Grimoire of Distant Memories
~ Touhou Project ~
written by OmegaTexnos
Chapter 10 : Paradigm Shift
I think there's a saying which was taught to me a long time ago. It says 'every action will always produce a result, whether you realize it or not. Every hard work will always be rewarded, whether you figured out that reward or not'. Ah, I remember about studying magic before...it's so complex that I finally cried in hopelessness, I hate seeing everyone ridiculing me and ignoring my presence regardless of all my efforts this time trying to get better on what I lack.
Why...why can't I seem to figure out about this lesson? Why am I always failing so horribly in front of everyone? I guess I wasn't cut out for studying at all.
There she is, in my own state of depression, she embraces me from behind. Feeling of warmth fills my heart, and I began to see the light...finally after being shut inside this darkness for a really long time, having no control over my own life. I began to see that light where I eventually understand that I have the ability to change my own fate depending on my actions.
"Marisa, everyone has things they're good and not good at. To me, you don't have to be a good student at all..."
I just want you to be yourself, not someone else you aim for
That's the Marisa I like
You will eventually shine brighter than the stars
Because inside of you, I've seen that kind of light
Just waiting to be unleashed
This was the moment of my first 'Paradigm Shift', where I began to see things in a whole new light. That's the time when I start smiling a lot more, and I realize that my habit of smiling eases a lot of problems happening in my life. That other saying was right 'A smile is the curve that sets everything right'
Though nowadays you use that smile to successfully troll someone for the lulz. Yes you guys are doing it right, now stop fantasizing about me doing ecchi stuff with Reimu and Alice please...I'm not that kind girl...at least not in this story. Oh wait, at the second thought...NOOOOOO...me and Alice...me and Reimu.
Did I really have that kind of attraction towards another girl? Damn...it, seriously damn it. Dear author, you should probably stop reading too much yuri doujins. Once again I'm being portrayed as a weird character uguuuu...
Still, I can live with that since Alice was incredible last night...her cooking was really great. And Reimu frequently gets my body hot and steamy...during our danmaku battles. Okay, before I start talking about more weird stuff...let me continue on with the story.
Afternoon - Yukkuri Village Square
Slowly descending my flight by the time I reached the square, I searched for a place secluded enough from this afternoon heat. Scanning through the entire area, I had found some perfect place to do so, it's right under the a big tree at the far corner of this square. There's someone sitting on the stone bench beneath this tree, judging from that hat and crow wings...damn why did I have to meet up with her at such unexpected time?
"MARISA! Come here, come here!" dat crow tengu turns onto my direction and waved at me while shouting out loud to the point it seems really awkward and embarrassing. I quickly ran to her place while ignoring all the whispering sounds from the villagers, and okay I don't know why there's some number of girls that heavily blushes when I glanced at their direction.
"What the hell are you doing here, Aya?" feeling tad confused by her sudden appearance, I sat beside her and awaited for her response. She giggles a lot when she intently stares at my face...
"You know Marisa...I think recently you look much more cuter than usual..."
"EMBARRASSING LINES ARE NOT ALLOWED!"
SMACK!
Out of irritation, I slammed my fist onto that tengu's forehead...though it's really strange since she usually be able to easily dodge it with her speed. Anyway, I'm tired of seeing that same usual pick up line when you tried to hit on someone.
"Awww...that hurts Marisa, and I don't really see the Aika in you, even though your punchline was on time."
What the? How could she know her personality...did she by chance read that manga too?
"I also can't even imagine a perverted Tengu like you being as innocent as Akari."
I thrown out another question relevant to the characters' personality in the manga I've read back then while in Gensokyo, Patchy has lots of manga on her library which makes me wanna secretly borrow. Though when I'm looking forward to borrow some dirty book, oh yeah it's dirty because it's about sewers, Kirisame Marisa is a good girl...believe it! Dunno if it's because of the defense mechanism of the magic library but it seems when I got home, that book is switched by few volumes of this manga...and that what's gets me to reading it until finish.
Patchy also said that it's her favorite manga and she lent me all of the volumes. The manga was really relaxing to read while sitting between the trees and mushrooms in the forest of magic. So yeah, try reading that manga* it's really good and I think I've fallen in love with Akari...not in that weird way but I like her because of her personality. Damn, if only Reimu was like that..no at the second thought I don't want her to act like that at all, it will be a horror to see...
* The manga Marisa and Aya were talking about is ARIA, story and artwork by Kozue Amano.
