The air outside was humid and warm. A cool breeze every now and then added a little respite in the summer’s vicious heat. Luca and Okari were browsing shops along their city’s main street. Everything imaginable was being sold. Summer fashion, electronics, pet costumes, and even a shop with risqué manga.
Okari paused in front of a store selling mid-range furniture. He peered into a standing mirror on display and observed his and Luca’s reflections. Luca’s little yellow hair tie caught his eye. “Your hair tie’s cute.” He said.
Luca blushed and looked away, pouting. “Whatever…” He said. He didn’t know why, but Okari’s compliments always made his heart race. He wondered if he was falling for him, or if all compliments made him embarrassed.
“Maybe this summer I can teach you how to take a compliment.” Okari said and nudged Luca’s shoulder. He immediately went back to his usual teasing. “Among other things~.” He said and rubbed Luca’s shoulder. A passing family of cats gave him a disturbed look, but he paid them no mind.
Luca pretended to point at a vanity set on sale in order to disarm anyone else looking their way. Under his breath he whispered, “Pervert. Are you trying to get us into trouble? Everyone thinks you’re a creepy cubnapper!” He looked over at him again and shot him a glare.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Okari said and adjusted his fancy suit’s lapels, “cubnappers don’t look half as good as I do.” He flashed him a wink and charmed him with a smile. “’Sides, why would I need to do that when I’ve got you?” He asked.
As usual, Okari’s teasing left Luca quiet and blushing to himself. He never knew what to say on the spot. Instead, he continued down the street with his butler in tow. It seemed that his acting worked or maybe nobody suspected that someone as dapper as Okari would be up to no good. Either way, everyone on the sidewalk was back to window-shopping as well.
They spent the next half hour browsing shops and chatting together about Luca’s school semester. A photography shop caught Luca’s eye. He observed the shop’s high-end cameras, lenses, and external hard drives. Each cost hundreds and only went up from there.
While they were browsing, they heard the sound of plastic hitting concrete along with a young man’s disappointed yelling. “No, no, no! Why!?” He yelled to no one in particular. He was a young ferret in his early twenties, wearing a university jacket.
Luca walked up to him and checked the ground. It appeared that he dropped his expensive camera and shattered its lens. “Are you alright?” He asked.
The ferret’s eyes were watering up. “N-no… That was the only camera I could afford for my class, and I just dropped it! I don’t know what I’ll do. There’s no way I’m getting another one.” He said dejectedly. He scooped up his ruined camera and started to walk away.
“Wait.” Luca stopped him. “We’ll get you another one.” He said. He looked back at Okari expectedly. Though his parents had no shortage of money, Okari was still in charge of his credit cards.
The student’s ears perked up upon hearing his gracious offer. He walked back, cradling his “baby” in his hands. “S-seriously? No, you couldn’t. I mean, I can’t ask your…dad?” He looked at Okari with a curious expression. “Uh, step-dad? Whatever, to buy me a new one.” He said.
Okari flashed Luca’s gold credit card and pointed it at the store. “C’mon, let’s go. It’s Master Luca’s treat.” He said. The two entered the store and reappeared five minutes later.
The student walked outside with his brand-new camera in his hands, smiling ear to ear. “W-wow, thanks! I don’t think anyone has this model in my class!” He said excitedly. He shook Okari’s hand and before switching to Luca’s. “Thank you, uh, Luca, was it? I’m Lewis. Thank you so much. Wait, I know! I’ve gotta try this out! Let me take your picture!” He said and readied his new camera.
Luca and Okari got close together and gave the camera V-signs. Luca tried to maintain a stoic expression, but his growing blush was apparent. Snap! Lewis’s camera shutter went off in a burst, taking a dozen pictures of them almost instantaneously.
Lewis examined his pictures and showed them. “These came out great! I’ll send a copy to you. Isn’t that awesome? This model can do that!” He said. He looked at the two again and raised his eyebrow. They obviously weren’t related and Okari was much older than Luca. “You two are, uh—never mind. I forgot I’m not supposed to ask that. Wow, you’re so lucky… He’s cute.” He said.
Okari gave him a subtle glare to keep him from asking too many questions. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a lowly butler tasked with taking care of my employers’ son.” He said.
“Oh… Oh! I see.” Lewis said. He carefully put away his camera in his bag, making sure not to drop it this time. “Well, thanks again. Keep it real, dude!” He winked at Okari and ran away waving goodbye.
Okari wasn’t sure if they’d ever see that ferret again, but he hoped that their picture wouldn’t appear on some blog. If he saw a certain ferret gushing about their relationship online, that camera might end up broken again… Along with some other things of his.
![[REF.] Dusty](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/4141/4141878_Cubbo_dusty_noncustom.jpg "[REF.] Dusty")
