Chapter 13
In the Scarlet Devil Mansion's library, the Mirror of Memories once again displayed a scene. This time, the atmosphere was no longer heavy with sadness but instead filled with an absurd and almost laughable lightness.
Inside the Taga Shrine, Izanagi was still wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, but the three tsukumogami, sensing his emotional vulnerability, immediately seized the opportunity to act.
Kyouya patted Izanagi on the shoulder, his face brimming with excitement. "Dad, enough reminiscing. Let's go right now! The gate to Yomi is right over there—you lead the way!"
He pointed toward the shrine's main entrance with a confident look, as though everything was ready. "Don't worry, the Yomotsu Hirasaka is super safe right now. We just cleared out all the troublemakers a little while ago!"
Kengo chimed in, his tone full of assurance. "The Hachiraishin are already taken care of, and the Yomotsu-shikomes are wiped out. It's safer there now than even Gensokyo. You just need to take a quick walk, sign in, and you're done!"
Tamami offered a gentle smile, his voice soft yet firm. "Father, you have nothing to worry about. We'll protect you. No one in Yomi can lay a finger on you."
Izanagi's eyes widened in disbelief, the redness from his earlier tears instantly replaced with shock and astonishment. "Wait a second! What did you say? The Hachiraishin and the Yomotsu-shikomes… all taken care of?"
His gaze darted back and forth among the three, his voice trembling slightly. "What on earth have you brats done to Yomi?!"
Kyouya shrugged, his expression casual. "Oh, nothing much. We just tidied it up a bit."
As he spoke, he gestured lazily with his hand, his tone as relaxed as if discussing the weather. "The Hachiraishin were too noisy with all their thunderclaps, so I used the Yata no Kagami to reflect their attacks a few times and knocked them all out."
Kengo crossed his arms, speaking with a serious tone. "As for the Yomotsu-shikomes, they were just bigger nuisances. I swung my sword a few times, cleared them out with the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, and got it done pretty efficiently."
Tamami nodded gently, his tone soft but the weight of his words undeniable. "As for the desolate areas of Yomi, I summoned a few waves to wash everything clean… Father, there's really nothing to worry about with these minor issues."
The girls watching this scene couldn't hold back any longer.
Reimu slammed her hands on the table, standing up abruptly and pointing at the mirror. "What do you mean by 'just tidied it up a bit'?! The Hachiraishin and the Yomotsu-shikomes?! Those are beings feared even in mythology, and you're talking about them so casually?!"
Sanae covered her mouth, her voice trembling. "Do they even realize how terrifying the Yomotsu-shikomes are? Saying things like 'cleared them out'... What on earth are they thinking?!"
Yukari shook her head lightly, a wry smile playing on her lips. "These three… They're truly simple-minded. To talk about making such a commotion in Yomi as though they were just running daily errands."
Remilia let out a cold laugh, crossing her arms. Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "This is ridiculous. The Hachiraishin and Yomotsu-shikomes are just minor nuisances in their eyes? Do they even realize how dangerous they are?!"
Mokou muttered under her breath, her face a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. "These idiots… I don't even know whether to admire them or get angry…"
Aya flapped her wings excitedly, her tone filled with incredulity. "This is huge news! They beat the Yomotsu-shikomes and the Hachiraishin and can talk about it so nonchalantly? Who would've thought!"
Yuyuko chuckled softly, her tone warm. "Those kids… They're always like this. Doing incredible, earth-shattering things but treating them as if they were just part of their everyday life."
Kaguya held her bamboo flute, her brows furrowing slightly as she spoke with a tone full of helplessness. "They raise havoc in Yomi and act like it's no big deal. They're really… both infuriating and laughable."
Patchouli's voice was calm, though it couldn't mask her inner shock. "Do they truly not realize, or are they just pretending not to? This scale of destruction… How could it possibly be a 'small matter'?"
Flandre, on the other hand, leapt up with excitement, clapping her hands. "My brothers are amazing! Next time, take me to Yomi too!"
In the library of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Mirror of Memories once again displayed a scene. This time, the atmosphere was no longer heavy with sorrow but carried an almost absurd and poignant sense of bittersweet relief.
