a quick announcement!! a while ago i said that i was gonna write a story that was a continuation of those two kagehina chapters earlier in this book (kagehina:empty parts 1 and 2)
and then i didn't do that but i've done it now! i'm gonna publish a little info about it plus those two chapters tomorrow and then i will start updating 2-3 times a week! i would really appreciate if you guys checked it out, i've worked really hard on it and would love for you all to see it!
oh, and it's called Happier! :)
sidenote: thanks for all the support you've given this one-shot book so far, 230k is more than i ever could have imagined, thank you!
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requested by
Yahaba really wanted a dog. Like, really bad. He had just gotten a new apartment, and while he loved living alone, it was too quiet, too empty. A dog would definitely fix that.
He went to the county animal shelter, because he has, you know, morals, and wasn't going to buy a purebred for $500.
As a child, his family always had dogs and they always got them from the shelter. Sure, they had their problems, as do all dogs, but he could just never understand why people would spend so much money on a dog that couldn't breathe or was inevitably going to develop his dysplasia. They weren't even better dogs, most were so inbred they couldn't tell their own owner from an average joe on the street. ((okay there's my rant on purebred dogs thanks for listening))
He walked in, and a handsome young man greeted him from behind the desk.
"I would like to look at a few dogs today, please," Yahaba asked politely.
"Great! If you could just fill out this visitor's form, please, and then I'll take you around and show you some of the dogs, and then you can choose a few you want to see." The man gave him a sheet of paper and Yahaba spotted a pitbull dozing on a bed behind the desk.
"Well, that one gets special treatment, doesn't he?" Yahaba said good-naturedly.
"Haha, well he is mine. I bring him to work because I feel bad leaving him at home alone all day." The man reached down to affectionately rub the dog's head. "I adopted him from this shelter, he was here for several months, nobody seemed to want a pitbull. A shame really, since he's such a big sweetheart. People always judged him before they even got to know him." His voice was twinged with sadness. Yahaba wondered how many dogs he had to see get ignored each day. Yahaba didn't think he would ever be able to work at a shelter, seeing all those animals in need and not being able to protect them all...
"Well, I'm glad he's found a good home." Yahaba offered a tentative smile, and the man smiled back.
Yahaba filled out the form, saying he preferred a small/medium dog because he didn't think he had enough room for a large dog.
"Alright well, I guess we can get started then." The man stood up and reached out to shake Yahaba's hand. "I'm Kyoutani, by the way."
"I'm Yahaba, nice to meet you."
"So, you're looking for a small to medium size dog. We have a good few of those," he said, leading the way to the outdoor kennels.
"Are there any dogs that have been here especially long? Like any weird looking ones that nobody wants?" Yahaba asked earnestly, earning a laugh from Kyoutani.
"So you want the black sheep of the pack? That's really great, we always have a few of those stragglers." Kyoutani started introducing Yahaba to several dogs who looked imploringly up at them from their cages. A few had signs telling visitors to not stick their hands through the bars. A few dogs hid in the back, covered part of the cages, only barely peaking out their heads to look at Yahaba.
"This is Rosie," Kyoutani said, gesturing to a black chihuahua mix quivering under a blanket. "She's very timid. We haven't found a single person who she'll go up to. She's somewhat potty trained, friendly once she gets to know you."
"She looks cute," Yahaba said, peeking through the bars.
"Yeah, she's been here for a while. People don't like dogs that won't immediately bond with them. Those bug eyes don't help much either, people seem to find her disconcerting." Yahaba set his jaw.
"Can she be one of the ones I see?"
"Yeah, sure," Kyoutani said with a smile.
They passed a few more cages, but only one other really caught Yahaba's eye.
"This is George. Now the reason people don't like him, well, to put it plainly, he's just ugly." Yahaba couldn't argue with that. He was a weird reddish brown color, he had a huge lump on his neck, and his eyes were weirdly small, and when he looked up at you, the whites of his eyes clearly showed. "He's pretty outgoing, he just has a bit of a slobbering problem and an ear infection."
