Chapter 15
The scenes of memory continued to flicker, this time revealing the moment when the three prepared to leave Takamagahara.
Their figures stood at the boundary to the mortal world, their backs turned to the sacred and solemn shrine. Before them stretched an endless sky and the unknown lands below, while behind them echoed voices of vehement opposition.
"Amaterasu-sama! We strongly oppose this!"
The voice thundered through the air of Takamagahara, and soon countless gods stood before the three, forming an impenetrable barrier.
Leading them was a god clad in splendid robes. He cast a cold glance at the three before turning to Amaterasu, his voice laced with false reverence and barely concealed arrogance.
"Amaterasu-sama, the existence of these three Toushins is vital to the safety of Takamagahara and the mortal realm. They should remain here forever as our most powerful weapons!"
He paused, his tone growing sharper. "Exiling them from Takamagahara is tantamount to releasing uncontrollable power into the mortal world. Such terrible strength, if left unchecked, will undoubtedly bring devastation. This is something we cannot allow!"
The backs of the three appeared all the more solitary and insignificant at this moment. They did not turn around, merely standing there silently as the voices surged toward them like waves.
"That's right! They are Toushins, the strongest weapons of Takamagahara, and they should serve us for their entire lives!"
"Exile them? Amaterasu-sama, that is unacceptable!"
"Such ominous beings, once they enter the mortal realm, will only bring disaster!"
Those accusations and condemnations were like countless sharp arrows, relentlessly striking the backs of the three. Still, they remained silent, unwavering, but the girls observing in the present could no longer bear it.
Kyouya sneered coldly, his voice laced with mockery. "Weapons? The so-called 'Toushins' you speak of are nothing more than tools for your battles?"
Kengo spoke with a low, steady voice. "We've made our decision. This is no longer our home."
Tamami muttered softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. "If we're really that terrifying... then why has no one ever asked us what we truly want?"
The girls slowly came to their senses. Each of their faces was filled with shock, anger, and a sense of disbelief. They couldn't fathom how the words of the gods could be so cold and selfish.
Especially Reimu and Sanae, as shrine maidens, they felt an unprecedented sense of disillusionment.
Reimu clenched the gohei in her hand, her nails digging deep into her palm. Her voice trembled with suppressed rage. "This... is what gods are like? Those who call themselves exalted deities, treating them as mere weapons? Do they even have a shred of dignity left?"
Her eyes burned with fury, and the gohei in her hand seemed on the verge of snapping. "If this is how gods are... then they are far inferior to humans!"
Sanae clasped her hands together, her voice trembling as tears of indignation sparkled in her eyes. "I always believed that gods were beings nobler than humans... but now I see that some gods' hearts are far more despicable..."
She covered her face in anguish, whispering, "These beings... don't deserve to be called gods!"
Remilia gazed coldly at the scene, a mocking smile curling at her lips, though her eyes glistened with red. "Gods? They're nothing but trash!" She took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions, her voice dripping with disdain. "They're just afraid of losing their tools."
Yukari closed her folding fan, her hands lightly gripping it, her fingertips whitening. She remained silent, but her gaze was filled with deep complexity and resentment. For the first time, she felt a profound disgust toward these so-called divine beings.
"These bastards!" Mokou's fury was nearly tangible, her eyes blazing. "Kyouya... how much have you endured for this? And these scum dare to say such things?!" Her voice was thick with anger and pain, her fists tightly clenched as if ready to knock down each and every one of those gods.
Aya bit her lower lip, her eyes brimming with disbelief and anger. "How could they... how could they treat them like this? That's Kyouya... they risked their lives to protect Takamagahara!" Her voice wavered, and her fan nearly slipped from her grasp.
Marisa's voice was laced with barely restrained fury. "Kengo... just how much did that guy endure? And these bastards have the nerve to call him a weapon?! They're not even worthy of mentioning his name!"
Suika took a swig from her gourd, but the usual hearty laughter was absent. She lowered the gourd, her voice low and heavy. "Kengo... if I were there, I'd have smashed their shrine to rubble!"
Yuyuko softly covered her mouth, her gaze complex as she looked at the scene. Her voice was so quiet it was barely audible. "Tamami... so this is what you've been through..." Her eyes shimmered with faint sorrow, and her shoulders trembled lightly.
Kaguya's voice was tinged with suppressed emotion. "Tamami... why didn't you ever tell me about this? Why did you bear it all alone..."
Flandre stomped her foot in frustration, her tone filled with confusion. "Why didn't big brothers fight back? Those gods aren't worth their loyalty!"
The other girls remained silent, each of their hearts gripped as if by an invisible hand.
They had never known that the three men who always wore smiles and protected them in their own ways had endured such stifling loneliness and injustice.
The scene shifted once again, this time to the grand shrine of Takamagahara.
The three figures stood quietly at the entrance, ready to leave the land they had inhabited for billions of years.
Behind them, the voices of the gods grew louder and angrier. Those exalted deities swarmed around them like a tide, enclosing them completely.
