Meiji Tokyo Renka
You still insist on this, Saotome?
Don't tell me you've been possessed by a ghost!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
One, two, three. One, two, three.
One, two, three... One, two, three.
That's it, you're doing well.
Just what I'd expect from my Little Squirrel.
Y-You think so?
I am looking forward to the day when I can
show off my beautiful fiancée in a dress to the world.
A-A dress?!
Whoops.
Are you all right?
Y-Yes.
I'm going to go look for the black cat.
But it's still bright outside.
It's better than staying here and doing nothing.
I just want to find some place where cats like to gather.
I'll go with him, too.
Syunso-san! Please wait for me!
Masagocho Cat Café Incident
Please wait, Syunso-san!
Why did you come?
Huh?
Wouldn't you rather be practicing your dancing with Ougai-san?
But searching for the black cat is more important.
Ougai-san has ordered an expensive dress for you,
yet you intend to make a fool of him?
T-That's not my intention...
Are you mad about something, Syunso-san?
Not particularly.
Oh my fairy!
To be running into you like this,
you and I are truly tied together by the red wire of fate!
G-Good day, Yakumo-san.
Hello.
Are you both going somewhere today?
Y-Yes. We thought we would look for somewhere
cats gather, to try to find the black cat.
Is that so?
Well then, the café I am heading to now happens to be one such place.
Would you like to accompany me?
May we? Syunso-san!
Sure, I don't see why not.
Okay! We must strike while the iron is hot!
Now then, let's go.
I had no idea there was a café in this area.
You could say it's a secret retreat.
It's my special spot.
Are you sure it's all right for us to go there, too?
It will be no problem at all.
I am very much in your debt, after all.
I will treat you to some delicious tea.
I'm just worried.
That voice belongs to...
Worried? Listen to me...
I was wondering why you were gone for hours on end.
To find you pacing around the mailbox like a puppy
is kind of pathetic, don't you think?
But what if the envelope with your manuscript in it were to be torn?
It's not going to be.
Your tendency to worry is a real pain sometimes.
Good day, Kyoka-san.
I-It's you.
Who is this girl?
One of my readers?
S-Sensei, she is—
Sensei?
Come on, now, you can't possibly be saying that you aren't familiar with the name
Ozaki Koyo, the most famous popular writer in Asia?
Ozaki Koyo-san is...
Oh! You wrote The Golden Demon!
I saw the play of it recently!
Really? Then do tell me your thoughts on it.
You can come to my place now.
What is your name?
A-Ayazuki Mei.
Why don't you look more bothered by this?
Ozaki-san, unfortunately she already has a prior engagement with me.
She was with me first, you know.
My, you're very popular, Mei. In that case...
You're welcome to come by at night.
I will polish up my body just for you.
Sensei! What about your next deadline?!
Don't mention my deadlines!
Help me!
Kyoka-san, it's only chasing after you because you're running away.
Oh, Mei-san!
See you later, Mei!
Make sure to put my manuscript in the mail, Izumi.
Kyoka-san, stop running!
Like hell I'm going to stop!
And a nincompoopie poop...
Hey there, Kyoka-chan.
Ow!
Don't get your germs all over me!
And don't call me "Kyoka-chan"!
Is that really what you're supposed to say after crashing into someone?
But the dog, the dog!
You mean that dog?
There, there. I'm so sorry. I bet that hurt, didn't it?
But he didn't mean any harm, so please forgive him.
Even a savage dog is putty in Mei-san's hands.
Savage dog...
Hey, Mei. Long time no see.
Otoyakko-sa—I mean, Otojiro-san!
Thank you for all of your help the other day.
You made quite the impression.
You're welcome to come by the geisha house any time.
Thank you very much. But I won't be going there anymore.
I would make Ougai-san worry.
I see. Well, probably for the best, then.
I was on my way to grab something to eat. Do you want to come with me?
Stop.
She already has a previous engagement with me to go to a café, Kawakami-san.
Okay, but she was helping me find the black cat before that.
Oh? Then I'll just eat there instead.
Right, Kyoka-chan?
Wha? Why are you dragging me into this?
And don't call me Kyoka-chan!
Nevermind the details.
