Chapter 17

Moonlight streamed into the corridors of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, casting an eerie and mysterious glow down the long hallways.

In one of the bedrooms, the three tsukumogami were already fast asleep, occasionally tossing and turning, muttering phrases like, "What should we cook tomorrow…" or "Just a little more salt…" Their unguarded slumber painted them as completely defenseless.

Meanwhile, the girls in the adjacent rooms couldn't sleep at all. Reimu sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the night sky, the teacup in her hand nearly overflowing.

Yukari quietly emerged from a gap, gesturing to Reimu and whispering, "Reimu, everyone's gathered downstairs. Let's talk."

Reimu nodded, donned her outer robe, and followed Yukari to a small lounge in the mansion.

Fifteen girls were gathered in one of the smaller parlors of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The room was dimly lit with flickering candlelight, and the classical furniture stood in quiet elegance.

On a side table, tea and snacks prepared by Sakuya were neatly arranged. Despite the fragrant desserts and the warm, rich tea, no one had the heart to enjoy them. Each face carried a peculiar expression: confusion, contemplation, a tinge of regret, but above all, a difficult-to-describe mix of tenderness and longing.

Flandre leaned against her chair, her red eyes reflecting the soft glow of the candles as she murmured, "Why is it that no one can sleep tonight?"

Marisa, with her arms crossed, half-reclined in her chair and muttered, "Why else? It's those three guys! One moment, they're slicing up Yamata no Orochi without breaking a sweat, and the next, they're in the kitchen, diligently cooking for us. And their cooking—so precise it's almost scary. They cater to everyone's tastes, and it doesn't even make you gain weight… This kind of contrast is just impossible to wrap my head around."

Her words floated in the silent air. Sanae gently held her teacup, gazing at her reflection in the tea's surface, her soft green hair cascading over her shoulders. "Yeah, I always thought I understood gods, but today I realized… Their existence is beyond anything I could have imagined. They wield the power to destroy worlds, yet they work so gently in the kitchen, expressing gratitude and prayer over ingredients, all just to make us happy. That kind of… contrast is truly astonishing."

Yuyuko elegantly sipped her tea, her gaze tinged with uncharacteristic depth. "I've seen life and death, but I still can't fathom the emotions behind their tears in the Yomi when they saw us disfigured. Those tears didn't seem like something cold-hearted warriors could shed…"

Patchouli turned a page in the book she was holding, her voice calm but reflective. "For beings with the power to destroy worlds to quietly stay in Gensokyo, handling our daily troubles and never once mentioning their past… That's not ordinary patience. It's a profound kind of protection."

Reimu set down her teacup and spoke with a cool voice, "They are idiots, no doubt about it. But their foolishness isn't because they're stupid—it's because they choose to act like fools. Such power… Anywhere else, they'd be seen as monsters. But they chose to stay here in Gensokyo, pretending to be harmless fools so we wouldn't be afraid…"

Her voice trailed off, "Maybe the things I've said to them were too harsh."

Yukari gently waved her fan, her tone unusually serious. "Reimu, you're not alone in this… All of us have said hurtful things to them at some point because we never knew how heavy their burdens were. Looking back, the fact that we can sit here drinking tea in peace is probably only because they see us as their most important bonds…"

Komachi squinted lazily as she leaned back in her chair, but her tone was unexpectedly sincere. "Don't you think it's strange? They went to the Yomi, beat those monsters, saved us, and were even willing to erase their own existence to bring us back to life—and yet, they've never mentioned any of it. Those guys aren't just crazy… They're idiots who don't even count the cost."

Youmu spoke softly, "But it's exactly because of their foolishness that we're so well-protected… We've never even truly experienced pain."

Suika downed her tea in one gulp, her tone carrying a hint of bitterness. "Those three idiots… But shouldn't we admit something, too?"

"What is it?" Sakuya asked, setting down the teapot and raising her eyes.

Suika smiled wryly, her voice tinged with resignation. "None of us can think of them as just friends anymore, can we?"

Flandre blinked, her expression puzzled. "So, is this 'like,' or is it 'love'?"

Kaguya lowered her lashes, her tone tinged with emotion. "It's love… This kind of protection has already far surpassed what friends could offer."

Patchouli gently closed her book, her tone calm yet deeply meaningful. "They were willing to exchange their own existence to bring us back to life. Do you think that kind of feeling is something mere friends would have?"

Reimu pondered briefly before adding, "Think about their actions in the Yomi—crossing Yomotsu Hirasaka twice, smashing countless Yomotsu-shikomes and the Hachiraishin (Eight Thunder Gods), even dismantling Taga Taisha… Would a normal god do such things?"

Sanae softly chimed in, "And they even persuaded Izanagi-Sama to break his vow and return to the Yomi, just to bring us back… These things sound impossible, but they did them."

Yuyuko sighed quietly, a hint of trepidation in her gaze. "Back then, we were so disfigured that we couldn't bear to look at ourselves. But they didn't show a shred of disgust—only endless sorrow and a promise: to bring us all back to Gensokyo."

