Scenario:Makura - Goddess of Love?

Goddess of Love?

Makura and Rakko head to a chocolaterie to buy Valentine's Day chocolates for Rakusho. A fight breaks out between rabbit-eared customers over limited-edition chocolates, but Makura quickly calms them down. Upon learning that rabbit-ear accessories are popular right now as charms for love, Makura gives everyone a good-luck prayer for their love lives.

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Makura: Whew, this sure is a crowd... Wonder if she'll be able to find me in it.

Straightforward through and through, Makura usually pays little mind to how she dresses.

But as an actress, she will occasionally put effort into an outfit in order to keep her costuming skills sharp.

Apparetei Rakko: Makura! Where... in the skies... are... you?

Apparetei Rakko: Pant... Wheeze... I can't see a thing past all these people...

Makura's Voice: Hey, Rakko! Rakko? I'm right here!

Apparetei Rakko: Huh... That's her voice, but where's the rest of her?

Makura's Voice: What do you mean by that, silly? Eyes up front!

Apparetei Rakko: Eyes... up front?

Apparetei Rakko: No way. Makura, is that really you? I totally thought you were some pretty stranger!

The girl with glasses is Apparetei Rakko, a storyteller and fellow apprentice of Apparetei Rakusho. Despite her younger age, she is Makura's senior when it comes to rakugo.

It just so happens that (Captain) and crew have stopped at an island that is part of Rakko's tour.

Making the most of her time between performances, the girl has invited Makura to shop for Valentine's Day chocolates with her.

Apparetei Rakko: It doesn't help that I'm not familiar with the area. Thanks, by the way, for agreeing to this last-minute errand.

Makura: Honestly I should be thanking you. I don't think I've ever given our master a Valentine's gift before.

Apparetei Rakko: Huh? You too? But I thought you loved events like this!

Makura: It, uh, always kind of slips my mind.

Apparetei Rakko: Ehehe, we're two messy peas in a pod, aren't we? But hey, considering all the years he's never got anything, I bet whatever we give him'll knock his socks off!

Makura: No doubt! Let's make his first Valentine's Day celebration something special!

Apparetei Rakko: Right? So... where are we? That famous chocolaterie should be around...

Apparetei Rakko: Wh-whoa! I didn't expect it to be right in front of us!

Apparetei Rakko: And look at that line! I'm starting to think we should've gotten our shopping done sooner...

Makura: It's not like you had the time, yeah? Between practicing your drums, dancing, and rakugo stories, an opener's schedule is anything but easy.

Apparetei Rakko: But this is the perfect chance to show how grateful I am that Master Rakusho took me under his wing! I can't let it go to waste!

Apparetei Rakko: Is what I thought to myself yesterday, when I remembered Valentine's Day existed.

Makura: Ahahaha! I only remembered today.

Apparetei Rakko: H-hold on... Is it just me, or is something off about this line?

Makura: What're you talking about? This line is totally...

Makura: Not normal at all!

Makura: I-I'm so confused... Why is everyone wearing rabbit ears on their heads?

Apparetei Rakko: Maybe they're all fans of the Lepus Troupe?

Makura: No way. As much as I'd like to toot my own horn, their eyes are completely focused on the fancy chocolates in the windows.

At that moment, Makura's own ears twitch, picking up a conversation happening nearby.

Makura: Huh... Uh-huh, uh-huh... Apparently those rabbit ears are charms for love.

Apparetei Rakko: I don't get it. What do rabbit ears have to do with love?

Makura: I've got an idea, though it doesn't explain how the belief became so widespread...

Makura: There's all sorts of stories and sayings about rabbits—that they're a symbol of progress, and their ears gather good luck.

Makura: Put those two things together, and you could make the argument that they also serve as charms for finding success in love.

Apparetei Rakko: Wow, you sure know a lot about rabbits, huh?

Makura: Ha! Given who I am, I better!

Before long, Makura and Rakko arrive at the front of the line and, with bated breath, finally walk through the door.

Apparetei Rakko: Ahhh... That sweet scent is heavenly... I could just settle down and live here forever.

Makura: They've got cookies and macarons and a whole bunch of stuff besides chocolate! Everything looks so fancy and tasty... I don't even know where to start.

Apparetei Rakko: Makura... This place is terrifying.

Makura: What a coincidence. I feel the same. I'm especially scared of that round box of twenty different macarons all laid out nice and neat. I'm about ready to scream.

Apparetei Rakko: Oh, oh! This chocolate's got a ton of strawberry sauce inside... Oh skies above, just the sight of it has me ready to faint!

Makura: There might be no point attempting to budget. How about we just... loosen our purse strings and see what happens?

Apparetei Rakko: Agreed. Valentine's Day only comes around once a year. Who could blame us for cutting loose a bit?

As the two lick their lips at the array of goodies before them, a sudden commotion breaks through their reverie.

Ruffian: Hehe, these limited-edition chocolates... are mine!

Girl: I grabbed them first! Give them back, now!

Ruffian: Oh, quit your whining, loser!

Makura: Hold it right there!

Ruffian: Who the hell're you?

Makura: I am but a humble passerby, unworthy of being named... But to think you would disrespect the line and take the prize for yourself...

