Sakura Quest (サクラクエスト)

I think it's a memory from my childhood.

I was in the main hall of a palace somewhere.

Surrounded by my people who were shouting my name.

And I wore a beautiful, sparkling crown on my head.

In that moment, I felt so happy.

It was perfect.

Was it some kind of dream?

Or did that day really happen?

I'm still not completely sure.

But it's my favorite memory!

You're saying that one memory has made you happier

than anything else in your life?

Uh, yes!

Oh, crap! I screwed it up!

I see you've applied for our management track,

but are you open to accepting a secretarial position?

Sure!

Yes, I'm open to that.

I'd be proud to do my part in any way I could.

Even at a rural branch?

Well, I'm not gonna lie. I'd prefer Tokyo.

How many applications have you submitted so far?

About thirty, counting this one.

Considering that, what's your theory

as to why none of the others have offered you

a position yet?

Heh...

Your human strokes and total strokes

are unlucky, but the heaven strokes are quite good.

Your golden years will be blessed.

Look, I don't care about my golden years!

I want to be blessed now!

Anything wrong, Miss?

Yep. I've just been "wished the best of luck" again.

It's like, I can't even seem to nab a normal job

in the real world, let alone be anyone's queen.

You can always come back here if it doesn't work out.

Why don't you come home and give your poor Mom

a hand?

You're saying I should move home and help you out

with the chores?

You know the last thing I want is to grow old

in the country.

But you're okay with growing old in the city?

It's what normal people do, you know.

What's wrong with being normal?

Can you please not call me "normal"?

I mean, I didn't say I was completely out of options here.

I just had an interview today and I haven't heard back yet.

Why are you so set on staying in Tokyo?

There's plenty of work out here, too.

I don't like the countryside.

I'm not coming home, okay?

And that's that!

Fine.

But a graduate's gotta go somewhere, right?

Remember, this is the last month we're sending you

an allowance!

Ugh. What was I thinking, having my fortune told

when I'm this broke?

I wonder if mayonnaise would be tasty

or truly disgusting on this?

Yeah, hello?

Good evening!

Tell me, have I reached Yoshino Koharu's cellphone?

You have. This is her speaking.

Great, this is Hashimoto

with Momonga Promotion Agency.

I'm sorry. With which agency?

Momonga, the model placement agency.

You registered with us a while back

and we were able to place you on a small project, remember?

Oh! Yeah, of course!

My friend and I registered together

and you sent me on that job.

Well, we actually had a client request you

by name, Ms. Koharu.

To be the spokesperson for a rural town's

promo campaign.

They want you to be their queen.

Be their queen?

Wait, you mean like mayor-for-a-day type thing?

The job is with a tourism board,

so it's probably something along those lines.

There are obviously more details in the contract.

We'll send money to cover all of your travel and expenses,

--of course. -- Hey, slow down.

I haven't agreed yet!

Oh, Ms. Koharu,

you graduated from junior college this spring, right?

Have you already found a job?

Well, no. Good point.

There's nothing here.

Hard to imagine a tourist attraction.

Oh, hold on.

Could I have gotten on the wrong train?

So sorry!

Um, 'scuse me,

but can you tell me, is this the correct train

for Manoyama?

Manoyama? Why go there?

For a job. I'm from Tokyo.

A job in Manoyama, huh?

Yeah.

They've asked me to be their queen.

Oh, the Chupakabura thing.

Uh...

Anyway, is this train--?

Next stop: Manoyama Station.

Manoyama.

Hi! Thanks for meeting me!

I'm Yoshino Koharu from Momonga!

It's a pleasure to meet you!

Hmm? What is this?

I'll slow down.

My name is Yoshino Koharu and I'm here to take the job.

You know, the one as the queen?

Koharu?

I'm so sorry.

There appears to have been some kind of mix-up.

The person we were trying to request for the position

is named Yoshino Tsubaki.

Yoshino Tsubaki?

Oh, she apparently used to be a big pop star

back in the day.

Our board director is a huge fan,

so he planned to have her come promote our town

as queen.

That person out there is not my little Yoshino!

How in the hell did you manage to screw this up?

Well, if you look at your note, it really doesn't look

at all like Tsubaki.

Oh, it's my fault?!

Ah, here we are.

I finally found some info on Yoshino Tsubaki.

I'm afraid she passed away eight years ago.

Wha--?

Wow, so she was famous forever ago.

What should we do now?

We already mailed off that long application

to receive a subsidy!

And we've already transferred the contract fees

to her agency.

Which is all your fault because you screwed up!

Seriously, would you look at your note?

Well the banner said "Tsubaki," so how do you explain that?

Funny thing--that was actually a mistake

'cause we asked for Koharu.

The characters are too close for Koharu!

Shigaraki is only a novice calligrapher.

Well, I'm a master!

Holy cow, these people are nuts.

Mr. Kadota, please, you've gotta calm down!

You're being very rude to Ms. Koharu!

After all, she came here for us.

Would you shut up, Shiori?

This random girl can't possibly hold a candle

to my little Yoshino!

Your "little Yoshino" would be an old woman

if she was alive!

Yeah, it's confusing how you keep calling her

"little Yoshino."

What's confusing about Yoshino?

Everything!

So, it's happened again.

Yet another job rejection.

She'll be my "little Yoshino" till I die!

Pardon me!

Hm?

Um, the thing is,

we all know it's very easy to mistake Tsubaki for Koharu

because of how they're written,

and no matter what level calligrapher wrote it,

of course you would see it as Tsubaki

if that's what you're looking for from the start,

so that's no one's fault.

And no matter how old your favorite pop star gets,

calling her "my little Yoshino" is kind of sweet, isn't it?

Yeah, so, that's all okay.

Anyway...

I know I'm very young.

And I know I'm not who you wanted.

And I'm sure Yoshino Tsubaki was a wonderful person

and I couldn't hope to compete with a pop star,

but if there is something I could do

to help you all out here,

I'd love the opportunity to try--

Fine, then!

I guess it's meant to be.

We'll go ahead with the coronation,

as was originally planned.

Huh?

For the record...

I'm really glad it worked out for you to stay.

Oh, my name is Shiori Shinomiya!

I work for the tourism board, also.

Nice to meetcha.

Thanks, you too!

The one walking up in the front up there?

That's Ushimatsu Kadota. He's the king.