>Once again, you are Floor Bored and once again, today couldn't possibly be any better!
>The sky closed over last night and it hasn't stopped raining since.
>Which means... you have your big human buddy to yourself all weekend!
>And he's not working!
>And also you managed to convince him to start gaming with you!
>After... that one evening a little while ago.
>It still makes you all tingly, right down to your hooves, to think about.
>N-Not that you ever thought about Anon kissing your tingly little hooves or anything hahaha!
>And he’d never have to even think about that so long as he never saw your private stash of drawings!
>Speaking of drawings, he’d somehow managed to convince you to show him yours.
>It’s a little uncomfortable to remember that, unsure whether you should rub your hooves or use them to run right out of the apartment and away from that question.
>But just as he’d said before, he thought your drawings were great!
>A-And he said you were ‘cool’ again…
>You drop the stylus from your mouth and whirl about in your desk chair with a giddy little giggle.
>Anon thinks you’re cool!
>And that’s because you are! You’re finally rubbing off on him and the big human’s understanding what so many ponies can’t!
>You don’t need dumb stallions!
>You don’t need a pony to give you tasteless flowers or object to staying in to eat ramen!
>You don’t need to be told you need to change who you are by somepony who doesn’t get you!
>All you need is your big human to sweep you off your hooves, into his big strong arms, and tell you he’s so happy to be your c—
>... Haha!
>Hoho-kay, Floor, no need to get ahead of yourself!
>Anon’s great and all but he’s still got a long way to go before he’s good enough to be /your/… c-coltfriend…
>You spin your chair back around to the desk and look down at the stylus on the beat up old pad.
>Yeah.
>For now, he can be your friend.
>But even that sends a little thrum of joy coursing through your chest!
>Okay, he still made sure you took your vitamins and randomly checked on that, so you had to keep taking them just in case that was the day he asked.
>And sometimes he brought back some more of that ramen from that place which was great but…
>He said it was healthier than what you usually eat but your diet’s fine! 
>You still didn’t like him trying to change you but at least it was just ramen.
>And you got to eat with him, too.
>And watch ponime!
>Okay, some sacrifices were worth it because you, the most powerful of Equestria’s NEETs, were also infinitely merciful and benevolent and if that’s what it took to extend the hoof of friendship to Anon, you’d do it for his sake!
>Did he even have any other friends? He still complained about his coworkers and you never saw him with anypony else, he never brought any other ponies home, never talked about meeting any outside of work.
>But that was okay, right? Why would he need anypony else when he had such a /cool/ friend like you?

>Knock-knock!
>”Hey, Floorb?”
>You bristle at that nickname yet again but you’ve got the stylus back in your mouth so it’s not like you can tell the forgetful human off or anything.
>”Can I come in?”
>The door creaks ajar just a little but it looks like he remembered that time you told him—definitely not exploded, you are not that dramatic—calmly that he should respect your desire for privacy.
>Okay, the drawing is just of you and him done in the style of one of his human ‘animes’ and you don’t have any of those other drawings open right now.
>You can let him—Wait!
>How does your bed look?
>You whirl about in your chair, catching just good enough a look on your way to see that it’s not as tidy as Anon’s but c’mon, you’re not /that/ anal about this stuff!
>... Also, you need to remember not to think of Anon and ‘anal’ in the same sentence again.
>Like that!
>Stupid brain! Anon isn’t like that!
>He’s your friend, he’s not… Ugh!
[spoiler]>Even if it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world…[/spoiler]
>And on your way spinning around again, you spot that the door’s still just ajar with Anon waiting on the other side.
>Okay, good, at least he knows not to bust the door down.
“Uh, I…”
>Damnit! Gotta…
>Clop!
>There, stopped yourself!
>A little dizzy, though, maybe you should wait to get off your chair?
“C-C’mon in.”
>It takes a moment before you see the door slowly slide open, revealing your green human friend on the other side.
>You can barely see him /not/ sniffing the air.
>Well, duh, ever since he started using that fabric softener on your blanket, he hasn’t said anything about the smell!
>He even got that special pony-made stuff so it wouldn’t overpower your nose.
>Because your infinite generosity and thoughtfulness was rubbing off on him!
>Now if only your not-wobbling-around would also rub off on him…
>You can’t even see where he’s looking! That’s not fair!
>”Say… you’re not busy, are ya?”
>Right now?
