The Moon is Like Tapioca ch4

Excuse me~
Yes, just a moment!

Wah~ It's so busy~!

I'm happy I'm getting more customers lately,
but it's becoming hard to handle them on my own.

Need a hand?
!

Yen~!
Do I
just need to carry these?

Thanks~ Take these to the tables on the right back and the one next to it.
Got it~

We made it through somehow~!!
Thank you so much~

It's fine. Business has been pretty booming as of late, huh?
Yeah. Thanks to you.

By handing out coupons and putting on campaigns and stuff,
you've got a lot of customers coming!
That's great.

The tapioca fried rice isn't selling at all, though...
I-I see...

I'm sorry I don't have anything new to report... about Yuepin.
Even though that's me.
Don't worry about it. You've been pretty busy with this, after all.

You must be hungry, right? I've brought you some dinner.
For real!? Thanks~ What is it!?
Let's see~

Wei Li Char Siu noodles.

Ah.
I know about Char Siu noodles!

Really?
Yeah.
But I don't think I've eaten them before.

I'll make it today,
since you're always making it for me.

Yay!

That being said, it's just following some instructions...

My favorite arrangement is this!
A soft-boiled egg!

This'll make it really tasty~

Thanks for the food!

Wei Li Char Siu noodles

Mm~!
So chewy!

There's a slight sweetness amidst the saltiness and the rich seasoning gives it a punch...
The char siu sauce clings onto the chewy noodles too. It's just so good~!

The soft-boiled egg makes it taste mellow too. I can't get enough.

...Hey hey.

Tapio-
Stop.

Hear me out just this once!
...No talking about work during dinner. You'll give yourself gas.

You don't know that for su-
BURP

...
Told you.

I'm sorry...
Nah, it's fine.

Japanese girls sure worry about a lot of things. It's like a physiological phenomenon or something.

Should I let out a burp right now too?
Cos I'm not gonna.

...Are you making fun of me, Yen?
Hmm?

You ARE making fun of me!
Not really~

Geez~ Cut that out...
Oh dear.

Yue? Hey~
...

Don't sulk. Here, you can have my egg.

Eh? Alright!
So easy...

p10

Are you sleeping properly, Yue?
You've been acting pretty sluggish for a while now.
Ah...

I've been having trouble sleeping lately because of someone's memories.
!
What do you mean?

I might just be imagining things,
but whenever I go to sleep, I feel like there's someone outside the door.
I go to check it every time,

but there's nobody there.

It happens every night and I can't sleep worrying that it might be a Kisa...
It's no big deal now, though.

p11

That's probably dì jī zhǔ.

Dì jī zhǔ?
Yeah.

Dì Jī Zhǔ are house-protecting gods who appear in folk tales.
Hmm, to put it simply,
I guess they're like Japan's zashiki-warashi?

Eh? You mean there's dì jī zhǔ in this house... right now!?
That's right.
Heya~

Th-The fact they show up every night doesn't make me happy...
No no.

p12

According to tradition, services are held on the 2nd and 16th days of the lunar calendar to honor to dì jī zhǔ.
You offer them things like chicken thighs or fruit. It's not that hard.

Today's the 16th, so I figured I should let you know.
Is that so... I had no idea.

Alright.
In that case,

I'd better get ready!!

Eh?

p13

Ooh... That's a lot.
You told me there were six dì jī zhǔ, right, Yen!?
So I need to make enough for six!

And while the thighs are cooking...
What's that?

Fufu.
This is... my latest menu item.

p14

Meatball soup with tapioca!

I've been thinking of all sorts of dishes besides fried rice~!
Give it a try later, Yen!

Th-
This is for six too...!?
Of course! I'll make some fried rice too~

I hope they'll like it~

p15

...
I can't say anything...
Sorry, dì jī zhǔ...

Come on. You help peel the fruit, Yen.
Yeah, yeah.

Okay.
It's ready!

p16

Think this'll be okay?
Yeah, it's perfect.

In Taiwan tradition, we light up incense when giving the offering.
It helps strengthen the link with spiritual beings.

By doing this, the dì jī zhǔ will regain their energy
and protect your house.

p17

...
I see.

Please continue
to look after this house.

p18

Okay, time to wash up.

Give me a hand, Yen~
Okay~

...!

p20

Sorry for the wait. Should I put away the dishes?
Please and thank you!

...I'm certain the dì jī zhǔ enjoyed it.
You're a good cook, Yue.

...
It's because I have this body.

When I was alive in Japan,
I didn't cook at all.

p21

Have you ever thought about wanting to go back to Japan?

p22

...Thought about?
Not really.

...Why not?
You have parents... and stuff, right?

Mom won't be sad, even without me around.

...Ng.
Sorry. You don't need to talk about it.

It's fine.

p23

I want you to hear about it, Yen.

Thanks for the food!

Delicious~

You really like tapioca, don't you, Satsuki.
Be careful when you drink it.
Make sure to chew properly.

p24

Geez~ She'll be fine.
She's already a young lady.

No no no. Seriously, be careful...

Those days with my beloved Mama and Papa

were the last happy memories I had with my family.

Behind that touch smile lies sad memories. Next chapter, Yue (Satsuki)'s past...

Warning