Usagi and Mamoru
100 Themes
Nine - Button
Words - 612
It was love at first sight. Usagi knew the moment Mamoru walked into the arcade that day that her heart was lost. And after all, who wouldn't fall for that face? Those eyes? That silky, black hair?
With a squeal of delight Usagi threw herself at the man and the little black Labrador Retriever puppy he held, tucked between himself and his coat to protect it from the bitter cold outside. "Ohmygosh! It's SO cute! Where did you get it? Can I hold it? Please?" Mamoru stared down at the girl, unused to seeing this cute and charming aspect directed at him.
She gleefully scritched the puppies ears with one finger. "I found it," he explained, "Out in the snow by the trash bin in the alley."
She gasped in horror that someone would treat such an adorable creature so poorly and, loosing patience waiting for Mamoru to hand it over, pulled the puppy from the man's grasp. He let her take it, amused at the affection she lavished on the little animal. She immediately plopped herself on the arcade floor, heedless of the wet snow and mud tracked in and out by customers all day, and cradled the puppy in her arms.
Mamoru crouched next to her, enjoying seeing her giggle and fawn over the dog. He was strangely reluctant to end her enjoyment but felt it necessary to warn her, "It might just be lost. It's owners might be looking for it right now."
Usagi froze momentarily in her playing. Quietly she said, "I know. This puppy was obviously loved. Look how open and playful he is." At this the puppy started gnawing on the large, purple buttons of Usagi's sweater. She smiled, "I think I'll call him Button." When she looked up at Mamoru for approval of the name she found his eyes clouded and troubled. She could not have guessed that her comment about the puppy's openness and playfulness as evidence of it's being loved had caused his distress.
Before she could question him a little girl of approximately eight ran into the arcade looking frantic. From her hand dangled a short lease with a collar still attached to it. Her eyes quickly surveyed the room and, upon lighting on Usagi and her bundle, she let out a cry of relief. She hurried over to Usagi and Mamoru and began trying to speak but was weeping too hard to make herself intelligible. Mamoru watched Usagi, fearful that she would not want to give the puppy up. Instead she stood with the brightest smile he'd ever seen on her face and pressed the dog into the little girl's arms. It was only after the child had left, clutching the wiggling pup with all her might, that the wistful look painted her face.
She met Mamoru's guarded gaze once more and, with a forced smile, left the arcade. Watching her go, Mamoru wondered if she would ever stop surprising him.
He hoped not.
The next day Usagi found a little, black stuffed dog in her usual booth at the Crown Game Center. It had a tag attached which read, "To Usagi, From Motoki." Normally this would have sent her into palpitations of joy but she had taken it upon herself to know everything there was to know about her crush and she knew that the graceful handwriting on the card did not belong to him. She glanced around the arcade but the familiar head of black hair was not present.
Clutching the little toy to her chest she wondered if he would ever stop surprising her.
She hoped not.