Yukari slightly lowered her head, her voice gentle yet weighty. "In the end, they didn't hesitate to erase their existence to resurrect us. That kind of resolve goes beyond ordinary protection…"

Flandre hesitated before asking, "But… Why are they willing to go that far? What kind of feeling is that…?"

Sakuya smiled faintly. "Perhaps… it's because, to them, we are everything."

Patchouli softly added, "Even Izanagi and Izanami ultimately acknowledged that their bond with us was so deep it could change divine decisions and even lead to reconciliation. Such a bond isn't something mere friendship can explain."

The conversation fell silent as the fifteen girls stared at their teacups. The atmosphere grew tense. Suddenly, Flandre stood up abruptly, slamming her hands on the table. "Whatever the case, I want to eat their cooking forever!"

The others were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. Reimu rubbed her forehead helplessly. "You really are an idiot…"

But amidst their laughter, the fifteen girls had found their answer. Their feelings for those three foolish tsukumogami had long surpassed the boundaries of friendship—it was a profound love that couldn't be erased or ignored.

As the room's atmosphere lightened slightly after Flandre's declaration, the fifteen girls continued their conversation, their thoughts inevitably circling back to those three foolish yet irreplaceable tsukumogami.

Sanae was the first to speak, lowering her head and murmuring softly, "Actually... Tamami has always been really kind to me. Every time he comes to the Moriya Shrine, he makes my favorite dishes. Sometimes, he even quietly helps me solve certain problems… But I feel like he always treats us as something… something…"

"Bonds?" Yukari raised an eyebrow, teasing.

Sanae flushed and shot her a glare. "Yes! But thinking back now, the things he does… they're definitely not something a mere friend would do, right?" She looked up, her tone carrying a hint of confusion. "I don't know… Maybe I'm being strange too… But every time I'm with him, I feel so safe and happy."

Reimu squinted her eyes, letting out a cold huff. "Sanae, you're being so dishonest. You clearly like him, yet you're still hesitating here."

Hearing this, Sanae's face turned even redder as she quickly retorted, "Look who's talking! Aren't you living with Kyouya? He's been freeloading at your shrine every single day!"

Reimu froze for a moment, then sat up straight, her tone stiff and defensive. "Living together? That guy's just shamelessly mooching meals! And besides… besides, he's just a Chūnibyō case! I definitely don't have any weird feelings for him!"

Yukari covered her mouth, chuckling slyly. "Is that so, Reimu? Then why did you tell him today, 'Whether you're a foolish Toushin or a chūnibyō case, I still prefer the Kyouya who cooks for me and argues with me'?" Her tone rose playfully, full of mischief.

Reimu, caught red-handed, slammed the table and stood up immediately. "Yukari! Don't make things up! I never said that… I didn't!" The more she spoke, the more uncertain she sounded, her ears turning completely red.

Marisa leaned closer, grinning as she playfully challenged Sakuya. "Sakuya, what about you? Every time Kengo comes to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Remilia can't stop praising him, and you're always in the kitchen 'comparing culinary skills' with him, aren't you?"

Sakuya's expression remained as calm as ever. She gently set down her teacup, her tone composed. "That's just because the mistress likes his cooking. Other than that, there's nothing special between him and me."

Patchouli chimed in lazily from the side, "Really? Then why do you always remind him to bring fresh produce next time and specifically ask for rare ingredients just for you?"

Sakuya paused slightly, a faint twitch in the corner of her mouth, but her tone remained steady. "That's for the mistress's meals, not for me personally…" Yet, at the end of her sentence, there was a faint trace of guilt in her voice.

"Really?" Flandre asked innocently. "But I saw you secretly stash away the ingredients he gave you and use them to cook for yourself!"

Sakuya was momentarily speechless, her ears quietly turning red.

Yuyuko smiled faintly, turning to Youmu. "Youmu, what about you?

Doesn't Kengo often 'discuss' swordsmanship with you?"

Youmu stared down at her teacup, her tone tinged with shyness. "His swordsmanship is indeed impressive. Every time we spar, I learn a lot. But… I don't know. It feels like… he's deliberately holding back."

"And?" Yuyuko teased. "You don't like him either?"

Youmu's voice dropped to a near-whisper, almost inaudible. "It's not that I don't like him… It's just that being with him makes me feel so calm…"

Sanae suddenly cleared her throat, her gaze sweeping over everyone. "Anyway, I think… the feelings we're having now are probably… not just friendship."

Reimu shot her a dissatisfied glare. "Sanae, you're the last person qualified to say that! You've been putting on an act this whole time, haven't you?"

Sanae, frustrated, took a deep breath before finally dropping the pretense. She turned her head away, muttering in a small voice, "Fine! I admit it! I really like Tamami…! Happy now?!"

Sanae's confession plunged the room into a brief silence. Finally, Yuyuko broke it, her soft voice resonating. "In truth, I think we've all known the answer in our hearts for a long time. Those idiots… they've already become so much more than just friends to us."

Marisa shook her head, her tone tinged with exasperation. "That's true. Even if they're Toushins( Toushins), so what? Idiots like them, who only think about us and always put us first… We're probably never going to meet anyone else like that again, are we?"

