The faint cry of insects could be heard echoing through the twilight.
From a single room in the castle at Kuyou in the Land of the Calendar, the chatter of people could be heard.
Hinoto: “You have to be kind to the girl you like Kanoto.”
Kanoto: “Okay, got it. Thanks Brother Hinoto.”
Inui: “Naïve as ever huh, Brother Hinoto?”
Hinoto: “I don’t recall ever giving you permission to address me like that.”
The two glared at each other with smiles plastered to their faces, the tension so think it seemed as if sparks flew from where their gazes met.
Kanoto: “You two…shouldn’t fight.”
Beside Kanoto, who looked worriedly between the two, sat a smiling Inami.
Inami: “It’s alright Kanoto. Here, the vegetables we put in earlier are done boiling.”
Saying as much, Inami presented his bowl and Kanoto drew closer, a gentle smile breaking on his face.
Kanoto: “It looks good…”
Inami: “It’s hot so make sure you let it cool down before you eat it.”
Kanoto: “Right!”
Inami: “Here, you two eat too. It’s good.”
Inami spoke with an easy calm as he held bowls out to Inui and Hinoto.
Hinoto: “Ah, right. Thanks.”
Inui: “Looks delicious.”
Inami: “Now that I think about it, what should we put in the hot pot?”
Hinoto: “Ah…. Today I’m feeling like udon.”
Inui: “I think zousui* would be good.”
Hinoto: “I really just can never agree with you on anything.”
Inui: “It’s not like it’s some major inconvenience to me that I don’t agree with you.”
They smiled at each other, their sharp gazes connecting so fiercely that it almost seemed like you could hear a crackling noise coming from between them. At that, Kanoto spoke.
Kanoto: “…I want zousui. This year, it’s Inami’s rice. So I want to try zousui.”
Inami: “Kanoto…”
Inami smiled kindly at Kanoto whose eyes seemed to twinkle as he spoke with conviction.
Inami: “Haha, thanks for that Kanoto. What do you think Hinoto?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Hinoto let out a sigh and smiled.
Hinoto: “If that’s what Kanoto wants, it’s fine. Besides, I’d also like to have some of the rice from your fields Inami.”
Inui: “That’s decided then. Shall we have some sake?”
Hinoto: “What a coincidence. Seems that’s the one thing we can agree one.”
Kanoto: “…hehe. Eating with everyone is fun.”
Inami: “Yeah, you’re right. After this, let’s go share some with Kanoe, Hanare, and Shin. I should be able to whip up some onigiri right after.”
Kanoto: “I want to help make onigiri too.”
Kanoto replied with an intense curiosity. And as the hot pot bubbled and simmered, the hot steam gradually began to warm up the room.
The lively voices of the four spilled from the room, and the moon watched over them.
END
Translator’s Note: ‘Zousui’ doesn’t have a good translation into English, so I left it as-is. The kanji is 雑炊 and it’s basically a type of rice gruel with vegetables etc. and miso or soy sauce.