Summary: Osvald stops by the café one afternoon and mentions that Elena wants a dog. Partitio suggests that he visit the local animal shelter where one of his roommates works, and he offers to go with him after his shift ends. Osvald agrees, and this turn of events ultimately leads to Partitio being grilled by all of his roommates about his 'date.'

It was another busy day at the café, and Partitio was grateful that his shift was finally winding down. He loved his job, sure, but sometimes the rush of it all was a bit exhausting to deal with on a daily basis. Luckily, he had some pretty amazing employees that helped him keep things running smoothly.

"Thankee kindly!" Partitio said as he handed a waiting customer their drink, and he quickly started making the next when Agnea called out their order. He stole a quick glance when Ochette burst from the kitchen with a tray of soup and sandwiches, and he smiled as she took it to the waiting customers, who seemed thrilled at the speed of her service and her bubbly, cheerful personality.

"Whew, what a rush…" Partitio said, removing his hat so that he could wipe the sweat from his brow. He gazed around at the tables full of happy customers and his chest swelled with pride at the sight. He busied himself with tidying up the front, while Agnea and Ochette headed into the kitchen.

Partitio had his back turned to the counter when he heard the door open, and he called out over his shoulder, "Be right with ya!" He gave his hands a quick wash before turning around, and Partitio felt his face flush as his heart leapt into his throat.

"Hello, Partitio."

Osvald was standing at the counter, and Partitio cleared his throat before a beaming smile crossed his face. Hoo-eey, did Osvald look mighty handsome today! His beautiful hair was tied up into a neat bun, and the button-up shirt that he wore under a sweater vest was unbuttoned at the top; Partitio had to try really hard not to stare at his exposed neck and collar bone.

"Howdy, Osvald! The usual?"

"Please."

Partitio grinned as he started prepping his order. Ever since he realized that he had a crush on Osvald, Partitio was having a harder and harder time not dissolving into a flustered mess whenever he came into the shop. The fact that he came in every single day made it all the more difficult to deal with. Today was different however, as this was Osvald's second time stopping in. After he gave Osvald his coffee and processed his payment, Partitio's curiosity got the better of him.

"So, I don't usually see you here twice in one day. Did you miss me that much?" he asked, winking as he leaned against the counter. He heart fluttered when Osvald laughed, and he took a sip of his coffee, his satisfied hum causing Partitio's heart to race even more.

"Well, you do serve the best coffee around, so I suppose you could say that," Osvald said as he adjusted his glasses, and Partitio could have sworn that he saw his cheeks darken slightly, "I actually have something to take care of, so I thought some coffee would be nice after work."

"Oh? Whatcha up to?"

"Elena told me that she wants a dog a while ago, and after having done some extensive research on the subject of care and cost, I think I am ready to adopt. I thought that I'd pay a visit to the animal shelter today to see what they have, before bringing Elena along."

Partitio perked up at that, and a bold idea sprung into his head. "Well that's a great idea! And, ah, if you don't mind, how's about I join you?"

"Hm?" Osvald raised an eyebrow at him, and Partitio rest an elbow on the counter as he flicked up the brim of his hat.

"My roommate, Throné, volunteers at the shelter. It's been a long time since I've paid her a visit there, and it's fun to play with the doggies every once in a while!"

"Hmm, I see…" Osvald studied Partitio over his glasses, and Partitio felt sweat start to bead at the back of his neck; he hoped that he hadn't overstepped with this suggestion. He really did want to help Osvald find the perfect pup for his family, but he would be lying if he said that he wasn't trying to also spend more time with him.

After an agonizing few seconds, a small smile crossed Osvald's face and he nodded. "I'd like that. Thank you, Partitio."

"Great!" Partitio said, maybe with a bit too much excitement in his tone, "My shift ends in 30, is that alright?"

Osvald nodded in response, and the rest of Partitio's shift went by smoothly. When the clock struck five, he left the café in the care of Agnea and Ochette, and he found himself walking down the sidewalk with Osvald.

"So," Osvald said, "You say this Throné is your roommate, but your coworkers are also your roommates?"

Partitio nodded as he pulled his coat more securely over his shoulders. "Yep! Throné and I both started college at the same time. We had some classes together and became fast friends! When we were lookin' for a house to move into after our first year, we ended up in a place with my friend Hikari. Ochette moved in the year after, and then Agnea moved in after she and Hikari started dating."

"And you're still living with them, even after you've graduated?"

