Chapter 21
Night had fallen over Hakugyokurou's grand hall, where fifteen women gathered around a low wooden table.
The moonlight, filtering through the partially open curtains, bathed their figures in a soft silver glow, while the flickering candlelight added warmth and intimacy to the scene.
The gentle aroma of tea drifted through the air, mingling with their quiet conversations, creating a night that was both cozy and lively.
Sanae set her teacup down gently, her emerald eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"We've been enjoying their cooking for every meal lately… Shouldn't we try making something for them in return? You know, as a way to express our feelings?"
Her voice was soft yet resolute, carrying a hint of shyness.
The moment she spoke, all eyes turned toward her, and the atmosphere instantly grew more animated.
Reimu, leaning lazily against the table, responded in a casual tone. The red and white of her shrine maiden outfit seemed particularly soft in the candlelight.
"Express our feelings, huh? Sounds nice, but how many of us can actually cook? This might turn out to be more of a punishment than a thank-you gift."
Though her words were indifferent, the subtle curve of her lips suggested she didn't completely reject the idea.
Yuyuko, sipping her tea with her usual elegance, chimed in with a playful yet affectionate tone.
"That does sound like a wonderful idea. After all, those three idiots have been working pretty hard lately."
Whether she was praising or teasing them, it was hard to tell.
Remilia crossed her arms, her expression showing a mix of annoyance and contemplation.
"Hard work or not, they're still a bunch of oblivious fools. We've made our feelings so clear, yet they still think we're just their 'most important bonds.' Honestly, it's infuriating."
Despite her words, her gaze drifted toward the window, as if recalling a particularly warm memory.
Flandre clapped her hands against the table, her ruby eyes shining with excitement.
"Then let's do it! I'll bake a big, glowing cake! Something so amazing that Tamami-niisan will fall in love with it instantly!"
Her voice rang out like a silver bell, brimming with pure, childlike enthusiasm, making a few of the others smile unconsciously.
Patchouli glanced at her with a dry expression.
"If you actually add something that makes it glow, it'll probably be a chemical reaction… Even Tamami might not be able to digest it."
Flandre stuck out her tongue, completely unbothered.
"That's fine! I'll just keep trying until I get it right!"
Reimu frowned slightly, a rare look of uncertainty crossing her face.
"To be honest, I've barely ever cooked anything. At most, I make tea."
She let out a sigh, her voice carrying a hint of resignation.
"But… since it's to show our appreciation… I guess I can try making a simple appetizer?"
Her words sounded nonchalant, but the flicker of anticipation in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
Yukari chuckled, waving her fan with amusement.
"Oh my, if Reimu is personally cooking, I'm sure Kyouya will be moved to tears. At least, it's better than just teleporting food from my gaps."
She paused, tapping her fan against her chin.
"Now that I think about it… aside from that chocolate incident, I rarely ever touch a stove myself."
Despite her usual teasing tone, a rare hint of seriousness flashed in her smile.
Mokou shrugged, her voice tinged with playful provocation.
"I guess I can handle it. Living alone in the Bamboo Forest, I have to cook for myself sometimes. But Kaguya…"
She shot a smirk at the Lunar Princess, her expression full of mockery.
"Aside from that chocolate from last time, you've been spoiled rotten in Eientei. You've probably never even touched a cooking pot, huh?"
"Tch."
Kaguya clicked her tongue, raising a brow in amusement.
"At the very least, I wouldn't make soup that looks like muddy water."
She then paused for a brief moment, before her gaze softened slightly.
"And besides… since this is for Tamami, I'll make sure it turns out perfect."
Suika raised her sake bottle, laughing heartily.
"Doesn't matter if I can cook or not—what really matters is the alcohol! I'll bring the best sake, and they'll be so moved they won't even care about the food!"
Her boisterous tone only barely masked the depth of sincerity in her words.
Sakuya calmly wiped her knife, her voice even and composed, yet full of confidence.
"Since I'm here, I'll organize everything. Just try not to ruin the kitchen, and it should be fine."
Her words carried an air of absolute certainty, as if everything was already under control.
"Cooking, huh? That actually sounds interesting!"
Aya flipped open her notebook, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Fifteen of Gensokyo's most well-known women cooking together—now that's a headline-worthy story!"
She paused for a second, then let out a slightly awkward chuckle.
"Although… maybe I should leave the knife work to someone else."
Youmu straightened her back, her expression suddenly serious.
"I'll handle the chopping! My swordsmanship will be perfect for preparing the ingredients!"
Komachi burst into laughter, leaning back on her chair.
"Yeah, just as long as you don't mix up pepper with matcha powder again."
