[x] Walk straight into the forest

Having decided your next course of action, you walk straight into the forest, looking for an exit

『Damn, this forest sure is huge huh?』
『I knew since this is the only forest in Gensokyo its gotta be big, never thought it was gonna be this huge though.』

-40 minutes later-

『Something isn't right..』
『Why the hell is this forest so goddamn big? I swear I could've walked a mini-marathon at this rate.』
『Some thing is definitely going on here, Gensokyo isn't even that big.』

"When is he gonna start realising it?"

A faint voice was coming from your left, it sounded almost like a child. You decide to ignore it for the time being, it might've just been a random fairy after all.

Wait. A fairy? Couldn't that be the reason you're unable to find the exit? Don't fairies like pranking people?

As realisation struck you, you began turning around searching for any kind of signs of the fairies that you heard just then.

You saw a movement in the bush, you start glaring at the bush for a while. A few minutes has passed and you're still staring at the bush, looking for another sign of movement. Just as when you were turning away, you heard a sound coming from the bush, you instantly ran toward the bush. As you were getting closer, a small shriek could be heard from the bush as 3 small figures got out of the bush and started levitating above it, one of the fairies had short red hair, wearing a red and white dress along with a ribbon on her hair, you could tell from the glance that the fairy you were staring at was none other than Sunny Milk.

As you turned around and started checking the other fairies' appearance, you noticed that one of them had yellow hair. Noticing the red eyes and the black and white dress, you could also tell that this fairy was one of the three fairies of light, Luna Child

For the last fairy, You already knew who she was. Dark-brown hair, a frilly blue and white dress with stars on it, you could immediately tell that she was Star Sapphire.

『It all makes sense now. So they were pulling a prank on me?』
『If they're still here in the forest, that probably means I'm here before the events of EoSD. Not sure how much earlier, still that means I won't get to see the SDM's crew anytime soon, so that sucks.』
『Now, about these fairies. How will I deal with them?』

As you were pondering about how you're going to deal with these fairies, one of them spoke up

"Hey human! incase you haven't notice you've fallen right into my trap!" Sunny spoke up proudly.

"Sunny, I think we should let that person go, he might be strong.." Another fairy spoke up which you saw was Star.

"I also think we should let him go Sunny, he looks pretty scary to me.." Luna also spoke up

『Wait, do I really look that scary? What's wrong with me?』
『Nevermind all that, might as well use this to advantage』

Yeah you might wanna get away from me, I'd say I'm pretty strong myself y'know?"
『Please don't attack me, Please don't attack me, Please don't attack me』
"You're strong?" Sunny asked.
"Yeah really strong, You might not wanna fight against me."
"Cool! You wanna have a spar? I wanted to test out my new moves but I can't find any good target"
『Oh shit, how do I get out of this now?』
"Good offer but you're way too weak right now, I could end the fight in a flash."
"Awww, that sucks. You're no fun."
『She believed that?!』
"See? I told you Sunny, let's go back to our house"
"All right..."

As the three fairies flew away into the forest all of them waves at you, Luna trips over nothing and fell down on the way.

"Now that's done, I have another problem on hand"
"Where exactly do I go from here?"

...

"Finally, there's the exit"
"The sunlight is really hurting my eyes.."
"Guess that's what happens once you stay in a dark place for a long time."

You walk over to the exit without any problem, well. with one problem, you forgot where the way to the human village was.

"Shit."

note : this one had way less narration in it, tried to be more on MAN's POV you know? also tried being descriptive with the fairies, don't really think it went that well. hopefully ill improve, no choices this time. let our guy get lost and he'll stumble upon scenarios. let me know how i did on this chapter! be brutally honest about it, if it sucks like a shitty vacuum then just tell me that. (shitty vacuum sucks really badly btw learnt that from experience)

note : [New skill : Bullshit Proficiency Lv.1] [Description : Let you bullshit more proficiently and make it more believable"]
[Evolution : Bullshit Manipulation] [Requirement : Bulletshit Proficiency Lv.10]

you can now check MAN's stats and abilities by :

[] Character Overview

-Continuing from last update.

