namida no ame ga hoo wo tataku
涙の雨が頬をたたく
As a shower of tears falls upon my cheeks,
tabi ni utsukushiku
たびに美しく
I become more and more beautiful.
kudaranai ru-ru kara hamidasezu ni naiteita
くだらないルールからはみ出せずに泣いていた
I've been in tears over the senseless rules I can't come to accept,
boyakesugita mirai chizu
ぼやけすぎた未来地図
And the map of my future is too muddled to read.
surihetta kokoro wo umetakute atsumeta
すり減ったココロを埋めたくて集めた
I've been trying to mend my damaged heart,
iranai mono bakari
要らないモノばかり
but now it's filled with things I don't even need.
baibai ano itoshiki hibi ha
バイバイあの愛しき日々は
Bye bye, my precious days...
modori ha shinai kara
戻りはしないから
...to which I'll never return.
hiraiteyuku chiisaku tojita kokoro ga
開いてゆく小さく閉じたココロが
My tiny, closed off heart...
yoru no sumi de shizuka ni
夜の隅で静かに
...begins to open quietly in a corner of the night.
irodzuiteku motto fukaku yasashiku
色付いてくもっと深く優しく
It ripens with the morning light,
asa no hikari wo ukete
朝の光を受けて
growing deeper, more tender.
namida no ame ga hoo wo tataku
涙の雨が頬をたたく
As a shower of tears falls upon my cheeks,
tabi ni utsukushiku
たびに美しく
I become more and more beautiful.
I've witnessed something outrageous.
Is that what people refer to as "Hell on Earth"?
Min-
Minko-san.
H-Hey...
Don't speak!
Don't talk to me! Don't breathe!
I'm going to die.
Good morning, Ohana-chan.
Min-chi?
What's with her?
Did something happen, Ohana-chan?
Um...
The thing is...
Eh?!
Touru-san was?
Why was he at Fukuya?
I don't know what's going on...
Would you mind telling me the rest of that story?
Minko.
Fetch me the grater from the storage.
Yes, sir.
Um, Touru-san sure is late today...
He won't be coming.
What do you mean?
Hurry up with the grater.
Yes, sir.
Episode 5
A Cook's Tearful Longing
He's been offered work somewhere else?
Based on the information I have collected, that's likely the case.
Information?
Lately, I've been thinking that I may be better at writing realist fiction than erotica.
For the sake of my novel, with this shabby hot spring inn as the main setting,
I have been gathering information about the people here and their backgrounds.
Wow, he's a realist.
No one cares about that!
Tell us more about Touru-chan's work offer!
You don't care?
Fine then.
Did you all know?
Our mistress and Fukuya's mistress have been rivals since long ago.
Eh?
I've heard the rumours, but...
Fukuya, looking for a way to undermine Kissui Inn,
have set their eyes on Touru-kun.
Losing a talented chef would have a huge impact on Kissui Inn.
Then, that was...
Eh?
I saw something last night.
Are you okay with this, Ren-san?
Will you really be fine without me?
I can keep things rolling whether you're here or not.
I understand.
Maybe he was discussing it with Ren-san.
About his job offer.
Fukuya is a first-class inn.
Compared to this run-down place, he'd have a brighter future there.
That's going a bit far...
Ren-san was probably just giving the talented Touru a push in the right direction.
But, why so sudden?
He didn't even throw him a farewell party.
He sure is doing well.
He's already getting along with Fukuya's young successor-
That can't be true!
Min-chi!
He may seem rough and cold, but...
...he cares about his job, and the people at Kissui Inn more than anyone else!
There's no way he would accept an offer like that!
A death-by-grater murder incident?
All right, let's go ask him directly!
Touru-san isn't...
He's not here?
We were too late, huh?
He's already moved on...
...leaving us behind.
Min-chi...
The white croaker will be done soon.
How are the Szechuan leaf peppers?
I'm chopping them right now.
Um...
Why did Touru-san go to Fukuya?
You're serious about becoming a chef too, aren't you?
Yes.
Then you will understand eventually.
That's-
'Cuz you aren't paying attention.
I'm sorry. I'll chop them right away.
Are you out of your mind?
Do you intend on handling the customer's food with your finger like that?
Leave it.
Minko-san...
Must be difficult for her.
Can't do anything about it, now that her saviour is gone.
Saviour?
The one who allowed Minko to work here was actually Touru-chan.
I heard that she wanted to be a chef so badly that she wasn't even going to attend school.
Her parents were against it as well.
But she wouldn't give up, and kept searching everywhere for a place to take her in.
Please! Let me work here!
Even if you say that...
Your parents are against this, aren't they?
But, I-
Being a chef isn't as easy as you think it is.
Can you really do it?
I can.
Show us what you can do.
I'm done.
It's thick.
Too thick.
I'm amazed you considered becoming a chef.