As the discussion continued, the room became livelier, laughter and good-natured banter filling the air.
Finally, Reimu clapped her hands together, making the final decision.
"Alright, it's settled then! The fifteen of us will cook together and make sure those three idiots understand just how much we appreciate them!"
Yuyuko smiled playfully, adding with a wink:
"And, of course, to remind them that we're not just here to eat!"
As the candlelight flickered, the anticipation in their expressions grew stronger.
This time, it wouldn't be just another meal prepared by Kyouya, Kengo, or Tamami.
This time, they would cook.
A meal filled not just with effort, but with love—a feast of gratitude for the three idiots who had unknowingly become the center of their world.
The Following Night at Scarlet Devil Mansion
The Scarlet Devil Mansion was brightly lit at night, but unlike usual, its normally quiet kitchen was now lively and bustling.
With Remilia's special permission, Meiling and Koakuma had gone on a hot spring trip, and even the fairy maids were given a two-day break, making the entire mansion unusually quiet.
However, that silence was soon shattered by the clamorous voices of fifteen women.
Tonight, they had decided to personally cook a carefully prepared dinner for the three ridiculously dense tsukumogami.
"Alright!"
Reimu stood in the center of the kitchen, hands on her hips, her tone carrying the weight of command.
"We need to split up the tasks! If we all cook at once without a plan, this place is going to turn into absolute chaos!"
The assignments were quickly settled:
Reimu, Marisa, and Sanae – Appetizers & Soups
Reimu took charge of simple yet classic Japanese appetizers, like chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and sesame tofu.
Marisa, brimming with excitement, decided to try a foreign-style pumpkin soup.
Sanae assisted with seasoning and preparation.
Yukari, Yuyuko, and Patchouli – Main Courses
Yukari, smirking, suggested trying French cuisine.
Patchouli, after flipping through a thick cookbook, settled on red wine-braised beef stew.
Yuyuko, deeply invested in selecting the finest ingredients, sneakily stole a piece of raw beef, justifying it as "quality control."
Remilia, Kaguya, and Suika – Desserts
Remilia, unsurprisingly, picked strawberry tarts, claiming she wanted to show Kyouya that her sweets were just as good as his.
Kaguya calmly focused on matcha cake recipes, prioritizing flavor over aesthetics.
Suika, laughing, suggested adding sake to everything, only to be flatly rejected by Remilia.
Aya, Mokou, Komachi, and Youmu – Side Dishes & Plating
Aya, being a journalist, was obsessed with the aesthetics of plating—so much so that she kept stopping to take photos, prompting Mokou to snark:
"Are you plating for a dinner or making a front-page article?"
Komachi, lazily humming, slowly chopped vegetables.
Youmu, ever serious, painstakingly ensured each slice was uniformly precise.
Sakuya and Flandre – Coordination & Creative Desserts
Sakuya, as the Scarlet Devil Mansion's head maid, was naturally the best at managing time and keeping order.
Flandre, with her wild creativity, was in charge of making experimental confections.
Kitchen Chaos Unleashed
Reimu and Marisa immediately got into an argument over how to cut the pumpkin, all while juggling their own preparations.
"C'mon, Reimu, trust me! If we use a bit of my magic seasoning, this soup will be legendary!"
"No, Marisa! We're here to COOK, not BLOW UP the kitchen!"
Meanwhile, Yukari and Patchouli worked in perfect sync, though Yukari's occasional teasing prompted a sigh and an eye-roll from Patchouli.
"Yukari, can you please focus? We're making the main course here."
"Relax, Patchy~ Cooking should be fun!"
Yuyuko, having "taste-tested" the beef three or four times, was caught mid-bite when Patchouli finally snapped.
"Yuyuko, if you eat any more, we won't have enough for the actual dish!"
"This is just to ensure quality!"
Sweetened Rivalry in the Dessert Corner
The dessert group saw a clear clash of styles.
Remilia's precision was unmatched, spreading cream with aristocratic grace.
Kaguya, in contrast, was all about taste, caring less about perfect aesthetics.
Suika, meanwhile, was stealing tart shells, leading to a fierce chase across the kitchen.
"Suika! Put that down! This isn't a snack bar!" – Remilia
"Too late, already ate it!" – Suika, laughing
Sakuya, the Time-Bending Taskmaster
Sakuya flitted through the kitchen, effortlessly juggling every task.
Adjusting the oven temperature for Remilia
Timing Marisa's soup so it didn't overcook
Fixing Aya's plating when she got too carried away with floral garnishes
At one point, Aya squinted suspiciously at her:"You totally cheated with time magic again, didn't you?"
