Dance Away! Episode 41: Otsukaya - Even a Single Stick of Ink, Delivered

On the outskirts of Edo. In the land of Otsuka, a stone's throw from Sugamo where the Nakasendo road passes. Tucked away from the main thoroughfare, on a vast plot of land, sat the main store of the great merchant house 'Otsukaya'—or rather, a massive collection point for cargo.

“Oh... you’ve got to be kidding me. That unimpressive master of the horse-cart business was actually the young master of such a colossal merchant house!?”

Hachibei, the clerk, stood with his mouth agape at the sight before him. Packhorses and carts were constantly coming and going, and all sorts of goods gathered from across the country were being sorted in the blink of an eye and shipped off to various locations. The small, temporary cargo storage areas that Otsukaya had set up throughout Edo were all Hachibei had ever seen of them. Seeing only a few horse-cart drivers coming and going there, Hachibei had always looked down on them as a 'rather unimpressive horse-cart business'.

Hachibei swallowed hard, gathered his courage, and stepped into the storefront of Otsukaya.

“Excuse me! I’m a messenger from Sanzoya!”

When Hachibei called out timidly, a man slowly appeared from the back of the counting house.

“...Hmm? What’s this, the kid from the bean-throwing incident? It’s a bit late for Setsubun, isn't it? Did you come to throw beans at me again?”

The one who appeared with a grin was Tomomori, the young master of Otsukaya. Hachibei trembled, 'Eek!', as the terrifying memory of when he had thrown those Setsubun soybeans with all his might came rushing back, and his face turned pale.

“N-no, that’s not it! Today, I’m here at the request of the young lady... I don’t even know what she’s going to use it for, but she says she absolutely needs the highest quality, top-tier ink that won't wash away with water or sweat, and she needs it urgently! I’ve looked everywhere, but I couldn't find it anywhere... anyway, the young lady says she absolutely needs it!”

Hearing Hachibei’s stammering plea, Tomomori sighed and crossed his arms.

“I see. It’s no wonder you couldn't find it even after searching all over Edo. ...Right now, we’ve spent a fortune to buy up every bit of high-quality ink and glue in Edo as a votive offering for the repairs of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.”

“What...” “And the cargo loaded with that ink just departed for Nikko a short while ago.”

At those words, Hachibei’s world went dark. (No way... this is an important errand for the young lady, and now I have no choice but to return empty-handed...!) Just as Hachibei was about to slump his shoulders and collapse, it happened.

Tomomori shouted in a sharp voice toward the back of the counting house.

“Hey! Send out the fastest courier right now! Have them chase down the cargo bound for Nikko that left a moment ago, pull out one stick of the finest ink and one piece of glue from the shipment, and bring them back immediately!”

At this unexpected order, Otatsu, the head maid who was doing the bookkeeping in the back, rushed out with a look of alarm. She was the nurse who had raised Tomomori since he was a child and was a sensible merchant who managed the practical affairs of Otsukaya.

“Y-Young Master! What are you saying! Sending a courier just for a single stick of ink would be a massive loss! Besides, having them unpack cargo that’s already been packed is not worth the trouble!”

It was no wonder Otatsu was flustered and vehemently opposed it. Hiring an expensive courier for just one stick of ink was not the act of a sane merchant.

However, Tomomori remained completely unfazed and stopped Otatsu with a cool expression.

“It doesn't matter. Send them.” “Young Master!” “Listen, Otatsu. Our store’s creed is to deliver exactly what is ordered by the deadline. The young lady from Sanzoya asked me for it by tomorrow. The rule of Otsukaya is to always deliver what is requested as promised, and we must not break that. This isn't about short-term profit or loss. Besides, we had put in more than the order called for anyway.”

At those words from Tomomori, Otatsu was left speechless, and clutching her stomach, she collapsed, crying, "Oh... another huge loss..."

Tomomori turned back to Hachibei once more, a fearless smile on his face.

"That's how it is. First thing tomorrow morning, I will make sure to deliver the finest ink to Sanzoya. ...Don't worry about the price; I'll charge you the standard market rate, so rest easy."

"Huh...!?" Hachibei's mouth hung open in shock. Not only was he arranging the goods at top speed despite taking a massive loss, but instead of taking advantage of the situation, he was selling them at the market price. This was no mere act of kindness; it was proof of Otsuka Tomomori's formidable pride and code as a merchant—that no matter the order, he would always keep his promise.

"Th-thank you...! Young Master, you really are amazing!" Hachibei sniffled with emotion, bowing his head deeply over and over again.

＊

That night. In the private room at the back of Sanzoya, Fuji was receiving a report from Hachibei about the series of events.

"…I see. The young master of Otsukaya promised to deliver even just a single stick of ink by tomorrow, despite taking a huge loss."

Fuji narrowed her eyes behind her fan and let out a quiet sigh of admiration. Sakura, who was beside her, had her eyes wide with disbelief. "My... even if it was at your request, my lady, to go to such lengths to show his loyalty. That man, he wasn't just a man with a sharp tongue, was he?"

"Yes. He seems to be an extremely rational person who dislikes formalities, but perhaps he is a man of such immense character and integrity that he will absolutely keep the merchant's code he set for himself, no matter what."

The man who, back then, was not swayed by rumors of the scar on his face and declared, "I want to see and confirm it with my own eyes." And now, the man who stuck to his merchant's code even at the expense of his own profit. In Fuji's heart, her assessment and trust in the man named Otsuka Tomomori were turning into something solid.

The next morning, when Beni received the finest ink and glue delivered from Otsukaya as promised and tried to thank Hachibei profusely, Hachibei, who was terrified and convinced that Beni was a "ghost," screamed "Eek!" and ran away as fast as he could. The slapstick comedy of Beni desperately chasing after him, clutching the ink and crying, "Please wait!", while Hachibei ran for his life with teary eyes, later became a huge sensation all over Edo when it was written up in the kawaraban as "The Poor Clerk Chased by a Ghost Carrying Ink," but that is a story for another time.