Nagi Shiono

On a sandy beach where blue waves roll in, there stands a little shack—that's the shop of a talented cat chef. The only people who end up finding this place are those who desperately wish they could run away from reality, weighed down by troubles in work, love, or raising children. The laid‑back yet talkative chef shows off his skills with seasonal seafood. Surf clam chowder, sea bream rice cooked in an earthen pot, mackerel cutlets piled high with tartar sauce… As customers savor these delicious dishes and their hearts begin to unwind, they finally find the honesty hidden deep inside themselves—and in that moment, they are able to take a small step forward. A gently comforting story that snuggles up to tired hearts.

Cafe Pon, rumored to be located at the boundary between this world and the next, is said to “let you meet the people you want to see”. Fuuta, a rookie messenger cat, delivers “thoughts” from people who can no longer be seen. This heartwarming cat novel has been adapted into a comic.