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“Mrow.”
Odajima Yuken cocked his head. “Meow?”
“Mrrow.” The cat yawned out.
Odajima stared at the cat. It stared back.
The blond man squat down on his haunches. He scratched the back of its ears, coarse but soft, and it purred in response.
Odajima rubbed the fur around its neck, checking for a collar. He found none as the cat yawned again.
“Stray?” He said aloud.
“Meow.” It replied.
“Guess so.”
Odajima pet it for a bit more before he stood up. “Sorry, I have somewhere to be. See you later?” He said, slight lisp on his S’.
The cat didn’t respond, just stared at him.
Odajima waved. “See ya around, kitty.” He stepped around the cat, before stopping and whirling around. “Don’t get caught by the landlord, though. He’ll kick you out.” Turning back around, he continued his trek down the hallway of his apartment building.
He plodded down the stairwell, hands resting in his pockets casually.
Then he heard a “mrow.”
Stilling, he turned his head. The cat sat at the top of the stairwell, staring at him.
Odajima tilted his glasses down and peered at it.
“Huh.”
It meowed at him.
He took a few steps back.
Then he walked backward, holding the rails as he watched the top of the stairs.
Sure enough, the cat popped up.
Odajima pointed at it. “Caught you.”
“Meow.”
Odajima continued backwards down the steps, carefully, as he watched the cat follow him silently. When Odajima stopped, the cat would stop, and stare at him. Odajima would stare back. Then he would keep walking, eventually making it down four flights of stairs with the cat in tow.
Odajima had promptly forgot about the missing final step on the last set of stairs, eyes rapidly widening as he tumbled backward.
The cat hopped down each step, tail waving. It crouched next to Odajima, who now lay on the floor, groaning.
“Mrow.”
Odajima raised his head, adjusting his glasses.
“What do you want from me?”
The cat’s ear twitched, but it didn’t reply.
“You want money? You’re not Yakuza, are you?”
“Mrow.”
“Fine, let’s be friends. I thought we were already.” Odajima sat up, petting the cat on the head. It purred.
———
Odajima walked down the street with the cat padding alongside him.
“The weather’s really nice, huh? I’m not big on direct sunlight though, my skins pretty sensitive. Oh, and my eyes are too.” He tapped his glasses.
The cat was silent. Odajima didn’t seem to mind, however, because he kept talking. “Great weather to go on a date. Do you have a special someone, kitty-chan?”
“Meow.”
“Huh.” They walked past an older man, who stared at them as Odajima continued. “Hope I’m not taking you away from them or anything. But, you followed me in the first place.”
A few seconds of silence passed between them as they walked along.
“This feels like a movie. Which one was it? Ghibli…ah, whisper of the heart. Y’know, country roads, take me home? Except you’re not as fat as the cat in that one. It’s a cute movie, makes your heart beat.”
They turned onto another street, Odajima humming country roads.
“Mrow?”
“Where are we headed? The train station. You’re not the only one with a special someone. Mine’s not a cat though. He’s human like me.”
“Meow.”
“He lives in the next city over. Not like I mind calling him over the phone since his voice is nice. I’m bragging, huh? Well, I can be a little cocky.” Odajima glanced at his cat companion, trotting next to him. “Would you mind if I don’t shut up about him, kitty-chan?”
The cat didn’t reply.
“Cool. Well, where do I start? I mean, we met in a fight between our schools- right, if you can’t tell already I’m a delinquent.” He lazily threw up a peace sign. “We both are I guess, well, he’s a bit well-read for a delinquent. A classy delinquent, y’know? He takes off his glasses when he fights, it’s cute.”
The cat made a low noise from it’s throat.
“Oh, I take mine off too. Only when I’m getting serious though. When I met him, I didn’t have my glasses on, but I could tell he was sexy. He beat my ass the first time we met too. Gave me a good tussle, that’s for sure. Totally worth it.”
The pair stepped out beyond the street in the shadows to one bathed in sunlight, Odajima narrowing his eyes as they walked.
“I’m going on a date with him today. Well, more like he’s letting me hang out at his house. Weathers nice, so maybe we can go to the convenience store for some treats together. I hate sweets, but he eats a lot of them. He’s big on gummies.”
Odajima slowed as they passed a small market, before coming to a full stop. The cat stopped as well.
“Look, kitty-chan. Six hundred yen for a watermelon.” Odajima stared at the sign, and the large box of watermelons inside the market.
“Meow.”
“Perfect for this kind of weather, you’re right. They’re pretty big for six hundred.” He glanced at the cat, “Should we get it?”
The cat made another low noise from its throat.
——
They continued their journey, Odajima now carrying a watermelon in his arms.
“Mrow.”
