The city where I was born and raised is divided by a large hill called Emerson. At the top of that hill is an old stone bridge that divides the Highlands from the slums. The differences between the areas were much more apparent as I was growing up. These days the crimes within town are more evenly distributed. In fact, Peter McCallen (the only Rider that lives in the Highlands) was a victim of a house robbery while I was absent. I'm not concerned about the gradual decline of this city right now, though.

"The last place left for you to go is the one bridge with an ending down below!"

This city only has one significant bridge. The area below this bridge is a thick area of forestry that I have known since grade school. This last clue inevitably fills me with anxiety. After all, what Lyra must have meant by the latter half of her clue was-

"Louis...?"

A soft voice calls out to me as I gaze at the greenery down below. The voice's source appears to my right. I had my bizarre suspicions towards Lyra's appearance and the girl in front of me looks nothing like what I imagined. As she pushed her brand-named rectangular glasses closer to her face, her medium length raven hair bore an odd blue tint in the dusk light. Her thin pink and white horizontal striped T-Shirt emphasized a healthy bust that I thought a middle schooler could only dream about, and her violet bellbottoms looked just as expensive as the rest of her getup.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting," I finally say, forcing myself out of a trance.

"No, it's alright.."

Is this shy individual really the face of Valerie's friend that lead me here? Honestly I was expecting this girl to start dropping bombshells the moment I got here, but she seems to be having more trouble keeping eye contact than I am. I don't get it, but...

"For a moment I thought you were someone else."

"Oh..?"

I have never actually known anyone named Lyra in my lifetime, but I am more than familiar with the name and how to spell it.

"Either way it's easy to tell that you're not from this world," I continue after remembering that the one who brought me here is even more than what meets the eye. "Since we met like this, and since your beauty is beyond all reason, I assume you must be a goddess of sorts?"

"Wha..." The girl's eyes widen in shock. What's with that reaction? With all the clues that brought me here, that's the only logical answer! "Louis..! That kind of compliment is-"

"Cut and fade to black!"

Two aggressive palms blinded my vision right when the sudden voice sounded. There's someone else here? Who the heck just ambushed me?

"Hold that thought for a sec," the energetic voice continues. "It doesn't feel dramatic enough yet!"

"Huh..?" That thought didn't even get to escape my lips! As I realize this, the new girl frees one of her hands to shove it inside of my hoodie pocket. Her left arm continues to shield my eyes.

[BGM~NZYHHoJQtsM "Ocarina Interlude"]

"When I first came here, I needed a lot of time to adjust to this kind of environment. Thankfully there were people nice enough to show me how to do this the right way. And now.. I can finally talk to you like this. A moment like this... I just want it to be the best kind of memory possible. Do you know what I mean, Louis..?"

The new girl grants me vision, allowing me to lay eyes on the bashful girl once again. Behind me is the shuffling sound of the cards that the other girl snatched from me. Suddenly, she places one of the card faces directly in front of my face. A new contract has joined my deck just like that. Even though the image before me is brand new, this image is the exact opposite...

"Lyra... You're that Lyra..!"

"Hey guy," the (solved) mystery voice scolds. "You should start clarifying things to your audience before everyone gets lost!"

I'm the one that's lost, let alone the bespectacled girl that I thought was Lyra. "Are you two acquaintances?"

I might as well explain since she asked. This stranger is in for one hell of an answer though!

[Fade BGM]

"Back in middle school, when I had an art class, there was a made-up character I used to draw for a lot of different pictures. My classmates were impressed by it, so I kept doing it until early high school. I didn't come up with her name until after I stopped drawing her. I wound up naming the character Lyra, although I forgot how I came up with the name in the first place."

"Lucca's mother from Chrono Trigger," Lyra answers. "You always thought that a name like Lyra sounded better than Lara. You wished that the code to save her from a freak accident made you press the Y-button once instead of the A-button twice."

"That's a dumb reason to name anyone."

"Since it came from you, my name makes me happy."

