Novel Vol 9 Ch 2 Part 2 (The Fire Chicken Teriyaki)

This scene in anime Ep 8 is so cute... but boy, our couple has come a long way since then!

Below is my translation of Volume 9 Chapter 2 Part 2 to continue from Vol 9 Ch 2 Part 1. It’s longer than I expected, so posting it in a separate post is better. This second half of the chapter doesn’t reveal as much as the first half of the chapter, but it still contains one semi-major revelation about Ōdanna-sama’s identity. Plus, it's legit Ōdanna-Aoi all the way.

There are two more chapters in Vol 9 that I want to translate soon because they bridge us to Vol 10 Ch 5 (of course, in an ideal world, I won’t skip any chapters, but I have very little time…). Chapter 6 contains Aoi’s last bento for Ōdanna-sama, while Chapter 7 reveals how Aoi finds out his true name. After translating those chapters, I will translate Vol 10 Ch 5, and then go back to finishing Volumes 7 and 8.

To read my translation in other languages, check this tips. Please refrain from posting my translations elsewhere. If you need to quote it, please acknowledge my site for the quote, because translating from Japanese hardcopy texts to English is a really hard work...

I will delete this translation when there is an indication that the novel will be translated into English and I will replace it with the summary of the chapter.  Meanwhile, thank you for reading! 

Vol 9 Chapter 2 Part 2

I can’t believe the words coming out of Ōdanna-sama’s mouth. 

It… indeed, It may be one of the ways to escape from this difficult situation, but…

“Stop jesting! Ōdanna-sama, do you no longer have the desire to return as the Master of Tenjin-ya? Friends at Tenjin-ya has been working hard to get you back, you know!”

“Although I want to return, it’s better that I don’t. Because the fate of all Tenjin-ya employees is in my hands.”

P61

Seeing how Ōdanna-sama’s countenance turned scary and yet bright at the same time, I can’t help but holding a vague apprehension that he is deciding on something very important here. I ended up eating the bento gloomily.

“Ah, that’s right! Earlier, Chiaki-san encouraged us to visit him at the Great Library.”

After finishing the meals, while wrapping the bento boxes with tenugui – the hand towels – and storing them back into the bamboo basket, I remembered meeting Chiaki-san, so I changed the topic just like that.

“Aaah, Chiaki, is it? Yeah, I heard that he’s here.”

“He carried a lot of books; he seemed to be in a hurry. He’s a busy person as always, eh.”

“Well, yeah, Chiaki is a hard-working person. I’ve also been wanting to go to the Great Library in a long time and I also want to meet Chiaki. Okay, so… let’s do the library date now, eh?”

“…Ōdanna-sama also remains the same, eh.”

Thus we quickly head for the Bunmon library. The library is just next to the university, an old building with green bricks. Compared to the university, which has a modern style, this library is somewhat retro in style, rather vintage-inspired.

“Seems there’s a big tree next to it. Ah, it’s a chestnut tree.”

“Ah, Chiaki-san did say something about it, that there’s a chestnut tree at the Bunmon Great Library. Tanuki likes chestnuts, he said.”

P62

“Yes, that’s it. Although the leaves are already scattered, in the autumn, we have a lot of fallen chestnuts in its burrs, right. So, the librarians treat themselves with roasted chestnuts.”

As we enter the building, I see how replicas of masterpieces from other worlds are displayed along the green-carpeted corridor. I can also see well-known masterpieces from Utsushiyo. According to Ōdanna-sama, Bunmon also has the role of investigating and preserving the culture, history, and technology of other worlds. The library is divided into several areas, such as the area where the general public can freely read and borrow books, the area for students to freely study, and the restricted area that houses specialised books where only researchers and scholars can enter. However, there are not many people at this time around. Due to the end of the year, the general public in particular are only a few. 

