Male Friendship

When I returned home yesterday, an envelope had arrived.
It was a tax payment notice for my car.

I have no choice but to go out again today.
Since I have to go anyway,
I decided to take a different route than usual to get some exercise.

I am made to laugh every day
by the articles everyone sends in. I am grateful.

Good things come to those who laugh.

A beautiful woman of indeterminate age appeared before me.

Perhaps it was because it was a bit cool this morning,
but the lady was wearing a tiger-print coat.
Her way of walking was also charming.
She looked like a model.

"Hello."

I mustered up the courage to speak to her.
It was definitely not with the intention of picking her up.

The lady looked at me,
but she seemed a little wary.

Since I am a strange, bald middle-aged man,
I suppose that is only natural.

I definitely didn't have any lewd intentions,
but I felt an urge to touch the lady's smooth skin.

"Would you mind if I took your picture?"

Did I really say those words?
I don't really remember.

Perhaps she felt her safety was at risk,
as the lady ran off into a narrow alley.

I prayed that I wouldn't be reported to the police.

Was I wearing a leering smile?
Or is the saying 'good fortune comes to those who laugh' just a superstition?

Thinking about such things, I hurried on to the bank.

Then, I encountered another beautiful woman.
It is definitely not a superstition.

That lady had beautiful eyes.

Are women more sensitive to the cold?
She was also wearing a fur coat.

Elegance overflowed from that silver fox-like coat.

This time, they greeted me with a beaming smile.

There was no reply.

Is it perhaps because my appearance is too suspicious?

When I negotiated to see if I could take a photo, they readily agreed, provided it was from behind. What a kind-hearted lady.

However, that was as far as it went.

From the lady who would not turn around, her silent back seemed to say, "Read the room!"

I left words of gratitude and decided to head on ahead.

While I was grateful for the pleasant encounter, I felt as though I had been rejected in a confession of love twice.

I slumped my shoulders; I wonder if I looked like it was the end of the world.

A man came running up to me. "If you'd like, I'll listen to you."

There really are kind people out there, aren't there?

That man was a handsome guy, the complete opposite of me. He must be very popular.

He was also wearing a fur coat.

We hit it off and a friendship blossomed. Or perhaps it was pity.

To my question, "Would you let me take your photo?"

He even said, "Sure thing..."

Are you talking about Nyan?

Thank you for reading until the end😊

I borrowed the title image from Maple Kaede-san.
Thank you as always.

Well then, have a good day✨