Nintendo—a century-old company in the truest sense. It started with making hanafuda, those traditional Japanese playing cards. Later, it entered the video game industry, and in just fifty years grew into one of the world's top developers of both hardware and software—one of the "big three" in gaming today.
For any veteran gamer, Nintendo games left deep impressions. Ichin and many in his company were no exception.
They weren't hardcore fanboys like some on the internet, but their fondness for Nintendo was undeniable.
The business trip to Kyoto ended up including seven people: Ichin, Utaha, Eriri, and four others. What was originally planned as a single day stretched into two.
Ichin and Utaha didn't think much of it, but for Yagami Kou and the others, stepping into Nintendo headquarters was beyond exciting. Their luck was especially good—they even ran into one of Nintendo's legends, Shigeru Miyamoto, and managed to get his autograph.
After their visit, the group spent an extra day sightseeing around Kyoto before finally returning to Tokyo.
Since they got back in the afternoon, Ichin decided to invite Aoba, Hifumi, and Eriri over to his apartment for dinner. He picked up some groceries on the way.
Back at the dorm, Yagami Kou flopped happily onto the sofa and waved lazily at the three girls.
"Make yourselves at home. Dinner's on Rin and Ichin. We just sit back and wait to eat~~~"
Rin sighed helplessly at Kou's posture, poked her forehead, and scolded,
"Kou, a girl should have some manners. That's way too rude! And go unpack your luggage while you're at it!"
"Ehh~~ fine."
Kou puffed her cheeks but still dragged her suitcase back to her room.
Rin moved to the kitchen to prepare ingredients, while Eriri, Aoba, and Hifumi sat on the couch, relaxing with the TV.
A while later, Ichin and Utaha came back downstairs after dropping their things upstairs. Ichin joined Rumi in the kitchen, while Utaha chatted with the girls in the living room.
Utaha glanced at Kou and Eriri. "Kou, Eriri—those kittens at Yukino's place, it should be about time for you two to take them home, right?"
Kou's face lit up instantly. "That's right! We're planning to pick them up this weekend! In the meantime, we need to buy cat beds, litter boxes, kitten food, all that stuff!"
Eriri was just as excited. She was finally about to have her own cat.
She wasn't worried about raising one—between the wealth of information online and the cat owners around her (Ichin, Hazuki, Yukino), advice was always close at hand.
"Take me along when you go shopping," Eriri said eagerly. "I want to buy stuff too!"
"Of course."
Kou grinned, ruffling her hair. They agreed to go shopping together that weekend.
"Utaha, want to come too?" Kou asked.
Utaha thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I probably won't have time. Ichin and I are planning to fly home for a few days to visit his parents."
"Ohh, right." Kou snapped her fingers and teased, "Naturally, meeting your future in-laws is more important!"
Utaha didn't even blush—she just smiled calmly.
Curious, Aoba asked, "If you go back, does that mean you'll see Umiko too?"
Utaha nodded. "Yes. Aside from visiting family, Ichin will be meeting up with his old high school classmates, and we'll also check on the Shanghai studio. Of course we'll see Umiko. And this time it's not just us—Haruno and Yukino are coming too. As shareholders, they'll visit the Shanghai studio, but mostly the sisters are treating it as a vacation."
"Yukino too?!" Eriri exclaimed. "But what about all her cats?"
"They'll stay at my house with our cats, Peppa and George. My mom will take care of them," Utaha explained with a smile. "We've already installed cameras at home to monitor the cats, and my mom helps out often anyway. No problem at all. Oh, and before we leave, we need to have Peppa and George neutered—can't forget that."
"Ah, poor little boys," Eriri sighed.
Utaha shot back without hesitation, "Don't forget—Yukino's kitten, the little orange one, is also a boy. And so is the white cat. Only the two calicos are female. Which means when your cats grow up, they won't escape the snip either."
"Uhh…" Eriri had no comeback for that.
Well, at least it was still a year away. No need to worry yet.
After dinner, Ichin drove Eriri, Aoba, and Hifumi home one by one.
Back at the apartment, Utaha told him she had already booked an appointment at the vet for the cats' surgery.
"Even though it's vacation, there's still so much to do," she mused. "Business trips, the cats' surgery, and then going home."
Sipping juice on the couch, Ichin glanced at the two cats playing with Utaha.
"Leaving so many cats with your mom—are you sure it's okay?"
"Don't worry, Ichin." Utaha set down the toy wand and scooped up the cats, placing them on the sofa. "Mom can handle it, and Kou and the others will gladly help too. Besides, we're only gone for four or five days."
Since Tokyo's projects demanded more attention, and the Shanghai studio had an experienced leader, Ichin really only needed a short trip back. Four or five days with his parents was plenty. If he tried to stay for a whole month, his parents would never allow it.
Taking George from Utaha, Ichin scratched the kitten under the chin with a smile.
"They'll be under anesthesia for the snip—their faces will definitely be hilarious. We've got to take pictures."
The little guy didn't understand, of course. He just purred happily in Ichin's arms, eyes half-closed in comfort.
Two days later, Ichin's phone was filled with pictures of Peppa and George looking dazed and tongue-lolling after their surgery.
*
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