🎭 Episode 8: Beneath the Painted Smile

After the fight in Aokusa, the crew heads south to rest in Futamen (二面) — a city split down the middle. On one bank of the river lies Fuku, orderly and bound by samurai tradition. Across the water sits Hakata, loud and lively, where merchants trade under lanterns and dancers fill the streets. Each side sneers at the other, convinced theirs is the only “right” way to live.

At first, the heroes are welcomed into Fuku’s rigid calm. Samurai lord Hiroaki hosts them with tea ceremonies, onsen eggs, and geisha performances. Matsu feels at home, treated as a fellow warrior. But at night, music and lanterns drift across the river from Hakata. The others are curious. Kabocha rolls her eyes, eager to move on.

One night they cross the river and see something dazzling: a masked dancer, leading a revue of color and sound. When the mask slips, they realize the truth. It’s Hiroaki. By day, a noble lord upholding tradition. By night, a star in Hakata’s revue hall.

🎭 Journey Journal: Fukuoka

Fukuoka was the spark. It’s a city of contrasts — samurai history on one side, merchant bustle on the other. We wandered both: quiet shrines and gardens in the morning, wild street food yatai by night. We also stumbled on Niwaka Senpei biscuits, stamped with the same masks used in Hakata Niwaka, a local style of comedy. That half-mask became the motif for this episode. And the revue show we caught in town? Pure inspiration for Hiroaki’s secret life under the painted smile.

👹 The Yuzu Demon

As tensions rise, yuzu shipments — vital for both sides — are sabotaged. Samurai blame merchants. Merchants insist they’re under attack by something monstrous. When the heroes corner Hiroaki in Hakata, they see him transform: the yuzu-seed demon, born from his shame and hypocrisy. Its sour breath withers crates of fruit, driving the towns to the brink of collapse.

The fight isn’t just against claws and corruption — it’s against Hiroaki’s refusal to admit who he really is. Only when he confesses, dropping the mask, does the demon weaken. Samurai guards and Hakata merchants cross the river together, united in defense.

🌉 Resolution

In the aftermath, something surprising emerges: the samurai had always known about Hiroaki’s double life. They’d just never spoken of it. Tradition and silence had trapped everyone in place. But now, with the truth aired, the two towns agree to build a literal bridge between them — a path for trade, collaboration, and understanding.

🌱 Why it Matters

Episode 8 is about masks — the ones we wear for others, and the ones we hide from ourselves. Hiroaki learns that true honor comes from living authentically, not splitting yourself in two. Kabu steps up as the one to force the hard conversation, showing growth since earlier episodes where he avoided conflict. Matsu, drawn to Hakata’s creativity, begins to rethink his place in tradition, setting up tension with Kabocha.

It’s a story about shame, empathy, and the bridges that only honesty can build.