Chapter 5
Momoko: Rice, seaweed, beans, spinach, dried plums...

Her eyes lighting up with sparkles, she looked at the items lined up. One by one, she checked the contents of the menu. She went from one end to the other and licked the knife she was using to point them out. It was if this were a pedestrian crossing, and she was checking if it was safe to cross, looking the other way to make sure she didn't forget anything.

Momoko: Zawacchi, Zawacchi...where's the animal protein?

With eyes that looked like a starved beast, she turned towards what could be considered a piece of animal protein and a weak prey.
I felt pity for the sacrificial lamb.
A feverish gaze that had almost a physical presence pinned Yasumi, who was backing away...
While that happened, Momoko kept sidling closer and the distance between them closed.

Momoko: I endured for one meal yesterday night! I endured when my guts were unable to digest a meal without meat!

Momoko: But? Two meals in a row? If we don't eat meat now, when will we eat meat!?

Yasumi: Even if you say that, if we don't go shopping, there won't be any ingredients with meat...

Since she was sitting in the next seat and there were no partitions between them, so Yasumi couldn't physically run away. She had no choice but to use words to escape.

Momoko: With this, I can't muster the energy for the morning's practice...

Momoko used this reason against Yasumi, who, as the manager, was in charge of the team's physical fitness.
If we were only considering protein, then miso soup, cold tofu, natto, and other bean dishes should provide enough nutrition I believe.
But that was that. Being delicious or not was another thing and to fire up a player's enthusiasm, it was an important thing it seemed.

Yasumi: But we're right by the sea. Wouldn't spinach give you energy?

Momoko: No, no. Besides, our school doesn't wear sailor suits.

It's true that sailor suits were a common motif and being near the ocean, wearing a sailor suit would have a nice compatibility...

Syouko: .....

But how was that related to spinach?

Yasumi: But spinach is really amazing.

There wasn't any special meaning, it was just mindless chatter but since I didn't understand what was going on, I didn't get drawn into the conversation and tried to go back to a normal conversation but...

Ayashiro: Syouko-san?

Syouko: It's nothing.

Actually I was a little envious.

Ayashiro: Now that I think about it, the name for spinach (hourensou) resembles the name of a Buddhist sutra. I wonder if there's any special connection?

Yuukai: Do you mean the Hail Lotus Sutra? (namumyouhourengekyou)

Momoko: It seems like a vegetable we should be thankful for.

If we used the words from the Buddhist sutra, then spinach would be written as hourensou (arts of lotus grass). I've never seen it written like that.
Then if it was written like that, then the sesame seeds(goma) that are added to salad would be written as goma (Buddhist rite to burn cedar sticks). Though that wasn't anything to be thankful for.

Migiwa: The origin of spinach's name and Buddhist sutras have no connection at all.

Migiwa made a decisive statement. Using her finger, she used the condensation on her glass of barley tea and attempted to write on the table.
She wrote the grass radical above the character for wave (nami) and the grass radical above the character for ridge (kado) to form the first two characters for the word for spinach (houren).
Houren was a country in the west and seemed to point to Persia. The use of the character wave was probably due to fact that Persia was also called Harusha (character for 'wave' and character for 'this').

Then, if we returned to "namumyouhourengekyou" and broke up the word, it becomes namu myouhou rengekyou meaning one should show religous devotion to the mysterious arts of the lotus sutra.

Momoko: I see...

It seemed it was a medicinal herb brought here from the continent and spread by the monks.

Syouko: And speaking of other things, I wonder if there's any evidence?

Yuukai: Huh? What do you mean evidence?

Syouko: About that...

As he rubbed his beard, we told the monk about a ghost as the possible reason for Ayashiro's bad condition.

Yuukai: Ho, ho. A spirit with long hair, was it?

Maybe it was due to his line of work or due to his personality, but he didn't deny our statements and nodded.

Aoi: True, true. It's said that it's easier for ghosts to appear near water.

Aoi-sensei probably revealed her hobbies and interests and followed the monk's statements with something like 'those things happen too.'
It's not that she could say they were true, but more like she wanted to say they were true and didn't have any bad intentions, but...

Ayashiro: .....

Ayashiro's face clouded and even if she wanted to be reassured, she probably wanted to deny the whole thing. If there were really a ghost attacking people and we denied it, then it would be trouble, but what to say?
In the end, the person who cleared up Ayashiro's worried look was...

