Meiji Tokyo Renka (明治東亰恋伽)

Meiji Tokyo Renka

Elise...

The Dancing Girl

You won't let me keep writing?

Do you still resent me?

Elise...

If you refuse to let me write...

Then so be it.

The moon will be full soon,

and she will disappear from me

just as quickly as she appeared

on the night of the last full moon.

I am out of time.

I have run out of time.

Escaping at 3 O'Clock in the Afternoon

Meow, meow, mreow-mreow-mreow?

Meow, meow?

What are you doing?

I'm asking if he knows a black cat.

See, he looks just like Pork Loin from Fujita-san's house.

Meow?

Can he even understand you?

He can! He can understand my feelings, at least.

He can understand my feelings.

If that's what you really want to do, then you should stay.

Yes. I will keep waiting for you, Ougai-san.

Little Squirrel.

Would you like to go indulge in some sweets with me?

You too, of course, Syunso.

Yes! Gladly!

Why didn't Syunso join us, I wonder?

Well, he mentioned something about his stomach suddenly hurting.

All right, then.

We'll be going now, Syunso-san!

You seem so happy and full of smiles

whenever Ougai-san is around...

So, Tatsuno-san, why does Tokyo Station use header bond brickwork?

Tokyo Station? Are you referring to the Tokyo Railway Station?

I am still working on the design for it,

but what did you just say about header bond brickwork?

I was just thinking that erecting such a large building with header bond brickwork would be unusual.

Wait, that's actually a good idea.

Thank you for the food!

So does the header bond with facing bricks?

It's absolutely scrumptious!

You really seem to be enjoying it.

Getting to see how much you enjoy it is enough for me.

No way, that's silly.

So, Ougai-san, how goes the progress on your novel?

Maybe I shouldn't have asked about it?

Y-You know,

Yakumo-san calls Fujita-san's place Café Fujita.

He has a dish there called the Goro Special, and it looks really good.

Indeed, your expression of delight is truly delicious.

I probably shouldn't ask him about his novel.

I wonder if Otojiro-san will end up

playing the role of Shirayuki in that play Kyoka-san wrote?

I'm really glad he was able to finish writing it so soon.

Oh, I-I'm so sorry! I-I wasn't thinking...

You finally have a chance to relax. I'm sorry.

Would you like to order some red bean soup as well, Little Squirrel?

I-Is that all right?

Of course.

It's so sweet! I'm so happy!

I... am thinking about quitting writing.

Huh?

Y-...

You mean as a profession?

I can't write.

Besides...

You are right here with me now,

and I think that is more than enough.

I'm glad to hear that, but...

I thought you would be more pleased.

I'll try doing the framework in the British-style.

British-style? That sounds like chaos!

But I would like to read it.

I would like to read your novel, Ougai-san.

So...

I can't write it.

I know...

...that it's probably rather impertinent for me to say this,

since I can't do anything and I don't know anything...

But I want you to keep writing your novel, Ougai-san.

Quitting in the middle just doesn't seem like you...

Hey...

Syunso-san?

Got a minute?

The story Ougai-san is trying to write...

It's...

about him and his former lover.

Ougai-san is trying to write a novel about the lover

he met while studying abroad.

They met in Germany and fell in love.

They considered spending the rest of their lives together.

But...

Since Ougai-san had studied abroad for the sake of his country,

those around him were against him marrying her.

He was only permitted to live as a public figure, not as an individual.

And so Ougai-san decided to break it off with her.

Elise...

I believe he regrets that, even now.