Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

Early September, 1572.

Mitsuo was shopping. He had previous experience raising children and knew in advance what items would be necessary for childcare. Therefore, instead of panicking when they were needed, he decided to buy them in advance.

“The top priority is a baby carrier, right? Just having one allows you to hold the baby and still have both hands free, so it makes things much easier.”

Although it was called shopping, there was not a wide variety of items available like in modern times, so the number of items to purchase was naturally limited. However, there were two innovative products that were only available in Owari and would help reduce the burden of childcare: a baby carrier (also called a “komori obi”) and a spray bottle. The baby carrier is a tool that parents wear to hold the baby without blocking both hands, and the spray bottle is a tool used to wash the baby’s lower body. It goes without saying that babies cannot control their bodily functions on their own. There are no high-performance diapers like in modern times, so it is necessary to change them every time they have an accident. However, it would be too burdensome to soak and wash them in hot water every time. That’s where the spray bottle comes in handy. You can wash the baby with lukewarm water using the spray bottle when changing diapers and then replace it with a new one.

“Shopkeeper, please give me this.”

“Thank you.”

Mitsuo was able to easily purchase the baby carrier. It was convenient for everyone to be able to shop with money instead of bartering goods. In bartering, both parties have to balance the value of the goods they want, which often leads to purchasing unnecessary items, and it requires a discerning eye to determine what is considered equivalent. After handing over the money and receiving the goods, Mitsuo put them in his bag and looked for the spray bottle. The baby carrier had a single purpose, so it was easy to know which stores carried it, but the spray bottle was different. It could also be used for gardening and makeup. Even if the stores were classified by street, it was up to the shopkeeper to decide how to categorize the spray bottle.

“There are so many things here. When I first came to Kyoto, it was so desolate that I thought it was a joke. This liveliness is a good thing.”

Mitsuo walked along the row of shops, casually browsing while searching for the desired item. After a short while, he found the item he was looking for at a shop that sold agricultural tools. The spray bottles were divided into three sizes: large, medium, and small. Mitsuo chose a large and medium spray bottle. The large one was for his own use, and the medium one was for Tsuruhime. In childcare, fathers and mothers have different responsibilities. The roles expected of fathers and mothers are different, and it is not meaningful for only mothers to take care of the child. Mitsuo had been confused and made mistakes when his daughter, Tsuruhime, was born, but now he understood clearly. Unlike mothers who suffer from childbirth, fathers develop a sense of fatherhood through interaction with their children.

(In these troubled times, there may be children who are being tossed around and uncertain about their future. However, if Tsuruhime and I can gradually spread our way of raising children, maybe those unfortunate children will decrease…)

Although limited to Owari and Mino, the child mortality rate was gradually decreasing. The number of abandoned children was also decreasing slightly. Even if they had to abandon their children, the Oda family would take them in to be raised as retainers in their facilities, in order to provide a place for them to recover. Of course, even the Oda family cannot take in an unlimited number of children, so certain criteria have been established. Once a child is taken in by the Oda family, they will never be returned to their parents. After all, they were a life that would have died if they had been left behind, so they cannot be entrusted to such parents. However, within the Oda territory, the sanitary conditions were good and the nutritional status was relatively good, so there were fewer children who died at an early age. Of course, compared to modern times, medical technology was low, so there were cases where they unfortunately fell ill and died easily. As Mitsuo was vaguely thinking about these things, he bumped into someone.

“Oh, excuse me.”

Mitsuo quickly turned around and saw that the person he bumped into had dropped their belongings on the ground. The items that had fallen were vegetables. Mitsuo thought it would be a big deal if they were stepped on, so he quickly bent down and hurriedly picked up the vegetables.

“No, I apologize as well. I was lost in thought and wasn’t looking ahead.”

The other person also apologized, and they both helped pick up the vegetables. Fortunately, there weren’t many people passing by, so the vegetables were collected without being stepped on. There were some spots where they got dirty with soil, but the owner just lightly brushed them off with their hand and didn’t seem to mind.

