Chapter 16

In the open grounds of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the three tsukumogami formed a small circle, initiating their "strategy meeting." Although their voices were lowered, the fifteen girls present, with their sharp ears, managed to catch fragments of their conversation.

Kyouya clapped Kengo and Tamami on the shoulders, lowering his voice, "Guys, do you want to keep being underestimated by them? This is our chance! If we don't show some real skills now, they'll really think we're just those ordinary, plain tsukumogami!"

Kengo's expression froze instantly, his brow furrowed as if contemplating the meaning of life. He shook his head firmly, his tone resolute, "There's no way I'm doing this! Kyouya, what exactly are you plotting?"

Tamami nervously scratched his head, his gentle face filled with hesitation. "Isn't this a bad idea… taking that from them… won't they get angry? Are you sure about this?"

Kyouya wore a righteously determined expression, his eyes glinting with conviction. "Guys, think about it. We're men! What did they say before? That we don't understand their pressure, don't understand their responsibilities. This time, we need to prove ourselves! Are you really okay with them continuing to look down on us?"

The girls standing not far away, despite the three's hushed voices, still managed to catch key phrases—particularly the mention of "taking that from them."

Reimu raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "Taking that from us? What does that mean?"

"Interesting." Yukari gently folded her fan, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Her gaze, as sharp as a blade, swept over the three. "What could they possibly be planning? I'm quite curious."

"That? What could that be?" Patchouli furrowed her brow, her voice calm but tinged with confusion. "I don't recall having anything worth their trouble to take."

"Could it be another prank?" Mokou snorted, suspicion flashing in her eyes. "What nonsense are these idiots up to this time?"

"Or…" Remilia's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Could it be something more… entertaining?"

"Whatever it is, those expressions of theirs are highly suspicious." Aya, her fan rapidly flapping, wore a faint smile. "Taking that? Now, what could that be?"

Sanae appeared slightly puzzled, gripping her gohei tightly as she murmured, "They wouldn't really try to do anything over the line, would they?"

"Over the line?" Yuyuko chuckled softly, holding a freshly brewed cup of tea. "Those three fools, do they even have it in them to go over the line?"

"Tamami probably wouldn't…" Patchouli murmured softly, though her tone carried a trace of uncertainty. "But as for Kyouya and Kengo, who knows?"

The other girls exchanged glances, a vague atmosphere of curiosity and tension thickening among them.

"Could it be some sort of challenge?" Marisa, itching to find out, couldn't hide her excitement. "Still, we should stay cautious. These guys have some pretty unique brains."

"Let's see what they've got." Suika raised her gourd, her tone carrying a mix of excitement and anticipation. "I want to see what tricks they're planning."

Reimu crossed her arms, her gaze icy. "Whatever it is, they'd better not think they can play dumb and get away with it again." Her tone carried a subtle but sharp warning, as though she was ready to strike at any moment.

The girls' eyes locked onto the three tsukumogami, who continued whispering among themselves, seemingly oblivious to the piercing gazes directed their way. The air grew taut, as though an invisible spark was about to ignite an explosion.

On the grassy plains outside the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the tension had escalated to its peak. The fifteen girls spread out in formation, their imposing aura encircling the three tsukumogami at the center.

Reimu was the first to raise her spell card, its glowing light radiating as she narrowed her eyes. "You'd better not regret this." Her voice was cold yet confident.

"We won't go easy on you," Yukari said as she slowly unfolded her fan. Gaps quietly opened around her, and the surrounding air distorted slightly from her power.

"Haha, I'm already planning tonight's menu." Remilia's lips curled up as her wings gave a light flap, the air growing thick with an ominous energy.

Marisa raised her Mini-Hakkero, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "Don't think for a second we're gonna hold back!"

"Let's see what your so-called 'ordinary' tsukumogami skills are worth." Patchouli closed her book with a soft thud, murmuring incantations as magical whirlpools formed around her.

Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami exchanged glances, helpless smiles spreading across their faces. Kyouya raised both hands, adopting a harmless posture. "Ladies, no need to be so serious. This is a friendly match, after all."

"Cut the crap. Let's start!" Mokou snorted, a fiery explosion bursting from her hands. A blazing phoenix-like inferno charged straight at the trio.

Kyouya casually sidestepped, the flames grazing his sleeve without leaving a single scorch mark. Flashing a playful peace sign, he teased, "Close one, Mokou! Better luck next time!"

"What?!" Mokou's frown deepened, and in the next moment, her flames surged like a tidal wave, engulfing everything in their path. Yet Kyouya evaded effortlessly, his movements almost mocking in their ease.

"Impressive," Yukari sneered, and with a snap of her fan, countless violet energy beams emerged from her gaps, attacking from every direction and sealing off all escape routes. But Kengo stood firmly in place, and with a subtle movement, the beams narrowly missed him, as if guided away by an invisible force.

"Hmm, almost got me," Kengo said calmly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Reimu unleashed her Fantasy Seal, raining spell cards down in a precise pattern that left no room for dodging.

But Kyouya simply grinned, making a nimble leap that somehow threaded perfectly through the cascade of light, his clothes untouched.

"Nice try, my dear shrine maiden!" he called, waving cheerfully at Reimu.

"You!" Reimu gritted her teeth, brandishing another spell card.

Elsewhere, Aya's wings whipped up powerful whirlwinds, her fan generating slicing gales that tore through the ground. Tamami merely chuckled, spinning in place to avoid every gust with uncanny precision. Flashing a bashful smile, he waved at Aya. "Thanks for the breeze, Aya-San. That was refreshing!"

