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Eri was literally jumping in excitement as they were walking towards the cat shelter near to their apartment. After they had persuaded their dads to let them adop a new kitty, the two siblings headed out towards the shelter without a second thought.
”If you will jump like this, you will tire yourself out,” Shinsou said to his little sister, squeezing her smaller hand in his.
”But niii-chaaan!” Eri whined, looking up at him with shining eyes. ”We can finally have a kitty!” She said as if it could explain everything – and if Hitoshi wanted to be totally honest, it did.
When they stepped in the building, Hitoshi didn’t see anyone behind the counter. From the back of the building, they could hear the mewing of the cats and Eri let out an excited little noise.
”Hello? Is anyone here?” Shinsou asked and suddenly someone moved in the shadows. As the person walked out to the light, Eri hid behind his brother squeezing his T-shirt.
”Are you here to take a look at these little babies?” The person asked and the siblings gulped in union.
”N-nii-chan! A-a crazy cat lady!” Eri whimpered and Shinsou had to agree with her to some extent.
The girl before them was in his age and had five cats clinging from her body. She had two on her right and two on her left shoulder, while the last one was resting on the top of her head.
”Ah! I’m sorry for scaring you with my appearance,” the girl said apologetically. ”You see, these babies are from the same litter and they really didn’t want to stay in their cage, xo I bought them out for a walk.” The black kitty on her head mewed and she looked up. ”What is it, Kuroo-chan? Do you want to know them better?”
”Y-you understand what they say?” Eri asked curiously, stepping out behind of Shinsou.
”Of course I do! I spend a lot of time with them after all!”
Eri’s eyes widened in wonder and a small smile appeared on Hitoshi’s lips. When he turned back to the direction of the girl, she was suddenly in front of him and her golden eyes took his breath away. He saw he lips moving, but he couldn’t process what she was saying.
”Y-yes?” He asked with a blush creeping on his face. He heard his sister giggling beside him.
”Would you be so kind and take them off of me, please?” The girl asked, nodding towards her left, then right shoulder. After Shinsou had taken the four other kittens in his arms, their new acquaintance smiled at him brightly. ”Thank you!”
She then knelt down in front of Eri and lifted the last kitten off of her head. She reached it towards Eri, who took the small animal away with a little bit of hesitation. As soon as it was close enough, the kitten started licking her all over her face.
”Waaah! Kuroo-chan, that tickles!” Eri squealed, laughing loudly. After the licking attack, she looked up at her brother. ”Can we adopt him, nii-chan? Please!”
Hitoshi saw as the cat looked up too and he swore he saw the begging look in its eyes directed towards its siblings. He heard some meows from his arms and had to take a deep breath to process what was happening in that moment.
”It looks like his siblings gave their permission,” the girl declared and Hitoshi narrowed his eyes a bit. Someone understanding what cats say was not possible… right?
”Thank you,” Eri said, then looked at the name tag on the girls’ uniform, ”Mei-neechan!”
”You’re very welcome, Eri-chan!” Mei answered, patting her new friend on the top of her head.
They had already put the other four cats back to their cage and Eri was out of the door when Mei turned towards Hitoshi with a wide smile on her lips.
”You are really good with cats,” she said and reached his hand towards the boy. Hitoshi accepted it and felt as small paper was being slid into his palm. ”I would love to have you as a co-worker!”
The girl smiled at him brightly and Hitoshi felt a blush creeping on his face. Having a part time job didn’t seem such a bad idea.