Out in front of the Koiwai and Ayase homes, Jumbo, Yotsuba, Miura, and Ena are standing. Koiwai himself is closing his gate. Mrs. Ayase gives Ena onigiri to share. Koiwai thanks her. Yotsuba seems somewhat excited about it. Mrs. Ayase makes sure that they won't need anything else, and Jumbo says they'll be catching the rest. Mrs. Ayase points out to Ena that she might have nothing else to eat, as she hasn't fished before, but Ena says she read a library book on the subject last night. Miura is surprised to learn that they'll only be eating what they catch (onigiri aside, of course). Mrs. Ayase tells them to do their best, and catch enough for her, as well. Yotsuba says she'll catch enough for Asagi and Fuuka, too! They load up, and they're off!
The chapter image is their van on the highway.
Inside the van, Miura repeats her question. Jumbo assures her she'll get something, and says they're going to a rental spot. (Yotsuba sings about wanting to eat onigiri.) Miura asks, "What?" Jumbo calls it "a fishing hole", and she seems to understand better. Ena asks Jumbo if he fishes a lot; he doesn't, but he likes to go camping. Miura boasts that she'll be reeling them in by the dozens, while Ena says she'll be reeling them in left and right. Yotsuba, ever the master of Completely Missing The Point, says she'll catch some beetles. She also tells this to a toll booth man, who gives a confused "Uh, good luck?" She gets amazed at a bridge, and it is pretty impressive. Maybe not compared to certain other bridges, but still. You don't have to be a kid to be impressed by it.
They drive through a bumpy area, and finally arrive. The kids look out at a spot, impressed. Yotsuba asks if they're going to swim in there. Koiwai prompts her for what they came to do, and she replies that they came to catch fish. She asks again, though, and Koiwai says they're not.
They go to the shop, where Yotsuba asks if it's a fish shop or a store shop; it's where they rent their gear. Inside, the lady greets them, and notices Yotsuba's cuteness. Yotsuba asks for mackerel, but Jumbo changes it to rainbow trout for five, and adds three rods and bait. Yotsuba says she said there's no mackerel, and Koiwai says, "Well, yeah." (For those who don't know, mackerel is a saltwater fish.) Jumbo has the kids carry their respective rods, and they set off for the river. The three are once again impressed by the spot. Jumbo notes the emptiness, and Koiwai says it's a weekday. Ena remarks on the clarity of the water. Miura was expecting something only old guys would like, but thinks it's great. Ena says it's pretty.
Jumbo says they'll set up there. Yotsuba finds the water cold. Miura asks if they can fish there. Jumbo says it's where they'll let the fish go. The man carrying a bucket asks if there is okay, and Jumbo says it is. Yotsuba looks inside the bucket and sees "Fish! Lots of them!" The man says there will be plenty of fishing once they let them go. He dumps the fish into the river, aweing Yotsuba. The man put in 20, and says they can add more later if they want. He is thanked.
Jumbo says they now have at least 20 trout in there. Miura thinks it seems kinda fake, but Jumbo says it'd be boring if no one caught anything, so this way is good for first-timers. He's asked if trout are for beginners. He says the ones that are farm-raised are; the wild ones, such as the ones upriver with the char and salmon, are harder. Miura asks if there's a special trick, but it turns out they're fished for the same way. Yotsuba splashes at the water and tells the fish to come here, but Jumbo says she won't catch anything that way.
Ena is itching to get started. Their rods are ready, and all they have to do is bait and cast. Jumbo wants Miura to hold out her hand, but she fears being given a worm. He says it's nothing like that, and holds her wrist and puts something in her hand. When she sees the grub there, she screams and says he lied. He says it's not a worm. She wants to be let go. He says it's a grub, but she says to shut up. He has the others watch as he makes her put the grub on the hook. She's ready to go, but she declines, as things like that give her the creeps. He offers her salmon roe instead. As he demonstrates, she protests, as it's expensive, but when he says the alternative is the grub, she takes the roe.
Jumbo demonstrates casting. You cast the rod where you think there'll be fish. After a little bit, he finds he has a bite! Ba Dum Tish. He pulls on it, and soon, has a fish to show. The three are impressed. Yotsuba wants to go next, and her daddy will put on the bait. Now they've all casted. Koiwai asks Jumbo if he thinks they can do it. Jumbo is sure that, with a stocked pond, they can. Someone has one, and it's Ena. She says she's really good at it. Jumbo is ready with a net, and has her bring it out over there. Ena holds the caught fish, amazed. Now she's wondering how to remove the hook. Jumbo finds that the fish has swallowed it, but notes that it's easy to remove hooks, even when they really get in there, and also says they're quick to swallow. So, Jumbo demonstrates the hook remover, and has Ena put it in the basket. (In this context, it's sort of a net that lets the fish live for a while longer while not letting it get away.) One down for Ena! Miura figures she gets to eat, but then notices that she herself has one!
