Blazepanzer here, and I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to read, fav, and or follow my fic, and a special thanks to chirumiruix for your review! Yeah, sorry bout that, I wanted for Taeko to be somewhat forced into the farming life in Stardew valley so I borrowed the starting incident from my 444th Sensado squadren fanfic. Unfortunately it means the death of the turtles...
Anyways, enjoy! Note that Blazepanzer does not own Stardew Valley or Girls und Panzer!
Taeko raised her hands toward the small fire, smiling as the shadows danced across her fingers and bound wrist. My first rainy day on the farm, she mused. But it's nice in a way...or at least that how I want to feel about it.
Lowing her wrist she glanced outside as the thunder erupted, but outside of a hard rain and occasional lightning there wasn't really anything for her to worry about.
"A thunderstorm warning has been issued for Stardew Valley county until 1:30 PM. Dangers include moderate winds, lightning, and flash flooding," the radio echoed.
"Never thought a radio could be so entertaining," Taeko mused, glancing at her wrist in interest. There really wasn't much she could look at or do, the cabin didn't have much possessions, aside from her bed, tools, a well sink, and a few other amenities, there wasn't really enough room for much, let alone enough electricity for it.
"Just 360 watt hours," Taeko let out a small shrug as she gazed toward the radio. "Just enough to run a fan, radio, or perhaps a portable handheld. I'll have to see if I can find one after I get a few crops grown and sold. Still, it's better than what I had in the prison cell," she muttered.
Rising up, she slipped off the cuffs and laid down on the bed, snuggling next to Blaze who was in a light sleep. "You alright little buddy?" she whispered, smiling as the kitten stretched and nosed her shoulder briefly before curling back up and falling asleep.
"Wish I could fall asleep that easy," Taeko whispered, staring at the ceiling. Let's be honest, after that brief stint with your brother, you are bored, she chided herself. You shouldn't be given how long you spent in prison, but you are!
She petted Blaze's head a bit before rising and walking up to the sink, Gazing at herself in the mirror before closing her eyes and allowing a small sigh to escape. "Call yourself a volleyball player?" she muttered, opening her eyes after a brief moment, rubbing her arms as she sat back next to the fire, holding her hands out to warm them up.
"Really need a haircut as well," Taeko mused, curling her hair a bit. While she wore it a little bit on the long side nowadays, she preferred for it to not be too long. Hanoashi wore hers long, didn't she? Taeko mused, remembering the ginger's nearly waist-length hair. As did Akibe...Maus I wonder how she and the other ducks are doing? And the Rabbits...those poor innocent freshman rabbits...Maus what we did was awful! To say nothing about the Turtles...
Come to think of it I really didn't know much of the others outside of the duck team. Granted I shared a class with Karina and Ayumi, but never really talked to them much. Really should have made more of an effort to make friends outside of the ducks, not that it'd have done us any good, Taeko sighed. While I'd glad to have the farm, I'm really wishing that I...we could go back and do things differently...properly.
Rising up again, she walked over to her radio and changed the station.
"In international news, the Korean Union and Chinese People's Republic have signed a ceasefire after fifty thousand causalities. International charities and political annalist alike are doubtful that it won't flare up again..."
What else is new? Taeko sighed inwardly, crossing her arms gently in boredom. Those two are always fighting each other...
"Kuromorimine has disavowed a recent Change-sig partition calling for the academy to restart it's Sensado Team. Headmaster Krent Avaji has stated and I quote, that 'the academy's history with Sensado is just that, history, and the Nishisumi style reign of terror was a bad influenza and a bloody stain on the academy's name.' Consequently, both the Ministry of Education and the United Sensado Federation have stated that they would have continued the prohibition of Kuromorimine entering the sport regardless of the intent of the academy."
Good! Taeko hissed inwardly. I'm glad that they are holding them to the fire after what they did. Of course we're far from blameless, but it was an Ex Kuromorimine vice heiress who guided our part into the mess.
"Hinata Hajame, the founder of the Change-sig partition, has gone on recorded stating that Ooarai had set Kuromorimine up and that the ban was unjust."
