Hakumei and Mikochi (ハクメイとミコチ)

Hakumei! Thanks for waiting!

Hey! Finished helping with the cooking at the food stand, Mikochi?

Somewhat...

That's because your pear jam at the Mujina Store is popular right?

MUJINA STORE

It's really tough, I thought that I'd be peeling pears forever...

One please. It's really tough, I thought that I'd be peeling pears forever...

Sure thing! It's really tough, I thought that I'd be peeling pears forever...

Great work today.

Well, I'm glad you made it in time.

They're right about to decide on this year's songstress.

And the results of the voting have arrived!

The one who has been chosen as the glorious songstress is...

Entry number 14...

Konju!

And, one more person has received this same honor...

What?!

Though she didn't enter the contest...

Mikochi!

Huh?!

These two songstresses will perform a song of celebration at the center market for us tomorrow!

No... wait... What? These two songstresses will perform a song of celebration at the center market for us tomorrow!

These two songstresses will perform a song of celebration at the center market for us tomorrow!

Congratulations, Mikochi!

I'm not happy about this!

Aren't you happy since you're a songstress?

I'm not happy!

Episode 3 The Two

Songstresses

How did this happen...

Because everyone thinks your singing is good, Mikochi!

What do they like?

See, you sing a lot whenever you're doing chores or taking your bath, right?

Uh... Yeah, so what?

That's why the paper and peddlers come by without us even requesting them to.

You didn't know?

I didn't.

I've never heard of there ever being TWO songstresses!

I sincerely want this to be a mistake.

I feel the same.

Oh, you're that girl from before.

I'm Konju, the lyrical poet. I'm this year's songstress.

I'm extremely dissatisfied, but I can't do anything about the decision.

Mikochi! Don't get in my w-

Right, it's okay. I'm going to decline, anyways.

What?

Huh? That's such a waste, Mikochi.

I'm fine with that. Singing in front of people is embarrassing.

And since I didn't even enter in the first place...

Hearing that has calmed me down.

Please look forward to tomorrow's performance!

She seemed kind of... angry, huh?

She kinda did, huh?

What is it? Are you telling me to sing too?

No, I won't force you, but...

Hmm...

Alright. Come with me to the Mimosa tree on the outskirts of the town.

We can see it well from there.

What is that?

The tsukumogami.

Note: in Japanese folklore, tsukumogami are tools that have acquired a spirit after 100 years of use

Originally, today's harvest festival was to give praise to the tsukumogami of second-hand goods.

That was completely forgotten in the course of time, and it became simply a harvest festival,

but even now, they gather like this and they come to hear the songstress sing.

I didn't know there was such a meaning behind it.

So that's why Konju was so angry, huh?

That's probably not why.

So, what will you do, Songstress?

If you smile at me from the audience, I won't acknowledge you.

It's impossible not to! I can't make a serious face.

Oh my, what did you come here for?

You're withdrawing, aren't you?

H-hey Konju, are you okay?!

Your face is beet red. It's gotta be a cold.

Can you sing today?

Of course... Just last night...

I stayed in the bath for two hours and practiced vocalizing.

That's dumb.

So that's why, huh?

What?! That's none of your concern!

This is pear jam from the Mujina Store.

It's good for your throat, so eat it until it's time to sing.

Where's the new hand towel?

You won't stop, will you?

Do you want us to stop?

Of course you won't be able to sing in a high voice, though.

Is that okay?

I'll make my selling point this lyre and my seductive alto!

Then that's perfect.

My selling point is being a soprano.

Mikochi, don't get in my way, okay?

That's my line, Konju.

Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone!

This year, I'll introduce you to our TWO extraordinary songstresses!

Konju and Mikochi!

That singing is so pleasant...

Whoa... They're all still so lively...

It looks like the tsukumogami couldn't hold back either.

What do we do about this?

Well, they'll probably go home when they're tired of playing.

We can't catch anything today...

Hey, Hakumei, let's go home already.

Huh? Why?

Recently, there's been a rumor about a fish spirit around here.

It's okay. There's soy sauce here.

Do you plan to eat the spirit?

Episode 4 The Glass Lamp

Doesn't really seem like something I can eat...

Hey!

Mikochi, are you okay?

H-hey... Hey!

Sorry my little one scared you.

Bring that girl along. I'll tend to her at my home.

Have you come to?

Where am I?

This is my laboratory.

I'm Sen. Nice to meet you.

Um, I think I was with my friend...

Yes.

Outside the window?

Oh, Mikochi!

This turtle is amazing! It's just bones, but it's alive!

Stop being so excessive.

George doesn't like a huge fuss.

Right...

What kind of research are you doing?

You'd probably understand it better if you saw it rather than me explaining it to you.

Huh? What's this?

That glass ball is a lamp that reacts to sound, which in a sense acts something like a heart.

Oh?

That's right.

Well then, this mouse here...

Give it back.

What?

First I'll install the sound lamp in the place where the heart goes.

The specially-made teardrop-shaped ceramic is connected to the sound lamp by a cord,

so when it sounds...

Wow, that's awesome!

It's moving...

Hey, it's stopped.

The mouse's heartbeat was too fast, perhaps...

So are George the turtle and that fish both moving like this?

Yes. The target of my research is "life." These are the fruits of my labor.

George is living carefree now.

He moves through the use of a Shishi-odoshi fountain and the evening dew.

And the fish?