Disclaimer: All characters are property of ZUN except for the ones that aren't.

Kogasa: This morning's announcement not surprising enough for you? Then how about this?

The Scarlet Devil 2 ~ Phantasm: Scarlet Phantasmal Rhapsody
by Cyberchao X

Chapter 1

My name is Rin Kaenbyou, but you can call me Orin. I'm among the many pets owned by Satori Komeiji, as is my closest friend, Utsuho Reiuji—Okuu for short. Lately, though, Okuu and I have been growing apart—ever since she met that vampire, Flandre Scarlet. Mistress Satori seems to think that Flandre has been a positive influence on Okuu, and while I guess I can't really disagree, it's still painful. At least Koishi-san understands me…

My back arched as I leaned into Koishi's petting. It's amazing how often things that feel nice when in cat form feel just as good, if not better, when in human form. Of course, there were plenty of things that would be difficult, if not impossible, for Koishi to do with me if I were in cat form, and it would be even harder for me to respond in kind (although she says she likes the feeling of my little cat paws massaging her breasts and actually prefers it to my human hands—I guess I understand how soft they are, but I'm always afraid that I'll get too caught up in the moment and accidentally let my claws out). So here I was, looking humanoid aside from the ears and tails but still purring like a kitten and doing just as much head-nuzzling. Sometimes it's just best to let the feline instincts run free.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical the first time that Koishi came on to me. I'd always trusted her as someone I could go to when I needed to talk about something (there was no "talking" with Satori, because she knew everything you were going to say before you said it), but I'd never thought of her as anything more—and besides, she was the mistress's sister. I had expressed concerns about this—namely, that there was no way such a relationship could be kept secret from Satori—but Koishi assured me that Satori had already seen her intentions and had expressed, if not necessarily approval, a willingness to keep out of it and let it play out as it may. And it…certainly did. Oh, did it ever. It felt really good, too. But today, my heart just wasn't in it, and Koishi noticed it.

"What's wrong, Orin-chan? You seem distant."

"It's…nothing."

"It's Okuu, isn't it? You're still hung up about her relationship with Flandre-san."

"That's…that's none of my concern. Okuu can have other friends if she wants to."

"But you're worried that it might not just be another friend."

"That? I don't see it. Besides, why wouldn't I want her to be happy?"

"Because Okuu is the one you love the most, right? And you feel jealous."

"Th-that's…" Patently ridiculous is what it is; I've got a lover right here, don't I? "Perhaps I should go. Spend some time alone or something." Koishi understood what I wanted, and we parted ways.

Satori and Utsuho were just about to leave when I arrived back home—headed for the Scarlet Devil Mansion, no doubt. "Hey, Orin! I was just about to head out to see Flan-chan! You wanna come along?"

"…Me?"

"Yeah! You're my best friend; I'm sure you and Flan-chan would be great friends as well."

"…Well, if I wouldn't be imposing…thank you. I'd love to."

"You…brought along an extra guest," Remilia Scarlet said, surprised.

"Okuu invited her along. Figures that since she and Orin are great friends and she and Flandre are great friends, Orin and Flandre should make great friends, too."

"Is she…"

"Okuu is very…innocent."

"Flan-chan was like that too for awhile, or so I thought. It may have just been an act." I wanted to hear more of Satori and Remilia's conversation, but Okuu was pulling me along, bringing me towards Flandre's room.

This was my first trip to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and I was amazed at how big it was. It didn't seem possible, looking at it from the outside, that it could be this big. Finally, we got to Flandre's room. "Okuu-chaaaa~" Flandre trailed off. "You brought a friend along?"

"Uh-huh! This is Orin, and she's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. I'm sure we'll all have a great time together."

"O-okay…" Flandre was clearly disappointed, confirming my suspicions that Flandre, at the very least, seemed to see Utsuho as at least a potential girlfriend. This, too, seemed ridiculous—Okuu had the power of the sun, and Flandre was a vampire. The two couldn't be bigger opposites. And yet, that childish enthusiasm that I found so refreshing in Utsuho was also present in Flandre, and it was undeniable how Flandre seemed drawn to Utsuho, even when "playing" highly dangerous games involving danmaku (naturally she was all too happy to try to blow me up). And for some reason, I couldn't really get angry at Flandre for attacking me—couldn't really blame Utsuho if she were in love with the vampire. She had a certain "charisma"—a certain strength of character as well as a graceful…beauty? She saw me as a rival and got defensive; I can understand that. Though personally, I think she's got the upper hand right now anyway. She seems to hold more of Utsuho's heart, and she's definitely very cute…

Wait, what? Which one am I supposed to be jealous of, Flandre or Utsuho? Because that last internal monologue sounded more like the latter. Well, regardless of whom it is I'm trying to impress, I definitely need to step up my game. Just wait and see…I won't give up so easily.

CCX: Well, I think you're plenty beautiful, Orin. Twin braids, red hair…it's actually kind of odd that Orin isn't higher up my list of favorite characters.

Kogasa: So, yeah, I definitely think you gave the readers more than their fair share of surprises. An Orin/Koishi relationship and a very uncertain Orin/Utsuho/Flandre love triangle…

CCX: Only question is, how will we come up with enough narrators?

Kogasa: You'll manage! Besides, you can reuse the ones that you've already used in The Scarlet Devil, right?

CCX: Good point. Ja ne!