“I’m really sorry. If they’re no good, please let me know and I’ll compensate you without hesitation.”

“There’s no need for that. It’s also my fault… If you insist, would you like to have a cup of tea together?”

“Tea? That’s fine, I don’t mind.”

“That’s good. I’m not familiar with this area, so I was looking for a place to rest.”

Mitsuo guided the person to a nearby tea shop and they sat down. Mitsuo asked the man various questions. His name was Shiro. He had recently come to Owari to allow his sick mother to recuperate.

“I left everything behind and came here, it was a kind of gamble. However, since coming here, my mother’s condition has been gradually improving. I was prepared for a final farewell, but now I feel relieved. I have caused my wife and children a lot of trouble, but I finally feel like I can put their minds at ease.”

Shiro had a kind smile. Mitsuo felt a sense of empathy towards him, as he had also caused trouble for Tsuruhime at first.

“How old is your child?”

“She’s turning four. Although she always had a gloomy face in our former home, she has become mischievous since coming here and keeps me on my toes.”

“Haha, but she must be cute. I just had a daughter not too long ago.”

“Congratulations.”

As he said that, Shiro raised his tea bowl. Understanding his intention, Mitsuo also held up his tea bowl and they made a toast.

“To the healthy growth of our children.”

“To the lasting friendship between us.”

As soon as they finished speaking, the two of them drank their tea in one gulp. After finishing their tea, they both started laughing spontaneously. They then talked about each other’s lives. But enjoyable times pass quickly, and before they knew it, half an hour had passed. Feeling a bit uncomfortable to linger with just one cup of tea, Mitsuo and Shiro apologized to the shopkeeper and left the shop.

“It was a meaningful time. If fate allows, let’s meet again.”

“Take care. If we have the chance to meet again, let’s have a good drink and talk.”

“Then, goodbye.”

Shiro raised his hand and left without looking back. Mitsuo felt a refreshing breeze, even though their parting was so simple.

(Come to think of it, besides Gorou-san, he is the first friend I’ve made here. It’s nice to have friends here.)

Mitsuo thought to himself that he didn’t interact with others much. He could say that his days were fulfilling. Whether it was good or bad, he couldn’t quite judge.

“Well, it’s fine. Let’s go to Tsuruhime’s place.”

Mitsuo adjusted his bag and headed towards the hospital where Tsuruhime was.

As September came, Asai and Asakura remained holed up in their castles. The silence made the Oda forces wonder if they were afraid of them or if they were waiting for something. Suddenly, Nobunaga entrusted the castle to Hideyoshi and returned to Gifu. The prominent generals were puzzled by Nobunaga’s sudden return in mid-September after commanding the siege of Asai and Asakura for so long. But at the same time, they had suspicions. Perhaps some unfavorable information had come in and that was why he returned. To suggest that, they received information that the once disbanded siege was gradually reforming, and the retainers began to think.

However, that alone was not a problem. Unlike the previous time, they were not cut off from their retreat, and there was no sign of Kyoto falling into the enemy’s hands. And Nobunaga had returned to Gifu. Even if they formed a siege again in this situation, it would not inflict a significant blow to the Oda forces. Nevertheless, the reason why the siege was being formed again was a mystery. When the Oda generals speculated about the reason behind the formation of the siege, they suddenly realized a significant crisis.

“Is Takeda planning to attack?”

Hidenaga, who was concerned about this serious matter, approached Takenaka Hanbei directly.

“Yes. Even if we were to form a siege against the Oda again, they do not have the military power to deal a significant blow. However, they are trying to rebuild the once broken siege. Why is that? The answer should be obvious if you think about it.”

“Hmm… Indeed, Takeda’s recent movements have been suspicious. It’s not unreasonable to think that way.”

“If I may be so bold, do you have any thoughts?”

“Well, it’s nothing. But I am somewhat optimistic.”

