Home

...... Time flows like a river, and this season has come again...

To Inanari Plateau​ first, I suppose.

No one is here. Excellent.

Oh, hey! Hi, Daisy!

What?!

You! What are you doing here?!

I could ask you the same thing. You almost never come to the mortal realm, do you? I was just at the dumpling shop on Vermilion Road for Cyrus, and I thought I'd take a walk.

But what are you doing out here? And you're in a different outfit than usual, too.

Tch...

D-did I say something wrong? You seem kind of annoyed.

I am, in truth. I was but a moment away from finishing here, and then you simply had to ruin it.

W-what did I do?!

Listen carefully, Aldo.

You will not ask me any more questions. Leave this place, and go far away. I want you out of my sight.

But why?

I said no questions!

After all the effort I went to to escape the Lotus Hall without any notice, to fail right at the crucial moment...

Hey, are you skipping out on work?!

Do I seem so irresponsible to you?! Fool!

...I am taking a day off. Properly reported to the up-aboves.

Wow...you take days off?

When's your next break, anyway?

When the wheel of time turns, and this day comes around again.

......

So, are you plans for that day off the same as your plans today, or...?

You are not as clever as you think you are, scoundrel...

Go now. I have no more time to spare conversing with you. Shoo, shoo. Begone. No good will come of you sticking your nose where it does not belong.

Leave now and speak no word of this to anyone, and I will not hold it...

Well, my stars!

Hm? She seems excited.

Oh, my stars! Oh, my stars and garters!

Dee-Dee! Little Dee-Dee! Ye've come on home!

Huh?

...Yeah! I'm home, Grammy.

Huh?!

We've been waitin' fer ye. Aah, Dee-Dee... Look how thin ye are. Are ye eatin' right livin' all by yerself?

I en't any thinner'n usual! I'm eatin' fine.

Well, that's a relief and sure. And work's goin' fine? They en't askin' too much of ye?

Not too much at all. I take my breaks, an' life is good.

That's good, that's good. Ye tell Grammy if anythin' gets to be too much fer ye.

I will, thanks.

Oh, right, almost fergot! Ye know Shizu down the way...

Wow, that's a thick drawl...

Which reminds me!

Who's this strappin' fellow? Yer beau, maybe?

Beau?

Grammy! You're makin' Aldo uncomfortable.

Aldo! Well, that's a fine name. How long've ye been lookin' after our Dee-Dee, Aldo?

E-Erm...

Grammy! Leave the poor man be! Let's hurry on home now, c'mon.

Ohoho, no need to be shy! Sorry, dearie. Never thought our Dee-Dee would bring such a fine fellow home with her...

Well, I did! C'mon now, Grammy. We can talk on our way back home.

I s'pose so... Well, c'mon, Aldo dear.

Huh? Wait...

Why do I have to...?

Stop standin' around gapin' and walk. An' don't get any funny ideas...

Or I'll beat the livin' daylights outta ye.

(What the heck is going on here?!)

...Well, here we are.

What is this place?

Oh, Dee-Dee!

If it en't Lil' Dee!

Ye came back!

Ah, it's Dee-Dee!

How've ye all been? Sorry to be so late.

Ah, yer on time enough! No need fer sorries.

At least ye come back every year! Unlike my good-fer-nothin' son.

But can't ye come back more? Is yer work reaaaally that important?

Don't be a dummy! Of course it's real important!

I wish Dee-Dee could be here all the time too, but...

Haha. Sure wish I could be too. Sorry.

If yer sorry, ye could stand to come show yer face to Grammy every now and again. She does worry.

I know, Akebi. Thanks fer always lookin' after her. It's a real relief knowin' she has you.

J-just doin' what anyone would!

Akebi's always askin' around the place, seein' if anyone's heard from ye. The way she worries!

H-hey, shush!

She's real fond of ye, after all!

Well, I can't make out much of what they're saying, but everyone seems so close with Daisy.

Could this be...

Hm? Who's this fellow?

Ah...

Oh, him? He's...

Wait just a mite... Are ye Dee-Dee's hubby?!

Well, well! Let's have a look at ye! Where'd ye meet? Been together long?

En't he a handsome one!

He's got a real big sword too!

What's all this, Dee?! Ye went and got a man without a word to any of us?! Sure, he seems a good fellow, but are ye sure?!

What about the ceremony? Ye can hold it here! It'll be a party!

No, wait, I'm not...

Hey, Daisy! Didn't hear ye'd come back!

I've been waitin'! We're doin' the rice-cuttin' fer the harvest festival again, ri...

...Wh...wha-wha-wha?! Who-who-who-who...?!

Oh, uh. Hi there.

Hi there?! Who are ye?! What are ye to Daisy?! How dare ye just come rollin' in...!

Knock it off, Uotaka... I swear, ye do this every time. Calm yerself on down.

So that's how it is! En't got two minutes to spare fer yer old friend, an' ye show up with this handsome devil in tow!

Shut it already! Yer bein' rude to our guest.

Right, Aldo?

Huh? Uh, sure.

Show some spine, man!

Sigh. Enough already. I have some talkin' to do with Grammy.

Right, Grammy?

Sure, sure. Let's get on home and I'll get some tea brewin'.

Will ye come too, Aldo dear? It won't be much...

Are you sure? I'd be happy to, thanks.

Damn him! Now he's even gettin' invites to Daisy's house?! We're not done here yet, playboy! But I gotta harvest the rice first! I'll harvest more'n anyone an' show Daisy I'm better'n ye!

Uotaka's real fond of Dee-Dee, after all.

Ha ha! He still doesn't get what a woman wants, though.

Come along, let's go.

Comin', Grammy!

I'll come by an' see ye later!

Make yerself right at home, dear... Here's Dee-Dee's favorite wheat tea an' some snacks too. Plenty more where that came from, so eat up all ye like.

Thanks, Grammy! Don't mind if I do!

Are you sure? I'm really fine.

Eat, eat!

Um, okay, thanks!

Mm, this is delicious! It really...tastes like home.

Glad to hear it.

Grammy's cookin's the best.

They say she's got a god's hands.

Hoho, my hands've got nothin' to do with it. The gods live in the rice an' beans, not in my hands.

It's because of how ye do the ritual every year, an' offer up the rice ye cut. This taste keeps ye with us all year, even when yer not around.

Grammy...

Oh, I wanted to ask. What is this harvest festival people keep talking about?

Oh, Dee-Dee, ye didn't tell him?

Hoho! Ye always did say it was too embarrassin'.

That's not it, Grammy!

The harvest festival, as ye might guess, is a festival held every year to pray fer a good, strong harvest.

We harvest some rice, offer it to the gods, an' give thanks to them fer makin' the fields rich...

And we offer up a prayer dance to the gods fer a good harvest next year, too.

A dance, huh...

Every year Dee-Dee is the shrine maiden who does the dance fer us, so she comes home this time of year.

You dance?! ...You, Daisy?!

...Urk?!

(She stepped on my foot!)

She looks so beautiful in the maiden's robes, almost like a goddess herself. But she always says it's embarrassin'.

Must be why she didn't tell ye.

It don't suit me, that's all... But I can't just turn everyone down.

Hoho! Everyone already sees ye as our guardian goddess, Dee-Dee.

Oh, right, right. Yer shrine tools are in the storehouse, just like always.

Shrine tools? Are they special?

The rice the maiden cuts is offered up to the gods, ye see. Can't use an ordinary blade fer that. It's all sharpened up fer ye, so go an' get it when ye will. I already unlocked the shed.

Thanks, Grammy. I'll go an' get it now.

Of course. Don't be in such a rush now, hm? There's still plenty left to eat if ye want it.

Okay. I'll have some more later!

...... How much longer do you mean to gawp at me, hm?

Sorry, but you realize what a shock this is, right?

So...what exactly is all this? I get that you come here every year for the harvest festival, but...

Sigh... And here I thought you were at least able to follow simple directions.

Maybe I'm being unreasonable, expecting you to hold your tongue after seeing all that... Alright, ask.

...Is this place your hometown?

Strictly speaking...no. No one here shares a drop of my blood... Nor is this the village I lived in in my previous life, either.

Then...

...This happened a long time ago. I do not remember exactly how long... But I was exiled from Purgatory, once.

Exiled?!

Well, be patient. I did say exiled, but it wasn't so severe as all that.

Perhaps "suspended" would be closer. Either way, it was not as though I violated any rules...

Well, there is no sense in making excuses. Suffice to say that I, the leader, was made to return to the mortal world. There, I was as an ordinary woman. I had no powers, and only the clothes on my back, in a wild land...

...I spent the first days in a daze, simply looking out upon the sky. It was so...loud. Insects, birds, the voice of the wind... All things we have none of, in Purgatory. As I am now, I might have taken the chance to go on a journey, to see more of this beautiful world. But back then, I was tired, I was young... I had no mind for any of that. I simply sat upon the same rock, watching the sun and the moon... I spent days that way.

And then, an old woman called to me.

She said this was no place for a young lady, that I looked unwell, that she was worried for my health... Of course, I am not a mortal, so my health was no concern. I intended to just keep sitting on that rock, but...

