Preface
Koi streeeamers, hiiigher than the rooof
The big black koi is the father, the red koi are the children
They seem to be swimming funny……
Since the speakers in the shopping district played that song on repeat ever since the Hina Festival had passed, Ranchuu had completely memorized the lyrics. The cherry blossoms had just opened. There was still time before the tree buds would firm, and leisurely spread their leaves. Even so, there were koi streamers. His mood needed to catch up with the season.
He let out a small sigh. Since he had only bought heavy things like rice, vinegar, shoyu and miso, a light sweat beaded on his forehead even though the season was still unpleasantly cold.
Ranchuu passed through the torii with the plaque that read Utsuwa Shrine and began to climb the stairs. He realized he had been singing the koi streamer song since leaving the shopping district.
As expected, the decorative hina dolls Mikoto wanted so badly were put away in a hurry as she wished, so they wouldn’t be late (late for what, he had no idea), but he would need to air out the samurai dolls soon, Ranchuu thought as he stopped humming. The samurai dolls, the armor and helmet sets, and then the koi streamers. He did this every year, but it was still quite a lot of work.
“Today…..probably won’t be possible. Maybe tomorrow.”
He had just finished scaling the stairs to the shrine, and could see where the slanted area fell to level ground. The sky was dyed a copper red.
1Koi streeeamers, hiiigher than the rooof
The big black koi is the father, the red koi are the children
They seem to be swimming funny……
Since the speakers in the shopping district played that song on repeat ever since the Hina Festival had passed, Ranchuu had completely memorized the lyrics. The cherry blossoms had just opened. There was still time before the tree buds would firm, and leisurely spread their leaves. Even so, there were koi streamers. His mood needed to catch up with the season.
He let out a small sigh. Since he had only bought heavy things like rice, vinegar, shoyu and miso, a light sweat beaded on his forehead even though the season was still unpleasantly cold.
Ranchuu passed through the torii with the plaque that read Utsuwa Shrine and began to climb the stairs. He realized he had been singing the koi streamer song since leaving the shopping district.
As expected, the decorative hina dolls Mikoto wanted so badly were put away in a hurry as she wished, so they wouldn’t be late (late for what, he had no idea), but he would need to air out the samurai dolls soon, Ranchuu thought as he stopped humming. The samurai dolls, the armor and helmet sets, and then the koi streamers. He did this every year, but it was still quite a lot of work.
“Today…..probably won’t be possible. Maybe tomorrow.”
He had just finished scaling the stairs to the shrine, and could see where the slanted area fell to level ground. The sky was dyed a copper red.
The next morning.
Once he finished tidying up after breakfast, Ranchuu headed to the storage room in the chilly weather. He opened the door at the north corner of the second floor, where no one ever entered of the wooden main building, with a noisy rattle. There were no windows, and a single bare light bulb dangled down, but it had gone out a long time ago.
“They were definitely around here……”
He brushed away a light layer of dust then carried it out to the hall. The light of morning was blinding to his eyes that had grown accustomed to the dark.
“Ranchuu. You’re here?”
When he turned toward the voice, Satou was standing there.
“Yes, I thought I would air these out while the weather was nice. Is something wrong?”
“I received something earlier. Some live things.”
“Live things?”
“A basket of rainbow trout, and freshwater crabs.”
“……those were?”
Apparently, the neighborhood doll shop owner usually fished in his free time, and shared some with them.
“But then.”
Satou pressed between his brows.
“The moment I opened the basket, the crabs escaped.”
“……they escaped?”
“Mikoto-sama has taken an interest in it.”
“……Understood.”
The situation seemed to be serious. He had just taken out one of the large red koi to air out, so Ranchuu headed toward the kitchen with Satou.
Today was a day tied to fish.
2
He found something unusual.
When he came out of his room, there was a large fish before his eyes, sprawled out in the hallway.
No.
It was something like a fish, but also like a banner, laying on the floor. It seemed to be a fish colored with vivid blues and reds, however, its large glaring eyes were a little frightening, and he was unable to imagine from its looks just what it was used for.
“……………hmmm.”
Still sleepy, Yue blinked his eyes.
He had no idea who could have left it there. It was most likely Ranchuu, but he couldn’t deny that it may have been one of Kurogitsune’s pranks. Maybe he was seeing things, or still dreaming.
He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, but the fish-like form in front of him wouldn’t disappear. He hesitantly tried pulling it. It had a much lighter feel than it looked. When he got a better look at it, there were pretty gold and silver patterns drawn on each of its scales.
“Hmmm……”
The second floor hallway had a lot of sunlight, so it looked as though the fish was sunbathing. Yue wasn’t sure if fish actually did that sort of thing.
“What could it be?”
The fish-like thing stared at Yue with its large mouth wide open.
“What……could it be?”
3
The Abes were in a good mood today.