Sakuya simply smiled."The secret to Scarlet Devil Mansion's efficiency isn't something you need to know."
Flandre's Experimental Madness"I'm making rainbow macarons!"
Flandre excitedly held up trays of vividly colored batter.
"And I'll add some popping candy! So when they eat it, it explodes in their mouths!"
Remilia gave her a wary side-eye."Just don't blow up the kitchen."
Flandre stuck out her tongue, carefully decorating her macarons with silver stars and sprinkles.
Sakuya glanced at the mess she was making and sighed, already mentally preparing to clean up the flour explosion.
"Flandre-sama, next time, mix the batter a little slower. Otherwise, I'll have to stop time ten more times just to clean up the mess."
Final Countdown – Sakuya's Ultimate Coordination
As the meal neared completion, Sakuya stepped up, flawlessly orchestrating the final steps.
"Reimu, start plating in five minutes!"
"Patchouli, reduce the stew sauce for ten more minutes!"
"Flandre-sama, the macarons need to go into the oven now!"
Her clear, precise instructions kept everything running smoothly.
Mission Complete: Scarlet Devil Kitchen Battle Ends in Success!
With Sakuya's impeccable timekeeping, Flandre's creative flair, and everyone's teamwork, the chaotic yet heartfelt cooking mission finally reached its conclusion.
As the laughter and chatter died down, they stood before a magnificent feast—a dinner made not by divine hands, but by their own efforts.
Everyone eagerly anticipated the grand feast ahead—especially the three tsukumogami, who had absolutely no idea that they were about to be treated to such a luxurious and elaborate dinner.
The dining table was set with exquisite precision, the candlelight flickering warmly, illuminating the fifteen women seated around it, all facing three completely clueless tsukumogami.
Kyouya blinked in confusion, his expression somewhat blank. "Is today some kind of special occasion?"
Remilia's lips curled into a confident smirk, her tone carrying a touch of pride. "Of course, it's a special day. This dinner was prepared by all of us, as a way of thanking you three idiots for your efforts this past month."
"Really?" Kengo chuckled, scratching the back of his head, his tone tinged
with helplessness. "This is seriously unprecedented…"
Tamami simply gazed at the magnificent spread before him, a warm smile appearing on his face. "Thank you… but you really didn't have to go through all this trouble."
"Cut the nonsense!" Reimu impatiently waved her hand. "Just eat. This is our way of showing our appreciation."
The three tsukumogami sat down, enjoying their meal while listening to the women's playful complaints and teasing remarks. The atmosphere around the table was warm and lively, embodying a moment of simple yet precious happiness in Gensokyo.
As the banquet went on, the mood inside the Scarlet Devil Mansion began to subtly shift.
The candlelight flickered, casting a soft glow over the table as the three tsukumogami savored the meticulously prepared dishes.
Kyouya took a sip of pumpkin soup, his face lighting up with satisfaction. "This tastes amazing! Marisa, Reimu—you two really have some skill!"
Reimu's cheeks flushed slightly, but for some reason, her heartbeat quickened. Even her grip on her chopsticks trembled slightly. She shot Kyouya a glare, her voice carrying a trace of unexplainable nervousness. "Idiot, just eat. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it?"
She tried to maintain her usual calm demeanor, but every time Kyouya spoke, her heart pounded violently, as if someone had clenched it tightly. Even the teacup in her hands seemed unusually hot.
Nearby, Yukari's tone dropped to a teasing whisper, her voice carrying a playful undertone. "Kyouya, your expression… it's making me want to bully you a little."
She leaned in closer, her voice dipping into a seductive murmur. "How about playing a little game with me?"
Marisa's reaction was even more obvious—her chopsticks had already stabbed into an empty bowl multiple times, though she didn't even notice. Her gaze was involuntarily fixed on Kengo, even the simple act of him lifting his cup seemed inexplicably charming to her.
"Damn it…" she muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth. "Since when did this guy start looking so attractive?"
Sakuya, despite her usual elegance, found herself unfocused, her composure crumbling as she sat beside Kengo. Her eyes kept drifting toward his profile, and her usual precise handling of silverware became noticeably slower.
For the first time in her life, a wave of unfamiliar emotions overwhelmed her, shattering her normally unshakable calm.
Remilia, though maintaining her noble and dignified demeanor, found herself unconsciously tightening her arms across her chest.
Her sharp gaze was locked onto Kyouya, ensuring he stayed within her line of sight.
She cleared her throat, attempting to mask her emotions, but her voice came out lower and softer than intended:
"Kyouya… how are you so annoyingly likable tonight?"
