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!
Losing your wallet when you've come to stock up on things is so very stupid.
What's this? What's this?
Well then, how about searching around the town as if you're sightseeing?
What's this?
You need to take lunch along with you on a trip, right?
But the money...
Yes, well, this is Hakumei's first time here, isn't it? Show her lots of different things.
Right. Thank you, ma'am.
Oh! I know what this is! It's a syphon!
Port Lounge KOBONE
East Block Map
Is that place the reason why you sometimes come home a bit tipsy, Mikochi?
Hmm, maybe.
Hey, step right up!
Oh, Mikocchan, that you?
"Miko"?!
Oh my, Fusenmaru-san!
Stocking up today?
No, we're... well...
She lost her wallet.
Oh?
That's too bad. Wait a second!
Did I do something wrong?
Um... What's that?
Our new dried items. You should eat it and cheer up.
If it's delicious, then come on back again.
Th-thank you.
Oh, what're you doing, Fusenmaru? Trying to look good?!
Mikochi, you should take this too!
How about some tsukudani?
Have a taste of these pickles!
These were caught this morning!
I stewed this perch!
Try this!
You're really popular, huh...
Let's leave these with the barkeep too, and walk around the back alleys.
Okay.
Now should we go through the back alleys on the western block or the underground market...
Hakumei, what kind of place would you like to go to?
I want to eat lunch.
Okay then...
For lunch?
I've decided on our next destination.
It's another one of my favorites.
There it is, there it is! Right inside here.
Wow...
This is the central market from when Tsumiki was still low.
It looks like it was whittled down by the light shining on it.
It's a good place to eat lunch, isn't it?
I've been waiting for this!
It's grilled pressed sushi!
There's ball-shaped sushi too!
Let's go halfsies! Halfsies!
Hakumei, you are eating way too fast.
This fish is so tasty! Only at the fish harbor!
Since we've come all the way here, do you want to go to the harbor?
Yeah, let's go!
Then... if we go right now...
What's wrong?
Hakumei, if you can see the blue cloth flags, hide them from my view.
Uh... Leave it to me!
Um, Mikochi?
Ah... The smell of new cloth...
Touch Touch
Is this the texture of Hiromuta cotton?
This must be about thirty percent linen!
That sounds like nonsense, Mikochi.
Sorry. The only thing I'm hopeless against is cloth.
Then it's pretty agonizing not having any money, huh?
Well, wait a second.
So I do have it! I just forgot to use it.
Can't you buy that Hiromuta cotton stuff with this?
Oh, I'm very pleased, but one bundle is several thousand yen...
That much?
The filaments that only come from the raw cotton on the west side of Hiromuta...
knitted by the artisans there... Those are top-quality products.
In the past, when I was a part-time dress maker, I received a bolt from my boss.
What happened to that fabric?
My needlework skills were lacking... and all the seams were puckered.
It was the fabric I longed for, and the fabric of my fate...
Special Bargain Cotton Cloth 700yen each
Well, first of all, you have to get used to the fabric...
Oh! Here it is, here it is!
Ma'am, is this Hiromuta? And do you have a red one?
Cashier
How much is this? Seven hundred yen? I won't go higher than five hundred!
Sigh...
And there you go.
A scarf! Are you sure?
It's a souvenir.
Think of it as a thank-you gift for showing me around.
Thanks, Hakumei.
This fabric is... fifty percent Hiromuta-style cotton, fifty percent linen, you know?
What an awful special talent.
It's very cheap!
From here on is the inside market. When we come out, we'll be at the harbor.
This is the most feverish atmosphere yet today, huh?
Even this is still on the calm side. The auction is over and everything.
Hey, Mikochi-chan!
Huh?
Sekimenmaru-san.
You came at just the right time!
What do you think of this soy sauce? It's for a marinade, though.
It's delicious, but I think it might be better if the Japanese pepper were more coarsely ground.
Ah, I see.
Try the stock for my sake lees soup too!
Please have a taste of this as well.
I have sake-steamed salmon...
Um... Right now I'm kind of...
Go ahead. I'm gonna look around this area.
But...
It's okay, go ahead!
Sorry, I'll be done soon!
Wow...
Put a bit more minced ginger on top... Yeah, ginger is good too.
You decreased the amount of shiso you used, but... what about the sesame miso?
In this case, yuzu would definitely make a better seasoning than sudachi.
Note: yuzu and sudachi are citrus fruits used for zest, in place of lemon or lime
What in the world is this fish?
That fish is the red bigeye.
Whoa!
No one's here, huh...
The fishermen are having a drink at their homes right about now.
It feels strange since it got quiet all of a sudden.
Oh, yeah?
When it's lively, they're all...
"Move it!" and stuff like that.
That was a town where time passes quickly.
Hmm...
When I see this hustle and bustle, I feel like time stops.
Ushio ni mori utcha O-hisan ga Ho! The sun harpoons the tide Ho!
I see... I don't really get it.
Nami no mukou ni kabe no hi mita to A-hey! When it saw the wall of light beyond the waves A-hey!
A song?
A sea shanty. It's time to leave the market.
Kaeri kaeru ga sashiami agerya... Heave-ho! The frogs on their way home set the gillnet... Heave-ho!
Enya totto iwashi no mure ga Heave-ho! For the school of little sardines
Mada da mada da to O-hisan ga Heave-ho! Not yet, not yet, here is the sun
Enya todoke yo, Sore todoita, mori to uta yo... Heave-ho! Send it off, heave-ho we sent it off, the harpoon and the song...
So, shall we head home?
But what about the search for the wallet?
That's enough for today.
My wallet?
DRINKING SPOT
I've kept my eye on it since I picked it up.
Mikochi-san, you're very difficult to get hold of.
Well... I apologize for causing such a ruckus.
If we're going shopping, there are still some stores that are open.
My legs are already so stiff...
Oh, that's right!
There's a place I have to go to!
Huh? What?
Port Lounge KOBONE
Ma'am, we're back!
It smells good in here!
Hey, I've been waiting for you.
Wow, what a grand drinking party!
Yummy!
We're definitely going to be here until morning, huh?
So, did you buy anything?
Hm?
One minute...
This! Pour my next one in this!
Oh, well isn't that a nice mug.
It is! It's the same design as Mikochi's but a different color!
Jeez, it seems like you'd confuse my cup with yours.
That's okay, right?
"The rise of the town"
It is said that Arabi's Tsumiki Marketplace originated from shops founded by three
prominent figures.
Those three were the fisherman Maru, the fabric dealer Willie, and the coffee roaster Kyuuka.
Currently, with the ruins of the former site of the market center as its heart, it has become the model for today's Arabi, where people call out to one another.
Furthermore, it is said that the unique stacked architecture was envisioned by the three as they talked nonsense over drinks.
They said "If we stacked them up, we could build as many
as we want, right?"