I guess that's a point, Taeko shrugged. We did place the crew of the Maus in that position, but then again Kuromorimine outnumbered us over two to one, and even more if you include the firepower. The Maus should have never been in the match to begin with!
"Hanoashi Katoni has been awarded command of the newly established Carlson City's professional Sensado team, Carlson's Cataphracts. This after questions about her involvement in the assault of disgraced former Sensado Head Judge Ami Chono were quelled to rest. In an interview miss Katoni stated that she was glad that her innocence was discovered and that she wished that Ooarai had payed attention to her warning. She also gave a shout out to a Taeko, and expressed well wishes to her former cell mate."
So she hasn't forgotten about me! Taeko smiled warmly. I'm glad that her innocence was proven, she added in relief. Then she began to panic. I hope the other Stardew Valley and especially Pelican Town residents didn't hear that!
Sighing, she rose up, gazing as the rain began to let up. Exiting the door, she gave her crops a good look over, initially glad that there was no damage. That was until she noticed that her scarecrows were out of sort.
"Let's get that fixed," she smiled, glad to have something to do.
As she was fixing it, her foot brushed upon what looked like a spear. "Huh..." she mused to herself, picking up the weapon. Looks ancient enough...I think that I'll ask Gunther about it next time I'm that way, she mused, bringing it over to the old cow shed and placing it on an old tool slot in the wall.
As she exited the barn she noticed someone waiting outside of the barn. "Ah, good evening Lewis!" Taeko smiled.
"Good evening Taeko, find something?" Lewis asked.
"Looks like an old spear. Thinking about donating it to the museum if Gunther's interested in it. And I'll be wrapping it in a towel like the law insists," Taeko noted.
"That's good. There's something I'd like to show you if you've got time," Lewis admitted.
"Sure, I could use the distraction" Taeko smiled as she join him.
"Don't tell me that you're bored already," Lewis chuckled, though he seemed half worried about it.
"I wouldn't say bored," Taeko shrugged. "Just missing some of the things I used to do back in the day."
"I'd guess so," Lewis noted.
"I did find a radio that works, so that's helping. And Blaze is a good companion," Taeko noted.
"Speaking of which..." Lewis began to ask, but she shook her head.
"It...was an accident," Taeko sighed.
"I know Taeko. I was just going to say that it's good that your friend still remembers you is all," Lewis chuckled.
"Oh...yeah...Hanoashi was probably the best friend I've ever had," Taeko glanced down sheepishly. "I wish I could thank her and let her know that I'm doing fine."
"I'll see what I can do," Lewis promised.
"Thank you," Taeko whispered, before glancing up. "So where are we going?" she asked quietly.
"It's a bit far, but it was an important part of our town, and I have a gut feeling that you should see it before it's too late," Lewis admitted.
"Too late?" Taeko asked.
"I'll explain when we get there," Lewis explained.
Taeko followed in silence, keeping aware of her surroundings as she saw more of the outskirts of Pelican town.
As she rounded the bend she gazed at a somewhat dilapidated building. It had a clock above the entrance, and it was made mostly of wood, covered in vines.
"This was the Pelican town community center," Lewis revealed, turning to gaze at it. "It used to be the crown jewel of the town...now look at it's pitiful state. Kids would rather sit around tv these days," he sighed.
Not too surprising given how people need to hover around their kids these days. And Pelican town doesn't have that many residents to begin with, Taeko mused, but kept those thoughts to herself.
"I've promised to sell it to the Joja corporation if one more resident decides to buy a Joja membership before anyone takes an interest in fixing it up. We could use the money, but something is stopping me from outright selling it." Lewis let out a gusty sigh. "Guess I'm the sentimental type when it comes to these things," he added.
"I understand," Taeko sighed. "There is a lot of things I miss about the past. But...we have to keep moving forward with our life, no matter how much that longing may sting."
"I guess so," Lewis chuckled. "You're pretty bright for your age, Taeko."
