I am Louis Starsky, age nineteen, and by my side is Patchouli Knowledge of Gensokyo's Scarlet Devil Mansion. Together, we have embarked on a strange journey through many dimensions familiar and unfamiliar to me. And despite the fact that each dimension clearly exists in a different world, time somehow manages to remain consistent. The setting sun that we left behind at the Eden Colosseum followed us to the world that we are in now. Even if I were to defy all logic and say that all these universes are a part of one world, there still wouldn't be a way to explain the (seemingly nonexistent) time zone laws of this connected world...
The Road Paved in Concepts: (2-7) The Maiden Drawn to Life
"Onii-chan, If you keep sneaking girls in here while moms not around.."
A passive voice broke my gaze outside of my bedroom window. The fact that her eyes remained on a computer screen as she spoke made her warning sound empty. "It's the same girl, you know! Wait, I thought you stopped that whole Onii-chan thing."
"Well I stopped using it at school at least. Locke and the others don't seem to mind that much."
"I see." That's right, Locke accepted just about every habit we had, didn't he...?
[BGM~JsiKpv4SEh8 - "Slow Curve (Little Busters)"]
She spins the computer chair around to face us revealing a pair of pink mini-shorts and a black tanktop. Her four frizzled side braids hints that she showered recently. This is Valerie Helvetica Starsky, age thirteen. My little sister has a tendency to use my desktop computer every chance she gets. Aside from her sleep schedule, I'm pretty sure that she spends more time in my room than her own. This time, it looks like she's legitimately doing educational research on will-o'-the-wisps. That's right... the onii-chan label and enthusiasm for supernatural phenomenonwere things Valerie was known for before I left town to visit my father. Those ten months helped me to understand how much people and their lives can change in merely one year's worth of time. Now that I think about it, ever since bumping into Locke, a part of me was always curious how different this mirror world truly is...
Valerie's focal point naturally attracts itself to my partner in lavender as she starts to speak. "Hey, you still have your cosplay from yesterday. I thought you guys came from a party, not a con!"
"Val, don't worry about it. She just really likes that outfit." Patchouli stirs slightly, probably asking herself whether or not her clothes are strange.
"You tell me not to worry about it," Valerie responds. "But I just can't imagine her getting to the end of the block looking like that all day. That and I sort of want to know what she really looks like."
Good luck with that.. "Maybe some other time. I'm just here to get my phone."
"It should be in this shelf last I checked." Valerie points to the computer desk compartment that I thought it was in.
"That's good! I'm so lucky to have a little sister that goes through my things!"
"It's not like you have anything in your room worth hiding."
There's not really a point if you have a computer.. "That's not the point! Hey what's this?"
The first thing I see after opening the dresser was not my phone, but a folded letter that rested on top of it.
Valerie glances at the paper before returning to the monitor. "Oh that's right, it's a letter that my friend wrote."
"So you go through my things and use my storage?"
"..sounds an awful lot like Remy," Patchouli mumbles.
Valerie pauses before responding. "...Actually, that letter is for you."
"Huh? For me?"
"My friend wrote this while I was talking about you the other day," Valerie replies. "It doesn't really make much sense though."
Patchouli puts up an adorable curious expression until I open the letter and shift it towards her vision range. We read the strange note together.
Before you head off into the night
That stack of yours is looking light.
We should fix that!
Now that you're reading this, It's time to play a game.
Get all my clues right and your days won't be the same!
Here is the first clue!
Find the Maple Potato and then
The game will surely begin!
Oh, and you must come alone..
...
"Does this letter... mean what I think it does?"
"Focus on the clue and worry about the main idea later," Patchouli responds.
"Huh..?" Valerie's tan eyes widen after hearing our banter. "W-wait a second, I wouldn't take that letter seriously! My friend's really smart, but really random! It might not even mean anything."
"Patchouli probably wouldn't forgive me if I just ignored it." The otherworldly mage seems slightly upset that I put her on the spot. "I'm pretty sure she's into this sort of mystery."
Valerie frowns. "But It's not a mystery! I was here when she wrote it!"
"Regardless, this is an interesting message," Patchouli replies. "What will you do, Louis?"
As much as I'd like to dismiss this letter and move on, Patchouli and I have discussed this very scenario just recently. Like it or not, this mirror world exists in this myriad of universes, and ignoring it at this rate would probably do more harm than good in the end.