Yuyuko gently adjusted her skirt, her voice tender and sincere. "Tamami, do you know? In my entire existence, no one has ever made me feel so at peace."
She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you're willing… I hope you'll stay by my side forever."
Flandre was completely transparent with her emotions. Sitting right next to Tamami, she propped her chin up with both hands, her bright red eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.
Her legs swung under the chair like an excited child discovering their favorite treasure. "Tamami-niisan, you look extra cute today!"
She grinned, but beneath that innocent excitement, a hint of unease flickered in her expression.
Mokou made no attempt to hide her emotions. Her gaze never left Kyouya, and she was so distracted that her chopsticks slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the floor—yet she didn't even notice.
Her palms felt clammy, and her brows furrowed deeply, struggling against the emotions she refused to acknowledge.
"No way… there's no way I actually like him… But why does he…"
Her thoughts spiraled chaotically, betraying her usually firm resolve.
Sanae, sitting directly across from Tamami, tightly gripped the hem of her skirt, her head so low she was nearly buried in the table.
Her heartbeat refused to calm, and each stolen glance at Tamami only made her flustered beyond reason. Whenever he met her gaze, she would instantly look away, cheeks burning as red as a ripe apple.
She whispered so softly it was almost inaudible: "Tamami… why do you look so gentle tonight…?"
Patchouli, sitting on the opposite end of the table, pretended to be reading a book—but in reality, her eyes were drawn to Tamami the entire time.
Her fingers subtly trembled, as though struggling to contain a surge of uncontrollable magical energy.
"Why… why does he seem so special to me?"
This question looped endlessly in her mind, yet she couldn't find an answer.
Suika, nursing a bottle of sake, kept stealing glances at Kengo, her usual carefree grin hiding the inner turmoil within her.
Each time she lifted her drink, she hoped to catch his attention—but whenever Kengo actually looked her way, she would panic and avert her eyes, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Youmu's eyes were fixed on Kengo's hands—rugged yet powerful, and she couldn't tear her gaze away.
Her ears turned bright red, her thoughts spiraling into a confusing mess. "I wonder… does he think I'm reliable too?"
She bit her lip, trying to steady herself, but her rapidly beating heart had long betrayed her attempts at composure.
Aya held her camera, yet all her shots were focused solely on Kyouya.
She pretended to be documenting the feast, yet she kept zooming in on his expressions.
"Why… why does every single one of his movements look so captivating today?"
Her fingers trembled slightly, completely forgetting to press the shutter button.
The atmosphere grew increasingly charged—until finally, someone noticed the shift.
Just as this bizarre surge of emotions became increasingly uncontrollable, a familiar memory suddenly flashed through Patchouli and Marisa's minds—
It was a magical experiment from a few days ago.
Inside Patchouli's library, the experiment table was cluttered with bottles and jars, various colored liquids shimmering faintly inside test tubes.
Marisa stirred a small vial of deep purple solution with great enthusiasm, while Patchouli, as always, calmly flipped through a thick magic book, her expression unshaken.
"Patchouli, are you really sure this stuff works on plants?" Marisa scratched her head, looking at the liquid in the test tube with a skeptical expression.
"Experiments always have deviations." Patchouli's voice remained indifferent, her gaze never leaving the book. "But this kind of thing probably has no practical use. Just throw it away."
Marisa, however, was reluctant. She casually stuffed the vial of purple liquid into her pouch, muttering, "Throwing it away would be such a waste... Maybe it'll be useful for something else..."
A few days later, in the Scarlet Devil Mansion's kitchen—
On the day of the banquet preparations, Marisa absentmindedly placed the unknown potion inside the spice cabinet, planning to deal with it later. However, Patchouli had paid no attention to this, as her focus was entirely on dessert recipes.
—Memory returns to the present—
Patchouli's expression instantly stiffened. She abruptly lifted her head to look at Marisa, and at that exact moment, Marisa also came to a sudden realization. The two locked eyes, sharing the exact same look of horror.
"Hey!" Marisa whispered urgently, her face full of panic. "Do you think… someone might have used the wrong seasoning just now?"
Patchouli's hands trembled slightly, her voice laced with suppressed anger. "Are you talking about… that potion? Didn't you say you'd dispose of it?!"
Marisa shook her head frantically, speaking in a rushed tone, "I thought it wasn't a big deal! I just tossed it in the kitchen and forgot about it! Who would've thought someone would actually use it?!"
Patchouli's face grew increasingly grim. She murmured in a low voice, "That potion's side effects enhance a living being's sensory responses and emotional fluctuations… If it was really added to the food, then everyone's behavior right now makes perfect sense."
