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DISCLAIMER:

This is a fan-created project that draws inspiration from Team Shanghai Alice’s Touhou Project and Spike Chunsoft’s Danganronpa series. All characters, settings, and concepts originating from these franchises are the intellectual property of their respective creators. This work is made entirely non-commercially and out of admiration for the source materials. I claim no ownership over the characters or original settings depicted herein.

Please note that this story features personal interpretations of Touhou characters. As a result, personalities, behaviors, or backgrounds may differ from how they are officially portrayed in the original works. These changes are made to better suit the tone, themes, and narrative direction of this crossover concept.

This fanfiction also contains mature content, including:

●Gore

●Graphic violence

●Themes of psychological stress, fear, and death 

As such, this work is not suitable for younger or sensitive audiences. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

The story is written in a fanfiction format with plans to evolve into a full Web-Fangan (fan-Danganronpa) project. Contributions of free artwork, sprites, CGs, music or other visual elements are welcome and deeply appreciated. However, please understand:

●All contributions must be unpaid and voluntary; the author cannot offer compensation due to personal problems.

●Paid commissions or services will not be accepted, to avoid scams and maintain transparency.

●Proper credit will be given for all accepted work used in the final product. 

If you're interested in supporting the project with your creative talents, you're encouraged to reach out.

Thank you for your interest, and welcome to the world of the Extermination Game.

Girls are now investigating.

Darkness.

Muffled groaning echoed softly as Reimu stirred, her limbs sluggish, her senses dulled. The darkness wasn’t absolute—more like the heavy shade of dreams that lingered just before waking. A dull ache pressed at her temples.

Her hand brushed against something soft. Too soft. The futon was comfier than usual. That immediately felt wrong.

Reimu slowly sat up, blinking into the black. Her fingers pinched the edge of the futon beneath her. Fluffy. Clean. Not hers. Her brows furrowed.

“...Huh?” she mumbled groggily, voice raspy from sleep.

Something else was off.

Her clothes—it took her a moment to register it—but the familiar weight of her shrine maiden outfit hung on her body. She looked down. Red and white. Ribbons. Detached sleeves. Not her bedtime yukata. Not pajamas at all.

“What the hell...?” she muttered. “Did I fall asleep like this?”

She sniffed the fabric. A mix of faint incense and something more sour. Alcohol? Smoke? Her mind swam with fuzzy possibilities.

She stood up on shaky legs. That’s when her breath caught.

The shrine—no. This wasn’t the Hakurei Shrine.

Where the familiar paper-lantern warmth should’ve been, cold stone and heavy wood loomed. The sliding doors were replaced by barred iron windows, casting jagged shadows across the floor. The torii gate she usually saw from the open threshold was gone, replaced by towering stone columns that stretched to a vaulted ceiling.

The walls were made of grey marble and wood beams, but arranged in a pattern that reminded her of a noble’s mansion—or worse, a prison disguised as one.

It felt wrong.

Reimu took a step forward. The floor echoed—loud, hollow, unfamiliar. Her shrine wasn’t supposed to echo like that.

“What the hell is going on here?” she said again, more to herself than anyone.

Reimu took a cautious step forward,Each step echoed against the towering stone walls. The smell of incense was gone—replaced by something sterile and metallic. It made her stomach twist.

She tried to open the front door. It didn't budge.

She tried again, putting more weight into it.

Locked.

The air felt heavier now. She turned around, scanning the warped version of her shrine. It resembled her home, yes, but twisted—as if someone had recreated it from memory but cared more about aesthetics than accuracy. The donation box was there, but empty. The sacred ropes and talismans were replaced by thick chains and hanging paper charms with symbols she didn’t recognize.

“This isn’t funny,” she muttered.

She walked toward the hallway, the paper walls replaced by heavy, lacquered wood. Her steps slowed. She could feel something watching her—no eyes, just the pressure of being observed, like the shrine itself had grown a mind of its own.

Another clang in the distance.

This time closer.

She stopped.

“…Hello?” Her voice rang out, brittle and small.

No answer.

She looked down at her hands. They were trembling slightly.

'No. Pull yourself together, Reimu. Weird places and weirder incidents are nothing new.'

This had to be some kind of illusion, a test, maybe even a prank from Yukari. Wouldn't be the first time the gap hag did something stupid.

“Yukari,” she called, voice sharpening. “If this is one of your weird games again, I swear..."

...

...

...

Nothing.

Silence.

That was the worst part.

Her eyes narrowed as she took a step deeper into the shrine. Her instincts told her one thing above all else:

“I got kidnapped?” Reimu said aloud, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. It sounded ridiculous the moment she said it—but the longer she looked around, the less ridiculous it felt.

She tried to piece things together. She’d been at the shrine. It had been quiet.

She couldn’t remember drinking anything—yet her head was pounding like a hangover.

Reimu looked around again. Everything was off.

Who would kidnap her? And more importantly, why?

She wasn’t just any human. She was the Hakurei shrine maiden. Not someone you just throw into a dream-prison without consequence.

“Could’ve been some lunatic with a grudge…” she muttered, stepping into the next room. “Or maybe one of the usual suspects messing with boundaries again.”

Her eyes paused on a door that hadn't been there before. It looked like a proper western-style door, dark wood, brass handle. It didn't belong anywhere in the shrine—or even Gensokyo, really.

Cautiously, she placed her hand on the knob.

Cold.

Another step forward.

“If this is a kidnapping,” she muttered, “they’re gonna regret picking me of all people…”

...

...

"You're all fired up, huh?"

The voice was playful, almost mocking. Reimu snapped around instantly, her instincts flaring. She hadn’t sensed anyone approach. Not a single footstep. Not even a flicker of spiritual energy.

And yet, there she was.

A girl stood at the other end of the hallway, framed by the unnatural shadows cast by the lanterns above. She wore a pointed black hat, slightly tilted to the side, and a black-and-white dress that swayed as she stepped closer. Her long blonde hair fell in loose waves, and she twirled a broom casually in one hand like it was a weapon she didn’t care to use yet.

Reimu froze. Her breath caught.

She’d never seen this girl before. She was sure of it. And yet—

Something about her felt familiar. The clothes. The attitude. The smirk.

“Who…?” Reimu asked, cautiously stepping back. Her hand hovered near her gohei.

The girl raised a hand in mock surrender. “Easy there, shrine maiden. I’m not here to hex you or anything. Just checking in on the new arrival.”

“New arrival?” Reimu narrowed her eyes. “So you do know what’s going on.”

The girl grinned. “Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on how much fun you are.”

Reimu’s grip tightened.

“Who are you?”

The girl tilted her head, her hat casting a shadow over her eyes. Her smile widened, but she didn’t answer.

Instead, she pointed at the door Reimu had been about to open.

"why don’t you start there?”

"Hmm..." Reimu muttered, giving the strange girl one last wary glance before slowly turning the handle.

The door creaked open with a drawn-out groan, revealing a hallway that stretched far longer than it should have. The air changed as she stepped through—warmer, scented faintly with incense and old wood. Despite the strangeness, something about it felt oddly familiar… yet entirely wrong.

The corridor was styled in traditional Japanese fashion—paper lanterns lined the ceiling in even intervals, glowing faintly with a soft orange hue. Wooden flooring stretched endlessly forward, clean yet aged, like it had been walked on for centuries without a trace of dust. Sliding shoji doors lined both sides, but none had labels. None gave any hint of what lay behind them.

Reimu stepped in cautiously.

Clack… clack… clack…

Her footsteps echoed. Too loudly.

The emptiness was oppressive. There was no wind, no voices, not even the distant hum of cicadas. Just her, the quiet, and the long, stretching corridor that looked like it was ripped from a theater set.

She glanced over her shoulder. The witch girl was gone.

Reimu clicked her tongue.

“Great. Typical.”

She turned her gaze back down the hallway.

Still no end in sight.

“Who would design something like this?” Reimu muttered, narrowing her eyes at the excessive hallway. “What kind of sick architect makes a shrine-prison funhouse hybrid?”

Her voice bounced off the walls again, offering no answers.

After what felt like far too many steps, the hallway finally ended at another door. Plain wood, sliding, but reinforced with metal around the edges. She stared at it suspiciously.

“It better not lead to another long hall,” she grumbled.

With a sigh, she slid it open.

Light spilled out—soft, warm, and golden. Her eyes widened.

Before her was a vast, circular courtyard enclosed by walls she couldn’t see the top of. In the center stood a giant cherry blossom tree, its petals fluttering down in slow, deliberate spirals as if gravity had been told to behave politely. The tree was ancient—its trunk gnarled with age and thick enough that ten people couldn’t wrap their arms around it.

The area was beautifully decorated, almost like a festival ground. Hanging paper lanterns swayed gently from invisible wires. Traditional parasols were placed neatly around the edges with low sitting tables beneath them, each one untouched. There were even colorful tapestries hung between tall poles, depicting scenes of old myths and creatures of legend—but some of them looked… wrong. Off. Distorted.

Reimu stepped in cautiously,

The petals underfoot didn’t crunch or scatter. They almost felt painted on.

Despite the grandeur, the space was empty. Dead silent.

“Okay,” she muttered, folding her arms, “this definitely isn’t the shrine anymore.”

...

"It's a prop, I think. Could've fooled me."

Reimu jumped and spun around, startled by the voice. "Ahh—!! Y-You again!"

Leaning casually against the doorframe was the same blonde witch from before, smirking as if she'd never left.

"Heya, shrine maiden," she said, giving a lazy wave. "You did a good job out there checking on the room for me."

Reimu scowled. "Check in for you? I'm not your slave or anything. I did it because I felt like it."

The girl laughed softly. “Fair enough.”

Reimu studied her again, eyes narrowing. “Anyway. What is your deal, anyway?”

“Me?” The girl shrugged. “Same as you, I guess. I woke up in that weird room you were in. I was on a strangely comfy futon, already dressed like this. Not my pajamas. Don’t even remember putting this outfit on.”

“So you don’t know how you got here either.”

“Nope.” The girl strolled a little closer, hands behind her head. “Don't remember coming to a place like this. Don’t remember anything, really. Just woke up and went, ‘Welp, guess this is my life now.’ Pretty weird, huh?”

Reimu frowned.

She didn’t seem hostile. A little too casual, maybe, but something about her tone felt honest. Still, if she was telling the truth, that meant at least two people had woken up in this place without knowing how they got there. That was already one too many.

...

...

...

Reimu crossed her arms. “You remember anything useful?”

“No, not really. For some reason I can’t really remember anything I did yesterday. Or the days before that.”

Reimu narrowed her eyes. “Really, not even a little bit?”

“Nope,” the girl said casually, rocking back on her heels. “It’s like some incredibly specific amnesia. I know who I am, all the important stuff—my name, my abilities, what I do. But everything else? Blank slate.”

Reimu frowned. “Hmm... This is strange.”

That kind of selective memory loss wasn’t natural. No youkai she knew of caused such a precise effect. At least, not without intent.

Was this the influence of a youkai’s power? she wondered. Maybe a Bake-danuki... or worse, a Kasha? But no, this was too structured. Too surgical.

She stared at the girl again, suddenly unsettled.

Then it hit her.

“…Wait.”

Her voice was quieter now. A thread of unease wove through it.

She turned her gaze inward, trying to remember something—anything—she’d done the day before.

Nothing.

Not even the taste of her last meal. Not the face of the last visitor to her shrine. Not even whether it had been raining or sunny.

Reimu’s eyes widened.

“Now that I think about it…”

Her heart thudded.

“I… I can’t remember anything either.”

"Whoa, for real?"

"Yeah. I can't remember anything I did yesterday at all. When I woke up, I thought I’d gone on a sake bender or something," Reimu said, rubbing her temple, "But my clothes were only reeking of sweat, really."

"Interesting. So you think someone just spirited you away?"

"Pretty much. I'm not exactly spoken of kindly by some people, so I guess I can see them coming after me."

"Well, I'm sure I’ve got a handful of people who hate my guts too!" the witch girl said with a laugh.

Reimu gave her a dry look. "Looking at you now, I wouldn’t be surprised."

"Hey!" she pouted, clearly not used to being called out so bluntly.

"Anyway," Reimu said with a slight shrug, "How long have you been awake?"

"Not by much. I only know the part we were in before this place. That weird shrine-prison."

"Sigh. Well, you should come along with me for now," Reimu said, already turning toward one of the decorative paths that circled the cherry blossom tree. "You never know when the culprit might attack."

"I got no complaints, ze!"

The two began to walk together, the sound of soft petals crunching underfoot accompanying them like a subtle rhythm.

"By the way," the witch girl continued, flashing a proud grin, "I'm Marisa Kirisame! Just your ordinary magician!"

"Magician?" Reimu glanced sideways at her. "Like… a human magician?"

"Pretty much. I know all this stuff like the back of my hand. Taught myself since I was a kid."

"Really?" Reimu raised an eyebrow. "That means you’re not from the Human Village, right?"

"Yeah. I live in the Forest of Magic. Got a little house there. It’s not too hard to find. Jump in if you’re ever interested. I’ve got some interesting goodies in my shop you might like."

"Shop?"

"Yeah! An antique shop. Business has been going… somewhere, I think."

"I’m good," Reimu muttered, crossing her arms. "You don’t look like the type of person I want to trust running a shop."

"Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?!"

"What do you think?"

Marisa pouted, then smirked. "Well, you don’t seem much better yourself. How much does your shrine get, then?"

“E-Excuse me?!”

"Hmm?" Marisa leaned closer with a grin. "Ha! That was an unexpected reaction. I must’ve pulled a nerve, ze!"

Without warning, Reimu raised her gohei and gave Marisa a sharp whack on the forehead.

"Ow—!" Marisa stumbled back, clutching her head. "What the hell was that for?!"

"You've got a loud mouth on you, huh?" Reimu said flatly, lowering the sacred staff with all the casual authority of someone who did this kind of thing often.

Marisa winced, rubbing the spot with a scowl. "How the hell does that thing hurt?! I’m human!"

Reimu looked her over with a deadpan expression. "It hurts because you’re human. If you were a spirit or something evil, it might’ve actually purified you."

Marisa narrowed her eyes. “I’m starting to think you get way too much fun out of that stick.”

“Keep talking and I’ll test it again.”

“…Tch. Shrine maidens are scary.”

“…Moving on,” Reimu said, brushing off the moment and walking ahead. “I’m Reimu Hakurei.”

Marisa blinked, still rubbing her forehead. “H-Hey… I’ve heard that name before. The Hakurei clan?”

Reimu nodded without turning around. “Yeah. I’m the current—and only—retainer of this generation.”

“The only one?”

“That’s right.” Her tone was calm, but something colder rested underneath. “The shrine’s a bit tucked away from the Human Village. Not exactly the kind of place people stumble across by accident.”

Marisa walked a bit quicker to catch up, her expression shifting to something more curious. “So you’re like, the one in charge of keeping balance and all that spiritual business, huh?”

“Among other things.”

Marisa whistled. “Y’know, that’s kinda badass. But also lonely as hell.”

Reimu didn’t answer right away.

“…It is what it is,” she said finally.

"I don’t really mind, honestly," Reimu said with a shrug. "It can get kind of boring sometimes."

"Well, you should mind," Marisa replied, grinning. "Must be rough having expectations dumped on you since birth. At least I’m not you!"

Reimu gave her a flat look. "Is that supposed to be comforting? I didn’t ask for a sermon."

"Heh, just saying. I bet you’re pretty tough, huh?" Marisa’s eyes lit up with a spark of mischief. "How about settling things with a good old-fashioned bullet battle?"

"No thanks," Reimu said immediately, brushing past a fluttering lantern. "I have no reason to waste my energy outside of incident solving."

"Aww, what’s the matter? Afraid I’ll kick your butt?"

"I’m afraid you’ll waste my time."

Marisa smirked. “Cold. You really are a shrine maiden.”

"And you really ARE a witch," Reimu said with a sigh, barely hiding her annoyance.

Marisa’s eyes narrowed. "What’s that supposed to mean?!"

Before Reimu could answer, a new voice chimed in—soft, gentle, and hesitant.

“H-Hey, girls, no fighting! We’re in this together… aren’t we?”

Both of them froze.

“W–Who said that?” Reimu asked, scanning the area.

“Umm… me.”

They turned around in unison.

Standing a short distance behind them was another shrine maiden. Her outfit was a bit more modernized, with distinct green and white coloring, and her long green hair flowed almost unnaturally perfectly over her shoulders. She shifted nervously under their gaze, hands fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves. And, noticeably, her figure was... generous in certain departments—something that made Marisa blink and Reimu instinctively furrow her brow.

“…Another shrine maiden?” Reimu muttered.

“Y-Yeah,” the girl said, bowing slightly. “anyway. I woke up just like you did. No memories of where or when... just my name.”

She paused, then added shyly, “I’m Sanae. Sanae Kochiya.”

"Can’t say I’ve heard of that before," Marisa admitted, scratching her head.

"H-Huh? What do you mean?" Sanae looked genuinely shocked. "Have you never heard of the Moriya Shrine?"

"...Oh!" Marisa snapped her fingers. "It’s the one on Youkai Mountain, right? I’ve seen that place before—way up near the peak."

"Yes! The Moriya Shrine is dedicated to the mountain god Kanako and the wind goddess Suwako. We handle worship, blessings, and sometimes even miracles—though mostly it’s just daily rituals," Sanae explained, her voice a little more confident now. "We don’t get a lot of visitors from the village, but we try our best to reach out to the people below."

She then turned her eyes to Reimu. "Your name is Reimu-san, like I heard, right? Then… that means we’re rivals."

"Seems like it," Reimu replied coolly, narrowing her eyes just a bit. "I hope you’re not stealing my visitors from behind the scenes."

Sanae blinked, startled. "W-What? No! I mean… probably not?" She fidgeted again, clearly unsure how serious Reimu was being.

"Anyway," Reimu said, brushing the comment aside, "how long have you been awake?"

"Two minutes, roughly..." Sanae answered, glancing around the area nervously. "I woke up by myself in a room that looked very similar to my shrine. But… Kanako and Suwako-sama were nowhere to be seen. And the windows were all closed. I couldn’t see the outside at all."

Reimu and Marisa exchanged a quick glance.

“Another fake shrine, huh?” Marisa muttered.

“Same setup as us,” Reimu added. “This whole place is starting to feel way too coordinated.”

"This is so weird," Sanae muttered, hugging her arms. "It's like that movie I saw back in high school—Storm Rescue Alpha! The one where the main character's sister gets kidnapped by a mad scientist to be used as a lab rat and—"

"E-Excuse me, what are you talking about?" Reimu interrupted, giving her a bewildered stare.

"...Oh..." Sanae's face flushed with realization. "I’m sorry. I forgot. I actually originally came from the Outside World. Until me, Kanako, and Suwako-sama decided to live in Gensokyo."

Reimu’s expression froze, while Marisa tilted her head in curiosity.

"Wait, the Outside World?" Marisa asked. "So all that gibberish was… Outside stuff related?"

"Y-Yeah," Sanae nodded sheepishly. "TVs, movies, internet… I guess you wouldn’t know any of that. Sorry, I keep slipping."

Marisa blinked. "Well, I definitely didn’t have a clue what any of that meant. But it sounded kinda cool, I guess."

"Oh, right!" Sanae suddenly exclaimed, perking up. "There was someone else besides me! They got lost on the way to the hall."

"Another person?" Reimu straightened. "Then we should go look for them."

"I'll show the way," Sanae nodded quickly, already turning back the way she came.

"Alright," Marisa said, falling in beside her with a casual grin. "By the way, Sanae-chan, could you share with me the secret for those big melons you have?"

"H-Huh!?" Sanae nearly tripped over her own feet, face turning red.

"Just ignore her," Reimu said flatly, not even breaking stride.

"Hey, what? It's a serious question!" Marisa smirked. "I'm curious!"

"Curiosity killed the cat," Reimu muttered. "And you're dangerously close to testing that proverb."

The three made their way through the winding corridors, following Sanae’s lead. Unlike the hall Reimu and Marisa had walked through earlier, this one had a completely different structure. Instead of being a straight path, it twisted and turned like a maze, its walls lined with tall bookstands and towering shelves stuffed with all kinds of old tomes and scrolls. Some books were upside down, others floating just slightly off their shelves as if untouched by gravity.

“Okay, this is getting weirder,” Marisa muttered, eyeing a book that seemed to vibrate on its own. “Whoever designed this has a serious book fetish.”

“I thought this place was supposed to resemble shrines,” Reimu added, brushing a cobweb off her shoulder. 

“It wasn’t like this when I left,” Sanae said, glancing around with concern. “But… this is the way I came through.”

They turned a corner, the walls opening up into a smaller chamber cluttered with scattered books and strange glowing lights. Just ahead, a voice echoed out, loud and clearly frustrated.

“Ugh! Stupid hall! All these dumb books look the same! How do you even read this stuff?!”

“There she is,” Sanae said, her tone softening as she stepped forward. “Cirno. I came back.”

"Huh?" The voice snapped up, followed by the sound of stumbling footsteps. A figure turned around from behind a toppled stack of books.

"Boob-lady!" the girl shouted, pointing with zero shame.

"I—I already said it's Sanae!" Sanae replied, flustered beyond belief, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

The one who approached was small in stature, barefoot, and radiating a kind of reckless energy. She had bright blue hair tied in a messy bob, a blue dress that flared slightly as she stomped forward, and a pair of tiny ice-like wings shimmering faintly on her back.

A fairy.

Reimu and Marisa both raised their brows as she marched up, totally unbothered by the maze-like surroundings.

Marisa leaned over to Reimu. “You know her?”

“Nope,” Reimu replied.

“I’m Cirno!” the fairy announced proudly, hands on her hips. “Strongest in all of Gensokyo!"

"I didn't think there would be fairies stuck here as well," Reimu muttered, eyeing Cirno with a mix of surprise and caution.

"You, the strongest? Really?" Marisa said with a snort. "No way!"

"What’d you say, Blondie!?" Cirno flared up, wings twitching sharply. "You wanna test that out!?"

"Don't even try," Marisa said coolly, smirking. "I feed on fairies like you in the morning."

"W-Why you—!" Cirno’s fists clenched as she launched into the air, eyes blazing with challenge.

"Ah—P-Please, Cirno!" Sanae quickly stepped between them, arms outstretched. "Now's not the time for that. They just want to know your perspective."

"My what?" Cirno blinked, still hovering in place.

"Uh… they want to know how you got here," Sanae clarified.

"Oh! Gotcha." Cirno lowered herself and strutted up to Reimu and Marisa with exaggerated confidence. "The thing is… I don’t remember."

Reimu raised a brow. "That’s helpful."

Cirno scratched her head. "Yeah, I woke up in some weird icy room with frozen fish in it—gross, by the way. I thought it was one of 'Their' dumb pranks, but… 'they' weren’t there. No one was. Just me, and this super creepy voice welcoming me to a 'new life.'"

"Wait, this is important," Reimu said, her tone sharpening. "A new life?"

"Yeah..." Cirno nodded, tapping her chin. "It was kinda hard to make out, but it said stuff like 'Your world' and 'Your colleagues are waiting.' Super weird, right?"

Marisa crossed her arms. "That doesn't sound like anything a fairy prank would be. Way too cryptic."

Cirno scoffed. "I bet it’s those three fairies again. First, they break my house, and now this?" She puffed her chest out proudly. "They're always jealous of me, you know. 'Cause I'm the strongest!"

"Right..." Reimu sighed. "So this message… it played when you woke up?"

"Yup! Right after I got up and realized I wasn’t in my house anymore. I was ready to blast the whole place with icicles until I realized I didn’t even know where here was."

Marisa glanced at Reimu. "That confirms it. This isn't just some random trap. Someone’s setting up something big."

"Now we just need to know who," Reimu muttered, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"Whatever!" Cirno huffed, stamping her foot on the stone floor. "I'll smack that jerk right away once I find 'em! But first—" she turned in a full circle, glaring at the tall bookshelves surrounding them, "—I gotta get out of this fricking maze!"

Marisa chuckled. "You really think someone like you can bust out of here solo?"

"Hey! Dai is probably worried sick about me outside this place!" Cirno snapped back. "She can't go a day without me, you know!"

"Sure, sure," Reimu said dryly. 

The four now began marching out of the book-filled maze, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floor.

"FINALLY! I'M FREE!" Cirno cheered, leaping into the air with a spin. Her wings sparkled in the light as she flailed mid-flight, overjoyed at escaping the cramped halls.

"Calm down, we haven’t even left the building yet," Reimu said, side-eyeing her.

"Let her have her moment," Marisa shrugged, smirking. "Not every day a fairy escapes a paper maze."

Sanae looked around nervously as the path started to shift again, the bookshelves slowly drawing back into the walls to reveal a new passage forward. "This place really doesn't want us to relax, does it…?"

"WAH!! The thingy moved!?" Cirno yelped, jolting back as the shifting walls groaned open. For a brief moment, her pupils turned into a glaring, oversized “9” as confusion and panic swirled across her face.

Reimu narrowed her eyes. "Why do I get the feeling that this is being orchestrated by someone?"

"Because it probably is," Marisa replied, tilting her head. "But hey, let’s just play along for now. Might get some answers."

The four stepped through the newly opened corridor, the stone path ahead lit by faint, glowing paper lanterns. The air was still, almost eerily silent.

As they walked, Reimu glanced at Cirno from the corner of her eye. "By the way… what are those crystals behind your back?"

"Huh? Oh, those?" Cirno grinned proudly and struck a pose. "They're my wings, obviously! I can take them off to cut up all the baddies who defy me! Wanna see?"

"Maybe some other time," Marisa replied casually, not even glancing at her.

"Grrr...! I’ll get you," Cirno muttered under her breath, pouting as she fluttered a little higher above the ground.

The group pushed open the tall wooden doors, and a soft creaking echoed into a vast, dimly lit space.

What greeted them was a massive central area—far larger than the one from before. At its heart stood another cherry blossom tree, this one towering and wide, its blooming pink petals gently falling like snow onto the polished marble floor below. The ceiling arched high above them like a cathedral dome, painted with cloudy murals that shimmered faintly in the lantern light.

"...This place just keeps getting bigger," Reimu muttered, her eyes scanning the mansion-like structure.

"And emptier," Marisa added, stepping forward. "For a place this size, it’s dead quiet."

Sanae looked around nervously. "It feels like it was made for something... important. But it’s just deserted."

Cirno flitted up a few feet to get a better look. "Whoa... there's a ton of doors around here! Like, a lot!"

The walls on all sides were lined with doors—some small and ornate, others large and imposing. They stretched along winding balconies and shadowy corners, like entrances to countless unknown places.

"Looks like a dorm," Reimu said. "Or a stage set made to look like one."

Marisa glanced around, fingers resting on her mini-hakkero. "You think this is where the rest of the 'guests' are hiding?"

"Only one way to find out," Reimu replied.

'Dang' Reimu thought, her gaze dropping to the floor. The marble was spotless. So clean it reflected their silhouettes like water.

'What kind of broom did the kidnappers use?'

At the same time, Marisa side-eyed the ground with a furrowed brow. 'And where can I get one?'

Cirno flapped her wings and floated up a few feet, pointing ahead. "Hey! Some of these doors have faces on them. And names too!"

"Huh?" Reimu blinked, and the group moved up the staircase that curled gently along the inner wall of the massive chamber.

Sure enough, they found a row of doors along the upper balcony, each one labeled like a dorm. Some had crudely drawn caricatures—some detailed, others cartoonish—as if someone had rushed through half of them with a crayon and a manic grin.

Reimu moved from door to door, reading aloud. "Alice… Eiki… Komachi… Remilia… Reisen… Lunasa… Konngara… Aya… Rumia… Satori… and Yumemi."

"That's a lot of folks," Marisa whistled. "Looks like we’re not the only ones in this twisted hotel."

Sanae folded her arms. "So they really did trap more of us… But who would even know all these people?"

Reimu stared at the last name for a moment. Her expression darkened. "...Only one name comes to mind."

"Most definitely Yuk—"

But before Reimu could finish, two distinct voices cut through the air from the upper hallway.

One was cool and laid back, almost amused.

The other was firm, composed, and carried a weight of authority.

The girls turned toward the source.

Two figures had stepped out of adjacent doors, their presence unmistakable.

One was a short girl with mint-green hair, her gaze piercing and filled with judgment, as if she could see right through everyone's soul. She wore formal robes and carried herself with the posture of a strict official.

The other leaned casually against the doorway, a playful smirk on her face. She was taller, with long, scarlet twin-tails tied loosely, and a large sickle resting comfortably across her shoulder. Her outfit was striking, exposing ample cleavage with no concern for modesty.

"That's… Eiki, right?" Sanae whispered.

"And Komachi," Reimu finished, narrowing her eyes.

The two newcomers seemed to be mid-conversation, oblivious to the girls watching them—until Komachi spotted the group and gave a lazy wave.

"Well well, looks like we’re not the only ones who woke up early."

"Who might you be?" the short girl asked, her tone crisp and unwavering as her eyes scanned the group with judicial sharpness.

Reimu stepped forward slightly, arms crossed. "Reimu Hakurei. Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine."

"Marisa Kirisame! Ordinary magician—extraordinarily awesome!" Marisa grinned, throwing up a half-hearted salute.

"Sanae Kochiya, Shrine Maiden of the Moriya Shrine. It’s… nice to meet you," she added with a small bow.

"Cirno! The strongest fairy in all of Gensokyo!" Cirno beamed proudly, puffing out her chest.

The green-haired girl gave a small, thoughtful nod. "I see. Then allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu. I judge the souls of the dead and determine their fate in the afterlife."

"And I’m Komachi Onozuka," the other said, pushing off the wall with a lazy grin. "Shinigami, ferrier of souls. Also part-time slacker, depending on who you ask."

"Mostly slacker," Eiki muttered.

"Harsh."

"A Shinigami and a judge? Even they're mixed in this?" Reimu muttered, eyebrows drawing together.

"This person didn’t just capture humans and fairies… but also youkai and even high-ranking beings..." Sanae added, voice tinged with disbelief.

‘It has to be her,’ Reimu thought grimly, her grip tightening on her gohei.

“Somehow, yes,” Eiki replied, calm and resolute. “Komachi and I awoke recently, each in a room eerily tailored to resemble our own quarters.”

"And mine had a lot of yen!" Komachi added, laughing lightly. "Of course, it was mostly fake… but that bed wasn’t. Real comfy. I could get used to that kind of treatment."

Whack! Eiki’s rod swiftly landed on Komachi’s head.

"Ow—!"

“Focus. This is not a vacation, Komachi,” Eiki said sternly. “This kind of spiritual transposition is a grave sin. Whoever dares to manipulate the boundary between planes to trap this many individuals will not go unpunished.”

Then, she narrowed her eyes slightly at the group. “And a word of warning—do not approach me casually. I can read the weight of your sins from here.”

Everyone stiffened a little at that.

Marisa leaned closer to Reimu and whispered, “This lady’s intensity is next level…”

“Y–Sins!?” Sanae gasped. “But we’re the good guys!”

Eiki’s rod sharply pointed at her and Reimu. “You two are guilty of endangering innocent spirits from the Realm Beyond.”

“T–That’s literally my job!” Reimu shot back.

“That’s what a transgressor would say. Or a boundary-trespassing thief,” Eiki replied coldly. “The one in red is also steeped in the sin of spiritual avarice.”

“H–How do you know all this!? That’s private!”

“That rod she holds,” Komachi chimed in, resting her sickle on her shoulder, “it reads karmic weight. The heavier it becomes, the more tainted your past actions are.”

Eiki turned her gaze to Marisa. “The blonde one is guilty of arcane misappropriation. Specifically, unauthorized extraction of enchanted grimoires.”

“I borrowed them!” Marisa defended, glaring.

“Ha–Ha–Ha!” Cirno burst into laughter. “This is amazing!”

Eiki’s eyes snapped to her. “And the blue one… is burdened with the cold-blooded extinguishing of countless amphibians from their natural ponds.”

“W–What!?” Cirno flared up. “You wanna start something, Shorty!? I do what I want!”

"I wouldn't do that, unless I wanted to die, girl," Komachi said with a lazy grin, casually swinging her sickle onto her shoulder. "But hey, go ahead if you’re feelin’ lucky. It'll make my job a whole lot easier!"

Cirno tensed up, fists shaking at her sides, but Sanae quickly held her back. “Please, not now... We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

“Anyway,” Eiki continued, straightening her posture with an air of finality, “I have noticed the presence of many rooms in this structure. I will remain in this central area for the time being and observe.”

She gestured toward Komachi without looking. “Komachi will assist you in investigating the area further. Her senses, while dull, are still serviceable in situations like this.”

“Hey! I heard that!” Komachi pouted.

“It was meant to be heard,” Eiki replied dryly. “Now go.”

Komachi let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine, fine… Guess I’m your tour guide now, girls. Let’s see if we can figure out which freak decided to mix folklore tales with prison architecture.”

The group began to fan out, checking the nearby rooms one by one. Each door creaked open to reveal an unoccupied space—personalized, detailed, yet empty. The other guests must have already wandered off.

But as they moved through the area, a strange pattern began to form.

“Wait a sec,” Marisa muttered. “Where’s my room?”

Reimu’s eyes narrowed. “Now that you mention it… I don’t see mine either. Or yours, Sanae.”

“Mine’s not here either,” Cirno added, arms crossed. “Guess they forgot the strongest!”

They exchanged glances, the realization sinking in like cold water.

“Then…” Sanae said slowly, “the rooms we all woke up in… they weren’t just holding areas. They were supposed to be ours.”

“But they were way far off,” Marisa noted.

"Uh, what are you gals mumbling about?" Komachi broke in, twirling her sickle lazily. "Where the rooms are doesn’t matter. Let’s just go after the other guests already."

“…Sure,” Reimu muttered, clearly still uneasy.

The group continued forward and came upon a tall set of double doors. Reimu gave one a push, and it slowly creaked open, revealing a spacious room beyond.

It was a grand dining hall—polished floors, walls lined with elegant tapestries, and in the center, an impossibly long table adorned with ornate plates, golden candlesticks, and silverware that shimmered under a crystal chandelier. The kind of place nobles might eat… if Gensokyo had nobles.

“Geez,” Marisa said, eyes scanning the luxurious spread. “What are we, royalty?”

Cirno floated upward, spinning slowly. “Do we get snacks or what?”

But their thoughts were quickly interrupted by a sudden commotion in the room.

“Hyaaah!" a red-caped girl with short crimson hair yelled as she ducked behind one of the chairs, panting.

“Just admit it! You did spike the coffee, didn’t you!?” barked a blonde girl in a black skirt, chasing after her

“W-Why would I even do that!? I don’t drink coffee!”

"Then why were you the only one not knocked out!?"

The shrine maidens and company just stood at the doorway, blinking.

“…Do we stop them?” Sanae asked.

"I bet your flesh is pretty yummy too!" the blonde girl had shouted just moments earlier, her eyes wild with dramatic flair.

"Yikes! Mystical creatures are scary from up close!" the red-haired girl squeaked, hiding behind the table as if it would save her.

"Yeah, we should," Reimu muttered, and without hesitation, flung a few talismans straight at the blonde's forehead.

"OW! OW! Who did that!?" the blonde girl yelped, clutching her head and stumbling back. She turned toward the entrance, only to freeze at the sight of a whole group of girls staring at her.

"AAAH!! It’s a shrine maiden!!"

"Yeah," Reimu said, narrowing her eyes. "And you're a human-eating youkai."

"Huff Huff My energy is fading away… much like butter on a hot pan…" the girl muttered dramatically, collapsing into a chair and sticking her tongue out.

"W-Wait—hold on, this isn't fair! It's five against one!" the blonde youkai protested, waving her arms. "Man, I just thought I could make a quick snack in this weird place."

"If you won't resist, mind telling us if you remember anything?" Reimu asked calmly, but firmly.

"Huh? You lost yours too?" the youkai blinked. "I can't remember a single thing either! Not even what I ate! I woke up in this scary place—it was pitch black, kind of like my powers, you know?"

"Did you hear anyone talking to you?" Sanae asked.

"No… not really. I was all on my own. It was really scary…" she fidgeted. "I wandered around a bit and found the human girl wearing a cape. She told me she was already awake!"

"I meant that I was awake for a long time, but you didn’t let me finish!" the red-haired girl grumbled before giving the youkai a swift bonk on the head.

"OW! Now I’m getting beat up by a human!" she whined, rubbing her scalp.

"HA-HA! What a wimp!" Cirno burst into laughter, pointing at the blonde youkai.

"Shut up! I’d eat you right now if you weren’t a fairy!" the youkai snapped back.

"W-Wait, a fairy!?" the red-haired girl suddenly perked up. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she stared at Cirno. "That's what I heard."

Without warning, she stepped forward and began poking Cirno curiously, circling around her like a fascinated professor. "Amazing! Natural wings, crystallized formation, innate magic signature…! This is incredible!"

"Hey, what’s the deal? That tickles! You want my autograph or something?" Cirno blinked, confused.

"This is it!" the red-haired girl gasped. "Please, young fairy, would you kindly become my personal lab rat for studying magic?"

"What's a lab rat?" Cirno tilted her head.

"It means you'll be cooperating for something great—my reputation!"

"Umm… That’s kind of lame."

"Eh!?!"

"What's the deal with that girl?" Marisa muttered, unimpressed. 

"First rejected by the college, now rejected by a magical being."

"If only Chiyuri was here..." the red-haired girl sighed dramatically. "But I won't give up! I will obtain your data—even if by force!!"

"H-Hey, why are you grabbing me!? Knock it off!" Cirno shouted, flailing as the girl tried to drag her closer.

Before it could escalate, Reimu stepped between them and firmly placed her gohei between the two.

"That's enough."

"AH!! The magical rod! I can feel its mystic powers radiating from the tip! I shall abduct it!" the red-haired girl cried, reaching for Reimu's gohei.

Bonk.

Reimu promptly bopped her on the head. "Just knock it off already."

Komachi chuckled. "That girl’s got energy, alright."

"She tried the same thing on me earlier," the blonde girl added with a blank smile. "Then I bit her hand and she stopped."

"...By the way," Reimu said, eyeing the blonde, "Who are you supposed to be?"

"Me? My name is Rumia!" she declared proudly, striking a cross pose with her arms. "I'm a youkai of darkness!" Rumia beamed.

Reimu narrowed her eyes. "Youkai of darkness… the kind that go around attacking humans in the dead of night, right?"

"Well, yeah!" Rumia said, still smiling. "But I haven’t eaten anyone in days! So I think that deserves some credit."

"That's… not comforting," Marisa muttered.

"May I have a bite?" Rumia asked with an innocent grin.

"Only if you want to get vaporized," Marisa replied, twirling her mini-hakkero with a smirk.

"Yikes. Man... I'm so hungry," Rumia groaned, holding her stomach dramatically.

"How about eating something normal for once?" Cirno taunted, puffing her chest.

Rumia gave her a deadpan look. "Because I'm a youkai. And youkai eat people."

"Well, maybe this one should try eating common sense first," Reimu muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, the red haired girl was still rubbing the bump on her head Reimu gave her.

"So violent... Science is supposed to be peaceful!" she muttered, half-heartedly.

"You're the one trying to abduct people," Komachi replied with a shrug. "Can’t blame folks for smacking you."

The group slowly started moving out of the dining room, the grand table behind them now just another strange backdrop to their confusing day. More doors and halls awaited, and no answers yet.

Cirno zipped ahead. "Let’s go already! I wanna meet more weirdos!"

“Too late. We already have you,” Marisa said.

"HEY!!"

“W-Wait! What about me!?” the red-haired girl called out, flailing her arms in mild panic.

“Oh… right. You,” Reimu said flatly, turning back.

The girl adjusted her cape dramatically and struck a confident pose. “My name is Yumemi Okazaki! I’m a highly-esteemed college professor who recently arrived in your world in pursuit of one thing—magic!”

Marisa raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite the résumé.”

Sanae blinked. “Wait... you’re from the Outside World too? So you’re like me.”

Yumemi nodded, eyes gleaming with ambition. “Indeed! But unlike you, I came with a purpose. I have a task and a dream—to prove the existence of magic beyond doubt, even outside the realm of the grand unified theory. When I return to my world, I’ll show everyone who laughed at me. I’ll make their jaws drop when they realize I was right all along!”

“…She’s kind of intense,” Reimu muttered under her breath.

“Like, scary intense,” Cirno added.

A revenge arc, huh?" Marisa smirked, folding her arms. "Gotta say, not a bad motivation."

Yumemi grinned. "It's not revenge—it's vindication! I'll rewrite science itself with magic as the missing variable."

"Ambitious," Reimu muttered, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Still doesn't explain how you got dragged into this mess."

"I wish I knew," Yumemi said, deflating slightly. "I woke up in a room that looked like my lab, but everything was… off. And empty."

"You weren’t the only one," Sanae replied. "A lot of us woke up in places that look like home, but we were completely isolated."

Yumemi adjusted her cape, looking serious for once. "Then it's clear this isn’t just a random accident. Someone went out of their way to mimic our lives... and trap us in this place."

"And whoever it is," Reimu said, her tone sharpening, "They're going to have to answer to us."

Cirno pumped her fists. "Yeah! And I’m gonna freeze their socks off!"

Marisa chuckled. “I like the enthusiasm, ice fairy. Let’s hope you don’t freeze us too.”

“Don’t tempt me!” Cirno grinned, striking a pose like a champion boxer.

Yumemi crossed her arms and paced in thought. “If this really is orchestrated… then someone powerful, knowledgeable—and possibly sadistic—is behind it. They knew too much about us. Our homes, our habits…”

“And even who to put in here,” Reimu added, scanning the faces of the group. "Fairies, shrine maidens, youkai, outsiders… even judges and shinigami. There’s a pattern, but it’s buried deep.”

Suddenly, Komachi spoke up, arms behind her head. “Or maybe they just threw together whoever they could find for some cosmic joke. Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve seen.”

“So what now? We’ve met, what, six people now? Outta like fifteen or more doors?”

Reimu nodded. “There are still plenty missing. We need to find them—and fast.”

After leaving Rumia and Yumemi behind.  The group stepped cautiously into the vast library, its ceilings soaring and shelves towering with aged tomes and shimmering scrolls. The air was thick with the scent of paper and ink—timeless and still.

“Another library?” Marisa whispered, half in awe. “I could live here.”

“This one’s different,” Reimu muttered. “Bigger. Quieter… like it’s watching us.”

Cirno flitted ahead before anyone could stop her. “Hey! There’s people here!”

The others followed and soon spotted them—three girls, all in different corners of the room. The first, a poised blonde with icy blue eyes, scanned the titles of the books with mechanical precision. Her porcelain face showed little emotion, but her hands handled each book with care.

“That one looks… familiar?” Marisa said under her breath.

The second girl, near the far end of the room, had short pink hair and a peculiar aura about her—quiet, melancholic, and oddly heavy. A strange contraption—a third eye—hung around her chest, unmoving yet somehow alive. She traced the spines of the books with a distant expression.

And then there was the third. A small girl dressed in white, her eyes glowing a deep crimson, and a soft smile of childlike wonder on her lips. She spun in place slowly, taking in the towering shelves with sparkling curiosity. Her hat bobbed slightly with each turn, and her posture, though innocent, carried a strange weight—like something ancient concealed beneath charm.

“I don’t recognize any of them,” Sanae whispered. “Not even the one with the hat.”

“Same,” Reimu said, narrowing her eyes. “But they’re definitely not ordinary.”

The blonde girl—Alice—finally turned around, locking eyes with the group. Her expression barely shifted, but her voice was smooth and precise.

“So. More strangers.”

The girl with the third eye glanced over briefly, offering only a subtle nod before returning to her silent wandering.

The red-eyed girl tilted her head with amusement. “Ooh… more people. This place is getting fun.”

Marisa stepped forward. “We’re not enemies. We’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”

The girl closed her book gently and tucked it under her arm. “Good. Then maybe you can explain this strange place and why I woke up surrounded by dolls that weren’t mine.”

“You’re a doll user?” Cirno asked.

“I am,” she replied flatly. “And I don’t appreciate being displaced without warning.”

Reimu crossed her arms. “Same boat. We were hoping to find answers. Maybe you three can help.”

The girl with the third eye remained quiet, simply watching them now. The red-eyed girl, on the other hand, stepped closer, her voice sweet and eerie.

“My name’s Remilia Scarlet. And I like mysteries. But I like solving them even more.”

Marisa raised an eyebrow. “Remilia… as in Scarlet Devil? From the Mansion?”

"Hey, I know that one! It's near the misty lake I think!" Cirno said. 

Remilia’s smile widened. “The one and only. Daughter of Tepes himself. I look forward to meeting you. "  

“Great,” Reimu muttered. “Just what we needed. A vampire.”

Remilia only giggled.

'Every inch of my body is telling me 'What out for this girl.' She looks like the type who shows off a lot.' Reimu thought. 

The pink-haired girl looked up calmly as the group approached. Her third eye pulsed faintly, a soft glow in the quiet of the massive library.

“My name is Satori Komeiji,” she said, voice quiet but unwavering. “I hail from the Palace of the Earth Spirits, deep within the Underworld.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow. The name didn’t stir anything familiar in her. “Never heard of you. But… 'Satori'—you’re one of those mind-reading youkai, aren’t you?”

“That’s correct,” Satori replied. “I can perceive the thoughts and memories floating on the surface of one’s mind. Not everything—just what you’re actively thinking.”

Reimu crossed her arms. “That could be useful. Especially if we run into more people who’ve lost their memories.”

Satori’s expression didn’t change. “Perhaps. But minds clouded by fear or manipulation are harder to read. And in a place like this… I suspect our captor has made precautions.”

“Great,” Marisa sighed. “Even the psychic’s been nerfed.”

“I never claimed to be a solution,” Satori said coolly, “but I will help. If only to understand who or what is behind all this.”

“Appreciate it,” Reimu replied. “We’ll take what we can get.” She turned to the last figure nearby, the one still staring wide-eyed at the library’s architecture. “Now, what about you?”

The girl turned toward them slowly, her expression calm but cautious.

“...Alice. Alice Margatroid,” she said with a soft yet composed voice. “A dollmaker and a magician.”

“A magician, huh?” Marisa’s eyes narrowed with interest. “What kind?”

“I specialize in puppetry magic. My dolls are more than mere decorations—they fight, defend, and act as my extensions,” Alice replied, her hand gently brushing the head of a small, floating doll beside her.

“Creepy,” Cirno muttered, watching the doll with suspicion.

“Efficient,” Alice corrected, not missing a beat. “They allow me to strategize without putting myself at constant risk.”

Sanae stepped closer. “And you don’t remember how you got here either?”

Alice shook her head slightly. “I woke up in a replica of my workshop, but it was quiet… sterile. Like the heart had been drained from it.”

“Another fake home, huh…” Reimu muttered. “This mastermind went all out to throw us off.”

“I don’t like being manipulated,” Alice said flatly. “If someone thinks we’re their pawns, I’ll make sure to cut their strings first.”

“Now that’s a mood I can get behind,” Marisa grinned.

Satori gave a small nod. “Then it seems we’re all agreed—cooperation, until we find who’s behind this.”

Reimu gestured toward the hall. “Alright. Let’s move. There might be more ahead.”

"I must say i'm quite intrigued by this mastermind. Not only have they managed to trap me but 13 other inhabitants of Gensokyo. I wonder what their plans are, fufufu." Remilia said ominously.

After leaving the three on the main room.   

 The group made it inside a clinic.  The room was unusually clean and sterile—white walls, metal trays, and cabinets lined with meticulously labeled bottles. The faint scent of disinfectant hung in the air, eerily out of place given the mysticism of Gensokyo. The group stepped in cautiously.

There, standing near the shelves and flipping through a clipboard, was a girl with long lavender hair and a sharp glint in her red eyes. Two tall bunny ears twitched atop her head. She barely looked up as they entered.

Reimu was the first to speak. “A rabbit from the Moon, huh? Didn’t expect to find one of you here.”

The girl turned her gaze slowly toward them, calm and calculating. “Reisen Udongein Inaba,” she said simply. “You could say I’m… Gensokyo’s unofficial pharmacist.”

“Whoa, look at all this stuff,” Marisa said, peeking over at the shelves. “Looks like they raided Eientei’s whole stock.”

“I thought so too,” Reisen replied, setting the clipboard down. “The organization here is clinical—precise. Whoever prepared this knows medicine well… and perhaps, knows me.”

“You woke up here?” Sanae asked.

Reisen nodded. “It was eerily similar to the infirmary back at Eientei, but something felt… wrong. Sterile, lifeless."

Cirno tilted her head. “You’re not freaked out by that?”

“I’m trained not to panic,” Reisen replied firmly. “But I am… unsettled. This place is more than just a trap. It's a simulation. A controlled environment.”

“That’s what worries me most,” Reimu muttered.

"This place feels… strangely isolated. Claustrophobic, even," Reisen murmured, her crimson eyes scanning the pristine white walls. "And somehow, I doubt that's a coincidence."

"Yeah," Marisa agreed, her gaze narrowing. "Still weird how you're not freaking out over it."

Reisen let out a weary sigh, her ears drooping slightly. "I’ve already resigned myself to the punishment Eirin-sama will give me for ‘slacking off’ those two minutes I was unconscious. Explaining this situation to her would be… pointless. She wouldn’t believe a word of it."

Her tone carried a tired edge—half defeated, half numb. The weight of duty, expectation, and the absurdity of their predicament all pressing down on her at once.

"You sound like you've already accepted your fate," Sanae said softly.

Reisen managed a faint, bitter smile. "When you're trained to handle madness, even the impossible starts to feel routine."

"And why do you have three names?" Marisa asked, raising an eyebrow.

Reisen straightened slightly, her expression calm but proud. "My first name, Reisen, is from the Moon—my birthright as a lunar rabbit. The other two were given to me after I came to Earth. 'Udongein' was from Eirin-sama, and 'Inaba' was bestowed by Kaguya-sama."

"So it's like... a name for every chapter of your life?" Sanae guessed.

"Exactly," Reisen replied with a nod. "Each one marks who I was, who I became, and who I now serve. It's my identity, layered with history."

"Didn't think lunar rabbits had all that complicated stuff," Marisa muttered, shaking her head.

With that, the group left Reisen to rest in the central hall, her fatigue too heavy to carry onward. Their search continued, and soon they found themselves stepping into a grand leisure room.

The atmosphere here was noticeably different—less eerie, more like an elegant lounge. A grand piano sat at the front, polished to a sheen, while bookshelves, board games, and plush seating filled the space. It was a place clearly designed for relaxation, yet it carried the same artificial chill as the rest of the facility.

Three figures occupied the room.

The first was a short, energetic girl with jet-black hair and crow-like wings sprouting from her back. She buzzed around with a notepad in hand, eagerly pestering an imposing figure: a tall woman with a sharp ponytail, a powerful presence, and a massive club resting on her shoulder. She looked thoroughly annoyed, yet tolerantly still—this was Konngara, no doubt.

And off to the side, sat a third girl. Dressed in sleek black with a matching hat, her long blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder.

"How about I break your bones in half instead, Crow?!" the ponytailed Oni snarled, her grip tightening on her club.

"Ayaya—!! T-T-There's no need for such violence!" the crow-like girl stammered, backing off with a nervous chuckle, wings fluttering in panic as she scribbled something on her notepad.

Meanwhile, the blonde girl in black simply watched, chin in hand, her expression unreadable. Her crimson eyes followed the chaos with the quiet amusement of someone far too used to it.

The commotion finally died down as the trio noticed Reimu's group approaching.

"They even captured an Oni?" Marisa muttered. "That's a shock. Oni are supposed to be crazy strong."

Komachi nodded. "Yeah... if someone managed to catch one, this mastermind isn’t messing around."

The Oni turned to them, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" she asked, her tone sharp and unimpressed.

Reimu stepped forward calmly. "People who are just as confused as you are. Trying to piece this whole mess together."

The crow girl peered at them with interest, pen poised again. "New arrivals? Mind giving me a quick interview? Name, thoughts, current emotional state?—Ow!" she yelped as the Oni flicked her on the forehead.

"Not the time, birdbrain."

After the group quickly summarized what they’d discovered so far, the Oni blinked in disbelief. “Wait, you guys got ransacked too!? Damn, I get the fairy, but even the shrine maidens!? This is big.”

“Hey, watch it, Horns!” Cirno snapped, wings twitching.

“You think that’ll make me mad, Fluffy?” the Oni grinned with teeth like a predator’s.

“What did you—!?”

“Enough,” Reimu cut in sharply, silencing both of them with a stern glare. “We’re wasting time. What are your perspectives? Anything you remember, or noticed?”

The blonde girl in black finally spoke, her voice smooth and composed. “The name’s Lunasa Prismriver. I play music with my two sisters. or at least I used to, before waking up here.” Her eyes scanned the room as if tracing invisible notes. “I was drawn to the piano... felt familiar. But beyond that? Nothing. I don’t even know how I arrived.”

The Oni huffed. “Konngara. And same here. I woke up in a stone room that looked like a forge. Figured it was some prank until I noticed the walls were all... wrong. Been wandering since.”

“And I’m Aya Shameimaru, ace reporter of the Bunbunmaru!” the crow girl chimed in, already jotting notes. “This scoop is practically writing itself—mystery kidnappings, memory loss, diverse cast—mmm, delicious!”

Konngara raised her club. “Keep talking and I’ll turn your delicious scoop into soup.”

Aya shrank behind Lunasa, still scribbling frantically. Reimu sighed.

"You're concerned with the fake news report, right?" Marisa asked. 

"No, you must be mistaken. All of my reports and writing are 100% authentic. You must not be influenced by opinion of the ignorant masses!" Aya said. 

"Yeah, yeah..." Marisa said dryly. 

“Oh, hey! Aren’t you that lazy shinigami I kept hearing about?” Konngara asked, narrowing her eyes at Komachi.

Komachi rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Guilty as charged... I prefer the term strategically relaxed, though.”

“And you’re the gatekeeper of Makai, right?” “My boss has mentioned your lady, Sariel, in her older writings.”

Konngara snorted. “Yeah, that’s me. Which means I gotta bust out of this hellhole fast. If someone busts open that gate while I’m stuck in here, Kikuri’s gonna laugh me out of existence.”

“Sounds like we all have our reasons to get out,” Reimu muttered, arms crossed.

“Some more urgent than others,” Lunasa added, her fingers brushing the piano keys absentmindedly. “Let’s just hope we aren’t too late... whatever this place is, it’s designed to unravel us slowly.”

The group regrouped in the grand main hall, the soft glow of the giant cherry blossom tree casting a surreal light over everyone gathered.

“Alright, that should make… fifteen of us,” Reimu counted aloud, her eyes scanning the assembled crowd.

“I don’t think there’s anyone else,” Sanae added, brushing some dust from her sleeves. “The only rooms I found while exploring were just restrooms, a garbage disposal chamber, and a staircase sealed shut with some kind of magic barrier.”

Just then, Eiki stepped forward with commanding presence, her judgment rod resting firmly in her hands. “Now that we’ve all gathered, it is time we deliver our opening statements,” she announced with the weight of a courtroom behind her words.

“Whoa, hold on!” Marisa interjected, raising a brow. “Who made you the leader all of a sudden?”

Eiki didn’t even flinch. “I am not your leader—I am your moral compass. And right now, we are lost.”

“Great,” Marisa muttered. “A compass that points to guilt.”

Eiki ignored the remark, addressing the group with a solemn tone. “We are facing something deliberate. Someone—or something—collected us like pieces on a board. They erased our memories, placed us in rooms tailored to us, and now watches in silence. This is not chaos. This is design.”

“A very twisted design,” Alice commented from the back, arms crossed.

“Then what do we do?” Sanae asked, looking around. “We can’t just wait for whoever’s behind this to make the next move.”

“We won’t,” Reimu said. “But before that, we need everyone on the same page.”

Eiki nodded. “Agreed. We must each recount what little we remember. Every detail matters. Even a fragment could be the key.”

Cirno raised her hand enthusiastically. “Oh! Oh! I remember a voice! It said something about a new world, and… and ‘colleagues waiting’ or something!”

Komachi yawned. “I just remember waking up with a killer backache and thinking this place needed windows.”

“Focus,” Eiki snapped. “Even humor can cloud clarity.”

The group began murmuring, exchanging glances and fragmented recollections. Reimu stepped to the center, drawing the room’s attention.

“Let’s lay it all out. Everything we know, everything we saw. No detail too small.

Marisa leaned against a wall, arms crossed. “So… what now? We can’t go upstairs, and nobody’s come to greet us with snacks or clues.”

“We should assign someone to check the locked staircase regularly,” Alice suggested. “If the spell weakens, we’ll want to be the first to know.”

“I could freeze it and try to crack it open,” Cirno offered proudly, puffing out her chest.

“Let’s not blow up the only path that might lead out of here,” Reimu said, rubbing her temple. “We still don’t know what kind of magic is on that seal. One wrong move could make things worse.”

Satori, standing a little off to the side, glanced around the room. “I sense a lot of unease, but no malice. That’s… somewhat comforting.”

“Comforting?” Reisen sighed. “We’re still trapped.”

“But we’re not alone,” Sanae replied gently. “We’ve all been thrown into this, but maybe we’re meant to work together.”

“Or maybe we’re meant to turn on each other,” murmured—Remilia, though she didn’t yet remember her name.

Komachi flopped lazily into one of the lounge chairs. “I say we take turns resting. No point running in circles if we don’t know the game yet.”

“Agreed,” Eiki said. “Rest, recover, and observe. For now.”

Everyone’s mood remained cautiously neutral, even slightly hopeful—until it happened.

Without warning, the air in the center of the room shimmered, twisting unnaturally as a rift opened like a tear in space itself. The very presence of it sent a chill through the hall. A strange gap had appeared, ringed with an eerie violet glow, distorting everything around it.

Out from the swirling void hopped a small figure—no taller than a child—landing effortlessly on her feet. She had wild, auburn hair, catlike ears perched atop her head, and long crimson nails that glinted ominously in the light. Her eyes scanned the room with casual precision, as if checking off a list only she could see.

“One, two, three…” she muttered with a grin. “Yup. All done.”

Before anyone could even move, the girl gave a playful wave and leapt back into the gap. With a low hum and a ripple of magic, it snapped shut behind her—gone as quickly as it had come.

“W-Wait!” Reimu shouted, lunging forward too late. The space where the gap had been was now just empty air.

Silence followed.

“...What the hell was that?” Marisa finally broke the silence.

“Did anyone else see the ears?” Cirno asked, blinking.

“A cat…” Alice murmured. “But no ordinary one.”

“That girl,” Eiki said slowly, narrowing her eyes.

“That… was a gap,” Sanae said hesitantly, still staring at the now-vanished tear in space.

“I know those gaps,” Reimu muttered, her voice colder than usual. A flicker of recognition—and dread—passed across her face.

Before anyone could question her, a new voice echoed through the hall, airy and sing-song, like a child playing a game. “It looks like everyone’s finally gathered. Then let our little reunion… begin!”

Everyone turned sharply toward the center of the room just as the space rippled once more. A far larger, more elaborate gap opened—its edges lined with glowing, ribbon-like borders, pulsing like a heartbeat. Out from its depths emerged three figures.

First, a tall, elegant blonde woman stepped forward with a graceful twirl, holding a frilly parasol as if she’d just arrived for tea. Her gaze swept over the group with an unsettling mixture of amusement and calculation. Yukari Yakumo.

Beside her appeared a girl with long, sweat-dampened golden hair, dressed in miko-like robes, her nine majestic tails flicking slightly in agitation. Ran Yakumo, stoic but visibly tense.

And finally, with a mischievous skip, the same cat-eared girl from before leapt from the edge of the gap and landed with a grin—Chen, her eyes gleaming like a child who’d just pulled off the world’s greatest prank.

The gap snapped shut behind them with an echoing thoom, and silence fell once again.

"Welcome, everyone," Yukari said, her voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "I'm so glad you all could make it."

“It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it!?” Yukari chimed, spinning her parasol lazily.

Reimu’s expression darkened. “That’s… Yukari.”

“Yukari-chan?” Sanae tilted her head, puzzled. 

Yumemi stepped forward, eyes practically sparkling. “That woman just used some kind of spatial manipulation—absolutely fascinating! Could you do that again, please? I’d love to analyze it up close!”

Yukari chuckled softly, pleased. “Oh? A curious mind? I like that. Perhaps, when this little game is over, I’ll give you a demonstration worthy of a thesis.”

Cirno squinted at the gap youkai, unimpressed. “Who’s this old hag?”

Yukari’s smile froze for a second. A single eye twitched. “I am not an old hag, little fairy,” she said with dangerous calm. “Feel lucky I’m in a good mood. Otherwise, you’d be spending the next century as a snowflake in my tea.”

Ran gave a quiet sigh beside her, clearly used to this. Chen, meanwhile, giggled behind her paw, amused by the brewing tension.

“Now then,” Yukari said with a theatrical twirl of her parasol, “we should probably begin. I’d simply hate to waste your precious time.”

“What’s the joke this time?” Reimu muttered, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

“Oh, how observant of you, Reimu. That’s not usually your style,” Yukari teased, her voice dripping with amusement. “Did you enjoy your rooms? I put quite a bit of effort into recreating them for this lovely occasion.”

“They were creepy,” Sanae grumbled.

“Just get to the point, old hag,” Marisa snapped.

“Will you stop calling me that!?” Yukari snapped briefly before quickly regaining her composure. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Fine, fine. No sense in dragging it out anymore.”

She held her arms wide as if presenting the very air around them.

“This mansion you’re all standing in—it doesn’t exist in Gensokyo, nor the Outside World. You now reside in a fabricated dimension. A space carved out by me, and me alone.” Her smile widened, fangs barely showing. “A place where the usual rules no longer apply.”

“A fabricated reality?” Sanae repeated.

“So, like a dreamscape?” Marisa guessed.

“...” Satori quietly watched, her third eye pulsing gently.

“Not exactly,” Yukari replied with a mysterious grin. “This isn’t a dream, illusion, or even a pocket dimension in the usual sense. What you’re in now is a shikigami-sealed barrier realm, custom-built and completely isolated from any known plane.”

She turned slowly, parasol still twirling. “I built this mansion, every room, every hallway… even the sky above. And I ‘invited’—” she gave a teasing glance toward Reimu, “—each and every one of you here.”

“Emphasis on invited,” Reimu scoffed.

“—To participate in a very special matsuri!” Yukari declared, spreading her arms with a showy flourish. “A once-in-a-lifetime Festival!”

...

...

...

...

The room fell silent.

“...You’re kidding, right?” said Komachi.

“I never kid,” Yukari replied with a smile that said she definitely did.

“In this festival, we will be doing lots of fun things,” Yukari continued, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Contests, food stalls, talent shows, even a haunted house—classic matsuri fare! All while living together as a harmonious communal community. You’ll be like sisters!”

“Oh! I get it!” Cirno said, clapping her hands. “It’s like summer vacation, but with more fireworks!”

“Did you really have to kidnap us just for this?” Reimu asked flatly.

“ ‘Kidnap’ is such an ugly word,” Yukari replied, pretending to pout. “Let’s call it... spirited away with style.”

“...” Satori’s eyes remained fixed on Yukari, her expression unreadable. Her third eye twitched, but she said nothing.

"I’ve been taken away by my sisters without warning… and we have a concert to practice for next month," Lunasa said in a soft, vaguely mournful tone.

"Alright, ignoring the kidnapping and memory robbery part for a moment," Konngara said, arms crossed, "how long does this little ‘festival’ of yours last?"

"One month, at the very least," Yukari replied with a carefree tone, as if announcing the weather.

"Oh okay. Wait—that much?" Marisa blinked. "You’re seriously telling us we’re stuck here for an entire month?"

"I have important duties outside," Alice added sharply. "This kind of disruption could cause a mess in the Forest."

"You’re telling me I can’t check in with my shrine or the gods?" Sanae frowned.

Yukari raised her hands lightly in mock reassurance. "I’ll be sending polite, detailed letters to your friends and families—ensuring them you’re all safe and… engaged in a very important retreat."

"...With forged signatures and tampered seals, no doubt," Satori muttered quietly.

Yukari smirked. "A magician never reveals her tricks."

Reisen visibly tensed, her ears twitching from stress. “The amount of punishments I’ll have to endure under Eirin-sama… I won’t survive this.”

"My shrine is completely unprotected!" Reimu exclaimed. "My gatekeeper, Aunn won’t be able to handle everything on her own!"

"I have a deadline!" Aya added, clutching her notebook. "My report on the Misty Lake bloom season was supposed to go out tomorrow!"

Yukari just smiled serenely, hands folded. “My, my… I didn’t think you all cared so deeply about your little lives. That’s wonderful. But don’t worry—I have taken precautions. Letters will be sent, tasks will be postponed. All will be… fine.”

"But if we really wanted to leave..." Marisa leaned forward. "There ’s a way, right?"

“Ah yes,” Yukari purred. “In case any of you simply can’t bear the idea of sisterhood and shared baths, there’s a second option.”

The group leaned in, hope momentarily flickering in their eyes—except for Remilia, who merely sipped her tea, and Satori, who stood unnervingly still.

“There’s a little game I’ve arranged,” Yukari said, her voice playfully singsong. “Today we begin our communal life. You are all sisters now. I am your gracious, caring mother.”

A few of the girls exchanged confused glances.

“But,” she continued, “if someone—anyone—were to break the harmony of this loving household, if one of you were to disrupt the peace of our beautiful little home... they would be allowed to leave.”

Gasps rippled through the group.

"...Wait," Marisa said. "What do you mean by disrupt the harmony?"

Reimu’s gaze narrowed. "You’re not talking about just throwing a tantrum, are you?"

Satori said nothing. She had already read it—every intention behind Yukari’s smile. And that silence... said more than any outburst ever could.

Cirno smirked, puffing out her chest. “Tch, that’ll be easy! Hey, Rabbit! How about giving us a hand with that, huh?”

“W-What!?” Reisen recoiled in shock, her ears standing on end. “Don’t drag me into whatever that is!”

But Reimu raised a hand to silence them, her eyes fixed firmly on Yukari. “Enough games. What do you really mean* by ‘disrupting the harmony’?”

Yukari’s smile didn’t waver—if anything, it widened. “Ah, right to the heart of it, as expected.”

She spun her parasol slowly, the delicate fabric catching the light. “Well… it’s quite simple, really. In this cozy little paradise of ours, harmony is everything. And if someone were to—say—shatter that harmony…”

Her eyes gleamed, her voice lowering to a whisper as sweet as it was sinister.

“…By killing one of the girls standing beside you…”

...

...

...

...

The room fell into dead silence.

No gasps.

No outbursts.

Just the slow, creeping realization that Yukari’s smile wasn’t just for show.

The silence shattered like glass.

“…W-What?!” Cirno stammered, her earlier bravado crumbling into raw disbelief.

“Huh?!” Rumia blinked, genuinely stunned. “Is this for real?!”

“Yes,” Yukari said smoothly, spinning her parasol once more. “It is quite real. If you want to leave early, you must sacrifice a life. It’s a very simple equation.”

“You’re lying!” Sanae shouted, her voice rising with panic. “This has to be a joke!”

“I must assure you I’m not,” Yukari replied, eyes half-lidded with amusement. “Why would I lie about something so…deliciously serious?”

“What the hell is this!?” Konngara snarled, clenching her fists. “Kill one of the girls to leave!? To hell with that!”

“I… I want to go home…” Reisen whispered, trembling. Her mind flashed with visions of the outside—of the moon, of Eientei, of peace. This was a nightmare.

“I’ve heard enough!” Eiki’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the rising chaos like a blade.

“To trap fifteen innocent souls, strip them of their memories, and pit them against one another in a cruel game of death just for the sake of escape? Disgusting!” Her rod slammed against the floor, the sound echoing through the chamber like a final verdict.

Her eyes blazed with righteous fury as she took a step forward. “Yukari Yakumo, you disgrace the very title of Sage of Gensokyo! Your actions reek of perversion, not wisdom. This farce insults the balance we all uphold!”

Yukari, unfazed, offered only a coy smile and tilted her head.

“Oh dear,” she said lightly. “Such harsh words, coming from one so devoted to order. But tell me, Eiki—what is more telling of one’s true nature than how they act under pressure?” Her gaze swept over the room. “I simply... removed the masks.”

“Bullcrap, You twisted everything!” Marisa growled.

“And yet,” Yukari continued, spinning her parasol idly, “None of you are leaving. Not yet. So, let’s see how long your ‘harmony’ holds.”

“Screw this! You’re completely mad!” Reimu shouted, her hands glowing with the beginnings of an attack. “I was trying to be patient, but no way I can let this go on!”

“I’m with you!” Marisa yelled, her mini-hakkero already in hand. The two of them moved in unison, their instincts as veterans overriding any caution.

Yukari’s smile didn’t waver. “Oh? You wish to fight me? I advise against it… it’s not a very smart idea.”

“Shut it!” Reimu roared.

“Like we’d listen to you!” Marisa added.

"Wait!" Alice cried. 

"Ying-Yang sign:-

"Magic sign:- 

They unleashed their danmaku—but something was wrong. The bullets sputtered in the air, weak and sluggish. What little energy did emerge drifted harmlessly, barely even brushing Yukari’s sleeve.

“What!?” Reimu gasped. “What’s going on?!”

Yukari gave a soft, pitying laugh. “Ah… that's what I was going to explain next.” She lifted a finger, twirling it lazily.

“This dimension… works differently.” She gestured at the space around them, the very walls pulsing with a surreal energy. “I won't go into my detail. But. Your power isn’t just yours here. The rules are mine. Your strength, your abilities—everything is filtered through my reality.”

Alice stepped forward, tense. “You should’ve waited. I was going to say that earlier nothing here follows Gensokyo’s logic.”

Reimu gritted her teeth, staring down at her trembling hands. Marisa stepped back in disbelief.

“While your powers have been reduced by ninety percent,” Yukari said with an unsettling smile, “mine have grown by one hundred. Let me demonstrate.”

With a flick of her wrist, she released a burst of elegant yet overwhelming purple danmaku. The blast wasn’t fast—but it didn’t need to be. Reimu and Marisa barely had time to react before they were engulfed and hurled across the room like rag dolls, crashing hard against the far wall.

The ground trembled slightly. Gasps rang out.

“This is bad!” Sanae shouted, instinctively stepping back.

Yukari’s voice cut clean through the growing panic. “Let me make this clear: harming me, Ran, or Chen is a taboo in this space. Should any of you try again…” She narrowed her glowing eyes. “I won’t be holding back next time.”

Everyone froze. A chill blanketed the room.

“I-I’ll go to her,” Komachi said quickly, moving toward Yukari —only for Eiki to grab her arm firmly.

“Don’t. It’s suicide,” Eiki warned, her voice grave. “Don’t waste your strength.”

“N-No way…” Cirno whispered, wide-eyed.

“We can’t even fight back… What can we even do!?” Sanae cried, her fists clenched and trembling.

Rumia's bravado had vanished, her usual grin replaced with unease.

"D-Damn..."Reimu, groaning from the impact, forced herself upright again, blood pounding in her ears. She was ready to charge once more—until a hand gently but firmly gripped her shoulder.

"It would be a shame to lose you THIS early ," Remilia said coolly, her crimson eyes sharp with amusement rather than fear. She stepped forward, brushing past the shaken group. “Interesting. You aim to pit us against one another, yet wrap it in the guise of a festival. Contests, fun, food... and murder. How novel.”

Yukari met her gaze, smiling like a hostess at a tea party. “You’re quite perceptive, Remilia Scarlet.”

“Our fate seems very... one-sided,” Remilia continued. “But I’m curious. Is there any deeper reason for this charade? Or is this just some divine whim?”

Yukari's smile didn’t fade. “It’s a test. That’s all I’ll say for now. This game will last one month. If you survive that long—all of you—I’ll reveal the true purpose. I promise you it’s not meaningless.”

"A test, hm? Of will, of spirit... or perhaps of morality?” Remilia chuckled to herself, then flashed a fanged grin. “Fu fu fu. I can’t wait to see what kind of entertainment this turns into."

"Well then. I believe I’ve said enough," Yukari declared, her tone laced with eerie cheer. "Our communal life begins now. I cheer for your survival!"

With a playful wink, she turned, and the swirling gap yawned open behind her. Ran and Chen followed without a word, and in an instant, all three disappeared into the rift as it snapped shut behind them with a soft pop.

"W-Wait!" Reimu shouted, stumbling forward—but it was too late. The room fell eerily silent.

“Did I just hear this right? I'm trapped?!” Yumemi shrieked, clutching her head in disbelief. “No—no, no, no! I have research to finish! I’m not even from this world!”

Cirno sat on the floor, visibly confused. “Does that mean we’re... stuck here?

“No,” Satori murmured, her voice low. “Just until someone breaks. Or until we reach 1 month.”

The group slowly gathered in the center of the hall, the silence thick with dread and tension. It was Reimu who broke it first, brushing off her damaged sleeve and sighing.

“Alright... Let’s sum up what we know,” She said, her voice strained but steady. “We’ve been trapped in this mansion, which is in some kind of fabricated reality created by Yukari.”

“She wiped our memories of each other,” Sanae added, frowning. “Though we still seem to remember some bits and pieces… like Yukari herself.”

“Fifteen of us total,” Marisa muttered, rubbing her shoulder. “All thrown into this twisted ‘festival’ where the only way to leave early is... murder.”

“Some festival,” Konngara scoffed, arms crossed.

Eiki stepped forward, composed but cold. “She’s calling it a ‘test.’ A sick one. And if what she says is true, we’ll be here for an entire month. Trapped. Unless one of us breaks the so-called ‘harmony.’”

“That’s the worst part,” Yumemi muttered, pacing in distress. “We’re meant to act like sisters in some bizarre forced community… but with a constant threat looming over us.”

“A pressure cooker,” Satori said softly. “And the lid’s already shaking.”

Silence again. Most avoided each other’s eyes. Some glanced around the room as if seeing it in a new, colder light.

“Well,” Komachi eventually said, trying to lighten the mood, “at least we’re all still alive. Let’s not let her win that easily.”

“Agreed,” Eiki  said. “We stay sharp. We stick together. No one dies.”

