# E8 - A Book, an Affair, and a Mermaid
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/G31UXNK9J/a-book-an-affair-and-a-mermaid)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:03] Adashino**
Sumireko-san, do you have a moment?
**[00:06] Sumireko**
Hm?
**[00:06] Adashino**
We have a customer looking for
this title. Do you recognize it?
***SIGN*** Farting: the Complete
**[00:10] Sumireko**
*Farting: the Complete Collection*?
**[00:13] Sumireko**
It should be over there on
the culture and folktales shelf.
**[00:16] Adashino**
Huh? It's an actual book?
**[00:19] Adashino**
Is this the one?
**[00:21] customer A**
Yes, it is!
**[00:22] customer A**
This is the one! I'm so glad!
**[00:25] Adashino**
Thank you.
**[00:27] Adashino**
You really saved me.
**[00:29] Sumireko**
You can thank me with a can of coffee.
**[00:31] Adashino**
Working in a bookstore makes me realize
**[00:33] Adashino**
how many books are out there
that I've never heard of.
**[00:38] Sumireko**
And there are more being published every day.
**[00:41] Sumireko**
I just can't get enough.
**[00:42] Adashino**
But, Sumireko-san,
**[00:45] Adashino**
you know pretty much every
book in this store, don't you?
**[00:48] Adashino**
It's creepy.
**[00:49] Sumireko**
You don't get to diss me!
**[00:52] Sumireko**
That's one more can of coffee.
**[00:54] Adashino**
What?
**[00:56] Sumireko**
I can't help being obsessive about books.
**[00:59] Sumireko**
There are some I've been looking for forever.
**[01:01] Sumireko**
In my search, I end up remembering others.
**[01:03] Adashino**
"Forever"? How long have you
been unable to find them?
**[01:08] Sumireko**
A really long time.
**[01:10] Sumireko**
I read them so many times,
but I can't remember the titles.
**[01:15] Sumireko**
The only lead I have is this feeling
that they were really absorbing.
**[01:19] Sumireko**
Looking for them is one reason
I work in a bookstore.
**[01:23] Adashino**
Isn't it just that your memory's lacking?
**[01:26] Sumireko**
Silence, boy!
**[01:27] Sumireko**
That's three cans of coffee now!
**[01:34] Adashino**
Welcome.
**[01:36] (Flashback) Adashino**
To stay alive and return home...
**[01:39] (Flashback) Adashino**
That's our goal as siblings.
**[01:42] Sumireko; internal**
*I see.*
**[01:44] Sumireko; internal**
*One day, you'll be gone, too.*
***SIGN*** Mysterious Disappearances
***SIGN*** Mysterious Disappearances
***SIGN*** A Book, an Affair, and a Mermaid
***SIGN*** A Book, an Affair, and a Mermaid
**[03:19] Sumireko**
I got three cans of coffee out of him.
**[03:34] Sumireko; narration**
When I was a child,
**[03:36] Sumireko; narration**
I had severe trouble talking to others.
**[03:39] Sumireko; narration**
It wasn't that I had nothing I wanted to say—
**[03:42] Sumireko; narration**
rather, the opposite.
**[03:44] Sumireko; narration**
Extreme heat melted the words into goo.
**[03:46] Sumireko; narration**
They'd blend together in my head
so that I couldn't get them out,
**[03:49] Sumireko; narration**
and I'd have no idea what to do.
**[03:51] friend A**
Tell me why!
**[03:52] Sumireko; narration**
That particular day, something trivial had
turned into a fight with my friends again.
**[03:52] friend B**
Come on!
**[03:56] Sumireko; narration**
I wasn't able to defend myself or apologize.
**[03:59] Sumireko; narration**
All I could do was stay sullenly silent.
**[04:01] friend A**
Why aren't you saying anything?
**[04:03] friend B**
Come on! Say something!
**[04:03] Sumireko; narration**
That made my friends angrier,
**[04:06] Sumireko; narration**
and things only worsened from there.
**[04:11] (Flashback) friend A**
Wait, Sumireko-chan!
**[04:13] (Flashback) friend B**
Stop right there!
**[04:14] (Flashback) friend A**
Wait!
**[04:35] (Flashback) friend A**
Sumireko-chan!
**[04:36] (Flashback) friend B**
Where did you go?
***SIGN*** Gyokushin-dou Bookstore
**[05:20] (Flashback) Honhime**
Close the door.
**[05:24] (Flashback) Honhime**
Sunlight is a book's worst enemy, young lady.