The room fell silent once more, though in each of their hearts, the answer was already clear: those three fools had taken the most important places in their lives.

The atmosphere of the tea party grew increasingly delicate as the conversation deepened. The flickering candlelight and the translucent tea in their cups added to the tension, though no one took another sip.

Suddenly, Flandre tilted her head and innocently broke the silence. "Hey… Do you think they've touched all of us there today?"
That single question was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky.

"Pfft!" Sanae was the first to spit out her tea, coughing and blushing furiously. "F-Flan-San! Don't say things like that!"

Patchouli's eyes widened in shock, nearly dropping her book. Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't find the words to respond.

"…," Remilia's expression froze, the impatience on her face stiffening as her ears turned as red as if they'd been boiled. Clutching her teacup tightly, she muttered under her breath, "Flan, don't say things like that in the future!"

"What's wrong?" Flandre blinked her innocent eyes. "I just remembered you all were talking earlier about how they took our underwear, right?"

"Stop it!" Yukari snapped her fan shut and lightly tapped Flandre's head. Her expression remained elegant, but her voice carried a trace of gritted teeth. "That kind of thing—don't say it again."

Marisa, however, grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Sanae, your reaction is so over-the-top. Feeling guilty, are you? Or maybe… you actually liked it when Tamami touched you?"

"W-What nonsense are you spouting?!" Sanae's voice cracked as she flailed her hands in a panic, her attempt to explain only making things worse. "It's not—it's just that… when he did that… it felt kind of…"

"Kind of what?" Marisa leaned in, grinning slyly.

Sanae, on the verge of tears, stomped her foot and turned her back to Marisa, refusing to speak further.

"Actually…" Yuyuko's soft voice suddenly broke the tension. She held her teacup delicately, her gaze lowered, a faint, ambiguous smile on her lips. "Maybe… they were happy about it."

"Yuyuko-Sama!" Youmu nearly jumped out of her seat, her face turning crimson. Stammering, she exclaimed, "How can you say such a thing?!"

Yuyuko calmly sipped her tea, her smile remaining as graceful as ever. "Why not? After all, you're the ones who said it—you didn't seem angry enough to beat them half to death."

Sakuya lowered her gaze, her fingers unconsciously pinching the hem of her skirt. She said nothing, but her mind betrayed her, conjuring the image of Kengo meticulously tidying up the dishes, his rough yet warm hands… Her chest suddenly felt warm.

Aya, sitting nearby, subtly glanced down at her own blouse, murmuring to herself, "…Being touched by Kyouya? Are his hands really that fast? No, I have to capture it next time! I must!" Her lips unknowingly curved into a faint smile as she thought.

Meanwhile, Flandre looked expectantly at Patchouli. "Next time, can we let them touch us for longer?"

Patchouli glared at her, though the blush on her face was impossible to hide. "Flan, stop talking."

Eventually, Reimu slammed the table, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Alright, enough. Let's stop this pointless arguing. No matter what we think now, the fact is—they already touched us. If you want to blame someone, blame us for not stopping them earlier."

"That's true," Marisa shrugged, before switching to a sly grin. "But honestly… didn't it feel kind of nice?"

"Shut up!" the girls shouted in unison.

The flickering candlelight danced on the walls as the girls' chatter filled the night at the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Somehow, the topic had shifted from the underwear incident to a more sensitive and intriguing direction.

"Let's take a poll," Aya suddenly suggested. "Has anyone here ever been in a relationship? Raise your hand."

The tea party fell silent.

Reimu leaned back lazily in her chair, legs crossed, her expression indifferent as she scanned the group. "A relationship? Does anyone here actually qualify?"

Her words prompted everyone to glance at each other, but no one raised their hand. Instead, they all tacitly lowered their heads.

Aya twitched, muttering under her breath, "Seriously? So many people, and all of you are romance idiots?!"

Reimu shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not that strange, is it? Everyone's busy managing shrines, overseeing territories, training, or fighting. Who has time for that kind of thing?"

Marisa slammed the table with a grin. "Reimu, you live with Kyouya, don't you? Even if you've never been in a relationship, doesn't that count as 'practical experience'? Come on, spill it!"

Reimu shot her a glare, her face turning slightly red. "Practical experience my foot! He's just a freeloading guy who lives at the shrine, eating my food all day. All he ever does is act like an idiot, crack jokes, and cook… What's wrong with your brains?!"

"Oh, really? Then you have no feelings for him at all?" Yukari teased, her folding fan partially hiding the playful smirk on her lips. "Living together for so long—even a rock would start to sprout, wouldn't it?"

"You're the rock!" Reimu snapped, her voice tinged with embarrassment, though her reddened ears betrayed her denial.

Sanae timidly raised her hand. "So… if having your heart race counts, does that mean it's love? I already said… I really like Tamami."

All eyes turned to her, making Sanae shrink back nervously. "I-I just mean, when Tamami cooks for me or helps me with the shrine's problems, it feels so warm inside… That's not love, right?"

"Heart racing? Warmth?" Marisa immediately leaned in with a mischievous grin. "So you're saying Tamami has a pretty good chance, huh?"

