Exiting the train brings me to the same dreary setting I’ve seen hundreds of times. It's always the same monochromatic building that looks and feels more like a prison than a place of knowledge. No point in sitting here protesting though, it’s not like I’d gain anything if I just gave this place the finger and walked away. So, let’s just get this day over with so I can see what those two are up to in their club.

As I walk through the repetitive halls, I’m led to my only class for the day. Normally, having only one class is a good thing, but it’s a technology class. Which means that the assignments are convoluted and take forever, and today is no exception. I’m being forced to build… something. I'm honestly not even entirely sure what I’m supposed to be doing, the assignment tells me to “create a small robot that can do a basic task for the teacher.” Really? If these tasks are so “basic,” then why even need a robot for it? It’s not like this is helping me develop engineering skills, because there’s no way I’m going to be able to afford these parts.

Whatever, I’ll just make a simple door stopper that you can move from a distance just so I can get a decent grade and call it a day. I don’t see a reason to invent something groundbreaking if it’ll just be used for one assignment and never be seen again. With that being said, I begin grabbing random parts and throwing them together, like trying to find the solution to a jigsaw puzzle that has no solution.

After spending a couple of hours working, I manage to combine random parts together into something that the professor might like. Speaking of which, our professor is a bit of an oddball. She always insists on wearing a red uniform when our teacher uniform colors are black and blue, and she has a weird hyperfixation on space. I normally wouldn’t judge someone for their interests, but she truly believes that she can build a “space-time traveling hypervessel” with her own two hands, or something like that. It’s hard to remember exactly what she called it, but it’s completely ridiculous. Who does she think she is? A video game character? Regardless, I think I’m finally done, time to turn this piece of junk in and move on with my life.

“H-Hey, you’re missing a power source…”

I’m stopped short in my tracks when a shy-sounding voice pipes up from behind me. I turn around to face the student with a thankful smile, only to see a girl who’s… apparently a really big fan of blue. She has a blue mechanic outfit, a blue backpack, and even blue hair! The only part about her that isn’t blue is her green cap.

“Ah, thanks! I almost missed that. Who are you, by the way? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”

The girl is clearly nervous, but she attempts to put on a confident façade. It’s almost like she feels out of place in this classroom. I can somewhat relate, as visiting a new location for the first time can be a bit confusing.

“I-It's nice to meet you, my name is Nitori. I’m an engineer from a… different place. I’m not technically supposed to be here, but my uh, caretaker has allowed me to visit this hu- er, I mean, your school to study technology.”

“Transfer student, huh? That’s fine. Is your favorite color blue by any chance? It’s hard to tell.”

My shallow attempt at humor seems to work surprisingly well, as the girl loosens up a bit and even cracks a genuine smile.

“Haha, yeah! I live close to water, you see, so I find that it’s thematically appropriate to dress in blue. I have my own workshop somewhere in the nearby forest. It’s hard to say exactly where it is, but it is near a river.”

“So like, you work with hydroelectric energy?”

Nitori’s eyes are practically glowing with excitement at this point.

“Yep! I can harness water into plenty of my electrical devices. I’ve even managed to create my own kappa telecommunications device!”

She rummages through her backpack and pulls out what appears to be a heavily modified smartphone. That isn’t what I’m confused about though, why would she name her device after a mythological being?

“That’s pretty cool! But why call it a kappa communication device?”

Nitori freezes in place, and I can see the faint reflection of light hitting the sweat that is starting to form on her face. Like flipping a binary switch, the confident engineer now looks like she just leaked a massive secret that wasn’t supposed to be known.

“O-Oh! Uh… no reason! It’s just my uh… brand name! Yeah, that’s why I called it that! B-Because kappa are water creatures, and this is powered by water… power!”

Not sure why she’s suddenly so nervous about her brand name, it’s not like she could secretly be a kappa, right? They’re fictional beings, and they don’t even look like her from the images I’ve seen. “Alright, fair enough. Sorry for prying, I was just curious.”

Nitori’s shoulders loosen up in synch with her breathing a sigh of relief, and she appears much calmer now.

“It’s fine, it’s just… a personal brand of mine, you know? I want to make sure I have plenty of product before I open the market.”

“That’s understandable. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting you to also be a businesswoman. But if you’re good at something, might as well get paid for it, right?”

“Haha, you’re absolutely right! People love paying more for stuff they can’t obtain elsewhere, it’s genius!”

At this point, I had already added a power source, meaning the device is ready to be turned in, but I’m still sitting at this empty table with Nitori. Despite my previous desire to leave this classroom early, I find myself enjoying the conversation I’m currently having with Nitori over our mutual interest in technology. I always found it interesting, but I never had a chance to build anything interesting. The parts are too expensive, and the only course I was able to get into is run by a teacher who I’m pretty sure is delusional. Although, this class did manage to give me an opportunity to make a new friend. So, I guess miracles can happen sometimes, even in the most boring of places.

By the time it reaches the evening, I finally turn in my project and head to the door with Nitori. I could invite her to the club, but it’s clear that Renko and Maribel are working through something, just like me. So, it’s probably for the best if I don’t involve anyone else.

“Well, it was nice talking to you, Maxwell. If you ever happen to stop by my workshop, then make sure you say hi! I love showing off my new inventions to others!”

“I’ll visit you if I ever get the chance, but until then, take care of yourself out there! The forests have become a bit… hazardous as of late.”

And with that, we both go our separate ways. I walk through these familiar halls with a newfound sense of adventure. After being alone for so long, it’s nice to see that I’m still capable of making friends. Once I reach the door marked on the map, I knock gently. Within a few moments, Renko opens the door with an uneasy smile, a small plushie of Sumireko in her arms.

“Hey… this is the correct room, right? Is the club meeting still happening?”

“Yes, you’re here just in time. Please don’t mind Sumi’s presence, the plushie was gifted to me by Sumireko, and… it makes me feel a little bit better.”

With a simple nod of understanding, I walk with Renko towards the nearby low table, where Maribel is… staring at a wall?

“Um… is she alright?”

“She’s fine, she just daydreams a lot. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Seemingly sensing our presence, Maribel turns towards me with an enigmatic smile, the golden rays of sunlight making her eyes sparkle like the stars in the night sky. Despite her calm demeanor, I can see the sadness in her eyes. A void that could only be filled by the potential return of her best friend.

“Hello, Maxwell. I’m glad you were able to join us today. Before we begin, I’d like to apologize in advance if anything we say today sounds a little unusual. Our investigation methods are often viewed as… unorthodox, but we like to be thorough in our work, even if it means thinking outside of the box.”

I manage to let out a weak chuckle. Unorthodox? Come on, these two investigate abandoned shrines and stuff, how weird could it be?

“Don’t worry, I’m taking a technology class. I’ve already dealt with complicated scenarios, so I’m sure I can handle whatever it is you do here.”

Renko’s lips curve into a smirk, and she shares a knowing glance with Maribel. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I’m starting to get an odd feeling about these two, and now that I think about it, why does Maribel look… familiar?

“Remember, Maxwell, the bigger the confidence, the harder you’ll fall. So without further ado, what do you know about the stars? More specifically, have you ever studied an astrolabe?”

Stars? Really? What does that have to do with anything? Now they’re just making me look dumb…

“Sorry, I’ve never heard of an astrolabe before. Is that some kind of star map?”

Renko shakes her head and pulls out an old, brass-colored… thing.

“It’s an old device that most have forgotten about. It was once used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, now it gathers dust in old museums. Throughout my time studying the stars, I’ve found myself needing it less, as I’ve been able to accurately utilize star charts in our research.”

“What are you using the stars for? How do they relate to exploring abandoned locations?”

Maribel is next to speak up, her voice sounding slightly distant, as if she’s not entirely with us.

“That brings us to our next topic. When we first entered university, J seemed to have reached a state of enlightenment. I ‘ve gained the ability to… peek behind the curtains, as one would say. Tell me, Maxwell, have you ever noticed something or someone that just didn’t belong? Maybe an unnatural chill? Perhaps even a Sakura tree blooming when it’s not spring?”

What on earth is this girl talking about? Why is she only speaking in riddles?

“I… don’t think so? What does this have to do with anything?”

“Because there’s more to this world than meets the eye. I’ve seen what lies beyond the veil, and it’s… beautiful.”

Maribel reaches into her purse and pulls out an old polaroid camera alongside a few pictures of a beautiful landscape. One is an ethereal-looking forest, another is an imposing red mansion, and the third is of a foggy bamboo forest.

“Unfortunately, the camera is broken, but it’s memories remain. Tell me, Maxwell, do these locations look like they exist in our world?”

I look down at the photos in shock. There’s no way these are fake, but how would she have visited the places shown in these images? They look like something out of a fantasy novel!

“Woah… I’ve never seen anything this unique before! Everything around us is nothing but boring high rises.”

Renko, who had been silently observing this conversation, finally speaks up again.

“Gensokyo, it’s a land the two of us have only visited once in person, but Merry frequently visits in her dreams. It’s a land of beauty, bit also a land of danger and respect. The youkai that inhabit Gensokyo are dangerous, but not inherently hostile as long as you follow their rules. This is the true purpose of our club; to others, we simply explore abandoned buildings. But to us, we’re trying to peek behind the curtains of reality.”

“This all sounds so incredible! Would it be possible for me to visit Gensokyo? I’d take anything over this boring city.”

“It’s not quite as simple as opening a door. Our best chance of success is through Maribel managing to find a spot where the barrier is weakest, but it’s an unpredictable process. I can’t guarantee when or where we can get a chance to enter.”

Maribel nods in agreement.

“Indeed, even if we don’t usually get a chance to visit Gensokyo directly, our research is a fun hobby for us, and it helps us take our minds off… well…”

I can feel sadness starting to seep into my mind as I’m reminded of Sumireko, and by extension, my failure.

“Right… Sumireko. I still think the entire incident was my fault. I never fully believed her when she’d have her occult ramblings, and… wait…”

I can feel tears starting to flow down my face as I struggle to maintain composure, but it’s a losing battle. My limbs are trembling and my fingers feel numb. My eyes remain glued to the floor as my chest feels like it’s closing up.

“S-She was right… she was right about everything, and I… I pushed her away! I dismissed her belief, and now she’s gone. This is all my fault.”

Right when my composure is about to reach its breaking point, I suddenly feel two pairs of arms wrapping around me. I managed to pull my head up, and my vision cleared just enough to see Renko and Maribel pulling me in for a group hug. Renko is the first to speak up, her voice calming and gentle.

“Hey… it’s okay, none of this is your fault. Sumireko’s disappearance has affected all of us, but if you constantly blame yourself and reopen scars, then you’ll never fully heal. I can’t promise we’ll ever see her again, but we can’t lose hope. So please, if you don’t feel like you can stay strong for us, then stay strong for her.”

Maribel is up next, her voice carrying a surprising amount of wisdom for someone who looks like an ordinary college girl.

“Boundaries do more than just separate us from the land of illusions, they also exist in our everyday lives, and even within our soul. The boundary surrounding your heart might sometimes feel like it’s starting to close, but only those who create those boundaries have the power to overcome them.”

Their words of encouragement manage to break through my emotional meltdown, and I can feel myself starting to crack a smile. So I happily wrap my arms around the two of them, sharing the group hug.

“Thank you guys, I really needed this. I’m afraid to think of what could’ve happened if I was forced to bear this sadness alone…” Renko looks up and meets my gaze with a smile of her own.

“You’re no longer alone, Maxwell. That is something that we can guarantee. No matter what happens, we’ve got your back, and you’ve got ours.”

As we slowly pull away from the hug, Maribel reaches into her purse and pulls out a small handkerchief for me to wipe my tears with.

“Do you want us to accompany you to the train station? We still have some business to take care of here, but you should probably return home and rest.”

I shake my head gently after drying my tears, although I’m still grateful for her offer.

“I appreciate the offer, but I should be fine by myself. Goodbye for now, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I turn to leave, but Renko stops me before I can exit the clubroom.

“Wait! I almost forgot!”

She then quickly scribbles two phone numbers on a piece of paper and hands it to me.

“Here, these are our phone numbers so we can keep in touch.”

“Ah, good catch! I’ll text you two once I’m home. Have a good evening!”

I take the piece of paper, and with one last wave, I exit the clubroom and begin walking to the front of the university. The building is mostly empty, and the halls are quiet, but I don’t mind a little silence occasionally. Today was a good day, after all, so I can’t help but smile as I exit the university and make my way to the train station.

Once I’m at the train station, I sit down on an empty bench and wait for the train to arrive. However, my wait is interrupted by a woman sitting down beside me.

“Oh, sorry, are you waiting for someone? I can-“

That’s when I get a good look at her and her familiar piercing gaze. Isn’t this the woman I saw in my dream? Surely that’s just a coincidence, right…?

“Um… do I know you from somewhere? I feel like I’ve seen you before…”

The woman’s smirk disappears behind her fan as she speaks, and the air around her feels off. It almost feels like it’s distorted, or that it’s fuzzing around the edges.

“Ufufufu, that all depends, doesn’t it?”

“Depends on what?”

The woman leans in close, her eyes casting a perfect reflection of my face.

“How much do you know about Gensokyo? An outsider learning about our wonderful place isn’t a common occurrence, after all.” My eyes widen slightly in surprise. How did she…?

“H-How did you know I spoke with Renko and Maribel?”

Like sunlight emerging from clouds, I can see the woman’s grin widening as she lowers her fan.

“I didn’t, but now I do. Quite the interesting duo, aren’t they? Maribel even reminds me of myself in a way, but I’m sure that’s purely coincidental~” “Who are you, anyway?”

“You may call me ‘Yukari Yakumo.’ You could say I’m an old friend of Gensokyo. Now what’s your name, dear? I’m already aware of it, but it’s rude to not introduce yourself to someone new.”

“Oh, right, I’m Maxwell. It’s nice to meet you, but how do you relate to Gensokyo? Do you live there?”

Yukari chuckles into her fan, thoroughly enjoying this conversation.

“Ufufufufu! Oh my, such personal questions! You wound me, Maxwell~” She puts a hand over her heart with mock hurt, but she’s smiling the entire time.

“But yes, in the land of Gensokyo, I’m known as the Youkai of Boundaries. In your eyes, I’m just another woman. So, allow me to give a quick demonstration of what a youkai like me is capable of.”

Before I can respond, Yukari performs a quick wave of her hand, and I suddenly fall through the bench and onto the concrete ground of our local pool. Looking up with a dazed expression, I can see Yukari, who is now wearing a swimsuit, emerging from what I can only describe as a hole in reality. Before it closed, I swear I could see eyes staring at me from within the purple void.

“Ow… what just happened…?”

“Consider that a small teaser of what’s to come if you continue down this path. Now, how about a brief swim? It’s a lovely night, and these ‘pools’ you humans use are quite enjoyable.”

Yukari then glides into the water, effortlessly sinking downward as if the water was being repelled from her body.

“You’re right, a swim does sound lovely after a day like today.”

Despite wearing my school clothes, I enter the water alongside Yukari. As she predicted, the water is nice and warm, perfect for a swim.

“So tell me, Maxwell, do you truly believe that you could handle the unpredictable nature of our world?”

“I can’t say I know for certain, but I’m sure I’ll be able to adapt. I’ve managed before, so I’ll likely manage again.”

“Very good! You’re already handling this better than most outsiders that get dragged into this mess. By the way, your butterfly stroke could use some work. Here, you want to spread your arms out all the way, you keep bending them slightly when you do it.”

After a quick demonstration, I’m able to move much faster through the water.

“Ah, I see. Thank you, Yukari.”

“My pleasure. You’re going to need proper swimming knowledge. For when the waves are deep, you’ll have to be careful not to drown. But until then, night is upon us, and you’ll need plenty of sleep with how early you wake up for school. So we should dry off and call it a night.”

“Yeah, I’m already feeling tired. Thank you for spending this evening with me though!”

With that cryptic warning out of the way, the water begins to reflect the moonlight descending upon the pool. As the two of us emerge from the pool, Yukari gives me one last teasing smile.

“By the way, my eyes are up here.”

Of course she’d say something like that… now my face is heating up.

“W-What? I wasn’t-“

Yukari bursts out laughing and taps me on the nose with her fan.

“Ufufufu… hahahahaha! No need to look so flustered, it was merely a joke. Have a good night, and I’ll see you soon. Perhaps even in your dreams~”

And with that, Yukari disappears into one of her gaps, leaving me free to walk back to my apartment. Before long, I’ve made it to the apartment, and the walk did a good job of drying me off. So, all I needed to do was change into sleepwear and head to bed. As drowsiness consumes me, I manage one last tired smile. I eagerly await my next meeting with the Hifuu Club, and I hope we can find a way to visit Gensokyo soon, as my curiosity about that place is only growing from the amount I’m learning about it.