**[05:28] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
I-I'm so sorry!
**[05:33] (Flashback) Honhime**
Browse at your leisure.
**[05:59] (Flashback) Honhime**
What are you looking at?
**[06:02] (Flashback) Honhime**
Reading a good book can
make one cry, can't it?
**[06:06] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Even a grown-up?
**[06:09] (Flashback) Shoskihime**
Now, look here. Adults cry
when they need to cry, too.
**[06:12] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Like when reading a book?
**[06:14] (Flashback) Honhime**
That's right.
**[06:15] (Flashback) Honhime**
If you're interested,
why don't you give it a read?
**[06:22] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
You don't mind?
**[06:24] (Flashback) Honhime**
As it happens, I've just finished it.
**[06:28] (Flashback) Honhime**
There's a space in the back for people to
read before they buy. Use it as you wish.
**[06:32] (Flashback) Honhime**
There won't likely be any
other customers, anyway.
**[06:55] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Books are so boring, though.
**[07:12] little Sumireko; internal**
* "Right now, I have three*
* envelopes in front of me.*
**[07:17] little Sumireko; interal**
* However, I am only allowed*
* to open and read one of them.*
**[07:24] little Sumireko; internal**
* Which envelope holds the*
* message that person wrote?*
**[07:28] little Sumireko; internal**
*All of the envelopes are exactly the same,*
**[07:31] little Sumireko; internal**
* but on the outside of one,*
* I can see an ever-so-faint stain.*
**[07:35] little Sumireko; internal**
* I pick that one up and open it without*
* giving myself the chance to waver.*
**[07:41] little Sumireko; internal**
* I pull out the sheet of paper inside,*
* and the instant I lay eyes on its message,*
**[07:45] little Sumireko; internal**
*the world around me changes completely."*
**[07:50] (Flashback) Honhime**
It's sunset. You should go home.
Your family will be worried.
**[07:54] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
But...
**[07:55] (Flashback) Honhime**
You can continue tomorrow.
**[07:58] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
But...
**[08:02] (Flashback) Honhime**
All right, then, I'll lend you
this book. However...
**[08:06] (Flashback) Honhime**
You must be certain to come back
and return it tomorrow.
**[08:09] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
I will!
***SIGN*** Gyokushin-dou Bookstore
**[08:23] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Here.
**[08:24] (Flashback) Honhime**
You brought it back. Thank you.
**[08:30] (Flashback) Honhime**
Why don't you pick a book
from over there to read next?
**[08:41] little Sumireko**
*"The coffee had long since gone cold.*
**[08:44] little Sumireko**
*'Say, do you love your wife?' asked Julia.*
**[08:48] little Sumireko**
* Behind me, the door opened and another*
* customer came in, but I paid it no heed.*
**[08:54] little Sumireko**
*Helplessly, I answered without thinking.*
**[08:56] little Sumireko**
*'Of course I don't love her.'*
**[08:58] little Sumireko**
* In that moment, Julia looked*
* behind me and smiled, just a little.*
**[09:02] little Sumireko**
* When I turned around,*
* I realized that it was all over.*
**[09:06] little Sumireko**
*The person standing there was my wife.*
**[09:08] little Sumireko**
* And from behind the frozen mask*
* of her expression, she said,*
**[09:12] little Sumireko**
*'I hope you'll be very happy.'"*
**[09:15] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Say...
**[09:16] (Flashback) Honhime**
Hm?
**[09:17] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
What's an "affair"?
**[09:19] (Flashback) Honhime**
An affair? Well, let's see...
**[09:24] (Flashback) Honhime**
It's something that everyone does, but it's
the absolute worst thing to get caught doing.
**[09:30] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Really?
**[09:31] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
So it's like underlining all the
dirty words in the dictionary?
**[09:36] (Flashback) Honhime**
There's nothing wrong with doing that,
but is it something you do?
**[09:40] (Flashback) Honhime**
My heart is filled with worry.
**[09:43] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
The boys in class do it.
**[09:45] (Flashback) Honhime**
My, they're incorrigible.