...
"Actually this letter reminded me of a friend that I want to visit while I'm here."
"I see," Patchouli responds with a soft smile and a nod. "Valerie, would you mind if I wait here with you?"
"..Oh snaps, surprise makeover!" Valerie outbursts after a long pause.
Patchouli tilts her head. "Surprise what..?"
"Oh no, none of that."
"Aw, please!?" Valerie pouts desperately. "She looks like she would fit big sister's old clothes and everything!"
Come to think of it, Patchouli's sizes do seem similar to my older (and shorter) sister Delilah. I'm not so sure about the bust, though..
"Is that so? That sounds interesting enough."
"But I..." What's Patchouli doing! Doesn't she get that I'm trying to spare her? Judging by her grin, she seems in favor of the idea. Ugh... "Fine. If you really want to become Val's guinea pig then I guess I can't stop you."
"I got a lot better at it!" Valerie cheers. "Just wait and see! I bet you won't even recognize her when you get back!"
"That's what I'm afraid of.. Whatever, I'm out."
I'm going to have to think of more pleasant thoughts than Patchouli's distinct image changing. I guess that starts by leaving this apartment...
"Keep a level head Louis," Patchouli calls as I open the door.
"Yeah, I will."
[Fade BGM]
Find the Maple Potato and then the game will surely begin!
I've never been a fan of potatoes. If that so-called first clue is some literal flavor, then I'm going to have some problems. Oddly enough, the first thing that came to mind was an MMORPG I used to play called Maplestory. One among our small clique called the Five Riders introduced me to that game. That same member made himself (in)famous for being completely inaccessible to the real world whenever a double experience point event was in progress. That is where the couch potato metaphor would come into play. It is unlikely that I'm on the right track thinking like this, but honestly, I'm not willing to invest too much thought into it.
The fancier part of town is at the top of Emerson Hill. This is where I decided to go on a whim. The fancy white house near the end of the second cul de sac in the area is my destination. There are no cars in the driveway, but I can't be too sure about the garage. Regardless, I hear light shuffling after pressing the doorbell once, so someone is most definitely here.
"Hey Louis."
The tall bespectacled redhead I came to see was the one who answered the door. He quickly stepped backward to allow me inside. He was already shuffling back to his living room computer chair.
"I figured you'd be here tonight."
The resident smirks before replying. "Why, because there's a 2X experience event going on right now?"
"Pretty much." I didn't actually know that though..
This is Peter McCallen, age twenty. He is the oldest Rider out of the five and the first recruit handpicked by me. He is a college student actively seeking a business major at a community college. He's also got a knack for debate and philosophy, but he tends to spend most of his group time watching the rest of us Riders go nuts during our meetings. Sometimes I wonder why he still puts up with us after all the years we spent just goofing off.
"So where have you been these past few days?" Peter asks.
"Just doing random things in random places."
Peter returns to his computer seat before replying. "Locke and the others have been worried you, you know."
If this is a mirror world, my conditions for disappearing must be different, especially considering the fact that Locke is alive. How should I go about asking about the differences of this world...
"'Ay yo Pete, I just got my grub on. You ready to hit up the maps?"
There's no mistaking that deep southern accent that just sounded on Skype voice chat. That was the voice of Madman, my twenty-one year old cousin from Georgia. He recently got into this game, so perhaps they're partied.
"Oh that's right," Peter replies. "I was about to go to the bathroom. Louis, do you think you can take over for me?"
"Sure. I may have to swap a few buttons though."
Peter gives me a thumbs up before heading towards the basement. I proceed to take the throne as the two computer guardian plushies stare me down: Penpen, the penguin from Evangelion, and a blue Prinny from the Disgaea series. That's right, Peter is a big fan of penguins isn't he..?
"Louis! What up, cuz?" Madman calls. I fumble around until I find the microphone which was hidden behind the right speaker.
"Not much, just stopping by."
"Word. You know how to lure, right?"
I collect my service fee of three nearby pizza rolls before responding. "Yeah, I got this."
