My Darling of the Mountains

---

It's so nice and warm!

It sure is.

Hey, Toku...

Toku?

It's nice coming back...

each year... to a hot spring

in the mountains.

Especially when

the leaves are out.

Isn't this a great view?

It's almost as if we could see!

We've been making very good time.

How many sighted people

have we passed today?

It's a great feeling...

...when you pass a sighted person

walking ahead of you...

...and they go 'huh?!

It's a feeling the sighted

will never understand.

Yes, but I keep running into dogs

and horses' bottoms.

That's because

you're off in your own little world.

No, they're in their own little world

when they don't notice us!

These days

the sighted are all like that.

Don't pick fights

with the sighted these days.

If you're not careful

they'll grab your arm...

...and throw you down in the mud!

Oh yeah?

You can't depend on other people

or your cane any more.

You've got to develop

the ability to sense things.

Your instincts!

Oh.

Fuku!

Use your instincts and guess

how many kids there are coming.

There's eight of them.

No. Eight and a half.

A half?

There's a baby.

A baby?

I never noticed the baby!

That's right.

It looks like eight and half.

Wait!

What?!

Oh!

Toku, let's slow down a bit.

I'm beat!

But I'd like to get there

while the sun's still up.

What do we care

if the sun's up or not?

For us it's night all year round.

That's true...

...but I want to catch up to

those students who hiked past us...

...and pass them.

Impossible!

No, it's not.

They've got two legs, and so do we.

We'll never do it.

Why not?

Why not? Because it's impossible.

Why?

Why? It doesn't stand to reason

that we could.

Logic flees before the illogical.

Say what you like,

it'll never happen.

I will be unreasonable

and prevail!

My behind!

What's wrong?

Hurts!

What?!

There was a pretty woman in there.

There was?

A Tokyo woman.

A Tokyo woman?

She carried the scent of Tokyo.

Those masseurs

are famous around here.

They pass everyone they can

on the road...

...then boast about how many

sighted people they went by.

Every year, like the swallows,

they come north from the seaside spas...

...then head back

when the weather turns cold.

MY DARLING OF THE MOUNTAINS

Fuku...

Which inn are you at tonight?

Me?

The Kannonya. What about you?

The Kujiraya.

Fuku...

Yours is that way.

Oh yeah, you're right.

Kujiraya Inn

Good evening.

Toku! How have you been?

Yes. I'm back.

I'm placing myself in your care again.

Fine.

Is all well at the Kujiraya?

Yes, thank you.

How was business

at the seaside hot springs?

Not very good.

Terrible, in fact.

It was?

Yes.

Times are tough all over.

I brought you this.

It's just a token...

You shouldn't have.

Every year you bring gifts...

Always the same thing.

Then I'll avail myself

of your generosity.

Oh, Toku!

Is that Kiku?

I'm in your care again.

Room 3.

Then the students in Room 5.

Room 3, then Room 5?

I'll get to work.

You know the way?

Yes.

Oh, Toku!

Is that Aki?

I'm in your care again.

I was just saving

it was time you came back.

Kiku was waiting.

Don't tease.

I might believe you.

Give me my gift later.

Hello.

Thank you for your patronage.

Come in.

Lightly, please.

My shoulders.

I'm told you delight in

passing sighted people on the road.

Well, I wouldn't go that far...

How many today?

Today?

Today it was about 20.

But it's a shame those students

managed to overtake us.

Some people do?

Yes. Today was a real shame.

Sorry to hear that.

Might you be from Tokyo, Mam?

Do I seem married?

Excuse me. You're a 'miss'?

'Miss'?

It's a long trip for a woman

to make alone.

Is it for your health?

Not really...

For a short stay?

Hmm...

A long one?

Hmm...

Are you returning from somewhere?

Or heading on somewhere?

Well...

Don't leave that there!

I'm sorry!

You're very stiff, aren't you.

Yes.

That means you've been

using your head too much.

Is there something

that's been bothering you?

You can tell?

Yes.

And what is it that's bothering me?

That I can't say.

But it's unusual for a young person

to be so stiff.

And for a young woman

to summon a masseur?

Not anymore.

These days I'm often called upon

by young lady hikers.

Women students and so on.

Yes... women students these days

are very bold.

They most certainly are.

That's right!

It's your fault!

Yes!

My fault?

Yes!

I'm exhausted!

And it's all your fault!

Yes!

My fault?

We had to walk so fast

because you kept pushing us!

It was like a training march

trying to beat you!

Wasn't it!

Yes!

Is that so?

As if you didn't know!

Even then you passed us!

My legs are all swollen!

You owe us one.

A discount?!

Darn right!

Don't look so surprised!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Oh... I'll go first.

Just my legs.

I'm next.

And then me.

Then you can

take your time with me.

You were hot on our tail

today, weren't you.

I was amazed.

Oh, you're the gentlemen

who passed us...

I see...

That was a shame.

What was?

Oh, it's just...

...you have very strong legs.

It was a shame.

Our legs aren't all that strong.

You were just so... into it,

it started to feel a bit strange.

We were running from you.

Is that so?

What a shame!

Those girls made a lot of noise.

Yes, they did.

Modern young ladies

are quite shocking.

So...

...where are you from?

From?

I'm from...

...well...

Between the seaside springs...

...and the mountain ones...

...I've forgotten where

I come from.

You have?

I've come back here to visit

my ancestors' graves...

...but there's a new temple priest,

and I don't know anyone in the village.

It's like my home town is gone.

You don't say...

Yeah.

So now relaxing at a place like this

is where I feel most at home.

Indeed.

I fell asleep...

I'm sorry!

No, no...

Ow!

Ow ow ow!

Hey, Masseur!

Just a light massage, OK?

No, you all seem very tired.

You'll get the full treatment.

Guvs...

Hey!

That masseur last night must've had

a grudge against us.

It hurts to walk!

We'll never get over the pass

like this.

Shall we go back?

We can't go back

to that inn now!

Forget about appearances.

I'm in pain!

Let's go back

and stay another night.

What do you think?

Right. Let's go back.

Here come those girls.

Oh, the ones

we passed yesterday.

Are you sure?

So they're going

over the pass, too?

Looks that way.

What do we do now?

This is no time to worry about

how it looks!

Yeah!

I can't put up a front now!

Yeah!

That's right!

Is that those students?

Looks like them.

Is it?

It is!

Really?

Yes!

Isn't it!

Did they forget something?

Forget something?

We don't care...

...how it looks!

Is that so?

Sorry to hear that!

It's going to rain later.

Be careful!

Into every man's life...

...a little rain must fall!

Is that true?

They aren't up here yet,

are they, Toku.

Not up here vet,

but they're in Tokyo.

Is that true?

Yes.

We don't want them here!

Yeah!

Are you sure?

Stop yapping and get to the bath!

Your soup's boiling away!

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