"Now where the hell do I go?"

You turn around, there's a road to the left, right and the last one is a little further from the forest but where the path leads is straight from the forest exit.

"Why ZUN gotta make Gensokyo so confusing?"
『Well I mean not as confusing as other stuff here y'know?』
"Aren't there phantoms around here?"
"Better take a look 'round these roads quick then."

You decide to start with the left path, walking along the path for a while you spot a huge lake at the end of the path.

『So there's the misty lake..』

Having learned that, you turn back and continued walking down the road

As you were walking, you noticed an old building. You see a japanese sign above the doors. You tried reading it.

"Hm? I thought you could understand japanese in gensokyo even if you didn't learn it before?"
"Ah, there it is." You said as the sign started turning into english words that you could understand.

"Kou-rin-dou, so this place Kourindou?"
"The condition is better than I thought..."
"Considering that inside of the shop's supposed be dusty and even has mold, the outside looks pretty nice."
"Well, if Kourindou's this way then I guess I'm on the right track to the village."
"Better get out of here before Rinnosuke notices me."

You continue moving down the road, now with a destination in mind. The human village is your next stop. On the way you notice some phantoms wandering around, they aren't hostile though.

"That was a pretty short walk eh? Well it's not like I was getting my sense of direction messed up by a fairy"
『Though now I wonder how they're doing..』
『Now that I think about it, if EoSD hasn't started yet, doesn't that mean spell card rules still aren't in use?』
『That's pretty dangerous, good thing the fairies didn't attack me back then』

You saw 2 guards standing infront of the gate into the village, you decide to confront them directly.

One of the guards as another came to inspect your body, he said starts from your shoulders and searched thoroughly, he said nothing but you let him continue.

Once the guard finished inspecting your body, he turned around to the other guard and gave him a thumbs-up.

"State your business" Said the other guard.
"I'm an outsider, and I'm here to enter the village for protection."
『Well I don't neccessary need protection but this makes it more believable I guess?"
"Wait right here." One of the guard said, the other guard head inside the village and didn't come back out for a while. But once he came back out, he brought a white-haired woman with him.

Because you're currently in the village, there was only 2 white-heads that meddled in the village business. Fujiwara no Mokou and Keine Kamishirasawa. Considering the guard came to get this person, the only explanation was that this person was the human village's protector Keine.

"You're the outsider?" She spoke up.
"Yes, Miss.."
"Keine, Kamishirasawa Keine."
"Nice to meet you Miss Keine, and yes I am the outsider."
She had a face that was full of suspicion.
"When did you come to Gensokyo?"
"I came to Gensokyo today at dawn miss."
"Just Keine is alright, and did you see any humans with weird features such as rabbit ears or something?"
"Right no more honorifics then. No, haven't seen one. Why do you ask?"
You knew why she asked, although you answered honestly. You didn't see a single youkai while coming here, pretty weird considering you were wandering around the forest of magic.
"Well, let's start from the beginning. Gensokyo is a land different from the outside world, Gensokyo is a place where there are living mythical creatures among us, most of them are not so friendly toward humans.."
You know what this is about, but still let her continue. Can't have people knowing that touhou is a game in the outside world. She gives a serious glare at you then continue.
"Those creatures are called youkai, there are many kinds of youkai, so much so that the possibilities are endless, youkai live off the fears of a human. Therefore they attack humans to keep existing, but sometimes they feed on human flesh too."
She looks at me to check how I'd react, I tried to act surprised but couldn't really bring myself to do it. It was probably good enough though.
"Human flesh are a delicacy to them. You were lucky enough to not encounter one on the way here."
"Now come on in, let's find report you to the village leader and get you a place."

You head inside the village with Keine, she brings you to the village leader, the interaction wasn't that interesting. He just asked me the same questions as Keine.

After that's done Keine brought me to an apartment, the village leader got me a room on the second floor. After you looked around the room Keine told you she had to go.