Takenaka Hanbei knew that Takeda’s invasion of the Oda was a known fact, but he didn’t let it show. He wondered why the meeting was being kept a secret if they were just discussing battle rations. Hidenaga, who sensed something, squinted his eyes as if trying to figure it out, but soon showed a friendly smile.

“If it’s something even a humble person like me can understand, could you please enlighten me?”

“It’s not a difficult story. They know that they cannot prepare as much military funds as we can. Even if they were to attack, we can resist by staying in the castle. Eventually, their military funds will run out, and they will have no choice but to return to their home province.”

“But what about Honganji Temple? If they provide financial support, Takeda can continue fighting for years.”

“Even if Honganji Temple provides financial assistance, they cannot buy the hearts of the soldiers.”

“That’s true.”

Hidenaga seemed satisfied with the explanation. However, during this time, he knew that Takenaka Hanbei was having secret meetings with Shizuko. His older brother, Hideyoshi, was convinced that they were discussing battle rations. However, Hidenaga was bothered by why the meeting was being kept a secret.

(It won’t be easy to get him to spill the beans so easily. Well, if there’s an opportunity, I might be able to find out.,It’s fun to learn new things, but it’s also fun to speculate about things you don’t know. Hidenaga thought so and decided not to inquire further about Takenaka Hanbei.

(However, Lady Shizuko always surprises me. In the previous siege, she accurately predicted the enemy’s intentions and ensured that valuable retainers of the Oda clan survived. Perhaps this silence is also part of some clever plan. Hehe… I won’t accept a boring outcome, Lady Shizuko.)

While the retainers of the Oda clan were filled with expectations and suspicions, Shingen had gathered almost all of his retainers. Among them were the future Takeda Four Heavenly Kings, Baba Nobuharu and Yamagata Masakage.

“To summon all of us, Lord Shingen must be serious.”

“We don’t need to mobilize our entire army to crush the Oda brat, but those monks can be a nuisance.”

“By the way, Lord Akiyama, I heard that you are attacking his subordinate castle while Oda is focused on Omi Province. How is it going?”

“This is not a topic to discuss in a loud voice, even if it is Lord Shingen’s residence.”

While everyone was freely chatting, as soon as Shingen entered, the conversation came to a halt. Shingen sat down as usual and began speaking.

“We will attack the Oda territory starting from the beginning of the tenth month.”

As soon as he finished speaking, all the retainers prostrated themselves. The necessary discussions had already taken place. Now, they just needed to prepare for the invasion of the Oda territory, so the war council ended quickly.

“Indeed, swift as the wind. But there is no need to hold numerous war councils for the Oda brat.”

“Yes. If we follow Lord Shingen’s strategy, there should be no problem. Victory is already assured, we just need to proceed with the endgame.”

The plan to eliminate Ieyasu and Nobunaga had been made. It may seem somewhat arrogant, but they were merely practicing the military principle of “winning the war before starting the battle.” If they could create a situation where they were already winning before the battle began, then there would be no chance of losing. It was not a mistake. If the initial board position was already a checkmate, victory would be guaranteed the moment the war started. However, except for Shingen, they had overlooked something significant. If they wanted to create a “checkmate board position” for themselves, then naturally the enemy would also try to create a “board position where they could checkmate the opponent” as quickly as possible.

“Each of you, prepare for the war without any negligence.”

As a warning to his retainers, Shingen spoke in a slightly stronger tone.

On the other hand, after returning to Gifu, Nobunaga was gathering information from various sources. Although he already knew in advance that Takeda would attack, he was slightly nervous. He had received information that there had already been a minor skirmish between Takeda and his subordinates at Iwamura Castle. It was clearly a provocation, but Nobunaga couldn’t afford to send reinforcements. If he sent reinforcements now, it would further deplete the forces needed for the battle against Takeda. However, if he didn’t send reinforcements, others might also submit to Takeda.

(I understand. This must be Shizuko’s plan… but it’s still heavy. I’ve felt this way since hearing about Imagawa’s advance.)