"Amaterasu-sama! These three Toushins must not leave!" A leading god stepped forward, his voice cold and self-righteous, his face brimming with arrogance.
"Their existence is crucial to the peace of Takamagahara and the mortal realm! They are our strongest weapons—how can we exile them to the mortal world? Such terrifying power, if left unchecked, will surely bring great disaster! They must remain here forever!"
"Exactly!" More gods chimed in, their tones filled with arrogance and coldness. "It is their duty to serve Takamagahara! This is their mission! Exiling them is absurd!"
"Killing machines are only fit to remain in Takamagahara and serve the peace of the divine realm! They don't deserve freedom!" The voices grew louder, each word like an invisible whip, tearing open the scars on the three's bodies even further.
The three remained silent, standing still. Their straight backs seemed to ignore the noise, but the girls standing before the scene could clearly feel how the words ripped open every wound on their hearts.
Suddenly, a deep and commanding voice rang out, silencing all the noise like a thunderclap: "Enough!"
Ame-no-Tajikarao stepped forward, his gaze as sharp as steel, sweeping across the gods who were clamoring moments before.
His voice carried an unparalleled authority: "Do you have any idea who has made this peace possible? It's these three—Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami—who bought it with their blood and lives! What right do you have to stand here and accuse them?"
Takemikazuchi followed, stepping forward with cold disdain in his voice, unmasking his derision toward the self-righteous gods. "You sit here enjoying the peace, but have you ever thought about whose sacrifices made it possible? Not even a word of gratitude, and now you dare to call them weapons? Do you even deserve to call yourselves gods?"
Sukuna-Hikona said nothing but stood beside the three, silently showing his support.
Susano'o's eyes burned with fury as he drew his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.
He pointed the blade directly at the lead god, its tip gleaming with an icy brilliance as it hovered near the man's throat. "If you insult my little brothers again, I'll send your head rolling!" His voice was low, laden with suppressed rage. "Try me, and see if I'm bluffing!"
The lead god was so cowed by Susano'o's imposing aura that he couldn't muster a word, his face turning deathly pale.
At that moment, Ame-no-Uzume stepped forward, no longer her usual gentle self. A rare fury burned in her eyes. "You live in the peace they created, yet you shove all the responsibility onto their shoulders. Today, I'd like to see what makes you think they are nothing more than weapons!"
Kushinada-Hime, known for her gentleness, spoke with unwavering determination. "They are my brothers, and I will not allow anyone to insult them like this!"
Ukemochi also stepped forward, her tone firm and cutting. "I watched these three grow up. You, who preach about peace, how many of you have dared to step onto the battlefield as they have? You're not even worthy of a single strand of their hair!"
Even the usually reserved Tsukuyomi moved to stand beside the three. A terrifying energy gathered in his hands as he murmured, "Say one more word. I dare you."
The surroundings fell into a dead silence. No one dared to speak another word.
Amaterasu took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping across the gathered gods before finally resting on the three. Her voice was calm yet resolute. "I will take full responsibility for everything."
Her gaze softened as she looked at the three, her tone warm and filled with an undeniable gentleness. "Go, my brothers. Go to Gensokyo. That is where you truly belong. Takamagahara may not be your home, but we will always be your family!"
She paused, her expression growing even more tender. "There, you will find those truly worth protecting."
She pulled the three into a final embrace, her voice soft as she whispered, "When you find those who can accept your hearts, you will understand what love is and what true strength means."
The three were silent for a moment before finally nodding. They bowed deeply to Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susano'o, and the friends who stood by them. Without hesitation, they turned and leaped from Takamagahara.
As they descended, a single thought crossed all three of their minds: "May Gensokyo... be different from Takamagahara. May we find those truly worth protecting there... and when that time comes—"
The scene abruptly cut off, and the entire library fell into silence.
In the underground library of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the final memory faded alongside Amaterasu's words and the heartfelt thoughts of the tsukumogami.
What lingered in the hearts of the fifteen girls, however, was an immense weight and a torrent of indescribable emotions.
The scene froze abruptly, and the entire library fell silent once again.
In the underground library of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the last scene of memory gradually faded with Amaterasu's words and the thoughts of the tsukumogami.
However, what remained in the hearts of the fifteen girls was a weight as heavy as a boulder and an indescribable torrent of emotions.
Reimu lowered her head, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her voice was low and trembling:
"To meet someone who can accept their hearts... and only then understand what love truly means, what true strength is?"
Her gaze was clouded and unfocused, as though she was questioning herself or accusing the entire world.
"Why did they have to go through all of this... why could they only hope to find such things in Gensokyo? What kind of gods are those in Takamagahara, anyway!?"Her voice grew louder and louder until it turned into an almost roaring outburst.
Yukari gripped her fan tightly, not even noticing as its ribs pierced her palm. She closed her eyes, her tone calm but betraying a deep undercurrent of emotion:"So this is why they chose Gensokyo... because, to them, this place is their last hope. Their thoughts are foolish yet heartbreaking."
She took a deep breath, forcing her emotions down, her gaze soft yet resolute:
"Their hope... we will protect it."
