The morning sun filtered through the window, casting soft beams of light across the room. I shifted under the blanket, my body still sore but far better than it had been days ago. Reimu's remedies, combined with some much-needed rest, had done their job. I still had bandages wrapped around my hands and head, but the pain was manageable now.

I sat up slowly, letting out a quiet sigh as I looked around the familiar room. Marisa and Reimu had insisted I stay at the shrine for a while until I was back to full strength. It was strange, this feeling of being taken care of—being part of something. I had spent so much of my life isolated, alone with my thoughts, guarding the library and its forbidden knowledge. But now, I had people who cared about me, people I'd risk my life for without hesitation.

A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. "Hey, lazy bones, you're not still sleeping, are you?" Marisa's voice called from the other side.

I smirked. "No, I'm up. Come in."

The door slid open, and Marisa strolled in, her usual cocky grin plastered on her face. She looked like she was up to something, which made me suspicious immediately. "How are you feeling today?" she asked, her tone light and casual.

"Better, thanks to you and Reimu," I said, pulling the blanket off and swinging my legs over the side of the futon. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. Just checking on you." She walked over, hands on her hips, her grin growing wider. "I figured since you're finally up and moving around, it's time to... y'know, repay a certain favour."

I raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure where she was going with this. "Favour?"

She huffed dramatically, crossing her arms. "Yeah, you know! The whole saving-Reimu-and-protecting-me thing! I said I owe you one, remember?"

I chuckled. "I remember, but I didn't expect you to take it this seriously. You don't owe me anything, Marisa."

"Too late," she said, wagging a finger at me. "I've already decided what we're doing today. But it's a surprise, so don't ask too many questions."

I blinked, surprised but intrigued. Marisa was rarely this secretive, which meant she had something big planned. "Alright, I won't ask. When are we leaving?"

"Right now," she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me up onto my feet before I could protest. "You're well enough to walk; Reimu said so."

I let out a sigh but followed her, grabbing my jacket from a chair. "You're really not going to tell me where we're going, huh?"

"Nope!" Marisa flashed a grin as she tugged me outside. "But trust me, you're gonna love it. It's something I guarantee you've never done before."

That much was obvious. There were plenty of things I hadn't done before, especially now that I was in Gensokyo. Marisa, with her unrelenting energy and knack for mischief, would probably see to it that I experienced all of them.

The day passed in a blur of small talk and banter as we made our way across Gensokyo, heading toward the cliff tops. The further we walked, the more I felt something warm and comforting in the air. Marisa was clearly excited about whatever she had planned, practically bouncing as we walked. Eventually, as the sun began to set, we reached the top of a cliff overlooking the vast, open landscape of Gensokyo. The sky was tinged with hues of orange and pink, the horizon glowing like a painting.

"Here we are!" Marisa announced with a dramatic flourish, spinning around to face me. "Perfect timing."

I stared at the view in awe, the beauty of it catching me off guard. The vastness of the sky stretched out before us, with the stars just beginning to peek through the fading light. "It's beautiful..."

"Isn't it?" Marisa said, plopping down on the grass and patting the spot next to her. "But it's not just the view we came for."

I sat down beside her, feeling the cool breeze brush against my skin. "So... what did we come for?"

Marisa reached into her bag, pulling out a bottle of sake and two small cups. "A little celebration. I want to say thanks for saving my hide and Reimu's. Don't think this is gonna be a regular thing, though. I've got a reputation to uphold."

I chuckled. "I wouldn't dream of it."

She uncorked the bottle, pouring a cup for each of us. "Here's to you, Marcus. Just... don't go thinking you're all high and mighty for it."

I took the cup, staring down at the clear liquid. I had never had alcohol before. I wasn't even sure how it was supposed to taste. "This is sake, right? I've never..."

Marisa raised her cup, smirking. "First time, huh? Don't worry, I won't give you too much. I want you to remember tonight, not the hangover tomorrow."

I lifted my cup, mimicking her motion. "Alright, then. To... friendship?"

Marisa snorted but clinked her cup against mine. "Yeah, to friendship. Now, drink up!"

I took a sip, the sharp taste immediately catching me off guard. It was warm, burning slightly as it went down, and the sensation left me blinking in surprise. Marisa burst out laughing at my expression.

"Too much for ya?" she teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Don't worry, it'll grow on you."

"I'm not so sure," I muttered, taking another cautious sip. This time, it went down smoother, but the warmth spreading through my body was still foreign to me.

The stars began to peek through the darkening sky, little pinpricks of light scattered across the deepening blue. Marisa leaned back on her elbows, her eyes fixed on the heavens above, a content smile playing on her lips. I lay beside her, still nursing my cup of sake, the sharp warmth of the alcohol a slow burn in my chest. The taste had grown on me a bit, though it was still far from pleasant.

