His fingers wove through the little ball of fur on his lap, a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee on the table at his side. His hair is let down and his lips lack the usual cigarette — perhaps in fear of harming the cat with his occasional smoke?

Aki wasn’t exactly agreeable when you had come to him, begging him to adopt and bring a small kitty back home, but now it seems he spends more time with her than he does with you.

“Did you check the grocery list? We’re low on cat food.”