Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 124 : Kitsune-sama, Has a Pajama Party

First, peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters—halve them, then halve them again. Toss them into a pot full of water set on the stove. Next came the carrots. Peel them, lop off the ends, cut them into bite-sized pieces, then drop them into the pot as well.

After that, the onions. Mince them finely, add butter to a frying pan, and sauté until they turned golden brown. Then came the pork. Since it was already cut into curry-sized pieces, straight into the pot it went. Skim off the scum as it boiled, and once a skewer slid easily through the potatoes and carrots, the simmering was just right. Add the mixed beans, break the curry roux into small chunks and stir them in. Finally, add the onions and mix it all together, and the curry was done. A quick and simple curry, with just a touch of refinement.

“And now, neatly plate the rice, pour the curry on top, add pickled shallots on the side… There you have it—an easy, home-style curry with a little extra touch!”

“Oooh, splendid indeed.”

The freshly made curry carried its uniquely appetizing aroma as Inari and Eri brought the dishes to the table with cheerful smiles.

“Alright then… let’s eat!”

“Indeed. Let us partake at once.”

They pressed their hands together in thanks and took their first bites. The sweet flavor, mild for those who disliked spice, was the sort that most people enjoyed and few disliked. Curry was said to make everything taste like curry, and it truly was a dish with a personality unlike any other.

That distinctive taste filled the two of them as they ate. The caramelized minced onions and mixed beans added pleasant texture, while the fluffy potatoes, tender carrots, and melt-in-your-mouth pork rounded it out perfectly. Beef or chicken would also have worked, but pork had a uniquely soft texture hard to replace.

“Mmm… so delicious.”

“Curry really never fails, huh?”

“Curry is curry, is it not?”

“Ah—yes, um, I mean it’s reliable. You can always count on it.”

“Indeed, I understand that well.”

The pickled shallots added a sweet-and-sour crunch, refreshing the palate. A taste of happiness. Eri was fine with fukujinzuke pickles too, but if asked, she was more of a shallot person. Atsuage, meanwhile, had glanced at the shallots but lost interest, and was breakdancing on the table instead.

After a blissful meal, they cleared the table and washed the dishes. Soon after, a cheerful voice announced that the bath was ready. And once both had bathed, the pajama party had officially begun.

Inari wore pajamas with a fox motif, while Eri wore light pink ones.

“It’s totally unfair… your hair dries instantly.”

“’Tis not something I can help…”

As they chatted, Eri circled behind Inari, staring intently at her tail.

“It’s sticking right out of your pajamas… I always wondered how that worked, but seeing it in person makes it even more baffling. How do you even take those off?”

“I need not take them off… I can shift them at will.”

“Actually, I kind of thought you’d sleep in a yukata instead.”

“I can, indeed… Look.”

With a light tap of her pajamas, Inari’s outfit shifted instantly into a thin yukata. It certainly looked the part of sleepwear, and suited her perfectly.

“And… the tail still sticks out of the yukata!”

“What compels thee to react so?”

“Because it’s educational to see the real thing! Oh, can I touch the base of your tail?”

“Nay.”

“Aww, come on.”

Denied.

So, they settled onto the sofa, turned on the television, and found a movie playing. With a large screen and the newest sound system, the experience was quite immersive. But Inari could not understand why the car in the movie had a button-activated turbo boost as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In fact, Atsuage seemed far more engrossed in the film than she did.

“Are modern cars… equipped with such contraptions?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then why did that one seem to have it so plainly?”

“I have no idea either.”

Eri faintly remembered that the series might have explained it somewhere, but she couldn’t recall. In any case—

“Oh, it’s already this late. Feels like we didn’t have nearly enough time.”

It was past ten o’clock. Time for good children to sleep, and even for adults. They brushed their teeth properly. In the bedroom was a single king-sized bed, with spare futons as well. But—

“Whoa… this futon’s one of those insanely expensive ones made by an awakener company.”

“So I have been told. Far superior to what I had at my old house. Wouldst thou care to try sharing it?”

With that, Inari slipped under the covers, scooting to the side.

“With pleasure! Whoa, this is amazing. How is this even made?”

“I know not.”

“Wait… when did Atsuage end up sleeping in the middle?”

Indeed, the bed, developed with the full power of an awakener equipment company, offered truly supreme comfort. Before they could even think of late-night pillow talk, Inari and Eri were both gently drawn into the world of dreams, their quiet breathing the only sound left in the room.

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Translator’s Notes:

Fukujinzuke is a condiment in Japanese cuisine, commonly used as relish for Japanese curry. In fukujinzuke, vegetables including daikon, eggplant, lotus root and cucumber are finely chopped, then pickled in a base that is flavored with soy sauce.