Spirit Girlfriend c20

Chapter 20: Souta Shibuya Contemplates

After watching Akane go down the street and disappear, I turned around to head home myself.

When I got home, my sister and parents were watching TV in the living room.

“Welcome home, Souta.”

“You’re coming home late.”

“Brother! If you’re going to be late, call home first! I left you dinner, okay?”

Souta: “Oh, yeah, sorry sorry.”

I apologize to my sister, and glance at the dining table.

On a plate is a salad and Shogayaki* which was neatly wrapped.”

I got some rice out of the rice cooker, and reheated the miso soup.

I got a glass of Barley Tea, and bowed my head before I began eating.

From the living room, I heard the laughing voices from some sort of TV show.

As I ate my dinner, I reflected on the events that day.

“Brother.”

Souta: “Hm?”

“Did something good happen today?” Souta: “No, just studied for the upcoming tests with a friend. Why?” “Hmm...you just looked like you were in a good mood. That’s all.”

Souta: “Yeah?” “Yeah, you look really happy right now. It made me think that something good must have happened.”

She smiles and chuckles at me cheerfully.

Was I smiling even without knowing?

I touch my cheeks, and finish eating dinner.

I wash my plates, and I start moving towards my room when I touch the door knob.

“Brother, you’re already going to your room?” My little sister is inviting me to stay with them and watch TV.

Souta: “The tests are coming up soon, so I’ll go and study.” “Sheeeeeesh…..you’re always so serious……”

Souta: “Natsuki, you’re okay without studying tonight?” Natsuki: “Uhhh, yeah, I’m good. I’m good.”

I feel a little bad now because my parents are poking Natsuki with “Maybe you should go study too….?” and I return to my room.

With a <poof>, I fall onto my bed.

I carefully listen to every sound in my quiet room.

When I close my eyes, I can still hear the noises from the TV in the living room.

The noises of the occasional car engine driving by also reaches my ears.

Souta: “Yukina…….”

I called the name of my dead girlfriend, but I heard no reply.

I remember the conversation with the Black Cat, Mr. Leo.

Yukina is standing behind me 24/7…….

I glance up and look at all the photos of Yukina and I together.

And I remember now that I would look at those photos every morning and whisper, “Yukina, I love you.” ….and wait?! Did she see all that too?!

IーI should stop doing that starting tomorrow…….

I cringed in my own shame.

<<<<>>>>

It was the afternoon of the next day.

Souta: “Hey, Akane. Do you have any free time this afternoon?” Akane: “Sorry, Souta. I have something I have to do for my family today.”

Souta: “I see.” Akane: “Will you tutor me again?” Souta: “Of course.” I spoke to Akane, but she already had plans that day.

I look at my friend Touru, but he’s asleep at his desk.

I wonder if he was working all night.

I was going to invite him, but I should let him rest today.

I headed to yesterday’s café alone.

There’s no particular reason. I just felt like it.

The coffee was great, and there’s very few customers there so I can focus on studying too.

And most of all, I wanted to ask about Yukina.

I walk inside the deep forest.

There’s no sign, so it’s really hard to find the location.

But I should be able to get there by following the same path.

Souta: “What……? I thought it was this way though….”

Did I get lost?

I have a pretty good sense of direction though…….

As I wander aimlessly, I hear a voice from behind.

“Oh, it’s you.”

I turn around but do not see anyone there.

“Over here. Here, this way.”

The voice came from where my feet were.

Souta: “Mr. Leo.”

Leo: “I wasn’t expecting to see you today as well. You’re going the opposite direction by the way.”

Souta: “What? But…..” Leo: “Follow me.”

Following right behind Mr. Leo, I got there in almost no time.

There is no one in the outdoor terrace seats.

Looks like I’m the only customer again.

I sat down in the nearest seat.

I don’t see the really handsome café worker today.

Leo: “Here, let me get someone for you.”

The Black Cat, Mr. Leo disappears inside the café.

I wanted to ask Mr. Leo about Yukina, but…..

Oh well.

Until the café worker came, I opened up my textbook and just glanced at the words.

<<<<>>>>

　――If you really want to hear about it , the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, ....

{non-translated text}

<<<<>>>>>

I was reading the long, English text when I noticed someone approach me.

It was not Mr. Leo’s paws, but a human footstep.

I look up and expect yesterday’s café worker, but I see a woman in a light purple dress standing before me.

Every hair on my body stood on its end.

Back in the day, the Master of my Ancient Arts told me during training, “Don’t move.” and he punched straight at my face, and only paused a hair’s breadth away from my nose.