Inside the Taga Shrine, Izanagi listened to the words of the three tsukumogami, his entire face darkened. He pressed his hand against his forehead and let out a heavy sigh.
"You brats… You really have no sense of proportion! Yomi is such a sacred place, and you've caused such chaos there that I don't even know what to say!"
His gaze was filled with frustration and confusion as he asked, "Are you absolutely certain that the place is safe now?"
The three tsukumogami nodded in unison, speaking confidently, "Don't worry, Dad. Yomotsu Hirasaka is safer than Gensokyo right now!"
In the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the girls fell into a brief silence before letting out collective, meaningful sighs.
Reimu held her head in her hands, exhaling deeply. "These idiots… I don't even know how to criticize them anymore…"
Yukari softly added, a faint smile tugging at her lips, "Still, their clumsy confidence does make them somewhat… dependable."
The darkness of Yomi blanketed every inch of space, its decaying stench overwhelming. As Izanagi and the three tsukumogami ventured deeper into its recesses, what they saw pierced their hearts like a blade.
Fifteen girls' souls were imprisoned in the depths of Yomi, their once-beautiful appearances completely altered by consuming the food of Yomi.
Their faces had withered, their skin gray and mottled like decayed ash, their eye sockets sunken, and their limbs emaciated, as thin as skeletal remains. It was nearly impossible to recognize who they had once been.
Even more horrifying was that their vocal cords seemed to have been corroded by Yomi's power. They could no longer utter cries of anguish but could only gaze at them with hollow and despairing eyes.
Izanagi, seeing this, felt his expression change from shock to fury. He turned sharply to face Izanami, his voice thundering like a storm.
"You've gone too far! You actually made them eat the food of Yomi?! Do you know what that means?!"
He pointed at the girls, their dreadful appearances unbearable to behold, his gaze filled with accusation.
"They were innocent humans and youkai, and because of your malice, they've been turned into this!"
Izanami's figure emerged from the darkness, her expression devoid of any emotion. Her face bore only the icy demeanor and imperious authority of someone above reproach.
"So you've actually returned?" she sneered, her tone dripping with endless scorn. "You betrayed me and fled Yomi, yet now, for the sake of these girls, you set foot here again? How ironic."
She waved her hand lightly, gesturing toward the corrupted girls. Turning to the tsukumogami, she asked coldly,
"Look at them now! Can you still claim to love them unconditionally?"
Her gaze bore down on the three tsukumogami as she said icily,
"Men, in the end, are creatures who care only for appearances. Just as Izanagi abandoned me and fled Yomi because of how I looked."
Her tone sharpened, brimming with hostility,
"Now they can't even speak a complete sentence. They've lost their basic beauty. Can you still stand by them? Can you still call them the most important people in your lives?"
Hearing this, Izanagi's face paled. He pressed his lips together tightly, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes filled with profound guilt and pain.
"I…" he muttered, lowering his head, his voice heavy with remorse. "You're right… I betrayed you back then… I have no defense…"
His voice grew softer and softer, the silence around him like an invisible web suffocating him.
However, the three tsukumogami were utterly unmoved by Izanami's mockery. Their eyes were fixed solely on the girls.
Kyouya strode toward Reimu, Yukari, Remilia, Mokou, and Aya, kneeling and gently gathering them into his arms. His hands trembled as his eyes filled with sorrow and infinite tenderness.
"I'm sorry… We came too late… But please believe, we will never abandon you!"
He raised his head, locking eyes with Izanami, his tone filled with unwavering conviction.
"No matter what they look like now, they will always be the most important people to us!"
Kengo planted the Kusanagi no Tsurugi beside him and softly lifted Marisa, Suika, Sakuya, Komachi, and Youmu into his embrace. He gently brushed his hand over their corroded, mottled faces, tears of pain glistening in his eyes.
"These girls are our bonds, the reason we exist!" His voice was low yet brimming with fervent emotion.
"No matter what they become, we will protect them until our last breath!"
Tamami knelt on both knees, cradling Sanae, Yuyuko, Kaguya, Patchouli, and Flandre in his arms. His gaze overflowed with tenderness and regret as he spoke softly yet resolutely.
"You gave up everything for Gensokyo. How could we ever abandon you?"
