Vow Upon the Moon

G: Sonoko told me to come to the park, but... Sumi, do you know what's going on?
Su: No... I wonder what it might be at this late hour.
G: Well, it's Sonoko. She must have had another one of her sudden epiphanies.
Su: That has to be it...
G: And that epiphany is something way beyond our imagination.
Su: That's true...
So: Aaah~! Wasshi, Mino-san~! Over heeere~!
G: Ah, Sonoko spotted!
So: Sorry for calling you so suddenly~. When I was taking a walk, I had this epiphany...
G: Haha, seems like I was right. So, what idea got stuck in your head this time?
Su: Yeah. Please tell us, Sonocchi.
So: You know, the reason why I called you here today is... ta-daah! This~!
G: Those are... dango on a straw mat!
Su: Pampas grass and sake as an offering...
Su: Ah, I forgot! It's tonight, huh?
So: Yeah! So I thought I'd like to view the moon with everyone~ and prepared some stuff~.
G: Hm? Hey, don't just go on without explaining anything. I wanna know what this is all about too.
Su: Tonight is the night of the harvest moon...
So: It's when you celebrate Otsukimi~.
G: Otsukimi! Uh, isn't that the festival where you go moon viewing?
Su: That's right. On this day, you bring dango or other offerings and gaze at the moon.
So: We'll all enjoy how pretty the moon is~.
G: I see. Looking at the moon while eating dango... sounds like the best day ever!
So: Yeah~. Let's gaze at the moon and eat those, I brought more than enough dango for the three of us~.
G: Sonoko... you've really outdone yourself with that epiphany!
So: Ahaha~. Mino-san, you're such a glutton~.
Su: Hehe. At any rate, tonight's moon is truly beautiful... you can see it so well from here.
So: Yeah! I've been looking for the spot with the best view of the moon~.
Su: Sonocchi, it's wonderful.
So: Hehe... I'm getting so much praise from you two~.
Su&So: ???
So: Was that... Mino-san??
G: Ah, well. Seeing these dango kinda made my stomach growl. Hehe...
Su: Hihi... well then, let's get started.
So: Yeah, let's!
Su: Haa... I have to say, the moon really is lovely now that I got a better look at it.
So: Right~, it's magical~.
G: Seems like the moon gets the leading role for tonight! He's gotta have his nose high up in the air now that he's the center of everyone's attention.
So: But the moon doesn't have a nose~.
G: It's the vibe that matters! The vibe!
So: Huuh~.
Su: Sonocchi, these dango are delicious. The anko is superb.
So: You know, the store they're from is my favorite~.
Su: Could you show me that store one of these days? I'd love to use them as a reference the next time I make anko.
So: Sure! Let me have some of it when you do.
Su: Of course. I suppose I'll have another one to aid my research.
So: I'll eat some too~.
Su&So: !!??
So: ...uhm. Were there so few dango?
Su: I don't think so... the last time I checked they were still piled up like a mountain.
G: Munchmunch... munchmunch...
So: ...Mino-san. How many did you have so far??
Su: Your cheeks look like a squirrel's.
G: Munchmunch... gulp! Phew~ ...Sonoko, these dango are the best! Well, I'll have another... hom!
So: Come on~, Mino-san...
Su: Gin lives by "better dumplings than the moon", right?
So: You said it~. After Mino-san said all those things... about the moon getting the leading role.
G: Munchmunch... but I'm looking at the moon alright. I'm contemplating the markings on the moon and eating some dango on the side.
So: The markings of the moon... aren't those a bunny pounding mochi?
G: I think it's something else!
Su: What do you see, Gin...??
G: It's simple: yakiniku!
So: Huuuh~! Isn't that just what you want to eat right now, Mino-san??
G: Same difference.
So: Hey~! That's rude to the bunny who's working hard on the moon~.
G: Give it a good long stare, Sonoko. It's gonna start to look like meat gently sizzling on a grill.
So: Hmmm... mhmmmm...
G: Galbi and sirloin, even some juicy skirt steak...
So: Sizzling... it doesn't look like that at all!
G: Hm... seems like you're lacking the imagination for this, Sonoko.
So: Huuh~. You can't see the yakiniku either, right, Wasshi? It's a bunny, right??
Su: I'm on the rabbit side.
G: Eeh? Pff~!
Su: But I heard that different peoples and cultures interpreted the patterns on the moon in other ways.
