Chapter Text
The sweltering heat burns the concrete. Everyone with the misfortune of having feet is not safe, even with their oh-so-stylish Nike Airheads. If you walked down the street, you'd notice that none of the furry animals have a coat thicker than 4 inches. This is because they are smart enough to not suffocate themselves with a top coat in 45°C weather.
Everyone is also equipped with a popsicle and a water bottle. Obviously. Who's going out into the Sun and risking a heat stroke?
Um, yeah. Legoshi is. Not a wise fella.
Legoshi brisks his way down the street, sweating his tail off with his sweat. The breeze that's hitting this street is sweltering, and he thinks the breeze is punishing him for NOT going out and buying a water bottle on his way home from work the other day. And look at him now, doing exactly that mid-day through a Sunday. Hah, maybe it's so hot because it's the sun's day. Sunday.
"Today is.. awoo.. not my day." Legoshi mutters while excusing himself through the people walking on the sidewalk. You'd think he was interrupting a courtroom, the way he walked with such a purposeful stride. No, that was just the survival instincts kicking in. He hadn't drank water since he went to visit Louis.
Louis was telling him the other day, that business is being interrupted more often because of how many of his clients were falling sick from the heat. Louis, bless his soul, even offered to go out and buy a water bottle with him. Obviously, this goddamn wolf politely declined it. Because he was busy. And maybe he was, his owl-boss is very daring with what he makes Legoshi do, though not in his job description.
Anyhow, that is not what happened. He went to Jack's house and played cards most of the evening and crashed into his bed upon arriving home. He fell asleep cozily at about 10:30PM.
He turned the corner and spotted exactly what he seeked; a novelty retail store. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. He pulls the handle to go inside, already imagining a cool water bottle in hand while he gets to traipse through the city on his lovely day off. Maybe he'd go visit Jack again. That's how he usually spends his weekends.
Holy smokes, who is that?
He paused in his tracks. Not in front of the door, of course. Somewhere slightly to the left, closer to the beauty that just graced his eyes, and out of the ways of the other people coming in. You're meant to acknowledge other people. Some of you need to stop acting like it's your first day on Earth.
A beautiful gray wolf, the same as Legosi, rocking the entire store with her fabulous purple tank top and black, mid-rise flared jeans. There was a faint blush adorning her cheeks, but he suspected that it was just makeup. Somewhat unconsciously, he wondered if she'd want to go out on a date with him.
All that thinking was fun and games, until she pulled out a gun and banged it again the register to demand money from the minimum-wage duck working there. "Empty the registers and I'll make it easy for everyone here, to go home unscathed." She demanded, giving her best poker face and angry stare to the cashier. Plainly, the cashier asked for a bag to put the money in.
"We get a lot of cash, animals too afraid their phone is gonna blow up," they explained. "I'm quitting today, so you're really lucky I'm doing this, damned wolf."
"I'm not looking for small talk. Quack off." Willow complains, handing them a bag to deposit the cash in. "And hurry before the cops get here."
"And I'll be back for you if you- wh- um..?"
Legosi stands between Willow and the counter, blocking her view of the cashier filling the bag without a complaint.
"Excuse me, miss."
"Who the hell are you?" Willow groans, unwilling to interact with the 'brave' fella, who she suspected was going to, y'know, call the cops on her.
Legoshi falters. 'She's even prettier closer up,' he thinks to himself. In a moment of hesitation, he stutters out something completely different from what he had planned.
"I'm here to buy a water bottle. You can rob that money too."
"What's wrong with you? But also, thanks."
Legoshi hands the water bottle he picked out through the entire fiasco. The issue was that he wasn't paying any attention while he grabbed the first thing off of the shelves, he was more focused on getting to the counter before the she-wolf could run out the door with the money.
He hesitantly presents his pink, glittery, unicorn-themed, plastic sippy-cup bottle to the duck.
"My daughter has the same one." The duck snickers with amusement.
"Oh- uhm-! Wait, I don't like this one! I'm gonna go pick another one..!"
"Too late for that, I already scanned it. And I'm on probation, do you really want me to call over another cashier to reverse it?"
"I- guess not..?"
The duck hands him the bottle. "That'll be 200 yen, but you can just give it to the she-wolf."
Legoshi hands the money to Willow, and the duck hands her the bag full of money. Nobody in the retail store even bothered to report her, either. They've all returned to their shopping. She could walk out of here right now and be passed by a bunch of cops, and still not be arrested!
Willow tosses the change into the bag too, and heads out of the store. Ever-so desperate to get her number (young adults these days..), he follows her along and attempts to make small talk.
"Wait up! I wanna talk to you!" Legoshi shouts, chasing after the she-wolf, and in return, granting her some mild attention from the parade of people on the street.
"Shut up, you crazy canine!" Willow grunts, taking a sharp turn at the alley between the convenience store and the comic store.
"Can I get your number? I think you're really pretty!" Legoshi takes the same turn.
"200 yen won't win over anyone's heart in this economy! Shoo!"
"I could take you out on a dinner, I make money!"
"I just made your entire networth in one robbery, you fool!"
"Give me one chance to impress you, Mrs.. um.." Legoshi stutters, but Willow does stop right in front of a patch of green forest, with what seems to be a settlement building inside it.
"Willow. But if you report me to the cops under that name, they're gonna ignore you. I have lackeys and contacts everywhere, y'know. They'll think you're another fool that interacted with the wrong group. Don't think I'll let you get away, either." She explains with a threat that lingered in her tone.
"I promise, your secret is safe with me. Really, I just want to take you out on a date, Willow." Legoshi certifies,
"And you can call me Legoshi."
".. Legoshi. Okay. Uh, sure." Willow replies, slightly out of her element. Has she ever talked to someone this bold and this daring? Chasing after a criminal with a loaded gun to ask for her number?
"Legoshi, I don't have a cellphone at the moment. Just tell me where to meet up."
Legoshi pauses to consider, quickly forming an answer. "There's this ramen restaurant that I work at, it's called Udon Bebebe. We can meet there any day you'd like. How's next week, Saturday?"
Willow nods, looks around, and dashes into the trees with the money.