Lady Yurei isn’t as spiney as she makes herself seem—once Pregnant, whose name is Aki, has put a few sips of sake down her throat, the old crone lightens up considerably. She finds the smallest of spoken wit terribly funny and, when tipsy, her laugh quakes the house.

“Do forgive the matron,” Aki says in the dinner hall, belly knocking over mugs as she shuffles closer to Chiyo and Natsu. “She’s not so friendly upon first meetings, but she’s suspicious of outsiders for good reason. Now that she’s said you’re welcome, she will treat you like her own daughters.”