There must be a reason we all ran into each other.
Right, Mei?
Yes, eating together would make everything taste that much better.
Not bad.
I know. Just wait a bit longer.
It was bad enough that you illegally trespassed on my property.
What were you thinking peeping in as well?
W-We're sorry.
We had no idea that the café was going to be your house.
What are you talking about?
Welcome to Café Fujita!
Koizumi, you bastard.
It's all your fault for suddenly saying something smelled good and taking off.
B-But something really did smell good.
You give in to your appetite way too easily.
Well, at any rate, we're here now. So you might as well serve some tea.
Do you want me to throw you in jail again, Kawakami?
Oh, a cat! Is it yours?
It is not.
B-But...
It really likes you.
See, I told you.
Café Fujita is a cat residence where cats like to gather.
The black cat you're looking for is sure to come by here.
That might be true, Syunso-san!
If you say so, I guess.
Looking for a black cat?
Would that be the black cat that escaped from Hishida's painting?
That's right,
but please don't slay Syunso-san's cat. We can get it back in the painting.
Can you honestly say that ghost cat won't do anything harmful?
I can't, but if anything like that does happen, I'll take responsibility and stop it.
Which reminds me... You're a Tamayori, right?
I heard about it from Kyoka-chan.
Right, Kyoka-chan?
Hey, where'd he go?
Wow, amazing!
There's not a single speck of dust in this house!
This is the first time I've been to a private household where the sanitary condition is so good!
Hey...
That's high praise coming from Kyoka-chan.
He may not seem like it, but Fujita-san
is very good at cooking, washing, and all household chores.
That's incredible! You have my respect.
You can't judge a book by its cover.
Leave.
No way. I'm staying here for now.
Fujita-san, out of consideration for me, your best friend,
won't you please let us partake of Café Fujita's Goro Special today?
Goro Special? Don't be ridiculous.
Café Fujita's Goro Special?
Sounds delicious!
Do what you will.
Who told you to help with the cooking?
Give it a rest and relax that severely furrowed brow.
We're doing something we're not used to as our way of apologizing for trespassing.
It's because Mei-san is extremely fond of eating.
I might actually have a chance with her if I make her something delicious.
Koizumi, cut the pickle into angled bite-size pieces!
Angled? Bite-size pieces?
Don't let the miso soup boil!
But the germs!
There is no such thing!
Let's see, where would the alcohol be?
The alcohol is on the left side of that cupboard.
How do you know that?!
Oh, found it.
This is the really good stuff, too. Let's all drink together.
Why, you...!
This one is Grilled Ribs,
and this one is Skirt Steak.
Don't do that, Pork Loin.
What have you been going on about?
I'm giving each of them a name that's easy to remember.
Weren't you supposed to be looking for the black cat?
Well, I haven't been able to find a black one.
So it's not here either, then.
Please cheer up.
There's a delicious smell coming from the kitchen that might lure it in eventually...
Hey, you two. So this is where you've been.
O-Ougai-san?
What are you doing here?
I was heading to the Metropolitan Police Department on business
when I heard that Inspector Fujita was off duty.
I thought you might've been lured in by the delicious smell.
He's not like you.
What's this? Even Mori-san is here.
Welcome, welcome. Please do come in.
Don't go inviting more guests.
You're all here. Is there a party today?
It looks truly enjoyable.
I will certainly take you up on the offer to join you.
This simmered beef with ginger!
It's well-seasoned with Japanese pepper,
and it's so delicious that the taste
just spreads across my tongue and almost brings tears to my eyes!
Of course it does. I simmered it for a whole day.
What a surprise. I never expected you to be such a domestic person.
The miso soup.
Yes! The soup stock is also flavorful and very good.
Kyoka-san?
I-I'm glad you like it so much.
Come on, Mei, drink some.
No, I'm not so good with alcohol.
I will take that.
Mei-san, these are the pickles I cut.
Here, say ah.
I will take that.
Mei is my fiancée.
Please refrain from getting closer to her than necessary.
What is he saying, Mr. Bunny?
Rather childish of you to get jealous over her being offered alcohol.
Mori-san, I challenge you to a round of Tiger, Tiger, Tiger
to see who gets the honor of feeding things to Mei-san.
