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“I still don't get how you knew that I rearranged the shelves. You were asleep!”
“I told you, I could see. I was there. By the way, do you always check up on me like that when I project?”
“No. I mean, I'm not around every time you do.”
He snorts. “Nerd. You care,” he says, mocking tone in his voice as he goes to the counter. He's switching up his usual when it comes to food. “You're making me too spontaneous.”
“Switching it up can be nice.”
"Maybe you could switch it up and join me."
"You think I could?"
"Anyone can. I'm teaching Jyuushimatsu, if that helps."
"No way, how's he doing?"
"He always ends up in a bubble in space. I can't do shit for him in space, just try to bring him back." He shrugs, pays, and starts on his way out of the door.
As soon as he's in sight, the cats clamor around his ankles. A few of them seem to have brought things with them; one has a chain, another has a small, square mirror, and a third has…
“You got his sunglasses. Excellent work as always.” He makes sure to give the pale yellow cat a snack first, and it nestles their cheek into his palm. “Greedy.” He rolls his eyes like it's a nuisance, but makes sure to give the kitten some affection before moving on to the next.
You kneel down, and all of their eyes go in your direction at once. “All your familiars?”
“Partly. I'm not the only witch who feeds the strays, but we have a silent partnership. A few of them like me a little more, and vice versa.” He gathers up their gifts, and makes sure to give everyone a little affection before he gets up again with a promise to be back the next day.
“And they know?”
“Definitely. They're fickle, but they know I'm reliable. If I can't show up, I send someone else. You have to take care of your familiars if you want to do your best.” One more nudges his ankle, looking up with a mew and a glance towards you. “Looks like this one might like you even more than either of us.”
You kneel down, and the kitten starts rubbing their face affectionately against your palm, your knuckles, your sleeve. “She definitely likes you best.”
After that night, Ichimatsu fed most of the cats, but only you could feed the tiny gray puffball that marked you as hers.