Yuukai: Yes! Leave this matter to me!

It was the monk's reliable voice.

Yuukai: ...Is what I'd like to say, but I don't think I would be very useful in this situation.
It's embarassing, but even though I've lived next to graves for many years, I have yet to see a ghost.

Whether that was helpful in the current situation was another story but it helped reassure Ayashiro that ghosts were not a common thing around here.

Momoko: So, monk-san has zero spiritual sense?

Yuukai: The possibility of that is not zero.

Yuukai: In my line of work, most people who come here are here to see Buddha.

Ayashiro: I'm sure monk-sama's memorial services are by the book and help people become like Buddha.

Yuukai: Hohoho! The vice captain said a pleasing thing to hear.

Momoko: So in the end, the mystery of the ghost girl remains unsolved.

Ayashiro: I still think the highest probability is that I was imagining things.

Momko: Wait a minute!

As Ayashiro was calming down, Momoko shouted.

Momoko: If we're talking about spirits, then we should first determine whether or not it was a spirit and assume it was a spirit and work from there.

Ayashiro: But Momoko-chan, if it was a dream, then it's not that scary...

Momoko: Then tonight, let's have a test of courage.

Syouko: A test of courage?

Momoko: After telling some scary stories, let's go for a walk in the Sal Forest...alone.

Momoko: This is a standard thing to do at summer retreats, right?

Well, it was a standard thing to do. Last year during the training camp at school we had to go to a room in the old school building as a test of courage. Because of the sempai's preparations, it was pretty harsh but...

Ayashiro: But, what if something appears...

Ayashiro voiced her concerns.
With an eyewitness testimony to the damage the ghost could do, then this wouldn't be limited to just for fun. And there's always the chance that something else might happen on top of that.

Momoko: .....

But then again, kendo itself was not free from dangerous situations. The important thing was balance and I was unsure about whether to accept Momoko's suggestion or not.

Yuukai: Then should I lend you an omamori (protective charm)?

The monk indicated that should solve the problem.

Yasumi: A protective charm?

Ayashiro: Aren't those used in Shinto shrines and not Buddhist temples?

Yuukai: In esoteric Buddhist temples, the teachings are mixed with Onmyoudou (way of ying and yang) so they have amulets and such...

Momoko: So a protective charm of Buddhism would be something like the Buddha?

Yasumi: Walking around with a statue of Buddha would be a little...

Syouko: Juzu? (prayer beads)

Yuukai: No, no, instead of such spiritual items, it's something that would be more reassuring to you ladies.

The monk gripped something we couldn't see and held it up.

Yuukai: The inscription reads "Kumouchi" (spider attack)

He cut the air with the sword and then pointed it at us.

Syouko: So the talisman is a Japanese sword?

In both the East and the West, and in the past and the present, swords were said to ward off evil and hold special powers.
It was said that a warrior's soul was inside a sword and they were used by Shinto priests and when purifying oneself by not eating meat.

Even in modern Japan, where swords are not part of daily life, certain customs remained and during a funeral, a protective sword was placed on the futon next to the remains.
In many cases, it's a dagger, but the monk was also the chief priest of an old temple and a swordsman so it was not strange to have one or two famous swords.

Momoko: Oh! A Japanese sword !?

And it had a very exaggerated name too.

Kumouchi...

Syouko: With a name like that, it does seem like a powerful sword...

Yasumi: Could it actually be referring to Spider Cutter? (kumokiri)

Syouko: That's probably it.

Yasumi: If so, then that's Minamoto's treasured sword.

Momoko: Do you mean the Minamoto that said "Let's make a great country" from the Kamakura Shogunate?

Yasumi: Yes, yes, Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the like.

Momoko: Then, it's at least 800 years old...

Yasumi: No, it was made before that, during the Heian period...

And that was the end of Yasumi's confident answer. She looked up at Aoi-sensei for help who pushed up her glasses with her middle finger and made a wry face.

Aoi: The Genke clan were said to have two swords, Higekiri (beard cutter) and Hizamaru (knee round).

Syouko: Not Kumokiri?

Aoi: Don't be in such a hurry and patiently wait until the end.

I just wanted to know the end, not everything between. It was like an adult to want to tell a long story.

Syouko: Ah...

I obediently listened.

Aoi: Do you know about Minamoto no Yorimitsu?

