DISCLAIMER: I do not own Touhou / Project Shrine Maiden; it belongs to Team Shanghai Alice / ZUN. Except, my OC's.
Starting now I will only upload one chapter each.
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Chapter Thirty Nine: Universalist

"Both maids left and I was left alone."
Zane: Now, that everyone's gone, it is really quite in here...
"I let out a small yawn and did some stretches. After I was done, something familiar caught my eye."
Zane: Don't think it was here before.
" I stood up and picked the familiar item from the night table."
Zane: Let's see... It's a letter. ... No, no, no, no, NO!
"Dropping the letter, I ran out of my room and began to look around."
Maid: Is everything alright, sir?
Zane: N-no. I mean yes. Everything's fine.
Maid: Are you sure? You look rather pale.
Zane: I'm just hungry, that's all.
Maid: Well, if that's the case, you should head straight to the dining area downstairs.
Zane: I definitely will.
" I decided to completely ignore the letter and head to the dining hall, as the maid suggested. Despite that decision, I still was thinking about it on the way."
Zane: It could belong to anyone. There wasn't exactly my name written on it. Or was there? I am, probably, over-thinking it...
?: You really are, if you are ignoring everyone around you.
" I was buried so deep in my thoughts that I nearly jumped when someone called out for me."
Zane: Oh, hey Nanashi. I didn't see you there.
"Nanashi was standing behind me, with a wide smile on her face."
Nanashi: In the state you were a minute ago, you wouldn't even notice if someone would get killed in front of you. ... I am not planning anything so you can stop looking at me like that...
Zane: I was just waiting for you to start doing something completely random, just like last time.
Nanshi: So you still think I'm weird...
Zane: No. I'm just teasing you.
Nanashi: Wha- Alright, you got me this time.
Zane: My jokes, along with my sense of humour, are terrible, I know. So where are you headed?
Nanashi: Back to my room. I don't really like crowds, so I asked the maids to bring my food there.
Zane: What if I change your mind?
Nanashi: You are always welcome to try.
Zane: Well, there won't be an actual "crowd". If I remember correctly, there will be 6 people that live and work here, me and my friends and, maybe, a few maids for decoration.
Nanashi: That's rude.
Zane: But it's true. I am not sure if the mysterious guests will be joining though.
And if you are afraid that your manners won't be good enough, which I doubt, I'm sure Hinomaru will take all the "heat" on herself. Maybe "heat" isn't the correct word to use here, but you know what I mean.
Long story short, it is better, and more fun, to eat with a company.
Nanashi: Hmmm... I still don't know...
Zane: Well, that's all I got on the persuasion front.
Nanashi: I have a better idea.
Zane: Really? Let's hear it, then.
Nanashi: Why don't YOU join ME instead?
Zane: Oh? Are you hitting on me?
Nanashi: No way!
Zane: Why not?
Nanashi: Because!... Umm... Uhhh... YES OR NO?!
Zane: Well... On the one hand, that would save me from Sakuya's commentary on my manners. On the other hand, someone might get upset if I don't show up. Hmmm...
Alright, I'll join you.
Nanashi: Really?
Zane: Just give me a minute to make sure that nobody will look for me.
Nanashi: You know where my room is.
Zane: Don't regret it!
Nanashi: I won't!
"Nanashi, happily, runs away."
Zane: Now for the hard part.
" I made my way to the kitchen, where I stumbled upon Aurya."
Zane: Sup.
Aurya: Master Zane, what are you doing here? You should be in the dining room.
Zane: Yeah, about that... I decided to make company for Nanashi. You know, meeting new people, making new friends.
Aurya: Oh. I see. A question, if I may.
Zane: Ask away.
Aurya: I just wanted to know if you are aware that Lady Nanashi is... You know...
Zane: She is playing for the other team too? Well now... That's... unexpected, to be honest.
Aurya: What? Gods no! How could you even assume something like this?!
Zane: Really?...
Aurya: Ooooh... That's right... My apologies.
Zane: It's alright.
Aurya: So you don't know?
Zane: I know that everyone is keeping secrets from me, but that's about it.
Aurya: She is... How should I put it? Lady Nanashi is like one of your friends. You didn't hear it from me, though.
Zane: If she asked you to keep it a secret, why are you telling this to me then?
Aurya: There were others before you. Lady Nanashi tried to make friends, and succeeded in it, BUT her friends, eventually, found out who she really was and...
Zane: They began to fear her. To hate her, even. Best friends ever, don't you say?
Aurya: How do you know of this? Did she already...?
Zane: I'm afraid not. Let's just say that I know people and their nature. And trust me when I say that I've seen something that I wouldn't wish even for my worst enemy.
Aurya: I see that you don't want to talk about it so I won't ask. I will make sure that your dinner will be sent to Lady Nanashi's room, along with hers.
Also, I will inform everyone that you won't be present at the dining room.
Zane: Thank you. Wouldn't want to shame your lovely mistress with my manners. Speaking of which, how is Remi doing?
