wordswords[truncated] - Let's Play Aoi Shiro

{Kyan used LEER. It's super effective! keifufairies fainted.}
{I can't explain why, but when Kyan glares or gives me the evil eye I cry on the inside.}

Yuukai: The lady here and the lady there.
Syouko & Yasumi: Yes?

As he spoke, the monk's gaze moved to Yasumi.

Yuukai: Is this the first time you've been here?
Yasumi: Eh? Why do you ask?
Yuukai: Searching my memory...

The monk rubbed his head.

Yuukai: You two seem familiar, so I thought I'd ask.

He frowned and shook his head.

Momoko: I understand. I understand. When you want to remember, but you can't, it's so annoying. So, Zawacchi, have you been here before?
Yuukai: Hmm, so the lady over there is something Zawa-san?
Yasumi: ............

As if looking for a clue, Yasumi glanced my way. After looking at me, she made an apologetic expression.



Yuukai: Hmm... It's not an unusual name, but I don't remember an Aizawa-san like you. Muh... In my line of work I should be good at names, but...

Rubbing his head, the monk looked at the other students, then me.

Momoko: So, Osa-sempai?
Syouko: Nn?



{Finally! Our first choice! I'll probably leave the voting open for a while since I have a paper to work on. Hoping the slightly smaller updates make the LP a little easier to read.}

I vote "Remember Red Tsubaki". Because.

Alright, I feel really bad about this, but I'm gonna have to issue executive order on this vote. Y'see, the thing is, when I got to this choice on my side file, I chose "Remember red tsubaki," too. This time around, after I posted that update, I went back and chose "Is this deja vu?" for shits'n giggles. It turns out the second option gives you a bit more of Syouko's backstory. This wouldn't necessarily be important in and of itself, but it sorta sets up a later scene, one that kinda confused me since I didn't get that bit of Syouko's history.

Here's a gif to help illustrate. In this scenario, I am the milkman, and the vote is the person in plaid.



I'm really sorry about this. I'm going to refrain from any more experimentation with choices in the future, and there is another vote coming up pretty soon, if that's any sort of consolation. And that choice is a little more clear cut about the results. Again, I'm so sorry D,:

The shape and color of the flowers jogged my memory. Using the metaphor of the future being the sky and the past being the ocean.



You can't reach the sky to begin with, but...



The more I dive, the darker it gets. That water's weight hinders my movements. That's not all... My ocean of memory has no oxygen. It's not an area I can freely enter and view.



Syouko: Long... stairs and... a temple... And white flowers, I seem to remember them...

That's as long as my breath would allow.

Syouko: That's all I remember.
Ayashiro: Visiting temples isn't common so I thought you might remember.
Syouko: That's not true.
Ayashiro: It's not?
Syouko: Akiko-san, my grandmother, like to travel so since I was little she dragged me along with her.
Ayashiro: Traveling around with you grandmother? I'm a little jealous you got to travel like that.
Syouko: We went to shrines, temples, onsen, also not-so-famous places, all for experienced people.
Momoko: Not places a kid would want to go.
Ayashiro: I' sure there were good memories.
Syouko: That's true. It was me, Akiko-san, and...

I sunk once again.

Momoko: Yes, yes. At the best temples and shrines where older people like to go, they're sure to have popular places to eat...



Ayashiro: Now that you mention it, that's true.

I'm fine. At that time, Akiko-san already...



True, true.

I was still small so I was completely tired going up the long stairs... That idle talk made a little air bubble float up from that sealed area.



The hand that reached towards me was not Akiko-san's wrinkled hand...

Syouko: Nat-cha...







{KYAAAAA~N! Not so close!}

I swallowed. My heart constricted. For a moment, a chill ran down my back.

My palm was on my face to draw away the heat, blocking my vision.

Syouko: It doesn't concern Kyan-san.
Migiwa: Heh... is that so?



{Sorry about all the screenshots, but I think Yasumi's chaning expressions in the backgrounds are pretty funny.}

Akiko-san's younger brother's daughter. She was something like a female cousin to me.



