Meiji Tokyo Renka (明治東亰恋伽)

Meiji Tokyo Renka

Get back, Koizumi!

There you are, spirit!

Fujita-san!

Jane...

Caught in the Ghost Hotel

W-W-Wha?!

This is the most delicious dessert in the world:

sweet bun with tea and rice.

You break the sweet bun into pieces with your chopsticks like so,

getting the sweet red bean paste onto each and every grain of rice.

Fumi-san.

Yes, sir.

Here, Little Squirrel.

It's good, isn't it?

Syunso.

Yes?

I have enough for you, too.

No, I'm fine...

Don't be shy now.

Come on, say ah.

Meow, meow...

C'mere, black kitty.

I can still taste it.

He even made me have some.

Anyway...

What's that?

Oh, it's katsuobushi.

I borrowed it from Fumi-san.

And you're going to find the black cat with that?

I should be able to, right?

Don't cats like katsuobushi?

Even ghost cats?

A ghost cat should still like it, since it's a cat, shouldn't it?

I wouldn't know.

Besides, can you find it during the day?

I heard you can't see ghosts unless it is the dark hours.

Dark hours?

It's the time between dusk and dawn.

You're a Tamayori and you don't even know that?

Ah, no. I had no idea.

What should we do now, then?

I'm going back.

Please, I'm begging you, Izumi-san.

I told you, I can't do it.

Please, I have nothing without your help!

You're so annoying.

Izumi.

Oh, Hishida-san. And what's this?

This girl would be the one

I met at the Rokumeikan. Umm...

pardon me, but what is your name?

Ayazuki Mei.

And you are, uh, Yakumo-san and Kyoka-san.

Wow, you remembered who I am!

I am so moved!

The Western-style short skirt from the other evening was splendid,

but you're beautiful in Japanese clothing as well.

Oh, you're the weird girl from before.

Weird girl?

Huh?

W-What? Stop staring at me.

It's not with you today? The rabbit from that night.

So you are one.

Koizumi-san, you should have this girl handle your request.

Have Mei-san do it?

Why?

Because apparently she's also a Tamayori.

What?! Is that true?

Ah, yes, most likely.

Wait... You're one too, Kyoka-san?

I told you to stay back!

Then that means that rabbit is a ghost,

and that's why I can't see it during the day!

Mei-san, please let me rent your powers!

Eh?!

It is truly destiny that I have met a Tamayori like you!

Please, I want you to help me see Jane again.

Jane?

Essentially,

you wish to have Mei catch this ghost known as Jane?

No, I don't want to catch her,

I just want to speak with her.

She is a childhood friend of mine.

You're friends with a ghost?

Yes.

Mei-san, when I was younger, I was able to see ghosts like you can.

You were, Yakumo-san?

Yes. Jane...

She and I got along so well, it was almost like we were brother and sister.

It doesn't matter whether she is a ghost or not.

My parents divorced when I was very young. I always felt lonely,

and she was the only emotional support I had.

But then, one day...

Eight, nine, ten!

Ready or not, here I come!

Say, Patrick, do you think you can find the real me?

The real you?

But, if you do find me, you might hate me.

I would never hate you!

You mean it?

Jane!

Found you!

P-Patrick...

Patrick...

Jane?

Jane?!

Jane!

It was terrible for me to scream like that

upon seeing her face, even if I had been startled.

I tried to apologize immediately,

but I lost one of my eyes in an accident soon after that incident.

I have not been able to see ghosts ever since.

What happened that day has long since plagued my thoughts.

For all this time.

However, since the red full moon the other night,

strange things have frequently been happening around me.

Since the night of the red full moon?

Oh, a poltergeist?

Wonderful!

As a researcher of the paranomal,

Oh! Amazing!

I was happy to see these things, at first.

But then...

Jane!

There you are, spirit!

Wait!

Those incidents were caused by Jane's wrath against me.

I want to apologize to Jane.

If her anger is such that she wishes to kill me,

then I want to answer for that.

What are you talking about?!

Mei-san, ghosts cannot be seen by just anyone.

That is why those who can see them are incredibly precious to them,

since there are ghosts who have spent hundreds, even thousands, of years all alone.

Nevertheless, I hurt her and then lost my eye through my own carelessness.

Losing my sight was tantamount to Jane disappearing.

Yakumo-san...

I understand your situation.

However, Koizumi-san, my apologies,

but I cannot allow my fiancée to do something so—

Okay, I'll help you!

Wha? What are you saying, Mei?

I can't just neglect him!

I would love to help, if you'll allow me.

Mei-san...

Syunso.

Yes?

You go with her as well.

Why do I have to go?

Unfortunately, I am expecting a visitor today and cannot go with her.

I would like you, someone I can trust, to be her bodyguard.

Understood? I just wouldn't be able to bear it if anything happened to my Little Squirrel.

You be sure to protect her now, got it?

Got it.

Ougai-san.

Thank you, everyone!

I'll finally be able to speak with Jane.

You sure you got it?

Yes!

I really do.

I would like you to order another iron plate from America.

The previous one was ten tons, but this one needs to be 150 tons.

Shibusawa-san...

I will be in the study next door.

I will call for you if anything paranormal happens.

I would like you to please summon me if anything like that happens to you.