01x07 - The Melancholy of Kokorowa

[bunniefuu]

Since Sakuna left for the Isle of Demons,

my life has changed dramatically.

I was appointed to an important

position by Lady Kamuhitsuki

and received praise

from the other gods as well.

It's like I traded my friend for honor.

But somewhere deep down,

this is the life I wanted.

I received a letter from Princess Sakuna.

I'm thinking of summoning her back.

Yes, Your Majesty.

My distress made me realize that

despite the status and honor I had gained,

I was still afraid of Sakuna's shadow.

Episode 7

The Melancholy of Kokorowa

I am honored to have

received your invitation.

Is what was written

in this letter the truth?

Yes.

The Homusubi Specter said those

words before it disappeared.

In other words, humans are

involved in this demonic outbreak?

It's too early to say,

but it's a possibility.

This may have something to do

with the famines of the Lowly Realm.

Continue investigating the reason

for the demons' appearance.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is that?

I humbly offer this rice that

was harvested on the Isle of Demons.

Rice?

It is the first rice Princess Sakuna

planted and harvested herself.

We happened to return to

the capital just as it was harvested.

I hope you like it.

I see.

So you're beginning to realize

what it means to be a harvest goddess.

I appreciate the offering.

Yes, Your Majesty.

My neck hurts, and my legs are numb.

Being in Lady Kamuhitsuki's

presence is exhausting.

That just goes to show how

much you lounge around normally.

Why not take this opportunity

to straighten yourself out as

Your Highness!

Anyway, Lady Kamuhitsuki

sure is unreasonable.

I thought if I gave her

some of her favorite rice

Princess Sakuna, as a reward for this rice,

I will allow you to remain

in the capital for a while.

Stretch your wings.

At least, that's what

I thought would happen.

Normally, only the best rice

is offered to Lady Kamuhitsuki.

You should be grateful she

accepted your offering at all.

Rice is rice, isn't it?

Anyway, we came all the way here.

I'd like to see Kokorowa's

face at least once.

Princess Kokorowa.

I'd like to discuss security

for the main temple.

Kokorowa?

S-Sakuna? What are you doing here?

Kokorowa!

I missed you!

Sakuna

Oh, I missed this feeling.

Being around you is so relaxing.

Why the sudden visit?

We just made our report to Lady Kamuhitsuki.

Seeing as it's the end of the year,

we thought we'd stop by.

S-So, will you be staying in the capital?

I wish.

We're returning to

the Isle of Demons tomorrow.

I see.

Okay, let's drink.

Tonight we're gonna drink all night,

just like we used to.

What? B-But

Don't hold back. The ship

doesn't leave until tomorrow.

Come on. Let's go to my room.

Princess Kokorowa, our discussion

What a pain in the butt.

We'll talk in my room.

You can come with us.

It's been too long!

Tama, bring me some sake.

I will not, Your Highness.

Don't be like that.

I'm finally back in my old room again.

Your room?

Is this not Princess Kokorowa's room?

Duty

Kokorowa, what did you just hide?

Duty

N-Nothing

This is an official appointment scroll.

Did you receive this after I left?

No, I

That's great!

You always said you wanted to

receive an important post.

Doesn't this mean Lady Kamuhitsuki

finally recognized your efforts?

That's great news!

Sakuna

Why didn't you tell me?

Tama, bring us some sake.

Your Highness, I cannot

Oh, shut up!

If you won't bring it,

then I'll go get some myself.

Kokorowa, we're

celebrating tonight. Got it?

Sakuna.

What is it?

Nothing.

Okay.

Your Highness, you haven't

completed your mission yet!

And we're going back

to the Isle of Demons tomorrow!

I know, I know.

Unrequited Love Story?

Yeah.

It helped mend the relationship

between some kids named Kinta and Yui.

I knew Koushi Oborozuki could do it.

They're a real genius.

Why are you laughing?

No reason.

Anyway, has Koushi

Oborozuki put out a new book?

Unfortunately, I've been busy

with my duties

Duties?

I-I mean, I'm sure the author

Koushi Oborozuki is busy as well.

I see. I'd love to meet them.

So, how have you been, Kokorowa?

Is your new job difficult?

It is, but it's worthwhile.

I've increased my efforts

on security for the capital.

Yeah?

Recently, demons have been

seen around the capital.

Demons? So they've

started turning up here, too.

Yes.

We don't know what they want,

but Lady Kamuhitsuki said

not to let a single one inside.

Then I must work on my mission.

Ashigumo was worried about it, too.

Sakuna, don't you want to

return to the capital?

What?

I'm dying to return.

Of course I want to come back.

The Isle of Demons is a terrible place.

There's nothing to eat, the summers

are hot, and the winters are cold.

I see.

But, because of that, the joy

of accomplishment is tremendous.

But I still like the capital.

After all, you're here.

Do you remember when we tried to go

to the Isle of Demons together?

If we hide in here,

we'll get there eventually.

Your Highness.

How many times do I have to tell you?

You're too young to go.

You said my father

and mother lived on the island.

That is true, but

Then couldn't I go see them?

All I have to do is take this boat.

If I'm wrong, then tell me!

If it's not true, then tell me!

If my father and mother

are gone, then tell me!

I thought then that maybe you

That you were already far ahead of me.

Princess Sakuna. Princess Sakuna.

Lady Kamuhitsuki?

No need to be so formal.

I came here on a whim.

Oh, I was just

I'm not angry.

I just wanted you to eat something.

Eat something?

What's this?

One is the rice you offered me today.

The other is rice grown by Lady Toyohana.

Compare them.

My mother's rice

Well?

It's hard to believe

they're both rice, isn't it?

The sweetness, the stickiness,

and the texture are all superb.

