Alley Cat

Chapter 2: A Simple Shop

With the cat in his bicycle's basket, Girou rides happily down the paved street. Though his face tended to look blank, his happiness was always very apparent. He was happy to go visit the bridge and to have Akane by his side. Akane is the name he gave the cat when he first met her. He found her in trashcan eating fish bones when he was busy taking photos of an well lit busy alleyway. The smell of street food surrounded the area, so he understands why the kitty was so hungry, so he was he just from the smell of it all.

As Girou bikes to his mother's home, he looks at Akane and softly whispers, "This is gonna be a good day." She meows back in response. He takes it as confirmation that she's happy to join him on his bike ride. He's almost halfway to the his mom's house when he suddenly hears an unfamiliar song.:

"I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know I'll find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you

The mist is lifting slowly
I can see the way ahead
And I've left behind the empty streets
That once inspired my life
And the strength of the emotion
Is like thunder in the air
'Cos the promise that we made each other
Haunts me to the end
I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know I'll find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know I'll find you somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you..."

It's American. Though he can't undertand it, he weirdly like it. He look for the source of the song when he comes upon a small shop. It seems to sell used electronics and knick knacks. He sets his bike outside and walks into the shop with Akane in his arms. He walks around and looks at the shelves examining all the different things. When he hears someone clear their throat. He looks up and his gaze is met with another. It's an older woman. She has black hair with streaks of gray worn in a low bun, a pink shirt, blue skirt and a white apron. She's the shopkeeper. She smiles at him, "Find anything?"

Girou shakes his head, "No but I like this song." The shopkeeper walks behind the counter and motions for him to come over. " My grand-daughter showed me this song. She's about your age too. I never know how she finds them but I do tend to like them too. This one is called "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" ". She hands him a CD with the name of the song written down on it in kanji. "You can listen to it now anytime you want. But you might need something to play it." She motions towards a device. It's circular, comes with headphones, and is specifically made to made CD. "How much is it?", he asks. "It's 330 yen but, since you listened to me ramble a bit, you can have it for free." The shopkeeper walks over to the device picks it up but leans down instead and brings up one just like it but in red. "I think you might like this one more. Here's a small satchel as well. It's been sitting for a while and I think it'd be easier to carry your friend in it." She looks to Akane in his arms. Girou looks surprised and accepts both graciously. He bows and walks out the shop with his new things but turns back and looks into the shop. "What's your name miss shopkeeper?" She smiles and waves goodbye to him, "Rittou".