Cat visit

"Hi, both of you, come in!" Oshiro stood in front of the door with a smirk, the cat looking out behind him. Today he wore loose clothes, making the situation feel much more unusual. Sobue bowed and entered taking his shoes off shyly.

Sora didn't pay him any mind, and ran inside towards the cat, "OMG, you are the cutest, here," she cautiously let the cat sniff her hand, "who is the cutest girl? What's her name, Oshiro-san?"

"She is Maromi."

After hearing the name Sobue glanced at the professor, wondering if he knew about the Paranoia Agent anime, and if so, how could he name a cat that way?

He felt like he too wanted to approach the cat, but he couldn't behave as unpardonably as Sora. So he followed Oshiro into the living room. The apartment looked generic, with nothing indicating that there was a person with any personality living in there. Some books on the table, a plant, a computer; clean kitchen. Clothed door to the bedroom.

Sora was still on the corridor floor petting Maromi and talking to her. It seemed that the professor didn't care too much. He turned to Sobue, "Want some tea?"

"Km, yes... Whatever you have."

"Then I am making pu-erh. Care about that?"

"Em, I guess not..." Sobue felt some weird pressure, and discomfort from being here. But looking at the cat he couldn't help it, he had to wait for his chance too, so it was worth it. Obviously, he could have never let Sora go or stay here alone. He looked around, finding nothing to talk about.

Oshiro returned with a small kettle and two cups.

Sobue pointed, "No cup for Sora?"

"I think she won't drink it." He smiled.

"Em, maybe..."

"You see, she is here for Maromi, clearly. So who has time for the tea, when you can play with a cat? Even if I pour it for her, it'll be a waste of this expensive pu-erh, since she'll never drink it."

"I see..." Sobue tried to smile, feeling more awkward by a minute.

They sat in silence, observing Sora playing with a cat, and when Oshiro finally poured the tea, Sobue took his cup right away, happy to occupy his hands and mouth. He hated the taste of it though.

Oshiro turned to him, "You are okay? I heard you had an adventure of some kind last week?"

"Pf," Sobue almost choked, "how do you know, did Sora tell you?"

"Uh, that doesn't matter. Let's say she did. So what happened?"

"Nothing special, some crazy lady thought I was her ex and kidnapped me."

"I see..." Oshiro looked away, contemplating something, "ex you say?" He looked back again, narrowing his eyes, and mumbled, "I can see that..."

"What?"

"Nothing, don't mind my blabbering..." Oshiro's mouth spread into a charming smile, "just me, thinking out loud about something."

"Mn." Sobue frowned but didn't say anything else, looking at his cup.

"I'll go check on them," Oshiro stood up elegantly.

Sora still talked to a cat, who seemed to love her. Specifically, she wanted to play with a bracelet on Sora's hand.

"Little one, there is no need to pay attention to it, I am all interesting, look, here is my other hand, and I am going to catch you in my arms!" She felt betrayed since the cat clearly wanted to play with Belle rather than with her. Yet, she still liked it as long as she could pet her.

Oshiro leaned in, looking at Sora, "Maromi likes you, that's a good omen, I think. She is very selective, to be honest. Will see what she thinks about Yasunobu."

"Oh, she'll like Sobue-kun! Right, will you?" She laughed, "Maromi is great, her eyes are so huge, and her face is the cutest! How did you get her?" She turned her head, to see Oshiro's face surprisingly close. He looked amazing, some black hair falling in front of his glasses methodically. Her cheeks flushed due to the surprise of such closeness. "Em, I better move to the couch then," she said avoiding his gaze and standing up rapidly.

Disappointed, he suppressed a frown and stood up too. "As you wish, Sora-chan. I will bring Maromi to you."

"He-he, thank you! Sobue-kun, she'll be here soon, are you excited?"

"I..." He looked up only to see that Oshiro tossed a cat into his arms, while Sora didn't look.

"Here you go, Yasunobu, see if she likes you as much as she does Sora-chan."

The cat wasn't a fan of being tossed, so in a moment Sobue's face grimaced from the claws stuck onto his legs. He didn't know what to do, so he made a funny sound. Oshiro's eyebrow lifted, and he smiled, trying to take the cat back, which deepened the pain.

"It seems, Yasanobu," he pushed the cat further away, "that she hates you. Maybe it was a bad idea for you to come after all..."

"Ouch, Professor, this is unfair! She was not ready to meet me just yet!"

Sora looked concerned, but in a moment the cat appeared in her embrace once again, so she got distracted.

Sobue looked back at Oshiro furiously. The other paid him no mind.

"Sora-chan, do you wish to drink something?"

"Pff," now Sobue was annoyed. He looked at Maromi, eyes full of jealousy, even after the pain he had to endure, he wanted to pat her.

"Oh, it's okay, Oshiro-san, I am playing with a cat for now. Hey, Sobue, let her sniff your hand first," she turned to him.

"Okay..."

"See, she is not that bad, she might even like you! Try taking her now, Sobue-kun."

