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“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“What can I say, Yamaha? They presented a solid argument that convinced me.”
“You wanted a pet too, didn't you.”
“Irrelevant, but yes. Absolutely.” Halley said, watching the kids run rampant through the pet shop with a smile, “And knowing you, Mr. Prim and Proper, I bet you wanted a pet too.”
“Also irrelevant, but if I have to be the one to clean poop off of the floor–”
“You’ll take it back, I know. I heard, they heard, and I bet the whole dang neighborhood heard. But they won’t let that happen, they’ll take care of whatever they pick.”
“And by they, you mean Mari?”
“Oh please you and I both know who will be the one who will take care of it.”
“Do I smell a bet coming on?”
“Ha! If you want to, fine. Loser foots the bill for the dinner of the winner’s choosing.”
“Deal.” The mother father duo shook on it, sealing their bet in stone.
A smile wormed its way onto Halley’s face, “I’ve been looking for an excuse to introduce Sunny to Surf n Turf. The look on his face when he’ll eat a filet mignon paired with the undisputed best food out there lobster tail, nice pillowy mashed potatoes, and for dessert… cinnamon rolls.”
“Guess that’ll have to happen another time, because I’ll… well I haven’t thought that far, but it won’t be steak and lobster.”
“We’ll see about that. Anyway we better get those two wrangled up. Unless we want to be here for 5 hours.”
“Agreed.”
…
“Woah Sunny, check this out! A snake!”
“Wow…” He stared in awe at the slumbering mass of scales. Sunny knew that his father wouldn’t approve of a snake as their pet… but man would it be cool! He could have it wrap around his neck like a villain from a cartoon!
“Alright you two.” Halley’s interrupted has shot Sunny’s imaginative interpretation of his evil alter ego, “Have you two decided what pet you want?”
“Wel–”
“And no, it can’t be the snake.”
“Darn.” Mari was honestly… okay very much, considering getting the snake. Mainly because it’d be a cool animal to have as a pet (and she thought it might make Henry think she’s cool. But that’s a secret! Don’t tell anyone!!)
“Welp since you two have dillydallied too much, guess it’s up to us to help you.” Halley took charge of this pet operation. “Follow me kids, let’s start with something small.”
Well, when she said small she meant it. Starting off with the goldfishes, and let me say… give this worker a raise she’s passionate about animals. Giving a basic rundown of how to properly take care of a goldfish to make sure it survives longer than a week.
Which bored Sunny to almost tears. Sure if they end up getting a goldfish as a pet then he’ll ask for the info again. But he knew full well that Mari wasn’t going to go home from the pet store with just a goldfish. Or any fish, fuzzy and cute animal or bust!
But the problem… is that there are A LOT of different fish in this store. And apparently different fish have slightly different needs. So… Sunny did the only thing a kid would do when they’re listening to a hopelessly boring lecture. Sneak off to see more animals.
So, with a Stealth Level of 100, he slipped away undetected.
…
The one thing that Sunny hasn’t realized until now… is that this Pet Store is HUGE! So many different places for so many different walks of pet owners. Reptiles? Got a section for you. Fish? A whole aquarium. Birds? He can hear the various chirps and squawks from here. Even a giant hamster playhouse for… well hamsters!
But the one place he was interested in the most… was the Puppy Cafe. He didn’t know why, but Sunny was torn between the ever going war between Dogs and Cats. He was content with the solitary yet loving nature of the cat, and the hyperactive loving nature of the dog. It also helped that they’re freaking adorable. Either way he has a chance to infiltrate and huggle a bunch of dogs–
“Can I help ya kid?” His cover is blown, code red! I repeat! CODE RED!! “Lemme guess, Nancy’s speeches about fish got ya bored and you want to hang out with the doggos?” Wait, a sympathizer? “She’s dedicated, that's for sure, but no one wants to listen to a 15 minute presentation on how to take care of a goldfish. Especially since it can be summarized to just ‘Get a large tank with a filter, clean the filter regularly, feed it’. That’s it. No more bells and whistles. Ya get me?”
Sunny couldn’t help but nod, which made the worker laugh a little. “Alright Beth, that’s enough talking about your co-workers behind their backs. And you should take this kid back to his parents before they get worried he gets kidnapped or something.”
“Oh believe me Tiff, I tell her that to her face often.” The worker, Beth, responded in kind, “And besides, after the break-in a few months ago this place is monitored 24-7, a camera placed in every place imaginable. If someone was stupid enough to rush in here to do that they’d be in cuffs before they could leave the building.”
“But still–”
“And besides, look at this little guy… he just wants to play with puppies, and maybe get a Hot Chocolate.” He was already enticed by the idea of playing with the little doggos… but Hot Cocoa too?! Well, sign him up.
“Can I ma’am?” Sunny remembered what his Mom taught him, a series of techniques that will make even the iron willed crumble. A technique whose potency diminishes with age… but at 4 years old it’s at maximum power! Those techniques… are Weaponized Cuteness™.
The opening move of his soft pleading voice was effective on Tiff’s stance. She’s wavering, holes in her psyche are revealing. “I’ll be good, I promise.” And Sunny was quick to exploit them.