"I consider myself to be a splitting image of her you know." Aya puffs out her chest in pride while talking in a really loud annoying voice, she really ticks me off because she likes to attract some unwanted attention from the passerby around here towards me, that's just my observation from her hyperactive behavior though.
"No, it's disgusting just to think about it..."
"Waaaaahhh...another punchline, you're so mean..." she tries to imitate Akari when on sulking mode and fails horribly while doing so...but at the second thought Aya looks really cu-
Suddenly...
"Did I turn you on?"
"GYAAAAHH!"
I felt her face so close to me, our foreheads almost touching. That smile she's given me while we're on is really damn creepy!
THWACK!
"Senpai, you're getting way too overboard. We're going back now, no compromises."
Momiji goes back unnoticed behind Aya and smacked her head with full power, uh...I won't give ya a guarantee if she ever suffers from brain damage and starts saying some crazy stuff. Well I do notice her hiding in the back and giggling about when me and Aya were just throwing out random jokes.
"Hey, Momiji. Where are you guys going...didn't you guys ran a newspaper company? That way's going through the village outskirts if I remembered correctly."
I took a glance towards the way they're going out of curiosity, it leads into a densely forested road and I don't really know for sure where are these roads leading to.
"Nope, Marisa. Since there's not much things going on, our company went bankrupt since last year. Sorry for not telling you..."
Both of them start taking a walk towards that lengthy road throughout the forest. I found that to be really strange since...both of them could fly, right?
"Ah, it's okay. By the way, why did you guys take the road instead of flying? And you haven't answered my question yet, where are you going..."
SWOOOOSSHH!
"That's a secret!" Aya flew out with incredible speed towards the road direction, Momiji quickly follows behind her...the flight leaves a trail of smoke that blocks out my sight.
Hmm...what is this? A handbag suddenly falls from the sky, either of them who held this bag must be reckless enough to drop this item which is possibly a clue. As the bag comes closer to my sight, I've just found out something really important...on the bag's body there's...
A cucumber picture, symbol of the Kappa.
Which leads me to Nitori, I wonder how are these folks related to her? Oh well, I could always drop by on that peculiar place...
Afternoon - Lotus Asia Kourindou
"Yo...mister four-eyes! What'cha doin...huh...?"
Really odd, why is there no one on the shop. Rinnosuke isn't the kind of person to leave things out, he's always been so organized with stuff...that is, if the people in here and Gensokyo has exact personalities. There's some difference though that I find in Alice and Reimu...they seem different than the ones I used to know back in my home world.
There I feel someone's presence behind me, a young man wearing a kimono walks in and starts greeting me.
"Ah, welcome Marisa. Mr. Morichika isn't here right now, ah pardon my recklessness for not placing the close sign and locking the door." he just made an awkward smile while brushing the back of his head, then he quickly walks towards the counter...standing behind it just like a store attendant.
"So is the store officially closed for today? Speaking of which, where is he now?"
The young man scrubs his head again, tilting it left and right, looking utterly confused about his surroundings. There he opens up something that seems like a cabinet that lies on the other side of the counter, checking some accounting notes and stuff. It seems he's just trying to distract me and himself, trying to make me change the topic, but I could probably rest easy since shortly after, he finally settles down and starts opening his mouth to speak.
"He's going to Mr. Freeman's funeral, they're going to marry next week but yeah...fate tells us otherwise."
What the hell?
"Oh I see. By the way, can you tell me something about Kawashiro Nitori?"
Whoa, at least he made me change the topic. Although I also got the answer, it wasn't really the thing I expected...sounds really disturbing.
"Isn't she your lover, Marisa?"
Why you...stop with the bad jokes already. So the people in this village thinks that every girl that close to me is my lover eh.
"Cut the jokes already will ya..." my face begins to feel hot because the mention of some really cute girl as my 'lover' in my ears..I'm really shy about this you know, please be more sensitive.
"Sorry, sorry..ahahaha. Nitori works as a scientist in that Lighthouse down that thick forested road. She sells out her really useful inventions to the villagers, you can see that we owe a great deal of gratitude to her."
Hmm...
"Speaking of which, the way through the forest to reach the Lighthouse is quite tricky. Can you give me some guidance or sorts?"
I'm thinking about something that would help me pinpoint the exact location of that place...
"Here." he gives me a piece of paper, on it there's a really well drawn map of this region, the graphics are detailed enough for me to pinpoint the waypoints from this place to various regions I haven't been to before.
"This is a pretty well-drawn map, who's the maker? Just curious, ze."