[BGM~M6UapFAuKDY "Remembrance (MapleStory)"]
It's been well over five minutes now... How do I describe this awkward feeling that I have? Not too long before I arrived here, I physically fought my hardest against powerful warriors and spellcasters, and now here I am controlling this stylish virtual paladin, beating down colorful cultist monsters in front of a computer screen like old times. I never thought I'd say this isn't the time for me to be playing games, but that thought hasn't left my mind ever since sitting down. At least I haven't lost my skill. It looks like I won't accidentally get Pete's character killed any time soon, but I still wish he would hurry up.
"Ay yo Louis, what's good?" Madman asks, breaking the silence. "You seen any good anime lately?"
"Not really, I've been busy with other things," I reply honestly. My mind rapidly flashes through everyone I met since I left my original world. I suddenly remember something while thinking about one of those individuals. "Hey Madman, do you remember Kino from that anime you tried showing me a long time ago?"
"Of course man!" Madman snaps. "That's my waifu fo' life, foo!"
"Waifu..?"
"That's Quad-sama talk, yo. Quit tripping! You know that better than I do."
"I know that, but that phrase is typically for women."
Madman pauses before replying. "You for real, man?"
"Yeah, waifu is Engrish for wife, remember?" It would be tragic to use the phrase for other guys, considering his orientation...
Madman sighs. "Lou dog.. that's exactly why you should've stayed awake when I made you watch Kino's Journey! Kino ain't no dude! You find that out something like four episodes in."
"What, really?" I had no idea.. "What else do you know about hi.. about Kino?"
"The hell kind of question is that?" Madman replies instantly. "I own the series and I watched all of it at least ten times. Why are you even thinking about that now?"
Good question. "I was... just thinking about Kino one day and all of a sudden I wish I knew more about her than what I do."
Just when I remembered the option of Google, a pop-up appeared at the bottom of the game's interface.. Trade request from SnowHolder - Level 165..?
"That chick's trying to trade you ain't she?" Madman guesses. "She probably just wants to bribe us off the map. Turn her mage ass down."
People do tend to do that in this game. Some people are civil about it and others will try to rally their guild and bully weaker parties off the map. It's a dog-eat-dog game in a humorous sense... Once the private message window opens, I send the user a casual greeting, giving the female avatar in glittery pixie attire a benefit of the doubt...
Good job getting the first clue down.
But now is not the time to keep sitting around.
Let's get going!
This kind of clue is more of the same.
Just find the pet with the purple flame!
We'll continue from there!
[Fade BGM]
This message is... the next clue? Then this user is the same person that wrote the letter! Before I started to type out a response, the trade window closed and the user logged off.
"Did I miss anything?" Peter asks while coming back from the basement.
"Not really," I lie. "But I gotta get going."
"All right," Peter replies. "You should stop by the usual place next weekend. You know, so we can put the five in the Five Riders again?"
"Yeah."
I wonder if I'll really wind up doing that again - in this mirror world with a living Locke. Now's not the time to think about such things, though..
...
This kind of clue is more of the same. Just find the pet with the purple flame!
When I think about purple flame, the first thing that comes to mind is how gas stove flames are blue. I also think about the blue energies that flow from fictional characters such as M. Bison from Street Fighter and Iori Yagami from King of Fighters... That's it... I think I know where to go next!
...
Directly across the street from the high school I graduated from, a modest stone house painted blue by an amateur turns out to be my next stop. I check the backyard first to see if their pet is outside before entering the side porch and knocking. I was slightly taken aback by the figure that answered me.
"Hey, Louis! It's been so long, I barely recognized you."
"That makes two of us.."
The Rider brushes several dirty blonde strands from the front of his pale face. "You just caught me about to publish this week's 2D Tuesday Blog Post!"
"Who is it this time?"
"This week's pick is more or less for you," he answers with a hint of pride. "She's none other than your main from Soul Calibur 2."
"Ah, nice! Good old Talim." (But isn't she known as a 3D fighter..?)
"Yep! I wound up learning a lot while working on her article today. Apparently Julie Parker, her first English voice actor had little experience compared to her replacement for games three and up. I remember you saying that you preferred her older voice, didn't you?"
"Yeah. You can be a complete amateur and naturally fit the role better. Experience only means so much."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," the stout blogger agrees. "Oh, maybe I should let you in already!"
Ha. Getting lost in conversation happens to us far too frequently...