"Well then, see you later.. wait, you never told me your name." She tried to give a farewell but it wasn't complete without your name.
"MAN"
She tilted her head and looked at you a little confused.
"My name is MAN."
"Oh wow, uh.. interesting name you got there. Anyway see you later MAN! If you need come I'm usually teaching children at the school." She walks off after having said that, but before she could go you spoke up.
"See you soon, Keine."
She turned to look at you for a bit, then turned away and continued leaving.
"Ahhhh, that was a long day."
"Still, I really am in Gensokyo huh?"
You lie there on your bed facing up looking at the ceiling.
"Well, better get some rest." You doze off instantly after having said that, ignoring the fact that you didn't take a shower since you came here and you probably smell like shit.

---

You woke up.
You're not on your bed.
Where are you?
What is this place.
You look around, seeing nothing but the place in white, not even a single trace of anything.
"You."
You turn behind you, seeing nothing looking confused.
"Hey you!"
You look around even more, still seeing nothing.
"Below you dumbass!"
You look down and see that you're standing over a table, next to the table was a presumably a shadow, a pitch black shadow.
"When are you going to step down from the fucking table?"
You said nothing and quickly step down the table.
"Seriously though, what's wrong with you?"
"Here, take a seat."
A plastic chair suddenly appears behind you, in perfect position to sit.
You questioned nothing and sat down on the chair, it wasn't that comfortable.
"Couldn't get a better chair?" You asked
"Shut up, be grateful I even gave you a place to rest your ass in."
"Anyway, Where's this place, Who are you?"
"Slow down, Let me answer them one by one."
"Alright then, What's is place?"
"Nowhere."
"What?"
"This place is nowhere."
"But that doesn't make sens-"
"Not everything has to make sense."
...
"Whatever that means, Now where's this place?"
"Everywhere."
"There you go again, with your vague as abstract art answer."
"Just shut up and get the questions over with, I didn't call you here for nothing."
"Who are you?"
"..."
"Find out for yourself."
"So let me get this straight, I get taken to nowhere, a place that's everywhere. And the person who brought me here doesn't tell me who he is"
"No shit sherlock, that was it, wasn't that hard to understand was it?"
"Bullshit, anyway why did you even call me here in the first place."
"Patience is key, MAN."
"Now how do you know my name?"
"I know everything about you, even more than yourself. I know about your little power, your parents. Your destiny."
"..."
"What?"
"What I'm saying is that, I know you better than anyone else."
"That doesn't make sense, how can a person whom I have never talked to my entire life knows about me better than I do?"
"Oh, but we have talked many times, don't you remember?"
"No."
"Alright, it's probably time."
"Time for what?"
"To show you why I brought you here."
"Wha-"
Your mind has gone blank, the only thing you hear is a high pitch, so high that it was painful. Your nose started bleeding, you fell down on your knees. Your vision has gone blurry and painted red, your ears started bleeding.

Pain. That was the only thing you could feel, no emotions, no happy, sad, anger, excitement, fear. Just pain.

You start screaming out of pain as your vision went black, you fell face first into the ground. Lying there, unconcious. The last thing you heard was a voice that you have long forgotten, the voice was so familiar that you wonder why you haven't recognized it after all this time. It was the voice of...

"Dad?"

You open your eyes just a little to see the sight of a man you were talking to just now, tears falling out of his eyes, as he turned around and wiped it.

"See you soon, ____"

After that, everything went blank.

---

You woke up.
On your bed.
Tears streaming all over your face.
You couldn't remember why you cried.
Or what got you so emotional.

"Hm? Why am I crying?"
"Probably just a bad nightmare."
"Can't remember what it was about though.."

You got out of your bed not paying any mind to the reason you cried or what your nightmare was about. You head to the shower and washed yourself up. Only you didn't notice one thing was different, you now had a tattoo on the base of your neck, above your left shoulder.

After you washed up, you wore the same clothes as yesterday and headed out of your room and down to the first floor apartment.

Leaving the apartment, You walk out through the door of the apartment.

"Now, what should I do today?"

[] Explore around the village
[] Go to the Hakurei Shrine
[] Check out Kourindou's items

note : how was that for a chapter, i didnt do that well on the conversation with keine and the nowhere part didn't i, getting used to writing conversations with other characters.