She still has a ways to go, doesn't she?
Mistress, Ren-san.
Would you mind taking her in until she can be of use?
She still needs improvement, but she has the right attitude.
What do you think, Ren-san?
You'll be instructing her from the ground up.
Yes, sir.
What kind of face is that?
Chefs start their mornings early.
Kitchen hand.
T-Thank you very much!
So that's what happened.
Go check up on her.
Nako-chan and I will take care of the rest.
Okay!
Touru-san...
U-Um, Minko-san.
Don't you have work to do?
I was worried about you, so...
No need to.
I wonder if I can work at Fukuya too...
I guess it's impossible for someone like me.
I'm sure it'll be fine!
I'm sure Touru-san will put in a good word for you!
Just like when you first came here.
W-Where did you hear that?
And I'm sure Touru-san would be able to work better if Minko-san was there too.
You... hobiron!
How could I go work at Fukuya?!
I was able to work at Kissui Inn because of Touru-san.
I have a debt of gratitude to Touru-san, the mistress, and Ren-san..
I can never repay my debt to Kissui Inn!
But you said you want to go work at Fukuya just now.
That's not the way I meant it...
You're amazing, Minko-san.
Huh?
Whether it's work, love, or your own personal matters, you're giving it your all.
I want to cheer you on.
You should chase after him.
B-But...
You can't do anything without Touru-san, right?
Get out...
Get out, you hobiron!
Minko-san!
She shut me out...
Minko-san must really love him...
To fall in love with someone is a pretty incredible thing.
Does that mean...
Kou-chan
Sorry I didn't come to see you off.
Ohana, do your best!!
...Kou-chan feels the same?
Kou-chan...
I don't think you can really expect much.
I mean, it's just a local festival.
I didn't say it was pointless, Takako-san.
She just snaps way too easily.
Where'd they put it, I wonder...
Oh?
What are you doing loitering around in a place like this?
Ah. I was just...
I know.
Help me out with something.
Eh?
Let me know if you find a bonbori.
You can just open things randomly.
Okay...
You do know what a bonbori looks like, right?
Maybe I didn't really understand anything...
Ah, that's it! A bonbori!
These are the ones they use for the bonbori festival?
You know about it, huh?
It looks lovely.
What is this?
That's a wishing charm.
A wishing charm?
If you hang a wishing charm from a bonbori with your wish written on it,
in order to show their gratitude for lighting the way,
the deities take your wish back to Izumo, and grant it.
Wow.
However, only diligent people get their wishes granted.
It wouldn't work for someone like you, who's always skipping out on work.
Diligent people...
Would just decorating the lanterns in a modern fashion really attract more customers?
I suppose I'll end up doing just as Takako-san instructed, anyway.
A diligent person's wish will be granted, right?
Eh?
I'm borrowing this.
Eh?
Hobiron! Hobiron! Hobiron!
She doesn't understand anything!
That idiot!
Minko-san!
Let's go bring Touru-san back!
You- What are you-
Touru-san has a sharp tongue,
but he is kinder, and works harder than anyone.
He seems rough and cold,
but he cares about his job, and the people at Kissui Inn more than anyone else.
His hair is about this long with slightly slanted eyes, right?
We can't lose someone like that!
So...!
You don't understand anything.
Touru-san was recognised for his skill, and got invited to Fukuya.
Do you know just how incredible that is?
No.
You idiot.
I want what's best for him, so...
...I don't want to get in his way.
Minko-san, you hobiron!
You love Touru-san, don't you?
Fine then. I'll go to Fukuya by myself.
You idiot! What's the point in doing something like that?
I want to do something for you, who's trying so hard!
If I can do that, I may start to feel like I can try harder myself.
But, it's clearly impossible to bring him back.
In that case, we'll...
...ask the deities for help!
I'm off.
W-Wait-
Hey, you!
What's with her?
She's such a hobi...
Excuse me!
Gr-and-ma...
Yuina, I told you to call me mistress, didn't I?
Sor-ry, gr-and-ma...
So, what is it?
The fr-ont lobby s-seems k-i-ind of n-noisy.
Come out here, mistress!
Hey, stop struggling.
What's all this ruckus?
Ohana-chan?
Ah! She's here!
You're from Shijima's place.
I'm her granddaughter.
I came here to ask for a favour.
Please return Touru-san.
Huh?
How cruel can you guys at Fukuya be?
Your lodging is huge, you have lots of cars,
and your granddaughter is really pretty.
You didn't have to steal one of our chefs, too!
What on Earth is this girl saying?
Kissui Inn needs Touru-san, so...
Touru-san already left.
Where did he go?
Kissui Inn.
Kissui Inn?
Eh?
What?
He was helping out?
Our only chef caught a cold, so Kissui Inn's head chef got Touru-san to help us out.
I tried switching to a fake Hakata dialect today.