Am I? Taeko wondered dejectedly. If I was really that wise then I wouldn't have been rotting in a prison cell for almost six years. I'd have headed Hanoashi's warning and tried to keep things under better control, or at least walked away from the team while I was ahead. Then again who knows if I'd even come to Stardew valley if I did that instead. A darker thought then occurred. What...what if prison made me wise for my age?
"Anyways, let's head on in," Lewis noted, unlocking the door and heading into the community center.
This looks like a dump! She shouted inwardly as she followed him in, covering her nose with her hand as the stench of rotting books and damp mold hit her.
"This looks worse than I remember," Lewis sighed. "Huh...Have Jas and Vencent been playing in here?" he added as he gazed around, before landing on a sort of hut.
"I'll give them credit for craftiness," Taeko mused, inspecting the hut. Kneeling down, she stared into the hut, amber eyes widening as something flew out at her, knocking her back.
"Ta...Taeko, Are you alright?" Lewis gasped.
"Ye...yeah...I think so..." Taeko rose up, dusting off her shirt and pants. "What was that, a rat?" she added, gazing around before her eyes landed on a green creature gazing back at her.
"Huh...All I saw was you flying back..." Lewis gazed at her weirdly. "You...you're scaring me Taeko," he added softly.
"Huh?" Taeko growled under her breath, no longer interested in giving him the time of day. I was hit you moron! Just cause I serve a bit in jail doesn't mean that I'm delusional!
"Look, I'm going to go get some lunch...I'll...leave the door unlocked in case you want to explore some more," he added before exiting the building.
As soon as he did she approached the little creature. "Now come out here and fight me like a man if that's what you wish," she hissed, walking up to the little guy who was cowering. As she approached, her amber eyes softened as she knelt down. "Or...maybe I just spooked you is all," she sympathized, extending her hand a bit.
The...how would one describe it, boxy yet conical creature reached out it's own hand experimentally and touched hers, before backing off and scurrying away.
Sighing, she rose up and began to wonder the halls. This would make a good school if it was fixed up...which reminds me...what if I want to have a child someday? Spending six years in a cell with a want to be mother like Hanoashi kind of got me interested in the prospect...maybe in a few years or so I can raise one of my own. Hopefully...
She paused briefly. Wait a moment...when exactly did I decide that I wanted to become a mother someday? I mean I knew that it was sometime during my stint in prison...but when exactly was it... a rustling noise distracted her, and she picked up an odd scroll one of the creatures slipped by her feet. "I wonder what this is about?" she whispered, before rolling it up and placing it into her pocket. Letting out a small sigh, she walked out of the building. Time to get to work, she mused, before rushing home and placing the scroll on her table before grabbing her fishing hat and tackle box.
Arriving at the ocean, she dipped her rod into the water, smiling as she got a bite right away. If I catch this one, I'll be one down and four more to go! She smiled to herself as she reeled in a Flounder of all things. Money! she thought gleefully, before mentally slapping her self. No, remember the dangers of greed! The love of money is the root of all Evil and...wait a moment...that's what I need to buy! She realized, mentally slapping herself again as she dehooked the flounder and placed it into the cooler.
Casting in her line again, she smiled as she brought in a Hearing. That'll be my meal for the day, she smiled to herself as she shoved it into her ice chest. She then managed to real in a Tuna, and a large Sardine and Anchovy.
As she entered the fish shop, she noticed that Willy gave her a smile. "More fish to sell?" she asked.
"Got ya a Flounder," she smiled. I'll be keeping the hearing this time," she added.
"That's a good fish for eating," Willy agreed. "Let's see...how about fifteen gold for the flounder and four gold for the rest?"
"Sounds good to me," Taeko smiled, receiving nineteen gold for the four fish.
"You know...it's going to get harder to fish once the winter hits, you might want to be sure to save up enough money so you can buy groceries...that or you could try building yourself a smokehouse to preserve the fish.
"A smokehouse huh?" Taeko mused as she placed the money into her coin purse. "Maybe...I have considered going down the dehydration route, but I'd need to read up on the best way to do that still, lots of things I don't understand about it."