When they tried pulling a fortune, a rather interesting result came out.
They were in such a good mood they almost felt like humming, but since the Abe in back would get angry, the Abe in front resisted.
Noon was close. Lunch would be served in the main building’s living room soon.
Feeling as though they would enjoy having a meal in their good mood, they pulled open the door to the fortune-telling booth, and stepped in their outdoor shoes on the stone steps.
“Hm?”
There was something black moving under the greenery that had just begun to bloom with doudantsutsuji flowers here and there. It had large ears and a long tail. He recognized it.
“……Kurogitsune. What’s up?”
It was rare for him to be on the shrine grounds in his fox form.
We were about to step on you, the Abes laughed as the creature slowly lifted its face.
“Don’t say you were going to step on me!!”
He yelled, almost snapping at them before changing into his familiar young boy form.
“You didn’t need to go through the trouble of changing into your human form. Either way you’re small.”
“Go away! Don’t say you were going to step on me! Don’t say you were going to kick me!”
“So, are you looking for something? What are you doing crawling on the ground?”
“Ooh. For a crab, a crab.”
“……huh?”
“We were going to have deep fried freshwater crab, and fried fish at noon, so I was put in charge of finding the crab.”
The Abes were unable to grasp the situation very well.
“Are we going to have to do that too?”
“Satou-sama said, those who don’t work, don’t eat.”
“We don’t really like doing more work than we have to though~”
The Abe in back scratched the side of the Abe in front’s tilted head with his left hand.
The Abes were in a good mood today.
When they tried pulling a fortune, a rather interesting result came out.
They were in such a good mood they almost felt like humming, but since the Abe in back would get angry, the Abe in front resisted.
Noon was close. Lunch would be served in the main building’s living room soon.
Feeling as though they would enjoy having a meal in their good mood, they pulled open the door to the fortune-telling booth, and stepped in their outdoor shoes on the stone steps.
“Hm?”
There was something black moving under the greenery that had just begun to bloom with doudantsutsuji flowers here and there. It had large ears and a long tail. He recognized it.
“……Kurogitsune. What’s up?”
It was rare for him to be on the shrine grounds in his fox form.
We were about to step on you, the Abes laughed as the creature slowly lifted its face.
“Don’t say you were going to step on me!!”
He yelled, almost snapping at them before changing into his familiar young boy form.
“You didn’t need to go through the trouble of changing into your human form. Either way you’re small.”
“Go away! Don’t say you were going to step on me! Don’t say you were going to kick me!”
“So, are you looking for something? What are you doing crawling on the ground?”
“Ooh. For a crab, a crab.”
“……huh?”
“We were going to have deep fried freshwater crab, and fried fish at noon, so I was put in charge of finding the crab.”
The Abes were unable to grasp the situation very well.
“Are we going to have to do that too?”
“Satou-sama said, those who don’t work, don’t eat.”
“We don’t really like doing more work than we have to though~”
The Abe in back scratched the side of the Abe in front’s tilted head with his left hand.
4
“Heeere, crabby, crabby, crab.”
Of course it wouldn’t respond, but Kurogitsune walked along as he called down to the ground. They had already caught most of them and returned them to the wash bin, but one of them was fast and seemed to have run far away. Kurogitsune had switched places with Ranchuu who was preparing lunch, and followed its tracks.
“Come to think of it, would it even leave tracks?”
He had taken on a completely unreasonable task. Kurogitsune muttered his complaints as he ran his gaze along the ground. Since there were garden stones scattered among the greenery, there was no way he would be able to find a little crab. However, since he was told he wouldn’t be having lunch if he didn’t find it, he had no choice but to obediently comply.
“Heeere, crabby, crabby. Come out before Momiji eats you~”
As he continued on through the dwarf lilyturf flowers, muttering to himself in vain, his stomach growled as if it were sympathizing with him. He was going out of his way to ignore it, but he was unfortunately aware of how empty his stomach was.
“Aah, damn. I’m so hungry, I have no strength~”
He crouched down and looked up at the dazzling bright sky full of white clouds. The corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a familiar window, making him think of a person who often said the same thing.
“……speaking of which, is that guy still sleeping?”
“Heeere, crabby, crabby, crab.”
Of course it wouldn’t respond, but Kurogitsune walked along as he called down to the ground. They had already caught most of them and returned them to the wash bin, but one of them was fast and seemed to have run far away. Kurogitsune had switched places with Ranchuu who was preparing lunch, and followed its tracks.
“Come to think of it, would it even leave tracks?”
He had taken on a completely unreasonable task. Kurogitsune muttered his complaints as he ran his gaze along the ground. Since there were garden stones scattered among the greenery, there was no way he would be able to find a little crab. However, since he was told he wouldn’t be having lunch if he didn’t find it, he had no choice but to obediently comply.