"That's not what I mean!" Sanae buried her face in her hands, looking utterly flustered. "I just… I just think he's really kind, and I want to cherish him… that's all!"

Sakuya had been quietly sipping her tea, but when all eyes turned to her, she finally spoke in her usual composed tone. "Love? Sorry, I don't have time to think about such things."

Marisa raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "But aren't you really satisfied with Kengo's cooking? Your expression always seems… special when you talk about him."
"What special expression?" Sakuya's eyes narrowed like daggers, though she didn't outright deny it.

"It's that gentle, slightly shy look," Patchouli said calmly, though her words were cutting. "And sometimes there's even a hint of satisfaction."

Sakuya's teacup cracked in her hand, her face tinged with a rare blush as she muttered, "Don't make things up." But everyone could tell her aura had faltered.

"As for me…" Yuyuko rested her cheek on her hand, a faint, elusive smile playing on her lips. "I might have felt something. But it's more like a habit than love—Tamami always makes the perfect snacks when I'm hungry and spends time beautifying the garden…"

Youmu frowned slightly and murmured, " Yuyuko-Sama, that's not love. That's just him spoiling you…"

Yuyuko tilted her head and smiled. "Spoiling me still counts as a form of affection, doesn't it?"

Aya, unconvinced, said, "That counts as love? Then what about Kyouya helping me organize my articles whenever I interview him? Does that mean he likes me too?"

"Aya, that's called workplace camaraderie," Marisa quipped, laughing as she pushed her teacup aside. "But what about your concern for him? Don't tell me there's none."

Aya froze, her face suddenly tinged with a blush. "I-I'm just curious about how fast he is! I want to know if he has some special technique, that's all!"

The aroma of desserts lingered in the air, and plenty of untouched treats remained on the table. Yet the conversation had long since strayed from the food. The girls sat around the table, discussing the memories they had seen earlier today.

Reimu stirred her tea with a spoon, her tone carrying an unusual trace of sentimentality. "When Amaterasu said, 'Go to Gensokyo. That is where you belong,' what do you think she meant?"

"It's obvious," Aya twirled the pen in her hand, her words spilling out quickly. "Those so-called The Myriad Gods of Takamagahara used them as tools for billions of years and only now remembered to give them some 'family-like advice'…"

"Aya, watch your tone," Youmu gently reminded her, though her eyes also reflected a faint sense of dissatisfaction. "But honestly… the attitude of those gods is hard to accept."

"Also," Patchouli raised her head, lightly tapping her teacup with a finger. "Amaterasu said they would find people worth protecting. Looking back now, she must have meant us, right?"

Her words brought a heavy silence over the room.

Sakuya spoke softly, her tone tinged with guilt. "For them to go to such lengths for us… do we really deserve their protection?"

"Whether we deserve it or not isn't for us to decide, is it?" Mokou crossed her arms, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. "What I'm more curious about is, what were they feeling when they jumped down from Takamagahara? Were they hoping Gensokyo would be different?"

"It was probably… liberation." Yuyuko rested her cheek on her hand, her tone leisurely but with a trace of sorrow. "Leaving a place like that—who wouldn't want to completely escape their past?"

"But their past…" Sanae bit her lip, her voice quiet. "It's so heavy. I can't imagine anyone enduring that kind of pressure for billions of years…"

"Which is why they came to Gensokyo," Kaguya interjected coldly, though her tone carried an almost imperceptible gentleness. "They wanted a fresh start, but in the end, they still chose to return to Yomi for us… Those idiots."

Reimu set down her spoon, taking a deep breath before speaking in a low voice. "Amaterasu also said, 'When you meet those who can accept your hearts, you will understand what love is and what true strength means.' What do you think that means?"

Yukari gently waved her fan, her tone unusually serious. "Perhaps she foresaw that they would find us in Gensokyo… and that we would become their reason to protect something."

Patchouli nodded slightly. "Love and true strength… Perhaps it refers to the resolve to give everything for someone else. They not only understood this but actually fulfilled it… though the price they paid was far too great."

Komachi tilted her head, her tone unusually solemn. "But the question is, they've given so much for us—do we truly understand their hearts?"

Sanae lowered her voice. "Maybe we don't fully understand yet, but at least we know now… They're not living for Takamagahara's glory; they're living for us." Her voice grew quieter, "How could such devotion not move us?"

Reimu pressed her lips together, her gaze falling slightly. "So, these idiots… we owe them a debt we can never repay."

The discussion was growing heated when a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Sanae! You're eating good stuff behind our backs!" Kanako burst through the door, followed closely by Suwako, her tone mock-angry. "You little rascal, hosting a secret tea party without inviting us!"

Sanae jumped in surprise, quickly standing up. "Kanako-Sama, Suwako-Sama?! Why are you here?"

"We sensed the lively atmosphere here and came to check it out!" Suwako leapt onto a chair, grabbing a piece of dessert without hesitation. "Wow, these are made by those three tsukumogami, right? They taste amazing!"

