{"sf1_id":376104,"sf2_id":"dmW6YdBe","title":"Chapter 4: It's Not a Question of When, But of What","author":"ginsenshi","words":851,"posted_at":"2012-05-13T07:17:00.000Z","tags":["Adult store","Blind","German Shepherd","M/M","Shiba-Inu Fox","Wolf","books"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/376104-chapter-4-it-s-not-a-question-of-when-but-of-what","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmW6YdBe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/55/bd/55bd3d25-8723-4e7a-9b1f-04bd55f9db2b","description":"#4 of The new toys\n\nwritten by Hikari-kun","content":" **Chapter 4:\u0026nbsp; It's Not a Question of When, But of What**\n\n**_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_**\"So guys, what's happening today?\u0026nbsp; Hikari and I have plans later tonight, but what's happening until then?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh?\u0026nbsp; What kind of plans?\"\u0026nbsp; Shuichi asks while Kouji has a slight smile on his face.\u0026nbsp; _I hope he's smiling because he's enjoying Hikari's omelettes._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Nothing you ne-\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We're going on a dinner date.\"\u0026nbsp; Hikari cut me off.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What? But I thought...\"\u0026nbsp; I feel him trace words on my paw saying that they didn't need to know.\u0026nbsp; I feel a slight tingle from his residual magic.\u0026nbsp; _I love that feeling._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh, sounds like fun.\u0026nbsp; Today was really just a trip to the strip mall.\"\u0026nbsp; Shuichi had a slight smile on his face as he took a bite of his omelette.\u0026nbsp; \"Mmm, delicious.\u0026nbsp; Hikari, you've outdone yourself, what's in these?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese, pieces of real bacon, some cream to make the eggs sweeter and fluffier, and, of course, eggs.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I've heard that some people put baking soda, or was it baking powder...\u0026nbsp; Anyway, some people use that to make it fluffy.\"\u0026nbsp; I chime in, although I don't have much to offer to this conversation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Gross, why would you put that in an omelette?\"\u0026nbsp; Kouji wouldn't quite know what he's talking about either, although he does have a point.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It works, but I never use that, it's baking powder by the way.\u0026nbsp; Even at the breakfast rush at the café.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So, what do we need at the strip?\"\u0026nbsp; I saw inside the fridge and it was stocked, so I was a little confused.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Kouji and I have some things to get.\u0026nbsp; Having such a good cook has made us eat a bit much lately.\"\u0026nbsp; _You two don't look any larger,_ was my thought.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay then,\"\u0026nbsp; Hikari had something in mind apparently, \"I need to stop by the bookstore, the next book in the series I'm reading came out recently.\u0026nbsp; I would also like to look up their books on witchcraft.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I thought you didn't trust those books?\"\u0026nbsp; Kouji spoke up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"He only checks their validity.\u0026nbsp; Most people only write them for profit, they don't believe a word of their own writing.\"\u0026nbsp; I speak for Hikari, since I don't seem to have much to say lately.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's true, sad, but true.\u0026nbsp; If only more people believed in magic.\u0026nbsp; Most people think I'm kidding, until they need some help that normal methods don't offer.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So your magic brings in business?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I have a few loyal customers.\u0026nbsp; My café is profitable, but it eats up most of those profits.\u0026nbsp; The girls that work there are friends who help when they can, and only three of them are regular workers with a steady pay.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Are they _famous_ loyal customers?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Privacy agreement, can't tell you Kouji.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Aww, not even a hint?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Nope, sorry.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I look around the table to see that everyone has finished and, out of impulse, I stand and clear the table.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Shall we head out then?\u0026nbsp; Since you can't get any info out of Hikari.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, we should go, before the stores becomes packed with shoppers.\u0026nbsp; We all know how kids like to pet Kuro.\"\u0026nbsp; Hikari mentions something the Kouji isn't too pleased about.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, or they run away, scared.\u0026nbsp; It's really a pain.\u0026nbsp; You would think that people would get used to seeing Kuro, I've lived here so long.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, but people don't get it sometimes.\u0026nbsp; We should get going though.\"\u0026nbsp; Shuichi agreeing with my earlier suggestion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I hear Kouji gives Kuro the appropriate commands to get harnessed and meets the rest of us at the front door.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I hold Hikari's hand and see Shuichi take Kouji's hand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You know, Hikari, for the amount of money you have, you have a pretty unassuming car.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What's wrong with that?\u0026nbsp; I happen to like my little Honda Fit more than I like your Honda Accord, Shuichi.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I didn't mean anything by it, I was just amused when I saw your little car.\u0026nbsp; I expected a corvette or something more expensive.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, that's what my clients say too.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Guys, let's go.\u0026nbsp; Kouji and Kuro are already in the car.\"\u0026nbsp; I say with a little annoyance, getting into the front passenger side of Hikari's car.\u0026nbsp; Kouji, sitting in Shuichi's car, has Kuro taking up the entire back row.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We'll see you there then.\"\u0026nbsp; I hear Shuichi say to Hikari before I close the door.\u0026nbsp; I simply wave at him and see him wave back.\u0026nbsp; Hikari get's in the driver seat and says to me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"They totally don't expect us to actually go home for some private time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I look forward to it!\"\u0026nbsp; I lean over, pulling the seatbelt, and give Hikari a kiss on the lips.\u0026nbsp; As I lean back, I hear the seatbelt lock.\u0026nbsp; \"Damn it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Hikari laughs, \"I guess it's a sign that you should wait.\" He buckles up, starts the car, and follows Shuichi to the strip mall.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The new toys (discontinued)","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/375859-chapter-3-joining-the-day.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/376106-chapter-5-shopping-is-awkward.json"}}