“Heeere, crabby, crabby. Come out before Momiji eats you~”
As he continued on through the dwarf lilyturf flowers, muttering to himself in vain, his stomach growled as if it were sympathizing with him. He was going out of his way to ignore it, but he was unfortunately aware of how empty his stomach was.
“Aah, damn. I’m so hungry, I have no strength~”
He crouched down and looked up at the dazzling bright sky full of white clouds. The corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a familiar window, making him think of a person who often said the same thing.
“……speaking of which, is that guy still sleeping?”
He
muttered nonchalantly as a small crab went by him without a sound.
“Satou-sama……why don’t we have lunch soon. Everyone is getting hungry.”
Those who participated in their afternoon meal was mostly the same every time. Excluding Yue and Kurogitsune, the usual faces were all sitting on the cushions at the low table, sipping on tea with nothing else to do.
“But, we received a gift. It would be a waste not to use it.”
Your proposal is also reasonable, Ranchuu, Satou added as he looked off into the distance with his arms crossed.
It was a peaceful afternoon.
If they listened carefully, they could hear Kurogitsune’s voice from the garden, calling for the crab.
“Indeed……”
The goldfish wandered aimlessly in the air.
“Satou-san, we’re hungry~”
“We want to eat~”
They unanimously complained about their hunger.
“Well, wait. We’ll eat when everyone is here.”
Almost everyone was there.
Unaware of Satou’s stance on not treating only the goldfish favorably, they flew about restlessly.
“Ranchuu, you say something too~”
Somewhat able and unable to understand Satou’s complex feelings, Ranchuu also kept his mouth shut as he poured more tea from the small tea pot.
“We don’t even eat crab……”
At that moment, they heard the thudding footsteps of someone running down the long hallway from the back door.
6
“…………found it!”
THWACK! The paper screened door opened as Kurogitsune made his announcement, holding a small crab up high. Commotion ran through the room.
“……as expected from a glutton.”
Ranchuu was secretly relieved, but went with his usual insults.
“Lunch depended on it.”
Kurogitsune smiled triumphantly, seemingly unconcerned.
“You were just being greedy. Is that something to look so proud of?”
“Now, now it’s fine, isn’t it? Thanks to Kurogitsune, it’s finally lunch time. We’re hungry.”
Once the Abes intervened, Mikoto, who had entered the room at some point, was looking closely at the crab in Kurogitsune’s raised hand.
“Still, what a fine crab.”
“Mistress.”
“Satou, Ranchuu. I’ve put you two through a lot of trouble.”
“Not at all.”
“So this is the one that ran away until the end.”
She said as she got a better look at the small crab Kurogitsune was holding out in his hand.
“Ah, yes. Will you be eating as well, Mikoto-sama?”
“Hm……but, I’m starting to feel as though I would regret eating him.”
Satou suddenly made a grave expression.
“……Mikoto-sama……don’t tell me.”
“Kurogitsune. Could you put him in this fish tank?”
“Eh?”
The goldfish let out their wails.
“I like him. Ufufu, he has quite a bit of determination. He may even eventually become a spirit if he lives long enough.”
“…………“
“Mikoto-sama……”
He felt Satou’s exhaustion, but there was nothing Ranchuu could do.
In the end, he finished preparing lunch with their main course of deep fried crab minus one as everyone sat around the dining table.
“…………found it!”
THWACK! The paper screened door opened as Kurogitsune made his announcement, holding a small crab up high. Commotion ran through the room.
“……as expected from a glutton.”
Ranchuu was secretly relieved, but went with his usual insults.
“Lunch depended on it.”
Kurogitsune smiled triumphantly, seemingly unconcerned.
“You were just being greedy. Is that something to look so proud of?”
“Now, now it’s fine, isn’t it? Thanks to Kurogitsune, it’s finally lunch time. We’re hungry.”
Once the Abes intervened, Mikoto, who had entered the room at some point, was looking closely at the crab in Kurogitsune’s raised hand.
“Still, what a fine crab.”
“Mistress.”
“Satou, Ranchuu. I’ve put you two through a lot of trouble.”
“Not at all.”
“So this is the one that ran away until the end.”
She said as she got a better look at the small crab Kurogitsune was holding out in his hand.
“Ah, yes. Will you be eating as well, Mikoto-sama?”
“Hm……but, I’m starting to feel as though I would regret eating him.”
Satou suddenly made a grave expression.
“……Mikoto-sama……don’t tell me.”
“Kurogitsune. Could you put him in this fish tank?”
“Eh?”
The goldfish let out their wails.
“I like him. Ufufu, he has quite a bit of determination. He may even eventually become a spirit if he lives long enough.”
“…………“
“Mikoto-sama……”
He felt Satou’s exhaustion, but there was nothing Ranchuu could do.
