LycoReco Cafe’s day off.
There is at least a day in each week where the cafe closes up from customers, and all activities from then on are lycoris missions, or everyone playing board games with the regulars.
Due to the recent train ‘accident’ the detective hasn’t been able to drop-by and play games, with that game night has been postponed indefinitely because it just won’t be as fun without everyone around.
Takina walked down the path to lycoreco with a few bags of convenience store goods in her hands. Mostly ice cream, cold drinks, and frozen fruits.
“Ah! Wait! Takina!”
Chisato’s voice called for Takina right as she opened the door and a black ball of furry zoomed past her legs.
“Eh?”
“Ta-chaaaaaaan!” Chisato ran towards the door and saw the direction the cat fled into. It even turned around to look at her as if sticking its tongue out at her before running down the path. “You!!”
“Eh? What?” Takina looked at Chisato and everyone else inside the cafe in confusion. “What’s–“
Chisato quickly lifted up the plastic bags from Takina’s hands and settled them onto the cafe counter. “We’re chasing after her!” She then grabbed the confused girl’s arm and dragged her back out the cafe.
“Ah, wait–” Takina ran after Chisato as she sped down the path again.
“Here! Here!” Chisato jogged in place as she pointed vigorously at the nearby park further down the path.
“O- Okay. Is it a mission?” Takina smiled as she matched Chisato’s pace, asking her usual question.
Chisato looked at her surprised, before grinning. “It is now. Chase after Ta-chan!”
“Roger.” Takina gave her a small salute before sprinting down the path together with Chisato.
They arrived at the park and what was there just surprised them. There were plenty of families walking their dogs, or walking with their cats in strollers.
“Was it a holiday today?” Chisato tilted her head to one side as she looked at the amount of people.
“As far as I know, no it is not.” Takina scanned the area for the black cat and saw a group of girls in a normal school’s high school uniform. “…Ah. It’s summer break.”
“Right! Takina, you’re so smart~” Chisato gave her a thumbs up. Takina was about to retort back but closed her mouth as she watched Chisato think seriously about their ‘mission’. “But… how are we gonna do this?”
“Are you sure it went here?” Takina asked nonchalantly.
“Whaaaat? Don’t you believe this Chisato-sama’s eyes? If any, it’s the best thing I have!” Chisato narrowed her eyes as she looked at Takina who only watched her in amusement. “Waaah. Takina-san, you’re telling me that while being fully aware of my hawk-eye watching skills?”
“Yes.” Takina smiled at her. “Although, how shall we do this?”
“If it were you, where would you go?” Chisato put her thumb and index finger under her chin.
Takina blinked at her. Me…? “With these many unknown people around me, I would go to an isolated but cold place.”
“And if you were hiding from someone, let’s say, me?” Chisato grinned. “Or maybe Mizuki, or Sensei, Kurumi–?”
“…An isolated and cold hidden place…” Takina looked around the park and noticed the furthest part of the park.
It was filled with large trees fenced with cemented gray blocks. Benches are parked in front of these cemented trees, a great place for shade and some cool wind.
The two of them slowly walked through the park, Chisato every now and then getting distracted by a dog, or a cat, or a little boy or a little girl. They’ve met a white short haired munchkin in a trolley named ‘Machan’, a golden retriever named ‘Nana’, and five year old twin siblings, Kaya and Touya.
“Ah, Takina, look it’s–” Chisato pointed at one of the large trees.
“I think you’ve said enough hi and hellos to animals and people today, Chisaー” Takina turned to wherever Chisato was pointing.
A black kitten was curled on top of one of the isolated benches. A white collar around her neck signified that it was likely the cafe’s cat ‘Ta-chan’.
Takina and Chisato slowly made their way towards the tree. A few more steps until they’re near the cat… and it suddenly opened its eyes. Those two big blue orbs staring intently into Chisato’s bright amber eyes.
Takina blinked as she looked at the cat, then Chisato, then the cat… and Chisato with her hands raised above her head like a zombie.
Chisato dove into the bench just as the cat avoided her. “You!” She swung her arm wide but the cat only jumped up the back rest of the bench and started showering itself by rubbing its small paws on its face and licking it. “…You’re underestimating me, aren’t you?” Chisato narrowed her eyes at the cat who momentarily stopped licking itself to look at her… before continuing what she was doing. “You cheeky little–” She tried for another dive but suddenly the kitten was hoisted up in the air by a hand grabbing it from the back of the neck.
“If you keep doing that, you’ll hurt yourself.” Takina cradled the black cat around her arms. She watched amber eyes stare at her. “Wh- What?”
“When did you get chummies with Ta-chan?” Chisato looked at the black kitten calmly resting in Takina’s arms. “I wanted to catch you myself…”
“Should I let go?” Takina asked as she motioned to put the cat on the bench again.