So this is

It seems you've never considered

the differences in rice before.

It changes this much

according to who grows it.

Remember that.

But why are you telling me this?

I look forward to enjoying rice grown by the

daughter of Lady Toyohana the harvest goddess.

Why?

What's different? Was it the seed rice?

No, the seeds Ashigumo gave me

were grown by my mother.

I grew mine in the same place

in the same soil, but they're so different.

Was it the fertilizer?

The water? No, the draining?

Tauemon said when you harvest

affects the flavor, too.

Sakuna

Sakuna!

Kokorowa?

Sakuna!

Take care!

I'll work hard to accomplish

my mission and grow good rice!

I'll grow rice that I can be

proud of as a harvest goddess!

I hope you'll have some

the next time we meet!

It's a promise!

Sakuna

Brown Rice and White Rice

Rice that has been harvested and threshed is known as

unhulled rice, and rice that has been hulled is known

as brown rice. Brown rice that has had the germ

removed completely is known as white rice, and rice

that still has some remaining is called partially-pounded

rice. Brown rice keeps well and is nutritious, while

whiter rice is easier to digest and eat, but which state

someone likes most comes down to personal

preference. In Sakuna's era, commoners rarely ate

white rice, and it was a precious commodity.

It's cold.

Go away!

Thank you.

Sure.

It's so cold. Nothing like the capital.

Goddess.

I just got back.

I brought a gift.

I'm finally starting to warm up.

Well, who do you think you are,

showing up right when I get warm?

Thank you for waiting.

There wasn't much, so I made porridge.

The rest of you should try this.

Is that rice?

Not just any rice. My mother grew it.

I was able to bring

a little bit back with me.

It's so shiny and pretty.

I can practically taste it already.

What's this?

Oh! Delicious.

I'm surprised. It's nothing

like the rice we grew.

I feel like I'm melting.

Right?

I was amazed after a single bite, too.

I couldn't believe such

delicious rice exists.

Why not? You've never eaten it before?

No, I mean, I used to eat this all the time.

What does that mean?

Th-This is

This is no ordinary rice.

This is the kind of divine rice

all rice farmers dream of eating.

Is that worth crying over?

Divine rice?

Well, this rice really was made by a god.

Tauemon.

What is it?

I want to try growing rice like this, too.

Your Highness

After spending a year

cultivating rice, I had a thought.

If it takes this much effort,

I want to grow the best rice possible.

I want to create something

that will make everyone who eats it happy.

That's a marvelous goal.

He's crying again.

Finally

You've finally started

to become a harvest goddess

He's crying, too.

Oh, cute.

Is that possible?

The entire process for cultivating this rice

is contained within the scroll.

I see. Then

However, actually growing

it won't be easy.

Growing rice is a battle of establishing

harmony with nature and weather.

The same seeds and soil yield

different results depending

on the sun, rain, heat,

and cold throughout the year.

It is necessary to build

experience and cultivate

the best possible rice

through trial and error.

In other words, it'll take years?

Unfortunately, yes.

Then we have no choice.

Sakuna

Is there anything we can do over the winter?

The seeds?

Yes.

We'll put the seeds in here,

mix them into mud,

and remove the bad seeds

that come floating to the top.

By selecting only the fullest seeds

that sink to the bottom,

we can prepare for planting in the spring.

I see.

It's strange, though.

Each little thing we do

to prepare affects the final result.

Indeed.

And in spring, we'll start

growing rice all over again.

Our fourth harvest was incredibly bountiful.

I can hardly believe how much we struggled.

The kappa did a great job.

They did even more work than we did.

What should we give them?

Since they're kappa, perhaps cucumbers?

Cucumbers, huh?

But the ones that grow

on this island are too bitter.

You could sell your rice

and buy some from the capital.

That's a good idea.

This year's rice

should be especially good.

I was just thinking about offering some

to Lady Kamuhitsuki if it's good enough.

It's ready.

It's so lustrous. Fragrant, too.

It's been years,

and you're still doing that.

The time has come to give it a name.

A name?

Yes, a name for the rice.

Aren't you going to offer it to

Lady Kamuhitsuki and sell it at the capital?

Anyone got any good names?

I don't know

Since it was harvested

on the Isle of Demons, what about Demon Rice?

Too simple.

What about Midnight Oil?

In this remote place,

we endure great hardship to—

Too convoluted. Next.

Since a god made it,

what about God's Rice?

The buyers could be gods, too. Next.

Wild Sakuna.

Next.

Instead of relying on us,

you come up with something.

As the harvest goddess,

perhaps you should handle this.

I suppose you're right.

I'll use the rich vocabulary

I developed reading

all of Koushi Oborozuki's

Unrequited Love Story.

This is the Lofty Realm.

In other words, Heaven. No, ama.

And rice plants inaho

What about the name Amaho's Honor?

Amahoho!

Amahoho, huh? That's nice.

It's easy to remember.

And feels familiar, too.

No, wait. I said Amaho's Honor—

Let's enjoy some Amahoho!

Thanks for the food!

Sakuna did?

Yes.

The Amahoho she offered me

earlier was delicious.

Rice like this can't be made without patiently

working with it over a long period of time.

The old Princess Sakuna

could never have made this.

I love rice more than anything.

The ability to grow good rice is enough of

a reason to grant someone an official duty.

An official duty?

Yes.

I'm thinking of summoning Princess Sakuna

and granting her an official duty.

Why?

All she does is laze around and sleep.

She's selfish and does nothing to help.

So why

Why does she receive

more recognition than me?

Why does she seem bigger than me?

I work so much harder than her

and have done so much more than her,

so why am I so afraid of her?

Why do I feel like I can't compare?

Who's there?

A demon?

Rice