Disclaimer: Hello again. All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. I am merely a translator. Maybe one day I would write my own stories, but eh... I'm going to concentrate on translating フクロウ's works. Well then, here's the third arc of 10 Strays. Enjoy!

野良猫を落とす10の方法 III

10 Ways To Drop A Stray Cat III

Part One

"Yo, pedophile!"

Nouhime unreservedly greeted her friend. Nobunaga only crinkled his brow.

"Don't say such scandalous things to people like that!"

Hearing the word 'pedophile' a number of customers and employees turned their heads towards him.

Under his malicious expression, Nouhime apologized, "My bad, my bad." and took a seat next to him.

"So, how's it going? You know, with that high school girl."

He wondered why women were such curious creatures that had to snoop around for gossip.

Nouhime only gave him a persistent grin and sipped her sake. Ever since she learned of the girl, she had been awfully curious about their relationship and often asked him when they went out drinking.

It's been one year since he started a strange relationship with Kasane.

As of right now, they weren't lovers.

If you had to describe their relationship… they were like friends.

Now Kasane would show up to his door, cook for him, and do little things like cleaning his condo or hanging up the laundry….

Actually it was more like she became his commuting wife.

However, Kasane had drawn a clear line in their relationship.

She probably only thinks of him as "a helpless older brother".

He doesn't know how long this relationship would last, but he had no intentions of ending it.

"Hey, Nobunaga."

"What."

"Can I stay over at your place tonight?"

"…Again?"

Nouhime clasped her hands together, "Please!"

He had known Nouhime since they were little kids, in other words, she is his childhood friend. And they both stayed that way.

He didn't hate Nouhime.

If anything, she was one of the few people he liked.

However since they were raised like family, they both only saw each other as siblings.

Nouhime's home was also located on the outskirts of town.

She didn't have a driver's license and had to rely on public transportations like buses and trains.

Nouhime worked at his family's hospital.

Though he works at a different hospital, he has a place near her workplace. Which is why he sometimes lets Nouhime to stay over at his condo when she can't go back home.

"…It's already midnight…"

The last train of the day had already left and the taxis that come to the bar are already congested with customers who just left the building.

"…You should stop demanding things from me."

"Sorry, sorry. It's an old habit of mine."

Nobunaga exasperatedly sighed and accepted her request.

If the last train didn't leave, he would have immediately sent her off on her own… but he grudgingly accepted her pitiful request. It was the least he can do as an old acquaintance.

TBC

Whew! We're now into the major drama of the series. Hopefully I could post the next chapter by tonight. Until then, I hope you all have a nice day.