The two of them quickly scanned their surroundings—
Reimu was gripping Kyouya's collar tightly, her breath uneven. Yukari's hand had already landed on his shoulder. Even the ever-composed Sakuya was giving Kengo a meaningful invitation.
And as for herself… Patchouli couldn't stop herself from sneaking another glance at Tamami, her cheeks burning so hot they felt like they might catch fire. Marisa's gaze, too, was irresistibly drawn to Kengo, her mind overflowing with regret and embarrassment.
"This is… seriously bad," Marisa muttered under her breath, her face turning pale. Patchouli pressed her lips together tightly, her mind racing for a way to salvage this disaster.
Yet, the more they resisted, the stronger the uncontrollable emotions surged within them.
Patchouli clutched her chest, feeling her emotions spiraling out of control. She murmured to herself, "No… I need to stay calm… But Tamami's smile… why is it so utterly mesmerizing…?"
Marisa smacked her own face in an attempt to snap herself out of it, but no matter how hard she tried, her eyes couldn't stop fixating on Kengo. "Damn it, what the hell is this feeling?! There's no way I'd have those kinds of thoughts about him… but I just can't control it!"
Despite their inner struggles, the effects of the aphrodisiac were far too powerful to resist. As the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly heated, Patchouli and Marisa's ability to fight back weakened more and more.
The Scarlet Devil Mansion had descended into complete chaos—
Fifteen girls, overwhelmed by the aphrodisiac's effects, burned with unbearable heat, their gazes hazy with longing, while the three tsukumogami were now engaged in a desperate escape throughout the banquet hall.
Amidst the madness, Marisa and Patchouli realized the gravity of the situation. Forcing themselves to endure the aphrodisiac's effects, they staggered toward the basement of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, determined to find a way to reverse this ridiculous disaster.
—Scarlet Devil Mansion's basement—
Marisa and Patchouli frantically rifled through every notebook they could find, desperately searching for a way to undo this absurd chaos.
The candlelight flickered, and beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads.
Patchouli clutched a bookshelf for support, her voice trembling, "There has to be a cure… There has to be…" Her tone sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.
Marisa, meanwhile, was flipping through stacks of books haphazardly, complaining as she went, "Patchouli! Why the hell do you even research this kind of weird stuff?! Now look at this mess… Reimu is definitely gonna kill me!"
She ran a hand through her sweat-drenched hair, her face filled with sheer panic and frustration.
Patchouli weakly opened a thick magic notebook, and her eyes suddenly froze. She scanned the text quickly, and her complexion shifted from pale to bright red. Even her hands began to tremble as she held the book. Unconsciously, she murmured, "…This can't be real…"
"What can't be real?" Marisa strode over and snatched the notebook from Patchouli's hands. She glanced down at the text, and the words nearly made her brain explode.
"The only way to neutralize this aphrodisiac: engage in intercourse with a beloved male partner, ensuring complete infusion of 'life energy' into the body."
Marisa's hand slipped, and the notebook fell to the floor. Her face turned beet red as she began to stammer, "T-This… What kind of cure is this?! What the hell have you been researching, Patchouli?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Patchouli covered her face, her voice trembling. "This wasn't my intention! That potion was just an accidental byproduct during an experiment! And… who would've thought that it would actually be used in a real situation?!" Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it was nearly inaudible.
Marisa looked utterly shocked, grabbing her hair as she paced back and forth.
"We're doomed. Completely doomed! If Reimu finds out about this, she's definitely going to hit me with a Fantasy Seal first, then throw me into the Netherworld for Eiki to deal with! If this gets out, I might as well leave Gensokyo for good!
Patchouli, hurry up and tell me—there has to be another way, right?!"
Patchouli silently stared at the notebook on the floor, her gaze filled with resignation. She slowly shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "…Based on the notes, this is the only cure. If it isn't dealt with, the effects will only grow stronger…"
Marisa froze, then stiffly turned to look at Patchouli, her voice practically exploding. "The only cure?! Are you saying… we have to explain this to them?!"
She nearly grabbed Patchouli by the collar and shook her. "Do you think we can even say that out loud?! Do you think they'll accept it?!"
Patchouli lowered her head and responded softly, "…I don't know…"
Just as the two of them were drowning in their dilemma, the noise from the banquet hall grew louder and louder, mixed with several shrieks and the sound of things crashing.
Reimu's voice was particularly sharp, nearly piercing through the thick doors of the staircase.
"Kyouya! Why the hell are you running?! If you don't take responsibility, I swear I'm going to beat you to death!"