The one that exterminated the oni Shutendouji and had the loyal retainer from Mt. Ashigara named Kintaro. Kintaro was also known as Sakata no Kintoki. Yorimitsu was an extraordinary hero.

And Yorimitsu, was also called Raikou, and his father was Minamoto no Mitsunaka...

Who was also known as Tada no Manjuu and in the Edo Period was on karuta cards as "The Start of the Tada Manjuu Warriors." In other words, he was the start of things.

And then Tada-san thought about how regrettable it was that there wasn't a long sword capable of protecting everything he liked in the world so he sought the help of Hachiman Daibosatsu.

So that was the two swords mentioned before.
Hachiman Daibosatsu was considered a god of the bow and arrow and of victory and warriors had much faith in him. But it seems there was a deep connection between him and Minamoto.

Aoi: So then he gave Higekiri and Hizamaru to his son Raikou, who thought their names should be changed since they could cut beyond normal things...

So Higekiri, which dropped in the hands of Princess Bridge of Uji, was changed to Onimaru.

And Hizamaru, which killed the mountain spiders of 4 shaku (one shaku ~ 30.3 cm) in length was changed to...

Syouko: ...Kumokiri?

Sensei nodded.

Aoi: Maybe it was because of their respect of kotodama (the power in words), but people in the past liked to change the name of special things.

For example, Higekiri was changed to Onimaru (demon round) because it cut demons and Shishiku (lion's roar) was changed to something that sounded similar, Shishi no ko (lion's cub) and the long sword that sits by a person's side was shortened to Tomokiri (Friend Cutter)...

Ayashiro: Uh...with so many names, I'm a little confused as to what to call what.

Ayashiro, who was counting on her fingers in the middle of the story, gave up, as Aoi-sensei gave a sound of comprehension.

Aoi: And moreover, a name like "Friend Cutter" has a bad connotation and was blamed as the reason Minamoto was losing since it angered the god of war Hachiman, so in the end, it returned to being called Higekiri.

Momoko: Wah! What's up with that?

Aoi: Minamoto, during the Hogen rebellion, because estranged from his father Tameyoshi, and his father's legitimate child Yoshitomo. After that Yoshitsune arrested Yoshinaka and it became like a family feud.

Ayashiro: As I recall, after the brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yoshitsune fulfilled Buddha's dream to bring peace to everyone, they had a falling out.

Aoi: Rather than a falling out, it's more like Yoshitsune had cruel things done to him.

Aoi: And Yoshitsune, who gave up on reconciliation, fled to Northern Japan. But even then, he couldn't escape Yoritomo's reach and in the end, had to commit seppuku in the House of Kinugawa.

And also the friend cutter that was known as Higekiri, was lined up with the armor known as Genta's baby clothes, and made a symbol of the leadership of the Minamoto. Of course, the possessor was Lord Yoritomo.

Its brother sword Hizamaru, as if connected by fate, became the beloved sword of Yoshitsune.

Syouko: Huh...

Momoko: The power of words in a name with a bad connotation is scary...

Aoi: And during this time, Higekiri was returned.

Momoko: That could also be the power of words. It could be written with the first character for a tragic play higeki's hige.

Syouko: I don't think that's possible.

I rejected her questionable statement and then put an end to the discussion.

Syouko: So what is the connection between the origin of the treasured sword of the Minamoto and the talisman that the monk is talking about?

Yuukai: Mmm...it seems the only similarity is the name.

Everyone: .....

So what was the meaning of that long, long digression?

As if used to receiving disconcerted looks, the monk didn't pay attention and continued with an unconcerned look.

Yuukai: The origin of the name of this sword is from something else. And also, Kumouchi is not a blade, but a bokutou (a wooden sword).

Momoko: Eh? It's just a wooden sword?

Syouko: Thank goodness it's just a wooden sword.

Momoko made a face indicating it didn't meet her expectations, though, I was relieved. If it were a real blade, it'd be troublesome to hand it over to us.
And we were used to handling wooden swords so it was a practical item to give us reassurance.

Yuukai: And futhermore, Kumouchi is not just an ordinary wooden sword. It was made from a sacred true and is blessed.

It seemed to have some miraculous virtue.

Yuukai: You've heard of the legend of the Onitaiji of Unasaka from Hanako-san, right? Well, there's a continuation to the story on Urashima.

