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Neku was expecting to go to the Starbucks on the corner, but with the alternative he was pleasantly surprised. The Stranger led him to a small cafe, labelled Wild Kat, just down a quieter street that wound away from the fountain square and park.
It was a smaller place, but in a cosier way. The lights hung over the counters and tables with a dim, neutral glow. The brick and glass walls added the feel of both modern and antique, cosy warm and airy cool, and Neku found it a surprisingly nice balance.
The bell jingled as they entered the thick glass door, alerting the shopkeeper.
“Howdy, J! Fancy seeing you here!” Said the shopkeeper. He was a thin man, looking to be about mid-thirties. His face was sharp and defined, like a cliff overhang, topped with black hair. His ‘uniform’ was simple; white button up under a half-buttoned vest, with black slacks. He was wearing sunglasses over his dark eyes.
“It’s good to see you too, Senae. I’ll have the usual,” The stranger requested.
“Of course,” The man replied.
“What would you like,” Neku’s Muse paused, “Oh, goodness. Don’t mind my absolutely terrible manners today, I don’t believe I caught your name.”
“Neku,” he told his muse, then turned to the shopkeeper, “I’ll just have a latte.”
“A latte for Neku and a J-special, coming right up.”
Neku sat down next to the stranger at the bar.
“A J-special?” Neku inquired.
His Muse laughed, “Mr. Hanekoma is my godfather. J’s a nickname, and I frequent his shop here often enough, my order is a special.”
“So, what is your name then?”
“Yoshiya. Mother and father, and Senae, I suppose, call me Joshua. You could too if you like.”
“Alright, Joshua,” Neku repeated.
Joshua smiled slightly, something akin to a smirk, but still light and sweet.
Neku couldn’t help but smile back, even though this guy was kinda obnoxious.
“So. Tell me about yourself,” Joshua requested, “what do you do, besides art?”
“Well, I do graphic design.”
“So still art?” Joshua bemused.
“With more parameters, it’s an actual job,” Neku corrected.
“But still one you enjoy,” Joshua prompted.
Neku sighed, “I mean, yeah. It’s definitely a good spot to be, with how competitive the art world is these days.”
Joshua hummed, “so I’ve heard.”
“What about you?”
“Well,” Joshua started, “I dabble in a little bit of music, but I Help my father with his business, as well as Senae, and do modelling when I visit my mother.”
Neku wasn’t.. surprised, per se. Joshua was undoubtedly pretty, stunning even, but he had never seen him as a model, really. He was too interesting. His features were sharp and thin, like most western fashions like to flaunt, but they were also soft. Neku couldn’t imagine Joshua on a runway.
“Cool.”
“A latte, and Joshua’s special,” Senae said, placing their mugs in front of them, “I should’ve checked if they were for here or to-go, but y’all don’t seem to be in any rush.”
“Thank you,” Neku said, taking his mug.
“Thank you, Senae.”
It was quiet as they took their first few sips. Joshua didn’t face him. Neku rested his elbows on the bar and sighed. He needed this. The coffee, the break, the quiet. The only sounds at the moment was Senae in the kitchen cleaning dishes, the cars outside, and the humm of the lights.
“So,” Neku started, “Nice weather, huh? It’s cool the snow stuck for so long.”
Joshua giggled. God, he giggled. It was so light, and it had his voice, which Neku noticed was really nice, and it was filled with mirth and a little mischief. And Joshua was smiling, letting the air through, and Neku knew it could be fuller, lighter, happier. He wanted to see Joshua smile brighter, to hear him laugh harder. But his stupid giggles would do for now.
“What?” Neku said, and he heard his own smile.
“Ah, just your small talk,” Joshua laughed.
“And What about it?” Neku accused.
“You’re an artist. Couldn’t you be a bit more creative in your conversation?”
“Well, it’s not like you did anything! At least I tried to start a conversation!”
Joshua continued his giggling.
“Come on, Joshua,” Neku insisted, rolling his eyes.
“All right, fine. I’ll indulge you,” Joshua’s eyes met his, “It is amazing that all this snow has stuck. It’s nice.”
“For once.”
“It reminds me of winters with my mother. She never let me play in the snow, but we would go on drives around the countryside. You should try sometime, if it snows again.”
“I dunno if that’ll happen anytime soon.”
“Don’t be such a pessimist.”
“I’m being honest. It’s a miracle we got as much as we did.”
“I’m sure we’ll get more sometime, Neku.”
“Uh-huh,” Neku rolled his eyes.
Joshua scoffed lightly, like he was offended, but he was smiling. Neku was smiling too, after all. That sort of bickering felt nice. It felt natural, especially with Joshua. They just fell into a rhythm.
“I do think it’s nice we still get a good balance. The sun is clear, but the snow still withstands.”
Neku hummed. “It’s a warm winter.”
“Quite festive, too.”
“Everyone in the city seems to like it.”
“The city itself.”
“Yeah. I’m glad it’s actually snowy, and not just bitter.”
“That’s fair. Like I said, I like the snow, and how it pairs with warmth. It’s hard to come by any comfortable warmth anymore.”
But there, it was warm in the coffee shop. Neku felt very warm, at least. It had been a long time since he had felt so… full. Right. Neku wasn’t used to this. How much he appreciated someone’s company, and a stranger nonetheless.
Yet still, the snow was falling, his companion, his muse, was smiling, and the lights were dim. Nothing was overwhelming, nothing was out of place.
Some part of Neku hoped he would feel like this more in the future. Based on the shy smile and small slip of paper Joshua gave him before they parted ways, he felt like he would.