I'm trying out something new with this experimental story - a combination of genres that's way out of my comfort zone. I don't expect this to be serious or structured work, just having fun with it and seeing where it takes me. It's going to be a wild ride where anything could happen, and let's face it, I'll probably leave it unfinished or cut it short. But here's the thing, I don't want to worry about the specs, I just wanna have fun and challenge myself. I can't promise you how many chapters this will be.
As Yukari revealed the shocking changes that had occurred in my absence, a hundred questions swirled through my mind, each one clamoring to be answered. Yet, despite the rush of emotions that I felt, my expression remained blank. I knew that none of the questions that were plaguing me could provide answers for one another.
I looked at Yukari, hoping that she could provide some clarity, but the reality of the situation was overwhelming. The world had evolved in my absence, and I had been left behind. It was a daunting thought, and I knew that I had to find a way to catch up and navigate this new reality.
Amidst the flurry of emotions and the jumbled questions that plagued my mind, Yukari looked at me with a gentle expression. "I know that there's a lot to digest right now, but just trust me and come with me, okay?" she said reassuringly.
Before I could even agree, she had already taken hold of my arm and was pulling me toward the gap that would transport us to another realm. As I emerged from the gap, my surroundings changed, and I found myself in a traditional Japanese room.
The scent of wood lingered in the air, and I found the atmosphere to be both calming and unfamiliar. Despite the uncertainty, I trusted that Yukari knew what she was doing, and with a deep breath.
As I took in my new surroundings, I noticed an unfamiliar scent wafting in from outside the room. It was a distinctive combination of fox and cat, and I couldn't help but wonder if it belonged to Yukari's new Shikigami.
"Is that Tamamo?" I asked Yukari, my excitement rising at the thought of seeing an old acquaintance once again. The irking presence was the same that had accompanied Tamamo in the past, and the familiarity brought back fond memories of good times long gone.
Excitement coursed through me as I recognized the familiar presence of Tamamo outside the room, and without a second thought, I began to spread my scroll. My hand moved swiftly, crafting an eastern dragon made of ink, and I set its fear factor to moderate.
However, my excitement was short-lived as Yukari abruptly stopped me, her tone making my mood drop instantly. "I know what you are planning, but this is my house," she said sternly. "I would rather not have it damaged unnecessarily."
My impulsive actions seemed to have upset her, and I realized that I too was not pleased with the way she had halted my plans.
Yukari spoke with a hint of happiness, "Are you perhaps feeling jealous?" Her words caused my mood to sour, as I struggled to comprehend where her question was coming from.
"No, of course not! I'm not one to get jealous over something so trivial," I exclaimed, my tone now carrying a touch of anger. Yukari's insinuation that I was feeling envious had irked me, and I was determined to set things straight.
"And as for you," I continued, my tone laced with contempt, "Don't go acting all high and mighty as if you know everything because you don't. And don't even think for a second that I've ever harbored any feelings for you!" I realized that my words had taken on a bit of a tsundere-like quality, and I struggled to hide my embarrassment.
Despite my stern reprimands, Yukari looked far too pleased with herself for my liking. As I began to tuck my scroll away, ready to leave, she took hold of my arm and kissed me. I was outraged - how dare she do that! She knew that I disliked kisses, especially those coming from her. There was no way that I was going to react positively to this kind of behavior.
As she pulled away from the kiss, I couldn't even bear to look at her. There was no way she'd see me blush - my ink body was incapable of flushing. Yet, she made a comment that made me deeply embarrassed, "Your face has some white spots, especially on your cheeks." Mortified, I immediately looked away, attempting to hide my face from her view. A small part of me lamented the fact that my own body had betrayed me so easily.
Yukari spoke loudly, instructing Ran to brew some tea for two. The fox shikigami quickly scurried away, vanishing from sight as she went about her task. Though Yukari seemed at ease, I remained hesitant and kept my distance.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I tentatively asked, "So, have you made any new friends?" Despite my misgivings about her, I couldn't help but be curious about Yukari's relationships with others. After all, she had always been known for her off-putting attitude, and I couldn't quite figure out why I was even friends with her in the first place. The emphasis on the word friends was intentional - for now, at least, that was the truth.
"Perhaps," Yukari responded in a cryptic tone. "But they don't see me as one." Her words left me wondering about her true feelings, but I didn't push the matter any further.
Instead, I decided to lighten the mood a bit. "Well, I could say you have some communication issues," I said teasingly. I could see Yukari feigning offense at my words, but her smile indicated that she wasn't truly angry. Despite our differences, I was glad to see that we could still joke around like old friends - or at least, colleagues.
I spoke frankly to Yukari, referring to her enigmatic ways: "I suppose it can't be helped when you act so mysterious all the time. And let's face it - not everyone is comfortable dealing with sly individuals like yourself."
While speaking of friendships, however, I couldn't help but feel a shade of loneliness. After all, as a scrolling user, my only way of making friends was sealing them into my scroll to read their stories in my leisure time.