“Wooooowww…”

Upon entering the general library, I get disoriented due to the numerous books on the bookshelf on one surface of the wall in front of me. The scent of old books that fill the room makes me feeling nostalgic somehow…

“Once upon a time, a grandpa was gathering firewood in the mountain and a grandma was washing laundry at the river…”

I can hear the gentle voice of a woman reading a picture book to children. The enthusiastic faces of the children listening to the story are visible even from here. 

“Aaaah!!!”

P63-64

That was the time when a hysterical voice from the second floor broke the silence and made me jump in surprise. As I look up, Chiaki-san is pulling away from the parapet of the second floor. As he exclaimed loudly, the folks reading books glared at him, making Chiaki-san hurriedly held his mouth shut. Subserviently yet hastily, he was able to come down to meet us at the first floor…

“Ōdanna-sama! Ōdanna-sama! Long time no see! Though I heard it from the Director, how wonderful to find you safe and sound!”

“Ah, Chiaki. You also helped me a lot behind the scene. You worked really hard, eh!”

“Yes… yes… thank Heaven…!”

Chiaki-san was in happy tears to finally reunite with the healthy Ōdanna-sama after a long time.

“By the way, Chiaki. I heard from the Director that your newly-wedded wife is at the Library, is that true?”

“Eh? Ahahaha! Grandma Director is really stern but she’s also a source of gossip!...”

Although Chiaki-san smiled bitterly, I belatedly ended up exclaiming “Say whaaaaat^???” in an elevated beat. Because of my exclamation, the readers throw darts of painful glances towards me once again. In a heartbeat, we evacuate into the corridor.

“Chiaki-san, when on earth did you get married?! Who-who-who is she…?!”

“Please calm down, Aoi-san. She’s someone I know since I was a student. Hence, we don’t have the newlywed flirts that you and Ōdanna-sama share.”

P64-65

“We’re not newlyweds and we’re not flirting!”

“No, really…if you ask me, the two of you do look like newly-weds…”

Chiaki-san scratches the back of his head and stutters, glancing sideways embarrassingly. 

“Well, in my case, at first, she was my fiancée. After going through many things, the other day I entered her name in the family registry. I do wonder how a person like me got to get married, though.”

Many waitresses of Tenjin-ya would be shocked to hear this story. Meanwhile, Ōdanna-sama pats Chiaki-san’s shoulder. 

“Don’t worry, Chiaki. You are always modest, but you’re actually an outstanding tanuki of the Cultural Gate. You have the brain to graduate at the top rank. As our footwear doorman, you cultivate a caring mind for our customers and you are quick to go places to fulfil their needs. These qualities are hard to combine in one person. I think you’ll be a good husband who cares for his wife.”

“I am grateful for your kind words, Ōdanna-sama.”

“Whaaat?! Chiaki-san, you graduated from the university as the top student?!”

“Aoi, you’re surprised all the time today, eh!”

While Chiaki-san has been quick to thank Ōdanna-sama for the latter’s words,  Ōdanna-sama himself is a little exasperated because I repeatedly failed to judge the situations.

P65

“Ah, ahahaha! Well… my family raised me with such values. It’s not that I dislike studying either.”

As expected, Chiaki-san is being modest. You won’t notice this facet of his if you only see him as a normal doorman in charge of footwear. I heard that Chiaki-san’s amiable and helpful attitude is popular amongst the waitresses, but he is actually very skilful indeed…

“Now, Ōdanna-sama and Aoi-san, please come this way. I will take you to an interesting place.” 

Then, Chiaki-san adopts his footwear doorman manner. He even brings for me the wrapping cloth that I was carrying earlier, and guides us through. Although this is not Tenjin-ya, having Ōdanna-sama around makes Chiaki-san wants to do the tour properly. He smiled calmly^.

“Ōdanna-sama, Aoi-san, this is the Great Library’s room to manage old historical books. The Management Room for Old Historical Collections.”

“The Management Room for Old Historical Collections?”

