For the past few days after being stuck in Gensokyo for unknown reasons why, Kenzaki had spent his time working at Timber Designs around the Human Village while living with Reimu as his 'landlady' of sorts by depositing a portion of mon into the Donation Box as compensation for letting the Outsider stay in her place(much to the shrine maiden's delight).
Not only that, the blond started to gradually put up with Naoki more and more whenever they're not too busy with work as they somehow engage in various conversations despite his coworker being sarcastic at times.
Though things were quiet for the most part so far (aside from a zakishi warashi that appeared around the counter next to Naoki at Timber Designs), the young man decided to exercise his body and learn danmaku under the shrine maiden's tutelage after work to better prepare himself in case of unusual things popping up.
And despite them mutually tolerating each other's presence, Kenzaki can't help but feel Reimu's hiding something and possibly refusing to tell him all about it.
Somehow, at the same time, the Outsider felt that the Hakurei shrine maiden may suspect that he plans to leave Gensokyo with or without her help regardless yet plays along as his benefactor that rescues him from a Youkai attack and giving hospitality within her own home.
Even so, Kenzaki does miss his family and friends back at the Outside World and is worried that they might think he disappeared and that he ran away from home or perhaps got himself kidnapped for unknown reasons why (which the latter is true for the most part) yet chose to not divulge the information to Reimu or the Timber Designs crew alongside Naoki regardless.
But as the days passed by, the Outsider knows that he shouldn't waste time trying to contemplate his predicament when he has to find a way to return home and leave Gensokyo.
Though a part of him started to wonder how and why he wound up in Gensokyo in the first place, Kenzaki felt he wanted answers but couldn't find a way to do it.
Sadly, the Outsider may start to get what he wanted in terms of an escape and answers. . . but must also deal with the fallout that he didn't want to find out.
88
Clouds hover around the mostly sunny day, yet within the Human Village itself, Kenzaki walks towards Timber Designs as Reimu follows beside him as a long-lost puppy.
Though the Outsider carries a straw backpack with him, he looked as he got used to the shrine maiden's advances despite the fact it got annoying after a while.
As they reach the warehouse, Kenzaki looks at Reimu with a small smile of his face, feeling glad to go within the workplace without her presence.
"Well, I guess I better get inside then," the young man stated as he tilted his hat.
"I guess so," the shrine maiden nodded before hugging him normally. "I hope you a have a good day, Kenzaki?"
"Same to you, Reimu."
By then, the shrine maiden lets go of the embrace before she floats out to the skies to do her normal rounds, aside from doing her duties with tending the shrine.
Though the young man sighed in relief to not being hovered around by Reimu, he has to wait for the next several hours until he had to put up with her overly affectionate behavior again, as usual.
Once Kenzaki goes inside, he sees a young girl with black bobbed hair sitting behind the counter with Timber Designs clothing deep in her thoughts.
The young man starts to gaze at the young girl's dark brown eyes for a moment when he hears the door open, revealing to be Naoki wearing his uniform until he notices the same girl as well.
"What do you want, Kansatsu?" Naoki grumbled as the named girl looked at him with her curious eyes.
The girl looked at Naoki with a gentle yet mysterious gaze. "I was sitting near the counter, Mr. Maeda."
This caused the employee to sigh in disbelief. "Yeah, I get it."
He then turns towards the Outsider with a blank look on his face. "I can't believe Mr. Kimura had to hire a zakishi warashi to tend the counter alongside me in the first place."
"That is because he needed additional people to take in orders for the Human Village," Kansatsu stated. "I did agree to work part time though."
Naoki muttered under his breath. "At least I won't have to deal with people thinking I had a little sister in the first place . . . at best."
"Can't blame you, Naoki," Kenzaki had to suppress a chuckle. "I had to deal with my younger siblings back in the Outside World, so that's understandable."
"Tell me about it," the employee groaned before deciding to follow the Outsider to the interiors of the warehouse (much to the latter's surprise).
"By the way, what are you doing over break?" Naoki asked matter of fact manner.
"Just staying at the Hakurei Shrine with Reimu, why?"