Yuukai: 1500 years from the onitaiji, the Yaoyorozu no Kami (8 million gods) and the perfected one Tathagata, and the bodhisattva, and the Myouhou and Amabe and other Buddhist gods added together, this is a story of the next world...

Yuukai: Urashima will experience three calammities.

Yuukai: The sea will become stormy, fish won't be able to be caught, plants will wither, and the people of the island will sicken and collapse.
And before this, the people will end their faith in Kurou-sama.

Yuukai: And in the middle of this maelstorm appeared a traveling Buddhist num (bhikkhuni) called Yasuhime-sama. It was said she came to ask about news of Kurou-sama.
Yasuhime-sama had a very mysterious power and was able to heal people that had collapsed from sickness...

Yuukai: The main source of the calamity was the grudge of the Oni King who resembled an ox. Yasuhime-sama saw through the demon Matamu and went to confront the demon.
In order prevent a second disaster, she purified the demon and sealed its power in the sacred tsubaki tree. She gave a part of her power to the tree and it's said that the tree took root on the island.

Yuukai: The tree which never loses its flowers became known as the Tokosaki no Tsubaki (everlasting camellia).

Syouko: Don't tell me...

Yuukai: It's as you suspect. That sacred tree was used to make the Kumouchi in this temple. This is a miraculous story.

Momoko: That story sounds suspicious. Is that wooden sword really made from the what's it called tsubaki?

Ayashiro: There's many stories about trees that never lose their flowers but I didn't think one would really exist...

Yuukai: Then, would you like to see if for yourself?

Ayashiro: Eh?

Yuukai: Deep within the Forest of Sal, there exists one tree with red tsubaki flowers. As far as I could see, that tree doesn't lose its flowers in spring. And in all the four seasons, it never withers and continues blooming.

Ayashiro: Does it really never wither?

Yuukai: Well, if Yasuhime-sama gave a part of her power, it's probably expected that it never withers.

Yuukai: Yasuhime-sama looked like a 13, 14, or 15 year old girl, but in reality she was over 80.

Ayashiro: She didn't grow old?

Yuukai: It seemed she ate zan.

Momoko: Zan?

Aoi: By zan, he means the flesh of a mermaid.

Syouko and Yasumi: Mermaid...

That word caused confusion in my heart. A human...was eating...the flesh of a mermaid?

Aoi: Have you heard of the 800 year old bhukkhuni? (Buddhist nun) She ate the flesh of a mermaid and never grew old and was immortal. We're talking about 800 years, not 80.

Ah...I'd heard of that story. It's nothing to be surprised by.

Aoi: Oh yes, the 800 year old Buddhist nun was also called Tamatsubaki-hime. There's a legend that she walked around planting tsubaki in the north.

Aoi: Perhaps both stories have the same origin?

Momoko: So, Yasuhime-sama of Urashima made her debut around the country and went from 80 to 800.

It might be the opposite that she fled from the capital.

Momoko: But still, 800 years is a long time to live.

Syouko: Our Yasu-hime has a weak physical condition, so it'd be hard for her to live to 80, much less 800.

Yasumi: Eh?

Syouko: Why are you making that face? With a weak physical condition, 800 is too much to ask, right?

Yasumi: Ah, that was a joke.

But still, thinking about Yasumi's shocked reaction, I made an inappropriate joke. I wanted to apologize but the words wouldn't form.

Momoko: So about tonight's test of courage. Let's make a course passing by the Tokosaki no Tsubaki.

Syouko: Hey, Momoko!

And I lost the chance to apologize.

After cleaning up after breakfast, we rested our stomachs a little. We then changed back into our dougi (padded undershirt) and assembled in the courtyard.

Momoko: Woah! They're so dry!?

During breakfast, we'd left our dougi, which had absorbed our sweat from running, hanging in the eaves to dry in the shade.
It seems the southern weather is quite dependable. I'd just thought of it as an enemy but it gave us back salt. I filled my lungs with the salty air and looked at the blue sky.

Syouko: Let's start with some preparation exercises.

Momoko: Hey, Osa-sempai, the menu you've prepared has too much time for startup.

Syouko: Warming up is important. If you're not flexible enough, it's a source of injuries.

The wind was flying through the sleeves of our dougi and the cuffs of our hakama pants as we moved each of our arms and legs.

