Co-Research with Chief Librarian ~Part Ten~/Story

## Introduction

 Ah, you're here. This time too we're doing maintenance and inspection of our book collection.
Especially the 'on loan' shelf. I'd like you to confirm which book is currently on loan and contact borrowers to have them returned. ああ、来たな。今回の仕事も蔵書の整理・点検だ
特に貸出を行っている本棚の整理を頼む。貸出中の本を確認して、返却の連絡をしたい

 During this time, students graduate and often move away.
Before that, we definitely have to make sure they're returning their books. 特にこの時期、学生は卒業などで遠くへ行ってしまう
その前に本はきちんと返してもらわないといけないからな。注意して見てくれ

 I feel a little lonely that the students who used to come here will no longer do so...
There will be newcomers once April rolls around, though. 毎年のことだが、この時期は通っていた学生がもう来なくなってしまうから寂しく思うよ……
まあ、4月になれば新しい利用者も増えるんだが

 Anyway, April is the time to turn over a new leaf.
Let's organize the shelves properly while March is still here. とにかく、4月からは気持ちを新たに切り替える時期だ
3月中にしっかり本棚の整理を終わらせよう

## Students and Cat

 Alright, we contacted current borrowers for unreturned books.
There's only book inspection and shelf organization left. よし、未返却の本については借りた人たちへ連絡を入れた
あとは棚の整理や本の点検だな

 The weather has been nice recently, too. I want to bask in the sun like a cat...
...Hm? Oh, what a rare sight. Look out the window. この頃は外もいい陽気だな。俺もネコみたいに日向ぼっこで休憩したくなる……
……ん？　おお、珍しい。窓の外を見てくれ

 ...The Cat is playing with the students. They seem to really love cats.
He doesn't seem to dislike it, either. ……ネコが学生たちと戯れている。猫好きの学生がいたようだな
ネコもまんざらでもなさそうじゃないか？

 ...Oh, he's back. ……お、戻ってきた

\*appears\*

 What. なんだ

 Nothing. It's just rare for you to let students touch you. いいや。学生たちと触れ合っているのは珍しいな

 These kids come to this library, probably to study for exams.
They grew attached to me. Though, they'll be going away to far away schools in spring. 受験だかなんだかで、この図書館に通っていた子供だ
いつのまにか吾輩に懐いたのだ。春には皆、遠くの学校とやらに行くらしいが

 Oh, so they came to the library to study for exams.
It's too bad. You guys finally grew attached to each other. そうか、あの子たちは受験生か。図書館に勉強をしに来ていたんだな
せっかく仲良くなったのに、残念だな

 I'm nyot attached or anything. I just let them pet me in exchange for food. 別に仲良くなどニャイ。吾輩はささみをもらう代わりに撫でさせてやっていただけだ

 You sure seemed chummy back there, though! 十分、仲良くなってるじゃないか！

## The Library and Cat

 Ah, Cat. You're at the Library again today. あ、ネコ。今日は図書館に来てたのか

 We haven't seen you around lately. Are you busy with work? 最近はあまり見かけなかったですね。仕事が忙しいんですか？

 I come to the Library under orders from the government.
If there's no work, I just come here when I'm hungry. 吾輩は政府の伝達のために図書館に来ている
用事がなくても来るのは、腹が減ったときくらいだ

 Does this Library have cat food...? この図書館、ネコにまで食事を準備してたのか……

 The food in the Dining Hall isn't too bad.
There's snacks here, too. 食堂のご飯の味は他と比べても、なかなかに悪くニャイ
ここは間食のあてもあるしな

 By the way, I heard you get snacks from the students who come here, too.
You're surprisingly cute sometimes. そういえば、図書館に来る学生たちからおやつをもらっていたと聞きました
意外と可愛い所あるんですね

 Hmm. Nyot for much longer though, I'm afraid. ふん。そのあては、もう少しでなくなるが

 Once the students graduate, they won't be coming to the Library to study anymore, huh...
Ah well, once more students come in April it'll get better, so don't feel down! 学生は卒業すれば、勉強のために図書館なんて来なくなるからなー
まあ、4月にはまた新しい学生が図書館に来るんだから気を落とすなって！

 I'm nyot really feeling down or anything... Stop worrying over nonsense. 別に気を落としてなどいニャイ……余計なお世話だ

## Graduation

 Cat. The weather is really nice today.
Shouldn't you be napping outside? ネコ。今日はよく晴れて、いい天気だぞ
日向ぼっこに出ないのか？

 The wind is still cold out there. I'll make do with the window.
Besides, it's noisy today with how much people are going in and out. 外はまだ風が冷たい。日向ぼっこは窓辺で十分だ
それに今日は、人の出入りするところが騒がしかった

 Ah, today is graduation day for the school next to us. A lot of students came to return their books.
Oh, that's right. A group of students gave this to me. ああ、今日は近隣の学校の卒業式だったからな。たくさん学生が本を返しに来たよ
そうだ。学生の一団から、これを預かっていたんだ

 ...What is this? ……なんだこれは

 Snacks for cats. Good for you.
Must be hard to be popular with students. They were looking for you, you know. 猫用のおやつだ。よかったな
学生の人気者というのも忙しいな。お前を探していたぞ

 But there are other cats everywhere? 猫ならどこにでもいるだろう

 It's their gift to thank *you* for all this time, isn't that right?
Some of them will be in the Literature department from spring onwards, so maybe you'll see them again. 今までお前に癒やされていたお礼だろう？
春からは文学部の学生になる子もいるらしいぞ。いつかまた図書館で会えるかもしれないな

 ...That is none of my concern. However, I will take the snacks. ……吾輩には関係のニャイことだ。だが、そのおやつはもらっておく

 Don't eat too much... Well then, since Cat is enjoying his snacks, should we have something as well?
Since it fits the season, how about Sakuramochi? Let's call the authors over and eat together. 食べすぎるなよ。……さて、ネコもおやつを食べていることだし、俺達もなにか食べるか
この季節なら桜餅はどうだ？　文豪たちも呼んで、一息つこう