Monogatari Series - Volume 29 - Chapter 1.18

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Shinobu’s desired nasuben is, in its full form, an abbreviation of Nasu Makunouchi Bento, which has an even more specific definition. It requires the use of ingredients from Nasu for everything from meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, and milk; even the plate itself must be made from Nasu lumber. Served on nine plates (a nod to the nine-tailed fox) are nine local dishes, with the total price limited to 1500 yen. There are actually a few more details involved, but unfortunately, I am not the guy from “Oishinbo,”26 advocating for couples to share the same surname. So, let’s leave it at that.

That said, let’s dig in.

After eating our pizza and taking a brief rest, our newlywed party—myself included, having enjoyed a short nap just in case I needed to take over the wheel—packed up the campsite and headed to the restaurant we had reserved.

Shinobu, who had been lurking in my shadow ever since we got caught in the rain at Killing Stone, eventually sluggishly crept out, looking like someone being roused in the dead of night. Now when her vampirism had intensified after drinking my blood the previous night, this comparison was quite fitting.

Since the battle with the nine-tailed fox didn’t happen, her blood-sucking turned out to be completely useless in the end. 

Regardless, the fact that she got up without oversleeping was commendable.

Commendable—or indomitable appetite.

She ate Mr. Donuts, as well as nasuben, and probably would’ve devoured barbeque and pizza if she had been awake for it. It seems, by those measures, that Oshino Shinobu was no more than a healthy young girl, unlike what Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade had been.

As she wobbled by, her golden hair swaying along with her, so much so that it seemed like she was rowing a boat, she devoured her nasuben by instinct alone, while Hitagi watched with a hint of tenderness in her eyes.

Setting aside to what extent she was genuinely leading a brigade in middle school, from that perspective, her dislike for children—or rather, her uneasiness around them—seems to have been overcome. But then again, I wonder about that.

How heartwarming was this heartwarming scene really?

It felt as though an air of innocence masked the ferocity of the vampire… almost like an endangered species that is protected solely because of its “cuteness.”

There’s an irritating feeling that while dogs, cats, and maybe bunnies are protected, dire warnings of bees facing extinction fail to hit home… Maybe it would sting more if people were told they wouldn’t be able to eat honey anymore.

But would that tender gaze turn to one of terror—nay, disgust—when they learn what creatures used to be that little girl’s staple diet?

To chalk it up to prejudice, preconception, or some sort of container would be highly inappropriate—though it hadn’t been properly confirmed, it’s likely that in one parallel world, Hitagi, and probably Kanbaru, had been killed—possibly even eaten—by a rampaging Shinobu freed from her seal.

Given that this world is connected in some way to the “other,” it’s probably correct that humans harbor an inherent wariness towards Shinobu.

Now that I think about it, it was rather symbolic when Hachikuji appeared in adult form on my visit to North Shirahebi Shrine—paying my respects before we left to Nikko Toshogu Shrine for our honeymoon.

In that parallel world, we’d encountered a grown-up Hachikuji who hadn’t become a god but a warrior, fighting against the vampire who had destroyed the world.

It’s not just because ours is a world where only soccer players can hold hands with elementary school children anymore, but perhaps she manifested herself in that form as a reminder to foolish me—though deciphering such an oracle is nigh impossible. 

A long way off.

Normally—that is to say, if I had messed up as normal–– this meal would have been the perfect opportunity to execute my original plan. It’s just as well that things didn’t turn out that way, but how much better would it have been if they had?

At any rate, the nasuben was great. It was nice to gather around the barbecue with everyone and get a handmade pizza straight from the oven, but I must flatter the restaurant for their meals—they were a cut above.

Even though we had no cutlery or platter.27

Under such impressions, it’s no wonder that I make the absurd misconception that bread was made of, well, bread crumbs.

“The menu seems to be very informative in terms of nutrition. I’ll consider exploring this for athletes.”

The difference between Kanbaru, who viewed even food as an opportunity for learning, and me, was like night and day—nevertheless, this marked the last time on our honeymoon that the four of us dined together.

…Ah, no, it may sound like someone’s going to die, but rest assured, that’s not where this is headed. I know it’s a matter of taste, but it’s getting harder and harder each year to see characters from a continuing drama series die by the second or third installment.

I wish for everyone’s happiness.

Every single one of us, without exception.

And so it was decided, as we stood in a general store near the restaurant, that we would buy large vinyl umbrellas for everyone for the upcoming Nikko Toshogu Shrine—the heavy rain was just too much for our folding umbrellas to handle.

I did say “for everyone,” but actually—

“I’m good without one. I feel sleepier with a full stomach, so I shall rest a little longer.” 

Shinobu made this remark which may be age-appropriate for both a child and a senior citizen, and then sunk back into my shadow. So in the end, we only needed three—though it’s possible that she just didn’t want to sit in the child seat.

Kanbaru also insisted that her raincoat was enough, but I wish she’d let me act like a senior once in a while and at least buy her an umbrella. Honestly, seeing Kanbaru in a raincoat was giving me a bit of a trauma, personally speaking.

The memory refuses to be sugarcoated.

Not just that one…

We made a little detour that wasn’t part of our original plan by sneaking a visit to the Toshogu Shrine. Although it wasn’t meant to be a substitute for our canceled visit to the two main waterfalls, we had to make our way back to the Utsunomiya area from Nasu highlands anyway, so we ventured into the bustling city streets and purchased the highly-recommended Utsunomiya ham cutlets in place of our missing plans.

Since we’d decided to camp in the glass-covered Senjougahara parking lot come rain or sleet, we needed to secure some takeout for dinner—I’d assumed that we’d find something along the way, but the heavy rain had put a damper on our plans, so I turned to my boss’ advice for a backup. 

Might as well dutifully entrust myself to my boss.

I’d done my duty completely.

But since we’d come this far, it seemed imprudent to pass up on the rumored Utsunomiya gyoza, which we also purchased as a set for our honeymoon dinner. 

Though we couldn’t enjoy the meal fresh and piping hot as we didn’t have a microwave in the car, the anticipation added a touch of excitement.

Ideally, we would enjoy our meal under the starry sky, but we knew better than to get greedy; well, that is, for anything other than our appetite.