>>4617375>>4617362“In fact, I’d love to see more of it, if’n you catch my meaning, ma’am.” I said, summoning the shittiest Texas drawl I could muster.
Shiori, for the first time since I met her, threw her head back and started howling with laughter. Snorting and covering her eyes, she flapped a paw in my general direction as she spoke. “Anon-san, that’s, that’s how do you say it?” She giggled.
“Just about the cheesiest thing you’ve ever heard?” I finished for her, standing up and offering her a hand to do the same.
“Yes, yes, that’s it.” She said, grasping my hand. She kept on giggling about it as we collected our picnic and bundled it up. “I can’t believe that you Americans actually act like that, Anon-san!”
I smirked at that. “Oh, no, Shiori. Not every American is a snarky, loud-mouthed moron.” I said, adjusting my hat and offering my arm once again.
“Oh?” Shiori said, tilting her head to the side. She wasn’t even thinking about it as her furry arm slid around my own, her paw gently grasping my bicep. “Is that so?” She smiled down at me as we began to stroll down the path, back the way we came.
I beamed up at her, and raised an eyebrow. “Nope. Just me.” I said, flashing her a wicked grin.
Shiori nearly doubled over in laughter again, but I steadied her with a careful hand, cradling her doughy gut. I noticed her tail swishing merrily as we strolled along, her eyes full of mirth.
It was decided. No matter what happened this week in Japan, I would do everything I possibly could to protect that smile, and that laughter. Beyond the prototype, beyond the Sony execs, beyond even my own lofty goals as a programmer, this was my new mission. Shiori was a diamond, and she deserved all the happiness in the world. I was determined to make that happen.