Marisa froze for a moment before crouching down, clutching her head. "Reimu is definitely going to kill me! Patchouli, think of something, quick!"
Patchouli lifted her head, looking in the direction of the banquet hall, a faint trace of determination appearing on her face. She whispered, "No matter what, we have to tell them the truth."
The banquet hall was already in complete chaos.
Fifteen girls had flushed faces, their breaths ragged, their eyes clouded with desire, as if they were enduring an unbearable torment.
Reimu gripped Kyouya's sleeve tightly, her gaze burning with intensity. "You're not running away this time! Given our current state… you three… you need to take responsibility!"
Yukari leaned against Kyouya's side with an elegant yet unmistakably sultry posture, her fingers lightly tracing his arm as she whispered suggestively, "Kyouya, you know this is your responsibility, don't you?
At a time like this, shouldn't you be demonstrating your manly resolve…?"
Kengo's situation was no better.
Suika laughed heartily before wrapping her arms around Kengo's waist. "Kengo, come drink with me! Let's have a few rounds, and then… we'll talk about something else, how about it?"
She leaned close to his ear, her tone dripping with playful seduction.
Meanwhile, Youmu nervously clutched Kengo's hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kengo… c-could you stay with me? Just this once… please…"
Tamami's predicament was even worse.
Flandre had already cornered him against the wall, holding a colorful macaron in her hand as she beamed innocently. "Tamami-niisan! If you don't help, I won't let you go! So tell me, what are you going to do?"
Yuyuko gently held onto his hand, her voice soft and pleading. "Tamami… you understand our condition, don't you? If you don't help us… we'll be in so much pain…"
At that moment, Marisa and Patchouli finally pushed open the doors and stood at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Both of their faces were so red it looked like blood might start dripping from them. Their gazes were filled with embarrassment and helplessness.
Marisa awkwardly scratched her head before calling out in a trembling voice, "H-Hey… everyone, calm down! This situation is… uh, complicated… We have something to tell you…" Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it was barely audible.
Patchouli took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice as she spoke. "Regarding your current condition… we found a solution." She hesitated for a moment before her face turned crimson all the way to her ears. "But… it might be a little hard to accept…"
Before she could even finish her sentence, Reimu suddenly turned around, her gaze dangerously sharp.
"Hard to accept? You two better explain things clearly right now, or someone is going to die here tonight!"
Marisa crouched in the corner, clutching her head and mumbling under her breath, "Reimu is definitely going to kill me… She's definitely going to kill me…"
Patchouli and Marisa stood in the center of the banquet hall, the candlelight illuminating their flushed faces, their ears burning red. With trembling hands,
Patchouli raised the potion notebook, her voice low and strained as she struggled to speak.
"Regarding this chaos… Marisa and I have found a way to cure it."
Her voice was stiff, and her eyes refused to meet anyone else's.
Marisa, standing beside her, pressed one hand to her forehead while the other tugged at her hair in frustration. Her voice was filled with shame and helplessness.
"Just… just listen to me for a second. This potion… the cure for this potion is…"
"What is it?" Reimu furrowed her brows, her gaze intense and burning with impatience.
Marisa took a deep breath, as if summoning every ounce of courage she had. Then, she shut her eyes tightly and shouted in one breath—
"You have to sleep with the person you like the most!"
A deafening silence followed.
The candle flames flickered gently, and every single gaze in the room locked onto Marisa and Patchouli. The very air itself seemed to freeze solid.
Across the long banquet table, Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami had initially held onto a faint sliver of hope that this would somehow resolve itself. But at this moment, that hope shattered into pieces.
Kyouya's mouth twitched slightly, his eyes blank and unfocused as he muttered, "…What…? Intimate relations? You've got to be kidding…"
Kengo's face drained of all color as he stared at Marisa, desperately hoping this was just a cruel joke.
Tamami simply lowered his head, covering his face with both hands. His ears were so red they looked like they might start dripping blood.
But it wasn't over yet.
Patchouli carefully flipped to a specific page in the notebook, pointing at a passage with a trembling finger. Her voice was barely steady as she continued,
"And… this type of aphrodisiac… has a time limit. If within… within six hours… you don't reach your first climax…"
Her voice grew quieter with every word, but each syllable struck the room like a thunderclap.
"…It will cause permanent mental instability, and a complete loss of spiritual and yokai energy… with no way to recover."
"What did you just say?!"
Reimu shot to her feet, eyes wide with shock. Her face burned red-hot, her breath coming in quick and shallow gasps.
Patchouli gripped the notebook tightly, her voice thick with shame and helplessness.
"…I'm telling the truth."
Once again, silence fell upon the banquet hall.