[BGM~uBKJdlFLtFU "Eterna Forest"]

Lyra decides to shift herself next to the other girl since I wound up not facing her on my own. Her light-brown complexion hijacked that of my first elementary school crush. Her short, wavy brown hair shone with an added radiance from what was left of the sun. The combination of her stringy sea green shawl, hot pink tank top and cyan sweatpants serves as the original attire that I perceived her in. That original first colored pencil drawing, which made its comeback as the face of my new card, was the only time I drew her in that combination of clothes because I believed that they did not go well together. But when I look at it this way, it's nowhere near as tacky as I thought. I don't remember ever drawing those leather sandals though..

"Now I've really seen everything... But then, if you're the one that set up all of those clues to bring me here, then who is she?"

Lyra smirks at the blushing girl before replying. "Sounds like it's time to deliver the punchline. I had Lil Miss Mystery take this off just so the red herring idea would actually work out."

Lyra gives a spirited twirl, brandishes a lavender cloth, and wraps it around the girl's shoulders. Oh no way...

"Patchouli..?"

"Your sister Valerie has quite the sense of fashion," she replies. "I was considering asking for your opinion once we met but I... suppose that is no longer necessary..."

"Too bad Louis doesn't remember a word he said to you!" Lyra shouts. "Selective memory is the worst huh?"

"What do you mean? How can I forget what I said a couple minutes ago? All I said to Patchouli was... uhh... hold on, I know it had to be related to the fact that I... uhh... Dammit, who put these stairs here!"

Patchouli giggles cheerfully. "So you are someone who knows Louis like the back of your hand.. How interesting!"

Lyra turns around to the edge of the bridge and fingers a nearby glass cola bottle before replying.

[Fade BGM]

"There's a better way to put it.. I am every emotion Louis had as he colored me. I am the happiness from all the people who liked what they saw. I am all the failed experiments that had to be erased and thrown away - and I am the occasional hidden message that was rarely understood. I.. am.. Lyra!"

And with that statement, she high kicks the glass bottle into the forest abyss.

[BGM~HBuaEMb32lY "Hidden Land (Pokemon Mystery Dungeon T/D/S)"]

"That was a stretch for a 300 reference..."

"As long as you got it, it's all good. Yay!" Lyra lightheartedly replies to me while flailing her arms like a chicken. That motion...

"You really are like how I was back when I used to draw you.."

"Hey, blame yourself for not giving me a different personality!" Lyra replies with a smug grin. "...Switching gears for a moment. The reason I brought you to this place was to give you a warning. Long story short Louis, you're going to want to stay away from the area below this bridge for a while."

Patchouli tilts her head. "Is that area treacherous?"

"You guys have seen all sorts of dimensional tears going through different universes, right?" Lyra replies. "There's a place like that down there too, but the energies are so unstable, I wouldn't suggest going near it."

"Interesting," Patchouli hums. "What could have caused such a scene?"

...

"It doesn't really matter. If Lyra says it's dangerous then that's all there is to it."

Patchouli lets off a mild frown. "Are you not the least bit curious?"

"I have no intention of going down there. Not when there's much better places to explore."

After all, I can trust Lyra's advice on this matter for more reasons than one..

"I see."

"So that's about it for now! I am Lyra, the Maiden of this world. I strive for order, and now.. I am here to serve you all! Yay!"

There she goes flapping her arms like a chicken again. I must say, it's pretty embarrassing watching someone else perform my ancient mannerisms...

"There really is no limit to these worlds.. I almost made a big mistake trying to ignore this place. Sorry if I kept you waiting, Lyra."

Lyra waves off my reply with her gesture. "You do tend to ignore things a lot."

There are so many meanings to that statement that it stuns me for a brief moment. "You're right, and it's held me back from a lot of things. I should stop doing that, especially in this kind of place. That is why there is something I should tell you, Patchouli."

"Y-Yes...?"