"That's unfortunately easier said than done," Lunasa murmured, her tone flat with quiet dread. "We have far too many things to worry about now."

"There has to be a way to beat her up and force our way out," Marisa said, clenching her fist. "We just gotta find it!"

"That kind of recklessness will get you killed," Alice warned sharply, arms folded, her eyes narrowing at Marisa's usual impulsiveness.

Remilia, meanwhile, gave a soft, amused chuckle. "Fu fu fu... I must say, this is shaping up to be quite the fascinating scenario." Her crimson eyes sparkled with something unreadable. "A survival game disguised as a festival. Truly elegant in its cruelty. I wonder... is there anyone among us already considering the offer?"

[Insert CG] 

That last question hung in the air like a heavy fog. A few glanced around, unsure whether to laugh, scoff, or shiver.

Satori, standing near the back, lowered her gaze. “It’s already begun,” she said quietly.

“What has?” Sanae asked, still visibly shaken.

“The doubt. The fear. Even now, someone is thinking about it.” Her voice was calm, but her words chilled the room.

“You mean someone’s actually considering killing someone?” Cirno asked, backing up. “N-No way! That’s crazy talk!”

“Whether they act on it or not... doesn’t matter yet,” Satori replied. “The moment Yukari gave that condition, the game started.”

Reimu finally stood back up, brushing herself off, though her expression was far from calm.

“The moment we begin to suspect and turn on one another, she wins.”

“But it’s not that simple,” Yumemi added. “Yukari’s made the stakes personal. Some of us might have something they’re desperate to return to.”

“Which is why we need a plan,” Alice said. “A real one. If we can’t overpower her or escape directly, we need to think smarter. Learn everything we can about this mansion, this dimension... Anything that could become leverage.”

Reisen exhaled shakily. “So what do we do now? Just… pretend this is a normal festival?”

Remilia smirked, but it was colder than before. “Until someone makes the first move… Yes. We play along.”

And with that, the fragile peace began.

... 

...

...

...

...

...

END OF PROLOGUE: Boundary of Beginnings

...

...

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SURVIVING GIRLS: 15

Chapter Text

Name: Reimu Hakurei

Voiced by (If any):  

Age: 24 

Biography:

Reimu Hakurei is the primary shrine maiden of Gensokyo, responsible for maintaining the balance between humans and youkai. Calm, easygoing, and highly intuitive, Reimu possesses the unique ability to float away from reality and often relies on instinct rather than planning.

Despite her carefree nature, she is exceptionally skilled in combat and exorcism, regularly resolving incidents that threaten the stability of Gensokyo. Reimu uses spiritual powers, amulets, and her Yin-Yang Orbs in battle, often accompanied by her trademark homing amulets and barriers. Though often poor and living modestly, her strong sense of duty and impartiality earn her the respect of both humans and youkai alike.

Height: Around 160 cm (5'3")

Weight: Around 45–50 kg (99–110 lbs)

Favorite food: daifuku

Least favorite food: strong-tasting foods

Likes: Money, Food, Warmth, anything that benefits her. 

Dislikes: Working.

Name: Marisa Kirisame

Voiced by (If any): 

Age: 25

Biography:

Marisa Kirisame is a lively and bold magician who resides in the Forest of Magic. Known for her love of collecting magical items and experimenting with powerful spells, she is both resourceful and fearless. Her combat style is flashy and aggressive, with her signature attack being the high-powered "Master Spark."

Unlike her friend Reimu, Marisa relies on study and hard work to refine her magic, often borrowing (or outright taking) things from others to enhance her knowledge. She is cheerful, confident, and somewhat mischievous, but deeply loyal to her friends. Marisa’s independence and determination make her one of Gensokyo’s most formidable humans despite not having innate powers.

Favorite food: strong-tasting food.

Least favorite food: Overly bland or tasteless food.

Likes: Rinnosuke, Magic and Spellcasting

Deslikes: Laziness

Chapter Text

Name: Rumia

Voiced by (If any): 

Age: Unknown

Height: Approximately 140–145 cm (4'7" to 4'9")

Weight: Approximately 35–40 kg (77–88 lbs)

Favorite food: Human flesh. 

Least favorite food: Vegetables. 

Bio: Rumia is a low-level youkai who embodies and manipulates darkness, often seen floating aimlessly while surrounded by a sphere of shadow. Her personality is playful and childlike, marked by a carefree and somewhat oblivious demeanor. Despite her modest role in the grander schemes of Gensokyo, she possesses a dangerous ability that allows her to obscure herself in total darkness though she occasionally hinders her own vision in the process. Rumia is not particularly cunning or ambitious, but her presence serves as a reminder that even seemingly harmless beings can possess dangerous traits. While she prefers solitude and simplicity, she is sometimes drawn to conflict out of curiosity or instinct.

Likes: Eating. 

Dislikes: Sunlight.

Name: Cirno

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Estimated to be over 60 (appears as a young girl)

Height: Approximately 140–145 cm (4'7" to 4'9")

Weight: Approximately 35–40 kg (77–88 lbs)

Favorite food: Watermelon. 

Least favorite food: Spicy food. 

Bio: Cirno is an ice fairy known throughout Gensokyo for her overconfidence and energetic personality. Though fairies are generally considered weak, Cirno often boasts about her strength and charges into situations with enthusiasm. She can manipulate cold and freeze moisture in the air, a power she uses playfully or in combat though not always effectively. Despite being impulsive and not particularly bright, her resilience and determination have earned her a unique reputation. Often calling herself the “Strongest,” Cirno is more mischievous than malicious and enjoys teasing others, playing games, and causing harmless trouble. Her presence brings a sense of lighthearted chaos, and while she may not be a major threat, she remains a memorable and spirited part of Gensokyo.

Likes: Freezing frogs.

Deslikes: Math.

Chapter Text

Name: Komachi Onozuka

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Unknown

Height: Approximately 165–170 cm (5'5" to 5'7")

Weight: Approximately 55–60 kg (121–132 lbs)

Favorite food: Sake,Dango.

Least favorite food: refined foods.

Bio: Komachi Onozuka is a shinigami tasked with ferrying souls across the Sanzu River to the afterlife. Though her job is critical, she’s famously laid-back and prone to slacking off, often found napping or chatting instead of working. Despite this, she possesses deep insight into life and death, occasionally revealing surprising wisdom behind her carefree façade. Wielding her scythe with ease and controlling the distance between things, Komachi is more than capable when duty calls. She values freedom and dislikes rigid structure, often clashing with her superior, Eiki Shiki, over her lax work ethic.

Likes: Idling and leisure

Deslikes: Strict orders or micromanagement

Name: Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Unknown (appears as a mature young woman)

Height: Approximately 155–160 cm (5'1" to 5'3")

Weight: Approximately 45–50 kg (99–110 lbs)

Favorite food: balanced meals

Least favorite food:Alcohol

Bio: Eiki Shiki serves as a Yama—one of the highest-ranking judges of the afterlife—tasked with evaluating the souls of the deceased and determining their final destination. Known for her strict, unwavering sense of justice, Eiki is fair but unyielding, upholding the law and moral balance of Gensokyo with solemn dedication. She possesses the ability to reveal absolute truths through her Rod of Remorse, making her judgments inescapable. Though often perceived as severe, Eiki genuinely believes in guiding others toward virtue and redemption. She takes her role seriously and often lectures others on moral conduct, particularly her subordinate Komachi. Her presence commands respect, and while she may seem distant or rigid, her actions are rooted in compassion and a deep commitment to universal balance.

Likes: Honesty

Deslikes: Moral ambiguity

Chapter Text

Name: Sanae Kochiya

Voiced by (If any):

Age: 24

Height: Approximately 165–170 cm (5'5" to 5'7")

Weight: Approximately 50–55 kg (110–121 lbs)

Favorite food: Nagano

Least favorite food: Sake

Bio: Sanae Kochiya is a human shrine maiden who serves the deities Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya at the Moriya Shrine. Originally from the Outside World, she was brought to Gensokyo alongside the shrine to spread faith and secure its survival. Intelligent, polite, and enthusiastic, Sanae often serves as a bridge between the modern sensibilities of the Outside World and the mystical traditions of Gensokyo. Despite being relatively new to the realm, she quickly adapted and proved herself as a capable shrine maiden, possessing the ability to invoke miracles. Though she maintains a cheerful and respectful demeanor, Sanae can be assertive when necessary and holds strong convictions. Her dual identity as both human and living god adds layers to her perspective, as she continually seeks purpose and balance in her role.

Likes: Youkai extermination

Deslikes: Senseless conflict

Name: Yumemi Okazaki

Voiced by (if any):

Age: 18

Height: Approximately 160–165 cm (5'3" to 5'5")

Weight: Approximately 50–55 kg (110–121 lbs)

Favorite food: cheesecake, Coffee

Least favorite food: overly greasy food

Bio: Yumemi Okazaki is a brilliant physicist from the Outside World, known for her groundbreaking research on magic. Driven by a desire to prove that magic can match—or even surpass—science, she ventured into Gensokyo with her assistant, Chiyuri in search of tangible proof and magical phenomena. With a commanding intellect and a proud, assertive demeanor, Yumemi often clashes with those who rely solely on scientific means, seeing their powers as challenges to be magically understood or overcome. Though occasionally arrogant, she is deeply passionate about discovery and advancement, (Even if at the end of the day all she seeks is revenge against all those who mocked her belief in magic.) pushing boundaries in pursuit of truth. Her elegant style, composed and weird posture, and analytical mindset mark her as an outsider in Gensokyo—but one with undeniable presence. Behind her ambition lies a genuine curiosity and desire to bridge the gap between science and the mystical unknown.

Likes: magic analysis

Deslikes: Being ignored or dismissed

Chapter Text

Name: Satori Komeiji

Voiced by (if any): 

Age: Unknown (appears as a young woman)

Height: Approximately 150–155 cm (4'11" to 5'1")

Weight: Approximately 45–48 kg (99–106 lbs)

Favorite food: tea

Least favorite food: meat-heavy dishes

Bio: Satori Komeiji is the reclusive and enigmatic mistress of the Palace of the Earth Spirits, located deep within the Underworld. As a satori—a youkai capable of reading minds—she is both feared and misunderstood by many, often avoided due to her unnerving ability to perceive unspoken thoughts. Despite this, Satori is calm, rational, and deeply compassionate, especially toward animals and spirits. She oversees a vast estate inhabited by powerful creatures, including her beloved pets, who often act on her behalf. Though emotionally reserved, Satori values truth and introspection, and she approaches problems with quiet intelligence rather than force. Her perceptiveness and integrity make her a formidable presence, even if she prefers solitude over social interaction. Beneath her distant exterior lies a gentle spirit, constantly navigating the complexities of understanding others too well.

Likes: Silence and solitude

Deslikes: Crowded or emotionally volatile places

Name: Remilia Scarlet

Voiced by (if any):

Age: Over 500 years old

Height: Approximately 140–145 cm (4'7" to 4'9")

Weight: Approximately 35–40 kg (77–88 lbs)

Favorite food: Rich, European-style cuisine

Least favorite food: Garlic

Bio: Remilia Scarlet is the elegant and charismatic vampire who governs the Scarlet Devil Mansion in western Gensokyo. Despite her youthful, doll-like appearance, she is an ancient and powerful being known for her command over fate. As a noblewoman, she conducts herself with pride and sophistication, often hosting elaborate gatherings and maintaining a regal lifestyle. Remilia is feared and respected in equal measure—her vampiric nature and rumored thirst for blood make her a figure of mystery and caution. However, beneath her commanding presence lies a playful, occasionally childish temperament, reflecting her eternal youth. Though she enjoys theatrics and intimidation, she values loyalty and tradition, maintaining strong ties with her devoted staff and sister. Remilia walks a fine line between nobility and menace, presenting a complex figure of both grace and danger in Gensokyo's supernatural hierarchy.

Likes: New things

Deslikes: Boredom or monotony

Chapter Text

Name: Alice Margatroid

Voiced by (if any):

Age: Unknown (appears in her late teens to early twenties)

Height: Approximately 155–160 cm (5'1" to 5'3")

Weight: Approximately 45–50 kg (99–110 lbs)

Favorite Food: Herbal tea

Least Favorite Food: pungent foods

Bio: Alice Margatroid is a highly skilled magician who resides in the Forest of Magic, known for her mastery of puppetry and magic-based automation. Once a human, she became a full-fledged magician through long years of study and discipline. Calm, analytical, and self-sufficient, Alice prefers solitude and often distances herself from others, choosing to focus on her magical research and the refinement of her techniques. Her dolls, especially the beloved Shanghai and Hourai, serve as both tools and companions, animated with delicate precision. Though she maintains a cool exterior, Alice is not without emotion; her aloofness often conceals a a genuine desire to help others even when she states that 'Its none of her business'. She is a symbol of independence and intellect in Gensokyo, balancing artistry with magical prowess in every move she makes.

Likes: Shinki

Deslikes: Overdependence on others

Name: Lunasa Prismriver

Voiced by (if any):

Age: Unknown

Height: Approximately 160 cm (5'3")

Weight: Approximately 47–52 kg (104–115 lbs)

Favorite Food: dark chocolate

Least Favorite Food: artificial items

Bio: Lunasa Prismriver is the eldest of the three musical poltergeist sisters who form the Prismriver Ensemble, known for their ghostly performances across Gensokyo. She plays the violin, channeling melancholic and emotionally resonant melodies that affect both spirit and soul. Composed, introspective, and quiet, Lunasa often serves as the emotional anchor of her group, balancing the extremes of her more energetic sisters. Though she rarely speaks unnecessarily, her presence commands attention through the haunting beauty of her music. Despite being a ghost, she possesses a serene elegance, expressing herself more through performance than words. Lunasa's aura of somber grace, combined with her deep sensitivity, makes her a poignant and refined figure within the supernatural realm.

Likes: Twilight and overcast weather

Deslikes: Forced cheerfulness

Chapter Text

Name: Reisen Udongein Inaba

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Unknown (appears in her late teens to early twenties)

Height: Approximately 160–165 cm (5'3" to 5'5")

Weight: Approximately 50–55 kg (110–121 lbs)

favorite food: Carrot-based dishes

least favorite food: Extremely spicy dishes

Bio: Reisen Udongein Inaba is a moon rabbit who fled from the Moon to Gensokyo during a time of conflict, seeking refuge on Earth. She currently serves under Eirin Yagokoro and Kaguya Houraisan at Eientei, where she assists with medicine, errands, and defense. Reisen is known for her unique ability to manipulate waves, including sound allowing her to induce madness, illusions, and confusion in others. Despite her disciplined appearance and military background, she is often portrayed as cautious, diligent, and sometimes anxious, constantly striving to prove her worth in her new home. Her loyalty to Eientei is unwavering, and beneath her composed exterior lies a reliable and dedicated individual.

likes: Helping others

deslikes: Failure

Name: Aya Shameimaru

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Over 1,000 years

Height: Approximately 162–167 cm (5'4" to 5'6")

Weight: Approximately 50–55 kg (110–121 lbs)

favorite food: Soba

least favorite food: heavy foods

Bio: Aya Shameimaru is a seasoned crow tengu renowned as Gensokyo’s fastest being and its most persistent reporter. As the chief editor of the Bunbunmaru Newspaper, Aya constantly traverses the land in search of stories, scandals, and noteworthy incidents—often blurring the lines between fact and sensationalism. Her sharp intellect, quick wit, and even quicker reflexes make her a formidable presence, whether in flight or conversation. While her curiosity is relentless and sometimes invasive, Aya genuinely believes her reporting contributes to Gensokyo’s information network. Behind her bold, assertive demeanor lies a professional who takes pride in her work, albeit with a penchant for exaggeration when the truth alone isn't quite entertaining enough.

likes: News and gossip

deslikes: Criticism of her reporting style

Name: Kongara

Voiced by (If any):

Age: Unknown

Height: Approximately 165–170 cm (5'5" to 5'7")

Weight: Approximately 55–60 kg (121–132 lbs)

favorite: Grilled Meat

least favorite food: Beans (particularly roasted soybeans)

Bio: Kongara serves as the formidable gatekeeper of Makai, the boundary realm between the living world and the underworld, while serving under Sariel. Tasked with maintaining order and preventing unauthorized passage, she embodies discipline and unwavering vigilance. Despite her stern duties, Kongara shares a close friendship with Yuugi Hoshiguma and Kikuri, the Hell Moon. Her strong sense of loyalty and honor guide her actions, balancing the fierce strength of her oni heritage with a measured wisdom gained through years of guarding Makai’s gates. Though rarely seen outside her post, Kongara’s presence commands respect and symbolizes the steadfast barrier between worlds.

likes: Hot springs

deslikes: Being underestimated

Chapter Text

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A pitch-black void. An empty, formless abyss.

Within it, Reimu Hakurei drifted—unconscious, yet not entirely asleep. Her mind floated amidst fragmented thoughts, recollections, and lingering questions.

Once again, she was sleeping. But this time, it was not the gentle rest of a shrine maiden at peace. It was the hollow slumber of someone trapped—someone trying to make sense of something fundamentally senseless.

In her thoughts, the events of yesterday began to reconstruct themselves, forming a coherent yet horrifying narrative.

Fifteen girls—herself included—dragged into a space that resembled neither Gensokyo nor the outside world. A festival, they had called it. But what kind of festival was this?

A festival set to last a month. Thirty days. That was the timeframe imposed on them. But there was a condition—an unspeakable condition.

To leave early... one had to kill.

Kill another girl.

The memory gnawed at her. No matter how absurd it sounded, no matter how much her instincts screamed that this had to be a trick, a prank, or some elaborate test, the cruel clarity of Yukari Yakumo’s voice left no room for doubt.

She spun her parasol slowly, the delicate fabric catching the light. “Well… it’s quite simple, really. In this cozy little paradise of ours, harmony is everything. And if someone were to—say—shatter that harmony…”

Her eyes gleamed, her voice lowering to a whisper as sweet as it was sinister.

“…By killing one of the girls standing beside you…”

But why? What was Yukari’s objective with this; madness? Was it really some kind of test? If so... a test of what? Their resolve? Their morality? Their trust?

Reimu clenched her fists even in her sleep, her subconscious refusing to yield to either fear or confusion.

...

Reimu Hakurei was no stranger to incidents. It was, after all, the very nature of her duty as Gensokyo’s shrine maiden to resolve them—no matter how bizarre, catastrophic, or incomprehensible they became.

But this... this was different.

This wasn’t merely an incident. This was aggression.

Kidnapped. Dragged into a warped, carnival-like dimension under the guise of a “festival,” where death loomed as a constant threat. A mockery of celebration, twisted into something grotesque.

Her first instinct had been precisely what one might expect from the Hakurei Shrine Maiden: confront Yukari Yakumo directly. Fly straight at her, fists and talismans blazing, and deliver the beating she rightfully deserved.

Naturally, Ran and Chen would try to stand in her way. Temporarily. But they too would be swept aside without ceremony—collateral damage in Reimu’s singular mission to make Yukari regret this absurd spectacle.

Yet reality set in swiftly.

This dimension—this artificial space governed by Yukari’s will—had rules. Rules that suppressed Reimu’s abilities. Her danmaku, her flight, even her spiritual barriers... all significantly weakened.

A deliberate choice, no doubt. Yukari wasn’t merely being cautious; she was inviting provocation while rendering retaliation nearly impossible.

But there was something else. Something left unsaid.

Yukari had made a vague but unsettling statement. She was “willing to do something” should anyone dare attack her or her servants within this space.

What was it?

Reimu didn’t know. But strangely... the thought sent a thrill through her.

Yesterday had been... a mess.

A disjointed whirlwind of confusion, fear, and reluctant acceptance.

After the overwhelming cascade Reimu had done the only reasonable thing left—she had quietly returned to the room she had first awoken in.

It was located far down one of the elongated hallways of this strange facility. The walk back felt longer than it should have, each step echoing against the unnervingly sterile walls.

She was tired—so tired. Not just physically, but in the deepest, most suffocating sense of emotional exhaustion. Her legs carried her out of duty more than will.

Upon reaching her room, she collapsed onto the futon without ceremony.

No windows. 

Whether it was day, night, or something in between was impossible to tell within this place. The concept of “morning” was now something abstract—a vague assumption based on the rhythm of her own fatigue rather than any tangible indicator.

And yet, despite the passage of what she assumed to be the entirety of the morning, the crushing weight in her chest refused to lift. The tension remained knotted, as if the very air in this dimension conspired to keep her nerves perpetually strained.

It had to be intentional.

Still, she forced the thought aside. Recklessness wouldn’t solve this. Not yet.

A rescue was the most logical hope. Surely, someone in Gensokyo would notice the disappearance of fifteen girls. A search party would be formed. Someone had to be looking for them.

Then again... Reimu sighed internally. She was, by her own admission, not exactly the most beloved figure in Gensokyo. A shrine maiden whose interpersonal relationships could best be described as... transactional.

Maybe... she mused, Aunn Komano would look for me... or Suika, perhaps.

The list ended there.

Suddenly, a knock echoed through the silence.

“Huh...?” Reimu blinked, breaking her gaze from the ceiling. Her eyes shifted toward the door, half-expecting it to be her own imagination conjuring noises out of boredom. But no—there it was again. A distinct, casual knock.

Accompanying it, a voice—unmistakably informal and far too familiar.

“Oi, Reimu! You in there?”

The tone was energetic, slightly rough around the edges, and carried a hint of impatience. There was little doubt: it belonged to the witch she had met yesterday—Marisa Kirisame.

Reimu didn’t answer. She wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Not with anyone.

“C’mon, I know you’re in there! Don’t play dead!” Marisa continued, undeterred.

Reimu rolled her eyes, pulling the covers slightly over her head. Ignoring her seemed the most effective strategy.

Except... it wasn’t.

The knocking grew more persistent. “Oi, open up! Don’t make me—”

Boom.

A sudden, sharp explosion rattled the door, filling the room with a flash of light and the sharp crack of danmaku. The door blew off its hinges, landing several feet inward with a heavy thud.

Reimu bolted upright in alarm. “What the hell was that!?”

Standing triumphantly at the threshold—grinning as though this were the most natural course of action in the world—was Marisa Kirisame.

“There ya are! Wakey-wakey!” she declared with a playful smirk, hands resting on her hips as if she had just solved a great problem.

Reimu’s response was instantaneous. “You absolute menace! You blew up my door!” Her voice trembled with a mixture of outrage and disbelief.

Marisa shrugged casually. “Your door? Heh... You starting to adapt to this place, huh?”

Marisa crossed her arms, still grinning as though nothing unusual had happened. “As much as I’d love to keep bothering ya,” she began, leaning lazily against what remained of the doorframe, “I’m actually here for a reason.”

Reimu narrowed her eyes. “Oh, really.” Her tone was drenched in skepticism.

“Yeah. You gotta head to the dining hall.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“The group decided,” Marisa explained, tapping her foot lightly, “that we’re gonna meet there every morning. Y’know... for group discussions. Updates, plans, stuff like that.” She shrugged. “Figured it’s better than everyone wandering around clueless all day.”

Reimu sighed deeply, slumping back onto the futon. “Not interested. Go bother someone else.” She waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t do morning meetings.”

Marisa, however, was undeterred. “Tch. You don’t get it, huh? It’d be... a big problem if I showed up without everyone.”

Reimu didn’t answer. She merely stared at her—blankly, coldly.

“...”

“Alright,” Marisa exhaled, cracking her knuckles. “You asked for it!!”

Before Reimu could process what was happening, Marisa dashed behind her with startling speed.

“Wha—Hey!!” Reimu yelped as Marisa swiftly grabbed her by the torso, locking her arms under Reimu’s shoulders in a firm grip. With one fluid motion, she hoisted Reimu off the ground in what could only be described as a cargo carry.

“Let me go, you lunatic!!” Reimu flailed, legs kicking wildly.

“Nope!” Marisa responded cheerfully, adjusting her grip. “You’re comin’ with me whether you like it or not! Orders are orders!”

“What orders!? Who gave you the right—!”

Marisa smirked. “Me.”

And with that, the two disappeared down the hallway

___

The dining hall stirred with idle chatter and the clinking of cutlery, an almost surreal attempt at normalcy within such abnormal circumstances.

Within a minute, the doors swung open with force.

“Got her!” Marisa declared triumphantly, striding in with Reimu slung over her back like a sack of rice.

“Let me go!!” Reimu snapped, her voice strained between outrage and sheer disbelief at how far the witch had taken this.

Without warning, Marisa obliged—unceremoniously dropping Reimu onto the floor, face-first. A dull thud echoed across the hall.

“Ugh... I’m getting you for this,” Reimu growled, pushing herself up with as much dignity as she could salvage under the circumstances.

Dusting herself off, her gaze then shifted forward—only to freeze as she registered the sight before her.

All fifteen girls were already seated around the long dining table, watching the scene unfold with varying degrees of amusement, indifference, or exasperation.

At the head of the table, Shiki Eiki folded her arms, observing with a composed—if mildly disapproving—expression.

“Excellent job, Marisa,” Shiki stated with a slow nod. “I must say, you are quite fast for a human. Perhaps... you’ve acquired this skill during your long history of robbery?”

Marisa groaned, dragging a hand across her face. “Not this again...”

Eiki paid the complaint no mind. “In any case,” she continued, adjusting her posture with an air of formality, “now that everyone is present... let us begin.”

Eiki stood from her seat, gently clearing her throat to command attention. Her presence, as always, radiated a quiet authority.

“Now that we are all gathered,” she began, folding her hands before her, “I would like to formally discuss what we’ve uncovered thus far. Last night, after our... abrupt arrival, several of us took the initiative to investigate the premises.”

She paused, allowing her eyes to sweep across the room.

“We do not yet understand the full scope or purpose of this dimension, nor the precise intentions of the one responsible. However, we must not waste time. Knowledge of our surroundings is our first tool for survival—and, ideally, escape.”

There was a moment of hushed stillness before Eiki gave a short nod. “Let us begin with the group that explored the west wing.”

Sanae Kochiya was the first to speak up, sitting upright with a respectful tone. “That was myself, Reisen, and Kongara. The west wing consists primarily of residential quarters—bedrooms like the ones we all woke up in. Each is personalized slightly but shares the same structure. We also found a communal bath area and a small laundry room. Everything is... clean, well-kept, almost unnaturally so.”

Kongara nodded in silent agreement. Reisen added, her voice more wary, “We noticed there are no windows. Not even in the baths. It’s unsettling... as if the entire wing is sealed off from the outside world entirely.”

“Noted,” Eiki replied. “Next, the east wing?”

This time, Aya Shameimaru adjusted her seated posture and raised a hand enthusiastically. “That was myself, Lunasa, and Yumemi. We found what looks like a library—huge, but with very few actual books. Most of the shelves are filled with blank tomes or props. There’s also a classroom-looking space nearby, which seems out of place.”

Lunasa spoke next, her tone flat and calm. “There’s also a music room. Instruments are perfectly tuned. None of us touched them.”

“I almost did,” Yumemi muttered with a forced laugh, “but I got a weird feeling about it. Like something was watching.”

“Interesting,” Eiki murmured. “Central wing?”

Komachi lazily raised her hand, offering a half-hearted wave. “That’d be me, Cirno, and Alice. We checked out the central area—this dining hall, the kitchen behind it, and a storage corridor. Food supplies are abundant, though... suspiciously untouched. Everything’s fresh. Too fresh.”

Alice interjected, “There’s also a mechanical control room locked behind reinforced glass. We couldn’t get in. It might be a surveillance hub—or something worse.”

“Cirno tried freezing the door,” Komachi added with a smirk. “Didn’t work. Just made the handle slippery.”

“It almost worked!” Cirno insisted, puffing her chest with pride.

Eiki gave a slow nod. “Even failure can be informative. And the southern hall?”

Remilia stood with a dignified air, her arms crossed elegantly. “Myself, Satori, Rumia, and Marisa examined that sector. We found a theater-like hall, possibly for announcements or performances. A strange art gallery with warped paintings. And one door marked with a hazard symbol. Locked, of course.”

Satori spoke next, calmly and succinctly. “The atmosphere in that hallway is... heavier. Like something is deliberately pressurizing the space.”

“I did suggest blowing up the hazard door,” Marisa added cheerfully. “But Satori said no. Again.”

“Because it’s stupid,” Satori replied flatly.

Rumia giggled from her seat. “There was also a really dark hallway. I liked it.”

Eiki finally seated herself once more. “I see. Thank you, everyone. Your efforts are commendable. We must continue gathering information... while staying cautious. The more we understand about this place, the better our chances.”

“Is that all?” Reimu asked, arms crossed, her tone laced with quiet skepticism.

Eiki turned her gaze toward the shrine maiden. “No. That is not all.”

She paused deliberately before continuing. “There is one more matter of note—one which remains speculative, but not without basis. We believe a search party may be approaching, or at the very least, mobilizing to find us.”

Rumia tilted her head, her voice light but curious. “But that’s just speculation... right?”

“It is,” Eiki conceded with a composed nod. “We have no confirmation, no signals from the outside. However, we must not disregard logic. The sudden disappearance of fifteen individuals—some of significant standing—will not go unnoticed forever. There must be forces at work beyond this dimension.”

Marisa leaned back in her seat with a grin. “Well, someone’s gotta miss me eventually.”

“That’s optimistic,” Reisen muttered under her breath.

Reimu narrowed her eyes. “Assuming Yukari wants anyone to find us. She’s the one who controls borders, right? If she’s sealing us in, no one’s getting through unless she allows it.”

“True,” Satori added. “But if she allowed herself to be traced—or left any kind of trail—then someone determined enough might reach us.”

Eiki inclined her head. “Exactly. It is a fragile hope, but one worth nurturing. Until then, our only option is to remain cooperative, informed, and alert. The rules of this... ‘festival’ are cruel. Any fracture in our unity will be quickly exploited.”

“But we couldn’t find anything hidden!” Marisa suddenly exclaimed, slamming her palms lightly on the table. “No secret exits! I looked everywhere!”

“That’s why,” Komachi chimed in, half-grinning, “we can always make ourselves one.”

Reimu shot her a flat look. “You think Yukari wouldn't know? This whole place is probably under her direct surveillance.”

Satori nodded solemnly. “Besides, we’ve all noticed it. Our powers have been restricted in this dimension. Severely. No one’s at full strength.”

“And that’s not all,” Alice added, her voice analytical. “We don’t even know what these walls are made of. They look like wood... but there’s no grain, no scent, no natural texture. It could be some synthetic mimicry—or even spatial constructs disguised as architecture.”

“As far as we know,” Yumemi followed, “this whole environment might not even be real. It could be a simulation layered atop a framework of border manipulation. In that case, brute force is pointless.”

Marisa grumbled under her breath, clearly displeased at the idea of not being able to blast her way out.

“It’s frustrating,” Sanae admitted, clasping her hands together.

“Yes, indeed,” Eiki affirmed with conviction. “But as long as my rules are followed, we shall all remain safe—at least until the one-month deadline arrives.”

“Anyway,” Konngara interjected, returning to the matter at hand, “regarding the first rule... how exactly do we determine whether it’s day or night? This place doesn’t have windows, clocks, or even sunlight.”

“I was wondering that myself,”

“Anyway. While I pondered over the time  yesterday, Yukari appeared and gave me a vague explanation.”

“Apparently,” Remilia added, elegantly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “there will be an announcement at a specific hour to mark the beginning of night.”

“An announcement?” Reisen asked warily. “What kind?”

Remilia’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly. “She didn’t elaborate. She simply said it would be a surprise. Though... she looked very excited when she mentioned it.”

“That’s probably not a good thing,” Reimu muttered, her tone flat.

“Another thing we noticed too...” Konngara spoke up, her voice sharp but with a hint of irritation. “Apparently, the food restocks every week. Yukari herself came to tell us that.”

“At least we won’t be starving to death,” Rumia muttered, leaning back in her chair, arms folded with a slight smirk.

“Of course we won’t,” Konngara responded, her tone dry. “Yukari specifically created this place to encourage us to do the unthinkable. Starving? That’s not the goal. Not yet.”

A moment of silence fell over the group, the weight of her words lingering.

“Well, it ain’t happening to me though,” Konngara continued, brushing off the dark implications. “I’m way tougher than this place. Ain’t no way I’m playin’ along with whatever sick game this is.”

Rumia let out a low chuckle, her voice casual as she added, “Murder sounds like too much work for me.”

Reimu, who had been silently watching the conversation unfold, shifted uncomfortably. She had been confident, almost certain, that nothing terrible would happen. At least, not to her—not yet. But as the weight of the situation pressed down on her, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something far worse than they had anticipated might be lurking just out of sight.

They were all strangers to each other. Their memories wiped, their bonds unformed. And among them, plenty of youkai with a... reputation for eating humans.

Reimu could feel her confidence wavering. The dangerous possibilities were more than just theoretical. They didn’t know each other’s true nature. They didn’t even know if trust was something they could afford. Would one of them, in the heat of desperation, consider betraying the others? Would they turn on each other...?

For a moment, Reimu’s eyes flickered toward the faces around the table. They all appeared to be in the same situation, but each one was a potential threat.

“On that note,” Eiki began, her voice steady and commanding, “I have decided to reinforce a few rules to ensure our collective safety.”

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle.

“First: No one is permitted to leave the premises during the night.”

Marisa raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Really? Why such a strict rule?”

Eiki’s gaze remained unwavering. “At night, predators prowl the shadows, waiting for vulnerable prey. This place is no different. The darkness conceals dangers we have yet to fully comprehend.”

She let her words hang in the air before continuing. “Anyone found leaving after dusk will be considered suspicious—potentially a threat to the group’s safety.”

Marisa frowned. “But what if someone has an urgent matter that truly requires leaving?”

Eiki’s tone softened only slightly, but her authority remained firm. “In that case, they must first present their reasons directly to me for approval. No exceptions.”

“Can’t they just use this rule as an opportunity to kill you?” Aya asked, her sharp eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Eiki met her gaze calmly. “Should anyone attempt such a thing, I will sense their intentions with my rod—and use persuasion to dissuade them.”

Marisa scoffed. “Persuasion? Really? You think that’s actually going to work?”

Komachi chuckled softly. “Don’t underestimate her preaching. Sometimes she gets so excited, she can talk for an hour straight.”

Reimu’s mind briefly wandered, recalling a familiar voice. Reminds me of a certain someone... she thought, remembering Kasen Ibaraki’s lengthy lectures.

Eiki, as if reading the room’s doubts, added firmly, “Exaggeration aside, should anyone fail to heed my voice, Komachi will intervene to neutralize the threat.”

She does look pretty strong, Reimu thought, casting a quick glance at Komachi.

“Komachi,” Eiki said firmly, “You are to never leave my side. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Komachi replied with a respectful nod.

“I wish I had a bodyguard too,” Reimu muttered under her breath.

Cirno shot a confident grin. “What about me? I’m the strongest around! The guilt will cower in fear when she sees me standing beside you!”

Reimu smirked, retorting, “I think I’d just finish it faster.”

“What was that?!” Cirno snapped, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Eiki cleared her throat to regain control of the meeting. “We will also be convening as a group every day in this dining area.”

Satori, seated quietly, looked unusually comfortable with the arrangement.

Reimu’s expression shifted as she caught on. “Which means...”

“Yep! I’ll drag along anyone who doesn’t eat ze!” Marisa declared enthusiastically.

A collective groan echoed around the table.

“Great...” Reimu muttered,

“Rule Two: Komachi will be overseeing everyone at all times.”

“Man, I was hoping you’d forgotten that one,” Komachi whined, crossing her arms.

“Are you kidding me?” Reimu shot back, eyes narrowing.

“She will be your shadow from now on,” Eiki stated firmly.

“That’s straight-up stalking,” Marisa muttered, half amused.

“I don’t know how to feel about this either,” Aya interjected, exasperated. “Will she see all my pictures and ongoing reports and spoil everything!?”

“No one cares about that, Crow,” Rumia teased, smirking.

“Whaaa!? How rude! My reports hold immense significance in all of Gensokyo’s scenes!” Aya protested, indignant.

“Anyway,” Reimu interjected, shifting focus, “how exactly is that going to work? There are fourteen of us.”

“Komachi.”

“Yes.”

In the blink of an eye, Komachi appeared silently behind Reimu, a subtle smile on her face

“Something like this?” Komachi said playfully.

“Ahhh!!” Reimu yelped, startled as she turned around to see Komachi standing directly behind her.

“Whoa! She teleported!!” Cirno exclaimed, pointing dramatically.

“Not quite,” Komachi explained with a grin. “I can manipulate the distance between myself and anything. Makes my job as a shinigami much easier, y’know?”

“That could actually be very useful,” Sanae remarked thoughtfully.

Komachi winked. “Then I guess I’ll be keeping an eye on you for now!”

“Komachi—or whatever your name was! Please, allow me to witness your magical teleportation again!” Yumemi asked enthusiastically, leaning forward with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

Komachi sighed, clearly unamused. “It’s not teleportation. I already told you that. And honestly, I’m a bit tired right now.”

Reisen took a small step back, visibly uneasy. “I... I don’t know how to feel about this.”

“Isn’t this a bit much?” she added hesitantly.

“I can see where you’re coming from,” Alice said, crossing her arms. “But... I agree with the measure. At least for now. Surveillance might be necessary until we understand this place better.”