It wasn't necessary to be as careful as during the winter season, but as an athletic club, it's more important to avoid injury than to become stronger. No matter how much you practice, if your body breaks down at an important time, there's no meaning to it.
First of all, if you can't practice because of injury, then it will be hard to compensate for that without a lot of hard work and then you'll be in a hurry again.
So it's important to finish warming up and especially important before a match.
The reason I'm so persistent about this might be because my grandpa's a doctor.

Syouko: Hah...

With the sun rising higher in the sky and shining down on us, we started to sweat.
The hakama pants that were directly in contact with our thighs were hot. And the dark color of the pants also absorbed the sunlight. During these times, white hakama pants would be cooler but...

Natsu nee-san was opposed to it and dressed in black from head to toe.
"If you clear one's mind of mundane thoughts, then even fire will be cool" was something said of Team Member Natsu, though not to her face.
It was hot, but when I thought of her as inspiration, I recovered my will to try hard.

Ok...

Syouko: The last thing we'll do is some partner stretching...

Syouko: Hmm?

I then realized that we had an odd number of people. I could stretch by myself but...
I looked around and saw Yasumi and Migiwa standing under the shade of a sal tree.
That's right. Yesterday, Migiwa showed some interest in the strength of Seijou's team and what we did for practice. But since the manager's hands were free, there was no need to worry about someone who was not a member. And with Migiwa's personality, if she really wanted to join in, she would just say so.

Syouko: Yasumi, can you help with stretching?

Yasumi: Ah, sure.

After calling her, Yasumi trotted over from the shade of the tree. I was worried about getting her uniform dirty, but she wasn't wearing a fluffy private school uniform but our school's jersey uniform. With that uniform, even if she had to lay down on the ground, it would be ok. No matter how physically weak she was, she should be able to do some stretching...
I put aside my worry about the shining sun. Well, if she were feeling bad, she could stop.

Syouko: Is it ok to partner with me?

Yasumi: Yes, I'll do my best to assist you! I'll push and pull with all my might!

Syouko: With this much spirit, I'm a little scared of the force you're going to be using...

I knew Yasumi as a manger, so that was an absurd fear. And in reality, she studies all sorts of books and magazines so she should be very precise. Of course, theory and practice don't always go together and I was a little worried but...

Nothing happened and it was Yasumi's turn.

Yasumi sat on the ground and spread her legs into a right-angle. I didn't have to say anything up to this point since she knew this much.
I was wrapped around her back and put my hands on both her thighs. Kneeling on my knees, I used the upper half of my body to slowly push her forward. If your back is curved, then the effectiveness of this stretch lowers, so it was better to push from above than behind.

Syouko: Ok, so when stretching, breathe out slowly.

Yasumi: Hah...

The upper half of Yasumi's body moved forward. My chest, which was snug against Yasumi's slender back moved forward a little.

Yasumi: !?

The soft thighs under her jersey quivered and I'd guess her fingers and palms did too.

That's about enough.

Yasumi: Wai...Syouko-sempai. Wait a minute...

Yasumi's yelp was a little heated, but I used a little force and slowly forced her forward.

Yasumi: I...can't take anymore.

It's ok.
From my grandpa, I'd learned an understanding of the human body and hers was whispering that it could still do more.

Yasumi: Ouch! Ouch! That hurts!

Since it was hurting that much, I eased off to let Yasumi take a breather.

Our skin, which was glued to each other, created a bit of space and the air created from that felt cool for some reason.

Syouko: .....

I took a breath and thought it was a suitable time, so I pressed my chest to her back again. If she could only bend this far, I was worried about her future.

Syouko: Yasumi, you're a little stiff?

Yasumi: Every person is different...

While talking I slowly pushed Yasumi down to the same angle she was before.

Yasumi: About stretching...if you force it, it won't work.

Syouko: Yes, yes, yes.

I didn't plan on listening to Yasumi so I just gave a flippant reply. And I wasn't too forceful. My first goal was to go past the angle Yasumi was at before. See, I knew it was ok.

Yasumi: If you use too much force...and don't go gently...it's not good...

Syouko: I know that.

Slowly adding more strength, I aimed for goal number two. Her quivering back became warm, and the reason her shirt became wet with sweat was because of better circulation maybe.

Syouko: You should normally be able to bend this far.

Yasumi: Ah!

Syouko: Also your legs! Open them wider.