[BGM~TYRDgd3Tb44 "Aruarian Dance"]
Xavier Rockafellow, age nineteen, is who I would call the authority of recommendations, as he is practically a backlog of anime, manga and movies alike. This was his specialty, and his web series received a very respectable following. The last time I checked, however, he was getting ready to pull the plug on his show. But I could have sworn that Xavier wound up selling at least half of the posters and figurines I am seeing in his room... Actually, he specifically donated this Disappearance Yuki Nagato figurine to me last month! These alterations, and his more memorable messy long hairstyle must be another clue...
"Xavier, this room.. you're not married?"
"..What are you talking about?" Xavier replies after an awkward pause. "My wife's right there! I had to move some things around to make room for my newest additions."
Xavier points to the largest showcase area next to his closet. I immediately notice a figurine that I never seen before standing in-between two others that I know he would never part with. The new one is wearing a stylish white dress and a straw summer hat. All three of these central figurines are that of his favorite character in the anime Oreimo (and I believe anime in general).
"My bad Kuroneko, I didn't see you!" I say with a small wave. "You're looking moe as usual!"
Now I get it... I remember hearing that Xavier met his wife Bridget for the first time during Locke's wake. If Locke never died in this mirror world, that fateful encounter and his shocking haircut to follow would have never happened. I always knew that the world works in mysterious ways, but I never even thought about this!
Xavier double-clicks a folder and blows up the thumbnails before continuing. "Since you're here, I'll let you decide on which of these images I should use for the header."
All of the images displayed to me are safe-for-work images of Talim. Some of which sport outfits unfamiliar to me.. most likely because they are costumes from the newer games that I know less about. That's another thing about Xavier. He is also the authority for fighting games - from the hitboxes of normal attacks, to those little background stories that few people even care about. I always did admire this guy's passion. That reminds me...
"Remember that King of Fighters game we used to play? The one that was 3D?"
"Ah yes, that would be Maximum Impact," Xavier answers. "What about it?"
This is awkward. The topic I had in mind is on the tip of my tongue... "Who was my main again?"
Xavier thinks for a moment before answering. "Mignon Beart, if I remember correctly. You always used to pick her alternate catgirl outfit hoping it would distract me."
The funny thing about that was that it worked most of the time.. "Did Mignon ever have a sister?"
I know I used everyone in that fighting game at least once. I remember Mignon, but I don't remember Ninon at all!
"Actually she did have a sister named Ninon." The authority has spoken! "She was only in the sequels Maximum Impact 2 and Regulation-A. I don't think we played either of them together. Actually, let me see if I can go find them."
Xavier got up and fled the scene before I could tell him that he didn't have to trouble himself. Another visitor immediately replaced him and hopped on the bed next to me.
"Sup Iori."
This is the chubby black cat that had to be who the message writer was referring to. The cat rubs up against me until I start to pet his silky fur. Once the cat is content and collapses on his side, a strange white object tied to the tip of its tail comes into view. I expected the next clue to show up like this somewhere in the back of my mind.. I should have called it!
You found the next clue, but this isn't the end!
And just in case you're not getting the trend,
There's three clues left!
Two Riders remain, and the next one to see
Is the only Rider that could possibly be
a potential maiden!
[Fade BGM]
Unfortunately, I had to turn down Xavier's offer to play King of Fighters once he found it. After all, it's probably better if I take care of this as soon as possible. I can't tell whether or not that message was a coincidence, but it made me remember my stack of cards and its purpose. In theory, it would be possible to acquire a maiden from this world.. but I'm against that idea for so many reasons: First off, what good would that even do? Everyone in this world are just as powerless as I am, so it would be a waste of a slot. And besides my little sister, the only other maiden in my life that I can recall is Rosalie, the woman that I am about to visit. I don't want either one of them involved for different reasons. If I had a choice in the matter, I would probably choose the girl that played Hermione in Harry Potter.. but I don't think we'll meet even in this strange mirror world... besides, movie magic probably wouldn't mean anything anyways...
My jumbled thoughts carried me all the way to the front of a cluttered porch. Surprisingly enough, the girl I came to see was standing on its East End. It's rare that I see this Rider anywhere other than inside her house or at our meetings. She quickly peeks outside to identify me once she hears me approaching.
"I haven't seen you in a few days," she says to me. "I was starting to think that you randomly died somewhere."
"Well obviously I'm here. Too bad huh?"
