Chapter Text
Somewhat more violently than necessary I push with the vacuum cleaner brush against the closet.
„You’ve been in there a week, come out! "
"Never, dude!" It comes back from the closet. „There are still cat hairs flying around everywhere! "
Okay, that’s enough, I was very patient. I turn off the vacuum cleaner and resolutely push back the door of the closet.
„Oi, dude! "
Without a word, I grab you by the wrist and pull you out. You’re such a lightwight that I overestimate my power. You almost fall into my arms. Yes, you weigh almost nothing at all, no wonder, you barely ate anything I put in front of your closet last week.
But that’s over now.
Rudely I press you in front of the table on the tatami mat. In the small wicker basket, there are still three slices of fresh bread - leftovers from breakfast and one of them I press into your hand.
„Eat," I tell you.
You throw me a defiant look from red eyes and sniff loudly.
„Let me go back to my closet, death lurking out here in the form of a cat allergy."
Your cat allergy never bothered you when you were playing with Silverfish while no one but you two were in the apartment. You think I didn’t notice?
„There is no more cat hair here," I explain unimpressed and sit next to you.
Not that you just run back into the closet.
You just lower your head and hide yourself behind your hair. It is unkempt and reminds me of Silverfish’s fur when the cat got sick.
This confirmed my suspicion of how much you liked the little cat, because even before Mao or I came close to understanding where the problem with the animal was, you had already googled a good vet and printed us the map.
You break small pieces of bread and spread them on the table.
Annoyed, I frown, but hold back, because I don’t have to fall for any provocation on your part.
„Listen, where Silverfish lives now, it has a very good home.The family have a big house and a garden. In our little apartment Silverfish would has been imprisoned."
You’re silent, but you take one of the chunks and put it in your mouth. Probably just so you don’t have to answer, but I can live with that.
I can’t live with a roommate who refuses to eat and hides in a dark closet for grief.
I’m so sick of hearing your suppressed sobs.
I’m so tired of having to answer Mao-sama with "no" every time he asks if you finally crawled out of that closet.
I’m so sick of seeing you so unhappy.
And I hate our landlady who forbids us to keep pets.
„We are also allowed to visit Silverfish next Sunday."
By that you give me a quick look, just a very, very short one, before you hastily lower your head again. But I saw that tiny spark of hope in your wet eyes.
„Do you want to kill me? " you then hiss and grab the remaining bread slices.
I’m not stopping you when you disappear back into your closet.
„I have a freaking cat allergy! " you hiss and shut the door behind you.
„Bad luck for you!“ I scream back. „You do what I tell you!"
„Why should I? "
„Because I said so!"
You hum something completely incomprehensible and then I hear the unmistakable melody when your PASTA console turns on.
I haven’t heard that sound in a week.
For a while I just sit there and listen while a little smile creeps on my lips.