So: Huuh~, is that so~?
G: See, I told you! I'm sure there were people who saw the yakiniku as well...
Su: I've never heard of that one, though.
G: But why~...?
So: People have been looking at the moon since long ago, huh~. They've all loved the moon.
Su: That's right. There are plenty of legends and myths about the moon from all kinds of places and peoples. There's no doubt that the moon has fascinated them.
So: Wasshi's so smart~. I can learn so many stories from her~.
G: Yeah. Sumi, you know... she's got a unique way of looking at things. She's amazing!
Su: ...p- please. I just got a little curious about the moon, so I read up on it.
So: Wasshi, you're blushing~.
G: Awww~.
Su: Ah...
G: Sumi-sensei! I've got a question!!
Su: Eh!? ...ah, yes. Minowa-san.
G: About those legends and myths, what kinda stories are those?
So: Ah, I want to hear them too!
Su: W- well then... I'll start with the tale that's most popular in Japan, "The Rabbit Who Rose Up to the Moon."
So&G: Please do!!
Su: Eh, ahem... once upon a time, there lived a rabbit, a monkey and a fox who were best friends.
G: Three best friends... they're kinda like us.
So: They are~.
Su: One day, God disguised himself as a shabby old man and pretended to collapse from exhaustion in front of the three animals.
Su: The three decided to bring the old man something to eat and ran off into the fields and mountains. The monkey returned with fruits and nuts, while the fox brought fish he caught in a river.
So&G: And then, and then...?
Su: But the rabbit alone couldn't find anything at all.
So: Oh... I hope the bunny will be fine.
G: That doesn't sound good...
Su: Thereupon, the rabbit plunged himself into a bonfire to offer his own roasted body to the old man.
So&G: Eeeeeeh!!??
Su: God was deeply moved by this and let the rabbit rise up to the moon so that his beautifully selfless deed will never be forgotten. The end.
So: ...s- so that's why there's a bunny in the moon.
G: Mmmh... I didn't think the rabbit would go that far...
So: It really makes you feel bad for him somehow...
Su: It does... but there are many other stories, do you want to hear them?
So&G: Sure!
Su: Okay. This myth comes from a land on the southern hemisphere, far away from Japan.
Su: Once upon a time, a gluttonous boy ate up all the fish in the sea.
So: Ah, that sounds like Mino-san~.
G: Hey! ...Sumi, please go on.
Su: Eh, ahem... a shark who was angered by this flung the boy up into the night sky where he ended up becoming the moon.
G: S- sounds painful...
So: Mino-san will turn into the moon...
G: Seriously, hey!
Su: Hihi... there's also a famous Japanese tale about the moon, "Princess Kaguya."
So: I know that one too~!
G: So do I! I often read it to my little brother before bedtime.
Su: There are lots of stories that deal with the moon, but... I think it's a good thing that everyone has their own interpretation.
So&G: Uh-huh.
Su: The moon doesn't belong to anyone, you see... huh, no way!!??
So: Hm? What's wrong~?
G: Sumi, did something happen?
Su: Th- the moon is weird!? It had all these markings before... but now they're gone!?
G: Ahaha. So that's what you're all confused about... but of course there are no markings.
Su: What do you mean, "of course"...!? They were still there just now, weren't they!?
So: Huuh~? It has always been a nice, speckless yellow circle, right~?
G: It's never been any different when I looked.
Su: But listen, Gin! You've been saying that the moon's markings look like yakiniku!
G: Hahaha. Seems like you're more of a glutton than you let on, Sumi.
Su: Huh? Sonocchi, you remember it, right?? There's a rabbit in the moon, right?
So: Uh-uh, there isn't~. Because the bunny still needs to be put in the moon.
Su: What do you... huh!? Why am I holding acorns!!??
G: Hehem. I've got canned mackerel!
Su: We're like the fox and the monkey I've talked about before...
G: So I'm the fox and you're the monkey, Sumi.
Su: Don't tell me this means...
So: Ah. I'm all set~!
Su: Sonocchi!? W- why are you building a bonfire!?
So: Well, you know~. It's so that I can become the rabbit in the moon~.
Su: Sonocchi, you'll become the rabbit!?
So: That's right~. Here I go! Hop, hop, hooooop!
G: Nice jump, Sonoko!
So: Ehehehe~... ow, owow!
Su: So- Sonocchi!? Sonocchiiii!!!???
