Sphinx Arc

Story guide

Hachiware reads a book about ancient Egypt while Chiikawa peers at the pages beside them. After a page about pyramids, they reach an illustration of a Sphinx and look closely at the combination of a yellow-brown body and a human face, excitedly realizing that the Sphinx seems related to cats. Chiikawa takes the open book and reads further, mentally placing the reclining Sphinx beside Hachiware lying prone in the same direction. As Chiikawa grows more certain they look alike, Hachiware actually brings their front paws together and lies down on the floor to copy the illustration. The short piece moves naturally from reading to imitation.

Cultural and language noteThe Sphinx is an ancient Egyptian monument known for a human head and a lion's body. Here, its resemblance to a cat lying prone becomes the basis of play.

Story guide

Chiikawa and Hachiware look up at a large Sphinx lying before them. Hachiware is delighted that the form they had just learned about in a book is actually here, and the two approach while repeating the Sphinx's name. Hachiware suggests trying to speak to them, but Chiikawa is unsure how to approach them. The Sphinx then raises their upper body and walks right up to them. Hachiware takes this as a response, and they watch beside Chiikawa. At the end, the Sphinx brings their front paws together and raises their hips in an unusual pose, while the two small figures observe the change at their feet.

Cultural and language noteA typical Sphinx statue is known for lying down with its front paws extended. Here, the statue moves and unexpectedly raises the statue's hips like a cat.

Story guide

Hachiware plays a sushi chef behind a small sushi counter and hands a green teacup to Chiikawa, who is playing the customer. Chiikawa relaxes over the warm tea and then receives a pink piece of sushi shaped by Hachiware. The topping bears round marks like it was pressed with paw pads, but Chiikawa does not mind, eats it in one bite, and gives a satisfied sound. Immediately afterward, they bring the teacup to their mouth too quickly, choke on the heat, and cough with tears in their eyes. Hachiware realizes the tea may have been too hot and apologizes while watching Chiikawa suffer. The enjoyable shop game ends with a small mistake over the drink's temperature.

Cultural and language noteSushi restaurants often serve hot green tea with a meal. The sushi counter, teacup, and chef-and-customer exchange recreate the restaurant format on a small scale.

Story guide

Hachiware sits on a stump in a grassy area, singing while playing a small stringed instrument as Chiikawa listens nearby. The lyrics begin with Hachiware wondering aloud whether morning has already come, then move through spreading butter on toasted bread, the damp air leaving things half-dry after the rain stops, realizing that some strange footprints are their own from the night before, and the soil holding an unusual amount of water. Midway through, Hachiware's face fills the frame as the word “half-dry” is drawn out in song. Chiikawa listens intently, letting out brief sounds, and the scene ends when Hachiware sings that it is sharply chilled.

Cultural and language noteThe humor rests on trying to alter the physical feeling of the season by imagining scenery from the wrong season. The breakfast scene in the song contrasts with the dry summer field.

Story guide

A sushi assortment nearly falls onto Hachiware while they are lying down. Hachiware jumps up and catches it, then proudly carries the intact sushi over to Chiikawa. Chiikawa is tearfully delighted, but when Hachiware turns while holding the plate, the contents collapse and the nigiri and toppings become mixed together. Hachiware is discouraged, yet the two move the broken sushi into a bowl in their cave and sit down with chopsticks. Hachiware decides that if it is mixed, they can pour hot water over it, then adds hot water from a teapot to the steaming bowl. The ending turns a failed presentation into another way of eating it.

Cultural and language noteOchazuke is made by pouring hot tea or hot water over rice, allowing broken toppings to be eaten together. Moving sushi toppings and rice into a bowl leads to an improvised dish here.

Story guide

Chiikawa is shown floating in the center of the frame, fully wrapped in a yellow animal costume. The costume head has small ears and two horns, black and brown spots run from its back to its neck, and a thin tail extends behind it. Only Chiikawa's white face is visible through the round face opening; their eyes are closed in a smile. Their body tilts diagonally, with short arms and legs thrown outward in a loose pose. On the pale yellow background, small simplified patterns of the same long-necked animal repeat in different directions. With no dialogue or event, the image is complete as a single illustration matching the costume and pattern.

