Chapter 18: Akane Akabane is Late
<Akane’s Perspective>
ーーThe Black Cat Café
This is the café that governs approximately <ONE TENTH> of the Musashino Prefecture and resides in the giant Inokashira Park’s forest.
And is one of her favorite places to go.
Akane: (Not good! I’m running really late now!)
I’m making Souta wait!
And one more thing...
The Café’s Master, an incredibly skilled Mageーーof whom she would be afraid to speak the name out of respectーーwas someone she wanted to speak about Yukina’s situation.
But right before their meeting, an emergency situation came up, and now she’s running far later than she expected.
As she ran through the forest, she almost tripped several times, but she finally made it to the café with the red roof.
Souta was the only one sitting on the terrace.
Then again, it’s not like I’ve ever seen other customers here……
Akane: (fwew…….I’m finally here…….)
“I see….so you don’t have any Mana.”
Akane: (HUH?!)
Who’s voice is that?!
And they’re talking about Mana?!
What are you saying to a common civilian like Souta!!
I look around, but I don’t see anyone else in the vicinity.
The only other presence she saw was…..
Souta: “Oh, hey Akane. You were running late, huh? I was just speaking with Mr. Leo.”
Souta turns around to face me.
And sitting in front of Souta was one black cat……
Akane: “DーDeputy Manager?!”
Leo: “Hello, Miss Mage-in-Training. It’s the first time you brought a friend, and what a pleasant guest he is.”
Akane: “Um...um um um um um….!!”
Why is the Deputy Manager on friendly speaking terms with Souta?!
And he doesn’t even respond to me most of the time when I speak to him either?!
But wait, the bigger problem is………
Souta: “Deputy Manager…..? Mr. Leo, you're the Deputy Manager of this Café?”
Leo: “Well, it’s just a title with no real responsibilities attached. I just sleep outside and appease the customers who come by.”
Souta: “IーI see…..that’s still sounds like a difficult job.”
Leo: “I’m glad you understand. I can’t even go take leisurely walks. The Master of the Café can be quite the tyrant.”
And with a <meow>, he yawns.
Oh my gosh～ Souta is speaking with the Black Cat like it’s nothing unusual….
Souta, how are you so calm in this situation, huh?!
Yukina: “Hey hey, Akane! This Black Cat, he says he can see me! Isn’t he an amazing Black Cat!”
Now Yukina’s talking to me…. This is really getting out of hand～
Whーwhat should I do now…….
“Welcome”
Akane: “EEK?!”
And right next to me, a very handsome young man suddenly appears next to me to bring the water and menu.
He’s ALWAYS appearing suddenly like this…..
Akane: “Um….is the Master of the Café in?” “The Master is currently out of the store on business. We have been told that he will return very late tonight.”
WhーWhat～....
That ruins the whole point of coming here…….
I sag my shoulders in disappointment and order a tea.
But I have no time to feel down.
Akane: “Souta, I’m so sorry to make you wait!”
Souta: “Oh, no worries. It was fun getting to speak to and get to know Mr. Leo.”
Akane: “IーI see…….”
And before that, why is Souta, who’s a common civilian, speaking so casually with a Black Cat?
Akane: “Um…..you’re not…...I don’t know….surprised? About the Deputy Manager??”
Souta: “You mean, Mr. Leo?”
Souta seems surprised by the question.
Of course, there’s no one else here to refer to.
Souta: “So～ I really like this café. The coffee is amazing, and it’s fun talking with Mr. Leo.”
Akane: “IーI’m……..glad to hear that.”
Looks like he’s just completely accepted the situation.
I thought about this before about him when he defeated an [Ogre], but Souta has abnormal adaptation capabilities……
But I guess I can’t be the only one running around in circles here.
Akane: “Well, I guess we’ll get started with our tutoring session…..” Souta: “Akane.” As soon as I tried to sit down, Souta grabbed my arm.
Huh?! WHAT?!
His fun, casual expression suddenly turned serious.
Souta: “Mr. Leo, told me this…….but apparently, Yukina is standing behind me.”
Akane: “WHAT?!”
Souta: “Akane……..did you know?”
AAAAAAAAAACK!! Souta found outー!!!
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CHONKY Notes LiT (Lost in Translation)
"Mr. Leo", "The Black Cat, Mr. Leo", "Kuro-Neko-Leo-San" (黒猫レオさん) -- It definitely rolls off the tongue better in Japanese, but directly translated, Souta would have been saying, "The Black Cat, Mr. Leo" which was a mouthful. This was shortened to just "Mr. Leo".
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CREDITS
Spirit Girlfriend ~ Seems Like I Am the Only One Who Doesn’t Realize That I Have Been Possessed by My Dead Girlfriend~
Written by: Isle Osaki (Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isle_Osaki)
Translated by: ChonkyTranslator
Japanese Title:
ユーレイな彼女 ～どうやら死んだ恋人が取り憑いてることに、俺だけ気付いてないらしい～
作者: 大崎 アイル (オオサキ アイル)
Original Source Link:
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4912fy/18/