Rusk's Sweet Love Revives in Inokashira Park
Summary
This novel will be a translation of my work, "井の頭公園のラスクちゃんはお砂糖とお塩でできている" using DeepL.
louisa-charlotte.hatenablog.com
The story is based on a confectionery called "Inokashira Park Rusk," which is actually sold at a confectionery shop in front of the real Inokashira Koen station, and is intertwined with a character called Rusk-chan.
In addition, the character has recently attracted attention with the release of a dedicated lunchbox asset and the hoodie she wears being sold as real-life clothing.
And what will happen to her story with her childhood friend, Haolan?
Please note that the translation was initially made at DeepL, but was revised at ChatGPT.
Novels
Rusk's Sweet Love Revives in Inokashira Park by Louisa-charlotte Iosifivna Inokashiraska
My friend brought an interesting story. Though she may seem like an ordinary girl, she is actually the Dragon Goddess of the pond in Inokashira Park and, as I am an elf, she could be considered my landlord. We often share drinks, and just the other day we agreed to meet up in front of the Inokashira Park station for a drink. She arrived soon after, and despite her noble nature, she has a warm, friendly demeanor. And she's an excellent conversationalist. Seeing me, she waved and I nodded in return.
"It's been a while. How have you been? I've been enjoying the stories you write, so I thought I'd provide you with some more material," she said.
Hearing that my writing was interesting from the goddess of this land was truly humbling.
"Let's continue this conversation at the table!"
We both agreed and proceeded to walk into a cozy pub.
"Ah, we've been waiting for you. Right this way!"
The owner greeted us warmly. Though the pub is quite small, the food is exceptionally delicious. Especially their oden—a Japanese hot pot dish with a rich, flavorful broth. The daikon radish, simmered to perfection, and the tororo kelp on top are incredibly delicious. The broth is so good that it can be used to dilute sake, which then easily settles in the stomach. But what caught my attention even more was a bottle of 'Okunokami,' a type of sake brewed near Hachikokuyama in Higashimurayama. My friend had introduced me to this sake when she took me out drinking to lift my spirits during a difficult time. It was also she who encouraged me to try my hand at writing. Of course, a certain teacher I met at the academy played a big part in inspiring me to write as well.
"Alright, I'll go with my usual dashi-mixed sake, and for the appetizer, some steamed eggplant," said the Dragon Goddess.
I ordered Okunokami and chose their house-made char siu pork for my appetizer. The pub even allows you to choose your appetizer, which is one of the many things I like about it.
After a short wait, a large bottle of sake, a wooden masu (sake box), and a tokkuri (sake flask) were brought to our table. The owner skillfully poured sake into the masu, which had "Inokashira" written on it. A very stylish touch. He then filled a teacup with sake and oden broth.
"Here you go!"
The aromatic scent of the broth wafted even to the next table. It was irresistible. But first, I had to finish the glass in front of me. I poured sake into my cup and toasted with my friend.
"By the way, I want to do that thing... how do you use this again?"
Saying this, the Dragon Goddess took out her smartphone. It's a custom between us to take selfies as evidence of our offline meetups. Though I'm an elf, I'm quite familiar with smartphones. However, explaining how to use one is another matter. After managing to get the selfie, I took a photo of both our selfies displayed side by side on our phones.
"Now, back to what I was saying..."
The Dragon Goddess continued her story, and I listened intently. The story I'm about to write was inspired by what she told me that day. However, I ask that you don't worry too much about the details, as I had to fill in some gaps with my imagination.
During the cherry blossom season, a cat-eared girl named Rusk was waiting for her lover at the station near Inokashira Park. Underneath the fully bloomed cherry blossoms, she looked different today, dressed in a white dress instead of her usual boyish short haircut. She held a basket containing a homemade bento box, presumably to enjoy the cherry blossom viewing with her lover. She got a message from her lover saying he would be a bit late.
"Seriously, you're always so lax with time..." Rusk muttered while looking at her wristwatch. Soon, an express train, which usually doesn't stop at this station, pulled in. During cherry blossom season, the express trains do stop here. Among the people who got off, Rusk saw a familiar face and waved. Waving back was her lover, Haolan, her childhood friend dressed somewhat like a young boy. Though he's a bit careless, Rusk has always been taking care of him.
