By some twist of fate, she opened her eyes.
By some twist of fate, she met her.
Once, Manhattan Cafe had a wonderful dream.
The details of the dream were already fuzzy now.
But the feeling it left behind still lingered in her heart.
It was just… absolutely fantastic.
--+--
In the room, two dark figures sat side by side.
"The spiraling staircase stretched up into the colored sky, below it, a golden ocean nourished a tree of glittering jewels, climbing ever upward, until you could see that… garden swaying in the evening breeze."
"I really like the words inside," she said to her 'friend', "Like on a rainy day, an ant crouching behind a leaf, its antennae gently swaying, letting the soft mist envelop itself…"
This was the first time she had spoken so many words at once.
Not only that, but it was also the first time Manhattan Cafe had sat so close with her 'friend'. Usually, even when they chatted or talked, they kept a certain distance.
But now, Cafe could even hear the faint sound of her breathing.
'My friend, someday in the future, will be seen by everyone.'
While reading, Manhattan Cafe's eyes kept drifting towards her.
Just thinking about it felt incredible.
She wasn't like Snow White from fairy tales, revived by some special method.
Her 'friend' was still a ghost.
Just like always, residing in the mirror.
But now, she could touch things.
It wasn't like before, where if she touched something for too long, her hand would just pass through it.
Her own clothes were now worn by her 'friend' without any issue at all.
Actually, Cafe had noticed it for a while.
Returning to her dorm, the order of clothes in her wardrobe had changed, and her training gear looked like it had been worn. The person was similar in build to her, knew her habits, and always did it during group training sessions when everyone was accounted for.
Only she and Yukino Bijin had keys to the room, so the identity of the person who could come and go freely was pretty clear.
It was the 'friend' sitting beside her.
They're so alike…
Watching her profile, Manhattan Cafe couldn't help but think.
After changing into the school uniform, the two were almost indistinguishable. The long bangs hid her face, but through the gaps in her hair, Cafe could vaguely make out a lovely cheek, skin as pale as snow, and those golden eyes, identical to her own.
It was as if she were a living, breathing person.
Someone who could give off warmth.
"What do you think of this book?" Manhattan Cafe asked.
"It's… a book with very rich content," she replied in a low voice.
"I think so too. Whenever I read it, I feel my mind grow calm."
"Mhm, I feel the same," her 'friend' said.
Though the truth was, if she had a heart, it would have long since burst through her chest and be causing a major earthquake on the spot.
So close! This is just too close!
I know I haven't spent much time with you lately, but did it have to lead to being pulled into your room to read together for hours?
Can this really make up for the lost time?
She still wanted to learn Hishi Amazon's running techniques to prepare for the next [New Zealand Trophy] attempt.
Plans really can't keep up with changes.
Incidentally, they had originally been sitting on opposite ends of the sofa. But as she listened to Manhattan Cafe read in that soothing voice, unconsciously they had ended up almost pressed together. Who had moved? She had no idea.
"I sometimes imagine myself with colorful feathers on my back, floating in the sky," Cafe continued.
"And then watching the world from my favorite perspective."
She kept talking until her throat felt dry, and only then did she stop.
Even a professional storyteller takes breaks. For Manhattan Cafe, who usually didn't like talking much, it felt like she had used up all the words allocated for her next lifetime as well.
"Ah, right, I bought some new coffee…" She got up and went to the desk, where a black package sat.
"I wonder… if you can drink something?"
Drink something?
She'd never really tried.
Ever since becoming a ghost, desires related to food seemed to have been excised from her spectrum of wants. She didn't feel hunger, or thirst, and paid no attention to food.
But if she has teeth and a mouth, it should be possible, right?
The question is, where would the stuff go?
No stomach, no need for digestion. If she ate something, would it just stay inside? What happens when she slips back into the mirror? Would she have to leave the food in her stomach behind?
The mere thought of that scenario made her deeply uncomfortable.
But theory needs practical testing. The girl extended a finger and said, "One cup of coffee…"
Hearing this, Manhattan Cafe's eyes slowly widened. She quietly covered her mouth, an expression of irrepressible joy spreading across her face.
How long had she waited for this?
Perhaps ever since she first fell in love with coffee, with its bitterness leading to an endless aftertaste, she had dreamed of one day sitting with her 'friend', enjoying it together.
Today, she finally felt that the distance between her and her 'friend' was closer than ever before. She was incredibly happy, even happier than when she got close to her 'friend' during training.
Like a wish made on Tanabata, the once-a-year festival, coming true right here, right now.
Clutching the coffee pouch tightly, as if it were a precious treasure connecting her to her 'friend', she nodded and said, "Then… please wait a moment."
With that, she hurriedly left the room to boil water in the home economics room.
As soon as the girl left, Sunday Serenity finally let out a sigh of relief.
Sunday Silence, who had been standing to the side the whole time without saying a word, afraid that their conversation might alert Cafe, finally spoke up.
"Cafe doesn't like talking too much with others, and an important part of the reason is that 'I' have always been by her side. Cafe has never truly been alone."
But when Sunday Silence wasn't around, Cafe, with no one else nearby, would become very lonely.
She couldn't really talk to anyone during outdoor running training either, and after training ended, it was almost curfew, time to return to the dorm.
Her roommate, Yukino Bijin, would chat with her, but their interests were vastly different. Even if they forced conversation, it just left both of them feeling drained.
That kind of talk wasn't enjoyable for anyone.
And because of this, Cafe had been feeling a bit down lately.
'Looks like I need to make time to accompany her occasionally…'
As the two ghosts waited for Cafe to return, the girl with the dim eyes suddenly pushed the door open.
Agnes Tachyon entered the room.
"Sorry to intrude," she waved towards 'Cafe' on the sofa. "While I was conducting an experiment this morning, some reagent splashed on my key, burned a few holes in it. I'll get a spare tomorrow, but until then, I'll just crash here."
She said this casually, as if it weren't a deeply concerning statement, her right fingertips wrapped in white bandages.
Burned… Is she trying to develop explosives?
"...Is that alright?" 'Cafe' asked.
"Happens all the time," Tachyon glanced at her injury, completely unconcerned.
'Actually, I was asking if the room is alright… That curtain in the middle isn't explosion-proof.'
"By the way, I've developed something interesting recently," Tachyon continued, propping her chin up with her uninjured hand, looking pleased with herself. "A sugar cube that can make coffee taste like black tea. What do you think? Since if you know you're drinking coffee, any taste is fine, then I want to let you experience the wonders of black tea…"
Just as Agnes Tachyon was enthusiastically explaining her latest creation, a rapid thump-thump-thump of footsteps sounded from outside the door.
With a swish and the sound of the door opening, Manhattan Cafe walked in, carrying two cups of coffee.
Agnes Tachyon, who had been talking, turned to look at her, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
She immediately swiveled back to look at the sofa.
The 'Manhattan Cafe' who had been listening to her was gone, leaving only a lonely jacket lying on the floor.
"Ah… Ah? That's strange…" she uttered, her voice full of disbelief.
"If it's an optical illusion, it shouldn't affect real objects… My brain isn't under stress either… In that case, Cafe, you just…"
Before she could finish, the previously happy Cafe silently set down the coffee, her face darkening, and she firmly grabbed hold of Agnes Tachyon's collar.
"You…!"
"Huh?! Wha—?!"
What in the world is going on here?!
--+--
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.