My Roommate is a Cat (同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。)

He's acting...

kind of strange.

Yes, definitely strange.

I mean, usually, he's...

But today, he's...

Hey, are you okay?

Did you eat your food?

Where are you going? You'll fall over again!

Hey!

I left extra food out for you.

I don't have any time left to spend with you.

What's your problem?!

I'm not gonna worry about you anymore!

Fine!

At least I can have my nap in peace now!

This is paradise.

Hey!

Wh-What's that?

Hey, let's play!

Are you serious? I want to take a nap.

Come on, let's play.

All my people are away today.

I'm all alone here.

I'm lonely. I hope they'll come home soon.

Well, I'm alone, too.

And what is "lonely," anyway?

It's the man from the meat place!

Hey, Taro! How are ya, buddy?

Good boy!

Hi, mister!

Good boy!

It's finally quiet.

My Roommate is a Cat

I Reach Out to You

That's my food!

Eh? Huh? What?

The food is gone?

That's weird...

Oh, yeah!

That was so good!

Wait, it's already gone?

But I want more...

Hey, give me more!

I need food!

Huh? He's not here...

He still hasn't come back?

Oh! I know!

But he's always here...

In here?

The smell here relaxes me, and it's warm.

But...

I'm all alone here.

I'm lonely.

Is that what this feeling is?

No, no!

This is no big deal!

I'm strong, after all!

I can live on my own...

Even now,

I'm just worried about him!

That's right!

Besides, it's warm here.

But if he were here,

it'd be even warmer...

That sound! He's home!

Huh?

Welcome home! Welcome home!

We're back, Taro!

You've been a good boy, looking after the house!

Welcome home!

Why hasn't he come back?

Why... isn't he here?

Why?

What the heck is going on?!

Get back here right now!

Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What's wrong? Calm down!

What the heck is he doing?!

Why in the world...

am I doing this?

Shining in the Dark of Night (Koguma Publishing) Publication Celebration Autograph Event with Mikazuki-sensei

Yanagawa Books

We do apologize for keeping you all waiting.

We will now begin Mikazuki-sensei's autograph event

Shining in the Dark of Night (Koguma Publishing) Publication Celebration Autograph Event with Mikazuki-sensei

celebrating the publication of Shining in the Dark of Night.

Well, despite that we announced it on short notice,

there certainly are a lot of readers here.

Seeing such a big crowd here...

makes me happier than anything.

Right, Mikazuki-kun?

Huh?

No way... I can't do it...

Mikazuki-kun! Wh-What's the matter?

I-I wasn't in my right mind!

I agreed to do this without thinking,

but I was right all along! I shouldn't have come here!

Mikazuki-kun, just relax.

Come on, sit down.

Here, your tie is crooked.

I'm going home...

It's all right, Mikazuki-kun.

Nothing...

is all right!

Okay, the first person in line can come on up.

Please sign this.

H-Hello...

I just need to write my name.

Don't think about anything else.

Be careful... and write straight...

If I can just do that...

For Aoyama Ichiro-sama Mikazuki

It's slanted! And I can't rewrite it!

I-I'm... sorry...

It's hopeless... He's got to be disappointed...

I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this so lightly...

Wow! I'll treasure this!

Keep up the great work!

Huh?

Thank you for coming!

For Nishino Keigo-sama

Wow... Thank you so much.

Even when my writing is sloppy...

Oh, I'm so happy!

Thank you! You'll always have my support!

They're still so happy.

For Yamaoka Misako-sama

When I first read your book, I was dying to see what would happen next!

I ended up reading all through the night!

S-Same here!

Huh?

Er, no, I mean... um...

Ah, yes, that happens all the time when you're reading!

Oh, I get it!

So you've gotten so absorbed in books that you stayed up all night?

This is infuriating.

Why is it the words I want to say never come out?

U-Um, I, um... well...

Hi there! No need to be nervous!

R-Right...

I-I've read Shining in the Dark of Night over and over!

It was so good!

P-Please shake my hand!

Did I ever have the courage to reach out my hand to anyone like this?

It's more like...

Are you familiar with that novel about the cat, Subaru-san?

This one has a cat in it.

I recommend it!

I couldn't even say something that important.

Why am I even here right now?

I'll also...

Th-Thank you.

M-My name is Iijima Kota.

It's written with the kanji for "think" and "thick."

For Iijima Kota-kun Mikazuki

It's just about time to wrap up.

Thanks so much for all your effort today.

Mikazuki-kun? Are you all right?

Oh... Yeah.

I was just thinking... I didn't properly thank anyone early on...

After they came to see me...

That happens to everyone.

I regret things every single day.

So just be sure to thank them next time,

and let's work hard to make sure "next time" happens.

Thank you.

Uh, I'll go check to see if any more readers are coming.

Just beyond the courage to reach out a hand,

there's more warmth than I ever knew.

Now that I think about it, there's warmth all around me.

Come to think of it...

She was meowing more than usual before I left.

I was in a hurry, so I left anyway...

I left her food and water, and her litter box should be fine.

Is this the first time I've been away from home for so long?

I hope she's okay...

Right this way!

Ah, Mikazuki-sensei! Someone ran here to see you.

Wha... Oh...

H-Hello.

I'm sorry! I'm glad I made it in time!