Remilia's hands trembled faintly as she stared at where the memory had vanished, silent for a long time. Slowly, she spoke, her voice tinged with unmistakable bitterness and pain:"They buried all of this in their hearts without a single complaint... all for us. Not even the gods of Takamagahara could do what they've done, yet they look to us for answers."
Her gaze lowered slightly, her tone carrying a barely noticeable gentleness and determination:
"Those fools... how could we possibly let them down?"
Mokou slammed her fist on the table again, growling:"Idiots! Those three are complete idiots!"
Her voice carried an unrestrained mix of anger and heartache.
"They kept thinking about protecting us, about finding true love, true strength... those things should have been theirs from the start!"
Aya held her pen tightly, her head bowed. Her tone was thick with unease and guilt:"They really believed Gensokyo would be different... believed we could give them a different answer. They've done so much for us, but what about us? Have we done enough?"
She raised her head to look at the others, her eyes brimming with complex emotions.
Marisa spoke softly:"Those guys, they put all their hope on us. They said they wanted to find someone worth protecting... but what about us? Have we ever shown them that we want to protect them too?"
Suika took a deep swig of sake but didn't laugh as usual.
Her voice was low and raspy:"Their hope... all of it is on us. They could have chosen to abandon everything, but they chose us instead... there's no way we can let their hope go to waste."
Yuyuko spoke with a voice filled with undeniable tenderness and sadness:
"Tamami... such a gentle person, yet he's carrying so much. They placed all their expectations on us... how could we ever let them down?"
Kaguya murmured softly:"Tamami... do those guys really think they can find happiness? Their thoughts are so naive, yet... they make you want to protect their dreams with all your might."
Her voice trailed off, almost turning into a whisper.
Patchouli slowly closed the grimoire in her hands, her voice carrying a rare emotional tremor:
"Their hope... all of it rests on us. Can we... can we really bear it?"
Flandre's voice, though innocent, held a trace of resolve:
"Brothers, that answer they're looking for—we can give it to them, right?"
Sanae's tone was low yet firm:
"Tamami, they believe we can give them true bonds... so we mustn't let them down."
Sakuya's gaze was calm but filled with warmth:
"They trust us, and they chose us... so we must give them the answer they're hoping for."
Komachi's tone carried a rare sense of decisiveness:"We can't let those fools down again. Since they chose us, we need to show them they chose right."
Youmu spoke with unparalleled seriousness:"Their hope is entirely on us... so we have to let them know their choice was correct."
The fifteen girls exchanged glances, their eyes burning with a resolve they had never felt before. They understood this wasn't merely a responsibility but a deep connection—a mutual choice and the answer they owed each other.
In the library, the final scene of memory dissolved. The flickering candlelight swayed, unable to dispel the oppressive silence. Each of the fifteen girls lowered their heads, lost in heavy thought.
The scene had been too overwhelming—they had seen the three tsukumogami bathed in a sea of blood, their battles for the peace of Takamagahara and the human world, and the cold indifference of the gods who viewed them as tools and cursed their existence.
All of it shattered their preconceptions of these three individuals.
Reimu clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, yet she didn't notice.
She murmured:"They've carried so much... so much pain and responsibility, yet they were never acknowledged... they were even humiliated and cursed."
Her voice grew quieter, tinged with unspeakable bitterness and guilt.
"And we... we said such things to them..."
She recalled that day when Kyouya had brought tea and snacks, smiling as he tried to cheer her up. Yet, she had thrown the teacup to the ground and shouted, "You don't understand the responsibility and pressure I bear to protect Gensokyo! How could you possibly know what I've sacrificed for this place?!"
Back then, she had only thought of her own immense stress, while Kyouya's carefree demeanor had fueled her anger. But now, she realized that what she had considered an unbearable burden was so insignificant compared to their billions of years drenched in a sea of blood.
Yukari slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with unprecedented sorrow. Her voice was low and bitter.
"I once said to him… that he didn't understand the difficulties of managing the boundaries, that he was just a fool who only made things worse."
She recalled how Kyouya made silly faces, danced, and even created ridiculous scenes in the gaps, all to make her relax. But she had coldly thrown him out of the gap, her tone icy as she scolded him:
"What do you know? The boundaries are not something you can handle!"
Now, looking back, every word she had said felt like a dagger stabbing into his heart.
Remilia bit her lip and spoke softly."I scolded him too… At the time, I told him he didn't understand the taste of loneliness, the challenges of being a vampire."
She closed her eyes, remembering Kyouya back then, always wearing a confident and warm smile, saying he would be her knight, saying he wouldn't let her be lonely again. Yet she had responded with a cold sneer:
"You don't understand what loneliness is, so stop spouting such pretty words!"
Now she realized that true loneliness was silently enduring everything amidst indifference and curses, with no one to understand.
Mokou leaned against the wall, her gaze dim, her voice filled with unhidden regret."He said he would walk through eternity with me, that he understood the pain of being immortal… but I told him he didn't understand anything."
She covered her face and murmured."They've borne billions of years of loneliness and slaughter, and yet I thought my pain was enough… I'm such a fool..."