[Bullshitting proficiency has gone up by 1!]

[] Go to the Hakurei Shrine. (I'm pretty bored so i just wrote without your reply, teehee.)

"Better visit the shrine maiden."
"It's this way isn't it?

As you decided to head for the Hakurei Shrine, you start moving onwards.

Reaching the staircase which leads up to the Hakurei Shrine, you just realized how tall it is. You let out a long sigh
"This is gonna be a long day."

15 minutes later, you still haven't reached the top. I wonder how people get to the shrine. Oh wait. Mostly youkai come here so they just fly don't they? Lucky bastards.

-----

A while later, you've managed to climb all the way up. You're in a pretty good shape for a guy that doesn't work-out. Still you've never known your endurance was this high. Probably should've played track and field sports back in highschool.

"Looks like nobody's here, I definitely do not want to disturb Reimu at this hour.'
"Guess I'll just slip a donation and leave."

You take your wallet out and check how much money you had with you.

『50 dollars.. wait. What currency do gensokyo people use anyway?』

『Ehhh, I'll just slip a redback in the box.』

After having made a donation, you decide to get back to the village quietly. You're way too lazy to go back down the stairs so you did what any sane human being would do.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

You slide down the hill on your ass and pray that you don't land on your head and break your neck.

You've come to accept the fact that you're a dumbass, a moron, and a MAN.

Once you reach the foot of the hill. You got another problem on hand.

You're definitely not gonna land smoothly nor on your ass.

"Oh shit." You said as your whole body rotate backwards due to friction and you ended up doing a half back-roll and almost landing face-first into the ground while still sliding straight forward.

As your momentum slows down and stops completely. You spoke up.

"Must've broken a few there..."

You struggle to stand up and move for a while due to the pain spreading throughout your whole body.

Though after a while, you somehow came to realize that you were completely fine.

"Gensokyo magic I guess?"
"Aww, now my clothes are covered in mud, this was my favorite pair too.."

You walk back to the village, trying to get dirt and mud off your clothings on the way, I wonder if gensokyo has washing machines? This is gonna be painful to clean up.

After returning to your room, you take off your clothes and put on a T-Shirt that was prepared in the closet.

Now, you have still yet to spend the whole day, where to next?

[] Take a walk around the village
[] The lake lookin' mighty fine today. Maybe I should take a swim?
[] That bamboo forest seems like a nice place for a walk!
[] Good write-ins unlike the choice above.

--------------------

Yeah uhhh, I was bored of twd. Daryl is so overrated, anyway.

MAN is a moron, you're either gonna have to help him change or encourage him to be even bolder than before.

This update's pretty rough, didn't really proof-read or anything at all.

[] Take a walk around the village

"I guess a stroll around the village doesn't sound too bad," I said

Maybe I could use a break after coming to gensokyo? Well I mean, I should probably take it easy for now? Anyway, where should I even start? "Hmm.. I never really saw any interesting village landmarks in touhou did I?"

"That's a problem.."
"Maybe I should just walk around then?"
Yeah, I should just walk around the village and find a cool place somewhere. Maybe I'll even get to know some new people? No, bad idea. Really bad idea, I don't even know how to talk to people before coming here, Gensokyo magic probably can't fix that. Yeah, I'll just walk around. No talking to people.
'Hm? Kirisame-ya Second Hand Shop? Isn't that the shop that Marisa's dad owns?'
'I wonder what they sell..'
"It was never really mentioned was it?'
'Although, I definitely don't think they accept dollars here.'
'Is there like an outsider currency exchange somewhere?'
Now this is an actual problem, How am I supposed to live here if I don't even know which currency then use? Maybe I should go ask Keine about this soon..
"Boo!" A loud voice came from behind me,
I turned around surprised and saw a girl holding an umbrella "Got you!" Wait, looking into her eyes, I saw that the pupils had different colours, 'Oh, so this is Kogasa?'
'She's cute..'

"Hey, are you alright?"
"Did I scare you too much?"
"Oh. Right, she's still right here."
I tried to act surprised, well. Keyword is tried.
"Did I really get you that badly?"
"Do you need to see a doctor?"

