The Source of Souls

This village... It's so warm... Or rather, it's hot!

Come to think of it, will you be okay somewhere this hot, if you're a snowman? If you start melting like before...

Don't talk about that. Just forget what happened.

I may be a snowman... But that doesn't mean I'll start melting whenever it's warm out.

I melt when...erm... I melt when my heart warms.

Oh, really?

I know the feeling... My heart feels as warm as a summer's day looking at you, young lady.

Who said that?

Over here, sweet young lady with the mysterious presence.

That voice... I'm sure I've heard it before...

Aha!

Tee-hee, finally noticed me, have you? It's been a while. It's me, Onodera. It's my first time meeting this young lady, though.

Oh yeah, you're the one who opened up the road to Purgatory for me... Thank you for that.

Don't mention it. I'm just happy I could help.

Is the straw...talking?

That's right, straw can talk. But my, how cute you look with that shocked expression on your face. Hehe... My heart's pounding. This is so unlike me. I'd like to invite you out.

Huh? Thanks.

Going out sounds nice. I used to love going on trips with the other snowmen from my village.

Well, you see... I think we're talking about two entirely different sorts of thing.

Wait!

Wh-What is it this time?

I won't let you beat me to the punch! Yukino's gonna be MY strawfriend!

Strawboy?! Where'd you jump out from?!

A-A strawfriend? What's a strawfriend?

(It must be something like a girlfriend.)

Hey, you keep out of this, kid! This has nothing to do with you!

How dare you?! I'm no kid! And I noticed Yukino's charms before you! Grrrrr!

But Strawboy, you've only just nestled your way in here, and this must be the first time you've even met Yukino.

And from the very first moment I set eyes on her, I was captivated.

Captivated? I don't really get it. You mean you want to hang out with me, too?

Not quite!

Well, this is getting confusing.

Hey, Aldo. I may be a little interested...

Huh?! (Are we talking about love... With a straw dummy?!)

Onodera mentioned something. About how I have a mysterious presence...

I sense the same presence in these straw dummies as I do in the snowmen of my hometown.

(Phew, you weren't talking love. You had me worried there.)

Oh, I see... I guess you're both animate objects, so you've got that in common.

I'd like to understand these straw dummies better. Where should I go to find out about them?

Erm... You want to go to Zami for that. The Shell Palace Chief is pretty clued up on them. If you really are interested, we could go there?

The Shell Palace Chief?!

A formidable enemy lurks in the shadows!

I can't let this be!

Hey, Aldo? Didn't we come here to find out about straw dummies?

Yeah... That's what I thought...

Then...

What on earth is going on?!

Whoa! So cute! I'm so attracted to you!

Yukino! Come over here!

Hoho... Fancy happening upon a girl like yourself in a hot place like this!

What's going on? Why's everyone gone so fanatical?

It's just... Surely you can understand?!

Her cool beauty reminiscent of glistening snow. And yet those eyes of hers are filled with such warm love!

I'm being drawn in! She's shot an arrow straight to my heart and I can't keep myself away!

I want to spend my life with you! I feel it from the bottom of my heart!

Erm...

Everyone's gaze is so hot... Why are they all so fanatical? Snowmen from my village told me they liked me.

But no one had such strange passion...

Aldo... What do these straw people want me to do?

Erm...

The straw dummies can't help falling in love with you. So...

...... What DO they want you to do?

That's simple! We have only one wish...

Be our partner!

Your partner?

Par...Par... P-P-Partner...! Aaaaaaaahhhh!

N-No... Stop it! I'm so embarrassed! How could you ask that of me?!

You okay, Yukino?! You're melting again!

Of course I'm not okay! I know full well... Partner means wife, doesn't it?

Waaaaaah....I can't! I don't want anything romantic! When they said they liked me, that's what they meant?!

Calm down, Yukino! What'll you do if you keep on melting and can't come back to your human form?!

*sigh* She's too cute! We should get married right now!

What's going on? Why do the straw dummies like Yukino this much? Everyone seems delirious with passion...

Whoa! Yukino! Even this is cute!

Stop it!

You'll have to wait until she's calmed down, if nothing else.

Sorry, Aldo. I lost it there for a second.

Don't worry. This must be hard on you...

Anyway... I've thought about it, and I can't get married. I'm interested in the straw dummies, but it feels a little wrong to be their lover.

