The Cohen Laundry Service was vacant when Kiso and Aero arrived there. Kiso parked his yellow bike in front of the store and paid for the parking meter.

"Why do we tell actors to "break a leg"? Because every play has a cast." Kiso said into the microphone on top of the meter stand.

"Joke declined. The joke has been used 5 times this week." the voice of a robotic female rose from the intercom. Kiso rolled his eyes.

"Umm..." He muttered. "Do you have something, Aero?"

The puppy looked up at Kiso and meowed. "I guess that's true. It won't even understand you anyway."

"What about," a voice behind Kiso suddenly called out. He let out a startled scream and jumped one foot off the ground. "Sorry, hahah. Did I scare you?"

Kiso released his breath when he saw Coda. Coda was Kiso's high school friend. They hadn’t seen each other for months now. The last time Kiso saw Coda, his natural fringe wavy hair was still bubblegum pink. Now it changed to blood red. The burly guy still had the same personality since high school though. Goofy, a little bit soft, and so, so awkward.

"Oh, Coda. Didn't see you there. It’s been a while…" Kiso said with a smile.

Aero meowed. [Nice hair.]

"Aww, you brought Aero too?" He knelt in front of the puppy, awkwardly trying to ignore Kiso’s tone before scratching the pup’s belly. Aero accepted it happily.

"Meow, meow." [I hate belly rubs but you're an exception.]

"Still can't believe that he meows instead of barks!" Coda chuckled and shook his head. "And you haven't grown at all! Still the same size..."

"Well, he's a late grower," Kiso said defensively. Coda rubbed Aero's belly for a few more seconds before standing up and clapping his hands.

"I'm sure he is," Coda said sincerely. "You want help with the laugh meter? Don't want you to get tickets from the fun police now, right?"

"Y-Yeah, I do."

"I have a good one for you." He said with a triumphant smile and leaned closer to the microphone. "Why did the bicycle collapse? It was too tired."

Kiso let out a snort before heaving his ginormous bag of clothes. "Thanks, Coda. You really saved me there."

"It's nothing. Y-You should come to the family café again! The family hasn't seen you for a long time now. I'm sure they’re excited to talk to you again. They missed you. I missed you." Coda said nervously. He played with the hem of his shirt anxiously as he waited for Kiso's response.

You'd think that the tanned, towering height, and burly of a guy would be brave enough to talk to the scrawny, malnourished, and short person like Kiso. Instead, he was sweating profusely and smiled weakly at the sight of the guy's pale hair.

"I'll think about it," Kiso said with a smile and winked at Coda before he went inside the laundry store with a yawning Aero behind him.

"Meow," Aero said to Coda. Coda could only wave at the puppy. [You're weird.]

***

It was cold inside the store.

With only Kiso and Aero there, it was bound to be lonely. Kiso was busy shoving all of his clothes inside the washing machine. He was chewing on a gum that he found on the bench. It tasted like mint and laundry detergent. It was probably from someone else's pocket when they accidentally washed it.

But it was still edible to Kiso.

"Now, for the coins," Kiso smiled. He rummaged through his pockets to find extra changes but the only thing that came out was a chocolate coin. "Hmm."

He plopped the chocolate into his mouth and made a face when the gum mixed together. The texture felt off. Like soft sandpaper. Nevertheless, Kiso still chewed on as he try to find a way to pay for his laundry. Aero was sleeping on top of the washing machine. He loved the humming. It felt like a free body massage.

In the end, Kiso decided to lean his face closer to the machine and gave it a simple, small hug. "I love you." He whispered softly.

The whirling sound began and Kiso sighed as he sat on the bench. His mind was elsewhere. His thoughts moved to Coda and it just made his heart deflated a little.

It was true. Coda's family definitely missed him. And Kiso missed them just as much. But after what happened a few months ago…

"Meow?" Aero lifted his head and stared at Kiso's sad face. Kiso's dark brown eyes were covered by the messy white hair but it was clear that he was sad according to the pout. [What's wrong?]

"Nothing." Kiso sighed. He saw a dead potted flower next to him and grabbed it, placing it on his lap.

"Meow," Aero said. [You're thinking about Coda.]

"Yeah," Kiso admitted. "You think I should visit Vines Café? It's right across the street."

Aero stared past the laundry store's window to the café and saw Coda with his black apron on wiping the table. He had a sad expression on his face but smiled when a person that was smaller but had the same features as him, approached. That was his sister, Yashi.

"Meow," Aero said to Kiso. [I don't know.]

"I feel really bad for what happened," Kiso croaked with a sad tone. A tear fell down from his face and landed on the dead flower’s petal. "I hate it. I want the old Coda back. He's…"

"Meow, meow, meow," Aero explained before he laid his head on his paws and fell asleep again. [I'm sure he feels the same. He looked really sad when you guys talked outside before. I'm positive he wants things to be back like they were before. Go. The family will be happy to have you visit them. Just...forget about the kiss.]

Kiso wiped his face and sniffled a few times before he smiled. He put the flower aside and stood up. "Okay. I'm not gonna go for long. Watch the clothes for me, okay?"

"Meow." [Mhmm.]