He lowered his head, his forehead lightly touching Sanae's, his voice a gentle whisper."You will always be our world, our everything."
The girls' souls remained silent, but their eyes glimmered with light—light filled with gratitude, hope, and the comfort of unconditional acceptance.
Their withered fingers trembled slightly as if attempting to reach out to their tsukumogami, but their strength was too feeble to lift their arms.
Inside Yomi, Izanami's previously indifferent expression finally wavered.
Her gaze lingered on the three tsukumogami gently holding the girls in their arms, and her brows furrowed slightly as if something deep within her had been stirred.
"You…" she said softly, her tone carrying a hint of hesitation.
The three spoke in unison, placing their hands over the girls' souls, their voices ringing out like a solemn vow:
"No matter what, we will bring you home—to Gensokyo!"
In the library of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the images playing in the Mirror of Memories plunged the girls into a vortex of emotions they couldn't describe.
They watched the three tsukumogami tenderly embrace their withered, decayed, and unsightly souls.
The men's eyes were devoid of disgust, filled only with deep sorrow, unconditional love, and that unwavering promise—
"No matter what, we will bring you home—to Gensokyo!"
This statement, coupled with their wholehearted actions, shattered the last barriers in the girls' hearts.
Reimu's hands clenched tightly onto her knees, her nails digging into the fabric. Her gaze locked onto the mirror, unable to look away from her own withered and heartbreaking image. It was almost too painful to bear, but
Kyouya's gentle gaze and his unconditional acceptance warmed her heart.
"You idiot… You absolute idiot…" she murmured, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Looking like this… and yet you still…"
She bit her lip, trying to stop herself from sobbing aloud, but the emotions in her chest were out of control.
"Are you really not afraid… Will you really accept me?"
Yukari's folding fan lowered slightly, concealing most of her face, but her eyes glimmered with tears. She chuckled softly, a trace of self-deprecation in her tone.
"Honestly… You fool… Why do you insist on being so stubborn at a time like this?"
Closing her eyes, she whispered to herself:"With such an ugly appearance, you can still say such things…"
Pausing, a faint smile curved her lips, soft and serene."Fine then… If you insist so much… I'll let you protect me."
Remilia's mouth twitched as if she wanted to say something sarcastic to mask her emotions, but in the end, she just let out a quiet sigh.
She looked down at her hand and spoke in a low voice."To hold on so tightly… What's there to see in this form…"
Her hand moved to her chest, feeling the quickened beats of her heart, as she murmured,"But… if it's you… Maybe… it's possible."
Mokou slammed her fist onto the table, her head bowed low as she muttered under her breath."Damn it… This kind of thing…"
Her fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, her teeth clenched audibly, but the tears streaming down her face wouldn't stop.
" Kyouya… You idiot… Why are you so good to me… Why don't you give up on me…"
Aya's wings flapped rapidly, her gaze filled with a mix of shock and overwhelming emotion."He really… really thinks that?"
She covered her mouth with her hands, tears slipping through her fingers as she whispered,"Looking like this… and yet he… still says I'm the most important to him…"
Her heart was a chaotic mess, yet it felt warm. Finally, she murmured softly,
"Seriously… How can someone be such a fool…"
Marisa clutched the brim of her hat tightly, her head bowed low as she avoided looking at herself in the mirror. Her voice quivered.
"Looking like that… it's just too humiliating…"
But the sight of Kengo gently holding her without a hint of disgust made her heart race uncontrollably. At last, she let out a quiet sob."Idiot… Kengo… Why won't you just give up on me…"
Suika turned her head away, her lips pressed tightly together, refusing to speak, but the hand holding her gourd trembled slightly. She wiped her tears away roughly, her voice tinged with stubbornness."Hmph, what an idiot… Even looking like this, he's holding on so tightly…"
She added softly,"Kengo… You… really are… impossible to hate."
Sakuya gently gripped her pocket watch, her expression remaining composed as always, but the ripples in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. She sighed softly, her voice carrying a hint of self-mockery.
"With such a pitiful appearance… Can he really accept me without hesitation?"
Lowering her head, she murmured,"What a fool… But… the only one worth trusting."