“Yes. This room is strictly for the storage of essential collections concerning the history of Kakuriyo, Tokoyo the Underworld, as well as Utsushiyo’s history. 

P66-67

Since I am a scholar of this category, I am free to enter.”

“Is that okay for us to be here?”, asked Ōdanna-sama.

“Yes. We have received Grandma Director’s approval. I also have a story to tell you.” 

As Chiaki-san utters those words laden with hidden meaning, he places his hand on a round stone next to the door of the Management Room for Old Historical Collections. The door then automatically opened. So high tech…

A tall bookshelf compartmentalises the dimly-lit room, with no sign of anyone around. The scent of old books enshrouds the air, giving me a mysterious sensation. A spacious wooden desk is located at the back of the room, but I couldn’t see behind it due to the mountains of books on top of the desk. 

“Chiaki-kun, have you bought the usual – oh!”

All of a sudden, someone appeared. A petite woman with a slender neck and wavy coffee-coloured shoulder-length hair. Her crisp and clear gaze gives a different impression from what I got from Kasuga and Chiaki-san.

“Aaarrgh!!! No way! You should’ve told me if you’re going to bring someone in, Chiaki-kun! Look, my hair is so messy!”

P67

“No, it’s not like that, I just met them by chance over there… And anyway, your hair is always like that!”

Perchance, this lady is Chiaki-san’s…? The lady in question is now hiding behind Chiaki-san to tidy up her hair.

“Ah, pardon me. Things get out of hand like this, but allow me the introduction. This is Kaede-san, a Bunmon tanuki, a librarian of the Great Library. The other day, I registered her into my family. She’s my wife.”

Because Ōdanna-sama bows his head deeply, I too follow suit; bowing my head deeply.

“Nice to meet you, Madame. I am the Master of Tenjin-ya. This is my wife, Aoi.”

“Oh? Such a magnificent wife!”

Since correcting her would be troublesome in this situation, I just introduce myself with “I am Tsubaki Aoi”.

“Oh, no! I was wondering about it myself!”

Having rearranged her haori, Kaede-san came out from behind Chiaki-san.

“Pardon my haste. As you have observed, I am Kaede. I am the librarian and head section of the Management Room for Old Historical Collections. I also happen to be Chiaki’s wife.”

“You just happen to be my wife…”

Despite being so distraught just now, Kaede-san delivered her introduction briskly with a clear countenance.

P68

“It seems you are aware of my being here, right?” said Ōdanna-sama.

“Yes. The Director informed me about the Master of Tenjin-ya. I have done a bit of research in that topic… about Kakuriyo’s history. Also, the truth, hidden by fabrications, that the ‘Setsuki’  was actually the former ruler of this land.”

“…”

“The former ruler of this land…”

I looked up at Ōdanna-sama who was standing next to me. His face turns serious, his eyes squinting quietly. This information connects me with the story I have heard from Ōdanna-sama earlier^.

“Oh yeah Kaede, about your errand for the lunch bento. The cafeteria and booths in the university are closed from today, hence they didn’t sell anything. Because of that, I had to go to the shopping district downtown to buy the lunch.”

“Ah, thank you. I’m starving. But it’s so inconvenient not to have the cafeteria and booths here, eh.”

From his kimono breast pocket, Chiaki-san took out an onigiri that is often seen in the Utsushiyo convenience stores, complete with the nori seaweed for wrapping. It was a surprise to see this kind of onigiri here in Kakuriyo. Although I know that shops resembling convenience stores can be found here and there, apparently they also sell proper convenience store goods like this onigiri. 

P69-70

“You are quite familiar with Aoi-san, apparently.”

“Of course. I didn’t have the luxury to eat her food often, though.”

As I’m eyeing the convenience store onigiri with a heightened interest, Ōdanna-sama says,

“I often ate this kind of onigiri during my business travels in Utsushiyo. I love the umeboshi, the plum-filled onigiri, and tuna-mayo-filled one.”

