asked for a better person in my life. Thank you.”
Mob feels his own eyes sting a bit, but he holds that emotion back to lean back.
Locking eyes with Hanazawa, he finally utters what’s been chaining his heart for awhile now.
“I like you a lot, T-Teruki-Kun. Please accept my present and my confession!”
Mob blushes, squeezing his eyes shut tighter the longer the silence goes on.
He’s almost ready to book it before two hands gently cup his cheeks, stroking under his eyes.
He opens his eyes in surprise, only to find an equally red face staring back at him, before Teruki leans in and kisses him on the cheek.
Mob stutters for a moment, grip on the cat almost going slack.
Gently, Teruki removes his hands from his face and instead grabs the kitten from his grasp, holding it the same way he was.
Mobs thankful for that, since the surprise kiss almost made him drop her.
Teruki strokes the kitten behind the ears as he responds, “M-me too, Kag-.. Shigeo-Kun.. I accept your confession. And your present, too. Thank you.”
Teruki removes one hand from the cradle, presenting it to Mob.
He accepts it, twining their fingers together.
Teruki laughs, blush still dusting his cheeks.
“Thank you, Shigeo-Kun. This is the best.. Early birthday ever. ”
Mob beams.
“Happy birthday, Teruki-Kun.”
Sugar mews her own birthday wishes.