Watching the two gods expertly enjoy the treats, Sanae hesitated for a moment before summoning her courage to ask, "Kanako-Sama, Suwako-Sama… may I ask you something?"

"What's the question?" Kanako replied casually, sipping her tea.

Sanae carefully chose her words before cautiously asking, "When you were in Takamagahara, did you ever hear of… the Toushins?"

The moment the words left her mouth, the room fell into a tense silence. All the girls perked up their ears, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Suwako froze for a moment, her hand holding a dessert stopping mid-air. She exchanged a glance with Kanako, their expressions shifting to a subtle seriousness.

"The Toushins of Takamagahara… Of course, we've heard of them."

Kanako set down her teacup, leaning back in her chair as her tone turned somber. "But they weren't exactly associated with pleasant rumors. It's said they were the most fearsome beings in Takamagahara. Since the dawn of creation, they've been tasked with subjugating evil gods and malevolent spirits, never once failing. But to most gods… how should I put this?"

"Tools?" Reimu interjected coldly.

Kanako gave a bitter smile. "Pretty much. To the vast majority of the gods at the time, the Toushins existed solely to eliminate dangerous youkai and evil gods. Everything else about them… didn't matter."

"And what about you two?" Sanae couldn't help but ask. "What did you think of them?"

"We never had direct contact with them," Suwako said quickly, her tone carrying a hint of guilt. "But at the time, we were like most of the gods—we didn't take their side either…"

"How could you do that?!" Marisa slammed her hands on the table, pointing at the two deities and scolding them. "You're both so powerful—why didn't you help them?"

"Because at the time, we were just another part of the The Myriad Gods,"

Kanako sighed, her eyes filled with deep regret. "We knew those three Toushins were bearing an immense burden, but… we didn't have the power or the courage to change the rules of that era."

"That's awful!" Mokou clenched her fists tightly. "No wonder they left Takamagahara… Takamagahara doesn't deserve them!"

Suwako patted Sanae's head gently, her tone soft. "But you need to understand, they came to Gensokyo to find a fresh start. Meeting all of you silly girls is probably the greatest happiness they could've hoped for."

Suwako's words left the room in silence.

Reimu murmured softly, "A fresh start… But why does it feel like their past is still too heavy to let go?"

All the girls nodded silently, and the atmosphere of the tea party grew somber once more.

After a moment of contemplation, Sanae seemed to muster her courage, her voice carrying a note of heaviness.
"Actually… the time when Yamata no Orochi descended upon Gensokyo… it wasn't a dream."

The moment she said this, all fourteen girls turned to stare at her, and even Kanako and Suwako were taken aback.

Sanae slowly lifted her head, her eyes showing a mix of complex emotions as she continued, "That time, Yamata no Orochi's cataclysmic power destroyed the Hakurei Barrier, and no one in Gensokyo could resist it. Kanako-Sama and Suwako-Sama were gravely injured and unconscious."

She paused, her eyes reflecting a trace of pain, her voice trembling as she added, "The fifteen of us… some sacrificed themselves, some became Hitobashira (human pillars), and in the end, we were all dragged into Yomi."

Kanako furrowed her brow, her tone filled with confusion and shock. "Yomi? That's impossible… If something like that truly happened, there's no way I wouldn't remember."

Her expression grew more serious as she added in a low voice, "But I do vaguely recall… something significant happening in Gensokyo during that time…"

Suwako clutched her hat, her tone tinged with unease. "Yes, I also remember a period of time that feels hazy… like a dream, but so vivid it felt real."

Her voice grew quieter, muttering to herself, "Our memories… were erased?"

Sanae nodded, her tone heavy and filled with complexity. "Yes, it's said that Izanami-Sama and Amaterasu-Sama erased all memories of the event from everyone in Gensokyo to 'protect' us."

She paused for a moment, her voice tinged with both gratitude and emotion she couldn't suppress. "But those three fools… to save us, they crossed Yomotsu Hirasaka, challenged Izanami-Sama herself, and even offered their very existence as the price to bring us back to Gensokyo."

Kanako's gaze grew more complicated, her tone carrying guilt and admiration. "So they did something we couldn't even imagine."

Her fists clenched tightly, her voice low. "And yet… we don't even have a single memory of it."

Suwako sighed deeply. "They actually went that far…?"

At that moment, the door to the parlor creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped in. It was Eiki, who had come to discuss work with Komachi, but she happened to overhear the girls' conversation.

She frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping across the room before settling on Komachi. "What were you just saying? Dying once and being brought back from Yomi?"

Komachi nodded, her tone a mix of helplessness and awe. "Yeah, Eiki-Sama, you heard that right. Those three guys actually risked everything to challenge Izanami and bring us all back from Yomi."

Eiki's eyes widened slightly before her tone turned incredulous. "Challenging Izanami? Do you know what that means?"

Komachi asked curiously, "How difficult is it?"
She quickly followed up, "Eiki-Sama, is Izanami really that powerful? How does she compare to Enma? Yomi and the underwoeld seem similar, right?"

