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

KAKURIYO -BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS- 2

Takechiyo-sama!

Sweet or spicy foods: which do you like better?

I hate both.

Hmph!

Takechiyo-sama!

Hot or cold foods: which do you like better?

Leave me alone!

Hmph!

Takechiyo-sama!

Takechiyo-sama!

You're so stubborn! What's your deal, anyway?

Me?

I'm a human from the earthly realm.

My name is Aoi Tsubaki.

Tsubaki? That's like Shiro Tsubaki...

Huh?

Shiro Tsubaki was my grandpa.

Y-You mean the super-strong Shiro Tsubaki who came from the earthly realm?

E-Er, yes.

Why do you know about him, though?

Because he's famous, duh!

Here it is. Look!

Shiro's Adventures?

What's it about?

Don't touch!

Sorry.

Sheesh, there are even picture books of Grandpa?

Say, do you want to try some of the foods Shiro Tsubaki ate?

Apparent realm foods.

Will eating those make me strong, too?

Strong?

Will they make me a strong man, like Shiro?

Good question...

I'm sure they will.

After all, I'm the one who cooked for him every day!

You?

Yep!

Plus, lots of ayakashi say that my cooking restores spiritual power.

What should I make you?

Curry, stew, Hamburg steak...

Oh, I know! I'll make a kid's lunch.

"Kid's"?

No offense meant! A "kid's lunch" is like... um...

It's full of secret strength-boosters and kids' dreams.

A magic meal!

Apparent realm magic?

Okay, let's go find the ingredients together.

Huh? You want me to come?

Choosing the ingredients yourself

makes it more effective, so you get even stronger.

Really?

Grandpa used to waltz into dangerous places,

DANGER

take whatever he wanted, and get away clean.

You don't need to follow his example all the way,

but let's at least leave the house.

Okay.

I'll come with you on your shopping trip.

We'll take my little air ship.

I knew that would look good on you.

This kimono looks expensive. Should I really be borrowing it?

Of course.

We're going to the Tsukinome district in the heart of Youto.

You need a kimono at least that fine, or you won't blend in.

I-I see.

Amazing.

I agree.

Tsukinome is the wealthiest and most developed of the districts—

where nobles, officials, and the moneyed classes live.

It's also closest to the palace.

The palace...

That's where the ayakashi king lives.

Takechiyo-sama, it's dangerous to lean too far over the edge.

But there are so many things I've never seen before.

I didn't know you were so interested.

I should have taken you on an outing before this.

We're almost there.

But first...

Please put on masks.

Masks?

Each of us appears in the newspaper sometimes,

so the public knows our faces.

Huh? I'm in the newspaper?

Yes. So let's go incognito.

Wow!

What a big greengrocer's!

Almost overwhelming, isn't it?

Yes!

Let's buy this.

What's this thing? It's smooth.

It's a daikon.

Huh?! I hate daikon!

This must be your first time seeing an uncooked one, huh?

What's that weird-looking one?

You've got a discerning eye. That's called "broccoli."

Let's buy some.

They have pickled mustard leaves!

PICKLED MUSTARD LEAVES

That's a local Youto vegetable, too.

Does it taste good?

You know what? Shiro Tsubaki loved pickled mustard leaves.

Hmm.

I'm curious.

I'll show you the tastiest way to eat them, Takechiyo-sama.

Let's buy mikans for dessert, too.

I like mikans.

You like mikans, eh?

Mm-hmm.

Grandfather used to give them to me.

I see.

I used to eat them with grandpa too in the wintertime.

You too, huh?

Now, Aoi's Cooking Class is about to begin!

You cook with me, okay, Takechiyo-sama?

O-Okay.

Let's eat, Takechiyo-sama.

You don't want to eat after all?

I'll eat. Thanks.

It's good.

Takechiyo-sama!

How is it?

Carrots are still carrots.

But I can eat them today.

I'm glad.

This tastes good!

Potato?

That dish has both potatoes and daikon.

Daikon... but it's good...

All the kid's lunch dishes are good.

Oh, I'm so glad to hear it.

You're not going to eat?

Of course we are! My stomach is growling.

Time to eat.

What's wrong?

Someday... Someday I want my mom to eat this, too.

I think she could eat it, since it's so good.

In that case, I think you should make it for her, Takechiyo-sama.

I'll write down the recipes for you.

So please cook for your mom someday.

Yeah!

Aoi!

Huh?

You used my name.

You can borrow this.

SHIRO'S ADVENTURES

You don't mind?

You better not get it dirty, though. It was a gift from Grandfather.

He used to read it to me while I sat on his lap.

I understand. This book is your treasure.

I'll read it very respectfully.

Thank you.

Uh-huh.

Takechiyo-sama fell straight asleep today like a healthy child.

I'm really glad he ate the whole kid's lunch and said it was good.

Thank you, Aoi-san. We owe it all to you.

Actually, I think my grandpa was the big influence there.

I just rode his famous coattails and cooked some lunch.

SHIRO'S ADVENTURES

I have to say, I didn't think he'd even be in children's books!

It only goes to show

just how influential Shiro Tsubaki was in the hidden realm.