"Don't get cocky!" Aya's eyes narrowed as she intensified her attacks, yet none even grazed Tamami's robe.

Sanae swung her gohei, summoning divine power to blanket the entire field in a restrictive barrier. Kengo took a calm step forward, his figure seeming to phase through the gaps in the energy, rendering her efforts completely ineffective.

"What… just happened?" Sanae muttered, confusion flickering across her face.

In the sky, Remilia and Flandre unleashed a barrage of crimson energy blasts, raining firepower with pinpoint precision. Kyouya, however, responded with comically exaggerated somersaults, dodging every shot. Landing with a flourish, he stuck out his tongue at the two sisters. "Careful, my queenly ladies!"

"…Are these guys mocking us?" Remilia's expression darkened.

Despite the combined might of fifteen powerful girls, their attacks failed one after another. Meanwhile, the three tsukumogami maintained their composure, even humorously taunting their opponents.

Doubt and frustration burned in the hearts of Reimu, Yukari, Remilia, and the others as they started to suspect that these three weren't just evading—but outright playing with them.

'

In an instant, Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami dashed past the fifteen girls like a whirlwind. Almost none of them noticed what had happened, unable to catch even a shadow. By the time they came to their senses, the three were already standing several paces away, each holding five… pieces of underwear.

Silence. A moment of complete silence. The wind gently swept across the grassland, spinning a few fallen leaves in the air.

Kyouya was the first to raise his spoils, proudly waving a collection of bras and panties—even Reimu's sarashi. Grinning triumphantly, he called out, "Heh, thanks for the donation! We'll be keeping these cute little things!"

Kengo stood beside him, pressing a hand to his forehead with a deep sigh. "I told you this wouldn't work. And now look at this—we might as well start planning our funerals."

Tamami, meanwhile, was blushing furiously, nervously clutching the underwear as if it were scorching his hands. With a sheepish chuckle, he mumbled, "Uh… they seem really mad… Maybe we should just give these back?"

The girls, still processing what had happened, felt a strange chill on their chests and lower bodies. Though their clothes remained perfectly intact, the sudden draft left them momentarily puzzled. But when their eyes fell on the "trophies" in the trio's hands, their expressions shifted from confusion to shock, and then to overwhelming fury.

Worse still, amidst that brief moment of disorientation, a fleeting sensation lingered—a gentle, feather-light touch that was oddly comfortable.

It was as though they had been caressed by spring breezes or brushed by soft feathers. The conflicting feelings of discomfort and an inexplicable pleasantness swirled in their minds, sparking unsettling thoughts.

Reimu was the first to snap out of it, her face a deep crimson that reached her ears. Clenching her fists, her body trembled as she glared at Kyouya and shouted, "Kyouya! You bastard! How dare you… HOW DARE YOU?! Are you asking to die?!"

Yukari snapped her fan shut with a crisp clap. Her lazy smile remained, but it now carried the chill of frost. "Oh my, Kyouya, you really do have some nerve. But I must admit… that touch just now—have you been practicing such techniques?"

Remilia gritted her teeth, her fists shaking with rage as her face turned bright red. "You perverted bastard! How dare you touch me like that?! Do you have any idea who I am?!" Her voice, however, wavered slightly, as though she were reluctant to admit that the sensation wasn't entirely unpleasant.

Flandre's eyes sparkled with excitement, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. "Whoa! Tamami-niisan, you're so fast! But… why did it feel kinda… nice?"

Mokou's face was as red as a blazing fire, her fury practically setting the air ablaze. "Kyouya! You idiotic, second-rate fool! You actually touched me?! I'll make sure you regret it—TODAY!"

Aya glanced down briefly, then raised her fan, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "So, when you said you'd 'take that,' this is what you meant? Oh, this will make for an excellent headline!"

Sanae clutched her chest, her voice trembling with both shame and confusion. "Tamami… how could you… do this to me?" Her tone betrayed a hint of internal conflict, as if she didn't quite know how to process the strange sensation she'd just experienced.

Kaguya's expression froze for a few seconds before her face turned a bright shade of red. Pointing a shaking finger at Tamami, she stammered, "Tamami! How could you?! But… that feeling just now…"

Yuyuko covered her mouth, laughing softly as a playful smile danced on her lips. "Oh my, Tamami, do remember to be gentler next time~ That touch wasn't bad at all."

Suika took a swig from her gourd, laughing heartily. "You guys really went for it, huh?! But… that was pretty interesting. Kengo, ready to get punched?"

Marisa's Mini-Hakkero was already glowing, and she glared at Kengo with a mix of embarrassment and rage. "You actually did this?! Kengo, I thought you were the serious one—turns out you're just better at hiding it, huh?!"

Youmu stared at her now-empty chest, her face turning as red as an overripe apple. Gripping her swords tightly, she glared at Kengo through gritted teeth. "Kengo-san, your movements were way too practiced. Today, I'll make you understand how wrong this was!"

Sakuya held her silver knife, her usual calm expression betrayed by the icy air around her. Her tone was dangerously level. "Kengo-san, you'd better explain yourself now. Otherwise… you know the consequences."

Patchouli, still clutching her book, fixed Tamami with a cool gaze, her voice laced with a faint hint of awkwardness and menace. "Tamami, your actions… are certainly surprising. But that touch just now… don't you think it was a bit too good?"

Komachi, standing in place and feeling the uncomfortable chill against her skin, looked down to confirm her underwear had indeed vanished.

Her face flushed bright red as she lifted her scythe, pointing it at Kengo with a mixture of shame and fury. "Kengo! What's the meaning of this?! I thought you were the responsible one, but now you've done this?! Are you begging me to send you straight to the underworld?!"

