Since I'm releasing this on Monday, the next chapter will around Friday-Sunday. Then, all will be back to schedule.

I really hope I am able to pass on the emotions, interactions and thoughts well.

This was truly one of the most extremely challenging chapters to write. Another one of similar scale was Chapter 8, which was the Night Festival. If that is Hard difficulty, this is Lunatic difficulty. Coincidentally, both happen to be the longest chapter when they were published with this one at 4.1k words (exclude author notes) while the other at 3.6k. I already have some more in the future...

Yeah, all these words just because I'm truly anxious with this chapter! Argh, enough excuses!

As always, I hope you enjoy reading the new chapter!

Chapter 13: A Final Decision to Make

Reimu ended up spending a week resting in the hospital.

In those days, nobody visited her till the late afternoon as they were occupied with their school assignments. She didn't have any relatives except for her mother, so she was left all alone. It's not like it was any different than she was at home anyway.

Aya, Satori and Suika came to visit her as often as they could.

There was however one person who didn't do it even once.

Remilia Scarlet.

It bothered Reimu.

Instead, the one who visited her daily and stayed the longest was Aya.

Keeping to her words, the tengu came as soon as she was done with her tasks in school, then right away left to visit Reimu. She also brought along her laptop for her photography work while staying with Reimu simultaneously.

Reimu thought that Aya would have pestered her about the earlier issue but it wasn't the case. Instead, she simply chatted about everyday topics such as school and others like how normal friends would do. It made the shrine maiden feel more relaxed and relieved being around her gradually.

After the stated time, Reimu was fully recovered and was allowed to go home to reciprocate. However, there was one major problem to clear before leaving.

"The medical fees…"

Reimu got a headache looking at the numbers on the paper she was holding. Even with subsidies she still has to pay a couple of hundreds which for a student who has to take care of herself, couldn't afford to fork out.

"I can help," Aya said, taking out her card in her wallet.

Reimu shook her head vigorously, "N-no need. You've done a lot for me."

Ignoring her friend's words, the tengu gave her card to the staff at the payment counter.

"Aya…"

There was much guilt shown in Reimu's face as her eyes followed the tengu's hands that slid the card on the card reader machine.

The tengu could only sigh once she pocketed the card. "Do you need me to say it out clearly for you?"

It was the first time Aya brought this up since that day of the promise.

The shrine maiden cast downwards, her fingers twisting around and fidgeting. She dared not to affirm and confirm the question.

"You know what it is, Reimu. Clear as day."

"What's not clear is already established. I owed you enough. I'll somehow find a way to pay all of it back."

The tengu signed again, a rather patient look on her face.

"I wished you owe me for a lifetime, Reimu."

Reimu's eyes dropped further, her hands clasped together. No words left her mouth to say back to those words.

Meanwhile, Aya felt satisfied. She had promised last time.

She has to wait till the deadline.

Just one more week, and I can get what I want.

When Reimu arrived at the floor of her home, she saw a door swung out in the corridor of her floor. Approaching closer as her unit was after it, there lies a certain vampire, sitting on the floor of her home while her feet rested on the ground outside of it. She had her face on her raised knees that was being hugged tightly.

It seemed as if she'd been there for a very long time, waiting.

"Remilia… you…" Reimu let out a small voice.

She could only stand there and stared at the small child-like body.

The shrine maiden slowly moved to the front and squatted down.

Remilia, why didn't you visit me in the hospital? Why stay here?

Reimu looked up at the vampire's light blue messy hair. She wasn't wearing her usual cap.

Slowly she reached out her hand and…

Sigh… these static and white visions...

Reimu laughed in her mind. She was now used to this phenomenon.

So it's Remilia's.

It was a few seconds later when her vision became coloured and focused.

Reimu is sitting on a fancy chair, on the balcony of a mansion, overlooking a large lake which seems to have a lot of mist floating on top of it. It is quite a lovely view to watch, with the cold wind which it produces providing some cooling to the balcony.