Yukino... That's just because you don't know true love yet!

Yeah! We'll do anything to light that fire in your heart!

They're really not listening, are they?

Okay. In that case... I have two conditions.

Conditions?

Condition one. Tell me about the straw dummies. What kind of creatures are you?

Well that's easy! We straw dummies are said to come from the sea. Right, Shell Palace Chief?

That's correct. Some say the sea spirit lives in us straw dummies. Others say the souls of humans who have lost their lives pass through us before being reborn.

They pass through you?

I see. I think I understand why I felt the same presence with you as I did the snowmen from my hometown.

Your souls take similar forms.

Really? What do you mean, Yukino?

Hurry, hurry! What's your other condition, Yukino?!

I'll answer this one first. I'll explain about the souls later.

Okay...

Condition two. I want you to give me something. If you do... I'll marry you.

What the?! Seriously?!

Of course not. But if I give them unreasonable demands, maybe they'll give up...

Ah, I get it. You had me scared for a minute there.

Yayyyy! We've got a chance to marry Yukino!

So what do you want us to bring you?

A spirit stone pot, a Dragon Palace coral branch, a wave jellyfish fur coat, a pearl from a gold dragon's neck. Or the shell of a sea snail born from a cat. I will marry the first one of you who brings me any one of these items.

Wait a minute! They're all just treasures out of fairy tales!

(Are they gonna give up?!)

However...

If it means we can marry you, we won't hesitate for even a second! All right! This is a once-in-a-lifetime competition! Everyone! Win or lose, no hard feelings!

Are they really gonna do it? Why would they go this far...

Because we're deeply in love with you! Now then, Yukino! Would you mind waiting for us at Kuruchi Cove?

Kuruchi Cove? Can't I wait in Zami?

It's a popular place for straw dummies to go to confess their love!

If we win, we want to confess our love to you once more! So please wait there for us!

I didn't know you had such a place... I guess straw dummies confess their feelings just like everyone else.

Okay. I'll be waiting there.

Kuruchi Cove? I guess we'll head there and wait for you.

Treasures out of fairy tales, huh?

I thought there was no way they'd exist in this time. I feel bad about it, but they'd never stop fawning over me otherwise.

Yeah... I can imagine...

But... I think I understand their feelings, just a little.

If there was someone I absolutely had to see and I needed to overcome some trial in order to do so... I'd take it on, same as them, no matter how reckless it may seem.

By any chance... Are you talking about Tsukiha?

Hehe, yeah. I was finally able to see her because of you.

Thanks, Aldo.

It was because you'd been waiting for her all that time, always thinking of her. It wasn't me, you're the one who took charge of your destiny.

You're sweet.

Sorry to keep you waiting!

By any chance... Are you talking about this girl you've been waiting for?

Yeah... She's family. My only...

There's a chance she won't remember me. It may only be me who thinks of us as family.

I used to worry about that as I looked up at the sky in my village.

But you told me something not so long ago.

"They may feel anxious, too. So as we wait for them, we have to believe in them and stay strong."

Oh yeah.

Because of that, I don't worry anymore. So... Thank you, Aldo.

Don't mention it. If you believe it will happen, I'm sure you'll be destined to see her again.

Hehe... I hope so.

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Strawboy? That was quick. Have you already found one of the treasures?

What am I saying? Of course you haven't. Everything I mentioned was completely made up...

Tsk tsk tsk! I brought you one!

What?! One of them actually exists?!

That's impossible. There's no way any of them are real... What exactly did you find, Strawboy?

I...

I found the spirit stone pot!

The spirit stone pot?!

Hehehe! This was the easiest treasure in the world to find! Because...

It's the plant pot I was grown in!

Huh?

What?

I've got feet, and that's extremely rare for a straw dummy! To be able to grow me, this pot has to be special! So this is the spirit stone pot!

Ah. You see, Strawboy. I don't think the pot had anything to do with that.

Whaa?!

The reason you're special is because of the Singular Egg...

Whaaaaaa?!

Shame. Looks like the treasure you brought doesn't meet the mark.

No way.... I'm so sad...

Thanks for trying. But you've got to give up on us getting married now.

This is mighty strange...

How is absolutely everyone finding treasure?!

They might all be failures, like Strawboy's... (Even the Shell Palace Chief?!)

Are straw dummies particularly skilled at finding junk?