All the girls' eyes instinctively turned toward the three tsukumogami, each of them wearing a different expression.
Reimu's face was so red it looked like she might burst into flames. She bit down on her lip, clenching her fists as if trying to suppress something—but the heat inside her was impossible to contain.
"…You three," she growled, her voice trembling with emotion, "none of you are getting away tonight. Especially you! Kyouya!"
Yukari's expression was unreadable. She remained elegant as always, even smiling slightly, but the pressure in her eyes was undeniable. Slowly, she fanned herself, her tone dripping with insinuation.
"My, my… what a predicament. Kyouya, this is quite the responsibility you've been given, isn't it?"
Remilia folded her arms, her gaze both icy and searing at the same time. Though she smirked, the blush on her face betrayed her emotions.
"Hmph! Since this is a mess you all caused, it's your job to fix it! Kyouya, I command you—stay in the Scarlet Devil Mansion tonight."
Kaguya let out a small sigh, twirling the edge of her sleeve between her fingers. Her voice was barely audible.
"Tamami… I don't know if I can accept something like this, but… if it's the only way… You won't abandon me, will you?"
Yuyuko, ever graceful, gently took Tamami's hand, her voice filled with a soft, lingering warmth.
"Tamami… you understand our condition, don't you? If you don't help us… we'll be suffering all night…"
Marisa clenched her hat tightly, her face so red it was practically steaming.
"Kengo, I—I'm not saying we have to do this! But Reimu is definitely going to kill me! If you help me… I'll owe you for the rest of my life!"
Suika burst into laughter before throwing her arms around Kengo's neck.
"Ohh, this is the perfect chance! Kengo, let's drink tonight! And after a few drinks… heheheh."
Flandre tugged at Tamami's sleeve, her golden eyes shining like stars.
"Tamami-niisan, you'll help me, right? We're best friends, after all!"
Aya adjusted her camera, her flushed face betraying her amusement.
"Kyouya, this is quite the newsworthy incident. If you don't mind… I could keep it off the record. But only if you agree to help."
Standing beside Remilia, Sakuya quietly looked down at her hands. Her voice was calm, yet tinged with unmistakable embarrassment.
"Kengo… given the circumstances… I have no choice but to ask you… to stay."
Komachi had completely lost her usual laid-back demeanor. Her face was flushed, her half-lidded eyes filled with a hazy heat. She gripped Kengo's arm tightly, her voice tinged with a rare seriousness.
"Kengo, I know this is insane, but you're always so dependable… Please… help me this time, too."
Her voice trembled slightly, but the determination in it was clear.
Even Patchouli wasn't spared from the effects of the aphrodisiac. Though she struggled to maintain her composure, her face was an impossible shade of red, and her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"Tamami…" she called his name softly, her tone carrying an unprecedented shyness and vulnerability.
"…Will you help me? I don't want to become… someone who loses everything."
She lowered her head, staring at the ground, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress so tightly that they trembled.
Mokou, on the other hand, was as straightforward as ever. Though her face burned with rare embarrassment, her primary emotion was frustration and unwillingness to back down.
She grabbed Kyouya's hand in one swift motion and nearly shouted—
"Kyouya! If you're a man, then just help already! Stop running away! That's the only way I can respect you!"
Her voice carried her usual stubbornness, but the deep blush on her face and her trembling fingers revealed her inner turmoil.
Sanae's hands clenched tightly as she fought against the overwhelming shame surging through her. But tears had already begun to well up in her eyes.
She looked up at Tamami, her gaze pleading, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Tamami… you're such a kind person. I know you won't just let me waste away like this… right? Please… I really need your help…"
Her voice was filled with helplessness and dependence, leaving Tamami completely speechless.
Youmu's expression was a mixture of internal struggle and hesitation. She kept her head down, one hand gripping the hilt of her sword, while the other trembled as it reached toward Kengo.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Kengo… If you don't help me… I might never be able to wield my sword again."
She looked up, her gaze filled with raw desperation and uncertainty. The sheer intensity in her eyes struck Kengo like a hammer to the chest.
And amidst the overwhelming chaos—
The three tsukumogami were completely frozen, their souls practically leaving their bodies as they began to question whether they should flee Gensokyo altogether.
But with fifteen girls staring at them with such burning intensity—
There was no escape.
The banquet hall of the Scarlet Devil Mansion was bathed in flickering candlelight, the atmosphere growing increasingly heated.
Patchouli and Marisa had just uttered the absurd cure, and in that instant, the entire room fell into a suffocating silence.
As the words "If not resolved within six hours, it will lead to the complete loss of spiritual and yokai energy, along with irreversible mental instability" were read aloud, that silence shattered under the weight of overwhelming emotions.
