Tsugumomo (つぐもも)

Say, Kazuya.

Yes?

Tsugumomo 3

Hamada Yoshikazu

Hurry and hand me the next one!

Tsugumomo 3

Hamada Yoshikazu

Tsugumomo 3

Hamada Yoshikazu

Tsugumomo 3

Hamada Yoshikazu

I'm not done reading it.

What? You're awfully slow.

Hey, don't eat in bed!

What's this? Did you order some "inspiration" for your self-abuse?

I did no such thing!

Coming.

Huh? Sunao-san...

The mortality of tsukumogami.

A tsukumogami will return to being an inanimate object

Kettle

if all of its spiritual power is exhausted.

To a tsukumogami, this is not dissimilar to death.

Tsugumomo

Tsugu

m 0 0 l 0 -10 l 10 -10 l 10 0

m 0 0 l 0 -10 l 10 -10 l 10 0

Chapter 5

Sunao and Kotetsu

"Sunao and Kotetsu."

Whaddaya mean Kotetsu ain't wakin' up?

Well...

His hilt was repaired yesterday, and he was sent home from the swordsmith,

but I keep calling to him, and there's no response.

I had Honoka-sama take a look right away, and...

As a tsukumogami, he's not quite dead,

but his spiritual strength is just about gone.

If he doesn't wake soon, you'll have nothing but a regular sword left.

That's terrible! Is there anything you can do?

She told me there was one option.

An echo stone from the Cave of the Divine Navel, huh?

An echo stone?

It's an altar made from stone

that's been bathin' in spirit energy for hundreds of years.

It's become a kinda spiritual amplifier

that can even let people hear the voices of objects

that ain't become tsukumogami yet.

That oughta let you talk to Kotetsu, all right.

Wait, so why didn't you head straight there?

Well...

The Cave of the Divine Navel is a spiritually unstable spot.

There's no telling what could happen.

Right now, you're just a normal human with a sword.

It's too great a risk to let you go alone.

Since the Divine Navel can amplify the voices of even inanimate objects,

someone as powerful as Honoka-sama can't go with me, either.

I see.

Indeed. And that's where we come in, yes?

Very well, then. In that case, let's get a move on.

Right now?

Yes, right now!

Tawami

The train arriving on track 14 is...

Departures

Tawami

Scheduled Stops

Scheduled Stops

Scheduled Stops

Tawami

Fast!

Huge!

Spacious!

Well, would you look at that?

The room even has a bath attached to it!

A room like this has to cost a fortune!

I don't have that kind of money!

Would you calm yourself? Our accommodations have been arranged for.

Really?

Indeed. We already had our tickets, didn't we?

You've got a point.

Hey! That's enough sulking, Sunao.

You get to indulge a bit on someone else's coin.

Why not enjoy yourself?

Sorry... I was just thinking about what I'll say to Kotetsu tomorrow.

Just tell him how you really feel.

He's right. That's what Kotetsu would want to hear, as well.

I've treated Kotetsu terribly all this time.

I want to give him a real apology tomorrow.

I don't necessarily need to be in here, do I?

What're you on about? Don't waste an opportunity for mixed bathing.

If you insist, Kiriha-sama...

Oh, come now. Someone's being bashful.

Kiriha-san!

You really should make sure it's clean.

No telling what kind of use it might see tonight.

It won't be doing anything!

C-Cut it out!

Well, Sunao...

Do you want Kazuya to wash you?

What a feast!

Eat, now! Don't let an opportunity like this pass you by!

We should eat.

I'm not sure we can finish it all, though.

Oh, that looks good, too!

Now, feed me!

Sheesh...

Kiriha-san, this isn't exactly good table manners.

How dare you feed me wasabi, you imbecile?!

You were literally asking for it!

That one next.

Come on, you can feed yourself.

This really is quite good!

You two sleep together?!

She always forces the issue...

What are you talking about? I know you love it.

"Always"?

You just have no concept of restraint!

Less talk, more service!

Hey! Stop grinding on me!

There, there, there!

Kiriha-san!

What? Finally in the mood?

No! We should be more considerate.

Sunao-san's sad because she can't see Kotetsu-kun.

I feel bad about the two of us getting along too well in front of her.

You don't understand a thing.

Sunao's mistaken about something.

Even if she's able to see Kotetsu tomorrow,

I don't think she'll be able to bring him back as things stand.

But why?

Because she doesn't understand how Kotetsu feels.

Kiriha-san, do you know why Kotetsu-kun isn't waking up?!

Of course. I'm a tsukumogami myself, you know.

I believe Honoka and Kukuri know, as well.

Then shouldn't somebody tell her?!

Imbecile. This isn't the kind of thing you can just explain away.

But what if she doesn't catch on?

Which is why, in order to make her realize the truth...

Yeah?

We are going to continue to fool around!

But why?!

How do you like that, then?!

Kotetsu!

What's wrong, Kotetsu? Are you feeling sick?

Listen, there's something I really need to tell you.

After everything I've done—

I'm sorry.

No! I'm the one who should apologize.

Ever since I was little, I always—

I'm so useless.

No! That was—

I'm the reason your brother died.

Listen to me! The truth is—

Because I'm just a tool.

I'm sorry, Sunao-sama.

Kotetsu...

I can't stay with you anymore.

Kotetsu!

Tsugu

Tsugumomo

Tsugu Tsugumomo!

Tsugu

Tsugumomo

Tsugu Tsugumomo.

It's farther away than I thought!

Kazuya, carry me.

You could just turn into an obi.

Come on, you need to stay with us, or you'll get lost.

Spoilsport!

We're almost there.

This is the Cave of the Divine Navel?

Looks deep.

I can already feel the spiritual pressure.