Didn't Sensei also say it? It wasn't unusual for a temple to have summer tsubaki. But, even still... Wasn't it unusual for a temple to have only summer tsubaki, and this many?

Yuukai: ... Hrmm.

The monk pondered as he watched me and Migiwa. He rubbed his beard, ad stuck his hands in his sleeves again.



Yuukai: Then, ladies, let me guide the way.

Yasumi: Sempai, it's time.

After going to our own rooms, it was time to meet up again. There was only enough time to change out of the tight school uniforms into something more comfortable. The old, green tatami looked recently cleaned. It'd be nice to lie down and rest but there was a little more work to do.

Syouko: Is everyone here?
Momoko: Aoi-sensei's not here yet.
Syouko: Sensei didn't need to change.
Momoko: She was already in sweats.



Syouko: Has anyone heard anything?
Everyone: ............

No one seemed to have heard anything.

Yasumi: Uhm, I'll go take a look.

The schedule was the manager's job so Yasumi headed towards the hall. She reached towards the handle of the sliding screen door. At that moment... The door suddenly shifted to the side and her outstretched fingers paused.



As if finding something amusing, she smiled.

Migiwa: Hiya!
Syouko: Hello.

She was the same as our Momoko: not shy. Though we'd just met a while ago, she was acting too friendly, which made me suspicious...

Syouko: You need something?

I perversely answered in a harsh voice.

Migiwa: So rude... {Insert rude.gif here}
Momoko: This isn't the first time that Osa-sempai's acted like this.
Migiwa: Is that so? Then, that's fine.

Syouko: ... Osa?
Migiwa: At first I was going to politely call you Osanai-san or something like that, but the timing is difficult. Also, 'Osanai-san' sounds long and dull.

Compared to more common names, like Satou-san and Suzuki-san, my name had an extra character, but did that make my name dull?

Migiwa: We're the same age so 'sempai' is also out.

I don't recall telling her my age or grade, but she might have talked to Aoi-sensei, or guessed it from talking to us earlier.

Syouko: That's fine. So?

She was a little too friendly for someone I just met, but I was used to being called 'Osa,' so there were no objections.

Migiwa: You can call me something appropriate, too.



{It's perfect!!}

Migiwa: You picked that?!

An eye for an eye. As expected of Momoko.

Ayashiro: Kyan Kyan?
Yasumi: Kyan Kyan...
Migiwa: Sounds like how, "A weak dog howls a lot." I'm a little opposed to it...

This was like fighting poison with poison or barbarians with barbarians: an atrocious display.

Migiwa: Umm, Momo-chi. Couldn't you pick a more stylish and cool nickname?
Momoko: How about Migi-san?
Migiwa: ............
Momoko: Don't you think Kyan Kyan or Migiyan have a sharper sound?
Migiwa: Ah...

Kyan-san brushed her hand through her short hair with a can't-do-anything-about-this look.

Migiwa: ... Well, it's fine.
Syouko: Fine.

Carefree, Kyan accepted it.

Migiwa: Osa can also call me Migi.
Syouko: ... I'll just call you Migiwa.
Migiwa: Really?

And why is '-san' only added to her name when used as Migi-san?

{Two small updates while I finish typing up the rest. I'd forgotten how they talk about pretty much everything. If anyone has any sort of advice, like more screenshots, less screenshots, longer/shorter updates, whathaveyou, please post it! Kinda figuring out the format as I go, so if you have any problems with the posts, lemme know.}

Back on topic.

Syouko: So what was Sensei's message?
Migiwa: I'm relying on the pinch-hitter so I'm going to take a break. Proceed as planned.
Syouko: Pinch-hitter?
Migiwa: Yes. Pinch-hitter.



Migiwa: Anyways, it's me.
Momoko: Were you bribed by Sensei?
Migiwa: Nn... that's both right and wrong. During camp, you'll be making meals for the monk too, right?
Yasumi: Yes, that's the plan.

