Hey!
Am I a flower?
A butterfly? An ogre?
Misery in the world.
Is violence the answer?
Dash of rouge turns to
blade in hand.
Do praise my efforts.
Hey!
You are very welcome.
Bravo, bravo, bravo!
Prepare to be Bewitched
The Ministry of Spirit Affairs?
Yes. You know how those demons have been
causing all kinds of trouble lately?
Sir.
Hmm?
I believe that we should refer to them as "spirits."
Don't be so picky, Hanadate.
And they don't seem very pleased by our new calendar.
Yes, sir.
Therefore, it was decided that our representatives
would join the spirit representatives in establishing a new organization.
The Ministry of Spirit Affairs.
Understood.
However, why have we been brought here?
Not too sharp, eh?
You're here because you've been assigned to Spirit Affairs.
Huh?
I already said no!
Absolutely not!
They want to turn this place into the Ministry of Spirit Affairs?
Not happening!
And they want us to help humans fight?
Ridiculous!
Oh?
But it sounds like so much fun.
Right?
Look.
According to the almanac, today is a perfect day for romance.
Romance?
My, how lovely!
Does that refer to the soldiers arriving today?
That almanac was something the humans themselves came up with!
We're supposed to allow a bunch of humans
and their Jesuit ideas into this house?
That's just disgusting!
I'll make it clear they aren't welcome!
Zakuro...
They may appear to be normal girls,
but once the fight begins,
their mouths open all wide!
And then they bite down, and there's all this crunching!
You must keep them on a tight leash.
Hmm? What's wrong?
Second Lieutenant Agemaki, you seem to be feeling unwell.
N-Not at all...
Leave it to us.
We shall tame those spirits with ease.
I would expect no less from General Agemaki's son.
I eagerly await favorable results.
So this is the Ministry of Spirit Affairs?
Spirits are but a relic of the past.
If they refuse to obey, we'll simply have to punish-
No.
Agemaki?
It would be unsightly to use violent measures.
We must act wisely and peacefully,
Hanakiri.
Understood...
Yes... Peacefully.
Don't create a scene.
Look the other way.
Are those the aforementioned girls?
They have ears atop their heads,
but otherwise, they look like ordinary girls.
And then they bite down, and there's all this crunching!
Everyone, introduce yourselves.
Come now. You go first, Zakuro.
I'm Zakuro.
I-I'm Susukihotaru.
Army Second Lieutenant Yoshinokazura Riken.
My name is Hozuki.
And my name is Bonbori.
My name is Hanakiri Ganryu.
I may look young, but I am also a second lieutenant.
I have a reasonable chance of becoming
the youngest field marshal ever!
Oh...
My...
We have a little boaster here.
Oh...
What might be the matter?
Agemaki.
In for a penny, in for a pound!
I am Imperial Army Second Lieutenant Agemaki Kei.
I am honored to join you in working for the same cause.
A pleasure to make your acquaintance, milady.
Whee! Soldiers!
Let's play! Let's play!
Stop that, Sakura! Kiri!
Hey!
Agemaki!
It's nothing...
Just a slight spell of dizziness.
I apologize for any concern I may have caused.
Next, you'll be teaming up with the person across from you.
Make sure to work together.
So that's what a soldier's like...
It's reassuring to know that they're all nice people.
How so?
Especially that girly Agemaki guy!
He was so stuck up, it made me sick!
It can't be so bad. He looks like a kind person.
You're so lucky to have him as your partner...
Your partner is... Um...
Yoshinokazura Riken.
He's so big and scary...
Wh-What should I do?
He heard me!
Not my problem.
Ah! Zakuro!
Wait up!
Oh, Zakuro.
Perfect timing.
Your fear of spirits is rather severe.
Still, are you sure about this?
We'll be eating and sleeping in the same building.
I don't have a choice!
Who knows what my father will say if he
discovers that I'm afraid of spirits.
I hope that you don't push yourself too hard and make things worse.
I'll excuse myself now.
Hello...
Kushimatsu ordered me to bring you some medicine.
Oh...
Thank you.
Don't! Don't eat me!
Eat you?
I mean...
If a lovely lady like yourself were to touch me,
my heart would be swallowed whole.
Phew.
Zakuro, your tea is getting cold.
Zakuro?
Your almanac might be right...
Oh, my.
Zakuro's smitten with her young soldier.
That's not it!
I'm just...
Hot! Hot!
This won't work.
I'm reaching my limit.
Stand firm!
Otherwise-
Hmm? Did you hear that?
Forget that! The cockroach went your way!
Crush it!
I can't stand those things!
Th-That was...
Hey, big guy.
Let me introduce myself.
I'm Mamezo, Zakuro's artifact spirit.
No! This won't do!
I can't give in now.
As a soldier...
No, as a human being, I cannot disgrace myself...
Huh?
Oh, you're one of the soldiers assigned here?
Sorry that I wasn't here to greet you.
I had some business to take care of.
I'll be counting on your assistance.
Agemaki Kei...
I don't believe in that almanac stuff.
But what if it's right?
Za-Zakuro...
Agemaki.
U-Um!
You mustn't!
It's too sudden!
I'm still...
Outhouse...
Could you accompany me to the outhouse?
Huh?
Th-Th-This manor is filled with scary spirits!
I can't go to the outhouse by myself!
What?
You're just a pansy!
