Wolf Children Ame and Yuki, The Page #3

---

'Kay.

Thanks.

Tell me it's all fine again.

It's okay. It's all fine.

But really...

How on earth do wolf children grow up?

Wait, Yuki.

Piggyback.

Already?

You're slow. Hurry up!

Wolves start hunting four months after they're born.

They learn how to hunt small animals like mice at the start,

and then form teams with adult wolves as they grow.

Team!

Don't wanna.

Fine, then.

Don't go too far.

Okay.

Let's go home.

Look, Ame.

Do you think this wild grass is edible?

Um...

Gotcha!

There!

Look at that, Ame.

It's okay. It's all fine.

Look, Mom!

It's a Great Cormorant!

I found it by the stream over there.

Shh.

Mom.

Why are wolves always the bad guys?

The bad guys? Are you talking about the picture book?

Everyone hates them, and they're always killed at the end.

So I...

don't wanna be a wolf.

You're right, but...

I like wolves.

It doesn't matter if everyone else hates them.

I will always be on their side.

Mom!

Mom!

What's wrong?

They've withered again.

What?!

A disease? All of it?

No way...

Mom.

What's going to happen to us?

I'm hopeless, aren't I?

I have to study more.

Will you help me out again?

Sure.

Thanks.

Go inside.

Okay.

Good evening.

I was thinking of coming over to greet you, but things got all hectic before I could.

Growing your own food is difficult, isn't it?

I do exactly what the textbook tells me to, and yet I keep failing every single time.

This is such a nice place, though.

There's so much nature here.

"Nature," my ass.

There's no way you're going to reap tomorrow what you sow today.

Huh?

No matter how many times you try, the result's going to be the same.

Don't you agree?

Th-That's...

Don't you smile.

Why would you smile?

You're not going to be able to do anything unless you wipe that smile off your face.

He's scary.

No.

It's my fault for being completely ignorant.

Even though you're an adult?

I wish I'd asked your dad about a lot more things.

Man, this is awful.

Hello.

Um...

Here, take this.

What is it?

Seed potatoes.

Seed potatoes? You mean the ones you plant in a field?

What else could you use them for?

I hear the old man said something to you, but don't let it bother you.

That's just how he is.

No, it was my fault.

Hey there!

I'm sorry...

Nah, don't worry about it.

Here we go.

Mr. Nirasaki...

Thank you very much for the seed potatoes.

Good lord. Are you planning on wasting them?

You're going to redo all of this, starting with the soil.

That's not how you're supposed to dig.

I'm sorry.

Um, what about manure?

Did you add in the dry leaves?

I did.

Then you don't need anything else.

Once you're done there, plow this area as well.

It doesn't have to be that big.

All I need is enough food for my kids and myself.

Did you not hear me the first time?

Okay.

Make some ridges.

Okay.

Leave some more space between them.

Okay.

That's too low. Make them taller.

Okay.

Plant these one week from now. Make sure the cut ends are on the bottom.

And don't bother watering them. Leave them alone.

Thank you so much for teaching me all of this

Are you okay, Mom?

Oww.

Hello.

Come here a sec.

Huh?

Just come here for a second.

Huh?

Just come here.

Hey, listen up.

O-Okay.

Planting chamomile along with cabbages keeps the insects away, and helps make them tastier as well.

Don't listen to him.

Everyone else knows that you've gotta plant celery with cabbages.

But that's wrong. Beginners need to start with this...

No, no, no!

Chamomile ain't gonna satisfy no hunger.

You've gotta plant them shallow, at around this

Nah, you have to water the hole first

Nope. The water comes later.

You've gotta plant 'em first.

You're totally wrong!

You only need to sprinkle a little bit of fertilizer, like this.

Using too much will only attract insects.

That ain't enough. Gimme that.

You need a lot more.

Nah. Just a little bit's enough.

Things will definitely go wrong if you listen to him

, you mean!

What'd you just say?!

Wood vinegar?

Yeah. It's a condensed liquid of the smoke generated by charcoal production.

There's some poultry manure too.

The instructions are in the bag.

Thank you so much for all this.

Don't mention it.

I'm sure we surprised you by showing up all of a sudden.

Not at all.

It's probably a lot of trouble living in such an unfamiliar place, isn't it?

No, I learn something new every day.

Most people who move here from urban areas get disillusioned and leave immediately.

Have any other young people moved here?

Nah, it's always the old men who've reached mandatory retirement age.

It's laughable how frail they are mentally.

I should be the last person to be saying this,

but this isn't the easiest place in the world to live in.

The drainage is poor...

...and it snows a ton out here.

We've got to help each other out.

I thought you weren't one to socialize with your neighbors.

There are very few young mothers out here, so it's very reassuring that there's another one of us here now.

Feel free to ask anything.

I'll take you up on your offer, then.

What?! You're living off your savings?

Yeah, but I'd better start working soon.

pain, y'know.

We all leave our kids at a nursery school, and travel a long way to go to work,

don't we?

What's a nursery school?

Huh?

Why don't me or Ame go to one?

Well, that's because...

I wanna to go to one too!

I wanna go to a nursery school!

Hurry up and eat, Yuki.

I know it's supposed to be a secret!

But I'll manage!

But, you know...

I'll manage...

Y-Yuki...

Did you get a new pet dog, Hana?

Uh, um... well...

?

Huh?

Look, dear. Isn't that a wolf?

Don't be stupid! There are no wolves in Japan in this day and age.

That's gotta be a crossbreed of a German Shepherd and something else.

Did I get it right, Hana?

Huh? The dog's gone.

Hello, Mrs. Nirasaki.

Hey there, Yuki.

You're being quite friendly today.

Oh, so you and the dog are wearing matching clothes, eh?

That is so cute.

Y-Yuki...

What's wrong, Hana?

Hello.

Hello!

I wonder where Mr. Nirasaki is...

Yeah, this is quite the harvest.

Thanks to all of you.

Our crop got thoroughly messed up, so this is a lifesaver.

Messed up? By what?

A wild boar.

Here, take these with you.

This much?!

Those damn wild boars.

Oh, right. Thanks for these.

So yeah, that damn boar dug up everything early in the morning, and did it without making a single sound.

I hear they even came down to as far as Sakai's paddy fields this year.

Here, have this in return. It's heavy.

Only your field hasn't fallen prey to the animals.

How it hasn't is a mystery, considering it's in such a mountainous area.

What's your secret trick?

I don't have one.

Everyone wants to know.

What's a secret trick?

Pee time!

She's so lively, that Yuki.

Could it be?

What?

No, it's nothing.

Thank you so much.

Don't mention it.

It's in return for the potatoes.

I'm glad I got you some, then.

Tell me once you run out of them.

Oh my, how cute!

Huh?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes