Hakumei and Mikochi (ハクメイとミコチ)

Hey, I'm hungry, Mikochi...

Jeez...

You help me carry things too, Hakumei.

I'm so hungry that helping is impossible...

Just like a freeloader...

Let's hurry up and eat!

Fine, jeez, I got it.

Maybe we shouldn't have bought such a big dresser.

Episode 1 Yesterday's Dark Red

You can't get it past the doorway, huh?

Hm... Really, what should we do about this?

If we just take the whole thing apart...

No, no...

Hakumei, your mug...

Are you okay?

I'm sorry.

That was originally for guests, so you have to buy a cup for yourself soon, okay?

Right!

Is that the locust with the special edition paper?

Thanks!

Huh?!

Mikochi! This is big news!

Evening Kite Spotted!

An evening kite appeared?

Evening Kite

Spotted!

Yeah, a huge bird with deep red feathers!

Don't you know about it?

I do.

It's a legendary creature that will grant one wish if you encounter it at dawn, right?

It's said that there are people that saw one fly off from the rocky hills on the north yesterday!

That's a fishy story...

I'm gonna go and catch that thing right now!

Huh?!

If we can tame it, it will be a huge help for carrying luggage on a trip.

I'm ready to climb the mountain!

Wait a minute! I'm just finished with lunch!

We can bring it with us and eat in the mountains.

W-wait! If we go now, it'll take us until morning to reach the top...

And what will we do about the dresser?!

S-slow down a bit...

Huh?

Mikochi, you have no physical strength, huh?

You're just... too energetic...

She's making a path for us.

Come to think of it, she did the same before...

C'mon, you can do it!

I finally caught up.

Good job.

Want to have lunch soon?

Yeah, wait a minute.

Let's ride on these guys' backs to get there. We can keep going while we eat.

That's killing two birds with one stone.

Sure thing.

Ah, this is the life! Right, Mikochi?

I want to keep this guy as a pet.

Absolutely not!

Why not? Do you dislike bugs?

It's the "keep" part that I dislike.

I guess it's already been about ten years now.

Back in my hometown, I kept a bird as a pet.

A white bird, named Kafu.

Was it an evening kite?

I told you, he was a white bird.

But even though I say I kept him as my pet, I only fed him in the morning.

He really loved the minestrone I made! It made his beak so red...

But before I knew it, he stopped showing up.

I waited for him every day, but still...

Did he reject you or something?

Hm?

More, please!

Maybe it wasn't enough, just giving him one pot.

He wasn't greedy like you.

I suppose not.

Right here's just fine, thank you!

Thanks!

Good bye!

There sure are a lot of alpine tomatoes around here, huh?

But isn't the skin too thick for us to eat?

Maybe the bird will eat them.

Are you sure Kafu really wasn't an evening kite?

Maybe he ate too many tomatoes and turned red.

There's no way that's possible...

It's the mountaintop!

So, wanna eat a late-night snack until dawn breaks?

Late-night snack?

A peanut!

So that's what was in your bag...

Let's go halfsies!

Thanks.

Hey, Hakumei...

Yeah?

The evening kite isn't coming, is it?

Hmm, well it's okay then.

We'll still try to come back here together again.

Yeah...

Is there any minestrone left?

There's still enough for a bowl.

Here you go.

An evening... kite?

Whoa!

This is amazing!

Look, Mikochi.

It will be dawn soon.

What are you going to wish for?

Uh... um...

I didn't think of anything.

Me neither!

Hey, Mikochi, do you know the origin of the name 'evening kite'?

They say when it's bathed in the dark-red of dusk, it's tinged red.

And so, when it's covered in the pure white morning sun...

Kafu!

You really are Kafu, right?

B-be careful, Mikochi!

Evening Kite, this is my wish:

Drop us off at that house.

Thank you, Kafu.

Hey, Hakumei! Help me out!

I'm going to make minestrone, and since Kafu will eat a lot,

I have to make ten pots full!

So you really are a greedy one after all...

He's gone, huh?

Yeah.

Is that okay?

When the mood strikes, he may still come to eat minestrone!

Oh... no...

I meant I was just thinking we should have had him help us with moving the dresser.

Oh!

Wow...

Episode 2

Marketplace Shanty

But this is an amazing wall.

This isn't a wall, the entire thing is a shop.

It's the port town Arabi's famous attraction, Tsumiki Marketplace.

Where are we headed right now?

To my favorite shop. Let's have them watch our things for a little while!

Oh, now I'm getting involved. What kind of shop is it?

It's a café and a pub.

There are so few places to relax in a lively place like Arabi.

The shop clerks are a bit loud, though...

Port Lounge KOBONE

Well, here it is.

Ma'am, are you here?

We haven't opened yet, Mikochi.

So you brought someone with you today?

I'm Hakumei. Nice to meetcha.

Likewise.

Stocking up today as well?

Yes. The fish they catch here are superb.

You're saying such great things.

What do you think, Hakumei?

Do you like this town?

Yeah. These shops are selling so many things I've never seen before!

And Mikochi bought me a conch shell, and after this we're going to look for my new mug.

You've just been shopping, haven't you?

Well, since you came all the way here, I'll serve a bit of a delicacy.

There you are.

What is this?

It's vinegar octopus!

You can eat it as is or grill it. Goes with cold beer.

I definitely want a drink now!

What do you have for the dried sardines we bought today?

Gotta have cold sake for that!

Mikochi, let's buy some sake and go home!

We still have some at home, don't we? We cannot waste money.

We already spent quite a lot today, so we have to save.

Wanna have some pickled seafood?

That doesn't seem like it'd go well with coffee...

Hm?

What's wrong, Mikochi?

Hakumei... Keep calm and listen.

Okay.

My wallet... is gone... ish.

Oh?

Please freak out a little bit!