Work Text:
It was Friday night.
By unfortunate coincidence, there were more and more customers every day, and Peppino's nerves were getting less and less. maybe someone would think that an increase of customers is not bad, even good, but not for him. There were not many workers in the pizzeria, so he had to do all the work together with Gustavo. He was not averse to working for people alone, but not when there were a huge number of them. When this happened, his social energy was spent twice as fast as usual.
The worst thing is that their work schedule has changed a lot, so in the morning and in the afternoon he worked in a pizzeria non-stop, and in the late evening and at night he carried orders to customers not only in the city, but also in the tower. Sometimes clients treated him so little that it made the blood in his veins boil furiously. In such moments the Italian wanted to tell them all at once what they had said to him over the years.
The Italian snorted irritably, because it is anger at everything around him that still keeps him in a relatively sober mind lately, not allowing fatigue to take control of his whole body.
There was that usual daily neverending hum in head, and body was burning from the unbearable heat and stuffiness.
But still, that is his job in the manufacturer's field, which means that he should have been used to this for a long time. The only thing left for him to do in this case is to endure.
The Italian loved his job, and it gives him pleasure do what he likes and get a profit for it. But when weeks of hard work come, like this one, Peppino wants to throw everything and maybe find something else for himself that will give him the same pleasure as baking. But everyone needs money.
And for the sake of money, you have to work, sometimes even in a way you don't want. and in order to work, you have to suffer, and you have to know how to suffer properly. And as you can see, Peppino copes with this task perfectly.
He replayed such thoughts about his life every weekday and every time before going to bed.
But not all suffering is eternal.
Surprisingly, at the very end of the week fate decided to pity him and finally bless him with the long-awaited silence in the restaurant. There were no people in the hall, and right now the Italian was finishing the remaining order.
Peppino took a deep breath and exhaled.
But his happiness did not last long.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the slam of the door, after which he heard footsteps that were heading towards the counter at a fast pace.
"Haa-ai-i, Peps!!"
A painfully familiar ringing voice made him raise his head and he stumbled upon the contented face of Noise, who, it is unclear when he managed to get so uncomfortably close to him.
"Why ya' so silent? Cat's got ye'r toungue, huh?," - the mascot teased, as if deliberately starting to try to bring Peppino to emotions, but the Italian only sighed at this. It's not his first time.
"Okay.., jus'. . . Why are you there?" - he immediately got to the point
Noise blinked a couple of times, processing the words, and then smiled his crooked and cheeky smile.
"You're so straight-forward, Italian man! We haven't seen each other for soo long and that's how ya' greet meh? How rude!", - mascot walked away from the question, continuing to tease him.
Maybe if Peppino got into this situation about a month ago, he probably would have already kicked his ass. But Noise had already received his due from the Italian many times for his whims, and Peppino had already realized that this was what the mascot was trying to achieve from him. so the only thing left to do is try not to play his stupid game.
"Stop ignoring my question. And take your face away from me already"
Such an empty reaction from the Italian puzzled Noise, but he grudgingly distance himself. The mascot was upset that he had nothing to do but do what Peppino wanted him to do, and he exhaled a quiet "fine".
"Well, I jus' recently thought that we haven't seen each other for a long time, so I decided to visit ya'. I bet ya' missed me, Peps!", - explained the mascot, although it did not sound too plausible as he wanted, and for that he received an incredulous look from the Italian.
For a moment they just stared at each other, as if trying to read emotions on each others faces. But still Peppino was the one who interrupted it all. After that he heard quiet chuckle from the mascot.
"Yeah, whatever. . . And that's all? You really jus' wanted to see me?", - for some reason his voice sounded with a tone of disappointment, although he did not want it to sound like that.
"Ya' got it right, Peps! I never doubted yar mental abilities!", - he cheered up and applauded, and yet even at this Peppino did not look very impressed. The Italian didn't even understand what it was all about and whether it was sarcasm or not.
He noticed how suddenly the mascot began to look around, looking for something
"God, why is it so stuffy and hot here? Shouldn't ya have ACs or things like that?", - asked Noise, wiping sweat from his forehead, even though he was in his classic yellow suit.
"They were here before and even worked. But was. . . long time ago, no one repaired them for. . . 10 years or something", - the Italian told him
To this mascot annoyingly clicked, then gasped, like a sudden idea just came to his mind.
