Shion Yorigami
Shion Yorigami's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Shion
...
Hey, Shion.
Shion
Oh, uhh...
Shion
I was just back here... checking if there were any plants I could eat.
Shion
Like that seaweed-looking stuff that grows around here. You know it's edible, right?
Yep. It's called shrine-weed or something!
Shion
Mmm, it's so yummy.
Shion
But, uhh... I wasn't really looking for edible plants. I actually just ate a rice ball that one of the village children gave me.
Shion
Y-You probably already knew that, though.
Yeah, I saw you eating it.
Shion
Figures.
Shion
...
Shion
I―
Shion
*sigh*
Shion
Never mind.
Don't be like that! C'mon, tell me!
Shion
Hrmm.
Shion
The reason I'm here... is because I'm scared of the Lost Word Incident, and I need a place to hide.
For real?!
Shion
Why'd you make me say it?!
Shion
I at least want you to think I'm cool!
Shion
I'm no good at acting like a big sister to Joon, so I figured I'd try it with you!
Shion
But I couldn't even do that. I really am a poverty god.
It doesn't bother me!
Shion
That's a coincidence. It doesn't bother me, either. Poverty gods don't need any dignity. I wouldn't mind some, though.
Shion
...So, what's this Lost Word Incident all about?! What's gonna happen?! Can't we just eat it?!
Shion
I don't like it when bad stuff happens. Life's hard enough as it is... I wish this incident would leave us alone!
Shion
It's like cutting off the electricity of someone going hungry. Or making someone in debt foot the bill at a restaurant.
Shion
I'm about to enter super mode.
(I didn't know Shion's house had electricity...)
Shion
...I can't transform into a super poverty god, though. There are conditions to meet. Besides, there'd be no point anyway.
Shion
With my ability, I'd just cause everyone trouble.
Shion
Whatever the Lost Word Incident is, it'll be better for me to just stay out of it.
Shion
Even with Joon and Miss Tenshi going around helping, I just have to wait till this is all over. That's the best I can do.
Shion
I'll curl up in a ball in some corner of the shrine. Resolve the incident as soon as you can, OK?
Shion
See ya.
Wait. I have good news for you!
There's a way you can help resolve the incident!
Shion
Umm...
Shion
I don't wanna hear it!
Shion
Not one bit of it!
Shion
The Lost Word Incident must really be bad if you're asking a poverty god for help!
Hehehe, it sure is.
Shion
So why are you laughing?!
Shion
...And that pretty much sums it up.
Shion
After that, I wound up in Gensokyo. There's no poverty in the outside world like there used to be.
Shion
Most people don't know what it's like to be truly poor anymore.
Shion
Bad weather, baron land, rotting crops, and spreading famine caused people to eat whatever they could get their hands on.
Shion
Withered plants, tree roots, rodents, paper, leather, decorative plants... Anything half-edible got eaten!
Shion
It's best to go your whole life without being in a situation like that.
Shion
But some things don't change through the ages.
Shion
Humans must eat to survive. So long as they don't turn into dolls, that will always be the case.
Shion
If you eat, you live. If you don't eat, you die.
Shion
The human world has such an abundance of food that most people have forgotten that. But it still holds true.
Shion
Humans used to appreciate the link between eating and survival. To them, having food meant life.
Shion
They consumed the lives of animals and plants to extend their own.
Shion
Until recently, humans had no idea about nutrients and "balanced diets."
I see. They didn't think about those things in the past!
Shion
In the past, humans also believed abilities could be transferred through the act of eating.
Shion
If your leg was injured, you ate the leg of an animal to heal yourself. And to attain the strength of powerful people...
Shion
...Actually, let's not talk about that.
So that child who gave you the rice ball...
...didn't just give you food. She gave you life.
Shion
...
Shion
Yeah... I suppose you're right.
Shion
In the village, some people work to combat food loss, including that child.
Shion
Poverty undoubtedly exists there, which is why they're working so hard.
Shion
So long as there are people fighting poverty, perhaps I can continue to exist as a poverty god...
Shion
I have to protect the children from all poverty other than the kind that stems from me.
Shion
I have to protect them from the Lost Word Incident.
...Here.
Shion
Hm? Things got pretty heavy there for a second. Are you sure you want to give this to me?
Of course! Be sure to read the message inside, though.
I think it'll surprise you!
Shion
What a sparkly dress! It's different to the one I had during the oil craze, but... it's adorable!
Shion
Oh, and here's the message card. Let's see here...
Shion
"You may well be our ultimate weapon." Then there's a heart symbol.
Shion
Huh?!
(Whoa!)
Shion
Ah, well. The dress is way more interesting than that message!
Shion
I gotta put it on and go show the child from before! I wonder what she'll say!
O-Oh, uhh...
Shion
Maybe she'll even call me pretty!
Try not to show off too much!
Costume Presentation
Shion
Yeah, you'd need my ability to resolve the big incident like that. But are you sure it'll work? ...No. Joon and Miss Tenshi don't know about this plan, so it'll never work unless I trust you. But I still can't believe you found a way to make use of my ability.