"There's a lot of ways to preserve things for the winter, you'd do well to learn them. Though an electric dehydrator would be out of your means, and you'll want to be careful about it, any mistakes could mean the difference between surviving the winter and a costly medical bill," Willy warned her.
"Or death, I've heard a lot about that, people in Japan screwing up when it came to preserving meats," Taeko noted.
"That's true. We're a bit better about it here in the Ferngil republic, but that's mostly because we have a lot more folks doing it. Still...every so often someone screws up, let's just hope that it's not you Taeko."
"Absolutely. Well, I'd better go home and cook this Hearing," Taeko noted.
"Right, you enjoy and take care now!" Willy smiled.
Watching the fire, Taeko munched on a wild spring onion she had found and washed on her way back. Not my favorite...but... she noted to herself as she tried to ignore the pungent taste which flooded into her mouth. I need to build up a chicken pen, she added to herself. Of course since things get cold I'll need a heating lamp for the chickens, and that means that I'll need a solar generator for that too...or a hook up to the grid, both of which would be prohibitively expensive at this moment.
Letting out a sigh as she realized that her fish was done, she placed it on a plate and gave a bit of thanks before separating the meat from the bones. Always hated this process...almost every animal you can enjoy without the fear of getting a bone stuck in your throat...but fish? Maus no!...still, I'm extremely grateful for the meal... she ranted to herself briefly, before finally getting a bite of the meat.
As she ate her mind flew back briefly to all the meals she had before. Mac and cheese, instant noddles, rice, eggs, pre-cooked fish and chicken...fresh salads...Maus it felt so easy back then...she mused, focusing on her meal and thoughts. I...I'm not too sure I could ever got back to that lifestyle if given the opportunity though. This farming stuff is fun, hard but fun. It's like it's become a part of me...or was it always a part of me?
Glazing up at the sky, a thought came to her mind. Grandpa...did you know I'd get arrested and that arrest would lead me to living on and tending to your farm? She asked herself, before sighing as she finished her meal, buying the bones near one of the old abandoned barns.
"The arrest? No, I did not foresee that," a voice echoed in her head.
"What?" Taeko whipped around, not seeing anything. "Um...okay? Either you're speaking to me from the grave or I'm hearing things..." Taeko muttered. She then went over to her scarecrows and finished tidying them up before making her way though town.
As she did so she passed by someone with a football in his hand. "You must be new," he noted.
"Um yes...my name is Taeko Kondou...I'm the new farmer," Taeko smiled.
"Neat! I'm Alex, star football player!" he smiled, twirling the ball in his hand.
He does look hansom...but then again not too sure about jocks and he seems like a total jock. Then again he seems nice, Taeko mused, not even realizing that she was developing a small crush on the guy.
"So, what kinds of crops you tend to, flowers?" Alex asked.
"Um...mostly vegetables at the moment, might deal with some fruits later on though," Taeko mused. Flowers? Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm a flower girl! She ranted to herself, before laughing inside. Yep! He's a jock all right, but a small part of me finds his apparent minor misogyny adorable. Normally I'd be tempted to want to slap someone like that and I do have that temptation, but him falling all over himself...it's kind of adorable in it's own way.
She was clearly inventing the idea of him falling over himself for the sake of her developing fantasy about being with him, and yet she failed to comprehend that.
"Cool!" Alex smiled.
"You on the football team?" Taeko asked.
"Yep! I'm going to be a star one day, just you wait Taeko!" Alex smirked.
"Hm...that reminds me of when I wanted to be a volleyball star so badly! Still miss that dream...but...honestly I think I like farming more...so far at least," Taeko smiled. Still getting bored sometimes though...she added silently.
"Two years in university...just got four more until I can really show my stuff!" Alex smirked, not really seeming to care about her dreams.
"That's great!" Taeko smiled. "But um...I've got to go now, if I stay out much longer I won't have time to finish my shopping for the day and the walk to the farm is...quite a long ways away."
"I guess so, nice meeting you Taeko," Alex smiled.
"Likewise Alex," Taeko smiled in return, walking off. As she did so however she glanced back, seeing him rapidly retreat from watching her. So he is interested! She smirked to herself.