**[09:48] little Sumireko**
*"The man spoke with a sneer.*
**[09:51] little Sumireko**
* 'Magic? You still believe*
* in magic at your age?'*
**[09:56] little Sumireko**
*Sally bit her lip in frustration.*
**[09:58] little Sumireko**
* It was as though he'd read*
* her mind once again.*
**[10:03] little Sumireko**
*An urge to kill him welled up inside her.*
**[10:06] little Sumireko**
* 'It isn't ghosts who curse people,'*
* said the medium.*
**[10:11] little Sumireko**
* 'Before she took her own life,*
* she said something to you, didn't she?'*
**[10:16] little Sumireko**
*'She told you the name of a flower.'*
**[10:18] little Sumireko**
*The medium's narrowed eyes opened wide.*
**[10:21] little Sumireko**
*'That is what a curse is.'"*
**[10:34] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
What kind of book is this?
**[10:36] (Flashback) Honhime**
You have a good eye.
**[10:38] (Flashback) Honhime**
That's the type of mystery that
would knock a sumo wrestler dead.
**[10:42] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
That sounds like fun!
**[10:47] (Flashback) Honhime**
You seem like you'll be all right now.
**[10:55] (Flashback) Honhime**
I think I'll ask after all, just the once.
**[10:59] (Flashback) Honhime**
Did something happen to you?
**[11:02] (Flashback) Sumireko**
Huh?
**[11:03] (Flashback) Honhime**
Well, the first time you came
in here, you were crying.
**[11:08] (Flashback) Honhime**
You don't have to tell me
if you don't want to.
**[11:10] (Flashback) Honhime**
It's not like me to ask, anyway.
**[11:18] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
I-I-I...
**[11:20] Sumireko; narration**
My difficulty in speaking to others,
**[11:23] Sumireko; narration**
and how it caused fights
between me and my friends...
**[11:26] Sumireko; narration**
I remember that explaining just those
two things took an agonizingly long time.
**[11:34] Sumireko; narration**
But she didn't try to hurry me.
She waited patiently for me to finish.
**[11:45] (Flashback) Honhime**
Do you want to get better
at speaking to people?
**[11:47] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Yes.
**[11:49] (Flashback) Honhime**
Did you know?
**[11:50] (Flashback) Honhime**
Everyone has a dictionary inside their head.
**[11:54] (Flashback) Honhime**
It's called your inner dictionary.
**[11:57] (Flashback) Honhime**
We unconsciously search through it
for words when we speak.
**[12:01] (Flashback) Honhime**
It seems you're not very good
at pulling out that dictionary.
**[12:11] (Flashback) Honhime**
Try writing a passage.
**[12:18] (Flashback) Honhime**
You don't have to physically write it.
**[12:20] (Flashback) Honhime**
First, ready some manuscript
paper in your head.
**[12:25] (Flashback) Honhime**
Write down all the words you
know and give them form.
**[12:30] (Flashback) Honhime**
You're going to take the dictionary
in your head apart.
**[12:33] (Flashback) Honhime**
You already have all the words you need.
**[12:36] (Flashback) Honhime**
Next, rearrange the words
on the manuscript paper,
**[12:39] (Flashback) Honhime**
and turn them into writing.
**[12:40] (Flashback) Honhime**
Then try reading the
manuscript you've created.
**[12:46] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Do you think I can do it?
**[12:47] (Flashback) Honhime**
I know you can.
**[12:50] (Flashback) Honhime**
Practice makes perfect, though.
**[12:53] (Flashback) Honhime**
I'm certain that you will write
a vast number of passages.
**[12:58] (Flashback) Honhime**
Your everyday life is in itself
a full-length novel.
**[13:03] (Flashback) Honhime**
One day, when you write a novel,
I hope you'll let me read it.
**[13:09] (Flashback) Honhime**
I've already read nearly
all the books, after all.
***SIGN*** Gyokushin-dou Bookstore
**[13:12] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
I will!
***SIGN*** This kanji...
...is here
**[13:17] (Flashback) little Sumireko**
Hey, watch this!
**[13:20] Sumireko; narration**
Her advice worked immediately.
**[13:23] Sumireko; narration**
I was soon able to speak with my friends.
**[13:30] Sumireko; narration**
I headed to the bookstore to thank her
for helping me make up with them,
**[13:38] Sumireko; narration**
but I was never able to find
the path there again.
**[13:46] Sumireko; narration**
Now, that path...
was right in front of my eyes.
**[14:00] Sumireko**
Crap...
**[14:05] Sumireko**
"I regret that with each
new day, you grow older."
**[14:18] child Sumireko**
Piece of cake.
***SIGN*** Gyokushin-dou Bookstore
**[14:45] Sumireko**
And so, the truth of the store where
I read those books remains yet unknown.
**[14:50] Sumireko**
That's how the story ends.