At this moment, the oppressive aura of the fifteen girls became almost tangible, instantly enveloping the three tsukumogami. Kyouya, still attempting to maintain his composure, raised his "spoils" and forced a stiff smile as he said, "Haha, everyone, calm down! It's just a competition, right? Is there really any need to get this angry?"

Reimu's spell card began to glow, her voice filled with murderous intent. "Kyouya, you're done this time!"

Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami each held their "spoils"—five complete sets of underwear apiece, making for a total of fifteen items, including bras, panties, and even Reimu's sarashi.

Kyouya awkwardly lifted the items and attempted to explain with a nervous laugh. "Everyone, calm down! This… this isn't against the rules, right? Didn't we agree that anything could be taken? Sarashi, bras, panties… None of those were explicitly excluded in the rules!"

Kengo sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead with a wry smile. "Yeah… we were just following the competition rules. Technically, we didn't break any. So… doesn't this mean we won?"

Tamami looked down at the underwear in his hands, his face bright red. His voice came out timidly, "Uh… please don't be so mad… We didn't think it would… um, end up being this awkward…"

However, the girls' expressions darkened further, and the atmosphere around them grew suffocating.

Reimu stood at the forefront, her fists clenched and her body trembling. "Kyouya! You filthy pervert! You even dared to touch my sarashi?! You're going to die a hundred times over today!"

Yukari snapped her fan shut with a sharp clap, her face holding a faint smile that was as cold as the depths of winter. "Kyouya, you're certainly bold. Today, I'll be testing just how much you can endure."

Remilia crossed her arms and scoffed. "Pervert! Degenerate! How dare you touch my underwear? Do you have a death wish?"

Flandre raised her hands excitedly, shouting, "Tamami-niisan! You're so naughty! But I'm really mad too! I'm going to make you pay!"

Mokou's body was engulfed in flames, her eyes locked on Kyouya with a murderous glare. "You idiotic, second-rate fool! You dared to touch me?! I'll turn you to ashes today!"

Aya lightly waved her fan, her tone laced with simmering anger. "Kyouya, stealing my fan would've been one thing, but now you've even gone for my underwear?"

Marisa's Mini-Hakkero was already glowing as she glared at Kengo, her face a mix of embarrassment and rage. "Kengo! I always thought you were the responsible one, but now you pull this?! Prepare to be blasted by my Master Spark!"

Youmu unsheathed her twin swords, their blades gleaming coldly. "Kengo-san, I expect a proper explanation. Otherwise… you know the consequences."

Sakuya raised her silver knife, her tone as icy as her aura. "Kengo-san, do you have some… misunderstanding about the rules? You'll be paying the price for this."

Sanae clutched her chest, her face flushed as she stared at Tamami with both shame and anger. "Tamami… how could you… do this to me?! This is… completely unacceptable!"

Kaguya gritted her teeth, her expression cold. "Tamami! You dared to touch my things?! You pervert!"

Yuyuko, meanwhile, covered her mouth as she chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with a hint of danger. "Oh my, Tamami, you've really gone too far this time~"

Suika swung her gourd and laughed loudly. "Haha, you guys really went for it! But… are you ready to get pounded into the ground?"

Patchouli closed her book with a snap, her gaze icy as she looked at Tamami. Her voice carried an unmistakable sense of menace. "Tamami, any last words you'd like to share?"

The three quickly realized how dire their situation had become and raised their hands in surrender. "Wait, wait! We give up! We surrender! You win!"

Before they could finish, the fifteen girls charged at them, surrounding the trio. A chaotic "battle" broke out instantly, with spell cards, flames, sword flashes, wind pressure, gaps, and other abilities raining down on them.

Moments later, Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami lay sprawled on the grass, their faces swollen like overripe melons.

In the end, the fifteen girls retrieved their underwear, satisfied after thoroughly punishing the three. The trio, battered and bruised, collapsed on the grass, their faces puffed and swollen.

Kyouya weakly raised his head and muttered, "You're… trying to kill us, aren't you?"

Kengo sighed, wincing as he held his aching shoulder. "This… is all our fault. I'll admit it."

Tamami rubbed his forehead, tears welling in his eyes. "Next time… let's just stick to a normal race…"

The three knelt on the grass, hands clasped together, their faces filled with sincerity and regret. "We're so sorry! We were wrong! You win! We'll cook three meals a day for a month, and they'll be delicious! Please don't be mad anymore!"

The girls stood before them, their expressions a mixture of anger and something more complicated. Though their fury hadn't fully dissipated, a flicker of emotion deep within made it difficult for them to deal an even harsher punishment to these fools.

Reimu covered her face, taking a deep breath to suppress her swirling emotions. "You idiots… You still have the nerve to talk?! Do you really think you can smooth things over this easily?"

Yukari shook her fan lightly, her tone cold. "I should really throw you all into a gap to reflect on your actions… But speaking of which, are you serious about cooking for a month?"

"It had better taste good, or you're finished." Remilia crossed her arms and huffed, though a barely perceptible smile tugged at her lips.

Mokou grumbled through clenched teeth. "You three idiots… You always make me want to laugh and cry. If you try anything like this again, I will kill you!"

Marisa narrowed her eyes, her gaze threatening. "Three meals a day for a month? Fine, but it had better be perfect. You know what happens otherwise."

As the girls began to calm down, Kyouya suddenly raised his head, looking innocent yet expectant. "By the way… does this mean we won? So… what's our reward?"

The field fell deathly silent.

Reimu's temper exploded in an instant as she slammed her gohei down on Kyouya's head. "What did you just say?! Won?! Reward?! Are you saying the beating we just gave you wasn't enough?!"

