The Eccentric Family (有頂天家族)

1,200 years since Emperor Kammu .settled on a location for his palace,

the city of Kyoto is now .home to 1.5 million humans.

But wait just one moment.

"Humans are naught but an accompaniment to our history."

"We were the ones who built this city and the history surrounding it."

Or so say a few big-talking tanuki.

But wait just one moment.

"The skies above the palace have been our territory since ancient times."

"Fear and respect us who dwell in the heavens!"

Or so they arrogantly declare.

The tengu, that is.

Humans live in the city, tanuki crawl the earth,

and tengu fly through the air.

Since the city's establishment,

humans, tanuki, and tengu have .maintained a delicate balance.

That's what keeps the great wheel .of this city turning round and round.

And watching that wheel spin .is more fun than anything else.

I'm what you'd call a tanuki

but too proud to be a mere tanuki.

I admire tengu from afar, and I love imitating humans.

That's why my daily life is busy enough .to make your head spin.

In fact, there's no time .to be bored at all.

Big bro!

You're using that form again?

If you keep changing your .appearance all the time,

you'll get another earful from Yaichirou.

Tanuki societal norms .can eat dirt for all I care.

But hey, did you need something?

You're going to Professor Akadama's place, right?

Mom said to use this.

She said she found it on the ground .near the ticket counters at the station.

Don't tell me this is actually a leaf...

See you later.

What's with you?!

I'm gonna scream!

Pervert!

Quit messing around!

What are you even supposed to be?

Just looking at you is embarrassing.

Then don't look.

Don't get smart with me!

Just think of it as a favor to our master, Professor Akadama—

Shut up!

As it is, we're already branded

as the pitiful children who failed to inherit .the blood of Shimogamo Souichirou.

Just behave yourself until .the Nise-emon election.

Got it?

Your daughter?

My kid brother.

You airhead!

Did you really think such a cheap trick would make me happy?

Professor, I'm doing this because you just sit here wasting away every day!

I'm trying to breathe some fresh air into your stale lif—

I have no interest in seeing your alluring figure!

Can't you comprehend the degree of artistry achieved in this transformation?

Behold! This perfect swelling of the chest,

these slender hips, and these firm, pert—

Stop it. You're creeping me out.

Sounds like you're just mad at .yourself for getting turned on.

There's no point taking it out on me, then.

I won't be bewitched by the likes of you.

Of all the impuden—

I bought you some food.

Please eat up.

Have you seen Benten lately?

Nope. Haven't seen her in a while.

She hasn't come by in a long time.

I wonder how she's doing, wherever she is.

There's no way she'd want to .come back to a place like this.

Is that so?

I'm afraid I still can't.

What's all this, then?

Greetings.

I am Yasaburou, third son .of Shimogawa Souichirou.

I come bearing a gift for .Nyoigatake Yakushibou.

My thanks.

You needn't have gone to such trouble.

What are you wearing?

Is it strange?

So, you're not human either, huh?

I guess that remains to be seen.

And you?

I am but Suzuki Satomi.

Don't tease. Just leave him be.

He's sly, that one.

A real nasty fellow.

He seems interesting!

Him, interesting?

He's a clever one, for sure.

He's capable, but he knows .nothing of self-improvement.

He'll never amount to anything.

He seems quite fond of you.

Don't be absurd.

Would you like to see the flowers?

I've never seen such a splendid .cherry blossom tree.

Hey.

Why don't you try doing what I taught you?

Goodness. You know I can't yet.

Just give it a try.

I did it!

We soar through the heavens .wherever we please.

That's what it means to be a tengu.

Disgusting.

This rubbish isn't remotely edible.

Let's get one from the .same place next time.

You ate half of it, so it must .have been good enough.

Is that any way to treat your master?

Whatever's cheap, as long as it's "good enough"?

Today is Friday.

I daresay Benten is out .with the Friday Fellows.

She must be living the good life.

What's so fun about hanging out with those humans?

Benten's human too, you know.

Or had you forgotten?

She's always out partying late at night.

If I don't keep an eye on her, she immediately strays from the right path.

She's hopeless.

Don't you think "strays from the right path" is a strange way to put—

Quiet, you.

This place has better ventilation .than you'd expect.

The only visitors I get these days .are you and the bugs.

How depressing,

You could stand to be a little .more appreciative, you know.

Oh? Who even asked you to come?

You were such a troublesome student.

I thought I'd finally gotten rid of you,

and now you expect me to be happy when you nonchalantly drop by?

I'm fresh out of lectures!

Don't they say that the worse the student, the more the teacher loves them?

Who would say that?

What nonsense.

Since you clearly have nothing better to do,

why don't you go find Benten, and bring her here?

No way.

She won't come here, and there's .no way I could convince her.

Besides, I can't stand Benten .or the Friday Fellows.

Also, while you're out, pick up a few cotton swabs.

I get dreadfully irritable .when my ears are itchy.

There's a fresh package .on the washstand already.

And besides, didn't I just say I wasn't going?

Hold on a minute.

I think I'll write a letter.

Hmm, ben, ben, ten, ten...

You stubborn old tengu!

Pipe down, clean out your ears, and get to bed!

Err, it'd be better to use her real name here...

What was it again?

Make sure you deliver this .to Benten tonight.

Consider it your honorable duty.

I, Shimogamo Yasaburou, accept this mission.

Very well!

This bow's just the thing .for playing Cupid.

Seven Lucky Gods, ..Seven Lucky Gods...

Looks like this is the place.

But I don't see the target...

There she is!

Nyoigatake Yakushibou, ..of all people...

Who is he, some dumb high schooler with his head in the clouds?

One shot!

Like a modern-day Nasu-no-Yoichi!

Wh-Who was that?

Are you okay?

That was close.

How awful!

This is no place for a young la—

It's me.

Oh, you. Sheesh.

You're using that form again?

These powers were .granted exclusively to us,

so what's wrong with using them however I like?

If you're so good at shape-shifting,

you could at least turn into .someone fit to be here.

One electric brandy, please.

I'll have an aka and shochu.

What was all that about earlier?

You startled me.

The professor told me to .deliver his love letter, so I did.

You were all the way across the river,

so I took the liberty .of sending it by arrow.

Are you looking for a fight?

I guess you could call it a token .of our love-hate relationship.

Well, I enjoy making sure people .looking for fights find them.

Please don't.

You ruined my precious fan,

and the Friday Fellows are in an uproar.

I said I wasn't feeling well .and excused myself.

If I had really wanted to .hit you, I would have.

I bet!

Thwack, right in the eye.

I apologize for the fan.

If you like, I can—

No thanks.

I'll be holding on to this.

Did you read the love letter?

Of course.

I suppose the professor is throwing another tantrum?

All he does is gripe and moan.

He's so grumpy right now.

Sounds about right.

Well, it's been ages .since I last stopped by.