Sanae bowed her head slowly, her voice choked with sobs."Tamami… you said you'd help me share the burdens of the Moriya Shrine, that the gods of Moriya deserved more joy… but I yelled at you, saying you didn't understand, saying you couldn't possibly know how hard it is to be a shrine maiden…"
Tears fell from her eyes."But what you've endured is far harder, far more painful… and yet I..."
Yuyuko gently ran her fingers over her fan, her voice filled with undisguisable guilt.
"Tamami, every time you made me delicious food, I always thought it was only natural… but… you tried so hard, just to make me feel like I still had warmth… and yet I told you that you'd never understand these things…"
Kaguya's eyes shimmered with regret and heartache.
"Tamami, you said you'd find the most beautiful things on Earth for me, but I mocked you, saying you didn't understand my loneliness, didn't understand the responsibilities I bear… but the pain you've endured is unimaginable to me…"
The other girls fell silent, their memories and guilt intertwining, their hearts weighed down as if by a thousand-pound stone. The burdens they once thought unbearable now seemed so light compared to the billions of years the tsukumogami had endured.
The three of them had never complained, instead using countless gentle actions to heal their wounds. Yet unknowingly, the girls had inflicted even more hurt upon them.
Reimu took a deep breath, raising her head, her gaze resolute.
"No matter what we've said or done in the past… this time, we can't pretend we don't know anymore." Her tone was firm, unshakable.
"We need to let them know that they deserve to be loved, and they deserve to be protected!"
The others remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement, their eyes lighting up with a new determination. They understood that this time, it wasn't just about accepting the tsukumogami's protection—it was about making them understand that this bond wasn't one-sided sacrifice but mutual love and support.
In the library, the fifteen girls exchanged glances, their emotions turbulent and difficult to calm. They had just seen the entire memory of the three tsukumogami—their cruel past, the pain hidden behind their humor, and the selfless sacrifices they made to protect them.
Each of them had countless things they wanted to say to those three fools. They wanted to ask why they bore so much, why they suppressed themselves so much while cautiously protecting them.
Reimu sighed softly, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, her gaze filled with unprecedented complexity.
"What are they so foolishly stubborn about? Protecting us… is it really that important?"
"Perhaps," Yukari said as she closed her folding fan, her gaze flickering with a rare softness.
"But we need to make them understand that this isn't a one-sided effort. We aren't weaklings who need their protection, nor do we need them to go that far for us."
"Exactly," Remilia said, crossing her arms lightly, her tone tinged with a hint of anger.
"This time, we need them to make things clear. All those secrets they've kept… and how they really see us."
Mokou snorted, slamming her hand on the table as she stood.
"Those idiots, do they think they've hidden it so well? We were bound to find out eventually! And what's with them hiding their real strength… do they plan to fool us forever?"
Sanae glanced at the others and said softly.
"No matter what, we need to know what they're thinking. This time, we won't let them run away again."
Yuyuko sighed, her voice soft."Yes, all this time, we've seen their kindness and efforts, but that doesn't mean we're just vases that only receive. They need to know that too."
Just then, a familiar voice called out from outside the door.
"Hey, what are you all up to in there?"
All fifteen of them turned their heads in unison toward the door. Three familiar figures peeked in, with Kyouya waving cheerfully.
"The tea we prepared is about to go cold. If you don't come out soon, we'll eat it all ourselves!"
"That's right!" Kengo's voice came from behind, tinged with a mix of helplessness and warmth. "If you don't come, it'll really go to waste."
"Really, really!" Tamami chimed in, waving enthusiastically, his tone full of anticipation. "This time, we made lots of snacks, all your favorites!"
The library fell into an eerie silence.
Reimu's eyebrow twitched violently as she muttered under her breath.
"Those idiots... they're driving me crazy."
"Indeed, fools," Yukari chuckled lightly, her gaze filled with profound helplessness. Yet, she stood and began walking toward the door.
"They're so infuriating..." Remilia grumbled under her breath, crossing her arms as she followed, though her expression had softened slightly.
"They think this will let them off the hook?" Mokou gritted her teeth as she stood, her steps unconsciously quickening.
"Snacks, huh..." Aya murmured softly, shaking her head with a wry smile before heading toward the door.
The other girls followed suit, muttering complaints like, "Such fools…" and "Do they think an afternoon tea can fix everything?" But their steps quickened, their gazes filled with a mix of complex emotions.
As they walked out of the library one by one, they saw the three standing at the door, smiling expectantly. Their smiles were as goofy as ever, yet, for some reason, they warmed the girls' hearts.
"We'll eat the snacks first, but don't think you're off the hook!" Reimu said coldly, though the anger in her tone had softened.
"That's right, you fools. After this tea, we need to have a serious talk," Yukari added with a light laugh, snapping her fan shut as she headed toward the dining table.
The three tsukumogami exchanged glances, seemingly oblivious to any tension, and their smiles grew even brighter."Alright, come on! We made your favorite cakes!"
