Road Trip Arc

Story guide

Beside Rakko, Usagi asks whether the flower-like ornament on Rakko's head is necessary. Sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle, Rakko shows several looks in turn: a floral accessory, a hat, and something like a hood. Usagi imitates them with a head shape resembling twisted hair, and Rakko realizes that they had been singing while forgetting what was on their head. The scene ends on the question of whether Usagi's hairstyle is imitating something, in an exchange like dress-up play between the two.

Story guide

At a service area dining spot, Rakko and Usagi savor pickled vegetables. Usagi licks a pickle off the back of their hand, and Rakko praises the pickles as tasty, adding that the rakkyo is also superb. Usagi's eyes sparkle with delight. On the way back, when Usagi walks right past a stall flying a pickle banner, Rakko is surprised and asks whether they are not going to buy any. When Rakko, having gotten into the car, calls out to take it slow on the way home, Usagi is twisting their long ears together into a spiral, and Rakko asks why they are twisting them.

Cultural and language noteA service area is a highway rest facility that often includes restaurants and souvenir shops. This image uses it as a place for food and merchandise.

Story guide

While driving, Rakko complains of drowsiness and asks Usagi sitting next to them to put the snacks from in there into their mouth. What Usagi offers is Shigekix Super Lemon, and Rakko tells them not to weaponize it while still letting Usagi feed them, letting out a cry from the stimulation the moment it enters their mouth. The car keeps going, and Rakko says it is to shake off the drowsiness, asking Usagi for permission to sing. They then launch into a loud song about gapao rice, and Usagi sits with their mouth shut.

Story guide

Chiikawa holds a pink frying pan with both hands and thrusts a steaming bean sprout stir-fry toward the viewer in a single illustration. An arrow is drawn to the contents of the frying pan, labeling the dish as bean sprout stir-fry. Chiikawa faces forward with a proud expression, eyebrows raised, and makes a short exclamation in a small speech bubble on the right. The steps to make it or interactions with other characters are not depicted; the scene simply shows them presenting the finished stir-fry.

Cultural and language noteStir-fried bean sprouts is a home-style dish made by frying bean sprouts, the young shoots of germinated beans. Here the dish name itself is the subject of the image.

Story guide

Calling it thanks for the day, Rakko gives Usagi a bag full of rakkyo and explains that Usagi had looked as though they found it delicious. Usagi places the bag on their head and runs off laughing loudly. Rakko silently watches them go, murmurs that it is time to head home, and closes the car door. Once the car is moving, Rakko sniffs the air, remarks that the car smells of rakkyo, and wonders whether the acidity has seeped into it. After murmuring that this too might be a memory, Rakko nevertheless opens the window just a little.

Cultural and language noteRakkyo is a type of Japanese pickle made by pickling small bulb vegetables in sweet vinegar. Because of its distinct aroma, it is treated in this scene as a lingering smell inside the car.