Across the table at the corner of her eye, the current Reimu recognises a person she just saw minutes ago.

"Something in your mind?"

The current Reimu was surprised.

This one was more charming and overflowing with elegance. Like a real proper high-class lady.

"Just wish that my time with you here will be over quickly."

Remilia chuckled, bowing slightly, "I must have been a terrible host for you to say that. Yet you come here every time I invite you for a tea session with me."

"I told you many times you can drop the formal talk, Remi."

"It is my wish to continue to talk like this."

The red shrine maiden can only roll her eyes, a hint of annoyance as she replied. "Whatever."

Suddenly there is a flash and a strong gust of wind as a person appears right between them. She is carrying a tray with a teapot and 2 small cups.

But there is something strange about her.

A black silhouette? The current Reimu thought.

There isn't any face to be made out and instead, it is completely black and blurry as if it is being censored by someone heavily in an R-18 rated movie. Is it another troupe that Reimu wasn't aware of? Is she being hit by them again?

"48657265277320796f7572207465612e"

"Thank you, 53616b757961."

Reimu heard of those numbers before.

Hex was it? How peculiar.

When the person spoke, she was completely muffled and also when her name was spoken.

There was only 1 possibility why this happens when it comes to memories.

The information in this memory is incomplete?

Reimu could only assume that to be the case. This person was likely something that her altered version of the Scarlet has yet to bring up. When she thought back, all her past visions only consisted of her targets and her, no one else. This was the first time someone else appeared in the visions. Since Remilia never spoke about this, naturally her mind was unable to comprehend this person's appearance.

With the explanation she came on her own, the shrine maiden refocused her thoughts back to the vision.

The person in black pours some tea from the teapot to the two cups and pushes it towards each of them respectively. She bows and vanishes, leaving no traces that she is present among the pair earlier.

Remilia sees it normal and so is Reimu in the vision.

It was clear the work of magic.

"You better drink it before it gets cold."

Reimu takes the cup a bit too aggressively and slams it on her lips. It feels quite warm and soothing such that she calms down quickly. It has this sweet aroma and taste that no one can resist. Partially why she still comes here often whenever she needs to come cooling off some steam from any previous events.

"No wonder you keep 53616b757961 around for so long. She helps you in many ways."

Remilia smiles proudly, one befitting of a proper lady "That's why she served me for a long time."

"I wonder how did you get a maid of such quality."

The vampire did not answer and instead, only smiled widely.

There is a sort of calm tranquillity in the atmosphere as nothing is left to be said.

"Reimu."

"Hm?"

"Are you going out with anyone at the moment?"

Suddenly, Reimu laughs out loudly, her hands on her stomach.

"Hahahaha! What's this all of a sudden? You are joking right?"

"I'm serious Reimu."

The vampire is still putting on her charismatic smile but there is indeed a deep level of seriousness in her voice. Reimu still takes the topic in a teasing manner though.

"No. I'm not. I doubt anyone will dare to go out with someone as busy and lazy as me."

Despite her joking manner, there is still a slight air of frustration coming out from the shrine maiden. It is as if this topic is something that bothered her for some time already.

"Hmmm…" Remilia nodded.

Momentarily, certain thoughts flash across the shrine maiden's mind. Some things that happened for these past few days with other people she met. And it all revolved around the same topic. There's too much of a coincidence at this point that even the Scarlet Devil can bring this up too when she's unlikely to do so.

There has to be something happening behind her back and she needs to investigate it right after she ends this.

The vampire falls into deep thought.

Then, as if coming to an extremely important decision has been made, she spoke with an air of authority and confidence, "If that's the case, why don't we $$$$$$%%%%%%&&&&&&&?"

"Huh?"

"!$%&$&!$&%&$&&!$&%&$&!$&$&!%"

Reimu's frown grows deeper and slowly turns into a scowl.

But the vampire continued, "Reimu, I…"

White static and vision abruptly came at that moment.

"Reimu?"

A stone-cold face was staring deeply in her view, the red eyes pouring deep into her soul.