She calls Jumbo over, and they're able to land the fish. She holds it, and finds it's warm, slippery, and twitchy. And that it swallowed the hook. Jumbo has her try removing it. Miura's sweating and nervous as she tries, being startled when it jumps. She initially can't get it, but Jumbo advises her to push deeper. Miura apologizes to the fish as she tries it. Suddenly, the fish's pupils dilate, and blood comes out, freaking Miura out.
Now her fish is in the basket, floating upside-down. Miura rinses her hands in the stream, having found it scary. She asks Ena how she can touch them, but Ena finds neither live fish nor grubs gross. Ena gets another one. It, too, swallows the hook.
Yotsuba figures it's her turn. Her daddy suggests the area where Ena caught hers. After a little while, Yotsuba finds the rod feeling heavy, so her dad tells her she might have one. She pulls on it, and it pulls back, leaving her leaning forward on one leg. Her dad holds on to the back of her shirt to keep her from falling. She gives a mighty pull, jerking it out of the water... but it snaps off, and she jumps in after it! On land again, her daddy is drying her hair. (Y'know, I think I'd save the effort until I knew she wasn't going to get wet again.
She's ready to try again. Meanwhile, Ena gets another one, which also swallows the hook, so Jumbo advises her. Yotsuba gets another chance, and this time, her daddy's got the net. She shows it to the other two. We don't see their faces, but Ena is emitting plus signs.
Jumbo pulls up the basket, calling it a pretty nice haul. He figures it's time to start getting lunch ready. The girls agree. Koiwai-san builds a fire, which Yotsuba says he's funny for doing. Jumbo has Yotsuba help him, while putting the older girls to work preparing the fish. (Uh, Jumbo, are you sure? Considering how Miura freaked out when trying to remove the hook...)
Jumbo dumps the fish into a deep sink. The spigots have special attachments that extend them over the sinks. The girls start of side-by-side, but as Jumbo demonstrates cutting its belly, Miura quickly hides behind Ena and, predictably, freaks about seeing its inside. Jumbo removes the fish's internal organs (off-panel), leading Miura to scream again, and ask if he does that while it's alive. Jumbo skewers it through the eye, which Miura says really stings. Jumbo continues by saying that you sprinkle it with salt, and it's ready. Now it's had its gills and internal organs removed, and it's been skewered, and it's still moving as it lies on the table, which understandably disturbs Miura. Jumbo figures they should prepare all of them.
Ena asks to help, shocking Miura. She does so, Jumbo giving advice.
Ena: Would you shut up?
Ena thinks it's kind of neat when they're prepared, and says she should give it a try. With misgivings, she starts in on it... but merely poking the fish in the belly with the knife tip is enough to send her hiding behind a tree.
The skewers are set up around the fire, pointing upward. Yotsuba asks if they're done, demonstrating her microwave mentality. Her daddy tells her to catch some more to take home. A while later, she asks again. And again. All three are watching the fish. Ena says they really turned out well. Miura is hungry. Yotsuba is ready to eat, as well. Her daddy warns her that they're hot. She discovers this by experience. An "Itadakimasu!" later, the girls are eating. Jumbo reminds them that they also have onigiri. Yotsuba puts her skewer in her left hand, takes an onigiri in her right hand, holds them up, and calls herself the greatest. Miura is surprised at how good the fish are. Ena finds it hard to believe she was scared of them, but Miura says that since they're cooked, they're food now. Koiwai points out to Yotsuba that she's making a big mess with her food.
Now a panel of them all sitting around the fire. Notably Miura is the focal point of the picture. Jumbo appears to be looking directly at her. He says the day's given her a lot to put in her diary, and she agrees. He says it's a time to look back on with great fondess, which she thinks is going a bit far. Koiwai asks abot the "diary" bit, so Jumbo explains. (See previous chapter.) Ena says Miura's going to Hawaii after the break, a statement that takes a bit to register with Jumbo. Ena explains that since her father is busy during the summer, she's going on vacation in the fall, evewn getting a week off from school. Ena thinks Miura's lucky, as she's never been overseas. Miura agrees somewhat, but finds Hawaii typical. Ena mentions that Fuuka was jealous when she heard. She mentions the pretty water and fish. Miura thinks they'll be going snorkeling. Ena says it's killing her.
Jumbo laughs and says "Well isn't that nice?" But then he looks angry and says she has some nerve. He asks her if it's great, and makes her happy, which it does. He swipes her trout, says that she can have a big, fat hamburger in Hawaii. He yells "Kamehameha!", confusing her. Ena explains that it's the name of the first king of Hawaii
. (So if you thought it was just an attack in the Dragon Ball series...) He then yells Waikiki, prompting her to tell him to shut up. Ena(?) begins explaining, but Miura knows what it is. Meanwhile, Yotsuba is really wolfing down her fish. "Don't eat so fast," cautions Koiwai. Jumbo now wants them to watch "our little hula princess" dance. Miura tells him to cut that out, while Ena applauds. Yotsuba coughs, prompting her daddy to repeat his warning.
YOTSUBA&!
The after-chapter picture shows Miura and Yotsuba at the water's edge, Miura with her feet kicking in the water while Yotsuba lies on her belly and dangles her hands in.
Next time: Chapter 24!
