Slow Start ch52

p29
>Sengoku Kamuri - Age 11. Autumn.
>Sixth year of elementary school.
>...Hey.
>Hey, you!
>Good afternoon!

>Ah.
>Eh.
>Eh...

>Hey hey!
>Do you like cats?
>Eh?
>That book! It's a book of cat photos, so you must like cats, right?

p30
>Hey.
>I saw two kittens behind the school!

>K-
>Kittens...
>Yeah. They're really ccute.
>Hey, wanna come see them?

>There's some cute flowers blooming over there too...
>U-
>Um...

>Hm?
>...Um
>My mom and dad told me not to touch things like stray animals or weeds...


>Eh? Why not?
>Ah, do you perhaps have allergies?
>I've never touched them, though.
>No.
>I'm fine whenever I touch the cats at my relative's house so I don't think that's it...
>I see. Then what is it?

>..Um...
>?

>...They said I shouldn't touch stray cats because they're dirty...

>I see.
>What should I do.
>I said something bad.
>She's gonna get mad at me.

p31
>I see.
>So it's fine so long as you don't touch them, right?

>Eh...
>In that case, I'll handle the cats
>and pluck a few flowers too!
>Okay?

>I'll take on all the dirty work!

>Okay?
>That way, it's not much different from looking at that photo album.
>Eh.
>Eh...

>Not to mention they move! Photos can't do that!
>Eh...

>Can't
>move
>cat
>flower

>...J-
>Just for a little bit...
>Sure!
>I'll wait for you by the entrance then!
>Yep...

p32
>...
>>The World's Longest Cat

>Ah!
>Over here!

>S-
>Sorry for the wait...
>It's fine.

>Oh yeah, names!
>I'm Eiko.
>A sixth grader.
>Eiko...
>What's your name?

>S-Sengoku Kamuri.
>I'm also in sixth grade.
>Hmm. Kamuri-chan, huh? Kamuri-chan, Kamuri-chan.

>Okay, let's go, Kamuri-chan.
>Eh?

p33
>Ah.
>I washed my hands while I was waiting so they wouldn't be dirty but...
>I guess you don't like it...?

>No.
>I don't mind.


>Ehehe.
>....

p34
>Hey.
>Wanna try stroking it?
>Eh...
>It's fluffy and feels nice!
>Uh...

>Fuwaa...
>How is it?
>It's...
>really soft.
>Yeah.

>And really
>warm.
>Yep yep.

p35
>Ah.
>Is that the end-of-school song?
>We better head back.

>Ah.
>Hey, Kamuri-chan. If you'd like
>do you wanna hang out tomorrow too?
>Eh?

Yep.
>Yep.
>Ah, but the cats might not be here tomorrow...

>Even if there's no cats
>I'm fine if you're with me, Eiko.

p36
>Alright then.
>Tomorrow, same time, same place.
>Yep.

>The next day.

>Ah!
>Kamu-chan!
>Eiko.

>I spotted the cats in the same place today.
>I wonder if their mom is nearby?

>Hey, Kamuri-cha...
>Just Kamuri is fine.
>I call you just Eiko, after all.
>Eh
>Erm, in that case...

>Kamuri...Kamu...
>Hmmm.
>Kamu.
>Aha!
>Kamu!

>Ehehe.
>It feels kinda nice to not use honorifics.
>Yep.