>Well…
>This drawing is still off from being finished and you were planning on getting some ramen after but you can squeeze Anon in.
>To your busy schedule.
“N-Nope!”
>He’s not spinning quite so much now but you’ve still got a hoof on your desk, just in case.
>It doesn’t look so weird when he steps into your room and leans against the wall.
>”Well, I was thinkin’ about what you said a while back.”
>Uhh…
>”About comin’ out with me sometime?”
>Oh that?
>Yeah, okay, you did but that was only because you were on the couch with him!
>Half-asleep and lying against him, with his arm around you and your blanket over the both of you.
[spoiler]>Once you started using the fabric softener he didn’t mind that.[/spoiler]
>You would’ve agreed to anything!

>Okay, calm down Floor, you can handle this.
>Just tell him he can come with you to the all-night mart where you get your ramen.
>It’ll be like going on a date!
>That’ll show those dumb fillies online who’s the marecel.
>”Got somewhere to be this evenin’ and was wonderin’ if you wanted to come with.” He winks(!) are you. “Gonna be fun and tasty!”
>That /is/ tempting, especially with him trying to use his stallion-ish charms like that but…
>You look back to your screen - you and Anon, back to back against the world.
>And it really is the whole world.
>Out there.
>Daytime.
>P-Ponies.
“M-Maybe some other t-time?”
>You almost—/almost/—ready yourself for Anon getting annoyed before you remember that he won’t.
>Ever since that night, he really has been different.
>”Oh, but—”
>He stops as he’s about to say something and starts to walk into the room, over to you.
>It’s a little intimidating, honestly, looking up at him from your chair; even if you are Equestria’s most powerful NEET, that’s never been tested against humans.
>But it’s okay because he just lowers himself down until he’s almost below you.
>At least it’s easier to meet his eyes now and he doesn’t /look/ like he’s going to try anything funny.
>You do get that sudden itch to close down your art program but there’s nothing there that could cause a problem.
>It’s okay, Floor.
>”Do you remember what we talked about? Back then?”
>You cast your mind back and try to recall.
>Something about… something that gives you that little uncomfortable itch between your withers.
“W-What was it?”
>Anon smiles a little smile and moves his hand, almost over to your hoof but stops short.
>”I asked ya if you’d do somethin’ for me. Somethin’ important.”
>For some strange reason, you feel your stomach start to sink.
>”I wanted ya to try and get out a little more, Floor.”
>And there it is.
>The memory resurfaces like Ebirah, threatening to overwhelm you.
>You weren’t thinking ahead!
>You didn’t consider that he’d ask so soon!
>Going outside and being around other ponies, where they can see you and try to talk to you, or worst of all [spoiler]offer you a job[/spoiler]!
>You’re not even aware that you’re hyperventilating until you feel a hand slip around your hoof.
>”Floor? It’s okay.”
>No, it’s not okay!
>He doesn’t understand!
>He doesn’t know what it’s like!
“I-I…”
>Oh no, no!
>You are not going to fucking cry, you are not a fucking filly!
“U-Uh.. Um…”
>Stop shaking, Floor! Anon is NOT going to think you’re cool after this!
>But all you can think about is other ponies - all around you, watching you, judging you, getting too close to you, whispering to each other about you…
>”I’ll be there with ya.”
>Hold it together, Floor, for fuck sake!
>... Okay, ONE tear!
>Only because he sprung this on you so suddenly and that’s not fair!
>”We won’t take the main streets, alright? We’ll stay where it’s quiet.”
>That’s… That’s what you do, too.

>Even when you go out late at night, there’s usually some ponies going to or coming from bars or shops or whatever it is other ponies do instead of kindly staying the fuck inside so you can go out.
>The alleys near the apartment don’t smell great and maybe you see a pair or two of eyes peering out of the darkness sometimes but it’s still better than the streets.
>You squint your eyes shut—not because you’re still trying not to cry—and try to picture it; Anon by your side, you in your favourite hoodie.
>You’d be safe, right? Your big human buddy would make sure nopony would get you and if any of those stupid pegaslut bitches wanted to laugh at you because you got wet, because you so generously decided to go out with Anon, he’d put them in their place.
>Anon doesn’t even like stupid tickly wings getting anywhere near him, and he wouldn’t be impressed just because she can make it rain!
>”Floor?”
>You sniff-You inhale sharply! You’re just collecting your breath after focusing on picturing things in your mind!
