Translated by Jyzciel

The yuzuke I made was a huge success! It sold out in no time. It even felt like more customers came in today than yesterday.

By the time evening arrived, Yoshi-san and I were running around nonstop, and in the end, every last serving of yuzuke was gone. Our sales had increased to about one and a half times the usual.

Yoshisan and I clasped hands in delight. When I tried to help her clean up, she told me,

“ Go on ahead and wash up first. I’ll handle this. ” So I accepted her kindness.

I was exhausted and soaked in sweat. I longed for a bath. But in this era, public baths don’t exist yet. Bathing is a luxury reserved for lords and nobles.

For commoners like us, the only option is to wipe the body with cloth using well or river water. Just thinking about winter made me shiver.

Luckily, there’s a well behind Yoshisan’s house. Others aren’t so fortunate. They apparently go all the way to the river to wash.

I prepared fresh clothes and a cloth to wipe my body, then hurried toward the well. Once the sun sets, darkness swallows everything. Even walking becomes dangerous.

“ I need to hurry and clean up… ” I drew water from the well and poured it into a wooden bucket.

First, my hair. There’s no shampoo or conditioner, just water. That’s it. I vaguely remembered reading somewhere that people once washed their hair with ash. I should ask Yoshi-san about that someday.

Long hair is such a hassle to wash… If I could, I’d cut it all off. Short and clean.

After rinsing my hair, I moved on to my body. There were no partitions, nothing to hide behind, so I carefully scanned my surroundings before washing.

Good. No one.

I loosened the collar of my kimono and began washing my neck and shoulders.

Then… From the forest, I heard rustling.

Was it a bear? A deer? Or maybe a wolf?

My body stiffened. The sound drew closer. Yet I couldn’t move.

My mind filled with terrifying possibilities, spinning endlessly. The nearest bush shook violently. I squeezed my eyes shut.

“ …Huh? That’s strange. I thought it was around here. ”

A man’s voice came from the woods. Slowly, I opened my eyes. A single man stood there.ML

I stared at him blankly. He was so beautiful I almost mistook him for a woman—no, he was what people would call a true pretty boy.

I felt like I’d been caught staring at beauty far too many times today. Perhaps noticing me, he slowly approached… and then pulled me into his arms.

“ Don’t worry. Sorry… I scared you. ”

His fingers gently brushed my eyes, wiping away tears. Only then did I realize I had been crying. Worse— some stranger was hugging me.

My senses snapped back. Flushed with embarrassment, I pressed both hands against his chest and quickly pushed away. That was too dangerous.

Far too handsome— I almost got swept away.

“ W-What are you doing?! I’ll call people! ”

A sword hung at his waist.

A samurai? I stepped back cautiously.

Even if I called for help, only Yoshi-san would be there and I didn’t want to trouble her. He seemed slightly surprised, but then slowly stood.

“ You’re clever. ” he said softly.

“ And… interesting. ” Smiling faintly, he reached out again.

At that moment— A howl echoed through the forest. The man’s smile deepened. His hand froze midair. He turned toward the woods and placed his hand on his sword.

“ …They’re coming. ” What exactly is coming?

A bad feeling crept up my spine, and my body began trembling again.

“ Don’t move from that spot. If you want to live. ” Without looking at me, he spoke calmly.

Strangely… he almost looked excited. As if he was looking forward to whatever was about to appear. Soon, multiple footsteps echoed through the trees. The same direction he had emerged from earlier.

The bushes shook again… then went still. They were watching us.

“ Come on then. ” he said.

He drew his blade. I swallowed hard and hid behind him.

The moment something rustled on the right— A wolf burst out from the left. But he was ready. Without even turning to look, he cut it down in a single motion.

Before I could breathe in relief, three more wolves emerged from the forest. Yet the man didn’t seem afraid at all.

If anything, he looked amused.

He targeted one wolf and struck it down before it could even lunge. The others scattered and fled.

That one must have been the pack leader. He sheathed his sword and turned back toward me.

I immediately stepped back again.

He had just saved my life— but I still couldn’t let my guard down.

He laughed softly. “ Are you really that scared of me? I don’t bite, you know.”

He beckoned me closer. I didn’t move. Even if he saved me, a man who suddenly hugs strangers can’t be trusted.

As we stared each other down…

His stomach growled.

“ …I’m hungry. ”

He turned away, as if to leave.

Wait. I hadn’t even thanked him yet.

He might be suspicious, but he was still my lifesaver.

And if he’s hungry… I can make something simple. That can be my thanks.

“ Um—wait, please! ”

He turned back. “ I run a small kitchen here. I can make something quick! Please wait. ”

He looked briefly surprised… then returned to that soft smile.

“ Alright. ”

Just like that. As I turned to leave, something flashed before my eyes. A blade— right in front of me.

“ If you tell anyone about me… don’t. ”

I understood immediately. This wasn’t a request. It was a threat.

“ …I understand. ”

I forced my voice to stay steady and walked away. Even though I thought he was untrustworthy… I was angry at myself for lowering my guard.

Right. This is the Warring States era.

I reminded myself of that fact as I stepped back into reality. Inside the house, I took a deep breath to calm myself. In the kitchen, Yoshi-san wasn’t there. The shop was already cleaned up.

She must have gone to bring in the laundry. Good. Now’s my chance. I’ll make it quickly. I couldn’t hide anything from Yoshi-san anyway. She'd notice immediately.

It’s just rice balls. They’ll be done in no time. But just rice balls are boring. So I’ll add a twist.

And honestly… This is my revenge for earlier. Just wait and be surprised when you eat it!

A wicked smile formed on my lips.

And so— My little revenge began.

Thank you for reading! Your comments, likes, and support mean a lot to me and help keep this series going.

