"Ow! Fuck!"

"Swear jar."

"Heh."

"The both of you can die in a fire."

"Bluh bluh bluh- don't be mad 'cuz you slammed your finger in the pestle. What were you even sticking your fingers in there for? It's not like the pumpkin seeds can run away…"

"Heh. Sticking fingers there."

"Kirara, why are you the most perverse of us?"

"Dunno. Why does Raiko paint all those dirty pictures if Yayoi is the best at calligraphy? For that matter, why am I the best at story telling?"

"It's because you know the most of them. Pass the prunes."

"Here. I'll start mixing the water and soy sauce."

"So- what is this stuff again? Raiko?"

"Hmm? Sorry- measuring out the water. This is something I came up with a while back- it should help during training."

"Hmm?"

"Well- alright. Iga's make healthful potions of all kinds; as I'm the only Iga Brewer right now, it's my duty to try and make new potions every now and again. This one is called Pick-me-up, or Pickup- I'm not sure which yet. Pickup might be the stronger version, the one we don't sell."

"Hmm- if we didn't add the water…"

"No, the water's a vital component."

"What if Pick-me-up is what we call it when we're selling it, and Pickup is what it's called when we add it to another potion? Is that possible?"

"Actually, considering what it's made of, there are very few things we can't add this stuff to. It's a base."

"Hmm. Like… instead of a juice that may or may not be available, it's a potion you can safely mix other potions with, to create powerful and potent concoctions with?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds good to me- hey, is this right?"

"A little finer, if you can manage it."

"Sure. Hmm- is the wet ready?"

"Yeah- the prunes dissolved well enough, and all that's left is that powder you're making. That's good enough- dump it in."

"Is it ready yet- oh wow that's an ugly color."

"Yayoi?"

"Yes Raiko?"

"Shut up."

"Hehehe."

"So, who's tasting it first?"

"Yayoi." "Yayoi."

"Why do I have to- you know what? Never mind. Pour me a glass."

"So, how is it?"

"Salty. Kind of sweet? I could drink this- it tastes like it'd be good for nausea too."

"Hmm. So… success?"

"I'd say so."

"Mm. Wow, it is oddly salty, isn't it?"

"Hmhm. Why can't I stop drinking it?"

"Let's test it on the boys."

"Mm, lets."

"Fine."