>You inhale, sharply again, and rub a hoof against your eyes because you were squinting them so tight they started to water.
>Anon’s still holding your hoof; he can’t hold it when you’re walking with him, you only reach up to his stomach when you’re standing but he’ll be right there beside you.
>He’s your friend, damnit, you need to show him just how strong you really are!
“O-Okay.”
>Ohhh, that little squeeze he gives your hoof…
>”Okay? You sure?”
>No.
“Y-Yeah.”
>But you’re going to be strong for him. Other ponies don’t have a big human, they’re probably terrified of humans. And you, of course.
>Not the smell! Fuck what those nickering mares said!
“B-But it’s raining…”
>A part of you hopes that’s enough to call things off.
>As much as you want to see Anon put that dumb, ugly, smelly pegasus mare in her place, you also don’t really want to wear that rain coat he bought you.
>It’s heavy and awkward and makes you sweat in your hoodie and then he’d complain about the smell and you’d have to wait while it’s getting washed and wear one of the other ones.
>And while holding an umbrella with your mouth might give you an excuse to talk to anypony—not that you’d ever expect to meet any, anyway, but just in case—you’d have to put it through your saddlebag in the store and that’d get wet which means your hoodie would get wet and…
>You started coming around to seeing how going out in the rain was a hassle.
>”I’ve got this big golf umbrella from back home, it’s enough for both of us.”
>Anon… would carry an umbrella? W-With you leaning up against him while the other mares look on jealously?
>It… would almost be worth it just for that. Anypony else who thinks you’re a marecel would be really put in her place after that, wouldn’t they?
>Okay, so, not on the main street, having Anon with you, only your hooves get wet, and he mentioned… Hey yeah!

>You pull yourself upright in the chair, just being careful not to move your hoof so Anon can keep it there.
“W-Where’re we going?”
>He’s smiling again!
>That’s the Anon you like to see!
>”That’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll like it!”
>You don’t really like surprises.
>You do like Anon.
>You’re also sure he wouldn’t surprise you with something that’d hurt you.
>Just the thought of winding up at the doctor’s office to get a shot- No. He wouldn’t do that.
>You glance back at your screen, at you and Anon facing down all of Equestria’s greatest horrors, from mares trying to claim him, to what he called ‘chuggers’. They sounded absolutely horrifying.
>He’s got your back and you’ve got his.
“Okay.”
>Another squeeze of your hoof!
>It tingles with the memory of the last time he gave you that rub.
>M-Maybe you could ask him for one later today?
>”Alright! I’m gonna go get a jacket, why don’t you put on that brown hoodie? Looks good on ya.”
>Oh right, you weren’t wearing anything. Not that it matters, you don’t mind Anon seeing your… n-naked body!
>Anypony else would be able to pin you to your bed and do all sorts of depraved acts to you but not Anon! He seems more like a great cuddler… [spoiler]Spooning you with a hand slipping down over your belly…[/spoiler]
>Oh hey, you’ve got a hoodie to put on!
“Right!”
>Yeah, this is gonna be good! You’ll show Anon you’re not some scaredy pony!
>If Taku can go out during the day, why can’t you? You’re at least twice the mare she is, especially considering how much of a twig she is compared to your robust physique that is irresistible to stallions!
[spoiler]>Or humans.[/spoiler]
>Anon stands up, watching as you slip from your seat, the world mercifully no longer spinning.
>But he doesn’t wait, of course he doesn’t, he’s not the kind of pervert who’d stand there watching a mare getting dressed.
>Watching her step slowly over to her dresser.
>Slooowly pull open the drawer and leeeaaan into it.
>Shifting her tail from side to side, just out of concentration, not because she’s trying to entice him!
>And then stand there, awestruck, as he watches her wriggle about, showing off her lovely curvy figure and how she knows how to move it by getting into her hoodie that’s deceptively baggy.
>After all, you can’t show off your figure to everypony!
>And when you’re dressed? When you’ve fixed the hood so it’s sitting just right on your back, which necessitated you reaching about and shaking your tail again?
>You turn back around, ready to tell off that cheeky human for watching you but it’s okay, you know he can’t resist such an attractive-
>... Mare?
>Wait, where’d he go?

>You are the annoyed and a little frustrated Floor Bored.
>Who does Anon think he is? Leaving before he saw you getting dressed, which meant you didn’t have the chance to tell him off about watching while also hinting that he should do it again sometime!