At that time, I saw the fist approach me as if in slow motion.

ーーBy the time I thought, [I’m going to die], I was already sitting on the ground.

He laughed and told me to remember that sense of danger, and at the time, I couldn’t even open my mouth.

I’m sensing [100 times] that danger from the woman before my eyes.

I need to do everything this woman says……..every nerve and cell in my body screamed for me to be compliant.

“Oh? Who do we have here?” The woman opened her mouth, and my sense of fear dissipates quickly.

She has a beautiful voice like one of those TV commentators and she smiled at me.

Leo: “Hey, Owner, it’s a customer, of course.”

Mr. Leo spoke up.

This person is the owner of the café?

“What?! Oh no! What should we do?!”

Leo: “You need to serve him a cup of coffee, Owner.”

“WHAT～?! ME?!”

Leo: “There’s no one else here to do it, right?”

“Let’s wait till he comes back～”

Leo: “Don’t make a customer wait.”

Wait, I haven’t even put in my order though…..

And is the Deputy Manager higher than the Owner of the Café here?

The one who was being called the “Owner” went inside the café.

Leo: “My apologies. The disciple who is usually here is currently out on an errand.”

Souta: “Uh huh…..”

Leo: “Hmmmmmm, I’m not even sure if she’s even capable of doing it alone. I’m going to go take a look.”

Souta: “Oh…..”

Mr. Leo left and went inside.

I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll continue studying.

After about 15 minutes, she came back with the coffee.

“HーHere you go～”

The woman who was called the Owner of the Café came back holding the cup of coffee clumsily and with uncertainty.

That was when I looked and saw her face more clearly.

Souta: (She’s very beautiful…….)

She was so beautiful, you could have told me that she’s a TV actress.

I couldn’t tell her age.

Souta: “Thank you very much.”

I take the cup of coffee and sip carefully.

And the shock hit me like a truck.

Souta: (IーIt’s terrible?!)

It was so bad, you might get better results scooping water from a nearby mud puddle.

Souta: (Ummm～ I don’t know if I can finish this…….)

Leo: “Owner, looks like it’s a failure.”

“What～ it can’t beー! I worked so hard at itー!”

“Mother, what are you doing?” “Oh, welcome back.”

Oh?

Turning around, I see the handsome face of the café worker.

Mother?

Are these two mother and son?

They don’t…...resemble each other too much.

“Did………...did you perhaps service this to the customer?” “......IーI shouldn’t have?!”

“I’m going to immediately serve you another cup. Please excuse us, sir customer, for serving you mud water.”

“You’re meanーー!!”

The Owner cries out in protest, and the café worker ignores her and disappears into the café with the cup of coffee in hand.

Within 30 seconds, he comes back with another cup.

Incredibly fast as usual……..

“Here you are, sir.”

Souta: “Thank you so much.” I take one sip.

IーIt’s incredibly good?!

It should be the same as yesterday, but because of that mud water, it tastes even better now.

Sigh……...I’m so happy I chose to come here～.

“(sob sob)......mud water…….is the coffee I made mud water…….”

Souta: “UmーNーNo! That’s not…..”

The Owner of the Café looked dejected, and I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t…….but it was a terrible tasting liquid.

Next to her, the handsome café worker is letting out a deep sigh.

Leo: “By the way, son, are you not with the Ghost Girl today?”

Souta: “Huh?” Mr. Leo said something odd.

Leo: “Hm? Oh, that’s right. I forgot that you couldn’t see her. Today, the Ghost Girl is not possessing you.”

WhーWhat?!

I panicked and turned around, but of course, there was no one there.

I can’t see Yukina anyway, so it felt no different than before.

“Oh, what’s that? That sounds like a fun story. Leonardo, why don’t you tell me?”

The Owner of the Café barged into Mr. Leo and my conversation.

Leo: “This is a customer’s private matter. I can’t speak of it.” “Hmmm...I guess that’s true, right? Mr. Customer?” Souta: “YーYes.”

The Owner of the Café sat in the seat in front of me, laid her elbow on the table and chin in her hand and smiled curiously at me.

Within her eyes, I saw a strange light waver inside of them.

“Won’t you share your story with me? I look like this, but I’m one of the 72 [True Witches] in this world.”

<<<<>>>>

CHONKY Notes LiT (Lost in Translation)

Shogoyaki -- It’s a Kanto (east) Tokyo dish. I never heard of it. Looks good though. Here’s the Wiki article and some pics.

Barley Tea - very popular across all of Japan. One friend told me it tastes like coffee without the bitterness and caffeine.

<<<<>>>>

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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/20/