Showcase Girl

p53
>A-ko-san.
>Hey, A-ko-san~
>A-ko-san
>I'm hungry.

p54
>A-ko-san.
>Yeah, yeah.

>I'll make dinner now.

>Wait a minute, okay?
>Also, it's a proper dinner so get dressed properly.
>Okay~

p55
>Whatcha making?
>Tonight, we're having grilled fish and somen noodles!!
>Eh~ Again?

>I thought you liked fish, B-ko-chan.
>I do but I get sick of having it every single day.

>A-ko-san, don't make fun of me just because I'm a cat, okay?
>Then how about some vegetables...
>Fish is okay for tomorrow too.


p56
>Oh yeah.

>A-ko-san, when will C-ko-chan be coming over again?
>Hmm?

>I think it might be the day after tomorrow.
>Eh~! I can't wait that long~!

>I've been coming over everyday so bear with it.
>Hrm

>In that case, please let me go outside.

p57
>Did you hear me?
>I wanna go outsi-

>No.
>Absolutely not. I'll get mad at you, B-ko-chan.

>Uuh...
>Sorry for saying something so weird.

>Alright then.
>If B-ko-chan manages to be a good girl...

p58
>Then one day, I'll let you outside...

>I've been in this place since the day I was born. I've never been outside.
>Or rather, I've never been allowed to go out.

>If that day comes, I'll make sure to let you out.
>Every day, A-ko-san comes over to look after me, or so she says.

p59
>The only thing that comes through these frosted glass windows is light.
>I've never seen the scenery outside with my own eyes.

>Of course, I haven't been able to open these windows even once.
>[Every day is pretty much spent entirely in this room.]

>My world is so narrow.

>It's really boring, but...

p60
>A-ko-san occassionally brings friends over to play
>and she spends time with me every day

>so I don't really think "man, I wanna go outside" as much as I thought I would.
>Alright, I'm going to get changed.
>You're leaving already?
>Yeah, [another change of clothes have entered the cage]
>Well, I do kinda wanna leave, but...

>Alright, I'll be back tomorrow.

>See you lat-

p61
>Come on, now, I have to go to my next appointment.
>You can't have me all to yourself, B-ko-chan.

>You know that...
>Just a little longer.

>I want to be with A-ko-chan
>just a little longer.

>Just ten more minutes, okay?

>I don't think this is all that bad. I don't know much about the outside world.
>But could there by anything more blissful than this...

p62
>Two days later

p63
>B-ko-chan~

>C-ko-chan... Long time no see!

>I've missed you, B-ko-chan!
>Me too.

>Good afternoon, A-ko-san.

>Good afternoon.
>Have you been a good girl?


p64
>Yes I have.
>So please make something other than somen noodels.
>Man, what a pain.

>C-ko-chan lives on her own in a different room, just like me.
>Girls like her occassionally come over to my place to play.

>Among all those girls, C-ko-chan is the first friend that A-ko-san brought over.
>When you're alone, you think too much about lots of things and you have a mental breakdown.
>Remember that.
>something like that

p65
>[So she doesn't mind us going out as long as it's only for a little bit.]

>A-ko's so stingy
>[...I think A-ko-san's just being A-ko-san]

>I like both A-ko-san and C-ko-chan so I don't really mind just staying here.
>I love both of you too! That's why I want all of us to go out together!

>[But y'know, in those stories about people leaving isolated environments to go into the outside world, they don't really write that much about the outside.]

>That's right! If we go outside, we can continue our story.
>Right now our story is stuck in a writer's block.

>I don't want it to end just like that.
>Ah, I died.

p66
>A-ko-san said we could leave some day.
>[Let's just have fun while we wait, then go outside.]

>I'd hate it if I couldn't play with A-ko-san and C-ko-chan.

>C-C-ko-chan!? Wh-what's gotten into you all of a sudden!?

>...I'm going outside today.
>I came here to say goodbye to you, B-ko-chan...

p67
>I thought I'd say bye-bye to you normally but...
>Then you went and said that, B-ko-chan.

>I'm scared of the outside too
>But D-ko, E-ko, and even F-ko-chan...
>Everyone went outside... It feels like I'm being left behind.
>I think like that whenever I'm alone.

>I'm going first, B-ko-chan.
>Sorry.

>It's alright. You have to go outside when you're ordered to.
>[I'm just a little slow]

>So please don't cry.
>Say bye-bye with a smile.

>Sorry to interrupt your flirting, but dinner's ready.

p68
>That night, the two of us ate together.

>The usual meal, like we usually do.

>I guess this is goodbye.

p69
>Alright, then.
>Bye-bye!

>Yeah.
>...

>Aren't you going home, A-ko-san?
>Hm?

>Figured I should comfort a certain someone who might be feeling lonely...

>[Just like D-ko and E-ko, when my turn comes up I'll be gone too.]
>I've been preparing for that all this time but...

p70
>Jealousy, relief...
>and naturally sadness, too...
>all becomes mixed up inside of me.

>...
>A-ko-san, can you stay with me today?

>Sure.
>You're so hopeless, B-ko-chan...

p71
>Not gonna sleep.

>...Nah.

p72
>Here.
>Come closer.

>Come on... If you're worried about something, tell me.

>A-ko-san.
>Was C-ko-chan bought by a good person?

>...

>You knew about that?

p73
>This is a cage inside a pet shop.
>You girls are all pets for sale.

>I had a hunch, but it really is true.

>Then the outside must be something like this, right?

p74
>That's right.
>I'm in charge of breeding you, B-ko-chan.

>[So you can get an owner just like C-ko-chan.]


>Then, I want you to raise me forever, A-ko-san.

p75
>Hey...
>Won't you give me some affection?

>...
>I can't let you, the merchandise, become damaged goods

>In that case, take responsiblity
>and please make me your pet, A-ko-san.

>Please! I'll do anything you say.
>[You can even throw me out if I'm bad]

>[I'm fine with anything as long as I'm with you, A-ko-san]
>I want you to buy me.

>I'm not as good of a kid as you think I am, A-ko-san.

p76
>I wonder if obedient girls like C-ko-chan are more popular?

>I'll do anything you say if you buy me, A-ko-san.
>Whatever it is, I won't hate it.
>So please raise me.

>I can't give you special treatment.
>So, y'see, B-ko-
>Please!

>Please make me your pet, A-ko-san.

p77
>Pretty please...

>That face just isn't fair, B-ko-chan...

p78
>I want that girl~
>Ah, this one's cute too~
>Ah~ what to do~
>This one's good too
>But if I keep this one, I'll want the other ones too

>Manager~

>Looks like we sold B-ko.
>I guess so.
>Manager, you must've really been raising them with love.
>Y-Yeah.

p79
>...I am curious though. B-ko didn't look like the kind that would sell.
>Y-Yeah...
>Did you know that? It's because she acts so enthusiastic around you, Manager.
>It made it hard for the customers to get close, y'know.
>I-Is that so...

>Well, if the owner picked her than that's a sale for us.
>I hope her new owner's a good person.

>I think they'll shower her with affection...
>Manager~

>Manager~
>Did you want the stock over here?

p80
>...
>Manageeeer
>Ahahaha...

>You bought another one for yourself...
>Well, she was just so cute...