**[14:52] Adashino**
I see. Well, that solves one
of the mysteries about you.
**[14:57] Sumireko**
About me? Details needed.
**[15:00] Adashino**
I've always felt that the way you speak
is unusual. There's a certain stiffness.
**[15:05] Sumireko**
Oh. It naturally turned out that
way due to how I write as I speak.
**[15:10] Sumireko**
I've taken a liking to this
way of speaking, though.
**[15:14] Sumireko**
It sort of sounds like her, in a way.
**[15:16] Adashino**
Really?
**[15:17] Sumireko**
That's kind of an understated reaction.
**[15:20] Adashino**
More importantly, do you remember
the name of that bookstore?
**[15:24] Sumireko**
The name?
**[15:26] Sumireko**
For some reason, only vaguely.
**[15:29] Sumireko**
I'm pretty certain it was
something like Gyokushin-dou.
**[15:33] Adashino**
Gyokushin-dou?
**[15:35] Sumireko**
What is it?
**[15:36] Adashino**
A mysterious woman who loves books...
**[15:39] Adashino**
Did she invite you in, thinking you
two were birds of a feather?
**[15:43] Sumireko**
Hey.
**[15:44] manager**
Ogawa-san!
**[15:45] Sumireko**
Yes, sir?
**[15:46] manager**
We don't have many customers right now,
so could you help me bring in the delivery?
**[15:50] Sumireko**
Yes, of course.
**[15:51] manager**
Sorry to ask, but thanks.
**[15:57] Sumireko**
So, about our conversation earlier...
**[15:59] Adashino**
Yes, regarding the mysterious woman.
**[16:02] Adashino**
This story dates back to the time
of the fifth shogun, Tsunayoshi.
**[16:06] Adashino**
There once was a beautiful
woman of noble birth.
**[16:09] Adashino**
It's said that she was such an avid reader,
she twice reread the more than five thousand
**[16:13] Adashino**
scrolls of Buddhist scripture.
**[16:15] Adashino**
After the lady's death,
in accordance with her will,
**[16:17] Adashino**
her books were donated to the temple.
**[16:19] Adashino**
A storehouse for them was built next to her
grave so that anyone could borrow them.
**[16:24] Adashino**
It's said that if you put your ear
to the lady's grave in Yotsuya,
**[16:27] Adashino**
you could hear a voice reading books.
**[16:31] Adashino**
According to one theory, her posthumous
Buddhist name was Gyokushin-in.
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
***SIGN*** Gyokushin-in
**[16:34] Sumireko**
What?
**[16:36] Adashino**
Because she loved reading so much,
she was given the nickname...
**[16:39] [SONG] text**
Honhime
(The Lady of Books)
**[16:39] Adashino**
Honhime.
**[16:41] Sumireko**
"Honhime"?
**[16:42] Adashino**
There was one rule for borrowing
books from the lady's library.
**[16:46] Adashino**
"When returning a book,
you must add one more."
**[16:50] Adashino**
Those who didn't follow it
met with ill fortune.
**[16:53] Adashino**
She must have really
wanted to read new books.
**[16:55] Sumireko**
Huh? But I never added any myself.
**[17:00] (Flashback) Honhime**
One day, when you write a novel,
I hope you'll let me read it.
**[17:05] Sumireko**
I see. There are some very
patient readers out there.
**[17:09] Adashino**
Huh?
**[17:14] Sumireko**
The next time I see her, I'll have
to present her with a new book...
**[17:18] Sumireko**
signed by the author Ogawa Sumireko.
**[17:27] Yorumun**
*Can you hear me?*
**[17:28] Yorumun**
* To all you small fry out there, this is*
* the mermaid VTuber, Himeuo Yorumun!*
**[17:35] Adashino**
For you.
**[17:36] Sumireko**
Oh, how very considerate.
**[17:44] Sumireko**
Any leads on new cursed objects?
**[17:46] Adashino**
It's difficult.
**[17:48] Adashino**
There isn't necessarily a cursed object
associated with every Curiosity.
**[17:52] Sumireko**
Is that how it works?
**[17:55] Adashino**
That's how it works.
**[17:56] Sumireko**
Then wouldn't it be faster to seek out
a physical Curiosity from the start?
**[18:01] Sumireko**
Like a tsukumogami or something.
**[18:03] Adashino**
A tsukumogami, huh?
Finding one of those at all is difficult.
**[18:08] Sumireko**
Is it?
