Through a dark hallway that should have been empty,
a child walks, making a disturbing dripping, dragging sound as she goes.
Her skin is utterly pale,
her cold, glass eyes glaring.
Or so I thought.
How did this happen?
Konohana Kitan
Episode 5 The Spring Rains Bring With It
Konohanatei
Priest, what is this doll?
I'm told that it's cursed.
I've been asked to give it a cleansing.
Though all it does is speak, move, and grow its hair.
Hey, hey. Can you flip tables or throw plates or anything?
Only a barbarian doll would do that kind of classless poltergeist!
Aw, that's no fun.
That's rude, Natsume-chan.
You don't have to be able to do poltergeist stuff.
You're still great in your own way.
Wait, is she trying to cheer me up?
Your kindness can be cruel at times.
Did I say something wrong?
Do your arms and legs come off
so you can go, like, "Gadoosh!" and transform?
As if!
What's the matter with these people?
Normally, I can make people cry just by walking down the hallway at night.
This is humiliating!
Your hair's gotten pretty long, Okiku-chan.
Your name is Okiku-san?
Don't just make up a name for me!
Sakura, you have a pair of scissors, right?
You should cut it for her.
W-Wait! Children shouldn't play with knives!
Don't worry.
Her eyes...
They're scaring me.
This is the first time I've seen Sakura-chan smile.
Don't struggle. You'll get hurt.
At least let someone else do it!
Didn't your niece's doll look kind of like this?
It was actually pretty stylish.
Very avant-garde.
Well, y-you know...
It'll grow back.
Don't say that like I'm a kid who just cut her bangs too short and can't go to school!
What's going on?
It's so noisy in there.
I'm a high-quality doll!
I was made by a master craftsman!
What's my purpose as a doll if I'm so ugly?
It's that defeatist way of thinking that makes you ugly!
Listen, if being born a girl automatically made you pretty, life would be easy!
Women become women through hard work and refinement!
Sakura-chan, give me the scissors.
What incredible skill.
She's even doing her makeup.
This is me?
I'm not even the same kind of doll anymore!
Now she just needs a kimono.
Yep.
Listen to me!
I liked this obiage, but let's use this.
You don't have to do that for me.
Nacchan, can you bring me my sewing kit?
Okay.
Use my old clothes, too.
Thank you.
I think I have some scraps.
Sakura, you too?
Me, too!
You don't have a kimono.
Don't worry about it.
Then may I help with the sewing?
Can you?
Yes, Bikuni-sama taught me how.
Can you do these frills, then?
F-Frills?
You're so clumsy, Yuzu-chan.
Let me.
Sorry. I've never done frills before.
Then you should have said so.
Hey, you can sew straight, though.
You have such pretty eyes.
Your glass is sparkly, and your porcelain skin is so white and clear.
You must have been made with a lot of care for a really special girl.
Yuck! Japanese dolls are so creepy.
Mom gave it to us for her first grandchild.
What can we do?
It's too intricate.
Especially the eyes.
It's like it's staring at us.
Put it away in the closet or something.
Sorry, little one.
Mom!
Please, Mom!
Buy me a dress-up doll.
One of the popular ones.
Buy me one, too.
Oh, all right.
Yay!
Hey, want to...
play with me?
Hey, she fell asleep.
Dolls sleep, too?
Don't wake her up, Urinosuke.
Someone...
Play with me.
Sorry we couldn't do very much for you.
Not at all.
Thank you for your help.
Um...
What about the cleansing?
Oh, for that doll?
Why do I have to wear a waitress outfit?
You have so many complaints.
It looks really good on you.
No!
It's had more than enough of a cleansing.
I see.
I can't turn down a request from the priest.
What's your name?
I, uh, don't really have a name.
Her name is Okiku.
Okiku.
Yes!
You'll have to work your way up from a maid.
Since when was it decided that I'd have to work?
We can't just let you stay for nothing.
I'm a top-class Japanese doll made by a master craftsman!