As she entered Jojamart, she went to the book section, noticing that they were two religious books, the King James Bible and the Yobalist scrolls. Picking up a KJV, she scanned the bookshelves, coming across an interesting grouping of books called Warriors and decided to splurge on the first series. That's all I can afford for the spring, she growled to herself, before checking out.
"You a Christian?" the man behind the counter known as Shane asked.
"Um...yes, I guess so..." Taeko mused to herself. I never even told my brother that...Japan has this weird relationship where the elders, government, and cultural department hates Christianity but the prison officials love it...not that I'm going to tell them that... she mused. Still all I do is give thanks in prayer and read the bible...or I did read it at least when I was in prison...
"There's nothing wrong wrong with it," Shane noted. "Though most people around these parts tend to be Yobalist," he added.
"Yobalist?" Taeko asked.
"Yeah, after the United States fell apart, what was called Christianity split into two main camps. The King Jame Bible Believers shunned national pride, church buildings, and organized religion, where as the Yobalist embraced those things along with a few added things such as the theory of evolution and aliens," Shane noted.
"I understand now, thank you," Taeko smiled.
"You seemed a bit hesitant when I asked if you were a Christian...any reason why?" Shane noted. "Ten gold," he added.
Taking out the gold she let out a quiet sigh. "It's...I'd rather not go into the details of how I became one," she began. No way I'm going to tell folks it happened while I was in prison...or that I even went there to begin with! she shuddered at the mere thought to talking to anyone about that, let alone a stranger. "The thing is that I became one in Japan...and well...Japan is kind of hostile about Christianity, she added.
"I understand, yeah I've heard about that. It must have been hard on you," Shane mused. "By the way are you new here?" he added.
"Yes, I'm Taeko Kondou, I moved into my grandpa's farm, the Sillman farm," she smiled.
"Ah...so you're a farmer I've been hearing about then, that's pretty cool," Shane smiled. "I help my aunt Marne over at the livestock shop when I'm not working here, so I feel a bit of career kinship with you, even if we're in different fields of farming," he added with a smile.
"Likewise," Taeko smiled as she took her bag and exited the store. As she walked home a memory came into her mind.
Taeko gazed at the book, uncertainty in her mind as her arms crossed, the orange long sleeve uniform she was wearing for the day crunching a bit as it brushed past each other.
"It's not going to bite you Taeko," Hanoashi laughed from the bottom bunk, where she was reading her copy of the Bible. Today she had on the coveted sleeveless black and white jumper.
"Isn't this book bigotry though?" Taeko asked.
"Some might see it that way," Hanoashi mused, joining over her. "However folks who actually take the time to read it find that they are reasons why the Lord is against certain things. That by no means forces one to agree with it in and of itself, but you might be surprised to see what things are about."
"I don't know Hanoashi..." Taeko mused.
"Come on Taeko, it's the one book you can read at any time, without ever having to worry about returning it to the prison library," Hanoashi laughed. "Plus...I can tell that you're bored...you've been gazing at that book for a long time!"
"Alright..." Taeko mused placing her hand on the book, but pausing. "But what will others think?" she whispered.
"No one besides myself and the guards are going to know...and they like for us to read it," Hanoashi reassured her, before heading back to the bottom bunk and resuming reading her copy. "Something about making the prisoners less likely to commit crimes and such," she added.
Sighing, Taeko picked up the book and began to read next to Hanoashi, her surprise and interest growing by the second.
And that's how it happened...she smiled as she passed by the bus stop. And she was right...the Lord has reasons for being against the things he is against. While I can agree why some people might be against some of those...the more I think about them the more it makes sense to avoid these things...she added.
Blinking, she realized that she had arrived at her farm during her thought process. "That was quick," she muttered to herself, before entering the house and taking her shoes off, before placing the books up on the mantle above the bed. "It's starting to look a lot better," she mused to herself, noting the picture of herself and Nova, as well as a few other things she had from her old life. A deck of pink playing cards her uncle got her days before he died, and things like that.
