CH 61

1569, early January

On January 5th, 1569 (January 31st according to the Gregorian calendar), an event known as the “Honkokuji Incident” occurred at the Honkokuji temple in Kyoto. At the time, the temple was called Honkokuji, but it was later renamed to ‘Honkokuji’ (TL: different spelling in Japanese) during the Edo period. The incident involved the 15th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who was using the temple as a temporary imperial residence along with his retainers. They were attacked by the Miyoshi Trio, who had been fleeing to Shikoku. Yoshiaki’s protection was mainly provided by Mitsuhide and the local samurai from Omi Province and Wakasa, with little involvement from Nobunaga’s main army. The “Kyoto Security Maintenance Patrol” stationed in Kyoto was primarily responsible for maintaining public order in the city and did not have the task of protecting Yoshiaki. As a result, their equipment was poor. They were equipped with non-lethal weapons used to apprehend criminals and carried no lethal weapons such as spears or bows. It was clear that engaging in direct combat would result in significant damage. Knowing this, the Miyoshi Trio chose to advance on the “Kyoto Security Maintenance Patrol,”

Originally, Honkokuji was a temple and had the appearance of a temporary imperial residence, but it was far from being a strong fortress. It was feared that it would fall sooner or later. However, the forces of Honkokuji Temple’s Sadaharu Yakushiji, who led the vanguard of the Miyoshi clan, were fiercely fought off by the local warlords of Wakasa Province, such as Yamagata Gen’uchi and Uno Yashichi, repeatedly preventing them from entering the temple grounds. In the end, their perseverance paid off, and Honkokuji did not fall on that day and night fell. The next day, the Miyoshi Trio’s forces prepared for the next battle.

On the same day, upon hearing the news of the attack on Honkokuji Temple, Nobunaga immediately set out. The march was in severe weather conditions with heavy snow, but he managed to cover a journey that would normally take three days in just two days. However, perhaps due to the extreme cold and the sudden departure, several of Nobunaga’s subordinates froze to death. Despite such sacrifices, Nobunaga arrived at Honkokuji Temple with less than ten attendants on the eighth day.

However, the situation had completely changed on January 6th before Nobunaga’s arrival. Oda forces from various regions in the Kinai area, including Hosokawa Fujitaka, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, Itami Chikao from Settsu Province, Ikeda Katsumasa, and Araki Murashige, had gathered. The Miyoshi Trio underestimated the “Kyoto Security Maintenance Patrol”. Although they were weak in terms of strength, they consisted of a massive number of 5,000 people. Therefore, they were responsible for not only direct combat but also rear support, such as urgent reports to the Oda forces in various regions, guiding them to their destination in a short time, spying on the Miyoshi Trio, guerrilla activities, and supplying resources to allies. The capacity of 5,000 people was not a number that Nobunaga randomly assigned. It was estimated as the necessary personnel to maintain the security of Kyoto during peacetime and to provide logistical support to the army and rear support in times of emergency.

Realizing their disadvantage, the Miyoshi Trio attempted to retreat but were pursued by the forces of the Ashikaga and Oda clans. They engaged in battle along the Katsura River, but due to the difference in their original military strength and the quality of their commanders, the Miyoshi Trio was thoroughly scattered and defeated. The Yoshiaki attack incident, later known as the “Rokujō Battle” and the “Honkokuji Incident,” came to a close with a resounding victory for the Ashikaga and Oda forces.

In the end, the outcome was decided before Nobunaga’s arrival. Upon his arrival in Kyoto, he first rewarded Ikeda Masahide, who had achieved military exploits, as well as Yamagata Genji and Uno Yashichi, who had shown resilience on the first day. Next, he received a scolding from Yoshiaki. However, although he accepted the reprimand with a submissive attitude, Nobunaga simply let Yoshiaki’s words go in one ear and out the other. Despite their short acquaintance, Nobunaga intuitively understood that someone like Yoshiaki, with his personality, was best left to his own devices when it came to speaking. After listening to Yoshiaki’s long-winded and fruitless chatter, Nobunaga began working on the construction of the shogun’s residence, which he had been considering for some time. Of course, the construction of Nijo Castle as the new shogun’s residence was not for Yoshiaki’s sake. It was to minimize the casualties of his own subordinates and pieces in the Kinai region, who would otherwise be killed under Yoshiaki’s protection.

