My Cute Little Kitten Ch16 by Morinaga Milk TL by boke ### TL notes indicated by hash tags like this: ### ### Page numbers indicated by —XX for example, page one is: —1 ### Panel numbers indicated by -X for example, panel one is: -1 ### sfx- means the following is a sound effect. ### hw- means the following is handwritten. ### Unless otherwise noted, panel and text balloon flow is from upper right to lower left. ### Sometimes my comments are snark or color, so feel free to ignore those. —72 -1 The story so far That’s not me anymore. What am I now? ###box Who am I if I’m not wanted? ###black box My Cute Little Kitten -2 Check Manicurist Tsutsumi Reina and Author Matsumoto Yuna have been living together since college. They were roommates in college, and the two of them, good friends as this point, continued to live together after graduating. On day, Yuna found two kittens. With some good luck, she was able to save the life of one of them and named it Chibi. Due to issues with having a pet, Yuna suggested moving to a new place. This drove Rena into a frenzy, and she ended up disclosing her long concealed romantic feelings for Yuna. In a surprising development, Yuna accepted her feelings. In the bustle of their new life together, they had multiple instances of miscommunication born from misunderstandings as they spend their days settling into work. Even though there should have been no cause for her to be uneasy, Yuna started to have small seeds of doubt sprout in her heart. And the origins of that unease turns out to be… -3 Tsutsumi Rena Though she puts on a cool front, she has a weakness for small animals and can’t help but want to take care of them. Because of that, the sudden shock of Yuna adopting a kitten, together with finding out her feelings for Yuna were reciprocated, has her frazzled and confused, but she’s gradually closing the distance between them, often through trial and error. Matsumoto Yuna At core a bright and cheerful person, she nonetheless has a lot of private worries, which she bottles up inside. Though small and apparently weak, she’s a lively girl who often stays up all night working and can pack away whole plates of gyoza or katusdon. She casually (and unintentionally) strings Rena along, without an ounce of ill will, as only a natural airhead can. A newcomer to love. Chibi A kitten Yuna found one day. Quickly growing up while completely ignorant of the dramatic romance developing around her. As kittens tend to be, she is mischievous and energetic, and often scratches the furniture. —73 -1 My Cute Little Kitten —74 -1 BeepBeepBeep BeepBeepBeep Nn… -2 Yuna…? -3 Yuna’s not in her room either… The shoes she always wears aren’t here either. Did she go out? This early? -4 A girl who has nothing cannot be loved. A girl who possesses nothing is not needed. Since I’m empty, I can’t be loved. -5 Yuna…! sfx- Ka-chak -6 Wha! Hya! You surprised me! —75 -1 What’s wrong, Rena-chan? hw- You’re in your PJs… Aren’t you cold? What about you, Yuka, where have you been off to so early? You weren’t here when I got up… -2 We ran out of cat food, so I went to get some. -3 I was worried. Just let me know! Sorry, sorry. You were sound asleep, so… I also bought some waffles. Let’s have them for breakfast Chibi! Breakfast time! sfx- Nyaaa -4 Are you ok? You had collapsed just a while ago… hw- Eh? That was last week, right? hw- I’m totally fine now. sfx- Rip She does seem ok, so… and she’s cheery… -5 sfx- Stare But… —76 -1 When she gazes at me, I… -2 Waffle flavor… Nn… -3 No bra?! Did she go outside that way? Ah… sfx- Grope -4 Ah… Nn… sfx- Shiver -5 Rena-chan… It’s time for you to go to work… Nngh… -6 You’re back to normal… It was nice when you were all hot for it… I guess that was just you avoiding work… sfx- Rub Rub Oh, don’t give me that! —77 -1 But seriously… It’s great she seems happy, but… There’s something… -3 sfx- Ka-chak Was I like that? I don’t know… But… ###Right under panel 3 -4 sfx- Slump I have be that way. “The me that Rena-chan says she loves” ###box If I want to be loved, I have to be the person my partner wants me to be. -5 I wanted to continue fooling around… On