You don't look like a Japanese doll.
And I'm a maid, of all things?
This is humiliating!
Want to go to the temple for your cleansing?
I do not.
All right, then it's settled.
Hey! How does that work?
That makes no sense to me! Hey!
Why don't you start...
Oh, Yuzu.
Yes? How may I help?
Teach Okiku how to do her work, please.
Okay, got it.
Konohanatei
Yuzu-chan, can you bring me a washcloth?
It's coming down even harder.
This sucks.
I can't wait for the rainy season to be over.
It's over in other places already.
Why is it still raining here?
Yuzu went to the shed with Okiku.
The shed?
Oh, for that guest.
Delivering meals is an important part of our job. Got it, Okiku-chan?
That name has totally stuck now.
But why are they in a shed?
It looked like we had more open rooms.
Well...
Because this is a weaving shed.
Pardon me.
I brought lunch.
Leave it there, please.
Hey, isn't that breakfast?
Don't bother making the room too tidy, either.
Don't get in my way.
Hang on! Do you really need to talk like th—
Pardon me.
What's with her attitude?
She must be so focused on her work that she doesn't notice anything else.
Is she really?
But she hasn't touched her food at all, either.
Actually, she hardly ate anything yesterday, either.
She's going to break down if she keeps it up.
What shall we do?
She's a special guest.
Special?
I'll think about it.
Thank you.
What is it, Yuzu?
Nothing.
It's like accompaniment music.
Accompaniment?
That sound.
I wasn't the one chosen to become a priestess.
It's not that I've given up.
Once I'm free to resign, I'm going to aim to become a priestess again.
You're right.
This is for Iori?
This'll be easy to eat, even if she's busy.
By myself?
Oh, dear! You can't even do this easy job by yourself?
You certainly have a long road ahead.
I can! It's not that hard.
Don't treat me like I'm an idiot.
I don't mind serving it,
but I don't feel up to it.
Okiku-chan?
Take this to the guest in the shed, please!
O-Okay.
I don't need a haircut anymore!
Pardon me.
I brought rice balls.
I never asked for any.
The head attendant hopes these will be easier to eat.
I'll eat them later.
Leave them there.
That's so wonderful!
This isn't done yet.
It'll be more beautiful when it's done.
No, I mean, the fabric is beautiful, but the way you use your hands is amazing, too.
It's entrancing.
It was just like Satsuki-chan said.
U-Um...
The loom sounded so much like music, I couldn't help but sing along.
I-I'm sorry.
Pardon my intrusion.
It's fine.
I had grown tired of hearing the rain.
Can you stay and sing for a while?
Ahem.
It's coming together before my eyes!
Amazing!
No, this isn't good enough.
My older sister works faster than me.
She finished before I did.
My younger sister is better with her hands.
She can make better-quality weaves.
I'm neither, so I want to become able to weave better and faster than they can.
But being both good and fast is something neither of your sisters can do, isn't it?
I don't know your sisters, so I don't know how you compare,
but it's really exciting to watch the rain cloth come together by your hands.
It must take a lot of time to weave threads of rain.
It's not something I could learn, is it?
This is something only we sisters can weave, because we serve the heavenly gods.
It can't be anyone else.
So this is a gift for the gods of heaven?
Is that why you're in such a hurry to finish it?
It's so beautiful.
I'd love for them to see it soon.
You're right.
I hope they appreciate it.
But this isn't finished yet.
It'll be done soon.
I'll let you be the first one to see it. It's our secret.
Okay.
Please don't overwork yourself.
Be sure to eat when you get hungry, and rest when you're tired.
Dried bonito.
Eat when you get hungry, rest when you're tired.
That way, you can keep up.
Okay. I'll work hard.
It's done?
Congratulations!
Here. Hold this end.
Don't let go.
Here we go.
Ready, and...
Look.
It finally cleared up.
Summer is finally here.
Next Episode: Konohanatei Horror Stories