MEBIUS DUST (メビウス・ダスト)

Morning.

Morning.

The Shin-Koiwa festival's today. You're going, right?

I'll pass. I have plans with Olga.

Ah...

Looks like the weather's gonna be nice today.

Shin-Shin-Koiwa!

Shin-Shin-Koiwa! Shin-Koiwa!

The prophecy of the Water God...

has arrived!

And this year's Shin-Koiwa Water God Festival Toppuku is...

Shippo Marimo

Yakata Flower...

Shippo Marimo!

Heck yeah!

Our leader!

Blessings!

Really?

It's finally happening!

Here we go! It's time!

This is great!

Good for you, Shippo!

I've wanted to win the blessing ever since I was a kid.

I know, right?

Anyone whose family runs a shop would.

Whoever does their Toppuku duties well

gets a ton of good fortune for a year, and their business prospers.

Good Fortune

Yup, yup.

So he won't have to work?

Probably!

Don't go to the festival with your head up your ass.

No one wants to see a Toppuku that doesn't care.

Yeah. You're right.

I'm going to go pick some flowers.

Flowers?

He's gonna go pee.

Man, I'd love to take his place, though.

You can't, though, right?

Of course not.

The Water God's prophecy is absolute.

The boss is the only one who can do the Toppuku job this year.

We're on the same team, though.

Maybe we'll get some secondhand good fortune.

True!

Maybe the secondhand good fortune will keep bugs away from our flower shop.

Or maybe it'll grow some wild lemongrass and cilantro!

Maybe if the family business does well, I'll get some extra allowance!

That sounds awesome!

Crap! I forgot I was supposed to do deliveries.

Later!

Anyway, break a leg, Toppuku!

Huh?

He hasn't come back from peeing yet.

Stop saying "pee." Say he's using the bathroom.

Okay.

He's taking a while, though.

Maybe he's feeling sick!

Shippo! You all right?

I can't be the Toppuku.

Please don't look for me.

Damn it! The boss ran away!

Why can't he be the Toppuku?

I don't know! You tell me!

Hang on...

If the boss isn't the Toppuku,

Good Fortune

never mind good fortune, we might end up with secondhand misfortune!

That reminds me of something I heard...

Store Closing

The Western food place at the station closed down

because their eldest son rejected the Toppuku role.

Store Closing

That place was so good, especially for the price!

Does that mean our Yakata Flower...

We need to go find Shippo!

Yeah!

I'm sorry, everyone...

Marimo?

Araki.

Is something the matter?

N-No. Nothing, really.

Huh? Boss?

What are you doing out here?

You gotta prep for being the Toppuku by tonight—

Marimo?!

Wait, hey!

Crap! I've done it now!

Shoot.

Shin-Koiwa Park

Marimo.

How did you...

Ah, I see.

That's your power now.

Yeah, that's right.

But why have you come after me?

You aren't fooling me.

Your tail's been down this whole time.

Something's bugging you, for sure.

I want to help you!

The thing is...

Shippo!

Our adorable little Marimo-chan!

Limit-breakingly cute Marimo!

Leader of the cuteness industry!

Nay, god of cuteness!

The cutest of the cute Shiba Inu cuties!

Come out!

Are you even trying to find him?

I thought it might make him so happy he'd pop up drooling.

I don't think he's showing up.

Asshie!

What's wrong?

I'm gonna have to pay for this!

There goes my gig money!

Who cares? Anyway...

I care?!

Have you seen the boss?

Huh? He was at the sports park.

Really?!

Let's go!

Nah, he's long gone.

He kinda ran off.

Is he seriously going to blow off his Toppuku duty?

Huh? What are you talking about?

We don't even know.

Also, doesn't the Toppuku have a lot to do before the festival?

He sure does.

Like cleansing himself in the waters of Water God Shrine.

Of course!

You hate water?

Yeah.

I hate public baths, too.

So how do you recover Dust, then?

Well...

Kiddie Pool

I totally forgot about that.

I wonder if they'll let him cleanse just his feet.

I doubt it.

They use, like, a waterfall's worth of water on you.

Toppuku

As the messenger between this land and the Water God,

you have to be drenched from head to toe.

I get how he feels.

Everyone's got something they don't like.

But still, you know...

It's just one day! Just suck it up!

Just brace yourself, and it's over in an instant!

It says Marimo's over there!

In any case, let's go get him!

Ah. So that's why...

I really am sorry, but I just—

There you are!

Shippo! Resign yourself to your Toppuku—

Take this!

Marimo, her belly!

Nice parry.

But as they say...

When push comes to shove, shove some more!

Let's go!

Get on!

Okay!

Wait, Shippo!

Don't you know how to hold back?

"Hold back"? Is that tasty?

Hey, it's the Toppuku!

Toppuku! Toppuku!

Marimo-chan, want some candy?

Got some sausage for you! Good for you to eat!

Marimo!

It's Marimo!

Marimo!

You sure are popular, Marimo.

Marimo-chan!

Heya, Takara's mom.

Do you have a moment?

I don't, in fact.

What's the matter?

You're as cute as ever.

So fluffy and squishy...

Oh, right! Perfect timing!

Come over here.

Here you go.

This is our new pho!

Give it a try, please.

Oh, I left the green onions off for you, Marimo-chan.

It's good!

This is great.

Takara's dad, you really should have Takara try this, too.

Really?

Really.

Great news!

Thanks for the meal.

There you are!

Hold it!

Rembao! Time-out!

I want you to try something!

Wait, now's not the time!

Great. Now's your chance to—

Do you mind if I take another detour?