There are at least two possible reasons why Patchouli has been acting so shy since this meeting. Either Patchouli is not used to such a drastic change of appearance or my sister somehow managed to mentally scar Patchouli while they were together. As cute as she is acting, I'm honestly hoping that it doesn't last forever. Perhaps she will return to normal after I tell her what's currently on my mind.

"Patchouli, I... Please give me one more chance!"

An awkward moment of silence follows. "Eh...?"

"I can't even think of anything in the world that makes me happier than getting to meet people like you and Lyra. That is why I want one more chance with the same conditions. If I manage to defeat you in a Spell Card battle, I would like you to introduce me to Remilia, the head of the mansion."

For a brief moment, Patchouli seemed understanding and sympathetic towards my plea.

"So this is what was on Louis's mind," says Lyra. "I see. Maybe he will tell you something different next time!"

"Huh?"

Patchouli clears her throat, indicating that she is ready to give her answer. "You do realize that you are breaching our previous terms like this, right? Someone like you can use a lesson in obedience. Come to think of it, I can use a secondary servant. Yes... Perhaps I will convert that thought into the terms of my victory."

"Fair enough." Technically nothing is fair about it, but for this, I am willing to put anything on the line!

[Fade BGM]

The confident glitter of an all-powerful magician returned to Patchouli's eyes. Now that I have a better look at Patchouli's makeover, those glasses used to belong to my sister Delilah and they suit her very well, let alone the rest of her! I don't think Valerie ever succeeded at makeovers quite like this...

...

"This... this cannot be happening! Why?"

But by the time the two of us migrated to the large, empty ballroom of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Patchouli's appearance magically reverted to her default lavender attire and hair. Lyra immediately contacts me from the card I was still holding to give a predictable explanation.

"I guess the best way to answer your question is 'what happens in the Mirror World stays in the Mirror World!' The next time you go to Louis's hometown, you will return to that Patricia Knoll alias of yours!"

"Huu..." Patchouli's disappointed expression clearly suggests that she was hoping to show off her modified appearance to the others. I feel sorry for her, but we have a more important matter to discuss.

"So what are the rules?"

[BGM~0IDOo7nztHA "Highland (Quest 64)"]

Patchouli sighs off the rest of her sadness before answering. "The winner will be either the first to break two Spell Cards or the first to land three direct hits on the opponent whether they are from spells or non-spells."

"All right. I understand."

The rules sound fair enough, but I feel as though I would have had a better advantage if the rules had the same sudden death vibe as before. Everyone knows that Patchouli's array of magical powers is vast.. so even if I manage to catch her off guard once, I'm going to have to be prepared to keep up my momentum until victory. I have a tough road ahead of me...

Patchouli lifts a Spell Card and creates a luminous magic circle around her before continuing. "Let me remind you that in these types of battles, danmaku may be used from any source at your disposal. For example..."

A slender hand reaches out from the shiny floor. Patchouli reaches down to grab the hand, and pulls out a familiar figure from the murky depths. Once the summoned rises to ground level, she proceeds to lock hands and foreheads with Patchouli in an aura of closeness. Once the colorful swirling energies stop, the two of them release each other and the bat wings on the back of the summoned servant sink to a neutral position.

"Koakuma..?"

She turns to me with an air of optimism. "Hello Louis! Are you well?"

"I am. How's your day been?"

Koakuma shakes her head before answering. "It's been a bit uneventful, but since Patchouli summoned me like this, that is likely to change."

I put two and two together and get twenty-two. "You're my opponent aren't you..?"

Koakuma beams with an enthusiastic grin. "I wish you luck, Louis. With that being said, I won't be holding back. I suggest that you do the same."

Two mops suddenly appear above her shoulders with the cleaning ends sticking out from each of her sides. Two buckets filled with water hang from each side. She slowly places her tools down, and the clatter causes an echo across the spacious room.

{Opposition: Koakuma - The Little Devil of Mystery}

"This should be interesting. I have no idea what you're capable of."

"It would be very troublesome if you did," says Patchouli. "We have had enough of our secrets hit the rumor mill already."

