Cat Searching
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Chapter 1
Hmn—nn, it's not here either?
I’ve searched all over the school buildings but I couldn’t find it. Maybe it isn’t in the academy anymore…
No, I can’t give up! Who am I? That’s right, I’m the burning heart Morisawa Chiaki!
As the hero of Yumenosaki, I’m the hero of the neighborhood…
Aaalrighty! Let’s fire ourselves up! Let’s sharpen our senses, and take some deep breaths…
(Breathe in, breathe out…☆)
Mn? Over there!
Whoa, it sprang out of the bushes super fast!?
Mhm. Judging by its features, that’s the lost cat alright, no doubt ☆ Hold on, wait for me, I won’t let you get away~!
Hmn–nn, mmm-nnn…?
It should’ve run around here, but where on earth did it vanish off to…?
Hm? Anzu? Fancy meeting you here ☆
What am I up to? I’m looking for a cat. It seems to have run into these bushes, but I can’t see it~? I was just wondering what I should do.
Ah, it’s not my cat. It belongs to an old lady who lives near the academy.
Lately, the cat hasn’t been coming around her house, so she’s been feeling a little down.
She lost her husband a few years back, so she started taking care of the cat.
Everyone in the neighborhood knows she treats it like her own child.
I visit her a lot, and when I do, she looks after me and she gives me snacks and tea.
Apparently, I’m around the same age as her grandson, so when I go to visit her, she gives me snacks like vinegar kelp-strips1 and pickled plum jam2 ☆
… Well, I’m not good with such strong flavors, but I can’t just disregard her kindness.
When I pinch my nose and swallow it down whole, it’s surprisingly not that bad!
But when I see that sad look on her face, it makes my heart sick…
So I just bear whatever it is she puts in front of me, but eggplants… Eggplants are the only thing I can’t do.
When she gave me fried eggplants stepped in broth, I truly thought it was the end for me…
Just the sight of eggplants sends chills running down my side! But how could I not eat them when someone offers it to you with such a bright smile?
Anyways, all I remember is closing my eyes and swallowing it down whole.
Uuuu… Just remembering the texture of it made my whole body shiver.
No! No! How can a ally of justice not be able to get over eggplants!?
But that smooth shape… that flavor, I just can’t accept them…!
How can I call myself a ally of justice, it’s ridiculous!? Anzu, please beat me to your heart’s content!
Can you use a paper fan?3 Ah, it doesn’t matter what it is! Just wake me up from the eggplant nightmare that’s possessed me!
… Yowch!? I know I told you to hit me hard, but you’re merciless, even with a fan?
But thanks to that, I have woken up from my nightmare! I’m at full-power, fwahahahaha…
… Oh no! The shock made me forget what I was talking to you about!?
Mnn, were we talking about something like the relationship between this world and eggplants…?
Uuu… Eggplants… Eggplants… Uuuuuuuuuuu…
Ah! I remember now! I was searching for a cat. And then I ran into you…
That’s right, I wonder where that cat went…? I mean, did the commotion just now scare it away?
Sorry, Anzu. I need to find that cat no matter what it takes.
If you find a cat with a red ribbon around its neck, could you text my cell and let me know?
Well then, goodbye, Anzu…
Yowch!?
You scared me, you hit me with the fan all of a sudden!? What? You’re going to help look for the cat too?
Well, of course I’d appreciate your help, but…
I see. You’re such a good, kind girl, alright. Good kid, good kid (Petting her) ♪
Oop, this isn’t the time to be petting you, hm? Once we find that cat, there will be plenty of pets and snuggles in store for you…☆
What does the cat look like? Like I said, it had a red ribbon tied around its neck. Let’s see, what else… it was a cute cat with pure white fur.
Its name was… Mittens? Or maybe Kitty…?4
Sorry. I can barely remember the name! Every time I went to visit her, the cat’s name changed, so I don’t know which one is the right one~?
According to the owner, all of the names were cute, so she couldn’t decide, and thanks to that, the cat was confused about what its own name was.
It might be because her name was Chiaki once, that she reacts to my own name.
Hm? Then we should go walk around calling my name?
I think it’s a great idea, but I feel like you calling out my name is going to be a little embarrassing…?
Well, whatever! I can push down the embarrassment if it means we find that cat!
Aaalrightyy, let’s go shout as loud as we can, fwahahaha…☆
Chapter 2
Chiaki~! Chiaki~! Where did you go, Chia~kiii~!
… Hey, Anzu, it may just be my imagination, but I feel like everyone is staring at me and whispering amongst themselves.
Hmm. Walking around calling out my own name is obviously silly, you say?
I had a feeling, but you should’ve said so sooner if you knew…!
Well, it’s fine. It’s tough situations like these that make me into a stronger man…☆
Still, that means we’ve run out of ways to find that cat. If that old lady were here, the cat might let its guard down and come out, but…
It must feel anxious, surrounded by nothing but strangers…
Yeah, I know. Yumenosaki is very strict on who can come on campus, so the general public isn’t allowed in.