When I wake up, I’m greeted by the blinding rays of the morning sun seeping into my bedroom. Normally, I’d be slightly worried about my alarm not going off, but upon checking my phone, I realize that today is a Saturday. At first, I’m content with just sleeping in, but then I realize I never got Nitori’s phone number. Perhaps I should try and find her workshop, and maybe I could even arrange a meeting with the Hifuu Club at a nearby coffee shop tonight.

With this newfound plan in mind, I pull out my phone and text the Hifuu Club group chat.

Maxwell - 10:14 AM

“Hey girls, I’m gonna be busy for most of today, but I’m open later this evening. Would you like to meet up at the nearby coffee shop?”

Renko – 10:15 AM

“That sounds quite productive. Does 7:30 PM work for you?”

Maxwell – 10:16 AM

“Yeah, I’m open at the time! Why so late though?”

Maribel - 10:17 AM

“Perfect! I’ve been taking barrier readings, and I think I might’ve made a breakthrough. I’ll explain more when you arrive. Are you feeling alright? I know yesterday was a little rough…”

Maxwell - 10: 18 AM

“I’m doing fine now, thanks for asking. As cheesy as it sounds, I really needed that hug last night.”

Renko: 10:19 AM

“That’s nice to hear. Don’t hesitate to call us if you ever need anyone to talk to. Either way, we hope to see you tonight.”

Now that the plans are in motion, I put my phone in my pocket, pack myself a small backpack’s worth of supplies, and exit my apartment in search of Nitori’s workshop. While I’m walking along the sidewalk, I’m left bored by the sights around me. It’s nothing but concrete, noise, and artificial lighting. In fact, everything here is artificial. It takes almost 30 minutes of walking just to encounter anything natural, which happens to be a mostly decayed forest.

Despite my initial grumbling, the walk through the forest proves to be an enjoyable excursion. The birds chirping is a nice change of pace from the constant drone of passing cars, and the greenery from the surviving plants is a beauty compared to the endless gray of the city. In fact, I find myself captivated by nature to the point that I end up taking a detour along the nearby natural path.

During my walk, I pull out my phone and start taking photos of various nearby animals. I even managed to find a small pond full of Koi Fish, which I happen to enjoy. I know it’s a small thing, but I always enjoyed the contrast of the orange and white spots on their body. While I’m taking photos, I notice something unusual about the forest in the distance. I can faintly see… a waterwheel? Oh, right! I almost forgot that I was searching for Nitori’s workshop, and that might be it in the distance!

My suspicions are further confirmed by the faint gurgling of a nearby river, which grows in volume as I make my way towards the structure. Unfortunately, my advance is abruptly cut short by a white-haired wolf woman in a white-black dress dropping down from a nearby tree. Before I could process the unusual sight before me, the woman raises her shield and unsheathes her sword, pointing it at me with a hostile expression on her face. “End of the line, human. This is as far as you go.”

I instinctively raise my hands in terror as the wolf woman closes in on me, her sword inching closer with each movement. The sunlight reflecting off its blade makes it somewhat hard to see.

“W-Wait! I-I didn’t mean to trespass! I just thought this place belonged to someone else!”

“Who? Who could you possibly expect to find out here?!”

“N-Nitori! She’s an engineer friend of mine, and she told me that her workshop was located in this forest! A-At least I think it is…!”

The wolf woman’s eyes narrow, and she presses the cold metal of her blade against my throat. Not enough to draw blood, but enough to send a message.

“I’ve heard enough. We can’t risk anyone knowing we’re out here-“

“Wait!”

A familiar voice cuts through the air, alongside the distant sound of a running motor that’s quickly approaching. Within a few moments, Nitori flies in with a propeller sticking out of her backpack. When she lands, she gestures for the wolf girl to stand now.

“He’s a friend, Momiji. We met in that ‘school’ building I told you about.”

The wolf girl, who I know now as Momiji, gains a flicker of recognition in her eyes when she gives me a once-over.

“So this is the guy, huh? The one who you almost revealed the fact that you were a kappa to?”

The three of us stand there in silence for a moment, all having different emotions at once. Momiji looks wary, I’m still trembling with fear, and Nitori just facepalms.

“Momiji… seriously?”

When Momiji finally realizes what she’s said, a light shade of pink dusts her cheeks.

“Oh, sorry. In all fairness though, he probably knows something is up at this point. My ears and tail aren’t subtle.”

Seeing as the hostility in the air seems to dissipate with the sheathing of Momiji’s sword, I take the opportunity to speak up, my voice still trembling slightly from the adrenaline wearing off.

“Um… Nitori? What’s going on here…?”

Nitori awkwardly scratches the back of her head, presumably not expecting this encounter.

“Ah, right, hey Max. So uh… I was hoping that Momiji would’ve found a method of disguise or subtly, but I suppose not. I guess I might as well come clean then, I’m a kappa engineer from Gensokyo, and this is Momiji, a wolf tengu guardian from Gensokyo. We’re both from Youkai Mountain, but we made a deal with the gap youkai to set up an outpost in this forest so we could learn about the Outside World.”

Well… to say that I’m shocked is an understatement. The more I learn about this ‘Gensokyo’ place, the more my confusion grows. First there's a portal-creating woman, now my best friend is a water creature, and she’s accompanied by a wolf tengu guardian?

“Wow. That’s… a lot to take in, especially after being threatened.”

Nitori averts her gaze, quickly becoming visibly uncomfortable with this conversation.

“I’m so sorry about this, I really hoped that our next encounter would've been more candid. I can assure you that we have no intention of harming you, but you probably don’t want to see me again after this. I won’t stop you if you leave, but please, don’t tell anyone about us.”

I will admit that I’m afraid of Momiji, but Nitori is my friend, and I wouldn't want to upset her. In that case, I might as well give this duo a chance. After all, It would probably be best to build trust with as many Gensokyo residents as possible, even despite my fear of their potential dangers.

“Alright, I’ll stay for a few hours today. Just… please keep that sword sheathed.”

Nitori’s eyes immediately start sparkling like sunlight reflecting off a river, and she’s practically jumping up and down with joy. “Awesome! Come along, Maxwell, I have plenty to show you!”

Nitori essentially drags me into her outpost, which is actually just a small cabin that she’s converted into a workshop on both the inside and outside, alongside a small wooden watchtower, which is presumably for Momiji to use. Inside Nitori’s workshop is a large array of complicated kappa machinery. Heavily modified rifles with loaded water tanks are mounted on wall racks, I can hear the hum of outside generators, which appear to have a bubbling cyan liquid being pumped into them from interior tanks, and even a wide variety of tool and equipment blueprints lining the walls that aren’t covered in electrical devices. It’s an impressive sight, honestly, especially from one girl.

“Welcome to my workshop, Maxwell! This is only a fraction of the stuff I’ve made in Gensokyo, but it’s still quite a sight to behold!”

I can’t help but let out a low whistle as I gaze around. I guess there’s a reason people say to never judge a book by its cover, because this is insane for one person!

“Yeah, this looks amazing! How long have you been working here?”

“Around a week or two now? It’s hard to tell when I’m constantly waist-deep in work.”

“You made all of this by yourself? You’re awesome, Nitori! I always wanted to build stuff like this, but I never really got a chance to have access to the materials needed.”

Nitori thinks for a moment, and then a wide grin spreads across her face.

“Hey, you’ve got one of those ‘phone’ things, right?”

“Hm? Yeah, why?”

I pull out my phone, and I can already see the yen signs forming in Nitori’s eyes. In an instant, she’s already pulling out various tools, which is slightly concerning for something that’s one of my most valuable possessions.

“I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we team up and start modifying this phone. If we can add a few transmitters to the circuitry, it might be able to send messages across the barrier. We could communicate with the rest of Youkai Mountain, and maybe even mass produce these for the rest of Gensokyo! Just think of the possibilities!” With an ear-to-ear grin, Nitori extends her hand for a handshake.

“What do you say, friend? You won’t have to worry about budget; I’ve got plenty of parts for us to use.”

Finally being met with a once in a lifetime opportunity, I graciously accept her hand, and we get to work. The first order of business was opening the phone and making some adjustments to the circuitry. It took a lot of experimentation (and Nitori almost frying herself several times), but we were able to make the circuit board stable enough to handle the experimental transmitter.

With the circuit board ready, we got to work building the transmitter. After a lot of trial and error with antenna parts, we create and attach the experimental transmitter to the phone. When all is said and done, the phone now has an extendable antenna, which will (theoretically) allow for cross-border communication.

“We did it, Max! We managed to upgrade your phone, AND I’ve got blueprints ready for a fresh batch when I get back to Gensokyo!”

Nitori then takes another glance and the phone, and I can clearly see the gears turning in her head.

“You know… I can think of a few more improvements to this device. With just a few more adjustments, we could make a ‘definitive edition’ of this device that’s way better than the old one!”

“Sure! This thing was getting kinda old anyway.”

A brand new circuit board, a reinforced casing, a coolant tank, and even an upgraded CPU leaves the phone looking more like a high-tech communication device than an ordinary smartphone. The two of us look down at our accomplishment with a triumphant grin on our faces.

“This looks incredible! Thank you so much, Nitori!”

“Ha! Don’t thank me, you’re the one who did most of the work! Now, it’s not going to be too much longer before nightfall, so are you planning on heading home?”

I take a quick glance outside, noticing the soft orange glow of the approaching sunset. As much as I’d like to continue working with Nitori, I probably shouldn’t burn myself out. Besides, we’ve already made a significant accomplishment today, so I can’t really ask for much else. So, I pack up my improved phone and head for the door. “Yeah, I think I’m gonna head out. See you later, Nitori!”

After sharing a pleasant goodbye, I exit the cabin and take a quick glance up at the watchtower, noticing Momiji sitting up at the top. Now that I think about it, the two of us never really got off on the right foot. So, I decided to take a bit of a risk, and start climbing up the watchtower.

“I can hear you approaching.”

Naturally, it didn’t take very long for Momiji to hear my arrival. Wolves do have an excellent sense of hearing, after all. Maybe that’s why they’re guards? Regardless, I reach the top and take a seat next to Momiji, who is still alert, but less hostile than she was initially.

“Hey, Momiji.”

“If you’re here for an apology, then look elsewhere. I was doing my job and I happened to perceive you as a threat.”

“Relax, I’m not here to annoy you, I just wanted to talk.”

Momiji seems slightly surprised by this, and her ears twitch slightly.

“Huh? What do you want to talk about?”

“Well, about Gensokyo. You’re from that ‘Youkai Mountain’ place, right? What’s it like there?”

Momiji’s shoulders seem to loosen up, giving way to a much more relaxed wolf tengu. In fact, I can even see a slight smile forming on her face.

“It’s a very beautiful place. Even though I’ve been patrolling it for years, the autumn-colored scenery never gets old. Wolf tengu like me enjoy it so much that our uniforms are even themed after autumn!”

“That reminds me, you mentioned that you were a guard, right? What exactly do you protect? Is it the mountain, or something important on the mountain?”

“It’s mostly the mountain itself, as humans aren’t allowed there outside of the Moriya Shrine ropeway.”

“Moriya Shrine?”

“Yes, it’s the shrine at the base of the mountain, where Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako reside, alongside their shrine maiden, Sanae Kochiya. They’re all nice people, but Sanae can be a bit… eccentric.”

“Eccentric how?”

“You’ll know what I mean when she inevitably gets her hands on one of those phones. She and her goddesses are from the outside world, and it’s easy to tell that’s the case.”

“Um… okay then.”

We end up sitting in silence for a moment and gazing out into the sunset, before Momiji speaks up again.

“Do you plan on moving to Gensokyo? Nitori already seems quite fond of you.”

“Honestly? I don’t think I will, at least not yet. I’m starting to make new friends here, and I’d like to spend time with them while I still can.”

Momiji nods her head, seemingly respecting my decision.

“That’s fair. Don’t be surprised if Nitori ends up dragging you there herself though.”

We both share a hearty laugh for a moment before continuing our conversation.

“Is there anything you enjoy doing in Gensokyo? I’m sure the constant patrols get tedious at times.”

“The patrols aren’t as tedious as you’d think. As the beautiful scenery makes up for any boredom I feel. More importantly though, the tengu often celebrate during the night, where we get to eat meat and drink alcohol until we-“

Upon mentioning the word “meat,” Momiji’s stomach audibly growls. Her ears then immediately flatten against her head while her face turns a deep crimson with embarrassment.

“T-That wasn’t a growl of aggression, I-I just haven’t gotten a chance to eat today, and then I got sidetracked by our discussion…”

“Hey, it’s alright…”

I reach into my backpack and pull out a small lunchbox. Inside of the lunchbox are a few refrigerated meat skewers, which Momiji does not do a good job of concealing her excitement when she gets a whiff of them.

“Here, you’ll need to heat them up first, but it should be enough for dinner. In the meantime, I’m going to head out and leave you to eat. I hope you enjoy the skewers.”

As I descend from the watch tower, Momiji, whose tail is now wagging, waves back from the top. As I began my journey home, I swear I could briefly see a yellow-haired figure dart off into the woods after taking a few pictures. Shrugging off this weird encounter, I make my way back into the monotonous city, where the Hifuu Club was waving me over outside of a local coffee shop.

“Maxwell! You made it! We made a big discovery last night, and we think we have a method of temporarily visiting Gensokyo!”

This question takes me by surprise. I had just finished discussing the possibility of moving to Gensokyo, and now I’m suddenly gaining the ability to visit it?

“Woah, slow down a little. What do you mean by that?”

Maribel lets out an airy chuckle with a distant look on her face, like she can currently see something invisible to my eyes.

“Well, last night, I noticed that the barrier has several weak points that could potentially allow for beings to cross over. If we could locate one of these anomalies, then we could make a temporary trip to Gensokyo.”

Renko pulls up some notes on her tablet and studies them for a moment before speaking up with an analytical tone.

“I’ve studied the nearby star maps, and they point towards the nearby train station. I can’t guarantee that we’ll find anything, but it’s worth a shot.”

“So… we’re going to the train station in the middle of the night?” Maribel steps forward with that signature enigmatic expression of hers that, funnily enough, almost reminds me of Yukari.

“I know you’ve had a lot of revelations lately, but please trust us on this. The more faith you place in Gensokyo, the more likely it will connect with you.”

Ah, right. They don’t know what I’ve been up to. Might as well keep Nitori and Momiji a secret though, I don’t want these two to hound them with questions.

“Alright, Maribel. I’m willing to give this a chance.”

Maribel’s eyes sparkle with joy upon hearing my acceptance, and she lets out a soft giggle.

“Merry is fine, there’s no need to be so formal.”

“Alright, you two, I can feel the stars aligning, so let’s get moving if we want to have any chance of this working.”

We take a moment to finish our coffees, and then we start walking to the train station. While we’re walking, I decided to strike up a conversation.

“So how long have you two been a club together?”

Renko puts a finger to her chin, forming a contemplative expression.

“Well, Sumireko was the one to start it, and Maribel joined shortly afterwards. So, to give a rough estimate, I’d say that we’ve been together since high school.”

Maribel, who had been balancing on the edge, speaks up with a curious expression.

“How about you, Maxwell? Have you ever experienced a dream that felt a little… unusual?”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be normal for a dream to be abnormal? One dream did stand out for me though, I was speaking with this blonde-haired woman in a forest. When I met Yukari in purpose, she kinda reminded me of that woman in my dream.”

This time, both hifuu club girls seem genuinely surprised by this revelation. “Wait, you met Yukari?!”

“Yeah? I encountered her the other day. She gave me a vague warning about what I was getting myself into, and then she left. I didn’t tell you this until now because I assumed you two already knew about her.”

Renko is rapidly typing notes into her tablet while speaking.

“We do, but she usually doesn’t visit outsiders. In fact, neither of us have encountered her directly, not even Merry.”

Merry awkwardly fidgets with her mob cap, seemingly vanishing into the shadows for a moment before she suddenly lights up and points up at a stopped train up ahead.

“There it is! There are no trains scheduled for today, so that must be our method of entering Gensokyo!”

It’s unusual for a train to be here this late, but can

they really be sure that this train will somehow bring us to Gensokyo?

“Um… are you two sure about this? This seems a bit sketchy…’ Renko gives an affirmative nod, and Merry is already feeling the edge of the train. It’s almost like she can somehow see through it.

“I can feel the boundaries shifting around this train. This must be an access point to Gensokyo, as there’s no other explanation for this significant of a boundary anomaly.”

I still have an uneasy feeling about this train, but it’s too late to turn back now. So without further ado, the three of us board the train and sit down. Within a few moments, we start moving.

“Where are we going, exactly? Are we just moving forward?”

Both Hifuu Club residents have their eyes glued to the windows. Although… are they starting to blur around the edges…?