She tried to ask me with concern, 'Uh oh, she's genuinely concerned about me. What do I do?'

'I don't even know how to talk to people, and now a girl is concerned about me?'
'God, just give me a cardiac arrest and get it over with.'

"I'm sorry.. I didn't know humans were this fragile, I heard there was a hospital in that bamboo forest, do you need me bring you there?"

Damn, I'll just tell her I'm okay and get it over with. She's pretty cute though..

I made a sign with my hand to signal her that I'm completely fine "No, it's fine. I'm alright"
"You really got me there"
"Ah! You're really fine?"
"I'm sorry.. We tsukumogami don't eat humans, we scare them to suppress our hunger."
"I see."
"Sorry.."
"No it's quite alright, I get it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you really got me there though." I gave off a weak laugh.
"And you're really fine? You looked a little pale when I scared you.."
"Yeah, I'm fine. That's what happens to humans when they get scared."
"Really? You don't need to see a doctor or anything?"

'Okay, this is getting damn annoying. I'm alright, why doesn't she just end it at that?'

"NO! I'm alright and that's it okay? No doctors or anything else."

She looks at me quite surprised,

"Okay.."

What? Why's she looking at me like that. No, stop. Stop looking at me like that. I just told you that I'm alright, why won't you just go away. You know what? Alright fine.

"Actually, I guess you can help me a little."
"Really?! How?"
"I uh, kind of lost my wallet. And I need to eat." That was a lie of course, I still have my wallet. Just didn't have the kind of money they use here.
She looks at me confused,
"Can you lend me some money?"
"Yeah! Follow me, I know a really good place!"
"Uh, I mean you could just give me the money and we'd be don-" She grabbed my hand and ran off with me still dangling from her hand
"He-" A pebble flew at me, oh wait. I was the one that flew at the pebble.
"Pleas-" Another one. "Slow dow-" And another damn one. Big one too.
Yeah, I basically spent a while getting hit by pebbles and other stuff out of nowhere, is there like a google review for youkai transportation methods? I'd rate Kogasa 1/5.

---

"Here we are!"
"Hey, are you there?"
"Hellooo??"
She turned around and saw me, my clothes covered in dirt grains.
"Oh my god, Are you okay?"
"Please, stop, asking, me, that."
"I'm really sorry, I totally forgot that I also brought you here.."

You know, she's adorable but way too dangerous. Maybe she should really learn that not all humans are as strong as youkai.

After I told her I was okay, She brought me inside, it's pretty obvious that she's a youkai but the shop owner doesn't really mind her, that's pretty weird, maybe she's just a regular customer. I just ordered some stuff (Which I've never eaten before, don't even know what they're even made out of.)

"Hey uhmm.. you never told me your name did you?"
"Ah yeah right, It's MAN."
"Your name is MAN?"
"Yes? What's wrong with it."
"Ehmm.. It sounds, pretty dumb."
I froze, was my name really THAT bad?
"Ah! I'm sorry, I just never heard a name like that. It's probably just a common name from where you came from right?"
"No."
"Oh."

I continued eating after the conversation, was my name really that bad though? I really didn't know any people back then to judge my name I guess.

After we finished eating, She told me a farewell.

"See you later! Mister MAN!"
"No need for honorifics, we're friends aren't we?"
"..." She just stood there, no reply. Finally she decided to smile and give me a nod though.
"Anyway, see you another time. Kogasa"
Oops, She never told me her name did I?

She looks at me for a while, but decided to wave at me and walked away. Probably finding her new victim.

-------

Alright, what to do next?
[] It's getting too late, I'm an early sleeper. Better get to home.
[] Outside the village at night? Seems like a good idea.
[] Seek economic advice from Keine
[] Help Kogasa scare her next target.

-------

[Bullshitting's Proficiency has gone up by 1!] [Current Proficiency : 3]

-------

Woke up late today, Yes I did told you guys that MAN is bold and a moron, but he's not that much of a dumbass, he's just really bold. Devoid of the dangers in Gensokyo. He'll learn about them the hard way later.