Youmu's hands clenched her sword tightly, tears falling onto her fingers. Her voice trembled as she spoke."Looking like this… and yet he still accepts me…"
Biting her lip, she tried to calm herself, but the warmth in her chest broke her composure entirely."Kengo… Thank you… Thank you for not giving up on me…"
Komachi laughed loudly, trying to hide the redness in her eyes.
"That guy… He's really not afraid of death, saying something like that!"
But her laughter faded, and she let out a soft sigh."Still… That Kengo… really does make you feel safe."
Sanae's hands covered her mouth as tears flowed endlessly down her face.
"How… Looking like this, and he still…"
Her heart swirled with shame and gratitude, and she could only choke out softly,"Tamami… Thank you… Truly, thank you…"
Yuyuko sighed softly, her gaze filled with gentle emotion.
"Tamami… Such a stubborn child…"
Looking at her decayed form in the image, she whispered,"Looking like this… Will you really not regret it?"
Kaguya's bamboo flute slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor. Her hands clutched tightly at her skirt as her voice trembled.
"With such a form… How could anyone still love me…"
Tears streamed uncontrollably, and she murmured quietly,"Tamami… Would you really… accept me like this?"
Patchouli gently closed her book, speaking softly,"Honestly… Words like that… Who would believe them?"
But the corners of her eyes were damp, her fingers trembling slightly as she thought to herself."Yet… They still moved my heart."
Flandre's eyes showed a mix of struggle, but even more, a deep sense of gratitude and dependence. She slowly walked up to the Mirror of Memories and whispered softly,"Tamami-niisan… Will you really always protect me?"
She smiled gently, her voice brimming with pure joy."Then… I'll believe in you!"
Inside the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the silence was suffocating.
The girls were immersed in the images within the Mirror of Memories, unable to speak, their hearts trembling with emotion and profound gratitude. Tears streamed silently down their faces as the unconditional love they witnessed brought a warmth and solace their souls had never known.
The scene in the Mirror of Memories continued to unfold, and the oppressive darkness of Yomi grew denser. Izanami's cold, cutting voice pierced the hearts of every girl like a blade.
Izanami stood high above the land of Yomi, looking down on the three tsukumogami and the fifteen imprisoned girls' souls.
A cold smile curled at her lips as she spoke."I've seen your determination," she said icily, "but saving them isn't so simple."
With a light wave of her hand, the souls of the fifteen girls were bound by the chains of Yomi, curling in pain, utterly silent."Let me give you an opportunity," Izanami continued, her voice devoid of warmth.
"The three of you may each choose one girl to bring back to Gensokyo. The rest… will remain here as sacrifices to Yomi."
The moment her words fell, the girls in the Scarlet Devil Mansion held their breath. Their eyes were fixed on the Mirror of Memories, their hearts filled with intense tension and unease.
The three tsukumogami immediately stood up, rejecting her without hesitation.
"Impossible!" Kyouya roared, his voice brimming with fury and resolve.
"There's no way we're only taking one!"
"We won't abandon anyone!" Kengo said firmly, his tone low but unyielding."If we can't bring them all back, then there's no point in negotiating!"
"Every single one of them is equally important to us!" Tamami added softly, his tone gentle yet filled with unwavering determination.
"We won't choose, and we won't leave a single one behind!"
Izanami scoffed, crossing her arms as her icy gaze swept over them.
"No choice?" she said coldly.
"Then you'll simply watch as they rot in Yomi and become eternal wraiths. Are you ready to accept that?"
But the three did not falter, lifting their heads with fiery determination burning in their eyes.
Kyouya was the first to speak, his tone as resolute as a vow.
"Then let our existence be the price for their revival and restoration."
Kengo stepped forward, meeting Izanami's gaze head-on without flinching.
"As long as they can return to Gensokyo and smile as they once did, our existence doesn't matter at all."
Tamami smiled gently, his voice soft yet unyielding."The three of us were never meant to belong to this world. As long as they can live, as long as they can be happy, that's all that matters."
A flicker of disbelief crossed Izanami's eyes. She stared at them coldly, her voice filled with both mockery and an undercurrent of doubt.
"Do you understand what that means?"