Story guide

A single illustration in which Chiikawa stands tilting diagonally against a pale pink background. On their head is a small triangular hat with pink-and-white vertical stripes, topped with a white flower-like ornament. Around their waist is wrapped a short cloth with the same striped pattern, and they stand with both arms folded in front of their body, one leg extended to the side. The other leg is hidden by the costume and not visible. Their cheeks are deeply flushed. At their feet, dark pink rounded mound-like shapes line up horizontally, scattered over with large and small white hearts. There are no speech bubbles or dialogue, and no other character is depicted.

Story guide

While eating in a cave, Chiikawa notices a long blue-handled tool leaning against the rock wall. Its tip divides into two prongs, with several projections along the inner sides. Hachiware stops eating and carries the tool over to show Chiikawa. Explaining that they saved money to buy it in case a scary opponent comes by from time to time, Hachiware makes Chiikawa's eyes light up. Pleased by the reaction, Hachiware decides to demonstrate it, grips the handle with both hands, and swings it hard sideways with a cry. The scene ends as the tip passes close to the floor with force.

Story guide

Usagi runs forcefully past Chiikawa while crying out loudly. They stop once and strike a light pose with one leg and one arm raised. Watching together with Hachiware, Chiikawa and Hachiware both smile. Usagi then runs back toward them with another string of cries, and the two look at each other. When Usagi becomes quiet a short distance away, they wonder whether Usagi was looking at them. At the end, Usagi turns around and blasts them again with a loud voice from close range, leaving Hachiware startled at the volume.

Story guide

Hachiware brings a dorayaki larger than any of them to Chiikawa and Usagi. It looks ordinary at first, but when the top pancake is lifted, a thick layer of green bean paste appears inside. Hachiware is surprised that it is uguisu-an, explaining that they had expected brown bean paste. Though a little awkward, Hachiware says they will prepare green tea and leaves. Chiikawa sees them off with a smile, while Usagi does not wait and bites straight into the giant pancake. As Hachiware goes for tea, Chiikawa and Usagi settle into enjoying the unexpected filling, with Usagi eating heartily.

Cultural and language noteUguisu-an is green sweet bean paste made from sweetened green peas. Its color surprises Hachiware after opening a dorayaki expecting red-bean paste.

Story guide

Chiikawa and Hachiware stand in front of a card vending machine, and Hachiware turns the lever while wishing for a shiny card to come out. When they open the card that emerges, Hachiware cries out in delight that it is a shiny, and a glowing card of Samurai King is revealed. What comes to Chiikawa is Baron Laser, whose HP and ATK are both a modest 50, and the two fall silent. When Hachiware offers to trade, Chiikawa gasps, but then notices that the surface of the card is peeling. When they peel it back, a rainbow-colored card of Duke Laser with both HP and ATK of 9999 appears underneath, and the story ends with the two astonished at its power.

Cultural and language noteCards with a shiny finish are often treated as rare pulls in collectible card sets. Their artwork and high numbers heighten the anticipation of opening a pack.

Story guide

Chiikawa waits for work among a large crowd of people seeking jobs. When Yoroi-san (Armor Knight) gives the signal, the crowd moves all at once, and Hachiware points out an open ticket to Chiikawa. Among tickets for Subjugation and Weeding work, Chiikawa manages to grab a Weeding ticket while being jostled. Moving to a grassy area, they keep pulling weeds alone and begin to tire, sweat forming on their forehead. Kurimanju passes by holding two cans, calls out, and hands one over. Chiikawa accepts it uncertainly and looks at the label saying it is a drink for a break. The day shifts from a frantic attempt to secure work to an unexpected gift.

Cultural and language noteThe system of taking posted tickets on a first-come, first-served basis simplifies recruiting day Labor. A canned drink during a break marks a pause after Labor.

Story guide

In a cave, Chiikawa holds a new Subjugation tool with a pink handle and a forked tip. Hachiware arrives, reacts with surprise, asks whether Chiikawa bought it themself, and is delighted that their tools now match. Hachiware also acknowledges how hard it must have been to save the money. Standing side by side with the pink and blue tools, the two call out together and swing them down again and again. As they do, Chiikawa recalls days when a smaller image of themself pulled weeds, pointed a weapon at a red insect-like opponent, and looked close to tears, then smiles with satisfaction. The scene ends with both of them calling out and swinging their tools together.