"You know," Marisa said, breaking the comfortable silence, "if we're lucky, we might catch a shooting star or two tonight. They're pretty common up here when the sky's clear like this."

I followed her gaze to the sky, the stars growing brighter with every passing moment. "Shooting stars, huh?" I said quietly, my voice soft in the still night. "I've never actually seen one before."

Marisa's eyes flicked toward me, her brow furrowing in surprise. "Really? Not even once?"

I shook my head. "Not once. I've always been too busy or too tired to just... look up, I guess."

She huffed and took a swig of sake, shaking her head with mock disapproval. "You've really been missing out. Gensokyo has some of the best views of the stars. But don't worry, tonight's your lucky night."

I smiled, feeling a sense of ease settle over me. There was something comforting about lying here with Marisa, with the cool night air brushing against my skin and the stars spreading out like a blanket overhead. I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.

We sat in silence for a while, just watching the sky, the occasional rustle of the grass or the chirping of distant crickets, the only sounds to break the stillness. The stars twinkled above us, each one standing out more vividly as the last remnants of daylight slipped away.

"So, what was living in Alexandria like, if you don't mind me asking?" Marisa asked suddenly, her tone casual, though I could hear the curiosity beneath her words.

I hesitated, swirling the sake in my cup. The question wasn't unexpected, but it was still difficult to answer. My life before Gensokyo felt like another lifetime, a distant dream blurred by time. I wasn't even sure where to begin. "It was... quiet," I said eventually, choosing my words carefully. "Lonely, I guess. Spent most of my time in a library. The only company I had was books, and even they weren't exactly the friendliest."

Marisa snorted, though not unkindly. "Books aren't supposed to be friendly. They're supposed to be informative, or exciting, or dangerous, depending on which one you pick up."

I chuckled. "Yeah, well, mine were mostly the dangerous kind. I didn't have much of a choice."

She took another sip of sake, tilting her head to look at me more closely. "So you never really had any friends back then? No one to hang out with or talk to?"

I shook my head, feeling a pang of something I couldn't quite place. Regret, maybe. Or loss. "Not really. Not for a while. The people around me weren't exactly the type you'd want to get close to. But even then, I enjoyed their company during the time we spent together. They're all gone now."

Marisa was quiet for a moment, her gaze shifting back to the stars. "I get that," she said softly. "I grew up in the Forest of Magic, y'know? Not exactly a hub for socializing. The only people who ever came around were weirdos or people looking to test their luck against the local magic. I didn't have any friends for a long time either. Just me and my experiments."

I glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her voice. Marisa, who always seemed so confident, so carefree, had been just as alone as I was.

"But," she continued, her tone brightening, "once I met Reimu and started travelling around Gensokyo, things changed. I found people who were just as crazy as I was. Even if they were annoying sometimes." She smiled a little mischievously. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... it doesn't have to be lonely anymore. You've got people now. You've got us."

Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I felt that unfamiliar warmth in my chest again. I didn't know how to respond at first, so I just smiled, staring up at the stars. "Thanks, Marisa. I... I'm really glad to have met you and Reimu. I'm not used to this, but it feels... right."

She nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response, and for a while, we simply watched the sky, the stars twinkling down at us. The sake bottle was passed back and forth between us, the warmth of the alcohol spreading through my body, making me feel light and content.

Eventually, Marisa sat up, her eyes widening as she pointed toward the horizon. "Look! There!"

I followed her gaze just in time to see a streak of light shoot across the sky—a shooting star, burning brightly as it cut through the darkness. My breath caught in my throat, the sight more breathtaking than I had imagined.

"Make a wish," Marisa said with a grin, nudging me playfully. "That's what you're supposed to do when you see one."

I hesitated, staring up at the trail of light as it faded. What would I wish for? I had spent so long without hopes or dreams, without any real direction. But now... now things were different.