It wouldn’t matter how much she explained that her cat wandered into Yumenosaki, she’d just be turned away at the gate.
Apparently, there was once a civilian who lied like that and snuck into Yumenosaki. Since then, it seems the academy has gotten stricter.
Nowadays, it’s only open to the general public for special occasions, so when tickets go on sale, they always sell out the same day. Auctions for the tickets are thoroughly supervised and vetted too.
I know the old lady, but it’s not like she’s a member of my family, so… even if we explained things to the security guards, they probably wouldn’t take it seriously.
So there was no other option but for me to look for it myself. … I can’t bear to see her look so sad after all.
Oop, sorry, sorry. You’re with me too… Mhm, if it’s you and me, we’ll definitely find her before day's end ☆
Hm? Yeah, you’re right. Let’s split up and look for it. That would be more effective!
Let’s keep each other posted every half-hour so our search areas don’t overlap. Well then, good luck! ☆
… Is it evening already? I’m sorry you were out here searching so late.
You don’t need to be so worried. It’s on me, my love for the cat just wasn’t enough. That’s probably why it wasn’t returning my feelings…
I guess it really couldn’t be anyone but that old lady after all.
Oop. it’s not like me to be so down in the dumps! No way, no can do, I’m a ally of justice!
Like a sun that shines on earth, always bright and glittering…☆ That is what makes me the burning heart Morisawa Chiaki, fwahahaha ☆
You… Are you petting my shoulder to comfort me? Thank you, Anzu!
Aaalrighty, let’s give this one more shot! Why don’t we go and pour all of our passionate feelings into finding that cat—!
Ouch!? Hitting me with the fan is a cowardly move! What was that for…?
Hmmm. You saw something move in the bushes over there? Then it might be the cat. Let’s sneak up on it so we don’t scare it off.
That’s… Kitty— No, Mittens— or Chiaki, was it!?
Oh, there, there. I’m sure you’re scared… But it’s all alright!
This ally of justice has come running to you, so let’s get you home to the old lady as soon as possible, hm?
Ooh, you’re happy huh? I am too. … H–Hey, don’t lick near my mouth like that, it tickles.
What’s with that, did you remember who I am? I’ve been so busy with idol activities lately, I haven’t been able to visit you at the old lady’s house.
And despite that, you remembered me… I’m so happy, Mittens~☆
Uwaa, it broke free!? Anzu, grab that cat! Please!!
Phew… That was close. If she’d gotten away here, it would have been the end.
I’m really grateful you came along and looked for her with me. It looks like its taken to you too.
It’s squinting in total bliss and rubbing its cheek against yours, huh? Mnn, I’m jealous!
Ah, wait, I do want to hold it, but it'd just try and run away like before.
If she ran away again, I might not be able to recover from the slump it'd put me in… You can probably tell, but my mental health is pretty fragile!
Hmm. I can just scratch her behind the ears and neck? You sure do know a lot about taking care of cats!
I heard you’ve tamed the most ferocious dog in this school.5 Could you be an animal-tamer…?
O—Ow! Please don’t hit me with the fan! It just plain hurts!
See? The cat’s scared too. There, theeere~ Don’t be scared~♪
Petting a cat like this makes me want to own one myself, you know.
I’m an only child, so I don’t have any siblings. Maybe I should try asking my parents…?
Oop, first thing’s first, we need to get this little one home.
Ahh, are you coming too? Well, you did help me find her. Besides, you’re a good kid, so the old lady should really take a liking to you too ☆
Alright, if that’s decided, then let's dash on over! Even if you get tired halfway through, I’ll just carry you over my shoulder, so don’t worry!
Anyways, it might be inappropriate to say this, but I really had a lot of fun looking for the cat with you.
How do I put it? I guess, like, it feels like I’m a kid again. Being with you never gets old, Anzu.
Like I want to just play around forever or something… You might be like Mother Ocean,6 an irreplaceable presence to all of us ☆
Translation Notes
- ↑ Sukonbu (酢こんぶ) is a very sour snack, as it's kelp pickled in vinegar.
- ↑ Sumomozuke (すもも漬け) is another sour snack, as it's a jam or jello-esque treat made with sour plum.
- ↑ A harisen is a paper fan used in comedy skits, where the tsukkomi (straight man) will hit the boke (comic relief character) when they're being ridiculous.
- ↑ The original names here were Myanko (みゃんこ; meow + kitten) and Nyanko (にゃんこ; kitten). I chose to localize them a little bit.
- ↑ Potentially referring to Koga...?
- ↑ Chiaki and Kanata tend to shout to "Mother Ocean" at the beach in other early stories like Pirate Fes and Beach Match. It's not really clear if this has anything to with Kanata's personal relationship with his mother and the ocean.