Shopping Guide
While Hachiken takes care of Pork Bowl, his classmate Mayumi Yoshino tells Hachiken that he has made her reconsider things she took for granted, like raising and slaughtering livestock. She even says that he better take responsibility if she can't bring herself to eat pork anymore. Tokiwa overhears part of the conversation and assumes that they are romantically involved. He spreads this rumor to the whole class. Hachiken and Yoshino are called into the teacher's office, but they strongly deny any involvement with each other, saying that they wouldn't have the time anyway. With this, everyone's misunderstanding is resolved.
The day comes for Pork Bowl and the other pigs to be shipped off to slaughter. Hachiken tells Fuji-sensei that he will buy Pork Bowl once he is processed into meat. That evening, Hachiken says his last goodbye to Pork Bowl, thinking back on the time he spent taking care of him. The next morning Hachiken thanks the worker that comes to pick the pigs up and send Pork Bowl on his way. While cleaning the pigpen, Hachiken becomes lost in thought about Pork Bowl.
Pork Bowl's meat eventually arrives. Hachiken holds the different cuts of meat in his hand, "You're all small again," he says to himself. As Hachiken thinks about what he would like to do with the meat, he gets lots of suggestions from his fellow students. He decides to make bacon. Inada, an upperclassman, teaches Hachiken how to prepare the bacon, and he does it all himself. Afterward, Hachiken says he feels a bit relieved.
A few days later, they begin smoking the meat. Everyone gathers around, watching the smoke rise out of the chimney and sharing their various memories of Pork Bowl. Then they decide to actually make buta-don (pork on rice) using the fillet that Tamako took from Hachiken's meat. Its taste is beyond words.
Livestock are our livelihood. Up until now, Hachiken had only come in contact with already prepared meat. By actually experiencing the entire process himself, he undoubtedly came to understand how precious it really is.
© Hiromu Arakawa, Shogakukan Inc. / Ezono Festival Executive Committee