“Oooh… so, Ōdanna-sama, do you prefer the store-bought onigiri as opposed to the home-made onigiri with the damp^ nori?”

“No, no, it’s not like that, Aoi. I do prefer your hand-made onigiri 100 times, you know! No, actually, 500 times. No, I prefer yours a million times!”

“That’s – that’s okay, Ōdanna-sama. No need to panic like that… calm down please!”

It’s not that I was trying to test Ōdanna-sama or something. I just thought that, if he prefers the store-type onigiri, where he would wrap the nori himself later on, I will make the ones like that for him next time. Yet, Ōdanna-sama’s flustered explanation is interesting… such that, in spite of myself, I end up giggling somewhat happily. I think I’ll make him the umeboshi and tuna mayo onigiri next time. 

“Say, Chiaki-san, does Bunmon have any local specialty and famous products?”

“Hmm… do we have them, I wonder. The truth is, Bunmon doesn’t have any notable local specialty and famous product. Ah, the candied chestnut is a favourite product though, but that’s that. Students returning to their hometowns don’t have any souvenirs to bring home. Therefore, they just bring home some factory-made, convenience store-style onigiri as souvenirs.”

P70-71

“Ah… Yes, the onigiri is indeed quite unusual, eh.”

Adding to this conversation, Kaede-san says,

“Since the people of Bunmon are busy with a little time to spare, here we have only developed easily nourishing dishes that can be quickly eaten by hand. Hence, we only have restaurants that emphasize on speed and high turn-over rate as opposed to emphasize on taste. So, basically, they serve udon noodles, prepared side dishes, and other store-made dishes.”

“That’s true. From the viewpoint of ayakashi from outside Bunmon, these dishes are not tasty nor edible. You know, this impression always overwhelms me whenever I’m here…” adds Chiaki-san.

“In addition, many women of this land also work, and I am totally hopeless with cooking. Basically, I prefer to just quickly buy something that I can eat quickly.”

“Is that why you then send your husband for errands… ouch-ouch-ouch!!!”

Upon hearing Chiaki-san’s complain, Kaede-san pinches his cheek such that he cries. 

“Say, Chiaki-san, since you’re now married, what will you do? Will you be like Kasuga; resigning from Tenjin-ya and returning to Bunmon? Or would Kaede-san comes to Kimon instead?”

“No… because both of us like working, it seems we’re going to have a long-distance marriage. Seems like I will return to Bunmon every weekend.”

P71

“You don’t have to return home every week. As long as you’re okay, I’m happy. That’s all.”

“See! See! That’s how she talks about it! So un-cute, right? – Ouch-ouch-ouch!!!”

This time, Chiaki-san’s flank got assaulted by Kaede-san. Nevertheless, I can still… feel their love… Moreover, both of them have mutual respects towards their respective works, something to long for between modern day husband and wife. 

“What about you, Aoi? When you’re married to me, what do you want to do? There’s actually no reason for you to keep working at the Moonflower.” 

“Hmm… that’s true… But I still want to keep working at the Moonflower. I’m just starting to get on track.”

As I said those words, I suddenly blushed. 

What. What the.

Why am I thinking about it as if it’s certain that I’m going to marry Ōdanna-sama?!

Ōdanna-sama himself chuckles. “This is the age of career women, after all. As for me, since I want to support you in your aspirations, Aoi, apparently I must go back to being the Master of Tenjin-ya after all…”

“How come this thing becomes the essential reason for you returning or not returning as the Master?!”

Chiaki-san and Kaede-san turn their faces away, giggling at the foolish verbal volleys between Ōdanna-sama and me. Seeing them like that, I also ended up laughing somehow.

P72

I have apparently forgotten how to laugh like this. 

And yet, as I enjoy such a peaceful moment, the time to decide on everything is approaching. Now that we’ve come this far, there’s almost nothing I can do. 

However, well… I think I should do something here. 