It was already known that hundreds of new firearms, which had evolved into a different type of gun from the matchlock, had been manufactured. However, Nobunaga couldn’t dispel his anxiety. The gun was powerful, but would it be enough to defeat Takeda? Nobunaga had his doubts, but he didn’t ask Shizuko about it.

After all, she had said, “Leave everything to me,” and he had replied, “I trust you.” If he were to ask her now, it would imply that he didn’t trust her. Although it wouldn’t change their relationship, Nobunaga’s complete delegation of authority to Shizuko was not something to be taken lightly. He believed that doubting the trust he had placed once would question the weight of that trust, which was a foolish act.

(Regardless, no matter how much I think, I couldn’t come up with a plan to defeat Takeda. We have no choice but to rely on that gun, Shizuko’s plan, and her “new technology.” She accomplished the previous siege brilliantly. We just have to believe and wait.)

At that moment, Nobunaga’s Turkish Angora cat, Torajiro, who was sleeping freely, came into his view. He looked at Torajiro for a moment and his face softened.

(That’s right, there’s no use getting anxious. Shizuko is the one who jumps into the most dangerous situations, more than me or anyone else in the Oda clan. What good does it do for me to panic and run around? I just need to stay calm and composed as always.)

Nobunaga stroked Torajiro’s back. Torajiro relaxed as if to say it felt good. He narrowed his eyes and purred, urging Nobunaga to stroke him more. Nobunaga also stroked under his chin and his head, and Torajiro became completely limp. By then, Nobunaga’s anxiety had dissipated.

“Yes, it’s pleasant to stroke a cat, even though I initially thought it was just an animal. What was it… Shizuko said it relieves the uneasiness of the heart? Good, my heart feels lighter.”

Nobunaga, who doted on cats, was not the only one. The Oda clan kept cats freely around the castle and fortresses, especially near the food storage areas. This was to prevent mice from entering the food storage. Throughout history, rulers in Japan and around the world had been troubled by mice invading their food storage. The most efficient method to counter mice was to keep cats freely around the storage areas. It is said that as early as 4000 BC, the ancestors of domestic cats, the African wildcat, were kept freely around food storage areas in Libya, and they were even taken on ships that transported food to other places.

Cats have a high ability to hunt mice and do not damage the food in the storage. If they receive proper training from the age of two months, they will not show hostility towards humans. Female cats are favored over males because the cat family is a group of animals where females do the hunting. It is important that the parents have hunting experience, and the young should not be separated from their parents until they grow up.

Cats inherit hunting techniques from their parents. As mentioned earlier, during the period of raising their young, mother cats show and teach them hunting techniques. Mother cats during the period of raising their young become particularly skilled hunters. This is because mother cats with strong maternal instincts try to catch as much prey as possible for their waiting offspring in the nest. Even in modern times, it is believed that when a pet cat brings its owner a dead mouse or insect, it is trying to share its food with the owner, thinking that the owner is an immature kitten who cannot hunt.

The Oda clan also solved the problem of mice targeting their food storage by keeping cats freely around. It was cheaper and didn’t require hiring people for mouse control, nor did they have to worry about spies. The cats could hunt for food on their own, even if it was just mice. They couldn’t afford to interfere and dull their hunting instincts. Of course, if the hunting results were poor, they would also provide food, but not excessively.

“Hahaha, you’re such a lovely creature.”

Nobunaga’s face naturally softened as he watched Torajiro cling to him. However, he didn’t notice the gaze directed at him until he realized it. Nobunaga quickly moved away from Torajiro, took out a small sword from his pocket, and prepared to throw it. But as soon as he noticed the owner of the gaze, Nobunaga stopped his movement.

“What are you doing?”

The tense atmosphere from earlier dissipated, and Nobunaga’s face showed a hint of exasperation. The person peering through the slightly opened entrance was Nohime. She smiled faintly and quietly opened the entrance.