This petite girl is Rosalie Gatewood, age nineteen (nicknamed Rose). Apparently, she is wearing the brown artist beret that each Rider pitched in to get for her seventeenth birthday. The reason she is wearing it over her short and curly chestnut hair is most likely the same reason she is wearing a clear plastic poncho..
"You're using your easel today huh," I say while working my way to an available plastic chair. "Did I come at a bad time?"
"That would imply that there's a good time for you to show up wouldn't it?" she answers while still studying the canvas. "I'm onto you."
"Curses. Foiled again!"
"Heh." A lot of our exchanges wind up this way, complete with me getting shot down. For the most part they're jokes, but Rose has proven several times that she can't handle them the same way I can. As a result, I decided to leave the tsukkomi role to her exclusively.
The classic wooden easel that Rose is using tends to gather dust more often than not, as the 'artist' of our group tends to do more digital artwork. Seeing her out here like this is very rare. She must have got a sudden spark of inspiration. The image appears to be that of a thin tree branch in a winter setting. So much snow is accumulated on the top of the branch that it looks unnatural - as if the branch is on the verge of breaking. Right now, Rosalie is working on adding icicles underneath the already stressed branch. I almost feel sorry for it...
"So what are you doing here?"
My eyes wind up focusing on her active paintbrush gathering a bright blue color. "I've been randomly visiting people all evening so I figured I'd keep it up."
"..So no specific reason?"
The third riddle specifically directed me to this house, but I wouldn't want to trouble Rose with something like that. I should change the subject..
"Oh I've been meaning to ask you something - about Vocaloid."
Rose steals a quick glance at me before replying, "I'm listening."
"Did Miku Hatsune ever have something like a red & round pet?"
Rose hesitates for a moment. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Fortunately Kasane's card in my deck is enough to serve as a visual aide in this question! "Does this look like anything you seen before?"
A creature like Kasane is too distinct to not remember!
"This sort of looks familiar," Rose answers and looks towards me. "But no Vocaloid character has a pet like that as far as I know. I think the name on this card is Teto's last name though. Actually, these twintails are similar to her too."
"Teto..? I'm not good with the Vocaloid names."
Rose returns the card to me before replying. "Teto is an UTAU, not a Vocaloid. Maybe this card is a fan creation of sorts? Anyways we're getting off topic."
"We are?"
"I asked why you came here.."
That's right, Rose is persistent. Now what...?
"Actually, I've been looking for someone. She's a friend of Valerie."
Rose pauses at my honest answer. "At this hour?"
"The time of day part can't be helped."
Rose decides to put her brush down before replying. "Your story doesn't add up. Do you even know where she lives?"
"Ah.. no. Not yet at least."
You know, judging from the blank stare, I should have actually reviewed what the truth was before blurting it out to Rose of all people...
"...You never did plan things out very well. If you wanted to go out and stalk a middle schooler, you could have gotten an address if you tried. Surely your sister would know where to find her."
"Huh? But.."
"If you think about it," Rose continues abruptly. "A suspicious little sister is better than a potential eyewitness stranger. Family tends to be more understanding for this sort of thing."
"Hey.. What do you think I'm trying to accomplish?"
"I'm trying not to think about it unless I have to."
"You always did love jumping to conclusions..." It's been like this ever since our sophomore year for mildly justified reasons.. Even now, I can't really blame her. Once Rose had enough of looking at me, she turned back to her painting.
"...Her name is Lyra."
"Huh?"
Rose picks up her paintbrush before continuing. "The girl you're probably looking for was at Locke's house an hour ago when I went to grab my purse."
"You really think so..?"
"How do I put it.." she answers as she starts to add more detail to the largest icicle. "She seems just as off as you are. I thought you two would have met already."
I'm starting to wonder about that... "I didn't expect you to help the prime suspect."
"What do you mean?"
"Weren't you convinced that I was a stalker a minute ago?"
Rose lets off a passive hum. "I don't even remember.."
"That's nice. You're so used to bashing me that you don't remember doing it anymore?" That's somehow sad, funny, and scary all at once.
Rose peers at me again. "What's with that grin? You're creeping me out."
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Well, I'm gonna get going now.. muahahahaha..!" For whatever reason, I decided to hop off Rosalie's porch and dash down the street while laughing maniacally...