On January 10th, Yoshiaki’s faction, led by Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, sent messengers to the North and South Villages of Sakai, blaming the Sakai residents for assisting the Miyoshi Trio. The Miyoshi Trio gathered at Sakai from Awa (Tokushima Prefecture), entered Kyoto on New Year’s Day, and besieged Honkokuji, where Shogun Yoshiaki was located, on the 5th day. As the Miyoshi Trio was able to gather at Sakai, Miyoshi Yoshitsugu believed that there were merchants in Sakai who supported them. The North and South Villages were afraid and hid their valuable belongings in places like Negoro and Konokawa Maki-odera. However, on the other hand, they began preparations for war, such as digging moats and raising arrow towers. The clear confrontational stance of Sakai continued until February 11th.

While monitoring Sakai’s actions, Nobunaga ordered Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi to oversee the construction of the Nijo Palace and appointed them as magistrates in Kyoto. As deputy magistrates in charge of overseeing the construction of buildings such as the Nijo Castle Palace, Nobunaga appointed two individuals, Sadakatsu Murai and Hidemitsu Shimada. Nobunaga himself took on the role of the overall magistrate, responsible for leading the construction efforts. Many of the buildings were dismantled and reassembled from structures at Hongan-ji Temple, and stones were sourced from the garden of the former residence of the Hosokawa family, a branch of the Motoike family, known as the “Fujito Stone.” Additionally, tombstones and stone Buddhas gathered from various locations in Kyoto were used, and the construction of the castle, complete with stone walls, amazed Yamashina Genkei, who referred to it as the “Ishikura” (another name for stone walls).

At that time, Kyoto was consumed with the construction of Nijo Castle. Meanwhile, Shizuko was dealing with a somewhat troublesome matter.

Shortly before the New Year, Shizuko was appointed by Nobunaga to the position of “Chief Commissioner of Technology”. Upon confirming the nature of the role, it was revealed that Shizuko would continue to serve as a consultant and leader in implementing technical reforms, just as before. The difference now is that Shizuko has been granted a clear position and authority by Nobunaga, allowing her to issue commands independently. She no longer needs to follow the previous chain of command, where orders would pass from Shizuko to Aya, Aya to Mori Yoshinari, Mori Yoshinari to Nobunaga, and then to the respective organizations. Shizuko can now directly give orders to individuals and organizations. However, there is a constraint: for Shizuko to issue commands, the responsible person in charge of implementing the reforms must sign off on them. In other words, even if Nobunaga has granted her authority, Shizuko cannot exercise power if there is no one to carry out the reforms.

In the end, Shizuko, who understood that there was no significant difference from the present, relaxed. She had thought that there was no one else but Nobunaga who could bring about major reforms. However, as always, her expectations crumbled. She was appointed as the “Chief Engineer” and a week after the “Rokujou Battle,” Takenaka Hanbei came to visit Shizuko.

“Is it about the reform of the food situation in the military?”

“Correct. When mobilizing a larger army than before, I believe that food is an essential supply that cannot be overlooked.”

The story of Takenaka Hanbei was about reforming the military’s food supply. In other words, it was about wanting to reform the rations that are distributed to each soldier during military operations.

“Why food?”

Shizuko, who had doubts about Takenaka Hanbei’s thoughts on the food situation, asked him about it.

“Eating is an act that everyone does every day. And if you don’t eat, it will inevitably lead to death. Also, if you only eat your favorite foods, it will harm your body. From this, I realized that one must consume something necessary for the body through meals.”

“…Indeed, people consume what their bodies need through meals. I refer to these essential elements as ‘nutrition’.”

Nutrition – I see. I apologize for my ignorance, but if nutrition were to disappear from the body, what would happen to a person?

“Being unable to see things, suffering from chronic headaches, reopening old wounds, and experiencing difficulty in walking are some of the symptoms. There are various other symptoms as well, but in the worst case scenario, it can lead to a life-threatening illness.”

“I see. After hearing your explanation, I am convinced that my thoughts were not mistaken. To be honest, I am relieved because no one took this kind of conversation seriously before.”

Takenaka Hanbei listened to Shizuko’s explanation and nodded in satisfaction. To be honest, Shizuko thought that even someone like Nobunaga would not have considered reforming military rations. After all, he was indifferent to meals. Although he had recently started paying attention to nutrition and eating, he only thought about himself and had not given any thought to the military.