The atmosphere shifted slightly—less resistance, more reluctant acceptance. Trust was a scarce resource, and precautions, however intrusive, were hard to argue with under such circumstances.

___

After some time had passed—several hours, in fact—most of the group had departed from the dining hall, leaving only Reimu and Satori behind.

“You’re still here?” Reimu asked, folding her arms as she approached.

“I’m simply making use of the empty room,” Satori replied calmly, “to find a moment of peace.”

“Makes sense,” Reimu acknowledged. “You seemed pretty tense during the meeting.”

Satori’s expression softened slightly. “I’m not particularly social. I’m accustomed to spending time alone, reading quietly in my room, while my sister and pets occasionally visit.”

“Alright,” Reimu said with a nod, “I’ll leave you to your thoughts, then.”

“Thank you,” Satori replied quietly as Reimu turned and left the dining area

___

Reimu stepped away from the dining hall, her footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor. The voices and faces of the meeting still lingered in her mind, swirling like a restless storm. What a mess this all is, she thought, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. A trap, plain and simple.

The enforced rules, the constant surveillance, the mysterious announcements—all carefully designed threads in Yukari’s intricate web. She’s always been one to enjoy games of manipulation, Reimu mused bitterly. But this… this feels different.

As she walked, her mind began to replay the words exchanged at the table—the talk of food restocking weekly, the warnings of predators lurking at night, the unsettling presence of Komachi shadowing them all.

'and yet none of us truly understand the rules. Or the goal.' She thought.

__

After drifting aimlessly through the hallways for some time, Reimu found herself at the entrance of the grand library.

The air was still and heavy with the faint, comforting scent of old parchment.

She stepped inside without much thought—partly to clear her mind, partly in search of a distraction.

Anything to keep her from dwelling too deeply on the meeting, or worse, her own helplessness.

The library, dimly lit by ethereal orbs floating near the high ceiling, was cavernous.

Shelves stretched high toward the shadows, filled with tomes in various states of wear.

Sitting alone at a long reading table was Alice Margatroid, quietly absorbed in a book. Her posture was graceful, her eyes moving with practiced ease across the pages.

She hasn’t changed a bit, Reimu thought, watching her for a brief moment. Always composed. Always keeping her distance.

Reimu turned slightly, intending to leave her undisturbed.

“Hey,” Alice’s voice rang out softly, but with intention.

Reimu paused, blinking. “What is it?”

Alice looked up and gestured for her to come closer. “Take a look at this strange book,” she said, lifting the item in question.

Reimu walked over, curiosity piqued. The book Alice held was unlike anything typically found in Gensokyo. Its cover was glossy, vibrant—almost garishly colorful.

A strange, stylized character was printed on the front in an exaggerated pose, its expression comically intense.

Reimu raised an eyebrow. “That’s… new. What’s with the drawing? It’s like they’re spoiling the whole story right on the front.”

Alice nodded. “Exactly my thought. But it doesn’t stop there. I’ve come across several others just like it. Same art style. Same odd construction. They seem... mass-produced.”

Reimu leaned closer, flipping through the pages. The format was unusual

Dialogue bubbles, panels, even full-page spreads of dramatic expressions. It had a rhythm unlike traditional literature.

“Sanae came in earlier,” Alice continued. “She was very excited about these. Said she used to read them all the time where she came from.”

Reimu frowned. “I can see that."

“She mentioned something about these being ‘manga’, stories from the outside world.”

Alice paused. “And that got me thinking. If these are here...”

“Then they came from outside as well,” Reimu finished. Her tone was cautious now. “Which raises the question:

why are they here?

And how?”

A silence settled between the two girls. Reimu tapped her fingers lightly against the table, her mind racing.

Books from the outside world, conveniently placed here for us to find?

Coincidence doesn’t exist when Yukari’s involved.

__

After her conversation with Alice, Reimu quietly exited the library, still lost in thought. The hallway outside was quiet, the ambient silence broken only by the faint hum of magical energy that permeated this strange, confined world. Her footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as she wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go next.

As she turned a corner into the main hall, she caught sight of a familiar figure.

Was it...

Konngara?

The tall, armored woman was pacing back and forth in measured steps, her expression stern and focused.

Her movements were rigid but purposeful, like a sentry fulfilling an age-old duty.

“Uh…?” Reimu muttered, her brow raised slightly.

Konngara stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “What?”

Reimu took a few steps forward. “What are you doing?”

“Patrolling the area,” Konngara answered without hesitation. “On my own free will, mind you.”

Reimu blinked. “Patrolling…?”

“Yes.” Konngara turned fully to face her. “I used to do this constantly back when I guarded the gates of Makai. The habit is hard to shake. Standing around doing nothing... doesn’t suit me.”

Reimu folded her arms. “So you’re trying to replicate that routine here?”

Konngara nodded. “It helps me stay alert. I don’t know what to expect from this place or the people in it. It’s best to treat it like a battlefield, until proven otherwise.”

'Of course she’d take that approach, 'Reimu thought. Even in this bizarre setup, she finds comfort in structure. 'I suppose I can’t blame her. It’s better than letting the atmosphere swallow you whole.'

Reimu offered a small shrug. “...I see. Good luck with that then.”

Konngara gave a curt nod. “If you’ll excuse me.”

With that, she resumed her patrol, shoes clacking rhythmically against the floor as she disappeared down the hallway.

As Reimu continued down the hallway, her thoughts still clouded by the morning’s revelations, a sudden thunk drew her attention. She slowed her pace and glanced toward a door slightly ajar, marked Control Room. Curious, she edged closer, careful not to be noticed. Voices—young and unmistakably familiar—filtered through the gap.

“What are you even doing?” Rumia asked in a disinterested tone, the kind that always carried a trace of mockery.

“I’m trying to break this glass open with my ice hammer!” Cirno declared proudly, as though announcing a grand plan that would change everything.

Peeking through the crack in the door, Reimu could see Cirno standing in front of a large, reinforced panel of glass embedded into the wall. She was clutching a crystalline mallet of compressed ice, its surface glittering under the sterile lights of the room. Beside her, Rumia hovered idly, her hands behind her back, expression unreadable beneath her messy hair and ever-shifting shadows.

“You really think that’s going to work?” Rumia asked, her tone droll. “That thing looks harder than diamond.”

Cirno huffed. “I’m the strongest! Of course it’ll work! I just haven’t hit the right spot yet.”

Rumia smirked. “Then go ahead. Hit it again. I’ll watch.”

Cirno narrowed her eyes and turned toward her. “If you’re so smart, why don’t you try?”

“I could,” Rumia said lazily, “but all my power does is make darkness. It’s good for hiding, not smashing things. Not all of us are reckless fairies with delusions of grandeur.”

Cirno paused for a second, processing the insult. Then, proudly puffing out her chest, she proclaimed, “Fine! I’ll be the hero then! I’ll be the first one to see what’s inside this place!”

Rumia tilted her head. “And what if there’s nothing in there? What if it’s just a dumb wall?”

That made Cirno falter.

Think.

Think.

Think.

Think.

Think.

...

Think.

Think.

Think.

For a few seconds, silence reigned as the fairy tried to summon a clever rebuttal. None came.

Instead, she stomped a foot and swung her hammer again with a loud clang that produced no result. “Stop distracting me! I need to concentrate!”

“You’re an idiot,” Rumia muttered under her breath.

That was enough for Reimu.

She shook her head quietly and moved away from the doorway, her footsteps deliberately light.

'This group is... diverse,

to say the least'

Reimu stood at the edge of the corridor, her eyes drifting aimlessly over the sterile lighting and artificial walls.

The quiet hum of the facility did little to comfort her. After everything that had happened—the meeting, the scattered conversations, and the endless, quiet tension pressing at the edges of every interaction—her mind felt weighed down by an invisible fog.

She considered walking around more, maybe trying to find something useful, something meaningful. But instead, she turned around and headed back toward the long hallway

The same one she had walked down when she first awoke in this strange, sealed world.

Her footsteps echoed softly. The silence was growing more familiar now, like an unwelcome companion that refused to leave.

She passed a few closed doors, perhaps other rooms for the other girls, but she didn’t bother checking who might be inside.

Whatever conversations or problems awaited behind them, she wasn’t ready to deal with any of them today.

Finally, she reached the door to her own room. It still looked the same: plain, neutral, functional—nothing like the warmth of the Hakurei Shrine.

 Just artificial air and manufactured quiet.

Reimu stepped inside and closed the door behind her. The click of the latch sounded louder than she expected.

She let herself fall onto the bed, arms spread, eyes gazing at the ceiling in that same blank way she had the day before. A soft breath escaped her lips.

This place is trying to break us slowly, she thought. Yukari knows exactly how to make people unravel. No direct threats.

Just confinement. Isolation. Uncertainty. And the quiet whisper that someone here might break.

She closed her eyes.

I can't fall into that trap. I won’t fall into it. The shrine’s still out there. My life my duty is still out there.

But thinking about the shrine only stirred up a bitter ache. She could almost picture it—the worn floorboards, the offertory box, the breeze carrying the scent of pine and incense. She missed it all, more than she was willing to admit aloud.

Still, she couldn't afford to become obsessed with returning. Yukari had set this game up like a stage.

If Reimu made herself too predictable, too focused on the exit, it would only tighten the net around her.

Whatever this “Extermination Game” truly was, she needed to stay alert, flexible, and focused.

Several hours drifted by in a haze of half-sleep and restless thought. Reimu remained sprawled on her bed, staring at the blank ceiling as her mind cycled endlessly through memories of the meeting, imagined scenarios, and the creeping uncertainty that filled this artificial world.

Her body remained still, but her thoughts churned restlessly beneath the surface like deep water during a storm. Every possibility felt like a branch leading toward inevitable chaos. Who would break first? Who would snap under the pressure? Could she really trust anyone here?

“I need to stay sharp… but thinking like this is exhausting… I’m not built for this kind of psychological game… I’m a shrine maiden, not a detective…”

Then—without warning—a spatial ripple opened above her.

A small, swirling gap tore reality just a few feet over her head, unnoticed at first as her eyes remained unfocused on the ceiling. But then—

"10 PM!! IT’S 10 PM!! IT’S 10 PM!!”

The sudden, earsplitting burst of noise exploded through the air like an artillery blast.

"TIME TO HIT THE SACK, GIRLS!!! REST WELL BECAUSE TOMORROW WILL BE A DAY FILLED WITH HOPE!!”

The voice, shrill and borderline manic, rattled through her skull with the full force of an over-enthusiastic carnival announcer shouting through a malfunctioning megaphone.

Reimu instinctively grabbed at her ears, rolling off the bed with a startled yell as if the ceiling itself had declared war on her eardrums.

Her heart pounded as she scrambled upright, glaring upward just in time to catch a glimpse of a disembodied megaphone withdrawing back into the closing gap as if it had never existed.

“What…

the hell…

was that…?”

she muttered, still rubbing her ears, half-deaf from the sudden auditory assault.

There was only one possible culprit behind such a stunt. That obnoxious, troublemaking cat girl… what was her name again?

Reimu paused, squinting as she tried to remember.

“Chen…? Yeah… something like that. Yukari’s shikigami… always causing problems…”

Her mind drifted back to brief memories of Gensokyo.

The cat girl was always hyperactive, always loud, always annoyingly loyal to Ran. Reimu had never paid much attention to her before, too busy dealing with bigger threats.

Names and faces weren’t exactly her specialty to begin with, especially when it came to people she didn’t interact with regularly.

“Not important right now,” she muttered, waving the thought away.

What was important was that her eardrums were still ringing like temple bells during New Year’s celebrations.

“If this is how they’re going to mark ‘nighttime,’ I’m not surviving a month without going deaf first…”

Reimu dragged herself back onto the bed with a long, suffering sigh. Her heart was still pounding from the shock, and now sleep felt even further away.

“A day filled with hope…” she repeated under her breath, scowling.

Hope didn’t fit here. Not in this place. Not with these rules.

Curling herself under the thin blanket, Reimu stared at the wall in grim silence, waiting for her pulse to calm.

Tomorrow would be worse. She could already feel it.

Chapter Text

Day 2

Reimu’s dreams—what little fragmented, restless ones she had—were shattered violently by a new wave of auditory chaos.

“GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!!”

The shrill, unmistakable voice of Chen echoed through the walls, reverberating as if coming from every corner of the building at once.

Reimu’s eyes snapped open.

“Not again…”

Her body jolted upright, heart pounding from the sudden rush of adrenaline. For a brief moment, she couldn’t tell if it was morning, noon, or night. The darkness of the room remained the same. Just that same oppressive, artificial gloom pressing down on her like a suffocating curtain.

Clutching her head, she groaned in frustration.

“That damned cat… If this keeps happening, I’m going to lose my hearing before I lose my mind.”

The echo faded, but her ears continued to ring like temple bells after a long festival ceremony.

Dragging herself off the bed, Reimu rubbed her temples. Her muscles still felt heavy with fatigue, as though she hadn’t rested at all. Sleep here wasn’t restorative. It was more like a pause button between psychological beatings.

Without another word, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway, preparing herself mentally for whatever awaited her next.

Reimu reached the main hall, still rubbing the lingering ache from her ears. As she stepped into the open space, something caught her eye.

Her steps slowed.

“…Was that always here?” she muttered aloud, narrowing her eyes at the tall, imposing object standing at the far wall.

It was an old grandfather clock—ornate, towering, and utterly out of place. Its wooden frame looked worn, almost antique, as if it had been plucked straight from some forgotten mansion and dropped here overnight. The ticking was soft but insistent, a slow, steady pulse that filled the silence with an oddly ominous rhythm.

Reimu approached it cautiously, almost half-expecting it to vanish the moment she blinked.

“No, you’re not crazy,” a voice suddenly chimed in from behind.

Reimu turned just in time to see Aya Shameimaru casually emerging from one of the side corridors, notepad in hand as always, her tone as breezy as ever.

“That clock definitely wasn’t here yesterday,” Aya continued, flipping through a few pages of her notes.

Reimu frowned. “So... Crow,” she said, voice laced with suspicion, “why do you suppose this is?”

Aya gave a theatrical shrug, an exaggerated smile spreading across her face. “Who knows? Maybe it’s decoration. Maybe Yukari decided we needed a little more atmosphere.”

Aya stepped closer to the clock, running her fingers along its worn wooden frame with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Her wings gave a slight twitch as she inspected the control panel discreetly embedded along the side of the casing—small, almost unnoticeable dials and levers, some of which had handwritten labels attached.

“You know,” Aya began, flipping open her notebook again with casual flair, “I’ve been checking it over for a while. "Looks like this thing has a few… extra functions built in.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow. “Extra functions?”

“Yep.” Aya pointed towards the small cluster of switches. “See these? From what I can tell, the clock can do more than just tell the time. There’s a mechanism to speed up the hands, another to stop them entirely… and, get this—an alarm feature.”

“Alarm?” Reimu repeated, her tone immediately dipping into irritation.

Aya smirked knowingly. “You know how one of Yukari’s underlings rudely woke us up this morning?”

Reimu’s eye twitched. “Don’t remind me.”

“Well…” Aya continued, gesturing to one of the oversized levers, “this is basically that. But now... on a clock. Set the time, pull the lever, and at the scheduled hour, it’ll unleash a sound loud enough to wake the dead—or at least make everyone wish they were.”

Reimu stared at the device with a growing sense of dread. “Wonderful. Just what we needed. Another way to assault our hearing.”

Aya chuckled, flipping her notepad shut with an exaggerated flourish. “The best part?” she added with a mischievous grin. “The whole setup is so simple that even a complete idiot could mess around with it. It wouldn’t take much to trigger it by accident… or on purpose.”

Reimu sighed, running a hand down her face. “Great. So now we have to worry about pranks, too.”

Aya’s wings gave a pleased flutter. “Welcome to Day 2, friend!"

As Aya continued jotting notes and making light of the situation, Reimu’s gaze drifted across the hall, scanning instinctively for any signs of movement. For a brief moment—just at the edge of her vision—she caught sight of something.

A small silhouette. Quick, almost sneaky. It lingered near the corner of the hallway that led toward the kitchen before disappearing behind the doorframe.

Reimu’s eyes narrowed. That shape... short... small build... Definitely not one of the taller girls.

“Someone’s eavesdropping,” she muttered under her breath.

Aya followed her line of sight, immediately catching on. “Oh? You saw something?”

“Yeah. Just for a second,” Reimu confirmed. “Could’ve been Rumia… or Cirno. Honestly, with those two, it could go either way.”

Aya let out a low chuckle. “Given the topic, I wouldn’t put it past them to start messing with the clock just for fun. Or boredom.”

Reimu sighed. “Or worse... curiosity.”

At the dining table, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter than the day before—though that wasn’t saying much.

One by one, the girls gathered, taking their seats with varying degrees of energy and mood. Some looked half-awake, still recovering from Chen’s auditory assault earlier that morning. Others seemed more alert, though the tension lingering beneath their casual expressions was unmistakable.

Reimu sat down near the end of the table, arms crossed, surveying the room with quiet attentiveness.

Sanae yawned loudly, stretching her arms overhead. “So… I guess we all survived the night, huh?”

“Seems like it,” Marisa replied, grinning as she propped her feet up on an empty chair beside her. “Didn’t think anyone would actually try something on the first day, but still… good to see we’re all still in one piece.”

“I’d prefer to keep it that way,” Alice said flatly, her gaze focused on the untouched cup of tea in front of her.

Eiki, sitting as poised as ever at the far end, cleared her throat to bring attention back to order. “Unfortunately, there’s little new information to report,” she began, tone crisp and authoritative. “Despite everyone’s efforts to explore and observe, we’ve found no exploitable weak points in the structure.”

Remilia rested her chin on her hand, sounding only mildly engaged. “Not that surprising. Yukari wouldn’t make it that easy.”

“Food stocks remain the same,” Konngara added, her tone low but steady. “Nothing changed overnight. The shelves are still full… though we did notice the pantry door locks automatically at night.”

“That’s annoying,” Reisen muttered.

“No one’s injured. No one’s missing. No one’s… well, you know…” Aya trailed off dramatically, waving her hand in the air.

“Dead?” Satori finished bluntly, glancing around as if daring anyone to flinch at the word.

Rumia, as casual as ever, swung her legs idly under the table. “So basically… nothing new, nothing fun, and we’re still stuck. Great.”

“Better stuck and bored than… the alternative,” Komachi said, giving a dry smile.

“…”

Aya sat unusually still, her gaze lingering on the pantry door for just a little too long. Her eyes narrowed with faint calculation, lips pressed into a thin line as if she were mentally piecing something together.

Reimu, observing from across the table, caught the brief change in her demeanor. What’s with her…? she wondered. Does she know something? Or is she just overanalyzing things again…

But before Reimu could press further, Aya’s expression shifted back to her usual, lighthearted facade, and she turned away as if nothing had happened. Whatever thoughts the tengu reporter had, she wasn’t sharing them yet.

Clearing her throat, Reimu refocused. “Well…” she began, casting her voice across the group to change the subject. “Has anyone noticed the clock?”

Heads began to turn.

“That big thing in the main hall?” Marisa asked, leaning back in her chair. “Hard to miss it. Pretty sure it wasn’t there yesterday.”

“I saw it too,” Reisen said cautiously. “It’s… weird. Doesn’t really fit with the rest of the place.”

“It’s more than just decoration,” Aya finally spoke up, her tone now casual but laced with subtle intent. “It’s got a few interesting features. Time adjustment… stop functions… and even an alarm system. Real simple to use, too. Too simple, actually.”

“An alarm?” Sanae tilted her head. “Like… how we got woken up this morning?”

“Exactly that,” Aya confirmed with a knowing smirk. “Though I doubt it’ll be half as loud—or half as annoying—as Chen’s little wake-up calls.”

Rumia stretched lazily. “So basically… another toy someone can mess with. Great. Just what we needed.”

“It might not just be a toy,” Alice muttered, frowning slightly. “Something like that being added overnight… It feels deliberate."

..

...

..

...

“…You imbeciles!”

Eiki’s sudden outburst cut through the air like a blade, startling nearly everyone at the table. The noise of idle chatter and side conversations came to an abrupt halt.

“Huh?” Several voices echoed at once, blinking in confusion.

Reimu straightened up, surprised by the shift in tone. Even Aya, usually unfazed by scolding, froze mid-page in her notebook.

Eiki stood now, her expression sharp and her voice carrying the full weight of authority. “An alarm function, you say?” Her glare fell squarely on Aya first, then drifted toward Reimu, Marisa, and the others. “This is a key item. An obvious tool to be used for manipulation—or worse… murder.”

The room grew tense.

“Why would you discuss this openly?” Eiki continued, her voice low but biting, “Why would you carelessly reveal its function in front of everyone?”

“Well… Aya told me it was super simple to use anyway. It’s not like no one would figure it out sooner or later.”

“That’s not the point!” Eiki snapped, slamming her palm down onto the table. The sudden noise made several of the girls flinch. “Regardless of how simple it may seem, leaving such a thing unnoticed—or worse, unmonitored—is like leaving a loaded weapon on display.”

Her piercing gaze shifted immediately to Komachi. “Komachi, from this moment onward, I want you stationed near the clock at all times. Watch over it. And while doing so, continue your observation of the others. If anyone approaches it with ill intent… report to me immediately.”

Komachi let out an exaggerated sigh, visibly wilting under the order. “Aye, Ma’am…” she mumbled, dragging out the words with all the enthusiasm of someone asked to babysit both a group of restless children and a piece of furniture.

“I’m serious,” Eiki added with finality, adjusting her hat. “We cannot afford even a single overlooked detail. Not in this place. Not with these rules.”

Reimu, arms folded, simply exhaled. 'Great… now the clock is officially part of the paranoia list.'

After spending a few minutes picking at her food and half-listening to scattered conversations, Reimu quietly excused herself from the dining area. The constant tension made it hard to relax, and she needed air—even if it was artificial.

As she walked back through the main hall, her gaze naturally drifted toward the clock again.

And there she was.

Komachi, slouched against the wall beside the towering grandfather clock, wearing the most unmotivated, half-awake expression imaginable. Arms crossed, one leg propped against the wall, she looked more like a bored employee on an eternal smoke break than a watchful sentry.

“Man… why is it always me…?” Komachi muttered to herself, not even noticing Reimu’s presence as she stared blankly at the floor.

Reimu smirked faintly at the sight but said nothing. At least she’s following orders… more or less.

Just as she was about to head down the hall, something else caught her attention. Near the corner of the corridor, Satori stood facing the large entryway doors, her posture rigid, arms crossed. Her gaze was sharp, analytical—clearly in observation mode.

Curious, Reimu approached. “Interesting,” Satori muttered to herself.

“What is it?” Reimu asked, stepping closer.

Satori glanced sideways at her but didn’t seem surprised by the interruption. “A few moments ago, while I was walking just outside the main hall, I heard a loud crash coming from the corridor near the library.”

Reimu blinked. “A crash?”

“Yes. Apparently, Sanae-chan was running while distracted—reading one of those strange books she’s been obsessing over—and collided straight into Reisen.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow. ‘Probably the same type of books me and Alice found earlier,’ she thought grimly.

“I see,” she said aloud. “So… how did that go over?”

Satori exhaled, closing her eyes briefly as though replaying the scene in her mind. “Reisen was understandably irritated. She yelled at Sanae for not watching where she was going. I, of course, complained about the noise… but here’s the part that caught my attention.”

Satori’s eyes narrowed, her voice lowering. “When I left the hallway and went back into my room… I stopped hearing them. Complete silence. But when I peeked back out not even a minute later… Reisen was still yelling at her, like no time had passed at all. Same tone, same words… as if it had been frozen… then resumed.”

Reimu frowned. “…That’s weird.”

“Indeed.”

"I went to Alice's room to check," Satori continued, her voice steady but low, as though she was carefully measuring her words. "Her room had the same phenomenon. The sound from outside was completely cut off while I was inside."

Reimu’s brow furrowed. "So it’s not just your room, then…?"

"Correct." Satori folded her arms. "After that, I decided to check Rumia's room for comparison. And interestingly enough… the noise inside traveled through normally. I could hear voices from the hall without issue."

"That's… weird," Reimu muttered, glancing down the hallway again, her mind already running through scenarios. Randomized soundproofing? Some rooms isolated and others not? That could lead to all kinds of problems…

"I believe," Satori said, her gaze distant, "that some rooms are fitted with a sound dampening barrier or device, while others remain unaffected."

"Interesting…" Reimu mused. "I almost wish mine was one of them. At least I wouldn’t be getting my ears blown out every morning."

Satori allowed herself a small, dry smile at that. "I'm not fully certain which rooms are affected, though. I’d need to check each one systematically. And perhaps… if Yukari herself could elaborate, we’d get some real answers for once."

Before either of them could say more, a sudden ripple tore through the air, distorting space like the surface of disturbed water.

A gap opened without warning, swirling with its familiar violet hue.

From it, a tall figure emerged with practiced, quiet grace. Ran Yakumo stepped out, holding her sleeves neatly, her expression as reserved and unreadable as ever.

"I might be able to assist with that," she said calmly, her nine golden tails swaying slightly behind her as the gap closed behind her.

Both Reimu and Satori turned toward her, silent but alert.

Ran’s eyes scanned the two of them carefully before continuing, her tone composed yet distant. "You are correct in your observation. Some rooms within this facility are intentionally fitted with soundproofing barriers. Others are not."

Reimu crossed her arms. "Why?"

Ran closed her eyes briefly, as though carefully choosing her words. "The purpose of such design choices is not for me to explain. I was simply instructed to confirm the presence of these features when questioned."

Satori frowned. "So… Yukari anticipated we’d notice this."

"Naturally," Ran said with an unreadable smile. "That is all I can disclose for now."

Without waiting for further questions, Ran gave a short bow of acknowledgment, then faded back into another gap, vanishing as quickly as she appeared.

Reimu sighed heavily. "Great. More half-answers."

Satori nodded in agreement, her gaze lingering on the space where Ran had stood just moments ago. "At the very least… we now know the inconsistency is deliberate. Which means…"

"Another thing we’ll have to keep in mind," Reimu finished.

Reimu wandered through the corridors, her steps slow and unfocused, letting her thoughts drift as she passed by one room after another. Her mind was still busy processing everything from Satori’s discovery to Ran’s cryptic explanation.

As she walked past the control room, she noticed through the partially open door that Cirno and Rumia were still inside.

Cirno, as expected, was busy pounding away at the same indestructible glass panel with her little ice hammer, showing no signs of giving up despite the total lack of progress. Rumia stood nearby, lazily hovering around with her arms behind her head, occasionally throwing in sarcastic comments that Reimu couldn’t quite make out.

Reimu sighed and shook her head. Let them tire themselves out… she thought, deciding once again that it wasn’t worth the energy to intervene.

Continuing her walk, she passed by the corridor leading to the living quarters. Lunasa’s door stood closed, silent as expected. Her room was positioned between Aya’s and Konngara’s, making for an odd neighborhood of restless energy and simmering aggression.

Reimu paused for a second outside Lunasa’s door, wondering if the musician was still practicing or just keeping to herself in typical melancholy fashion. I’ll check on her later… she decided, moving on.

Further down the hall, Reimu heard voices—one loud and excitable, the other dry and unimpressed.

Turning the corner, she spotted the unmistakable sight of Yumemi Okazaki practically bouncing on her heels, pestering Marisa like an overenthusiastic schoolgirl.

"Come on, come on! Show me that spell again!" Yumemi pleaded, almost clapping her hands together like a child begging for candy. "I want to study the energy output at different intervals! Please? Just once more? Pleaaaase?"

Marisa, looking more annoyed than flattered, was leaning against the wall with her hands stuffed in her pockets. “Tch… You’re like a fangirl you know that?” she said, trying to sound aloof but clearly amused deep down.

With a lazy wave of her hand, she conjured a small burst of multicolored sparks—harmless danmaku, flickering briefly in the air before dispersing.

Yumemi squealed with excitement, immediately scribbling something into a thick, heavily annotated notebook she carried under her arm.

"I swear," Marisa grumbled, scratching her head.

Reimu stood at the end of the hallway, watching the scene for a few seconds with vague disbelief.

The so-called ‘brilliant scientist’ acting like a fangirl… What next?

Remilia organizing a tea party?

After making a slow round through the halls, Reimu eventually found herself passing by the infirmary. Peeking inside, she spotted Reisen sitting on one of the beds, tending to her arm with practiced but visibly annoyed movements.

The bandages wrapped around her elbow suggested a minor scrape, likely from her earlier collision with Sanae.

Even now, Reisen muttered to herself, her frustration still simmering.

"Unbelievable... running around like that with a book in her face… some people have no sense of awareness…"

Reimu considered offering a comment, but ultimately decided against it. Not my problem…

Konngara was still doing her self-imposed patrol, pacing the corridors like a restless guard, her club occasionally clinking against her hip as she passed. She didn’t say much, but her sharp glances toward dark corners and shadowed doorways made it clear she was taking the whole “security” role seriously.

Komachi, on the other hand, continued her now-regular habit of suddenly appearing near Reimu at random intervals sometimes out of thin air, sometimes from behind a nearby pillar

just long enough to make her presence known, then vanishing again just as quickly.

At first, Reimu had nearly jumped out of her skin each time. But after the fifth or sixth occurrence, she barely flinched anymore.

On one such occasion, Komachi popped into view right as Reimu turned a corner.

“Just checking in. Don’t mind me~” Komachi said with a lazy smile before disappearing again.

Reimu sighed and shook her head. I should start charging her for making me jump like that…

Meanwhile, Aya had seemingly redirected all her energy into studying the strange collection of outsider books in the library. She’d been spotted flipping through several volumes with intense focus, mumbling about " inconsistencies" and "cultural contrasts" like some kind of academic researcher on a deadline.

As the hours dragged on, the artificial “day” began to settle into its forced evening atmosphere.

Reimu wandered back toward the long hallway leading to the private rooms, rubbing her temples.

Standing in front of her door, she let out a slow breath.

“Hmmm… What should I do today…?” she wondered aloud, even though the answer was already obvious.

...

...

...

...

FREE TIME

(Author's note: I will be skipping the free time events for now. They are to their own chapters in the future.)

Her body felt heavy. Both physically and mentally.

Thinking too much about this place will drive me mad.

Without giving it much more thought, Reimu pushed open her door and stepped inside. The air felt just as stagnant as before, the same ceiling, the same silence, the same dim light.

She lay down on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a few long moments, letting her mind drift in and out of uneasy thoughts.

The soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the distance—audible even from here—echoed faintly in her ears, like a constant, subtle reminder that time was moving… whether she wanted it to or not.

And with that.

Day 2 quietly came to an end.

Chapter Text

Day 3.

Just like clockwork—both figuratively and literally—Reimu was once again jolted awake by the now-familiar, headache-inducing blare of Chen’s voice booming through some unseen megaphone.

“GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!! WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UUUUP!! IT’S ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY FILLED WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES AND HOPE!!”

Reimu groaned into her pillow, resisting the instinct to throw something at the ceiling.

At this rate, I’m going to start dreaming in decibels…

Dragging herself out of bed with practiced resignation, she went through the motions: a quick splash of water to the face, a lazy attempt to straighten her clothes, and a long, quiet sigh as she opened the door to step into the hallway.

As she expected, the others were already gathering in the main hall and dining area. The usual banter flowed: Marisa teasing someone, Komachi half-heartedly loitering by the clock, Rumia yawning dramatically, and Eiki giving pointed glances to anyone lingering too long by the exit doors.

But unlike the past two days, today’s morning gathering was surprisingly… dull.

Almost feels wrong how normal this is… Reimu thought as she stepped outside into the corridor again, letting her feet carry her aimlessly through the building.

Wandering toward the main hall, she stopped midway, feeling that familiar sensation of restlessness bubbling up again. Arms crossed, she stood there, staring at nothing in particular.

What am I even supposed to do with myself today?

Just as she was contemplating heading back to her room for another few hours of ceiling-staring, a familiar voice called out behind her.

“Hakurei shrine maiden?”

Reimu turned, recognizing the tone immediately. Aya stood there, notebook in hand as always, an almost playful glint in her eye.

“Are you busy right now?” Aya asked with a tilt of her head.

Reimu shrugged. “No, not at all. Why?”

Aya smiled, already stepping closer. “I may need a helper for a little something.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? What kind of ‘something’?”

Aya’s grin widened just slightly. “Let’s call it… investigative journalism.”

Reimu narrowed her eyes, unsure whether to feel curious… or concerned.

“Oh boy…” Reimu muttered under her breath, already feeling the familiar sensation of trouble brewing.

Aya, ignoring her tone, pressed on with her usual enthusiasm. “Have you come across any objects that feel… off? Like they don’t belong here?”

Reimu raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. “What exactly do you mean? This whole place feels off. Be more specific.”

Aya flipped open her notebook, pointing to a hastily scribbled diagram that looked vaguely like a table. “I was inspecting the dining table earlier. Something about it felt strange. The dimensions… the wood grain… even the placement of the chairs. It didn’t feel like something that was originally part of this building.”

Reimu blinked. “You’re telling me you noticed all that… just from looking at the table?”

Aya grinned proudly. “Call it. Journalist’s intuition.”

Reimu wasn’t entirely convinced, but she let her continue.

Aya leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal classified information. “Suddenly, while I was writing down my notes, Remilia walked in. I decided to… well… interview her about it.”

“And?” Reimu asked, now mildly curious.

“She took one look at the table… and said it reminded her a lot of the dining table from her own mansion.” Aya tapped her notebook for emphasis. “Apparently, the style, the color of the wood, even the slight scratches on the surface… all match the one from the Scarlet Devil Mansion’s dining hall.”

Reimu frowned. “That’s… oddly specific.”

“And that’s not all!” Aya continued, her voice gaining momentum. “When I mentioned this to a few of the others, Yumemi said something about the library shelves looking eerily similar to a university archive from the outside world.”

Reimu paused. “…So you’re saying Yukari didn’t build this place from scratch?”

“That’s what I’m starting to think,” Aya said with a knowing smile. “Maybe this place is some sort of patchwork… built from pieces of places we already know.”

Reimu’s mind immediately jumped back to the soundproof rooms, the inconsistent designs, the clock that appeared out of nowhere…

Could all of this be deliberate? Constructed with intent… using pieces of their own homes?

Aya flipped her notebook closed with a snap. “So… what do you say, Hakurei shrine maiden? Feel like doing a little field investigation with me?”

Reimu let out a slow breath. “…Do I really have a choice?”

“Nope!” Aya answered cheerfully, already pulling her along.

'She's really annoying.' 

"Fine..." Reimu sighed in defeat, already regretting the decision. "It’s not like you’ll leave me be if I say no anyway."

"Ayaya!!" Aya chirped, her wings fluttering with barely contained excitement. "That’s the spirit! Now then, there should be more similar objects scattered around this place. We’ll search for them, document them, and present our findings to the others later. Nice and methodical!"

Reimu crossed her arms, giving Aya a skeptical look. "You’re treating this like a school project... Why are you doing this, anyway? You don’t usually take things this seriously unless there’s a scoop involved."

Aya’s expression shifted slightly—still smiling, but there was now a faint sharpness behind her eyes. "Well… beyond journalistic curiosity…" She paused, tapping her notebook thoughtfully. "I believe this could be the key. 

Reimu remained silent for a few moments, weighing the idea.

If there’s even a small chance this could get me back to my shrine faster… it’s worth humoring her for now.

“…Alright. Lead the way, reporter,” Reimu finally said.

Aya’s smile widened. "Excellent! Let’s get moving before anyone else stumbles onto our clues!"

And with that, the two set off down the hall, ready to begin their unofficial investigation…

“The first place I want to look into is the infirmary,” Aya said, already flipping open her notebook and scribbling something as she walked. “There may be some eye-catching details there that we’ve overlooked.”

Reimu raised an eyebrow, following close behind. “The infirmary? Why there, specifically?”

Aya grinned without slowing her pace. “Think about it. Every major enclosed facility needs a medical wing, right? But how many of us have actually stopped to question what’s in there? The layout… the equipment… even the type of bedding. It could all be borrowed from somewhere else in Gensokyo or the outside world.”

Reimu sighed, rubbing her temple. “You’re making me wonder if I should’ve been paying more attention when I went by earlier.”

“Well,” Aya replied with a playful smirk, “that’s why I’m here. To notice what everyone else misses.”

As they made their way toward the infirmary, Reimu couldn’t help but feel a small, growing unease in her chest.

If what Aya’s suggesting turns out to be true… then this place isn’t just built to trap us physically. It’s made from fragments of places we’re familiar with. Places we called home.

She shook the thought aside. There was no time for hesitation.

“Alright,” Reimu said as they reached the infirmary doors. “Let’s see what you’re so eager about.”

Aya pushed the door open, and together they stepped inside, ready to begin the next phase of their investigation.

The infirmary greeted them with a sterile, almost clinical stillness. The scent of disinfectant hung faintly in the air—unusual for a place in Gensokyo, where most medical care was administered with far less attention to "modern" standards.

Reimu stepped inside first, letting her eyes wander over the room. Rows of simple beds lined one wall, each with crisp white sheets tucked in with machine-like precision. A tall, metal medicine cabinet stood against the far side, its glass doors fogged from age or poor maintenance. Several drawers, neatly labeled, lined the base of the cabinet.