the sofa… Like we have before so many times… —78 -1 This morning… When I saw her sleeping face, I almost attacked her. I went out to cool my head, but it didn’t work at all. -2 I can play the part well enough, I can be needed. But… -3 All I can think about is that… The girl Rena loves? I’m not actually that. Is there any kind of meaning in that? ### the above is the boxes, below is the dialog This is bullshit. I don’t wanna think about it. All I wanna do… Is feel good. -4 Huff…. Hah… -5 Chibi? You didn’t finish eating? It’s “MonPetit”, you know? -6 Right now my value of my existence lies in being the one to take care of you, ok? If you don’t eat, then… hw- Geez, I guess I gotta… sfx- Sigh hw- Here, snacks. —79 -1 sfx- Cough Cough Chibi…? sfx- Barf -2 The vomit is pink… sfx- Wha? Blood? -3 Chibi?! What’s wrong?! What should I do?! Gotta call Rena-chan… sfx- Cough Cough -4 No… She’s working… -5 Chibi… Rena-chan’s not here. -6 I… have to do something! -7 Get her.. to the vet… -8 I have to help Chibi! —80 -1 It’s great that Yuna’s upbeat, but… There’s something… -2 How do I put it? -3 She’s happy. And healthy. And cheerful. She’s not being overwhelmed by work… It’s not like her… Maybe I’m lonely because she doesn’t need me? hw- Maybe I’m feeling empty nest syndrome? Am I the sick one here? ### bold or italicize “I” -3 Beautiful! A Christmas rose? Ah, Manager! Good job today. hw- Wow -4 They’re samples for Christmas… -5 So detailed! They’re wonderful. I want to feature your nail art at the new shop… sfx- Uh… -6 About that… Manager, can I have some of your time after work? Hm? —81 -1 I see. Going independant, huh? Yeah, it’s about time you considered that. -2 I’m sorry! But it’s not Iike I have a plan or anything… And managing a branch does sound enticing… -3 Yeah, there’s a ton of nail salons, right? And hair salons that do nails too. New shops often don’t last long… As an independent, it’s hard to find some space to set up shop, huh? -4 Manager… It’s amazing you’ve decide to open a new branch… Eh? You saying I’m reckless? No! That’s not what I mean! It’s just… entrusting me to run a branch… -5 Beyond managing, can I attract customers? I’m not confident… that I can meet your expectations. -6 I’m not sure it’s my place to say this as the owner, but… —82 -1 Opening up a branch is not about doing business. Eh? -2 It’s been coming on 20 years since this shop has opened. We did move once, though. Wha? Twenty years? What’s a long time! Just how old are you? Our customers… -3 Many of our customers live in the neighborhood and have been coming all this time. Moms bringing in their daughters. When those kids become high schoolers, they bring their friends. Ah, most of our high school clients are referrals. It was my dream to create a shop where people could feel at home. -4 You accomplished your dream! Yup, I accomplished my dream. So, next up… -5 I want to help a young manicurist put out their own art. I want to create a space where that dream can come true. That’s what I want. Manager… —83 -1 But… to tell the truth, I think you have enough talent to go independent. How about a home salon? It’ll keep rent expenses down. hw- Hnn -2 hw- Y… Yeah, I was thinking about that. But I’ve got a room-mate, so… I see… So sharing with a friend? But one of you is likely to get married and move, right? hw- Wha? Hw- Ngn… -3 Not gonna happen! Huh? -4 She’s… ###below panel 4 -5 She’s my partner. So I’m not leaving her as long as I live! —84 -1 Eh? -2 Ah… Ah! I get you now… I see! hw- Uh… I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to bring that up! -3 C-crap! I got fired up and outed myself! And right in front of my boss too! P-please forget about that! ###jagged bubble She might not consider me for the branch anymore…! -4 hw- So… What does your girlfriend think? Go independent or be branch manager? Uh… Um… I haven’t asked. hw- Huh? You haven’t asked your girlfriend? -5 It’s not like I haven’t, but… Huh? But have I heard Yuna’s opinion on it? -6 Since it’s something that affects your life together… -7 Shouldn’t you consult with your family rather than deciding alone? She’s your family, right?