"Maybe I could hire ya' couple of workers, and they'll fix those things! If ya'want, I can pay for everything and arrange it!", - Noise offered him
Well, in a sense, he was right, it was high time to replace the broken ACs, probably not only them, but from whom the Italian was definitely not going to take help with this, so it was from the mascot. The pizzeria's financial problems shouldn't have bothered him.
"Absolutely not. I'll take care of it myself.. Later"
"Then maybe ya' need help with somethin' elseee?"
Noise frantically tried to continue their conversation, which from the very beginning went badly, but a sudden ringing of the phone from a nearby table interrupted them. Without even listening to the mascot, Peppino grabbed the phone and put it to his ear. He noticed Noise opening his mouth to say something, but it looks like that he decided to stay silent.
Mascot watched how brisky the Italian talked with his client.
Burning envy weighed heavily inside his body, he wished Peppino would also talk to him like that live, and not with someone on the phone.
If he could, he would have found this lucky person on the other side of the phone, and do with him what he himself does not want to know. But immediately Noise shook his head, pushing such nasty thoughts away.
Hanging up, the Italian looked up at mascot and saw him frown.
"Well, i.. uh-m, sorry, i need to go back to work, as you can see."
Peppino noticed a sudden change in Noise's mood. He crossed his arms over his chest in displeasure.
"Are ya' serious!?"
It was unusual how the mascot had previously tried to bring him to emotions, and now he was the one who showed them the most.
"Geez. . . I mean, you sure i'm the one who needs help? If you need help, you can ask me. Later."
Noise didn't respond to this and just snorted, throwing an offended look at the very last and then withdrew, closing the door with a loud slam.
For some reason, Peppino thought that mascot was not telling him something and there was another reason why he came to his pizzeria.
Maybe he was still sulking at him after their last meeting on the 4th floor. In this case, the Italian should have to apologize for his behavior at that moment, 'though that was prolly just an accident, 'cause they both did not expected to see each other, but shit happens.
He thought he knew Noise well enough and how he didn't just leave things unfinished. Therefore, the Italian just continued to make an order, hoping that all this bullshit would end soon.
•
After 10 minutes, the doorbell rang and Peppino again heard the same rapid steps towardounter. As he had expected, Noise wouldn't just let him go.
Mascot's yellow gloved hands waved in front of his face, trying to attract his attention. But the Italian just gave him annoyed look.
"Ya' still workin', Italian man?", - Noise continued his attempts to get at least something from him.
Peppino chose not to respond.
Seeing that nothing came from the Italian, Mascot lowered his hands.
"Finally conceded defeat?" flashed through Peppino's mind. God, he really hoped so.
But all his hopes were dashed to hell when he felt his hat ripped off his head with a quick jerk.
"Gotcha, bitch!", - Noise scoffed, tossing the headdress in his direction. For some reason, this is exactly what Mascot wanted to do for a long time and it was nice to meet the right moment to do that.
But unfortunately, this did not help him much to achieve his goal, because Peppino still did not show a sign of aggression, and in principle any strong emotions that he was waiting for so much.
Noise squeezed the hat in his hands, feeling unknown mixed feelings growing like vines in his soul. It was something between anger and indignation at what was happening.
Mascot rarely had to feel such a mess in his head. He never had any problems understanding what he was feeling at certain moments, Noise didn't even pay attention to what he was feeling.
His own emotions were just like a background thing to him, psychologists and all that shit should be engaged in understanding them.
But for some reason now Mascot could not explain what was happening to him. His attempts to get at least a little attention from the Italian more and more seem to him like a complete failure and he does not know what to do. He does not know why Peppino just fucking can't take and answer him at least something!?
It can't be that he is so devoted to his work that he. . . doesn't care about the mascot anymore.
From such a sudden thought, his heart was painfully squeezed and filled with blood.
Noise wanted to get any attention from the Italian, even negative one.
He heard how Peppino let out a low sigh.
"Okay. . . Noise, what is it you need now?"
Hearing the familiar voice beloved by his ears, mascot smiled weakly. Maybe it didn't help him much to sort out the mess of feelings, but at least now there was glimmer of warmth inside him.
"Okay, fine! I'll tell ya'! But could ya' then pleeease just take a break from yer work! For five minutes!", - drawled Noise, the tone in his voice already sounded like pleading.
