Coconut rolled onto his back and gazed affectionately up at his mistress. She had that look on her face again—that giddy, joyful look she got after having one of her special candies she wouldn't share."Aww, who's my pretty boy?" Lise cooed. "Is that you? Is that you? Does my pretty boy want scritches?" She awkwardly lowered herself to the floor and began scratching his chest. The scratching slowed after a bit, and Coconut noticed Lise's eyes had drifted downward a bit."It's kind of a shame you and Yuki didn't get along," she continued, now stroking his belly. "Y'all would've made the cutest puppies..."Lise paused a moment, seeming distracted, then giggled."Well," Lise continued, "puppies or no puppies, I like your li'l speckled eggs. They're cute. I'm glad you've still got 'em."Coconut's heart soared. Lise had never praised him like this before. But wait—what did she mean, 'still'?