Chapter 7

This time, I've been helped by various waka poems.

Today's practice is waka.

The teacher is Uji-no-Ani-sama.

"Waka, you see, is the verbal weapon of a playboy to capture the heart of a guest."

This person speaks as if forgiving and gently guiding.

Uji-no-Ani-sama is 20 years old, the oiran of the Tengetsu Geisha House.

He has long, purple hair that reaches his neck, black eyes, and very fair, beautiful skin.

Since it's not yet time to entertain guests, he is currently wearing a calm indigo kimono.

He has slightly upturned eyes that might seem a bit strict, but in reality, he isn't.

...Well, sometimes he says what he thinks straightforwardly, which might seem strict to some people.

But his refined manners, thoughtful care for guests, and the waka he composes keep the guests' hearts from straying. If a good man recites such exquisite love poems, it would make anyone swoon.

"Most of the waka you compose are love poems, right? Do you remember the one you composed the other day?"

"Omoitsutsu, nureba ya hito no... mieturan, yume to shiriseba samazaramashi wo"

"What's the translation?"

"Thinking of that person while sleeping, it turned out to be a dream.

If I had known it was a dream, I wouldn't have woken up..."

"Yes, that's correct. Here, have a candy."

Uji-no-Ani-sama always gives candy when you answer correctly.

He's like an Osaka oba-chan.

Candy, candy.

But while he remembers things like Osaka oba-chan, he doesn't remember what he doesn't know. It's a mystery.

"Then, Rangiku, recite a love poem you remember."

"Utataneni, koshiki hito wo, mite shi yori, yume to fu mono wa, tayorihajimete ki"

"What's the translation?"

"After seeing the person I love in a nap, I started relying on dreams, thinking you might be thinking of me."

"Correct. You chose a poem that fits the theme of the chrysanthemum dream. Here, have a candy."

Sitting next to me, practicing waka together, is Rangiku.

Rangiku is seven years old, two years older than me, and a kamuro.

She has short red hair and dark red eyes. Her skin is healthy, but there's a burn scar on her right arm visible from under the sleeve of her yukata.

I've never asked about the details of the burn scar, as I don't really want to know, but I sometimes look at it because it's shaped like a rabbit and is cute.

She entered the Tengetsu Geisha House half a year before me. Although her reason is different from Aikusui's, we often practice arts together.

By the way, our kamuro attire is a white top and black hakama when working.

Hakama, in terms of shape, is a style with the hem of the hakama tightened.

It's similar to pants and easy to move in.

Since it's not working time now, we are wearing indigo yukatas.

Coincidentally, we are in matching outfits with the other kamuro.

"How many more do you remember?"

"Eh? Uh, chigirikina... kata mi ni sode wo shiboritsutsu, sue no matsu yama namikosaji to wa..."

"You... of all the poems, why that one..."

"Oh, oh."

The translation is:

We made a firm promise. We squeezed our sleeves, wet with tears, and vowed that no matter what, our hearts would not change, just like the waves would not cross the end of the pine mountain. Yet, why did you...

To put it bluntly:

"Hey! You said you liked me all this time, why are you betraying me!?"

This is a poem about being betrayed by a lover.

"You're an idiot."

"Ran-chan, you're so noisy."

Rangiku often insults me like this.

Once a day.

...Oh dear, it's like a daily good deed.

But no matter what, she pays attention to me, so I think she's a tsundere.

"Look, both of you. This time, let's look at this waka anthology and try composing a poem to give to each other."

Uji-no-Ani-sama hands us a few waka anthologies, including the Hyakunin Isshu.

By the way, the writing in this world, as expected, looks like squiggly lines.

It's so elegant that it's hard to read.

However, since I can understand and speak the language, I can learn to read it quite quickly.

Of course, writing is the same.

But I still lack understanding of the structure and word meanings of waka, so I need to be taught to understand what they mean.

"Composing your own waka is important, but first, you need to practice giving appropriate waka in different situations."

"Can it be anything?"

"Yes, as long as it fits, it can be anything."

I flip through the pages and take a look.

Next to the waka, Uji-no-Ani-sama has written translations for me, so it's very easy to understand.

However, there are so many, and I can't find one right away.

What kind of waka would fit Rangiku?

Is there a perfect waka for this tsundere person in this beautiful anthology?

"I'll go first."

"Okay, then Rangiku, you go next."

Wait!!

I haven't found one yet!

"Natsukashiki, iro to mo nashi ni, nani ni kono, sue tsu mureba, sode ni fureken"

"What's the translation?"

"Basically, I didn't want to touch you."

"Hey, Rangiku! ...Rangiku, don't take it to heart."

"But you said anything that fits is fine, right?" Rangiku pouts and turns away.

The detailed translation is: "Even though I didn't like you, I ended up getting involved. If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have touched you."

But I'm not angry about it.

Because I'm an adult. An adult!

So, I just glare at her.

"......"

"...What?"

Hmph.

Maybe my glare made the tsundere a bit nervous.

But still, this kind of companion or friend.

Even if we insult each other and argue every day, I find it very enjoyable.

Living, getting angry, laughing, crying, and being surprised.

The people here have added color to my world.

Rangiku is one of them.

While thinking about this, I found a waka that seemed to fit.

"Akenureba, kurumono to wa, shirinagara... na ho rameshiki, asaborake kana"

"Oh, that's a good one. Rangiku must be envious."

When I recite the waka, Uji-no-Ani-sama smiles gently and pats my head.

It's nice. It's nice, but I'm a bit worried that my head might go bald from being patted so much by the Ani-sama.

Rangiku seems to not understand and frowns.

"What?"

"It means... even though I know you'll come back tomorrow, I still feel a bit lonely when we part at night..."