"Sorry, I got delayed because I had some stuff to take care of..." Haolan said, taking Rusk's hand and apologizing. Though this happened often, Rusk was used to it. The two held hands and headed towards the crowded banks of Inokashira Pond. Unfortunately, all the benches that seemed suitable for a meal were already taken.
"How about we go boating until a spot opens up?" Haolan suggested.
"Viewing the cherry blossoms from a boat sounds lovely. Shall we go?" Rusk accepted the proposal. However, when they got to the boat rental, a long line awaited them. What's more, Haolan couldn't help but be distracted by an attractive woman standing ahead of them.
"Who are you looking at when you're on a date with me..." Rusk felt like her heart was going to burst. She was angry that Haolan, who was supposed to be spending time with her, was grinning at another woman. The two eventually got onto a paddle boat shaped like a swan. Their rhythm was off, probably because Haolan was still distracted by the woman. Angry and frustrated, Rusk finally exploded.
"Weren't you supposed to be spending today with me?! Why are you drooling over some other woman?"
Haolan remained silent, eyes downcast. The atmosphere turned awkward.
"Let's go back, it's getting late..." Rusk wanted to leave the boat. She wondered if there was any point in continuing the relationship if Haolan's attention was elsewhere. They soon arrived back at the pier. As soon as she got off the boat, Rusk confronted him.
"After all this time together, you get distracted by another woman?"
Haolan couldn't answer, his gaze still down.
"Let's break up," said Rusk, unable to contain her anger at having her time wasted. She left without another word. Haolan couldn't do anything but watch her go.
"Oh, did you break up with your lover? Would you like to talk about it? How about a drink?"
The woman who caught Haolan's eye earlier was the one who spoke. Unable to resist the allure of the older woman, Haolan followed her.
Meanwhile, Rusk sat on a bench by the pond's edge, eating the bento for two. If the carefully prepared bento was going to go to waste, she might as well eat it all herself. She had made a variety of side dishes to delight Haolan, including omelettes and octopus-shaped sausages. Having finished the meal, Rusk wandered alone through the park with a tear-streaked face. When she reached the Benten statue, she recalled the urban legend of the pond. It was said that a dragon deity lived in the pond and would separate seemingly happy couples out of jealousy. This Benten statue was considered to be the result of combining the worship of the dragon deity and Benten. Especially, couples who rode the boats would inevitably break up. Recalling this vague memory, Rusk began to think that their own separation might have been caused by the dragon deity’s jealousy. She tossed a five-yen coin into the offering box before the statue and prayed, "Dragon deity, please forgive us." The daughter of the dragon deity watching this felt truly sorry.
"I’m not jealous or anything... But I can’t have my reputation worsen any further," she said.
Transforming into a high school girl, the dragon deity's daughter set out to find Rusk’s lover. She reached Nanaibashi, a large bridge beside the boat landing. There she found a young man who looked like a boy lying down. It appeared he had been plied with a lot of alcohol. Next to him was an enchanting woman who seemed to be rummaging through his pockets. A thief, perhaps? But the dragon deity's daughter recognized the woman's aura. A foreign demon, a succubus. A monster that seduces men and leads them to ruin. Though there were succubi who harmlessly ran bars, this one in front of her had drugged the man with alcohol and was now trying to steal something. The dragon deity's daughter could not let this go.
"Committing disgraceful acts in this pond... as the guardian of this pond, I must ask you to leave!!" She returned to her original form and lunged at the succubus.
"Since you're trying to flee, I’ll use my spiritual power to exterminate you!" The dragon deity's daughter bound the succubus with her spiritual energy, immobilizing her. Just then, women in white clothes with wings descended from the sky.
"We are from the heavenly realm, and we have been chasing after demons who commit evil deeds..." According to them, the angels police the devils who defy God and commit evil. Devils were originally angels who had defied God and turned evil. The succubus was such a devil, causing disgrace in the pond. The angels couldn’t stay silent about the evil deeds of leading people to ruin. They took the bound succubus away, nodding in thanks to the dragon deity's daughter.
