Chapter Text
You'll never forget the first moment you saw him. Not because he stood out in any particular way, but because you had marveled at how stupid a person would have to be to try and sneak a cat into a movie theater.
"Sir!" You called out to get his attention, abandoning your colleague at the ticket booth to pursue him. "Sir, you can't bring animals into the movie theater."
The boy glanced over his shoulder at the cat in his bag, either as if noticing it for the first time or even consulting it! And responded, "Can you let it slide?"
"Wh- of course not! I'm not trying to get fired!"
"I beg you." He bows lightly, touching his straightened hand to his forehead."
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"I'll do anything." He stared straight into my eyes, and I caught a glimpse of his piercing obsidian gaze hidden behind thick glasses and dark curls.
You were flustered enough by those eyes; his plea only rattled you further. "A-Anything? You'll go that far for a cat?!"
He only continued to stare. "I beg you," he repeated.
You took a moment to consider. You could definitely use this, somehow... but you couldn't think of anything yet. "Hm... " You needed to stall for time. "Well... if you promise that the cat will stay quiet and inside the bag, I'll let it slide this one time. I can avert my eyes more, however, if you see me after the movie."
He nodded as the corners of his lips turned slightly upwards before continuing into the movie theater, shoving his hands back into his pockets. You watched him leave until your colleague yelled for you to come back and help him. You returned to work, his gaze still lingering in your mind's eye.
You saw him again while you were mopping around the snack corner; your eyes met and he immediately walked over to you. You secretly breathed a sigh of relief; once you had decided what to ask him, you realized he'd never agreed to meet you after his movie ended. You paused your work as he approached. "You wanted to make a deal?"
"Er, yeah... I mean, yes. I'll be frank - this theater is suffering. There isn't a lot of traffic through Yongen-Jaya, and people usually prefer the Shibuya theater anyway. So here's what's gonna happen if you wanna keep bringing your cat into the theater: you're gonna come often, and you're gonna bring friends. Deal?
The boy grinned, almost deviously. "Deal."
"Great," you sighed. "Anyway, my name is _____ ________. What's yours?"
"Akira Kurusu."
"Kurusu...?" You had a funny feeling you'd heard that name before, but you brushed it aside for now. "Right, nice to make your acquaintance. I look forward to seeing you here again."
"Likewise." Triumphantly pushing his glasses up his nose, he turned and briskly left the theater. You returned to your mopping, but that familiar sensation was nagging at the foreground of your concentration. Kurusu... where have I heard that name before?