Su: Ah...!? Was that a dream just now...?? Wh- where's Sonocchi!?
So: Mmh~? What's wrong, Wasshi?
Su: Sonocchi!! I- I'm glad... it was all just a dream... that's right, the markings on the moon wouldn't just disappear... wha-, eh.
So&G: Hm??
Su: Eeeeeh!!?? ...i- it can't be. This time the whole moon is gone!!??
So: Come on now~, of course it is~.
G: That's right! Because I'll become the moon now.
Su: Wha-.... what do you mean, you'll become the moon??
G: Exactly what I said, Sumi! Well, I'll have some manjuu! Munch munch... gulp... mmh, so good!
Su: No way... will the same thing as in the story happen again?? If that's true you have to stop, Gin! I- if you eat all of those...!!
So: It's true, Mino-san! You'll be punished if you keep all the dango for yourself~!
G: I regret nothing! Alright, bring it on, Sonoko!!
So: Okay! Here I come~!!
Su: So- Sonocchi!? Why are you holding a bat...!!??
So: Get ready, Mino-san! Become the moooooon!
G: Ooooooh~ myyyyyy~....
Su: Gin...! Giiiiiiiiin!!??
Su: Hah...!? A- another dream...!? Is the moon where it's supposed to be...? And Gin, too...
G: Uugh... bohoo...
Su: Eh...
So: Waaah... sob...
Gin: Sniff... why, just why!? Waahaah!!
Su: Gin, Sonocchi... wh- what happened?? You're crying so much...
G: It's, it's just... bohooo!!
So: Sniff... I can't believe that Wasshi was one of the moon people all along...!!
G: Please tell me it's not true that a messenger from the moon will come to take you away!
Su: Eeeh!!??
A mysterious voice: Oh Sumi-hime, princess born from a bamboo plant... you are one of the moon people. Now, we shall return to the moon!!
Su: Eeeeeeeh!!??
Su: Wait, why...!? Why is my body floating in the air???
So: Wasshiiiiii!! Don't gooooo!!
Su: What is even going on!!?? I'm not a princess, you've got the wrong person!!??
So&G: Bohoooo!
So: ...that's the kind of dream I had!!
Su: That's rather... how should I put it?
G: You sure that wasn't just one of your epiphanies taking a turn for the weird, Sonoko?
So: That's not it~! Someone turned into the markings on the moon... and into the moon... and into a princess that returned to it...!
So: I've had so many sad dreams in a row where the three always ended up being torn apart! That's not normal...
Su&G: Mhmmm...
So: Anyway! I don't want anyone to go missing, so today's Otsukimi is called off!
G: Eeeeh~, but I've been looking forward to it so much.
So: Just to the dango, right!?
G: H- how did you know...
Su: There's no need to worry, Sonocchi. There's no way we'd disappear. We'll be together forever.
G: Yeah, that's right. Even after our hero job ends. Forever!
So: B- but...
Su: It'll be fine. You can trust us, okay?
G: I promise, it's set in stone!
So: ...y- yeah. I got it. ...I'll trust you two!
Su: ...oh!? I'm in the park...?? Our moon viewing setup is here, too... what about the moon!? ...I'm glad. It's the usual full moon...
So: Ah. Wasshi, are you awake~?
G: You nodded off in the middle of our chat. Were you tired?
Su: I fell asleep while we were talking...?
So: Yeah. We were listening to your story about the moon, when you suddenly went... "zzzzz."
G: Nah, more like "fuweee."
So: Hmm. Maybe "munyaah."
G: Anyways. Should we go home now if you're tired?
Su: Ah, no... I'm fine.
So: Are you sure~?
Su: ...I- I think so.
G: You think so??
Su: Y- yeah. (What was going on...? Is this reality this time...??)
So: Wasshi, you're looking kinda pale. Maybe we should go back after all?
G: She's right. You shouldn't push yourself.
Su: It's okay... uhm, you two.
So&G: ??
Su: We'll always be together forever, right...? We won't ever be torn apart, right?
So: But of course we won't... that's obvious!
G: That's right! I'd never allow that!
Su: ...Sonocchi, Gin.
So: Wasshi, did you have a bad dream? Don't worry, I won't be going anywhere.
G: Same here! No way I'd let us be apart!
So: No way~! Ehehe.
Su: You girls... let's stay together forever and ever.
Su: (Even if our hero duty ends... the three of us will be together, forever and ever.)