AUGUST 13, 1872 (MEIJI YEAR 5)
The festival hasn't even begun yet,
but I can feel excitement in the air!
I'm going to take Nomari
to see all the stalls on the big day.
You should come with us.
Huh? Are you sure?
Yahoo! I can't wait!
Yeah. But before that...
We need to finish what we came here for.
Sorry to bother you at such a busy time.
It's not a problem.
I'm guessing you're here
to ask about the fox mirror, correct?
Yes. From what I've heard of the legend, when the
celestial maiden falls ill, her husband takes action
by cremating the remains of a talking fox and using its
ashes to forge what becomes known as the "fox mirror."
That's right. But if you think about it,
doesn't that story strike you as a little odd?
Supernatural events like those only become legend
when someone finds just the right mix of fact and fiction.
Wait, are you saying part of the legend is made up?
Asagao-san, was it?
Er, that's right!
Do you enjoy festivals?
Um, yes! You're holding one here soon, right?
There'll be stalls lining this whole area.
It's quite the sight to behold!
Do you have a favorite festival treat, Asagao-san?
Oh, gosh, there are so many.
But I think candied apples are my favorite!
Candied apples. How nice.
I love them, too.
Oh really?
Yes! Nothing feels quite like being
at a festival than eating candied apples.
I know what you mean!
But just one of them is enough to leave you totally full.
Ain't that the truth!
Pardon me.
I've brought some tea.
Look, isobe mochi!
Lucky for you, huh, Kadono-kun?
You like those? Then please have your fill.
I know my husband can be a real chatterbox.
Shucks, I'm sorry!
Kadono-san. Asagao-san.
Would you two like to see the fox mirror for yourselves?
Is that really okay?
So, this is the fox mirror...
It looks like a plain steel mirror on the outside.
But there was a time when it had
the same power spoken of in legend.
In other words, it has connected
Heaven and Earth once before.
So it should be able to return a celestial maiden to her
proper place in the sky, beyond the stretches of time.
Huh?
You're another who came here
from somewhere far, far away.
Isn't that right?
How did you know..?
This is the second time.
Blood is the trigger to activate it.
Simply put a few drops of blood
on the fox mirror and touch it.
Then, you'll be able to travel
to the time and place of your choosing.
I'm sorry!
I just don't know if my heart is ready
to make the journey yet, you know?
I see.
You'd turn down the wings that could fly you home?
Well, if you change your mind, then please let me know.
Guess what?
Everyone at school was jealous of my yukata!
Well, the design is super adorable!
And it looks great on you!
Daddy is the one who picked it out for me.
I'm not surprised. You have good taste, Kadono-kun!
You're coming with us, right, Asagao-san?
Huh? Oh, yeah.
Hooray! It's going to be so exciting!
It sure is.
Kadono-kun?
Did I wake you up?
Nope. I was just having trouble sleeping.
You know, we haven't really had time to talk things over.
This is a good opportunity.
You're right. Especially given how much
I owe you for your help.
Don't mention it. Have you settled into life here?
Mm-hmm.
I felt out of my element at first,
but I'm having fun now that I'm used to it.
Is something wrong?
No.
Hey.
Why did you let me stay with you?
Thinking back, no matter how desperately
I needed the help,
it's just not normal to house a total stranger.
A long time ago, there was a man who took me in
after I ran away from home with no place to go.
That moment has always stuck with me.
And I think that's why I was compelled to help you,
no matter how out of character it was for me.
I have something I want to ask you, too.
Okay. What is it?
Is the world that you come from boring?
Why do you ask?
I felt like that might be the case,
given how you've been acting.
Well, I wouldn't call it boring.
I have lots of friends and stuff.
But, like, it just gets tiring sometimes.
I attend school every day to study,
then walk home with my friends,
and we hang out at different places along the way.
It's a lot of fun, honestly!
The only problem is... it can sometimes feel stifling, too.
One of my friends is the Miko at a local temple
and she's super mature.
She's already got her life all figured out.
Not to mention her grades are better than mine.
Even the boy who sits next to me in class.
He's amazing, too!
So tough, yet kind.