The three tsukumogami stood frozen in place, their faces filled with shock and utter confusion.
They had never encountered a situation like this before—no, they had never even considered the possibility of developing such an intimate relationship with the girls.
They exchanged panicked glances, their minds blank, as if their souls had already left their bodies.
Kyouya was the first to react. He waved his hands frantically, his face a mixture of shame and helplessness, as if he were about to explode.
"W-Wait a second! What the hell is this?! Are you telling me that the cure… is that?! How exactly are we supposed to help you with this?! This is just too…!"
Kengo's face was burning red, like a statue rooted to the ground. His voice was stiff and stuttering.
"You… you're not joking, right? This… this can't be real… can it?"
Tamami simply lowered his head, covering his face with both hands as if he wished to disappear into thin air.
"I… I think we should try looking for another way… right? There has to be another way… This just doesn't seem right…"
However, the girls' reactions left them with absolutely no room for escape.
Reimu's patience had reached its breaking point.
She grabbed Kyouya by the collar and yanked him forward, her eyes burning with intensity.
"Kyouya! Are you even a man?! You three got us into this mess, and now you're trying to play dumb?! Are you seriously telling me you're not going to take responsibility?! Where do you think you're running?!"
Kyouya was utterly panicked, raising both hands in a desperate attempt to defend himself.
"I'm not playing dumb! I just… I just… I have no idea what to do! You're putting way too much pressure on me right now!"
Yukari let out a soft chuckle, stepping closer to Kyouya, her gaze filled with amusement and a hint of seduction.
She lazily waved her fan, her tone low and teasing.
"Oh my, Kyouya, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You do realize that this is your moment to take responsibility, don't you? This isn't the time to be running away."
She leaned in slightly, her breath brushing against his ear, her voice carrying an undeniable pressure.
"Or could it be… that you don't actually know what to do in a situation like this?"
"I DO!" Kyouya blurted out, completely flustered, before stumbling over his words. "B-But this… this is just too sudden!"
Mokou also stood up, blocking his path.
Her entire face was bright red, and she bit down on her lip, as if trying to suppress her embarrassment. However, her words were as direct as ever.
"Kyouya, don't think you're getting out of this. I know you like to dodge things, but this time, you're not running away! Do you even have the guts to take responsibility?! Or do you not take us seriously at all?!"
With Reimu and Mokou on either side of him, Kyouya was now completely trapped. His brain had officially crashed, his expression screaming what the hell am I supposed to do?!
Tamami wasn't faring much better.
Yuyuko gently tugged at his sleeve, her soft smile tinged with fragility.
Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but filled with deep dependence.
"Tamami… I know you never turn us away. In this situation, we can't hold on any longer… You won't leave me suffering like this, will you?"
Flandre clung to his arm, tilting her head with a bright, innocent smile.
"Tamami-niisan! You're my best friend! You will help me, won't you? I feel really uncomfortable right now… You'll stay with me, right?"
Patchouli lifted her gaze, trying to maintain her composure. However, her fingers clenched tightly around the fabric of her dress, her voice carrying a clear mix of shyness and desperation.
"Tamami… I know this is unreasonable, but it's the only way. I don't want… I don't want to become useless. Do you understand?"
Tamami refused to lift his head, muttering to himself repeatedly, "There has to be another way… There just has to be…"
Meanwhile, Kengo was also surrounded.
Suika wrapped an arm around his neck, grinning widely.
"Kengo! You're always so steady and reliable. You can't abandon us now! I don't accept cowardly teammates!"
Youmu kept her head down, her fingers trembling as she grasped the sleeve of his shirt.
"Kengo… are you really… just going to leave us like this? I just want you to… to help us… please…"
Komachi, usually so relaxed, now wore an uncharacteristically serious expression. Her voice was soft, but filled with sincerity.
"Kengo, you've always taken care of us… This time, you won't ignore us either, right?"
In the scorching heat of the moment, fifteen girls had locked their gazes onto the three tsukumogami like volcanoes on the verge of eruption.
The three of them had practically left their bodies, their faces a mix of humiliation, confusion, and utter helplessness.
Kyouya stiffly raised his hand and weakly asked, "So… we really have to do that?"
Reimu slammed her hands on the table, shouting,"You don't get to refuse, Kyouya!"
Yukari chuckled, adding with a sly smile,"This is your responsibility, after all. You won't escape."
Kengo, Tamami, and Kyouya finally reached their breaking point.
Their minds blanked out completely.
The only thought left in their heads was—What the hell are we supposed to do now?!