Anything would do. Even just one thing to aid Ōdanna-sama and Tenjin-ya, I want to make that one little swell of waves.

-xxx-

“Ōdanna-sama, what do you want to eat tonight?”

On the way home from the Library, as we walk away from the Clock Tower, I immediately asked Ōdanna-sama about the dinner tonight.

“That’s true… since we’re newlyweds after all… what about nikujaga? The potato and beef stew?”

“Where did you get that idea from? You just want to eat nikujaga, right, Ōdanna-sama?”

“I don't mind if you see it like that^.”

As I thought, he just wants to eat nikujaga. Ōdanna-sama surprisingly likes simple home meals.

P73-74

“Alright. However, there is no beef nor potato in the Poppies Villa. It would be nice if we can buy them on the way home.”

“We have a good shop for that, you know. Didn’t you notice it the first time we arrived at the villa?” 

“Ah, you’re right. The big shop at the bottom of the hill… is that a supermarket?!”

A store with an imposing signboard of ‘The Maple Supermarket Main Store’ is located right at the foot of the Poppies Hill. ‘Ponpokomato’ and ‘The Maple Supermarket’ are two store chains in the Land of Bunmon. Although it’s the busiest time of the evening, the fresh produce corner of the supermarket has only a few people around. However, the spacious and fully-stocked side dish and obento sections are crowded to death.

“Turns out, everyone does buy side dishes and obento, eh?”

“I hear that Bunmon has a lot of working men and women, and not many families prepare for their own meals. It also seems to be a unique characteristic of this land.”

“Despite cooking being an interesting thing to do…”

However, it’s true that cooking is more complicated than you think. It is quite difficult to think about daily menu while considering the remaining ingredients. In short, it’s a hassle.

“Well, in my case, cooking was originally a hobby, and now it has become an occupation. Thus, I can say that cooking is fun. However, for other people, it can indeed be a troublesome affair.”

P74-75

“But Aoi, I heard that you have many dishes that can be made in a short amount of time. You just whip them in a flash and yet they’re still delicious. I think, if you publish a cookbook containing those recipes, it might help working mothers to cook home-made dishes despite having a career.”

“Hmm… a cooking book… Shall I also make one of those…”

Publishing a book seems to be a faraway world to me, and I never thought about it. However, there is apparently such a work niche. It might also be a big opportunity to pay off the debt. 

-xxx-

Now. Once we arrived at the Villa, I quickly went into the kitchen. I had a good shopping session at the Maple Supermarket Main Store due to their well-stocked product line up. What I found particularly interesting was the bread sold at the Utsushiyo-type convenience stores and supermarkets, as well as the boil-in-the-bag food products and processed food. Up till now, I have also seen Utsushiyo ingredients in Kakuriyo, but Bunmon actually only has products imported from Utsushiyo. It’s interesting to see the Bunmon folks studying these products as well as developing and selling them independently.

Since Ōdanna-sama seems to have some spare time this evening, I ask him to trim and remove the strings of snow peas at the veranda. His joy as he is doing this errand is so typical of him.

P75

“Aoi-sama, how can I help?”

Since Miss Butterfly appeared from nowhere in particular and offered her help, for the latter stage of  cooking, I asked her to drain the tofu from its water.

“Oh yes, Miss Butterfly. You’ve eaten the lunch bento, right? You also rinsed the bento box, so thank you for that.”

“No need to thank me. It’s the natural thing to do.”

Miss Butterfly is so cool! Being Ōgondōji-sama’s retainer, she’s skillful. She said that she could cook meals in general, hence I wonder if she usually serves homemade dishes to the guests visiting this villa. 

Nooow…the nikujaga. I prefer to cut the cooking time of chicken potato stew, but I am making the classic^ nikujaga this time. I’m using the thinly slice beef, potato, carrots, onions, shirataki noodles, and snow peas. By using soy sauce, sugar, mirin and sake as the broth, I can make a hearty and delicious nikujaga dish with its flaky potatoes. In a larger pot, I sauté the beef sufficiently. I chop the carrots and potatoes into chunks, cut the onions into wedges and then add them into the pot, sautéing them with the beef. I add the seasoning and simmer the dish for a while before adding the shirataki noodles in. 