“The train seems to be approaching a boundary point, so it shouldn’t be too long now until… Maxwell? Are you okay?”

Their words sound muffled and distant as the world starts to feel like it’s swaying around me. Despite looking like a blurred-out silhouette, I can still faintly hear Renko’s alarmed voice. Why do I feel… so… sleepy…?

“The barrier must be reacting with his presence, and it’s going to make him-“

Renko’s words fade out, quickly followed by the world fading to black. When I wake up, I find Maribel watching over me with a concerned expression, while Renko gazes out the window.

“Maxwell? How are you feeling? You passed out during the crossover…”

Maribel gently guides me into an upright position, and I groggily look around, noticing that the train now appears to be in the middle of a cherry blossom forest. Did we… actually enter Gensokyo? There’s no way that train station could’ve brought us here… “Ugh… wha…? Where are we? What’s going on?”

“Careful now, try not to panic. You might still be feeling some of the disorienting effects of the barrier. I apologize for not warning you sooner, but crossing over is a bit of a bumpy ride when you aren’t used to it.”

Renko, who had just finished taking notes of the outside area, joins the conversation.

“The barrier anomaly appears to have been stronger than expected. We haven’t just arrived in Gensokyo, we fully jumped to a different dimension, which probably explains why you passed out.”

I gently rub the side of my head, which is still sore from the… everything. As a result, it’s hard to process what’s happening. The barrier caused me to pass out, and now we might not even be in Gensokyo?

“If this isn’t Gensokyo, then where are we?”

“We’re still in Gensokyo, just in another area of it. This appears to be the Netherworld, a place where spirits reside.”

Spirits?! As in dead people?! Did these two kill me during this trip?!

“W-Wait, what?! Does that mean we’re dead?!”

Noticing that I’m starting to panic, Maribel puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. Which works to a surprising degree.

“Hey, relax, we aren’t dead. If we were, then we wouldn’t look like this, we’d be white blobs instead.”

Her attempt at humor managed to get a chuckle out of me, and the other two girls smile upon noticing the tension dissipating from the atmosphere.

“So what do we do now? Would it be taboo to explore a place inhabited by the dead?”

Renko shakes her head while reading up on a local legend.

“We should be fine as long as we stick to the path. Speaking of which, there should be the Hakugyokurou mansion up ahead, where the ghost princess resides. It would be beneficial for us to properly meet with her, as we didn’t get a chance to last time.”

Nodding in agreement, the three of us disembark from the train, where I’m greeted by the cold, yet still air. The surrounding landscape is a gorgeous mix of Sakura trees raining petals like snow, and a light fog giving this place an ethereal look to it. Which is fitting for a place inhabited by spirits. Eventually, our journey leads us to a massive japanese-style mansion, where a white-haired girl in a green outfit with a white blob following her around is currently doing sword training against target dummies. When she notices us, she narrows her eyes and walks over to us with her sword drawn.

“You’re those outsiders again, and you’ve brought someone new. The Netherworld is not a vacation spot, so I’d advise that you turn back. You’re lucky that we aren’t under attack this time.”

Renko is the first to speak up, her voice unusually calm despite the fact there’s currently a talented swordswoman right in front of us. “Miss Youmu, we won’t be here long. We just wished to visit Lady

Yuyuko for a chat. I can assure you that we mean no harm.”

“Oh my, do we have guests?”

A soft-spoken voice suddenly floats across the land like butterflies in the spring. Glancing over to the mansion, I can see a pink-haired woman in a blue-white dress with cherry blossoms emerging from the mansion. Her eyes light up like fireworks upon seeing the three of us.

“You’re that group from the outside world! Ah… what did you call it again, the ‘Hifuu Sealing Group?’ Ah, it doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t stay out here long, you’ll catch a cold! Please come in~” Youmu looks slightly concerned with this suggestion, however.

“W-Wait, Lady Yuyuko-“

“Oh, hush, Youmu. What could these three possibly do? Now, please be a dear and make us some tea. As for the rest of you, come along with me. You must’ve had a long journey, and I’d be more than happy to provide some hospitality, as long as you can satisfy my curiosity~!”

Yuyuko leads the three of us into her home, where we’re then sat at the low table on the inside. When Youmu brings us each a steaming cup of tea, Yuyuko looks directly at me.

“Let’s begin with you. You weren’t here the last time, so why don’t you tell us your name?”

“Oh! Uh, I’m Maxwell. I’m still new to this whole ‘Gensokyo’ thing, so

I’m not exactly used to all of this… everything.”

Yuyuko lets out a hearty giggle, already enjoying our company.

“Well, I’d certainly hope you haven’t met us yet, as that would’ve involved your demise! This place isn’t so bad though, it’s quiet and peaceful for a resting place.”

Maribel is the next one to speak up, her voice still carrying that dreamlike quality to it.

“Lady Yuyuko, please don’t scare him. He’s been through a lot lately…”

In an instant, Yuyuko’s cheerful demeanor fades, and her voice takes on a softer, more caring tone.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry Maxwell. I wasn’t trying to fearmonger, it was just a bit of harmless teasing.”

“It’s okay, Lady Yuyuko. I don’t mind. In fact, I’ve actually been feeling better these past few days.”

Yuyuko immediately goes back to her usual cheerful demeanor, but she still maintains a serious tone to her voice.

“That's nice to hear. Would you like to talk about what happened? I’d be more than willing to listen.”

I take a deep breath, and ultimately decide to explain everything.

About Sumireko, about my failure, and what’s happened since. Despite her optimistic demeanor, Yuyuko does seem to be listening closely. When my story ends, I find that Yuyuko is now sitting beside me, presumably in an attempt to comfort me. Meanwhile, Renko and Maribel fall silent, giving me the space I need. When I finish my story, Yuyuko speaks up, her voice echoing the wisdom of someone who’s lived for centuries.

“Oh dear… It would appear that I can relate to your pain as well. This might sound surprisingz but… I wasn’t always a ghost.”

Surprised by this statement, I look up into Yuyuko’s sorrowful eyes as she tells her story.

“I was once a woman with a most unusual ability. I quickly found that I could cause the death of any living thing by simply… wishing for it to happen. It formed a great sadness in my heart, seeing my loved ones perish when I accidentally used my ability. Eventually, it reached the point where I… took my own life. When I was buried beneath the Saigyou Ayakashi, my spirit was forever bound to it as a ghost. Now, this is my sanctuary, but also my resting place, where I am forever tied to the Perfect Cherry Blossom, even if I’m an imperfect being. Despite everything, I’ve managed to stay calm and happy by enjoying my time with those I’m close to. Such as my beloved gardener, Youmu.”

She gestures towards a flustered Youmu, who has turned her head away in embarrassment.

“It would seem that you’ve formed connections yourself, through those two other friends. So, my advice to you is this: enjoy the time you have with your friends, for one day, everything you know will be gone. Treat life as a blessing, and don’t spend it stressing.”

Yuyuko then turns to Renko, who looks uncharacteristically unsure about something.

“As for you, my dear Renko. You don’t remember, and I don’t expect you to remember, but this is far from the first time we’ve met eachother. I won’t explain further, as I do not wish to traumatize you. Just know that death will always be inevitable. So don’t worry about your fate. Instead, give life your best, or else you’ll never rest. You may not be able to prevent the inevitable, but…” Yuyuko turns to me with a confident smile.

“…You might be able to delay it. With that being said, all I ask is that you three promise me one thing: you will live a life of freedom and happiness, and that you will be at peace when it’s time to rest.”

The three of us share a quick glance, nod, and then Maribel is the one to send off the promise.

“We promise, Yuyuko. Your words will not be in vain.”

Yuyuko’s smile widens, and I can almost see tears forming in her eyes. “Very good.”

Our heartfelt moment doesn’t last much longer, as a loud rumbling causes the teacups on our table to rattle for a moment. Youmu lets out an exasperated sigh and turns to Yuyuko, who bursts out laughing at the silent accusation.

“Youmu, my dear, I’m not always hungry! That was obviously the sound of thunder rumbling~”

Yuyuko wipes a tear from her eye before turning back to our group. “With that being said, you two should spend the night here. Netherworld storms can be quite severe, but they’re also very soothing to fall asleep to.”

Maribel, who had been quiet until now, speaks up with a slight tiredness in her voice.

“I can feel our presence here weakening. When we fall asleep, I fear we may be transported back to the outside world.” Yuyuko just waves her hand dismissively.

“No worries! If you still happen to be here in the morning, then breakfast will be ready. Otherwise, thank you for visiting, and thank you for listening. Youmu, please show our lovely guests to their room.”

“As you wish, Lady Yuyuko. Come along, you three.”

Not much else happened that night, as by that point, I was feeling tired. All I remember is that we each got our own cozy room in the mansion, and after saying goodnight to Youmu, I collapsed onto my bed, once again satisfied with today’s events.

* * *

Within a mostly dark apartment complex, a yellow-haired sailor can be seen swiftly moving towards apartment 214. Once she’s at the door, she performs three quick knocks, to which her red-haired professor friend answers the door in her pajamas.

“Chiyuri…? You better have a good reason for being here this late…” Chiyuri bursts into the apartment and pulls out her phone, pulling up various images she took from watching Maxwell from afar.

“You’re never gonna believe this, but that ‘Maxwell’ guy from your class has been contacting residents from Gensokyo!”

Upon seeing the images featuring one of her students talking to a wolf tengu and a kappa, Yumemi’s eyes widen. “My goodness… wait, you were stalking him?!”

Chiyuri shrugs and gives her a cheeky grin, feeling more triumphant than concerned about her actions.

“Whoopsies? Eh, who cares. The guy never saw me, anyway.

Besides, isn’t this what you wanted? You now have proof that Gensokyo is real!”

“You’re right, but this hardly proves anything. For all we know, these could just be cosplayers.”

“Seriously? Stop being a nerd and just admit this is a good finding already!”

“Patience, Chiyuri. We can’t just blindly rush in when we don’t have all of the information. Besides, the hyperspace vessel has proven to be… challenging.”

“What more could you want?! The proof is in the images!”

“And as I’ve already stated, Maxwell can just deny the evidence and play it off as cosplayers, which would be believable, given the unbelievable nature of Gensokyo. Also, if he reported you for stalking, then our whole operation could be compromised. Just stay out of this for now and allow me to subtly question him tomorrow. Just trust the process, alright?”

“But…”

“Go home, Chiyuri.”

“…Fine. But you better have some results soon.”

And with that, Chiyuri leaves her professor’s apartment, and returns to her own. Where she would spend the night gaming until dawn.

Waking up to a bright, sunny day greets me with the familiar ceiling of my bedroom. With not a trace of the Netherworld or

Hakugyokurou in sight, it’s safe to say that Merry was right about the barrier spitting us back out. Not sure how it managed to specifically bring me back to my apartment, but I suppose that’s just part of the enigmatic nature of the barrier.

No use questioning it though, so I get up and begin my day. That’s when I noticed that the upgraded phone now has a blinking green light on it. It’s probably a notification that one of the Hifuu Club girls texted me. However, when I checked the phone, I notice a single message from Nitori, and several new messages from someone by the name of Sanae Kochiya.

After looking through the messages, I can confirm that Momiji was right about Sanae being… enthusiastic. I skimmed through most of her messages, but they were mostly about her asking if I was going to worship her goddesses, and if I planned on moving. From the looks of things, she sent about 10 different messages all at once around an hour ago before stopping. Nitori’s message, however, was much simpler:

“Hey, Maxwell! Me and Momiji are going to be in Gensokyo for a bit, as we need to obtain the resources to begin mass production. If you can see this message, then the signal works across the barrier. Also, I offered the device to the Moriya Shrine group, and Sanae’s eyes were sparkling, literally. Try not to let her overwhelm you, alright? Either way, I’m going to be silent for a while, so stay safe.”

With that message out of the way, I decided to send a quick message to Sanae, just so she doesn’t feel like I ghosted her.

“Hey there, Sanae! Momiji told me about you, apparently, you’re the Moriya Shrine maiden? Anyway, just letting you know that I saw your texts, and that it’s nice to meet you!”

Almost instantly, Sanae begins typing. Surely, she wasn’t staring at the phone for that past hour and waiting for me to reply, right…? Regardless, her message comes through quickly.

“Omg hi :D!!!!! What's the outside world like? Is the internet a massive hivemind like Lady Kanako predicted???”

“You’re technically not wrong, but it’s not nearly as interesting as you’re imagining.”

“Aww, that’s so sad! Anyway, it’s been nice chatting with you, but Lady Kanako is already getting concerned about my phone usage. I'll try to stay in touch though!!!”

Sanae sends a gif of herself waving before going offline. I then turn the phone off while chuckling to myself. The girl texts like a teenager who just got access to their first phone. It’s almost endearing in a way, regardless, I was about to text the Hifuu Club when I suddenly hear a formal knocking on my door. Upon opening it, I’m greeted by… Professor Yumemi?

“Salutations, Maxwell! I hope it’s not too early for my arrival. I just happened to notice that we shared an apartment building, and I figured I’d visit to er… discuss technology!”

“Uh… That’s really weird and creepy for a professor to do to one of their students. How did you even find my apartment anyway?”

Yumemi begins to sweat a little, and it results in her stumbling over her words for a moment. Looks like she isn’t used to being called out on this sort of behavior.

“Er… let’s just call it a lucky guess? Anyway, while I did wish to discuss technology with you…”

She sneaks a not-so-subtle glance at my modified phone while she says this.

“…What I actually came her for is a proposition.”

By this point, Yumemi was already fully inside and had closed the door. Normally, I’d panic in a scenario like this, but I might as well hear her out before I kick her out.

“A proposition?”

“Indeed. You see, me and my associate have been attempting to research a pocket dimension known to most as Gensokyo. Our attempts to enter ourselves have been challenging, to say the least. So, this is where you come in. You've been hanging out with that

Hifuu Club, yes? Tell me, what discoveries have you been making?”

“I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about, but I have other plans today. So, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.”

“Ah, but you do! Even if I can’t prove it, I know for a fact you couldn’t

have pieced together that device on your dresser without assistance. The parts required would be much too expensive.”

Okay, now she’s starting to annoy me. My financial situation is none of her business, and I’d rather not deal with somebody pestering me right now.

“Okay, enough. We don’t know each other, and now you’re bringing up my financial information, which is none of your business. Now get out.”

“W-Wait, listen! I mean no offense to you, all I’m asking is that you join me and my associate. We’ve been encountering a few… difficulties, and we could use someone with proper knowledge of Gensokyo.”

She then reaches into her shirt pocket and pulls out a white business card, which reads: “Yumemi Okazaki: Fantasy Legend.” Alongside a phone number and some basic information that makes her out to be some kind of sci-fi space explorer.

“Fantasy Legend? Seriously?”

“It’s… something I wish to become when I finally fulfill my destiny.

Regardless, my offer stands. If you and your friends wish to fly among the stars with us, then you know where to find me. Until then, I shall take my leave, have a good day.”

Surprisingly enough, she actually leaves. I was honestly halfexpecting her to try some other last-minute persuasion tactic. Either way, I can’t help but feel unsure about her proposal. Normally, I’d just laugh off her delusions and throw away the card, but I’ve been encountering a lot of surprises lately. So who knows? Maybe she isn’t as crazy as I thought. I still doubt she could build an entire spaceship all by herself though.

My internal monologue is interrupted by the sudden ringing of my phone. When I answer, I’m greeted by Nitori’s enthusiastic voice echoing through the phone.

“Hey Max! How’s it going?”

“Hey Nitori! I’m doing fine, although I just had a bit of an unusual conversation with my teacher.”

There’s a brief pause before Nitori continues.

“Teacher…? Oh, the strawberry woman?”

“Strawberry woman?”

“Yeah, she always dressed in red, makes her look like a strawberry.”

“…Right, well, I think she’s trying to enter Gensokyo.”

“Huh? That shouldn’t be possible? The barrier should keep her out.”

“Yeah, I'm not sure I fully believe her either, but I’ve been seeing a lot of crazy stuff lately, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she knew something.”

“Sorry man, but you’d have to talk to Lady Yukari about that kinda stuff. I’m an engineer, not a boundary youkai.”

“Ah, that’s fair. Anyway, was there something you needed, or…?”

“Nah, I just wanted to let you know that things have been-“

Nitori’s voice is cut off by what can be best described as a strong gust of wind being blown into the microphone. Immediately afterwards, I can hear the phone on the other side being abruptly moved before a new voice starts speaking.

“Ayayayaya! So, THIS is the human Nitori and Momiji were talking about! Care for an interview, human?”

“Uh, I guess so? Who are you?”

“Maxwell, no-!”