"Then are you sure that Koakuma should be facing me right now?"

Patchouli nods in response. "I have transferred a bit of my magical ability to Koakuma for this occasion. What you are about to see does not necessarily reflect Koakuma's true potential."

"You can do that?" I guess if she's able to lend me some of her power like she did before, it would be even easier to buff her familiar. "Alright then. Let's do this!"

I take a moment to look around this spacious ballroom that will be our battleground. The enormous chandeliers shimmer so brightly they distort my vision of the room, and the atmosphere of this decisive moment.

[BGM~e5892CYpH4Q "Sinister Sundown (Arranged)"]

"Try not to be too reckless with this room for everyone's sake," says Patchouli.

"Why are we fighting here anyways?"

Patchouli rubs the back of her neck before replying. "Books are fragile to the elements in general. This is a preferred place for organized duels since there are fewer objects to damage here."

"Aren't these fewer objects about a thousand times more expensive though..?"

I was suddenly forced to shift my attention from Patchouli to a sudden armada of large and luminous droplets. Koakuma decided to start her strange offense with a soaked mop in each hand. She twirls them in every which direction with ease, as if she were dual-wielding small swords. Her motions splash water all over the area. Several of the airborne droplets gain volume and start to glow bright blue. The slow, yet persistent danmaku orbs descend towards me until they touch the floor, becoming small puddles in the process.

"Do I really have to dodge rain..?"

Koakuma dips the mops in the buckets before replying. "That is for you to decide. I suggest that you decide quickly, though!"

Koakuma starts to recharge her attacks, but that's not my only worry. Several silver bubbles stay fixated high above both of us, and bright droplets fall from them in intoxicating patterns. I have an urge to position myself at the center of the calamity, but I know that my sad objective is to put a stop to the source of the pattern...

"I need you now! Lulu!"

My call summoned a large floppy hat on the ground that quickly gave birth to a cute lavender Yordle and a giant wooden staff.

"Ah, hello Lulu!" Koakuma greets while making the time to wave.

Lulu hesitates a moment just to absorb the gorgeous atmosphere of the room and bright floating spheres. "Hey Kumi! Ooh, is this some kind of party?"

"Close! I invited you to a game that I'd like to call 'pop the bubbles!'"

Lulu whips around to face me. "First 'Squash the Bug' and now this. You know, I'm starting to feel a little spoiled!"

I'm the one spoiled rotten with these kinds of options... "I bet you I can pop more!"

"You're on!"

Of course I can care less about which one of us has more projectile dexterity. The object here is to shut down these aqua turrets all while we avoid the bubbles launched from Koakuma's Dual-Mop kata. I manage to disable a few bubbles myself despite having to limit my power for the sake of this room. Just as I predicted, the precision and power of Lulu's skillshot is more than enough to make short work of the floating bubbles all while having no risk of damaging anything else. This may have been more difficult to ask of Mami Tomoe.. Together, Lulu and I manage to dry the atmosphere back to normal. Koakuma looks to Patchouli with a soft smile.

[BGM~ecy6knJNhsc "Demystify Feast (Arranged)"]

"Patchouli, I think I know what Spell Card I want to borrow!"

Patchouli pulls out a Spell Card from her mantle and warps it to her familiar's possession. "I predicted as much."

"Teehee, you read my mind," she confesses after examining the shimmering card. "Moon/Wood Sign: Satellite Sunflower! Lulu dear, this game is just like before, only a bit harder."

Lulu eagerly accepts the challenge as Koakuma dismisses her tools from earlier and raises the Spell Card high above her. The pleasing colors of the summer harvest surround her then shoot up towards the ceiling. A new series of turrets decorate the skies in the form of neon flowers each with about a dozen petals.

"This spell really is something else!" There's no point in hiding how awestruck I am, right?

"Patchouli is the one that you should be complimenting," says Koakuma with a healthy smile.

"Oh right, this is really Patchouli's card isn't it?"

