Cat Collection's House (ねこあつめの家)

"NEKO ATSUME HOUSE"

People say, "sleep brings up a child well."

Back then I slept a lot.

I did not sleep to escape from reality.

I slept for the sake of sleeping.

Sensei?

Sakamoto Sensei.

How can you fall asleep during meetings?

No, no. I wasn't asleep.

He was, wasn't he?

Yes, he was.

N-No I wasn't.

So what do you think of our suggestion?

What was it again?

Turning the main character into a zombie.

A zombie?

Right now your story lacks impact.

We are only half way in the series.

We need to have a plot twist.

But this is not a zombie story...

- For example... - What?

Um...

For example?

It could be a philosophical zombie.

That'll match your writing style.

What do you mean?

You are confusing him.

The zombie stands pondering on a beach in September.

It doesn't have to be the beach.

What I mean is...

Look at the time.

Excuse us. We have another meeting to attend.

Anyhow, he turns into a zombie. Okay?

W-Wait.

Your deadline is next Monday, got it?

Can I have the check?

"A NEW NOVEL BY YUYA KITAKAZE"

Sensei?

That was one hell of a fall.

You debuted around the same time as Kitakaze Sensei, didn't you?

But you won the new face award before him, right?

Oh yeah?

"'A ROUND TRIANGLE' BY MASARU SAKUMOTO"

"YUYA KITAKAZE"

"HOT, AWARDS, NEW RELEASE, GIRL FRIEND"

"SOLD OVER 1.5 MILLION PRINTS"

"MASARU SAKUMOTO"

"NEW FACE AWARD, POPULAR NOVELIST"

"DOWNFALL, ONE HIT WONDER"

"I LOVE SAKUMOTO'S CURRENT SERIES"

"HE FINALLY GOT HIS MOJO BACK!"

"FINALLY NOMINATED FOR 'THE JAPAN BOOK SELLER'S AWARD'!?"

"HIS NEW WORK SUCKS"

"HE USED TO BE GOOD"

"MAYBE YOU ARE SAKUMOTO"

"IT HAS TO BE HIM LOL"

"WAIT, WHO IS SAKUMOTO ANYWAY?"

What are you doing here?

How did you know I was here?

I know how you behave.

Excuse me.

I don't like that zombie idea.

But I agree that you need a trigger of some sort.

A trigger?

Naoki is an average university student who falls in love with Shizuka.

He declares his love to her, but is heartbroken.

Yes.

He reunites with his childhood friend, Kanako, and becomes sort of happy.

That is right.

It's boring.

Would you want to buy such a boring, depressing story?

If you put it that way...

That is why we need a trigger.

I can't put it to words,

but you regaining your reputation and him returning to life as a zombie,

I think they synchronize in a way.

Right, on to the next bar. Come on, people.

I have lost my way about everything in life.

Maybe I should move houses.

I want to change my environment to refresh my mind.

Do you have advice on which direction I should head to?

Tako.

Tako.

- Tako? - Tako.

Thank you.

Tako?

Old lady, you can't sit where I work.

Here you go. Your takoyaki balls.

Tako.

I'm back.

See you.

Where were you?

I was with Sakumoto Sensei.

I thought he'd be confused, being told to write about zombies.

He's going to ditch us.

What?

Leave him alone.

That would be irresponsible.

"TAKO"

"TACOS, TACO RICE, RECIPE"

"TACOS NUTRIENTS"

"TAKO HOUSE"

"TAKO REAL ESTATE"

"TAKO TOWN"

Oops.

"HOUSE FOR RENT TAKO REAL ESTATE"

Mr. Sakumoto?

M-Ms. Saruwatari?

I have been waiting for you.

Thank you for choosing us.

Let's get down to business.

Here is your contract, and keys to the house.

Thank you.

Being a writer must be so demanding.

How did you know?

You wrote on the contract that your occupation was a writer.

Oh yes. Of course.

Do you seclude yourself in places like these to get writing?

Yes, I guess.

You won so many awards when you were young.

I looked you up online

and you were first in the search results.

Please don't tell people I live here.

Of course not. I'm very cautious in handling private information.

Oh yes.

I hope you don't mind.

So this is now a house of a celebrity.

A photo... Cheese.

Sorry about that. Let me take out the sign.

"MICHIRU TOWADA, EDITOR"

What?

This is my house now.

What are you doing here?

How did you find me?

Didn't I tell you, I know how you behave?

No way.

How can you possibly find my address here.

In this day and age,

it's easy to find people's whereabouts.

It's called "social media."

You need to be more careful.

You skipped two episodes.

I apologize.

You do intend on continuing, don't you?

Well, this could be a good trigger.

Shall we get started?

Yes.

Are you finished?

Not really. I was curious what you were doing.

There are so many cats here.

They seem to like to chase the light.

I don't want them to stay. Please stop.

Why not?

Once you're done writing and I go home, you will be all alone.

That is precisely why I moved out here.

You need to learn to be free like these kitties.

You need to learn to be free like these kitties.

I turned Naoto into a zombie like you suggested.

Thank you.

I will be back again next week to collect your manuscript.

What did you think of it?

My writing.

How was it?

Can't you at least give me feedback?

To be honest it is not your best work.

Then why are you taking it with you?

Because we have a deadline and we don't have time.

- Seriously? - Yes.

What is with that?

Why do I have to release it?

I already know it sucks.

I am just doing my job.

You have it so easy, don't you?

You don't have to put yourself out on the line.

What is that supposed to mean?

Think about it.

You won't get criticized when that is published.

I do.

Why don't you do your job

and teach me how to not be criticized.

Isn't that what editors do?

I did what was told and wrote about zombies.

What else do you want? Ghosts?

Sexy girls with big boobs?

I will do everything you ask.

Then it will no longer be your writing.

It already isn't!

There's no internet connection here.

I'll come back again next week.

Sensei?

I'm at a loss.

What shall I do?

Scare you? Coax you? Grill you?

Neither of them.

I agree.

But I want to do something about this.

Can't you just leave me alone?

I told you I am only doing my work.

But my boss told me to leave you alone.

Then leave me alone.