7/19
Hey
Hey, Ryuji
R: Since when do you text durin' class?
Now's not the time for that.
My mom's short staffed today and she just asked if you guys would be willing to help out at work.
R: You guys?
You, Akira, Ann, Yusuke, and Makoto
R: Eh?
R: I didn't you about Makoto
You just did :P
Ryuji looks up from his phone to give you a mild glare over the top of his shoulder. You smile and stick your tongue out at him, laugh softly as he did the same to you. You look back at your phone and text:
Well~?
R: ...
R: Are we getting paid?
Of course!
You guys get 3000 yen for each hour that you're there
Also you guys get to take home any food that's left over.
Are you in?
R: I'm in
R: You know I won't abandon you in your time of need
R: I'll to the guys and see what they say
Thank you so much!
Teacher's watching us by the way
You lock your phone after that as Ryuji quickly directs his attention towards the teacher. You give a small smile at the mild scolding he received. You wait until the teacher turns their back before reaching forward and gently squeezing Ryuji's shoulder. He's quickly texting the others with his right hand and squeezes your hand back with his left. Your heart flutters at the small gesture and try to fight down the blush that's threatening to appear on your face. The other students are looking at you both from the corners of their eyes, but a harsh glare from you caused them to snap their attention back to the front. Your phone vibrates in your pocket and you quickly pull it out before it makes more noise.
R: They said yes
R: Ann want to know what kind of sweets you have
There's too many count...
Just say tarts, cakes, and pies
R: Alright
Thank you again, Ryuji
You look up from your phone just as Ryuji turns to face you, giving one of his signature smiles as the last bell rings. You quickly gather your things, give Ryuji a quick hug, tell him what time to be there, and leave. You take the train the Shibuya and disembark, making short tracks towards Shibuya station, and opening the door to your mother's cafe. A multitude of meows greeted you as you closed the door.
"Hey, guys." You reached down to pet at the pair of tabbies rubbing up against your legs. "You two don't normally do this."
"Oh, (Y/N)!"
You look up to see your mother walk up from behind the counter. You walk up to her, despite the mews of protest that sound out once you did.
"Hey, Mom, what am I doing today?" You lean against the counter and pet at the calico resting nearby.
Your mother sighs and rubs the back of her neck, "Either washing dishes or taking orders. Can't believe I had six of them no come in today." She looks out the windows before directing her attention at you, "I expected Ryuji-kun to be tailing after you."
"He's coming later with the others."
"Ah..." She trails off, "Ryuji-kun is such a nice boy."
"Mmhmm."
"Very dependable too."
"Mmhmm."
"Handsome to boot."
"Mmh-" You pause in your hum and look at your mother with mild narrowing eyes. "What are you-"
"Is he single?" Your mom asks with a cheeky grin planted on her face.
Your face heats up, "MOM!" You yell, startling some of the cats. You quickly say your apologies to the felines before turning back to your mother. "What are you trying to say?"
You mom leans on the counter and rests her chin on her raised hands. "I'm saying that if you wait too long, Ryuji-kun is gonna get snatched up by someone else."
You look at the ground, "I know..." You say with a soft and somewhat sad tone, "But I'd rather him not know than have him know and it ruins our friendship."
You mother places a hand in comfort on your shoulder just as the door opens.
"Yo." Ryuji says in greeting as the others look around the cafe in amazement.
"Yo." You reply, "So you guys like the cafe?"
"You didn't say your mom owned Cafe Meowcha!" Ann exclaimed with glee, "There's so many articles about this place online and in magazines!"
"Commercial advertising costs too much. So I let word of mouth advertise my business." Your mother says with pride.
You smile at your mother as Ann basically floats over the counter to stare at the amount of sweets in the display case. Akira had set down his school bag and was sitting on the floor to let the cats sniff at him. Morgana sat nearby, trying not to flinch as the cats sniffed him as well. A couple of the cats had already decided to sit in Yusuke's lap and at his side; the blue-haired artist was slowly petting one of the ginger tabbies in his lap. Makoto had approached the counter and was scratching the ear of the calico you had abandoned. Most of the cats had flocked to Ryuji, rubbing up against him and meowing for attention as he sat down.
"They still remember you." You laugh as one of the kittens started climbing up Ryuji's shirt.
"I guess so." He says, gently prying the kitten off of him. "It hasn't been that long, has it?"
You shrug in response and walk over to sit besides him, almost immediately one of the gray cats settles itself into your lap.
"I'll give you guys a few moments with them cats then we start working, okay?"
"Okay." You all said in unison, too focus on whatever had your attention.
Your mom laughs softly, shakes her head, and retreats into the kitchen. Ann pries her eyes away from the display case and turns to look at the mass of felines by you and Ryuji.
"You two play on hoarding all the cats?"
"I didn't call them over here." Ryuji counters as one of the cats settle between his shoulder blades. "I just sat down."
"I read somewhere," Makoto began, "that animals can sense when someone has a good heart and will normally flock to them."
Morgana meows and Ryuji turns his head to glare at the black and white feline.
"Hey, they came to me, not you!"
You've long since learned not to question it whenever Ryuji or the others reply to whatever Morgana meows. You figured it had something to do with them being the Phantom Thieves. You're not that dense like some of the kids at school, since the first Calling Card appeared at Shujin with Ryuji's style of writing; you'd already made a safe guess at who the Phantom Thieves were. Even through you knew, you never pressured Ryuji into telling the truth, you'd rather let him tell you when he's ready. Makoto and Ann show the rest of you on the floor, some of the mass of fur balls disperse to sniff at the girls. Ryuji huffs at the lost of attention and warmth as he continues to idly pet at the pair of felines in his lap.
"Cats attention comes and goes, Ryuji." You say with a smile as the blond directs his brown gaze at you. "They're not like dogs."
"I know that... but it's nice to have it, y'know?"
You nod as your mother reappears from the back room with aprons, white button up shirts, and black pants. She whistles for attention and the cats climb off the teens and go in various directions. You get up and hold your hand out to help Ryuji up. You pull him up after he grabs it, but you pull him up too fast and end up bashing your noses together.
"Oooh." You can hear the other say, tears welling up in your eyes as your hold your nose.
Ryuji's doing the same thing and you both look at each other. Ryuji starts chuckling and you aren't too far behind; you miss that the others shake their heads as you and Ryuji are in full blown laughter. After your laughter dies down, you're mother explains what needs to be done and hands out the uniforms before officially opening the door to the public. The day goes fairly quickly after that happens and at the end of the day you uphold your end of the bargain. You and your mother package up the remaining food and sweets; you give a bit extra to Yusuke, saying that he should be using his money on food more often. Ann is practically drooling at the amount of sugary items you give to her. You pay them all respectfully and bide them a goodnight as your mother closes shop. On the walk back to your house, your mom's earlier words ring out in your head.
"I'm saying that if you wait too long, Ryuji-kun is gonna get snatched up by someone else."