Yukari snapped her fan shut with a chilling laugh. "Kyouya, you still dare to mention a reward? Do you think your face isn't swollen enough?"

"You disgusting pervert! Asking for a reward? Are you begging to die?!" Remilia glared at Kyouya.

Mokou's fist ignited with flames. "Do you think I didn't hit you hard enough before?! This time, I won't hold back!"

Aya waved her fan threateningly. "Kyouya, I really want to know—where do you get the audacity to ask such a thing?"

Kengo and Tamami quickly grabbed Kyouya by the shoulders, hissing under their breaths. "Stop talking! If you want to die, don't drag us down with you!"

Before Kyouya could say another word, the girls surged forward again, their menacing expressions making it clear that the three were about to face yet another round of punishment.

"Stop! We surrender! We give up!" Kyouya raised his hands, his face filled with utter despair.

"We're sorry! The meals will be perfect, we promise!" Kengo added helplessly.

"Please spare us…" Tamami begged softly, his eyes filled with pleading.

The girls finally halted their assault, though the warning in their eyes was unmistakable.

Reimu huffed, hands on her hips. "You'd better remember this lesson! Don't think for a second we won't beat you up again!"

Yukari narrowed her eyes, her voice calm but threatening. "Three meals a day, yes? I expect results by tomorrow morning. Otherwise… you know what will happen."

As the girls looked at the trio's pitiful state, their anger began to fade.

Despite the ridiculous antics, the trio's clumsy explanations, restrained actions, and hidden kindness prevented this farce from turning into real resentment or discord.

Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami knelt on the ground, hands pressed together in apology, their faces full of sincerity. "We're sorry! Truly sorry! We messed up! Besides three meals a day, we'll also cover afternoon tea. We promise to give it our all—whatever you want to eat, you can order! Please forgive us!"

The fifteen girls looked down at the three fools. Though their anger had mostly dissipated, their expressions still carried dissatisfaction and wariness.

Reimu crossed her arms and snorted coldly. "Afternoon tea? Do you think we're gluttons? Even if it's afternoon tea, it had better be perfect, or else… you'll have to deal with the consequences."

"Oh, afternoon tea?" Yukari gently waved her fan, her tone laced with a hint of frost. "You're quite good at sucking up to people. Are you planning another scheme?"

"Fine, afternoon tea it is. I won't hold back!" Remilia huffed, though a faint, nearly imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"What idiots, trying to beg for forgiveness with this kind of tactic," Mokou muttered. Though her expression still held some annoyance, her eyes had softened slightly.

"If you want to prove yourselves, we'll give you a chance," Aya said, lightly fanning herself with a teasing tone.

The other girls nodded in agreement. Though they were no longer pressing aggressively, their eyes still held a wary vigilance.

Just as the girls were preparing to leave, the three suddenly stood up, with Kyouya calling out, "Wait!"

The girls stopped in their tracks, turning their gazes back to the trio.

Kyouya scratched his head with a wry smile. "To be honest, always getting beaten up by you feels a bit against our nature… How about this: why don't we 'slightly' get serious and show you a proper sparring match?"

"Slightly serious?" Reimu narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with unconcealed suspicion. "That sounds like another one of your tricks."

"Serious? Slightly?" Yukari's lips curled into a faint, chilling smile. "Kyouya, are you trying to change the subject again?"

"What are these idiots up to now?" Remilia crossed her arms, frowning. "Serious? The thought of you being serious is… hard to imagine."

"Slightly serious? Do you think we'd believe that?" Mokou scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

"Oh, slightly serious? Sounds interesting," Kaguya chuckled, her voice full of mockery.

The other girls also frowned. While the memories of the Yomi had shown them the terrifying power of the three tsukumogami, those memories were of the past and not something they had witnessed firsthand.

Coupled with the fact that the trio usually acted like clowns, it was hard to reconcile their foolish behavior with the image of Toushins capable of destroying worlds.

"Do you really think we'd believe you?" Patchouli's tone was filled with skepticism.

"Slightly serious? That sounds far-fetched," Youmu said, folding her arms with a look of obvious distrust.

"Tamami… are you really going to be serious?" Sanae tilted her head, her gaze full of doubt.

"Tch, just empty words," Suika muttered dismissively, lightly shaking her gourd.

The girls exchanged glances, their faces filled with suspicion, but a glimmer of curiosity also flickered in their eyes.

"Alright then, show us what your 'slightly serious' looks like," Reimu said coldly, though a faint, meaningful smile played on her lips.

Kyouya pointed toward a towering mountain in the distance, a playful, over-the-top grin on his face. "That one! Don't worry, we won't let you get hurt!" His tone was lighthearted, as if he had casually picked an insignificant target. Then he turned to Kengo, nodding toward him. "Kengo, you go first."

Kengo said nothing, simply taking a deep breath. A moment later, golden energy erupted from his body, blazing like a miniature sun. The radiant light shot straight into the sky, illuminating the distant mountain range in dazzling brilliance. The force of his power surged outward like a tidal wave, making the grass around them tremble.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Kengo's feet began to quake, and a massive wooden golem, towering hundreds of meters tall, appeared out of thin air.

The colossal figure resembled a majestic wooden golem, its body entwined with enormous wooden dragons, their forms so lifelike they seemed to breathe. The oppressive aura radiating from the construct was enough to make one's knees weak.

"Settle down…," Kengo said coolly. As his voice fell, the wooden golem reached out with both hands toward the distant mountain, seemingly grasping its very foundation.

The towering peak, large enough to block the skies of Gensokyo, was lifted effortlessly by the wooden figure.