Eiki shook her head slightly, her expression growing more solemn. "On the surface, Yomi and the Underwoeld may seem similar, but in essence, they're completely different. Yomi is Izanami's domain, where her authority and power are absolute. As an Enma I oversee the judgment of life and death, but even I wouldn't dare provoke someone like Izanami. Her strength is so immense that she can alter the fabric of reality and reshape the world's order. It far surpasses the rules of the Yomi."

Her gaze swept over the girls in the room, her voice laced with shock. "Do you understand? Facing Izanami in Yomi is equivalent to challenging the will of a creator deity. Taking anything from her is an impossible task. Yet they not only brought you all back but also reconciled Izanami with Izanagi… Such a feat would even astonish Lord Enma."

The girls all looked up, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and astonishment as they awaited Eiki's explanation.

Eiki sighed softly, her expression serious as she sat down. "First of all, crossing Yomotsu Hirasaka itself is something ordinary beings cannot endure.

To do so requires unimaginable strength and willpower. They didn't just cross it once—they crossed it twice. That alone is already legendary."

She paused briefly before continuing, "Next are Yomi's guardians—the Yomotsu-Shikome and the Hachiraishin (Eight Thunder Gods). These beings represent Yomi's absolute might. They defeated countless such guardians and even destroyed Taga Taisha, directly defying Yomi's rules."

"Wait a moment," Sakuya furrowed her brow and couldn't help but interject. "Speaking of the Eight Thunder Gods… it reminds me of the Lunar War, when Toyohime summoned the Fire Thunder God to attack me. The power of that lightning was overwhelming—I barely managed to evade it with time-stopping. If that kind of strength was just one of the guardians, then the true Eight Thunder Gods… could they be far more terrifying than we can imagine?"

Remilia added, "And that time when Amaterasu manifested during the war… my martial arts were completely ineffective under her sunlight. The brilliance of that light illuminated the entire world's night. Are you telling me that was just a manifestation?"

The group exchanged puzzled looks, their gazes once again converging on Eiki.

Eiki sighed softly, her expression growing even more serious. "You've raised an important question, but I need to clarify something first. The Amaterasu and Fire Thunder God you encountered during the Lunar War displayed immense power, but they were not their true forms. What you faced were 'manifestations' summoned by Toyohime using the advanced technology of the Lunar Capital and her own abilities."

Marisa asked in surprise, "Manifestations? What does that mean?"

Eiki calmly explained, "A manifestation, as the name suggests, is merely a projection of a deity's power, weakened and materialized into a physical form. The technology of the Lunar Capital is incredibly advanced, capable of borrowing the 'concept' of a god and materializing it. But you must understand, the strength of these manifestations is at most one ten-thousandth of the true deity's power."

Remilia frowned in disbelief. "One ten-thousandth? That's impossible! I was completely overwhelmed by that power, and you're telling me it was only a fraction?"

Eiki nodded firmly. "Yes. The 'heavenly light' you encountered may have suppressed you, but it was specifically optimized to counter your abilities. If the true Amaterasu were to descend, her light wouldn't just illuminate the night—it would overturn the entire order of day and night and even strip you of all your powers. That kind of power is incomparable to any manifestation."

Sakuya pondered aloud, "Then how strong is the true Fire Thunder God?"

Eiki's expression grew even graver. "As one of the Eight Thunder Gods, the true Fire Thunder God possesses enough power to destroy entire nations and reshape landscapes. The lightning of the true Fire Thunder God isn't just a threat to an individual—it can engulf an entire continent, plunging the world into catastrophic devastation. What you encountered during the Lunar War was merely a sliver of that power. While the manifestations you faced were overwhelming for you, compared to the true Amaterasu or the Eight Thunder Gods, they are as far apart as fireflies from the sun. As for the three tsukumogami, the opponents they faced in Yomi were the true forms of these deities. That kind of power is beyond your imagination."

Kanako furrowed her brow, unable to contain her astonishment. "Wait, did you just say they dismantled Taga Taisha to force Izanagi to appear? That's absurd! That shrine is one of the symbols of a creator god—how could they dare?" Her tone was filled with disbelief and shock.

Suwako adjusted her hat, her voice full of incredulity. "Tearing down such a shrine isn't just taboo—it's a direct provocation of Izanagi's limits. The fact that they came back alive makes you wonder which creator god was protecting them… Oh, right, I forgot—they are the embodiments of the creator artifacts."

Kanako gently set down her teacup, her tone tinged with exasperation. "So? Did Izanagi show up in the end?"

Sanae couldn't help but smile wryly, her tone carrying an odd note. "He did… but before agreeing to help, Izanagi-Sama said he wanted some desserts first." She paused, her tone growing even stranger. "And those three fools… they served him the giri chocolates we gave them earlier."

The room fell into stunned silence.

"Giri chocolates?" Kanako's eyes widened in disbelief.

Suwako froze for a moment before facepalming, exasperated. "Unbelievable! They actually used giri chocolates to curry favor with Izanagi?"

Eiki pursed her lips, glancing at the group before finally letting out a deep sigh. "Those three fools… they truly are…." She paused briefly, then shook her head with a bitter smile. "Regardless, such behavior would have gotten anyone else obliterated by a god."