"Speaking of which," I continued, "can I temporarily seal you so that I could read your entire story?" I couldn't help but feel a sense of fascination with Yukari's inscrutable character, and my inquisitive nature was eager to unravel the mystery that surrounded her.
Yukari's response was swift and smiling, as she swiftly shot down my proposal. "That... might be a no," she said, with a note of playfulness in her voice.
However, she didn't waste any time offering an alternative, "But we could spend some time together, and you could gradually come to know me better." I was honored by her offer, but I couldn't help but feel hesitant. After all, I was not one to enter into a relationship without first resolving any unfinished business.
"I appreciate the offer, but maybe next time," I replied, firmly refusing Yukari's proposal. "Don't get me wrong - it's not that I am giving you a chance or anything."
I could sense that my words had upset Yukari, though she maintained her usual neutral smile. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for my refusal. Nonetheless, I stood my ground, determined not to compromise on my beliefs.
Yukari looked at me hopefully, after my firm refusal of her proposal but with a slight hesitation, said, "I can understand that. But, would you still accept my occasional intimacy?"
I couldn't help but find her hopeful expression quite endearing, but I still stuck to my stance. "Yes, I suppose that would be okay. But please don't think of it as anything more than just occasional intimacy. I don't want to lead you on or raise your hopes unnecessarily," I responded, hoping to be clear with my intentions.
Yukari beamed at my acceptance, but I couldn't help but feel the communication gap between us, as though we were speaking in different languages at times. Nonetheless, I was content for now with our mutual understanding of the occasional intimacy that we would share.
Yukari's new shikigami appeared, presenting us with tea. As I looked at her, I couldn't help but notice that she wasn't Tamamo no Mae but from the same family as Tamamo. The realization was interesting and piqued my curiosity, but I found myself glaring at Yukari for not providing this information sooner.
"It would have been nice if you had mentioned that earlier," I said, irritated by the lack of information. However, Yukari countered my accusation in her usual matter-of-fact tone, saying, "It's not my fault. You immediately take action without letting me explain first."
Yukari was right, and I had to admit that I couldn't argue with her. "I guess it's my bad," I confessed, feeling a bit embarrassed about my mistake. In the past, I had been known to be unbending and stubborn, but I could sense that I needed to approach things differently if I wanted to gain a more nuanced understanding of the Youkai named Yukari.
As I spoke, I saw a flash of surprise in Yukari's eyes. Perhaps she had not expected me to admit fault so readily. Nonetheless, I was determined to approach things with a newfound humility, acknowledging my faults and being open to new perspectives.
Yukari's skilled shikigami, Ran, brought our tea to the table, placing it down with a deft hand. The scent of the tea was intoxicating, and as we both sat down to enjoy it, I felt a sense of peace and relaxation settle over me.
Looking for some validation from Yukari, I eagerly asked her, "So, what do you think? Are you happy now?" I observed their reactions but mostly focused on Yukari since Ran was not able to comprehend my idiosyncrasies.
"5/10," was Yukari's unimpressed response to my storytelling. Hearing her unsatisfied reaction, I couldn't help but feel indignant. I was passionate about my stories, and it irked me that Yukari could not appreciate my efforts.
"You!" I growled at Yukari, feeling deeply hurt by her unimpressed response, but I knew deep down that her opinion was honest. "Fine, I'll make sure to get a rating of 10/10 next time," I responded, determined to improve my storytelling skills and impress her.
However, I was taken aback by her next words. "I honestly expected you to hit me," Yukari said, sounding a bit disappointed. It struck me as an odd statement coming from her, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was going through something emotionally. I tried to remain neutral as I asked, "Are you okay, Yukari? Do you need some counseling or something?"
Yukari simply smiled at me as I responded to her statement about expecting me to hit her. "I know better than that," I added, recalling the unexpected occurrences that had resulted from my impulsiveness in the past.
"Shame," Yukari said, shaking her head in a seemingly disappointed manner. I couldn't help but feel perplexed by her reaction - was she truly disappointed in me for not resorting to violence?
"C'mon, snap out of it," I urged her gently, noticing that even her shikigami appeared to be taken aback by the string of events that had just transpired. As we sat there, sipping our tea in silence, I couldn't help but feel that there was still much that I didn't understand about Yukari and her motivations.
As we finished our tea, I felt a strange intuition that there was something that Yukari needed from me. "Anyway, do you need me to do something?" I asked, attempting to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Yukari's response, however, left me gasping in shock. "Indeed, I need you to babysit the new Hakurei Shrine Maiden," she revealed. The weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew that being a Shrine Maiden came with a great deal of responsibility, but I had no idea what this title truly entailed.
"Sure!" I responded with confidence. Babysitting a human was something that I knew I could handle with ease. I had plenty of experience doing it since I started to look for a job, so I wasn't intimidated in the slightest.