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“Patch, look over here~”
Back in the day this would have been considered impossible. It would have been something no one could have foretold in any way. If someone would have told them that, then they would have just waved that person off while telling them that Izumi was not the type for any of it. That guy? Standing there while eagerly recording the little kitty with his own camera at any given opportunity? Circling him to get him from every angle? And even the smallest of moments couldn't be missed? No way! At least that would have been the answer months ago but now…
Ann had been witnessing such a moment yet again, Izumi circled the table as Nyeli had been sitting right on it, drawing with his crayons on a sheet of paper, just for fun. And yet, he tended to be distracted sometimes, all because his big Brothnya just couldn't put the video camera down for one second. And thus the kitty seemed to wag his ears constantly, being overall very confused, not sure how to even respond. All while Ann themself had no choice but to observe, soon smiling a little nervously at the sight.
“Isn't that… enough long? “ They had asked, not sure what to make of it. Wasn’t it too overbearing for Nyeli? And yet…
“No, it's not! I have years of moments to catch up on!” Izumi responded, nearly protesting as he switched positions yet again, quickly walking to the other side of the table. “I'm not even halfway done with Patch's album!”
“Album!?” They repeated, almost shocking sounding. “When did you–”
“For a little while now. I thought it was obvious.”
“Well… That…” They had no actual argument against that. After all, Izumi was probably dragging those cameras along for a reason.
“Ny… Nye…” Even Nyeli sighed, his ears drooping a little yet not in a sad way. He just seemed as exhausted as suspected yet didn't seem to want to stop his Brothnya either. Maybe he didn't know how or just saw no reason to. He tried to assure his Sisnya it seemed at least that he will be fine, judging from the quick glance, And yet, they just couldn’t feel that assured in the end. It was a little too much after all, or so they had thought.
And yet, before they could comment on it yet again, perhaps asking if Izumi could just finally put the camera down he would bring up something else, an observation they had not thought about to be honest. In fact, it took him pointing it out that they would be looking very closely as well. As for what he had pointed out… “Say, don’t you think Patch’s a little bigger than a few weeks ago?”
“Bigger?” They were about to narrow their gaze, almost thinking their boyfriend had been talking about the small one's weight. However, when they themself took a look at Nyeli they quickly understood that Izumi had not meant that at all. In fact, it was something completely different.
Ann moved their hands a little, comparing Nyeli that way – Moving it up and down before tugging on his clothes lightly. And they had gotten smaller, all of them. They may as well have been a good size too small for him. Or two? Either way, they did not fit Nyeli anymore, at all, exposing him a little. And when they had come to this realization… “You’re right.”
However, the little kitty was only looking confused at his Sisnya, his eyes wide and his ears wagging equally as much. “Nye? Sisnya?” He didn’t exactly know what was going on and they were not going to blame him for it. He probably had not noticed nor bothered to find out.
“ Etwas eng… ” They mumbled, lost in thought for a moment. How odd, especially since Nyeli had not been growing in ages. Ever since Ann had taken him in actually. So this was a surprise. After years the kitty had a sudden growth spurt for… Some reason. How was this possible? No, seriously. He was still fitting onto the table but… Yeah, a few centimeters. For sure. Or a bit more than a few. At least enough to not have his current clothes fit him, at all.
“You didn’t notice?” Izumi sighed, nearly scoffed in fact.
“Ah— Well, essays and—”
“No, it’s fine. It slipped my mind. He’s often with Kuma–Kun anyways.”
“R… Right…” Though they looked at Nyeli yet again, this one still staring at his Sisnya, a little confused. He even tilted his head ever so slightly, a bit to the side as his own ears wagged. “But why?”
“Don’t ask me things I don’t know.” Izumi responded, only then making Ann realize that they had said their thoughts out loud, embarrassed for a short moment. However, that would not last for long as they soon spotted him stepping closer, then moving his free hand to pat Nyeli on his head softly… Also a sight they thought would be impossible a while ago. “Say Patch, how about we get you some new clothes?”
“Nye?” Despite the purring the question had confused the little one it seemed, maybe not seeing any need.
“Yeah. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
It had gotten Nyeli to think for a moment, the kitty suddenly tugging onto his own clothes slightly. And the longer he tugged, the more his expression turned into a light frown. Nothing sad, just a sign that he was uncomfortable. “N… Nye! Nye!”
And it seemed that Izumi had caught on, sighing yet with a slight smile on his face. “See there? You might need a new set.”
However, that only got Nyeli to pout, at least a little, suddenly holding onto his clothes in a protective manner. ‘ But I like those! ’ Izumi only blinked as a response, a little confused.
“Huh? But think about it. Don’t you wa—”
“Nye!” He shook his head several times.
“Maybe… Widen them?” Ann finally suggested, deciding to speak up yet again after observing for a while. “It should be not problematic.”
“Widen them? Tha—”
“He’s attached. Besides, only… A tiny bit different. Size I mean! So—”
“Hah, it can’t be helped… You got a point I guess…” Izumi interrupted with a sigh, making out what Ann wanted to say at least, or said. “Alright, I’ll get it done. Shouldn’t be too much work anyway.”
Well, that was what he had said at the time. And both had been sure that this would only be a one time thing. However, none of the two had any idea that this was not the last time this would happen. But that was not a thought which had crossed their mind at the time, both of them were not really aware of that… That Nyeli would keep growing and growing. But that’s a story for another time.