Alice flew through the forest at a breakneck pace, lacking all the elegance normally present in her flight. Her dolls, normally withdrawn when not in use, were fanned out at her sides. Their weapons tore down branches and shook leaves as they passed, but she paid no mind. The world around her was a blur. The only things on her mind were her jealousy towards Reimu and her longing for Marisa.

Marisa burst through the canopy behind her on her broomstick and began following. Alice winced as she realized who it was.

Why here, why now? Please, I don't want her to see me like this…

"Alice, I'm so glad I found you! Slow down!"

Alice pretended she didn't notice and kept flying. Marisa, noticing Alice's reckless flight and drawn weapons, grew even more worried than before. Marisa increased her speed to catch up.

"Alice please! I want to talk to you!"

Stop… Leave me… Please…

Alice wanted desperately to stop and look at Marisa, but the jealousy that gripped her heart wouldn't let her. The thoughts of hugging Marisa and telling her how she really feels burned away and were replaced with anger.

Marisa, being naturally faster than Alice, caught up and flew by her side. She cautiously looked at Alice's face. The face that was normally full of composure seemed shattered now. Alice held her eyes shut tight, but it was clear she'd been crying moments before.

"Alice…?"

Alice slowly opened her eyes. Her pupils, normally blue, were instead a bright green. Marisa gasped and Alice turned her head sharply, hiding her face. Marisa searched for something to say that could bring back the smile of the one she loves. Alice slowed down and the two reached a stop in the middle of the woods. Alice turned towards Marisa and gave a weak smile.

"It's okay, Marisa. You don't have to worry about me anymore."

"What do you mean, 'anymore'?! What are you talking about!"

Alice's smile faded and she looked down, trying to avoid Marisa's eyes.

"I know what you think of me. I'm not like you. I'm a monster, something to be shunned, feared, avoided. I'll just"—

"You're wrong!"

Alice looked up and saw that Marisa was on the verge of tears herself.

"You're so wrong that it hurts! I've never thought of you as a monster, not even once! Earlier today… I didn't mean it like that! You're so much more important to me than you think! Alice, I'm not afraid of you, I'm"—

"Stop! Please don't say any more. I know you're worried, but you don't have to go to such lengths for me. I'll be okay."

Marisa flew over and gently placed a hand on Alice's shoulder. Alice jumped in surprise and tears began to roll down her face. She clutched her book to her chest, knuckles white from how hard she was gripping it.

Alice spoke softly, "This should be making me happy. Why does it hurt so bad? Why does each kind word sting more than the last?"

"Let's go home, Alice. I don't know what you're planning, but it isn't gonna make you any happier. We can talk more over tea." Marisa smiled weakly.

Alice backed up, shrugging off Marisa's hand. She looked up and locked eyes with Marisa, green eyes glowing unnaturally.

She's afraid of me. She wants to calm me down so I don't cause an incident or hurt anyone. Or maybe she thinks I'm pathetic and is taking pity on me. I don't know which one of those is worse.

"I don't need you to pretend you care. If you insist on following me, I'll just have to stop you by force."

Alice flew up through the forest canopy into the open air. Marisa followed, bursting through the leaves to find dozens of dolls pointing their weapons at her. Alice calmly waved her hand and the dolls closed in.

"An ambush?! Guess she's serious about this. Well, if it's the only way to convince her…"

Marisa found a weak spot in their formation and weaved through the dolls. As soon as she made it through, several doll archers fired straight at her. Alice opened her tome and began to recite a spell.

Charred wood, blinding light.

Marisa expertly maneuvered through the hail of arrows and took aim at Alice. Just before she fired, 4 dolls with lances emerged from the leaves below, forcing her to fire at them instead. When she looked up, Alice was even further than before. Marisa charged at her.

Seven and two, never to meet.

The air shook, and two large dolls appeared in front of Alice. The red beam from the first time Marisa had seen this spell was absent, instead replaced with a black one. Marisa changed course to avoid the dolls and began firing at them, to little effect. More lance-wielding dolls charged from below, and Marisa was put on the defensive.

They would be crushed by reality.

One of the large dolls sped up, and the thread between them snapped, launching one of them directly at Marisa. The doll archers, now behind her, fired once more. Running out of places to dodge, Marisa headed straight forward, intent on grazing past the launched one and heading for Alice.

Puppeteer Sign "Tattered Thread"!

As Marisa passed the first doll, the thread between the two re-appeared suddenly, pulling the first one back, straight towards Marisa.

"What?!"

Marisa's incredible speed and battle experience allowed her to narrowly avoid it by dodging to the side. The sudden loss of forward momentum nearly allowed the lance dolls to catch up, though Marisa wasn't worried about that.

"I'm already just where I need to be!"

Marisa was only 10 feet from Alice. Alice stared defiantly into her eyes, and shouted.

"I told you, that won't work a second time! I don't use my hands to control the dolls!"

Marisa grinned, "I'm not here for your hands!"

"Wha— mmph?!"

Alice felt a soft sensation against her lips. Marisa's hands cradled Alice's face as they kissed. Alice's body, with each muscle tense and her nerves on edge, began to relax as she sunk into Marisa's embrace. The bright green possessing Alice's eyes dimmed as they regained their cool blue. After what was only a few seconds but felt like an eternity, Marisa pulled back. Alice reached up and clasped her hands over Marisa's, which were still on her face. Alice tried to hold back her tears as she spoke.

"Did you really mean what you said before we fought? I'm important to you?"

"Absolutely! I meant it more than anything I've ever said! Ever!"

Alice laughed. They held that position for several seconds, then Alice gasped as she realized what they'd done. She pulled back and hid her face behind her spellbook.

"Y-You…! We just!"

"We sure did!"

Alice lowered her tome just enough to peek over it at Marisa, who was puffed up with pride.

"You're too bold for your own good. Hmph!"

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with acting on your feelings without thinking! You should try it sometime, you might like it."

Alice lowered her book and locked eyes with Marisa.

"Maybe I will. There's something I've wanted to say to you for a long time, but was always too nervous.

Marisa, I lo"—

Marisa flew forward and wrapped her arms around Alice, pulling her into a tight embrace. Then she took Alice's shock as an opportunity to speak first.

"I LOVE YOU TOO!"

"You stole my confession!"

Alice paused for a moment, then realized what had happened once again.

"Y-YOU DO?!"

"You're not the only one who's been holding onto those feelings. I never thought you'd fall for a human, so I gave up hope. I'm so glad I was wrong…"

Floating high above the forest they held each other, their long-forgotten dreams now a part of reality.


Reimu sighed as she floated down to the now-unconscious Parsee Mizuhashi.

"Who let you out of the underworld? Oh well, at least I caught you before you caused any trouble."

Reimu nodded, satisfied she'd prevented yet another incident, then set about preparing tea.