Taking a step closer, the oppressive aura around her grew heavier.
"Exchanging your existence for theirs means they will indeed return to life, and their appearances will be restored. But do you know what will happen to you?"
Her tone sharpened, her gaze piercing."Your existence will be completely erased. You will vanish from this world. No one will remember you—not even the fact that you saved them."
She tilted her head slightly, her voice cold and laced with hesitation.
"Do you really think… it's worth it?"
Kyouya clenched his fists and declared loudly,"Whether it's worth it or not doesn't matter! They are our everything, and this is the only choice we can make!"
Kengo stood steadfast, his eyes blazing."Our existence only has meaning because of them. As long as they can return, as long as they can live happily, it doesn't matter if we disappear."
Tamami smiled faintly, his gentle voice carrying unwavering resolve.
"To us, they are more important than this world itself. As long as they can live well, we are willing to give up everything."
Izanami fell silent, her expression complicated as she gazed at the three of them.
After a moment, she spoke again, her tone cold yet laced with an unmistakable heaviness.
"Let me ask you one more time… Have you really thought this through? Erasure will indeed allow them to be saved… but you will cease to exist. They will completely forget you. All traces of you in Takamagahara, Gensokyo, and the entire world will vanish forever…"
Without hesitation, the three answered in unison,"As long as they can return to Gensokyo, that's enough. It doesn't matter if they forget us."
Yet deep in their hearts, a quiet monologue echoed:
"If they forget us, what meaning does our existence have…?"
"We don't fear death or disappearance, but being forgotten by them is the scariest thing of all…"
"We finally became friends with them, and there's still so much we wanted to do together…"
Back in the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the girls watching the scene through the Mirror of Memories were utterly stunned.
Inside the Scarlet Devil Mansion, a sudden burst of emotion broke the silence.
Reimu abruptly stood up from her chair, slamming her hands onto the table. Her eyes were fixed on the Mirror of Memories, and her voice trembled with sharp intensity:"What the hell are you doing?! Sacrificing yourselves? Completely erasing your existence? Do you think that will make us happy?!"
Her voice grew louder, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Finally, she broke into a heart-wrenching cry:"You idiot! Kyouya Amaba! If you disappear, what am I supposed to do?!"
Yukari gently lowered her folding fan, her eyes closed as she spoke in an unusually calm tone, though her trembling fingers betrayed her true emotions.
"Kyouya... Is this your plan? To sacrifice yourselves and erase everything?"
She opened her eyes, and they glistened with unmistakable tears. Her voice turned icy:"If you dare go through with this... I'll hate you for the rest of my life!"
Her tone softened into a quiet sob, her voice cracking:"And I'll never be able to forgive myself either!"
Remilia's lips quivered, and her hands clutched tightly at her dress. Her face turned pale.
She tried to speak but found her voice stuck in her throat. After a long pause, she finally murmured:"You idiot... Do you think this is the kind of sacrifice we want? …You don't understand what truly matters."
But tears began to well up in her eyes as she quietly added:"Because the most important person... is you."
Mokou clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Her face was filled with anger and pain."Kyouya! Do you think this decision makes you some kind of hero?!"
Her voice shook as tears streamed down her face:"You bastard! Giving up on yourself, erasing yourself—do you really think that will help us?!"
Finally, she collapsed to the ground, covering her face as she wept:"How could you... just leave like this...?"
Aya's wings stopped flapping as she stared blankly at the Mirror of Memories, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"They're really planning... to exchange their existence for ours?"
Her hands gripped her notebook tightly before she suddenly threw it to the ground. Her voice quivered with sobs as she shouted:"Kyouya! You idiot! If you're gone, what's the point of me returning to Gensokyo?! Tell me that!"
Marisa slammed her fist onto the table, her hat tumbling to the ground unnoticed."Kengo! You idiot!"
Her voice was full of anger and tears as she clutched the edge of the table, her tone breaking under the weight of her emotions:"Do you even know what I want?! It's you... You, you stupid idiot!"
Suika leaned against the wall in silence for a long time before biting her lip and suddenly kicking her gourd across the room."Damn it! You guys always do the most infuriating things!"
She turned her back, wiping away her tears with forceful hands, her voice low and heavy:"Kengo, if you really go through with this... I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life."
