Veridis Quo

Interlude 6

'Now, onto the weather!'

'Thank you, Shikarai-sama. As you can see, we are expecting a heatwave in the following week in these regions.'

The reporter gestured at a map of the central provinces in the island nation, the generalized numbers increasing rapidly and changing colors from green to blaring oranges and reds.

'It is very important that you drink lots of water throughout the day as there has been a sharp increase in heatstroke cases over June and...'

Riiing...

Riiing...

Riiing...

"Sir, your phone is ringing."

"Ah, it is," extending a herbivorous hand, a lion's paw placed the device in the smaller one, "thank you."

Swiping to answer, the receiver didn't get to speak the first word.

"What did you do?"

"Oh? Is that who I think it is?"

Placing a hand over the microphone's area, quietly, the receiver said, "Excuse me for a moment, an... associate is on the line."

"We're having dinner at eight, boss!" A third voice exclaimed out of view.

Leaving the room, the boss cleared his throat, "Sorry, I didn't hear you."

"Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't act stupid, fucking faggot-"

On the other side, a mature female gasped.

"Honey! Watch your language!"

Pretending to hang the call and pocket the cellular, the daughter's ears flattened against her head, "I'm sorry. I-it was a telemarketer and he said-"

"Please, don't use that language again, especially in the house. I raised you better than this."

She nodded, "I won't."

"Good. I need to make dinner for you and your sister, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

Separating off to their own spaces, the daughter swiftly retired to her room, hoping the bastard hadn't hung up on her.

He didn't.

"Hello?"

"I'm still here, meat-lover."

Popping a vein in her hand, she glanced back to check that the door was truly shut before replying, "Says the dirty faggot that touched my boyfriend!"

She caught a scoff, "'Boyfriend?' Is that what he is to you, now?"

"Yes, and that is what he will never be to you! Ugly, stupid, anorexic little zi-"

"We kissed."

"..."

"..."

"What?"

"We. Kissed."

"Take that back, take that back right now!"

"Or what? You'll hunt me down? Aw~ The big bad wolf is coming to get me~ Good thing I have a beautiful human to protect me~"

"I... hah?"

"That's right. We kissed, and he liked it."

"LIAR!" Slapping her forehead, she prayed the adult downstairs hadn't heard the outburst.