The soft afternoon sunlight streamed into the Scarlet Devil Mansion's dining room, and the aroma of tea filled the air. Savory and sweet treats, along with drinks, filled the table, creating a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
Fifteen girls sat around the table, their expressions showing contentment, though behind that contentment lay a hint of complex emotions.
Kyouya clumsily poured tea for Reimu and Yukari, his tone full of flattery.
"Miko-Sama, Lady Yokai Sage, please enjoy! This is the tea I prepared with great care!"
"Sakuya, here's your lemon tart. I added a little extra sugar, just the way you like it," Kengo said steadily, placing the treat in front of her with a calm and gentle tone.
Tamami smiled as he served strawberry mille-feuille to Sanae and Yuyuko, speaking softly.
"Eat up. I picked the sweetest strawberries just for this."
The girls lowered their heads to taste the food, their mouths filled with sweetness, but their hearts churned with hidden waves.
Reimu and Yukari exchanged glances, seemingly reaching a silent understanding.
Reimu gently set down her teacup and looked directly at Kyouya, her tone calm yet pressing.
"Kyouya, have you been hiding your true strength all along?"
The room instantly fell silent. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their gaze toward the three tsukumogami.
Kyouya froze for a moment before forcing a sheepish smile, playing innocent."Eh? Hiding my strength? What are you talking about,Miko-Sama?"
Kengo cleared his throat lightly, attempting to appear nonchalant.
"We really don't know what you're talking about. We're just ordinary, run-of-the-mill tsukumogami living in Gensokyo."
Tamami laughed awkwardly, nodding furiously.
"Yeah, yeah, maybe you're just tired and dreaming things after staying in the library too long? We've always been working hard, just trying to make you all happy!"
The girls exchanged glances, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. Their gazes were filled with suspicion and a sense of pressure, but the three tsukumogami continued their act of feigned ignorance.
"What hidden strength? Miko-Sama, Lady Yokai Sage, maybe you've had a bit too much to drink?" Kyouya laughed nervously, attempting to brush it off with humor.
"That's right. We're just ordinary tsukumogami, cooking meals, tending to the land, and sparring with everyone now and then..." Kengo's tone was steady, but his uneasy glances betrayed him.
"Exactly! Our job is just to bring delicious food and happiness to everyone!" Tamami chuckled awkwardly, fumbling with a tray of savory pies.
Kyouya suddenly seemed to recall something and quickly added, "Besides, we've only been in Gensokyo for two years, and we're still juniors compared to Kogasa, Raiko, Kokoro, and the Tsukumo sisters! As tsukumogami, we have so much to learn from them!"
Kengo nodded in agreement, "That's right. They are the real seniors, and we deeply respect them! Kokoro's stage presence, Raiko's music, Kogasa's scare tactics, and the Tsukumo sisters' creativity… We try to learn from their strengths every day!"
Tamami quickly chimed in with an earnest expression, "Exactly! They're amazing. We just want to ask for their guidance and work hard to catch up to our seniors!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the girls exchanged glances. Then the room erupted with unabashed laughter.
Reimu crossed her arms and gave a cold snort, "'Ordinary to the core'? And you call yourselves juniors to Kokoro? Kyouya, do you even realize how ridiculous that sounds? If they knew how much you 'respect' them, they'd probably be too embarrassed to accept it. Besides, would an ordinary tsukumogami storm through the Yomi? Would an ordinary tsukumogami demolish the Taga Taisha? Would an ordinary tsukumogami cook food so delicious it makes people want to strip?"
Yukari closed her fan with a sharp motion, her gaze cutting like a blade. "Calling yourselves juniors to the Tsukumo sisters? Heh, such humility borders on absurdity. And so-called 'ordinary tsukumogami' shouldn't include gods who can toy with the Three Sacred Treasures and slice apart planets, should it?"
"Kyouya, that explanation of yours is hilarious," Aya said with a sly smile, lightly twirling her pen. "How about I write an article titled The Daily Lives of the Three Sacred Treasure Juniors to help spread the word about your 'ordinary life'? But really, your understanding of the word 'ordinary' is… truly one of a kind!"
Patchouli adjusted her hat and spoke in her usual calm yet frosty tone, "You really ought to recheck the definitions of 'ordinary' and 'junior' to avoid embarrassing yourselves further. An ordinary tsukumogami, as you say, can destroy the Yomi's barrier and crush both the Hachiraishin (Eight Thunder Gods) and Yomotsu-shikomes? Stand on equal footing with the Three Noble Children? If that's ordinary, then the word should just be removed from the dictionary altogether."
"Tamami, you even claim Kogasa's scare tactics are textbook-level? What about that massive water screen you made at Moriya Shrine, scaring off all the shrine's visitors? Wasn't that more like a horror movie masterpiece? Oh, and let's not forget—an ordinary tsukumogami taking down Yamata no Orochi in an instant? That kind of ordinary is beyond belief," Sanae added, narrowing her eyes as she set down her fork, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Wow, I've spent two years befriending the Three Sacred Treasures' tsukumogami, only to hear them claim they're 'ordinary to the core' juniors. What an eye-opening experience. By the way, would an ordinary tsukumogami fly to space with the Three Sacred Treasures and shatter planets for fun? That kind of ordinary? Sorry, I'll pass," Mokou said, tossing her fork aside, spreading her hands, and giving them a skeptical look.
