Start of a New Season

[Ren Amemori]

Ren Amemori strode through the marketplace, head held high as he looked about him. He was dressed casually: dark grey jeans and a simple shirt that bore the insignia of a sports team from one of the Tokyo wards. A few people waved or nodded their heads in greeting, recognizing the young captain from Mankai's basketball team. He beamed at each one; the young captain worked too hard to be so easily missed, and enjoyed the attention. And hopefully, he thought, he'd be able to keep the eyes on him. After all, it was the start of a new school season, a new chance to play ball. Of course, if things didn't change, the only eyes on him might be filled with disappointment. After all, the team was prone to losing, much to his chagrin. That's what happened when lazy people who just wanted to be part of something popular... No, he should not think that way. Not yet. The school year was just getting started, and there would be plenty of time for him to stress over it later.

For now, though, he was just going to enjoy the last few moments of his break that he had left, the last bit of freedom he had before the stress of school and a basketball season set in. And he'd spend them in the market square, relaxing. He cut his way through the crowd, heading right for the fountain at the center. He liked the fountain, as most students did. It was a nice place to relax, and there was usually someone poking around.

Before long, he reached the fountain. And to his surprise, he was the only one there for once. At least the only student. A number of shoppers mulled around, making polite conversation with their neighbors, tending small children, or walking about with their eyes glued to their phones. "Well," he mumbled as he took a seat on the cool-to-the-touch rim of the fountain, "Not what I was expecting."

With a grumble, he pulled the phone from the pocket of his jeans and idly tapped at the screen for a few moments. And with a sign, he returned it not a moment later. His eyes slid over the plaza. Well, he told himself, perhaps someone that he knew might turn up. Sakura-zai was smallish, and he liked to think he knew a lot of people. Or perhaps he might even be able to strike up a conversation with a stranger, as weird as some might find it. Anything to occupy his time.

Willis Yanagi

[Libra]

> 12:21 PM. The fountain square had an odd silence- one that was difficult to shake. Sakura-zai was typically an upbeat place full of friendly residents and tourists willing to share a chat or two, especially during a season like this. In the square gardens, the first few blooms of springtime were beginning to open up in various tints of purple and yellow- but nobody seemed to pay them any attention. Students passed here and there, but it seemed to be only the adults paying Amemori any mind in regards to his status.

"Miao?"

Well, people weren't the only options for communication. A small, dark gray cat strode around the busy streets listlessly, before taking a seat beside Ren's crossed feet, enjoying the cool mist of the fountain but not wanting to wet itself. Looking up with amber eyes, it purred as it decided to nuzzle up to Ren's leg, seeming to enjoy that warmth mixed with the refreshing mist.

The cat seemed to enjoy staring at passerby, its stripy tail flicking about as it almost seemed to take note of everyone coming and going.

Upon closer inspection, the feline was wearing a black collar- and there was some sort of paper sheet placed within it that didn't appear to be a tag.

Was it lost?

ADDY ☆

[Ren Amemori]

Notes Notes go here. WORDS 0 TAGS Libra

Come on and slam A single 'meow' pierced the silence of the fountain square around him. Ren gave a little start and craned his neck downward to find the source of the noise: a little, black cat. Ren grinned. "Ah, hey, buddy" he whispered to the cat, "Where'd you come from?" The cat nuzzled Ren's leg, and he gave the softest coo of adoration. It was a cute little thing. And black, no less. Perhaps it was a sign of good luck, of fortune to come? He'd always heard people say that black cats were good luck. Not that he necessarily believed in luck, but small superstitions never hurt. Strangely enough, however, the cat seemed to be watching the people pass by, like it was people watching. Weird, he thought for a moment, but he quickly abandoned the thought. Bending slightly at the waist, Ren leaned down to pet the cat, trying to scratch it between the ears. But as he leaned down, something caught his eye: a piece of paper in the cat's collar. "Huh?" He muttered, "What have you got there?" Carefully, he tried to reach for the paper within the cat's collar. Was it some kind of name tag? It certainly did not look like one, at least not any tag he'd seen before. It looked almost like a note. If he managed to grasp it, he'd read it and get to the bottom of things.

Made by Siren of GS and THQ

[Libra]

"Miao!"

The small cat seemed delighted by Ren's decision to give it a bit of affection. Happily purring as it stretched, it barely seemed to notice as the paper tag was removed from its collar.

Unfolded, it read as follows:

   "Hello!

My name is LUCKY. I am a girl, and almost one year old! I roam around town sometimes, but my owner lets me! I like to chase birds and play with passerby. Thank you for taking the time to read my collar. If I wander further away than the residential district, please call 555-..."

The numbers appeared to cut off. A splatter of black fluid (ink??) obscured the rest of the number.

"- Love, ....... Junko"

It seemed to cut off where the last name was supposed to be, more black splashes making the rest illegible. A second message might have been written as well, but the text was smudged and darkened until completely unable to be made out.

A handwritten note by a girl (?) named Junko... something or other, talking affectionately about her cat and how he shouldn't be past the housing district- which he was way far past. The contact info was sacked, so there was no way that was happening.

Meanwhile, the cat had once again began looking at the passerby, placing its paw up on a stepping stone and seeming to wave it just a bit. 

ADDY ☆