"Well, my friends and I are going there tomorrow as a heads up."
"Are you sure about it?" the Outsider replied. "Going out of the Human Village is easier said than done due to Youkai activity."
"Don't worry, my friends are skilled in self-defense, so no problems about it," Naoki reassured him. "The only thing we need is to make sure you and Reimu don't have plans in advance."
"Well, I pretty much am going to be around the shrine for now until I can properly defend myself," Kenzaki stated. "At least Reimu can help me out with learning Danmaku."
"That's good," the employee nodded before remembering the zakishi warashi. "I'm not sure what she does during her day off unless she has plans in mind?"
"Well, any ideas on what Kansatsu does on her days off?"
"Had no idea, and I do not want to find out about it," Naoki stated. "I rather maintain my integrity over this.
"And it better be anything other than 'I want to see the Hakurei Shrine,' because I rather not deal with this as well with the nonsense involved."
"Even if something odd is going on within her?" Kenzaki can't help but tease for a bit.
His coworker isn't amused one bit. "If something felt really odd, I can investigate. But I rather have someone else I can trust to be with me in case of unwanted complications goes on as a precaution, thank you very much. Anyway, we have to get ourselves ready for work today, okay?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
88
Both Reimu and Kenzaki were in meditation positions in a kneeling position within the Hakurei Shrine as light enters the room, keeping their minds focused as the latter has to learn the basics on how Danmaku works under the guidance from the former.
As they were meditating, a series of loud bangs alerted the two back to reality as they get back on their feet to see who it was during the daytime.
Reimu opens the sliding doors, revealing Naoki, alongside a group of young adults around their age, a young boy that accompanies them, an older woman with red hair that appeared to be in her twenties, and a schoolteacher with whitish blue hair and a hat that resembles a house.
For Naoki and his group (with the boy in tow) had on an attire that consists of a hanten, kimono, obi, hakama, and socks over their geta sandals.
The only exception is the schoolteacher and the older woman that had on a winter version of their normal attire.
"Hey Naoki," Kenzaki greeted his coworker who was wearing a green and brown ensemble before turning towards the group.
"And you guys that accompanied him?"
"Akemi Sanamoto," the young woman with a green, pink, and yellow attire greeted with a bow.
"Daisuke Tsunoda," the young man slightly tall than Akemi said with a smirk while folding his arms on his mostly blue and faded green attire.
"Hiroko Wallace," The slightly shorter young woman wearing a purple and black ensemble greeted professionally.
"Akihiro Sasaki," a young boy with messy black hair and eyes that has on a bright green, yellow, orange, and blue attire greeted confidently.
"Haruto Sasaki," the guy with the white, gray, and brown attire aside from short yet neat black hair and eyes greeted with a hint of indifference. "Older brother of Akihiro."
Though Reimu was surprised to see her resident's new friends from his coworker, she notices two familiar faces that are with them . . .
"Kotohime, Keine, why are you here anyway?" the shrine maiden asked, either in a mixture of surprise and/or confusion over their arrival.
The police officer glance at the Hakurei young woman before clearing her throat.
"Ms. Kawashirasawa and I felt we should accompany Ms. Sanamoto and co. towards the Hakurei Shrine," Kotohime explained bluntly.
"And you, Keine?"
"Just to check on you of course," the schoolteacher answered politely while briefly closing her eyes for a moment.
Aside from the unexpected arrival of two familiar faces, the shrine maiden gives an unsure glance at Naoki and co. before turning towards the Outsider. "That's a nice group of friends your coworker has, Kenzaki."
"Tell me about it." Said Outsider nodded before turning towards the group. "So, all of you are here just to see me and Reimu, I suppose?"
The slightly shorter young woman named Hiroko nods cautiously. "Of course, Mr. Hayashi, I presume?"
"Yes, that's me." The Outsider replied. He then joked, "So, is there anything Reimu and I can do for you?"
Not being affected one bit, Hiroko look towards the Shrine Maiden herself.