“I hope he likes it too. He’s not much of a picky eater though. If not, I’ll eat it.”
They walked down the stairs leading to the train platform, Odajima taking it one step at a time with the watermelon in his arms.
Odajima set the watermelon down on a bench and sat next to it.
He looked at the cat. “Are you gonna wait for the train with me?”
Wordlessly, the cat curled up next to his shoes, yawning.
“That’s nice of you, kitty-chan.” Odajima leaned back on his arms.
He tossed his head back, gaze heavenward. “Y’know, sometimes I have doubts. But don’t all couples do?”
“Mrow?”
“It’s not him. No, he’s perfect. It’s always gonna be me. Besides, the whole thing about gender, since he’s not particularly gay or anything…I just don’t get it sometimes.”
He continued, scrunching his nose. “I asked him out, I know, but I was expecting to be slugged in the face till all my teeth caved in. But he accepts me, and I don’t know why. But…” He sighed. “I don’t doubt that he cares about me. About a month ago my arm was busted, and he came all the way here to take care of me. Happiest three days of my life, I tell ya. I just wonder to myself sometimes why he would like me back. I mean, I’m not that handsome. I wear sunglasses indoors and I have a lisp.”
“Meow.”
“I can’t even pronounce his first name. His name is Yosuke- you hear that? Yothuke. I can’t pronounce things with ‘S’ sounds properly. To be fair, it was a lot worse in middle school. I struggled with the whole alphabet. That’s how I started fighting, y’know. Bullies thought the way I talked was funny, so they slammed my head on a desk a little too many times. Nowadays my lisp is only for ‘S’ and I like beating the shit out of bullies. Weird how that happens, right?”
He cocked his head to the side, thinking aloud.
“I never really cared about having a lisp for a while, not before I started dating him. Now I can’t even say Yosuke without it sounding ridiculous. Strange, huh? I worry so much about what he thinks of me. I feel like a chick.”
“Meow.”
“Okay, bad comparison. Guys can be self-conscious and insecure. Got it.”
Odajima tugged at a string that had come loose on the hem of his clothing. “This is my favourite shirt, by the way. I try not to wear grey if I’m not at school since everyone wears it. I like blue since it doesn’t give me as much of a headache.”
They settled into silence, the cat’s tail swishing back and forth as Odajima sat with his legs crisscrossed, chin resting on his palm as they waited for the train.
“You know your way back, right?” Odajima asked the cat.
It didn’t respond, opting instead to stare at him.
“Don’t blame me if you get lost.” Said the boy, yawning.
A few more minutes passed of bored quiet. The only other person waiting for the train, an old lady further down the platform, had convinced herself that the man talking to the cat as if it was a person was a side effect of her new medication.
Finally, the screech of the train tracks, accompanied with the electronic voice of a lady, announced the trains arrival. Eastbound, now arriving.
Odajima stood and picked up the watermelon. “Well, I guess this is goodbye for now, kitty-chan. Don’t miss me too much.” Odajima smiled while the cat meowed at him. “I’d pet you but this watermelon is heavy.”
The train doors slid open, Odajima stepping inside. He turned to face the platform. “Bye Kitty-chan, take care~” He called.
The cat’s ear twitched.
As the doors were closing, it suddenly dashed forward, slipping through just as the doors shut closed.
Odajima gawked, the cat staring back.
They stared at it each other for a moment, before the train started moving and Odajima nearly fell.
“You do know you’re gonna be third-wheeling, right?” The blond said finally, regaining his balance.
“Mrow.”
——
The train car was empty, so Odajima got comfortable in his seat. Setting the watermelon down next to him, he stretched his arms and legs out with a yawn.
“Kitty-chan, wake me up when we get there, ‘kay?”
The cat didn’t respond, licking it’s paws on the other seat next to Odajima.
Odajima crossed his arms. “Shouldn’t be too long of a ride. I told Yosuke I’d be at the station by 4. He’s probably sitting there right now.” He hummed contentedly, closing his eyes. “Reading a book with a scowl on his face. He’s probably gonna be in his uniform. Unless he chose to go casual for once.” Odajima cracked an eye open, looking at his furry companion. “Wanna bet? I say he wears his uniform.”
“Meow.”
“Too bad you’re broke and I’m right then, huh?”
Resting his glasses on his head, he rubbed his eyes, then pinched the bridge of his nose. His face scrunched up as he squinted his eyes shut, before putting his glasses back on and exhaling through his nose. He slumped in his seat.
“Maybe it’s just cause we’re apart most of the time. Whenever I’m with him though, I forget all my worries.”
He smiled. “Funny, right?”
The cat didn’t respond, Odajima scratching the back of its ears. It purred in response.