First person writing, trying to not POV slip is pretty hard, although the end result is exactly how I want this story be written, of course there's probably some adjustments and improvements to be made but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

New thought formatting, using symbols that isn't on my keyboard is hard.

Hope I did a better job with the dialogues

...

"Come, take a seat."
I obeyed and sat on a chair across his.
"You remember the other guy?"
"Who?"
"Alright."

"How about that seal?"
"How's it feeling?"
I look at him confused, what seal?
"Oh, wait a sec."
He snapped his fingers, a mirror appearing infront of me.
"Take a look on your neck, that's the thing."

Taking a look on my own neck, I saw a tattoo. Weird, never got one before. What even is the tattoo?

"Hm?"
"Other guy didn't do a very good job at explaining did he?"
I still don't get what he's going on about, seal? other guy?
"I'll have a word with him later, although I think you can figure it out on your own."
He moves closer to me, and take a look at the tattoo on my neck.

"He didn't do a good job of this either, considering he probably didn't wanna do it on his son after all."

Son? Whose son?

"Here wait, let me fix it real quick."
I felt a small sting on my neck, looking back in the mirror, the tattoo changed also.

"Might need this also."

He put a hand behind my cervix, tapped on it for a bit. Nothing happened.

"Now let's talk."
I nod.
"What's your name?"
"MAN."
"How did you come here."
"Didn't you bring me here?"
"Ah, not here. Gensokyo as you call it I guess."
"Woke up one day, not in bed."
"Alright. How about life outside Gensokyo?"

Life outside gensokyo...
Mom... Da-

"Ow! what the fuck?"
My neck stinged badly
"Oh it's gone now, what were you asking me again?"
He gave a little smirk.
"Nothing of importance, now let's stop with the questions and let me tell you why I brought you here."
"..."
"Wait, you aren't gonna ask who I am?"
"Well, I mean. I don't really need to know who you are do I? I only need to know why you brought me here."
"Although, an introduction would be nice."
"No."
"I wasn't going to give you the answer even if you asked."
"See?"

"Now let's begin with the main point."
"You, don't know what the hell you're supposed to do."
"What'cha mean?"
"They didn't bring you here just to mess around."
"Then what am I here for?"
"Don't know, don't get paid enough. Ask the higher-ups."
"You get paid?"
"Why else would I be doing this tedious job, talking to you?"

He has a point...

"Anyway, just. Try to do something alright? You didn't get the power for nothing."
"What power?"
"He didn't tell you that either?"
"Don't even know who he is."
"Alright, anyway. Still don't get paid enough, figure your power out yourself. Throw yourself into the forest at night or try to drown in a lake or something. You probably would've tried doing one of those things without me asking anyway."

No no, he's got a point there.

"Hmm.."
"Yeah that's probably all, let me bring you back."
"Wait so I'm awake right now?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't you be?"
"I thought I was in like a dream world or something."
"The organization doesn't have that much budget for one person."
"You know, if you want answers from me. Try to get my manager to raise my salary and I'll think about it. He'll listen to you."
"Yeah sure."

How am I going to find his manager anyway?

"Mind telling me how to get back here again?"
"Eh, just try to call us somehow. We're always watching. Probably shouldn't come here though, I don't want to talk to you. Ever again."
"You're a real piece of work."

Ouch.

"Anyway, enough talking. Time for you to go back."
"Alright then, I'm getting bored."
"Of course you would be bored, what does it take to entertain you anyway."
"Hey what you say to me?"
"I do-"

-----

I landed on my bed, real nauseous.
"Motherfucker didn't tell me there was turbulence."
"Eugh..."

I rushed to the bathroom and unleashed whatever was in my throat out.

"Aw damn, didn't even have time to prepare."

I looked out of the window and saw red mist, heading towards the village.

"Seems dangerous enough for me."

What do you do.

[] That guy told me I needed to get into some deep shit to awaken my power of some stuff didn't he? Let's head out then. [Go to SDM]
[] Naaah, too much work. The weather looks perfect for Kogasa though. [Find Kogasa]
[] Naaah, too much work. I still need money or a job though. [Find Keine]
[] "Who's there?" [???]