**[18:09] Adashino**
I can't exactly go snooping through people's
personal items without permission, can I?
**[18:13] Adashino**
Sumireko-san, will you show me
all of your personal items?
**[18:16] Sumireko**
Get out of here and never come back.
**[18:18] Adashino**
Right?
**[18:19] Adashino**
And before that, I have to wonder
if tsukumogami even exist in this era.
**[18:24] Sumireko**
What? This coming from you of all people?
**[18:26] Adashino**
These days, everything is
made to be thrown away.
**[18:30] Adashino**
If anything, digital data is treated
with more care than physical items.
**[18:35] Sumireko**
I see. It *is* hard to imagine a more difficult
environment for the creation of tsukumogami.
**[18:43] Nodoka**
Say, Occhan!
**[18:45] Nodoka**
Have you been studying for finals?
**[18:47] Oto**
Not at all.
**[18:48] Nodoka**
You're kidding!
But you always get good grades!
**[18:52] Oto**
I really haven't studied, though.
What about you, Nodoka?
**[18:55] Nodoka**
I've got a home tutor assigned
to me. I really hate it.
**[19:02] Nodoka**
But you know what? There's something
I do in secret that's a lot of fun.
**[19:07] Oto**
What is it?
**[19:08] Nodoka**
Collecting cute underwear.
**[19:11] Oto**
Really?
**[19:12] Nodoka**
Yup. See?
**[19:15] Oto**
You shouldn't do that, Nodoka. It's unseemly.
**[19:18] Oto**
You'll end up like that
slovenly apartment wife.
**[19:21] Nodoka**
Ahpartmentwaif? Who's that?
**[19:24] Oto**
It's Wakazukuri-senpai's real name.
**[19:26] Nodoka**
It is?
**[19:28] Nodoka**
You know, I always thought
her name sounded a bit odd!
**[19:33] Nodoka**
So it's a stage name, right?
**[19:36] Nodoka**
Well, how about that! So her real
name is Ahpartmentwaif-senpai!
**[19:40] Oto**
Y-Yes.
**[19:42] Nodoka**
Hey, how about we get everyone together
to study at my place before finals?
**[19:47] Oto**
You don't mind me coming over?
**[19:48] Nodoka**
Of course not! I'm all alone on
Saturdays, so I get super bored.
**[19:52] Oto**
Sure. Sounds like fun.
**[19:53] Nodoka**
Bye, Occhan!
**[19:56] Oto**
Bye-bye!
***SIGN*** Takamagahara Hospital
**[20:21] Oto**
Hello.
**[20:23] Shizuku**
I've been waiting for you, Adashino Oto.
**[20:28] Oto**
Welcome home, masters.
**[20:31] Oto**
My name is Otohime.
**[20:32] customer A**
Where are you from?
**[20:35] Oto**
I have wandered into this land
from a certain small country.
**[20:39] Oto**
But I believe that one day,
I will be able to return home.
**[20:42] customers A; B**
So cute!
**[20:45] Oto**
Today, I drew all my favorite animals.
**[20:49] customers A; B**
So cute!
**[20:51] Oto**
You're much too kind, masters.
**[21:05] Nodoka**
This is no fun!
**[21:09] Nodoka**
The school and Dad are way too mean!
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
***SIGN*** To Students and Parents
Creating social media accounts or accounts
on video sites for the purpose of hosting
livestreams or uploading videos is prohibited.
Livestreams and/or videos can only be watched
with a parent or guardian's permission,
subject to a daily viewing limit at their discretion.
**[21:12] Nodoka**
I just want everyone
to see me sing and dance!
**[21:22] Nodoka**
Oh, no!
**[21:29] Yorumun**
*Can you hear me?*
**[21:30] Yorumun**
* To all you small fry out there, this is*
* the mermaid VTuber, Himeuo Yorumun!*
**[21:38] Yorumun**
* Thanks for waiting, everyone!*
* How was your day today?*
**[23:13] Shizuku**
Good work!
**[23:14] Oto**
Well, I'll be going now.
**[23:16] Shizuku**
Wait.
**[23:18] Shizuku**
Thanks for helping out
so many times this month.
**[23:22] Shizuku**
Here. As thanks.
**[23:25] Oto**
Thank you.
**[23:28] Oto**
What is it?
**[23:30] Shizuku**
Once you get home, take a look inside.
***SIGN*** Dreams, Dance, and a Tsukumogami
**[23:35] Sumireko**
Next time: "Dreams, Dance,
and a Tsukumogami."