“Ayayayayaya! I am Aya Shameimaru, newspaper reporter extraordinaire! And you, my friend, seem to be quite interesting for a human! The Human Villagers are all so boring, they just farm all day and start screaming when they see me approaching. Come on, I’m not that ugly, right?”

“I don’t think so…?”

“HA! I like you already! So, what’s your deal, Max? Why are you suddenly becoming best friends with youkai?”

“I dunno, because I felt like it?”

“Really? That’s it? You have nothing to gain from doing this?”

“Well, I got a cool phone out of it, I guess? What more were you expecting?”

“Something newsworthy! Like a youkai hunter, or someone who thinks they can befriend EVERYONE in Gensokyo. Wouldn’t THAT be crazy?”

“I guess it would be? I’m just taking things one step at a time for now though.”

“Boooooooooring! But I guess I can’t complain too much, as long as

I get a good scoop out of it. So, keep me updated, alright?”

“I’ll try.”

“Perfect! Later, human!”

With another deafening wind gust, Aya presumably takes off.

“Sorry about that, Aya can get a bit excited with her work.”

“I can tell. Is she a friend of yours?”

“Yeah, she may come across as annoying, but she’s got her enjoyable moments, especially when drunk. Speed and intoxication don’t mix. Anyway, I’ve got projects to work on, so I’m gonna head out. See you around, Maxwell!”

She then hangs up, but shortly after, I get a text message from Sanae.

“Hey Maxwell! Sorry to bother you, but you’re the only outside world contact I have.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. Do you need something?”

“Hehe… I sorta do. You see, I’ve become quite tired of rice balls, and I was hoping you could offer something yummy from the outside world ☺”

The Outside World? Not sure why she’d want any of this processed garbage, but I suppose I could give her something from a different country.

“Sure, I’ve got something for you.”

I send her a recipe for Alfredo spaghetti, a dish I’ve always been fond of.

“Here, this is a dish from Italy. Have you heard of it before?”

“I think so, I’ve lived in Japan my entire life, but I’m vaguely aware of this ‘pasta’ stuff. Either way, it looks delicious! Ah, give me a moment.”

She suddenly goes offline after sending that message. I guess she’s showing the recipe to her gods?

* * *

Sanae had just finished viewing the recipe and was now walking back into the shrine to the sight of Lady Kanako, who currently looks more like a disapproving mother than a goddess.

“Sanae, you’re starting to spend way too much time on that phone. I understand that it’s your only contact with the Outside World, but you still have your shrine maiden duties to attend to.”

Sanae chuckles sheepishly and scratches the back of her head before pulling up the recipe on her phone and holding it up to Kanako and Suwako, who had just walked over to see what was going on.

“I know I shouldn’t be using the phone right now, but look! Maxwell sent me this delicious looking recipe! Doesn’t it sound better than ordinary rice balls?”

Suwako raises an eyebrow at the image shown on the phone.

“Hm, it does look interesting. The noodles appear similar to udon noodles, but longer…”

Kanako, however, looks mildly pleased by the sight of the image.

“Very well, Sanae! Please attempt this recipe at once, and we shall taste test the recipe.”

With a sharp nod of agreement, Sanae heads into the kitchen and gets to work. It took a few minutes, but a flurry of water boiling, noodle stirring, and sauce mixing ultimately resulted in a large helping of pasta being served to all three residents. To Sanae’s surprise, they all absolutely love it!

“These Outside World recipes are surprisingly delicious. Perhaps we should ask Maxwell for more recipes like this in the future.” Suwako, however, just laughs at Sanae’s sauce-smeared face.

“Easy there, Sanae. You’re already halfway through a second helping. You can’t help out around the shrine if we have to roll you around everywhere!” “Ehe… Sorry, Suwako-sama.”

“No worries Sanae, let’s just enjoy this feast. You can worry about texting Maxwell later.”

And so, they ate… grateful for Sanae’s re-connection to the Outside World.

* * *

“There’s another group attempting to enter Gensokyo?”

I had eventually gotten tired of waiting for Sanae, so I decided to meet up with the Hifuu Club at the coffee shop, which is quickly becoming our weekend meeting spot.

“Yeah, apparently Yumemi is trying to build a spaceship or something. I don’t remember all the details, but apparently her plan is to… brute force the barrier? Regardless of what her plan is, there’s no way it could end well.”

Maribel takes a long sip of her coffee before continuing, her face maintaining that distant gaze.

“It’s not impossible that others are aware of what lies beyond the barrier. Based on her refusal to wear school colors, it’s likely that she’s a rebellious person, or someone with something to prove.”

“Makes sense. I just hope she knows what she’s doing. I don’t want her reckless enthusiasm to lead to a crisis for either world.”

Renko lets out a slight chuckle upon hearing this, but she’s still mentally calculated the possibility of Yumemi doing something drastic.

“The odds of Yumemi doing anything are low, but someone who’s enthusiastic will often go to extreme lengths. Do you know who her associate is?”

“Unfortunately, no, she never told me her associates name, and I didn’t get a chance to ask before she left.”

Maribel is the next one to speak up, her voice tinged with unease.

“I’ll try to keep an eye out for anything weird, but for now, it’s best that you don’t engage with her plans. Who knows what she might be planning to do to create a ‘spaceship.’”

“Alright, I understand. For now, I’m gonna head back to my apartment. I’m feeling kinda tired.”

Renko’s lips curve into a smile, and the two of them wave me off. “That’s understandable, have a good night, Maxwell.”

I return their wave and walk back to my apartment. When I finally reach the front door and turn the key to enter, I’m greeted by Yukari standing on my balcony and looking up at the stars. Confused by this sudden intrusion, I slowly approach the boundary youkai and stand beside her.

“Um… hey Yukari. Everything alright?”

Yukari turns her piercing gaze towards me, but it’s noticeably softer than usual.

“Everything’s fine dear. I’m just doing some stargazing. Renko always enjoyed the stars during the night…” Huh? Why’d she phrase that with past-tense terms?

“Renko’s fine, Miss Yukari. I’m sure if you asked her-“

“I’m afraid I cannot. I do not wish to interfere with the Hifuu Club’s activities, as it could potentially have… consequences.”

I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean, but Yukari is known for her cryptic responses at this point, so I can’t say I’m surprised. She seems to have a melancholic, almost vulnerable expression on her face when mentioning the Hifuu Club though…

“Is everything alright, Miss Yukari?”

“Everything is fine, dear. If you don’t mind, would you like to watch the stars with me? It helps clear the mind of the day’s events, which I’m sure is something you’ve been needing these past few days.”

“Sure, I’ve got time.”

And so, the two of us lie down and gaze upon the stars, telling stories and pointing out constellations. When one of the constellations looks like two people holding hands, Yukari falls unusually silent for a moment. However, the feeling seems to pass just as long as it began. It’s hard to tell, as by this point, I was quickly falling asleep. The last thing I remember before fully falling asleep is Yukari summoning a gap to drop me onto my bed.

* * *

Within the dead of night, a red-dressed professor is currently hard at work piecing together a spaceship in the clearing of a forest. As she hammers together a piece of the hull, Chiyuri rushes towards her with her hands full.

“Yo, I got some stuff from that kappa workshop I found yesterday. It’s a whole lot of… something, but it looks important? Maybe?”

Yumemi inspects the parts Chiyuri brought her, and her eyes light up upon seeing the tank full of a bubbling blue liquid.

“Ah, a coolant tank! Excellent work, Chiyuri. I was wondering where I'd find something to cool down the warp drive.”

“Awesome. By the way, how’d it go with that Maxwell guy? Did he agree to join our research?”

Yumemi shakes her head awkwardly but still manages to keep her smile.

“Unfortunately, no. He was a bit more territorial than expected.”

“You invaded his apartment. What were you expecting?”

“Alas, my method could use some work, but I needed my answer ASAP before we could proceed.”

“Speaking of proceeding, can we go now? I’m tired of waiting for this. Just press some buttons and speak a few nerd words, I’m sure something will happen if you do.”

“Chiyuri, that’s not how you- WAIT NO DON’T TOUCH THAT-“

“OH SHIT-“

Unfortunately for the both of them, Chiyuri had prematurely pressed the “launch” button, which caused the only active thruster to turn on. Too bad it wasn’t connected. As a result, the thruster is sent hurtling towards the university, and after a distant “BOOM,” a large column of smoke becomes visible.

“Chiyuri… what did you DO?!”

“Uh… oops?”

Yumemi facepalms and curses under breath before composing herself.

“Whatever, no use screaming about it. Let’s just… call it a night before anything else happens. Hopefully the university staff won’t know it was us.”

“We’re in the middle of a forest, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“I hope so, because this is my only source of income…”

“Cool your no longer-existent jet and get some sleep. It’ll be fine.”

The two then return to their apartment, where Yumemi wouldn’t get much sleep due to the stress of this encounter.

Despite today being a school day, my morning routine was noticeably less depressing than usual. Maybe it’s because we’ve finally reached autumn, which is my favorite season. Or maybe I’m just glad to have finally found friends that I can be close with. Regardless, no use acting cheeky about this whole thing, as I still need to head to the train station and properly start my day.

When I arrive at the train station, I can already see Renko and Maribel waving me over. While I’m walking over to them, I can’t help but notice that the world around me looks a lot more alive than usual? The trees are all bathed in perfect autumn colors, and there seems to always be a delicious scent in the air that I can’t really place.

“Hey girls, do you notice anything… unusual? The world doesn’t look corporate and lifeless for once. Has hell frozen over and the businessmen who run this city have actually started to care about the environment?

Renko chuckles and shakes her head, attaching a perfect autumn leaf to her hat.

“I wish, but no. This clearly isn’t a natural phenomenon. I’ve done research on these types of trees and can confirm that the don’t grow like this during autumn. In fact, they shouldn’t have leaves at all. Leaves change in color like this when they’re starting to die.”

“So what’s causing the trees to stay like this?”

Maribel seems to be concentrating on the distance clouds, presumably attempting to view the barrier. After a few moments, her eyes widen slightly.

“It’s difficult for me to clearly see what’s happening, but it would appear that the barrier is… leaking, in a way.”

Now it’s my turn for my eyes to widen, as I begin to worry that something serious might be happening.

“Wait… what? Leaking? Surely that can’t be good for the only thing separating our worlds, right?”

Maribel turns to me with a reassuring smile, and she places a hand on my shoulder to serve as an anchor for this conversation, preventing me from panicking.

“Relax, Maxwell, I can assure you that the barrier is fine. It would appear to be that a sudden influx of divinity, likely caused by a surge of faith or popularity, is causing it to leak out into the outside world.

Based on the sight and smell, this is likely coming from an autumn goddess.”

Renko then chimes in with her usual analytical tone.

“To put it simply, imagine a glass that you’re filling with water. Eventually, it’s gonna overflow and start spilling out into the outside world.”

“Is this going to cause problems between the two worlds?”

“Far from it. Gensokyo is likely experiencing an autumn festival, and the influence is spreading to our world. Most people probably aren’t going to notice this beauty because they’re too worried about other things.”

As we continue to discuss the possibility of entering Gensokyo, the train arrives, allowing us to head to the university. When the train comes to a stop, the three of us exit the train, not to the sight of the university, but rather a building that has large sections of it taped off. It’s hard to see what happened, but there appears to be something sticking out of one of the collapsed walls.

“What on earth happened here?!”

For once, Renko and Maribel look genuinely shocked by what they’re seeing. I suppose even boundary observers find something unexplainable occasionally. Regardless, Renko attempts to make sense of the situation.

“Based on the way the wall collapsed, my best guess is that an aircraft crashed here. The object that I can see is way too small for conventional aircrafts though, so I’m not entirely sure.”

“Are we going to be able to go to school today…? As much as I dislike this place, it’s probably not a good idea to skip lectures. However, it’s not a good idea to get crushed by the collapsing building either.”

Maribel gently shakes her head, though she’s still focusing on the cracks on the building, seemingly trying to determine the structural integrity.

“The building appears to be unstable. Attempting to stay here would be unwise.”

Before our conversation could continue further, a shrill voice pierces through the area. Turning towards the source of the voice, we see… Yumemi?

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN’T TEACH THEM ABOUT GENSOKYO?! I

HAVE THE PROOF! IT’S RIGHT HERE IN THESE IMAGES!”

“Ma’am, please lower your voice. Those images are just backgrounds and cosplayers that could’ve easily been taken off of a search engine. We aren’t accusing you of destroying the school, but if you keep attempting to teach others about that ‘Gensokyo’ place, then-“

“Foolish, FOOLISH! You’re all BLIND, you hear me?! Blind to the truth! You call me crazy, you bathe this university in a curtain of artificial lies, but I know the truth! I will expose these secrets, and I won’t let cogs in the machine impede my progress!”

“Alright, that’s enough. You’re officially banned from this university.

Hand in your id card, and maybe keep that nonsense to the forums.” By this point, Yumemi’s race has contorted with rage to the point of matching her outfit in color. Despite looking like she’s about to kill the woman she’s talking to, she ultimately decides to slam the id card in her hand before storming off, rambling about “how they'll all see the truth.”

“…Huh. Looks like she was a lot more vocal about her discoveries.”

“Indeed. Too bad she refused to be diplomatic about it.”

Maribel, who had been staring off into space throughout the distant confrontation, finally speaks up.

“I believe that we’re near the source of the boundary leakage. I can sense the autumn winds approaching from the distant mountain, which could indicate a boundary anomaly we can cross through.”

Renko is already starting to walk ahead while turning back towards us with a smile.

“Come on, guys! If there’s a harvest festival, then I don’t want to miss it!”

Nodding in agreement, the three of us practically race each other up the autumn-colored mountain. The mountain was much steeper than expected, causing us to frequently stop and rest. I don’t mind though, as it gives us a chance to admire the scenery.

When we finally manage to reach the summit, we’re greeted by an abandoned and run down shrine. All of the talisman have withered away and the wood is rotting. If anyone used to work here, then they haven’t in at least a decade.

“Well this place looks… gross. What exactly do we plan to do here?” “I can feel the boundary shifting here, we just need to find where it can accept us.”

Maribel approaches the decaying shimenawa on the wall and presses her hand against it. I watch as the shadows seem to move around beneath her fingers. Meanwhile, Renko is furiously typing into her tablet.

“It’s time, are you two ready?”

“Ready.”

“Wait so are we just walking through the waaaAAA-“

Maribel suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward. Much to my surprise, we indeed walked through the wall where the shimenawa was hung. Passing through the wall feels like I’m walking through a cold, thin layer of mist. Crossing through the other side greets us with a fully functional version of the shrine we were just in, albeit covered in autumn decorations. The most surprising discovery of all is a familiar green-haired shrine maiden standing in front of me with her two gods behind her.

“Maxwell…?”

“Sanae? The abandoned shrine led us to your shrine…?”

Although we’re technically intruding in the Moriya Shrine, Sanae doesn’t seem to care. Her eyes are glittering and she’s asking me a million different questions, most of which I can’t even register as I’m buried by her enthusiasm.

“Sanae, please give the poor boy a chance to breathe.”

“Oh, right. Sorry about that, Maxwell! Anyway, what brings you and your friends here? Are you moving into Gensokyo? Because if you are, then you’re just in time for the autumn festival!!!”

Renko steps forward and clears her throat, finally getting a chance to speak.

“Actually, we’re researchers from the Outside World. We happened to find a weakness in the boundary, and it led us to this shrine. Apologies for the interruption. Although, you and Maxwell appear to know each other already?”

Sanae nods eagerly, her smile splitting her face in two.

“Yeah! Maxwell has been making headlines on Youkai Mountain as of late. Did he not tell you?”

I scratch the back of my head with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry guys, I didn’t want to risk you two bombarding my new friends with questions…”

Maribel chuckles before speaking with a fond expression.

“No worries, Maxwell. In fact, you were partially correct. We are in constant search of answers, but on a day like today, perhaps we could partake in the festivities. At least for a little while.”

Suwako laughs heartily, her unusually-shaped hat bouncing with the movement.

“That’s the spirit! The festival’s taking place further down the mountain, so we’re just here to oversee the whole process!” That’s when Sanae falls in step beside me, her grin still present on her face.

“I have an idea! Why don’t we split up in groups of two? That way we can cover more ground!”

I nod in agreement, realizing that splitting our group will allow us to enjoy more of the festival.

“That sounds like a pleasant idea. We’ll regroup at the shrine when it gets dark.”

The Hifuu Club waves us off, leaving me to talk with Sanae, who looks slightly disappointed.

“Aw, you’re only staying for the evening?”

“We can’t stay here for long, the barrier won’t allow it. I’m not fully sure how it works myself, but it seems to be that once we fall asleep, we’re brought back to the Outside World.”

“Aww, that sucks. I’m sure Gensokyo would be happy to have you if you decided to move here!”

