Chapter 10: Kitty Cafe

Natasha PoV

"This is the place," Natasha said, beaming.

The café Natasha led Wilt to was a hidden gem tucked in a quiet corner of the city. With a quaint and inviting exterior, it was a charming contrast to the bustle of the urban landscape surrounding it. As they stepped inside, warmth enveloped them, the cozy ambiance instantly welcoming.

The café was a cat lover's paradise, complete with plushy felines lounging on the vintage furniture, or playfully chasing after moving shadows. Paintings and photographs of cats adorned the walls, each frame accompanied by a short biography of the feline subject, giving the café an endearing, personal touch. The scent of rich coffee brewing mingled subtly with the faint smell of cat fur, creating an oddly comforting aroma.

"This is my favorite place in the world," Natasha confessed with a wide smile.

"Really? That's a pretty bold statement," Wilt responded, chuckling as he rubbed the back of his head.

She chuckled. "And what would yours be?"

He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

"Probably the court," he said, his voice calm and confident.

"The court, huh?" She laughed. "Figures. Basketball is your life."

"True," he said as his face turned pink.

Natasha giggled and led him to a table.

"So, how did you find this place?" Wilt asked as they took a seat.

"I saw an anime about them, so I looked up to see if there were any in the area. They're a popular franchise. Turns out this is one of the only cafes here. It's why I love it."

He blinked."You watch anime?"

"Yes. I find it relaxing." She sighed. "You probably think I'm still a nerd, huh?"

He chuckled. "A bit, yeah."

She frowned.

"But it's cute," he added, smiling.

She blushed and grumbled. Was he teasing her again?

The two were interrupted by the meowing of a pair of cats.

"They're so cute," she murmured, watching the cats curiously.

Wilt nodded, stroking the red cat. Its fur reminded Natasha of Wilt's hair.

"What's this one's name?" Wilt asked, lifting up the cat.

"Hey, careful! He might scratch you," Natasha warned, worried.

"Nah, this little guy is a friend." He rubbed his nose against the cat's.

"You're amazing," she said, admiring his ability to connect with the cat.

He chuckled. "Tell me something I don't know."

She groaned. "So full of yourself."

He laughed and set the cat down. "But seriously, I think these little guys are awesome."

Natasha nodded eagerly. "Yeah, they are. And the owners are nice too."

Wilt smiled. "I can tell. They must care a lot about the animals."

"They do," she confirmed. "They're an old couple, and they take in strays. I heard they're planning on expanding."

Wilt stroked the cat. "I'm glad these kitties found a loving home."

She nodded. "Me too. Like every human, every animal deserves a good home."

He nodded.

A maid wearing cat ears walked over to them. Wilt blushed.

Natasha hummed. Did Wilt like cat maids?

"Can I take your order?" the waitress asked, her notepad at the ready.

Natasha glanced at Wilt, who was still blushing at the sight of the cat-eared waitress. Suppressing a chuckle, she turned her attention back to the waitress.

"I'll have the 'Purrfect Tuna Sandwich' and a 'Cat-ppuccino,' please," she said, pointing to the whimsically named items on the menu.

The waitress nodded, jotting down her order before turning to Wilt.

"And for you, sir?" she asked.

Wilt blinked, pulling himself from his daze. "Uh, I'll take the 'Bagel with Cream Cheese Mouse' and a 'Black Cat Coffee,' please," he managed to stammer out.

The waitress smiled, scribbling down Wilt's order. "Alright, your order will be up shortly," she said, before flouncing away with a jingle of her cat bell.

As they waited for their food, they chatted about the cats in the café, their conversation easy and relaxed. Even with the occasional interruption from a curious cat wanting attention, the atmosphere remained comfortable and pleasant.

Before long, their food arrived. Natasha's 'Purrfect Tuna Sandwich' was shaped like a cat's face, complete with olive eyes and a pickle smile. Her 'Cat-ppuccino' had a frothy design of a cat's paw on top. Wilt's 'Bagel with Cream Cheese Mouse' was arranged to look like a playful mouse, and his 'Black Cat Coffee' was served in a mug with a cat's face.

As they ate, their conversation flowed effortlessly, encompassing their shared love for cats to their personal lives and interests. Amid the playful banter and teasing, there was a genuine connection between them, a bond that was only strengthened by their shared meal and the comforting ambiance of the café.

Resting back in her chair, Natasha couldn't help but feel content. The café, with its warm atmosphere, friendly cats, and whimsical cat-themed food, was indeed her favorite place in the world. And sharing it with a friend like Wilt only made it better.

Wilt chuckled as he finished his bagel. "I didn't expect I would become good friends with such a strange person like you, Nata."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Excuse me? If anyone is weird here, it's you, Mr. Star Player!"

He blinked. "Me?"

She huffed. "Yes, you."

"Now that's just rude," he muttered, feigning hurt. "But seriously, how am I strange?"

"You're too easy going," she said, shaking her head at him.

"Easy going? I don't understand."

She sighed. "Wilt, you're the type of guy who will just go along with whatever someone else says. My cousin said that before too. You're a go with the flow kind of guy. Basketball is the only thing you take seriously."

He blinked. "Wow, that's... actually, true."

"See? Told ya."

He laughed. "Yeah, I guess you did."

She shook her head. "See? You're doing it again. A normal person would argue with me."

He rubbed his head. "Yeah, but why would I argue if you've proven your point? You're pretty sharp."

"Not sharp. Just observant. I know you, Wilt. Just, be careful of making bad friends. You're a nice guy, but I know from experience that you can be led astray by bad influences."

He sighed. "You think that's why I bullied you in elementary? Because I was just going along with the other boys who teased you? Maybe that's true, but I also had a choice. I'm not some robot. I have a mind and feelings. And while I can't excuse my past behavior, I can at least learn from it."

Nata smiled. She hadn't expected him to give such an answer. "You really have matured. Maybe there's hope for you yet, Wilt. You can be a real nice guy."

"Thanks, Nata," he replied, his expression warm.

She giggled. "Anytime."

"And you know, I think we'll make great friends. As long as you keep calling me out on my nonsense."

"That's the plan," she replied, smiling. "Remember to take care of yourself."

Wilt gasped and turned away. "So, you noticed..."

Natasha sighed and nodded. The injury to his leg wasn't the only reason his basketball career was at risk. Her head ached. Wait, his injury wasn't all that bad. Then why did she think...

"You okay?"

She nodded and took a sip of her coffee. "Thinking maybe I need to take my own advice."

He laughed. "You did lift a lot more than I expected. And after jogging for who knows how long."

She blushed. "Thanks for helping me save face."

He smiled.

Natasha sighed. "I guess we're both hopeless."

The two burst into laughter and continued to enjoy their meal.