Natsume Yuujin Chou 81

(1)
Text: The days we can feel the warmth in the chilly wind // Mega Hit! A 40P strange story about ayakashi contracts
Author: Midorikawa Yuki

Title: Natsume's Book of Friends // The Garden of those Days

(2)
SFX: rattle
Natsume: I'm home.
Toko: Takashi-kun, welcome back.

Toko: Look at these, aren't they cute? // I received these seedlings from our neighbors down the street.

Natsume: Wow, so many. // That's nice.
Toko: Yes, now where shall I plant them?

(3)
Toko: There is no space left in the front yard flowerbed...

Natsume: ... // a flower bed...?

Shigeru: I'm home! // Oh, Takashi.
Natsume: Welcome back, Shigeru-san.

Natsume: Err, is there a spot in this garden I can use?
Shigeru: Hm?
Natsume: Toko-san received some seedlings, but there is no free space anymore in the flowerbed.

Natsume: If it's alright with you, could you tell me how to make a new flower bed? // ...I would like to give it a try.

(4)
Shigeru: Yes, of course.

Box: Like that, I started to make a flower bed.

Box: Even if I say so, I planned to keep it simple. // Piling up stones in a corner of the garden to create an enclosure and then fill it with fertilizer and earth.
Nyanko: Hm, so you're going to turn one of my favorite nap spots into a flower bed... // Do you think you can do it?

Natsume: It didn't sound too hard when Shigeru-san explained it to me. // He even gave me stones I can use. // Come, help me carry them.
Nyanko: What!?

Nyanko: Seriously! Why would a noble being like myself do such physical work!?
Natsume: Because you'll be able to grow your favorite flowers when we're done.

Nyanko: ......soybeans and green peppers?
Natsume: I said flowers.
Box: I was glad

(5)
Box: that I could do something for this house.
XXX: Hey, it's getting dark.
Natsume: We can continue tomorrow.

Toko: I'm so happy. Takashi-kun is making me a new flower bed.
Natsume: Yes, I hope it'll work out...
Shigeru: If there's anything you need or don't understand, just ask me for help.

Toko: If there's any kind of flower you want to grow yourself, just tell me.
Natsume: Thanks.

Natsume: A flower I want to grow?
Nyanko: Like I said, let's grow soybeans, or green peppers, or peas!

Box: Aah, // somehow I suddenly remembered.
Natsume: My mother loved flowers.

(6)
Natsume: I think my dad told me that.

Natsume: I'm back... // Ah!

Natsume: The stones are everywhere...
SFX: trot trot
Nyanko: Oh! You're back, Natsume! // Hm.

Natsume: Sensei, why did you do that!?
Nyanko: It wasn't me! // Look, this fish is my alibi! I spend all day partying near the river.

Natsume: ...it was probably a dog or crow... // It can't be helped. Come, sensei! Let's continue.
Nyanko: Are you some sort of cat slaver!

Box: But the next day...

Natsume: AAH! // Again!
SFX: messy

(7)
Nyanko: ...this isn't the work of a pet?
Natsume: ...no, some have disappeared.

Nyanko: What?
Natsume: The stones. // It fell apart before the cement could dry and some are taken away.
Nyanko: You're saying some trespasser entered the garden to steal stones?
Natsume: ...let's keep watch tonight, sensei.
Nyanko: What!?

Natsume: We'll catch that stone thief! We have to protect the flower bed.
Nyanko: Natsume, you think this is the work of an Ayakashi, don't you?

Natsume: Yes, I do. // The idea of a human entering a garden to steal stones just doesn't make sense...

SFX: shiver // rustle
Natsume: ...ah, what do we do if it is a human? // That's actually scarier...
Nyako: Hm, // it's here.
Natsume: Eh?

SFX: Sneaky... // wobble wobble

(8)
Natsume: What is that by the flower bed...!?

Natsume: Hey, you!!
SFX: rustle

SFX: dash // eek! // dash // Yipes!
Natsume: EH!? There are more than I thought!?