Aya walked in behind her, immediately making a beeline for the nearest bed. She crouched down, checking under the frame for any unusual markings or mechanisms.

“…Nothing obvious here,” she muttered before moving on.

Reimu crossed her arms, watching her. “What exactly are you expecting to find? A hidden trapdoor under the mattress?”

Aya didn’t look up from her inspection. “Wouldn’t be the first time something that ridiculous existed in Gensokyo.”

Reimu rolled her eyes but stepped further into the room. Her gaze landed on the medical equipment on the nearby counter: basic tools—gauze, antiseptics, rolls of bandages, scissors… but then something odd caught her attention.

“…Aya.”

“Hm?”

“Come look at this.”

Aya straightened and approached.

Reimu pointed to a small heart monitor sitting on a side table near the farthest bed. Its design was sleek… too sleek. A clean, white casing, digital display…

“This isn’t from Gensokyo,” Reimu said flatly. “I’ve never seen anything like this outside of Eientei. And even there, their equipment doesn’t look this… modern.”

Aya’s eyes lit up. “Excellent observation!” She quickly jotted the detail down. “That definitely screams Outside World technology. Which… raises the question: why would Yukari pull something like this in here?”

Reimu moved over to the medicine cabinet, cautiously opening it. Inside were shelves of pills, bottles with printed labels, and boxes of first aid supplies. She picked up one of the bottles and scanned the fine text printed on the side.

Her frown deepened. “…All in Outside World language. Japanese, sure… but this is printed like modern pharmaceuticals. This definitely didn’t come from Eientei’s stock.”

Aya nodded. “That lines up with what Yumemi was saying about the library shelves. All this seems to suggest that the construction of this place… wasn’t just random."

Reimu closed the cabinet door with a sharp click. “If that’s the case… then it begs another question: What’s the purpose behind choosing these specific pieces?”

Aya paused for a second, thoughtful. “Psychological pressure, maybe?"

Reimu’s gaze darkened. “Wouldn’t put it past Yukari…”

Aya was already scribbling down more notes. “We should check the drawers too. There might be documents, patient records, or something else planted to mess with us.”

The two of them moved systematically—Reimu opening drawers while Aya checked the labels on each vial and container.

After several minutes of searching, Reimu found something wedged behind a drawer panel. A small folded sheet of paper, aged and yellowed. She pulled it free and unfolded it carefully.

Aya immediately leaned over her shoulder. “What’s that?”

It was a page from some sort of hospital registry… though the names listed on it were blurred beyond recognition. The only readable part was a printed header at the top:

Scarlet Medical Wing – Floor B2 Storage Log

Reimu froze. “…Scarlet?”

Aya blinked. “You don’t think…?”

“…Remilia’s mansion has no medical wing…From the little i can remember. but the name is too much of a coincidence.” Reimu folded the paper again. “Let’s keep this. Might be important later.”

Aya gave an approving nod. “Absolutely.”

With that, the two stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their discovery slowly sinking in.

After carefully folding and storing the aged document, Reimu and Aya resumed their methodical sweep of the infirmary. Aya checked ceiling corners and wall seams for hidden compartments while Reimu opened cabinets, drawers, and even lifted the thin mattresses one by one.

A few more uneventful minutes passed before the door creaked open.

Reisen entered, holding a fresh roll of bandages and looking noticeably less irritated than earlier in the day. Her expression shifted when she noticed the two of them poking around like amateur detectives.

"...What are you two doing?" she asked, pausing mid-step.

Aya turned immediately, stepping forward with her usual casual charm. "Perfect timing, Inaba-san! We were hoping to see you."

Reimu gave a small wave, though her tone was more direct. "You’re from Eientei, right? Mind answering a few questions for us?"

Reisen blinked, caught off guard by the sudden attention. "...Questions? About what?"

Aya flipped open her notebook. "We’re investigating the origin of some of the furniture and equipment in this facility. Particularly this infirmary."

Reimu pulled out the yellowed paper and held it up briefly. "For example... this was tucked away behind one of the drawers."

Reisen tilted her head, stepping closer to examine the document. Her eyes narrowed as she read the heading.

“‘Scarlet Medical Wing…?’” she murmured. “That’s… strange.”

“You’ve worked with medical supplies at Eientei, haven’t you?” Aya asked. “Does any of this seem familiar to you? The tools, the layout, even the type of equipment being stored here?”

Reisen crossed her arms, glancing around the room with a more critical eye now. She walked slowly toward the medicine cabinet, inspecting the labels and the organization.

“…Some of this… yes,” she admitted after a pause. “The bandages, the gauze, the antiseptics… they’re all pretty standard. But the actual equipment? The heart monitor, the filing system… even the way this place is arranged? No. This isn’t Eientei’s style at all.”

Aya quickly scribbled that down. “What about the medications?”

Reisen opened one of the drawers and pulled out a small bottle of pills. After inspecting the label, she frowned. “…Definitely not Eientei stock. We make most of our own medicine, and these have standardized manufacturing labels. Looks like mass-produced stuff from the Outside World.”

“So this room’s a mix too,” Reimu summarized. “Some Outside World, some unknown origin, and standard supplies that even you recognize.”

Aya nodded. “And the Scarlet reference…” She tapped the notebook thoughtfully. “…That raises more questions about Remilia’s earlier comment.”

Reisen set the bottle back into the drawer, turning to face them both. “…Why are you two suddenly turning into detectives, anyway?”

“We’re looking for patterns,” Aya answered. “If we can find enough pieces that don’t belong, we might figure out how this place was built… or at the very least, find a weak spot in it.”

Reimu added, “Or find a way out. Anything that doesn’t involve waiting a month or… worse.”

Reisen fell silent at that, glancing toward the windowless wall, as if expecting something—or someone—to be listening.

After a few seconds, she sighed. “Well… if I notice anything strange, I’ll tell you.”

“Appreciated,” Reimu said.

“And… for what it’s worth…” Reisen continued, glancing back at the paper one more time. “…Be careful. If this place really is stitched together from familiar locations… it means that Yukari woman knows exactly how to get into all of our heads.”

Reimu felt a chill at that thought, but she gave a determined nod. “We’re already well aware.”

Reimu and Aya left the infirmary, both walking at a steady pace down the corridor. The air felt heavier now—whether from the building tension or simply the oppressive atmosphere of the facility, neither could tell for certain.

“We’ll question Remilia about the paper later,” Aya said while flipping her notebook closed for the time being. “I’d rather approach her when she’s not surrounded by others. That way, we’ll get fewer interruptions and… less dramatics.”

Reimu nodded in agreement. “Yeah.  she seems yo be the type of person who’ll probably turn it into a full monologue if we ask her in public.”

They wandered for a bit, passing by the dining hall and then the dorm hallway, before Aya snapped her fingers. “Next stop… the control room.”

“The place Cirno’s been banging her head against all week?” Reimu asked dryly.

Aya grinned. “Exactly. If nothing else, it’ll be entertaining.”

Upon arriving at the control room, the first thing they heard was the distinct, repeated sound of something heavy striking glass.

Clang… clang… clang…

Sure enough, Cirno stood front and center, wielding an improvised ice hammer—barely bigger than a mallet. She was furiously swinging at the thick observation glass that separated the room’s main interior from the panel section beyond.

Rumia stood a few steps back, arms crossed, watching with mild amusement.

“Still at it, huh?” Reimu commented, resting a hand on her hip.

Cirno didn’t even turn around. “Today’s the day! I’m gonna break this thing wide open and be the first to see what’s inside!”

Rumia chuckled darkly. “You said that yesterday… and the day before that…”

Aya stepped forward, adjusting her notebook under her arm as she examined the glass. From the outside, it looked as untouched as ever—completely free of cracks or scratches, no matter how many hits Cirno delivered.

“This glass… it’s unusually durable,” Aya murmured. “There’s no way normal barrier glass from Gensokyo would hold out this long… even against weak ice attacks.”

Reimu nodded. “But other than that… nothing out of place here.”

The control room itself was as they remembered: a locked metal door leading to the control panels beyond, the thick viewing glass, several monitors on standby, and a control board that didn’t respond to any external touches.

Aya tapped the glass once with her knuckle, just to check. Completely solid. No sound leakage from the other side either.

Rumia lazily glanced at them. “You two gonna just stare or are you here to cheer Cirno on?”

“We’re just passing by,” Reimu said. “No progress here, I assume?”

Cirno huffed and planted her hammer on the floor. “Not yet! But just you wait! This wall’s got nothing on me!”

Aya smiled faintly but turned to Reimu. “Alright… no new leads here for now. Let’s move on.”

Their next destination brought them to one of the more curious rooms in the facility: the music room—or at least, that’s what Aya had started calling it in her notes.

The door creaked open with a slight push, and immediately, the faint scent of aged wood and lacquer filled Reimu’s senses.

At the center of the room stood a large, well-maintained black grand piano. Its surface reflected the pale ceiling lights, though there was something oddly… nostalgic about its design. The kind of piano one would expect to see in an old, elegant Western-style mansion rather than a temporary structure built for confinement.

Lunasa sat quietly on the bench before it, her hands resting on her lap, staring at the keys without playing.

Konngara was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, watching the scene with half-lidded eyes. Meanwhile, Aya, who had apparently wandered here before Reimu caught up, stood near one of the old wooden shelves on the side of the room, flipping through some scattered sheet music.

Reimu stepped in cautiously, letting her eyes roam across the space.

“…So, this is where you’ve been hiding,” she said quietly to Lunasa.

"And What are YOU doing here?" Reimu turned to the Oni. 

"I'm still patrolling. I just felt like entering inside this room. Guarding one area can be pretty boring." She said with her club above her head. 

"Sure."

Aya spoke up instead. “I’ve been checking the furniture. The piano, the bench, the sheet racks… Everything here has that same… inconsistent quality.”

Reimu tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

Aya gestured toward the piano. “Remilia’s table looked like it was from the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The infirmary equipment seemed like a mix of Outside World and Eientei. But this piano? It’s almost certainly from the Prismriver Mansion. The make, the finish… even the faint scratch on the left side of the lid—Lunasa confirmed it was already there before she woke up here.”

Lunasa nodded faintly, finally speaking. “…It’s ours. From home.”

Reimu frowned, slowly approaching the piano and running her fingers lightly across the polished surface. The chill of the metal and the smooth lacquer gave it an eerie authenticity.

“Even I can tell this room feels out of place. Doesn’t match the rest of the architecture. There’s something… old about it.”

Aya continued flipping through the sheet music, holding up a yellowed page. “And look at this. Some of the pieces here are handwritten. Lunasa even recognized some as her own arrangements.”

Reimu exhaled slowly, her mind racing. Another transplanted piece… Just like the dining table. Just like the infirmary tools…

“Is there anything odd besides the piano?” she asked aloud.

Aya shook her head. “Aside from the mismatched design and the presence of this very specific instrument… nothing hidden, no strange mechanisms. Just…” She paused, glancing at Lunasa. “…Just more proof that this place is built from fragments of our homes.”

Lunasa lowered her gaze again. “…It’s unsettling.”

Reimu straightened, tucking her hands into her sleeves. “Let’s add this to the list. We’ll circle back and decide how to approach Remilia later. For now… let’s keep moving.”

Aya gave a short nod, jotting down more notes in her journal.

The library yielded no new discoveries. Rows of colorful, foreign books still lined the shelves, and Alice remained seated at her usual spot, reading silently. Sanae had apparently been there earlier, but she had already left, likely still excited over whatever Outsider literature she had been devouring.

Aya, tapping her pen against her notebook with slight irritation, sighed. “Well, this was a dead end. Let’s double back to the kitchen. There’s something that’s been bothering me about that place.”

Reimu gave a shrug. “Lead the way.”

Together, they returned to the dining area and then slipped into the kitchen.

It was empty for now—most of the girls had either gone to their rooms or were scattered across the facility in their own personal routines. The overhead lights cast a pale glow across the countertops and storage cabinets.

Aya immediately got to work, examining the kitchen with a more investigative eye than before. She opened drawers, checked the undersides of tables, and examined the utensils lined neatly against the walls.

Reimu stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching Aya dart back and forth like an overly caffeinated crow. “You’re acting like this place has secret compartments.”

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Aya said without looking up. “From the little i know. Yukari doesn't seem to be known for straightforward setups.”

Reimu let her gaze wander, eventually focusing on the large industrial refrigerator in the corner. She walked over and opened it out of curiosity. It was well-stocked with vegetables, meats, dairy, and bottled drinks.

“…Food’s still fresh,” she muttered. “Even though we were told it restocks only once a week.”

Aya, hearing that, paused her rummaging. “That’s a good point. Do you remember anyone coming in here with new supplies?”

“No.”

Aya scribbled that down. “Another mystery for later.”

After that, she began inspecting the pantry. Cans and boxes, many with labels that didn’t resemble anything typically found in Gensokyo, filled the shelves. Brands and packaging straight from the Outside World, much like the medicine labels from the infirmary.

Aya pulled out a small canister of what appeared to be coffee grounds. She squinted at the label, turning it in her hands. “…Hakurei Shrine Maiden… have you ever seen this brand before?”

Reimu glanced at it briefly. “Nope."

“Thought so.” Aya placed it back with deliberate care.

Suddenly, Reimu’s attention shifted toward the far back corner of the kitchen—just beyond the storage area, near the emergency exit door that didn’t open. Something about the wall texture seemed… wrong.

“…Aya. Over here.”

Aya was by her side in an instant.

Reimu ran her hand along the surface of the wall. The paint was uneven. Unlike the rest of the kitchen’s smooth finish, this spot felt coarse and oddly hollow behind the surface.

Aya knocked on it lightly. Thud… thud… Hollow. Definitely hollow.

A grin slowly spread across Aya’s face. “Oh… now we’re getting somewhere.”

Reimu leaned in closer. “Do you think it’s hiding something?”

“Only one way to find out.” Aya reached for one of the metal spatulas resting nearby, using its flat edge to gently tap along the baseboard. There was a faint metallic clink from the lower corner—unlike the dull wooden knock from the rest of the wall.

“…There’s definitely something behind this panel.”

Reimu narrowed her eyes. “Can you pry it open?”

Aya was already trying. After a few moments of effort, part of the paneling gave way, revealing…

...

....

A sealed metal hatch. Just a plain, flat surface with a single word engraved on it:

“RESTRICTED.”

Both girls stared at it for a long second.

“…Lovely,” Reimu muttered. “Because that’s not ominous at all.”

Aya’s grin returned, sharper this time. “Now we’re officially onto something.”

Reimu crossed her arms. “We’ll need to think carefully about how we’re going to open this.”

Aya nodded, already jotting down notes about the location, the texture, and the engraving.

For now, the two backed away, deciding not to draw too much attention to their discovery.

"Should we show this to everyone?" Aya asked, her voice low, almost conspiratorial.

Reimu narrowed her eyes at the hatch, her mind already calculating the risks. "I'm not sure... The more people we bring in, the more noise we make. And you know Yukari... She’s probably watching every corner of this place."

Aya closed her notebook with a thoughtful hum. "I guess you're right… Best to keep it quiet for now. Just between us."

Reimu took a step back from the wall, tucking her sleeves with a small huff of air. "We’ll figure out how to open this later… Somehow."

Aya nodded, slipping the spatula back into its rightful place to cover her tracks. "Alright then. Next target… Remilia."

Reimu stretched her arms above her head lazily. "Let’s just hope she’s in a talkative mood today."

Following the winding corridor leading toward the dormitories, Reimu and Aya arrived at a small lounge area near the corner of the residential wing. The scent of rosehip tea lingered faintly in the air before they even entered.

There, seated with a level of practiced poise only she could manage, was Remilia Scarlet.

Dressed immaculately, her pale hands cradled a porcelain cup adorned with gold trim. A matching teapot rested neatly on the side table next to her, steam still rising from its spout. Her eyes were half-lidded with that familiar air of lazy aristocratic detachment, yet there was a subtle awareness in her gaze—she had clearly noticed their approach long before they entered.

Without even looking directly at them, she spoke first.

"Good afternoon, Shrine Maiden... Tengu," Remilia said, her voice calm but marked with just a trace of amusement. "To what do I owe this sudden visit? Have you come to beg for sanctuary under the Scarlet Devil’s protection?"

Aya let out a faint chuckle. "Tempting offer, but not today. We’re here on business."

Reimu stepped forward, not bothering with formalities. "We need to ask you something about the dining table in the main hall."

Remilia raised an eyebrow slightly, finally setting her teacup down with delicate care. "The table?"

Aya flipped open her notebook, already prepared. "When I inspected it earlier, something felt… off. When we asked you about it yesterday, you mentioned it reminded you of a table from your mansion. Can you elaborate on that?"

Remilia crossed one leg over the other, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “Ah… that table…”

There was a short pause as she gathered her words, her crimson eyes drifting in thought.

"I won’t lie to you," she began, her tone softer now. "When I first sat there, I was struck by an overwhelming sense of familiarity. The grain of the wood… the faded carving patterns on the legs… Even the tiny stain on the far-left corner… All of it. It’s as if someone took the table from my own dining hall and placed it here… down to the most trivial imperfections."

Aya scribbled furiously in her notebook.

Reimu frowned. "So you’re saying it’s… the same one?"

Remilia’s smile turned thin, almost cold. "Whether it’s the original or some perfectly fabricated replica… I can’t say. But the resemblance is too precise to dismiss as coincidence."

Aya closed her notebook for a moment. "And do you have any idea why Yukari would include something like that here?"

Remilia gave a low chuckle. "If I knew the true extent of Yukari’s intentions, I wouldn’t be trapped here with the rest of you, would I?"

Reimu exhaled sharply through her nose. "Fair point."

Aya pressed again. "Does anything else in this facility seem familiar to you? Other rooms? Objects?"

Remilia leaned back in her chair, folding her hands over her lap. "Not at the moment. But if I notice something else, I’ll let you know." She paused before adding with a sly grin, "Of course… that information may come at a cost."

Reimu rolled her eyes. "Figures."

...

“Wait,” she said, turning back toward Remilia. “Before we go, there’s something else.”

Remilia lifted her gaze again, curious but maintaining her aloof demeanor.

Reimu pulled out the yellow paper and unfolded it carefully, holding it out for Remilia to see. “This. We found it tucked between some of the medical supplies earlier. Recognize it?”

Remilia leaned forward slightly, setting her teacup aside once more. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the faded color and slight creases of the paper. Her expression changed—subtle, but noticeable.

“…Hmm.” She reached out, letting her gloved fingers brush over the surface of the paper without fully taking it. “The color and texture… This is Eientei’s emergency documentation paper stock.”

Aya blinked. “You’re sure?”

Remilia gave a short, amused exhale. “Positive. Reisen would likely recognize it too, but I’ve seen my fair share of Eientei’s medical reports and prescriptions. This shade of yellow is distinctive—used for internal memos or temporary supply lists.”

Reimu crossed her arms. “So this is further proof… The infirmary isn’t just inspired by Eientei. Parts of it may have been taken directly from there.”

Aya furiously scribbled that down, flipping pages to add it to the growing list of irregularities: Dining table from Scarlet Devil Mansion… Piano from Prismriver Mansion… Medical stock from Eientei…

Remilia smiled, though it carried a sharper edge now. “It would appear… this entire facility is stitched together from fragments of our own lives. Like some deranged patchwork of familiarity and manipulation.”

Aya muttered, “Which begs the question… How much of this place is real? And how much of it is just… repurposed memories?”

Reimu silently folded the paper again, tucking it back into her sleeve.

“Thank you for your help,” she said simply.

Remilia lifted her cup again, giving a dismissive wave of her other hand. “Think nothing of it. But remember what I said… Some answers come with a price.”

Without another word, Reimu and Aya left.

Just as they stepped back into the main hall, a sudden distortion rippled through the air.

A small gap opened near the ceiling, and the now-familiar, overly cheerful voice of Chen boomed out through a megaphone:

"DING DING DING~! IT'S 10 PM, GIRLS! TIME TO HEAD BACK TO YOUR ROOMS AND GET SOME SWEET, SWEET SLEEP!"

Reimu instinctively winced at the sheer volume, raising her sleeve over her ear. "Ugh… I swear, one of these days, I’m going to grab that cat and shake her until she learns volume control…"

Aya let out a tired exhale, already jotting a small note about the announcement’s timing. "Seems like that’s our cue to stop for today. It’s getting late anyway."

Reimu stretched her arms above her head with a loud sigh. "Are we finally done? I’m tired."

Aya nodded, but there was still that sharp glimmer of investigative focus in her eyes. "I’ll stay up a little longer… I want to review my notes and see if there’s a workaround for that hatch. Brute force clearly won’t cut it… but maybe there’s a latch or trigger somewhere. Either way, if I find anything, I’ll let you know first thing tomorrow."

Reimu gave her a lazy wave of her hand as she turned toward the long corridor that led to the dorm rooms. "Alright. Don’t do anything stupid. If Yukari’s watching… you know how she is."

Aya gave her a playful salute. "No promises. Good night, Shrine Maiden."

Reimu smirked faintly at that, already feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at her limbs. "For you too."

With that, the two parted ways for the night.

As Reimu walked back toward her room, she felt the unease settle again in her chest. The discoveries from today… the patchwork nature of this place… the hatch hidden in the kitchen…

Something was coming. She could feel it.

Chapter Text

Day 4.

The morning began like all the others—with noise.

Chen’s voice once again blared through the unseen speakers, her tone as shrill and hyperactive as ever:

"GOOD MORNING, LADIES! RISE AND SHINE! HOPE YOU ALL SLEPT WELL BECAUSE… GUESS WHAT?!"

Reimu stirred groggily, already reaching for her pillow to cover her ears. But she froze mid-motion as the next words hit her like cold water.

"TODAY, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL EVENT LINED UP IN THE MAIN HALL!

EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND! PLEASE FINISH YOUR BREAKFAST QUICKLY… AND REMEMBER… REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE… WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION! EHEHE~ HAVE FUN!!"

A long, stunned silence filled Reimu’s room after the announcement ended.

“…What?” she muttered, sitting up slowly.

The words rang in her mind again. Refusing to play… will end in death.

Her heart skipped a beat.

For the past three days, the atmosphere—though tense—had remained relatively passive. Small investigations, awkward group meetings, nervous but harmless chatter between participants. But now… this was a clear escalation.

Yukari’s changing the pace… Reimu thought bitterly.

With growing unease, she hurriedly got dressed and left her room. The hallways felt different this morning, quieter.

By the time she reached the dining area, most of the others were already there, quickly eating with visible tension on their faces. Even the more energetic ones—like Marisa and Cirno—seemed unusually subdued.

Reimu grabbed a piece of bread and forced herself to eat, all the while keeping an eye on the others.

Near the corner, Eiki sat with a grim, thoughtful expression, clearly considering the implications. Komachi, sitting beside her, looked downright miserable, fidgeting with her utensils.

Aya sat at the far end, scribbling hastily in her notebook, her eyes darting around the room between bites.

Remilia, as always, maintained her regal posture.

Satori sat quietly, her gaze distant, no doubt feeling the weight of everyone's unspoken fear.

Rumia and Cirno sat together at the end of the table, both looking confused more than anything else, but still noticeably less cheerful than usual.

After hastily finishing her meal, Reimu stood. Without waiting for further small talk, she made her way toward the main hall, where the so-called "event" was set to take place.

Her steps felt heavier with every stride.

As she approached the doors to the main hall, she clenched her fists at her sides.

Whatever’s waiting for us… It starts today.

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

As Reimu stepped into the main hall, she was momentarily taken aback by the sight before her.

The once plain and somber space had been entirely transformed overnight.

Bright paper streamers crisscrossed the ceiling. Oversized lanterns—painted in a mismatched array of garish colors—hung from makeshift stands. But the most baffling element of all… were the dozens of life-sized cardboard ducks scattered all around the room.

Some stood upright with awkward, tilted expressions drawn onto them. Others leaned against the walls, poorly cut, as if made in a rush by someone with far too much time and far too little artistic talent. A few even had little paper hats.

“…What…

the hell.

is this…”

Reimu muttered under her breath, staring at the sea of paper poultry.

One by one, the other girls filtered in behind her, each reacting with varying degrees of disbelief, confusion, or in some cases… barely restrained laughter.

Chen stood at the front with visible pride, tail flicking energetically, grinning ear to ear. Ran stood beside her, her expression remaining stoic and unreadable as always—hands calmly folded within her sleeves.

And finally… there was Yukari.

Seated elegantly atop a decorative platform—like some self-proclaimed festival queen—she waved at them with casual amusement, holding a paper fan she occasionally tapped against her shoulder with a theatrical flair.

"Ah~! Wonderful! Wonderful!" Yukari said, standing slowly with deliberate exaggeration, spreading her arms wide. Her voice carried throughout the hall with practiced showmanship. "I’m so glad to see all my dear guests have gathered here… Safe… healthy… and, most importantly… present."

Her smile widened.

"Because… as of this moment… the first grand event of our Matsuri of Mutual Joy and Understanding… shall begin!"

Reimu’s stomach twisted at how effortlessly Yukari said that with such fake warmth.

Some of the others exchanged uneasy glances.

Aya, already scribbling in her notebook again, muttered something.

Yukari clapped her hands twice, and suddenly confetti cannons hidden near the ceiling burst open with an explosion of paper flakes raining down on the group.

Chen spun on her heel, pointing dramatically at the cardboard ducks.

“GIRLS! WELCOME TO… THE GREAT DUCK HUNT!” she declared with far too much energy.

There was a long pause.

“…The what?” Reimu asked flatly.

Yukari continued, smiling like a delighted hostess at a summer festival. "Hidden among these lovely… handcrafted avian friends… are several special target ducks. Your task… locate them before time runs out. Smash the correct ones… and you all win a wonderful prize~!"

"And if we fail?" Eiki asked sharply from the back of the group, her tone heavy with suspicion.

Yukari placed a single finger to her lips, her smile never fading. "Oh… I wouldn’t recommend failing. The consequences… would be most unfortunate."

The room grew colder at her words.

Marisa, from near the middle of the group, gave a nervous laugh. "You’ve gotta be kidding… We’re playing… duck smashing games for our lives?"

"Exactly!" Chen chimed cheerfully. "You have exactly fifteen minutes! Timer starts…" She made a grand sweeping gesture toward the tall clock installed earlier in the hall.

The clock hands jerked unnaturally before beginning to tick backwards.

“…NOW!!"

Before anyone could argue, the countdown had begun.

The moment the countdown began, the entire room erupted into a flurry of chaotic motion.

Marisa, without hesitation, whipped out her mini-hakkero and shouted, "MASTER SPARK… just kidding!" She fired a wide barrage of small star-shaped danmaku blasts, peppering the first row of cardboard ducks. Several fell apart instantly in a shower of splinters and confetti.

Cirno laughed wildly from the corner, already summoning thick spears of ice. "It’s target practice! I'm the best at this!" she yelled with glee, launching her frozen projectiles and turning three unfortunate ducks into cold dust.

Rumia, standing next to her, lazily waved her arms. Her darkness swallowed a portion of the room, and several cardboard ducks within the blackened zone simply vanished from sight… before moments later being thrown out in random directions, torn apart by blunt force.

Konngara, however, was in a class of her own.

Without hesitation or care for subtlety, she charged straight toward the densest cluster of targets, her fists glowing faintly with sheer youkai strength.

With a single punch, she shattered a group of ducks in one go, sending cardboard fragments flying in every direction.

"Tch… They're barely lasting a hit. This isn't even a warm-up!" she said with a grin, already winding up for the next swing.

Sanae, taking inspiration, called upon divine winds to sweep across the floor. The gust picked up rows of paper birds, slamming them into the far wall.

"This is like one of those shrine festival games… only a lot louder," she muttered.

Reisen, still sore from her collision with Sanae the day before, stood near the back but focused carefully. Her eyes glowed faintly red as she fired a series of precision shots, each blast tearing holes clean through several ducks lined in a row.

"Calm... Focused... One at a time..." she whispered to herself, treating it like target training back at Eientei.

Yumemi, oddly enthusiastic, began waving what little spell cards she had brought with her, launching random energy orbs in every direction—though her aim left much to be desired. "Oh! Oh! I got one! Wait no—Never mind, that was just the wall…"

Komachi, for her part, looked completely unmotivated but still did her job. Using short-range teleportation bursts, she appeared behind clusters of ducks, cleaving them with sweeping motions from her scythe-like weapon before vanishing again.

"They’re lucky I’m not using full power…" she muttered under her breath, landing beside Eiki.

Meanwhile, Eiki herself stood perfectly still, letting out a deep sigh before simply raising her rod and releasing a single wave of pure, overwhelming judgmental energy.

Half the far corner of the room lit up in brilliant blue light—half the duck army disintegrated in its wake.

Aya, of course, was darting overhead with tremendous speed, using wind danmaku like sharp blades to slice through cardboard in midair, all the while taking mental notes for later documentation.

"Ah, the spirit of the hunt! This’ll make for a fantastic article!" she shouted mid-flight.

Satori stood near the back with a neutral expression. "…Some of you are enjoying this far too much," she said aloud, though her voice was barely heard over the chaos.

Alice, focusing on efficiency, summoned several of her dolls, sending them marching in a synchronized formation across the hall. Each doll wielded small swords or miniature spell circles, systematically cutting down the ducks with robotic precision.

Remilia, despite her initial disinterest, lazily fired short bursts of red energy beams from her fingertip with frightening accuracy, popping targets across the room without even standing from her chair.

"Such a vulgar game… but fine… I shall play along," she said with a thin smile.

Reimu herself focused on mid-range danmaku bursts, conserving energy while picking off targets that others missed.

With each passing second, the clock ticked down—10 minutes… then 5…

Amid the cardboard dust and magical residue filling the air, Reimu noticed something glinting at the far end of the hall.

"Over there!" she shouted, pointing toward a large, odd-looking duck painted gold and half-hidden behind some debris.

Konngara, spotting it too, let out a loud battle cry and sprinted forward like a charging bull.

With one single, devastating punch, she obliterated the golden duck, sending fragments flying high into the air.

Suddenly, the backward ticking of the clock halted. A small bell sounded from above.

Yukari clapped slowly from her platform. "Oh my… Well done. That was faster than I anticipated."

Chen jumped excitedly. "YOU DID IT!! FIRST EVENT COMPLETE! CONGRATULATIONS!!!"

The girls slowly began catching their breath, most of them covered in dust, sweat, and bits of cardboard.

Marisa flopped onto the ground dramatically. "Phew… Not bad… for a first round…"

Chen bounced up and down atop the small platform beside Yukari, waving her hands in exaggerated gestures.

"Okay, okay! Everyone pay attention! Time for the rankings!!"

The hyperactive cat began raising her fingers, announcing each placement with giddy excitement.

"First place… Konngara! Not surprising, she wrecked almost everything by herself!"

Konngara cracked her knuckles with a proud smirk. "Hmph. Figures. Give me something to hit, and I’ll deliver."

"Second place… Eiki Shiki! That giant energy blast really racked up points!"

"..." Eiki remained quiet. 

"Third place… Aya Shameimaru! Fastest cleanup on aerial targets!"

Aya grinned, puffing out her chest. "Naturally! Speed and precision—hallmarks of a great reporter!"

Chen continued, moving her fingers rapidly through the rest of the ranks:

"Fourth, Marisa! Fifth, Cirno! Sixth, Remilia! Seventh, Alice and her dolls! Eighth, Reisen! Ninth, Rumia! Tenth, Sanae! Eleventh, Yumemi! Twelfth, Komachi… and thirteenth…"

Chen paused dramatically, turning a complete circle with exaggerated flair.

"Our lovely Shrine Maiden, Reimu Hakurei!"

Reimu blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Tch… Thirteenth out of fifteen? I wasn’t even slacking that much…"

"Fourteenth… Satori Komeiji~!" Chen continued, snickering.

Satori simply shrugged. "I didn’t see the point in playing enthusiastically. It’s all psychological manipulation anyway."

"And last place… Lunasa Prismriver!"

Somewhere near the back, Lunasa lifted her head lazily from where she had been sitting on the floor. "…I didn’t feel like participating…"

she said in her usual flat, disinterested tone.

As the crowd shifted uncomfortably at the list, Ran—silent until now—reached out and calmly patted Chen on the head, smoothing down her unruly hair. Chen purred with contentment, tail swishing happily.

Yukari, meanwhile, remained poised and smiling atop her platform.

"Now then… Let’s not waste time. This will be…" Yukari paused for effect, opening her fan dramatically before speaking again, "…the final round of today's event."

A murmur swept through the group.

"Final round?" Reimu asked aloud.

Yukari’s smile deepened, but she gave no clarification.

Chen spun once more. "Yes, yes! And guess what? The top three performers from this last round… will receive a Special Ticket!"

"Ticket for what?" Reisen asked suspiciously.

"Oh, now that… Yukari’s voice trailed with that dangerous playfulness she was known for, "…will remain a mystery for now. After all… surprises are half the fun, aren’t they?"

Aya scribbled furiously into her notebook. "A ticket system… Possible immunity? Privileges? Or maybe… something worse…" she muttered under her breath.

"This is starting to get a little interesting," Marisa admitted, cracking her neck. "If there’s a prize on the line, I’m not sitting out this time."

Cirno punched the air. "I’m totally getting a ticket! I’ll beat you all this time!"

"We’ll see about that, Ice Fairy," Konngara said with a small, amused glare.

Rumia scratched her head. "I still don’t get the point of this but… breaking stuff was fun."

Alice stood near the side, instructing her dolls to line up like soldiers. "If the next round is similar, I’ll adjust my formation. Efficiency matters."

Sanae, already stretching, smiled awkwardly. "I didn’t expect games like this when I got here… but at least it’s better than sitting around worrying all day."

Yumemi clapped her hands together. "Games! Tickets! This really feels like a human festival now!" she said with far too much enthusiasm.

Komachi sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "Let’s just get this over with… I’m still stuck with clock duty after this anyway."

Eiki gave her a pointed look. "Duty is duty. Stop complaining."

Satori remained at the back, silent, though her third eye glowed faintly. "If this round is meant to divide us further… I’ll observe carefully."

Lunasa merely remained seated, still looking too disinterested to care.

Yukari finally lifted her hand. "Girls… positions please. This next round… starts in sixty seconds."

As the girls took their stances—some eager, some wary, others silently calculating—the clock on the far wall began to tick again…

Tension crackled in the air.

Yukari clapped her hands lightly, and with a flash of light, the main hall shifted again. The floor panels rumbled, shifting out of place, and new structures emerged: large, balloon-shaped targets floating above, color-coded spinning wheels, and strange mechanical contraptions that hurled cardboard projectiles across the room at random intervals.

Chen jumped up with wild enthusiasm. "WELCOME TO ROUND TWO: 'DANMAKU CARNIVAL SHOOTOUT'!!!"

"Oh, come on! That’s not even a good name!" Reimu muttered.

"Rules are simple!" Chen declared, ignoring her. "Hit as many moving targets as possible before the timer ends! Bonus points for aerial shots and style! Remember—top three get a Special Ticket~!"

The clock began ticking again.

3… 2… 1…

"BEGIN!!"

Immediately, the room exploded into activity.

---

Aya Shameimaru launched upward with breathtaking speed, weaving between floating targets with expert agility. Her wings beat furiously as she sliced through the air, sending blades of razor wind at balloon targets mid-flight.

"This is where I shine!" she shouted triumphantly, slashing down three moving targets in a single swoop. Her pen was somehow still in her hand, recording every hit for personal satisfaction.

---

Konngara, standing below, cracked her knuckles and grinned.

While others relied on danmaku, she simply charged full force at the spinning wheels lined along the wall.

Her punches sent the large, heavy targets spinning wildly, even knocking one completely off its stand. The loud metallic crash echoed through the hall.

"Simple targets, simple solution!" she bellowed, driving her fist through another wooden contraption with ease.

---

Marisa wasn’t one to be left behind.

"Alright, let's bring out the big stuff this time!" she called, pulling out her Hakkero. She unleashed a barrage of bright, chaotic star-shaped blasts, painting the entire ceiling with destruction.

Though her aim was wild, sheer volume made up for it.

---

Cirno, inspired by the chaos, laughed uncontrollably.

"Try and beat THIS!!"

She summoned massive ice chunks, hurling them like meteorites at every floating target she could see. Several balloons burst spectacularly under the sheer blunt force of her frozen assault.

---

Rumia tried to play along, her shadows swallowing a few targets at random.

"I don’t really get the rules… but if it’s breaking stuff, I’m in," she said, sweeping dark tendrils through a few airborne decorations.

---

Reisen, eyes glowing with focus, maintained a calm firing stance at the back of the room.

Her shots were smaller, but they hit fast and in tight, controlled bursts.

"Keep calm… keep breathing… treat it like target practice…" she whispered.

---

Remilia, standing regally near the center, lifted one pale hand.

"How pedestrian… but fine."

Thin, precise crimson energy darts fired from her fingertips, puncturing several high-altitude balloons with almost lazy accuracy.

"Such dull entertainment, but I won’t fall behind a human or a tengu."

---

Alice, meanwhile, deployed an entire wave of dolls.

They fanned out, each unleashing tiny magic blasts with machine-like precision.

"Systematic approach… steady cadence… full spread formation…" she mumbled, her mind fully engrossed in fine-tuning their coordination mid-battle.

