[KAIMID 9001]

The morning routine was being carried out on time, right on the dot. So far, he had increased his sales substantially from the last season, due to researching business tactics from others and observing the squishy squishies around him. He calculated a higher sales volume would happen if he had some form of advertising…possibly with Furball...since he learned that squishy squishies can’t resist cuter squishy squishies. And when that happens, more profits equaled more money to be spent on pizzas, and a very happy owner of the pizza restaurant down the street.

It wasn’t long before he spotted something unpleasant. It was a former ally back when he was a Sentinel, but now they were long-opposing rivals in the business world. Kai squinted, as he knew was a common reaction to a person that wasn’t very well liked, and leaned against the counter in preparation for whatever unsavory belugas Fakir was planning on spewing out this time. Fakir, though, already had his attention on Kai before Kai even managed to notice him. Fakir would return the hostilities with a frown, and then a forced smile, partially twitching his lips at one side.

“You’re looking…far too healthy for a squishy squishy today… And your positive emotions seem to have increased by…a whopping 2.03% …that is a phenomenal improvement from the last encounter! Though I do not feel like presenting a star sticker for you, since…” Kai kept a straight face while looking around and returning his attention to the one standing before him, “…I believe your presence has dropped my incoming customer rate by 27.98%... Please be quick with whatever program you’ve decided to process today..”

“Don’t be like that, you fishy bastard… The whole damned place is having a sales contest, and I need a walking, talking calculator to be victorious! …Also, refusal is not an option…”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! CIRCUITRY IS BURNING OUT…cannot process this concept of a renewed partnership! I cannot go with you…not again…think of all the squishy squishy spawns…oh…” Kai slumped off to the side, lazily sliding the last piece of pizza towards his mouth and nibbling on the edge once it was close enough. He looked up to see if Fakir had moved away, but was sorely disappointed when he found that Fakir was in that ‘I’m not budging till I get whatever I damn well want’ mode. “Is it truly obligatory?”

“Didn’t I say refusal is not an option? Idiot…”