"Yep," Partitio said with a shrug, "It's cheaper that way, and we all get along like peas in a pod, so I reckon I'll stay there as long as the rest of them do."

"That's a practical decision." Osvald hummed as he stroked his beard. "The money you'll save in the process should help you considerably when you do move into your own place."

"Sure will! I don't wanna end up broke like when Throné and I first moved into our place." Partitio cringed and let out a long whistle. "I was living on nothing but ramen for a while there…"

Osvald chuckled. "Honestly, that's a relatable problem." Partitio raised a confused eyebrow at him, prompting him to continue: "I went hungry many times when I was a student."

"Really, partner?" Partitio rubbed at his chin as he gave Osvald a once-over; he couldn't really picture this prim-and-proper college professor ever being poor.

"Yes…Although, the majority of the time it wasn't due to not having enough money," Osvald's voice dropped to a mumble, and Partitio's eye widened when he rubbed at the back of his neck, "I had a terrible habit of getting so lost in my studies that I would forget to eat and sleep."

Partitio snorted to try and suppress a laugh, but failed, and Osvald pursed his lips as he stared at Partitio with narrowed eyes. When he recovered, Partitio slapped a friendly hand to his arm and winked.

"Haha, sorry Osvald. It's just…I can really picture that, with the way that you get so consumed by those thick books you're always readin' at the café."

A smile returned to Osvald's face, and Partitio was relieved that he didn't offend him. "Yes, well, after I passed out in the library after one such study session and ended up missing that exam because of it, I quickly readjusted my study habits to make sure that didn't happen again."

"It must've worked, considerin' you're an accomplished smarty-pants professor now, right?" Partitio said as he jabbed his elbow into Osvald's side. A wistful look appeared in Osvald's eyes, and Partitio frowned when his gaze dropped to the ground.

"Yes, well, I met Rita shortly after that, and she…really did a lot to help me kick those bad habits of mine."

Partitio's heart sank, and he suddenly felt mighty guilty for accidentally bringing up such a sensitive subject. Luckily for him, they had arrived at the New Delsta Animal Shelter, allowing him to quickly change the subject.

"Here we are! Let's go see what cute lil doggies are waitin' for us!" Partitio beamed as he grabbed Osvald's hand and dragged him inside.

"Er, Partitio, you don't have to-"

"Heya, Throné!" Looking up from her desk, Throné smiled as Partitio continued to drag Osvald up to her. "My friend here's lookin' to adopt a dog, can you help 'im out?"

"You're…friend, eh?"

Partitio followed Throné's gaze to his hand, which still had a firm grip on Osvald's. As if Osvald's hand had suddenly turned white-hot, Partitio dropped it while dramatically shoving his own deep into his pockets.

"S-Sorry, Osvald," he stammered, his face flushing a bright red. Osvald's face had also turned a rosy shade of pink, and he loudly cleared his throat before turning to Throné.

"...'s alright."

Throné picked up her phone and quickly typed something, before putting it away and standing up. She handed a clipboard to Osvald. "Here, write down your name and phone number here, please." Osvald did so, and Partitio did the same when she handed it to him next.

"Great, let's go see if we can find you a new family member." Throné gestured to Osvald and he made to follow her. She glanced at Partitio over her shoulder with a mischievous smile on her face, and Partitio groaned and slapped his hands to his face. Shucks, if he had to go and make a fool of himself, why'd he have to do it in front of his crush?

Throné showed them around the kennels, and Partitio wished that he had enough money and space to adopt all of these cute critters himself. When they stopped at the last kennel, Partitio beamed as he reached down to pick up the occupant: a Saint Bernard puppy.

"Daw, ain't you just the cutest little thing?" Partitio cooed, laughing when the puppy licked his face. He held the puppy out to Osvald. "What about this cutie?"

"Hmm, I don't know," Osvald's face scrunched up as he rubbed at his chin, "This is a Saint Bernard. They get very big."

"Well, yeah, but all the more doggie to cuddle with that way!" Partitio snickered when Osvald huffed in response, and he set the puppy back down. "Hehe, I'm sure Elena will fall right in love with her at first sight."

Osvald didn't seem to think that Partitio's joke was all that funny, judging from the way that he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "There are plenty of other, smaller dogs here. The odds of her picking this one are slim."

"Aw, I'm just yankin' your chain, partner." Partitio said, throwing an arm over Osvald's shoulders and poking his chest, "Whichever one you do pick, though, will be a perfect addition to your family, I just know it!"