Sakuya gently closed her pocket watch, her expression as composed as ever, though her eyes glistened with tears.
She lifted her head, looking at Kengo in the Mirror of Memories, and spoke softly:"If you think erasing yourself can save us, then you're wrong."
She let out a quiet sigh, her tone filled with both warmth and pain:"Because to me... if you're not there, I won't be able to go on either."
Youmu gripped her sword tightly, her knuckles white from the strain. She bit her lip and said softly:"Kengo... Do you really think doing this will make us happy?"
Her voice suddenly rose, and tears flowed freely down her face:"You have no idea! What we want... is just you!"
Komachi's usual smile had long since vanished. She leaned back in her chair, her head bowed, letting out a long sigh."Kengo, you... you're really something else, huh? Always making people angry and helpless at the same time."
She looked up, her eyes filled with tears:"If you're really gone... do you think we'll ever be able to smile again?"
Sanae collapsed onto the ground, her hands covering her face as tears poured through her fingers."Tamami... How could you do this... How could you...?"
She lifted her tear-streaked face, her voice hoarse from crying:"If you're gone, what's the point of me going back?! You're so important to me—how could you leave me?!"
Yuyuko let out a gentle sigh, her gaze filled with complex emotions. Her voice, though soft, carried an unmistakable tremble:"Tamami... How could you even say such a thing?"
She lowered her head, whispering quietly:"If you're gone... I'll never be happy again."
Kaguya gripped her bamboo flute tightly, her hands trembling, her eyes filled with shock and pain she couldn't hide."Tamami, are you insane?! Something like this... How could you decide it so casually?!"
She bit her lip as tears rolled down her cheeks:"Do you really think erasing yourself will fix everything?! I won't allow it!"
Patchouli's fingers trembled slightly as she softly muttered:"How could you... make such a foolish decision?"
She closed her book gently, her voice dropping into a whisper:"If you're gone... reading all the books in the world would mean nothing to me."
Flandre stared blankly at the Mirror of Memories, her eyes shimmering with tears."Tamami-niisan... Why would you do this?"
She lunged toward the Mirror, her voice filled with desperate pleading:
"Don't leave me! Please, don't go!"
As the scene in the Mirror of Memories continued, the girls in the Scarlet Devil Mansion watched every detail with bated breath, completely engrossed in the story that held their fate.
Their emotions were tangled beyond measure—shocked by these fools' willingness to sacrifice themselves, yet deeply pained by the choices that brought such suffering.
Deep within Yomi, Izanami's cold gaze swept over the tsukumogami and the fifteen girls' souls.
Her lips curled into a faint sneer tinged with sadness:"You three fools... How utterly ridiculous. To think you'd go so far for these girls, willing to erase your existence entirely."
But before the tsukumogami could respond, Izanagi suddenly stepped forward, his voice carrying a casual tone:"You are right—these three brats really are foolish. But I'm not about to let them go through with it."
Izanami frowned, narrowing her eyes."And what do you propose as a better solution?"
Inside the halls of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Mirror of Memories displayed a new scene, casting an emotional glow across the room.
In Yomi, Izanagi raised his hand, and the 15 boxes of chocolate floated into the air, radiating a gentle, starlike light. With a smile, he said:"This is what you almost missed—the best sweets in the world."
Izanami froze, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "Chocolate? Isn't that just something children enjoy?"
"Curious, aren't you?" Izanagi teased with a playful tone. "Why else would these three foolish brats convince me to break my oath and return to Yomi? The answer lies within these chocolates."
He gestured toward the floating chocolates, his tone softening:"These chocolates aren't just sweets—they carry the deep longing and love of those girls for these three brats of ours. Try one, and maybe you'll understand."
Izanami frowned slightly, her skepticism evident. Yet, with a hint of hesitation, she reached out and took one piece of chocolate, biting into it cautiously.
The first bite stopped her in her tracks. The sweetness filled her senses, and an unfamiliar warmth began to rise in her chest.
"This feeling…" Izanami whispered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
One by one, she tasted the remaining fourteen pieces. With every bite, her expression softened, and long-buried memories came rushing back like an unstoppable tide.