"You really think… we're going to believe you?" Youmu said, holding her teacup with a blank expression, though her gaze carried an unmistakable intensity.
Suika twirled her gourd and laughed mischievously, "Go on, keep pretending you're just ordinary tsukumogami. I'm honestly curious to see how far you'll take this story."
"You can't just come clean?" Remilia said coldly, sitting elegantly in her chair while lightly swirling her teacup. "Juniors among tsukumogami? Kokoro would laugh herself silly from Myouren Temple to the Palace of the Earth Spirits if she heard this. Seriously, would an 'ordinary tsukumogami' destroy a shrine for us and boldly invade theYomi? This kind of ordinary is downright ridiculous." She finished with a deliberate knock of her finger on the table for emphasis."
Kyouya raised his hands in mock surrender, looking utterly innocent.
"Hey, hey, everyone calm down! I swear we're just ordinary tsukumogami! As for the stuff about space, the Yomi, and shrines… uh, maybe you just ate too many sweets and had strange dreams?"
"Yeah, yeah, maybe what you saw in the library was just some weird story," Tamami quickly added, his stiff smile betraying his nerves.
"That's right, space and all that are way beyond us! We don't have that kind of power," Kengo chimed in with a steady tone, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Oh, really?" Yukari's icy gaze pierced through them as she tapped her fan lightly on the table.
"You three better come up with a reasonable explanation," Reimu said, narrowing her eyes, her gaze sharp enough to see through their lies.
"If you keep playing dumb…" Suika tightened her grip on her gourd, her expression shifting to one of dangerous amusement.
"Don't blame us if we have to force the truth out of you," Marisa said, her mini-Hakkero already in hand, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"Enough stalling," Reimu said, dropping her arms, her gaze unyielding. "Since you claim to want to protect us, show us that strength right now. Let's have a sparring match outside the Scarlet Devil Mansion—consider it post-meal exercise."
"And this time," Suika added, lightly shaking her gourd with a meaningful grin, "no holding back, no playing dumb."
"And," Sanae narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp, "if you don't have the strength, don't even think about claiming to protect us."
The three exchanged glances, their expressions more rigid than before. Kyouya laughed awkwardly."Well, honestly, we're just…"
"Ordinary," Aya interjected with a cold smirk. "Is that it?"
"So ordinary that you're everywhere?" Kaguya said softly, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Well then," Reimu said with a cold smile as she turned to walk outside. "Let's see just how 'ordinary' you are."
The three glanced at each other, their expressions stiff. Kyouya whispered, "Guys, how unlucky are we? We can't even pretend to be ordinary tsukumogami anymore."
Kengo replied with a deep sigh, "There's no helping it. If they're serious, we'll have to take some hits today."
Tamami sighed as well. "But all I wanted was to go fishing..."
In the end, the three reluctantly followed the girls to the open space outside the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The fifteen girls had already taken their positions, their gazes filled with seriousness, curiosity, and a hint of mischievous intent.
Kyouya scratched the back of his head and let out a dry laugh.
"Uh… everyone's so enthusiastic, how about… we have a cup of tea and cool down first?"
Reimu waved her talisman decisively."Cut the nonsense, let's get started!"
The open space outside the Scarlet Devil Mansion was bathed in brilliant afternoon sunlight, but the tranquility was quickly shattered by a storm of attacks. The fifteen girls launched relentless offensives without holding back, while the three tsukumogami dodged repeatedly.
Though they were being "slightly" more serious than usual, it was evident they were still holding back.
"Didn't! You! Hear! Me!" Reimu's tone carried calm anger as her gohei swept through the air, unleashing a barrage of yin-yang orbs that rained down like a storm.
Kyouya leapt aside, waving his arms to manipulate a breeze that deflected the orbs slightly.
"Miko-Sama, this is getting too intense! But I have to say, your attacks are beautiful—100 points for effort!"
Reimu snorted coldly, her fingers forming seals as beams of spiritual energy poured down like rain, driving Kyouya into a corner.
"Shut up! Kyouya, stop fooling around and get serious!"
"I am serious! I'm serious about dodging!" Kyouya replied with a wry smile, narrowly avoiding her attacks.
On the other side of the battlefield, Yukari gracefully opened her fan as gaps appeared around Kyouya like a kaleidoscope, each one slashing at him like a blade.
"My, my, Lady Yokai Sage, the aesthetics of these gaps are truly exquisite!" Kyouya said while dodging at wind speed, mimicking Yukari's tone mockingly. "Why not open a few more? We could set up a tea party in them!"
A sly glint flashed in Yukari's eyes as one of the gaps suddenly closed, nearly slicing off Kyouya's sleeve.
"If you love gaps so much, why not immerse yourself in them?"
"Yukari! This is seriously dangerous!" Kyouya shouted, skillfully maneuvering between the gaps to evade them. "Aren't you being a bit harsh on an ordinary tsukumogami like me?"