Taking out the bible she tore into it and began reading, losing track of time as she devoured the familiar creation story. I forgot out much I love this! she smiled.
Letting out a small shiver, she glanced up as she noted that it had gotten dark outside. "Geez...where am I, deep in Deuteronomy?" she mused, placing the book carefully on top of the mantle before placing in a few smaller logs, and starting the fireplace. There's something quaint about a fireplace...she mused as she watched the flames, her memory flooding back to her time in prison.
"Hanoashi?" Taeko asked.
"Yes?" the Irish-dutch girl asked her.
"About hell...what do you think about it? I mean...it makes sense, I'm definitely not sinless...but...how do you reconcile the potential of one's family and friends going there?" Taeko asked.
"To quote my father," Hanoashi began. "When it comes to religion, there is no such thing as breathing one into existence and it being true just because you believe it. There is one truth out there, and it is a persons duty and freedom to believe as they choose. However, while they are well entitled to any rewards they earn from being right, they are equally responsible for accepting any punishment for being wrong."
"That makes sense," Taeko agreed. "I'm guessing that means if they fail to do their own research into the manner they have no excuse for what happens if they are wrong?"
Hanoashi gave her a knowing look. "Taeko...Miho as your commanding officer and Ami as your Sensado instructor had a duty to teach their subordinates. They both failed to do that. Yes...you and the ducks should have researched safety rules and such on your own, but that doesn't make you a bad person," she encouraged. "And it certainly doesn't nullify Miho and Ami's failure in their responsibility towards you."
"I...I don't want to make that mistake again. Especially since it cost me everything," Taeko whispered.
"My dream is to be a stay at home mother, and I can still do that with a criminal record," Hanoashi laughed. "But being in prison does suck, but having such a kind and caring cell mate such as yourself helps," she added with a small smile.
"T...thanks...being with you helps out as well," Taeko breathed, giving her a grateful look.
Snapping out of her memory, she rose and picked up her handcuffs, latching them behind her back as she walked around the cabin a bit. This habit really dies hard, and it doesn't feel the same without someone grasping my arm...but as much as I kinda miss that familiar feeling...I don't want to go back to prison and I'm not too sure I could simply trust a non officer to avoid taking advantage of me, Taeko sighed after a bit, slipping off the cuffs and placing them on the mantle before placing on her shoes and taking a small walk outside.
Gazing up at the moon, she let out a wistful smile as she and her mother used to gaze up at it from their rooftop villa in Seoul. "She and I had one of the best relationships a mother and daughter could have," she whispered, raising her right hand to the moon. "Why did things have to go so wrong?" she whimpered, before lowering her hand and covering her face as a few tears began to fall.
"Mhh...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm," A voice hummed.
"Eh?" Taeko glanced up as she saw what looked like an owl singing a sweet, yet somewhat sorrowful melodic song. However, this owl was different from the others she had seen in the past. For one, it was about five feet tall, and it was brown, which what appeared to be six triangular black splotches on it's torso. It had red eyes, and it had what she could only describe as a sort of upside-down mustache above it's eyes, light tan in cover.
"Hmm hmm hmm..." the bird hummed, gazing at her gently, before taking off, flying over the woods.
She took a step to follow, her amber eyes wide in awe and surprise, but she stopped herself. It's night Taeko, go to bed, do not get lost in the woods! She scolded herself, entering her cabin and dressing down to her undies, crawling into the bed with Blaze snuggling at her feet.
Placing her hands bedding her head, Taeko allowed her thoughts to flow though her. What kind of song was that? She asked herself. Was...was he singing it for my benefit? If so...maybe song of comfort...or perhaps a song of healing? And what kind of Owl was that? Maybe I'll want to look it up tomorrow...her thoughts trailed off as she fell into sleep.
As a very quick side note, there's not going to be much else about Christianity in this fic. Mostly I placed it in this chapter as a take on Stardew Valley's religion given how I've inserted the Ferngil Republic into the real world as well as to give Taeko's stand on the matter, but it's not going to play a major role in the story going forward. Just a head's up.