Chapter Text
Saki took out her earbuds as she got inside the store for the day, watching the colors fade away as she headed straight for the employee lounge to find her todo list.
As usual, her job was to refill food and care for some animals. Which, she didn’t mind. Especially the cats thanks to a certain blonde-haired girl.
However, when she got to the puppies’ play pen, she realized that this would be a tad bit difficult. All the puppies were playing with each other, except this one pug that seemed to be scared of everyone. Smiling a bit, she picked up the puppy and patted it on the head, making the attempt to try and calm it down.
It was from there she realized her mistake.
The pug was incredibly anxious, it seemed to whine for a few moments, but then it squirmed in Saki’s arms before it got out and ran into the food aisle.
”…Bad puppy, no!” Saki sighed as she ran after it, unaware of the small creature now in someone else’s arms, she quickly stopped in her tracks, not wanting to bump into this girl in the aisle section with her. She panted for a few moments before she looked up, noticing someone with a red sweatshirt, her face being covered with a black hat, but wearing denim shorts and combat boots underneath.
”This cutie belongs to you?” The brunette asked, chuckling a bit at the puppy as she patted it on the head.
”Y-Yes, I’m so sorry…She gets a bit anxious at times…” Saki apologized as she noticed the brunette’s expression changed slightly.
”That does explain the shaking…” She muttered to herself as the ghost-lavender hair girl nodded.
”Mhm…We’re looking into it, but she seems to be rather comfortable with you…”
This made the brunette smile, her serious face fading away for a moment.
”Probably because I smell like Vevo,” She chuckled again as she gave the pug to Saki.
”Ve…vo…?” Saki echoed, the word a bit split up while the girl nodded.
That sounds similar to the music video channel…
”Yeah, that’s my dog, he’s a German shepherd. And surprisingly pretty smart. I wanted to get him some treats as a reward system for teaching him new tricks.” The girl smiled to herself as her gaze turned from Saki to the treats, her eyes scanning against each bag.
”…Uhm, I have a recommendation…I-If you don’t mind.” Saki whispered, feeling anxious just like the pug that was in her arms.
“Really? Shoot.” The other smiled while Saki stood beside her, her eyes scanned the selection before she pointed.
”These milk bones will be good for him…” Saki went back to soothing the pug when she retracted her arm away while the brunette grabbed the bag off the shelf.
”Saki-chan!” A high-pitched voice called as Saki turned around, smiling a bit. Her teal hair framed her face, but her mint green eyes contrasted those features.
”Towa-san…is everything okay?” The girl holding the pug tilted her head to the side a bit while the brunette tried to look less awkward.
”Ibuki’s looking for you! She needed help with the parakeets.” The teal haired girl, now known as Towa to the brunette’s information, glanced away, trying not to look awkward.
”Oh.” Saki responded, glancing a bit at the brunette then paused after a beat.
“Th-That’s it?” Towa questioned as she noticed Saki’s expression of calmness begin to change into worry and fear.
”Oh no.” Saki grew a bit pale but nodded, worried for Ibuki’s well-being.
”Well…I-I’ll be off, uhm…it was nice meeting you…!” Saki waved goodbye with the pug’s paw while the brunette chuckled and tipped up her cap, revealing her face.
Now Saki could get a look at her, her face was small, but had a heart shape towards it. Her peach eyes seemed welcoming, along with the smile she gave.
”It was nice meeting you too.” The brunette said as she picked up the treats that Saki had suggested and disappeared into another aisle.
Strange, it felt as if she had a connection to that girl. But she didn’t even know her name! Nothing about her!
And yet…Her heart felt so full, and her eyes saw so many colors all at once…Each color bursting like a firework when she talked with that brunette…
”Towa! Toki got out! Again!”
Ibuki-san!
And then she realized she was back to work. She immediately put the pug back in her playpen and moved her food and water towards the puppy before she left to help Ibuki and Towa catch the parrot.
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“Thank you guys…Ugh, where’s Noa when you need her?” Ibuki sighed as she placed a few bandages on her fingers while Towa looked up from her station.
”At the entrance.” She pointed while Ibuki shot up, “You’re kidding.”
Noa ran over to the pair with an apologetic look in her eyes.
”I’m so sorry! I didn’t plan to be at the studio for that long…” The blonde apologized, but she held up a bag of food.
”I knew you would be upset, so lunch is on me!” She smiled, heading to the employee lounge.
Ibuki looked annoyed, but if Noa was treating to food, it wouldn’t be the worst. She got up from the station where the cats were, and began heading for the employee lounge with Towa.
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After sweeping up dog hair, feathers, and hair balls, Saki leaned against the register and looked around.
A clean store is a happy store.
She slightly smiled at her thought, but she the smile was quickly taken off her face. Replaced with embarrassment instead.
“You seem to be in a good mood.” The brunette chuckled, arms full of other things besides the treats Saki helped pick out. A bit curious, but still embarrassed, Saki shook her head.
“I-It’s nothing important…”
She cleared her throat then continued.
”Will that be all?” She asked bagging up the brunette’s items after she swiped them on the barcode reader.
”Yup,” The brunette replied as Saki nodded, slightly confused by the fish food when she remembered the other telling her she owned a dog.
”…Thank you for coming, hope to see you soon.” Saki smiled as she held out the bags while the brunette took them and leaned forward.
”Thank you…” Her eyes squinted from seriousness, but she leaned away and smiled.
”Saki.”
The ghost-lavender haired girl looked confused before she glanced at her name tag and sighed quietly to herself.
It caused the brunette to chuckle again, a bit louder than she hoped, but she pulled out her phone.
”If you’re free…Maybe we can talk soon?” She offered as Saki looked at the phone. She felt her heart beat a bit faster than normal as she took the brunette’s phone and placed her contact information.
The brunette sent a simple sticker then waved with phone in hand, as she left the store. Noticing all the colors flowing around, Saki glanced at her reflection through the glass window.
Red.
So much of it.
That girl had a red aura around her, but instead of anger…It almost seemed like confidence.
Determination, even.
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When Saki decided to go on her lunch break, she sat beside the pug from earlier as she ate her sandwich. And even though all the puppies were asleep, the pug wasn’t.
”You’re so similar to Schrödinger…” She couldn’t help but smile at the pug while she ate.
”Saki-chan!”
And then she realized she was doing something cute to Noa, but normal to her, and couldn’t help but sigh at the thought.
”Hey! That girl you were talking to, do you know her?” Towa asked as Noa and Ibuki walked over, also sitting down.
Saki shook her head as she ate her sandwich, hoping her face wouldn’t begin to heat up.
“I think she’s part of Peaky P-key. I remember seeing a video of one of their shows the other day.” Ibuki replied, looking up the video from her phone and showing it to the others.
Even on the small screen, the stage was filled with light and vibrant colors. The display screen above showed multiple animated signatures and videos as the song kept going. The video was only 30 seconds, and ended with the group saying the group’s name and their signature pose.
”Peaky P-key…” The group, minus Ibuki, repeated.
Ibuki nodded as she looked back at her phone and read a message.
“Let’s try and do our best. Meet at the studio tomorrow afternoon.” She read as Towa, Saki and Noa all exchanged glances.
”What time?” Noa asked while Ibuki sighed.
”2pm.”
”We’re not gonna get home until sundown at that rate!” Towa flopped onto Ibuki while the blonde raised an eyebrow.
”You make it seem like we never get home until sundown, Towa.” Noa shook her head while Saki gave a sympathetic smile towards the tealette.