Reimu's hands were resting comfortably on top of the soft light blue hair, and the owner of it didn't seem to mind it at all.

She pulled back her hand so hard and fast that she fell on her butt.

"Ah!"

I wish I could know more about what happened next but I probably won't get anything from all those censoring black stuff, Reimu thought as she rubbed her painful bottom.

"Reimu!"

"It's ok, it's ok," the shrine maiden reassured with a wave of her hand, smiling awkwardly. "I'm going back. Sorry to disturb you."

She recovered and was about to leave when she felt a tug on the bottom part of her shirt.

"Reimu… "

Now her patience had run out. What does she want? That's 3 times she only said my name in a row, all differed by their expressions.

Remilia placed one of her hands in her pocket and took out a blue object.

It was Cirno. She was currently sleeping on her side comfortably on the palm.

The expression on the vampire looked constrained yet she tried her best to curve her lips upwards. All it resulted was a rather awkward, scary grin that could have frightened anyone in the vicinity.

Reimu shared a look between the fairy and her friend. She understood what the message meant.

The fairy they raised together, does she still care about it for the sake of their friendship?

She felt her hands trembling as she held out her hand. Slowly but surely, she reached to the small cute fairy and gently placed on her palm. Cirno slightly moved but continued to remain asleep.

Internally, Reimu wanted to squeal at the adorableness of their little active fairy.

"Remilia, I…"

Words were stuck on her throat. Reimu didn't know what else to say.

'It's been a while since she's been with us."

There was a level of fondness with the way Remilia spoke.

"Yeah…"

Reimu petted the fairy's tiny head, her face slowly spreading into a smile as a feeling of warmth and comfort swelled within herself.

This was what both of them had done together. Their friendship was connected by this fairy. Cirno was the one that allowed her to meet Remilia. Regardless of her intentions, she did put in the effort to ensure this bond was not broken.

Yet where had it led to?

Has she even given this line of thought towards Cirno and Remilia, even if she had bad intentions originally?

Reimu could only reminisce together, the happy times that they had together.

So does the answer to who to go first… will it be the Scarlet Devil?

Or will it be the Traditional Reporter of Fantasy?

Actually… Why was the order important? Why am I thinking so hard about this?

Reimu shook her head vigorously.

I need time to clear this up

Remilia spoke up.

"Can you come to where we first meet after your appointment?"

...

"Alright."

The shrine maiden turned her back on the vampire, bringing back the fairy inside as she took one last look at the small retreating figure at the door of her neighbour.

Remilia closed her door and leaned against it.

She looked around in the pitch empty darkness of her room. Yet within that darkness, there were small pockets of light seeping through the windows of the house.

The Shrine Maiden of Paradise. Befitting of her title, that was how it was to the Scarlet Devil.

It was her new light that came into her soul after many years of darkness.

After she left, there was nothing else that mattered to her life. She always knew that she was gone forever and cannot return but she still hung up on it often.

But now… there was another person.

Reimu could also help her move on from this long continuous feeling of grief and sadness she had felt over the years. It's about time she moved and she realised it at that time she met her friend.

Because of this too, she must not let go of her.

Although there's no one else, she said it out loud.

"Sakuya... I can be with someone else other than you right?"

That same night.

The owner of the house was lying down on the bed with her hand over her forehead.

Tomorrow's is the battle...

The first big battle of these long onerous tasks.

Reimu turned her body, facing the wall while keeping her body tightly to herself.

"Yukari… what should I do? Maybe it's about time for you to advise me directly right now?"

Expectedly, there was no answer. That youkai have yet to do it even once.

"Is this why you want me to do this Yukari? To make decisions on my own?"

Reimu had a feeling that the old Reimu wasn't like this. She somehow got this image of a lazy person who wanted more so to spend her days in relaxation and peace, A proud shrine maiden that was dead set on things that she always wanted, while still maintaining her duties as the Hakurei Shrine Maiden.

That's the vague image of her past self that she had.