“Ahhhh! No, may I have her please?” Chisato smiled at Takina but the kitten was already looking like it was ready to go.
“Here.” Takina handed the cat by leaving it on one of the Chisato’s shoulders. The cat planted its claws onto Chisato’s back and started running back and forth her shoulders.
“Hey! You’re hurting me ow-ow-ow–” Chisato tried to grab the cat with her hands but ultimately failed as it jumped down the ground and ran back up the bench. “AAAAHHHHHH!!!”
Takina sighed, then smiled as she walked towards the same bench, neatly kept her skirt behind her knees and sat down. She watched the cat jump down from the bench and climb up the gray blocks of the tree. Chisato tried to block its path with her arms spread wide as if she’s defending a player in basketball, moving left and right with the cat’s pace. The cat completely has her on the top of her palms. She giggled as she watched them further.
Chisato ran around the bench as the kitten only looked at her before jumping down the ground and back up onto the bench… straight onto Takina’s lap.
“Eh…” Chisato peeked at the cat from behind Takina’s shoulder. “…Why are you acting chummies with my partner, Ta-chan?”
Takina turned to look at Chisato and underestimated how close their faces her with her lips accidentally ending up on Chisato’s cheeks. “Eh–Ah…” She faced forward with a hand on her lips.
“Eh?” Chisato leaned away and turned to look at Takina. “Takina?”
“I- It was an accident.” Takina looked far at the group of people. Good. No one was looking.
“Okay…? I didn’t mind though? It was nice.” Chisato grinned before looking back at the kitten who had already made itself at home on Takina’s lap. “Ahhh! That’s my spot!”
Chisato went back to the front of the bench. She crouched in front of Takina and started poking the nose of the black kitten who promptly woke up and dabbed at her finger with a paw. The two of them exchanged finger to paw as they fought.
Takina smiled at the scenario before until it all took a twist. Chisato made a grab for the kitten’s nape with a successful grin. The kitten looked at her annoyed but promptly complied as if taking it as a loss and allowing Chisato to hug her.
“Congratulations.” Takina smiled.
“Thank you, thank you!” Chisato half-bowed as if thanking her audience. “Ahh, I’m so tired.” She sat down on the other side of the bench, gave Takina a wide grin, then laid down her head onto Takina’s lap.
“Eh? Ah, wait–” Takina placed both of her hands onto the bench near her hips but behind Chisato’s body, not knowing where to put them. “Chisato… People are watching.”
“It’s fine, they all have a world of their own.” Chisato looked up at her with a bright smiled before turning around and burying her face onto Takina’s stomach the cat still cradled in her arms. “Ah… So nice…”
Takina only looked forward as her cheeks stained red, her ears loud with her own heartbeat growing faster and faster.
“Takina… Your heart’s beating fast.”
“…Be quiet.” Takina looked away without any other retorts. “It’s unfair that exchanges such as this, or the one earlier would never make your heart race like mine.”
“Mm… Physically, I agree. Still…” Chisato faced up again as she stretched her arms forward with the cat settling down on her stomach. “…I wanted to experience plenty of heart racing moments with you, Takina.”
Takina looked down at her solemn face, the combination of a blush and guilt boiled inside her chest. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like–“
“Hm-hm. I know what you mean. I just wish that maybe someday, I can get a real heart, and you know, experience my heart race when you’re beside me like this. Or when you’re close to me while we kiss. Stuff like that, hehe.” Chisato smiled at her, reaching up to poke Takina’s cheek with a finger. “With how things are, I don’t know if I’ll ever get one… so for now, is it okay if I listened to your beating heart every now and then?”
Takina only stared at her. “That’s an odd request.” Chisato immediately chided “I know right?” but Takina suddenly rested a hand on Chisato’s head. “…Then I’ll continue sharing my heart beats with you.”
Chisato was surprised first before donning her usual grin. “I look forward to hearing more then.”
“When you put it like that, I’m starting to not like it.”
“Eh~ But you promised just now–“
“I know, I did but–“
“There~”
“Please don’t bury your face on my stomach.”
“It’s beating faster~”
“Please stop.”
“You’re so adorable, Takina-san–owowowow! Please don’t pinch my arm!”
“…Please stop.”
“May I continue using your lap as pillow?”
“You may.”
“Yay~”
“Meeeowwww~”
(Beating For You/END)
Bonus
“Where are they?” Mizuki slumped forward her desk in boredom. “I’m so bored. It’s so boring when they aren’t around for me to tease.”
“They’re enjoying themselves in the park.” Kurumi peeked at her after removing her VR goggles. “Quite sweetly too.”
“Ugh. Youth must be nice…” Mizuki just placed her cheek onto the wooden table. “Maybe I should start looking for a wife…”
“How about trying to lower your standards instead?”
“Maybe I’ll just step on a squirrel…”
(END)