“I’ll think about it. But for now, I still have responsibilities in the outside world.”

This response seems to satisfy Sanae, and the two of us walk through the decorated mountain while the sun hangs high above us.

“These autumn decorations look amazing! Does Youkai Mountain celebrate every season like this?”

“Unfortunately, no. We just celebrate autumn because it’s the last chance a lot of youkai have to enjoy Gensokyo before winter comes and buries everything in snow.”

“I see. By the way, I think this festival was partially leaking into the Outside World. For once, the city I live in looked alive for once, and we could smell the autumn food in the air!”

Sanae seems genuinely surprised by this revelation, to the point of stopping in her tracks.

“Wait… really?”

“Yeah, apparently it caused a temporary boundary anomaly. In fact, that’s the main reason we’re here.” “…Wow. Never seen that happen before.”

“Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Although, I suppose I’ve been seeing a lot of crazy things as of late.”

We both share a hearty laugh at that, before Sanae suddenly sits down and gazes out at the slowly lowering sun with a distant expression on her face.

“You know, I didn’t always live in Gensokyo. My goddesses and I used to live in Japan back when religion was still prevalent. People would come to us for miracles all the time, and they would give us their faith.”

By this point, I had sat down next to her and was fully invested in her story.

“But then… technology had started to advance. Anything that was deemed a ‘miracle’ was quickly explained and dismissed by science. People found they could artificially recreate our ‘miracles’ through devices, even if they weren’t even remotely close to ours. So, we began to fade away, and right when everything felt hopeless, I briefly saw a tear in the air itself. Then, I woke up here, in a land fully dominated by religion.”

Noticing the sad look on Sanae’s face, I slowly wrap an arm around her to provide comfort, which she graciously accepts, leaning on me with a smile.

“At least you have new friends, right? I was lost and alone for a while too. After the loss of my best friend, I was never truly the same. But I was able to find new friends in the form of the Hifuu Club, and it’s allowed me to discover something truly amazing.” Sanae’s eyes seem to glisten with held back tears of joy.

“I’m really glad to hear that. As much as I’d really like for you to move here, you still have friends and family in the Outside World, don’t you?”

“Well, not so much family, but I do have friends now. So who knows? Maybe we’ll end up moving here someday.”

“Don’t push yourself into moving. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re forced to move somewhere brand new, and while I don’t regret it, I often wonder what the outside world is like nowadays.” She then gives me a cheeky grin.

“I guess that gives us a good reason to be friends, right?” This causes me to chuckle before continuing.

“Yeah, but don’t get your hopes up. The Outside World has been incredibly dull as of late. It’s nothing but light pollution, and whatever nature remains is rapidly decaying. Which is why I'm glad that the boundary was able to leak out this… autumn essence? Is that what it’d be called?”

“Ha! Yeah, you could probably say that.”

The two of us share a moment of silence while gazing out into the distant landscape of Gensokyo, which is a lot more diverse than I had imagined. I can see the bamboo forest and red mansion from Merry’s pictures. Most importantly though, this place looks gorgeous. The mountain feels like it’s been blessed by autumn itself, and there isn’t a single city in sight, allowing nature to flourish.

My admiration is interrupted by Sanae nudging my side with her elbow. I must’ve looked pretty star-struck without realizing it.

“You doing alright? You look like you’re hypnotized!”

“I’m fine, just taking a moment to admire the scenery, you know?”

“I understand. Despite living here for over two decades, I never get tired of the view or overseeing the mountain activities!”

“Ayayayaya! Looks like the Moriya Shrine maiden found herself a boyfriend!”

Aya’s recognizable voice pierces through the air like a bullet, and Sanae’s face is already turning beet red.

“A-Aya! That’s not true! We’re just friends!”

“Uh huh, sure.” Aya replies with a smug grin on her face. “Oh, relax,

I’m just kidding. At least you aren’t like those other two newcomers!”

“Renko and Maribel? What happened to them!”

Aya bursts out laughing. “Ha! You should’ve seen them! They both came wobbling into the shrine looking like a pair of pumpkins. Those two harvest goddesses don’t mess around when it comes to their meals, and it seems that those two lovebirds found out the hard way when they both passed out next to each other on one of the shrine futons!”

Aya pulls out a picture of the two of them sleeping and waves it in front of us.

“That’s definitely gonna make headlines! Those two passed out before they even got a chance to try out the alcohol!”

“That’s enough, Aya.” Sanae says with an exasperated tone. “Those two are already going to have to worry about a stomachache when they wake up.”

Aya scoffs. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave them be.” She spreads her wings and leaps up into the sky. “But don’t think that this isn’t gonna be front page material!”

With a swift gust of wind, Aya disappears into the distance with the grace and speed of a bird that’s chugged 5 energy drinks, leaving me with a blushing Sanae.

“Calm down, Sanae. It’s really not that big of a deal. In fact, I highly doubt anyone’s gonna treat us as a couple.”

“I know, it’s just… Sometimes I wish Aya calmed down occasionally, you know?”

“Ehh, good luck with that. Maybe if you tool away her coffee supply?”

“She doesn’t drink coffee anymore.” Sanae says with a sigh.

“Especially not after what happened last time.”

“Wait, really? What happened last time?”

“She decided to try out the kappa's coffee machine to ‘make her work even faster.’ But once she drank a cup, the caffeine caused her wings to start twitching fast enough to produce a loud buzzing noise. As result, all she could do was helplessly fly upward before eventually getting tired and falling into a nearby lake. We banned her from caffeine consumption after that.”

“Could’ve fooled me. I assumed she was a caffeine addict based on how hyped up she is.”

“Ha! Nope, she’s always like that. Anyway, we should-“

Sanae’s stomach growls audibly, and she places a hand on it with a sheepish expression.

“Hehe… sorry about that. I haven’t gotten a chance to eat today because of all the festival preparations…”

I jump to my feet and extend my hand to help Sanae up. “No worries! I’m starting to feel hungry myself. Let’s see what we can find!”

Sanae practically drags me towards where the scent of food is strongest, and we’re greeted by two sisters in autumn attire. The one of the grapes on her hat looks particularly excited to see us.

“Sanae! It’s so nice to see you, and you brought a-“ She then lets out an exaggerated gasp of mock horror. “Oh my goodness! You’re way too skinny to be wandering around Gensokyo. I’m surprised a stiff breeze hasn’t blown you away yet!”

“Minoriko, please... Not everyone needs to end up like those two best friends…”

The other sister appears to be much calmer and more composed than her sister, who I now know is Minoriko.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Shizuha. Autumn’s bounty is to be enjoyed! Even if it puts them in a food coma!”

After making that declaration, Minoriko practically drags us over to a nearby table and starts piling food onto my plate.

“W-Wait, that’s too much-“ I attempt to protest, but Sanae shakes her head while trying not to laugh. “Just go along with it. Minoriko means well, but she can be a bit overbearing.”

Heh. She reminds me of my grandmother. Welp, might as well go along with it. Taking the first bite causes my eyes to widen. It tastes as amazing as it looks, and it seems to put me in a trance. When I finally snap out of it, the two of us had finished our meal. Luckily, Shizuha had intervened, so we weren’t completely stuffed.

Waving goodbye to the two sisters, we start walking back up the mountain while the sun begins to set. During our walk, we’re intercepted by Suwako, who looks excited about something. “There you two are! I was starting to worry that we had lost you. Anyways, come along now, we’re about to finish off the festival with the Moriya Shrine sake!”

Suwako leads the two of us back to the shrine, where everyone else had already gathered, including a few faces I recognize. When the sake starts being served, I look down at the golden liquid with apprehension.

“Is everything alright, Maxwell?”

I look up to see Kanako looking down at me with a slightly concerned expression.

“I’m fine, I’ve just never drank before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything, right? It’s alright if you don’t want to though, we do have some tea if you prefer.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I can handle this.”

I consume the entire glass of sake in a single gulp, causing my body to shudder and my stomach to feel warm from the alcohol. Meanwhile, Kanako bursts out laughing.

“Ha! That’s the spirit! Would you like some more?”

“Yeah, keep it coming!”

Several glasses later, and the world begins to spin around me while I feel much… looser than usual. While I’m chatting with others, I notice Sanae walking over to me, managing to look concerned despite her flushed face.

“Maxwell, I think you should stop drinking, you can barely stand…” “Hahahaha! I’ll teel you when I’ve had enough… hehe!” My words are noticeably slurred together at this point. “Who are you… to tell me to stop having fun…”

I point in the general direction of Sanae, even though I can see several Sanaes. Hehe… I like Gensokyo… the alcohol is niiiice… “Um… Maxwell? You’re talking to Aya. I’m over here…”

What is she talking about? There’s clearly like… 4 Sanaes in that general direction… maybe she can clone herself? Wouldn’t that be cool!

“Haha… I like… birds… they can like, fly. I wish I could fly. I like flying~”

I manage to take a clumsy leap forward that almost sends me diving into the swaying floor beneath me. Although, I can feel myself levitating before I hit the floor. Yay! I can fly! Ugh… wait, why is everything… getting… dark…

Sanae looks down at the passed-out Maxwell in her arms, and she lets out a tired sigh. There’s always going to be that one person who drinks more than they can handle. But regardless, today was a good day, even if he probably won’t remember it in the morning. When she lowers him onto a spare futon, she places a paper talisman in one of his pockets.

“Consider this a divine blessing; you never know when you might need a miracle. Good night, Maxwell, and stay safe out there.”

* * *

“Would you chill out already?! We still have the materials we need, so perform your nerd magic and build the damn spaceship!”

“I AM chill! I just…” she rubs her forehead while flipping through diagrams and blueprints on her desk. “We’ve lost our only source of income. If we’re unable to succeed within the next week, then I fear the worst.”

“For the love of god, this isn’t doomsday, woman! You aren’t going to stop existing just because you can’t teach anymore. I saw Maxwell and his group of weirdos climbing up the mountain today, and I haven’t seen them since. That ain’t a coincidence.”

“So what are you saying? That we should kidnap and study their group? It would be productive, but that’s highly unethical!”

“What the fu- I’m telling you to TALK to them! Get your face out of the goddamn thesaurus, and try talking to people for once! I would’ve done it myself, but I had to make sure you didn’t completely blow a fuse!”

Yumemi takes a deep breath, and her shoulders finally loosen.

“No… no… you’re right. I apologize for my lack of proper etiquette. Perhaps I’ve been looking at this the wrong way. The hyperspace vessel won’t be possible, but if we can target barrier anomalies…” A wide grin spreads across Yumemi’s face.

“Yes, that’s it! Tomorrow, we make our move. We shall (hopefully) join forces with Maxwell group, and we can finally reach our epiphany!”

“Would you stop talking like a video game character for 5 seconds?

This is probably why Maxwell refused the first time.”

“Right, right. Non-obtuse communication. Gotcha.”

“…You’re not going to stop, are you?”

“You know me too well, Chiyuri. Now go home and get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“If you say so. Try not to mess everything up during your proposition this time.”

And so, the two of them part ways, eager to meet with the Hifuu Club the next time they cross paths. However, when Chiyuri reached her apartment, one look in her mirror is enough to make the normally lighthearted and arrogant sailor become frozen with fear. Because standing right behind her… was a brimmed hat-wearing girl staring deep into her reflection, looking like a hallucination that was simply way too real.

In the middle of the night, I found myself waking up to the sound of frantic pounding on a nearby apartment door. It’s not my own, but it sounds panicked, and loud. Most people would still walk outside and yell at whoever is doing this, but I’m not one to make a scene.

As a result, I end up staring at the ceiling and waiting for the situation to resolve itself. Much to my surprise, the muffled voices sound… familiar?

“Chiyuri? What are you-“

“THERE’S A YOUKAI IN MY APARTMENT!”

“Wait wha- Chiyuri wait stop LET GO OF ME-“

I can hear the sounds of struggle coming from outside my room, followed up by frantic footsteps moving to the apartment that’s right next to mine. Seriously? Yumemi’s associate lives right next to me? Regardless, the adjacent door is practically burst open, and the two fall uncharacteristically silent for a moment.

“…Very funny. Now where’s this ‘youkai’ you speak of?”

“I-It was right here! She was in my bathroom like some kind of pervert!”

“Admittedly, this one is on me. I shouldn’t have entertained this nonsense. So, forgive me for my lack of sleep clouding my judgement. As for you, please go back to sleep before you suffer any other hallucinations.”

“But-“

“Chiyuri, youkai are not present in the outside world.”

“Ugh, fine! So much for trying to prove you right…”

“I appreciate it, but we can worry about this in the morning. Now go back to sleep before we get a noise complaint. Goodnight.”

Their conversation ends after that, and a single pair of footsteps walks past my door before fading away after the sound of a door closing, allowing me to sleep in peace for awhile.

Within my dream, I find myself back in that same forest where this all began. The same green trees, and the same gorgeous landscape all around me, which I’ve come to know as Gensokyo. Standing beside me under the night sky is Yukari, who is gazing up at the stars with an almost sad expression on her face.

“Hey Yukari, are you feeling alright?”

Yukari turns to me and hides her smile with her fan. Despite her attempts at masking, I can see the sadness in her eyes.

“I’m doing fine, my dear. It’s just that I often find the night to be a bit melancholic, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I suppose I used to when I was alone, but I’ve been much happier as of late. I’ve found friends that I’m close with, and they’ve shown me something truly incredible!”

“Indeed they have.” Yukari then looks up to the stars for a moment before continuing. “Having companions are such a wonderful thing, are they not? I’ve roamed Gensokyo for far longer than you’ve been alive. I’ve seen this world grow and change as the years progressed, and I’ve grown along with it. Despite my beloved Ran and Chen always being by my side, I’ve always found myself reminiscing on the past and wondering what could have been.”

“What do you mean? Are you not happy with Gensokyo?”

“I’m more than happy with Gensokyo, my dear. In fact, I’m grateful for my ability to create a sanctuary for both youkai and humans, where the horrors of the Outside World cannot reach. Despite this, even I couldn’t save everyone. I had lost the one who mattered most to me, and I still find myself trapped within this necrofantasia, never fully able to move on despite the promise I made with her…”

Yukari suddenly pauses and looks up at me, her expression quickly loosening up. Her mask won’t work on me, however. I know exactly what is happening here, and if I don’t break the mask, I don’t think her inner turmoil can be properly resolved.

“Ah, my apologies. I suppose I got carried away for a moment there. I can assure you-“

"Maribel."

Yukari pauses and looks genuinely surprised for a moment before letting out an awkward chuckle.

“Maxwell, my dear, perhaps you misunderstood; my name is-“

“Your name is Maribel. Drop the act and admit that the one you lost is Renko.”

Yukari’s mask fully slips upon hearing this, and for once, she lowers her fan to fully reveal her shocked expression.

“M-Maxwell…”

“You think I didn’t notice the similarities? The boundary powers? The fact that you refuse to meet Maribel face-to-face?”

Yukari doesn’t respond, but I know she’s listening. The bags under her eyes, the tears she’s trying to hide, I know that feeling all too well.

“You’re trying to fix this. You think you can save Renko from whatever happened to her, or is going to happen, am I right? That’s also why you created Gensokyo, to ensure that nobody could ever lose their loved ones again. But even you have to realize that not everyone is immortal. Everybody dies eventually, so then what will you do?”

“I DON’T KNOW!”

Yukari’s mask shatters like a pane of glass, and she begins to openly break down. She gazes down at the ground, unable to meet my gaze while her tears fall like raindrops onto the grass.

“I don’t know, Maxwell. I’ve tried… I’ve tried all that I can. I just want the pain to end, I just want a happy ending. But… I’m afraid it’s too late for me, too late… for the one I love…”

“Yukari…”

“No! ENOUGH!” Yukari lashes out at me, her eyes blazing with depressed fury. “What makes you think you’re so special? You think you’re the main character just because you’ve made a few friends?! Do you truly expect me to believe that you can magically fix everything just because you managed to BREAK ME?!”

“I’m no prophet, Yukari. But… I can still try. It’s not too late, and the three of us still have each other, right?”

“And what happens when she reaches her ending? We both know how this tragedy ends, so just give it up! Go home and save yourself the despair.”

“But you don’t truly believe what you’re saying, do you?”

“What…?”

“You wouldn’t be trying to find a way to prevent Renko’s demise if you didn’t have some optimism left in you, right? But you have to come to terms with the fact that Renko is only human. She will pass away eventually.”

Yukari grits her teeth and clutches her head, audibly hyperventilating.

“Maxwell… stop… I can’t be alone again…”

“You aren’t alone, Maribel. You will never be alone. Do you remember what you told me when we first met?” Yukari falls silent again, so I take a step closer.

“Stay away from me… I-I’m warning you-!”

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. Her tears soak into my shirt, but I don’t care. That doesn’t matter right now.

