Chapter 4: 4. Reminiscence

Roaming around the streets, one could find many things;

Fruit vendors, selling fresh fruits and vegetables.

Vending machines, with a price of 100 yen per can.

Stray cats running around and the trees gently swaying in the autumn wind.

In this peaceful sight, I stuck out like a sore thumb, a hobo with a stained shirt with an overdressed woman besides him. This would fit more in the heart of the city at night, where they'd sneak into some sketchy looking motel. Hell, I probably look a lot older than she does. I've definitely gained a couple years after I started locking myself up in my room all days of the week.

But seeing such a tranquill place, after all these years almost made tears well up in my eye. It was different from the city, less cold, less cluttered, less oppressive of an atmosphere. 

"If I could have lived here..." I trailed off.

She perked up at me curiously, but I waved it off. I never would have been able to anyways, my fate was already decided long ago.

"Wanna go over there?" I asked, my finger pointing towards a small shop that seemed to be ran by a senior. She nodded, though I think more for my sake than for hers, as my stomach kept growling all the way since we left. She hurriedly pulled me towards the old man's shop.

"Ah, welcome, welcome. How I can help you?"

The old man showed a friendly smile towards us as we entered.

"Um, yeah, I was wondering if you sell any... onigiri? or something cheap to eat?"

"150 yen each, freshly made." he said, as he gestured with his hand towards it. "How many do you want?"

"Two is fine."

"Two for the young couple then, one moment."

"Hmm, hmm~"

She liked hearing that, apparently, as she thoughtfully mulled over it. 

You are reading story Spoiled by the white cat at novel35.com

I took the onigiri and handed her one of them, she grabbed it in her hands with a look of joy. Seems that she may also have been a little hungry after all. I thanked the old man and we went on our way. We went wandering around, mostly on my whim as she simply followed me while I took in the atmosphere. It also helped me get my bearings, and generally get to know a bit more about the place I'm at.

For what it's worth, I also tried to see if she wanted to go somewhere. She simply shook her head and pointed at me.

"I'll let you choose." she likely meant to convey. 

We wandered through different neighborhoods. Some friendlier faces, some more exhausted, it was a mix of all sorts of people young and old, and probably the last time I've seen people in real life in a couple years.

The friendly old man, the kids going to school, it all came back to me, memories long forgotten faintly resurfacing. The days back when I still knew when it was morning and when it was night. Where my parents would look at me with joy if I did well on a test. Where my friends... when I still had them...

Once it became afternoon though, I started getting tired from all the walking around. I decided to plant myself in a patch of grass looking over at the pond, with her leaning her head against me. The calm breeze surrounded us at clouds covered the sun. I looked down at the murky water, thinking of how it would feel if I simply fell in there and disappeared. If maybe there was something else at the other side of the pond.

"... Don't die."

It was barely audible, but I guess she felt what I was thinking about. She seemed to somewhat understand me. Her ears drooped as she looked down at the water. I wonder what I have done to deserve this treatment. She certainly is a whole lot more interesting than me, a lot more attractive too, let's be honest. Why should she care about what a NEET does in his final days?

No, calling me a neet or a hikikomori or whatever is an understatement. Why should she care about a failure is what I truly wanted to ask.

A failure she has known for only a day, one that can offer her nothing more than a single onigiri.

I put my arm around her shoulder as we sat there for a while, in silence. Minutes passed in silence as I got lost in my thoughts. 

After a long while I finally decided to answer.

"I'll try, for now."

"Mm..."

That was all I could promise. 

You can find story with these keywords: Spoiled by the white cat, Read Spoiled by the white cat, Spoiled by the white cat novel, Spoiled by the white cat book, Spoiled by the white cat story, Spoiled by the white cat full, Spoiled by the white cat Latest Chapter