“Thanks, Kitty-chan. You’re a good listener. Maybe even good as Sachio, but don’t tell him that.”
“Meow.”
——
Now arriving at Oyajimae station.
Odajima stood up, watermelon in arms. “Let’s go.”
They stepped onto the platform together, Odajimas eyes scanning the dim train station before falling onto a familiar face. He grinned. “There he is. You owe me, Kitty-chan.”
Yosuke Todoroki gave a small wave.
As they approached, Todoroki’s dark eyes narrowed as he glanced between Odajima and the cat padding alongside him.
Odajima stopped in front of him. “Yosuke, I’d like you to meet my friend.” He turned to the cat. “Kitty-chan, this is Yosuke, but you have to call him Todoroki. Yosuke, this is Kitty-chan.”
Todoroki and the cat regarded each other for a moment, Todoroki’s eyebrow raised.
“Mrow.” Said the cat.
Odajima cupped his mouth with a hand. “Say nice to meet you.” He whispered.
Todoroki gave Odajima a look, before redirecting back to the cat. “Nice to meet you.” He said. He then looked at Odajima. “Care to explain?”
“Don’t look at me like that. Kitty-chan followed me here from my apartment. I didn’t kidnap them or anything, pinky swear.”
“Followed?”
“Yep. Is it okay if they third-wheel?”
Todoroki blinked rapidly. Then he looked back down at the cat, who was staring at him.
He suddenly squat down, reaching out to pet it. He ran his hands down its fur and it purred in response.
“Does it have an owner?” Asked Todoroki.
“Dunno. No collar though, but knowing my building chances are it just wanders around outside eating scraps.”
“Hm.” Todoroki moved his head back and forth as he examined the cat. “Well, it is skinny. If it does have an owner, they’re not feeding it enough.” He scratched the back of it’s ears. “It’s not very hostile towards humans though, for a stray.”
“Yup, I noticed that too. Kitty-chan is very friendly. And a good listener.”
Todoroki picked up the cat, holding it up with both hands and continued the examination, the cat pawing at the air as he did so.
“It’s a she.” Todoroki said.
“Ehhhh? For real? You can tell?”
“Mhm.” Todoroki set the cat down, and it mewed. He looked up at Odajima. “Are you planning on keeping her?”
“Ah? Oh, well- shit.” Odajima scratched his neck. “My landlord doesn’t allow pets. I’m really sorry, Kitty-chan.”
“Meow.”
Todoroki glanced between the cat and Odajima, expression unreadable until he sighed.
“I’ll take care of her.” He offered.
Odajimas eyes widened. “Really?”
Todoroki stood up, parting his bangs as he did so. “It’s not a big deal. She needs to be taken care of anyways.” He glanced at Odajima. “Close your mouth.”
Odajima closed his slacked jaw. “Are you sure? A living animal is a big deal, not to mention cash heavy-“
“I can afford it.” Todoroki dismissed him, narrowing his eyes. “You want me to take care of her or not?”
“I- haaaa...” Odajima sighed. “Of course I do, babe, but I don’t wanna burden you or anything like that-“
Odajima was suddenly flicked in the forehead, and he let out a squeak.
“Yowch!”
“If I say I can do it, I’ll do it.” Todoroki chided with a strong but gentle voice. “So stop worrying.”
Odajima blinked, then slowly smiled. He looked over at the cat.
“It’s your lucky day, Kitty-chan.”
“Meow.”
“My boyfriend here is the kindest~”
Todoroki shot a glare at the blond, who stuck his tongue out in response.
Todoroki began to walk away, hands in his pockets. “We need to stop by the vet and the pet store. Are you sure you can carry that watermelon around the whole time?”
“I’m a big boy, I’ll be fine.” Said Odajima. “C’mon, Kitty-chan, we’re going.”
Todoroki pushed up his glasses. “Shouldn’t she have a proper name?”
“Should she? Well, I guess. Whaddaya think suits her?”
Todoroki seemed to think for a moment as he stopped to glance down at the cat. He then peered at Odajima.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke. “Yumi.”
It took a few seconds for it to click.
“Yu…Yumi?”
“Yumi,” Todoroki pointed at the cat, a pleased smile gracing his features. He then pointed at Odajima. “Yuken.”
“H-ha?”
Todoroki walked away, Yumi beginning to trail behind him, leaving Odajima with wide eyes and his mouth agape.
“Y-Yumi? Seriously?” He began to jog to catch up. “First my name, then she gets to hang out with you all the time- Kitty-chan, say something! I thought we were friends?!”
“It’s Yumi-chan to you, idiot.” Said Todoroki.
“Baaaaabe.” Groaned out Odajima.
“Mrow.”