“I thought you were seducing my beloved daughter, so I’ve been waiting for this to end.”

“You fool. I have no such intention.”

From Nohime’s attitude, it could be inferred that the stern Nobunaga had been enjoying watching him play with Torajiro. Nobunaga found it annoying, but since he had made a fool of himself, he believed that no matter what he said now, it would only be adding to his embarrassment, so he remained silent.

“So, what brings you here?”

Nobunaga asked Nohime, who had taken a seat next to him while carrying Torajiro on his shoulder. Nohime, who was enjoying an extraordinary freedom, would never visit Nobunaga’s place without a reason.

“Just because it’s boring.”

“What?”

“In such a major situation, you haven’t changed at all, my lord. You’re not even slightly flustered. Please show me some signs of panic and entertain me a little.”

“You think it will accomplish anything to panic now? The die has already been cast. We just have to wait for the results.”

“Oh, has my lord come up with a brilliant plan after all the nights of worrying?”

“If you want to know, find the answer yourself.”

“Hehe, indeed, it’s not as fun if the answer is too easy. It’s entertaining to find fragments and speculate about them.”

Their conversation was not typical of a couple, but rather the usual style of conversation between Nobunaga and Nohime. Others might think their relationship was the worst, given their incomprehensible emotions. Therefore, many spies approached Nohime, only to realize that it was the wrong choice.

“However, it’s easy to see through your intentions. But I won’t say it out loud, I’ll keep it in my heart. If you want to know my thoughts, find the answer yourself.”

“Is that a sarcastic remark? Hmph, you fool. I can see through your thoughts. How many years do you think we’ve been together?”

“Oh, this is a delightful story. It seems my lord cares about me more than anyone else.”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Then I’ll think as I please. Well then, my lord, I will go to Shizuko’s place. It’s the season when many delicious things are available soon. I will invite Matsu and Nene as well and enjoy the food.”

It was now autumn according to the calendar, and it was the time when many food ingredients, including rice, were gathered. Although Shizuko’s army consisted of professional soldiers who didn’t have to work in the fields, they sometimes helped with the harvest in nearby villages, perhaps out of nostalgia for their days as farmers. Shizuko herself also worked in the fields, despite her position as a high-ranking officer. Especially now, fruits from Southeast Asian countries were only available at Shizuko’s place. Recently, news had reached Nohime that they had started harvesting bananas, following mangoes.,”…Do as you please.”

Nobunaga sensed that Nohime’s aim was the bananas, but he didn’t voice that question.

The harvest time for bananas varies depending on the cultivation period. Also, unlike modern seedless bananas, there were only seeded bananas in the Sengoku period, which can be considered as the original species. According to the definition by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in modern Japan, bananas are classified as fruit trees. This is because the ministry defines annual plants as vegetables and perennial plants as fruit trees. According to this definition, watermelons and melons, which are classified as fruits in circulation, are also annual plants and become vegetables. Among vegetables, there is a special category called “staple food,” which is designated as rice in Japan, but rice is classified as a vegetable in Europe and America. The definition of what is considered a vegetable and what is considered a fruit varies depending on the region.

“Even if you say bananas, the seeds are hard and there are too many, making them difficult to eat. And they are not as sweet as modern varieties.”

Modern bananas have high sugar content, but wild bananas are not as sweet as one might think. Some varieties even have a taste similar to mashed potatoes and are used as ingredients for cooking rather than being consumed as fruits. Additionally, although it may not seem like there are any other usable parts besides the fruit, sturdy fibers can be obtained from the stem of the banana after harvesting. These fibers have properties similar to hemp and are used as substitutes in various products. The process of extracting fibers from banana stems, called degumming, is valued for not requiring chemical treatment and being less labor-intensive. In modern times, banana stems are treated as industrial waste due to their cultivation volume, but in Sengoku period Japan, they are only produced in small quantities at Shizuko’s place. Therefore, there is no need to go through the trouble of extracting fibers, as hemp, which is not climate-dependent, is sufficient.

