Was it just her imagination, or were there more eyes on her than usual?
Manhattan Cafe, a dark-haired girl whose presence was so faint she could walk right up behind someone without being noticed, had just left the cafeteria when she sensed the weight of numerous unfriendly stares.
Being someone who could see ghosts, preferred her own company, and had a hobby of collecting all sorts of mysterious curios, she was no stranger to being looked at differently.
But something about these stares felt distinct from the usual.
They carried a new edge of disdain and skepticism.
Is there something wrong with my appearance today?
Pausing in front of the indoor gym, Manhattan Cafe studied her reflection in the windowpane.
Her hair wasn't sticking up. Her uniform was neat and proper, her blouse neatly tucked into her skirt.
Same as always. Utterly unremarkable.
It didn't seem to be about her looks.
Did I do something strange, then?
She retraced her steps. After leaving the training grounds, she'd returned to her room for a short nap. Waking up hungry, she'd headed to the cafeteria. On the way, she'd happened upon Admire Vega, sitting alone by a flower bed.
Then, as if completely forgetting the awkward scene from a few days prior, Vega had spoken to her with surprising calm.
They'd eaten a bit in the cafeteria, chatted about constellations, and then parted ways.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
So why were people looking at her like that?
The unpleasant feeling lingered. Deciding a change of scenery was in order, Manhattan Cafe made for her classroom to read for a while.
She'd been training for two days straight. Maybe tonight she could wander the grounds freely with her 'friend'?
That's right. A little relaxation was necessary now and then. After all, aside from class and training hours, the only time her 'friend' could be seen by others was under the starlight in the deserted academy grounds.
Every single minute of that time was precious.
Thinking this, she climbed the stairs.
Just as she was about to head into her classroom—
"This is no good. I can't possibly conduct experiments under these conditions."
Agnes Tachyon pushed the door open, scratching her disheveled hair, looking utterly dejected.
This one… what is she up to now…?
Manhattan Cafe frowned slightly.
Running into Agnes Tachyon always spelled trouble.
She could feel a streak of bad luck coming on.
Tachyon noticed Manhattan Cafe, who was just about to enter the room. A glint of amusement flickered in her dull, dark red eyes.
"Oh, it's you, Cafe. That explains it."
"Explains… what?"
"Practically the moment I stepped inside, strange noises started up in the room. That infernal creaking—more grating than fingernails on a chalkboard. My productivity in there is less than a tenth of what it usually is."
She shrugged her shoulders, feigning helplessness.
"Quite clearly, the room isn't having me today. It's practically screaming that if I don't clear out, it'll set my precious research notes ablaze. Yikes, terrifying, truly."
"So, I've no choice but to kill time elsewhere. Once the spooky business in there dies down, let me know, would you, Cafe?"
With a wave, Agnes Tachyon left the room.
Hearing her words, how could Manhattan Cafe not understand?
Her 'friend' was back. And 'she' wanted some time alone with Cafe, which was why 'she' had driven Tachyon out.
Her mood instantly brightened, all the discomfort from the unfriendly stares on her way here vanishing without a trace.
Eagerly, she pulled the door open and sat down on the sofa.
A chair or table creaked oddly. The nearby shelf shuddered as if from a minor tremor.
Poltergeist activity, starting up again.
Then, a hand clad in a black lace glove reached out from within the mirror, gripping its frame.
With a slight exertion of the fingers, the girl emerged from the glass.
"I didn't… keep you waiting long, did I?" Manhattan Cafe asked.
"Not really," 'she' replied.
Manhattan Cafe then patted the spot beside her. The dark-haired girl hesitated for a moment before sitting down.
"You know, I've been thinking lately," Manhattan Cafe began. "About how we might solve the problem of you being seen."
"Hm?" The girl responded blankly.
"I bought these."
Manhattan Cafe pulled a small black box from under the table and opened it. Inside was an outfit: a black T-shirt and black shorts.
It came with a matching black cap and sunglasses.
"If you wear this, even if you're right next to me, nobody around will think it's strange."
Disguised like that, they would be completely separate entities.
No need to worry about being discovered. Standing together wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
This was the solution Manhattan Cafe had spent a long time contemplating.
Of course, this method wasn't suitable for use within Tracen Academy, where students had to wear uniforms and sunglasses weren't allowed during classes.
So, this outfit was for other occasions.
"When the weekend comes, I want you to go out with me. How does that sound?"
Her golden, amber-like eyes fixed on the dark-haired girl beside her.
Though phrased as a question, her tone brooked no refusal.
The dark-haired girl tilted her head slightly, looking at the clothes Cafe had bought specifically for her.
She swallowed hard, then nodded.
"Great! Oh, and if we run into any classmates on the way, just say you're a friend of mine. And as for where we should go…"
It seemed Cafe was ready to plan out their entire weekend, down to the last detail. The dark-haired girl gave a light cough, pulling her attention back.
"What is it? Do you want to go out earlier? But if we do that, time might be a bit tight… Wait, no, actually, nighttime would be better. Less chance of being disturbed, and it's quieter, especially by the river…"
"Cafe."
Finally, just before Cafe could move the plan up to 'right this minute,' the dark-haired girl spoke.
"There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Actually, I ran into your trainer earlier. She said there's a collaborative training session tomorrow."
"Collaborative training?"
"It's a practice race with the seniors who compete on the track."
"Seniors…" She honestly didn't know who the seniors in her own team were.
"I'll tell you their names in a moment. That way, when you get to the training field, you won't need introductions."
It would seem odd otherwise.
"...Haah…" Manhattan Cafe's voice suddenly grew quiet. "Thank you for telling me," she said.
"So, 'friend,' you wanted to talk to me alone… just for this?"
There was also the matter concerning Teio.
'I hope you'll be kind to her.'
But judging by Cafe's tone, continuing down that path seemed like a very bad idea.
She chose to stay silent.
"And here I thought… 'friend' just wanted to chat. I see… It was about the trainer after all. So I was just overthinking it…"
She quietly began folding the few clothes she had happily pulled out, placing them back into the box.
Suddenly, the dark-haired girl's shoulder twitched, as if someone had patted it. She quickly spoke up.
"Incidentally! These things are just incidental! Whether it's the trainer or the collaborative training."
"Incidental?" Manhattan Cafe blinked.
"Yes."
She stammered a little.
"Don't forget… the story from last time. We haven't finished it yet."
As if on cue, the brown-covered book slid perfectly from the shelf and landed on the table.
At that moment, Manhattan Cafe's mood soared to its peak.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.