---

Sanae, invoking a small gust of divine wind, guided her danmaku into more erratic targets.

Her shots were unrefined but consistent.

"Not bad for a shrine maiden out of water," she said, smiling nervously.

---

Yumemi, in pure academic excitement, began experimenting mid-round with spell formations she barely understood.

"Theoretical physics says this should work—!!!" she shouted before launching a wild burst of unstable energy. The resulting explosion took out a surprising number of targets... and almost knocked her backward in the process.

---

Komachi, yawning exaggeratedly, used short-range teleport jumps to appear near random clusters of targets and slice them with wide, lazy sweeps of her scythe.

"This better be worth it… I’m too old for these kids’ games…"

---

Eiki, once again, waited until most of the others had scattered, then raised her rod.

With a single, beautifully controlled wave of blue light, she vaporized another large cluster of targets near the far wall.

"All things in moderation. No need for unnecessary theatrics."

---

Satori, standing back with her arms folded, barely fired at all.

She picked her moments carefully, releasing small bursts of psychic energy when she sensed a target's weakest point.

"There’s no benefit in wasting energy. Let the others tire themselves," she said under her breath.

---

Lunasa, true to form, fired the occasional lackluster shot at the floor, barely trying.

"I don’t like noisy games…" she sighed.

---

The clock ticked down.

10 seconds… 5… 3… 2… 1…

BUZZ!!

The entire room froze.

The targets disintegrated into light particles, and the air hung heavy with leftover danmaku energy.

---

Chen jumped forward again, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Results!!"

The scoreboard flickered into existence on a floating panel above.

1st Place: Aya Shameimaru

2nd Place: Konngara

3rd Place: Marisa Kirisame

"YES! YES! YES!!" Aya pumped her fist triumphantly, scribbling her victory into her notes as though her life depended on it.

Konngara, arms crossed and grinning with satisfaction, simply nodded. "Not bad. Would’ve liked first, though."

Marisa gave a lopsided grin. "Looks like I pulled through after all!"

---

Yukari stood, unfolding her fan again with slow theatrical flair.

"My my… what a beautiful display of effort and spirit~"

Her tone darkened just enough to make everyone freeze for a second.

"Now then… to address the fear I know many of you carried throughout these little games…"

"..."

"..."

A long pause.

Yukari smiled sweetly.

"There never was any real punishment for losing today."

...

...

...

...

...

...

Silence.

Everyone stared at her.

"W-What!?" Reimu blurted out.

"Correct!" Chen added, laughing like it was all one big joke. "It was just to… encourage motivation~!"

"Unbelievable…" Reisen muttered, covering her face with both hands.

"I knew it was just mind games…" Satori whispered with narrowed eyes.

Eiki crossed her arms but said nothing, her expression unreadable.

"This was all just… psychological pressure…" Alice murmured, visibly annoyed.

"Incredible… absolutely diabolical!" Aya laughed, both impressed and mildly horrified as she continued writing.

Yukari clapped again. "Now then… Aya, Konngara, Marisa… I’ll deliver your Special Tickets later today. For now… rest. Enjoy yourselves. Because the real festival…"

"…Is only getting started!!"

"Wait, is this it?" Cirno crossed her arms, visibly pouting. "I wanted to play more!"

"Me too!" Marisa chimed in, spinning her mini-Hakkero in her hand. "Especially now that we know there weren’t any risks!"

Rumia, floating lazily nearby, nodded. "Yeah... breaking things without fear is actually fun."

Eiki, clearing her throat, raised her voice with authoritative calm. "Patience, girls. This was only the first event. As stated before, this Matsuri will span an entire month. We shall participate in a new event every week."

Chen jumped in, tail flicking with excitement. "That means... four more events to come~!"

Aya, flipping to a fresh page in her notebook, added with a grin: "More headlines for me. This festival might end up making great material for my paper."

Komachi stretched dramatically. "As long as none of these games involve me running laps, I won’t complain…"

Sanae laughed nervously, putting her hands together in prayer. "Well… with no punishments… I guess this is a lot less stressful than I thought."

Yumemi, bouncing where she stood, clapped her hands together. "Truly a marvelous human social experiment! Controlled anxiety, followed by reward-based conditioning!"

Alice, adjusting the ribbon on her head, muttered, "That’s one way to put it..."

Reimu, standing near the far side of the hall, remained quiet for a moment. Her eyes slowly wandered over the others. The laughter, the casual banter, the way Cirno and Rumia were already roughhousing near one of the cardboard ducks left behind…

For a brief moment, she felt her shoulders relax.

"...Huh..." she whispered to herself.

The memory of Yukari’s original announcement—the killing incentive, the sinister tone, the looming threat of despair—lingered faintly in the back of her mind. But now, here they were. Laughing. Joking. Acting like this was just a typical Gensokyo festival with odd decorations and stranger rules.

Maybe…

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, everyone here seemed… civilized enough.

Strong-willed, yes.

Stubborn, absolutely.

But not the type to actually kill each other.

Reimu exhaled softly and gave herself a small, private nod.

Yeah.

Surely…

No one would actually do something like that.

As the excitement from the day’s event settled, the atmosphere in the main hall slowly began to mellow. The girls had started to disperse, returning to their rooms or wandering the corridors as the familiar night announcement from Chen grew closer.

At one of the dining tables, Satori sat quietly, staring intently at the three tickets now resting in the hands of Marisa, Aya, and Konngara.

Her third eye pulsed faintly.

"...Strange," she muttered to herself.

Aya twirled her ticket between her fingers, clearly proud of herself. "A reward for journalistic excellence!" she said cheerfully.

Marisa stuffed hers inside her hat. "Ehh… I’ll figure out what it does later. Could be something cool. Maybe a free meal or something."

Konngara held the thin piece of paper between her thumb and forefinger with visible disdain. "Tch… Looks cheap. Probably worthless." She stood up from her seat, stretching her arms overhead. "I’m going to find a corner to throw this thing away. No need for junk like this cluttering my room."

"Wait, you're just going to toss it?" Sanae asked, tilting her head in disbelief.

"What’s the point of keeping something that doesn’t even tell me what it’s for?" Konngara replied bluntly.

Near the back of the room, Rumia and Cirno were huddled together, whispering to each other, barely holding in their giggles.

"Pffft…" Cirno snorted, covering her mouth with both hands.

"Don’t laugh so loud! She’ll hear us!" Rumia whispered back, but she was already shaking with silent laughter.

Reimu, observing from across the hall, narrowed her eyes.

"Those two are definitely up to something," she thought.

Alice, sitting nearby, noticed as well. "Those two are never subtle. Whatever they're planning, it's bound to be childish."

"..." Aya looked at her ticket. And suddenly left. 

---

Over by the library entrance, Yumemi was pacing with exaggerated frustration. "I was certain I’d place in the top three… I’ll have to adjust my formulas next time!"

"Next time? You’re already thinking that far ahead?" Reisen commented while bandaging her still slightly bruised arm from yesterday’s Sanae crash incident.

"Of course!" Yumemi declared with dramatic flair. "A good scientist never gives up after one failure!"

---

Sanae meanwhile was sitting with Komachi, sipping water and visibly exhausted.

"You were really all over the place during that game…" Sanae said with a small laugh.

"Ugh, yeah… I didn’t think babysitting a clock and breaking targets would be this tiring on the same day," Komachi grumbled, leaning back.

"And you’ll have more tomorrow," Eiki added without even looking up from a document she was reviewing. "Don’t think for a second your duties lessen just because the event’s over."

Komachi let out a long, pained groan.

Lunasa, as usual, sat by herself near one of the darker corners of the hall, idly strumming soft, melancholic chords on an old stringless violin she had found stored in the backroom.

No one was sure why she kept pretending it made sound, but no one wanted to interrupt her either.

---

Satori, still seated, stared a little longer at the tickets now sitting unattended on the table as Marisa and Aya had walked off to their rooms.

"…" 

Reimu, on her way out, passed by Konngara, who was holding the ticket like it was some kind of cursed object.

"What are you even going to do with that?" Reimu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I told you already," Konngara replied gruffly. "I’m tossing it. There's no point keeping junk like this."

And with that, Konngara walked off, mumbling to herself as she disappeared down the hall.

---

Meanwhile, just before retiring to their rooms, Cirno and Rumia finally let out their laughter the moment they were out of earshot.

"She’s gonna freak out when she finds it later!" Cirno said between gasps.

"Totally worth it!" Rumia added, holding her sides from laughing too hard.

They exchanged a mischievous high-five before dashing off toward their own rooms, still snickering.

Reimu, already halfway to her room, caught a glimpse of their little exchange out of the corner of her eye.

"...I don’t like this..." she thought grimly. "They're definitely planning something dumb."

As the night announcement finally rang through the halls, Reimu let herself collapse onto her bed with a heavy sigh.

"Whatever… Not my problem for tonight…"

And with that, Day 4 came to a quiet, deceptively peaceful end.

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Reimu’s eyes fluttered half-shut as she settled under the thin blanket of her bed. Her mind drifted, wandering through fragmented thoughts:

The shrine... the quiet of Gensokyo’s evening breeze... Suika’s drunken laughter echoing in the distance... Aunn pacing around, loyally guarding the shrine grounds...

Would they be looking for her by now? Or maybe they’d assume she was out on some incident again...

Her chest tightened at the thought.

“I’ll get out of here soon enough... I just need to be patient... and careful…” she murmured inwardly, turning on her side.

Sleep began to creep over her senses. The darkness of her room felt heavier, but almost comforting. The quiet was something she could embrace.

Just as she was about to drift off—

BZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

An earsplitting, shrill, mechanical screech tore through the air.

Reimu’s body shot upright like a startled cat, heart racing.

“W-What the hell!?” she gasped, clutching her ears.

Her vision blurred for a moment before focusing on the source:

The clock.

That cursed, newly-installed, oversized clock standing in the main hall.

The alarm blared endlessly, with a violent pitch that seemed like it was purposely designed to drive everyone mad.

Through her door, Reimu could hear other girls reacting too.

Marisa.

"Who the hell turned that thing on!? It’s the middle of the night!"

Sanae.

"Whyyyyy!? I was finally dreaming of something soooo nice…!"

Remilia.

"This is absolutely unacceptable. Who dares disturb my rest!?" she declared with her usual aristocratic flair, though her messy hair betrayed her irritation.

Reisen.

"I'm not immune to permanent hearing loss. I’m blaming everyone involved…" she hissed, visibly trembling with rage.

Komachi.

"Great… Just what I needed… babysitting this thing even at night…"

Yumemi.

"IS THIS PART OF SOME KIND OF NEW TEST!? A NIGHT EXPERIMENT?!"

Konngara.

"I knew this stupid clock would be trouble the second I saw it," she grumbled, cracking her knuckles.

The source of the disaster quickly became apparent.

Cirno and Rumia, both crouched, were giggling uncontrollably, tears forming at the corners of their eyes from laughing so hard.

"Haha! It actually worked! It’s louder than I thought!" Cirno squeaked between breaths.

"See? I told you it would be better than breaking the glass! Totally worth it!" Rumia added, holding her sides. 

Reimu slowly turned her head toward them, her eye twitching, her expression growing darker with every second.

"...You two..."

Her voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl.

"...I’m going to make you regret this..."

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...

...

Cirno froze.

"...Run." Rumia said with sudden clarity.

Both bolted instantly.

Reimu tore after them, fury radiating off her like a burning storm.

Reimu’s footsteps thundered down the corridor as she sprinted after the two fleeing troublemakers.

"GET BACK HERE!!" she roared, her voice echoing with righteous fury.

Cirno, still laughing but now visibly panicking, darted left and right like a wild animal.

"She's serious! She's seriously gonna exterminate us!!"

Rumia, floating just above the floor with a mischievous grin, shouted back, "Worth it! Still totally worth it!"

Reimu’s teeth clenched. Without her full danmaku powers in this dimension, she relied purely on speed and raw aggression—but even so, she was more than fast enough to catch them.

With a burst of momentum, she tackled both of them around a corner, sending all three crashing into a pile on the floor.

"Ow—Ow—OW! Okay! Okay! Mercy! Mercy!" Cirno screamed, shielding her head.

"Gyaah! Stop punching!" Rumia whined, curling up defensively.

Reimu did not hold back.

For the next few minutes, the hallway was filled with the sounds of light smacks, annoyed yelling, and the occasional icy crack as Cirno tried (and failed) to defend herself with makeshift ice barriers.

Eventually, after their punishment had been thoroughly delivered, Reimu stood up, dusting herself off, breathing heavily but with a small sense of grim satisfaction.

"If you two EVER pull something like this again, I swear I’ll..." she started, but both culprits were already half-conscious and whimpering on the floor.

"...Tch... whatever. I’m too tired for this."

---

One by one, the other girls had already begun returning to their rooms.

Marisa, passing by, gave Reimu a small thumbs-up. 

Sanae, still rubbing her ears, offered a sympathetic smile as she walked past.

Reisen, grumbling softly, held an ice pack against her head. courtesy of Cirno’s earlier stray icicles.

Yumemi, scribbling with a satisfied grin, mumbled: "Fascinating... truly fascinating..."

Remilia, yawning dramatically, disappeared back into her room with a curt flick of her hair.

Komachi, now leaning lazily against a wall near the clock, simply waved without much energy: "Good job, shrine maiden… Get some sleep already..."

Konngara, arms crossed, simply nodded in approval as Reimu passed by.

Finally, Reimu returned to her room.

She closed the door behind her, slid down onto her futon with a long, exhausted sigh, and let herself sink back into the silence she had craved all night.

The ringing in her ears from the alarm was still faintly there, but at least the worst was over… for now.

"Stupid ice fairy... stupid darkness youkai..." she muttered, curling up and letting her eyes slowly close.

The night pressed on, and for the moment, peace returned to the walls of the Matsuri.

Day 5.

Reimu lay still under her covers, half-awake, her thoughts swirling in that familiar mixture of irritation and weary curiosity.

"Five days already..." she muttered internally, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Her mind drifted again…

"Why is Yukari really doing this...? A test? A joke? Some kind of twisted entertainment?"

The supposed festival felt more like psychological warfare. Each day brought a new layer of unease, a new mystery with no answer.

"I should corner her soon... Ask her what she's really after… before this farce gets worse..."

As she sat up, still sluggish from last night’s exhaustion, Reimu prepared herself for the usual obnoxious morning announcement from Chen.

But instead…

It happened.

A different sound blared through the speakers this time.

The tone was heavier... distorted... almost mocking in its theatrical delivery.

Then Chen’s voice rang out, but it was different now—forced, almost rehearsed.

"ATTENTION, GIRLS! ATTENTION, GIRLS! A BODY...

...

...

...

HAS BEEN DISCOVERED!"

Reimu froze, her heart skipping a beat.

"...What?"

Her blood turned cold.

The announcement continued:

"Following the discovery of a body, all participants must make their way to the dining hall to hear the explanation of the next procedures! Failure to comply will result in... consequences."

The speakers clicked off with a final burst of static.

For a long moment, Reimu could only sit there, wide-eyed, processing what she had just heard.

"...No... no way... Not already…"

She stood up abruptly, her legs shaky beneath her.

chest rising and falling in chaotic rhythm.

"No… No way… No way... No way...!"

Her mind raced, frantically grasping at any possible explanation—"It’s a prank... A sick joke… Another one of Yukari’s games... Right? Right!?"

But the fear gnawed at her.

Without thinking, her legs moved on instinct, carrying her faster and faster through the long corridor.

The world around her blurred—the walls, the doors, the scattered echoes of panicked voices from the others ahead of her.

She could hear them... faint sentences... fragments of shocked conversation... voices trembling, some gasping... But none of it registered.

Her heart was pounding in her throat.

"Please... Let it be a lie… Just another stupid trick... Please..."

Reimu’s feet skidded against the polished floor as she turned the corner sharply, reaching the entrance to the dining hall.

Without hesitation, she shoved the doors wide open with both hands.

"Move, MOVE!" she shouted, pushing past the stunned girls gathered near the center.

And then... she saw it.

The color drained from her face.

Her delusions,

her thin shield of denial…

all shattered

in an instant.

There it was

lifeless…

cold…

Her once sharp, figure now lay limp and broken.

Her wings. now rested cold and still, stained at the edges with darkened blood. One of them twisted at an unnatural angle, the feathers matted and torn.

Her face...

Her expression… frozen between terror and agony. Eyes closed tightly as if she had braced herself in her final moments, lips slightly parted as though the scream had been stolen from her throat.

Blood trailed from the side of her head, forming a sickening pool that crept toward the leg of the table.

And there. at her side…

A camera, now reduced to a pile of shattered glass and crushed metal.

Beside it, what appeared to have once been a photograph… now tattered, almost ripped beyond recognition.

Her hand… limp, but clearly positioned as if she had been clutching something desperately when she fell.

...

...

It was unmistakable.

Unforgiving.

Reimu’s breath stopped as her eyes locked onto the scene before her.

There, sprawled awkwardly on the bloodstained floor near the dining table…

...

...

was Aya Shameimaru.

Chapter Text

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Reimu remained on her knees, eyes fixed on Aya’s lifeless form, her mind struggling to grasp the harsh reality. The room seemed to shrink around her, filled with a suffocating silence broken only by the soft, uneven breaths of those gathered.

Konngara stepped forward, jaw clenched tightly. Her usual fiery spirit was tempered by a cold seriousness as she lowered her gaze toward the body. “This… this changes everything,” she muttered, voice heavy with frustration and disbelief.

Marisa crossed her arms, a shadow of anger flickering across her features.

Sanae, trembling, knelt beside Reimu. "Who did this?” Her voice cracked, but her resolve was clear.

Reisen, standing near the doorway, rubbed her temples.

Cirno and Rumia sat silently in the corner, their playful demeanor vanished, replaced by guilt and fear. Neither dared to meet anyone’s eyes.

In stark contrast, Satori sat calmly in a nearby chair, her expression serene as ever. “Death changes the flow of information,” she said softly, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “We must pay close attention to what this reveals.”

Remilia leaned elegantly against the wall, arms folded, her face unreadable. “How tiresome,” she murmured with a slight smirk, unfazed by the grim scene. “Yet it does bring a certain clarity to this chaotic affair.”

Komachi hovered near the clock, her usual weariness deepened by the night’s events. “I never thought I’d have to watch over something like this,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with fatigue.

Reisen stepped forward hesitantly, her trembling hand reaching out to touch Aya’s still form.

“A-Are we sure… she’s really dead?” Her fingers met cold, unyielding flesh.

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“It’s cold…” Reisen whispered, voice barely steady.

Komachi, standing nearby, nodded solemnly. “Her soul has already departed. It’s gone to the underworld.”

Eiki’s usually composed expression faltered, a rare crack of distress appearing in her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, her breath shallow.

“Grrr…” she muttered, barely audible but charged with frustration and sorrow.

Sanae’s voice broke through the tense silence, filled with anguish. “W-Why did this happen? Aya-chan… she never did anything wrong!”

Reisen’s fingers trembled as she withdrew her hand, her face pale. “I… I can’t believe this…”

Sanae’s eyes welled with tears, her voice breaking, “Aya was always kind… Why? Why would someone do this?”

Eiki’s jaw tightened, her usual stern composure wavering. “ This is murder.”

Remilia, leaning casually against the wall, let out a slow, almost bored sigh. “Honestly, I’m not surprised. In a game like this, innocence is a luxury no one gets to keep.”

Yumemi, gripping her notebook tightly, suddenly turned away, clutching her mouth as if she might vomit. Her face drained of color, trembling with nausea.

"We can’t trust anyone anymore.”

Marisa’s usual bravado cracked, her voice sharp. “If they can do this to Aya… who’s next?”

Cirno and Rumia exchanged guilty, nervous glances, neither able to speak.

“It appears that things have progressed… smoothly.”

A new voice slithered into the air like poison silk.

All eyes turned sharply toward the entrance. There stood Yukari Yakumo, flanked as always by her loyal underlings: Ran Yakumo, stoic and watchful, and Chen, bouncing excitedly as if this entire scene were part of a show she was enjoying far too much.

Yukari stepped forward with graceful ease, holding her fan just below her smile, her golden eyes glimmering with amusement—and something colder beneath.

“Such an unfortunate turn of events,” Yukari mused with mock sorrow. “I was truly hoping you all would manage to bypass the first week unharmed. But… ah… it is what it is.”

Her tone dripped with artificial pity, each word twisted with theatrical flair.

Marisa, unable to contain herself, pointed an accusing finger toward her. “Shut up! You were hoping for this more than anyone!”

Yukari blinked, then dramatically pressed a hand to her chest in feigned offense. “Me? Hoping for this? How heartless of you to assume such a thing! All I ever wanted… was for everyone to get along… to embrace the spirit of the festival!”

Her voice lowered, her smile widening with unsettling sweetness. “Murder was simply… one of the available options. Never encouraged, of course. Merely… allowed.”

“Don’t give me that crap!” Marisa shouted. “I bet it was you! You killed her yourself, didn’t you?!”

At that, Yukari let out a theatrical gasp, staggering back a step as if mortally wounded by the accusation. “Me!? Oh… how cruel... After everything I’ve done to make this place hospitable for you! The food! The events! The entertainment!”

“I think it was her too…” Sanae muttered weakly, still trembling. “No one else would… would go this far…”

Reimu, though visibly shaken, spoke with a low, bitter clarity. “Normally… I’d agree… But no. As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think Yukari or her underlings did this.”

“What!?” Reisen snapped. “But why not!? Who else could it be!?”

Reimu tightened her fists. “Because it goes against the entire purpose of this setup.This… this was meant to come from within. From us.”

The room fell silent at those words.

A heavy, chilling realization settled into everyone’s stomachs.

“B-But… then…” Rumia’s voice cracked, her eyes glistening with tears, “…S-So… who killed her…?”

For the first time since entering, Ran Yakumo spoke, her voice low and calm like a final verdict:

“Fu fu fu… Isn’t it obvious?”

Her gaze swept coldly across the room, her next words slicing through the air:

“It was one of you.”

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The room fell into a suffocating, almost tangible silence. The weight of Ran’s words hung above them like a guillotine poised to drop.

For a long, agonizing moment, no one spoke. The air felt thick, heavy with suspicion, fear, and disbelief.

Reisen’s legs shook as she took a step back, her voice cracking. “O-One… of us…?”

Konngara’s eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. “Tch… Just like that… all trust gone…”

Sanae clutched at her sleeves, her voice desperate. “No way… That’s… that’s ridiculous! That’s preposterous! No one would do that! We’re all friends here! We’re all victims in this… together!”

Remilia, standing with eerie composure, tilted her head and let out a low, amused chuckle. “Fufufu… Things are getting interesting now…” Her crimson eyes glimmered, unreadable.

Marisa crossed her arms tightly, trying to hide the tremor in her hands. “I swear… if I find out who did this…” She let the threat hang.

Yumemi looked seconds away from fainting, clutching her notebook against her chest like a lifeline. “N-No… I can’t believe this… There must be some mistake… This… this isn’t happening…”

Komachi let out a bitter sigh, dragging a hand across her face. “Well… this turned into my kind of job faster than I wanted…”

Cirno was frozen stiff, her usual bravado shattered. “I… I don’t… understand… Who would…?”

Rumia sat on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, her voice small and shaky. “W-We were just playing…"

Satori’s expression remained calm, though her voice carried a note of resignation. “Fear will turn quickly to paranoia… I suggest we prepare for that.”

Lunasa, standing quietly near the back, spoke for the first time, her voice as hollow as the room felt. “…Someone… Someone among us… really did this…?” Her pale eyes wavered as she stared at the floor, her hands trembling at her sides.

Reimu remained silent, her gaze lowered, but her heart burning with conflict.

None of them wanted to accept it.

...

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"Hold up."

Konngara’s voice cut sharply through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned toward her as she stepped forward, her expression grim but steady.

“I have a question,” she continued, folding her arms. “Someone died. Doesn’t that mean… the guilty party gets to leave now? That was the rule, wasn’t it?”

For a moment, silence lingered—until Chen, who had been bouncing with barely restrained energy, suddenly burst into loud, gleeful laughter.

“Pfffft—Ahahahaha!! Oh, you’re all so funny! So cute! So naive!!”

Her voice echoed off the walls, manic and unrestrained.

“Chen,” Ran said gently but firmly, placing a hand atop the cat’s head, petting her as if calming down a misbehaving child. “Please… save your adorable laughing fits for later.”

Chen snickered but stepped back, tail swishing in satisfaction.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances.

Konngara’s eyes widened. “Wait… What does that mean?”

“T-That’s not it…?” Sanae asked, her voice full of disbelief.

“B-But…” Reisen stammered, visibly paling.

“The game… continues…?” Yumemi whispered, nearly breathless.

Marisa slammed her fist on the nearest wall. “What the hell!?”

Yukari, ever composed and smiling, opened her fan halfway, her golden eyes glimmering with playful cruelty.

“You see… there’s a little detail I neglected to mention… a special rule, if you will.” She spoke with deliberate slowness, savoring every word.

The group stood frozen, bracing for the inevitable cruelty to follow.

“Killing someone isn’t enough…” Yukari purred. “To truly leave… you must get away with it.”

A stunned, collective silence followed.

“…Huh?” Reimu blinked, barely able to process the words.

“You mean…” Sanae’s voice trembled, “…They have to… not get caught?”

Yukari closed her fan with a soft snap and nodded. “Exactly.”

“The guilty party will only be allowed to leave if they successfully avoid suspicion… by deceiving all of you during the Class Trial.”

“Class… trial…?” Reisen repeated, dazed.

“That’s right!” Chen chirped, recovering her energy. “You’re all going to vote for who you think did it! If you catch them, they’ll face punishment! But if you’re wrong…”

Chen’s grin widened sinisterly.

“…then the real culprit walks free… and everyone else… well…”

Ran finished the sentence coldly:

“You’ll all die.”

The atmosphere turned ice cold. The weight of Yukari’s revelation fell like a hammer, each girl processing the horror in her own way.

Reimu felt her stomach twist violently. “So… not only do we have to fear being killed… but now we have to suspect each other just to survive…?”

Marisa clenched her teeth, fists trembling at her sides. “Tch… This just keeps getting worse… Damn you, Yukari…”

Sanae’s hands shook uncontrollably as she covered her mouth. “T-This… This is like something out of a nightmare…! How can we… accuse each other like this!?”

Konngara punched the wall, leaving a visible crack. “So we’re rats in a cage… forced to turn on each other…” Her voice burned with raw fury.

Reisen collapsed to her knees, gripping her head. “I… I can’t do this… I can’t handle this… This pressure… It’s too much…!”

Yumemi, now gasping heavily, stumbled backward, clutching her chest. “H-Hyperventilating… I’m… I’m going to pass out… I-I… can’t…”

Komachi lowered her head, eyes shadowed, her voice a grim whisper. “…And here I thought ferrying the dead was my only job… Guess I’ll be overseeing the living now too…”

Satori closed her eyes briefly, her tone unreadable yet sharp. “A trial of lies and fear… How fitting for this place… But there’s no avoiding it now.”

Lunasa stood frozen, her normally expressionless face finally breaking into a look of sheer disbelief. “…So… we have to… play along… even with Aya… still here like this…” Her voice was barely audible.

Cirno’s voice cracked, a mix of fear and denial. “N-No… I don’t believe this… I don’t want to believe this…!”

Rumia, still sitting on the floor, pulled her hat down over her face, her voice trembling. “First Aya… Now… now we have to accuse people…? This is too much…”

Remilia, however, stood straighter, a disturbing glint of excitement flashing in her crimson eyes. “Fascinating… So now it’s a true game of wits and survival. Very well… Let the curtain rise on this trial of blood and deceit.”

Yukari simply smiled, tilting her head with delight.

“Excellent. I expect great performances from all of you.”

Ran stepped forward, her voice low but commanding. “You have time to investigate. Once you feel ready… we’ll convene for the Class Trial. Choose wisely… because one wrong move… and your lives will be forfeit.”

A cold wave of dread settled over the group.

“W-Wait… What do you mean, investigate!?” Sanae exclaimed, nearly stumbling forward in her panic.

“Exactly how it sounds.” Yukari replied with a sickeningly sweet smile, opening her fan just enough to hide the lower half of her face. “The innocent party will have a few minutes to look for clues. Examine the crime scene, question each other, look for inconsistencies… and ultimately, uncover the blackened among you.”

“Twenty minutes,” Ran announced plainly, raising two fingers for emphasis. “That’s all the time you’ll get for this first case.”

“Twenty minutes…?” Reisen repeated, her eyes widening with disbelief. “T-That’s not enough time!”

“Normally, I would agree,” Yukari said with mock sympathy, letting out a theatrical sigh. “But I happen to believe this case is… exceptionally simple. Think of it as a beginner’s tutorial… a warm-up for what’s to come.”

“Wait…!” Marisa suddenly shouted. “If you think it’s so simple… That means… You know who did it already, don’t you!?”

Yukari let out a soft chuckle behind her fan. “Why, of course I do. I wouldn’t let a game progress without knowing the answer, after all.”

“Then just TELL US, DAMMIT!”

“Ah, but where would the fun be in that?” Yukari’s gaze sharpened playfully. “Who is the culprit, I wonder…? You’ll just have to solve it yourselves.”

“Screw you!” Marisa barked, turning away sharply. “I’m not playing along with this messed-up game!”

A pause.

“Very well.”

All heads turned toward Satori, her expression cool, her voice even.

“…Huh?” Marisa blinked.

“We will do our best,” Satori said firmly, stepping past the others. “Our lives are on the line. Whether we want to play or not is irrelevant. If we don’t find the blackened… we die.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in.

“…Tch… Dammit…” Marisa muttered under her breath, but didn’t argue further.

“Do you have any information about the body you can share?” Satori continued, directing her question towards Yukari and her underlings.

“Ah, I was hoping someone would ask that!” Yukari clapped her hands lightly. “Chen? Would you do the honors?”

“Gladly~!”

With a big grin, Chen dramatically pulled out a folder from seemingly nowhere. On the cover was a horribly drawn crayon illustration: A stick-figure Aya with two X’s for eyes and a big red splotch on the head. Scribbled on top in shaky handwriting were the words:

“THE CHEN FILE!!”

“This contains all the basic info about the body!” Chen announced proudly, waving it above her head like a prize.

Remilia raised an eyebrow, crossing her legs and sipping her tea with mild amusement. “Well… at least the presentation is… unique.”

Yumemi, still hyperventilating in the corner, muttered between gasps, “T-This… is surreal…”

Komachi sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know if I should laugh or cry at this… but whatever… Let’s get this over with.”

Reimu took a shaky breath, focusing herself. “Alright… Let’s do this. We have no choice…”

“Don’t go busting our heads like idiots,” Konngara said firmly, crossing her arms with a deep frown. Her voice was sharp, but steady. “We need to keep things in line… or we’ll lose our minds before we even begin.”

“She’s right,” Sanae added, her tone unusually serious, her hands clenched tightly in front of her chest. “Recklessness is our biggest enemy right now… Let’s stay calm and do our best… for Aya’s sake.”

A brief pause of agreement settled among the group. Even those still shaking managed to nod.

Yukari clapped her hands softly, as if pleased with their resolve. “How enlightened… It seems you’re finally starting to understand the spirit of this little game.”

She spun lightly on her heel, her long sleeves following her like trailing banners.

“I shall leave you to it, then,” she said with a tone that was both airy and sinister. “Of course… should you have any questions regarding the victim’s condition or the basic details… I will answer.”

Her golden eyes lingered on the group for a brief second longer, the smirk never leaving her face.

“Until then… Good luck.”

With that final, lingering farewell, Yukari turned and began to leave. Ran, ever composed, gave the group one final glance of mild warning before following.

"Inconceivable!" Eiki suddenly cried out, her voice cracking with uncharacteristic emotion as she tightened her grip on her Rod of Remorse. "I… I have spat on the face of my responsibilities! I, the Yama of Gensokyo, allowed such an atrocity to happen under my watch… I let a murderer walk free... Aya's death is… entirely my responsibility!" Her voice trembled between anger and guilt.

“N-No, Boss… It’s okay… I should’ve taken my job more seriously…” Komachi said softly, staring down at the floor with guilt in her eyes. “If I had been paying closer attention… maybe…”

A heavy silence lingered for a few seconds until Alice finally broke it, adjusting her hat and letting out a tired sigh. “Well… what’s done is done… I guess we just go for it…” She glanced at the others, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp. “Time’s ripe after all.” With that, she turned and left toward the scene of the crime.

“Grrr…” Marisa muttered under her breath, fists clenched as she stormed away with visible frustration.

“Fu fu fu…” Remilia let out a low, amused chuckle as she elegantly walked out without another word, her mood unreadable.

“W-Where should I look…?” Sanae asked herself in panic, glancing from side to side like a lost child. “I-I’ve never read detective manga… how am I supposed to investigate!?” With no clear destination, she hurried off blindly, mumbling to herself.

“Idon’twannadiei'mtooimportantIdon’twannadiei'mtooimportant…” Yumemi chanted under her breath, repeating it so quickly it became an incomprehensible string of words as she stumbled her way out, her panic fueling her speed.

Cirno and Rumia, for once quiet and unusually solemn, exchanged a brief glance before quietly leaving the area together.

Lunasa followed soon after, her steps slow and heavy as she disappeared toward the hallway, her normally passive face shadowed with something unreadable.

Now, only a small group remained. Reimu stood alongside Konngara, Satori, Reisen, Eiki, and Komachi.

The weight of the investigation was tangible. Each of them processing the moment in their own way.

Reimu exhaled sharply, trying to collect her thoughts. “...Alright… Let’s get started.”

“Aya… She tried her best to uncover the truth behind this place… to get everyone out of this nightmare.” Reimu’s thoughts weighed heavy in her chest as she knelt by the Chen File lying on the floor. She picked it up slowly, her hands trembling slightly. “The least I can do… is try to do the same for her. Even if I don’t know what I’m doing…”

(INVESTIGATION)

Reimu opened the case file carefully. The first thing that caught her eye was a crude photo collage pasted onto the first page. One side showed a cheerful, candid photo of Aya

most likely taken from her own camera at some point prior to her death. On the other side… a cold, clinical photo of the crime scene.

The image clearly displayed her collapsed form near the dining table, her black wings sprawled awkwardly, her head stained with blood.

At the bottom of the page, written in Chen’s colorful, barely-legible handwriting, were the key points:

---

The Chen File: Victim Report

Victim: Aya Shameimaru (Species: Tengu)

Location of Discovery: Near the dining table, Dining Hall

Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the side of the head

Notable Observations:

Blood pool suggests body has been at the scene for an extended period

Camera equipment found smashed near the body

• A damaged photo was found among the debris

---

Reimu exhaled slowly, reading through the details again. “So… blunt force trauma… and her body’s been here for a while…” She furrowed her brow. “Huh… No time of death listed?”

“It matches up with what I felt earlier,” came a sudden voice. Reimu turned to find Reisen standing nearby, her expression tense but composed.

“Matches up?” Reimu echoed.

“Yes.” Reisen nodded, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. “When I checked the body… it was already cold to the touch. She’d been dead for some time before we found her.”

Reimu lowered the file, thinking carefully. “So… the murder didn’t just happen moments before discovery… She was killed hours ago at least.”

“That’s right,” Reisen said, closing her eyes for a moment. “Given the rigor and temperature, I’d estimate it was sometime late last night… but without more tools, that’s the best I can do.”

Reimu nodded, taking mental notes. Late last night… meaning after the festival event…

(CHEN FILE added to the Truth Spell Card Collection!)

Reimu carefully folded the Chen File and tucked it securely under her arm. Another crucial piece of evidence… one that might determine the flow of this investigation.

“I might be able to get a better idea of the weapon used…” Reisen suddenly said, her tone more focused now. “I’m still training in medical procedures, but… I should be able to manage a basic autopsy with the equipment available in the infirmary.”

Reimu turned to her with a mix of surprise and relief. “An autopsy? That… that actually sounds really helpful. Can you really do it?”

Reisen gave a small, determined nod. “I won’t promise perfection, but… I’ll try my best to determine the type of object that caused the fatal injury. At least something to narrow it down.”

Reimu felt a weight slightly lift from her chest. “Thank you… Please, do that as soon as you can.”

“Right. I’ll get started immediately.” Reisen hurried off toward the infirmary, her pace quick, but controlled.

Reimu stood there for a brief moment, watching her leave.

Reimu approached Konngara, finding her standing near one of the corridor walls, arms crossed, her usual stern expression even heavier than usual.

"I had a feeling something like this would happen..." Konngara muttered lowly, almost as if speaking to herself.

Reimu cleared her throat. "Konngara... Did anything happen on your side? Anything suspicious before or after the event?"

Konngara let out a long breath, as though she had been waiting for someone to ask. "Sorry, Hakurei. Not much that’s useful... Yesterday, after Chen announced that stupid event, I went straight to the cafeteria with the others. After that, we went right into the festival game. You know the rest of that."

Reimu nodded, thinking back to the game with the cardboard ducks. "Anything else? After the event?"

Konngara closed her eyes for a moment, trying to recall. "Yeah... After the game ended… I went wandering around. I ended up in one of the random hallways… tore the ticket I got from the game into pieces and scattered it there. Figured it was just some dumb joke prize. If anyone wants to check, the scraps are probably still lying around somewhere in that hall."