(Well, I think it’s quite different from historical facts. He even distributed the “Twelve Articles on Food” to his retainers during the New Year.)

It has become a tradition for Nobunaga to hold a sake gathering during the New Year. However, this year, he handed out a written document to the vassals who came to greet him, which can be considered as instructions for meals. The contents are as follows:

1. One should aim to have three meals a day, with each meal consisting of one soup and one side dish.

2. Once a week, one should consume either chicken or fish.

3. Until a child reaches the age of adulthood, they should be given eggs every three to four days.

4. Salt, miso, soy sauce, and mirin are essential seasonings and should not be lacking.

5. It is advisable to have enough dried meat to last for two days without any inconvenience.

6. Grains and brown rice should be respected, and excessive consumption of white rice should be avoided.

7. Excessive consumption of sweet foods should be avoided.

8. Alcohol should be limited to about two cups per day, and excessive consumption should be avoided.

9. It is important to say “itadakimasu” before a meal and “gochisousama” after a meal as a form of gratitude.

10. The head of the household should strive to provide satisfactory meals for their spouse and children, as failing to do so would make them less than half a person.

11. One should be grateful for all food and strive to eat everything without leaving any leftovers.

12. All food should be treated equally and remembered as a gift from the heavens.

It is not a law but a directive, and Nobunaga himself distributed it to his vassals, often with jokes, so it is not necessarily meant to be strictly followed. However, in the strict hierarchy of the Sengoku period, it was not acceptable to receive a directive from one’s lord and show no reaction. Especially since Nobunaga had a volatile personality, it was uncertain when the directive would become a strictly enforced law. Regardless of Nobunaga’s intentions, his vassals worked hard to adhere to the 12 directives that had gained an unwarranted coercive power. At that time, no one knew that their actions would later revolutionize the dietary habits of the people living in Owari and Mino provinces.

“Let’s call it ‘combat rations’ for military meals. There are various strict conditions, aren’t there?”

“Yes. First, it needs to have good durability for transportation. Next, it should be excellent in providing nutrition. If I were to be picky, I think lightweight and easily obtainable materials would be ideal.”

“Well, there are high-nutrition supplements available, but since I’m not used to eating them, it’s a bit of a challenge.”

After saying that, Shizuko called Aya and had her make something. Aya quickly finished it and placed it in front of Takenaka Hanbei. It was oatmeal made for testing. There were three bowls, one boiled with just water, one seasoned with miso and boiled, and one seasoned with soy sauce and salt and boiled.

“Hmm, the scent of wheat is strong. Indeed, this is a bit of a problem. The smell of miso or soy sauce can somewhat suppresses the wheat, it seems that using water alone is not enough.”

Oatmeal is a convenient and nutritious food that can be easily incorporated into a healthy diet. However, many Japanese people, who primarily consume rice as their staple food, may find it unappealing due to its strong wheat aroma. While seasoning with miso or soy sauce can help to some extent, it still does not completely eliminate the smell of wheat.

“In normal circumstances, it may not be a problem, but the battlefield is a place of intense psychological pressure. Since meals are an important source of entertainment, having bad or monotonous food can lead to boredom and a decrease in morale.”

“There are other issues as well. During the march, merchants always accompany us. The soldiers’ meals are a source of business for them. We cannot afford to interfere with their business and invite their backlash.”

In the battlefield, there are many people such as warlords, attendants to warlords, foot soldiers, and miscellaneous soldiers, making it an attractive environment for merchants. Merchants would bring water and food to the battlefield and sell provisions such as stew, alcohol, tobacco, and other luxury goods to make a profit. In some camps, the merchant market would become so large that it could be formally established. When in enemy territory, foot soldiers and miscellaneous soldiers would plunder various items, and it would be the accompanying merchants of the army who would buy these looted goods. However, there were cases where the goods they purchased would be taken away by other soldiers.

“It is impossible to completely drive them out. However, it is also a problem to extract information about food prices from captured foot soldiers. It would be best to leave the foot soldiers as they are and have the samurai prepare their own provisions.”