Translated by Jyzciel

The yuzuke I made was a huge success! It sold out in no time. It even felt like more customers came in today than yesterday.

By the time evening arrived, Yoshi-san and I were running around nonstop, and in the end, every last serving of yuzuke was gone. Our sales had increased to about one and a half times the usual.

Yoshisan and I clasped hands in delight. When I tried to help her clean up, she told me,

“ Go on ahead and wash up first. I’ll handle this. ” So I accepted her kindness.

I was exhausted and soaked in sweat. I longed for a bath. But in this era, public baths don’t exist yet. Bathing is a luxury reserved for lords and nobles.

For commoners like us, the only option is to wipe the body with cloth using well or river water. Just thinking about winter made me shiver.

Luckily, there’s a well behind Yoshisan’s house. Others aren’t so fortunate. They apparently go all the way to the river to wash.

I prepared fresh clothes and a cloth to wipe my body, then hurried toward the well. Once the sun sets, darkness swallows everything. Even walking becomes dangerous.

“ I need to hurry and clean up… ” I drew water from the well and poured it into a wooden bucket.

First, my hair. There’s no shampoo or conditioner, just water. That’s it. I vaguely remembered reading somewhere that people once washed their hair with ash. I should ask Yoshi-san about that someday.

Long hair is such a hassle to wash… If I could, I’d cut it all off. Short and clean.

After rinsing my hair, I moved on to my body. There were no partitions, nothing to hide behind, so I carefully scanned my surroundings before washing.

Good. No one.

I loosened the collar of my kimono and began washing my neck and shoulders.

Then… From the forest, I heard rustling.

Was it a bear? A deer? Or maybe a wolf?

My body stiffened. The sound drew closer. Yet I couldn’t move.

My mind filled with terrifying possibilities, spinning endlessly. The nearest bush shook violently. I squeezed my eyes shut.

“ …Huh? That’s strange. I thought it was around here. ”

A man’s voice came from the woods. Slowly, I opened my eyes. A single man stood there.ML

I stared at him blankly. He was so beautiful I almost mistook him for a woman—no, he was what people would call a true pretty boy.

I felt like I’d been caught staring at beauty far too many times today. Perhaps noticing me, he slowly approached… and then pulled me into his arms.

“ Don’t worry. Sorry… I scared you. ”

His fingers gently brushed my eyes, wiping away tears. Only then did I realize I had been crying. Worse— some stranger was hugging me.

My senses snapped back. Flushed with embarrassment, I pressed both hands against his chest and quickly pushed away. That was too dangerous.

Far too handsome— I almost got swept away.

“ W-What are you doing?! I’ll call people! ”

A sword hung at his waist.

A samurai? I stepped back cautiously.

Even if I called for help, only Yoshi-san would be there and I didn’t want to trouble her. He seemed slightly surprised, but then slowly stood.

“ You’re clever. ” he said softly.

“ And… interesting. ” Smiling faintly, he reached out again.

At that moment— A howl echoed through the forest. The man’s smile deepened. His hand froze midair. He turned toward the woods and placed his hand on his sword.

“ …They’re coming. ” What exactly is coming?

A bad feeling crept up my spine, and my body began trembling again.

“ Don’t move from that spot. If you want to live. ” Without looking at me, he spoke calmly.

Strangely… he almost looked excited. As if he was looking forward to whatever was about to appear. Soon, multiple footsteps echoed through the trees. The same direction he had emerged from earlier.

The bushes shook again… then went still. They were watching us.

“ Come on then. ” he said.

He drew his blade. I swallowed hard and hid behind him.

The moment something rustled on the right— A wolf burst out from the left. But he was ready. Without even turning to look, he cut it down in a single motion.

Before I could breathe in relief, three more wolves emerged from the forest. Yet the man didn’t seem afraid at all.

If anything, he looked amused.

He targeted one wolf and struck it down before it could even lunge. The others scattered and fled.

That one must have been the pack leader. He sheathed his sword and turned back toward me.

I immediately stepped back again.

He had just saved my life— but I still couldn’t let my guard down.

He laughed softly. “ Are you really that scared of me? I don’t bite, you know.”

He beckoned me closer. I didn’t move. Even if he saved me, a man who suddenly hugs strangers can’t be trusted.

As we stared each other down…

His stomach growled.

“ …I’m hungry. ”

He turned away, as if to leave.

Wait. I hadn’t even thanked him yet.

He might be suspicious, but he was still my lifesaver.

And if he’s hungry… I can make something simple. That can be my thanks.

“ Um—wait, please! ”

He turned back. “ I run a small kitchen here. I can make something quick! Please wait. ”

He looked briefly surprised… then returned to that soft smile.

“ Alright. ”

Just like that. As I turned to leave, something flashed before my eyes. A blade— right in front of me.

“ If you tell anyone about me… don’t. ”

I understood immediately. This wasn’t a request. It was a threat.

“ …I understand. ”

I forced my voice to stay steady and walked away. Even though I thought he was untrustworthy… I was angry at myself for lowering my guard.

Right. This is the Warring States era.

I reminded myself of that fact as I stepped back into reality. Inside the house, I took a deep breath to calm myself. In the kitchen, Yoshi-san wasn’t there. The shop was already cleaned up.

She must have gone to bring in the laundry. Good. Now’s my chance. I’ll make it quickly. I couldn’t hide anything from Yoshi-san anyway. She'd notice immediately.

It’s just rice balls. They’ll be done in no time. But just rice balls are boring. So I’ll add a twist.

And honestly… This is my revenge for earlier. Just wait and be surprised when you eat it!

A wicked smile formed on my lips.

And so— My little revenge began.

Thank you for reading! Your comments, likes, and support mean a lot to me and help keep this series going.