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

## Introduction

 You're finally here. I have a request for you. 待っていたぞ。君に頼みがある

 This year too it has become the season to inspect our stacks of books.
Just like always, I want you to help with it. 今年も蔵書点検を行う時期になった
いつもどおり、君にも手伝ってもらいたい

 Aka and Ao went ahead and already started working at the stack room.
Go join them and carry out the job. アカとアオは一足先に書庫の方で作業を始めている
彼らに合流して作業を進めてくれ

 Right, I didn't give you New Year's gift yet.
With this, I hope you'll work hard this year too. I'm counting on you. そうだ、君にお年玉をあげていなかったな
これで今年も頑張ってくれ、よろしく頼むぞ

## The Way of Spending New Year's Gift Money

 Hey, say. Have you already used your New Year's money? なあなあ、お年玉もう使った？

 Not yet.
What about you, Aka? まだです
そういうアカはどうなんです

 I already spent all. 俺はもう使い切ったぞ

 Eh!?
But it hasn't even been a day since we received the gifts, hasn't it?
What did you spent the money on? え!？
まだもらって一日も経っていないじゃないですか
なにに使ったんです？

 I bought high-grade chocolate I've always wanted!
Boy, I found a good thing to spend my money on. 前からずっと欲しかった高級なチョコレートを買った!
いやー、いいお金の使い方ができた

 Such a determination to do what one wants is nice... Or rather too good of a thing...
Wouldn't it have been better if you thought about it a little more? 思い切りがいいというか、よすぎるというか……
もう少し良く考えて使わなくてよかったんですか？

 But with lucky bags you can get in super reasonable price chocolates you normally wouldn't be able to afford.
Obviously I had to go buy some. 普段なら手が出ないチョコが福袋でめちゃくちゃお得に買えるんだぜ
買いに行くしかないだろ

 Sigh...
Let's get back to work. It's about to become dark. はあ……
そろそろ作業に戻りましょう。日が暮れてしまいます

## The Way to Spend New Year

 That reminded me, what are you planning to use your New Year's money to, Ao? そういや、アオはお年玉なにに使う予定なんだよ

 I'm planning to buy experiment tools. 実験器具を買う予定です

 Experiment tools!?
Why are you buying such things with your New Year's money?
Wouldn't it be better to ask Chief to buy them? 実験器具!？
なんでそんなもんお年玉で買うんだよ
館長に買ってもらえばいいじゃん

 I'm buying them for my private experimentations.
For a long time I've been saving up my money, and with this New Year's gift I could finally accumulate enough.
After we're done with the work, I'm going to go buy the tools right away. プライベートの実験用に買うんですよ
前々からお金を貯めてたんですが、今回のお年玉でようやく貯まりました
この仕事が終われば早速買いにいくつもりです

\*appears\*

 Is your work going well?
What, you have nyot made any progress. 作業は順調か？
なんだ、全然進んでニャイじゃニャイか

 Ah, Cat.
But you see, it's the end of the New Year's holidays. It's so tiresome.
Besides, when I went to buy the lucky bags I was crushed by the crowds of people, so I'm even more exhausted. あ、ネコ
だってさ、正月明けだぜ。そりゃしんどいよ
それに、福袋買いに行って人ごみにもまれたから余計に疲れてるわけ

 In the middle of this coldness you went outside on purpose, and came back tired, huh?
I don't get how you humans think. It would have been better if you just stayed curled up under the kotatsu. 寒い中わざわざ外に出かけて、疲れて帰ってきたのか？
人間の考える事は吾輩にはわからんな。炬燵で丸まっていればいいのに

 Well, that's how you would do things I guess...
Speak of that, how did you spend your New Year? まあ、ネコにとってはそうでしょうけど……
そういうネコはお正月なにしてたんですか？

 Me? I took walks and basked in the sun. 吾輩か？散歩や日向ぼっこしていた

 Isn't that what you always do? いつもと同じじゃん

 Cat doesn't care whether it's New Year or not. ネコには正月関係ないですね

 Shut up. Don't complain about this and that, and get moving. うるさいな。ごちゃごちゃいってニャイで手を動かせ

## A New Year's Gift to Chief Librarian

 Chief! We got done with the work. 館長ー!　今日の分は終わらせてきたぞ

 Would you also take a breather with us, Chief? 館長もそろそろ一息つきませんか

 Thanks for today, both of you. Alright, my work has also reached the good point, so I might as well take a break. ご苦労さん。よし、俺の仕事も一段落したし休憩するか

 And then, here's this; a New Year's gift from us to you. それでこれ、俺たちから館長へのお年賀

 We bought it with the remnants of everyone's New Year's money.
Apparently these confections are perfect for New Year. みんなのお年玉の残りで買ったんです
新年にピッタリなお菓子だそうですよ

 Hanabiramochi, huh...
Thanks, I'm very delighted! Should we eat them together for this special occasion?  花びら餅か……
ありがとう嬉しいよ!　折角だし皆で食べようか

 Heck yeah! I'll go get the tableware, while you go prepare tea or something, Ao. よっし!　俺、食器とってくるからアオはお茶でも淹れてくれよ

 Got it.
To make it New Year-like, I may as well make us New Year's tea.  わかりました
新年らしく、大福茶でも淹れましょうか

\*leaves\*

\*leaves\*

 Well then, I'll clean up my desk.
You go call the writers.
Let's take a rest together and enjoy some sweets. さて、俺は机を片付けよう
君は文豪たちを呼んできてくれ
皆でお菓子を食べて一息入れよう