Hakumei and Mikochi (ハクメイとミコチ)

There were a lot of good products at the morning market today, huh, Hakumei?

We bought too much.

And I wanted to hurry back home and continue working, but...

Speaking of, what do you use that stuff to make?

Oh, that's gunpowder that Sen shared with me.

BLACK GUNPOWDER Caution Danger EXPLOSIVE

I'm going to use it to make fireworks-

Hakumei...

Huh?

Episode 6 Starlit Sky

and Ponkan

It's a burning lens...

Put simply, it's when something like a glass marble or a vase acts as a lens and sparks a fire.

Which means you have to be careful around the window to prevent this sort of thing,

and even more so since you're using gunpowder.

It's a bit late for that.

It is.

Yes.

Well, leave the repairs to me.

I brought a powerful elite unit along with me.

That's big...

We'll finish in around a day, so is there a place you can stay the night?

Hmm, where will we stay...? Konju's home seems pretty small.

Hey, Mikochi!

Let's hurry and go!

We're camping!

Camping?!

I wonder if there's a good place here...

By the way, why camping?

Because I did that a lot in the days when I was homeless.

It's fun!

I like a place with a roof.

Here it is. It's the ponkan tree.

Note: Ponkan is a hybrid citrus that is a cross between a mandarin and a pomelo.

Hup.

We'll set up camp here.

Why below a ponkan tree?

Citrus trees are short and have a relatively large amount of leaves, so it can endure wind and rain.

We've decided on the place, so next is...

This ponkan is delicious.

Can I have a few of those persimmon leaves?

Sure. How's this one?

Bugs have eaten these!

What are the persimmon leaves for?

These are for a tent.

Make a hole at the places with the marks on them.

Okay.

Then, pass a bristle grass stem through the hole.

And stand it up!

Wow, it's a tent!

Tie some key points up with a rope,

and secure the excess rope to the stone outside to anchor it.

Should I do the other side?

Um, no, you need strength, so I'll do it.

This is for you, Mikochi.

Pass!

Wild onion root?

I found them earlier.

Use it in our dinner. Like in a whole roast or a parchment roast...

Aren't those practically the same?

Ah, jeez! Drawing the first bucket of water and this is what happens?

And there's no kitchen... How will I start a fire?

Hey, Mikochi.

I made you a cooking stove.

The kindling for fuel is...

Huh? Mikochi?

Okay, this should do it.

Hey, Mikochi, how's it going over there?

Isn't the fire too strong?

Since we had an endless supply, I accidentally...

Persimmon leaf tea, huh?

It smells kind of grassy, but it's delicious.

That's because there wasn't time to steam it.

First, mince the wild onion, and add the dried meat,

pine nuts, and ostrich fern buds we bought to the shiitake mushrooms...

Hey Hakumei, you help too.

Oh?

I think this soup will do.

Did you hull the rice?

This is very exhausting!

Yeah, this much is probably enough. Thanks.

I'm hungry...

Leave the rest to me and just wait!

Give me about an hour!

One hour...

Amazing!

Yummy, yummy!

It's wild vegetable and dried meat risotto.

That's something you can make pretty well even outside.

Your cooking is delicious no matter where we are, Mikochi.

Oh hey, I have whole roast and a parchment roast, too.

Haven't you made too much?

Hm? You'll eat it, right?

I can't eat anymore...

Sorry. Turns out I did make too much.

But camping out is fine too, right?

I suppose so.

Since it's a tent, it also has a roof.

Keep still!

What?!

Don't drag me!

What's inside will come out...

All of this is a roof.

I see.

This is enchanting.

Isn't it?

Oh, welcome back.

We're back...

Here's a souvenir.

There's a nice citrus aroma... coming from your bodies...

We had too much of our fill of nature...

Well, I've finished the repairs, so will you give the inside a look?

Yeah! You work as fast as expected!

Thank you, Sen.

The entranceway is reserved for last, so we'll go in through the back.

I tried to keep the room in the tree hollow as it is.

I think it's fairly sturdy.

This looks good.

It's like the place I used to live a long time ago.

Is there a room back there, too?

Yes.

There was a cavern surrounding the root, so I just had to make one.

It's a glass greenhouse-cum-laboratory!

Laboratory?

Researcher's recommendation I thought it was necessary!

And now, the entryway, which I'm rather proud of.

To the front.

I kind of...

...have a bad feeling about this...

HAKUMEI AND MIKOCHI

HAKUMEI AND MIKOCHI

HAKUMEI AND MIKOCHI

The entryway!

I attempted a daring use of the rib cage! Isn't it cool?!

Um... Thanks.

But...

It was surprisingly comfortable.

Excuse me.

What's a li'l thing like you want?

Starting today, I'm going to start working here. I'm Hakumei.

Looking forward to working with you, Old Man.

Ah, so you're the helper that I been hearin' about?

Can a li'l thing like you really do carpentry?

I voluntarily repaired the rain gutter on the other side and replaced the bricks, though.

Was that okay?

Well, it's good.

Then since I'm going to help you over here, I'll be changing my clothes.

Okay.

I'm Master Iwashidani.