Trying to rebuild all my saves since they all went awol lol. So I think this story was nonromantic and mostly focused on this recluse author that hates interacting with people and somehow adopts a street cat and the story is pretty frequently is from the cat's perspective.
One chapter she thought he was dying from starvation, so she fed him cat food lol. Occasionally a girl that works at a pet store shows up? If anyone has leads from my terrible description let me know!
From what I can remember, the guy was a salary worker in Tokyo and goes back to Fukuoka to take care of his dad's specialized factory (I think metal working?) while he is in the hospital. The mechanic's don't trust him and are cold to him, I think he messes up a bit as well? The main guy he interacts with in the shop is the love interest and I think they start seeing each other after a drunken night? There is a sequel I believe. Hopefully this rings a bell!
Is it this maybe? https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/konomi_ja_naka_to/
People are saying that guy at the end is a company president, is it for Shige's company since he referred to him? I don't remember a president haha
same it's been so long since i've read the story that I'm like who? when the evil planning something devious dude came on