P76

Then I close the pot with otoshibuta, a fitted lid put very low into the pot, and let the dish simmer. 

During that period, I make the side dish of spinach and carrot shira-ae^.  

“I can also make this shira-ae as the side dish for tomorrow’s bento.”

Ōdanna-sama said that, while he is here, I will make him one bento each day, and in return, he will tell me one truth in exchange. Because of that, I’ll need to make another bento for tomorrow. 

That aside, I also love shira-ae. It’s a standard staple for washoku, the Japanese-style meals. Because Grandpa also liked it, I often included shira-ae in the bento arrangement. I would make shira-ae with lotus root, asparagus and corn, as well as with nanohana; the rapeseed young shoots. However, because today I’m doing the classic nikujaga, I’m making the spinach and carrot shira-ae. 

I bought the spinach earlier during my shopping trip with Ōdanna-sama. I blanch the spinach in hot water, and then immediately cool it off with icy water. Then I squeeze the water off and cut the spinach 3 cm long. I finely chop the carrots and rub them with salt. The key to shira-ae is the Japanese style sesame and the tofu’s sweetness. When in a hurry, one would usually use just normal sesame seeds. However, today I take the time to lightly stir-fry the sesame seeds in a pan before grinding them thoroughly with mortar and pestle. The oil seeps out and the aromatic scent of sesame seeds gently floats in the air. Then I add in the tofu, which has been drained earlier, crushing it until velvety smooth. I then mix light soy sauce with sugar as the dashi, and I finally add the vegetables in. 

My shira-ae, based on Aoi's instruction, plus white miso paste!

P77

And now, the shira-ae is done.  

“Aoi-sama, it seems almost all of the nikujaga water is absorbed.”

“Ah, just in time.”

I peek through the nikujaga pot lid. Ah, smells so good…

I stir the mixture lightly, put out the fire and put the otoshibuta back. Meanwhile, I also make miso soup with the vegetable scraps^. Then I go out to call Ōdanna-sama in. From the veranda, having finished trimming and stringing the snow peas, Ōdanna-sama himself is now looking up at the darkening winter sky.

“Ōdanna-sama, we’re eating soon.”

“Okay. I am indeed a bit hungry.”

“… Isn’t it cold here?”

“A bit. But, you know, I like the scent of the winter night. It’s somehow irresistible.” 

Having said those words, Ōdanna-sama looking up at the evening sky somewhat cuts a lonely figure to me. He is looking at a distance, to a place unbeknown to me, looking somewhat nostalgic.

I finally met him again. Yet, he still seems so far away. 

I still know practically nothing about Ōdanna-sama.

I want to know more about Ōdanna-sama. I want to know your^^ wishes, your desires…

P78

However, I can’t help feeling that I am also afraid of knowing.

“…”

Surreptitiously shaking my head, I brought back the snow peas to the kitchen. I finished the dishes and carried them into the living room. 

Ōdanna-sama has closed the veranda and made the room warm. He is now waiting for me. There is even a kotatsu^, a low dining table, in the room.  Because that kotatsu should have not been here in the morning, I wonder where he got that from…

“Yep, it’s yummy. I wonder why nikujaga looks so appetising. Would married couples experience this at the dining table every day? I’m looking forward to it, Aoi.”

“You’re talking about everything as if we’re already married^^.”

Ōdanna-sama keeps tasting the nikujaga. As per usual, I don’t know whether what he said was a joke or a sincere thing. He might be making fun of me. 

However, it’s indeed true that…tonight, in this little room, sitting around this small kotatsu, slowly enjoying the simple, warm meal… it has been a long time since I enjoyed such a peaceful moment.  It feels like the days after Grandpa took me under his wings and we ate meals together. 