He's always pushing to accomplish his goals,
no matter how heavy life weighs on him.
Seeing those two makes me feel stupid
for just goofing around every day.
Do you think it's wrong to have fun?
No way!
But I think people who strive in the face of hardship
are more admirable than I am.
Since I have nothing to strive for...
Hey, tell me. Are you happy with your life?
I think my life is pretty good right now.
But as to whether I'm "happy"...
I hesitate to answer. Because I'm not sure, myself.
As pathetic as it sounds.
I see.
There are times when the banality of daily life
almost feels suffocating to me
and for a brief moment, I find myself
wishing to take a breather from it all.
But if that wish were to inadvertently come true
and I started breathing more easily...
it would make the idea
of going back to the norm pretty terrifying.
Life never goes how we want.
Dealing with that fact alone makes it difficult.
But...
"We can't just sit around doing nothing forever"?
I've heard something similar
from the boy in my class before.
That's why, deep down, I knew all along...
no matter how comfortable being here makes me feel,
I can't stay forever.
But I want some more time.
It won't hurt if I rest here
for just a little while longer, right?
Yeah.
We all should take it easy now and then.
Totally. Just for a little bit.
AUGUST 14, 1872 (MEIJI YEAR 5)
Well, this is it, Kadono-kun. Thanks for everything!
Safe journeys, O' Celestial Maiden.
Jeez! There you go again!
Once I leave, I'm guessing I won't be able
to come back again.
Most likely.
This is the last we'll see of each other.
At the end of the legend, it was said the
celestial maiden occasionally came back to Earth for fun.
But things never work out that conveniently in reality.
As depressing as it sounds,
you'll just have to kiss this life goodbye permanently.
Good point.
Were you able to get enough rest?
Mm-hmm. I'm ready to keep
plugging away at life on the other side now.
How about you?
Same as usual. I'll stay the course with no changes.
You're such a hardhead!
I'll take that as a compliment.
Well, I should get going now.
Hey, listen.
If I had stuck around for tomorrow's festival...
I would've been tempted to stay for the Moon Festival
in fall, and the New Year holiday in winter,
until I put it off so long that I settled in.
I just know I would've never gone home after that.
But, Kadono-kun?
If the chance ever presents itself,
let's go to a festival together, okay?
Sure thing. I'll even buy you something from a stall.
I want a candied apple!
All right. I'll keep that in mind.
Wow, look at all the people!
It's a shame that Asagao-san couldn't come with us.
Well, yeah. But don'tcha think it's gotta be easy
for an angel to travel in and out of Heaven?
I mean, how else do ya explain the big smile
on her face when we all said goodbye?
Oh, please. Don't try to tie everything up
in a neat little bow, Master.
Ah! What's that?!
Nomari-san! Please wait up!
Oh, jeez.
Hold your horses!
Careful not to trip on anything!
At the end of the day, most everything
about the fox mirror legend turned out true.
It begs the question, Kunieda-dono.
What part was made up?
The fox mirror is featured in the Swan Maiden tale
passed down here in the Sanjo area of Kyoto.
But that makes no sense if you really think about it.
Because what is a young man from a blacksmithing
village doing in a tale that should take place in Kyoto?
Well, the truth is that the fox mirror and
the Swan Maiden tale are originally two different myths.
In other words, you're saying
the fox mirror wasn't made in Kyoto?
Exactly.
Then where does the celestial maiden myth come from?
For you, Jinya-sama.
Isobe mochi has always been
your favorite snack. Isn't that right?
I'll let my wife take over now.
She actually knows far more
about the fox mirror than I do.
Since the mirror was originally made
in her hometown, if ya can believe it!
Let me sit next to you.
You'd like to know more about the fox mirror, yes?
Long ago, there was a blacksmith
who forged the fox mirror
by using the metal of a spear
that belonged to demon who could see the future
and mixing it with some blood she left behind.
A demon?
The blacksmith hoped that this would create a mirror
that could show people the future.
But as fate would have it,
it became something far more powerful - a gateway
between the past and the future.
And so, they decided to enshrine it as a sacred relic
to keep it safely out of the general public's hands.
