Mikochi, look!
There's another mysterious-looking door!
Another one?!
The noise did sometimes come from above the house.
Why are there doors and ladders above our house like this?
Episode 15 A Ladder in the Tree
It was probably made when the house was repaired.
That darn Sen didn't tell us.
We will absolutely get to the bottom of this!
I've had enough of our home being riddled with mysteries.
Anybody there?
Yes?
And who might you be?
Hello, do you live here?
Uh, well, yes...
This is our-!
I'm sorry! Have I done something wrong?
I-I just came here from the capital. I didn't know anything about the rules of the city...
Uh, I mean... that is...
If there's anything you're missing, let me know. We live below you.
O-okay.
G-good bye...
She was kind of cute, huh?
She was...
What's this?
The ladder got cut.
Hup.
Whoa, wait!
C'mon, Mikochi. I'll make sure I catch you.
No way!
I have no choice then. I'm gonna go look for something that can connect to this ladder.
Be right back.
Okay.
I'm thirsty.
How 'bout some juice?
How much is it?
Um, who are you?
I'm the one runnin' the juice business in this here tree.
Ah...
What's this?
You got down here yourself?
A kind flying squirrel helped...
Want some juice?
Yeah.
Wanna take a rest?
This kind of reminds me of my hometown.
It was like this?
Yes. It was noisier, though.
The wind that blew between the branches...
The ocean of green...
The narrow walkways...
The residents that would increase in the blink of an eye...
Well, I don't hate liveliness, though.
Whoa. There are three doors over there, too.
Hello!
Hi! Hello!
Yes?
Wow! Yes?
Who are you?!
Treetop Grill Hearty Curry Blue Sky Soup
Sure is lively, huh?
Maybe I'll take back what I said...
Oh, yet another ladder.
But, isn't that the top right there?
Huh?!
Are you okay?
J-just give me a minute...
Should I push on your butt?
No, I'm almost there!
I made it!
The wind feels great!
What?
There's something here.
Alcohol?
There are even glasses and a corkscrew...
"Congratulations on reconstruction. From Sen."
Why is it here?
Want to drink it?
Let's do that.
By the way...
I just suddenly came to live with you, right?
That's right.
Isn't that a case of "residents increasing in the blink of an eye"?
Oh...
I suppose so.
August 18th.
August 18th Sunny
Sunny.
Today, I went out into town with the first friends I've made since I moved to Makinata.
Mikochi-san is level-headed,
and she told me about cheap stores and gave me tips for living alone.
Hakumei-san is friendly, and I really enjoy going to have tea with her.
It really was fun...
This won't do.
I came all the way from the country to Makinata,
so I want to have the metropolitan lifestyle!
But Makinata isn't metropolitan to begin w-
What kind of lifestyle do you mean, specifically?
Let me see...
Reading a book while surrounded by one-of-a-kind items...
Enjoying a bit of night harvest cassis alcohol.
And then on my days off...
drinking tea with my friends!
You're doing the second half right now.
Koharu, is the furniture in your room no good?
I'm tired of those!
They aren't refined at ALL!
Those can hardly be called aesthetic! And we're in the city!
Do you want to go look at furniture together after this?
Y-yes, definitely!
Episode 16
The Metropolitan Lifestyle
Do you know a good shop or something?
I do! It's on Souba Street!
This is it. Interior Multorica Souba Main Shop.
Oh, welcome!
Take your time looking around, okay?
What kind of things do you want, Koharu?
I can't decide...
Miss?
Yes?
I want to get a pantry cabinet and a bed, and also a chair.
What are your preferences, Ma'am?
Metropolitan things!
Okay then, first, a pantry cabinet.
The coating is done using material mixed by the painter Kaname.
The glass was made in Shar.
Yes, this is good!
Miss, will you show me that wall-mounted flower vase?
I'll bring it for you.
Koharu, I can't really recommend this...
Wha-? Huh? Why is that?
The sliding and the fit of the door is too rugged.
And the seam construction is also sloppy.
The coating is definitely pretty, so I won't just say it's not good.
Hmm... I'll put up with the inconveniences...
Here you are.
Oh, thank you.
I also brought a bed while I was at it.
Huh, that?
It's a miniature bed from the Shieko Company.
I think it will go well with any type of room.
It's wonderful!
It looks like she's being offered to the gods...
Is that metropolitan?
I've found a wonderful bed, so now...
Taking into account your size, I think a rocking or folding chair is good.
That chair...
Oh, you're quite the connoisseur.
This was originally used to furnish a passenger boat.
Really?!
It's old, but it's durable, and the color of the seat is very pretty.
This here is...
...really nice, huh?
Yes. It's a bit tall, though...
That shelf and bed from before, and this chair, please!
Thank you very much.
Moss as beautiful foliage on the pantry cabinet, and the mushroom repurposed as a table.
Ah! How metropolitan!
Thank you for helping me!
This has become the room of my dreams!
Sure!
I'm glad we could.
Well, come by and have tea again sometime!
Okay! Have a good evening!
Koharu isn't coming at all, huh...
I wonder if something happened.
Like maybe her chair collapsed and she can't get out now...
Or she got caught in the shelf, right?
Hey, Koharu! Are you alive?!
There's no reply.
Koharu! I'm letting myself in!
Dead!
Oh... It's you two...
You're alive!
Koharu, are you okay?!
I'm hungry~
Give me... some food...
I'll bring you some right away!
I had a bad accident.
The handle for the cabinet came off and I couldn't get food...
When I was cleaning up, it looks like I put the pitcher on the chair...
And when I flew and tried to take a drink, I hit the ceiling...
When I sleep on the bed I have nothing but bad dreams...