They seem to be pretty experienced on drawing, possibly doing it for more than 4 or 5 years, in addition of having an extensive knowledge about the structure of terrains. That certainly requires a lot of time traveling and exploring the entire region for a lengthy time...probably somewhere that spans several years of traveling and exploring.
"R...r-really? Ah, I made it myself you see...I'm planning to be a cartographer in the future...so...t-thank you very much! Uh well, I'm going to go cleaning in the back room, so yeah...can you please place the close sign? I'll be really grateful."
Hmm...something feels really suspicious/ That young man just seem to had a slip of tongue, didn't he? If not, why should he be so afraid and frightened when he looks really calm just before...he's definitely hiding something. I think I know 'his' true identity based on this level of skill and the extensive knowledge used behind its creation...
"HOLD IT!"
The young man stops at his track as I yelled out, he timidly turns his back towards me, just like someone who I just caught red-handed doing suspicious things.
"W-what do you want from me?" he awkwardly tries to play as a weak man to distract me from revealing his true form..
"You don't have to pretend any longer, you're actually Yakumo Ran...am I right?"
BOOOF!
"My...my, you're much sharper than I expected, Marisa. To be found out with my perfect disguise...I'm impressed with your ability."
Ahahahaha, I guess you don't think of me that much eh, Ran? I don't know should I be happy or not with the compliment...I have mixed feelings about that.
"Did Yukari sent you off for this matter?"
"That doesn't matter, I'm here to help you out."
Xxx
Ran just told me about something related to not trusting Nitori and her companions about what they will told me about the interpretation of this book. If they doesn't mention the word 'Scarlet', it means they were definitely lying and I should take some countermeasure to it in my own way.
Following the directions pointed out by the map, I eventually reached a beautiful cliff with a great towering lighthouse in it. Judging from the structure, it seems like the lighthouse was placed at the perfect location...I figure that Ran might also be the architect that suggests this location, I'm truly impressed with her abilities.
Oh well, I guess it's time for me to descend right now. I hope Nitori is present at the moment...
Late Afternoon - The Great Lighthouse
"Nitori! You there?" I knocked forth on the big double door on the Lighthouse entrance, after done with my knocking...I awaited for someone to open this locked door.
Meanwhile, the view around there seems really scenic to me...I could picture myself swimming happily in the crystal-clear waters, becoming one with the water's surface. Then I shifted my view to my surroundings, there's a beautiful flower garden right over there with wide variety of flowers...but amongst them, there's a green-haired woman wearing an umbrella which is planting the sunflowers in the vacant yard. She notices my gaze and turned her back towards me, giving a smile full of warmth..
"My, I expect you to be here sooner or later...at least before nightfall." she drops down her small shovel, placing it beside a bucket full of earth and the rest of her gardening stuffs.
She's the flower youkai, Kazami Yuuka...I could somewhat imagine her having this kind of hobby. Flower gardening definitely suits her, though I can't believe how skillfully she handled the tools like a veteran on this field of expertise.
"Such a beautiful flower garden in here, did you plant these all by yourself, Yuuka?" I came to open up with an easygoing question to lessen up the mood.
"Yes of course, I like gardening...though I presume you have something more to say than that, Marisa." she suddenly gazes intently at me just like what Yukari did, this fearful aura emanating from her totally gives me shivers.
"Ahahahaha...by the way, I actually came here to visit Nitori..." she lowers her gaze as soon as I said that.
"Sigh, guess I'm just being uptight then, she's your lover after all. Oh yeah, please say the magic word or I won't let you pass through here."
Uh...she manages to catch me off guard with her sharp timings. I guess I have no choice but to trust Ran about this matter.
"Scarlet."
"BOOO! You're wrong, the answer is..psssttt...psssttt..." Yuuka whispers some words to me...
"Hell no! That's really embarrassing to say.."
"Do it, or I won't ever let you in...except if you're opting for the second option.." she folds her umbrella, holding it down on her sides. With one of her hands making a fist...she did thought this far before...I guess that she didn't really trust me at all.
There's a reason I don't want to say it, the words she just whispered is really dirty and indecent! I don't know how a refined woman like her able to say such words with a straight face...
"Oh yeah...about those words...are you sure you want me to say it...you know that's..."
"JUST DO IT ALREADY! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW EMBARRASSED I AM WHILE SPEAKING THOSE WORDS?" Yuuka's expression turns bright red and her posture turns a bit awkward, I don't know a person like her could also feel embarrassment but..
"C-cute..." oh my, I just blurted that out. While I usually consider her as an elegant woman, suddenly bringing up her cute side like that.