Patchouli flipped through her book with a faintly detached tone of sarcasm. "So, gods compromise over desserts too? It seems they really know how to win people over."

Reimu crossed her arms and let out a cold snort. "Those three are insane. The fact that they're still alive is nothing short of a miracle." She paused, her expression becoming more complicated. "But… we have no right to criticize them. If they weren't crazy, we wouldn't be sitting here drinking tea right now."

Eiki's gaze softened, and her tone grew more reflective. "As an Enma, I've witnessed countless lives and deaths. There are those who choose death for their loved ones and those who run from responsibility out of fear. But three people like them, who unhesitatingly prepared to exchange their very existence for your resurrection and happiness? I've never seen that before."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle in the room before turning to Komachi, her tone even more serious. "Komachi, as a ferryman, you should understand how rare it is for someone to be willing to die for another. But they were ready to accept a fate far worse than death for all of you."

Komachi froze momentarily, then nodded, her tone unusually heavy. "Just finding people willing to die for others is rare enough…"

Eiki's voice lowered, filled with profound sorrow. "Erasure. This isn't just ending a life—it's a complete obliteration. No trace, no memory, no existence. Not even those closest to them would remember they ever existed."

Her gaze softened, but her tone grew even heavier. "You may understand death, but can you imagine leaving behind nothing? Not a single memory, not a single word, not a single trace? That is a fate far more terrifying than death. Yuyuko, you've seen countless souls—you must understand the horror of such absolute erasure."

Yuyuko trembled slightly, gripping her skirt tightly, and murmured, "Death is a release. But… erasure… that is an annihilation where even the soul cannot remain."

Youmu's hands trembled as she sat beside her sword, its weight feeling unbearable. "If even the memory of their soul doesn't exist… it's as if they were never here in this world…"

Eiki turned to address everyone, her tone growing graver still. "Do you understand now? Those three were willing to pay the price of their total erasure to bring you back. They knew you would never remember them, yet they chose that path without hesitation."

"Such feelings run deeper than words can express," she continued, her voice softening. "To them, you are not just friends or partners—you are their entire reason for existence. That kind of devotion, even as an Enma, I can only describe as immeasurable."

Kanako spoke with a heartfelt weight in her tone. "You are the most precious bonds they've had in billions of years. Though they are utterly clueless when it comes to emotions, they place you above everything else. For you, there is nothing they wouldn't do."

Suwako chuckled slyly, though her eyes held a deep sense of admiration. "Those three fools are adorably dense most of the time, but you must realize by now—you are their everything, aren't you? Feelings as genuine as theirs… you'll never encounter something like this again in your lifetime."

The flickering candlelight illuminated the quiet parlor of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Fifteen girls sat around the round table, deeply moved and shaken by Eiki's explanation of the rescue mission in Yomi and the words from Kanako and Suwako.

After the silence lingered for a moment, Remilia tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her voice tinged with uneasy curiosity. "If they could achieve so much in Yomi, then… just how powerful are they?"

Kanako and Suwako exchanged a glance, a mix of helplessness and reverence flashing through their eyes. Finally, Kanako spoke first.

Kanako sipped her tea, her tone solemn. "You want to know about their power? Fine, I'll be blunt. Their strength far surpasses our usual understanding of 'gods.' You've heard of Junko and Hecatia, haven't you?"

Patchouli, with her characteristic calmness, replied, "Junko is an entity embodying pure hatred, and Hecatia governs the threefold worlds. They're already considered nearly invincible. Are you saying those three are even stronger than such beings?"

Kanako nodded, her tone carrying a hint of resignation. "Hecatia's power is undeniable. She can move freely between Hell, Earth, and the Moon, her strength tied to the laws of these three realms. But those three are different. Their power comes from the 'sky,' the 'earth,' and the 'sea'—the foundational pillars of the universe itself, beyond any system of laws."

Marisa frowned, her voice tinged with surprise. "So, you're saying their power has no limits?"

Suwako chuckled, her tone teasing yet pointed. "No limits? Haven't you seen enough from the memories to understand? It's not that they have no limits—it's that they suppress their power. If they unleashed their full strength, forget Junko or Hecatia—they could obliterate a planet in an instant."

Suwako continued, her tone growing more somber. "Junko is the culmination of five thousand years of hatred, but her combat experience and intelligence only go so far. As for those three? They possess billions of years' worth of battle intellect.

Every fight they've faced was a life-and-death struggle, without a shred of hesitation or mercy. The gap in experience isn't just significant—it's immeasurable."

Patchouli murmured softly, "So, billions of years of experience don't just accumulate skill—they embed the instinct for slaughter into one's soul?"

Kanako nodded. "Exactly. You've seen their memories. The enemies they've faced weren't just beings like the Yomotsu-shikomes and the Hachiraishin—world-ending entities. They also fought against malevolent gods and monsters beyond imagination, like Yamata no Orochi, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Shuten-doji, and Amanozako. They didn't choose to fight—they were forced to, over and over again, surviving each time without exception. Their power has already transcended the realm of 'gods.'"