SFX: jump
Natsume: Wait!! // I got you! // Who the hell...

(9)
SFX: turn

Yokai: Hehehe, // you caught me.

SFX: shiver // ...guh!

Natsume: Why do you damage my flower bed? // What are you doing in this garden?
Yokai: Oh, you can touch us and hear our voices?
Natsume: ......

Yokai: Dear me, I didn't know these stones were yours. // I'm very sorry, I took me so long to find these stones, I picked them up without thinking.
Natsume: ...these stones?

Natsume: They don't look special to me...
Yokai: Where did you get these stones?

(10)
Natsume: What?

SFX: rustle // crowd // crowd // rustle
Yokai: Well, // these are pure stones, they are very valuable to us.

Yokai: Could you spare us a few?

Natsume: ...what are you going to do with these stones...?

Yokai: Hehehe, // ...by exception, I'll show you our treasure.

SFX: rummage rummage

Natsume: ......treasure? // A wooden box......?

(11)
Natsume/Nyanko: ......
Yokai: Please look inside.

SFX: rattle

Natsume: Ooh! // Inside the box

Natsume: was a little house... // It looked like a Shinto shrine...
Nyanko: Oh, this looks interesting. // A miniature garden? // It's very detailed, but... // the shrine and garden are both utterly neglected.

(12)
Nyanko: It looks like a deserted place.

Yokai: That is right.

Yokai: We need the pure stones for the restoration of the miniature shrine and its garden.

Natsume: ...restoration?

Yokai: This miniature shrine is the home of a kami. // It can only be fully restored with the right tools and by the right person.

Yokai: You appear to be quite powerful.

Natsume: (Ah!) No, I'm just...

Yokai: Please, lend us you power! // (Heave-ho!)
Natsume: Stop it!

(13)
Yokai: We won't put you down until you agree.
Natsume: Now, // now, // pu // put...

Nyanko: We told you to put us down! // You stupid Daruma yokai!
Yokai: Yi! // Wha! // Eek!
SFX: bon // bang // whack // bonk //smack

Yokai: St-strong... // More than ever...

Yokai: We would like to borrow your power... // I beg of you, I beg of you. // If you don't, we'll bring evil upon your house.
XXX: !!! You brute!!

(14)
Nyanko: I'm done with these guys, shall I eat them, Natsume?
Natsume: ......

Box: All I wanted // was to make Toko-san happy with a new flower bed.

Natsume: Alright, I'll listen. // What do you want me to do?
Yokai: Ooh!
Nyanko: (Tch.)

SFX: whoosh // chirp chirp
Box: When you meet ayakashi like these, // listening to their request is the fastest way to get rid of them.

Natsume: ...
Toko: Takashi-kun, Good mor... Ah, is everything alright?
Natsume: (Ah!) Yes, I'm fine. ...I just had a weird dream...
Toko: Oh! Don't work too hard on that flower bed, alright?

Natsume: Yes.

Natsume: These five ayakashi.
Box: They are the Housekeepers.

(15)
Box: No matter what, // it's their job to protect the box that makes one of the lodgings of the wandering kami, Shida-himesama.
Nyanko: Protect? That box is about to fall apart.
Yokai: Yes, this miniature house is a delicate piece of work.

Yokai: That's why originally, we took it to a specialized craftsman for repairs. // Every time, just before Shida-himesama would visit, we would take the box to one, but // by now there are no craftsmen left anymore.

Yokai: A countless times now we've naively tried to do repairs ourselves. // This time too, we planned to fix up the place with our own power, but... // our hands are very suited to smash demons, but very clumsy when it comes to holding tools. // The current state of the Miniature shrine is proof of that.

(16)
Yokai: But no doubt, you should be able to do better than us.
Natsume: ...I'm not a craftsman and I have a questionable taste, are you sure about this?

Yokai: Any improvement is more than we could wish for.
Natsume: ......

