Tokime Shizuka (Tora Costume Story)

pending review

罪滅ぼしと恩返し
Atonement and Repayment

Shizuka: "Oh? What could Charu be reading by herself?"
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Chiharu
Mumumu~

Sunao
Charu, is something the matter?

Shizuka
Or rather, what is it that you're reading?

Chiharu
Sana-chan drew this picture book for Sunao-chan.

Sunao
The story we acted within Shizuka's heart to bring her to her senses.

Shizuka
Uu...that is an important memory, but a painful one on my part.

Sunao
It is the same for us...what is good, what is evil...it made us reflect.

Shizuka
...So, what was it that made you groan as you were rereading it, Charu?

Chiharu
It's not a big deal or anything like that, I'm just curious about what happens here.

[As the season turns to spring, Tori departs the town, vowing to return next year.]
[Watching Tori shrink further into the distance, Kame vowed that till Tori's return, she and Tora would be givers of kindness.]

Sunao
Indeed, it is curious what Kame and Tora did after Tori departed.

Shizuka
Tora is atoning and paying back everyone, surely.

Chiharu
And Tori, I'm sure she did something before leaving town...

Shizuka
(In Tora's case...)

[It is a place far away from the villages where humans live together, a tale of a world where animals live.]
[Once receiving punishment for stealing the village's food for her family... Then forgiven and saved, Tora was to live amongst the villagers, but she had a problem:]
[Her relationship with everyone in the village.]
[Tora was saved by the grace of Tori's kindness, but sure enough, it is no easy task to get along with the villagers.]
[And so, to atone to the villagers, she decided to repay them for allowing her to live with them.]

Shizuka
...But, what is it I should do...
Hunting, returning food... That's just too commonplace.
...That will do!
Let's treat them to a warm meal!
After all, warmth does warm the heart.

[Tora decided, recalling her time once frozen, as Tori nursed her to health by warmth of wings. But there was a problem with this.]

Shizuka
Hunting is done, preparation is all finished...but...
For the cooking...what is it that everyone would like?

[Not yet on good terms with everyone, Tora didn't know what kind of food the villagers like.]
[In truth, Tora wanted to prepare everything in secret, but she decided to consult with Tori.]

Chiharu
What the villagers like...for warm food, huh...
I've only just gotten here too, but I think they eat lots of hot pot?

Shizuka
Hotpot...in that case, perhaps even I could make that...!

[Tora listened well to Tori and began to cook right away, but...]

Shizuka
...What should I do... The flavor is a little bland...

[Having only ever cooked for three, Tora was in over her head making hot pot for such a large group. Despite her enthusiasm, things did not go well.]

Shizuka
This is no atonement for everyone...

[Just as Tora was at a loss, Kame appeared, drawn in by the smell.]

Sunao
This smell... ...Is this hot pot you are making?

Shizuka
I...wanted to repay everyone as atonement.
But the flavor is a little bland, and the taste unappealing.

Sunao
...let me have a look.
...Yes, this is just fine. It only lacks in ingredients.
May I help?

Shizuka
Heh?

Sunao
...May I help you, is what I am asking.
Hot pot for the village requires particular ingredients... I will show you.

Shizuka
B-but, this is my atonement. I must do this alone...

Sunao
...You are a part of this village now, and ingredients mustn't go to waste,
so please bring me sake from Granny Hebi.

Shizuka
E-ehh!

Sunao
Next, to Grandpa Tanuki's.

Shizuka
Got it!

[At Kame's word, Tora went around to many homes, collecting ingredients to put into the hot pot.]
[Tora worried, having stolen food from the village before, that no one would share with her. However, smelling the hot pot, the villagers gladly gave their share to her.]

Sunao
Great, it's complete!

Shizuka
Thank you, Kame-san. ...Mm, what a delicious smell.
But, how pathetic of me. All of this, trying to atone and repay,
yet in the end you and the entire village help me...

[As Kame was troubled with what to say, the smell had drawn Tori in, along with the rest of the villagers.]

Tori
Waah, what a great smell. Did you make this hot pot, Tora-san?

Shizuka
Yes, mostly. Thanks to Kame-san helping
and the entire village sharing their ingredients with me, though...
...This was...to atone and repay you all...
Um...I must say again... Everyone, I am sorry.

Sunao
...If you apologize, then... ...We do as well.

Shizuka
Eh?

Sunao
Because we have failed to save you from freezing in the past.

[As a voice called out "I'm sorry too", Tora realized that the villagers sharing their food was their way of atoning.]
[Instead of saying "don't worry about it" to one another, everyone said "thank you for the meal" and ate the hot pot.]
["It's so warm and delicious", they said. And the villagers made especially sure Tora got her share, as everyone ate together.]

Shizuka
Homf-... Yeah, it's delicious. Thanks to you, Kame-san.

Sunao
And the meat you hunted for, Tora-san. ...It's quite delicious.

Chiharu
Yeah, the flavors all soaked up make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside!

[Tora thought to herself that she will never forget the taste of the hot pot had that day.]
[It warms the heart. Warm hot pot.]

Shizuka
(Huhu, as if.)
That's it, let us have hot pot for dinner tonight!

Sunao
In that case, at a shopping street in the suburbs
there is a game running where winners get ingredients for hot pot.

Chiharu
Then let's get moving!

Shizuka
Yes, this should be another good learning experience! Huhu.