And then, I inexplicably had this thought.

If only I could continue enjoying moments like this.  

“Say… Ōdanna-sama?”

P79

“…Hmmm?...”

“…”

Nothing has changed. Nothing was revealed. 

None about you. None about my heart.

“No… nothing.”

However, both of us know that it is not the case. ‘Nothing’ is not the case here.

I think, if Ōdanna-sama is going to tell me ‘the truth’, in that moment I also have something to tell him.

-TBC in Vol 9 Chapter 3- 

(but I will jump to Vol 9 Chapter 6 for the next instalment. Since Ch 6 is about 30 pages, I think I will need a month to translate them. As for Chapter 3, well, I’ll be back for Vol 9 Ch 3 in… oh, at the end of 2022?)

Update 10 May'21: Whaddaya know. I ended up translating a small intermission chapter before Chapter 6, narrated by Ōdanna. The small but important chapter reveals the context of the promised marriage between him and Aoi. You can read it here.

Translation notes

Following Kakuriyo Translation & Fan Translator By Choice, I put the page numbers of the original novel volumes (the Japanese version) in the translation to enable any readers who can read Japanese and have the books to examine the related pages. If the last sentence of a page goes over the next page, I will put a combined page number as an indication. 

I use mainly Jisho.org for Kanji searching, though at times Romajidesu.com and Nihongo-pro.com are used as well. I use Google Translator to have a rough guess of the meaning of phrases, but then I consult my trusted Japanese grammar book for the closer approximations of the meanings (the “Japanese the Manga Way” by Wayne P. Lammers – I would have otherwise tripped on nuances such as “kita”, “iku” and “okimasu”). I use The Jaded Network for SFX effect translations.

Seigo Nakao’s “Japanese-English English-Japanese Dictionary” has proven to be very useful as a companion to Jisho.org. To assist with grammar, I also use Naoko Chino’s “All About Particles”, Kakuko Shoji’s “Japanese Core Words and Phrases”, Kakuko Shoji’s “Common Japanese Collocations”, Kakuko Shoji’s “Basic Connections” and Kamiya Taeko’s “Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication”.

Specific translation notes

P63: ^ “Say whaaaaat???” is my translation for the infamous 「ええっ」”Eeeeeeee???”, which is how Aoi (and many Japanese) expresses her surprise.

P65: ^ The Japanese sentence is ここは天神屋じゃないぞと大旦那様につっこまれていたが、千秋さんはそれがやりたいのだと、やはりおおらかに笑っていたのだった。

I am not sure whether it was Aoi who calmly smiled at Chiaki, or Chiaki smiling calmly as he led the tour. However, since Chiaki is a more befitting character to smile calmly at this situation (Aoi might giggle instead of smiling calmly), I think it was Chiaki who smiled.

P68: ^ This is another important piece of information. We always know that Ōdanna-sama has a high rank amongst the youkai. However, by heritage alone, he might actually be an aristocrat amongst the Setsuki!

And then, since the topic suddenly changes with Chiaki talking about bento lunches, I bet Chiaki saw the change in Ōdanna-sama’s expression, hence he changed the topic.

P69: ^ Because the store-bought onigiri in Japan are wrapped separately from the nori layer, the nori remains crisp until the customer wraps it around the onigiri. I LOOOOVE this onigiri (though NOT the plastic wrapping that comes with it!), partly because of the way the nori mellows down as it touches the moist onigiri. My favourite is the plum-filled onigiri, just like Ōdanna-sama, haha!

However, when you make onigiri at home, since it will be a while between making the onigiri (complete with the seaweed wrapping) and eating it, the nori will be damp. That’s why Aoi asked whether Ōdanna-sama preferred the store-bought one, and of course Ōdanna-sama rejected that notion in a panic burst, haha!