Makura: Even if the heavens above would forgive this transgression, I cannot! I will not!

Apparetei Rakko: Lepus Troupe, represent!

Ruffian: Heh, who cares about the damn line? There's only so many of these limited-edition chocolates, you know! It's literally in the name!

Makura: Good grief... Do you even realize the expression you're wearing right now?

Ruffian: Huh? My expression?

Makura: This place here's a sweet, happy paradise, yet you've got all of hell's fury plastered on your face. I can't stand looking at it.

Girl: She's right! Your face is twisted like a beast devoid of all dignity! It's honestly frightening!

Makura: Wait just a minute there, miss. You do realize your expression isn't all that different from his, right?

Girl: Wha...

Makura: Would you be comfortable showing your significant other a face like that? I bet you wouldn't.

Taking a breath, Makura gazes at the shoppers congregated around the scene.

Makura: What are you all here for? Why wear the rabbit ears in the first place?

Girl: Well... I just want my love life to go smoothly...

Ruffian: M-me too. I heard that... wearing these ears would make sure my confession'd go well...

Makura: See? You all came here for the same reasons, and you all experience the same triumphs and struggles when it comes to romance. You're comrades on the battlefield of love!

Makura: Why waste your time fighting over chocolate, when you could be doing something productive, like exchanging advice and cheering each other on?

Rabbit-Ear Wearers: ...

Makura: Come on, I know you've already come to the same conclusions as me. Those ears won't do diddly-squat for your relationships if you can't even get along with your fellow romantics.

Ruffian: Here... Take your chocolate back. Sorry for grabbing it.

Girl: Thanks... I'm sorry too, for saying those awful things about you.

Makura beams as the people around hesitantly break out into friendly conversation.

Makura: That's what I'm talking about! All's well that ends well.

Girl: Hang on... Are my eyes playing a trick on me, or are those ears of yours actually real?

Makura: Er, yeah?

Ruffian: That means you're the honest-to-goodness, genuine Divine Rabbit! No wonder you were so intense and sounded like you knew your stuff...

Makura: I'm not sure I follow...

Ruffian: Yeah... Yeah, I can sense it! You're radiating the Divine Rabbit's holy light! Cloaked in her sweet, heavenly aroma!

Apparetei Rakko: I'm pretty sure that light is just the sun shining through the window, and the sweetness is from the mountains of chocolate.

Girl: O Divine Rabbit... May my chocolate drive an arrow of love straight through my man's heart.

Ruffian: O Divine Rabbit... Today's gonna be my hundredth confession. May my honey-bunny say yes a thousand times over...

Makura: Whoa-whoa-whoa! Why is everyone praying to me all of a sudden?

Apparetei Rakko: I thought the Rabbit Temple only offered blessings for luck, progress, and good business? Maybe they have things confused...

Apparetei Rakko: You should probably just come clean and say you don't offer anything for love.

Makura: ...

Makura: No, I'm already waist-deep in it. I can't let them down now!

Apparetei Rakko: (Oh, the performer in her is all fired up...)

Makura claps her hands, gathering the attention of all those who had bowed their heads in prayer. She then quietly begins an elegant dance.

The performance is perfect, only lacking her usual temple outfit—but her audience is so captivated that they can easily picture her wearing it.

Makura: Passionate child, pure of heart. Your ancestors watching over you shall rest with ease, as you go with the guidance of the Divine Rabbit.

Makura: When love blooms, you shall be tied by red strings of fate. May good fortune find its way to you. To all of you.

Rabbit-Ear Wearers: Praise be... Praise be, Divine Rabbit, goddess of love!

Makura: Listen up, everyone! This prayer is the ultimate show of support I can give! Get out there and hand your chocolates over with confidence!

Rabbit-Ear Wearers: Yes, ma'am!

Apparetei Rakko: Completely obedient now, huh...

Apparetei Rakko: You improvised that on the spot, didn't you? Are you sure that was okay?

Makura: Why wouldn't it be? If they feel empowered from that prayer, then that makes it as good as any other.

Makura: Maybe I should just make success in love one of the blessings the Rabbit Temple offers. The more people helped, the merrier, right?

Apparetei Rakko: Sigh... When I see how pumped you are, a part of me actually believes those blessings of yours are legitimate.

Tasting and comparing the smorgasbord of chocolate they bought, Makura and Rakko are unable to narrow down which one they want to gift.

Makura: Each and every single one is crazily, terrifyingly good! Ahhh, why don't we just give them all to him?

Apparetei Rakko: Sounds good to me! I bet he'd appreciate getting to try all these different flavors!

Makura: I dunno about you, but I'm feeling a little beat. How about heading back to the ship with me? There's this guy that makes jaw-droppingly good coffee...

Apparetei Rakko: Ehehe, it'd be my pleasure!

As the two happily make their way back, a majestic, luxurious casino ship passes overhead.

Apparetei Rakko: I sure hope our master hasn't gambled all his money away.

Makura: Are you telling me he's up in the Jewel Resort this very second? No fair!

Makura: Hngh... Okay! Once we finish up our coffee, we'll head there ourselves and give him his Valentine's gift!

The energized Makura points excitedly up at the casino ship, which sparkles brilliantly under the sun.