I didn't hold back in holding down legs which were easy to get out of form.

Yasumi: Ouch! I can't do this. I can't do this. If you do that, I'm going to die!

Syouko: Really, what are you going to do if you're this stiff?

Yasumi: I'm stiff. I'm don't care that I'm stiff. Please stop. And also, I'm not a player. I'm a manager.

Syouko: Even if you're a manager, your health is important.

Let's not talk about being above average, or even average, this was just awful.

Syouko: How does a person who is stiff compare with a person who is flexible?

Yasumi: Their circulation...is often not good...

Syouko: Bad circulation?
Yasumi: They retain waste products and lactic acid and easily tire...The skin is also rough...

Syouko: Good job.

As a bonus, I loosened my hands and Yasumi took a relieved breath and looked elated for a moment.

Yasumi: I read it in a book.

I see. She knew about that.

Syouko: So if you know that much, it's fine. All that's left is for actual practice. When taking a bath, do you stretch?

Yasumi: ...I haven't done that.

Syouko: Ok, then try it from now on.

If I told Momoko it was for Yasumi's health, then she'd probably help make her listen.

Syouko: If you improve your circulation, then your anemia would...

Yasumi: That's not related. Anemia is when the blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin...even if I stretched...

Syouko: Does Yasumi have anemia?

Yasumi: It seems my hemoglobin count is about normal.

Syouko: Low blood pressure?

Yasumi: ...Yes.

Syouko: Then, you really should become more flexible.

Yasumi: Uuuu....

Then, goal number three was to spur on Yasumi.

Yasumi: Please do it gently!
Momoko: Eh...Zawacchi?

Yasumi: What is it, Momo-chan?

Momoko: Is this all for lunch?

Yasumi: I didn't make anthing else.

Momoko: .....

Syouko: What's wrong? It's all good stuff.

White somen noodles were floating in a glass of ice water. Just looking at it made me feel cooler somehow. The ice and glass collided to make a hard, clear sound like a wind chime and for a moment, I could forget about the heat.
Because of the difference in the outside temperature, drops of water were dripping from the glass onto the table and made a puddle. It had the appearance that it was sprinkling.
Somen was definitely a summer food as was plain onigiri without any fillings, just salt. There's also konbu seaweed or umeboshi dried plums.

Syouko: See, add a little shredded seaweed, wasabi and ginger...

Momoko: So there's condiments, but no toppings!?

Syouko: Toppings...does somen have toppings?

Momoko: Shredded egg, sliced ham, or in some cases imitation crab!?

Yasumi: Doesn't that make it hiyashi chuuka (cold Chinese-style noodles)?

Momoko: Eh? You don't add those to somen? If you don't add them, are the side dishes gone too?

Yasumi: Eh...

Ayashiro: We don't add them at our house...

Yasumi: And also, ham is meat and shredded egg is egg, and imitation crab is...

I don't think imitation crab is made of fish paste, so what was it again? It was different than pressing tofu to resemble meat and I think normally you use fish to make it.
And the toppings that Momoko was talking about should be daikon radish, carrots, cucumbers or other vegetables you can cut into long sticks.

Momoko: Ah! Zawacchi is putting up some useless resistance again? Now that I think about it, there was no protein in breakfast either!

Yasumi: There was natto.

Momoko: There was no animal protein!

Momoko stopped Yasumi's opinion and with a melancholy look, held her head.

Momoko: Uohhh! What is this? That means three meals without meat or fish...

She then held her head while looking at the ceiling.

Momoko: Meat! Meat Meat Meat!

Momoko: Fish! Fish Fish Fish!

This was the 3rd continuation from this morning. She yelled with soulful voice.

Momoko: At this rate, I'm going to die. Even if I don't die, I won't grow taller. This is a matter of life and death!

Yasumi: Syo...Syouko-sempai...

Yasumi looked to me for help but if I used my authority as captain to suppress this, the discontent would just grow. Since I wasn't opposed to a vegetarian diet, I'll leave this to Yasumi to sort out.

Momoko: If monk-san can drink sake, then even if there is a rule against us eating meat, I won't acknowledge it!
Momoko: Or if I want to eat meat, I have to leave the temple!?

Yuukai: I'm not opposed to meat dishes in the least.

To show he would be equally grateful for the food received, he held his hands in a prayer.