This waka is about the dawn, but in my case, it links to my feelings when going to bed at night, so I recited it, ignoring the part about dawn.

"Did you recite this to me?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're really an idiot."

Even though he insults me again, the slight upward curve of Rangiku's mouth suggests she's still a tsundere, I think.

"Uji-no-Ani-sama, are you there?"

"I'm here, please come in."

Uji-no-Ani-sama answers the sudden voice.

Rakumon-no-Ani-sama and Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama enter.

Both are wearing casual robes, not the formal attire for entertaining guests. Rakumon-no-Ani-sama is in red, and Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama is in light green.

The Ani-sama are colorful and never boring to look at.

Rakumon-no-Ani-sama is holding a box in his hand, and a pleasant smell is wafting from it...

Ah! That emblem on the box!

"Oyaji-sama gave us some baked manju, so let's eat together."

"Right, let's take a break."

The delicious baked manju that Oyaji-sama buys for everyone once a month!!

The chewy, slightly sweet white mochi-like bun, coated with sweet and savory miso and slightly charred, is my favorite.

"Sure. Rangiku just recited a cute waka to you, so let's take a break and mark a good stopping point."

We sit in a circle and place the manju box in the center.

Yes, it smells good.

Everyone reaches for the bamboo skewers at the same time.

Rangiku and I grab the same skewer, but I snatch it away.

She glares, but I ignore it.

Hehehe. Here I go.

"By the way, what waka did Rangiku recite to you?"

While eating the manju, Rakumon-no-Ani-sama, who is sitting in front of me, asks about the waka.

"Waka? Akenureba, kurumono to wa, shirinagara... na ho rameshiki, asaborake kana... I recited that."

"Eh, a love poem!? ...That's a waste on Rangiku. What did Rangiku recite to you?"

Rangiku makes a slightly sour face at the question.

Ah... that anti-Rangiku poem, I see.

"Natsukashiki, iro to mo nashi ni, nani ni kono, sue tsu mureba, sode ni fureken... that's what I recited."

"...You, are you an idiot?"

Rakumon-no-Ani-sama is exasperated, and I'm tapped lightly on the shoulder from the left.

It's Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama.

Oh, he's already finished his manju.

He's a fast eater, I see.

"I'll give you a waka from the Hyakunin Isshu as a palate cleanser."

"Palate cleanser?"

"Rangiku's waka was inappropriate. I'll give Rangiku a better one."

I think he's a tsundere, so that kind of tsun tsun waka doesn't really bother me.

No, I did glare, though.

"Then...

Kimi ga tame, oshikarazari shi, inochi sae, nagaku mo ga na to, omoikeru kana"

"Huh?"

"That's a very famous waka, you know?"

My hands, still holding the bamboo skewer, are gently held and squeezed by Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama, who looks into my eyes.

Ah. Wait, there's miso on Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama's hand!!

"Ani-sama, there's miso..."

"Rangiku?"

"Yes! That, miso..."

"Are you not going to ask for the meaning?"

He must be talking about the waka.

But his smile is so intimidating that I'm scared.

"What's the meaning?"

"To put it simply, it means I want to be with you forever."

...Most playboys are natural flirts.

"W-well, then the miso..."

"Rangiku, forever."

Well, if they weren't flirts, they wouldn't be able to do business.

"Hey, stupid Rangiku!"

"Ah!"

While Kiyomizu-no-Ani-sama holds my hands and looks at me with a smile, Rangiku calls my name.

For some reason, she stands up and looks down at me, hands on her hips... She looks so authoritative.

"Kakuto da ni, e ya ibuki no, sashimo kusa, sashimo shiraji na, moyuru omoi wo! ...I'm going to the bathroom!!"

"Okay, go ahead. Here, have a candy."

Suddenly reciting a waka, Rangiku takes the candy from Uji-no-Ani-sama and rushes out, the door slamming behind her.

Oh, Rangiku's skewer has one manju left.

...Hehehe.

"Mogu mogu... What was that?"

"Rangiku is still practicing. You can find it in the Hyakunin Isshu anthology."

"What did Rangiku say? Mogu mogu..."

"It's okay if Rangiku doesn't know. I think she'll understand eventually. I think it's fine to end the Hyakunin Isshu practice for today."

"Ah... Kiyomizu, that's not acceptable."

"I think it's fine to end it too."

"......"

Mogu mogu.

* * *

'Kimi ga tame, oshikarazari shi, inochi sae, nagaku mo ga na to, omoikeru kana'

I was willing to die at any moment to meet you, but now that I've met you, I wish to live a long life with you.

— Fujiwara no Yoshitaka

From the Hyakunin Isshu

'Kakuto da ni, e ya ibuki no, sashimo kusa, sashimo shiraji na, moyuru omoi wo'

I love you so much, but I don't have the courage to tell you. You probably don't even know how much I'm burning with love for you.

— Fujiwara no Toshinari

From the Hyakunin Isshu

'Kakari kina, kata mi ni sode wo, shiboritsutsu, sue no matsu yama, nami kosaji to wa'

— Kiyohara no Motosuke

From the Hyakunin Isshu

'Natsukashiki, iro to mo nashi ni, nani ni kono, sue tsu mureba, sode ni fureken'

— Hikaru Genji

From The Tale of Genji

'Akenureba, kuremuru mono to wa, shirinagara, na ho rameshiki, asaborake kana'

— Fujiwara no Michinaga

From the Hyakunin Isshu

'Utataneni, koshiki hito wo, mite shi yori, yume to fu mono wa, tayorihajimete ki'

— Ono no Komachi

From the Kokin Wakashū

'Omoitsutsu, nureba ya hito no, mieturan, yume to shiriseba, samazaramashi wo'

— Ono no Komachi

From the Kokin Wakashū

Thank you to the poets.