That was Aoi-sensei's plan in order to show gratitude in exchange for room fees. Adding one more person [the monk] to the meals wasn't much. That plan didn't include Kyan-san... Migiwa, though.

Migiwa: It's lonely if I'm the only one left out, right?
Yasumi: It's be a waste to cook rice and make miso soup separately.
Migiwa: So the result of the monk, Aoi-sensei, and I meeting was...

She lifted her pointer, middle, and ring finger in turn. She exchange one of the fingers with her thumb...

Migiwa: I'm also going to join you guys for meals.

Pointing to herself indicating 'give.'

Migiwa: In return, I'll help as much as I can.

She opened up her palm and pointed at us, indicating 'take.'

Migiwa: So that's the conclusion. Looking forward to working with you!

No one objected so she shook hands with me, the captain, establishing the agreement.

Syouko: Then what about Sensei?
Migiwa: She said she found a replacement so she went to take a bath. By the way, the baths here are all onsen.



Migiwa: It seems they draw water from up at the source of the spring.

There were famous volcanoes nearby so it wasn't unusual.

Momoko: Sounds like high-class living.
Migiwa: I mentioned that and Sensei was okay with it.
Syouko: I guess so.

Sensei believed that summer training was important and this was just a side benefit.

Migiyan is a nice-sounding nickname~ So is Kyan Kyan~ Heehee, though they are rather cutesy in tone~
I'm tired, can you tell~?

Everytime I see Kyan, my brain wants to replace it with "Nyan."
Brain yyyyy

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL

I'M DYING.
Thank you so much for this ;u;

I was inspired.

SUPA KAWAII!! (♥‿♥)
Seriously, that's pretty damn cute.

EDIT: Now I'm going to miss their catears when I play and they aren't there ; __;

Thanks! I actually worked really hard on her left ear... but, I got kind of lazy with her right, so it looks funny. I tried, though.

And yeah, me too; I had the same thing happen in Para's My Sweet Prince thread. "WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR EARS-oh yeah."

Migiwa: So, Osa, what are you going to do?
Syouko: First, we're going to divide up the work. I was thinking of having a minimum amount of people cook and the rest will clean...

I looked around the room.

Ayashiro: Because of Momoko-chan, I was afraid the room would need more cleaning.
Yasumi: Ah, me too...

I wonder if our rooms were cleaned before we came. They were swept and in a clean condition so no one could complain.



Syouko: Individuals can clean their own rooms later if they wish. There's no need to assign people to do that...

On the other hand, did it mean places where people didn't stay weren't cleaned? I looked out the open door, where the breeze was coming in, to the courtyard. It was probably too much for one person to handle and the ground was covered in tsubaki. Blooming by day and falling at night, the piled-up flowers were like a white mountain.

Syouko: Let's start with the courtyard today.

The mountain of white flowers would probably rot if left alone.



Ayashiro: If that happens, I'll check with the monk first.
Syouko: Yes, please do so.

Was there anything else?

Syouko: Sensei is using the onsen so let's leave that alone.

Also, the onsen were on all day and all night.

{TL;DR the kendo team (plus Kyan) discuss chores}

Ayashiro: So, who's preparing dinner...?

All of the club members looked at Yasumi. The only one who didn't know finally turned her eyes towards Yasumi, too.

Migiwa: Oh?

Just looking was not enough so she took one step, two steps, and closed the distance between her and Yasumi.

Momoko: Ah?!

With both her hands on Yasumi's face, Migiwa brought it close it hers.

Yasumi: Eh?

Underneath Migiwa's shadow, she stared at Yasumi.



{Don't be fooled by the fact that Momoko is hiding all that action; that's Kyan speaking in the screenshot above.}

Yasumi: Eh? Eh? Ehh?
Momoko: Wai... Migi-san, what are you...?!



{Oh, Yasumi. That face.}

Momoko: Wai... wai... wait... Aren't you getting a little too friendly?! Osa-sampai! Don't just stand there. Hurry and help Zawacchi!