"My friends and I were surprised to see you happy like this, Ms. Hakurei," the young woman in purple and black stated. "Typically, you had a flare of 'I just want to do my job and get on my life' sort of thing. But as of recent, you acted differently ever since Mr. Hayashi showed up within Gensokyo all the sudden."
"How different?" Reimu asked.
"Basically, 'I loved this Outsider with all my heart!' and all that jazz," Hiroko answered, giving a dramatic girl pitch on the quotations about the shrine maiden's change in attitude.
"Very funny." The shrine maiden drawled, not feeling impressed one bit.
"However, while we're glad that you got someone to make you really happy, we're just concerned about the timing over this." Akemi added, trying to defuse the situation. "If you're having problems still, you can talk to us or people who cared about you on something like this."
"I'm doing okay, Akemi," Reimu replied coolly. "There's nothing to worry about."
Ms. Sanamoto wanted to tell the Hakurei shrine maiden and/or the Outsider about what happened two days ago with the three kids that almost became a scuffle alongside what happened several weeks ago in regards to that Incident, but she felt the need to close her mouth shut to avoid creating unnecessary drama as it is already.
Especially with how skilled Reimu is with handling incidents prior to what she had to witnessed.
"By the way, what are you two doing so far?" Akemi asked, changing the subject.
"Meditating," the shrine maiden answered.
"Why for?"
"Just to help Kenzaki learn Danmaku," Reimu explained. "He wanted to learn how to defend himself against Youkai, so I decided to help him out. I did warn him that it won't be an easy task due to the nature of the creatures I usually fight against, alongside the various abilities they can use in combat."
"And you, Kenzaki?"
"As long as I can defend myself, it may be necessary," the blonde replied. "I already had an encounter with that Youkai named Rumia who tried to eat me when I first got into the forest near Misty Lake without warning. And despite knowing how to defend myself back in the Outside World, I still need to learn how to fight against creatures like her in the near future as a precaution."
"Can't blame you right there you two," Ms. Sanamoto nodded on what the shrine maiden wanting to teach the Outsider on combat in a land like Gensokyo.
"Anyway, want to talk over with some tea in mind?" Reimu offered politely, which Akemi, Naoki, their friends, and the two women agree without a complaint.
88
Once everyone is inside the Hakurei Shrine as they got their cups of tea, the whole group decided to have lots of conversations about their week so far (with everyone telling their stories about various events during that timeframe).
However, nobody within the group are willing to tell the other about their actual goals in mind (and with good reason as to avoid creating future problems down the line once their plans start to go in motion).
"Well, I'm surprised you're willing to drop Kenzaki off around the Human Village and back here, Reimu," Daisuke said as he drank his cup of tea. "You really must care deeply for his safety then."
"In a land full of Youkai and other various species, there's no telling when they can pop up," the shrine maiden stated after taking a sip of her tea. "I do want to make sure he does come to the Human Village safe and intact."
"And what about you, Kenzaki?" The Tsunoda looked at the Outsider with concern. "Are you okay with this?"
"I didn't mind letting Reimu taking me to and from the Human Village, once I get over the initial embarrassment with her being around," the Outsider replied. "I didn't have enough mon to get my own place, plus letting Reimu take me there can be pretty convenient until I can learn how Danmaku works."
"Do you mind letting us teach you Danmaku, alongside having it incorporated into your fighting style," Akemi offered. "My group can help you do that if you want."
Kenzaki shrugged his head for a moment. "I'll think about it, but thanks for that offer, Akemi."
The Sanamoto woman gave a light nod. "Of course, Mr. Kenzaki."
Though Reimu had to glance at Akemi for a moment, she let it slide if the Sanamoto woman doesn't do anything too suspicious for the time being.
The Outsider looks at the schoolteacher that was glancing at the trees outside the shrine when the sliding doors were open to let the air inside.
"So, Keine, you're a schoolteacher, right?" Kenzaki asked, alerting the whitish blue haired woman out of her thoughts as she looked towards him.
"Yes, of course. Why for?"
"Remembered the incident with the three young kids a few days back when I was with Reimu?" the Outsider stated with concern. "I was worried Reimu might had scared them over this."
