" Hello. Welcome back to the café shop, mas—Cooro?"

Surprised, angry, and flustered, Cooro Dash walked into his sister café. Nana was very upset. Yes—of her young, naïve brother—a hassle to be around. His melancholy attitude deprived her café of customers, deteriorated the other maids from their work, and vexed Nana.

Cooro however wasn't aware of his vexatious guise. Thinking solemnly too himself, unwilling to face anyone, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Cooro's hands acted on their own and he took out his large book from school. Skidding through the pages, stopped, as his eyes darted through the pages.

No sooner did he lounge on his chair, one of the maids of the café, Canary, walked up and posed where she leaned up to Cooro and smiled. Despite her darkened skin, her skin shined reflected from the sunlight. Her hair was also sleek and burnished, long and purple, in an asymmetrical cut and brown eyes. Normally Cooro saw her dress casually, the times she hanged out with Nana, but in her workplace she wore a traditional maid dress.

"Welcome back, master," Canary announced in a formal tone. "Will you be having anything today?"

" A glass of milk in a glass, please."

" Right away, master."

Canary thought Cooro was awfully quiet at the time. No, Cooro had always been quiet around her—shy, one could say—unless he was alone. Canary tried talking to him, tried finding common ground with him, but he was too daft for her.

But just as Canary was about to leave, Cooro raised his hand above the book, and tossed two Jewel bills too Canary.

" Here. That's for you."

" Really?" Canary said with an ecstatic face. " We don't get many tippers around here."

" That's exact change for the drink. No tip for you."

" Er, thanks. Cheapskate."

Taking a deep breath, Canary straightened her uniform and marched off. Cooro finally had time to himself, but that stopped when he heard the voice of his sister:

"Welcome back to the café, master, and mistress."

Cooro feared the customers were the horrendous daisy duke girl and her dog, but he was happy to learn it was nothing but a boy and girl couple. They both were a young, healthy couple that looked three years older than him; they looked about 18 years old. And they were too cheery for Cooro's taste.

" I can't believe you've never been here before," the boy said in a cheerful manor. " Their food is really good."

" Really?" the girl said in a cheerful manor. " Can we share?"

" Sure."

" Really?"

" Everything here will taste fine, so long as it's with you."

" Eeek!" Cooro thought as he hide his sulky face behind his book. " These people are going to make me rip my eyes out!"

" I was thinking of joining Fairy Tail. You know I'd scour the world, climb up the highest mountain, and face the strongest of monsters, just too see you smile."

" They're all just a bunch of pitiful fools."

" Here's your glass of milk, master," Canary said as she slid a bottle with milk over to Cooro. Canary than stood idly by as she held her tray against her uniform." I hope it's too your liking you poor, cheap kid. If there's anything else, master, please tell m—"

" Canary, what's a good quality about me?"

" What?"

" I want you to be honest with me, and tell me what's something people would like about me."

Canary was befuddled with Cooro's peculiar question. Canary was torn from her thoughts, immediately flabbergasted, as even though her skin was black her cheeks were tinted red. However, as Canary assessed the situation, she smiled smugly at Cooro.

"Ooh. I see what's going on, Cooro. And let me just say how happy I am someone actually knows the you I know."

" I'm sorry, what?"

" Don't try to hide it from me, Cooro. I see what's going on."

" What's going on?"

" You found a girlfriend."

" WHAT?! Stupid! I don't have a girlfriend, nor do I ever want them. They're mundane, mediocre, stereotypical and dull! They're all just a waste of time!"

" Aren't kids your age supposed to be rowdy."

" Aren't girls supposed to be sophisticated?"

"Touché. Should I tell your 'not girlfriend' about this?"

" Shut up. I'm just saying, if there's something that's good about me, I want to know so I can change it; I don't want to have it."

Cooro gawked at the entrance of the café—he was staring through the open window—and waving to him was the eccentric, hyperactive girl April. Cooro's blood froze at the sight of April and he became weak. Canary took a gander at the girl, turned her head at Cooro, smiled.