In the depths of Yomi, Izanami closed her eyes, recalling the time when she and Izanagi joined hands to create the world. Standing atop Takamagahara, they leaned on each other as they breathed life into the world. Their laughter echoed through the heavens, and every miracle they brought forth was infused with endless love.
As the last piece of chocolate melted in her mouth, two streams of tears silently rolled down her cheeks. "What is this…? I thought I had long forgotten such emotions…" she murmured softly, raising her hand to wipe away the tears as if unwilling to admit she had been moved.
She had always believed she was far removed from such vulnerabilities, even harboring disdain for emotions. Yet, this simple chocolate evoked a deep connection to the bond the girls shared with the tsukumogami and reminded her of the profound love she once had for Izanagi. Sweet memories now resurfaced in her mind, even in the cold realm of Yomi.
She lifted her gaze toward the three standing before her—Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami. As the incarnations of the three sacred treasures created by her and Izanagi after the three noble children, their unwavering dedication moved her deeply. The feelings they showed for the girls of Gensokyo bore an uncanny resemblance to the love she had once shared with Izanagi.
Izanagi observed her expression and spoke softly, "The feelings these three have for those girls are so similar to what we once had, aren't they? They haven't been blinded by appearances, nor have they fled in fear as I once did. Perhaps… it's time we reassessed their emotions."
Hearing his words, Izanami lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time. It seemed that, in that moment, something within her heart began to change.
The tears flowing down her cheeks revealed the inner turmoil and transformation taking place. Though reluctant to admit it, the old pain within her seemed to gradually heal in the face of these emotions.
"I don't want to admit this," Izanami finally said softly, her tone tinged with weariness and resignation. "But the emotions these girls have for you… they remind me of the past. I admit it—the bond between you and these girls…"
She raised her head, her gaze no longer cold, her voice now carrying a hint of warmth. "I admit it… they are indeed the most important bonds you have in this world."
Izanami raised her hand and cast a spell. A warm light enveloped the souls of the fifteen girls. In an instant, their withered and decayed appearances were restored, transforming them back into their most beautiful selves.
Speaking in a low voice, she said, "However, what they've experienced has deeply impacted their minds and bodies. I will erase their memories of Orochi and Yomi, allowing them to awaken and return to Gensokyo to continue their lives."
As Izanami's spell concluded, Izanagi retrieved a sacred creation artifact from his arms—a glittering and holy item, the Ame-no-Nuboko, a symbol of their shared act of creating the world. Gently, he placed it before Izanami and said quietly, "This is what I brought… I know it was my fault back then."
The Ame-no-Nuboko gleamed faintly in his hands, seemingly carrying all the memories they had shared. He spoke softly, "This spear was once the symbol of our creation and a testament to our love. Today, I hope it will bear witness to our reconciliation and mark the start of a new beginning."
Taking a deep breath, his voice carried infinite sincerity and regret. "Can you forgive me?"
Izanami gazed at the Ame-no-Nuboko, her expression complicated. Her eyes shifted between the spear, Izanagi, and the three tsukumogami. Finally, she sighed softly and nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips. The two of them instinctively placed their hands on the Ame-no-Nuboko together, and its radiance burst forth, enveloping the entire realm of Yomi in a warm, soothing light.
"You're still as cunning as ever…" she said, a faint trace of amusement on her lips. "Oh well, let's just call this a miracle brought about by those chocolates."
With Izanami's spell complete, the souls of the fifteen girls were gently enveloped in light, transforming into beams that gradually vanished, returning to the world of Gensokyo.
The scene in the Mirror of Memories came to an end.
In the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the girls' eyes were filled with shock, emotion, and a hint of confusion.
As they watched this memory unfold, their hearts swelled with gratitude for the tsukumogami's deep devotion, yet they struggled to reconcile their feelings over the sacrifices made in the past.
As the light of the Mirror of Memories dimmed, the library fell into a profound silence. The images they had just witnessed left an indelible mark on their minds.
The unconditional love and willingness to sacrifice shown by the tsukumogami had stirred their emotions to the core, leaving them utterly overwhelmed.