Peppino rolled his eyes at mascot's actions, but he knew he had no choice. But at the same time, he cannot be distracted from the order. . . The Italian decided to spend a couple more minutes trying to figure out his goal.
"Noise, listen. . . I've asked several times already! Why do I do what YOU should do? You either order something or get outta here!" - the Italian barked.
A strange expression of anger and grudge froze on Noise 's face. The Italian had seen the mascot like this before, but this time was different. It seemed to Peppino that he had done something he shouldn't have done, and he inadvertently touched something fragile inside him.
"NO, I AM NOT going anywhere!! Just take a FUCKING break from your FUCKING job for a GODDAMN minute!! Do you even SEE yourself right now??!"
The Italian froze at his words. He felt as if now Noise himself had touched something fragile in him.
Peppino still didn't know what exactly Mascot was trying to achieve, but what he said was pretty much... true.
Apart from his work, the Italian really hasn't done anything else at all for the last two weeks for sure. All his working days were stuck together in one sticky pile, in which he, without noticing it, got bogged down. Before his eyes was a veil through which Peppino blindly looked at things, not betraying their significance.
And he didn't even notice, how he almost became an ordinary hard worker without a personal life and dreams.
Yeah, Noise was right. Was goddamn right.
"Okay... Fine..", - Peppino sighed heavily, - "Just gimme my hat back and i'll listen to you."
Hearing this, the mascot softened his expression a little, but distrust of the Italian still remained in him and it was obvious.
Peppino looked at his gloved hands, the fingers of which were still firmly holding the edges of the headdress.
Well, it looks like the hat prolly would not see it's owner soon.
"I'll give it to ya' only when ya' talk to meh! And properly!",- replied Noise, hiding it somewhere under his yellow cloak.
"Fine. . . whatever you say", - the Italian agreed, and immediately after that he saw that cheeky smile growing on the mascot's face again.
"Fuckin' finally! Geez, I didn't even know that ya'r that-Wha the-WHERE DO YA THINK YAR GOIN'?",- shouted Noise, seeing Peppino moving away towards a possible kitchen.
Mascot's squels almost gave him heart attack, for a moment he forgot how loud can he be.
"Well, i can't just drop everything and leave, y' know? I-I jus' need to tell Gus that i'm on a coffee break or some shit, although i'm... not drinking coffee, whatever. ", - he explained
Noise narrowed his eyes, trying to catch hint of a lie in Peppino's face. The Italian swallowed and looked away, feeling uncomfortable from the prying eyes on himself. But then mascot sighed loudly so that Peppino would definitely hear it.
"Whatever. Jus,'hurry up or somethin..," murmured Noise, turning his back.
And so he headed towards the kitchen.
Only after entering it, the Italian already felt his body bathed in a familiar heat and sweat.
The kitchen was even more stuffy than the rest of the building 'cause of the ovens and stoves they constantly used. There were no working ACs here either, and a small window and a barely functioning fan were the only things that gave hope that they together with Gustavo, would be able to spend another day at work without dying from overheating.
Peppino really should have listened to mascot's words about replacing the equipment, although he himself understood everything, maybe he was just too haughty to admit it.
And yep, speaking of Gustavo, Peppino found him standing near their cooking spot, doin some stuff.
The Italian came closer to him from the side, trying not to scare him, although he was not as fearful as Peppino himself.
"Hey, Gus,"- the Italian spoke, which made his friend look in his direction. It was obvious that he didn't expect Peppino to appear, but that wasn't a bad thing.
"Ciao, Peps! You need somethin'?", - Gustavo asked, turning to his side
"Oh, n-no, jus' . . . "
Peppino stopped. He didn't know if he should have told his friend everything.
Probably Gus was already tired of troubles in which he got almost every month or even week.
Comparing them, Peppino was the one who most often got into troubles, and in most of them his friend helped him. The Italian simply did not want Gustavo to worry about him and participate in solving such trivias as now.
Of course, his sudden silence was not ignored.
"As i can guess, somethin' happened"
Peppino was taken aback by this and began to wave his hands, putting what was said in doubt.
"W-what are you talkin' bout, ha-ha!! W-why such hasty conclusions??", - the Italian tried to laugh it off.
He felt how much his palms and his whole body were sweating, and it wasn't just because of the temperature in the room.