Patchouli nods before entering the conversation. "One way that Koakuma likes to keep her opponents guessing is by using some select Spell Cards from my library. However, she tends to quote/unquote 'use the prettier ones' rather than plan out which Spell would aid her best."

Something about that approach feels very admirable, but there is no time to think about it now. Lulu and I have a Spell Card to take care of!

"Let's use all the colors!"

With that phrase from Lulu, the warm-up round ends and round one is underway! The two of us dance around the falling danmaku seeds while using our weapons to fight back with casts and swipes. Like Koakuma suggested, these magical flowers are much more resistant to damage than the bubbles from before. Part of that reason has to be because the sheer number of danmaku coming from these flowers are mitigating the strength of our own. It's almost as if the flowers have the intelligence to stop our attacks!

"This isn't working, we need a new plan!" Actually, we might be able to outlast it but there's no guarantee...

"I'm trying as hard as I can, Louie!"

"That makes two of us. We're outnumbered. If only we can even the odds."

"Hey, that's it!" Lulu exclaims after a brief pause. "Pix, wake up, we need you!"

Lulu lifts her cap revealing a tiny fairy on her head that seemed to be very cozy moments ago. "What is it, your majesty?"

Lulu points at the ceiling before replying. "Let's play Pixie Ping Pong with those flowers!"

"As you wish."

Pix readies himself on the tip of Lulu's index finger, then blasts off into close proximity of the flowers. He weaves around until he finds a safe zone where he can relax a bit.

Lulu nods at the development before turning to me. "Louie, aim your attacks at Pix from now on. He'll take care of the rest!"

I decide against questioning further since I think I get the idea. After all, Pix has as much magic power as Lulu, if not more. I launch a concentrated gale of energy at Pix, who whips up a barrier in response. After the seed danmaku failed to tag my attack from its unique angle, Pix backsteps and then sends the attack at the group of neon flowers at a surprisingly fast pace. The attack collides and several flowers shattered in the process! Koakuma quickly raises her card hand to send out replacement danmaku.

"Quick Pix, let's do the Bandle Bomb!" Lulu shouts as she fires a Glitterlance ray at Pix. Pix catches the shot, amplifies it, then sends a much larger beam towards the ground. Together, the duo seized an opportunity to attack the true source of the danmaku - the card itself!"

[Fade BGM]

"Ah!" was all that Koakuma managed to say before the piercing light tagged the card and shattered the ceiling flower patch. She sighs after assessing the obvious situation. "Not bad guys. You got me. Sorry, Patchouli!"

Lulu's opaqueness begins to fade once our victory has been confirmed. "You guys really know how to have a good time! I should start taking notes once I learn how to write!"

Once Lulu vanishes, Patchouli walks back down the stairs to our elevation. "You never use any of my more powerful Spell Cards..."

"A proper subordinate leaves the more scary attacks to their superiors!" she replies with a playful tongue.

"Hey, that makes sense!"

"It does not!" Patchouli snaps. "A proper subordinate should prioritize trying to prevent foes from reaching me!"

"It looks like she was trying hard to me.. anyways does that mean that you're facing me next?"

Patchouli sighs off what was left of the argument before answering. "That is correct. Louis. The real-"

BEEP!

The lights of the ballroom shut off in an instant, leaving only the full moonlight shining from the high windows.

"Blast it, wrong button! Oh well..."

A voice with an alluring accent sounds from the top of the stairs. Two figures appear to be up there, but it's too dark to tell.

"I-I just remembered that have some laundry to finish!" sounds Koakuma's voice. I try to locate her in the dim setting, but my eyes fail me.

"There seems to be a merry little gathering in the ballroom this evening," the appealing accent continues. "I don't know what bothers me more. The fact that I was not invited or the fact that I, of all people, was not aware of it in the first place!"

The chandeliers shine with light again, but with a scarlet red tint this time. The light is just enough to reveal the two figures that stood back-to-back on higher ground. One of them turns out to be Sakuya Izayoi, the mansion's head maid. As for the other...