It eventually got intertwined with the Swan Maiden tale,
and become known as a mirror
that connected Heaven and Earth.
Actually, it might be better to say
that's how they disguised it.
What a miraculous object.
So, that means Asagao is...?
Someone from the future.
I see.
Much obliged, Chiyo-dono.
Um, if you don't mind, could you speak with me
in a more casual tone, Jinya-sama?
Huh?
It just feels strange to hear you address me so formally.
I would prefer if you called me by my name,
without any of the honorifics.
But that would be disrespectful...
Please. It would make me happy.
All right. Then you can do the same, Chiyo.
Wonderful. In that case...
I'll call you "Jinta-nii," if that's okay.
I HOPE OUR PROMISE
IS FULFILLED
- CHITOSE
Wait, are you... Chitose?!
It took you long enough to notice, Jinta-nii.
What are you doing here?
Well, this shrine is an offshoot of the one in Kadono.
After the princess passed away,
I was the one who took on the role of the Itsukihime.
Then, over time, I got married to my husband
and we were put in charge of this shrine.
You became the Itsukihime...?
Oh, I get it! Your name went from Chitose to Chiyo
because of the "night" kanji.
What happened to Kadono?
Who is the current Itsukihime?
I passed on the role to my daughter.
The Itsukihime no longer has to live
cooped up in the temple all the time.
It's essentially just a regular shrine now.
They also changed the name...
I quite like it.
I'm glad to see you upheld our promise
after all these years.
Oh, that's right.
You've been waiting all this time...
Please, eat up.
Don't mind if I do.
Delicious.
Naturally.
Daddy!
Please go be with your daughter.
All right.
I bid you... I mean, catch you later, Chitose.
Bye, Jinta-nii.
Daddy! Are you done with your business?
Yep.
I wanna eat something!
Let's see...
How about a candied apple?
What's a candied apple?
I have no idea.
But it's apparently Asagao's favorite treat...
Sorry. Just forget it.
Let's look around for something good, okay?
'Kay!
Guess what? I saw a fox earlier!
Oh, did you now?
JINTA SHRINE
Huh...?
HOT DOGS
GOLDFISH SCOOPING
SHOOTING GALLERY
CANDIED APPLES
Is that you, Kaoru?
So, you made it to the festival after all!
Oh, yeah!
Hey, Miyaka-chan? Can you remind me what year it is?
Huh? It's 2009, duh.
I actually came back to the right time...
By the way, I saw Jinya. He was wearing a kimono,
I guess? For some kinda date.
A date?
He said it was an old promise with a good friend.
And something about her being a "celestial maiden."
I saw him near the bottom of the steps earlier, but...
Huh? Wait a sec, Kaoru!
CHOCO BANANA
You're late, Azusaya.
Hey! Um, w-well, I...
Calm down and catch your breath first.
R-right. I'm sorry.
So, um, hey... long time no see, I guess?
Yeah, it's been ages.
Now I won't feel guilty about mixing up your name...
Asagao.
You actually remembered...
You're the one who said
we should go to a festival together.
Well, I know that!
But I didn't expect you'd keep it in mind for so long.
I mean, we're talking about something
that happened over a century ago, right?
Honestly... this feels kinda strange.
Well, it's nostalgic for me.
I don't take many trips down memory lane these days,
but that was a truly fulfilling time of my life.
Hey, Kadono-kun? There's something I want to ask you.
Is that okay?
Sure.
Thanks.
So, uh...
Tell me. Are you happy with your life now?
Obviously.
The longer we live, the more things we lose.
It makes heartache unavoidable, but it's not all so bad.
Because there are also gains
that help balance out the losses.
And besides...
...when you live for as long as I have,
there is no better food for the soul than the
surprising reunions you sometimes have along the way.
Shucks. I find it kinda hard to believe
that you're talking about lil' old me.
Well, I doubt you could ever understand.
Just how much seeing you once again...
filled my heart with joy.
Jeez! Always with the schmoozy lines!
Well, shall we get going?
I do believe that I owe you a candied apple.
Right!
Ah, what a sight to behold.
That morning glory yukata looks great on you.
Just like a certain angel who fell from Heaven...