Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- (かくりよの宿飯)

Aoi!

There's an article about Kiyo-sama in the paper!

A NEW HACHIYO APPOINTED IN THE NORTH

So this boy is Kasuga's first love?

He's pretty, isn't he?

Who cares if he's pretty? I refuse to accept this marriage!

What? Why?

I-I'm against it, and that's final!

KAKURIYO -BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS- 2

Hello there, Aoi-san.

Chiaki-san!

I came to ask you a favor.

Oh, ginkgo nuts!

Are you good at roasting these, by any chance?

Yes, why?

I want to bring them to the Master's party.

They're up in the mountains having a moon-viewing.

Oh, right, it's the full moon tonight.

In that case, let's bring a little coal stove up there

and roast them at the party.

That's a great idea.

Thank you.

This hits the spot.

Munch, munch, munch...

Thank you for the meal.

Kasuga always says that she's able to work so hard every day

because of your cooking, Aoi-san.

She loves working here.

But she didn't want to at first, you know.

Really?

Kasuga's from a pretty rich family, right?

Why does she work as a Tenjin-ya room attendant?

Well...

How much do you know about the man Kasuga is engaged to?

He's the boy in this picture, right?

She said he was her childhood friend.

Kiyo-sama was sickly as a child,

and he was being treated at a large hospital in the land of literature, our home.

Kasuga hated studying back then.

She used to skip school and go hide in different places.

It gave the adults lots of trouble.

LITERARY UNIVERSITY GENERAL HOSPITAL – NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY

One day she snuck into a hospital room, and she met Kiyo-sama there.

They were around the same age,

and they hit it off right away.

Kiyo-sama's love of reading was infectious,

and Kasuga began reading books as well.

She even started gradually working harder at her studies.

Kiyo-sama was interested in the apparent realm,

and they had fun reading books about it together.

Kasuga seemed mildly in love with him.

But Kiyo-sama was sick, after all,

and evidently he didn't think he would live very long.

So one day they ran off to the apparent realm without telling anyone.

They wandered there until they were brought home three days later.

Kiyo-sama's physical condition worsened,

and Kasuga got a harsh scolding.

She wasn't even allowed to visit him anymore.

And to make sure she learned how hard the outside world is,

she was sent to work at Tenjin-ya as punishment.

I had no idea...

Kasuga's meeting with O-Ryo was special.

Kasuga couldn't do a thing, and it was O-Ryo who worked hard to bring her up to speed.

That was before O-Ryo was assistant hostess.

Wow.

Kiyo-sama becoming the northern Hachiyo,

and Kasuga becoming his wife... is this what they call "fate"?

First they get ripped apart, then they get forced to marry.

Adults are such inconsiderate creatures.

You and Kasuga will eventually be in similar positions, Aoi-san.

The wife of a Hachiyo and the wife of a great yokai.

This isn't the usual path.

Today's moon-viewing is at the senior Tenjin-ya staff's secret fort.

Huh? Secret fort?

We call it that because it has a very similar vibe

to a little kid's "secret fort."

Wow!

Come on, it's over there.

Steam?

A moon, a bath, and a cup of sake.

This is the life!

Try not to drink too much, Saraku.

Now, now, Byakuya.

Let's drink to tonight's full moon.

A-Aoi!

Peeping is a shameful thing!

I should really be the one calling you three certain adjectives right now.

You're all flushed and warm.

Aoi, are you wishing you got to take a bath with me?

Exactly where did that come from, Master Innkeeper?

I can't believe I came up here to roast ginkgo nuts for you.

Ginkgo nuts?

Chiaki-san got them for you.

It's my thanks and my apology for things with Kasuga.

I see.

Kasuga was a good room attendant who worked quickly

and could cut straight to the heart of complex matters.

I feel like I'm seeing a granddaughter off.

I'll miss her.

Here you go, Master.

Thanks, Aoi.

Delicious.

I roasted them with their shells on.

So they're fragrant and soft, and you can taste traces of the salt.

These are good!

Yes, quite nice.

By the way, Aoi, I got some nice amazake.

Would you like some?

Yes, please!

It's delicious! It has a relaxing flavor.

Perhaps I'll have some, too.

Then I'll do the pouring.

It's like you two are already married.

Huh?

Marriage is in the air with Kasuga—you might as well officially tie the knot, too.

Yes. It's time for some resolve, Aoi-kun.

Stop, you two.

I don't want to force Aoi into things anymore.

I'll wait until Aoi is willing to make me her husband.

However long it takes.

Before, he said he didn't intend to wait forever...

Maybe he doesn't feel all that strongly about marrying me anymore?

I can't tell.

What is the master thinking?

Aoi-chan,

nobody's letting me do my work.

They say they can't risk me getting injured, because I'm a minister's daughter.

They never had a problem working me to the bone before!

And I had a fight with O-Ryo-sama, too.

You did?

She kept crying at me not to marry up north.

When I told her I have to, she got all sulky.

I can't stand having nothing to do!

Then would you like to work at Moonflower?

Can I? Yes, please!

Then the first task is...

Oh, they smell so good!

These are candidates for Tenjin-ya's next souvenir food.

They're essentially just steamed buns made with rice flour.

Aoi-san.

Good morning. I'd like to ask a favor...

Good morning.

Kasuga-san?

Ginji-san, starting today, Kasuga is my new employee.

They won't let me do my room attendant work.

Then I'll arrange for you to be transferred to Moonflower.

Great! Let's keep going.

We're about to taste-test.

May I join you?

It's fluffy and chewy!

This is really good.

The fluffiness and chewiness come from the rice flour.

The one we just ate was the egg bun.

Try this one, too.

It's good! This one has cheese, doesn't it?

I used some cream cheese we ordered from the northern land.

The northern land?

Cheese isn't common in the hidden realm yet,

and I want more ayakashi to learn how great it is.

I like that idea.

By the way, the dough is made with Oni Honoka-brand rice and cassowary eggs.

Those are both land of the ogre gate specialties, aren't they?

Yep!

But we can't sell them in these ramekins, can we?

In the earthly realm we have cups made out of thin paper or aluminum...

You should consult Dr. Saraku. He can make most things.

I'll go ask him for help right now.

That reminds me, didn't you say you had a favor to ask me?

Yes. You see, I'm planning a pumpkin festival at Tenjin-ya

timed to go along with the fall festival.

Yay, a pumpkin festival!

Like Halloween?

That's right.

Could you make some pumpkin-based meals and snacks for it?

That sounds good.

Now I have something to look forward to before I leave Tenjin-ya!

By the way, the master doesn't like pumpkins.

So even he has dislikes, huh?

Pumpkins, eh?

Those buns sound like just the thing!

Perfect for Tenjin-ya's new souvenir food.

The only issue is, I make them like chawanmushi,

so they need a container.