Reimu noted this down mentally. "Alright… anything else strange?"

There was a pause. Konngara’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Well… there is one thing."

"Hm?"

"My club. It’s gone missing."

That made Reimu blink. "Your club? The one you always carry?"

Konngara nodded firmly, glancing at her empty hands with a clear mix of frustration and suspicion. "Yeah. I didn’t realize it right away. But after the game, when I left that hallway… I noticed I wasn’t holding it anymore. At first, I thought I just left it somewhere stupid… but I’ve been looking for it since then. No luck."

Reimu’s mind immediately clicked to attention. A blunt weapon… missing… shortly after the festival event…

"You’re sure you didn’t leave it in your room?"

"Positive. I never brought it back there after the game."

Reimu nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Konngara. That’s… important information."

Konngara crossed her arms again, clicking her tongue. "Hmph. I’m not happy about this. If anyone’s using my weapon for something like this… I’ll make them regret it."

(KONNGARA’S MISSING CLUB added to the Truth Spell Card Collection!)

Reimu approached Eiki and Komachi, finding them near the far end of the hall. Eiki had her arms tightly crossed, her head slightly bowed, and an expression of deep self-loathing clouding her normally composed face. Komachi, in contrast, wore her usual tired look, but there was something nervous in her eyes as well.

"I hope I’m not interrupting anything... But I’ll need to hear your alibis," Reimu said in a calm but firm tone.

Komachi scratched the back of her head. "Oh yeah, right... Let me think… Yesterday, Eiki woke me up when Chen’s announcement came. We both went to the event like everyone else. Things went down normally. After the festival thing was over, we went back to our rooms to sleep… and the rest, well, you know. That cursed alarm woke me up same as everyone else."

Reimu nodded. "Yeah… that…"

Eiki’s expression didn’t change. "Alarm? What are you talking about? Are you referring to the clock?"

Reimu’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Uh… Yes? It was super loud. You didn’t hear it?"

Komachi suddenly froze mid-thought. "Wait… hold on… Now that you mention it, boss… I didn’t see you anywhere when the rest of us were scrambling after that noise… Not in the hallway, not anywhere. I didn’t think about it until now but…"

Eiki straightened her posture, almost defensively. "I… went straight to sleep after returning from the event. That was all. I heard nothing afterward. You mean to say there was noise? A loud alarm?"

Reimu’s thoughts immediately began connecting dots. Eiki didn’t hear the alarm… Which could only mean one thing…

‘Her room… it must be one of the soundproofed ones…’

Given Satori’s earlier theory about certain rooms being soundproof and others not, this was lining up disturbingly well.

"I see…" Reimu replied, keeping her suspicions to herself for now. "That’s useful to know."

Eiki sighed, almost bitterly. "I failed to prevent a death under my watch… And now I apparently slept through an alarm? Tch… Utter negligence…"

Komachi quickly waved her hands. "Boss, please! Don’t sink too deep into that mindset right now! We need you focused. There’ll be time for self-loathing later."

Reimu gave a small nod and walked away, her mind racing. Two more testimonies gathered… and a new layer added to the puzzle: The soundproof rooms…

(SOUNDPROOF ROOMS  updated in the Truth Spell Card Collection!)

Reimu approached Satori, who was carefully examining the crime scene with a cold, calculating gaze. Her demeanor, as always, was calm and composed—eerily so, considering the circumstances.

"Oh, hello, Reimu. Are you investigating?" Satori asked without turning, her voice as level as ever.

"What else can I do?" Reimu answered with a sigh. "Anyway… I wanted to revisit our discussion about the soundproof rooms. Can you give me a full rundown again? I feel like this detail is going to be important."

Satori stood, dusting off her skirt. "Certainly."

She began explaining in her usual methodical tone:

"As I mentioned before, I initially noticed the phenomenon on Day 3. That day, I was resting in my room when I heard a loud commotion outside. It was when Sanae crashed into Reisen in the hallway. However, the strange thing is… I only heard the noise when my door opened. Before that, it was dead silent."

Reimu nodded. "Right… you told me you couldn’t hear the argument until the door was opened."

Satori continued: "Exactly. To confirm it wasn’t just my room, I did a quick check on Alice’s room as well. Same result. Total silence when the door was closed."

Reimu crossed her arms. "And Rumia’s?"

"Her room didn’t have the same effect. When I stood near her door, I could hear even with the door closed. So her room lacks the soundproofing."

Reimu tapped her finger against her arm thoughtfully. "Are you aware of any other rooms that have this soundproof effect?"

Satori paused briefly, as if consulting her mental notes. "Unfortunately, I haven't had time to check every room yet. But I just heard something interesting from you... You're saying Eiki didn’t hear the alarm last night?"

"Yeah… She didn’t hear a thing. Komachi pointed it out too. They were both in their rooms at the time, but Komachi heard it and Eiki didn’t."

Satori’s expression darkened with thought. "Then it’s highly likely that Eiki’s room is soundproof as well… That fits the pattern."

Reimu let out a breath. "So that’s at least three rooms confirmed with soundproofing: yours, Alice’s, and Eiki’s. Possibly more. It would be good to check the rest when possible."

Satori nodded. "Agreed. For now, keep that in mind as you question the others. Whoever committed the crime could have used this fact to their advantage."

(NEW TRUTH SPELL CARD: Soundproof Room Distribution

Confirmed Soundproof Rooms: Satori, Alice, Eiki. Not Soundproof: Rumia Others: Unknown.)

---

"Actually...Just a question... Do you know what happened to Eiki's rod thing? I haven't seen it at all."

"I believe that Yukari took it."

Reimu tilted her head at Satori’s words, narrowing her eyes. "Wait… Yukari took Eiki's Rod?"

Satori nodded, her expression remaining neutral but with a slight undertone of irritation. "Yes. I saw it with my own eyes. When Komachi and Eiki first discovered the body, Yukari appeared almost immediately after. One of her hands reached out from a gap and snatched the rod away without a word of explanation."

Reimu clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Figures she'd interfere again. Probably for her little ‘trial show.’"

Satori continued, voice dropping a little as if restraining frustration: "And just so you’re aware… it's not just the rod. After Aya’s death… something changed in the air here. My ability to read minds… it's significantly weaker now. It was already reduced when we arrived in this dimension, but now... it's almost nonexistent."

Reimu's expression hardened. "So you're telling me you can't scan anyone for guilt even if you wanted to?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Satori said quietly. "Whatever control Yukari has over this place, she’s making sure none of us can take shortcuts to the truth."

Reimu let out a bitter sigh. "Of course she is… Would’ve been too easy otherwise."

"Anyway. I’ll continue doing what I can with observation and deduction. But for now… I need to speak with Marisa about something."

Without further explanation, Satori turned and left.

Reimu took a deep breath, trying to steel herself. "Okay... I should look at the body now..."

Her steps were heavy, her heart pounding as she approached Aya's lifeless form. The air around the corpse felt colder than the rest of the room, as if death still lingered nearby. As she got closer, her knees trembled uncontrollably.

"Stop shaking... Stop shaking, damn it..." she hissed under her breath, gritting her teeth in frustration. Her entire body resisted, every instinct screamed at her to run away, but she forced herself forward.

Kneeling down beside Aya, she examined the tengu’s body with shaking hands. "Reisen said her injuries match the Chen File… And I can see it too. Even if I’m no medic, that wound… it’s obvious."

Her eyes drifted to Aya’s hand. The fingers were limp and slightly curled, but her palm remained open, oddly empty.

"Her hand… it’s open… Was she… holding something before she died?"

The thought struck her like a pulse of electricity. Without wasting a second, she checked Aya’s pockets, hands moving with purpose despite her trembling fingers.

"...Huh?"

Her eyes widened as she pulled something out: a crumpled piece of paper. No… not just paper. The ticket.

"This is… the ticket she got from the festival game… The same one everyone else received."

She flattened the ticket against her knee, her gaze narrowing as she examined the faded text printed on it.

"REI… NSP… MA… NSP… EI… SP… KO… NSP… LU… SP… What the heck does this mean…?"

The strange string of letters and breaks made no sense at first glance. It looked like gibberish… but somehow, Reimu felt there had to be more.

On instinct, she flipped the ticket around. Her breath caught as her eyes focused on what seemed to be a deliberately scratched surface—hidden writing, revealed under the torn fibers of the paper.

"...A secret message?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she read aloud:

"Beneath the dining table is the secret to the hatch."

Reimu’s pulse quickened.

"So Aya… You found something…"

Reimu moved swiftly, her heart pounding with a mixture of dread and urgency. Clutching the worn ticket in her hand, she knelt beside the dining table, ignoring the nervous glances from a few of the girls still lingering nearby.

Her fingers traced along the underside of the table until—click—they found something. A small, cold metallic lever hidden just beneath the center beam.

"…Found you."

Without hesitation, she pulled it.

A deep, grinding sound erupted from somewhere within the walls of the dining hall, echoing throughout the building like the groan of an awakening beast. The floor vibrated faintly beneath her feet.

Reimu stood abruptly, turning on her heel and bolting toward the location she and Aya had discovered just days ago: the sealed wall with the hatch…

She reached the hidden area within moments. Her breath caught in her throat.

The hatch… it was open.

Reimu froze in place. The realization hit her all at once—sharp and cruel.

"… You figured this out… You solved the puzzle by yourself… In the middle of the night… You must have followed the clue, pulled that lever… And someone…"

"Someone killed you… Right after you opened it…"

The crushing weight of that thought lingered in her chest. .

Her instinct screamed at her to investigate further… to charge in and uncover what lay beyond…

But her rational side

the shrine maiden's discipline—held her back.

"No... Not now. The case comes first."

Reimu took one last glance at the dark entrance, swallowing hard as she turned away. "I’ll come back for this… After we find the killer."

(SECRET MESSAGE ADDED TO THE TRUTH SPELL CARD COLLECTION.)

Reimu knelt near the shattered remnants of the camera, her eyes narrowing with focused intensity. Pieces of cracked lens and splintered plastic lay scattered across the floor like the remains of a broken truth.

"Just like the Chen File said… completely destroyed..." she murmured, her voice low and bitter.

Her gaze shifted slightly to the torn fragments of paper nearby—what seemed to be pieces of photographic film or a once-intact picture, now ripped nearly beyond recognition. The faint outline of blurred shapes remained, though no clear face could be made out.

"Why…? Why would someone go out of their way to destroy this?" She carefully picked up one of the larger scraps, examining the faint chemical texture and the damaged film.

"So… she photographed the culprit… just before dying…?" Reimu's brows furrowed deeper. "That’s the only explanation for this level of panic. Whoever killed her… realized what she had done… and smashed both the picture and the camera to cover their tracks."

A sick feeling churned in her stomach.

Nearby, Komachi quietly watched Reimu from across the room, noticing her silent analysis but choosing not to interrupt.

Reimu stood, carefully tucking the tattered paper scraps into her pocket. This would go straight into the Truth Spell Card Collection as well.

(TATTERED PHOTO FRAGMENTS ADDED TO THE TRUTH SPELL CARD COLLECTION.)

Reimu's eyes narrowed sharply as she faced the two youkai in the main hall. Cirno struggled to maintain her composure, her small frame trembling with a mix of fear and stubborn pride. She refused to let herself appear weak.

"W-Was it, O-Our fault!?!?" Rumia stammered nervously, her voice shaky.

Reimu held up a hand to silence them. "You two."

Cirno flinched under Reimu’s gaze.

"I’m not here for your excuses," Reimu said, her tone firm but controlled. "I want to know something important. The clock prank — whose idea was it?"

Rumia hesitated, then muttered reluctantly, "It was... Rumia’s."

Cirno nodded quickly, as if to back her up. "Yeah."

Reimu’s mind raced, recalling the fleeting shadow she had seen earlier near the kitchen — the silhouette slipping away just as she approached. The pieces started to fit together.

"Wait," Reimu said, her voice low and steady. "Aya and I were the only ones who knew how that clock worked, right?"

Both Cirno and Rumia nodded.

Reimu’s gaze sharpened. "Unless..."

A tense silence hung in the air before she finally said, "Was that you? The shadow I saw?"

Rumia swallowed hard and met Reimu’s eyes. "Yes," she admitted quietly.

Rumia’s voice trembled as she spoke, the weight of her confession evident in every word.

"I was completely bored of this place," she began quietly, eyes cast downward. "Then I saw you and Aya talking about the clock. I heard everything... and had an idea."

Her voice faltered for a moment before she continued, "I left... and told my idea to Cirno."

—FLASHBACK—

In a dimly lit hallway, Rumia hurriedly approached Cirno, who was idly practicing with her ice hammer.

“Cirno!” Rumia whispered urgently. “I have a plan to mess with everyone!"

Cirno’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? What is it? Tell me!”

Rumia grinned mischievously. “We’ll set the alarm off at the worst possible times and cause a little chaos. It’ll be fun!”

Cirno nodded eagerly, a wide smile spreading across her face. “Yeah! Let’s do it!”

—END FLASHBACK—

Rumia’s voice returned to the present, shaky but resolved.

"We only meant it as a prank. We never imagined it would lead to anything... this."

Reimu narrowed her eyes, processing the information carefully.

“What was the time you set it to?” she asked, her tone steady but probing.

Rumia hesitated for a moment before answering softly,

“The time... I think it was 10:20?”

Rumia began hesitantly, “we set the clock to ring when everyone left for the game. After that, we returned here and waited for the alarm to go off. We weren’t really paying attention to our surroundings, so we didn’t see anything unusual. But, I guess we did hear something.”

Reimu leaned forward slightly, her expression focused. “What exactly did you hear?”

Cirno exchanged a glance with Rumia before replying, “A loud noise. It sounded like... a bat or something hitting against something hard. At first, we dismissed it as nothing important. But later, I started thinking—it might have been the culprit striking Aya.”

Reimu furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “Hmm... No one else reported hearing that noise. It makes sense that there was no screaming—if Aya died instantly, there wouldn’t have been time for any.” She paused briefly, considering the implications. “The sound effect you described... it suggests that we were all too exhausted from the game to pay attention to our surroundings or react.”

She glanced at Cirno and Rumia, then addressed the group firmly. “If what Cirno said is accurate, it means Aya was killed before the alarm even rang.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of this revelation settled in.

(Cirno and Rumia’s testimonies, along with the details of the clock setup, have now been added to the Truth Spell Card collection.)

Reimu turned away from the group and began to make her way down the hallway. As she approached her own room, she noticed Yumemi standing near the door, visibly trembling.

“Hey...” Reimu said softly, attempting to catch her attention.

Yumemi remained silent, her eyes wide with fear.

“Do you know...” Reimu started, but before she could finish, Yumemi suddenly let out a piercing scream.

“AHHHH!!! CHIYURI, SAVE MEEEEEEEE!!!” she cried, retreating quickly into her room and slamming the door shut behind her.

Reimu exhaled slowly, shaking her head in mild disbelief. “I didn’t think she would be the scaredy-cat type. I doubt she’ll be much help to us.”

Reimu shook off the encounter with Yumemi and resolved to seek out Satori next. As she approached the common room, she noticed Satori engaged in a quiet but intense conversation with Marisa.

“What is it?” Marisa asked, her tone sharp but curious.

Satori’s eyes were fixed on something in her hand. “Your ticket. Give it to me. Now.”

Marisa narrowed her eyes. “That thing? Why now, all of a sudden?”

Satori’s gaze remained steady and unwavering. “It’s not important. Just give it to me.”

Reluctantly, Marisa handed over the ticket. At that moment, Reimu entered the room.

“Hey, Reimu... what’s going on with them?” she asked, glancing between the two.

“No idea...” Reimu replied, her brow furrowed.

Satori studied the ticket carefully, her fingers tracing the printed characters. “SA NSP, YU NSP, KO SP, REMI, NSP.” She turned the ticket over and caught it deftly. “And. This is a secret message.”

Reimu’s eyes widened. “What does it say?”

Satori’s voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with significance. “Yumemi Okazaki is an outsider.”

Marisa frowned. “An outsider? What exactly does that mean?”

Reimu shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure. It could mean she’s not one of us...Or something? it's probably a joke. Not related to the case." 

Satori turned to the group, her expression serious. “Do you see the deal behind these tickets now?”

Marisa looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“They contain hidden messages,” Satori explained. “Alongside some strange numbers and words. Example.  I’m still not certain what ‘REMI NSP’ means.”

“So that was the point of the tickets all along!” Reimu said, her eyes narrowing with realization.

Satori nodded slowly. “I believe this may be connected to the motive behind the murder.”

Marisa scoffed lightly. “Motive? You really think someone got jealous because Aya had the ticket and not them, and that’s why they killed her? That sounds too childish.”

Reimu remained silent, weighing the possibility. The truth behind the tickets and their cryptic messages was beginning to weave a complex web—one that might reveal far more than simple jealousy. 

“Indeed. It’s quite a mystery...” Reimu murmured thoughtfully, her gaze distant.

She then added silently, "I would consult Konngara about her ticket, but... she ripped it apart. So there’s nothing left for me to analyze."

Reimu left Satori and Marisa behind and continued down the corridor, noticing Sanae quietly questioning Lunasa. Judging that the conversation did not require her immediate attention, she decided to leave them be.

She muttered softly to herself, “I’ve got the general gist of things, but I have a feeling there’s still more I need to uncover…”

Before she could proceed further, a calm voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Did someone call?”

Reimu turned to see Ran Yakumo appearing gracefully beside her.

“No one… Actually,” Reimu replied, hesitating for a moment, “may I ask you something?”

Ran inclined her head slightly. “Yes. Keep in mind that my lady has compelled me to share certain details.”

Reimu’s eyes narrowed as she posed her question directly. “Why the hidden messages?”

Ran’s gaze grew contemplative as she prepared to explain. “The hidden messages in the tickets serve a purpose not unlike that of fortune cookies,” she began. “Each message offers a piece of information—two of these messages are truthful, reflecting certain realities about those involved. However, one message is deliberately false, designed to mislead and sow confusion.”

Reimu listened intently, absorbing the significance.

“As for the numbers and letters scattered alongside these messages,” Ran continued, “they carry considerable importance. They are not random; rather, they form a cipher or code that, when properly understood, could reveal deeper truths—motives, connections, or secrets that are otherwise concealed.”

Ran took a step back, her eyes locking with Reimu’s. “Before I leave, I ask that you observe the next person you encounter. Consider them carefully, and think of a short nickname—something that might help you remember or decipher their role in all of this.”

With that, Ran bowed slightly and quietly departed, leaving Reimu with a new task and more questions than answers.

“A nickname...” Reimu repeated softly, her brow furrowing. “Why that?”

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Reisen hurriedly approached, breathless.

“I’m done!” Reisen announced, her expression a mixture of relief and urgency.

“With what... Oh, wait—the autopsy?” Reimu inquired, turning her attention fully to Reisen.

Reisen nodded. “Yes. Would you like to hear what I found?”

“Yes,” Reimu replied, nodding. “Tell me everything.”

Reisen took a moment to collect her thoughts before launching into a detailed explanation. Despite her usual calm demeanor, there was a newfound precision in her tone—a clinical clarity that revealed the seriousness of what she had discovered.

“I’ll summarize,” she began. “Based on the cranial trauma and the depth of the wound, the weapon used against Aya was likely a blunt instrument—most probably a bat or something similar in structure. It had to be wielded with both hands placed firmly in a fixed position, meaning it required balance and control. The blow also shows signs of being delivered with significant momentum—suggesting a strong, committed swing rather than a quick or frantic one.”

She adjusted her posture and continued. “Additionally, based on some of the minor tearing around the wound and the pattern of impact, it’s likely that the weapon had spikes or protrusions. Not too many—just enough to break the surface and cause the unique tearing without turning the whole wound into a shredded mess.”

Reimu absorbed the information silently for a moment, then nodded. “Thanks, Reisen. That helps clarify a lot.”

Reisen placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. “Of course it helps. I am the best field medic here. You’re welcome.”

Reimu blinked at her sudden shift in tone. “...Right.”

Suddenly, the sound of a loud bell echoed through the halls.

DING DING DING

A familiar, energetic voice followed immediately after.

“OKAY GIRLS, TIME’S UP, TIME’S UP!!” Chen’s voice rang out across the building, filled with its usual unsettling cheerfulness. “HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR CLUES SET UP? CUZ IT’S CLASS TRIAL TIME! ANYONE WHO ISN’T IN THE MAIN HALL, PLEASE ARRIVE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU DON’T WANT YUKARI-SAMA PULLING YOU THERE BY FORCE!!”

Reimu let out a long breath, steadying herself. The investigation phase was over. The time for speculation and theory was at an end.

“It’s starting...” she murmured to herself

A series of footsteps echoed through the hallway as figures began to emerge from different directions, gathering near Reimu and Reisen.

“Looks like this is it,” Reimu said quietly, standing tall.

Marisa was the first to speak, adjusting her hat. “Tch... I've got a bad feeling, ze. But let's get this over with.”

Sanae appeared next, arms folded, her eyes sharp. “I just hope the truth isn’t something we’ll regret learning.”

Komachi strolled in lazily, but her expression was grim. “Never thought I'd be heading into a courtroom without a scythe…”

Eiki followed closely behind her, gaze unwavering. “Justice must prevail. That’s all that matters now.”

Yumemi emerged from around the corner, still visibly shaken. “I—I’m not prepared for this... I didn’t sign up for a trial...!”

Cirno floated forward fake confidently. “Whoever did it’s gonna get frozen solid once we find them!”

Rumia, following close behind, scratched her head. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble... just wanted to help with the clock thing...”

Satori stepped in silently, hands clasped, eyes half-lidded. 

Alice adjusted her ribbons with a stiff composure. “I’ll rely on logic. That’s the only way through this.”

Remilia arrived next, composed as ever. “A game of truth and consequences. Very well. Let’s see who’s truly noble beneath the mask.”

Reisen stood quietly beside Reimu, arms behind her back. “I’ve said what I needed to. Now we let the facts speak.”

Lunasa trailed in after, silent for a moment before saying softly, “I’ve seen too many requiems. Let’s not make another.”

Aya’s absence was palpable.

Kongara finally stepped into the circle, her face blank. “Let’s finish what must be finished.”

Lastly, Chen’s voice rang again from the hall ahead. “Come on, everyone! The courtroom is waiting~!”

Before anyone could take a step further, the air around them began to distort. A massive, swirling gap tore open beneath their feet, its vortex radiating with an unsettling mix of colors and void.

Without time to react, the entire group was swallowed whole.

The sensation of falling was brief but disorienting. In the next instant, they all landed—some gracefully, others stumbling—on solid ground within an unfamiliar yet ominously ornate courtroom.

The walls stretched high, decorated with shifting patterns that seemed to watch the participants. A large circular stand stood at the center, surrounded by individual podiums arranged neatly in a ring. Overhead, a twisted version of a judge’s bench loomed.

Hovering above, Yukari Yakumo appeared, seated comfortably atop a levitating platform, her signature fan elegantly hiding the lower half of her face.

“Welcome, everyone, to the first Class Trial!” she announced, her voice reverberating through the chamber. “A war between the innocent and the wicked will be raging today! Will the truth prevail, or will the lies consume you?”

Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she extended her hand theatrically. “Please stand in your place! Let the battle for survival begin.”

One by one, each girl moved to their designated podium, the weight of what was about to happen sinking in with every step.

Marisa crossed her arms and gave a smirk, though there was little confidence behind it. “Guess there’s no turning back now, huh?”

Sanae glanced nervously at the others, forcing herself to stand tall. “We just… need to stay calm and think clearly.”

Komachi stretched her arms lazily, but her voice carried a darker undertone. “Let’s hope we don’t send the wrong person to their end...”

Eiki placed her hands firmly on her podium, her expression cold and resolute. “The weight of justice is not something I take lightly.”

Yumemi trembled at her station, gripping the edge of her podium tightly. “T-This can’t be happening… I didn’t think it would come to this…”

Cirno puffed out her chest, trying to sound brave. “We’ll find the bad guy! I won’t let anyone fool us!”

Rumia tilted her head, frowning in confusion. “I still don’t get how this all happened… Feels like a bad dream.”

Satori’s eyes remained half-lidded as she scanned the group. "It still doesn't work." This will get complicated.”

Alice kept her focus straight ahead, her voice calm but stern. “I’ll trust logic… nothing else.”

Remilia rested her chin on her hand, smiling faintly but with sharpness behind her gaze. “Let’s see how entertaining this little ‘trial’ becomes.”

Reisen folded her arms, giving a tired sigh. “We’ve got the evidence… now it’s just a matter of putting it together.”

Lunasa lowered her gaze, her tone soft but clear. “I hate moments like this… but it’s not like we have a choice.”

Kongara stood silently, giving only a small nod, her presence like that of an immovable stone.

Chen’s voice rang with playful glee as she hopped in place near her observation point. “Good luck, everyone~! Make it dramatic for me Nyaaa!!” 

...

...

...

...

...

Aya Shameimaru… Reimu thought to herself as she stood silently at her podium, her gaze lowering for a brief moment.

From the little she had come to know about her, Aya had been... loud, intrusive, and relentless. Always with that camera in hand, always asking questions no one wanted to answer. She was the type to pry into people’s business without hesitation, driven by an almost pathological need to record, report, and expose.

She remembered on day 4 Aya darting from place to place with her, chasing leads that may or may not have existed.

but with a strange kind of energy that made her impossible to ignore. Even in this confined environment, her presence had stood out.

Annoying, yes. Reckless, definitely. But alive… undeniably alive.

And now she wasn’t.

Aya Shameimaru…

silenced in a single,

merciless strike. 

Reimu’s eyes slowly lifted, scanning the faces of everyone standing around her.

...Someone killed her. And that person... is staring right at us.

As if responding to that unspoken accusation, the camera of the mind panned across the ring of suspects—capturing, one by one, the subtle shifts in their expressions.

Marisa glanced sideways, her brow slightly furrowed. A flicker of tension pulled at the corners of her mouth—was it doubt? Or guilt?

Sanae bit her lip nervously, hands clasped tightly together. Her eyes were darting between others, clearly overwhelmed.

Komachi’s face was unreadable. A seasoned soul-ferrier, she had seen death before. But something in her gaze suggested she hated seeing it up close like this.

Eiki stood stern, unmoving. Her expression was like stone—cold, judgmental, and unreadable. But there was no mistaking the weight behind her silence.

Yumemi trembled again, her knuckles white as they gripped the podium. Panic clung to her like perfume—heavy and suffocating.

Cirno, still puffed up with misplaced confidence, looked around with narrowed eyes, trying her best to look “intimidating.” But behind it all, there was clear confusion.

Rumia stared downward, eyes blank, her mouth slightly open. She looked disconnected—as if trying to remember what she’d done, or what she hadn’t.

Satori’s gaze drifted across the room, her lips pressed tightly together. 

Alice stood composed and calculating. Her eyes didn’t flicker once. She was watching the others—and possibly, watching for a mistake.

Remilia smiled faintly to herself, the kind of smile one wears when they know something others don’t. Whether it was arrogance or strategy was unclear.

Reisen exhaled softly, closing her eyes for a moment. Her hand twitched near her temple as if trying to calm a headache that wasn’t there. But her breath was steady.

Lunasa stood quiet and heavy with sorrow. Her gaze fell to the floor, as if mourning more than just a death—as if mourning what the group would become.

Kongara stood like a silent statue, unreadable as ever. But behind her hardened presence, there was a kind of watchfulness… as if ready to act at the first sign of injustice.

Chen, watching from the side, swung her legs playfully. But her eyes flickered with something far more cunning than her tone ever suggested.

And above them all, Yukari smiled behind her fan, eyes glinting with unreadable amusement.

“Let the First Class Trial… begin!!"

Chapter Text

Yukari: Now then, seeing you all here fills me with excitement! So many looks! I shall now give a résumé of the rules.

Yukari: There are two groups: the innocent party of all other students… and the guilty party composed of the blackened.

Yukari: Every bit of evidence will be used in this place. If you have something—speak up.

Yukari: You will have 5 hours to determine the culprit. If all of you are convinced, I will end the trial early and begin voting.

Yukari: If the vote majority is correct, the culprit will be exterminated and all of you can return to your daily lives.

Yukari: But if you vote wrong… I will exterminate everyone besides the blackened—who then gets to leave the dimension.

Yukari: Now then… Shall we begin?

Satori: Actually, first... just a second. What's with the plate?

(points at Aya’s cardboard cutout marked with an X)

Rumia: (uneasy) It’s kind of creepy.

Yukari: I felt really bad that poor Aya won’t be able to see her trial just because she died. So I decided to make a memorial for her. Pretty, isn’t it?

Marisa: (disgusted) Mocking is what it is.

Sanae: (nervous) I-I don’t think I can look at that thing the whole time...

Komachi: (grim) She was annoying, but she didn’t deserve this kind of mockery.

Eiki: (stern) Death should be treated with dignity, not turned into a prop.

Yumemi: (shaken) I-It’s staring right at me… make it stop...

Cirno: (frowning) I don’t like it. It's not even cool-looking.

Reisen: (serious) It’s just unsettling. This isn’t helping anyone focus.

Alice: (flatly) Yukari, this isn’t a game.

Remilia: (calm) A grotesque display. Tacky, even by your standards.

Kongara: (quiet) ...

Chen: (cheerful) I think it’s cute! You all are too sensitive~

Lunasa: ...

Satori: (disgusted) So this is what she meant by "excitement"...

Yukari: (smiling) Oh, don’t be so stiff. She would’ve loved the attention.

Eiki: (firm) Enough stalling. Let’s begin by reviewing yesterday’s events. We need to confirm our shared timeline.

Marisa: (shrugs) We all went to that event Yukari made us do.

Sanae: (nods) Yeah… that strange game thing. Some weird competition.

Reisen: (calm) And in the end, Aya, Konngara, and Marisa won. They got the golden tickets.

Yumemi: (quietly) I remember… Aya was so proud.

Komachi: (resting her chin) After that, most of us just went to sleep, right?

Remilia: (composed) Until that noise woke us all. Unpleasant and sudden.

Reimu: (stern) It was a prank. Cirno and Rumia messed with the clock and set off the alarm.

Cirno: (defensive) It was supposed to be funny!

Rumia: (meek) We didn’t think it’d cause problems…

Marisa: (grins) Then Reimu gave them a nice beating. Deserved, really.

Satori: (neutral) So, everyone who woke up—Reimu, Marisa, Sanae, Reisen, Komachi, Remilia, Yumemi, and Konngara—eventually returned to bed after the incident?

Reisen: (nods) Yes. No one reported anything strange after that. Until…

Eiki: (cold) Until we found Aya's body.

Eiki: (serious) For the record, Komachi and I were the first to enter the dining hall. Aya was already dead when we arrived.

Komachi: (quietly) Yeah. No pulse. Blood was already dry.

Satori: (calm) I came in shortly after. Then others followed. That’s what triggered the Body Discovery Announcement.

Reisen: (nods) Which is what finally woke up Reimu.

Sanae: (thoughtful) So that’s the overall timeline so far...

Alice: (confused) Wait... There was some kind of alarm? I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear anything.

Reimu: (confident) That’s because of...

• (Options appear:

1. A: Your dolls helped you.
2. B: Your room had soundproof.
3. C: You had a hangover.)

"I GOT IT!!"

Reimu: (firm) It was because your room had soundproof.

Alice: (surprised) ...I see. That explains it.

Satori: (nodding) That’s correct. I couldn’t hear anything either. My room has built-in soundproofing.

Satori: (explaining) Some of the rooms were assigned with soundproof features. Not all of them, but a few...

Satori: (listing) From what I’ve confirmed—Reimu, Marisa, Sanae, Yumemi, Komachi, Reisen, Remilia, and Konngara do not have soundproof rooms. So they heard the alarm.

Satori: (continuing) As for rooms that do have soundproofing, the ones I know for sure are mine… Alice’s… and Eiki’s.

Satori: (closing) I also checked Rumia’s room—hers doesn’t have it either.

Konngara: (firm) In that case... with this checked, doesn’t this mean that the murderer is either Cirno or Rumia?

Marisa: (frowning) You're saying that because they were already awake?

Komachi: (serious) And because they were the ones who triggered the alarm that woke the rest of us...

Sanae: (worried) But that doesn’t prove they killed Aya, right?

Reisen: (thinking) Still… if the alarm was before the murder, the timing wouldn’t work. But if it was after...

Reimu: (sharp) No. According to their testimony, they set the clock before the event. Then waited for it to ring.

Remilia: (cold) And claimed to have heard a loud noise before the alarm went off. Possibly the moment of impact.

Satori: (calm) That implies the murder occurred before the prank alarm. Which fits with our timeline.

Cirno: (nervous) H-Hey! We didn’t do anything! I swear!

Rumia: (scared) I-I didn’t hurt her...! I just wanted to prank people!

Eiki: (stern) No one is being executed yet. But if you two are the only ones proven awake at the time of death... suspicion naturally falls on you.

Chen: (sing-song) Oooooh, feeling the heat yet~?

Reimu: (firm) Which brings the murder weapon to light. According to Aya’s file, she was killed by a blow to the head. Meaning something decently strong hit her.

Reimu: (serious) At the same time, Konngara’s club went missing after the event.

Konngara: (nodding) I can confirm that. Eiki and Komachi went looking for it, but they couldn’t find anything.

Reimu: (calm) Cirno and Rumia don’t have the type of strength necessary to hold it. Imagine striking someone perfectly with it.

Cirno: (defensive) Huh!? What are you talking about? I can lift that thing just f—

(Rumia grabs her mouth quickly.)

Rumia: (whispering) Idiot, you’re gonna jinx us...

Komachi: (frowning) Are we really sure it’s the club though?

Komachi: (thinking) What if it was the camera? It was crushed…

Reimu: (firm) That’s also not possible. The camera had no blood marks at all. Even if the culprit cleaned it, there would still be traces somewhere.

Reimu: (focused) Not to mention, the culprit would’ve had to take the camera away from her before delivering the blow. That’s too complicated and inefficient.

Komachi: (sheepish) Oops, right… sorry ‘bout that!

Satori: (calm) So the weapon needs to be something large, heavy, capable of killing with a single blow… and not currently found.

Reimu: (crossing arms) And probably with spikes too. That’s what Reisen said during the autopsy.

Reisen: (nodding) Yes. The wound had tearing patterns suggesting something jagged or sharp at the point of impact.

Yumemi: (nervous) But… if the weapon is missing, and the club is gone… doesn’t that make it obvious?

Alice: (cold) Obvious, maybe. But not proven. We still haven’t found the weapon.

Eiki: (firm) Until the murder weapon is confirmed, we can’t rely on assumptions alone. Keep pressing forward.

NON-STOP DEBATE 

Marisa: (thinking) Aya was found lying face down in the dining hall, right?

Komachi: (nodding) Blood under her head, no signs of a struggle.

Reisen: (firm) And the impact was clean. One solid blow to the skull.

Yumemi: (nervous) S-So she didn’t even have time to scream...?

Cirno: (suddenly) Maybe the guilty one hit her and she got scared, so she took a picture of the murderer before dying!

[TRUTH BULLET: CHEN FILE — FIRED]

Reimu: No! That’s wrong!

(BREAK!)

Reimu: Cirno, did you read the Chen File?

Cirno: (confused) The what?

Reimu: (sharp) That explains it. It says right here—Aya died instantly. She didn’t have time to be scared, and she definitely didn’t take a picture before dying.

Reimu: (focused) She didn’t scream either. The only thing you and Rumia heard last night was a smacking sound. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?

Cirno: (pouty) Humf! I was just trying to help...

Rumia: (quiet) It... it did sound really loud... like metal hitting something hard...

Satori: (serious) That lines up with the theory of the missing spiked club.

Eiki: (cold) In that case, Aya never even knew she was about to die.

Yukari: (grinning) Brutal, isn’t it? One strike... and silence.

Reimu: (thinking) Is that really so...? I'm still conflicted on that.

Marisa: (curious) Then what was that picture about, anyway?

Sanae: (confused) Yeah... if she died instantly, why’d her camera take that photo?

Satori: (calm) To answer that… we need to unravel Aya’s motive.

Komachi: (serious) She did win a ticket along with Marisa and Konngara, right?

Reimu: (nodding) And those tickets had hidden messages. Satori found them by scratching the back and turning it.

Satori: (thoughtful) There were also weird numbers and letters… but no one’s made sense of those yet.

Remilia: (cold) Show us the tickets, Reimu. Now.

Reimu: (reluctantly pulls them out) Fine.

Remilia: (sharp) It’s rude to assume something “isn’t relevant,” especially when one of them literally has my nickname printed on it.

Reimu: (shrugs) ...Maybe. I’ll think about that later.

Yumemi: (whispering) So Aya must’ve found something in hers...

Reimu: (serious) Yes, in fact. I found it. Aya’s ticket was still on her body.

Reimu: (holding it up) I read it. It says: “Beneath the dining table lies the secret to the hatch.”

Marisa: (blinking) Huh?

Cirno: (confused) What hatch?

Sanae: (tilting head) That’s really specific…

Reimu: (explaining) On Day 4, Aya called me over. She wanted help investigating something.

Reimu: (firm) We found a hidden room. Inside was an iron hatch—sealed tight. We couldn’t open it.