>Well… whatever! Maybe this surprise he has planned will make up for it.
>Or maybe you can convince him to rub your hooves again, tonight.
>Celestia, just thinking about him apologising to you and kissing your little hooves… T-That’s what a real coltfriend would do, right?
>Well, that and kissing other places.
>After getting you undressed.
“Phew!”
>Yeah! Those are some thoughts better saved for later.
>You’ve got your saddlebag on, in case Anon wants you to carry something.
>You really are a considerate friend, aren’t you?
>Even got your brown hoodie on. The one Anon said you look good in!
>Of course, you look good no matter what you wear—especially if you’re not wearing anything so all your natural beauty is on show—but Anon seems like the kind of stallion- er, human, who knows about fashion and stuff.
>And won’t you look good? Walking side-by-side with Anon holding an umbrella over you like a gentlecolt from one of Taku’s mangas.
>Side-by-side. It may be daytime but as long as you’ve got Anon, and he really does take you away from the main streets, you know you can face whatever’s out there.
>Rain, staring ponies, dumb pegasus mares who think their dumb, soft wings will win Anon’s affections even though he’s not the kind of stallion who’d fall for that kind of junk because he appreciates a mare for what she has on the inside, as well as her beauty and mares like that don’t have anything going on except a pretty pair of wings and-
“K-Keep it cool, Floor.”
>Exactly. Anon thinks you’re cool and you can’t go blowing that just because you go getting flustered about stupid other mares trying to steal your human buddy away from you.
>Okay, well, you’ve got everything you need - your hoodie, your saddlebag, and your purse of bits just in case.
>Although it’s a bit light at the moment, you’ve spent most of your stipend already but that’s only because the EWS doesn’t appreciate exactly the kind of necessitates a mare of your discerning taste requires.
>Well, whatever! Anon promised you a good time and you’re not gonna spoil it by getting upset about the government misjudging where its bits need to go.
>You trot over to your bedroom door, open it, step confidently—not hesitantly, you’re not worried about going out now, no ma’am—into the living area and…
>Find there’s no Anon!
>What the hay!
>He was already dressed when he came into your room and he’s not even waiting for you now?
>Doesn’t he know it’s rude to stand a mare up?

>You’ve got a good mind to give his bedroom door a few knocks and let him know that you deserve better treatment than this!
>But… what if he’s getting changed?
>You don’t know why but Anon always had this thing about clothes and how he couldn’t just throw on any old thing when he was going out.
>So if he’s changing right now and you knock at his door and he stumbles over half-dressed because there’s no way he’d leave his b-best friend hanging like that, and he’s standing there all not dressed properly, giving you a show and… and…
>What were you saying about saving thoughts for later?
>You rub your hind legs together, chewing on your lower lip; what would Dot say if she heard you were thinking about Anon like that?
>When she comes over, she likes getting on the couch close to Anon and gets all physical no matter who wins.
>Would you… w-would you have to fight her? Dot’s a pretty big mare and she’s your friend, you don’t want to have to fight her for Anon!
>Plus she could easily smoosh you under her big, squishy rump and uh… right, okay, later. Not now, Floor.
>But Anon’s still in his room and you’re still out here and the rain isn’t letting up at all so what’re you supposed to do?
>He said he’d contacted the super of the apartment and gave him an earful about the hole but you really don’t want a repeat of what happened that day with the pot.
>At least unless you wind up with your hooves in Anon’s lap.
>Ohhh, there they go tingling again!
>Stupid human and his stupid hands that rub in just the right way!
>This isn’t fair! You’re just a mare, how can you stand up to that? You may be Equestria’s most powerful NEET but what is your power compared to that?
>*click-creek*
>AH!
“Ah!”
>You jump away from the noise of Anon’s door opening but only because you were playing a new game you got from Earth last night and it left you on edge!
>”Oh hey, ready to go already?”
>You are not going to talk, not when you know you’re about to stammer even more than usual.
>So you give Anon your best nod.
>”You do something with your mane? Looks good.”
>Your… mane?
>You lift the ponytail with your hoof and look at it - just in case you got wet, it’d be easier to deal with than a wet mane flopping all over the place.
>But it still left a thick, black lock hanging down over your nose that you didn’t know what to do with.
>Anon, though, he said it looked good?