Fibers can also be obtained from pineapple leaves. However, it requires a lot of effort and has low productivity. Fabric made from pineapple leaf fibers is called piña in the Philippines and is known for being thin and delicate like a feather robe. One reason for the low productivity of piña is that it is made from leaf vein fibers, which are prone to breakage, and advanced techniques are required to weave them into the required length. Furthermore, a silk piña using easy-to-handle silk thread as the warp has been developed in modern times, and its productivity and demand have increased.

“I tried eating the buds, but they were pretty ordinary.”

Bananas have purple flowers that later turn into fruits from top to bottom. However, a large stamen remains at the tip and does not turn into fruit, so it is cut off at the appropriate time. If left alone, it will fall to the ground on its own, but cutting it off allows more nutrients to be sent to the fruit. Although it is not familiar in Japan, banana buds are treated as vegetables and consumed in Southeast Asia. To eat banana buds, the outer skin is peeled off, and only the inner part is consumed, similar to bamboo shoots. The texture is similar to bamboo shoots, but it is a little difficult to eat raw, and it is better to blanch it from a hygiene perspective. In Southeast Asia, Gaeng Hua Plee (a soup made from banana buds, as the name suggests) is a staple.

“Well, it would be a waste to let them rot, so let’s harvest the bananas and go back.”

Bananas that are covered with bags to prevent insects from infesting them are selected and harvested when they are ripe. In modern times, bananas are usually harvested before they ripen and ripened during transportation, but since these are not for sale, they can wait until they ripen. Bananas can be grown from seeds, but it is better to propagate them by dividing the suckers that grow from the base of the plant. However, there is hardly any difference in growth speed or harvest time between seeds and suckers. It’s just that seeds are not expected much because bananas are mainly used for cooking. However, through sucker propagation, clones are produced, and seeds need to be collected for breeding. Therefore, fruits from superior individuals are not used for consumption. By cultivating both seeds and suckers, useful genetic traits for humans are fixed. This is no different from other crops.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

Shizuko leaves the greenhouse carrying a basket of bananas. However, on the way back home, she sees a palanquin that she recognizes. At the same time, Shizuko makes a right turn to avoid it.

“What reason do you have to avoid me like that?”

But the moment she made the right turn, her shoulders were grabbed from behind. Shizuko had no idea when and how that person approached and got behind her. But there was only one person who would do such a thing.

“I didn’t run away, you know. I just thought there might be preparations needed.”

Shizuko makes an excuse with a slightly stiff tone. Her excuse doesn’t seem to work as her cheek is pulled instead of receiving a response.

“There is no kitchen or storage room over there. It’s lonely to avoid me.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just a little shy, so please forgive me.”

“Oh, I see. So, what’s in the basket?”

Just after Nohime stops pulling Shizuko’s cheek, she notices that Shizuko is holding a basket. Inside is something with a shape she has never seen before, and Nohime immediately becomes interested.

“It’s Nanban’s fruit, bananas. I believe they were presented by the Christians before, and Lord also had them, right?”

According to the existing records, it is said that Nobunaga was the first person in Japan to eat bananas. There is a possibility that there were Japanese people who ate bananas before that, but if it is not recorded, it is not considered. It is believed that what Nobunaga ate at that time was bananas with seeds, as modern seedless bananas are believed to have originated from a mutation.

“Oh, I see. You were complaining about how difficult it is to eat with the seeds.”

“Well, that’s true… It doesn’t really look like something you can eat as it is.”

Wild bananas have hard seeds. To make them seedless bananas, the original diploid bananas need to change to triploid (having three sets of chromosomes) state. Generally, when chromosomes change to triploid, cell division becomes irregular. This makes it difficult for seeds to develop. In some cases, they continue to grow without maturing.