When she took my hand in hers, for the first time, I felt the heat and the rush of lifeblood.

She brought me here, to this village, and took me into her home...

She fed me fresh-made food, rice, miso soup, botamochi... Everything was so delicious, it made my head spin. I cried then, with my cheeks stuffed full. And the tea she gave me after was the most wonderful thing...

And it wasn't just her. Everyone living here was so kind, even to an outsider, and not even a human. Fresh veggies, rich meat, vibrant fish... They even gave me new clothes, and said I was one of them now.

...I knew it could never last. We come from different worlds entirely. I knew that I should simply leave...yet...

Days passed, then years. My legs refused to carry me away. My mouth refused to say farewells.

The flow of time is different between realms, and I found myself thinking, maybe I still have time. Maybe I can still stay.

All my plans to keep my distance fell apart, and I just let myself be happy.

It's strange, isn't it? To think that I, the leader of Purgatory, could simply smile and laugh in a place like this.

Daisy...

In the end, I lived here for five years. The end came with the end of my suspension, and I was made to leave. Everyone was truly sad to see me go. They told me to come back anytime... That this was my home.

I knew I should never come back. But...I could not bear that.

So I come back only for the harvest... To perform the rites that I performed when I once lived here.

Once a year...for only one day. Without telling the up-aboves, of course.

Though, I am not so proud as to think they've never seen through me...

I see...

And then, for all that effort to go to naught simply because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It truly is vexing.

I won't tell anyone. You have my word.

You seem so different here. More relaxed...happier. I can tell you really do love it here.

It's kind of a relief, actually. I was worried you'd burn yourself out, working as hard as you do. It's nice to know you have a place you can come to relax.

...Hmph. Listen to you yap.

Now, that's enough talk. Let's hurry to the storehouse. We can't keep Grammy waiting any longer.

Yeah, let's go.

Ah, yer back already! No need to rush, now.

We weren't! Whew...this is so good, Grammy.

It really is delicious! I'm stuffed. Thank you so much.

I'm so pleased to hear it!

Now, then...

Why don't we step out, Dee-Dee!

Huh?! Wait, where...

Look this way an' I'll twist yer neck!

Huh? Oh, okay.

C'mon now, Dee-Dee! En't like he hasn't seen it before, hm? If anythin', it'd be nice to have an extra pair of hands helpin' here...

What are you talking about?

And she's done!

Aldo...

Oh, wow. What's all this, Daisy?

It really suits you, but in a different way from usual, somehow...?

Sigh. Don't bend yerself in knots tryin' to say somethin' nice.

This is the ritual dress fer the festival maiden. Ye remember, right? The offerin' and the dance?

Wow...

...Mm.

I said ye didn't have to say anythin' nice, but I take it back. Grammy made this fer me, after all.

So ye better have lots an' lots of good things to say about it.

Haha, okay. It's really pretty, yeah. I can't wait to see the harvest dance.

How passionate!

He really seems like a fine man. We're all so happy fer ye, Dee-Dee.

Well then, I'll be gettin' things together outside!

See ye later, Dee-Dee!

It really is beautifully made... All this gorgeous detailing.

I know I say this every year, but ye really do shine, Dee-Dee.

Haha. Only because you made it for me, Grammy.

And ye say that every year, too! What a kind-hearted girl ye are.

I'll give the ritual tool one more sharpen, then leave it right here for ye.

Thanks, Grammy. That's a big help.

What kind of ritual tool is it?

Oh, I know! Come have a look at it.

Is that okay? Thanks. Let's see...

Huh?!

......? What's the matter, dear? This is our village's ritual tool...

...The shrine maiden's scythe.

A scythe? But, it's...

Isn't it lovely?

Huh? Uh, yeah...

Wouldn't do to offer up rice to the gods what was cut with any ordinary blade. The one we used to use broke, see, right around the time Dee-Dee came. She left this one with us, sayin' it was thanks fer takin' her in.

(I knew it...!)

Ye were all so good to me, after all. It's the least I could do. Really, it en't even a start on payin' back what I owe.

Don't be silly, now. Everyone loves havin' ye here. Anyway, ever since then, we use this here scythe fer the harvest festival.

Is everythin' all set?

It is, but ye just ate. Rest, make yerself at home!

You should be the one restin'. Put yer feet up, have some tea. I'll be done with the ritual soon.

Hoho, maybe I will. I'll braid some decorations too, keep myself from noddin' off.

Daisy, that scythe...

It's just what you think.

The ritual scythe is my scythe. Normally it's more for reaping souls than ears of rice, but... Ever since I took up the festival post here, I've had them hold onto it for me.