"Remy..."

The shorter individual stood in an open stance overflowing with pride. Her ruby eyes seemed to glow in the dark and her short periwinkle hair just about topped the sight of the full moon outside. A pair of ominous pair of bat wings sprout from the individual just when a large spotlight hits her. It really is Remilia Scarlet... the one I wanted to see for a long time! She starts to walk down the steps with the spotlight trailing her and Sakuya walking in her shadow with a large remote control in her hands.

"Rumor has it that you've been hiding a strange boy in my mansion for a day or so," says Remilia. "Is this true Patchy?"

I just knew Patchouli would get in trouble this way! I can fix this! "I'm Louis Nineteen, age Starsky! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"

"Louis, what are you..!"

What does it look like I'm doing? I'm bowing my head and giving an impromptu introduction! I probably forgot to say something important because of how sudden this is...

".. and he does something amusing right off the bat," sounds Sakuya.

"Amusing indeed... You may rise by the way."

[BGM~5uzvLbnmC_w "Welcome to the Devil's Castle!"]

I obey her and open my eyes to the full lights of the ballroom. Remilia Scarlet is now standing directly in front of me complete with her red Mary Janes and her pretty pink dress with a design that sits on the border of youth and maturity. I wind up rising to her height once I adjust myself to one knee. "This is the boy huh? Someone like this has been running off with my dear friend and playing around with my little sister.."

She peers into my eyes relentlessly, but for some reason, I don't feel any tension. At this rate, I may be able to do more than babble!

"Hope I didn't cause too much trouble."

"Nobody else seems to mind in the long run - especially not the shut-in of the bunch." She looks towards Patchouli with that statement, whose mind seems to be swarming with several muddled thoughts. "The various rumors escalated to the point where I just had to see the what kind of person is responsible."

I wonder how many of the rumors are actually true...

"I'm just a random guy living a fulfilling lifestyle, and meeting you makes it closer to being complete."

Remilia chuckles silently. I'm not sure if I spoke my mind properly that time.. "Hahaha, what? Where do people like these come from? Wherever it is, bring me more. Maybe I'll start getting more of the respect that I deserve!"

"You have a hard time getting respect?"

Remilia forges a more serious expression as she thinks about my question for a moment. "Actually, these two before me are as good as it gets. I'd trust their sense of judgement with my life if it were ever necessary to. Speaking of which.. you somehow managed to unanimously pique everyone's interest which is extremely rare, mind you. What is your business here anyhow?"

If only I actually had business here. The aura that Remilia carries makes talking to her really enjoyable. I already decided that I want more opportunities to associate with the people of the mansion like this. So maybe...

"Miss Scarlet... I am here to pledge loyalty to the people of the Scarlet Devil M-"

THWACK!

The flat end of a thick book was applied directly to my forehead thanks to Patchouli. Remilia wound up getting a great kick out of that reaction.

"Gyahahaha! This kid's like a gachapon!" Remilia cries. "There's no telling what's going to come out of his mouth!"

Patchouli stuffs the book back into her mantle before replying. "You'll have to excuse this nut. He tends to get starstruck around certain people. Actually the duel that you witnessed happened all because Louis wanted to meet you in person."

"Is that so? Sakuya did mention something about him not being from Gensokyo.." She wanders off in thought before continuing. "I have an offer for you, boy. There is a certain shrine that I want to pay a visit to tomorrow morning. You are hereby welcome to accompany Sakuya and I on the trip; Patchouli too if she's going."

[Fade BGM]

That proposal drew surprise from everyone else in the room (myself included). I was happy with just this scene, but just thinking about that proposal gives me goosebumps.

"Is that really okay?"

"I don't see why not," Remilia replies. "Besides, I have this dominating intuition that it would be more interesting if you were to tag along. It is probably the same kind of feeling that's gathered Patchouli's attention all this time."

"In that case, I'll do it if there are no objections."

Sakuya answers first with a nod. "Mistress Remilia's wishes are my own."