Partitio was happy when a smile returned to Osvald's face, and he turned to follow Throné back up to the front. Partitio's arm slipped off of his shoulders, and he pouted at the loss of contact. Ah well, he'd take what he could get at this point.

"Thank you, Throné. I will return with my daughter next week so that we can make a final decision together," Osvald said, and Throné nodded as she jotted down some notes on her clipboard.

"Sounds good. Have a good day, sir."

"Thanks, Throné! See you at home!"

"See ya."

Partitio waved to her before he stepped outside with Osvald. He whistled as he folded his hands behind his head.

"Well, that was a productive visit, huh?" he mused, and Osvald nodded.

"I agree. Thank you for accompanying me, Partitio. I own you one."

"You're more than welcome, Osvald!" Partitio beamed and tugged on the brim of his hat. "And you really don't owe me at all, I was more than happy to help ya out!"

"But…" Partitio's heartbeat hammered in his chest as he decided to take a bold gamble, "If you insist, then how's about you by me a drink sometime?"

Partitio held his breath as he gauged Osvald's reaction; his eyes widened behind his glasses, and he averted his gaze as he moved his hand up to needlessly adjust them.

"I…think I could manage that. It might be a while though, as my schedule is busy this time of year. Exam season and all."

"Hehe, it's alright! I'm a pretty patient man!" Partitio would have liked to believe that, but now that the prospect of maybe someday going on what could somewhat resemble a date with Osvald already had Partitio chomping at the bit.

"Well, I guess I should let ya get on with your night. See ya bright and early tomorrow, Osvald!" Partitio said with a wave, and he turned to walk down the sidewalk.

"Wait, Partitio."

A hand fell onto his shoulder, and Partitio's eyes went wide when he turned back to Osvald. His heart leapt into his throat at the intensity of Osvald's gaze, and he cocked his head to one side when Osvald averted his gaze, opening and closing his mouth a few times as if he was having a hard time figuring out what to say.

"Could I…Er, that is…We should exchange phone numbers."

"Huh?!" Partitio sucked in a sharp breath, and Osvald waved his hands in front of him.

"It's just that, I may have some questions about adopting a dog, and I could text them to you, so you could ask your friend to answer them for me."

Ah, that's all he wanted. Partitio deflated slightly, not really sure why he had gotten his hopes up like that, but he smiled and nodded.

"That's a great idea!" Partitio pulled out his phone and added Osvald to his contacts, while Osvald did the same. Partitio did note that it would be easier if he just gave Osvald Throné's number, but he sure as shit was going to keep that thought to himself right now.

"Thanks again," Osvald said, "Have a good night, Partitio." Osvald smiled and gave Partitio a nod before he turned to walk down the sidewalk. Partitio waved and watched him go, before he let out a long whistle and shook his head.

"Golly…What a man…" Partitio said, a goofy grin crossing his face as he looked down at Osvald's name in his phone. Osvald had given him his number…for platonic reasons, but it was a start for a delusional, infatuated fool like himself.

In his elated state, Partitio practically skipped all the way home, and he hung up his hat and coat when he stepped inside the house.

"I'm home, y'all-" Partitio started, but he was cut off when Agnea and Ochette ambushed him, grabbing his arms and dragging him into the kitchen. He yelped in surprise and almost tripped over Ochette's pets, Akalā the Shiba Inu and Mahina the Birman Cat, as the latter chased the former into the living room.

"What in tarnation…?" Partitio wondered aloud as he was shoved unceremoniously into a chair.

"Okay, spill it, Parti!" Ochette said, standing on the chair opposite from him and placing both hands on the table.

"Yes, give us all of the juicy details!" Agnea chimed in, and Hikari chucked from his spot cooking at the stove.

"What the hell are y'all talkin' about?" Partitio narrowed his eyes as he looked between his two excited roommates.

"Did you not get our texts?" Agnea said, and Partitio shrugged and shook his head. He had been focused on Osvald, for obvious reasons, and he didn't think that the group chat messages blowing up his phone were anything too important.

Ochette rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry. "Ugh, we wanna know how your date went!"

"D-Date?"

"Yeah, with Pops!"

Partitio gawked at her, and he quickly shook his head and waved his hands in front of him. "Y'all have the wrong idea! It wasn't a date…and how'd you know I was with Osvald, anyway?"

"I told them."

Partitio turned to see Throné walk into the kitchen, and she leaned against the door frame with an eyebrow raised. "And you can't tell me that wasn't a date. You were holding his hand when you came in, remember?"

