"Alright, coffee, is it? Would you like milk? Or perhaps some sugar?"
Upon seeing this illusory figure, the sternness in Nearl's eyes softened, her tone and expression returning to their usual gentleness.
"Black coffee, nothing added, thank you."
This unknown entity, bearing a ninety percent resemblance to Manhattan Cafe, possessed a personality that could be described as vastly different from Cafe's.
The richness of her facial expressions went without saying, and even her behavior clearly showed the contrast.
This shadowy figure was just like her presence suggested—cold, sharp, and full of danger.
That was the reason for Nearl's earlier wariness.
"And what about you, Cafe? Would you like milk?"
"Yes, thank you."
Lowering her head, letting that separated strand of hair long enough to reach her chest hide her somewhat flustered eyes, Cafe felt a wave of shyness.
'Nearl knows. The existence of my [Friend] is known.'
This was the first time she had ever experienced such a feeling of being completely seen through—not just superficially, but truly understood for who she was.
Maintaining her bashfulness, she went to sit beside her [Friend]. Throughout this, Cafe remained silent, but the unknown existence, so deeply connected to her, had already seen right through her thoughts.
"…"
She whispered something only Cafe herself could hear, making Cafe even more flustered.
"I-it's not that… It's true, I did say only someone who fully understands me can be my friend…"
Manhattan Cafe seemed to be persuaded by her [Friend], but having never been one to actively and enthusiastically engage with others, she still felt deeply hesitant.
The shadowy version of Cafe shook her head helplessly at this.
"…"
"Of course I'm not disappointed. Nearl is outstanding, it's just… Can I really make friends?"
"…"
"But I also know my usual reputation. If Nearl isn't willing to be friends with me…"
"If it's about being friends, of course I'm willing."
A soft voice sounded beside her, accompanied by the rich aroma of coffee, causing Manhattan Cafe's ears to twitch involuntarily.
"When did you get here?"
Though the voice was so calming that Cafe wasn't overly startled, the embarrassment of having her little secret discovered still made her cheeks flush.
"Hehehe."
"Stare!"
From the opposite seat, the shadowy Cafe, who had seen Nearl approach the entire time but deliberately hadn't warned her, grinned soundlessly, earning a glare from the real Cafe.
"So, what should I call you?"
Placing the black coffee—utterly devoid of any additives to mellow its taste—in front of her, Nearl gazed into the golden eyes opposite her, eyes that were the same color as her own yet entirely different.
"Just call me SS. As a code name for conversation, it's enough."
Crossing her legs and leaning back against the chair, SS picked up the coffee cup before her and took a clean, swift sip.
"Mmm, truly delicious. I actually sense a kind of sincerity in this coffee."
In contrast to SS's brisk movements, Manhattan Cafe sat demurely, legs together, holding her coffee cup with both hands and taking small, careful sips.
"It's delicious!"
"Mm, thank you for the praise. Refills are free, so just let me know if you'd like more."
Nearl looked at Cafe with a smile full of warmth, and the other girl nodded, her face still tinged with red.
"Alright, now let's talk about your situation, SS."
After the two of them had finished about half of their coffee, Nearl began to look seriously at SS, who, though still somewhat illusory, was indistinguishable from Manhattan Cafe at a casual glance.
"There's really not much to say, is there? After all, you, the Goddess, are here. In comparison, my issue is just a minor one, right?"
Taking an unhurried sip of the bitter liquid, SS's expression remained natural.
"You figured it out? Because of Manhattan's unique talent?"
The moment her identity was pointed out, Nearl felt a flicker of surprise, but she quickly calmed down.
This wasn't feigned composure; rather, Nearl genuinely felt, from the bottom of her heart, that it wasn't a big deal.
"Oh? The Goddess doesn't seem to mind her identity being exposed."
"First, I'm not really a Goddess yet—at most, I'm a candidate. Second, Uma Musume are all good kids. I believe it's fine even if you know."
Nearl held up two fingers, gently wagging them.
"I'm a bit flattered. I never expected a Goddess to be so approachable. What do you think, Cafe?"
"Mm, Nearl is truly a good person."
Cafe, who had unknowingly finished her coffee, nodded twice in her shy manner. Noticing her empty cup, Nearl refilled it for her.
"Moreover, I truly live in this world, but you're different, SS. You shouldn't have any connection to this world, right?"
At this, SS shook her head, indicating she didn't know either.
"I'm not sure. When I became aware, I saw Cafe. Perhaps we do share some kind of connection. That world isn't a kind one, so I enjoy staying by this child's side."
Watching Cafe's adorable expression, the ice in SS's eyes melted.
Noticing this, Nearl's assessment of her shifted slightly.
"So, Goddess, how do you plan to deal with me? I know I'm an anomaly. Even if you ordered me to go back and never return, I wouldn't complain."
"Don't…"
The words SS suddenly spoke plunged Manhattan Cafe into panic. But normally so unaccustomed to communicating with others, she now found herself unable to form the words to make her stay.
"Don't go. Don't leave me alone…"
"Don't think of me as some cold-hearted person. Did I say something too harsh just now?"
Nearl declared herself to be a good person.
"As long as you don't cause trouble, I won't impose any restrictions on you. Your appearance is part of the world's fabric. Things that exist have their own course; forcing change isn't necessarily good."
"That's wonderful!"
Hearing this, Cafe visibly relaxed, which drew a "Hmph" from SS.
"Don't get like this just hearing I might leave. Someday, I might part ways with you. You have to learn to face the world on your own."
But even as she said this, the look in SS's eyes showed that she, too, had set down a weight from her heart.
"So, if you were so afraid, why did you seek me out today?"
This point still puzzled Nearl.
Logically, if they weren't sure what she would do, shouldn't they have kept their distance?
"…"
Manhattan Cafe gave a slight shudder, but a mischievous, impish smile spread across SS's face.
"Because Cafe wants to make a friend. And her condition for friendship is that they recognize the true Manhattan Cafe for who she is."
"The reason Agnes Tachyon is so close to Cafe is because she noticed traces of me."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.