That amount of slobber should not be legal

Round black eyes, shiny beige fur, and perpetually panting. The golden retriever trots towards us at an alarming speed. I prepare my taser nails. Once it's within range-

"Whoa, relax Noa. It's just Buggy."

"I fail to see how that makes it any better. Buggy is comparatively worse than most others of his breed."

Buggy is wearing a berry blue harness connected to a retractable leash. The holder of the leash is a morose 17-year-old girl wearing a floral-print peasant sleeve dress. Her long straight black hair and pale skin would make her attractive if not for her miserable demeanor.

"Gin. Did you tell anyone about us going to that VR Café?"

"Uh... I might've told Noa?"

"You mentioned meeting up with Ina but not about the VR Café."

She crosses her arms and slightly tilts her head thoughtfully.

"Then how the hell did dad find out?"

"Oh crap, busted huh? I guess that explains the dress."

Ina looks away with a faint blush.

"Don't. I don't wanna feel conscious about how I look right now. Dad won't give me my allowance unless I take Buggy out for a walk everyday for a week wearing this girly junk."

"Ehh... You kinda look good in it actually, right Noa?"

"Don't bring me into this."

"This wouldn't be such a problem if I could find a job and finally move out. Maybe I could also work at Dahlia's?"

"Oh actually, one of the waitresses in the day shift just-OW!"

I tap Gin at the back and give him a little shock.

"Unfortunately we don't have any openings right now."

"But I thought-OW!"

"Someone already applied for the position last night. Not to mention Dahlia probably wouldn't hire someone underage."

"My birthday's going to be in a few months, I'm practically 18!"

"Then perhaps ask Dahlia then? Stay back! I will not warn you again!"

I take a few steps away as Buggy approaches with a wagging tail. Ina fiddles with the handle and it clicks. The leash goes taut and the dog halts its advance.

"Why are you afraid of dogs again?"

Ina looks at me quizzically.

"I do not fear dogs. I am more than prepared to fight one if need be, but doing so unprovoked goes against my nature as a security android. I simply dislike the fact that they tend to spread their body fluids on everything."

"A really big Saint Bernard got on top of her once and licked her whole face."

"That amount of slobber should not be legal."

"Anyway, we're on our way to work right now and Dahlia doesn't like late arrivals."

Gin starts pulling me off to the side so we can walk around Ina and Buddy. Ina raises her hand for a lazy goodbye.

"Right. Let's hang out again after my punishment's over. You should join us next time too Noa. I bet you're a better challenge than Gin at Never3nd."

"As long as the furry one is absent."

"Next time we catch you on your walk I'll give you one of those flower hair clips."

"Oh ha-ha, get back to the kitchen busboy."

With the yellow danger ten meters away I relax my stance and face forward.

"Gin, I know you're desperate for a girlfriend but you shouldn't go flirting with someone underage."

"What?!"

"Did you not realize that Ina is 8 years younger than you?"

"What I didn't realize is that you think I'm trying to get together with Ina! It's not like that, we're just friends."

"Isn't that how it always starts? You'd say the same thing about Diana too, even though you're clearly infatuated with her."

"This and that are different! Ina's pretty fun but she just doesn't fit in with the rest of her classmates."

"So you pity her."

"No, well, maybe a bit, but it's more like, it sucks being alone y'know? If I could help then why not?"

"...You need to fix that bad habit of yours."

"What habit?"

"Trying to fix lonely strays."

I open the front doors of Dahlia's and the familiar ambiance seeps out the entrance.

"We don't have any more room in the apartment Gin, so don't even think about it."

"Think what?!"