Yet right now…

Reimu clenched her hands into fists.

What has happened to herself? Even weeks ago, she wasn't this indecisive. This was not her style.

Reimu Hakurei had never had doubts about herself before. What she eventually had to and aimed to be was…

It was something the old her would never hesitate to think about. She would have done anything that could get back to Gensokyo to its original state. Even if it hurts her pride and well-being.

The Shrine Maiden of Paradise smirked firmly, a sudden strong sense of conviction rose within her as she came to a decision.

I will have to bring back that old personality in me. Reimu Hakurei of the past, I will not fail you tomorrow.

One week has passed.

Currently, Reimu was in the infirmary of the university. Instead of the hospital, the check-up has been brought up to Reisen.

"Your feet are quite fine now. I will simply schedule one last appointment with you in a month just to make sure there are no more leftovers."

"Alright, Doctor Inaba. Thank you for everything," Reimu said as she placed her feet into her shoes.

Reisen smiled at her 2 visitors.

"I'm surprised though, is causing leg injuries on other people your hobby now Aya? This is the 2nd time she has been here for almost the exact reason."

Aya smiled sheepishly, her hand rubbing on the back of her head, "It's just all a coincidence Reisen."

"I hope so, or this place might just be you girl's hideout for a date. And I will stand to allow that to happen."

"D-d-date?" Reimu stammered, stunned at those words.

The tengu could only stare in shock.

"Hahaha! I'm just joking," Reisen laughed. "Why are both of you taking this so seriously?"

Both of them could only return embarrassed expressions.

Suddenly, Reisen stood up to leave.

"I'll be leaving for a while, you guys can take your time to stay here to do… your thing."

Aya immediately spoke up whereas the other's red face had finally burst, the top of her head steaming with smoke and fumes.

"I think you are having the wrong idea, Reisen."

"Yes yes, I'm always wrong, just like what my master told me each time." There was a dark expression from the moon rabbit for a moment. "Just don't touch anything here while I'm gone."

"Got it."

Aya just smiled patiently as she waited for the doctor to leave.

The tengu was aware that Reisen knew what they wanted or she wouldn't have said those words.

With the moon rabbit leaving the room, the place remained deathly quiet.

The Traditional Reporter of Fantasy stood right in front of her friend, making the latter glancing up after some recovery from the previous ordeal.

"Reimu, I want to tell you, I won't be inferior to that other person. Even though I'm not everything to your liking."

She said this earnestly. Whether Reimu heard didn't matter. This was the time to say everything properly or she wouldn't get it.

Reimu shook her head. "It's not that. I know everyone has faults. You are still the kindest and gentlest person I have ever met."

"Did you remember the promise I made 2 weeks ago?" Aya's heart became excited.

Reimu gave a small nod.

Smiling widely, the tengu continued, "Do you have your answer now?"

Her dark red eyes were warm in colour as her eyes twinkle with care and fondness, one she had never shown to others before.

Reimu seemed to be contemplating her thoughts and arrived in her decision.

Resolution in her heart, she set her eyes at the tengu. "Aya, I…"

When Reimu came out of the infirmary, the sky was a bit dark with overcast clouds hanging over the town.

She entered a certain park, one where she met a scary person for the first time a long time ago.

She found the place where she needed to go and sat at a bench next to her friend. A vampire friend.

The shrine maiden sat close enough to her for their thighs to touch each other.

"You've been waiting for me for some time?"

"No," Remilia answered coldly. "I've just arrived here."

"Hmmm…."

Both of them simply wandered and looked around aimlessly at the park, letting the atmosphere of the park enveloped around them. They didn't exchange any words for some time.

Suddenly, the red shrine maiden stood up. "Let's go back, Remilia. Maybe not here."

She took a step when suddenly, she felt a tug around her waist and a huge weight was placed upon her back.

"Don't go!"

A rather desperate voice echoed in the vampire's mouth that got Reimu stunned.

"Please… don't go away from me."