"Really?" Ochette and Agnea said in unison. The former burst into a fit of giggles, while the latter gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

"That does sound like date behavior to me," Hikari commented as he put a tray into the oven.

"C'mon, Hikari, not you too!" Partitio groaned and dragged a hand down his face. "I'll tell y'all one more time: it was not a date…no matter how much I wanted it to be…" He muttered the last part below his breath, but Ochette always seemed to have the ears of a hawk.

"Ooooh, so you do like him!" Ochette clapped her hands together excitedly, and Partitio let out a long sigh as Throné sat down at the table.

"...Yes, alright? I'm down so bad for Osvald…" Partitio let his forehead fall to the table, and he turned his head when Hikari walked over to him and pat him gently on the back.

"That's really cute! So when are you gonna go on an actual date, huh? Huh?" Ochette bounced on her toes, her animal-eared hood bobbing with the motion.

"It's…kinda complicated, guys. I can't just ask him out."

"Why not?" Agnea asked, giggling when Hikari reached down to place a kiss on her cheek as he made his way back to the stove.

"It's just…He's a widower, first of all," Partitio said, and a heavy silence fell among them.

Partitio leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Second, he's quite a bit older, and I really think he's out of my league. He's a professor, and I'm just a greenhorn café owner."

"Ugh, really, Partitio?" Throné rolled her eyes and sighed. "You're a good guy who's successful at a young age, don't sell yourself short like that."

"Yeah! And the age difference really isn't that bad," Agnea chimed in, "It's not like he was your professor or anything. That would probably have made it a little weird."

"The only problem might be the widower part," Hikari said, and Partitio nodded as he placed a hand over his chest. Partitio couldn't even begin to fathom the horror of losing a spouse, especially in the terrible way that Osvald had lost his. The pain that Partitio had seen in his eyes that day when they had talked about it was heartbreaking, and there was also the fact that Osvald had his daughter to take care of. Partitio didn't know if Osvald was ready to date again, or even if he would ever be, and that was a topic that Partitio really didn't want to bring up to the man himself.

"It might just be too soon as well," Throné said, closing her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You haven't known each other for that long, after all. My advice would be to just go on like normal and see if you get closer naturally. You're bound to run into him outside of the café at some point without planning an actual date, right? Just go with the flow for a while."

Partitio's face scrunched up and he shook his head. His friends really were taking this way too far. For all Partitio knew, this was just a silly crush and it wasn't going anywhere.

"It's not that deep, y'all. Just…a case of puppy love. Yeah, that's it."

"Love?!"

Partitio groaned as his friends ganged up on him with a new round of annoying questions, and he cursed his poor word choice. Hikari luckily saved him as he served them dinner, and the conversation luckily drifted to other topics.

Partitio tossed and turned as he lay in bed that night, and he groaned as he pressed a hand to his forehead. Reaching for his phone, he finally scrolled through his unread messages in the group chat, rolling his eyes at his friends over-enthusiasm at his not-date with Osvald.

Osvald…A goofy grin crossed Partitio's face as he pulled up Osvald's contact page in his phone, and he stared at it for a while, which didn't mean anything at all. It was just puppy love that he felt for Osvald, Partitio told himself…but it was Saint Bernard-sized puppy love, and Partitio finally fell asleep, not knowing what to do about it.

A few days later, Partitio was busy cleaning the counter as his shift neared its end, and he absentmindedly pulled out his phone when it vibrated, assuming it was someone in the group chat. However, it was a solo text message, and a beaming smile crossed Partitio's face when he saw that it was from Osvald.

'Elena wants the Saint Bernard puppy' is what the message said, and Partitio barked out a laugh when he saw it was accompanied by a tired face emoji. Well, Partitio hadn't expected his joke to actually come true, and he hoped that Osvald wouldn't be too annoyed at him about it.

"What're you laughing at, hm?"

Partitio quickly locked his phone and jerked his head up to find Agnea watching him with a smirk on her face. Letting out a nervous laugh, Partitio waved her hand at her and averted his gaze.

"It's nothing, aha…"

"Oh sure, Mr. Puppy Love."

Partitio's face flushed as Agnea laughed and turned to help a customer. He sighed and smacked his cheeks a few times, hoping to clear the blush from them before getting back to work. All he could think about as he worked tirelessly through the busy lunch rush was how he was going to respond to Osvald's text when his shift was over. Puppy love indeed…