Yuukai: Well, I don't particularly encourage it either.

Momoko: In other words, it's for us to decide then!

Momoko: So the vegetarian diet is due to Zawacchi's tyranny! She's abusing her authority.

Migiwa: Well, since last night, the food hasn't been entirely Buddhist vegetarian.

Yasumi: Eh?

Migiwa, who was carefully watching and sipping her somen at her own pace, said this to Yasumi, causing her to be quite surprised.

Yasumi: Really?

Migiwa: Really.

Yasumi: That's weird. I was careful to not use meat...

Momoko: Mumumu!? My meat sensor also didn't go off.

Ayashiro: I wonder what it is. We were careful about the dashi soup stock in the miso soup too...

The entire kendo club shook their heads in doubt. It seems that sensei and the monk knew, but they weren't going to say anything.

Migiwa: Do you remember that yesterday's curry had accompanying dishes? There were pickled daikon radish, vegetables picked in soy sauce, and pickled leeks right?

Momoko: You mean the one with honey? The sour sweet one?

Migiwa: After eating that, the vegetarian meal was over. Momo-chi was crunching on it, right?

Momoko: I wanted to chew on something.

Momoko: But pickled leeks are just pickled leeks. If it was at least garlic, then I could imagine a garlic steak but...

Ayashiro: Is it not ok to eat pickled leeks?

Migiwa: That's not allowed. It's from the saying "Garlic and wine (kunshu) are not allowed in the temple gate"

Yasumi: Ah!

Migiwa: From that reaction, it seems Yasumin knew about this.

Yasumi: Yes...

For Momoko who didn't know about this, the number of question marks increased above her head.

Syouko: In the saying, the part about Kunshu (garlic and wine), I understand the shu means alcohol, but what does kun refer to?

Migiwa: In addition to the grass radical, add the first character for army (guntai) and that's the word. In the Japanese reading of the word (kunyomi) it's prounounced namagusa.

Yasumi: It includes green onions, chives, garlic and other pungent vegetables including the pickled leeks we ate yesterday.

Migiwa: Pickled leeks are written with the characters for spicy and chives so like its name pickled leeks is another name for garlic. It's actually in the same family as lilies and green onions.

Momoko: He...

Yasumi: Huh? But isn't normally not having meat good enough to be considered vegetarian in the Buddhist sense (kunshu)?

Migiwa: Beef, mutton, and pork are considered the big ones. Chicken, fish and eggs are considered the small ones. In order words, anything that smells of fish or meat is considered kun.
Meat is normally forbidden. The kun in kunshu normally refers to the five pungent plants (onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives).

Migiwa: It may have been Hime-san's luck that she ate ginger when the spirit saw her. There's a saying like "Pungent vegetables punish evil"
A vampire's weakness is garlic, right?

So garlic and ginger were related?

Ayashiro: Then, us eating ginger is also...

Momoko: Out, it's out. Hoho, this is also a violation of the Buddhist vegetarian diet.

Migiwa: And there's also the mayonnaise on the table.

Yasumi: Ah!?

Team Members: But it was in the refrigerator...

There was dashi put into small dishes which were also used as vegetable dip, but an overwhelming amount of people preferred mayonnaise for raw vegetables.

Momoko: So, Migi-san, that means that Zawacchi's careful planning for a Buddhist vegetarian meal had holes in it.

Migiwa: Well, you could say that.

Momoko: Did you hear that Zawacchi, did you hear that!

Yasumi: I heard it...

With definitive evidence, Momoko was triumphant. She didn't hold back even when facing Yasumi, who had her shoulders lowered in a heartbroken manner.

Momoko: So starting tonight, let's abandon any extra effort and have some meat!

Aoi: And also, since we're near the beach, it'd be hard to avoid seafood.

Momoko: Let's go back to our usual meals. You don't dislike meat or fish, right?

Yasumi: Ok, ok. I understand.

Momoko: Then that's good.

Syouko: ...so why is Momoko butting in on the choice of menu?

Personally I wasn't going to fuss about the vegetarian menu, but Yasumi had the authority over the meals.

Momoko: Well, Osa-sempai, I'm representing the majority of the team in expressing our dissatisfaction and wanting a better plan. This is not personal, I'm trying to help everyone...

Syouko: Personal opinions are ten to one in ninety percent of cases.

