With the final few customers having slipped through the doors, the cafe, somehow, scarcely manages to feel much different with disgruntled glances at their backs or hushed whispers rudely directed at Kenkone. If anything, it brings him a sense of relief to see them go, if only because he could catch sight of them ducking into a car or catching a taxi through the windows that line the front of the modest cafe, meaning they would, hopefully, find their way home, and out of this rain. His concern; however, remained. To allow someone to sit outside with no shelter in this weather seemed terribly cruel to him. There’s too much that could happen. Sickness from having one’s clothes soaked through, and accident due to being unable to see clearly, or worse. Perhaps he was too kindhearted for his own good, but he’s never been able to turn someone away when he felt there was something he might be capable of doing for them. And Kenkone had been nothing but polite towards him - the mud tracked in that had now been cleaned up easily forgotten and forgiven the moment the other had stepped inside.
Though, when the other speaks up, he tilts his head slightly. Fair brows crinkling in confusion as the shimmering reflection of the rain cast smooth shadows over his pearly hair. And he seems to give Kenkone’s inquiry some serious amount of thought before rosy lips begin to tremble ever so faintly - his chest rumbling softly. But it’s only a matter of time before a breathy, yet soft chuckle manages to escape his lungs. Quickly, he raises a hand to cover his mouth, warm breath expelling against his band-aid clad from one too many distractions while brewing coffee, to try to muffle the pleasant laugh that escapes. Not wanting to come off as rude, he quickly shakes his head - a silent apology, and prays the other understands he means him no insult. His hand only falling back down to his side after he’s managed to swallow the remainder of his amusement.
“You wouldn’t be the first to call me that,” he admits easily, his gentle smile remaining upon his features. Truthfully, he’s been called strange most of his life. Even when he had been child, he had heard it in the whispers spoken behind his back. Strange; however, was a term people used to describe something that was beyond their comprehension - or so that was what someone dear to him had once told him. So, he takes no offense to it. “I’m of the opinion that you don’t need to know someone to be kind to them. If that makes me strange, so be it - I’ll be happy to consider myself strange.” People have not always been kind to him, despite what his attitude might imply, but he can still recall the times he had spent with the person closest to him when he had been growing up. His kindness had been rough and quiet, but it had been there regardless, and he could still recall how much he had cherished the time he had been able to spend the other. It seems only natural to him, then, that he should treat others kindly.
He watches the other for a moment longer before turning to finish cleaning up the cafe, though still remaining with earshot. He didn’t want to pressure the other to take him up on his offer, or make him feel as if he had to rush to make his choice. His compassion didn’t come with an expiration date - if he didn’t wish to take him up on his offer now, he was still welcome to change his mind an hour or two or three, or whenever, from now. Thankfully, the weather had left the cafe largely quiet today, so there wasn’t much he needed to do to clean up for a change of pace. Oftentimes he could spend hours closing down the shop whenever he was working alone - a rarity thanks to his habit of giving away free drinks.
But light seeps into his tired eyes at Kenkone’s words. His attention quickly turning back to the other the moment it appears he’s going to accept his offer. “I’m certain.” Though he’s hesitant to ask for anything in return, he already knows how this conversation will play out given that they had just shared this same exchange moments ago when it came to the other persisting to clean up at least part of the mud he had tracked inside. So, he’s aware turning him down will only lead them in a circle once more, but he still feels dreadfully comfortable with the idea of anyone repaying him for something so simple. Still, he takes a moment to think, mulling it over in his mind as he leans on the counter he had just wiped down.
“That’s a relief,” he begins instead. “For a moment I afraid you might not get along with her - ah, Ella - my cat, I mean. I assure you she’s quite friendly, so I imagine the two of you will get along quite well.” After that, he pauses for a moment, straightening himself up to push in the last few chairs that were still pulled away from their tables. “You needn’t repay me, but I’m already aware you won’t accept that for an answer. So, please, allow me some time to think of a way that will work for both of us. I don’t wish to ask anything of you, after all, as I don’t believe I’ve done anything worthy of being repaid.”
( * For a split second, Kenkone was worried that he may have offended the other; whenever be does, it was never really his intentions of doing so. It just happens, mostly because, bashful nature aside, he was rather blunt and forward with himself. He often spoke his mind, and he lacked the social etiquette to understand what was and wasn't okay to say to people. But he rarely ever said anything with the intentions of being hurtful. But the smile and laugh that the other gives off puts the experiments mind to ease.
He took a moment to think his words through. Kenkone truly wished that was how everyone thought, but he knew that would be wishful thinkingㅡhe understood that much, at the very least. As much as he wanted to see the good in people, he was unfortunately well aware that there were those who were not so good. ❝ I... I wouldn't mind being seen as strange either, if that was the case, ❞ Kenkone agreed, albeit shyly.
Kenkone tilted his head briefly. Ella? Behind the mask, he was smiling. What a cute name, he thought to himself. However, at his remark, he felt his cheeks burn for a moment. It seemed like the other had quickly caught on that assuring him that he didn't have to repay something was something he would definitely keep fighting him on. ❝ Th—Then if you really don’t mind, then ... I’d love to take you up on your offer. ❞ Behind the mask he wore, he smiled bashfully as he rubbed at the back of his neck, peering around. ❝ Is there anything I can do to help before we ... We go? ❞ )