In the end, he finished preparing lunch with their main course of deep fried crab minus one as everyone sat around the dining table.
7
“Huh, by the way, is Yue still sleeping?”
It was unusual not to see him after a lunch later than usual.
“I haven’t seen him today yet.”
Ranchuu confirmed as he served the after meal tea.
“That’s right, we had business with Yue-kun~. There was an interesting fortune result.”
“In other words, nothing important.”
“Exactly~”
“Don’t give me that. Still, he’s been sleeping for way too long. I’m gunna go wake him up.”
He ran up to the second floor with the usual sound of his footsteps against the floor boards.
“Yueee! How long do you plan on sleeping, heeey!!!”
Once he finished climbing the stairs, he turned left.
“Wah!?”
Writhing koi streamers were covering the whole hallway. Kurogitsune stumbled, but unable to stop, ended up stepping on a blue koi. He slipped on the well polished hallway.
“Uwoooooh!???”
He slid with force along with the koi he stepped on. Even though it was only for a moment, it felt like a long time. Eventually the koi bumped into something and stopped. Kurogitsune ended up falling hard onto his backside.
“Ooow……”
When he got up while pressing against his hips that received the hard blow, he noticed there seemed to be something inside of a disheveled red koi. Technically, he shouldn’t have bumped into anything on the koi. They were hollow on the inside after all. However, the vivid deep red of the koi was rising up.
“…………!?”
The hair on his ears and tail stood on end vigilantly. Before he could make the first move and pounce on it, his ears heard a familiar voice.
“Uwh……”
“…………no way.”
The red koi’s belly writhed.
“Mnnn…………Kurogitsune? Good morning.”
The one who popped his head out from its open mouth was Yue, who should have been indulging his laziness in his room.
“Stupid Yue! Koi streamers aren’t futons!!”
Kurogitsune’s yelling echoed through out the mansion, so everyone suddenly knew where Yue was.
“Huh, by the way, is Yue still sleeping?”
It was unusual not to see him after a lunch later than usual.
“I haven’t seen him today yet.”
Ranchuu confirmed as he served the after meal tea.
“That’s right, we had business with Yue-kun~. There was an interesting fortune result.”
“In other words, nothing important.”
“Exactly~”
“Don’t give me that. Still, he’s been sleeping for way too long. I’m gunna go wake him up.”
He ran up to the second floor with the usual sound of his footsteps against the floor boards.
“Yueee! How long do you plan on sleeping, heeey!!!”
Once he finished climbing the stairs, he turned left.
“Wah!?”
Writhing koi streamers were covering the whole hallway. Kurogitsune stumbled, but unable to stop, ended up stepping on a blue koi. He slipped on the well polished hallway.
“Uwoooooh!???”
He slid with force along with the koi he stepped on. Even though it was only for a moment, it felt like a long time. Eventually the koi bumped into something and stopped. Kurogitsune ended up falling hard onto his backside.
“Ooow……”
When he got up while pressing against his hips that received the hard blow, he noticed there seemed to be something inside of a disheveled red koi. Technically, he shouldn’t have bumped into anything on the koi. They were hollow on the inside after all. However, the vivid deep red of the koi was rising up.
“…………!?”
The hair on his ears and tail stood on end vigilantly. Before he could make the first move and pounce on it, his ears heard a familiar voice.
“Uwh……”
“…………no way.”
The red koi’s belly writhed.
“Mnnn…………Kurogitsune? Good morning.”
The one who popped his head out from its open mouth was Yue, who should have been indulging his laziness in his room.
“Stupid Yue! Koi streamers aren’t futons!!”
Kurogitsune’s yelling echoed through out the mansion, so everyone suddenly knew where Yue was.
End
“Huuuh, so all that happened?”
Yue finished his meal, and listened to everyone’s story. Kurogitsune stuck his chest out in pride since he was the one to catch it in the end. The crab in question had been placed inside of the goldfish’s bowl in the center of the low table.
A light green tea had been poured into the tea cups placed before them, steam rising from each one.
“Ah.”
Yue suddenly looked toward the veranda. If he wasn’t paying attention, he wouldn’t have noticed the small shadow passing by.
“AH — — — — !”
Everyone present let out their voices a second too late. Inside of the fish tank was a husk it had molted at some point. Unaware of their shock, or perhaps completely aware, the crab crossed the floor boards, climbed down towards the garden, and then vanished.
“Aa~ah.”
No one went after it.
***
The next day, Kurogitsune caught it sunbathing around the pond. The annual battle between Kurogitsune and the koi that lived in that pond had already started. Year after year he would waste his time with it without getting bored.
“I’ll definitely capture them one day!”
When he looked up from the veranda as Kurogitsune made his proud declaration, the koi streamers fluttered. Ranchuu let out a quiet sigh.
Come to think of it, it’ll be koi season soon.
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