I can't describe the kind of relationship Rose and I have if I tried. Honestly I can't say that I miss it either - especially not in comparison the Five Riders founder himself. Speaking of which, I don't see a point in waiting around for the next clue. The last one was worded in a way that suggested that would be visiting all of the Riders in this fashion. Not only is Locke the only one left, but Rose just revealed to me that the person responsible may have been by there already.
...
"Her name is Lyra."
That name... I don't personally know anyone by that name in reality or fiction. Yet that name gives me a sense of nostalgia for a different reason altogether. What if the person who's writing these letters is...
SLAM!
The thin screen door from a certain resurrected shack is thrust open once I reach my next destination. A certain heavy-set individual rushes out of the door and proceeds to vigorously shake me by the shoulder.
"Louis, I'm famous! What do?"
I waited until the hyperactive Rider released me before responding. "Give me your autograph and no one gets hurt."
"Done deal bro, done deal!"
We pound our top knuckles together after that pointless exchange. It's been ages since I was greeted in this unique way. This is our second encounter in this mirror world. This time, I am much more prepared for his existence. After all, Locke Smith is who I've come to see.
[BGM~Ov1U1JLi8SU "Carnation (Rewrite)"]
It's not only this nineteen year-old goof that induces a trip down Memory Lane, but also this tiny house's presence. Looking back at this place, it's no wonder that this place was condemned shortly after his older brother Geoffrey departed. I just realized.. if this raggedy shelter is still standing, that would also mean...
"Welcome back, Louis."
"Hey, big guy!"
That would mean that this house's owner is alive and well too. The heavier set individual who just took some beef out of the freezer is Geoffrey Smith. His business attire suggests that he recently got back from his computer maintenance job. As the sole man who held this fort down for so long, every Rider naturally agreed that his time came far too early.
"Alright, Locke. Pizza or burgers? Also Louis, will you be staying for dinner?"
I shake my head since it isn't likely. "I thought you were talking about watching your cholesterol not too long ago."
"I really should," Geoffrey responds. "My chest really has been acting up lately."
"Usually that's a sign to jump on it before it's too late."
Locke frowns at his older brother. "Geo, you never said anything about that! We're dieting starting today! We got some chicken left don't we? We'll eat those sweet peas today too."
When Locke gets going like this, is hard to calm him down. Geoffrey is just as aware of that as I am. "Alright. It's going to take longer to bake then chicken though."
"That's fine!"
If Geoffrey sticks to his guns and Locke maintains his enthusiasm, this mirror world won't have such a harsh fate in store for them. My level of spontaneity never did hold a candle to Locke's. On the other hand, Locke boasted the least natural talent out of all the Riders when it came to skills as a game developer. Regardless, his charisma, impressive sense of feedback and overall positive nature kept bringing the lot of us together at this place.. despite how nearly every other house may have been a better option.
Locke starts to clarify his earlier introduction after taking my usual seat at the left end of the living room seat that's caving in. "Rose came to grab her wallet a little while ago and our new neighbors just left. They gave us a cherry pie man! They're like freaking TV sitcom neighbors! And their daughter is something else!"
"Sounds like I missed everything."
Locke's naturally loud voice was enough to stir the black, shaggy mop that was resting at the couch's low center. Skipper, the mutt who is obviously part Terrier, proceeded to latching his forepaws to me while projecting his foul breath my way.
"You probably met her before," Locke continues. "Lyra? Your sister hangs out with her all the time."
"Lyra is your neighbor?"
Locke nods. "Yeah, she lives right across the street."
That roughly explains why she would visit Locke on her own. "I've been trying to find out more about her. I probably should've started by asking Val."
"I know a few things," Locke replies. "She's friendly and crazy smart with computers."
"Smart with computers huh?"
"Yeah, she showed me how to load those iso files I could never figure out. Turns out it was way easier than I thought. She knows a bit of programming too. She started messing around with one on my computer before she left. Hold on, let me see if I can find that program she was working on."
Locke disables the generic bouncing name screensaver and starts to operate on his surprisingly powerful desktop. It doesn't take him very long to find what he was looking for.
...!
[Fade BGM]
At first I was merely interested in how talented a middle school programmer could possibly be, but the name of this executable has me interested in the program itself.