Reimu stared at the Mirror of Memories, her face full of conflicted emotions. Finally, she couldn't hold back and muttered under her breath:
"…Are they crazy?" Her voice was tinged with bewilderment, but it was more than that—an undeniable mix of shock and complexity.
Yukari lightly shook her head, lowering her fan with a bitter smile.
"No, 'crazy' doesn't even begin to describe their actions…" She lifted her gaze, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light. "It's something… beyond madness, something that's impossible to understand."
Remilia crossed her arms, biting her lip, her eyes brimming with unease and inner turmoil.
"What… exactly are they thinking…?" Her voice was low, yet there was a softness there that hadn't been present before.
"People like them… can they really just be 'friends'?"
Patchouli's voice was calm, but her mind was anything but at ease:
"Friends…? Hmph, perhaps we stopped being 'just friends' a long time ago." She lowered her head, lost in thought, as if re-examining her connection with the tsukumogami.
Sanae clutched her chest, her eyes flickering with struggle and unease.
"This kind of thing… how could it just be something a friend would do…" Her voice trembled, as if she were asking herself:
"Can they really still be just friends to us?"
The girls exchanged silent glances, seeing the same confusion and gratitude reflected in each other's eyes. Echoing in their minds were the tsukumogami's words—an unwavering commitment to sacrifice and love that went beyond all reason.
Aya muttered softly:
"People like them… They make you angry, but you can't bring yourself to hate them…"
Her words brought a quiet nod of agreement from the others; no one could refute her sentiment.
They couldn't stop themselves from voicing the question buried deep in their hearts:"Are we still… just 'friends' with them?"
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from upstairs:
"Hey, what are you all doing down there? The food's ready—hurry up and eat!"
The girls froze for a second, then snapped out of their reverie all at once.
"Wait a second… Aren't those three supposed to be upstairs cooking?"
As the sound of the tsukumogami's voices echoed down the staircase, the girls were pulled back from the overwhelming memories of the Mirror.
They exchanged looks, still troubled by the emotional storm within them, but were interrupted as their stomachs collectively growled in protest.
Reimu pressed a hand to her stomach, muttering under her breath:
"This… is way too embarrassing…"
Yukari waved her fan with a sly smile, masking her amusement:
"It seems our bodies are more honest than our emotions."
Remilia crossed her arms, letting out a cold huff:
"Honestly, of all times for this to happen… Why now?"
Aya couldn't help but laugh, her tone teasing:
"Haha, guess this is a kind of group harmony? Perfectly synchronized hunger!"
Descending the stairs, Kyouya's laughter rang out. Striking a dramatic pose, he pointed at them with exaggerated flair:
"Hahaha! Is this the chime of the Scarlet Mansion's grand clock? It heralds the feast of lunchtime!"
His over-the-top antics made the girls collectively facepalm.
Kengo followed behind him, smiling warmly:
"A chime? More like the sound of your stomachs complaining after being ignored all morning. Lunch is ready—come and eat."
His gentle humor broke the lingering tension in the air, softening the mood.
Finally, Tamami appeared, trailing behind while munching on a snack. With a cheerful grin, he said:"We made so much food today! Oh, and there's afternoon tea later too—with tons of desserts!"
His radiant smile and childlike enthusiasm showed no trace of the solemn sorrow or sacrifice from the memories, instead radiating simple, heartfelt joy.
Reimu patted her cheeks, muttering to herself as if trying to shake off her emotions:"Those guys… they really are impossible."
Yukari tucked away her fan, her tone laced with playful teasing:"From heartfelt to comedic in seconds. Truly, they're one of a kind."
Remilia huffed, arms still crossed:"Hmph! Fools! We're starving because their memories were so emotionally draining!"
Sanae, looking down, softly murmured:"But… their food really is delicious…"
Yuyuko licked her lips slightly, smiling brightly:"Well then, we'd better hurry. The food won't taste as good once it's cold."
Patchouli spoke quietly, her tone contemplative:"Perhaps… we can use dinner to interrogate them properly."
The girls made their way toward the dining room, their feelings a mix of complexity and anticipation.
The memories they'd witnessed revealed the profound love and sacrifices of the tsukumogami, but in reality, those three remained as lively and genuine as ever—so real, so impossible to ignore.