Eiki raised her head, her expression serious. "Hecatia once mentioned those three to me. She said that even she, as strong as she is, would almost certainly lose against any one of the three Toushins."

Yuyuko asked softly, "Even Hecatia said that?"

Eiki nodded, her tone grave. "Yes. Hecatia is the goddess of the threefold worlds. While her power spans all three realms, it relies on the operation of their laws. But those three… their very existence is the law. They can manipulate the sky, earth, and sea, even altering the world's order itself."

Aya tilted her head, puzzled. "So, they're beings who completely surpass the rules?"

Eiki nodded gently. "Exactly. Their power is part of creation itself, not bound by any system or set of laws. Their Three Sacred Treasures are not just weapons—they're part of their very being. And once the three artifacts are fully unleashed, the only ones who can suppress them are the two creator gods themselves, Izanagi and Izanami."

As the words fell, the room was engulfed in silence. Everyone was processing the shocking revelations. Kaguya's gaze turned complicated, and after a long pause, she finally spoke softly, "Back on the Moon, the Lunar Capital could only barely defend against Hecatia and Junko's onslaught with strategy and intellect… But they—are they really capable of suppressing even those two?"

Her thoughts drifted to Tamami, the usually gentle and good-natured tsukumogami, who now seemed shrouded in an entirely new light. The same Tamami who often prepared exquisite dishes for her and exuded warmth as steady as the ocean—turned out to be the embodiment of the Yasakani no Magatama, capable of commanding the vast seas.

Kaguya took a slow breath, a trace of indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes. "Tamami, you foolishly soft-hearted guy… to think you possess such power." She let out a light chuckle, tinged with helplessness and acceptance. "It's unbelievable."

Silence settled over the parlor as each person stared into their teacup, their thoughts swirling.

Suwako broke the silence, her tone playful yet filled with reflection. "So, are you all just going to pretend none of this happened? Keep laughing, eating, and knocking those three idiots down like always?"

Reimu looked up, letting out a cold snort. "Of course not. If I hadn't found out about these insane things today, I'd never have imagined they could accomplish so much."

Remilia added softly, her voice laced with unease. "They're certainly mad, but… it feels like we're in no position to criticize them."

Patchouli nodded, her eyes moving away from the pages of her book. Her tone remained calm but carried a hint of tenderness. "We can't deny what they've done, nor can we deny… how we feel about them."

Kanako tapped the table lightly, a faint, meaningful smile on her lips. "So, what do you plan to do about them?"

Reimu was silent for a moment before speaking firmly. "Face them, of course. We're going to settle this, once and for all."

Suwako smiled and winked teasingly. "Settle this? As in, hold them accountable? Or… do you have something else in mind?" Her tone carried a playful edge, but her gaze held a glimmer of expectation, as though testing their true feelings.

The fifteen girls exchanged glances, none of them speaking, yet their eyes were brimming with unspoken emotions.

Eiki observed them and spoke gently, with a hint of encouragement. "If you all have your own thoughts, why not be honest and voice them? Whether it's gratitude or… deeper feelings, now is the time to face yourselves."

Reimu clenched her fists lightly, a determined look in her eyes. "Be honest? Honest about what? The answer in all our hearts has been clear for a long time, hasn't it?"

Her words prompted the others to bow their heads in thought. Yukari's gaze grew deep, and her lips curled into a faintly sarcastic smile. "Yes, clear to the point of being frightening. Perhaps the madness of those three fools is exactly what we've been missing in our lives."

Mokou muttered under her breath, her tone tinged with frustration. "But… why did they have to go that far? They could've chosen another way. Why did they have to… erase themselves?"

Aya let out a soft sigh, her usual tone replaced with something gentler. "Because, in their eyes, we're far more important than they are. It's their choice—who are we to question it?"

Sanae bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears. "But can we really express feelings like that in words? I feel like we owe them too much."

Yuyuko nodded slightly, her voice carrying a trace of sorrow. "It's not just a matter of owing them… It's a weight we can hardly bear. Their feelings for us go beyond what we're capable of handling."

Kaguya let out a light chuckle, her gaze drifting to the window. "So? Are you all going to keep running away, or…?" She paused, her tone softening. "Perhaps we could try accepting, or even responding to their feelings?"

Patchouli spoke again, this time with a trace of helplessness in her tone. "Acceptance is one thing, but responding… Are we truly ready to bear the weight of such deep emotions?"

Flandre suddenly stood up, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I don't care! All I know is, I don't want Tamami-niisan to do something that crazy ever again. If responding to his feelings is the only way to stop him, then… I'm willing to try!"

Her words were like a spark, igniting the hearts of everyone present. Their gazes met once more, this time filled with determination and resolve.

Reimu was the first to stand, her tone firm and resolute. "Then it's decided. Whether to settle things or to respond, we'll face them ourselves and tell them… how we feel."

Eiki watched this unfold, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Good. You've finally understood. Go, face your feelings—it's what you should do."

The girls rose one by one, each carrying their own thoughts and determination as they left the tea room.

Outside, the moonlight bathed them in its glow, as if illuminating the paths within their hearts.