" It seems your 'not girlfriend' has decided to pay you a visit. Why don't you go outside and rejoice with her, Cooro?"

Cooro was too paralysed spurning by strange integrity. Canary squealed. Canary had jesters of enthusiasm crept on her face. Cooro was spurning, but got angry as he stood up, his cheeks flustered red, and glared into Canary' eyes.

" I hate the living! The very sound of girls and they cackling, yammering makes me want to slit my own throat! You'll do well enough to leave me alone and get your nose out of my personal life, capisce?"

Cooro grabbed his bottle of milk and headed towards the back of the café where the garbage disposal was with his giant book held by his armpits squeezed together. Cooro then opened the door and walked outside. Canary couldn't help but smile at the flustered face of Cooro.

" He wants to know what's cool about him? The way I see it, buried beneath all that tough exterior is a little boy looking for attention." Canary smiled as she closed her eyes. "A boy who can put a smile on anyone's face."

XXX

The outside of the café was spacious. Cooro mostly went too it when he was bored, tired, in trouble or just wanted to be away from the people of the outside world. Even though the room was spacious, the corner Cooro sat down too was cramped, the floor was mucky, and the air was odiously unpleasant.

Cooro didn't care about being cramped or feeling the cold floor, nor did he mind the wretched smell of garbage pollution. Cooro didn't care as long as his cat Gia visited him. Gia wasn't his cat, but a stray that came and left as she pleased.

Gia, the stray cat, had strolled over to Cooro with her tail swaying. The bottle of milk Cooro bought was for Gia and not him. Cooro held a bowl out, poured milk into the bowl, then watched Gia happily licking the milk in the bowl. As he was reading, Cooro looked over his book and smiled.

" This cat's got the good life. It doesn't have to worry about being lonely, having to listen to people, even having to act all cute-an-cuddly." Cooro reached his hand out and rubbed Gia's head. The stray cat showed no anger from Cooro's hands touching her fur, and was in fact blissful of it.

" Meworrr." Gia murmured as she was finished with her bowl. Gia's paws were moving to alert Cooro of the emptiness, and Cooro poured her a second glass of milk, smiled.

" Animals are not like people. Animals can never lie. They'll tell you if they're good, bad the moment you meet them, and never leave a void of desolation in you." Cooro went back to reading his book, skidding through the pages, then stopped. He then closed his book.

" Sheesh, she was such a child. She was too much of a bungler for my taste. I just pray that stalker will leave me alone."

" Meworrr." Gia purred as she was finished with her bowl, again. Cooro stared down at the sweet, innocent face of the cat, but simply rubbed her head.

" I'm sorry, Gia, but I'm all out. Maybe I'll have some more for you tomorrow. I promise you."

Cooro reached his hands out and rubbed Gia's fur. He couldn't get used to how smoothly silk Gia's fur was. The very touch of her fur made Cooro's cheeks red, and Gia purring and rubbing her head against his hands made him breathless. Cooro loved animals…but not like he loved Gia.

Suddenly, the door to the garbage opened. Canary walked in and gawked at the appearance of Cooro rubbing Gia's head. It was surprising—of Cooro, the boy who'd never want to be around crowds—a surprise to see him recuperating by an animal.

" Um, could you help me carry boxes, Cooro?" Canary said, flustered. " I really need a strong man's help."

" Eh, I guess I could do it, Canary," Cooro said in a calm but upstart voice. " I'll be with you in a second."

" Okay. Please, take all the time you need."

Canary closed the door to the garbage disposal. Cooro was shocked, shaken, and flabbergasted. However, Cooro promptly raised his bottle and took the bottle away.

" Sorry, duty calls," Cooro smiled at Gia. " I promise, there'll be more to drink tomorrow."

Cooro opened the door and walked outside. As he was gone, Gia smiled at the door and then prowled out into the city as her tail swayed.