Story guide

While Chiikawa draws a pattern on a flat material in a cave, Hachiware brings packaged instant noodles and invites them to eat together. Chiikawa agrees but keeps softly repeating the sound of the product name while continuing to work. Hachiware prepares the noodles, and the two begin eating from green bowls. Hachiware is pleased that they are tasty even without extra toppings, while Chiikawa's attention still does not leave the name. At the end, Chiikawa rolls up the material in their hands, holds it to their mouth, and blows into it like a small wind instrument. The food name makes them think of something that produces sound, linking the meal with their craftwork.

Cultural and language noteA charumera is a small wind instrument historically used by mobile Chinese-noodle vendors to attract customers. Its name is also used for a brand of instant noodles.

Story guide

In a meadow full of blooming flowers, Chiikawa and Hachiware are stringing together picked flowers to make necklaces. Hachiware brings up the ramen the two ate together recently, and on their own initiative corrects themselves, saying that the proper name is not Charimera but Charumera. The one who said it turns bright red with embarrassment, and Chiikawa stares in silence before bursting into laughter. Hachiware asks if they should say it one more time, and the two say the correct name together again. In the end, Hachiware laughs with embarrassment and calls it the best, and Chiikawa also raises their hands and laughs, bringing the story to a close.

Cultural and language noteThe scene is built on a slip that switches one sound in the name of a real instant noodle product. It also continues the previous image, in which Chiikawa associated the name with a wind instrument.

Story guide

Chiikawa runs into a cave where Hachiware is drawing, carrying a pink Subjugation tool. Hachiware takes out a blue one and prepares as a small insect-like opponent with yellow-green stripes and two antennae emerges from deeper inside. Though unsure how to catch them, Hachiware inserts the forked tip around their body and pinches them. The opponent tips greatly and is lifted while caught on the tip. As Hachiware walks away carrying them with the tool, Chiikawa follows at a short distance. On the way, Hachiware notices that the opponent smells like egg boro and realizes something when looking at the round ends of their antennae.

Cultural and language noteEgg boro are small baked sweets made with egg and starch. Their round shape and sweet smell provide clues in the opponent's antenna tips and scent.

Story guide

Holding their Subjugation tools, Chiikawa and Hachiware watch the yellow-green striped opponent leave. Hachiware is relieved that they are gone, but Chiikawa keeps trembling while gripping the pink handle and soon begins shedding large tears. When Hachiware asks why, Chiikawa remembers the fear from just before. A gray inserted scene shows furry versions of Chiikawa and Hachiware standing together, revealing that Chiikawa was frightened even by the possibility of becoming like that. Hachiware accepts Chiikawa's tears, and the two return to their cave. They finish around warm noodles; when Hachiware asks whether Chiikawa feels better, Chiikawa nods while eating.

Story guide

Usagi holds a large dark-green sheet of food and bites hard into one edge. Chiikawa and Hachiware approach and wonder what Usagi is eating, so Usagi tears long strips from the large sheet and throws several through the air. Chiikawa and Hachiware jump to catch them but cannot reach at first. They eventually secure two falling strips, one each, hold them in both hands, and bring them to their mouths. Although the sourness makes their cheeks pucker, both chew eagerly at the same pace. Usagi watches while holding the rest and lets out a loud cry at the end.

Cultural and language noteSu-kombu is a sour snack or drinking accompaniment made by seasoning kelp with vinegar and similar flavors. It is usually sold in thin rectangular strips, but here it is enlarged enough to hold.

Story guide

Beside Chiikawa, Hachiware begins to talk while shaking their body in small motions. The regular movement suddenly becomes stronger, and Chiikawa opens their eyes wide without knowing what is happening. Laughing, Hachiware says it was an imitation and continues the small gestures with their hands on the floor. In the next moment, two long thin things hang from their mouth all the way to the floor, leaving Hachiware frozen in surprise. Chiikawa sweats and watches without being able to speak. After a stretch of gray silence, Hachiware deals with the hanging things as if winding them up with both hands and explains that it happens often, though both are still trembling.