(The chapter image is of Asagi and Yotsuba standing by each other, both wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and long white skirt.)
It's morning, and Yotsuba is waking up. She sits up, and looks over at her daddy. She then looks at the alarm clock. It's analog, and she's five, so she interprets 6:15 as 6:03. Not a whole lot of difference, but still. She thinks she's up sort of early. She stands up, stretches, and goes outside. She finds the newspaper already there, which she attributes to them knowing she'd be up early today. In her opening of the paper, the inserts fall out. She reads about ice cream sales skyrocketing, and says that "these are some troubled times". She wonders how the stocks are doing.
Ena spots her, and has the idea of scaring her through the gate. After, she reveals to a quivering Yotsuba that it's just her. She remarks that she's up early today. Yotsuba notices the same of Ena, and wonders if she's in charge of getting the paper. She isn't; is Yotsuba? Her reason for being up is to go do morning calisthenics, and asks if Yotsuba wants to come along. Yotsuba asks what morning "casthilenics" is; Ena attempts a brief demonstration, which convinces Yotsuba. They go. On the way, Yotsuba drags her feet on the ground to make "railroad tracks", which they'll take on the way home.
When they arrive, Yotsuba sees lots of kids, all there for the calisthenics. A girl in pigtails who appears to be about Ena's age greets her. Ena introduces Yotsuba. (The next panel shows the top of a slide, but none of the speakers, so who the following remarks are made by is anybody's guess. Miura isn't there yet, but she lives sort of far, so it takes a while. Somebody doesn't think that's a good excuse. "Whoa! Miura's coming, too?!" Someone seems surprised Yotsuba knows her.
The radio greets its listeners, so it's time. Yotsuba asks Ena what to do, so Ena tells her to copy everyone else. She seems to manage that. It finishes soon, which surprises Yotsuba. Now it;s time to get stamps for the day. Ena's book has a spot stamped. Yotsuba wants a stamp, but she has no book. The stamper decides her hand will do for this week, but she'll get another when she brings her stamp book. The two wave at the girls Yotsuba met, and they take the "railroad" home.
On the way, they see a man making a delivery. Yotsuba thinks it's the paper man, but Ena says he's the milkman, and explains his job. Yotsuba thinks she's going to be a milkman when she gets older. She wants milk and bread. Ena asks if her dad makes her toast for breakfast. Yotsuba says rice. Rice rice rice rice rice rice bread. Rice rice rice rice. By contrast, Ena's family mostly has bread. Bread bread bread bread bread bread rice. Yotsuba guesses they're having bread today. Ena invites her over for breakfast. Yotsuba, of course, accepts.
Mrs. Ayase is happy to make her breakfast. She's making Mr. Ayase's, and then will be Ena's. Ena seems mildly surprised that Asagi is already up. Mr. Ayase and Yotsuba greet each other. He says that these are some troubled times. Yotsuba thinks so, as well. She asks him is he likes the newspaper. He does. She says there's lots written in it. She also thinks she's going to ba a newspaper man when she grows up. She tells Ena to lend her paper and a pencil. Ena asks what she's going to write. "The Yotsuba Times!"
In the living room, Ena asks what she's going to write, pointing out that a newspaper reports news. Yotsuba considers the question. Ena says she has to write about something that happened to someone. Yotsuba suddenly gets an idea. After some writing, she checks it with Ena, and holds up the paper. At the top: "FUUKA KNOWS HEARTBREAK". She asks Ena if it's news, and Ena says it big news, and asks if it's true. Yotsuba says The Yotsuba Times is always true. Ena recalls that Fuuka looked glum yesterday. Yotsuba assigns Ena the job of "printing man". Ena seems confused. Yotsuba explains that her dad told her the newspapers and books have a lot of printing men. Yotsuba asks how she's supposed to print it. Yotsuba thinks she just has to write a lot of them. (Which is fine for just three words to go to five people, and I guess Yotsuba has the master?
The two are called, since their toast is ready. Yotsuba makes her first delivery, to Mr. Ayase. He's amused at the concept... though not at the news itself. Asagi has one, and is laughing at it. Mrs. Ayase receives one, remarking that it's recent news. Yotsuba says they're faster and cheaper than the other guys. (Never mind that you have one story with no details and an extremely small readership.) Mr. Ayase asks who it's about. Yotsuba says Fuuka, but he wants to know who the other person is. Yotsuba question marks. He asks his wife and eldest if they know about it. They say "Well..." Asagi calls to Yotsuba to tell her "Good job!"
Fuuka enters the kitchen, dazed with messy hair. Yotsuba hands her a newspaper. She reads the only story there, and is shocked, then horrified to learn that everyone in the room also has one. She issues a recall in the form of swiping Ena's copy. Her father asks who it's about, and says he won't forgive the guy. His wife tells him to calm down. (He'd probably be calmer if he knew that her "rejection" came in the form if her seeing him holding hands with a girl.) Yotsuba asks why, saying it's the Yotsuba Times. Fuuka reminds her that it was supposed to be a secret. After some vertical ellipses, she remembers, and is a little panicked that she violated the secret. (Good thing Fuuka is more forgiving than a certain equine would estimate.) She tells everyone that it's a secret, but they know.
Yotsuba finishes her toast with presumably a "Gouchisousama" before Ena has gotten far into hers. She thinks the newspaper might not be for her, and that she should be a milkman. Asagi asks what she'll do. Yotsuba figures she'll make it. (Yes, you may very well make milk when you're an adult, but there's a degree of Squick involved in serving that to customers. Your own baby, however...) Asagi is interested in how she's going to do that. After some careful consideration, she comes up with a solution...
...of white paint or pigment in water.
As Asagi and Ena sweatdrop, Yotsuba declares herself done. She offers it to Asagi, but she says she isn't big on milk. Yotsuba realizes that her dad's up, and he loves milk. Asagi says she should have him drink that.
At her home, Koiwai is coming out of the room where they sleep. Yotsuba offers him the "milk", and he takes a sip... and spits it in her face.
YOTSUBA&!
As Yotsuba wipes her face, she considers that maybe she should've added sugar.
Next time: Chapter 27!