‘Man this kid is good.’ Quick to catch on to Sunny’s antics, Beth opted to just do nothing but watch her co-worker squirm. She didn’t forget that Tiff forced her to clean the numerous litter boxes… she could never forget.
“L-Look, kid. We can’t just let you do whatever you want without your parents permission.” But Tiff tried to resist, ‘Hold strong Tiffany! The boss promised a raise at the end of the week! Be strong!!’
With his repertoire of abilities slowly running out, Sunny decided to bust out the Ultimate Technique. A technique on the dark side of cuteness that… if mastered, is guaranteed victory! “Please Ms. Tiffany?” And that technique… is the dreaded Puppy Dog Eyes™.
‘I’m failing. I’m not going to make it!’ “F-Fine.”
“Thank you ma’am.” And just like that, Sunny bowed before heading into the Puppy Cafe. Leaving behind an embarrassed Tiffany…
“BAHAHAHAHA!!” And a cackling Beth.
“It’s not funny, Beth.”
“Oh-oh it is! It’s hilarious. I can’t see straight, you got hard swindled by that kid. That’s great!” Beth wiped a tear from her eye, “Oh man that kid is gonna be dangerous when he grows up. Heck he’s dangerous now!”
“Just go in there to keep an eye on him.” Tiff turned around and headed towards the door that said ‘Employee’s Only’ “I need a minute…”
“That was almost worth cleaning up piles of kitty litter.”
…
A quick look at the remaining members of Sunny’s family shows they're… well bored to tears. Yamaha, after sitting through numerous business meetings over the years has mastered looking invested when he’s spaced out. Halley and Mari meanwhile, don’t have said ability.
‘This is so. Freaking. BORING!!’ Never has Halley regretted anything more in her life, than caving to her children’s (and her) desire for a pet. And all it took was one glace for Halley to see Mari felt the same way. Time to be a martyr for a cause. “Hey, Mari. You can run off if you want.”
“Re–” She was about to scream in jubilation, before realizing that might be a bad idea, “Really?”
“Yes. And Sunny–” She looked behind her to see an empty space where Sunny once stood, “Got a head start. While you’re at it, make sure your brother hasn’t gotten himself lost in the Chinchilla Cage or something.”
“Oh that’s next, Chinchillas!”
“Go. Hurry.”
“Yes Mom.” She gave her a quick hug before slipping away.
‘Be strong for them, Halley.’
…
‘I’m free!!’ Mari screamed in her head as she trotted through the big pet store, ‘Now, if I was Sunny where would I–’
“Pardon me.” Mari turned around to see Tiffany had returned from her Overdose of Cuteness (Also™). “Are you looking for a boy, about…” She held her hand up to her knee, “Yay high, black hair, with two tufts of it sticking out.”
“Oh that’s my baby brother! Have you seen him?”
“Yeah, he should be in there.”
“... A Puppy Cafe? What’s that?”
“A place where you can get drinks and snacks while playing with dogs and puppies.”
Hearing that such an amazing place exists made Mari excited, “Got it, thanks Miss!” With renewed excitement, Mari sprinted inside to greet her brother… and play with a bunch of dogss.
…
…
“How does his hair stick out like that?”
…
“Sunny? Are you in–”
“Arr.” Mari’s question was interrupted by the sight of a blissful Sunny laying on the carpet. Content with a bunch of puppies laying on his stomach.
“Hi Mari.” He greeted, making negative effort to move from his spot. “I am one with the puppies.”
… Mari also wanted to be one with the puppies. So she laid beside him… “Arf!” And like clockwork, more puppies claimed their spots on her stomach.
“... This is awesome.”
“I know.” He noticed Mari moving her hand to deliver some pets and belly rubs, “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Huh, why not?”
“Because they get jealous.” He turned to show a light scratch on his cheek.
“Ooooh.” Well Mari had a dilemma on her hands. On the one hand, she has heard legends of a puppy scuffle… on the other hand they look so pettable.
…
…
“Sunny?”
“Yes, Mari?”
“Remember me…” Ladies, gentlemen, non-binary homies… There goes our hero.
“Mari, don’t do it.” Sunny exclaimed (if you can even call it that) in the most monotone voice possible.
“I love you baby brother…” Mari placed her hand on a Husky Puppy, and gave it a little scritch.
“Bark!” “Arf!” “Arr!”
“Oh I made a mistake!!” Mari yelled, before being buried under a pile of needy puppies!
Rest in Peace Mari… Sunny tried to warn you.
…
“So here we have the Guinea Pigs–”
“Mom.” The soft spoken voice of Sunny interrupted Nancy.
“Oh there you are Su– What happened to Mari?”
“Puppy Cafe. Tried to save her, but she pet the puppies. It was traumatic.” Sunny commented, trying to support his sister as well as his little 4 year old bones could.
“Oh no. Well how can we cure our dying daughter?”
“Hot… Chocolate…” Mari muttered, trying to sell this act as much as possible.
Halley sighed, a smile ever present on her face. She raised these extortionist kids… “Alright fine you crooks.” She fished out her wallet and handed Sunny 10 bucks. “I assume the little puppy wants something too?”