Marisa aimed her mini-Hakkero, unleashing a massive magic blast straight at Kengo.
"An extraordinarily 'ordinary' tsukumogami—let's see if you can handle this!" she said with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with battle excitement.
Kengo calmly sidestepped the blast, his expression unchanged. He sighed lightly.
"Marisa, this kind of attack is too dangerous. Don't make such a mess… Ah, no second shots, please!"
Nearby, Patchouli chanted calmly, her books floating around her as countless elemental forces coalesced into a massive magic circle. With a single command, fire, wind, water, earth, light, and darkness intertwined into a terrifying assault that bore down on Tamami.
"Ordinary? Let's see if your ordinary tsukumogami skills can break this magic circle," she said with a hint of disdain, though her gaze remained intensely focused.
Tamami wiped sweat from his forehead under the magic circle's pressure and laughed nervously.
"Patchouli-San, isn't this… a bit too serious?" He sidestepped deftly, sliding out of the attack's path with ease, even adding with a grin, "Your aim seems a bit off though!"
Remilia and Flandre launched a joint assault, their movements like a storm as they pressured Kyouya.
"An ordinary tsukumogami holding back against a vampire's full-force attack? Let's see," Remilia said with a cold smile.
Flandre, her grin innocent yet dangerous, added, "I don't believe what big brother says about being ordinary!" The crystals on her wings glowed brightly, as if ready to unleash world-ending power.
Kyouya retreated quickly, frantically deflecting their attacks.
"Wait, wait! Not both of you at once! That's cheating! Teaming up vampires is just unfair!"
Suika raised her gourd high, an immense wave of oni energy surging from it. She swung her chain with a laugh, smashing the ground and leaving a massive crater.
"Let's see if an ordinary tsukumogami can dodge this!" she taunted.
Kengo stepped back lightly, avoiding the attack effortlessly, shaking his head in exasperation.
"Suika, this is the Scarlet Devil Mansion's grounds! Don't go wrecking the place!"
Sakuya's precise knife-throwing and time manipulation turned dozens of silver blades into a rain of steel, hurtling toward Kengo.
"Kengo-San, please don't dodge. This is just an 'honorary sparring match,'" she said with an air of politeness.
Kengo smiled faintly, raising his hand to summon a wall of earth that blocked the knives completely.
"Sakuya, this 'sparring match' feels a bit too enthusiastic for my taste!"
Youmu, wielding both her swords, dashed forward like a phantom.
"Kengo-San, draw your sword! Dodging like this is an insult to my swordsmanship!"
"Youmu, my swordsmanship is nothing to speak of," Kengo said with a smile, forming a blade of earth and stone to parry her twin swords before retreating deftly.
Sanae raised her gohei, her voice filled with displeasure.
"Tamami-San, didn't you say you'd protect me? Then stop dodging and fight me for real!"
Tamami chuckled, waving his hands to create a wall of water that blocked her attack.
"Sanae-San, I really don't want to hurt you!"
Yuyuko twirled her fan with a soft laugh, sending spectral butterflies like sharp blades toward Tamami.
"Tamami, if you can dodge this, perhaps you'll earn yourself a special feast as a reward!"
"How could I ever refuse your reward, Yuyuko-San?" Tamami redirected the butterflies with streams of water, gently steering them away.
Mokou hurled a blazing fireball that resembled a fiery tornado, hurling it straight at Kyouya. Her voice carried restrained anger.
"Kyouya, stop pretending to be ordinary! Show me your true strength!"
Kyouya barely deflected the flames with a wind barrier, his tone still playful.
"Mokou, this fireball is anything but friendly! Do you really want to scorch this handsome face of mine?"
Aya soared through the air, her wings slicing down like blades with intense wind pressure aimed at Kyouya.
"Kyouya, I've known all along that your speed isn't as slow as you pretend. Let's see just how fast you really are!"
Kyouya darted left and right amidst the gale, still finding time to call out,
"Tengu-Sama, your speed is really something I can't keep up with! Even an 'ordinary tsukumogami' needs a break, you know!"
Komachi raised her scythe of death, slashing rapidly as soul blades gleamed and closed in on Kengo.
"Kengo, you could've used terrain manipulation to avoid this, but here you are with this half-hearted defense!"
Kengo sighed, summoning a stone wall to barely block the attack.
"Komachi, I really am just plain ordinary. This is just a reflex defense, nothing more!"
Suika stomped hard, causing the entire courtyard to fracture. She swung her gourd fiercely toward Kengo.
"Kengo, stop hiding! The way you manipulated the terrain earlier didn't look like something an ordinary farmer could do!"
Kengo flipped to evade the attack, a wry smile on his face.
"Suika, I only just barely managed to block that! You're going all out—aren't you worried about completely destroying the courtyard?"
Kaguya played a tune on her bamboo flute, the melody infused with lunar power as it shot toward Tamami.
"Tamami, aren't you best at blocking attacks? Let's see if you can handle this light."
Tamami conjured a wall of water with a wave of his hand, reflecting the light as he chuckled.