With a powerful motion, it hurled the mountain into the sky, where it seemed to hover momentarily, suspended in midair.

"Kyouya! Tamami! Your turn!" Kengo's voice was calm and commanding, leaving no room for objection.

Tamami nodded, forming a single-hand seal. Countless high-pressure water jets materialized, each one as sharp as a blade. With precise movements, the water jets sliced through the massive boulder, shattering it into countless fragments. Despite the chaos, not a single shard flew toward the spectators.

"My turn now!" Kyouya clasped his hands together, and the sky darkened as storm clouds gathered. Thunder rumbled, echoing like the roar of a beast. In an instant, countless bolts of lightning rained down, accompanied by a howling gale. The massive mountain was reduced to dust under the relentless onslaught. As the wind swept through, the remnants of the mountain were completely dispersed, leaving no trace of its existence.

The surrounding area fell into a stunned silence. Only the lingering ripples of the trio's power remained in the air. The fifteen girls stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the now-vanished mountain, unable to look away.

Reimu's breath quickened as she stared down at her trembling hands, murmuring to herself, "This kind of power… With just a flick of their fingers, they could destroy Gensokyo in an instant…"

Yukari's usually calm and composed gaze was filled with rare shock. Her folding fan slipped from her hand unnoticed as she whispered, "This… is the power of Toushins? This scale… it's completely beyond imagination…"

Remilia instinctively took a step back, disbelief heavy in her voice. "This is… their strength? Compared to them… what are we even worth?"

Mokou clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth as she muttered, "This kind of power… it's been right beside us all this time… To destroy Gensokyo, it's just a thought for them…"

Sanae covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with barely concealed shock and a hint of fear. "Tamami's power… Is this the ability of a god? With strength like this… if it were unleashed, Gensokyo wouldn't stand a chance…" Her voice trembled, and she couldn't bring herself to look directly at what had just happened.

Yuyuko took a few steps back, whispering under her breath, "Is this… really the same people we've known? Such earth-shattering power… it's simply too overwhelming…" She placed a hand over her chest as though trying to calm the sudden surge of tension.

Kaguya's eyes were filled with rare confusion and unease. "This kind of power… Just a tiny fraction of it could turn the Bamboo Forest of the Lost to ashes… No… it could reduce all of Gensokyo to nothing…" Her voice was so faint it was almost inaudible.

Patchouli stared blankly at the magic tome in her hands, her usual wheezing completely forgotten. "This isn't magic… It's something far beyond the realm of mortals… This is a true miracle…" She unconsciously took a few steps back, her fingers trembling.

Flandre's gaze was tinged with fear and uncertainty. "This kind of power… If it were truly unleashed… Gensokyo couldn't… couldn't possibly withstand it…" Her voice quivered, and even her fingers began to shake.

Suika's grip on her gourd faltered, and the boast she had been about to utter died in her throat. She swallowed hard and muttered, "This… is far stronger than anything we oni possess… This is… the power of Toushins?"

Sakuya took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her breathing, but the rare shock and unease in her eyes betrayed her composure. "This kind of power… Even if I stopped time, I don't think I could stop them…"

Marisa stared at the dust lingering in the distant sky, her Mini Hakkero trembling slightly in her hand. "Kengo, Tamami, Kyouya… Have you really been suppressing this much power? With this kind of strength… if you wanted to destroy, no one could stop you…"

Komachi stood frozen in place, her scythe leaning against her side. She absentmindedly ran a hand through her hair and muttered, "This isn't just ordinary strength… This is power that shouldn't exist…"

Youmu looked down at the twin swords in her hands, the blades trembling as though in resonance with her unease. She bit her lip lightly and murmured in a barely audible voice, "I thought… I could catch up to you… But now… this kind of power, how am I supposed to face it?"

Aya gripped her pen tightly, her eyes filled with rare fear and awe. "Their speed and power… they're completely beyond comprehension… This isn't just strength—it's the embodiment of destruction…"

The girls exchanged glances, each of their gazes filled with unshakable shock and an instinctive trace of fear.

They all understood clearly: these three, standing before them, possessed the power to obliterate Gensokyo effortlessly. While they had learned of this from their memories, witnessing it firsthand made them truly comprehend the meaning of "world-ending." The sheer scale of their power far exceeded anything they could fathom.

Kyouya wore a smug grin, twirling the Yata Mirror in his hand before striking an overly dramatic pose. "Heh heh, this is just an example of what a 'normal' tsukumogami can do when we get a little serious! This was only about one-thousandth of our usual strength. If we went all out, with a full hundred percent and the three sacred treasures, the power would probably increase a few thousand times! That's, uh, several million times what you just saw~"

He started counting on his fingers as if doing basic math, and then raised the Yata no Kagami high as though showing off a prized possession. "Hey, Yata Mirror, give them a little shine!"

Before Kyouya could continue, Kengo's hand shot out, clamping over his mouth. His expression was uncharacteristically stern and urgent. "Shut up! Don't say another word!" His eyes flashed with rare anger and helplessness. "Can't you see their faces right now? Those frightened expressions…"

Tamami stood silently nearby, his gaze filled with sorrow as he looked at the girls in front of him. Lowering his head, he murmured, "Their expressions now… they're the same as those gods in Takamagahara back then…"

Kyouya froze, his grin fading as he finally noticed the unease around him.

His eyes swept over Reimu, Yukari, Remilia, Mokou, Aya… and all the other girls. Each of their gazes was a mix of shock, fear, and uncertainty. Shadows of dread lingered in their expressions.

Reimu clenched her gohei tightly, her lips trembling slightly, but she couldn't muster a single word.