When the prices of food sold by merchants rise, it is often because there is a shortage of food in the camp. Therefore, the people of the country would interrogate captured soldiers to find out the prices of food being sold in the camp and make educated guesses about the enemy’s food situation. To disrupt or conceal this, it would be best to have all the food supplies prepared within the camp. However, currently, even the Oda army does not have enough stockpiles for that. Furthermore, if merchants are driven out from profitable battlefields, it could potentially affect trading during peacetime as well.

“I think that is currently the best option.”

“Let’s decide the recipients of the combat rations on a case-by-case basis during marches. First, we need to confirm if this oatmeal is acceptable. Depending on the situation, we may need to request the mass production of oats, right?”

“With regards to oats, it can be harvested twice a year, in spring and autumn. Cultivating it also doesn’t require much effort. However, this oatmeal porridge is made by processing oats. The processing takes time, so if you want to produce it in large quantities, you’ll need to create a dedicated mechanism.”

“I see, taking that into consideration, let’s decide on our future course of action. Since the lord is currently in Kyoto, we cannot discuss things in detail at the moment… Ah, no, there is actually something we can proceed with.”

“And what is that?”

“What if, in the event that oatmeal is not accepted, we try mixing oats and rice together? Just like mixed grain rice, which combines rice with millet or barley. How about trying to mix barley and rice? If it works well, we can reduce rice consumption and create a nutritious combat ration.”

Even in modern times, there are people who mix barley and other grains with white rice when cooking. Since oatmeal can be cooked quickly, it is often mixed and steamed after the rice is cooked, rather than being cooked together. This is because the taste of white rice and the “chewiness” of oatmeal combine to provide a higher level of satisfaction and fullness compared to eating plain white rice.

“That is acceptable, yes.”

It is necessary to conduct experiments to determine how much to mix, but Takenaka Hanbei’s idea was not a bad one.

About a week had passed since the discussion about Takenaka Hanbei and the combat rations. At the residence of Nobunaga at the foot of Mount Kinka, Nohime was elegantly enjoying her meal. Her carefree behavior remained unchanged, even in the presence of Nobunaga himself. While it was primarily because Nobunaga allowed her to act as she pleased, Nohime’s own words and actions also played a role in this.

When she first married Nobunaga, Nohime was given a small sword by her father, Saito Dosan, with the words, “If Nobunaga is truly a fool, then use this to stab him.” In response, she said, “I’d rather stab father for saying such a funny thing” leaving Dosan dumbfounded.

After the battle between Dosan and his son Saito Yoshitatsu (the Battle of Nagara River), Nohime received a letter from Yoshitatsu saying, “No matter how many lives I have, it’s not enough when you’re here. So don’t come back.” Despite being in a situation where it seemed like she had nowhere to go, Nohime didn’t change her way of life. On the contrary, she even urged Nobunaga, who was troubled by the conquest of Mino, to take action.

However, it’s not all bad. Nohime seemed to have a keen sense for spies, as she would find and torment foreign spies who infiltrated Nobunaga’s residence, causing them stomachaches or even making them collapse and vomit blood. No one knew exactly what Nohime did to them, as she would just smile and laugh when Nobunaga asked her. Even when asked about her actions by her attendants, they would all remain silent with pale faces. Eventually, an unspoken agreement was reached to just let Nohime do as she pleased.

Nohime, who has an excellent ability to detect foreign spys, felt a strange uneasiness towards Ashimitsu.

“Ashimitsu, you must have walked a different path than ordinary humans.”

After feeling a sense of discomfort, Nohime’s actions were swift. She finished dismissing the people and called Ashimitsu aside, directly asking about his background.

“What do you mean? I am just a humble cook.”

Ashimitsu let out a sigh as if to say it was ridiculous. However, instead of getting angry at his attitude, Nohime had a smile on the corner of her mouth, as if she found it amusing.

“Hehe, there’s no need to be so cautious. If you answer a few of my questions, I may be able to assist you in finding what you’re looking for.”

“What is the matter?”

“While it is possible to earn your trust over time, I have no desire to engage in a game of probing each other’s intentions. If you refuse to speak honestly, I can advise the lord to never allow you to find what you seek.”

In an instant, the atmosphere surrounding Ashimitsu changes. From a soft and gentle air, it transforms into a sharp and tense atmosphere, as if the exchange of life and death is accepted. However, Nohime’s demeanor remains unchanged, showing no signs of wavering.