Closing my eyes, I made a simple wish—a wish toꓕ̴̖͓͍͒͗̈́̓o̴̱̞̗̲̎͗̏͝ͅ ̴̡̡̛͙̹̦̲͚͒̀͋͜ȗ̸̙͛̆̌̾ԍ̸̉͜ʌ̴̤̰̣̣̄̒̕͜͝ԍ̴̨̝̬͔͖͔͕̆ͅʁ̵̠̄̃̓̉͗̉͑ ̷̡̗͉̍ʍ̴̨̛̠̄̀͐ɑ̸̗̻̃̄̆͌̈́̕ĸ̷̣̗͖̫̪̖̀͑̈́͌͑̀ԍ̴̛̩̾͑̀ ̵̞͓̱̒̿n̷̫̖̾b̸̡̛͍̙̈̍̒̒̈́ ̵̠̺͉͉̝̪̣̍͋̓͆̕͝ɻ̵̦̖̦͇̀̀͂̀́̆̃̕ʁ̷̡̓͊̀̕o̴̙̅̀̄̍̏̋͒͝w̵̢̧̠̺̳̜͕̹͗͝ ̷̢̛̰̹͇̼̣̬̏͌̈́͐ϝ̴͙̱̩͉̙͛̍̈́μ̷̨̛̗͎͍̖̟͓͓̏̐̏̍̇̚͝ᴉ̴̨̟̰̪̒͆̆̚ƨ̷̻̯͈̑̐ ̴̡̨̱͓͍̉̆̄͂̽̊̆̕q̴͎̲̪̱̠̆͆̆̑̾͝͝ʁ̴̡̣͚̈̄̑̒̒͛͘ԍ̵̧̛̼̞̹͗̎̈́́̓̀ɑ̸̧̼̎̿̌̅w̴̰͇̱̙̄̓ It wasn't grand, but it felt right.

"Did you make one?" Marisa asked, her tone teasing but gentle.

I nodded, opening my eyes again. "Yeah. What about you?"

She shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. "I don't need to wish for anything. I've already got everything I want."

I smiled at that, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the sake. Marisa was always so sure of herself, so confident. It was one of the things I admired about her.

We sat there for a while longer, talking about the past, about Gensokyo, and even about the future. Marisa, it seemed, had big plans. She wanted to perfect her magic, to explore every corner of Gensokyo and maybe even beyond. She spoke with such passion, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she described all the things she wanted to do.

"What about you?" she asked, her gaze turning back to me. "What do you want for the future? Now that you're here, what's next?"

I thought about it for a moment, swirling the last bit of sake in my cup. "I don't know," I admitted. "Searching for those tomes? I guess for so long, I've just been... surviving. I didn't really think about what came next. Just service and duty. Those two words drilled into my head. We'll see what's on the horizon before I have to go back. I'd like to see more of Gensokyo before then."

"Before you go back, huh..." Marisa paused before smiling again, a knowing look in her eyes. "Well, you've already got a good start on that. And hey, if you ever need a guide, you know where to find me."

I chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."

The night stretched on, and the sky above us continued to shimmer with stars. Every now and then, another shooting star would streak across the sky, and Marisa would point it out excitedly. We drank more sake, though she was careful not to give me too much. "I want you to remember this night," she said with a smirk, "not the hangover tomorrow."

Eventually, after what felt like hours, Marisa stood up, dusting off her skirt. "Alright, I think it's time to wrap this up. I've got something else in mind."

Before I could ask what, she grabbed her broomstick and gestured for me to hop on behind her. I did as she asked, wrapping my arms around her waist as she kicked off the ground, lifting us into the air.

"Hold on tight!" she called back with a grin.

We soared through the night sky, the wind whipping past us as we chased after the shooting stars. The world below seemed so small, so far away. For the first time in a long time, I felt free—free of the weight of my past, free of the burdens that had haunted me for so long.

Marisa laughed as we flew higher, her excitement contagious. I found myself laughing, too, the sound unfamiliar but welcome. The stars stretched out before us, so close yet so far, and for a moment, it felt like we could reach out and touch them.

Marisa kept flying with a steady pace, letting the moment linger as she spoke back. "I can't believe you've never done this before; flying's kind of a big deal here."

I shrugged, still catching my breath from laughing so much. "Guess I never had the chance."

"Well, now you have. Consider it another thing off your bucket list."

The night sky was still glittering above us before Marisa glanced toward the village in the distance. "I should probably get you home before you break my no sleeping while flying rule.."

She flew me back, dropping me off at my doorstep with a smirk. When we landed, I stumbled a little, still getting used to solid ground again. Marisa laughed, giving me a light shove. "You good?"

I nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "Better than good. That was incredible."

Marisa looked pleased with herself, crossing her arms as she leaned on her broom. "Good. Cause I've already got plenty more bucket list days out planned, you know. So you have a good understanding of Gensokyo. See me as your nifty, stunning tour guide."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I can't wait."

With one last wave, she hopped back onto her broom and flew off into the night, leaving me standing there, still feeling the rush of the wind in my hair and the warmth of the sake in my veins.

I stepped inside my house, still grinning like an idiot. My body felt lighter, my mind clearer, like all the weight of the past few days had been lifted away. I wasn't sure what this feeling was—this strange, giddy happiness—but I liked it. I liked it a lot.

As I lay down in bed, closing my eyes, I couldn't stop thinking about tonight. The stars, the sake, the flying... everything was perfect. My mind wandered to what Marisa might have planned next, but for now, I was content just to let the memory of tonight carry me into sleep.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.