"C'mon, Peps, I know your typical scared expression. Just tell me what's the matter," Gustavo encouraged him
This helped him cool down a little and he swallowed. But the lump remained in his throat.
"No, it's jus'. . . .", - the Italian swallowed again, continuing to feel pressing pain in his throat, - "That's. . . It's not the first time you've been aware that I'm in trouble. And you're prolly tired of 'em. . . It would jus' be better if they did not concern you"
Peppino finished, fixing his gaze on the floor. For some reason after this he definitely could no longer look into the eyes of his friend.
Compared to Gustavo, he felt so worthless and weak. Gus is such a wonderful person. Why did he even get involved with a total loser like Peppino? Surely if he had his own pizzeria, it would be many times better than the one he is working in now.
He flinched at the sudden feeling of hand at his shoulder. And then the Italian was brought back to life when he was properly shaken by shoulders.
"Goddamit, Peps! You're again havin' that "i'm so worthless, everyone just leave me forever" moment? C'mon, you know i'm used to it! Aren't you the one who said that real friends should help each other and all that stuff? And don't forget how many times you've helped me! If it wasn't you, i'd probably would be workin right now at a much worse restaraunt."
Gustavo ended his little motivation moment.
"But. . . Aren't we workin in such now?", - Peppino added to his speech.
He looked up at Gus who was looking at him as if he had just said the stupidest thing in their entire friendship.
"Well, maybe you're right, but at least i'm workin with someone like you."
Gustavo smiled and took hands of his comrade's shoulder.
And for some reason this phrase stuck in the Italian's head, repeating itself over and over again, like a record.
Maybe Peppino really wasn't the perfect person for friendship, but he wasn't terrible. And that was the main thing he should pay attention to in the present and future tense.
And this thing made him smile a little.
But that wasn't the end. Rather, the middle of their dialogue.
"So... Everything's terrible?"
The tone in Gustavo's voice gave off both curiosity and worry
Peppino scratched his neck not knowing how to describe what is even happening to him.
"Well, uh. . . Noise has decided to come into my life again, and he's behaving... quite strange. Well, he always behaves strangely, but now it's even stranger.", - explained the Italian.
"Noise, huh? It's that guy you've met in the tower? You've mentioned him few weeks ago, maybe earlier..", - Gus reminded.
The Italian thanked God that his friend remembered who he was. Although how can you forget such an outstanding personality as Noise.
"Yep, that's him", - Peppino confirmed the words of his friend, - "But y' know... He appears when you least expect him. And our last meeting was one of those. . . not very successful. That day I was in a terrible mood after I took the order to another asshole. And Noise... He just caught me at a bad time, you see? And so I'm thinking, maybe he's like this 'cause of that incident? Then maybe I should... Apologize?"
This thought has visited him several times in the past weeks, but most of the time he just brushed it off, telling himself that it was an accident and he shouldn't take it much into his head.
But now he sees how the mascot behaves after this very incident. It seems that Peppino is not the only one who has something to say about this.
Gustavo looked like he was seriously thinking about this situation too, even though he didn't even know Noise by sight. But the Italian appreciated his help, it's even embarrassing how he still helps him in such small things.
"Who is he to you? Is he like your enemy, rival? Or anyone else?",- Gustavo asked. . . a really good question.
Peppino blinked a couple of times and now all his thoughts slowly flowed into thinking about a question from his friend.
"I... I wouldn't say that he's my enemy and all that stuff. But he's. . . not my friend neither. He just kind of exists,"- the Italian mused.
"And who would you like him to be?", - Gus asked another question that put Peppino in an awkward stupor.
"Well, uh-mm . . . I think jus' some little fellow that I know, then a friend or even an enemy.", - - the Italian awkwardly smiled at his own answer.
He really wanted to be more familiar to the mascot, because he knows that he wants the same thing.
But there's just one thing that prevents them from figuring it out. It's like a piece of the missing puzzle, which does not allow the whole picture to become clear.
"In that case, both of you should talk to each other, otherwise he will continue to be a hindrance in your life."
Peppino liked Gustavo's conclusion, although in fact he was just glad that his friend was able to correctly understand what a difficult situation he was in.
The Italian just has to start the conversation that Noise wanted to start so badly. They both just need to come to an understanding and everything will pass by itself, right?
Well, Peppino thought so.