Man...
For a moment there, I was almost fooled.
Can't go to the outhouse because you're scared of spirits...
Are you a child?
Don't blame me!
The second I step out of my room, I see monsters, more monsters,
a whole parade of monsters!
Makes a girl with ears atop her head relatively easy to accept.
Finish up by yourself.
Ah! Wait!
Zakuro!
Don't leave me behind!
Come back!
They sound very animated.
Is it not impossible for spirits and humans
to understand one another?
That's why I chose them.
Half-spirit girls, who are neither spirit nor human...
Lord Amaryoju...
There is no need for you to worry, Kushimatsu.
They no longer need your protection.
Yes.
Man...
I never dreamed that one day, I would do business with spirits.
I guess that's what they call progress.
Indeed.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Thanks for the business!
What is this white liquid?
It's milk.
You don't recognize it?
Cow... Cow udders...
Milk is a fine beverage that,
much like beef, improves health and constitution.
In the army, they tell us to drink some every day.
My! You're so smart, Sir Ganryu!
So you're a boaster and a smarty!
That's disgusting!
You want us to drink cow milk?!
Huh?
But in the West...
This is why I can't stand humans.
They adopt Jesuit practices without a second thought.
I believe that we should
be positive toward accepting changes that are good.
Listen to you, on your high horse...
You're just a wuss who's scared of-
Oh...
My, they're so friendly.
What are you doing?!
No, we're not. No, we're not.
Please. That's enough now.
Finish your breakfast, so you can prepare for the flower viewing.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll take this away then.
Okay.
You've made amazing progress after just one night.
Huh?
The exchange between you and Zakuro...
It appears that you're okay being touched by a spirit now.
You're right.
And last night...
Hey, big guy!
What's that about last night?
You ran away, while I was introducing myself.
That's cold, man.
It appears that he has a long way to go.
I must ask... Is this really okay?
We're going flower viewing instead of working?
Kushimatsu said that we needed
a festive atmosphere to help break the ice.
Yes, I understand.
That certainly makes sense.
Listen to yourself...
Honestly,
I can't believe I spent even one second swooning over this guy.
Hmm? Did you say something?
Sakura! Kiri!
Play with the soldier!
Yay!
Um...
The flower viewing ones are...
Ah.
Ah, thank you.
He's so big and scary...
U-Um... Well...
Am I still scary?
Carrots should be shaped like flowers.
My, they're adorable.
Your hair is similar to the knotroot.
H-How awful, Sir Ganryu!
You compared a maiden's hair to a knotroot!
A-Ah, uh...
Oh, that's it!
I love knotroots!
So I thought that your hair was lovely!
Isn't that a stretch?
Oh.
In that case, it's perfectly fine.
Huh?
Sir Ganryu!
They accepted that?
Does it matter?
Well, I guess it doesn't.
Then it's fine.
But still...
This is why I can't stand humans.
They're in full bloom! Picture perfect!
Wait!
We seem to be attracting a lot of attention...
They probably find it novel to see spirits walking around.
Oh, no...
What's this?
It's getting dark.
I wish they wouldn't come out here.
I know.
How disgusting.
I'm used to this.
Besides...
Weren't you also scared of us?
You're no different from them.
Oh, no...
It's a spring storm.
Let's start counting, the next time lightning flashes, 'kay?
'Kay!
Lightning! Lightning!
Children can enjoy everything.
Okay!
One! Two!
I-It hit the ground?
Th-That's...
Raiju, the lightning beast.
Then there's nothing to worry about.
No, something isn't right here.
Lightning!
Hi, Lightning!
Look out!
Hurry! Run away!
Okay!
What are you doing?
You need to run away yourself!
I'd like to,
but I can't stand up.
Huh?!
Honestly...
A wuss shouldn't try to act cool.
But I suppose you deserve a little praise.
Now that everything's clear...
Since Second Lieutenant Agemaki is actually scared to death of spirits,
we will dispatch this lightning in his stead.
Mamezo!
Gotcha!
Kiri! Sakura!
I need your help!
Okay!
Under a blue sky in full spring glory,
maidens will bloom.
Armed with impervious chastity...
Prepare to be bewitched!
Hey!
Am I a flower?
A butterfly? An ogre?
Misery in the world.
Hey!
Is violence the answer?
Dash of rouge turns to
blade in hand.
Do praise my efforts.
Hey!
Bravo, bravo, bravo!
You are very welcome.
Is that safe?
Are you really sure that it's safe?
Geez, you never stop...
Like I already said,
Raiju is normally a very well-behaved creature.
But why did it lose control?
It shouldn't be affected by the new calendar.
Lieutenant Agemaki! You're such a wuss!
You can really drink, big guy!
Wait, you shouldn't give Hanakiri any alcohol.
Here you are, Sir Ganryu.
We brought plenty of knotroots, since you love them so much.
Huh?
But I can't eat all of that at once...
Nervous
Thank you very much.
What's wrong?
Nothing...
The cherry blossoms look especially beautiful after a job is done.
Especially beautiful, you say...
That's true.
On this day, Zakuro's mood is like a thunderstorm.
Is she nervous about her upcoming first mission?
Or is she suffering from a calcium deficiency
because she doesn't drink milk?
Next time:
Crimson Brilliance.
Crimson Brilliance
Prepare to be bewitched by Zakuro!