(and legit, after I translated this section, I had to stop to make myself a plum and furikake onigiri, complete with the damp nori, because I suddenly had a hunger pang!)

I mean it... I actually legit made an onigiri mid-translating!

P72: ^ The Japanese sentence is 「そう受け取ってくれて構わないよ」;which is verbally translatable into “Even so, if you accept that, I don’t mind”.

I originally thought that Ōdanna-sama meant that Aoi doesn’t mind buying his alibi (of being newlyweds). However, ‘kamawanai’ is usually applied to oneself or the speaker (not the listener), as in “I don’t mind doing something, or experiencing something”. Read this for further info. 

Hence, I think it means that Ōdanna-sama has no scruple in using the ‘newlyweds’ alibi to get nikujaga as dinner. I used to translate it as "That being so, I see no harm in using the newlywed alibi", but now, after looking at how he used 'uketottekurete', I think the more appropriate translation would be “I don't mind if you see it like that.”

p75: ^ The Japanese sentence is 煮込む過程を省いた時短鶏じゃがを好んで作る私だが、今回は王道のじゃが。

I am not sure how to translate ōdō no jaga, but ōdō means ‘royal road’, hence I think it should be translated to the ‘proper way’ of cooking the nikujaga. Since Aoi used ‘ga’ particle at the end of the first phrase, it would be a contradiction, like “but”. Since the first phrase is about her cooking chicken potato stew with a shorter amount of time, and she used the ‘ga’ particle in the end, I think she meant to say that she would use the proper way to cook the nikujaga this time. The slow cook method.

Because she’s cooking it for Ōdanna-sama, I think it makes sense for her to use the slow cooking method because she wants the flavour to soak into the vegetables and the meat.

(update 24 April: I asked my Japanese friend about 王道のじゃが  ōdō-jaga and she said 王道 means 'classical', hence I think 王道のじゃが ōdō-jaga refers to the classical nikujaga, where beef and potatoes are the main ingredients. However, I also think that 'classic' here includes the slow cook method, because Aoi earlier talked about cooking chicken potato stew in a shorter time.)

p76: ^ shira-ae is basically a salad of spinach and carrot with tofu, white sesame seed and white miso dressing. Aoi omitted the white miso paste in this chapter, but white miso paste would make the dressing more intense. I used white miso paste to make spinach carrot shira-ae after I translated this chapter ^_^

P77: ^ Aoi is using the ‘kansha’ principle. Kansha 感謝 or gratitude is a principle in the Japanese kitchen whereby we use all, if not almost all, of our ingredients. It’s basically a zero-waste principle. The example is her using vegetable scraps to make miso soup, and that’s actually very good.

Another example is to use the water after rinsing rice to water plants or to blanch vegetables. Another one would be using the green parts of leek in the stirfry, as well as the hard stem of broccoli (they’re really good for kimpira or stir-fry recipes!).

I have a Kansha cook book by Elizabeth Andoh, an American cook married to a Japanese man, and she inherited the Kansha spirit from her mother in law. The cook book is a vegetarian cook book filled with delicious recipes. You will be surprised at how many Japanese vegetarian or vegan dishes one can make out of normal vegetables.  

^^ I can't remember when Aoi addressed Ōdanna-sama as 'anata' or 'you', but if this is the first time I read it, this is a significant thing, because Aoi addressing him as 'anata' in this context means that he is someone special in her heart.

p78: ^ Kotatsu, a low table, features a lot in anime, manga and J-doramas. Families usually eat and chat around a kotatsu, and kids would also study at a kotatsu during cold weather. 

^^ Just in case you’re curious, the Japanese sentence is 「なんでも当たり前のようにそういう話してるんですかね」

`Nan demo atarimae no yō ni sōiu hanashi teru ndesu ka ne'

The closest verbatim translation would be “Are you talking about everything as a decided matter?” 

But I think Aoi was questioning whether Ōdanna always talks about their marriage as a certain thing and he always sees things through that lens.