>You definitely don’t mean to but it makes you smile a little smile.
>Anon thinks you look good.
>Well he looks…
>Um… he’s the one who knows about all that fashion stuff so you trust that long black coat and those jeans go together. It looks good to you, at least.
>Oh and there’s the umbrella! It’s got writing on it but you can’t make it out, just that it seems to be a mix of blue and white.
>Anon notices you examining him—definitely not checking him out—and holds out his arms.
>”Is it to the madam’s liking?”

>Oh Celestia, what sort of accent was that‽
>Is that how he has to talk at work? Or was that what his accent was like before he came to Equestria?
>You may not speak Prench but hearing him call you ‘madam’ makes your cheeks warm up a little. If only ponies would treat you with that kind of respect!
“Um… mmhm!”
>You nod for emphasis, too, because you’re just realising that Anon got dressed up to go out with you! Which is why he asked you to get dressed up, huh?
>That just means everypony will know that you two are together. As friends. Best friends.
>”Well then, shall we?”
>That same silly accent, with a silly little bow as he holds his hand out towards the door of the apartment.
>With all the considerable confidence you can muster, you strut over to the door and press down on the lever, opening it onto the hallway.
>To find that there’s nopony out there, much to your relief.
>Only because you don’t want any of the other mares in the block to be jealous of you, of course!
>That’s why you’re also inching your way out slowly, making sure there’s nopony around.
>Anon, thankfully, doesn’t push you along although if his hand happened to find its way onto your rump, you can think of worse things to happen.
>Okay, okay, it’s quiet out here, you can’t even hear any voices, no matter how you swivel your ears about.
>Just the sound of footsteps behind you as Anon comes out of the apartment and locks the door-
>The key!
>You’re so unused to going out at this time and especially with Anon that you never though to get the key.
>What if you left the building first?
>W-What if you wound up not being able to get in and… a-and you had to call somepony else in the block on the intercom?
>You squeeze your eyes shut, willing the mental image away - you are not going to let anything spoil your time with Anon, not now.
>He already saw /one/ tear and still thinks you’re cool, you can’t risk another!
>”Okay, Floor.”
>Finished with locking the apartment door, Anon comes around and faces you.
>”I said we won’t take the main streets, so I think I know the best route to get there.”
>Even though he still hasn’t told you where ‘there’ is.
>”Just stick by my side and I’ll get ya there safe and sound.”
>He sounds so confident saying it, it’s hard not to believe him.
>And if he’s right? Does that mean you could start going out during the day if you had Anon with you?
>The thought makes you shiver; maybe that’s a little too much to think about right now.
>Instead, you channel that energy into your hooves and step over close to Anon, enough that you’re almost pressed against his side.
>He doesn’t say anything to that so you don’t move away. A guy like him needs to be supported, after all. Who knows what those ponies out there might try?
>Plus he can keep you safe if they’re too much, even for you. You’re not the only one whose powers haven’t been tested on humans.

>So, every step he takes, you take one. Okay, more than one, his legs are longer than yours, after all, but you manage to match his pace.
>Just as long as he doesn’t keep this up the whole way. You could be speedy when you needed to but Anon has the stamina you don’t.
>... O-Okay, brain, you can add ‘stamina’ to the list of things you shouldn’t think of in the same sentence as Anon.
>It’s for running! Not for… that!
[spoiler]>Besides, you can check your computer  tonight, just to be sure.[/spoiler]
>Down the hall, around to the stairway, ears still swivelling, listening out for any other hoofsteps.
>Anon either doesn’t notice or doesn’t mind and he shouldn’t - he should really keep you around him more, to keep an ear out. No pegasus mares are gonna sneak up on /your/ human buddy!
>Down the stairs and over to the… the…
>Front door.
>Your arch-nemesis.
>The last shield between you and wider Equestria.
>Put in place, of course, to contain Equestria’s most powerful NEET and her awesome, fearsome might.
>You’re responsible. That’s why you hesitate.
>You-
>I-Is that… Is that Anon’s hand on your back?
>”I’m right here, Floor. Gonna be with ya the whole way, too.”
>R-Right, you remembered that.
>But the door doesn’t have a window on it and you can’t see what’s out there.
>There’s the apartment block’s bulletin board, which Anon said you should post some of your art on sometime but it’s private.
>Nopony here would get it like Anon does.
