Shinichi ignored the impulse to take the others bag and walked normally to the door. He did hold it open for Twig and her owner because she need it not Hakuba. So he told himself. He barely got out of the way from them before he was bear hugged into Jon’s ham like arms and barrel chest. Squirming he used his free arm to push against the other and fussed at him in English.
“Jon! Inappropriate! You have to let go!” He shouted.
“You still are so short, my friend! Like a girl.” The man teased and grunted when Shinichi’s fist plowed into his diaphragm. He staggered back and rubbed the sore spot. “Just as feisty too.”
Shinichi glared at him.
The entire exchange caught the half-brit completely off-guard. Hakuba stumbled back two steps and out of the way, backing into the outer wall of the cafe while Twig tugged at the leash to lead him to a safer spot. The man – John? – intimidated him, he couldn’t deny that at all, but he held back the sudden anxiety with a look of bemused confusion.
“Ah…” he began in Japanese, speaking to Shinichi once he was free. “Is this your friend, then?” he asked, glancing to the man after with a polite smile. Was he supposed to be addressed in English? Should he offer a handshake?
What if Jon took his arm and yanked him over, crushing his spine and leaving him paralyzed all over again? It seemed a very possible outcome, so he stayed where he was, hoping Shinichi would explain the proper procedure for him.
Twig, for her part, pressed against Hakuba’s leg to keep him where he was, large ears angled at the new human while she sniffed in his direction to determine if he was safe. Boisterous, she thought, but not evil… He might be okay…