“No matter what happens, we’ll always be there for each other. I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine.”

“Maxwell…”

“It’s going to be okay, Yukari. It will all be okay.”

“Thank… you…”

And so, the two of us embrace each other underneath the moonlight, sharing our comfort until it's time for me to wake up. When I open my eyes, I find myself face and shirt soaked with tears. As I finish cleaning up and changing, I suddenly receive a notification on my phone from the Hifuu Club.

“Hey Maxwell, it’s Renko. Are you open to visit the coffee shop?

There’s… something important that we need you for.”

“Oh, sure? I’ll be over there in a few minutes.”

The walk to the coffee shop was nothing out of the ordinary. However, seeing Yumemi and that yellow-haired girl I saw in the forest was definitely a surprise.

“Yo! I’m Chiyuri, the girl who was stalking you the entire time, and this is Malintent!”

Yumemi clears her throat before speaking up.

“Chiyuri, please. Now is not the time for that. Anyway…” Yumemi immediately goes back to her businesswoman personality. “Salutations, Maxwell! Your good friends here have told us all about your Gensokyo adventures, and they appear to be quite the enlightening experience.”

“Uh… yeah, I guess they are. Why are you bringing this up?”

“Because we wanna join you, man!” Chiyuri cuts off Yumemi with her energetic voice. “This place sucks, and Yumemi’s nerd device isn’t working. So, we’re turning to you two!”

Renko stifled a chuckle before speaking up, although Maribel seems to be much quieter in this meeting.

“They’re quite the energetic duo, that’s for sure. But their research could prove useful in our expeditions, and perhaps we could even figure out a method of permanently moving to Gensokyo.”

This seems to snap Maribel out of her trance, and she nods in agreement.

“Yes, our acquaintances within Gensokyo are only growing in numbers, meaning that it’s only a matter of time before one of them ends up dragging us there themselves.”

Chiyuri bursts out laughing.

“Ha! I wish we were that lucky. All we managed to do was get kicked out of university!”

“Wait, we? Chiyuri… what did you do…”

“Nothing.” Chiyuri says with a grin. “I just wanted to leave.”

Yumemi facepalms.

“Seriously? Well… hopefully the plan works out, and we won’t need to worry about our education.”

I decided to take the opportunity to voice my concerns regarding this plan.

“Um… what are we doing, exactly? I’m not sure what the plan is.”

“The plan is to move permanently into Gensokyo and integrate ourselves with their society.” Renko says with her usual analytical tone. “I’ve analyzed the star charts, and can confirm that the moon will be in its optimal positioning in 2 days, not counting today.”

“W-Woah, wait! Moving to Gensokyo? Permanently?! Isn’t this all a little sudden?”

“Maxwell…” Maribel begins, her voice tinged with sadness. “This world is dying. Don’t you prefer the lush landscapes of Gensokyo?”

“Yeah! This world forgot it’s strawberries, so it’s having a crisis!!”

Chiyuri rolls her eyes at Yumemi’s attempt at humor.

“If you’re gonna reference your theme song, at least make it make sense. But yeah, what do you have to lose? We’re all in this together.”

I take a deep breath, but ultimately decide to nod in agreement. Even if this is sudden, it is for the best.

“Alright, I’m in. We’re leaving on Friday, right?”

The group lets out a brief cheer before Renko responds.

“In theory, yes. Let’s just hope this works. Until then, I suggest you head home and start preparing. We’ll do the same, and tomorrow, we’ll make our final preparations before our departure on Friday.”

“Understood. Take care, everyone.”

The group waves me off, leaving me to walk back to my apartment alone with nothing but my thoughts on everything that’s happened. Am I truly ready to move on to a place full of creatures most people wouldn’t believe in? What if I got lucky with Youkai Mountain being friendly towards humans, and the rest of Gensokyo is hostile?

But if I choose to back down now, then I might lose the only friends I have, and I might lose my only chance at a happier life. So I’m going to go along with it and hope for the best.

While I’m walking, my phone suddenly starts ringing, with the words “Unknown Contact” being displayed instead of a usual phone number. When I answer the phone, I hear an ghostly, feminine voice on the other end.

“My name is Mary, and right now… I’M RIGHT BEHIND YOU!” I immediately hang up the phone after hearing that.

“Stupid pranksters- WOAH!”

“Hi!”

The sudden appearance of a brimmed hat-wearing girl standing behind me causes me to jump back in surprise. Something about her feels… off. She’s dressed like a human-sized doll, she has a closed eye accessory wrapped around her body, and I’m pretty sure she’s not even blinking. The weirdest part is that she… barely exists? She appears to be slightly fuzzy around the edges, like she's going to fade away at any moment. “W-Where did you come from?!”

The girl maintains her eerie smile as she seemingly stares into my soul “The path!”

“So you were following me?”

“Yes! You looked so happy with your friends! Then you walked away from your friends, which is sad. But you can see me! That’s less sad!”

“Uh… Okay…? What are you, anyway? I’ve never seen-“

“I’m Koishi!”

“Okay, I meant what kind of-“

“Koishi Komeiji!”

“…Right. Anyway, it’s getting late, and I’m going to head home. So you might as well find your way back to Gensokyo.”

“Home? You have a home?”

“Yes…?”

Koishi’s eyes light up like fireworks.

“Yay! Since we’re friends now, let’s have a sleepover! The lemon girl was mean to me…” Koishi pouts for a moment before lightening up again. “But you aren’t screaming! That’s much better!”

“Lemon girl…?”

“Yeah! Her hair looked like a big lemon! I wanted to taste it, but she screamed and ran away while calling me a bunch of mean names. I didn’t know what they meant though!”

“Okay… now, do you have a method of returning to Gensokyo?”

Koishi’s smile softens a bit, and she looks off to the side.

“No… I don’t remember the way home.” Her face brightens up again. “But that’s okay! I go wherever the wind takes me!”

Koishi does a small twirl that almost sends her tumbling to the ground, but she regains her balance with a playful giggle.

“…You don’t have a way back?”

“No… I don't think I can find my way back to my sister…”

Koishi’s smile reverts into a saddened expression. She walks over and gently tugs on my sleeve, her voice becoming softer and more vulnerable.

“Can I please stay with you? I don’t… think this world likes me. I feel sad… I think.”

I probably shouldn’t be doing this so close to our big day, but I also shouldn’t leave her out here in the cold…

“Alright, you can stay the night. But tomorrow morning, you should try to find your way back to Gensokyo.”

In an instant, Koishi’s eyes start sparkling like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Yay!!! You’re so nice! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!”

Koishi excitedly latches onto my arm and starts swinging it like a pendulum as we walk down the sidewalk. When we reach my apartment, she looks up at it with wide-eyed wonder.

“Wooooah… humans live in boxes?!”

“They’re called apartments, Koishi…”

“Apartments? How boring. Big sister’s home is so much cooler!”

“You have a sister!”

“Yeah! Satori's really nice, but she worries about me too much…” Koishi’s expression flips back to being sad again, as she seemingly starts speaking to nobody. “…Sis… I don’t think I can find my way back home…”

“Hey… try not to think too much about being lost, alright? If you managed to find a way into the Outside World, then you can find your way back.”

“…Okay, I’ll try.”

When we reach my apartment, Koishi freezes in place, and she begins frantically looking around the apartment with horror.

“N-No… I don’t like this…”

Noticing her rapid shift in demeanor, I slowly approach Koishi to try and comfort her. “Koishi…? What’s wrong?”

“These rooms… they’re mean to me. The humans here harmed me. They… called me names. No… no… I just… I-I can’t…!!”

Koishi claws at her head and slams into the wall before crumbling to the floor, leaving me stunned at the sight of a seemingly carefree girl suddenly suffering a complete mental breakdown.

“I-I don’t… what’s… they shouldn’t… the eye… closing it fixed this, right?! Why why why?! Why isn't it working?! WHY DO THESE HUMANS HATE ME?!”

“Koishi, please! Just listen to me! I’m not…”

“No! I can’t see… but I can feel it. They despise me. Their minds scream out in agony when they see me! T-The names… they call me a freak… even after what I did… why can’t I just be happy?! WHAT DO YOU HUMANS WANT FROM ME?!”

Koishi’s hands begin to crackle with green and purple energy, filling me with a sense of dread.

“K-Koishi, please calm down, we can-“

Tears are flowing down Koishi’s face at this point, causing her voice to become strangled by her misery.

“Big sis was right… I didn’t listen to her, and now I’m trapped… I can’t go home. The humans… they’ll just hurt me. I… I…”

"I JUST WANT TO DISAPPEAR!!"

With an anguished scream, Koishi emits a burst of green-purple energy that sends me tumbling to the floor. When my vision clears, I see Koishi jumping off the balcony, filling me with a deep sense of dread. What’s even worse is that… wait, what just happened? I don’t remember…

N-No, it was Koishi! Her name is Koishi! I don’t know why I’m forgetting, but… I think I need to find someone…? I’m not sure why, though. Either way, I grab my phone and exit my apartment. It’s a lovely night for a stroll, isn’t it?

As I begin my evening stroll into the forest, I suddenly hear someone crying? Why’s a girl crying in the middle of the woods? Fearing that she may be injured or lost, I start rushing towards the direction of the crying. When I find the source of the sobbing, the memory suddenly hits me like a slap to the face.

“K-Koishi…?”

“Go away… I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore…”

“Koishi, please… Just listen to me. I’m not here to harm you, and you never harmed me.”

Koishi looks up at me with an expression of pure misery. Her eyes are almost black at this point from the lack of energy.

“I-I did… I lost control and… your room…”

I walk over and sit down next to her, giving her someone to lean on without being too overbearing.

“It’s alright, I promise. My room can be fixed, and none of those lights hit me.”

Although it’s seemingly more involuntary than intentional, Koishi leans on my shoulder.

“Y-You aren’t mad at me…?”

“Of course not. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. That’s all that matters right now.”

“But… I’m not okay, and I don’t think I ever will. I can’t find my way home, or my sister…”

“Hey, I’ll help you find your sister, okay? Just take a deep breath, panicking will only make things worse.”

“Maxwell… why are you doing this…? You’ll just forget me when I leave. Just like everyone else.”

“Everyone forgets you…?”

Koishi nods gravely.

“Y-Yes, I could never have any real friends because of it. It’s just been me, my sister, and the two pets. I’ve tried to find someone, but I’m always alone. People hated me when I could read their minds, but now that my eye is closed, everyone just ignores me.”

Glancing down at the phone in my hand, I suddenly developing a brilliant idea.

“Hey, I know of a way I can remember you.”

Koishi looks up at me with wide eyes, and I can see the color returning to her irises.

“R-Really?”

I wrap my arms around Koishi and take a photo of the two of us. I then show Koishi the image.

“There, see? Now I’ll always have a way of remembering you, even if I forget.”

Koishi squeals with happiness when she sees the image, but then her face grows serious for a moment.

“Maxwell… are we truly… friends?”

“Yes, Koishi, I can assure you that we’re friends, and we always will be.”

Koishi practically tackles me with a hug, and she squeezes me tightly.

“Thank you!! I won’t ever forget you, Maxwell!”

Koishi then releases the hug, and I can see that she’s back to her carefree self again, her smile acting like the sun peeking through departing rain clouds.

“I think I’m ready now, I can feel myself being pulled back to my sister.”

“Oh? Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes, even if I can’t sense her presence, I still feel a special connection to her and her delicious rose cookies.”

Koishi’s stomach audibly grumbles after she says that, and she clutches it with a giggle.

“Hey, does your box have rose cookies?”

“I don’t have rose cookies, but I have the stuff to make chocolate chip cookies. Does that work?”

“Yay! Lets go lets go lets go!!”

Koishi practically drags me back to the apartment, where I spend the rest of the sunset baking a tray of cookies for Koishi (even if I had to stop her from burning herself multiple times because she kept trying to eat the dough while it was still hot). When she’s done eating, Koishi approaches the door but then stops. She then turns to me and gives me one last hug. “

Please don’t forget about me…”

“I won’t Koishi, as long as I have that picture, I’ll never forget you.”

“Thank you, Maxwell. Thank you for everything.” She releases the hug, but maintains her cheerful smile. “I’ll make sure to tell Satori all about you when I return, and I’ll try to visit you whenever I can!”

And with that, the two of us share a quick wave before Koishi disappears out the door, giving me time to clean up the apartment and head to bed. When I fall asleep, I have a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

But from beyond the veil, past where human eyes can hear, a feminine voice can be heard talking to herself.

“How do you managed to remain emotionally intact after facing two different mental breakdowns? Fascinating… perhaps it is time for us to meet soon.”

“See you next dream… Maxwell.”

It’s almost time, tomorrow night is when we attempt to enter

Gensokyo for the final time, and maybe even set up a permanent home for the… five of us. Turning over to look at my nightstand, I can see the much more recent framed photo that I took with Koishi. However, one loose end still remains unresolved…

“I haven’t forgotten about you, Sumireko, and I wish that you were here to enter Gensokyo with us.”

I know I sound crazy since I’m talking to a photo, but it helps me feel better. I may never see Sumireko again, but I will keep going and carry on her work. This world may have forgotten her, but I will ensure that her sacrifice will not be in vain.

“I promise I’ll make it to Gensokyo, Sumireko. No matter what happens, I’ll stay with them to the very end, for our sake.”

Isn’t it ironic? I once denied her claims, treated it as hearsay, only to encounter her sister and club which proved her correct. Now I’m left to forever regret my actions towards a girl who could be dead at this point. I think… I’m gonna sleep in a bit longer. Maybe I’ll see her in my dreams.

“YO! MAXWELL!”

Chiyuri’s voice and energetic pounding on my door snaps me out of my depressed trance and causes me to come to my senses, albeit with frantic breathing. Once I’ve calmed down, I open the door. Or, rather, Chiyuri practically runs me over when she dashes inside my apartment with frantic energy.

“OkaysowereallreadybutwestillneedtopackupcertainthingslikecoffeecoffecoffeCOFFEEE!!”

“Woah, slow down! I understand like, maybe one or two of those words?”

Chiyuri (somehow) manages to compose herself, but she’s still buzzing with energy and maintaining an ear-to-ear grin.

“Okay, okay, sorry. So I might’ve been up since 6AM and there might be an almost lethal amount of coffee in my system, but that’s not important! What’s important is that tomorrow’s the big day!!!”

“Indeed it is. So why are you up so early?”

“To help the others prepare, duh! Renko and Maribel are busy making out with eachother-“

“…Seriously?”

Chiyuri bursts out laughing and almost topples over backwards.

“Relax, I’m kidding! But in all seriousness, Renko and Maribel are hard at work shopping for clothes, Yumemi’s gathering up a bunch of science junk, and I’m… just kinda here, y’know?”

“Fair enough, I guess. I was gonna go say goodbye to a friend of mine first. After that, I’m probably just gonna relax for the rest of the day.”

“Aww, you’re gonna leave me alone? At least play Minecraft with me later!”

“…Sure, now please return to your apartment before we get a noise complaint.”

“Noise complaint?” Chiyuri scoffs. “You worry too much, man. Don’t tell me you’re gonna chicken out on this as well.”

“Of course I’m not! Why would I let everyone down when we’re this close?”

“Hah! That’s the spirit! It doesn’t matter anyway. Cause if you flake out on us, then I’m gonna kick your ass, then I’ll kick your corpse’s ass!”

“Very scary. Anyway, I’m gonna head out. So you might as well find something else to do.”

“Aww, okay. Later, Max!”

The two of us go our separate ways, but I already have a destination in mind: Nitori’s workshop. It’s been awhile since I’ve visited her, so I might as well see what she’s been up to.

When I arrive at her workshop, I find that Momiji isn’t present, and Nitori is currently packing up various tools and parts into her backpack. When she notices me, her face lights up with excitement.

“Maxwell! There you are! Looks like you’re moving to Gensokyo, huh?”

I blink a couple of times in confusion. That’s odd, she shouldn’t have heard about that from anyone else…?

“Wait, what? How’d you know about that?”

Nitori shrugs and gestures towards the forest path.

“Some yellow-haired lunatic came charging towards the workshop like a wild boar this morning. Apparently she knew you and told me about your plans. I’m packing up my things cause other people are starting to get suspicious of my location. Before I could question her, she bolted off with surprising speed.”

“Ah, sorry Chiyuri ambushed you like that.”

“It’s fine.” Nitori replies with a smile. “So what made you finally decide to move to Gensokyo? I hope it’s not because of the festival, because those don’t happen often.”

“We’re moving because we believe it’s the best choice moving forward. Two of us are kicked out of the school already, and this world doesn’t have much of a future left.”

“Well that’s… bleak. You aren’t wrong though, everything looks boring around here. Most of the technology is just gray boxes. It’s kinda disappointing honestly. I was expecting more from the ‘high-tech Outside World’ I always heard rumors about.”