Box: Like that, I spent the day creating a flower bed for Toko-san. // And at night I helped to renovate the miniature shrine.

Yokai: Let's start with the shrine. // Use this white feather to brush the dust away.

Natsume: You mean like this? // ......
SFX: shwip shwip shwip
Yokai: Ooh!

Nyanko: Wouldn't it be easier to clean of all dust in one blow? (Fwoosh)
Yokai: We would love to do that, but we can't. It's a kami's home, after all.
Nyanko: It's a devil of a nuisance!

(17)
Natsume: ...this is definitely not as easy as it looks...
Box: Despite the soft feather, it became all the more clear to me. // With every creak I could feel the shrine's age and fragility.
SFX: fwip // flop // flop // fwip

Natsume: ...it's done! // ......what do you think?
Yokai: Ooh, wonderful!
Natsume: ......thanks...

Yokai: Next, take off the roof and clean the inside.
Natsume: What!?

Yokai: Gently. // Yes, that's...... // It's very delicate. // Yes, be careful there. // Ooh, just like that.
SFX: Gently...

Natsume: Be quiet!
SFX: throb throb
Yokai: Yes.

Yokai: Yes, like that... // Don't forget the room on the right.
Nyanko: Just blow away the dust, Natsume.
Natsume: Shut up!

SFX: Sigh...

(18)
Tanuma: ...are you alright, Natsume? ...ayakashi again?
Natsume: Tanuma,... // ...yes, but they aren't a bad lot, no need to worry.

Tanuma: I see... what kind of ayakashi are they?
Natsume: They are forcing me to do some construction-like work.

Tanuma: Eh? You said they weren't dangerous...

Natsume: I didn't tell them, because I felt to irritated then. // But the spacious, little room I found under the roof wasn't just old and damaged...

(19)
Box: It was also really beautiful.
Natsume: It's like I could tell that it was treated with care, // and that looking out over the garden from within would certainly be fun...

Natsume: It's such a shame that all the garden has to offer are some dead trees.

Yokai: That's right. // Now paint the paper sliding doors white using the dye made from the pure stones.
Natsume: Uh...
SFX: shake shake

Natsume: ...I'm done! What do you think? // What's next?
Yokai: (Oooh!)

Yokai: It's wonderful! We could have only hoped it would ever look so beautiful!!
Natsume: ...you're exaggerating! My paint job is done extremely irregular. // A skilled person would have been able to paint it more evenly.

(20)
Yokai: Hehee, // please touch my hand.

Natsume: ...
Yokai: Our hands are completely different from human hands. // Just holding a brush to paint, or a feather to gently wipe away dust.

Yokai: With our hands, it's is a challenge.

Yokai: We exorcize the evil, // and a human prepares the houses to welcome the kami who visits this land. // But when that's not possible anymore...

Yokai: Shida-himesama is a very refined person. // She loves beautiful things.

(21)
Yokai: She may not want to visit this crumbling miniature shrine and its dead garden ever again. // We had accepted that. // But // when you're done // I'm sure that Shida-himesama will be pleased // and visit us again. // I'm sure.

(22)
Natsume: What kind of kami is Shida-hime?
Yokai: Ooh, I'm glad you asked!

Yokai: She is beautiful, // and her laugh sounds like tinkling bells. // She has been travelling for decades now, but // her skin is still as gentle as moonlight. // Her hair sways like rings on the water.

Yokai: When she scolds you, she has a look of thunder on her face. // Every time we welcome her here, // ...yes, she will always smile at us like a blooming flower.

Yokai: Never ever // will we grow bored of seeing it, // Shida-himesama's smiling face.

(23)
Box: They really love her.
Yokai: Hehe.
Nyanko: How will you be welcoming her?
Yokai: A great feast!
Nyanko: Really!? You should've told me sooner!

Nyanko: Will there be sake!?
Yokai: We'll serve a special sake worthy of being presented to a kami.
Nyanko: That's amazing!! // Right, Natsume!?
Natsume: Don't look at me! (Shut up!)