"The kids are doing okay," Keine reassured the blonde. "While they have to be careful not to carelessly throw snowballs at other people, at least they're grateful that Reimu is being civil about it."
"Well that's good," Kenzaki sighed in relief. "Clearly that was a misunderstanding to begin with."
Kotohime looked towards the Outsider, her face bitter over that statement. Yeah, a misunderstanding to begin with. Sadly, there are things that are far worse than you think, Mr. Hayashi.
"So, anything new in regards to your duties, Ms. Hakurei?" the police officer changed the subject, both as a way to distract herself from her thoughts, and to know the current news on the shrine maiden's duties.
Reimu hummed for a bit before looking at the police officer. "Nothing so far, other than breaking off a few fights . . . and to make sure someone doesn't try to one-up Cirno in antics."
"Can't blame you right there, Reimu," Kotohime nodded bitterly as she massages her head over what she and the rest of the police officers had to do during that Incident with Cirno back at the Human Village with her latest stunt. "Can't believe that stupid fairy really did all this; we have enough problems as it is, but this really takes the cake in the madness so far."
"Tell me about it," the shrine maiden grumbled before taking a sip of her tea before putting it onto the kotetsu.
"Anything else you guys want to talk about?" Reimu offered when a sudden loud explosion emerged within the forest nearby, drawing attention to her and everyone else to the noise outside the Shrine.
"Well, better go investigate . . . as usual," the shrine maiden said, going back to her typical mood from before (that being blunt towards everything), muttering the last part to herself. "Are the rest of you (barring Kenzaki) coming along?"
"We're good, Reimu," Akemi said calmly, the rest of her group nodded in agreement towards their leader.
"I'll stay here in case if the shrine is under attack," Keine offered.
"And you, Kotohime?"
The police officer just stares at the shrine maiden. "I'll stay here until the coast is clear. Just resolve the incident."
"Alright then," the shrine maiden replied before turning towards the source of the noise. "Just don't do anything funny while I'm gone, okay?"
"Promise." Akemi nodded.
"Good."
Reimu goes out of the shrine with her gohei and zooms out into the skies to resolve what appears to be another incident for the day.
With the shrine maiden gone, Akemi and her group sighed in relief, drawing attention to the Outsider who witnessed it all happen.
"That was surprising fast, yet efficient, Kotohime," Naoki said with a small smirk to the police officer, who basically fell to the floor filled with tatami mats in guilt.
"What's going on?" Kenzaki demanded, his instincts telling him something doesn't feel right.
"Calm down, Kenzaki, we're not doing anything to you at all," his coworker stated reassuringly.
"I rather doubt that."
"Listen here, Mr. Hayashi . . ." Hiroko tried to said something but Haruto placed a hand on her shoulder as to tell the young woman in purple and black to not get involve yet.
"Listen about what?" the Outsider wondered cautiously.
"Kenzaki," Naoki alerted the Outsider/coworker, his tone changing to a serious tone. "Remembered what I said the day after you start working at Timber Designs?"
The Outsider start to recall what his coworker had told him.
"You said something in regards to whether or not I could leave Gensokyo if I found a way of doing it, right?" Kenzaki replied.
"Yelp," Naoki nodded.
"But why remind me over this?"
It was then Akemi's turn to give the Outsider the answer.
"All of us can help you return back to the Outside World." Ms. Sanamoto stated.
"Why tell me about it?"
"The answer is simple," Keine answered. "You had been gapped to Gensokyo against your will by the Gap Youkai herself, Yukari Yakumo."
"And whose Yukari?"
"One of the major Sages that was responsible for creating the Hakurei Barrier in the first place," the schoolteacher explained. "Also, she had ties to the Hakurei clan as well."
"So wait, you mean . . . "
"Reimu must had demanded Yukari to gap you here," Kotohime shouted.
"Why for?"
"It was after the fallout of the Stained Torture Incident!"
"You mean WHAT!?" Kenzaki shouted with eyes widen up, demanding to know the answers from the police officer right now.