Meiji Tokyo Renka (明治東亰恋伽)

"Indeed, I am resentful."

Demon Pond

Shirayuki...

Meiji Tokyo Renka

The cutlet at Rengatei was so good.

Ougai-san...

Then stay. Stay as long as you like.

I want to.

I want to stay here forever.

I can send you back on the next full moon.

It's really coming down.

With the amount of rain we've been having, the water level of Shinobazu Pond has risen.

Is that so?

I heard the Supernatural Division is stirring.

They are?

Yes.

It's clearing up.

Come on, Syunso-san! While the sun is out!

Huh?

Let's go find the black cat.

I Miss You Dearly, Rainy Day

Meow, meow, black kitty, meow...

So, what's your secret weapon today?

Silver vine! Cats just love silver vine.

I see.

Kitty, kitty, meow, kitty, kitty, meow...

Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...

Here, I have some delicious beans for you.

Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...

This tempo is andante.

Pigeons, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo...

Hey, wait!

Wait, come back!

Do pigeons like silver vine, too?

I have no idea!

That was unexpected.

Shinobazu Pond... I guess the stories were true.

Let's go. It isn't safe here.

Okay.

Hushabye, hushabye, my darling baby.

You are such a good little child, hushabye now.

Where—

What?

Pardon us.

Now, wait just a minute!

You think I'm some weirdo that likes

to sing to myself as I stare off at a pond, don't you?

Wait, you're not?

No!

So, the dragon goddess from your play escaped?

A divine spirit, huh?

What happened after she escaped?

She came here to Shinobazu Pond.

The play I'm writing, Demon Pond, is a story about the dragon goddess,

Shirayuki, who is in love with the distant lord of Senja Pond.

She only has one wish,

which is to go and be with the man she loves.

However, because of a promise made long ago, she is unable to leave her pond.

If she goes against that promise, Shirayuki will die

and a flood will occur, sinking the village into the watery depths.

Shirayuki suffers because of this.

To help console her, the villagers would sing a lullaby.

Oh, so that's why you were singing that song earlier.

Yeah. Got it now?

Yes.

On the night of the recent red full moon...

Shirayuki!

Shirayuki was afraid that the play I was writing would end in tragedy,

so she escaped.

Shirayuki, wait!

Shirayuki!

This long stretch of rain we've been having is because of her, as well.

Then, will Shirayuki-san not be reunited with her lover

in the play you're writing?

I'm not sure.

Huh?

I don't even know.

I can't continue writing unless Shirayuki returns to the play.

I want Shirayuki to come back.

I want to write the rest of the story.

M-Maybe there is something I can do to help!

We can get Shirayuki-san back together!

Wha?

What the heck is a dolt like you gonna do?

Those guys from the Supernatural Division are skulking around, too.

If Shirayuki-san is slain by Fujita-san, Demon Pond will remain unfinished.

There has to be a way.

Don't touch me!

Let's come up with something together, Kyoka-san!

I never asked you to decide for me.

It'll be fine.

What part of it will?

Umm... All of it!

Absolutely not!

W-Why not?

You were supposed to be searching for Syunso's black cat, were you not?

Why were you in such a dangerous area?

Syunso, she was in your care.

M-My apologies.

Syunso-san is not at fault.

I just want to do something for Kyoka-san and Shirayuki-san.

Mei, I want you to look for the black cat.

I swear I won't do anything dangerous.

Mei...

I am not a Tamayori,

so I would not be able to tell if something dangerous was getting close to you.

You understand, don't you?

Yes.

Mei, can you speak English?

Eh?! Uh, w-well...

A-A little.

Mei, you should study English more.

There will be quite a number of foreign guests

at the upcoming formal fiancée presentation.

Do you understand, Mei?

Y-Yes, I do.

Very good.

He totally evaded me.

Wait.

Syunso-san?

I don't think you should get involved.

Huh?

Unlike with my black cat, where the cause is clear,

Izumi is the only one who can resolve the Shirayuki situation.

B-But...

You know, Ougai-san isn't the only one who worries about you.

Damn, will this blasted rain ever stop?

The pond is going to breach its banks tonight at this rate.

Come home, Shirayuki.

You won't be able to accomplish anything staying here.

Come back within me.

That idiot...

I'm sorry, Ougai-san, but I just have to...