>Apart from that, there’s just the bank of mailboxes. Occasionally you’d sneak down here to check and to get the cheque for your stipend but that was before Anon and before Equestria had the technology to pay it to you directly.
>Now your human buddy checks your mail for you because he understands what being a good friend is all about!
>Just like keeping you safe, right?
>No matter what’s out there.
>As long as you have Anon, even if you’re left back to back [spoiler]a-ass to ass[/spoiler] against the whole world, you can face it.
“Okay.”
>That’s how you do it! No stuttering, just pure confidence!
>Easier, you have to admit, when Anon’s smiling down at you…
>Okay, Anon’s putting his hand on the door’s lever. He’s pushing down on it. He’s pushing it open…. aaaaAAAAHHHH YOU CAN’T DO THIS! IT’S DAYTIME YOU DON’T BELONG OUTSIDE DURING THE DAY!
>YOU HAVE TO GET HOME YOU HAVE TO GET INTO YOUR BED AND SHUT THE BLINDS AND PULL THE CURTAINS AND
>ANON’S HANd strokes down your back and it makes you shiver in a way that feels all too familiar.
>It makes you… tingle all over, from the tip of your mane right down to your hooves.
>But it’s not… it’s not stopping? It’s still going, getting closer to your tail.
>Your tail?
>Your /tail/‽
>R-R-Right down onto your rump!
>W-What is Anon planning to do, right here with the door open, where anypony can see the horrible, delicious lewd acts his twisted human mind wants to perform on poor mare-

>He gives a little push.
>Oh.
>Right!
>Of course!
>Anon’s your friend, right? He’s not the kind of pervert who secretly dreams about having his best friend come into his bedroom in the middle of the night and slip under the covers to passionately make out with him while telling her she’s such a hot little mare and he can’t resist himself any more.
>What- Who- Huh?
>You’re outside?
>Anon tricked you!
>He used his human anatomy to short-circuit your pony brain so you wouldn’t notice him bringing you outside!
>That’s why you got all mixed up about the dream, it’s not because you were thinking about your own, you don’t dream about Anon like that you don’t!
>The splashing of your hooves draws you back to the present and away from the whirling maelstrom of thoughts and emotions in your mind.
>You’re no stranger to being out in the rain but you are to having a pair of shod feet splashing alongside your hooves.
>Sure enough, like Anon, said, you’re not even getting wet. Apart from said hooves.
>You look up - there’s the blue and white umbrella and Celestia, it’s massive! He could probably fit a few more ponies around him under it. Definitely Dot, at least.
>Although it has more than just blue and white - the writing says ‘EQUESTRIA’ and has a pattern of pony and human shapes in various colours in a ring around it.
>So… okay, you’re outside in the rain and your human… buddy is keeping you dry and safe.
>You quickly scan around yourself and swivel your ears. A hoofful of ponies run this way and that, as well as one or two humans, but none of them look like they want to be out in the rain longer than they have to.
>Okay. Okay. You can deal with that. You’re just another pony out with a friend.
>Even if you’re not going in the direction of the store?
>There’s a little part of you that wants to turn, to go in the direction you know you should be going because it’s the only reason you’re outside.
>Okay, Dot and Taku’s apartments are in this direction but they come to you more often.
>And you’d still go out at night and stay overnight with them.
>Especially in Dot’s case, she’s always trying to get you and Anon over for a marathon session.
>”In here, Floor.”
“Huh?”
>You’ve just been following Anon by the feeling of him against your flank, not really paying attention to what’s around you beyond the sound.
>Most nights you go out, it isn’t raining, so you can listen for the tell-tale sound of hooves getting anywhere near you.
>And you definitely would not go down any scary alleys where anypony could be lurking in the dark.
>But it’s daytime right now and you’ve got Anon.
>Which is why, when he indicates which way you should be going, you only hesitate a little before you go.
>There’s old garbage cans and foul-smelling bags lying about, and water trickles along the middle of the alley.
>But there’s also nopony about and you hear a set of hooves clopping by on the main street, now behind you.

>A relieved sigh escapes you and you lean against Anon a little.
>So he wasn’t just making it up, huh? And he must’ve planned out what route to take.
>Guess some of your good habits really are rubbing off on him, huh?
>The rest of the trip to wherever you’re going is mercifully just as uneventful; from one alley or backstreet to another, there’s not a pony you meet or pass by on the way.
>It’s weird how okay it feels to be outside during the day and not just because you have Anon with you.