But don't you worry? Shouldn't you hang onto it yourself? What if something happened to it?

...Normally I wouldn't let it out of my sight. But this place is different. These people are different. I know.

More than that, it's...how do I say it... It's my duty...or maybe you could call it resolve.

These people are already my life. This part of me should be with them. That's all I have to say about it.

This is my Purgatorian scythe. It's my true form...and, well, it's meant for reaping souls, not rice. But ever since I took up the festival post here, I've had them hold onto it for me.

Is that safe?!

If it's your true form... Doesn't that mean it's your soul? Isn't it dangerous to just leave it?

...Normally I wouldn't let it out of my sight. But this place is different. These people are different. I know.

More than that, it's...how do I say it... It's my duty...or maybe you could call it resolve.

These people are already my life. This part of me should be with them. That's all I have to say about it.

Daisy...

Okay, I understand how you feel. But is it okay to use that to cut rice? Isn't it hard to manage?

Not that hard if you work at it.

I mean, I guess, but...

Since I became Chief, I hardly ever reap souls myself anyway, nowadays.

If it's useful for reaping rice, then let it be useful, I say.

Besides, it's only my own scythe. Nothing worth fretting over.

You know, that's very like you.

Heh. The wise and worldly look doesn't suit you, Aldo. Now come, let us go.

Yeah. We've got rice to reap.

Hey, hey, hey, HEY!

Ye FINALLY showed up, Daisy! An' ye too, huh, townie?!

Whatcha want, Uotaka? Ye got somethin' to say?

I sure do! Ye're off to reap some rice, right?

Well, I'm comin' too! That's okay, right, Aldo?!

Huh? Uh, sure, I guess.

Sure, ye guess?! Where's yer, ye know... Where's yer fight, huh?!

I mean, I'm not Daisy's husband...

Besides, weren't you just out there reaping on your own earlier? Are you going back out? Shouldn't you rest up and eat?

Guh... Yer a good guy...!

Whatever! Just take me with ye! I can come, right, Daisy?!

Yeah, yeah...

Ye never back down once ye've decided somethin', so do as ye will.

Oho! Thanks, Daisy!

Ye haven't changed a lick since ye were eight years old. Thought a decade would finally put some sense into ye...

Hey, ye just wait an' see, Daisy! Now I've finally caught up to ye... I'll show ye what a fine man I am!

So, you've loved Daisy since you were eight years old?

Ah! Hey, hey! Wipe that look off yer face!

Dang it, I'm comin' too an' that's final! Dunno where ye met Daisy... But ye better tell me the whole thing!

So much fer "showin' the townie what fer," eh?

Haha! He's a good lad, after all.

Daisyyyy! This guy's treatin' me like some dumb kid!

No, I'm not!

Shut it, both of ye! Givin' me a headache...

...Haha.

...An' Daisy got so sick of me with all the pranks I was playin' on her, that she up an' threw me in the river!

W-wow...

That's when I made up my mind! I swore...I was gonna wife her!

That's a weird sequence of events to decide that after.

He's always been a funny one.

Ye know I'm ages older than ye. Wouldn't ye rather make sweet on one of the other girls?

Nope, my mind's made up! My life is yers, I swear it!

Tunnel vision's nothin' to be proud of, ye know...

Ah!

Akebi!

Dee-Dee!

Well, look at ye, Dee-Dee! A fine man on either side!

Ah, not ye too! I'm goin' reapin'... C'mon already!

Aah, hey! I'm comin' too!

Hoho... They're just the same as always.

Things're so lively here ever since Dee-Dee came by.

...Thank ye. Fer comin' here with her.

Oh, no, I just...

Folks likely won't say it, but we're all relieved to see Dee-Dee's makin' friends outside, too.

When she first came here, she was so quiet, ye'd ferget she was there... We all worried she'd just up an' leave one night, like she was never here, an' her with no place to go home to...

When she came to life an' told us she found work outside the village, we were all happy, but...we worried. If she was doin' fine, if she had folks she could lean on an' trust. If she had friends to support her. We only see her once a year, an' she never stays anymore. It's only natural to worry, I think...

So, it's wonderful seein' her bring someone like ye back home with her. Helps us feel like she'll be okay.

Yeah. Don't worry. Daisy's doing just fine. If anything, she's usually the one helping me out with my problems. She's really amazing.

Mhm. She surely is.

She's the star of our little village!

An' just look at that...

She reaps like a real pro too!

A thing of beauty, it is!

This is the first time I've seen Daisy using a scythe...