Hey, what's this stick? It's so bright it's making my eyes hurt.

It's a branch of Dragon Palace coral... Well, it's a fake! They're really popular in Zami! It's a souvenir! It makes a great ornament!

So it's just an ornament...

Next is this piece of cloth.

Is this meant to be the coat of wave jellyfish fur? Wave jellyfish don't even have fur...

Precisely! So this is...

Woven from the skin of the giant fish that swims near to the wave jellyfish! I'm really proud of this coat!

I thought something stunk of fish. So that's what it was! This isn't anything like what she asked for!

Straw dummies can weave cloth? You truly are mysterious...

Anyway, they're both fake. Sorry, but you're disqualified.

No fair!

And lastly... The shell of a sea snail born from a cat.

Meow!

This is just a kitten. But aren't you cute? So fluffy!

Oh no! I'm feeling warm... I've got to relax or I'll start melting.

Shell Palace Chief... Do you even know what a shell is?

Of course I do, but a cat can only ever give birth to a cat.

You've got a point there...

I guess this is it. All of them were wrong, so you're all disqualified.

Time to give up on getting married.

Oh, man!

No, wait! There's still one wish left! The last one of us is sure to find the jewel from the neck of a gold dragon!

We're mortified that we can't marry Yukino, but we're rooting for him now!

So, this isn't everyone?

He sure is late, though. I wonder where he went looking?

We haven't seen him around here.

Perhaps he went... To the Ship Graveyard?!

The Ship Graveyard?

It's a dangerous place to go on your own. I wonder if it's as dangerous for straw dummies?

It's not just a question of personal safety.

It's absolutely forbidden for a straw dummy to lose their life!

That sounds serious. Why exactly is that?

If a straw dummy loses their life, the soul inside will never be able to reach its destination... And it will end up as a monster!

What the, ?!

We can't let that happen! We've got to go save that straw dummy!

This is all my fault... To the Ship Graveyard, quick!

Eep! This monster isn't from around here! And there's a jewel around its neck! This must be the gold dragon!

There's the straw dummy! He's already facing off against the monster!

That monster... It's got a jewel around its neck!

How can this be? You mean it really does exist?!

Yukino! Look, I found the gold dragon! I'll take the jewel from around its neck... It will be my gift to you!

Wait! You can't fight it!

There's no need to worry, Yukino. If it makes you happy, I'm willing to take on any legendary monster...

No!

I'm sorry... I told you impossible things from the start so you'd give up on me!

Yukino...

So please don't fight it! I don't really want the pearl!

...... I see. Your feelings are clear to me now, Yukino.

This is all the more reason why I've got to get that pearl from its neck!

Why?!

You gave us impossible requests, hoping we'd give up on you. But my love for you isn't that superficial. And I'll prove it to you, once I overcome this test!

This is ridiculous! Come to your senses!

I already have. Yukino! If I give you that pearl around its neck... Will you recognize this love?!

Wait a minute! Now isn't the time for this! You've got to run away, quick!

You're kind, Yukino. After all, you're in danger by being here. It'll be okay. I'm sure to win. So please, get back.

Gaaaaaaaah!

Mr. Straw Dummy?!

Ah! That's a bad wound!

I... I let my guard down. I regret...

Mr. Straw Dummy? Mr. Straw Dummy!

Oh no! The dragon looks pretty agitated!

Open your eyes, Mr. Straw Dummy! You can't... This is all my fault... Mr. Straw Dummy!

Yukino! We have to fight back!

O-Okay!

It ran away... But it looks like it dropped the pearl from around its neck.

......

I'm sorry, Mr. Straw Dummy... If I hadn't given you such unreasonable demands...

Yukino...

At the very least, we should bring his remains back to Zami. *sob*

Dear me! Such a sad face is unbecoming of my beautiful bride, Yukino.

Huh?!

M-Mr. Straw Dummy... You're okay?!

But of course! That attack didn't even hit me! It was a close call, but I avoided it by a straw's breadth! I was magnificent! Did you see? Did you? Did you?

......

......

Huh? What's wrong? Did you think I was dead? Yukino? Yukino?

You idiot! You really had me worried! You have so many nasty wounds, I thought I wouldn't be able to save you!