After her protest to Migiwa, she turned to look at me. I gave a big sigh and stepped between Yasumi and Migiwa.

Syouko: I'm thankful that you're going to help, but don't do anything weird to any of the team members.



Syouko: It will. It will affect their nerves and spirit.
Migiwa: Uwah! That sounds bad.

Migiwa stopped joking and dropped her hands with a sigh. She was definitely too friendly or something.

{TL;DR turns out Kyan went to meet the kendo team because she really is some suspicious person who came to hit on high school girls}

Yasumi: Uhm...

In place of Yasumi, Momoko answered. But why did she do so with such pride?

Momoko: Zawacchi's food is so good you'll eat until your cheeks droop.

She started boasting. I don't know if she was just being like a silly parent or what. It felt something like that.

Migiwa: Hoho...
Momoko: And she cooks at the dorms, too, and all the other cooks are jealous.
Yasumi: Momo-chan, that's going too far...
Momoko: No, it's not! Definitely not!
Migiwa: Heh, if that's true, it's impressive.

In a formal school such as Seijou, there were many rich, young ladies used to high-class food so it was tough on the cooks. The dorm food was good, so even if 80% of what Momoko said was true, that's something.



Syouko: I've heard rumors. But I don't live in the dorms; I commute to school.
Migiwa: You haven't tried it?
Momoko: Fufu~n, only dorm students have the privilege of eating Zawacchi's food.
Migiwa: What about lunch?
Syouko: There's been no opportunity.
Ayashiro: I'm looking forward to dinner.
Syouko: True.

Due to being a manager and other circumstances, Yasumi was put in charge of dinner.



Yasumi: Eh?
Syouko: How many people do you need to help you with dinner?
Yasumi: Ah, with this amount of people, I'll be okay by myself.
Syouko: Really?
Yasumi: I'll just make something appropriate for this amount of people.

It's not limited to cooking, but normally the more people you have, the more efficient you are. And we should also check the size of the kitchen and the cooking utensils available.

Syouko: But still...

Even if one person is enough, we should have people proportional to the workload.

Syouko: Let's have Yasumi plus one more person.



{Finally! I told you there was another choice coming up! I just sorta misjudged how long it would take to get to it... Anyway! Do we opt to have Syouko help out Yasumi in the kitchen and score some alone time? Or should we help everyone else (including Nyan Kyan) with cleaning the garden?

TL;DR Help kitchen or clean garden?}

Ahhhh so hard. On one hand, it'd be SUPER jerkish to leave Yasumi to do the work of cooking, and we seem to have more chemistry with her. On the other hand, I really like Nyan Kyan. On the third, Momoko Y U NO ROMANCE-ABLE?

Um... I'm gonna say... let's do the kitchen. I like Kyan more, but I also like Yasumi, and once again, even as good a cook she may be, I'd still want to help her out. Especially since apparently she's kind of sickly, and there's lots of people to cook for.

Yeah, I vote to help Yasumi too. Leaving her to do it all by herself just seems like too much of a dick move.

Sorry if I wasn't clear: you wouldn't leave the cooking all to Yasumi (that would make Syouko a pretty piss poor captain). You'd just assign someone else to help (I should probably start clarifying these things). Also, I'm pretty sure no matter what we choose, we're getting a CG.

Oh, OK. I wasn't sure what exactly was going to happen, and it's hard to tell with Otome Protags. I think I'd want to go with Kyan because hilarity adventure is more likely to ensue there.

Oh also, I've made it my goal to make all the girls catgirls.Took me two days, but I finally fixed this one up.



Yeah, she's supposed to be a Scottish Fold, though she looks a bit more like a cute puppy instead. DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL.

Either way she is adorable. And the breed seems to fit her character, if Wikipedia isn't lying to me (wasn't entirely sure what Scottish Folds looked like and it lead me to this):

"Scottish Folds are typically good-natured and placid and adjust to other animals within a household extremely well. They tend to become very attached to their human caregivers and are by nature quite affectionate. Folds receive high marks for playfulness, affection, and grooming, and are often intelligent, loyal, softspoken, and adaptable to home situations, people and children."