"Thank you, I feel the same myself...ufufufu...now I began to understand why you have so many girls in your harem Marisa. You really flatter me..."
At least show some modesty will ya, I guess that's what makes her Yuuka I think.
"I'm just saying that you're cute when blushing like that!" why does anyone here took my words the wrong way? i'm just saying what I think as in literally, why does they take it as one of my attempts to seduce them...now, don't be held by common sense...don't be held by common sense...
"Ahahahahaha." her face turns really red and she's giggling so happily that I almost thought that she's really crazy. "You know, since I'm in a good mood I'll let you off the hook this time, but be sure to say that passage to Nitori by the time you meet her." then she continues on her gardening tasks but I just felt that she's just pretending to do some work while waiting for me to leave.
Well, I think despite her usual scary attitude...she's a really honest and strong-willed person. That makes me understand why Reimu respects her even though there's a bad blood between them both.
"Hey, where's the key...Yuuka..."
"KYAAAAHH!" Yuuka jumps in surprise as she turned back towards me and...
BOOOFFF!
"Cough...cough!" the huge clouds of smoke suddenly envelops my sight, coming from the direction where Yuuka stands. What happened to her really?
"Sniff...sniff...I have been found out..."
Momiji? What the heck are you doing here...where is Yuuka? When the clouds got finally cleared out, my vision tried to scrutinize her from bottom up. There I saw Yuuka's clothing lying on the ground, and Momiji's hands and feet were covered with some patches of earth.
"I'm not cute...please don't call me that anymore...you'll break me..."
Why does everyone seem to go crazy every time I said something to compliment them! I just want to give them a light boost for goodness sake...
"Tell me, why do you fidget so much like that when I said 'that word'? It's just me, I believe there's nothing special about myself...I believe that there's so many girls which is more attractive..."
And if you ask me, Reimu should have the biggest harem with her level of charm. While I'm in Gensokyo people doesn't act like this towards me at all damn it...
"It's not about that. I'm really surprised that you didn't even know how you could stole the hearts of these many girls so easily...it's not about appearance...while I think you're very cute like Reimu...it's your personality that makes us...ahh...uuuu..."
"Stop distracting me with your adorable behavior now. Is Nitori here? Why are you guys keep hiding things from me...I just don't understand it at all."
Perhaps I shouldn't push her so hard like this, she just fidgets around like she's been having a really horrid trauma.
"Nitori is...she is..."
"STOP IT, MOMIJI! DON'T BREAK OUR SECRET!" out in a flash, Aya flew with a blinding speed towards my direction. Then she pushes me down to the ground...now her body is lying on top of me, staring down at me with heavy breathing sound coming out from her mouth.
"You see...I don't know why but these past few days we've been getting really crazy, we just can't hold ourselves...our minds begin to think of some strange stuff. It not just towards you, Marisa...we sometimes also thought about Alice and Reimu in our minds...but since you're here...it becomes so hard to keep our restraint. We all know that this world is going to end really soon...so our animalistic desires start taking hold of...we just want to.."
STOMP!
"Pervert tengu, don't say things that will defile the innocent minds of youngsters!" I kicked her stomach and made her flew some few feets to the ground. To be honest, her harassment just now kind of made me feel a bit uptight.
My kick finally made her come to her senses, holding down her pained stomach. She stood up again and walked towards me with a sulking expression...please don't make that face, I'll get a nosebleed...why are you so evil, Aya.
"Sorry...I keep thinking weird stuff. By the way, if you want to talk to Nitori...she's resting in our wood cabin at the moment. On these past few days she's been overworking herself about a certain project we become really worried about her welfare. We just found her lying unconscious during this morning, she must have passed out...because of that..."
I see...though it seems I have to postpone my inquiry until her condition gets better, though at least...I want to pay her a visit and wish for her recovery.
"Please lead me to her."
Aya just nod at me with a bright smile. "Promise me you won't do some *beep* stuff to her when she's asleep...though I don't really mind..."
"What do you think I am! I'm not a pervert like you folks...fine lead the way then, I'll keep my promise."
Sheez, this sure is a stressful Afternoon where I have to deal with many troublesome people who always take my words the wrong way. Really, this adventure is getting even weirder for my brain to comprehend anything.
I start following Aya and Momiji down their walks toward the wood cabin. Hopefully they would bring me towards the correct place...
Speaking of which, I think Momiji will make a great actress, being able to portray Yuuka so perfectly like that it fooled me...though her disguise is finally broken just like in Ran's case.
What a strange world this place is...sigh...
End of Chapter 10