Cautiously she transferred Maromi into his arms. He couldn't help but smile happily. Maromi was a funny-looking, adorable cat. He wanted to hug her, but under that annoying prick he had to play it cool, and maybe wait after he looked away or something. Sora's attention was fully on the cat. It seemed Oshiro gave them space. However, when he finished his tea, he asked,

"Sora-chan, are you ready for Kyoto?"

"I am a bit nervous to talk, but I am pretty excited."

"Me too..."

"He-he, it won't be a hard one for you though, right, you probably have done many posters before?"

"I guess you could say that. What about Yasanobu, have you done many?"

Sobue, now overjoyed, playing with a cat, "I have been to several conferences if you are asking about that. My thesis defense is this year, so I am unsure if I'll be going any time soon."

"Sobue-kun is being humble, he took part in a symposium last year."

"I see. Good for him then." Oshiro stood up, taking the cups away. Despite Sobue's cup being half-full, he still took it away nervously. "Khm, Sora, what's your plan for the rest of the day? You are welcome to stay as long as you want of course... I can take you home after if Yasanobu needs to leave."

Sobue turned to him, "It's quite all right, Professor, we will leave together. We made some plans after."

"We did?" Sora looked at him, her stare innocently unaware.

"Yes," he glanced at her reassuringly, "have you forgotten?"

"Uh, I mean, I guess. Sure. Sorry professor."

The cup in Oshiro's hand broke suddenly. Sobue frowned and turned his attention back to the cat.

"Oshiro-san?" Sora jumped up, running up to him, "How did it happen? Are you injured?"

"Don't worry, Sora-chan, it's okay. A little cut, that's all. It'll heal soon, you shouldn't worry."

"Oh," she touched his hand to look and it trembled, as if in response. She didn't notice, "Indeed it's a small cut, no need for a band-aid even. Okay then. We play with a cat one final time and we leave."

"As you wish," his voice was strict, he turned around towards the sink, hiding his face.

"Sobue-kun, you are very rude today," she whispered, "what are you thinking?"

"We'll talk later. Play with Maromi now. Then we are leaving."

The cat turned her head towards Sora, licking her palm.

"Oh, I might die from this cuteness!! Can I take a picture?"

Oshiro still stood turned back, "Sure."

"Yay, now, Sobue, take her in your arms, and I'll take a pic!" She took her phone out," Aaaa, you are the cutest, two of you!! Now, me, take a picture of us with Maromi, but like take many pictures, okay?"

"Yes, yes, I know, give me your phone."

For a moment there was silence, and only the phone shutter was audible, sometimes Sora would chuckle or talk to Maromi. Sobue diligently concentrated on the process. Soon Oshiro returned, and his usual charming demeanor was back. He stood still, observing them.

"Well, I guess she is very satisfied today since she got so much attention. Thank you for coming, I was happy too."

"Oh, Oshiro-san, I am happy you gave me this chance to meet Maromi IRL!!! Look, we are like BFF's now!" Sora was overly excited, and animated. She was hyper-active, and unwilling to leave. Totally fixated on a cat. Sobue knew it might get dangerous soon since she might over-obsess, so he had to take her out of there.

"Okay, Sora, let's go. You have plenty of pictures, and maybe we can return one day if Professor invites us."

"Ha-ha, if Sora asks me again, I might not be able to refuse!"

"Yes, I guessed that." Sobue stood up, mumbling. "Let's go."

"Oh, now...Maromi, I wish you visit me in my dreams! You should know I like you the most in the world, you are the cutest cat out there!" As she was saying that she felt the bracelet becoming very tight on her wrist, it seemed Belle could get jealous after all. Before she could react, Sobue tagged her sleeve, so she patted Maromii for the last time before she was taken to the corridor.

"Professor, thank you, again, we are going now," Sobue bowed slightly and left in a hurry, dragging Sora along.

When they were at a considerable distance from Oshiro's apartment he let her go, and glanced at Sora seriously, "I don't like him. I think he doesn't deserve Maromi!"

"What are you saying? She looked healthy and happy to me. And he tried to be nice with you, why were you so rude?"

"Because he was nice only when you were there!"

"For real?" She frowned, "Mel also doesn't like him..."

"Yes, because he clearly behaves in a certain way when you are there. Maybe he is some yokai too?"

"I hope not... I am going to Kyoto with him, alone!"

"Ask Maki to come and look at him, maybe it is worth double-checking. At the conference, there will be people, so maybe it's okay..."

"Sobue, I hope you are wrong! How can a yokai have a cat!"

"I don't know, I am just saying."

"I guess. I will ask Maki, as you said, we'll see."

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"Nah, it's gonna be okay, it's still daytime. I think I'll walk a bit."

"As you wish, I am going to a manga shop."

"I was just there yesterday, so I think I'll pass."

"Sure, bye then. If something happens call Maki or the creepy snake..."

"Yep, will do." She turned around, touching her wrist, "Belle, you seemed angry back there, I hope you aren't jealous, I like you the same or even more." The bracelet tensed up again. "You are funny, we are going home, so you can tell me everything there. I hope you can tell me if Oshiro-san is a yokai too."