Not sure if I would consider Yasumi playful, but considering she's best friends with Momoko, she must have a good sense of humor. And the rest sounds like it could describe her. And she'd look so cute with little folded ears <3 Definitely saved. I mean. No. I'm not collecting pictures of Aoi Shiro catgirls. Why would you even suggest such a thing?



On another note, I'm holding off on closing the vote until we get a tie breaker, since it seems like EvilFuzzy9 is voting for kitchen duty, Lady Octopus is voting that Syouko sweep the shrine, and that leaves us with a tie. I'm also waiting a little longer because I'm pretty sure one of these options will lock us out of one of the girl's route. On one hand, boo! On the other hand, if we get killed horribly, we can go back, make the other choice, and maybe not get killed! And if we don't get killed, maybe we could try her route! I dunno, it all depends on how this LP goes. For now, we're a little stuck what with the votes.

Also, is the script format working for everyone? Or would you prefer that I omit irrelevant dialogue and give more of a summary of what happens (as opposed to writing it verbatim)? I don't really mind either way, but there are a few posts on the first page that would discourage me if I were trying to read this, and I'd prefer it if people enjoyed the updates instead of feeling like they have to wade through them.

That was exactly my thought as well, which is why I made her one; she just looked like a Scottish Fold to me.

Hey, it could be worse; you could be the one MAKING Aoi Shiro catgirls.

Also, I might change my vote if nobody else votes, or worse, others vote and it STILL ends up a tie, but I want to see if anyone else is going to vote before doing that.

Well, I tried, but I think I made more of a wolf. Whoops. Oh well.

I got a little lazy with the ears too, and just copied/pasted one to the other side .__.

I feel like I should stay out of votes but if you need help to get it going, I'll vote for helping Migiwa.

Because Yasumi is mai waifu and you can't have her... er, because I think Migiwa's path might get more interest?

(Of course, other than a few key points where the wrong choice will get you killed, I don't actually remember all the options through the game...)

Thanks, gegi. I'll start working on an update as soon as I've finished eating. I'm having a hard time not just spilling the consequences of each choice. Luckily I only know what the choices are and only up to the second day. I don't really know which choice will lead to which outcome, but I was poking around the folders and found a guide on how to get all the endings. Should come in handy if I ever decide to go through and get all the bad ends.

Syouko: Then I'll go help with the cleaning.

I looked at the faces assembled before me.

Syouko: Momoko, you're the most compatible, right?



Well, I guess she's qualified. There's no point choosing someone who would make Yasumi tired. So it was better to choose a classmate. And who better than her roommate?

Syouko: You look like the type that eats instead of cooking, but...
Ayashiro: Those types are sometimes very skilled.
Migiwa: True. There are gourmets who decide to cook themselves.

It was unanimous save for one hand that was rasied slowly in the air.

Yasumi: Umm, Syouko-sempai.
Syouko: Yes, what is it?
Yasumi: Umm... maybe Momo-chan shouldn't...
Momoko: Zawacchi?!



In the end, another candidate was picked to help Yasumi. So Migiwa and everyone on the kendo team, besides Yasumi, went to clean...

{TL;DR Syouko tells Momoko to help Yasumi cook and Yasumi objects.}

Syouko: Does everyone know what to do?
Everyone: Yes!

There was one apathetic reply.

Syouko: If you don't want to do this, I don't mind if you don't.



Momoko: Migi-san DOES seem like the type who doesn't work well in teams.
Migiwa: Well, because of that, I'm here though.
Momoko: More than a lone wolf, you're like a willful cat. And a stray, on top of that.
Migiwa: ... A stray?
Momoko: Sort of like you have been tamed and you're still wild: a hunter-type style.

I don't think Momoko would lose as either a hunter or a wild thing.



Ayashiro: If you're wild and a hunter, would you be a wildcat?
Momoko: Oh! That's it!



Migiwa: Well, in my case I have a collar with a bell on me, though...
Momoko: A collar? Where?