"Geez, Gus. You're right. Turns out everything is pretty simple. . . It looks like i just suck at understanding people's feelings, huh. ", - the Italian chuckled.
"Feelings, huh? Then wish ya' good luck, Peps. I'll do the work for ya'. Don't worry, ya' can go.", - Gustavo told him, returning to his cooking stuff
"Grazzi, Gus"
Peppino thanked him and headed to the exit, returning to his counter himself.
The Italian found Noise standing near it. Mascot stamped his foot irritably and muttered something unintelligible to himself, most likely cursing him or something like that. It was a miracle, considering the fact that Mascot was not one of the patient people he knew.
Peppino coughed, thereby attracting the attention of Noise, who was clouded in his thoughts.
Mascot's eyes met his own, and the Italian could have sworn that his face was on the verge of changing from irritated to full of rage.
"You PRICK!", - Noise shouted out so loud, that Peppino wondered if Gus had heard that,- "Why did it take ya' so long? I told ya' to hu-rry u-p, are ya' deaf or what?!"
After his shouts he went silent, the Italian could only hear mascot's feverish breathing, due to the small amount of oxygen left in his lungs. Though his face stayed crimson from tearing anger.
Then Noise crossed his arms over his chest, ready to listen to dumb excuses from the Italian.
"I-I've been talkin' with Gustavo about . . . Well, uh-mm", - Peppino stammered, trying to choose the right words
"About WHAT!?", - snapped the mascot, seeing the Italian holding back something.
"About..",
But Peppino was interrupted by the feeling of mascot's hand grasping his own. The fabric of his gloves was surprisingly smooth, not as stiff as he expected, but it gave off an incredible warmth, the moisture of which passed to his skin.
"Ya' know what, it actually doesn't matter. I don't wanna hear more of that."
The tone in Noise's voice changed from loud and irritated to more typical of him, but there was still a note of resentment in it.
And so the mascot dragged him to the exit, didn't even caring about how the Italian almost fell in the process.
When they got out, Noise let go of Peppino's hand and closed the door behind them with a loud bang, as he usually did.
Fresh air hit them both in the lungs, and maybe the mascot did the right thing, by dragging them outside, 'cause they wouldn't have lasted long in such a stuffy building.
After catching his breath, the Italian looked at Noise and he, catching his gaze in response, hastily turned away, so that Peppino could now only see his back.
Now there was no doubt about the fact that the mascot has some resentment towards the Italian, and that they both needed a serious talk.
"Uh-m, Noise?", - Peppino called him, - "Can you tell me what is wrong?"
Hearing the Italian's question, Mascot turned back to him. Their eyes met again.
Noise's face was all red, even his eyes, and Peppino couldn't tell if it was bcause of rage or because he might burst into tears.
Although it's not in the style of a mascot, but you can expect anything from him.
"WHAT IS WRONG, HUH? I DARE TO ASK WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!", - he yelled
"What is wrong. . . With me?"
Peppino was trying to figure out exactly what mascot meant by that.
Did he mean that incident?
"Yeah, with ya', dumbass! You're always so busy with your job that you don't even notice the things that surround you!"
What Mascot was saying seemed to him more and more confusing with every second. It was as if the words he uttered were intertwined with each other, forming a knot, which would be a difficult task to untie, perhaps maybe even impossible. But he pulled himself away from imagining things on already difficult situation.
"By things you mean. . . My other customers or. ..?"
"I mean myself! Why can't you just notice me because of a fucking job!?"
And then things in Peppino's head finally fell into place, and he realized how naive and stupid he had been all this time.
Maybe, Noise didn't care about their last meeting. Whoever he was, but he definitely can't be called vindictive.
Mascot didn't care about their first fight, the second, every time they met, he continued to smile good-naturedly at Peppino. But he ignored it. Perhaps the problem was not in them, but in the circumstances under which their meetings took place.
At first, the Italian thought that Noise just wanted to tease him again, as he always did out of boredom. But the suspicious behavior of the mascot made him think that he just wanted an apology for what happened . . .
But it turned out not to be so.
And he's been very wrong. And dumb.
Yeah, maybe that's the whole issue.
"I... Get it."
Peppino said this with tone of regret in his voice.
He expected to hear angry shouts in his direction after that, but Noise was quiet.
His angry face was replaced by a misunderstanding one.
"Ya' got what?"