Aurya: Lady Remilia is feeling better already. She informed us that she will be taking part in tonight's feast.
Zane: That's good to hear. Wouldn't want-
Maid1: Waaaaah!
Maid2: Stop right now!
Maid3: No! Not tha-
?: Oooops...
Maid3: "Sigh."
Zane: What's going on?
Aurya: Don't ask me.
Zane: Wait a second... I'm having a Deja-Vu... Momiji, stop right now or I will starve you to death!
"Suddenly, noises form the far side of the kitchen stop and I see a pair of eyes, filled with guild, staring at me from behind one of the tables."
I was right, it is her again.
Momiji: I'm sorry...
Zane: Come on out.
Aurya: Were you really going to starve her?
Zane: It would be the same as beating your child because he/she did something wrong. If you will do it all the time, without properly explaining why it is bad to do what they did, they will either grow up fearing and hating you or they will become criminals. I might be wrong on this one though.
And no, I wasn't going to starve her. Who do you think I am?
Aurya: Just making sure.
"While we were talking, Momiji, slowly, made her way towards us."
Zane: What exactly you thought you were doing?
Momiji: I'm sorry...
Zane: No, really. I am really curious what you thought all this running around will accomplish.
Momiji: I'm sorry...
Zane: "Sigh"... You'll never learn, will you?
"I reach out my hand to pat her but Momiji immediately closes her eyes and enters the "This is where I'm getting hit" state. I lowered my hand instantly."
So this is what you think of me, huh? Learning something new every day.
"Momiji realized what is happening and started panicking."
Momiji: What? N-n-NO! You got it all wrong! I-I-I... That's not what-
Zane: I get it. You can stop freaking out now. We all had a long day, we're all tired and we're... seeing stuff. I understand.
Now, be a good girl and wait in the dining room with everyone else, alright?
"Momiji happily nods and goes to the dining room."
Aurya: That was easy. Have you ever considered being a cult leader?
Zane: Ha ha...
Aurya: But seriously, if you are so good in resolving problems, maybe you could help us with another one?
Zane: Depends. What do you need help with?
" Aurya, without saying anything, pointed in the opposite side of the kitchen, where Momiji was doing her "crash course." I looked in the direction where Aurya was pointing at."
Zane: Oh yeah, I completely forgot about her.
"I saw Letty, wearing an apron, above her usual clothes, and a cook's hat. By the looks of it, she was desperately trying to cook something."
So what exactly happened?
Aurya: Why don't you go see by yourself? Right now, I have something else I need to attend to.
Zane: Of course...
"I went to investigate the problem."
Hey Letty, what's up?
Letty: I don't remember you being blind. I'm cooking, can't you see?
Zane: Whoa now. Why don't you get off your high-horse?
Letty: Why don't you get lost and leave me be?
Zane: And this is what I get for busting you out of prison and getting you in here?
Letty: You didn't do anything.
Zane: ... You do realize I can make Hinomaru hate you, legitimately hate you, and make it so you would be thrown out on the street, right?
Letty: What do you want?
Zane: I want you to stop acting like you own the place.
"Letty stops and faces me."
Letty: I'm sorry for acting like that BUT I really need to concentrate.
Zane: Are you doing what I think you're doing?
Letty: If you are thinking that I want to impress my dear Hinomaru with my cooking, then yes.
"I notice a maid standing right next to her, with a face full of disappointment and no will to live anymore."
Zane: How is she doing?
Maid: She would take the first place...
Letty: See?
Maid: ... in the deadliest poison contest.
Letty: WHAT?!
Zane: It's that bad?
Maid: Let me put it this way: Imagine that you were supposed to feed a bunny, but instead you got into a cage with a lion, a bear and an alligator, who have an alliance while you're still alive.
Zane: Daaaamn! Letty, that's amazing!
Letty: You think so?
Zane: Of course! You must have a talent of some sort to mess up this bad.
Letty: Awww... What do I do now then?
Zane: I would suggest getting out of the kitchen before you get turned into one of the ingredients.
Letty: It's, probably, for the best... Any ideas on how I can get her attention then? She seems to like you quite a bit.
Zane: Hmm... Don't follow her all day, every day. Nobody likes stalkers. At least she doesn't, I'm pretty sure... Don't annoy her. Try to impress her by your... special traits BUT, don't overdo it!
"Lety nods and listens to everything I say."
Letty: Uhuh, uhuh. Alright, I'll try. Wish me luck!
Zane: Don't overdo it!
"Letty, being filled with determination, runs out of the kitchen."
Maid: Are you sure helping her was a good idea?
Zane: I got her out of here, didn't I? Besides, she will probably, most definitely, ignore everything I just said and will do everything her own way.
Maid: I've known her for less than an hour and I think you're absolutely right.
Thank you for your help.
Zane: Don't mention it. I am, kinda, responsible for her.
Maid: I wish you luck. You are going to need it.
Zane: Sure will. Thanks.