Momoko stuck out her neck at the simile.

{TL;DR Kyan is a wildcat. A wildcat without cat ears ): }

Migiwa took out a...



Migiwa: If I turn off the phone and can't be reached, I'll be berated later.
Momoko: Ah, it's a bell that rings at anytime.
Ayashiro: I also had to bring my cell phone.
Momoko: Hime-sempai's even has GPS.
Migiwa: That really is like a collar. Well, I'm like that too. Why don't we exchange numbers?
Syouko: Do it later.



Syouko: Are you a child?
Migiwa: No, I'm the same age as you. Though I've developed more.
Syouko: ............



I swallowed my response, or else the exchange would never end, and went back to the main topic.

Syouko: ... Then let's get started.

{TL;DR Kyan and Syouko flirt have a personality clash.}

With bamboo brooms and rakes in hand, the kendo team plus Migiwa spread out. Normally there was just the monk so I thought there might not have been enough tools... With that misgiving in mind, I asked the monk beforehand, but there seemed to be enough. It seems they were left by patrons who came to help but never came back.

Syouko: The summer tsubaki...

Seeing the white flowers on the trees and the ones scattered at my feet definitely gave me a feeling of deja vu.



{This flower is actually dropping down the screen, but I couldn't really catch that. And if you're reading this, you've just seen 100 screenshots. Hooray! /coffetti}

Drop---. The flower fell from the tip of the calyx. The sound it made was heavy and vivid. Though they only lived for a day and were even more fleeting than cherry blossoms, they didn't fall lightly but with a quaint vividness.

Ayashiro: Huh...
Syouko: What's wrong?
Ayashiro: I don't see Migiwa...
Syouko: ... Did she slip out?
Ayashiro: No, she was cleaning properly before.
Syouko: I was thinking about telling everyone that it was about time we wrapped it up...
Ayashiro: I guess I should have exchanged phone numbers with her.
Syouko: When you get the chance, please do so. {What? You mean, like, earlier?}

Since it seems she wouldn't tell me... Or maybe I was being childish for truthfully believing her words.

Syouko: Then I'll go look for her.
Ayashiro: Should I help search?
Syouko: Nn... no, it's okay. Ayashiro, please take care of directing the cleaning.

I left my bamboo broom leaning against the side of a nearby summer tsubaki tree and went to find Migiwa.



A slightly harsh tone reached my ears.

{TL;DR Kyan ditched out on cleaning and Syouko is off to find her.}

[I'm sorry; I live in Kentucky, so this was all I can think of.

I'd say "Go Wildcats," but my dad is REALLY for WKU, and they and UK are rivals (Also WKU and my actual school, EKU, but, *shrug*)]

What exactly was going on in this peaceful environment? If she was talking to a team member, then as captain I had to take responsibility. If the problem was on our side, we'd have to apologize. If not, we couldn't let her say whatever she liked.

Migiwa: Why don't you cooperate with the situation?

What was she talking about? She was using rough words, but also using a polite speech pattern so I belatedly realized she wasn't talking to a team member. However, if Migiwa were a 2nd year student like me, she might use polite speech when talking to a 3rd year sempai. Rather than thinking about it, it would be faster to just go look... I walked towards the voice.

Migiwa: Like I said, boss, around twenty girls came.

She was holding the cellphone I saw earlier in her hand. Like I thought, Migiwa wasn't talking to a team member but to some 'Boss' on the phone.

Migiwa: You're asking what's the probability that it's among them? The possibility isn't zero, but those are students from Seijou...





Thump-thump.



Migiwa's eyes moved towards my direction and she acknowledged my presence.

Migiwa: Someone's coming. I'll hang up for now.

She probably hung up without waiting for a response and turned towards me.

{TL;DR Syouko eavesdrops on a conversation between Kyan and her "boss".}

Migiwa: Did you happen to hear what we were talking about?
Syouko: ............

I silently nodded.