“Sorry our technology sucks, it’s out of my control. At least you won’t have to deal with the AI garbage in Gensokyo.”

Nitori raises an eyebrow upon hearing that last part.

“AI garbage?”

“You don’t wanna know.”

“Gotcha. Well, looks like this is where we part ways. Good luck on your attempt to move to Gensokyo, and if you ever need me, you’ve got my contact on your phone. Take care, Maxwell.”

“Take care, Nitori.”

With a parting wave, I leave Nitori to finish up her packing. Allowing me to enjoy the serenity of the forest trail for what is likely the final time. As much as I don’t like the Outside World, I’m definitely gonna miss this forest trail the most. At least I’ll have plenty of forest trails to explore in Gensokyo though.

Eventually, the forest fades into the monochromatic sight of the city.

I’ve still got time, so I might as well catch up with the Hifuu Club. After a bit of walking, I manage to find them walking down the sidewalk with Yumemi, all of which are now wearing fancy outfits. Maribel is wearing a dark purple dress with a red bowtie on her mob cap, Renko is wearing a navy-blue plaid outfit that’s decorated in constellations, and Yumemi is wearing a cherry-red professor uniform.

“Hey girls! Nice outfits!”

Maribel is the first to speak up, her voice tinged with excitement.

“Hey, Maxwell! When we saw these outfits, we just had to try them! They suit us perfectly!”

Renko chuckles and adjusts her starry hat with one hand.

“More like she was very insistent about ‘fate’ guiding our outfits. I do find the outfit to be thematically appropriate though.”

“Indeed.” Yumemi says while adjusting her tie. “Maribel attempted to get something for Chiyuri, but I assured her that Chiyuri wouldn’t wear it.”

“Why not?”

“Because she has 30 copies of the exact same sailor outfit.” Yumemi says with a deadpan stare. “Yes, really.”

“Wow. I imagined someone like her would be a bit more original.”

“You’d think, but nope! Anyway, we’re unfortunately gonna have to be separated for tonight, as we all have our own objectives to complete. I need to finish packing Chiyuri and I’s things for tomorrow night.” Renko nods in agreement.

“Indeed. I need to do some stargazing, and Merry needs to do some last-minute barrier analysis.”

Maribel seemingly notices my unease, and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, her smile rivaling the morning sun.

“Hey, are you gonna be alright?”

“Yeah, it’s just butterflies, y’know?”

“It’s okay to be nervous, this is a big event for someone who’s only known us for roughly a week. Just remember that you have all our contacts. If you ever need someone to talk to, then we’ll always be here.”

“Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime, Maxwell!” Chiyuri says with a wink. “Yumemi’s always here to help! Now let’s head home before it gets dark. People aren’t great at driving during the day, and it gets even worse at night.”

“Fair enough. Stay safe, everyone!”

And with that, we all spread out and return to our apartments. Well, Yumemi and I end up walking home together because we share an apartment.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you choose to mentor Chiyuri? She’s not a bad person, but idk if she’s really suitable for this kinda thing.”

“Ah, an excellent question. Chiyuri means well, but she’s easy to excite. She's a breath of fresh air compared to the other analytical types. Despite everything, I appreciate her optimism during any situation.”

“I see. How long have you two been attempting to enter Gensokyo?” Yumemi awkwardly looks off to the side while answering.

“A few months, I think? We've been trying to create the hyperspace vessel for awhile, but admittedly, our efforts were a little… overambitious.”

“Wait… were you the one who blew up the- mmph!”

Yumemi hastily covers up my mouth before removing her hand.

“Silence, please. But yes, that would be correct. That is not the reason I was kicked out though. I was kicked out because those imbeciles failed to recognize my evidence.” “Yeah, I saw. It looked like it got pretty heated.”

“Ah, you saw that. Not my finest hour indeed, but I had hoped that I could get through to them. Clearly, I was mistaken.” After she says that, we arrive at our apartment.

“Looks like we’ve reached our destination. Have a wonderful evening Maxwell, and I look forward to our final meeting before we make our move.”

We share a pleasant wave, and I retreat to my apartment. Once I’m inside, I hop on my computer for the first time in several weeks, as I haven’t had much reason to use it. I did promise Chiyuri that I’d play Minecraft with her though, so I might as well.

Once I’ve loaded in, I start playing and wait if she decided to join.

TimeSailor has joined the game

Ah, there she is. Surely she wasn’t just sitting on the menu and waiting for me, right? TimeSailor: yo

Spinning_Cat: hi

TimeSailor: yo wait is this an already existing world?

Spinning_Cat: technically yes, but all I did was make a house and get iron armor. Nothing too crazy.

TimeSailor: Damn that’s crazy

TimeSailor: anyways like

TimeSailor: why do you play with 800 mods

TimeSailor: my ram looks like it swallowed shampoo (and is probably gonna die) Spinning_Cat: lmao sorry

Spinning_Cat: I just like having a ton of content

TimeSailor: new dungeons look cool ig, I’ll give you that

TimeSailor: wtf is a blue bomb

TimeSailor blew up

Spinning_Cat: LMAO

TimeSailor: DAWG I THREW THAT SHIT INTO A ROOM THREE

FLOORS DOWN WHAT THE HELL

Spinning_Cat: now yk what it does :)

Spinning_Cat: dw most of this stuff is super easy to figure out

30 minutes later…

TimeSailor: yo I just customized this badass rapier thing

TimeSailor: hold still for a sec

Spinning_Cat: what are you doing

TimeSailor: HOLY SHIT

Spinning_Cat: BRO

TimeSailor: I DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BREAK ALL OF YOUR

ARMOR

TimeSailor: LMAOOOO

15 Minutes later…

Spinning_Cat: yo so like

Spinning_Cat: do you wanna fight a Cataclysm boss

TimeSailor: a what

TimeSailor: OHH that thing in the nether?

TimeSailor: yeah sure

5 minutes later…

TimeSailor: yo check out this epic clutch

TimeSailor: wait

TimeSailor fell from a high place

Spinning_Cat: please tell me you did not just try to water bucket clutch in the nether

TimeSailor: shut up

2 hours later…

Spinning_Cat: Alright I think it’s time to call this a night. I’m already getting tired. TimeSailor: sure bro

TimeSailor: btw I removed the water from your reactor because I needed a fishing spot

TimeSailor: hope that wasn’t important

Spinning_Cat: you fucking what

Spinning_Cat blew up

TimeSailor blew up

Yeah… that’s probably a sign to call it a night. We can worry about rebuilding the base some other time. With that being said, I turn off the pc and head to bed. It doesn’t take me long to fall asleep, but once I’m dreaming, I find myself in… the cold vacuum of space…?

I can see nothing but the stars all around me, and the planet I grew up on below, it’s blues and greens contrasting with the endless void surrounding me. I take some time to admire the planets, as I never got a chance to view them in person.

It’s silent here, but it’s peaceful. Despite everything, an aching pain tugs at my soul. I may be at peace, but I’m alone. Perhaps all those months I spent isolated have caused me to develop a fear of being alone, especially now that I have close friends? Who knows, I’m not psychiatrist.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I don’t notice the green-haired woman wearing a deep blue outfit and hat that’s decorated with glowing constellations that make her look like she belongs with space itself. She also has no legs, making her look like more of a ghost than a ghost princess I met in the Netherworld. The woman stares off into the vast emptiness with a resigned expression.

“I was once like you, one top of the world, at the height of my popularity. Even had a student that I was proud to take under my wing.”

The woman turns to face me, allowing me to fully see her bored expression.

“And where did that get me? Being swallowed up by the world I lived in, with no chance of being forgiven.”

“Who…?”

The woman’s mouth curves upward into a slight smirk.

“I’m much more than you could comprehend, but you may refer to me as Mima.”

“Ah, well it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mima-“

Mima’s face drops back to a look of indifference.

“Silence. This is not a tea party, this is the part where you face reality. There’s only one way this ends, and you are aware of that. But no, you want to live on past your inevitable defeat, which brings you to me.”

I… don’t know what to think about this. At least I knew who Yukari was, who is she supposed to be?

“But-“

Mima points one of the sharp ends of her silver, crescent-shaped staff at my throat without hesitation.

“You’ve gotten lucky, and it’s inflated your ego. Do you truly believe that less than a handful of youkai friends makes you popular? “

“I… wouldn’t call myself popular, but I’m happy to have made some friends along the way… I would’ve remained lonely otherwise.”

“You… you really don’t get it, do you?! All you’ve done is make yourself a shiny new phone, and you got drunk at a festival. That’s all it took for you to abandon your education is search of a pipe dream? Why, it’s so ridiculous… ha… that I can’t… hehe… fufu… help but… ha… ha…”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Despite the two of us floating in the vacuum of space, Mima’s mocking laughter echoes throughout the void, sounding like it’s all around me.

“How completely UMBELIEVABLE! You think you’re so important, just because you can make a few friends that are fated to be divided?!”

“Get this through your thick skull, pest. YOU CAN’T SAVE HER. You couldn’t even save your best friend. Ah, that reminds me, I wonder what happened to her…?”

Mima reaches into her shirt pocket, and pulls out an object that makes my heart sink to my stomach, and my face pales. It’s Sumireko’s hat…

“N-No… that can’t be true…”

“Ah, but it is. She was so determined to prove herself to you, that she sought me out and thought she could best me. How dreadfully unfortunate for her…”

Mima picks up the hat and throws it at me, causing it to hit me in the chest like a bullet to the heart.

“She trusted you, and you failed her. She confided in you, and you ignored her. You were her friend, and you KILLED HER.”

By this point, tears are forming in my eyes as despair sets in. This… can’t be how this ends… not when I’m this close…!

“No…”

“You can’t deny results. You’ve tried so hard to appeal to others, to appear friendly, but the reality is that you’re selfish. All you wanted was an easy escape, somewhere your mistakes couldn’t follow you.”

Mima floats towards me, and puts her hand on my shoulder with mock sympathy, just like Maribel…

“You’re a weakling, pathetic, even. You cannot even look me in the eyes when I don’t respond with stars in my eyes. You are not the main character. You’re just another human, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

My vision is clouded, and my throat swells with angst. Her words start to fracture my defenses, allowing negative thoughts to flow in like water into a sinking ship.

Yet I can still focus. I can remember Chiyuri’s optimism.

“Hey… don’t think about getting cold feet, dummy. If you back out now, then I’ll be kicking your corpse’s ass by the time I’m done with ya!”

My vision clears, my breathing stabilizes.

I did not succumb.

“No… you’re wrong. Last time… I made the mistake of dismissing my best friend when I needed her most. This time, I… no, we will stay together. I may not be able to change the past, but I know I can change the future.”

Mima backs away, but she retains her smug grin.

“Oh? Is that so? What makes you think you have the audacity to wear this mask of confidence, when a single confrontation is enough to make you break down?”

“Your words may be harsh, but I know I can change. It’s too late for Sumireko, but it’s not too late for me.”

“My words are nothing but the truth. Of all the youkai you encounter, there will always be someone to put you in your place. Someone like me.”

“Do you truly think you could live with yourself if, no, WHEN you fail to save Renko? Maribel will be devastated, she’s still devastated from the past 34 times this has happened. So why do you persist? We both know that fighting me is meaningless.”

“I… I…”

My breathing starts to quicken again, and it feels like there are thousands of eyes watching me. I promised Yukari, but what if… what if I can’t do it? I’m not prophet, I’m just…

“You’re nothing but a failure, Maxwell. You failed your best friend once, and you’ll do it again.”

My blood turns to ice, I can’t breathe, I can’t… do this… I can’t save them. Maybe… maybe I should just disappear, saving others from the pain I’ll inevitably inflict. As I clutch my head, another familiar voice starts to filter through. I can remember… Yumemi’s intelligence.

“Maxwell, I know how long you’ve had to carry this burden, so allow me to give you the admiration you deserve. Your strength throughout everything is admirable. If you’ve managed before, you can manage again. We will reach escape velocity… together.”

The ice in my bloodstream melts, giving way to a new warmth that that’s my frozen lungs.

I did not succumb.

“No, I’m more than that. My past does not define me, and my future is not today. No matter what happens, I’ll still remain.”

“Indeed. You will remain, and so will your selfishness. You never offer to help others because you only care about yourself. Everyone else has to comfort you.”

“You’re useless. No, you’re less than useless, you’re sick. You promise you’ll change, but how can you be so certain?”

“But… I…”

My voice wavers, and I attempt to remain strong, but no words come out, allowing Mima to gain a bored look on her face again.

“Not even a defense. I see how it is, and I see only one way this ends.”

“You should just die.”

Her last message cuts in deep, and I can feel darkness closing in all around me. My mind goes blank, my legs feel like sandbags, and my entire body is numb. I think… this is what I deserve. Maybe she’s right, I can’t fix anything.

Succumbing to the despair, I drop to my knees.

“An imperfection after all, what a shame. Now embrace your absolution, and become one among the stars!”

Mima slashes across my chest, leaving a huge, bleeding gash. As my blood spills out into the void, everything fades to black.

* * *

1 Year Ago...

“Maxwell, Maxwell!”

As I’m walking home from school, I can see Sumireko running towards me, her cloak billowing in the wind.

“I did it! I finally found a way to prove your skeptical-ass wrong!”

She rummages around in her cloak pocket and pulls out a purple glowing orb with a bright smile on her face as her glasses reflect the orb's glow. “…It’s a light?”

“It’s an Occult Ball, dummy!” Sumireko says with a scoff. “I can channel my occult energy into this thing, and if I collect enough of them, I can finally open the barrier to Gensokyo!”

Sumireko places her hands on her hips with a smug expression, clearly proud of her accomplishment.

“So… still in denial? Or…”

“I guess it does look pretty cool, but I doubt a glowing orb is gonna do anything. Even if Gensokyo existed, I doubt a few orbs are gonna let you enter.”

“Hmph!” Sumireko crosses her arms and pouts like a petulant child. “I know I can do it, and I will! Mark my words, this world is gonna know my name as the greatest psychic out there!”

And with that, Sumireko takes off into the skies and flies off towards her home. Surely she has to realize that her constant flying is gonna attract attention, right? Eh, whatever, it’s clear she wants attention. Anyway, time to head home, I’ve got a lot of homework to deal with.

A Few Days Ago...

I can feel the comfort of the other two Hifuu Club members as we share a group hug.

“It will be okay, Maxwell. It will all be okay, we promise.” Maribel looks up at me and brushes away my tears.

“No matter what happens, we’ve got your back, and you’ve got ours, alright?”

“Thank you, thank you so much…”

Yesterday...

I wrap my arms around Yukari and pull her close, providing as much comfort as a possibly can for the crying boundary youkai.

“Maxwell…”

“It will all be okay Maribel, I promise. No matter what happens, I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine, alright?” Yukari’s face curves into a smile.

“…Thank you.”

* * *

“Forever lost to the stars… Rest in piece, Maxwell.”

With what little strength I have left, I clench my fists, and the positive words of my friends echoes through my mind. I promised Maribel that everything would be okay, and I intend to keep my promise. This is my dream, my destiny, and one things for certain… I will not succumb.

“No…”

The great magician is genuinely shocked when she hears Maxwell voice. Not even she could have predicted this outcome. In another time, this would've happened 4 separate times, all of which unable to prevent the greatest tragedy. But this is a dream, she could never have fully killed Maxwell. But even then, he should be broken, so why is he…?

“I refuse…”

“I… won’t let you win.”

“Despite all you’ve done, all you’ve said. I STILL REMAIN!”

“DO YOU SEE ME?! DOU YOU HEAR ME?! I’M STILL ALIVE! SO IF

YOU REALLY WANT TO RIP OUT MY HEART, THEN COME AT ME! I’LL MAKE YOUR CLAWS BLEED!!”

Mima backs away, her eyes widening in genuine surprise. It doesn’t take long for her shock to wear off, and her face twists into a manic grin.

“HAHAHAHA!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! WHEN FACED WITH NOTHING

BUT ENTROPY? YOU STILL PERSIST?! NOW IS WHEN YOU FINALLY GROW SOME SPINE?!”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve always had a spine. I may be weak, but I’ll still stay strong, because I’m compassionate. I won’t fail this time, and I refuse to let my friends down. So, Mima, let me make this clear…”

"I am stronger than you."

Mima finally settles down, but her smirk remains. Although, she’s clearly looking at me with newfound respect.

“Maybe… you have a chance after all. Perhaps it’s me who’s learning in this encounter. I've said all that needed to be said, yet you got back up like it’s nothing. So with that, I concede. You win.”

Mima turns her attention to the earth, and then she looks down at her staff.