Yukari slowly closed her fan, her expression complex as if struggling to suppress her emotions.

Remilia took another small step back, as if trying to hide her unease.

Patchouli clutched her magic tome, her gaze lowered, as though unwilling to face what had just occurred.

"This kind of power… this casual tone…" Mokou muttered quietly, but didn't finish her sentence.

Aya bit her lip, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words.

Kyouya's smile stiffened further as he took in the mix of shock, fear, and hesitation on the girls' faces. Their expressions, full of confusion and wariness, pierced through him like knives.

He stuck out his tongue, lowering his head sadly.

The usual mischievous glint in his eyes dimmed into something sorrowful and heavy. "You wanted us to be serious, didn't you? Do you know why we're always joking around and hiding our power?"

His voice was low and restrained, trembling with deep pain. "The answer is right there… in your eyes. It's the same look we've seen from those gods in Takamagahara… That look of fear, of disdain. 'Toushins,' 'killing machines'… Damn it!"

His fists clenched tightly, his voice trembling as if years of suppressed anguish had suddenly erupted. He looked up, his gaze meeting Reimu's, his lips quivering. "Reimu… I just want you to call me an idiot again… I want to bicker with you over who slacks off more… I want things to go back to how they were."

His voice grew softer, nearly a whisper. "That's why we don't want to unleash this kind of power. Because we're terrified—truly terrified—that you'll see us as monsters."

Kengo stood nearby, lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes filled with barely concealed sorrow. He slowly spoke, his voice heavy with despair. "We only want to protect you… to protect everything about you. Is this power our fault?" His voice was low and steady, but the pain in his eyes ran deep.

Tamami looked down at his hands, as if seeing tools drenched in blood. He murmured softly, "We… we only wanted to be your companions… to make you happy, to make you feel safe…" His voice took on a pleading tone. "Please… don't look at us like we're something frightening… Please…"

The three of them stood there, like lost children, murmuring and pleading, their voices tinged with deep despair. Kyouya covered his face, his tone filled with fatigue and anguish. "I guess… we should just leave Gensokyo after all. Maybe this place isn't for us either… Maybe there's no place for us in this world…"

Kengo nodded slightly, his tone somber. "We never truly belonged here… Maybe… leaving is the best choice."

Tamami bit his lip, tears brimming in his eyes, though he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. It seemed like he was trying to comfort himself, as well as the others. "At least… at least we tried…"

The girls stood frozen, unable to move, listening to their quiet voices. A sharp pain pricked their hearts, and their words and expressions struck like daggers.

The air grew heavy with oppressive tension, as though the entirety of Gensokyo had ground to a halt.

Kyouya lifted his head, his gaze falling on Reimu, Yukari, Remilia, Mokou, and Aya. The usual cocky air was gone, replaced by a deep sadness and exhaustion. "Maybe… we should've just been erased back then in Yomi… traded ourselves to bring you all back. That way, you wouldn't even remember us…" His voice was low, a whisper that seemed to tear apart his soul.

Kengo turned to face Marisa, Suika, Sakuya, Komachi, and Youmu, his tone carrying a note of profound sorrow. "I'm sorry… Thinking of you as our most important bonds… it was selfish of us. Maybe we were never meant to be part of your lives…" He took a deep breath, his tone resolute, though there was a faint tremor in his words.

Tamami bit his lip harder, tears threatening to spill. He turned to Sanae, Kaguya, Yuyuko, Patchouli, and Flandre, forcing a painful smile. "These past two years with you all… they've been the happiest days of my life. But if our presence only brings you unease… then maybe we really should go…"

The three of them slowly ascended into the air, their figures beginning to fade into the sky.

Reimu watched Kyouya's retreating figure, a stabbing pain in her chest making it hard to breathe. Her legs moved on their own, driven by instinct. She suddenly dashed forward and grabbed his arm, pulling him back with all her strength. "Don't go! Kyouya, don't you dare leave!"

Kyouya froze, staring down at Reimu's hand gripping his arm tightly. Her fingers were so tense they had turned pale, her arm trembling from the effort.

Yukari's hand extended from a gap, her sharp gaze fixed on Kyouya as she spoke with barely contained anger. "Don't you dare decide something like this on your own! Kyouya, if you're going to leave, you'll have to get past us first!"

Remilia's wings flapped powerfully as she flew up and grabbed Kyouya by the collar. "Idiot! You self-centered fool! If you leave, who's going to keep me company? Did you even think about how I'd feel? Get down here, now!"

Mokou, surrounded by roaring flames, leapt into the air and seized Kyouya's shoulder, pulling him forcefully. "You idiot! What kind of pathetic excuse is that?! Didn't you say you'd always stay with us? Now get back down here!"

Aya's wings beat furiously as she zipped through the sky, blocking Kyouya's path with her arms braced against his chest. Her voice was firm and resolute. "You don't have the right to leave us! Kyouya, stop saying such disgusting things and come back to us already!"

On Kengo's side, Marisa held her Mini Hakkero firmly, aiming it at the sky without hesitation. "Get back down here, Kengo! Do you think running away will solve anything?! I won't allow you to leave! I want you to stay with us!"

Suika leapt up and grabbed Kengo by the shoulder, her voice full of anger. "Do you think you can just walk away from everything?! Get down here, Kengo! You self-centered idiot!"

Sakuya used her time-stopping ability and appeared in front of Kengo in an instant, blocking his path. Her tone was icy and firm. "Kengo, stop doing something so foolish. Right now, get back to the ground. I won't allow you to leave!"