Natsume: Alright,...

(24)
Toko: It's done... // ...oh, my!! // Well, // what shall I do now...!!

Natsume: I'm sorry it's a little crooked...
Toko: Don't be silly, it's beautiful! Thank you, Takashi-kun!!

Toko: Let's show it to Shigeru-san when he comes home. // I'm so happy... // Thank you, Takashi-kun!

Natsume: Nyanko-sensei helped me to mix the earth.
Toko: Well, well!! I'll have to give him a treat as well then!

Natsume: "Shida-himesama smiling face."

(25)
Natsume: "Never ever" // "will we grow bored of seeing it."

Box: I wonder if Shida-himesama will visit // that miniature shrine.

Natsume: It's old and rickety, // and the garden is dead.
Box: However

Box: They still protect it.
Natsume: That miniature shrine...
Yokai: Thanks to you, the renovation of the shrine has been finished.

Yokai: Thank you very much. // She is expected to arrive this evening. // We've made it in time.
Natsume: ...but, // ......what about the garden?

(26)
Natsume: ...have you decided yet what to plant in the garden?

Natsume: To thank me for the new flower bed, Toko-san gave me these flower seeds. // I can't wait to see them bloom, although I don't know which flowers will grow...

Natsume: I could plant some in Shida-himesama's garden too // ...if you'd like me to...

Natsume: Ah! // But even if I do, it'll take some time before they bloom... and maybe they are too big.

XXX: It was already decided what trees to plant, and which stones to use, but... // I don't think we decided on the flowers yet.

Natsume: Everyone, // can you plant the seeds? I'll sieve the earth.

(27)
Yokai: Yes.

Box: This very small miniature garden.

Natsume: I wonder if Shida-himesama will come. // To be honest, if possible // I would like to enter that box. // Kept save by its House Keepers. // Restored by the craftsmen time after time.

(28)
Natsume: If only the garden // visible from within the shrine // could remain beautiful forever...

Natsume: (Ah!)

(29)
SFX: Zzz // Zzz

Natsume: A white paint stain...? // That...

Natsume: This is...

(30)
SFX: Zzz // Zzz

(31)
-

(32)
Natsume: The garden view from within the shrine. // Although unknown to me, // I felt nostalgic. // Like I had seen it before. // Like the garden of the Fujiwara's, // and long ago // like the garden I tended with my father


(33)
-

(34)
Natsume: It was a very warm garden.

Yokai: Hmm... // Hm?

Yokai: Shi // Shida-himesama! // What!? // Ooh, Shida-himesama!

Yokai: Ooh,... once more // you've decided to honor with your presence...

(35)
Shida: A beautiful shrine // with a beautiful garden.

Shida: Now, // let's have a party. // All of you, // this shrine // and the garden

Shida: Let's celebrate together.
SFX: woosh

(36)
-

(37)
Natsume: A riotous profusion of flowers bloomed like I had never seen before. // A flourish of soft colors. // Maybe these are just the memories of this garden. // However I'm sure, that between all flowers // that bloomed here until now,

(38)
Natsume: somewhere // the flowers that we planted together// are blooming too.

Natsume (Ah!)

(39)
SFX: Quick
Natsume: (Ah!) This is... // ...my own room...?

Natsume: ......the House Keepers?
SFx: yawn
Nyanko: They've left already. // Ah, that sake was delicious!

Natsume: I see,... // It seems they were able to please Shida-himesama once again. // I wonder when she'll come by again.

Natsume: I hope they'll find someone else to help them when that time comes... // It all feels like a dream.

(40)
Nyanko: Idiot, that wasn't a dream! They caused us too much trouble for that!
Natsume: Hold your complaints, sensei. All you did was drinking sake!
Toko: Takashi-kun, Shigeru-san is home! // Come down!
Natsume: Ah, yes!
SFX: creak creak

Toko: Oh, Takashi-kun.

Toko: You have flower petals in your hair. // Where on earth did you get those?