That just leaves Patchouli, who seems just as surprised with this development as I am. Suddenly I remember that when I first brought this potential introduction up, Patchouli predicted that as I was, the interview would end badly. Did I somehow improve myself up to par in such a short time, or were Patchouli's predictions slightly off? I guess we'll never know.

"Two handfuls in one party... I may not last very long at this rate."

[BGM~Lj1MLNWWRms "End of Time"]

Just like the night before, I am to sleep in the guest room, only this time, Remilia is the one who permitted it herself. As much as I would enjoy talking to the nocturnal mansion head more, that encounter took my remaining energy. Besides, now I have something to look forward to in the morning! That is why I ultimately decided to turn in for the night. Once I retreated to the guest room, Lyra decided to join me as I started to wind down. Patchouli joined me shortly after.

"That first impression seemed to go rather well."

Patchouli smirks before responding. "That is no surprise, seeing as you looked ready to kiss her feet if she told you to."

"No way! Well, maybe if she asked nicely..."

"..." I just said that to mess with her, but honestly, I wouldn't know how to react if she were that kind of person. "Remilia prefers people with a sense of pride for the record."

"Darn. I don't have any of that on my side. I have randomness though!"

Patchouli tilts her head in response. "Randomness..? There are dozens of qualities and faults that can be said about you, and randomness is not one of them."

Lyra seems to have focused on her since that statement.

"That can't be right. Are you saying that you knew that I was going to pledge loyalty to this place?"

"That did take me by surprise," Patchouli confesses. "However, thinking back on your past actions, I should have come to expect it."

"What do you mean?"

Patchouli takes a seat on a far corner of the bed and faces me to verify that I am paying attention. "Your actions may seem spontaneous on the surface, but the truth is quite the opposite. You have a tendency to say and do things that are in others' best interests as long as you have an idea of what they are. That is where your knowledge of places like Gensokyo come into play. If you know what it takes to satisfy people, you will stop at virtually nothing to reach that goal. You were also this way in your original world, according to your sister.

"Good intentions never really lead to anything good in my world, though. Anyways, that's some amazing deductive reasoning." I managed a calm response on the surface, but just about every other part of me is in shock. Just what did Valerie say to her..?

"Even if you say that, I am missing something very important about you, and I still have no clue what it is." Patchouli yawns and leans on the headboard. Her tired expression is particularly attractive. I wonder what her sleeping face would look like..

Lyra carelessly falls backwards on the bed between us. "It sounds to me like you're not too far off from a flag event if you're thinking like that!"

"How about no!"

Patchouli raises an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

"Basically," Lyra starts. "It means that if you're curious enough about something in a relationship, karma will see to it that you'll discover everything that you need to know."

"I see," Patchouli replies with a sleepy grin. "In that case, I will be looking forward to this event."

"Yeah, good luck with that."

Patchouli and I extended our evening by keeping up our small exchanges until both of us started nodding off. Even though we eventually called it a night, both of us realized that tomorrow morning is bound to be just as fun. After all, there's a whole world filled with tons of interesting people outside of this mansion... and tomorrow will be my long anticipated debut. With that being said, one question remains:

Is it me that needs to prepare for Gensokyo, or is it Gensokyo that needs to prepare for me?

[BGM~2ekCEPceW_g "A Corner of Memory(Persona 4)"]

It is decided that Louis Starsky will finally get to see the Gensokyo outside of the mansion...
It is decided that he will meet more denizens of Gensokyo on this day than ever before...
It is also decided that a major revelation will be discovered on this day...
Although the clues have started and accumulated since the beginning,
and although some among us may already be aware...
What remains unknown is how everyone will respond when that time comes...
What remains unknown is what will change and what will stay the same...
A definitive milestone is approaching.
Some will continue to follow the road, newcomers will enter, and others will leave...
When that time comes and passes... what will you do..?

Season Two Milestone: The Gensokyo Tour. Coming this Christmas 2013 Holiday!