In modern times, research on methods to make fish triploid, as well as other crops, is actively conducted. Some methods have been established and put into practical use, such as for the Hida Amago fish. The reason is that by not undergoing sexual maturation, they no longer have their nutrients taken for egg production, and their flesh remains unchanged as they continue to grow. Although there are a few other reasons, the most significant advantage of triploid animals and plants is that they are convenient for human consumption and do not reproduce, thus not causing damage to the ecosystem. (However, the release of triploid fish into natural water bodies is prohibited by the guidelines of the Fisheries Agency.)

“Is it impossible to eliminate seeds like fish?”

“Are you talking about Amago? Just by soaking the fertilized eggs in lukewarm water, we were able to induce environmental changes.”

If fertilized eggs of Amago are raised in a normal environment, diploid Amago with two sets of chromosomes will be born. However, if the fertilized eggs are soaked in lukewarm water, an environmental change occurs, and triploid Amago is born. From the perspective of humans, there is no significant difference between water and lukewarm water, but for fish, a significant environmental change occurs when the water becomes warm. This leads to the birth of triploid Amago. Normally, Amago lays eggs and reaches the end of its lifespan in one year, but when it becomes triploid, it continues to grow without laying eggs for several years.

When it comes to changes in chromosomes, it is often mistaken for genetic manipulation. However, in reality, it is simply a matter of making the fish or plant perceive it as an environmental change, such as soaking it in lukewarm water or applying water pressure that is not present in the usual environment, and thus retaining the chromosomes that would normally be eliminated, making it triploid. Similar sudden chromosome mutations like triploidy also occur in humans, such as “Supermale Syndrome,” “Superfemale Syndrome,” and “Klinefelter Syndrome.”

“Since it’s profitable to make Amago triploid after salmon, you know.”

“At first, when it was called Amago, I thought you were teasing me.”

Depending on the growth, triploid Amago can reach up to one kilogram. Compared to the average 100 grams diploid Amago, it wouldn’t be surprising if it were mistaken for a different fish. In fact, when a 600-gram triploid Amago was caught, Shizuko was about to receive a punch from Nobunaga.

“It’s fascinating how a slight change in the environment can give organisms different characteristics.”

“Don’t try to evade my question by talking about that.”

“You caught me. It is possible with bananas, but plants are quite difficult. So, I think it can be made triploid, but I can’t guarantee when it will happen.”

In modern times, there are also diploid seedless bananas, but they are the result of relentless efforts. It wouldn’t be easy to have triploid or diploid seedless bananas.

Seedless watermelons, for example, also exist in the market, but they require more effort than Amago or Ayu. First, regular watermelons are cultivated, and during the sprouting period, chemicals like colchicine are applied to the sprouts. If this is grown as it is, it becomes a tetraploid watermelon. The following year, seeds are sown from the tetraploid watermelon and cross-pollinated with diploid watermelons. When the watermelons grown from this process have their seeds collected, those seeds become triploid seeds. When these seeds are grown, triploid, or seedless watermelons are produced. It takes a simple calculation of three years. Considering the effort and time involved, it is not surprising that seedless watermelons are not widely available in the market.

“Let’s wait without expecting too much. First, let’s enjoy the bananas that Shizuko has.”

“(Ah, so they are going to eat them after all) Well then, please go ahead.”,Shizuko selects one bunch from the basket of bananas and tears off one banana from the end. She hands it to Nohime, who takes the banana and peels it. After gazing at the fruit for a while, she takes a bite.

“There is a faint acidity amidst the sweetness. It enhances the sweetness. It’s a bit troublesome to dispose of the seeds though.”

Like akebi, bananas with seeds are eaten by putting the seeds and edible parts in the mouth and separating them inside. It’s a slightly tiring way to eat, but since the seeds are hard, it’s easier than crushing them with the teeth. Nohime’s jaw is not strong enough to crush the seeds. Naturally, she separates the edible parts and seeds in her mouth, spits out the seeds, and enjoys the edible parts.

“I understand why you said it’s difficult to eat, my lord.”

While saying such things, Nohime finishes three bananas.