And from on top of the mushroom I remembered my hometown, and felt faint...
I'm sorry...
Will you help me put my room back to how it was?
Okay.
I suppose this kind of room suits me after all.
Koharu...
I'm going to return the furniture.
Hakumei-san.
Can I ask you for one more thing?
It's really okay, right?
Yes. Please cut it.
Maybe one day, if my legs grow,
that's when I'll sit and drink cassis alcohol.
Until then, make it shorter so I can use it!
Okay...
About here, right?
A little bit shorter...
No, longer... Shorter...
Is it comfortable to sit on?
It's the best!
I'd love to chat with a sweetheart on this chair.
Asking for yet another difficult thing...
That's right! A metropolitan love...
I should be able to do something like that!
Is it okay if we go have tea right now? Please give me lessons in romance!
What do you mean by "metropolitan love?"
It sure is cold...
What will I wear tomorrow?
Excuse me...
If you don't mind, please come inside.
So you were eavesdropping. Thank you for this.
Episode 17 Photo of a
Smile
Mimi, are you travelling cameraman? It's been a long time since I've seen a camera.
They're a specialty of my hometown.
It's susceptible to water, so you're a lifesaver.
Were you able to take some good pictures in Makinata?
Perfect ones. Wanna see?
Look. I've developed several of them.
Ah, Hakuyo-san's in this one.
This one has Sen.
Huh?
None of these have anyone looking at the camera.
Are these secret pictures?
I got the permission of all the subjects.
While they were camping and working, I waited there several days until I got familiar with them.
When the subject is no longer conscious of the camera,
that's when you can take a natural picture.
I see, that's interesting. It's like fishing.
Do you get it?! That makes me happy!
PHOTOGRAPHIC DRY PLATES
Really, I wanted to take a few more shots over here,
but the photographic dry plates that I'm using aren't sold here.
PHOTOGRAPHIC DRY PLATES
I only have one left, and I want to get to the next city soon, but...
According to the forecast, the rain will continue until tomorrow morning.
Well, just stay at our house tonight.
Really? Thank you.
Sure!
But then, can you take pictures of us? We'll act natural.
That doesn't really matter, though...
What are you doing there, Mikochi?
I'm cutting up some fresh pickled plum.
I'm going to cook this up with fish.
I see.
Thanks for the eye contact.
Ah, no problem...
It's surprising that I keep looking back...
Hey, Mikochi?
Are there any knives or anything you want me to sharpen?
I do repair services as my job, you see.
I'm an assistant at a carpenter's association,
and I also do knife sharpening and stuff at restaurants.
Oh?
What a natural posture.
Even though you face the camera, you don't move an eyebrow.
That's incredibly unnatural.
What?
She usually has a more carefree way about her.
Also, where did you pull that outfit out from?
Don't expose me like that...
Thanks for the meal.
Oh man, that was delicious!
But you ate so many different things on the road, right? What did you like?
STOREHOUSE
Let me see...
Rice with soy sauce and sake in Arabi.
The tofu dishes in Yashiro were also good.
You went to Yashiro? It's an interesting place, isn't it?
It sure is.
But I was stalked by a pickpocket afterwards...
And the people from the caravan helped me.
Do you have a picture of Ryokubirou?
"Ryokubirou?"
The leader of the wolf pack. She helped me out a long time ago.
Oh. I may have taken a picture... let's see.
Is this one her?
Yeah! It's Ryokubirou! She hasn't changed a bit.
She's a nice lady. She looks scary, though.
She sure is!
Oh, that's the barkeep at Kobone.
Looks she's free as usual in the afternoons.
Since she was free, she made me the rice with soy sauce and sake.
Business is always booming at night, though...
The pictures here are pretty old, huh?
Yeah, they're pictures of my hometown. I took these pictures during my childhood.
That brings me back.
There's someone...
...she resembles.
Don't you feel like you want to go home when you're looking at pictures like these?
Sometimes, yeah...
But sometimes... that's not the case.
Hakumei, help me carry her to the bed.
Sure thing.
Sorry...
Even though you'd been kind to me, I went straight to bed...
Don't worry about it.
If you come around this way again, drop on by!
Okay. Thanks.
How 'bout some juice?
Who are you?
Oh, I know!
Mister, will you take a picture of the three of us?
Will do!
Hakumei, for me, this type of picture is...
...unnatural, huh?
No. It's just...
C'mon, look at the camera.
Okay, we have one shot at this.
I'm gonna take it now.
Say "cheese!"
I got some great photos today, too!
Mimi-san!
Your photos are done.
How are they?
Good! Perfectly done!
Can I get some extra copies of these, too?
I have to send these to people.
Sure!
This is the first time I'm in one of my pictures.
And goodness, I'm smiling...
When a pleasant wind blows, let's eat a meal outside
Traveler's Diary
In this season with the aroma of the fragrant olive
November 4th Cloudy
Four days have passed since I've been away from my hometown.
Stars twinkle and shine from an akebia-colored sky
After a slow breath, the banquet commences
I'm still not used to traveling by boat, but I've at long last found the place I belong. It's on a frightfully high stool, at the very rear of a bar counter.
A fresh smoked cheese quiche
It's a dead end, but honestly that's where the band sounds the best. Also, right next to me is the preferred seat of the vocalist when he's done singing.
And magnolia leaf-wrapped red salmon
Look, the world is pleased, it wants to dance with us
It's become routine for the two of us to drink and talk until morning. Tomorrow, I think I'll tell him that even when we disembark, I want to stay together with him.
What drinks would go well with such a night?
How about Japanese peppers in a botanical?
It feels as if we can grasp even the moon with these small hands