I guess I will accept, then.
Wha?
Tiger, tiger, tiger, tiger.
Syunso-san, shall I pour you some more alcohol?
Sure.
Tiger, tiger, tiger, tiger.
I've had enough of this.
Tiger, tiger, tiger, tiger.
Curse you, ghost.
You've possessed my sword, have you?
Now that it has come to this, I will make full use of your power.
I will slay those who do wrong without mercy, be they ghosts or humans.
Prepare yourself.
We shall fall into the darkest depths together.
Fujita-san!
Fujita-san?
Girl...
I will help you with the dishes.
No need.
At least let me help with cleaning up, please.
It's freezing.
Cooking is such hard work.
Did you find the black cat?
It wasn't here.
I see.
That wasn't a lie.
I haven't said anything.
Why does you saber reflect things that cannot be seen?
It was reforged from a sword I used to have.
One that was possessed by a ghost.
You have some threads loose.
Huh?
The cats were clawing at it earlier.
Come with me.
Wow, you can even sew as well.
I had the wrong impression of you, Fujita-san.
I thought you were a rather scary person, but you're really more like, well...
What?
A mother.
What are you talking about?
T-Thank you very much.
Girl...
Join me.
Huh?
The Supernatural Division would make good use of your Tamayori powers.
The Supernatural Division?
To make me eliminate ghosts?
Stay by me, and I will protect you.
I will not allow anyone else to be sacrificed to spirits.
Th-That hurts.
My apologies.
Has something happened?
I'm sorry, though. I won't join the Supernatural Division.
Because I slay spirits?
Neither Jane-san nor Shirayuki-san were simply things to be feared.
I believe that, like humans, ghosts can also be complicated
in their own ways and are capable of having kind hearts.
That is why I would like to learn more about them, and understand them.
You're Ayazuki Mei-san, right?
What is it?
I just felt a bit dizzy.
Are you all right?
Yes, forgive me. I'm fine now.
Don't push yourself.
I won't.
No!
W-W-What are you doing?!
You have shown your true colors, Fujita-san!
No, you dirty policeman!
Who are you calling "dirty"?
What the hell? You bastard, Fujita!
What are you doing to my precious Mei?
Now he's Otoyakko!
My Little Squirrel is mine and mine alone.
Dirty, dirty!
Shut up!
What a pathetic man.
Why, you...!
I will have to make sure everyone else knows that as well,
Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to a lady like that!
You can't get away with that just because you're a policeman!
since they keep doing regrettable things like offering her
It's nonsense for a man to treat a lady so badly.
alcohol and trying to feed her.
How the heck is he a lady?!
Ugh, I'm hungry.
Okay, we're going to drink some more. Come on, Mei.
He told Mei to come.
He did indeed.
Now, now, everyone please refrain from dragging my Little Squirrel around.
Are you listening? Hey, you guys!
It's not a good idea to drink too much, everyone!
Huh? An eel? Okay.
And wit dat de eel ish done.
Hey, dats not an eel!
Itsh totally an eel.
Such a shplendid eel. It's great!
Do it over.
I wanna eat shome eel!
Haven't you had enough to eat?
I wanna eat tofu!
Huh?
Tofu looksh like dis.
How about a drink, Inspector Fujita?
Hey, it's tofu! Looks shoo good.
Sure.
Now then,
Army Surgeon First Class Mori, what did you come here for?
I wondered if a member of the Supernatural Division, such as yourself,
might be able to protect that incredibly important girl in ways that I cannot.
What?
I can't do that.
Why not?
She already turned me down.
Well, then.
She's a strange girl.
There is no other girl as good as her.
They are a boisterous bunch,
but this evening wasn't so bad.
It's all thanks to her.
Okay, everyone, I've brought refills.
Oh, how thoughtful of you.
Thank you very much, Mei-san!
Yuck, what is this?
Mei...
So this ain't alcohol?
Nope. You've all had far too much to drink, so I brought you some water.
No way! Come on!
Stop playing! More alcohol!
Meiji Tokyo Renka
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Escaping at 3 O'Clock in the Afternoon
Mei, why do you gaze at the moon?
Will you soon be leaving my side?