Now it was mascot's turn trying to understand what the Italian meant.
"I get how wrong was i 'bout the whole situation. I jus' thought that you wanted to piss me of, like you always do. . . I mean did. But i didn't notice how you've changed, how you've wished me no harm. And so i've jus'. . . threw myself into work, 'though i did not wanted to. I'm jus'. . . dumb, i am sorry."
When he was done, Peppino turned around to leave. Noise was the second person in a day that he couldn't look in the eye.
But he again felt mascot's hand, this time grabbing his shoulder in an attempt to stop him.
And so it did, they both stopped and the Italian bumped onto Noisr's face again a meter away from his own.
"Nononono, wai what? I still don' understand what are ya' talkin' 'bout. It's jus' too many strange words comin' out from yar mouth"
He spoke so fast that Peppino barely understood what he muttered.
"I-i'm sorry, i've . . . No, i'm sorry for beatin' the shit outta you, I've been doin' it almost every time,"- the Italian said so that Noise could finally understood him correctly.
The mascot blinked a couple of times at this, and then giggled. And it sounded like he almost choked.
Noise interrupted him by placing his other hand on his other shoulder, squeezing the fabric underneath.
Damn, the touch from the mascot for some reason felt special. . . Warm and nice.
"Nah, but jus'... Pep, listen, i don' even understand which changes of mine yav talked 'bout. I'm barely changin', even if i'm changin' at all! I jus' wan attention from ya'. Jus' anything. Even if ya' beat the shit outta me for the hundredth time, i don fuckin' care."
After these words Peppino felt steam coming out of his head from overthinking. Looks like their "serious" talk is getting more and more momentum.
"And why so?", - decided to ask the Italian
Without noticing it, he caught himself looking at Noise's face, which was looking at his face so carelessly at that moment.
It gave him a strange tickling feeling in his stomach.
" 'Cause ya'r cool, i don' know . . . It's jus' feels nice to spend time with ya' . . ."
But what Peppino really noticed was how embarrassed the mascot was answering his question, but he decided not to attach much importance to it.
They stood like that for awhile, not knowing what to do 'cause of the awkward atmosphere between them. But the Italian decides to dispel the tense silence.
"So . . . I guess we're not. . . Enemies anymore?"
The question he asked sounded especially stupid. For a moment it seemed to him that he had inadvertently ruined everything, although most likely this was due to the adrenaline that continued to burn in his blood, causing his heart to beat furiously at the same time.
"Ya' got it right, bud!",- Mascot's answer threw unnecessary worries far to the side
After that Noise widely smiled at him and Peppino couldn't help but smile back.
•
"Well, how did the talk went?"
Peppino shuddered, not expecting to hear Gustavo's voice right near in his ear
Geez, ya' still here?", - said the Italian, gesturing his hand to his heart
Gus laughed seeing his friend like that.
"Alright-alright, sorry..", - he said when Peppino gave him sceptical look
"About our talk. . . It was alright. We're not enemies anymore. Nothin' much happend"
"Yeah? Ans what's with that face you've been makin' when you walked in here?
The Italian looked at him inquiringly
"What face?"
Gustavo rolled his eyes, amused by how absent-minded his friend could be sometimes
"That silly amorous smile you had, dummy."
Peppino felt his cheeks turn pink, and he felt a sudden urge to slap his forehead out of shame.
"Don' know what are ya' talkin' 'bout, it is prolly 'cause of the stuffiness, we should replace these damn AC here"
"Yeah, we should", - agreed with him Gus, - " Also, where's your hat?"
Realization hit him like a bullet. The Italian touched the top of his head. And yep, he was bareheaded. Awesome, he just forgot to ask Noise 'bout giving it back. Who knows what mascot is doing with that thing right now.
"Look like i . . . I forgot it somewhere"
It's a shame that he has to lie even at such insignificant situation.
"Don' know what are ya' talkin' 'bout, it is prolly 'cause of the. . . the stuffiness, we should replace these damn AC here"
"Yeah, we should", - agreed with him Gus, - " Also, where's your hat?"
Realization hit him like a bullet. The Italian touched the top of his head. And yep, he was bareheaded. Awesome, he just forgot to ask Noise 'bout giving it back. Who knows what mascot is doing with that thing right now.
"Look like i . . . I forgot it somewhere"
It's a shame that he has to lie even at such insignificant situation.