Momoko: But still Osa-sempai, even if we don't have practice in the afternoon, if we don't eat meat then it's not like summer...

Migiwa: ...you guys aren't practicing in the afternoon?

Syouko: It's not an intensive training camp.

Migiwa: So you're saying you can relax as you want.
Syouko: With a place without a roof, practicing in the middle of the day risks heat stroke, which is a scary thing.

With the addition of wearing a protector, you have to be careful to stay hydrated when practicing in the summer.

Migiwa: That's sort of weak...is what I'd like to say, but I myself am a nocturnal person, so I can't talk about other people.

Syouko: That's right...yesterday night, you weren't in your room. What were you doing in the middle of the night?

Migiwa: Hmm...maybe I was acting like Taikoubou.

Syouko: Taikoubou?

Migiwa: He was a wise man in the service of the local Lord Bun. Before he was a government official, he was concentrated on fishing. People who fish use him as a metaphor.

Aoi: He was originally from China and was said to be very into fishing, but not good at it...

Ayashiro: How about Migiwa-san then?

Migiwa: Unfortunately, my catch is zero. I didn't catch any other small fry either.

Momoko: Because you're living in a temple, you're acting like a monk?

Migiwa: Oh...that's good. Well..it's because of someone else's circumstances.

Yuukai: That's true. I've told you about how the festival for Kurou-sama is near and boats are forbidden from sailing, right? Even today, the custom still holds, but there's a suitable reason for it...

Yuukai: The sea becomes rough and you can't catch fish, and the people of island believe that Kurou-sama will believe you are a offering and consume you. So because of this, the price of fish increases during this period.

Momoko: Then let's have meat tonight! Meat!

Yasumi: Meat dishes...we didn't buy any meat.

With this many people we couldn't hold enough food for more than a few days so we'd have to go shopping almost every day.

Syouko: But with this many people, the groceries will be heavy. We should have one or two more people go...

Ayashiro: Do you want me to go?

Yasumi: Ah, Ayashiro-sempai should stay and rest. We'll be going in sensei's car, so it should be ok.

Syouko: Car?

Aoi: Fufu. I rented one in the morning.

She twirled the keys around her finger.

Then, what should I do? I thought about it and made a decision.

Syouko: Then, I'll go with you too.

Yasumi: Is that ok?

Syouko: You'll have quite a bit of stuff so you'll need a hand.

Yasumi: I don't think it'll be that bad...but you want to help?

Syouko: Sure, I will. There's room for one more, Momoko, do you want to go too?

Momoko: I have to do some preparations for tonight so I'll pass. Zawacchi and sempai have fun...

Yasumi: Mo...Momo-chan!?

Aoi: Umm...I'll also be there.

Momoko: Sensei, be careful to not be kicked by a horse. Yasumi likes Osa-sempai.

Yasumi: Momo-chan!?

Syouko: Geez...

Syouko: By the way, what do you mean by preparations for tonight?

Momoko: No, no, I'm just making some plans.

Syouko: Preparations?

Yasumi: Momo-chan, what are you preparing for?
Note: In the Comic Rush manga, Syouko stays at the temple and Momoko and Yasumi go shopping instead.
Then she should go with us. I thought she wanted to prepare some food, but...

Momoko: I'm going to lay some traps and scare people to the bottom of their hearts so they scream "Hii, hii".

Syouko: Traps...

I had a very bad feeling.

Syouko: Just to make sure, the preparations you're making are not for dinner?

Momoko: Why would I put traps in food to scare people?

Syouko: Well, you were going on about meat, meat...

Momoko: In order to make a carnival-like image, I'm going for a gothic-like feel as opposed to a splatter-like feel though the two might be blurred.

I didn't understand the difference but apparently there was one for Momoko.

Momoko: I'll going to be in charge of tonight's test of courage!!

Syouko: Ah, you're going to do it.

Momoko: Of course I'm going to do it.

Syouko: I guess there's no helping it then. Sorry about Ayashiro...

Ayashiro: You want me to keep an eye on Momoko?

Syouko: Please.

Ayashiro: That's true. I'm not good at handling scary things, so if it's too much, it'll be trouble.

Ayashiro: After all, Syouko-san and Yasumi-chan are using their free time to go shopping for everyone...

Momoko: I'm also reducing my own free time to provide fun for everyone!?

Syouko: It'd be ok if you didn't...
Back