"What kind of title is The Final Clue anyways..?" Locke asks himself as he clicks on the speaker icon to mute the music that would have played. Once he starts the program, a small wall of text immediately follows.
The objective of this game is very simple! I will give you the images of five characters and you have to arrange them in the order in which they appeared. Be careful though! You're only getting one chance and the game will simply close if you get it wrong, and you will have to start over! Well then, good luck!
Locke waited for my confirmation that I finished reading before clicking to the next page. My chest knotted up in anticipation.
Five familiar images slid from the right to the left side of the screen. Once the last one locked into its position, the names of each character revealed itself under each cute sprite: Flandre, Marisa, Patchouli, Ran, and Sakuya. There are an equal amount of buttons on the right side labeled 'first' through 'fifth.'
"Hey, these are Touhou characters!" I exclaim on impulse.
Locke nods before continuing. "If you solve it, you're supposed to get some message at the end. The puzzle's bugged though. The game says that you're supposed to put the girls in the order they appeared in, so I looked it up. Marisa started showing up before anyone here. These three are from the Scarlet Devil game. Patchouli is in stage 4, Sakuya is in stage 5, and Flandre is the extra stage. Ran appeared in a later game and..."
The program asks if Locke is sure about his answer. Once he answers yes, an all-too-familiar high pitched sound effect from Touhou plays and the program crashes.
"See? it keeps saying I'm wrong! It's a nice program since she didn't get to work on it for long, but I wish it worked right."
"Hey Locke... mind if I try it once or twice?"
Locke sighs in response. "I don't care."
Locke opens up the program grants me his seat and. I make sure to unmute the program audio before beginning...
[BGM~tKMWMS7O50g "Sky Tower (Pokemon Mystery Dungeon T/D/S)"]
The girls are obviously in alphabetical order by default, and the order that Locke used is most likely the right order in which they appeared chronologically, but... that is not the order that Lyra is looking for!
...
"Am I seriously in heaven?"
"If you can reach Nirvana from simply reading, then yes."
This crazy adventure that I became a part of started from the moment I laid eyes on Patchouli Knowledge.
"Check it out, Patchy, I landed smack-dab in the section I was looking for!"
Marisa Kirisame randomly showed up shortly after and became my first ever opponent in Danmaku.
"I am Flan! Flan I am! Can I turn you into ham?"
The noises we made excited Flandre Scarlet, and then I was forced to escape from Gensokyo for the first time.
"I am Ran Yakumo, a shikigami to master Yukari, and this is an assassination you pesky human."
Whatever noises we made traveling through dimensions eventually caused me to become Ran Yakumo's target for an ambush.
"I am just being the eyes and ears of the mansion as usual."
And then just recently, Sakuya Izayoi decided to grace me with her presence.
Put all of these facts together, and this is the order of which these characters appeared... from my perspective! I review my answer: Patchouli first, Marisa second, Flandre third, Ran fourth, Sakuya fifth. This.. is my answer.
...
A more windy sound effect plays, that I also recognize from the Touhou games; it is the sound effect used for Spell Card activation. At the same time, a red 'continue' button shows up with a reflective shine effect to follow.
"How the hell...? That doesn't make sense! I double-checked this shit on a ton of pages, so I know that ain't right!"
That's the truth of it. This whole scavenger hunt doesn't make sense, and it isn't right in the slightest. Nevertheless, I should click the attractive button and finish the game...
"I hope this little program wasn't too lame.
You've reached the end of of this, but not the game!
Next is the fun part!
The last place left for you to go
Is the one bridge with an ending down below!
You'll be sure to find us there!"
The excitable voice was relatively hard to hear, probably because of the low-quality microphone Lyra had to use to record this message. I had to turn the volume up to hear every word, so I was in for a shock at the end when the Touhou death noise that crashes the program sounded a bit too loud for comfort.
Evidently I just seen what I was supposed to, so I rise off the computer chair. "Well then... guess I'm off to see the wizard."
"Louis.. you okay man?"
Skipper starts to skitter around in circles, chasing its tail before I start my answer. "Yeah, but I got to go. Anyways Locke, Skipper... it was nice seeing you guys again."
...
This mirror world really is as mysterious as the rest of them after all. And the biggest mystery is waiting for me at a place only I should have known well. For someone like Lyra to even mention it... she really must be someone that knows everything.
TO BE CONTINUED