"Kaguya-san, your attack is really dazzling! But water can refract light~"
"Hey, there's no need to be this serious!" Kyouya shouted, leaping to avoid the talismans Reimu had thrown.
"If you don't get serious, don't blame us for not holding back!" Reimu snorted, as the talismans rained down like a deluge, covering the three tsukumogami in relentless attacks.
"Time out! Time out!" Kyouya yelled as he frantically dodged several beams of spiritual energy. The ground beneath him was already riddled with craters.
"How about we switch to a different kind of match?"
"Switch?" Remilia crossed her arms, her tone laced with suspicion.
"What new trick are you trying to pull this time?"
Kengo landed steadily, sliding out of the way of Marisa's magic blast. He sighed.
"This chaotic free-for-all is way too dangerous. The grounds of the Scarlet Devil Mansion are about to be leveled!"
Tamami wore a helpless smile, dodging as he spoke."Everyone, calm down! Didn't we say we're just ordinary tsukumogami...?"
"Ordinary?" Patchouli closed her book and let out a soft, cold laugh, her gaze carrying a sense of pressure.
"Then let's see what your kind of 'ordinary' is capable of."
Yukari's gap opened slightly as she spoke in a cold tone.
"Speak up. What exactly do you have in mind for this match? If it's another excuse... don't blame us for being ruthless."
The girls stopped their attacks, though their eyes radiated a palpable sense of intimidation. The three exchanged glances, sighing in unison.
Kyouya raised his hand.
"Alright, alright! We'll think of a proper match, but you need to give us some time!"
"You'd better hurry," Reimu said with a cold snort, her gaze piercing.
"Otherwise, we won't hold back in the next round."
Kyouya raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, a wide grin on his face.
"It's not because we can't win... we just want everyone to relax and build some bonds!"
Kengo chimed in."Exactly. This chaotic fight isn't good. How about... we try a more interesting challenge instead?"
The girls exchanged glances, their skepticism clear, but a hint of curiosity began to show in their eyes.
Yukari snapped her fan shut and spoke in a detached tone.
"Alright, let's hear it. What kind of excuse are you trying this time?"
"Excuse? Absolutely not!" Kyouya said with mock sincerity before turning to Kengo and Tamami to whisper a few quick words. Then, with a grin, he announced,
"We've come up with a more entertaining challenge. How about a game of speed? If any of us three are hit, we lose—and we'll cook all three meals for the next month!"
Tamami added with a goofy smile.
"We'll make them with care, something new every day to keep you happy!"
"And our objective is this—" Kengo said steadily, sweeping his gaze across the girls.
"Before you hit us, we'll take something from each of you. If we succeed, we win."
The scene fell silent for a moment as the fifteen girls exchanged glances, their reactions gradually surfacing.
Reimu snorted, crossing her arms as her sharp gaze narrowed.
"Your cooking is good, I'll give you that. But if you're using it as the stakes, I'm not going easy on you this time."
Yukari tapped her fan lightly, a meaningful smile on her lips.
"A month's worth of meals, hmm? Sounds intriguing. However—" Her gaze swept over the three, her tone turning icy.
"Are you sure this isn't another ploy to stall for time?"
"Come on~~" Kyouya adopted a sincere expression but couldn't resist adding in a lower voice,
"Besides, having us cook for a month isn't exactly a loss for you, right?"
Mokou planted her hands on her hips, squinting suspiciously at him.
"Are you scheming something again? Kyouya, what kind of nonsense are you cooking up in that chuunibyou brain of yours?"
"No way!" Kyouya waved his hands frantically, as if to ward off another fiery scolding from Mokou.
"Hmph. It does sound tempting," Patchouli said calmly, closing her book with deliberate slowness.
"But are you sure you're not planning anything strange this time?"
"Patchouli-san, how could we ever deceive you?" Tamami said with a sheepish smile, his voice gentle as if coaxing a child.
"We just want everyone to enjoy good food!"
"Well, I must admit, I'm intrigued now." Yuyuko chuckled softly, covering her mouth with a fan as she laughed meaningfully.
"If it means getting a month's worth of meals, I'll play along with your 'game.'"
"I'd like to see if you can actually win," Youmu said, gripping her sword hilt tightly. Her tone was cold, but her eyes betrayed a hint of anticipation.
"Haha! Cooking for a month sounds fun!" Marisa grinned as she twirled her mini-Hakkero in her hand, her tone dripping with playful challenge.
"But you three better not regret it!"
"Regret? Not a chance!" Kengo replied firmly, his tone brimming with confidence.
"We're going to win for sure."
"Hmph, then let's see you try," Suika said, raising her gourd with a bold laugh."But if you lose, don't say we didn't give you a chance!"
"Big words. Let's see if you can back them up," Remilia said with a faint smile, her gaze filled with disdain and provocation.
The fifteen girls gradually revealed their smiles. Though their reactions varied, they all shared a common interest in the upcoming "match."
"Alright then, let's give it a try," Reimu said coldly, flicking her talismans as they glowed faintly in her hand."Let's hope you don't disappoint us."