Now, Nozomi's mornings will be even more radiant under the crystalline song of the Sparrow.

At least, he thought so.

Sadly, one morning, while the Sparrow was waiting for Nozomi, laughing charmingly and silly, perched on the roof as usual, he looked distractedly at the old neighbor. He watched the stunted, stooped woman soak rice in a large basin of water and then pound it, sitting on the engawa* that overlooked her courtyard.

Tired of waiting, the Sparrow let himself float gently down by the pestle after checking that the poor woman had slipped away in her house. He approached, hopping carefree, and happily pecked the rice powder. Once well-ground, it becomes a very good flour to make rice paste, which is indispensable for making pastries.

According to Nozomi, this neighbor was known throughout the valley for her ohagi*. Caught in his gluttony, the Sparrow did not see her return. After grabbing her broom, the old woman moved forward in muffled steps before striking the robber's head with a hard blow.

Suzume immediately let go of his handful of rice in pain and tried to fly away from her, but she continued to hammer him with hard blows.

The old woman hit the bird with every move she made. Releasing her broom, she threw herself on him, forcing him to the ground, clamoring and cursing the creature for defiling her precious rice. With her hands, she plucked the feathers from his wings, which he used to protect his head, as the torrent of offense did not abate. The bird, wanting to end it quickly, began to push the hysterical, old woman away. Wanting to intimidate her with a loud and alert cry, Suzume stood out in the open, but, under the woman's ill gaze, he froze when he saw her armed with a pair of small shears. Without a shred of hesitation, she jumped on him and cut out his tongue cleanly.

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Engawa* : In traditional Japanese houses, it is a strip of suspended flooring, usually made of wood, which surrounds the house.
Ohagi* : A traditional Japanese autumn pastry, made with rice and red bean paste.