The Dragon Goddess felt she must tend to the fallen young man. When she tapped him on the shoulder, he seemed semi-conscious, but unable to move, as if paralyzed. After patting him over his clothes, she found his wallet seemed to be safe. Still, if left untreated, his life was in danger. Moreover, the myth that the Dragon God gets jealous would likely get exaggerated and spread further. She felt she must call for help and hurried back to the Benzaiten shrine where she lived. But help was already on its way.
Rusk was reflecting on his own impatience as he was walking back to the train station and arrived at the base of Nanasai Bridge. He saw a crowd gathering, and a girl, seemingly a high school student, was yelling for help. Oddly, she had what looked like dragon horns on her head.
"What happened here?"
Hesitantly, Rusk approached the girl, who took his hand and led him to the fallen individual. To his surprise, the person on the ground was Haolan. Without a word, Rusk checked Haolan's pulse. It was there, and he seemed semi-conscious. He urgently needed an ambulance.
"Call an ambulance right now! He’s someone important to me!"
Rusk implored the girl, who tried to make a call with her smartphone but seemed to panic, unfamiliar with the device. Which was strange for a high school girl of this day and age. Then he saw the dragon horns on her head again. Could she be the Dragon Goddess? Was she jealous and trying to separate them?
Faced with the emergency, Rusk decided to call the ambulance himself. Taking out his phone, he dialed emergency services.
"I'm sorry for causing you trouble," the girl said to Rusk, revealing surprising information.
"I am indeed the Dragon God protecting this area, but I'm not jealous of lovers. Moreover..."
Rusk learned about a demon, referred to as a succubus, who had been causing trouble by leading men astray, aiming to weaken the Dragon God by spreading rumors. The Dragon God was suffering due to these false claims.
"The truth is, I actually enjoy watching lovers be affectionate..."
That's why she could not forgive the demon's actions. Convinced by her words, Rusk soon saw the paramedics arrive with a stretcher.
"Please let me come too; he’s someone important to me!"
Rusk decided to accompany Haolan in the ambulance. Once Haolan was loaded in, the paramedic invited Rusk to hop in too. As they drove off with sirens blaring, Haolan opened his eyes and saw Rusk. Tears fell from Rusk’s eyes onto Haolan’s cheek.
"I’m sorry; I lost my temper."
In the ambulance, Rusk forgave Haolan. Knowing the full story, he had room in his heart to forgive.
"Can we start over? It was my fault..."
Haolan nodded in agreement. Thus, their bond grew stronger.
"So, that's what happened..."
I was slightly tipsy after listening to the tale from the Dragon Goddess. I have to pick up an acquaintance from Osaka tomorrow, so I can't stay out too late. The waiter brings us our closing dish, spicy cod roe butter udon. Placed on a hot iron plate, the aroma of the butter and the grilled udon is irresistible. Just as I was about to take a bite, my friend spoke again.
"I want you to write this story down. I want to put the harmful rumors that I'm tearing lovers apart behind me..."
Looking at my friend's pained expression, I knew I had to grant her request. This is a story that needs to be told.
We left the restaurant, and since there was a cheesecake shop in the shopping district, we decided to stop by. What we found were rusk sweets named after Inokashira Park. Suddenly, I remembered—the tale of a girl named Rusk. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring some sweets that tie into this story as souvenirs. I bought about eight pieces of rusk and headed home.
The next day, I was in Akihabara. I was meeting friends who had come from Osaka, and we planned to drink at an English pub in Akihabara. As I met my friends, I handed them the rusk.
"This rusk is so good! I can't stop eating it!"
At the words of my friend from Osaka, I was torn about writing this story.
"It's so tasty I can't stop! I just keep munching!"
My other friend also seemed amazed by the deliciousness of the rusk. Picking up the empty rusk bag, I was surprised to see 'sugar' and 'salt' listed in the ingredients. Among us, lovers are often likened to sweet sugar, while heartbreak is referred to as salt. This, in itself, was the story. Holding the bag of rusk, I made up my mind to tell this tale, hoping that along with the rusk, this odd tale would also be remembered.