>On that front, you almost wish there was somepony to see your big human buddy holding a big human umbrella over you two.
>The kind of example others should follow!
>”Okay, here we are!”
>You’d spent your time now thinking about asking Anon if he’d be okay bringing you out during the day again and how he found out about this magical, pony-less route.
>The only times you were paying much attention to what was around you, beyond the warm feeling of being pressed against Anon, was when you went from one alley to another.
>And apparently you’re now wherever he was taking you?
>You’re still walking by his side but you don’t recognise the area, this is way away from the other apartments or the stores you go to.
>There’s a line of stores on either side of the street but you the names mean nothing.
>One has some clothes in it but… not the kind you’d wear. Even you have better fashion sense than that.
>A blouse and jacket, with a skirt? W-What, do they think a pony like you would be going for a… (gulp) job interview?
>The sound of water running and splashing draws you out of your definitely-not-panicking.
>Anon’s stopped and you with him, both of you now in front of a row of empty seats facing a counter top with steam emerging from somewhere behind it and… a kirin?
>”Hello, hello, Mister Anon! Come back for more?”
>Your ears swivel about at the sound of an accent you don’t recognise, from a female voice.
>Looking up, your eyes are first drawn to the colourful neon sign, naming this place ‘Leaf’s House of Noods’.
>”Hey, Leafy, no customers today?”
>”Bah! Foolish ponies scared of a little rain! They need hot noodles, warm them up!”
>And now down to the source of the voice, behind the counter: a green kirin with a brown mane and copious streaks of grey through it, a pair of glasses sitting down along her nose.
>”Hmm, you brought one, huh?”
>You reflexively press yourself a little tighter to Anon, under the mare’s gaze.
>Of course, he has to walk forward a little more and you have to follow him!
>And he’s putting down his umbrella? That means you have to stay here, right? With this strange, new mystery kirin!
>Okay, it’s okay, Floor, Anon obviously planned this, so just let him do the talking.
>”Yeah, got a friend who loves your stuff and wants to try ‘em fresh.”
>Oh. Anon called you his friend. H-He is talking about you, right?

>Unless there’s… no, there wouldn’t be a pony you don’t know showing up here.
>If Anon has another friend, you don’t know about her.
>And if she was going to show up, he would’ve told you. He’s not the kind of guy who’d spring something like that on you.
>Rather than think about that, you follow Anon’s lead.
>He’s seated himself kind of awkwardly, it’s clear the stools are meant more for ponies but it’s high enough that he doesn’t look like he’s a giant entirely out of place.
>Well… as his friend, you’re going to sit beside him so he doesn’t feel so self-conscious!
>Plus he can continue to do the talking.
>”Oh?”
>The kirin mare looks over her glasses, first at Anon and then back to you.
>And you feel like slipping right off your stool and running all the way back home.
>Instead you do your best not to squirm. Too much.
>”Ahhh!” The mare’s lips curl back in a smile. “So /this/ is the pretty young mare you’re always talking about!”
>W-W-W-What‽
>P-Pretty‽
>”Leafy… c’mon…”
>You whip your head to Anon, sure that he has to have some explanation for this.
>The kirin mare said he said that!
>So why are Anon’s cheeks red?
>”Ah! You can’t fool Leafy! My eyes aren’t that bad yet!”
>To that end, the mare’s horn lights and she pushes her glasses back on her nose, looking you over again.
>You shrink back in your stool, suddenly very aware of the fact that you decided to do up your mane and wear your best hoodie, oh Celestia, she probably thinks you’re trying to seduce Anon!
>”Mmmm!” She turns back to Anon. “Pretty earth pony mare, white coat, black mane. You think I forget what my only human customer tells me?”
>There! She said it again!
>”Leafy, she’s… I mean, we’re…”
>Y-Yes, Anon, what are you?
>You bite down on your lip, trying to work up the nerve to actually ask him.
>”She’s my friend…”
>... Right.
>Of course.
>You’re… Anon’s friend.
>”Your pretty earth pony mare friend.”
>In a flash, your ears swivel back around to the mare - the way she said those last two words, they were almost run together!
>”Yes, Leafy…” Anon groans.
>For some reason, Leafy shoots you an incredibly satisfied grin.
>”Then I know what to make. You wait, won’t be long.”
>Long enough for you to ask Anon some questions?
>You hope so!