…
…
“What puppy?”
“The one that’s on your head, you little goober.” Halley gave the little lump of brown cuteness on his head a quick scritch.
“Arr…” The light barks gave away its location away.
“Now I know your head sometimes gets super frizzy, but I don’t remember it being brown and white and alive.”
“What?” In a state of shock, Sunny lifted his hands towar-
*Thud*
“Ow…”
Oh right Mari. Guess she got too wrapped up in the act.
Well anyway, Sunny lifted his hands towards his head and gently grabbed the little mass. “Bark.” And sure enough, a brown puppy.
“... Oh it’s you.”
After getting rather acquainted with the ground, Mari flung herself back onto her feet, “Sunny you know him?”
“Her. And yeah, I met her around 15 minutes ago.”
…
*Around 15 minutes ago*
Sunny has entered the Puppy Cafe. Taking in the environment there is a bunch of cushioned chairs, paw print decals on the walls–
“Arrf!”
Oh right and dogs. Specifically a Beagle Puppy trotted up to Sunny. His resistance crumbled real quick, he had to pet.
But little did he know that giving just one puppy a little pet and a scritch behind the ears. “Arr...” Would be his downfall.
“Bark! Bark!" Because an army of puppies started making his way towards him. Wanting their fair share of attention.
“W-Wait a minute.”
“Bark bark!!”
Remember the fallen soldier…
…
“Guess she must have climbed on my head without me noticing.”
“Oh she’s a needy one. Wanting to be the first one to be petted. A real drama queen.”
…
…
“Does she not have a name?”
“Nope, she’s the newest one. I was going to name her but you all showed up so I figured I’d name her later.”
Sunny gave the puppy a good look, "Onion.”
“... Huh?”
“That’s her name. Onion. Anything else is wrong.”
Nancy opened her mouth to give a retort… but came up with nothing. “... Onion it is then. I suppose you all want to adopt Onion?”
“We–”
“Yes.” Cutting off Yamaha, Sunny placed Onion back on his head, “I take Onion's paw in adoption.”
“But–”
“We need a bed, food bowls, food to put in those bowls…”
“Sunny.”
“Toys, and you need to do… something to girl puppies.”
“Something?” Now it’s Halley’s turn to voice a question.
“Yeah I looked up stuff on the computer about dogs and cats. You need to… spray them.”
“You mean spay?”
“Yeah that.”
…
…
“That’s for something your parents and I need to talk about.” Nancy did not want to open that can of worms in front of children. “In the meantime, I can show you the best type of food to feed a young puppy for a healthy life.”
“Yes please.”
“Then come with me.” Sunny was quick to follow Nancy, with Mari following close behind.
…
…
“I’m not looking at you.”
“That’s fine, what you should be looking at is the prices for filet mignons and lobster tails. While I call the Old Man.”
…
While Mari was on ‘Playing with Onion’ duty, Sunny was taking all the mental notes on how to take care of her. Differences between wet and dry foods, when to feed her, how much, learning how to say no when she will inevitably bug him for more food when she’s older. Yeah there was a lot of info on just feeding the little one.
“There’s also brushing Onion's fur, since she’s a Beagle her hair is naturally short so she only needs to be brushed once a week. Her teeth on the other hand needs to be brushed daily, so it’s best to get her used to her teeth being brushed now to avoid hassle when she’s an adult.”
“Got it.”
“The nails of a dog need to be clipped and trimmed on a semi-regular basis. Not only because they get sharp and painful, but if they get too long they’ll be uncomfortable for her, and in an extreme degree might grow into her paw. We do them for free here so drop by when it gets too long.”
“Understood.”
“And I think that’s it for the basics.” Nancy laid out a food and water dish, a few toys, as well as brushes for her fur and teeth. “This should be all you need to get you started. Oh and take these too.” She laid out several cans of wet dog food. “This is some top of the line stuff, these should give Onion the nutrition she needs to grow into a healthy adult.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
“Now go play with her, that puppy craves attention 24/7. Meanwhile I’ll talk to your parents about things you shouldn’t worry about.”
“Like that spray thing?”
“... Among other things but yeah. Anyway that’s not for you to worry about. Go play, kiddo.”
Well you don’t have to tell Sunny to play with his new puppy twice. “Sunny! Look! She’s waving at you!” Mari exclaimed, wiggling Onion's paw at Sunny.
Not to mention Mari is happy! Nothing can make this day better for Sunny.
... Well maybe a cup of hot chocolate.
...
Nevermind. Something can make this day better. Food!
“Here you all are. Perfectly cooked steaks, perfectly cooked lobster–”
“And more importantly. My famous mashed potatoes.” Emma said, breaking Ryōri’s stride.
"Better enjoy it Sunny. Ain't nothing better than a nice lobster tail." But Sunny doesn’t care about their light-hearted scuffle and opinions. He’s here for the food. So he stabbed a nice piece of cut filet mignon with a nice chunk of lobster and plopped it into his mouth.
…
…
‘Oh yeah. Best day ever.’