Could you understand me?
So that's how it is...
Then, you and Touru-san were...
Me?
You know, you two were riding on the bike together.
He was just giving me a ride because I wanted to try it out. That's all.
That's all?
Ah, that's right. What should I do with the helmet?
He won't be coming back, so...
Ohana-chan, do you want it?
I decorated it a bit though.
You can ride with him.
I'll let you know if I ever need it.
I'm so tired.
Ohana-chan!
Touru-san came back!
A work offer?!
Where the heck did you guys get that idea from?
If that writer has the time to be spreading weird rumours,
he should just get back to writing his erotica.
Ren-san.
Hm?
If... If I really had gone to work somewhere else,
what would you have done?
I'll definitely stop you next time!
I wasn't asking you!
Sorry.
Minko. Go check the vegetable stock.
Ah, got it!
And organize the ingredients in the storeroom while you're at it.
I'm happy for Minko-san.
Oh, right.
Move.
I can't get on my bike.
Geez, even with nothing on you, you still get in the way.
There. I moved.
Why don't you just leave already?
Thanks for your hard work today.
That's what you say after trying to bring me back?
When is the farewell party?
T-That was...!
In the end, you were the only one who tried to stop me, huh?
Eh?
It's still better than no one, I guess.
What are you doing?
I have a sensitive nose.
If Ren-san didn't try to stop me,
then that means I still have a long way to go.
Ah, Touru-san went home.
What happened?
I still don't like that person!
This was a good experience for Touru-kun, wasn't it?
With this, everyone would be able to manage if the Inn closed down.
Mistress!
I was joking.
Enishi. Give them a call later to apologize.
To Shigeko-chan's place, that is.
To Fukuya?
What a crazy day...
You sure ran around a lot, Ohana-chan.
Aren't you glad that he didn't leave, Minko-san?
I knew he wasn't going to, anyway.
Now you can be together with Touru-san forever, right?
You can call me Min-chi.
Eh?
Really?
In return...
Write a nickname you like here.
I'll call you by it.
Eh?
You wanted one, didn't you? I heard from Nako.
If you write it on this wishing charm, I wouldn't mind calling you it.
Min-chi.
A-All right then.
But you know...
I didn't think I'd have to think of one myself.
If you two are Nako-chi and Min-chi, I would be...
Ohha-chi? But maybe Hana-chi might be better...
Ah! But that sounds too much like "nosebleed".
TL Note: "Nosebleed" is pronounced "hanaji" which sounds really similar to "Hana-chi"
Then how about...
Hmm... Maybe...
Time's up.
Eh?
Why?
Because you're being stupid, and taking forever.
I'll think of one really quick!
Give me another chance!
No.
Come on, Min-chi...
Min-chi, please!
Be quiet.
Please!
Kou-chan, are you doing well?
Ohana here.
Kou-chan, I think I've finally found something worth working hard for.
I'm sure it's thanks to the text you sent to me.
Northern Coast
Hot Springs
Thank you, Kou-chan.
Ohana
yume wo miru sukoshi temae de
夢をみる少し手前で
Just before I drift off into my dreams,
oitekita mono ha nan dakke
置いてきたものはなんだっけ
I wonder what it was I've left behind,
wasurete shimaitaku ha nai kedo
忘れてしまいたくはないけど
I don't want to let it just slip away.
tokiori futto kioki no sumi ni ukabu no ha
時折ふっと記憶の隅に浮かぶのは
Every so often it floats up in the corner of my mind,
fuwari boyaketa sepia iro
ふんわりぼやけたセピア色
A dim and gentle sepia color,
me no mae wo fusagu hibi no mukou sukoshi zutsu tooku
目の前を塞ぐ日々の向こう少しずつ遠く
Lying just beyond the days when I started covering my eyes. It's getting further and further away.
daitai nande iki wo kirashite
大体なんで息を切らして
Why on Earth do we keep running,
hashitterundarou
走ってるんだろう
Until we're completely out of breath?
supi-do agete yuku hodo tachidomaru koto ga kowakute
スピードを上げてゆくほど立ち止まることが怖くて
The more we increase our speed, the more frightening it is to stop,
hayaku naru kodou ni fure koko ni iru to tashikameta
早くなる鼓動に触れココに居ると確かめた
As we feel our heart beats rising, we find proof that we exist here.
kokoro no oku no chiisa na koe ni mimi wo sumashitara
ココロの奥の小さな声に耳を澄ましたら
If we strain our ears to hear the tiny voices in the backs of our hearts,
tsutsumikomu sekai ga harehirogaru yo ashita he
包み込む世界が晴れ広がるよ明日へ
Our bundled up world will unfold into tomorrow.
I don't really want to challenge myself...
What are you looking at?
Cheer up, got it?
Morning,
hopeless inn.
Morning, employees of this hopeless inn.
Episode 6