Komachi hooked her scythe around Kengo's waist, glaring at him in anger. "Where do you think you're going?! Do you think I'll just let you run away like this?! Get back here!"

Youmu unsheathed Roukanken, appearing directly in front of Kengo with her brows furrowed in determination. "You promised to stay with us, Kengo! Are you breaking that promise now?! Get back to us!"

On the other side, Tamami wore a bitter smile as Sanae flew up and tightly wrapped her arms around his waist. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "You're not allowed to leave! Tamami, you're not allowed to go! I won't let you leave us!"

Yuyuko appeared behind Tamami, gently placing her hands on his shoulders, her voice tinged with a sob. "Tamami, you're part of our family! You can't just abandon us like this!"

Kaguya stood directly in front of Tamami, hands on her hips. "Tamami, if you dare leave, I'll use the power of the moon to drag you back! Do you understand me?! You're not leaving!"

Patchouli's spell was already complete, countless magic circles surrounding Tamami. Her voice was calm but carried an unshakable determination. "If you dare say something like that again, I'll personally trap you here and never let you leave."

Flandre flew up to Tamami, wrapping her arms around his neck with urgency in her voice. "No! Tamami-niisan, you can't leave me! You're mine!"

The three of them froze, looking at the fifteen pairs of hands holding onto them tightly. They felt the familiar warmth and strength in those hands.

For a moment, they were speechless, staring at the girls before them. Slowly, an expression of disbelief surfaced in their eyes.

Their gazes turned deep and solemn, coldly fixed on the girls.

Kyouya was the first to speak, his tone filled with fatigue and pain. "Stay…? If it's out of fear or pity, then forget it… We don't need your sympathy…"

He paused, lowering his head as he clenched his fists tightly, as though trying to suppress a surge of indescribable emotion. His voice grew even lower. "Back in Takamagahara and on the battlefield, we didn't learn about love or warmth. We learned how to sever an enemy's limbs, cut off their heads, how to kill, how to heal, and how to survive… That's it. Nothing else."

Kengo picked up where Kyouya left off, his voice steady but weighed down by an oppressive sadness, like the tides of a deep ocean. "In Takamagahara, we did have a big sister, a big brother, and another elder brother who were willing to treat us as family… But because they had to manage the gods, they couldn't openly support us. All they could do was tend to our wounds in private or say a few comforting words… Is that really enough?"

Tamami lowered his head, his tone tinged with sorrow and frustration. "Our sister-in-law, Kushinadahime, our teacher, UkeMochi, and those few friends… Ame-no-Tajikarao, Takemikazuchi, Ame-no-Uzume—they all treated us kindly and never looked at us like we were monsters. But how long did those days last? Tens of millions of years? Billions of years?"

Kyouya suddenly lifted his head, locking eyes with the girls. Every word he spoke felt like it was being torn from his chest. "But after coming to Gensokyo, we finally found you—our most precious friends… To us, you're the most important bonds in our lives! We don't want… we absolutely don't want to go back to that kind of hell!" His voice trembled as he spoke, rising into a near shout by the end.

As the words fell, the three of them slowly descended to the ground. Their shoulders trembled slightly, as if they could no longer bear the pain they had suppressed deep within.

Kyouya gritted his teeth, tears streaming down his face, but he stubbornly lifted his head, murmuring, "We just… wanted to protect you… that's all…"

Kengo fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands as low sobs escaped him. He tried to maintain a strong front but failed miserably. "We just… don't want to be seen as monsters anymore… We don't want to go back to that endless loneliness…"

Tamami crouched down, clutching his face as he cried like a wounded cub. His voice was soft and broken, "We just wanted… to live our lives with you… to be happy together… Did we… really do something wrong…?"

The three of them knelt on the ground, their tears silently falling. Once invincible Toushins, they now resembled abandoned children, huddled together in their vulnerability. T

heir tears were not just a release of past pain and suppression but also an expression of how much they cherished and couldn't bear to lose these bonds.

The girls stood frozen, watching the three of them cry. A sharp, indescribable pain stabbed at their chests. The tears, the words—they struck directly at their souls, making them truly understand for the first time just how much these seemingly carefree fools had been carrying deep inside.

The night deepened, and the gentle rustle of grass echoed in the breeze. Kyouya, Kengo, and Tamami knelt on the ground, their shoulders trembling slightly, having finally unburdened themselves of the pain spanning countless years.

Once fearless and unyielding Toushins, they now hung their heads like wounded creatures, helpless and vulnerable.

The fifteen girls formed a silent circle around them, their expressions layered with complexity. There were tears, anger, heartbreak, and even confusion.

Yet the most profound emotion they all shared was an inability to let go. After the trial in Yomi, they finally understood—these three tsukumogami were no longer just comrades or companions. They had become irreplaceable.

Reimu took a deep breath and stepped toward Kyouya. Normally so laid-back, indifferent to almost everything, her hands now trembled slightly. She reached out and firmly patted Kyouya on the shoulder. "Kyouya, you big idiot…" Her voice wavered with suppressed emotion.

Kyouya slowly turned to face her, his eyes red-rimmed. "Reimu, I…"

"Don't say it, idiot." Reimu sniffed, her tone trembling but sincere. "Before, when I said, 'You don't understand my pressure,'… I take it back. I'm sorry."

Her voice softened, laced with an unusual tenderness. "You've been bearing far greater pain than us… and you never let us see it."

Her words seemed to crack something in Kyouya's heart. His cold memories of the past began to melt under her warmth.

Yukari followed, folding her fan with a soft click. She approached Kyouya, half her face hidden behind her usual mischievous expression. "Kyouya, you really are an idiot. Did you think we'd fear you because we know your power…?"