Remilia's warm body was felt closely by the shrine maiden. Reimu could only look down at those small hands that were wrapped tightly around her waist desperately as if not wanting to let her go.

It made her heartbeat feel fluttery.

"Reimu… I have something to tell you."

The Shrine Maiden of Paradise knew what was coming.

She was simply waiting for it. It has to go that way.

Slowly, Reimu turned her body around. She didn't attempt to remove Remilia's hands to get it off her as a vampire strength was powerful. It remained tightly wrapped as Remilia hid her face and buried deeply on the other's bosom.

There was still some child-like behaviour left in the vampire in the end.

The Scarlet Devil looked up, resolution set on her face.

"The thing is... I… "

Words stuck on her throat. I can't say it after all. I am pathetic.

Yet, when she stared at the person she wanted to say to, she had a reassuring and comforting smile.

It was as if to say to her, Go on Remi, you can do this. Just do it!

Taking a deep breath, Remilia spoke the ultimate words.

"I love you."

...

A relieved face, and then a gentle smile. One that of a lover.

"I love you." The Scarlet Devil repeated with more passion and confidence in her voice.

Reimu quietly nodded, her hand gently sweeping through the light blue hair at the back.

What answer should she give?

"I need to tell you something first."

Remilia's expression immediately turned into worry. Her hug became tight suddenly. If there was something she feared in the world, it was this moment.

"Today I met someone and she said the same thing to me. She was like you, a dear friend of mine."

"W-what is your answer?"

"I said this to her."

-xxx-

"Did you remember the promise I made 2 weeks ago?" Aya's heart became excited.

Reimu gave a small nod.

Smiling widely, the tengu continued, "Do you have your answer now?"

Her dark red eyes were warm in colour as her eyes twinkle with care and fondness, one she had never shown to others before.

Reimu seemed to be contemplating her thoughts and arrived in her decision.

Resolution in her heart, she set her eyes at the tengu. "Aya, I…"

"I'm sorry."

Aya held a pained smile on her face, "I had a feeling that will be your answer. Although it's uncomfortable to hear it myself directly."

"I don't want to deceive you, Aya. Let alone myself. You deserve someone better than me."

With her resolute voice, Reimu took a deep breath.

"In my heart, there is only one person all the time. And that person is…"

-xxx-

"Me?"

Light entered Remilia's eyes. She felt herself trembling with excitement, "That person is… me right?"

Reimu didn't reply. Instead, she bent her knees downwards to the vampire's height.

She placed her face closed to the other and placed a gentle tap on the lips of the other.

Remilia's body stiffened, she felt her tense exterior gradually warmed up and spread like a prairie fire throughout.

She has to saviour this moment. She wished to absorb every detail of this precious moment.

Her sweet smell. The soft pink lips. Those beautiful red eyes that were looking affectionately at her own. Everything and anything about that person she was touching right now, she needs to absorb them.

They gazed at each other's eyes fondly.

"Previously, I said too late and worried too much. But from now on, nothing will separate us. I promise that I will not let anyone hurt you."

Those were the words befitting of the vampire.

Reimu returned with a smile, her light brown eyes glistening against the evening skies.

Yukari, now I have taken the next step, I can't go back anymore. So if you have any 2nd thoughts, now's the right time to do it.

Suddenly, she saw sparkles of light pink hearts floating above the vampire's head.

Ah yes… Perhaps this was what the letter referred to.

This must have been the stuff that she needed to restore Gensokyo. The memories were said to be sealed into the hearts of these targets. This was why Reimu was tasked with this from the beginning.

To release the seal hearts deep within the targets.

She aimlessly reached out to those heart-shaped lights and all of it gathered around the palm of her hand before suddenly disappearing. Only a slight hot touch was left in her palm.

The two then hugged each other tightly, not letting go as the sky turned completely dark.

However, in Reimu's deeper thoughts, a dangerous thought was brewing slowly.

She knew that this was just the beginning of the end.

There was no need for this person to interact with her anymore.

It was now time for Reimu Hakurei to finally start her proper role as in incident solver.