“Do you really care that much? However, judging from your attitude, it doesn’t seem like you have any romantic feelings towards that person. Rather, it’s more like… yes, someone you cherish and care for.”

“I won’t let anyone lay a hand on that girl, even if they were gods or Buddhas.”

“That spirit is admirable, but I have no intention of doing anything to her. At least, harboring ill intentions towards her in Owari and Mino would be nothing short of suicidal. Now, if you understand, get rid of that dangerous look immediately.”

Ashimitsu hesitates. It may be easy to kill Nohime here, but the situation will not improve afterwards no matter how you look at it. It is possible that he may not even be able to stay in Owari and Mino. Taking a breath, Ashimitsu dismisses his dark emotions. Understanding this as his answer, Nohime smiles and says the following.

“That’s a good decision. Well then, I would like to do some business with you right away.”

“Business?”

“I see. Let’s create an opportunity for you to meet Shizuko, the person you’re looking for in Owari. In return, I ask for your cooperation in fulfilling the Lord’s dream.”

“If that girl is here, someone like me would be unnecessary. What exactly should I do to help?”

“Shizuko is certainly enriching the country. As a result, the number of spies has increased, but we can just take care of them. However, there are areas where Shizuko cannot help, and I would like her to assist in fulfilling the lord’s dream.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Shizuko’s technological inheritance is diverse, but there are some parts that seem to have been deliberately left out.

“You’re saying that you want the ‘technique to kill people’ that cannot be achieved by that girl, huh?”

Weapons development. If Shizuko puts her mind to it, she could potentially recreate a muzzle-loading rifle like the Minié rifle, although it would take time. Not only that, she could also create locally-made rocket projectiles powered by black powder, or even produce hand grenades using purified potassium chlorate for black powder. However, Shizuko has never researched or developed anything related to these materials since the artificial refining of potassium nitrate, which is an ingredient for black powder.

“The enemies surrounding the lord are all cunning and unpredictable individuals. To subdue such people, mere equal force is not enough. What the lord needs now is overwhelming violence that sets him apart from them.”

“I’m surprised. I thought you were content with just watching from a distance.”

“It will ultimately become the best way to pass the time to trip up those who pride themselves on being clever and look down at their faces of astonishment and disbelief.”

“What a wicked woman,” Ashimitsu cursed in his heart.

“I understand. However, I find it hard to believe that Lord Oda will work with me. What do we do about that?”

“You should leave it to me. Don’t worry about it. I’ll put a little effort into it, but it’s nothing major.”

“Let’s keep our expectations in check.”

With that, Ashimitsu stood up as if to say the conversation was over. However, when he reached for the door to leave, he didn’t turn around and instead asked Nohime.

“Let me ask you one thing. Why did you choose me? Did you not consider that Mitsuo might have that kind of knowledge?”

“What’s the point of bringing it up now? You should already know the answer right?”

“…I apologize.”

Without affirming or denying Nohime’s words, Ashimitsu leaves. After he has left for a while, Nohime suddenly starts giggling.

(Ashimitsu is still calm and composed, as expected. Shizuko and Mitsuo, on the other hand, seem to be out of touch with reality. I sense a ‘forced presence’ from them, as if they are something that shouldn’t exist. However, Ashimitsu, while not a ‘forced presence’, gives off the same scent as Shizuko and Mitsuo. Now, what could this possibly mean?)

For Nohime, even trying to understand things that were too incomprehensible was nothing more than a source of amusement.

Around the middle of January.

“Today, of all days, cannot be missed.”

Nohime said those words and abducted Shizuko to Nobunaga’s villa. During the year-end and New Year holidays, Nobunaga was extremely busy and currently working as a construction site supervisor in Kyoto. The other military commanders were also busy with various activities, and inevitably, the main wife was also overwhelmed with household matters. Shizuko couldn’t help but wonder how thick-skinned Nohime was to be able to frolic around in this situation.

“Lately, even Nene and Matsu have been very busy. I don’t have anyone to play with. Surprisingly, Shizuko, who I thought would be free, is also unexpectedly busy with Takenaka Hanbei and various other things.”

“No, I prefer having free time… I mean, where did you hear about the conversation with Takenaka Hanbei?”