"I want to see him, too."
"Ha! You've really picked the two most unpopular dogs in the whole place. It's a nice gesture." Kyoutani smiled at him again and Yahaba's heart rate quickened, just slightly. "If you want to go over to that room, you can wait there and I'll bring George, and then Rosie, alright?"
Yahaba nodded and made his way to the room to wait. He felt so bad for all the animals here, but he felt like he was doing something good by helping out the ugly and shy ones. Just because a dog looks a little funky doesn't mean that it won't be a good dog.
Kyoutani brought in George, and he immediately warmed up to Yahaba. After a few minutes, Kyoutani put George back in his cage and brought out Rosie. As advertised, Rosie would not even go up to Yahaba. He sat on his knees and held out a treat, but she still wouldn't get anywhere near him, cowering in the corner. He was determined to make this dog like him.
"She really is a good dog once she gets used to you," Kyoutani said affectionately.
And slowly, but surely, she inched towards him. After what seemed like forever, she took the first treat from his hand. After a few more rounds of that, Rosie even got close enough so that Yahaba could lightly pet her head. In the corner of his eye, Yahaba saw Kyoutani smiling at him as he tried to pet the dog, and Yahaba's ears burned red. He must look stupid, he knew it.
Eventually, Rosie seemed almost comfortable with him (emphasis on almost).
"Ah, well I hate to leave George, but I think I might have to go with Rosie here," Yahaba said, petting the small dog.
"She deserves it, she's been here longer than anyone else, so I'm glad." Kyoutani offered his hand to Yahaba to help him up, and Yahaba took it gladly.
They got the adoption papers all written up and the fee paid for, and right before Yahaba was about to leave, Kyoutani took one of the papers and scribbled something at the top.
"Okay, this is at the top is my number, in case you have any questions or if there are any problems, or just, if you need something." Kyoutani had a charming smile on his face as he handed the paper to Yahaba, and Yahaba returned the smile shyly. Was he trying to imply something else with that? The wording seemed... interesting. Especially at that last part.
"Yeah... okay." Yahaba offered one last smile and left the shelter, cradling his new dog in his arms.
~~~~~
Yahaba had gotten home, walked the dog, fed her, and set up a bed for her in the living room upon which she was peacefully slumbering. Everything was great, yet Yahaba could not stop staring at the number written atop the adoption paper.
Should he call? Was he overthinking this? Was he imagining the vibes? He was sure he had felt vibes at the shelter. Yahaba squinted at the page. He had been wrong about vibes before.
He dialed the number.
"Hello?" Yahaba froze for a moment, briefly forgetting what one said when someone answered their call.
"This is Yahaba. From the shelter. Animal shelter. Earlier today." He heard laughing on the other side of the phone.
"Yeah, I remember you. Is everything alright?"
"Uh, yeah! She's doing great, she ate and is just getting accustomed to the area," Yahaba said.
"Great!" An awkward silence. Yahaba had to say something.
"Uh... would? um... sorry. Uh, wou-would you like to hang out with me sometime?" Ridiculous. Hang out? Yahaba was a fool.
"Hang out?"
"Uhh like a date hang out?" Yahaba was regretting this call more for every second it lasted. He heard Kyoutani sigh. Ah, a mistake had been made.
"Oh, I am so glad you understood what I was trying to say earlier when I gave you my number. I was so sure that I had been too vague." Yahaba was silent with shock. This was not a mistake? Sensing his surprise, Kyoutani continued, "Yes, I would like to hang out with you, Yahaba."
"Great!"
Yahaba cursed himself at his awkwardness, but was smiling inwardly. He had a date.
~
it's flan back with another boring chapter where almost nothing happens i'm very sorry
also i am very passionate about animal shelters and do stand confident in the stance that i think dog breeding should be banned and if anyone would like to discuss that subject i'm down
adopt don't shop folks