Komachi Onozuka
Komachi Onozuka's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Komachi
Whoa! One of the amazing outfits I keep hearing about! I wonder if it'll suit me...
I'm sure it will. After all, it was made just for you.
Komachi
Hehe, it's a little embarrassing when you put it like that.
Komachi
But I'm very grateful. The sages really are working hard, huh?
Komachi
Tell them I understand what they want me to do.
Will do!
Komachi
So, now you've had a look around this place, what do you think?
Komachi
The Sanzu River ferry port is the end of the Road of Liminality, so the merchants of Hell go all out to make money here.
Komachi
There's a big theater and a delicious food hall. Shops here often go out of business, but new ones always spring up.
Komachi
I heard the big shopping centers like this in the outside world are all closing down. Maybe that's why this one's here.
I wanna get some caramel popcorn and watch a movie!
Komachi
They have caramel popcorn here?! I had no idea...
Komachi
The new culture in Hell must be affecting things here. Then again, maybe the kappa and tengu are behind this.
Is that a bad thing...?
Komachi
Hm... Hell is always short on cash. Even with the Sanzu River crossing fee, they're constantly bleeding money.
Komachi
So people from Hell work on the Road of Liminality. But, since they're prisoners, what they're doing is actually forced labor.
Komachi
Hell's retail industry goes back a long way. What they sell and how they sell it has changed a lot over the years.
Komachi
They'll sell anything so long as there's someone willing to buy it.
Komachi
Gensokyo is the first to find out about forgotten outside world products, which puts it at the forefront of the industry.
Komachi
So I guess movies and popcorn have fallen out of favor with the humans, huh? It feels a little early to me, but oh well.
Komachi
By the looks of things, Datsue-ba and Keneo must be making a ton of money and living it up.
I saw a clothes shop selling strange T-shirts earlier...
Komachi
For real?! That must be theirs!
Komachi
I can't believe those guys.
Komachi
So anyway, that's what's going on here at the Sanzu River, the border between Gensokyo and Hell.
Komachi
All I see are spirits, youkai, and shinigami. Humans don't often come here, with you being the exception today.
Komachi
Humans and non-humans are different in every way. But I guess that's obvious based on their lifespans and ways of life.
Komachi
What I mean is their history and culture, and the way they interpret and interact with them, are nothing alike.
Komachi
As the ferrywoman, I get to talk to newly deceased humans all the time, so I know that better than most.
But I thought you were always slacking off?
Komachi
If that was true, the spirits would never be able to cross!
Komachi
No teasing, all right? Thanks to me working JUST enough, there's peace and calm on both sides of the river again today.
Komachi
But with everything that's going on, I can't say how much longer that'll last...
Komachi
Humanity's history is constantly being lost since their lifespan is so short. And everything that's lost ends up in Gensokyo.
Komachi
Since youkai live so long, all kinds of things stick around. Then there's the hakutaku and the Child of Miare―
Komachi
―who preserve things even longer. Essentially, it's the will of Gensokyo to ensure what was lost isn't lost again.
Komachi
There's an old-fashioned goldfish scooping stall on the Road of Liminality. And spirits still stack stones at Sai no Kawara.
Komachi
Humanity's history is constantly being lost... That's why they try so hard to preserve it.
Komachi
Everything that's ever been lost was important to someone, don't you agree?
Important to someone, huh...?
Komachi
I think that includes you.
Miss Komachi...
Komachi
Sometimes, children around your age cross the Sanzu River. It's not that rare of an occurrence.
Komachi
It happens less nowadays, but it still happens. And then there's the stillborn spirits at Sai no Kawara...
Komachi
I can't help but think about how each of them was important to someone.
Komachi
Something tragic happened to cut their lives short, but they were all loved.
Komachi
I'm sure you were, too.
Komachi
And that's why Gensokyo deemed you as something lost.
I was loved... and that's why I was deemed as lost...
Komachi
You can't grieve over things you don't care about. Somebody loved you. I'm certain of it.
Komachi
That's why you have to find a way home.
...You're right.
Whoever's waiting for me back home loves me.
Thank you, Miss Komachi.
Komachi
You have to keep yourself safe. If you're ever in danger, you have to call for help.
Komachi
That's the only way to defeat the Lost Word Incident.
Got it.
Komachi
All right then, how about we go see Lady Eiki? I was tasked with bringing you to her, after all.
This place, Gensokyo, Higan...
Hell, and the outside world...
...are all important to someone, aren't they?
I feel like I understand that now.
Komachi
Is that so?
I'm not sure what there is I can do...
But I want to help protect them all.
Komachi
I see...
Komachi
In that case, there's something I need to tell you. You might not want to hear it, but please listen.
Komachi
...
Komachi
Wanting to protect someone is a noble goal. Even if doing so pushes you to the brink, no one will think ill of you.
Komachi
But trying to protect what people hold dear is different. It's a thankless endeavor.
Komachi
If you fail, you'll be criticized. If you succeed, you'll receive no gratitude.
Komachi
The only reward you'll receive is knowing someone out there is smiling thanks to you. Are you really OK with that?
Komachi
Are you sure you don't want to change your mind?
I'm sure.
Komachi
Good answer!
Komachi
I know. Since we're here, what do you say we watch a movie?
I'd love to! Is that really OK, though?!
Komachi
It's fine! This is my way of life.
Komachi
And it's important to me.
Costume Presentation
Komachi
Death is an impartial, harsh mistress and comes for everyone at some point. Your experiences are proof of the life that you've lived. Gensokyo is betting a lot on your life, and as a shinigami, I'll be watching over you the whole way.