It has only been a week since the meeting. During that time, Nagayoshi, Keiji, and Saizo have only tried the oatmeal samples, and I haven’t even discussed the details with Nobunaga yet. Shizuko, who was slightly frightened by Nohime, who usually indulges in reckless behavior, casually gathering information.

“Hohoho, I am the leader of the spies, so gathering information is a piece of cake for me. If I command it, the ten thousand spies within my territory will find out anything I want.”

“…That’s a joke, right?”

“Hmm, it’s just a joke. You surely don’t believe it, right?”

(… Well, she is the daughter of that Saito Daisan who made him say, “As expected, she is my daughter.”)

I can’t tell how much is true and how much is a lie. Moreover, she has an unfathomable insight into the opponent’s psychology, effortlessly seeing through their emotions. I couldn’t help but wonder if Nohime was the answer to why Nobunaga, who didn’t consider the opponent’s feelings, could predict their psychological state and act accordingly.

“Now, let’s stop teasing Shizuko. I will introduce you to my famous chef.”

“Without any introduction, this is the chef you brought from Kyoto… or rather, you really did fire the remaining nine people, didn’t you?”

“Culture is like a flowing river, constantly changing. It would be impossible for those who can only express themselves in a fixed form to fulfill the desires of a lord, wouldn’t it?”

“Well… that’s certainly true.”

Nobunaga intended to bring craftsmen from Kyoto to Gifu and blend the original Gifu culture with the cutting-edge Kyoto culture, creating a new culture. To achieve this, he used Shizuko and other military commanders to bring back as many craftsmen as possible. However, the pride of being at the forefront of trends hindered the emergence of craftsmen who could form a new culture. The craftsmen who did not meet the expectations of Nobunaga and Nohime ultimately returned to Kyoto. Although their situation did not change upon returning.

“Well, just introducing someone is boring. Shizuko, why don’t you think of a problem? My cook will solve it. How about that? It should be interesting, right?”

“Oh, um… Well, let’s see. Please make a dish using ingredients that are commonly seen and sweet potatoes. Also, it’s not enough to just make a delicious dish. It must be something that can be eaten every day without getting tired of it.”

“Hmm, it sounds quite interesting. So you want a combination of everyday ingredients and sweet potatoes in cooking. The condition is that it should be something you can eat every day without getting tired of it, right?”

Shizuko nodded slightly at Nohime’s words. She didn’t come up with the condition for cooking on a whim. Shizuko considers the nutritional aspect and cultivates crops accordingly, but it’s still difficult to accept unfamiliar ingredients. However, if they want to improve the nutrition of the people, they must encourage them to always consume nutrient-rich ingredients.

The crop that Shizuko wants to see most widely spread right now is sweet potatoes. The carotene found in sweet potatoes converts to vitamin A in the body, preventing night blindness and maintaining good eyesight. Additionally, vitamin C enhances the immune system of white blood cells, making it less likely to catch a cold. Although vitamin C is sensitive to heat, sweet potatoes have the unique characteristic of retaining their vitamin C even when cooked.

However, novelty and nutritional value alone are not enough to capture people’s interest. In order to popularize it, recipes are necessary as well. Moreover, it is not enough to have dishes that are so delicious that people are satisfied after one or two times. If the cuisine is too exquisite, it cannot be eaten two days in a row. Therefore, sweet potatoes must be incorporated into everyday ingredients that people eat.

“Then, I will convey that to the chef.”

Nohime, who still couldn’t understand Shizuko’s intentions or whether it was just a joke, smiled happily and said so.

And after about an hour or so, the dishes prepared by Nohime’s chefs were placed in front of Nohime and Shizuko.

“Oh, I see.”

(…I’ve been defeated. I never expected it to be realized in this way.)

The dish placed in front of the two people is “takikomi gohan” (mixed rice). Originally, takikomi gohan was called “katemeshi”. Literally, it is a dish where a small amount of rice is mixed with ingredients called “kate” such as barley, millet, wild plants, and miscellaneous grains, and cooked together. Its history is ancient, and it is said that “kuri meshi” (chestnut rice), which was cooked by mixing only sticky chestnuts, was the prototype in the early Nara period. It was a dish born to save rice during a time when rice was not readily available. It appeared as a rice dish in the Muromachi period and developed into a dish to enjoy flavors and seasonal sensations in the Edo period.