Her smile was gentle, her gaze glowing with kindness. "What possible reason could you have to leave us behind?"

Kyouya's throat tightened, and he forced a bitter smile. "Yukari…"

Yukari softly closed her fan, her tone gentle yet resolute. "Stay here. If you try to leave, I'll use my gaps to drag you back. You're not getting away this time."

Remilia stepped forward, her usually haughty gaze now filled with worry. She crossed her arms and lifted her head. "Kyouya, I won't allow you to abandon us. If you had the guts to fight through Yomi for us, then you're not allowed to run now. Gensokyo is your home, and we'll be here with you—you're not going anywhere."

Her tone was firm, but it carried a protective tenderness.

Mokou stood off to the side, trying to look aloof, but her reddened nose betrayed her. "Hey, Kyouya. Don't you dare make us feel lonely again. You think you're the only one who can handle pain? If you're willing to suffer for us, then we won't leave you behind either. Stop pretending to be strong."

She clenched her fist and lightly punched his chest as if to encourage him.

Aya abandoned her usual curiosity and journalist persona, quietly observing Kyouya. "Kyouya, you've shown me that not all powerful people are invincible. I don't want to just document your story—I want to create new days with you. Don't try to push us away. We won't let you."

Marisa approached Kengo, pulling her hat down over her eyes, her voice tinged with frustration. "Hey, Kengo, why the hell are you making that dead-fish face? I hate seeing you like this."

Kengo looked up awkwardly. "Marisa… I'm sorry."

"Sorry, my foot!" Marisa kicked him lightly (not too hard), then immediately crouched down and started pounding his shoulder with her fists.

"Do you think I care about you cooking three meals a day for me?! I just want you to tell me… why you never shared your pain with me!" Her voice cracked with a sob.

Kengo murmured softly, "I thought…"

"Thought what?" Marisa bit her lip, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. "What do you think I want, huh? Kengo, I just want you to stay… because you're the most important person to me!"

Sakuya stepped forward, picking up the fallen Kusanagi no Tsurugi with a calm yet serious expression. "Your power is terrifyingly strong. But if someone like you decides to leave… the Mistress will be furious."

She paused and looked up, locking eyes with Kengo. "And I… I'd be angry enough to cover you in throwing knives." Her tone was sharp, but her trembling fingers betrayed her concern.

Suika ambled closer, swaying her sake gourd, and sighed. "Kengo, you could've let us know how tough things were for you. You didn't look this pathetic in the memories, you know."

She wrinkled her nose. "Still, since you're willing to fight for us, I won't let you run away either. Stay here, so we can drink together and face whatever comes next."

Youmu gently placed a hand on Kengo's shoulder, her gaze serious. "Kengo-san, you taught me that wielding a sword isn't just about hurting but about protecting. That means we have the right to protect you too. Whatever your past may hold, you're now an irreplaceable part of us. We won't let you slip into darkness alone."

Komachi leaned casually on her scythe, her gaze uncharacteristically focused. "Hey, Kengo, you look awful when you cry. But even so, we won't let you go."

She tapped her scythe lightly. "You fought your way through Yomi for us, so we can't let you abandon us. Don't hesitate anymore. We're here for you—always."

Sanae stared at Tamami's tear-streaked face, her own tears falling freely as she puffed out her cheeks angrily. "Tamami, do you know what I want to do the most right now?"

Tamami's voice trembled. "S-Sanae… I really…"

"Shut up!" Sanae stomped her foot, her voice trembling but decisive. "I want to punch you! How could you think you can just leave like that?! If you're not willing to stay at the Moriya Shrine, then I'll follow you wherever you go!"

Tamami was stunned into silence. How could he let someone as kind as Sanae sacrifice everything just to follow him?

Yuyuko gently patted Tamami's shoulder, her usually lazy demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "Tamami, you know what? We don't need you to hide anything from us. We just need you to stay with us…"

Her smile remained soft, but it held an unwavering determination. "I've seen enough death and life, but someone like you? I'm not letting go~."

Flandre squeezed between them, clutching Tamami's hand tightly.

Her voice was choked with emotion as she shouted, "If you're going to leave, Tamami-niisan, then take me with you! I won't let you go!" She clung to him like a child afraid of being left behind, her grip unrelenting.

Finally, Kaguya stepped forward, crossing her arms. "I've endured thousands of years, but I don't want to endure days without you. You've already come here, so why do you think you can leave? You'll understand soon enough that this is where you're meant to stay."

The three tsukumogami lifted their heads, meeting the gazes of the fifteen girls. Each of them had their own personalities, their own convictions, and their own quirks, but at this moment, they all stood united.

Their sincere and unwavering expressions spoke louder than any words.

"Stay with us," Reimu, Marisa, and Sanae said firmly, standing before the three of them, their tones resolute. "Gensokyo is your home…"

The other girls echoed their sentiments, surrounding the three protectively.

From the wise and powerful sage to the proud vampire queen, the immortal warrior, the curious tengu reporter, the carefree oni, the composed maid, the aspiring swordswoman, the relaxed ferryman, the scholarly magician, the innocent vampire princess, the contemplative ghost princess, and the lonely moon princess—each of them laid their hearts bare.

"And we…"

They exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, delivering the final words:
"We are the most important bonds you'll ever have."

The night wind blew gently as stars sparkled in the sky. The three Toushins never imagined they'd hear such words. Once cast out by Takamagahara, they had resigned themselves to being tools, unable to find true acceptance.

But now, each of the girls made it clear—they were an indispensable part of their lives.

The road ahead would be long, but at this moment, they had found their true home.