A Good Meal (ごちそう Gochisō) is the fifth chapter of the manga series Kagurabachi, written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono.
Summary[]
Hinao gives Char a jacket to wear; while it is quite large, Hinao voices that it looks good. Hinao turns to Chihiro and is glad her information turned out accurate, which Chihiro thanks. Hinao wonders why there are sorcerers after Char, which Chihiro is equally curious about. Char abruptly collapses, still hungry as she had only eaten very little soba earlier. As there was nothing to eat within the cafe, Chihiro offers to buy food for Char, leaving her in Hinao's care.
While on the road, Chihiro's left hand shakes, thoughts turning to Shiba's concern for his tired state after the events of the last two days. Shiba had taken charge of interrogating Norisaku, leaving Chihiro to drive back to the cafe with Char and promising to let Chihiro know what he found out. His contemplation is interrupted when Char sneezes; having been sitting in the back seat. Chihiro calls Hinao to ask why she was there, and Hinao explains that Char had snuck in when Chihiro was in the bathroom, citing she needed some fresh air. Hinao justifies Char's presence by asserting that it was safer for her to be with Chihiro, rather than at the cafe where sorcerers could show up at any moment.
Chihiro ends the call and Char notices Chihiro's somber expression, asking about it. Chihiro replies his concern is due to Char's presence, worried that she was taking risks all for the sake of 'fresh air'. Char responds that she had been inside for a long period of time, and Chihiro would be able to fend off any assailants in any case. Chihiro muses over Char's statement of being inside, and Char elaborates that she was captured. Chihiro asks why and Char refuses to respond again, Chihiro stating if he was going to risk his life to protect Char, he could at least know the reason. Seeing Char's visible concern and recalling Norisaku's mention of Char's mother dying to protect her, Chihiro drops the subject. He asks what Char wants to eat and she asks for a sandwich.
Shiba breaks Norisaku's foot.
Within an abandoned warehouse, Norisaku awakens to find himself tied to a chair with a seal preventing him from using sorcery. Shiba pulls a chair in front of Norisaku and sits down, asking about the Enchanted Blade's location. Norisaku's response is evasive, and Shiba places his foot on Norisaku's before ordering Norisaku to cut the act and tell him. When Norisaku laughs in response, Shiba steps on his foot with great force, shattering the ground in all directions and indenting Norisaku's foot in the ground, blood spurting from the wound. Pained, Norisaku worriedly states if he were to talk, they were both dead, and he suggests Shiba and Chihiro give Char up and get out of the situation, as the power behind him was greater than Shiba could imagine. Shiba is unamused as he stares back neutrally.
Chihiro and Char stop at a shop named Babylonia where Chihiro buys Char a sandwich, Char expressing her delight at how tasty it was. Chihiro asks if they should head back but they instead stop at a shop named Tanda to buy ice cream for Char. Char says meals must conclude with the right ending, and Chihiro once again brings up that they should return. Instead, they make one more stop at yet another shop named Bloom, this time buying a drink that Char claims is to wash everything down, to Chihiro's disbelief.
Sojo receives the report of Norisaku's failure
Elsewhere in a room with large glass windows displaying Tokyo, Genichi Sojo sits at ease in a large bath tub, a man tied to the rafters above him with his eyes torn out. Sojo 'thanks' him for the report and criticises the 'daruma-wielding moron' Norisaku for his failure and lack of subtlety. Sojo then questions how the tied-up man had the audacity to watch and not try to retrieve Char. He admits it is fascinating to hear of a seventh Enchanted Blade, having never of a goldfish blade among the six and wondering why a seemingly random individual had it. Sojo asks for further information from several nearby subordinates, who reply the other scouts have found nothing. Sojo decides on a new, more brash course of action, ordering them to 'open the child's cage'.
Having eaten her fill, Char reveals that she had been in a dark place for a long time and eaten nothing but mush. Recounting how her mother had constantly told her to live a happy life, she expresses that today, she was happy. Chihiro neutrally takes her words in, and as Char moves to speak more Shiba calls Chihiro, who picks up after stopping the car at a red light. Shiba asks where Chihiro is and he replies he is in Shiba's car, asking if Shiba had any updates.
Shiba discloses that their next target is Genichi Sojo, a prominent weapons dealer with a significant influence in Japan's criminal underworld. Sojo is Norisaku's boss, Char's pursuer and the wielder of Cloud Gouger. As the light turns green and Char sees the drivers of the vehicles nearby all appear identical, Shiba voices his suspicion that there was likely a connection between Sojo and the Hishaku based on how Norisaku had talked and Sojo's possession of Cloud Gouger. Shiba adds that he would ask Hinao to gather information on Sojo after they had convened at the cafe and he had completed his interrogation.
A vortex of clones materialises.
As they are talking, Chihiro steps on the gas but the ground turns to sludge beneath the car's tyres and does not move, prompting his confusion. The light turns back to red and the earth around the intersection in front of the car morphs into a swirling vortex of individuals identical to the vehicle drivers. One of these individuals declares that they have located Char. Chihiro promptly tells Shiba he will return shortly and ends the call.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro and Char return to Cafe Haru Haru while Shiba takes over interrogating Norisaku.
- Chihiro leaves in Shiba's car to purchase food and Char sneaks onto the car. Char is still hesitant to explain exactly why she is being pursued.
- Shiba has dragged Norisaku to a warehouse, where Norisaku is initially reluctant to talk given the powers moving behind him.
- In a building, arms dealer and notable name in the underworld Genichi Sojo learns Norisaku has failed to retrieve Char, finds the existence of a seventh Enchanted Blade and orders for a new approach to capture Char.
- Char begins to tell Chihiro why she is being pursued but is interrupted by a call from Shiba, who reports to Chihiro that Norisaku's boss is Genichi Sojo, who is after Char and possesses Cloud Gouger. The two suspect a link to the Hishaku.
- At the red light where Chihiro is stopped, Char and Chihiro notice the drivers of the vehicles around them all look identical. As the light turns green, the earth becomes sludgy around the wheels of the car, preventing them from moving.
- The earth at the intersection forms into a spiral of identical-looking individuals, who state they have found Char. Chihiro promises Shiba he will be at the cafe soon and ends the call.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
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Takeru Hokazono |
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