(The texture contributes to the satisfaction when eating. The weakness of Satsuma sweet potatoes is that they lack a good texture and bite… To compensate for that in this way is impressive.)

Sweet potatoes are very satieting and take longer to digest due to their abundant dietary fiber. However, they lack a satisfying texture. Eating while feeling stressed can lower metabolism. With mixed rice, you can enjoy a different texture from other ingredients. Moreover, it is possible to enjoy the appearance and reduce rice consumption.

“…I surrender. This time, it’s my loss.”

“Hohoho, there is no winning or losing in cooking. If I were to force an answer, it would be that if it’s not delicious, then it’s a loss… but it is delicious.”

For Nohime, this incident is not a competition but simply a way to show off her own pawn. Shizuko’s surprise and her current attitude have already achieved Nohime’s goal.

“Bring the cook here.”

While continuing to eat, Nohime sends a maid on an errand. After a while, the maid returns with words from beyond the entrance. Their efficiency made it seem like they were often called upon by Nohime.

(Well, I guess it’s just this time.)

To be honest, Nohime and Shizuko have very little interactions. Even if they are together this time, Shizuko feels like Nohime will not be on her mind in a few months. As Shizuko reluctantly eats pickles with a disinterested expression, the sliding door at the entrance opens quietly. Shizuko sighs and looks into the room, but the moment she sees the person, her whole body freezes. More precisely, she was fixated on one of the three people on the other side of the sliding door.

“From left to right, Gorou, Mitsuo, and then-”

“Ashimitsu”

Before Nohime could finish speaking, Shizuko murmured quietly. She placed the chopsticks she had been holding in her mouth on the tray, placed her hand on her forehead, and continued to say this.

“I understand why takikomi gohan came up. If Ashimitsu-san was involved, it’s not surprising that it came up.”

“What’s this? Do you know Ashimitsu?”

Ashimitsu saw through Nohime’s acting, but he answered Nohime’s question without showing it on his face.

“We can say we’re acquaintances… but we were living together until recently.”

“Is that true, Ashimitsu?”

In response to Nohime’s question, Ashimitsu closed his eyes and smiled. He was enjoying the current situation and reminiscing about the past, with a smile that could be interpreted differently by different people.

“Long time no see, Shizuko. It’s been about four years, right?”

A subtle tension fills the room. Shizuko, who usually only displays happiness and rarely any other emotions, is unusually emitting an aura of anger. Ashimitsu, who is likely the target of her emotions, remains nonchalant and unaffected. Nohime, on the other hand, not only fails to defuse the situation but seems to be enjoying and observing it. Gorou, completely confused and unaware of what is happening, widens his eyes in bewilderment.

“Um, I’m very sorry, but could you please explain it to me in a way that I can understand?”

Mitsuo said that while raising his hand slightly. After understanding her own emotions, Shizuko had a startled expression, then blushed and cleared her throat.

“Excuse me, Mitsuo-san. I became a little emotional.”

“Oh no, please don’t worry. In fact, Shizuko-san, you are too calm. It’s not surprising for someone your age to become emotional.”

Mitsuo have a kind smile on their faces. Just by that, you can tell that he is a good person. However, Shizuko also thought that he might have a little little difficult living in this era.

“Cough, about ten years ago, I found him on the verge of death and took him to the hospital. After about a year, he made a full recovery, and my parents told him, ‘If you have nowhere to go, you can live with us.’ From there, we spent roughly six years together until I came here.”

“Your parents seem to be quite capable individuals. However, it seems careless to throw a dying stranger into the presence of a young, inexperienced daughter.”

“Well, I suppose you can say that.”

Shizuko nodded at Nohime’s words. Because Ashimitsu was a good person, nothing bad happened. However, if he had been a criminal, there was a possibility that Shizuko would have been killed. She realized once again that her parents, who had only the openness typical of the countryside and lacked any sense of caution, had made a dangerously risky choice from an outsider’s perspective.

“Hmm… I won’t inquire too much about your relationship. But now that we have reunited, there must be much to discuss. I will excuse myself from the seat, so feel free to talk to your heart’s content.”