Why, I'd forgotten how disheveled I'd become helping out with the villagers' training! Especially this huge cut here! I hid it as it was so unattractive, but it looks like it got exposed during that attack. I forgot it was a past injury and it shocked me so much I passed out! Stupid, I know... Heheh.

......

Don't you "heheh" me! I just don't know any more!

Don't say that! We're soon to be husband and wife, after all! Look!

The pearl from the neck of a gold dragon... I got it for you!

Yeah but the monster just happened to drop it...

Not so. When it attacked me... I attacked back at the jewel around its neck! It was my doing, without a doubt!

Now I have one of the treasures... Mr. Straw Dummy and I...have to...

Wait... I'm not ready yet! I can't get married!

Calm down, Yukino. You don't have to...

You're not ready? Hmph how could that be? I already got you what you asked for, in a cool and stylish way, if I might add.

You were flapping about a bit too much to call it "cool"...

Hmph... I've got it! It must be the location! The mood isn't right in this Ship Graveyard!

That's not the problem...

There's no sunset, no flowers... And on top of all that! There's not even a ring to pledge my love to you!

A-A ring?!

I'd had a brilliant idea! I'll make a ring out of this jewel and give it to you!

I-It's okay. You don't need to go to all that trouble...

Don't be shy! All this is so I can give you the best proposal you could imagine! Luckily, I've got the perfect fittings to set this into a ring.

Whoa!

Huh? It's too big. Then I'll shave a little off here...

Huh?

Did you hear that pinging sound?

It sounded like a crack.

Oh please no! It was the pearl!

I only shaved off a little, how could it crack?!

Aaaaaaaaaaah!

It broke into pieces...

Nooooo! But I tried so hard to get that for you...

Looks like your declaration of love backfired.

Th-Then we don't have to get married?

No! I'll find that monster again, just you wait!

You can't do that!

Yukino...

Don't you know how worried I was? Anyone who would injure themselves for my sake... Even for treasure... I don't want to marry someone like that!

No fair!

......

You look so cute when you're angry. I'll remember that you worried about me for the rest of my life...

It's good to stay positive...

I'm glad you're safe... But I'm pretty exhausted...

Aldo... I want to go to Kunlun Mountains.

Sure... But why?

I can't stand the oppressive heat of the straw dummies' love any more...

That makes sense...

I'm interested in this place you wish to visit. How about I tagged along with you?

No!

Eeeep!

It's so nice and cool... This is better. I can finally breathe...

Haha... It's been a tough time.

It really has... I never imagined they'd like me that much, just because our souls take similar forms.

Speaking of which, what does that mean, exactly? How are straw dummies and snowmen similar?

Speaking of which, what does that mean, exactly? How are straw dummies and snowmen similar?

I think I realized in Itoise...

But the straw dummies said the souls of humans who have lost their lives pass through them before being reborn...

Snowmen are the same. Just like straw dummies, we were originally just lumps of silent snow. But the second a soul due to be reborn settles in that lump of snow, we become snowmen.

So that's how snowmen are born...

Yep...

But... I'm a little different. I wasn't born like the other snowmen.

What do you mean?

I was an ordinary snowman, created by a little girl on a snowy day. My first memory is of that little girl looking at me. She seemed so happy.

After that, I started to take human form. Even though other snowmen can't become human.

I see...

I think you know this already... But I was an ordinary snowman, created by a young Tsukiha on a snowy day. My first memory is of Tsukiha looking at me. She seemed so happy.

After that, I started to take human form. Even though other snowmen can't become human.

Oh... I see.

So why are you the only one to become human?

I'd guess it's because she had spirit power. That must've influenced it. I'm different from all the snowmen in my hometown.

I'm always trying to work out what it all means. What it means to be born, to be alive...

Yukino...

Yukino!

Wha, ?!

Everyone! What are you doing here... Did you come to see me?

We've got something we want to show you!

We couldn't wait any longer!

What is it?

Tee-hee... You ready?

Ta-da! It's a present for you!

A-A present?!

Yeah! We found a beautiful jewel-like stone, so we thought we'd give it to you!

Yukino! Take it!

Everyone from your hometown seems to like you, Yukino.

You guys... Y-You don't...

Want to marry me, do you?!

Huh?!

No, I can't! I can't! I...I...

I don't want to be anyone's wife!

Y-Yukino?!

Marry you?!

Yukino?!

You're wrong! They don't want to marry you...

Come back! Yukino!