Meiji Tokyo Renka (明治東亰恋伽)

Meiji Tokyo Renka

You still insist on this, Saotome?

Don't tell me you've been possessed by a ghost!

Meiji Tokyo Renka

One, two, three. One, two, three.

One, two, three... One, two, three.

That's it, you're doing well.

Just what I'd expect from my Little Squirrel.

Y-You think so?

I am looking forward to the day when I can

show off my beautiful fiancée in a dress to the world.

A-A dress?!

Whoops.

Are you all right?

Y-Yes.

I'm going to go look for the black cat.

But it's still bright outside.

It's better than staying here and doing nothing.

I just want to find some place where cats like to gather.

I'll go with him, too.

Syunso-san! Please wait for me!

Masagocho Cat Café Incident

Please wait, Syunso-san!

Why did you come?

Huh?

Wouldn't you rather be practicing your dancing with Ougai-san?

But searching for the black cat is more important.

Ougai-san has ordered an expensive dress for you,

yet you intend to make a fool of him?

T-That's not my intention...

Are you mad about something, Syunso-san?

Not particularly.

Oh my fairy!

To be running into you like this,

you and I are truly tied together by the red wire of fate!

G-Good day, Yakumo-san.

Hello.

Are you both going somewhere today?

Y-Yes. We thought we would look for somewhere

cats gather, to try to find the black cat.

Is that so?

Well then, the café I am heading to now happens to be one such place.

Would you like to accompany me?

May we? Syunso-san!

Sure, I don't see why not.

Okay! We must strike while the iron is hot!

Now then, let's go.

I had no idea there was a café in this area.

You could say it's a secret retreat.

It's my special spot.

Are you sure it's all right for us to go there, too?

It will be no problem at all.

I am very much in your debt, after all.

I will treat you to some delicious tea.

I'm just worried.

That voice belongs to...

Worried? Listen to me...

I was wondering why you were gone for hours on end.

To find you pacing around the mailbox like a puppy

is kind of pathetic, don't you think?

But what if the envelope with your manuscript in it were to be torn?

It's not going to be.

Your tendency to worry is a real pain sometimes.

Good day, Kyoka-san.

I-It's you.

Who is this girl?

One of my readers?

S-Sensei, she is—

Sensei?

Come on, now, you can't possibly be saying that you aren't familiar with the name

Ozaki Koyo, the most famous popular writer in Asia?

Ozaki Koyo-san is...

Oh! You wrote The Golden Demon!

I saw the play of it recently!

Really? Then do tell me your thoughts on it.

You can come to my place now.

What is your name?

A-Ayazuki Mei.

Why don't you look more bothered by this?

Ozaki-san, unfortunately she already has a prior engagement with me.

She was with me first, you know.

My, you're very popular, Mei. In that case...

You're welcome to come by at night.

I will polish up my body just for you.

Sensei! What about your next deadline?!

Don't mention my deadlines!

Help me!

Kyoka-san, it's only chasing after you because you're running away.

Oh, Mei-san!

See you later, Mei!

Make sure to put my manuscript in the mail, Izumi.

Kyoka-san, stop running!

Like hell I'm going to stop!

And a nincompoopie poop...

Hey there, Kyoka-chan.

Ow!

Don't get your germs all over me!

And don't call me "Kyoka-chan"!

Is that really what you're supposed to say after crashing into someone?

But the dog, the dog!

You mean that dog?

There, there. I'm so sorry. I bet that hurt, didn't it?

But he didn't mean any harm, so please forgive him.

Even a savage dog is putty in Mei-san's hands.

Savage dog...

Hey, Mei. Long time no see.

Otoyakko-sa—I mean, Otojiro-san!

Thank you for all of your help the other day.

You made quite the impression.

You're welcome to come by the geisha house any time.

Thank you very much. But I won't be going there anymore.

I would make Ougai-san worry.

I see. Well, probably for the best, then.

I was on my way to grab something to eat. Do you want to come with me?

Stop.

She already has a previous engagement with me to go to a café, Kawakami-san.

Okay, but she was helping me find the black cat before that.

Oh? Then I'll just eat there instead.

Right, Kyoka-chan?

Wha? Why are you dragging me into this?

And don't call me Kyoka-chan!

Nevermind the details.

There must be a reason we all ran into each other.

Right, Mei?

Yes, eating together would make everything taste that much better.

Not bad.

I know. Just wait a bit longer.

It was bad enough that you illegally trespassed on my property.

What were you thinking peeping in as well?

W-We're sorry.

We had no idea that the café was going to be your house.

What are you talking about?

Welcome to Café Fujita!

Koizumi, you bastard.

It's all your fault for suddenly saying something smelled good and taking off.

B-But something really did smell good.

You give in to your appetite way too easily.

Well, at any rate, we're here now. So you might as well serve some tea.

Do you want me to throw you in jail again, Kawakami?

Oh, a cat! Is it yours?

It is not.

B-But...

It really likes you.

See, I told you.

Café Fujita is a cat residence where cats like to gather.

The black cat you're looking for is sure to come by here.

That might be true, Syunso-san!

If you say so, I guess.

Looking for a black cat?

Would that be the black cat that escaped from Hishida's painting?

That's right,

but please don't slay Syunso-san's cat. We can get it back in the painting.

Can you honestly say that ghost cat won't do anything harmful?

I can't, but if anything like that does happen, I'll take responsibility and stop it.

Which reminds me... You're a Tamayori, right?

I heard about it from Kyoka-chan.

Right, Kyoka-chan?

Hey, where'd he go?

Wow, amazing!

There's not a single speck of dust in this house!

This is the first time I've been to a private household where the sanitary condition is so good!

Hey...

That's high praise coming from Kyoka-chan.

He may not seem like it, but Fujita-san

is very good at cooking, washing, and all household chores.

That's incredible! You have my respect.

You can't judge a book by its cover.

Leave.

No way. I'm staying here for now.

Fujita-san, out of consideration for me, your best friend,

won't you please let us partake of Café Fujita's Goro Special today?

Goro Special? Don't be ridiculous.

Café Fujita's Goro Special?

Sounds delicious!

Do what you will.

Who told you to help with the cooking?

Give it a rest and relax that severely furrowed brow.

We're doing something we're not used to as our way of apologizing for trespassing.

It's because Mei-san is extremely fond of eating.

I might actually have a chance with her if I make her something delicious.

Koizumi, cut the pickle into angled bite-size pieces!

Angled? Bite-size pieces?

Don't let the miso soup boil!

But the germs!

There is no such thing!

Let's see, where would the alcohol be?