Without waiting for Shizuko’s response, Nohime left the room with a puzzled expression on her face. Gorou, who was watching Nohime and Ashimitsu leave alternately with a confused look, seemed to sense the atmosphere between the two and quickly left the room. The only ones left in the room were Shizuko, Ashimitsu, and Mitsuo. However, there was no atmosphere of joyous reunion between the three, but rather a tense and awkward feeling lingered.

“Do you have any memories of just before the time slip, Shizuko-san?”

Feeling that the conversation wasn’t progressing, Mitsuo decided to bring up a topic that both of them could easily talk about. For someone who didn’t know much about their relationship, the one thing he was certain they were involved in was time travel.

“No, I don’t have anything…”

However, Shizuko has no memory of the moments leading up to the time slip. She shook her head with a apologetic expression on her face. Mitsuo seemed to have not had high expectations from the beginning, as he didn’t seem too disappointed.

“I see. Well, I also don’t have any recent memories. So it means only Ashimitsu-san has the memory of that time.”

Upon hearing those words, Shizuko stared at Ashimitsu. Shizuko, who seemed to have lost her memories from that time as if they were extracted by a machine, had only a faint memory remaining of Ashimitsu, according to Mitsuo’s account. It was pointless to hold too much hope. However, his memory was not as certain as that expectation.

“I don’t remember it that way either. What I remember is that Mitsuo was on the bus that had an accident, and Shizuko and I were present at the scene.”

“That means…”

Ashimitsu nodded in response to Shizuko’s words and replied as follows.

“The cause of the time slip is still a mystery. But there is only one cause… and the three of us here were transported to the Sengoku period. The bus driver… I remember he went to borrow a phone from a house, so he wasn’t transported. As for me, I don’t remember the details of the bus accident. It was an old bus… so it probably stalled and fell into a field or something.”

Shizuko agreed with those words. The only bus route in the village, which would definitely be discontinued if the bus driver died, was an outdated used bus. It had rust in some places and frequently experienced engine stalls and other malfunctions. The villagers, who rarely ventured outside the village, did not use it, and most people who came from outside the village arrived by car, so the usage rate was low. It was a bus route that was maintained with the simple explanation of “it has been running for many years.”

“It is likely that some supernatural force was at work, and we were transported to the Sengoku period. However, we didn’t have the time to investigate the cause of the time slip or find a way to return. After all, just surviving each day is already a challenge for us.”

“Well… you know. To be honest, I was also considering looking for Shizuko in that area. It was purely by chance that Mitsuo was found first. I’ll tell you now, but at that time, I was truly disappointed.”

“That’s a harsh thing to say. Well, if I were in Ashimitsu-san’s position, I would probably feel the same way.”

Shizuko tilted her head in confusion during the conversation between the two. She felt doubtful about why they were looking for her. She had forgotten that her position was more unique than she had thought.

“You have a look of not understanding, Shizuko. In this era, those without support cannot obtain food with mere effort. It’s not even guaranteed if we can get a meal today, let alone tomorrow. That’s why people like you, who are involved in agriculture, are highly valued.”

*sigh*

“In times of hunger, I would eat softened pine bark. That’s how scarce food was in those days. For those without support, the only ones who would go out of their way to share their own sustenance, even at the cost of reducing their own provisions, were like Buddhas.”

After hearing that, Shizuko finally understands. She had been engaged in farming work from the beginning, and she was provided with a certain amount of food by Nobunaga. However, the two situations are different. Unlike Nobunaga, she doesn’t have the support of a local lord, nor does she have any other skills besides farming. She truly has nothing but herself. Without someone to guarantee her social status, she has to obtain a place to sleep and food on her own. Until they came to Nobunaga, every day was a survival for them.

“In manga and games, time travelers often argue with each other, but in reality, we don’t have that luxury. In order to secure our basic needs, we must cooperate with each other. If we don’t, we will only face self-destruction.”

“I agree. Even if we only consider the cost-benefit analysis, arguing among time travelers is foolish. I think it’s pointless to reduce the number of comrades who understand our own circumstances.”

“Well, I guess it’s just a manga, so there’s nothing else to say.”

“I’m sorry, we’ve gotten off track. Anyway, assuming we’re going to cooperate with each other, I would like to hear Shizuko’s determination first.”

“Are you prepared?”

When Shizuko tilted her head and asked back, Mitsuo nodded slightly and said this.

“Would you rather die in this era or return to the present?”