Hey, Aldo! What're ye lookin' at? Quit standin' around an' come help!

Oh, uh, right! Sorry!

Ye just keep on starin', city boy! I'll pull twice yer share of rice an' win Daisy's heart!

We fed ye dinner, so move those hands, eh! I en't givin' Dee-Dee over to any man who's all talk an' no work!

I-I'm coming!

Whew! Good haul! Real good quality this year too.

Sure is! We tried out some new fertilizers an' plantin' techniques this year. The taste'll knock yer socks clean off!

Lookin' forward to it already! Wish I coulda been there to help...

This en't the last harvest ever, ye know. Next year's already bein' sown, but we can work on new plannin' today, even.

Aww, Akebi...

Haha. Sounds good to me.

What are we going to do now that all the rice is collected?

The rest of the festival prep, of course. Fer now, let's head back to Grammy's.

Hey, Boarzie!

What the?!

...Boarzie?!

What is that?!

That's Boarzie! He's been livin' near the village since he was a piglet. Usually he's plenty polite, but...

...The holy water! He musta got into the ritual holy water!

What kind of holy water is that?!

We...we gotta do somethin'! Lemme handle...

Get back, Uotaka!

Daisy?!

Listen up, Boarzie. Yer causin' trouble for everyone. I en't gonna hurt ye, so settle down!

Daisy, are you okay?!

Just fine. I just beaned him with a pot, that's all. He en't hurt.

Just beaned him...

Honestly...here I thought he'd be settled down now he's grown up, but...

Daisy?!

Daisy!

Ugh... I feel...

Feel all...fuzzy...

...Fuzzy?

...Fuzzy. Hey, this is nice... I feel all happy!

D-Daisy?! Don't tell me...

Grammy!

O-oh, Dee-Dee!

Grammy, ye smell real nice... Really calms me down... This is my favorite smell...

Ye gotta live a nice long time, Grammy... Take it real easy, mkay? Stay healthy an' always be here for me.

Dee-Dee...

Of course I will, dear. I'll always be yer Grammy.

...Akebi!

Thanks fer everythin' ye do, Akebi! Bein' around ye is always so nice and relaxin'...

Sorry fer always bein' so clingy... Don't hate me, okay...?

O-of course I won't! I gotta say, though... Never seen this side of ye before!

Ye cutie pie!

Hey, uh, Daisy...!

Taka! Ye gotta give up on me already! Yer wastin' yer whole life! Yer finally fillin' out yer shoulders an' ye have a good-lookin' face, so start seein' who else is lookin'! Ye may be a dolt but yer a good guy!

Hang on, are ye complimentin' me or not here?!

I am, dolt!

Yer a good kid... Better than...

Zzz...

Daisy? Hey! Daisy?!

...... Forget everythin' ye heard.

Never expected ye to go off yer head just from the fumes...

That ritual tonic's strong stuff! An' it was everywhere!

I'm so embarrassed... I can never come back home...

Aw, don't be like that, Dee-Dee. It was real cute.

Yeah! En't never seen ye cuter in my whole life!

I-I mean, neither have I...

Hah! Lookit him blush!

Everyone seems pretty pleased. All's well that ends well, right?

Shut it...

Guess it's a bit late now, huh.

Is that more of that ritual tonic?

It's empty, idiot. I gotta keep up appearances fer the festival, that's all.

Haha. Everyone was pretty happy to see you open up like that.

Knock it off...

Still, I can't refuse if they're the ones askin' me. This ritual's real important, after all.

The ritual's important, but I get the feeling it's more about who's asking.

Haha...yeah.

The way things are in Purgatory, with my job leadin' everyone, dealin' with the souls that pass... The more the years pass, the more guilty I feel.

This is the mortal realm. And I en't a mortal. I shouldn't be here.

My flowers work so hard for me, even livin' in that dark and suffocatin' place. Why do I get a place like this when none of them do? What makes me think I deserve this?

Daisy...

But...

But every year, when I come back... I can't help but cling to it. I want to believe it's okay...

Of course it's okay.

I don't think anyone would say you don't deserve this.

And if anyone does, well, who cares what they think?

You love everyone here, and everyone here loves you. Nothing else matters, I say. This bond is yours. No one can take it from you.

Aldo...

Haha... I guess sometimes ye know what to say.

Ye know...ye could come back too. Next year, and the year after that.

Haha, thanks. I'm looking forward to it already!

Heeeeeey! Dee-Dee!

Ye too, Aldo! We got plenty of food!

Daisy! Got a nice big cut of roast fer ye! And fer ye too, I guess, town boy! C'mon back here an' get eatin'!

...Yeah! I'm comin'!