Koishi Komeiji is a youkai with no emotions. Upon learning satori youkai were hated for reading people’s minds, she closed her own heart. In place of her mind-reading ability, she became able to manipulate people’s unconscious minds. She’s surprisingly emotive for someone who’s closed their heart. That’s because the unconscious mind is the is the unfiltered expression of the self.

Hata no Kokoro is a youkai who can’t express herself. As a menreiki tsukumogami, she instead relies on her 66 masks to display a wide range of emotions. Since she wears masks, her true emotional state is unknown, but it’s not like she’s totally incapable of expressing her own emotions. She can press her cheeks upward to create a smile, and when she’s really happy, she’s been known to dance.

The new year had just begun, but the shrine was already crammed with street stalls. Wherever people gather, there’s money to be made. Clearly targeting shrine visitors, both sides of the main path were lined with stalls offering a variety of “street food.” There was sweet sake, oshiruko, zenzai, ozouni, yakisoba, yakitori, and even grilled lamprey skewers… The air was rich with sweet, fragrant, and intense aromas as the colorful stalls produced dish after dish.

Even if your heart has been closed, even if you can’t express yourself, delicious food brings joy to your heart. Kokoro can’t smile, so Koishi smiled for her. Koishi can’t have emotions, so Kokoro had them for her. They were having a wonderful time, eating and laughing together… until things took an ugly turn, and a bizarre battle of wills began.
“This cotton candy is the most delicious thing here!”
“Nuh-uh. This candy apple is way more delicious!”

“OK, open wiiiide…!”
“Mmm… that’s pretty yummy.”
The pair were now wandering around the shrine grounds, sampling each other’s favorite foods.

Suddenly, they heard voices calling out to them from afar, and they both remembered that this wasn’t, in fact, a street food tour but their first shrine visit of the year. As much fun as they were having, it was time to rejoin their respective groups.

“Happy New Year!”
“And to you, too!”

And with that, they started heading toward the voices calling their names. “Click clack, click clack” went their geta as they walked side by side.