Migiwa: Did you hear a lot?
Syouko: It felt like you weren't exactly pleased that we're here.
Migiwa: Nn? Is that what you heard?
Syouko: From your nuance.

If I only concentrated on the words she said, it seemed she was only giving a report though.



How could she possibly say she was shy?

Syouko: Migiwa, who are you?



Migiwa: Well, it's not wrong to say I'm a high school girl here for a hot springs treatment.
Syouko: Treatment?
Migiwa: The monk told me the hot springs around here are good for treating sickness or injury. The miracle water might be connected to the Tokosaki no Tsubaki (Everlasting Camellia).
Syouko: Tokosaki no Tsubaki?
Migiwa: In the Sal Forest that spreads out from the edge of the temple...

She looked at the hill illuminated by the setting sun and stretched her long arm out in a dance-like move.

Migiwa: Deep within, there in one solitary tree. The flowers from a sal tree normally scatter after one day, right? But the Tokosaki no Tsubaki has been blooming for years, decades... maybe even centuries.
Syouko: It's a fake. {PHONY.}
Migiwa: Even if you look at me suspiciously, I'm just telling you what the monk said.

Good omens like this get exaggerated at temples and shrines as time passes.

{TL;DR Kyan catches Syouko eavesdropping and Syouko is suspicious. So Kyan tells Syouko that she's visiting the temples to use the hot springs, which are said to heal injuries and ailments, possibly due to a legendary tree nearby, the Tokosaki no Tsubaki.}

Migiwa: Maybe centuries is too long, but in the few days I've been here at least, I've seen it constantly blooming.
Syouko: It's a basic error to mistakenly look at the wrong tree...
Migiwa: No, no, that's not possible. The flowers of the Tokosaki no Tsubaki are...

She lowered her voice.

Migiwa: The flowers are red. As red as blood.





The red flowers---

Syouko: Summer tsubaki are normally white, right?
Migiwa: It seems that way.
Syouko: So maybe that tree is just a normal tsubaki and not a summer tsubaki?
Migiwa: It's not the time for tsubaki.
Syouko: Then maybe it's blooming out of season?
Migiwa: Well, I wonder about that...

If it was blooming before spring, it might be due to the heat of the hot springs. Was that it? What WAS true was that Migiwa managed to dodge questions about her identity.

{TL;DR More speculative talk about this ever-blooming tsubaki tree before they leave without Syouko learning any more about Kyan or why she's really staying at Shoushinji.}

In one corner, food was arranged on lined-up tables.

Ayashiro: Syouko-san, the place settings are done.
Syouko: Is everyone seated?





Aoi: Yes, thank you for your hard work. Now let's eat.

As if waiting for that phrase, everyone stopped talking and looked at me. In kendo, it was traditional for the captain to start and end gatherings. I filled my lungs with air, which was mixed with the smell of spices from the meal.

Syouko: Palms together... Itadakimasu.



The momentarily harmonious voices separated again into different conversations. Everyone reached their chopsticks and spoons towards the meal Yasumi prepared. After all today's main dish was one everyone liked: curry rice.

Momoko: Though curry is a staple dish at camp, eating it in a temple doesn't seem to fit.
Aoi: Ah, that's not true, Akita-san.

Aoi-sensei stopped Momoko from saying something like nikujaga would be more suitable with those ingredients.

Aoi: Which country is curry from?
Momoko: India?



After raising her pointer finger for the first question, next she stuck out her middle finger.

Aoi: Then which country did Buddhism come from?
Momoko: India!
Aoi: See, they're connected.

She smiled and closed the gap between her fingers in a motion that looked like scissors closing.

Aoi: There are various views on the origin of curry. Some even believe Buddha first created it.
Momoko: Wow! Buddha did? Is that for real?
Aoi: It not true, but there are stories about it. When you think about eating food as promoting a healthy body, you think of China, but curry, made from certain spices, is also a healthy meal.

Curry's characteristic yellow color is from turmeric and is used in medicines in India.

{TL;DR Curry, Buddha, and India. Itadakimasu! Basic dinner conversation.}