“I was faced with my final obligation, and it led to nothing but devastation. Despite everything I’ve done, I do not wish to go on like this. So listen to my final announcement, and listen well.” Mima takes a deep breath.

“If you manage to go against all odds and actually save her, than I will be impressed. You’ve already surprised me once, so I have no doubt you’ll be able to do it again. As for your friends…”

Mima moves out of the way, revealing a derelict spaceship with the name “TORIFUNE” painted on the side of its rusty exterior.

“…There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Never forget my name, Maxwell. For when the spotlight fades, let your name be all that remains.”

Mima grabs her hat and takes it off while she gives me a theatrical bow that ends with her fading away in a cloud of particles, leaving me to slowly drift towards the space station while processing everything that’s happened. My scars may never fully heal, but what’s broken can be mended, and I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made. If I was alone throughout all of that, I don’t think I would’ve woken up the next morning…

Arriving at the space station, I see someone standing at the observatory who I never expected to see. The familiar girl turns around and looks me in the eyes with a sense of loneliness and frustration. I suppose the hat Mima was holding was just part of the test, but at this point, I’m more tired and relieved than frustrated.

“Maxwell… I see you encountered Mima. She’s quite the tough one, huh?”

“Sumireko… I’m sorry, for everything. I-‘

“Why? Why now, do you apologize? I did it, I became a psychic prodigy. I almost broke down the barrier, but it was all for nothing.”

Sumireko turns back around and stares off into the vacuum of space.

“I wanted to make my mark on this world, but I mostly just wanted to impress you. I never wanted to abandon you or my sister, in fact, I thought I could finally succeed in my work. But I was too ambitious…”

I can hear her voice breaking as tears forming in her eyes, visible through her reflection on the glass.

“Now I’m all alone… with nobody to comfort me.”

“Sumireko… I’m here now, and I’m not leaving you again. I believe you, really, I do.”

“It’s too late to apologize…”

I walk over and stand next to her, gazing upon the stars with her.

“I thought the same way, but my journey has enlightened me. I learned to believe in the Hifuu Club, so it’s my turn to believe in you. I’m so sorry, Sumireko. I will always regret my actions, but it’s not too late. We can still make this right, just tell me what you want me to do.”

“Stop…”

“Sumireko, please… I can’t-“

“Can’t WHAT? You can’t believe I decided to challenge someone like Mima, and that I had to hide here when I lost?!”

I frantically grab Sumireko by the shoulders, my voice cracking as I yell at her.

“I CAN’T LOSE YOU AGAIN!”

“What…?”

I look down at the floor, tears forming in my eyes.

“I can’t… I’m not… strong enough…”

Sumireko is hesitant at first, but then she wraps her arms around me, returning the hug.

“I’m not… the one you should apologize to. But I’ll relay your message for her.”

“Huh…?”

“You’re speaking to a doppelganger. It’s how I visit Gensokyo, and space, I guess.”

“Oh…”

The two of us stand in silence for a bit.

“When we wake up, will you be willing to see me again?”

“That depends, are you ready to wake up and rejoin the Hifuu Club?” Sumireko thinks for a moment, but then a smile forms on her face.

“Yeah, I think I am.”

“In that case, it’s time to wake up, Sumireko.”

“Thank you, Maxwell.”

Sumireko lays motionless on a messy, unmade mattress, save for her breathing, of course. How long has it been since she last saw the outside world? Weeks? Months? Years? Who knows, for she certainly doesn’t. Her apartment rests under a blanket of darkness, a stark reminder of the bills she had avoided paying. In her mind, this would all be worth it. She would move to Gensokyo, live a fulfilling life, and leave behind a legacy that would be remembered.

But has that worked out for her? Absolutely not. She had abandoned her best friend, her club, even her own sister in the pursuit of apotheosis, and for what? Getting beaten up and lectured by a shrine maiden? Her attempts to breach the barrier attracted more attention than she could’ve possibly expected. Even with her occult powers and the occult balls, she was outmatched by the opposing force of Gensokyo.

She was left bruised and beaten, and she had lost her occult balls. One thing was made clear: she was not welcome there. Yet she remained undeterred. One night, while she was researching an occult novel under the soft candlelight, she gazed upon at the night sky, and a brilliant idea came to mind. She would go to the moon. If she could prove that she could handle the vacuum of space, then surely she could handle Gensokyo, right?

And so, she left… hoping to reach her absolution among the stars. Ascending far past human limits without proper protection, she paid no mind to any prying eyes below her. In her mind, this would finally be the proof she needed. This would set her free. Before long, she was surrounded by a vast sea of stars that spread out in all directions. She stared out into space for a moment, and she began to weep. She remembered how much her sister adored the stars, and she remembered the time spent stargazing with Renko.

That’s when she met her. The former greatest magician from a forgotten time… Mima. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, nothing more than a fleeting glimpse into the past. She had made the endless void her final resting place, hoping that she could finally put on one last show. The two beings locked eyes, and a smug grin formed on their face. Two beings that chased their prime, one from Makai, and one from the Outside World, had finally met face-to-face, and it was time to prove all that they’ve learned.

Somehow, against all odds… Sumireko won. Mima was an unbelievably powerful being, but she was lost to time, and was ultimately unprepared for the modern times. Surprised and impressed by her performance, Sumireko had been encouraged to return to Gensokyo. But… she refused, because what was the point? She had proven herself, but she had left behind everyone she knew and loved.

And so, she flew over to TORIFUNE, the space station that the Hifuu Club once visited. She made her way into the observatory, where she would forever stay. Gazing out into the stars she had never been able to properly reach until she reached her end. Or at least she would’ve had a familiar face not showed himself a few hours later. He looked significantly worse for wear, as he had a large bleeding gash across his chest, and he looked like he had been crying profusely. That didn’t matter to her though, what mattered was that it was Maxwell.

Why had he arrived? Why now, of all times? His dismissal was the reason she had left everything behind, and now he arrives at her breaking point just to cry and beg? She should’ve hurt him in that moment. Slapped him, punched him, maybe even launch him into the star-coated abyss. Yet she didn’t. As he began to apologize, he pulled her into a tight hug. Sumireko felt a warmth she hadn’t experienced in months, and now, here he was. She knew she was using a doppelganger, and that the hug was effectively null and void, but she felt comforted.

Now that the two finally had a proper reunion, only one thing was left clear:

It was time to wake up.

Flashing back to the motionless Sumireko, she crawled out of bed, donned her favorite plaid outfit and cloak, and stepped out into the gray, monotonous city she had hated for so long. This place disgusts her, everyone is a slave to the chains of capitalism. Yet even then, it was a home to her. So, there’s no point in complaining about it at this point, as it won’t change anything.

Walking along the cracked sidewalk, she makes her way to the coffee shop she used to visit with her club. Doubt lingered in her mind, but maybe… she could encounter her club again? Naturally, there was nobody there, save for a teacher and student duo who were chatting like they were best friends. Chiyuri was the first to notice the tired occultist, and her face immediately shifts from teasing to shocked. It’s not really a surprise though, Sumireko had always worn an outfit that was seen as different from the rest. So she was probably just another person who was confused by her outfit.

“Yo… isn’t that…?”

“Chiyuri, please don’t point at random-“

Yumemi is the next one to become noticeably shocked, but she does a much better job at hiding her intrigue. Not even a scholar as intelligent as her could’ve predicted this outcome, and for once, she was out of ideas on how to approach the situation.

“Ah, I see. Perhaps we should alert-“

“Uh… I think you’re too late.”

The voice Sumireko heard next almost caused her to start choking on her coffee. “Sumireko…?”

Turning around reveals none other than Renko and Maribel, both of which looks equally surprised, but Renko in particular looks like she’s about to cry. It had been so long, far too long, and the sister she had presumed dead was now right in front of her. Without missing a beat, years of bottled-up sorrow spilled out at once, and she lunges at Sumireko to hug her.

“Renko…”

“Shut up. Just SHUT UP! I don’t want to hear your excuses, I just… I just want you back…”

Sumireko hesitates at first, but then she returns the hug, her eyes starting to glisten as well.

“I’m not leaving again, Renko. I promise.”

The two stand there in silence, sharing the embrace of two despairing souls who had finally found each other again, and now, they will never be separated again.

“…Hey uh, I know this is a bad time, but is this gonna affect our attempt to enter Gensokyo…?”

Chiyuri promptly feels a firm smack on the back on her head from Yumemi.

“Not the time, Chiyuri.”

The two eventually end the hug, but Sumireko remains bewildered. “Wait… what?”

“Ah, right.” Renko says with a sheepish smile. “We should probably explain everything that’s happened.”

The group would spend the rest of the early morning getting caught up with everything that’s happened (and first introductions for Chiyuri and Yumemi). When a proper and detailed explanation of their plan was revealed, Sumireko was hesitant at first, but eventually came around to it. Maxwell probably should’ve been present for this meeting, but he obviously needed the extra sleep. He went through a lot last night, and likely needed time to process everything . Regardless, Sumireko pulled out her phone and texted a number that had been left on read for months.

“Hey Max, The Hifuu Club meeting went well. Wasn’t expecting new members, but they seem pretty cool. Chiyuri and I managed to hit it off immediately, and Yumemi functions well as a voice of reason. Lord knows we need one now that both me and Chiyuri are in the club. Anyway, we’re getting close to winter, so the days are getting shorter. Hope you’re open for one last celebratory dinner before we head out!”

* * *

My clothing is completely soaked with tears and dry blood. It might’ve just been a dream, but somehow a noticeable scar still remains on my chest, a cruel reminder of my harrowing encounter with Mima. I don’t know how long I ended up staring at the ceiling in shock, but eventually, a notification from my phone snapped me out of my trance. Picking up my phone reveals a text from none other than Sumireko herself.

The sight of Sumireko taking a selfie with the rest of the Hifuu Club is enough to put a smile on my face. Looks like I was successful in the end. So with that being said, I spend a few moments drying the tears that had lingered on my face, and I equip the outfit Maribel had bought for me. Internally, I can’t help but feel lucky that the scar formed on a spot that can easily be concealed. After all, I don’t want others to ask too many questions.

Regardless, I finish packing up my things, including the two framed photos, and I leave my apartment to meet up with the rest of the Hifuu Club at dinner. When I arrive at the restaurant, I find the Hifuu Club all waiting in front of an outside fountain. However, something seems off. Why doesn’t Renko have a reflection on the water…?

“Yo, Max!” Chiyuri calls out with a grin. “I know the water is super cool and awesome, but we’ve got more importantly things to talk about. I’m starving!” “Right, right, sorry…”

And so, the 6 of us walk into the restaurant for our last meal in the outside world. Naturally, Chiyuri is already cracking jokes.

“Damn! This place looks way better than the convenience store food!”

“Indeed.” Yumemi says with an impressed smile. “But please try to control yourself.” “I am not a child!”

“Uh huh, sure.”

“Hey, at least I don’t wear a weird rune cloak!”

Sumireko lets out an exaggerated gasp and clutches her chest.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that my cloak is the sign of a dedicated psychic!”

Renko lets out an exasperated sigh and shakes her head.

“Guys, please don't get us kicked out…”

The two of them manage to settle down after that, and we find our table and sit down. However, right when where about to order, I hear a horrifying “snap” from above, and I look up just in time to see a falling chandelier that’s hurtling towards…

“RENKO!!”

I shove Renko out of the way, but I’m too late to avoid the chandelier. But right when I’m about to get crushed, the chandelier stops midair. Sumireko had used her telekenisis to grab the chandelier, and then she moved it out of the way, saving my life.

The aftermath of the incident has clearly shaken all of us. Maribel is clinging to Renko, who is trying to comfort her sobbing friend. Chiyuri is speechless for once, and even Yumemi looks surprised by what just happened, though she’s likely more fascinated by Sumireko’s telekinesis.

“Holy crap… are you okay, Max?!”

“Yeah… I’m fine. Just a little shaken up. Thanks for saving my life.”

“Ha, it’s the least I could-“

“A LITTLE shaken up?!”

Chiyuri is essentially screaming at this point.

“You almost watched your best friend die, and you’re only a little shaken up?!”

“I-I don’t know! I’m not one to make a scene!”

“L-Lets just go…” Maribel says through a trembling voice. “Before anything else happens. It’s almost time, and we need to head to the mountain shrine.”

“Hey, are you okay? We can delay this if you need time…” Maribel gives me a grateful smile before speaking.

“I appreciate it, but I’ll be fine. I’m just experiencing the border of relief and grief after what just happened. It’s… rather hard to explain, actually.”

Right after she says that, Chiyuri cuts in with a worried voice that she’s trying to hide.

“C-Can we leave already? I’d rather not get squished by a comically large anvil next.”

“Chiyuri, seriously?” Yumemi says with an exasperated tone. “But she’s right, it’s been made clear that this place is a death trap, so we should head out. We can worry about eating later.”

Nodding in agreement, the 6 of us leave the restaurant and head towards the mountain. While we walk, I admire the surrounding forest scenery one last time, but this journey isn’t about that. We reach the interior of the shrine, and we all grab each other’s hand, forming a connected semicircle. “Okay… this is it. Is everyone ready?”

Maribel and Renko turn to each other and nod, and Renko speaks up with a confident tone.

“Underneath the stars above, we’ll break every border that separate us, we'll always be together.”

Maribel’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink as Sumireko joins in, grabbing my hand and holding it tight.

“Last time… we made the mistake of leaving each other when we needed each other the most. This time, we’ll stick together.”

Chiyuri and Yumemi share a triumphant look, and Yumemi speaks up with her usual academic tone.

“No more lies, no more societal puppets. This time, we’ll form our own academy.”

Chiyuri’s grin nearly splits her face in two.

“And if anyone tries to stop us, we’ll kick their ass!”

I let out a hearty chuckle upon hearing that, and I turn towards the (now visible) rift in the boundary.

“In that case… it’s time to move on.”

And so, we left… in search of our own separate destinies. Walking through the boundary shift leads us into a large, spacious home inside of a forest. Based on the look of things, it seems that each room was specifically created for each of us.

“Do you like it?” Maribel says with a slightly shy voice. “I spent a lot of time working on it.”

“Hell yeah!” Chiyuri yells out triumphantly “This is way better than that cramped apartment!”

Chiyuri immediately dashes into the kitchen after she says that, and Yumemi speaks up next.

“This will serve as a suitable base of operations for our future expeditions. Thank you, Maeriberii Haan. Now, I’m afraid I must ensure Chiyuri does not eat everything in the kitchen. So I wish you goodnight.”

Yumemi disappears into the kitchen, leaving the rest of us stunned. Renko is the first to speak up, however.

“Woah… did she just… pronounce your name correctly? Even I can’t do that!”

Sumireko nods in agreement.

“It would appear she have. In the meantime, I’m gonna go shower. Even the bathrooms in this place look awesome!”

Sumireko goes off into her room, which is quickly followed by the sound of running water.

“I suppose I should probably head to bed as well. We’ll probably have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, so I’ll so you two tomorrow morning. Goodnight, you two!”

And with that, I head off into my room and collapse onto the plush mattress, already falling asleep without even having a chance to feel grateful for this journey. I’ll have plenty of time to celebrate in the morning though.

* * *

As night descends upon Gensokyo, Renko and Maribel were the only ones still awake, and they had decided to spend the evening stargazing. “Hey, Renko?”

“Yes, Merry?”

“You know… there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Go on…”

Maribel fidgets with her hands before speaking.

“Well, there might have been a reason why we never met Yukari face-to-face, and it’s because-“ “-You were Yukari the whole time?” Maribel lets out a startled gasp.

“H-How did you-“

“You dressed exactly like her, Merry.”

“Ah… I see.”

“So… we did it. We made it to Gensokyo. How do you feel? I’m sure you’ve probably been here before, but how does it feel to be here as… well, you?”

Maribel takes a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest.

“It feels… nice. You know, being here with you. I thought I was going to lose you again at the restaurant, and I…”

“Hey, it’s okay, Merry. I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

Maribel turns to look her friend in the eyes, her eyes welling up with grateful tears.

“That means the world to me. There’s just one thing I’d like to ask you, if that’s alright.”

“Oh? I’m all ears. What would you like to ask me?”

Maribel looks off to the side, her face flushing a deep crimson.

“Will you… dance under the stars with me…?”

Renko’s eyes widen, and her face turns an equal shade of crimson.

“M-Merry…”

As she starts to walk closer, Maribel looks like she wants to cover up her face with her mob cap.

“I-I know this is sudden, but- MMPH!”

Renko had taken off her hat and held it to the side, and she kissed Maribel. Both girls were now completely red, but they closed their eyes and accepted it. They stood under the night sky and kissed while the stars shone brightly above them. The Hifuu Club will always remember this day as the day they escaped their mundane lives. But as for Maribel, she’ll remember this day…

...As the best day of her life.

Thanks for Reading! :)