Komachi: (frowning) So… this message meant the answer was there all along?

Reimu: (nods) Right beneath the dining table. A lever.

Eiki: (serious) Meaning… the ticket was giving her access to something far beyond just a prize.

Remilia: (quiet) A motive in plain sight... and a dangerous one.

Alice: (thinking) So these tickets didn’t just give prizes… they gave information.

Reisen: (serious) Dangerous information, if it could get someone killed.

Remilia: (cold) Then let’s hear the others. What did Marisa’s ticket say?

Marisa: (hesitant) Mine said… “Yumemi Okazaki is an outsider.”

Yumemi: (shivering) W-Why would that even be written…?

Komachi: (frowning) Outsider? You mean like… not one of us?

Sanae: (nervous) That’s… disturbing.

Satori: (serious) These messages were meant to provoke something.

Reimu: (firm) They might even be the entire reason Aya was targeted.

Lunasa: (softly) I saw it. I saw Aya walking toward the hallway after she looked at her ticket.

Reimu: (serious) Ran told me something important. Out of the three ticket messages—two are true, and one is false.

Reimu: (thinking) If I had to guess… the false one is the one about Yumemi being an outsider.

Yumemi: (nervous) A-Aggression—uh, I mean… I-It’s not like that...!

(She stiffens, looking away, hands twitching slightly.)

Satori: (quietly) …She's hiding something.

Remilia: (cold) Noted.

Marisa: (shrugs) Still, we can’t prove which one’s false. Not yet.

Konngara: (grumbling) Damn... If I knew those things were important, I wouldn’t have ripped mine to pieces. Sorry, gals.

Sanae: (concerned) That’s a problem. Lunasa and I went to look for Konngara’s ticket remains…

Sanae: (serious) We found bits of it in a random hallway. But they were incomplete. Like… someone took parts of it.

Lunasa: (quiet) Torn edges. Unnatural. Like it was picked apart.

Alice: (cold) So someone intentionally retrieved the pieces?

Reisen: (thinking) Maybe to read it… or hide what it said.

Marisa: (suspicious) Could that “someone” be the killer?

Satori: (calm) It’s plausible. If the killer feared what was written on Konngara’s ticket, they’d want it gone.

Komachi: (grim) Or maybe they just wanted to be the only one to read it.

Eiki: (firm) Either way, removing evidence tied to the motive… it’s a serious act.

Reimu: (focused) Which means—if we find out who took the missing pieces… we might find our blackened.

Cirno: (yelling) Alright, everyone! Raise your hand if you’ve got Konngara’s ticket!

(No one moves.)

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Cirno: (frustrated) Aww come on!!

Sanae: When I asked, Konngara said no one was following her! She was sure!

Reimu: (calm) Then that only deepens the mystery.

Eiki: (firm) Let’s return to the alarm.

Satori: (nodding) Everyone who woke up from the clock alarm has an alibi.

Alice: (cold) And those with soundproofed rooms couldn’t have heard it. So they weren’t involved in the confusion.

Komachi: (thinking) Cirno and Rumia were awake, but we already ruled them out.

Marisa: (serious) That means the real suspect might be one of the ones with soundproofing.

Konngara: (pointing) Then what about Lunasa? She never said a word. And no one can confirm what she did during the night.

Lunasa: (...)

Sanae: (defensive) W-Wait! That doesn’t mean anything! You can’t just throw blame around without proof!

Konngara: (firm) Proof or not… having no alibi makes things shaky. That’s enough to consider someone a possible suspect.

Konngara: (glancing) And Lunasa’s been quiet this entire time.

Sanae: (defensive) That’s just how she is! She’s always like that!

Reimu: (thinking) ...Still, silence during a trial doesn’t help your case.

Alice: (cold) If she wanted to avoid suspicion, she’s doing a poor job of it.

Konngara: (pressing) And let’s not forget—Lunasa’s a poltergeist. She could’ve easily phased through walls.

Konngara: (serious) She could’ve stolen my club without me ever noticing.

Reisen: (tense) That... lines up with the weapon vanishing without a trace.

Satori: (neutral) It's within her capabilities. But that alone isn't enough to prove intent.

Reimu: (thinking) She’s right. Lunasa is very suspicious, I admit… But is she really it?

Reimu: (thinking) She has no one to back her up. No alibi. No defense. Just silence...

Reimu: (thinking) And yet… Yukari said this case is very simple.

Reimu: (thinking) Can this really be the truth? Or are we missing something obvious?

Reimu: (focused) Wait… I remember something…

NON-STOP DEBATE - START

Konngara: (insistent) Lunasa's the one who did it! Think about it—no alibi, ghost powers, and no one saw her all night!

Konngara: (rushing) She could've phased through the walls, grabbed my club, and hit Aya before anyone even noticed!

Sanae: (defensive) That’s not fair! Just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s guilty!

Konngara: (pressing) No one can vouch for her! No one!

Lunasa: (softly) I... I was in my room the whole night. I heard nothing...

[TRUTH BULLET: DAY 3 ACTIVITIES — FIRED]

Reimu: I agree with that!

(BREAK!)

Reimu: (confident) This doesn’t exactly prove her innocence, but... I’m pretty sure Lunasa’s room has soundproofing.

Satori: (surprised) Huh?

Continuing her walk, she passed by the corridor leading to the living quarters. Lunasa’s door stood closed, silent as expected. Her room was positioned between Aya’s and Konngara’s, making for an odd neighborhood of restless energy and simmering aggression.

Reimu paused for a second outside Lunasa’s door, wondering if the musician was still practicing or just keeping to herself in typical melancholy fashion. I’ll check on her later… she decided, moving on.

Reimu: (firm) On Day 3, I remember passing by her hallway during the announcements. I noticed it then.

Satori: (thoughtful) …I see. That makes sense. I hadn’t checked hers personally, but it fits.

Komachi: (thinking) So if her room really is soundproofed… then it makes sense she didn’t hear the alarm.

Marisa: (nodding) Which would put her in the same group as Alice, Satori, and Eiki...

Reimu: (serious) Meaning... she wasn't awake. And if that’s true… the killer has to be one of the ones who was.

Konngara: (confused) Hold on… didn’t we all just agree? The killer had to be one of the people with soundproof rooms.

Reimu: (thinking) That’s what we assumed… but maybe we were wrong.

Reisen: (uncertain) If Lunasa has soundproofing too… then she fits the same conditions as Alice, Satori, and Eiki.

Satori: (serious) But that just widens the pool again… doesn't narrow it.

Alice: (cold) Then what was the point of the alarm discussion?

Reimu: (focused) Cirno, Rumia—are you sure you didn’t see anyone go to the dining area?

Cirno: (nervous) Uhhh… we weren’t really paying attention…

Rumia: (mumbling) Yeah… we were kinda just waiting for the prank to go off.

Cirno: (thinking) But... we did hear footsteps. Someone was there, we just didn’t see who.

Marisa: (snapping fingers) Wait. What time did you set the clock again?

Cirno: (confident) It was 10:20.

Reimu: (serious) Then Aya’s death happened just before the alarm went off.

Satori: (calm) So the killer probably entered the dining hall right as Aya had pulled her letter… and was on her way out.

Reisen: (thinking) That would mean the killer had to act fast. It was a small window.

Komachi: (grim) And if they were surprised by the alarm and  they might’ve stepped on something—like the camera.

Reimu: (firm) Or maybe… Aya was startled. The killer could’ve simply greeted her—said "Hello"—and she instinctively snapped a picture out of reflex.

Sanae: (thinking) I just remembered something… I noticed bloodstains on a tablecloth. Far from where Aya’s body was.

Reimu: (sharp) Far from the body?

Sanae: (nodding) Yeah. I think… when the alarm went off, the killer panicked. They must’ve wiped their hands clean on the cloth in a rush.

Reisen: (serious) That makes sense… but how did they escape without being seen?

Komachi: (frowning) Everyone was getting out of bed around that time. The hallway should’ve had movement.

Alice: (calm) Unless… the alarm was the perfect distraction.

Reimu: (thinking) Right. Everyone who was awake immediately left their rooms, looking for the source.

Marisa: (snapping fingers) So while people were scattering and confused… the killer just slipped out.

Satori: (quiet) Especially if they were calm enough to avoid running. Just blend in.

Remilia: (cold) Calculated. Efficient. No panic. Someone experienced.

Remilia: (coolly) Or perhaps… they became the distracted.

Marisa: (blinking) Huh?

Reimu: (serious) What do you mean?

Remilia: (elaborating) Think about it. Someone could’ve committed the murder before the alarm… then, once it went off, they simply played along.

Remilia: (sharp) Acted like they were just waking up. Left their room like everyone else. Pretended to be surprised.

Komachi: (grim) …So they disguised themselves as one of the innocent.

Reisen: (tense) That would mean… someone’s lying about when they actually woke up.

Satori: (quiet) But there’s no way to prove who it was, is there?

Alice: (cold) No hard evidence. Just suspicion.

Reimu: (thinking) Unless… we can catch a contradiction in their timeline. Some slip-up.

Cirno: (frowning) So... we’re back to square one?

Reimu: (firm) No. We’ve narrowed it down—we just haven’t realized what’s right in front of us yet.

Chen: (cheerful) I hope my guest is having fun~!

(Everyone briefly turns to look at her. Reimu doesn’t respond. Her mind is racing.)

Reimu: (thinking) Lunasa was in her room. That room had soundproofing…

Reimu: (thinking) She said she didn’t hear anything, which lines up. But… I still can’t shake the doubt.

Reimu: (thinking) The timeline’s tight. The killer must’ve acted quickly. Used the distraction. But who? And how?

(She clenches her fists, trying to fit the pieces together.)

Remilia: (calmly) Huh… it appears you desperately need some help.

Remilia: (smirking) I suppose I don’t mind. Reimu dear, are you hearing me?

Reimu: (shaken out of thought) What is it?

Remilia: (pointed) Remember the weird numbers and letters? And how I said one of them had my name on it?

Reimu: (pauses) ...Yes?

Remilia: (cold smile) Then maybe it’s time you finally start reading them instead of brushing them off.

Reimu: (confused) That? What’s the deal with those? Not even Satori could figure it out. Are you saying you know the secret?

Remilia: (smirking) Perhaps I do. Perhaps I don’t.

Remilia: (tilts her head) Look at me, Reimu. If you could give me a nickname, which one would it be?

Reimu: (frowning) Why are you— …I guess… Remi?

Remilia: (pleased) A cute name such as this fits the daughter of Tepes. Correct.

Remilia: (gesturing) Now, read Marisa’s ticket again.

(Reimu pulls it out and reads aloud.)

Reimu: …REMI NSP.

Reimu: (thoughtful) It has your name there… but why is that important?

Remilia: (calmly) Then tell me, why did I leave my room when the alarm went off?

Reimu: (confident) Because your room doesn’t have soundproofing.

Remilia: (smiling) Yes. Keep going.

Reimu: (repeating) No sound proof… no sound proof… NSP...

(She narrows her eyes, scanning the strange letters again, her voice barely a whisper.)

Reimu: (gasp) …Wait!!

Remilia: (smirking) Did you find out?

Remilia: (coolly) Now, if I gave you a nickname, it would be “Rei.” Right?

Reimu: (nodding slowly) …Right.

(She quickly pulls out the other ticket—the one that had puzzled her all this time.)

Reimu: REI NSP…

(Her eyes widen in realization.)

Reimu: (shocked) …It’s all making sense now!!

(The truth was hidden in plain sight. The codes weren’t nonsense. They were nicknames—and soundproof indicators. A pattern. A list.)

Reimu: (thinking) It wasn’t random at all…

Reimu: (quickly) It’s a code. A list. A pattern using nicknames.

Reimu: MAR NSP — that’s Marisa. “No Sound Proof.”

Reimu: EI SP — that’s Eiki. “Sound Proof.”

Satori: (wide-eyed) So it’s a roster... listing who has soundproof rooms and who doesn’t?

Reimu: (nodding) Exactly. Each name followed by either NSP or SP. No Sound Proof. Sound Proof.

Remilia: (smiling) It’s clever, isn’t it? You just needed to read between the lines, dear Reimu.

Reimu: (focused) Then if we look at all the names listed…

Remilia: (pleased) Amazing… You’ve unraveled the code.

Remilia: (leaning forward) Now then, Reimu… who was one of the last people you remember hearing that night?

Reimu: (thinking) One of The last person I heard…

Marisa.

"Who the hell turned that thing on!? It’s the middle of the night!"

Sanae.

"Whyyyyy!? I was finally dreaming of something soooo nice…!"

Remilia.

"This is absolutely unacceptable. Who dares disturb my rest!?" she declared with her usual aristocratic flair, though her messy hair betrayed her irritation.

Reisen.

"I'm not immune to permanent hearing loss. I’m blaming everyone involved…" she hissed, visibly trembling with rage.

Komachi.

"Great… Just what I needed… babysitting this thing even at night…"

Yumemi.

"IS THIS PART OF SOME KIND OF NEW TEST!? A NIGHT EXPERIMENT?!"

Konngara.

"I knew this stupid clock would be trouble the second I saw it," she grumbled, cracking her knuckles.

Reimu: (eyes widening) Of course… it was her.

Remilia: (smirking) I had a feeling you'd say that. Now—read the list again.

(Reimu opens the ticket, eyes scanning carefully.)

Reimu: (focused) Two KO’s… KO NSP and KO SP…

Reimu: (serious) That’s Komachi and Konngara.

(Her expression darkens as the pieces lock into place.)

Reimu: (thinking aloud) One of them had soundproof. One didn’t. And yet… they both claimed to have heard the alarm.

Satori: (eyes narrowing) That’s a contradiction.

Alice: (cold) One of them is lying.

Reimu: (clenching her fists) And considering who the last person I heard speak that night was...

Reimu: (determined)

...I know who it has to be.

(Everyone turns to her, tension building.)

Reimu: (raising her voice) The one who’s been deceiving us from the very beginning—them.

CHOOSE YOUR CULPRIT...

(The cursor hovers… and clicks on Konngara.)

Reimu: (pointing) It can only be her!

(BREAK — CORRECT)

Reimu: (steady) Konngara… can I ask you something?

Konngara: (confused) Yeah sure, what is it?

Reimu: (serious) You were one of the few people who said they were woken up by the alarm. So tell me—how exactly did you hear it?

Konngara: (baffled) Uh… with my ears? I heard it as soon as it rang.

Reimu: (cold) Really?

Reimu: (lifting the ticket) According to this paper… either you or Komachi had a room with soundproofing.

Reimu: (firm) But both of you claimed to have heard the alarm.

Reimu: (intense) And more than that—you were one of the last voices I heard before the clock rang.

Konngara: (confused) Yeah… but why are you—

(She suddenly freezes. Her eyes widen. Realization slams into her.)

Konngara: (shaken) H-Huh!?!?

END OF PART 1. 

Chapter Text

(Gasps and murmurs spread across the courtroom as everyone processes the accusation.)

Sanae: (wide-eyed) No way…

Reisen: (tense) Konngara…?

Satori: (quietly) The contradiction does point in her direction…

Konngara: (staggered) Shrine maiden… A-Are you… suspecting me?

Reimu: (calm but firm) Yes. I am now.

Reimu: (reasoning) You said you heard the alarm. But according to the ticket data, your room has soundproofing. You shouldn’t have heard anything.

Reimu: (pointing) That alone puts your claim in question. But what pushed it further... is that you were the last voice I heard before the alarm rang.

Reimu: (focused) That narrows the time frame down. It proves you were up just before the noise. And no one ever confirmed where you were after that.

Reimu: (stern) Which means… you had both the time and the opportunity to kill Aya.

(The courtroom falls into tense silence.)

Remilia: (coldly) Looks like the warrior wasn’t sleeping after all.

Konngara: (defensive) What do you mean?what about Komachi? She also had “KO” on the ticket. She could’ve committed the crime too!

(The others look at Reimu, tension rising again.)

Reimu: (thinking) She’s not wrong. “KO” could point to either of them. And even if Komachi was with Eiki most of the time, there’s technically nothing that stops her from slipping away and committing the murder…

Reimu: (eyes narrowing) But… her argument falls flat when I use 'that' to counter it!

CROSSED BLADES ARGUMENT — BEGIN

(The screen splits. Reimu and Konngara face off, words flying like steel. A rapid-fire argument begins.)

Konngara: (insistent) You said it yourself, Shrine Maiden! My room had soundproofing!

Konngara: That means I couldn’t have heard the clock, just like the others.

Konngara: Komachi also has “KO” on her ticket—she could be the real killer!

Konngara: She could’ve stolen my club and attacked Aya!

Konngara: I was asleep the whole night! She had the time and the freedom!

Konngara: I’m not the one you should be pointing at!

(Reimu slashes through each point with precision, word by word—ADVANCE!)

Reimu: (serious) That’s not true, Konngara!

(Reimu’s screen expands, music intensifies.)

Reimu: Komachi couldn’t have done it—because she was with Eiki the entire time.

Konngara: (snapping) So what!? She could’ve just faked it! Lied about her emotions! Hid her plan!

(EIKI’S ROD!)

Reimu: I’ll cut through those words!!

(BREAK!)

Reimu: Eiki’s Rod, a divine instrument that reacts to lies and evil intent. If Komachi were faking her emotions or hiding a plan to kill, Eiki would’ve sensed it instantly.

Reimu: And she didn’t.

Satori: (nodding) Eiki never mentioned anything strange about Komachi that night.

Remilia: (coldly) Which means your argument… just shattered.

Konngara: (growling) Grrr...!

(The others glance at each other, growing more suspicious.)

Sanae: (whispering) She’s getting really defensive now…

Reisen: (nervous) Is she… cracking?

Marisa: (serious) Pretty shaky for someone claiming to be innocent.

Konngara: (snapping) Of course I’m being defensive!! I’m being accused of murder! Wouldn’t you be!?

Konngara: (frustrated) I’m a gatekeeper—not a criminal! I protect people—I don’t kill them!

Satori: (calmly) Oni are known for their honesty. They value truth, even when it hurts.

Satori: (sharp) But your words… they’re trembling.

Alice: (cold) Then what about your weapon? The club that conveniently went missing?

(A moment of silence falls over the courtroom.)

Reimu: (thinking) Right… her club vanished just after the event…

Reimu: (thinking) What if it didn’t go missing at all? What if… she lied about it the whole time?

Marisa: (grim) And it means you had the weapon all along, huh?

Konngara: (firm) I told you, I’m not the murderer!

Konngara: My weapon disappeared after the event, I couldn’t have used it!

Sanae: (thinking) But it’s strange that only your weapon vanished…

Komachi: (serious) It’s the only missing item that could match the wounds…

Konngara: (insistent) I swear, it was there after the game… then just gone!

Konngara: Someone must’ve taken it when I wasn’t looking!

(Reimu narrows her eyes, her truth spell card glows: Bloody Tablecloth — LOCKED & LOADED)

Reimu: No, that’s wrong!!

(BREAK!)

Reimu: Konngara, you say your club disappeared after the event… but that’s not what the evidence suggests.

Reimu: Sanae found bloodstains on a kitchen tablecloth—far from Aya’s body.

Reimu: When I asked her about it, I realized something…

Reimu: After you killed Aya, you were caught off guard by the alarm prank. So, in a panic, you wiped off your hands and part of your outfit with the cloth.

Reimu: But you didn’t clean the weapon, your club.

Konngara: (staggered) ...T-That’s… I…

Konngara: (snapping) Are you shitting me?!

(She slams her fist on the podium, trembling in fury.)

Konngara: (angrily) You’re seriously accusing me based on some letters and numbers scribbled on a damn ticket?! A ticket given to us by Yukari of all people!?

Reimu: (calm but firm) If it were false, Remilia wouldn’t be helping me piece it together.

Reimu: (sharply) If we get this trial wrong, we all die. She’s not the type to gamble with her own life.

(Konngara grits her teeth, then scoffs loudly and throws her arms out.)

Konngara: (mocking) Fine. Then let me tell you the whole damn story, Shrine Maiden.

(She takes a deep breath, voice cold and deliberate.)

Konngara: After the event, I returned to my room. My club was missing—gone. I went to bed.

Konngara: Aya must’ve snuck out to explore that dumb ticket message of hers.

Konngara: Someone—maybe Komachi—followed her. They used my club to kill her. They cleaned themselves off. Hid the weapon. Went back to their room.

Konngara: Then the alarm went off. Everyone rushed out. Confused. Distracted.

Konngara: The killer just blended in with the crowd. Easy. Clean.

(She pauses. Her fists clenched, breathing heavy.)

Konngara: Do you see the contradiction? It’s glaring at you! Isn’t it!?

Konngara: (shouting) If the culprit was really jumped by the alarm and cleaned themselves in a panic like you said…

Konngara: …then they’d still have blood on their clothes! They’d be caught immediately!

Konngara: And the weapon—my club! If it was still soaked in blood, it would’ve left trails! Blood drops on the floor, splatters somewhere!

Konngara: So tell me, Shrine Maiden—how do you escape from this one, huh!?

(The room is dead silent. All eyes are on Reimu. Her expression is calm… focused.)

Reimu: (quietly) …That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

Reimu: (firm) No blood was found on anyone's clothing, right? And the floor was spotless too.

Reimu: There's a reason for that…

HANGMAN'S GAMBIT! 

What did Konngara use to hide the club?

A

H

T

I

A

N

C

C

O

M

P

L

I

C

E

_an a_____p__e_ 

An accomplice

Reimu: And that’s where she comes in.

(Everyone turns, puzzled.)

Marisa: She?

Reimu: (serious) Chen.

(The room stills.)

Reimu: Think back—Chen has been acting strange this entire trial. Making random comments like, “I hope my guest is enjoying themselves?”

Sanae: (uneasy) Guest…?

Reimu: (sharp) Someone here had assistance. And there’s nothing in the rules that says a sponsor—one of the hosts—can’t offer help behind the scenes.

Reimu: For the first point—the club... Konngara had help hiding it.

Reimu: Chen helped her.

(Stunned silence. The courtroom is still.)

Reisen: (quiet) That… would explain why there were no traces…

Komachi: (grim) And how the weapon could disappear without a single drop.

Satori: (eyes narrowing) It wasn’t just a lone murder. It was a coordinated cover-up.

Konngara: (furious) Tch…! Are you serious!?

Konngara: That makes no damn sense! Why the hell would I ever work with the ones who trapped us here!?

Konngara: I would never team up with those freaks—especially not that damn cat!

Reimu: (coldly) Maybe so. But help doesn’t always come with permission. Sometimes it’s forced. Or worse… offered just when you need it most.

Reimu: Chen’s behavior this trial hasn’t been neutral.

her tone—she’s been engaged in this case far too much.

Reimu: And we all know this game isn’t fair. Not with them in charge.

Konngara: (growling) …You’re reaching.

Reimu: Maybe. But let’s talk about the second part. The real problem with your story.

(Everyone turns to Reimu again.)

Reimu: After the alarm went off… I chased Cirno and Rumia for pulling that prank.

Reimu: I ran all around the ground floor—but I never once saw you go upstairs.

Satori: (quietly) That’s true… you vanished after that.

Reimu: And what everyone else was doing in those moments—including you, Konngara—was completely unaccounted for.

Remilia: (low voice) That gap… that uncertain window... that's where it happened, didn’t it?

Reimu: (focused) But before we go on and say exactly what you did…

Reimu: I have one more thing to clarify.

(She looks across the courtroom, addressing the others directly.)

Reimu: Marisa. Sanae. Remilia. Komachi. Yumemi. What were you all doing while I was chasing Cirno and Rumia after the alarm went off?

Marisa: (scratching her head) I was watching from the hallway. You were yelling pretty loud, y’know?

Sanae: (nodding) Same. I stepped out of my room and saw the whole thing. Honestly, it was hard to not look.

Remilia: (calmly) I observed in silence. It was… amusing.

Komachi: (thinking) I remember leaning by the wall, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Yumemi: (nervous) I—I poked my head out too. I saw everyone awake and decided to stay quiet...

Reimu: (nodding) So you were all there. Watching the commotion unfold.

Reimu: That settles it.

Reimu: Everyone except Konngara remained in the area.

Reimu: Meaning… while we were all distracted by the prank, she likely slipped away—back into her room.

Reimu: And there, she took the opportunity to clean the last remaining traces of blood on her body—using whatever she could find in her room.

Reimu: A towel, a pillow, maybe even curtains—something disposable or easy to hide.

Reimu: That’s why no one saw blood on her. She cleaned up after the fact—while we were all too distracted to notice.

Konngara: (snapping) S–SHIT… You gotta be shitting me… I… I… I DIDN’T DO SHIT!!!

(Her voice echoes across the courtroom—rage-filled, desperate.)

Konngara: (screaming) I CAN’T DIE HERE!!!

Not without 'owning her'… Not after what 'She' did for me!!

(Everyone falls into tense silence. The room tightens. Konngara’s voice trembles with fury.)

Konngara: (glaring) I had no reason to kill Aya! What motive could I possibly have!?

Reimu: (coldly) You did have one.

Reimu: The ticket you received. You read it in secret—and lied about ripping it apart.

Reimu: That message probably encouraged you. Gave you just enough curiosity… or fear… or ambition.

Reimu: And then, while wandering the halls—just like you always do when you’re bored—you found her.

Reimu: You found Aya alone in the dining room. Reading her ticket. Back turned. Vulnerable.

Konngara: (bitterly) That’s ridiculous!

Reimu: (sharp) Is it?

Konngara was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, watching the scene with half-lidded eyes. Meanwhile, Aya, who had apparently wandered here before Reimu caught up, stood near one of the old wooden shelves on the side of the room, flipping through some scattered sheet music.

Reimu stepped in cautiously, letting her eyes roam across the space.

“…So, this is where you’ve been hiding,” she said quietly to Lunasa.

"And What are YOU doing here?" Reimu turned to the Oni. 

"I'm still patrolling. I just felt like entering inside this room. Guarding one area can be pretty boring." She said with her club above her head. 

"Sure."

Reimu: On day 3, when I investigated with Aya, I noticed something: when you're bored, you don’t stay in your room. You roam. You wander from place to place. No goal. No purpose.

Reimu: That’s exactly how you acted then. And that’s exactly what you did the night of the murder.

Reimu: You wandered—and you found her.

Reimu: (steady) And while you were probably still conflicted about whether to go through with it…

Reimu: When you saw how vulnerable Aya was.

Reimu: You decided: Screw it.

Reimu: You picked up your club, and you struck.

(Gasps echo across the courtroom.)

Reimu: That was the moment it became real.

Reimu: And sometime after… Chen got involved.

Reimu: Whether she saw it, or you called for her, or she simply decided to help… we don’t know.

Reimu: But from that point forward, you weren't covering your tracks alone.

Reimu: The bloody club vanished. 

Marisa: (whistling) Damn… didn’t think it’d be her.

Sanae: (tense) I almost can’t believe it...

Satori: (quiet) But all the logic points her way.

Komachi: (murmuring) Sorry, Ko...

Remilia: (cold) It’s always the one who says they have nothing to hide.

Yumemi: (panicking) W-Wait, are we sure she did it!? Maybe it was a ghost! Or an alien! That’s more my expertise!

Cirno: (grinning) Or maybe it was a ninja! You know, like POW, and then poof! Gone!

Chen: (smirking) Oooh dear, looks like my guest is in quite the bidet!

(mock gasps)

Did I do something wrong, Ran-sama?

Konngara: (exploding) SHUT UP, YOU DAMN CAT!!

Chen: NYAAAAH!!

(Chen’s hair stands up like bristling fur as she yelps, jumping back and clinging to Ran like a frightened kitten.)

Chen: (sniffling) R-Ran-samaaaa!! She yelled at meeee!

Ran: (calmly petting her) There, there. She didn’t mean it, dear. Tensions are high.

Ran: (looking at Konngara) Isn’t that right… Ko?

Konngara: (defiant) Then this is it… My final stand.

Konngara: You say the ticket was my motive, right? That I read it… and that it pushed me to kill Aya?

Konngara: Then where the hell is it!?

I told you—I ripped it apart! The scraps were scattered! It’s not like I hid it!

Konngara: Someone must’ve picked it up… someone like Komachi! She had a motive too, don’t forget that!

Reimu: (stern) Still going with this? I already told you why Komachi couldn’t possibly—

Konngara: (exploding) SHUT UP!! Answer the question, Shrine Maiden!!

(The courtroom pulses with tension—Chen flinches, Ran stays silent. Yukari smirks.)

Yukari: Oh my~ Seems like it’s time for a good old-fashioned bullet shower~

[DANMAKU SHOWDOWN — FINAL ARGUMENT MINIGAME BEGINS]

(Konngara fires verbal danmaku in waves, phrases shouting across the screen like bullets.)

> “You have no proof I kept the ticket!”

“Komachi could’ve read it!”

“You just want someone to blame!”

“You never saw me with it!”

“I told you I threw it away!”

(Reimu dodges the arguments, waiting for the right moment—until…)

🟥 LOCK-ON BULLET: "Incomplete

Ticket

Scrap

s"

Reimu: “I’ll break through that argument!”

(CUT!)

Reimu: (firmly) Sure. If you really did rip the ticket apart… then you couldn't have read it.

Which is why you did that, right?

Konngara: (tense) That?

Reimu: (coldly) Here's what I think happened.

While you were pretending to rip the ticket apart in the hallway… you accidentally saw the secret message.

Reimu: You inspected it. Realized what it said. And then… you hid it.

Made it look like it was stolen. To throw everyone off.

Konngara: (angrily) That’s complete bullshit! That makes no sense at all!

Reimu: (calmly) Yeah… you're right.

(The room goes silent for a beat.)

Reimu: (smirking slightly) It doesn't make sense... not unless you had help.

(Gasps ripple through the room. Konngara stiffens.)

Reimu: (looking up) Hey, Chen...

Reimu: Do you… still have her club?

(All eyes snap to Chen. The courtroom freezes.)

Konngara: (visibly shaken) W–What!?

(Chen tilts her head, smiling with wide-eyed mischief. Her tail twitches.)

Chen: Oho~? Why would you ask me that, Reimu?

(Konngara’s fists clench. Her breathing sharpens.)

Reimu: (pressing forward) Because that's the final piece of the puzzle, isn't it?

Reimu: So I’ll ask again—Chen, do you have it?

(Chen pauses. Her grin fades slightly as she gives Reimu a sideways glance.)

Chen: Hmm… Well, since you're so persistent...

(She raises her hand, prepared to open a gap—)

Konngara: (quietly) …You don't have to do that.

(Everything freezes. A heavy silence falls.)

Marisa: Huh?

Sanae: Wait… what did she just say?

Komachi: …Ko…?

Lunasa: (softly) Does this mean…?

(Konngara exhales deeply. Shoulders drop. Her voice steadies—not with defiance, but quiet resignation.)

Konngara: (grim) …I might as well chin up and stop whining like a pathetic loser...

Konngara: And just accept my loss.

(Gasps and murmurs spread across the courtroom.)

Satori: She didn’t say it outright… but…

Remilia: …It’s a confession in all but name.

Chen: (soft giggle) Nya~ You’re finally being honest.

(Ran places a quiet hand on Chen’s shoulder, keeping her still. Chen nods, retracting her power.)

Reimu: (quietly) …So that’s how it is.

Yukari: (smiling) My, my… it seems this little tale of blood and deceit is finally nearing its end.

Yukari: Reimu, darling, would you do us all a favor… and sum up the entire case?

Reimu: (sighs) There's no real point. Everyone already—

Yukari: (playfully firm) Ah-ah~ It’s about the drama, dear. The climax! Surely the heroine can give us a satisfying finale?

(Reimu pauses, closes her eyes, exhales—then opens them with resolve.)

Reimu: …Fine.

CLIMAX REASONING.

ACT1:

It all began with the golden tickets.

Marisa, Aya, and Konngara were declared the winners after the group event. Each of them received one of the mysterious passes.

After the event ended, everyone was exhausted and went to bed.

...Except for one.

Aya, curious and suspicious of the ticket’s hidden content, decided to investigate. Following the clue on the back, she headed to the dining hall to examine the area.

At the same time, Konngara, somewhere in the hallway, was pretending to destroy her ticket.

But while tearing it apart, she accidentally glimpsed the hidden message.

Whatever it said... it shook her.

It planted the idea.

Maybe it was anger.

Maybe it was fear.

Maybe… it was opportunity.

But something in that moment made her consider murder.

She became conflicted—torn between her role as a gatekeeper and the dark temptation that had just surfaced.

And that…

Was the beginning of the crime.

ACT2:

Reimu: (narrating)

While the rest of the building was quiet… Cirno and Rumia remained awake.

The two had planned a prank after overhearing my conversation with Aya on Day 4 regarding the dining hall clock.

They decided to set the alarm before the event, changing the time to 10:20 PM.

As the clock neared that moment, they stayed behind—sitting and waiting for the alarm to ring.

And that’s when it happened…

They heard footsteps.

Someone moving around nearby.

Someone thinking.

Someone hesitating.

That someone… was Konngara.

She was pacing the halls, torn about what to do.

Her mind, full of conflict—about the message she saw.

And her heart, perhaps… already committed.

But Cirno and Rumia didn’t see her.

They were too focused on the clock.

Too lost in their little joke.

They didn’t realize they were listening to a killer getting closer to her victim.

ACT3:

At the same time as Cirno and Rumia waited by the clock…

Aya was already in the dining hall, investigating the ticket’s clue.

She crawled beneath the table and discovered it—

A lever connected to the hidden hatch we had found on Day 4.

Unaware of what fate awaited her, Aya was focused—

absorbed in her work.

Meanwhile, Konngara quietly entered the kitchen, just a few steps away.

Maybe she wasn’t fully committed yet.

Maybe she just wanted to see who was out.

She approached Aya—

greeted her suddenly.

Startled, Aya reacted by turning quickly with her camera still in hand.

The surprise made her accidentally press the shutter.

That’s when the photo was taken.

A blurry image of her killer—Konngara.

But Aya didn’t suspect much.

She didn’t know about the photograph.

She likely just made an awkward excuse for being there and continued what she was doing.

And Konngara…

saw how alone and vulnerable Aya was.

That was the moment her hesitation vanished.

Aya stood up…

and Konngara reached for her weapon—her club, the one she had claimed went missing.

She took position, readied her stance,

waited for just the right second—

And then...

SPLASH.

One fatal strike to the head.

Aya turned at the last second—

But it was too late.

She died instantly.

ACT 5:

Even if it was blurry, Konngara couldn’t risk it.

So she ripped it apart.

And in that exact instant—

The alarm went off.

The loud ringing caught her completely off guard.

In a panic, she stumbled—

Stepped on the camera, crushing it beneath her feet.

Now she was truly desperate.

Everyone would be waking up any second.

With no time to waste, she reached for the nearest thing she could find—

The dining table cloths—and used them to wipe off blood from her outfit.

But the club?

There was no time.

That’s where Chen came in.

Whether they planned it before or it was a spontaneous decision, we still don’t know.

But Konngara must’ve passed the bloodied club to Chen,

ACT6:

After that, Konngara fled the scene—

and rushed into the hallway just in time to see the others—me, Marisa, Sanae, Yumemi, Reisen, and Remilia—gathering in panic.

She blended in.

Pretended she had just woken up like the rest of us.

And no one questioned her.

ACT7:

After the alarm, I began chasing Cirno and Rumia across the lower floor.

The others?

They stayed behind—watching from above.

But not everyone.

There was one who vanished.

The guilty one—Konngara.

She took advantage of the distraction.

While all eyes were focused elsewhere,

she slipped away into her room.

There, she used something random—anything she could find—

to wipe away any remaining traces of blood from her body.

A final, desperate effort…

To make sure there would be nothing left to connect her to the crime.

When she returned, no one noticed.

She blended in, again.

Time passed…

And then, the next morning,

Eiki and Komachi were the first to go to the dining hall.

And they were the first…

to discover Aya’s corpse.

Shortly after, the body discovery announcement was triggered.

The rest of us arrived—Reimu, the others…

Including… the culprit.

Who stood among us,

pretending to mourn the death…

That she had caused.

And that one person…

Despite being known as an honest Oni...

Was lying to us this entire time.

(A tense silence falls over the courtroom. The camera slowly pans across the students, eyes wide, breath held.)

(CG: Reimu, arm outstretched in an accusatory point. Her expression—sharp and resolute.)

Reimu:

Isn’t that right... Konngara!?

(The figure in gray—neutral, indistinct—flashes briefly... before the illusion shatters. The cloak fades. The posture shifts.)

(It’s her. Konngara. Head lowered. Face shadowed. Expression unreadable.)

(BREAK)

(Everything goes silent.)

Reimu:

That...

wraps up this case.

(Music fades in—low and final. The tension lingers. The truth has been laid bare. The trial is nearly over.)

Yukari: (grinning)

Well, well. I certainly felt the heat in this courtroom. Time for the final curtain… Shall we vote?

Reimu: Yes please. You made me look like an isiot just now. I'm glad its over.

(Gasps and murmurs echo throughout the courtroom.)

Marisa: (shocked)

No way... It really was her?

Sanae: (uneasy)

I never would've thought...

Komachi: (whispers)

Konngara...

Remilia: (stoic)

...It all adds up.

(Konngara stands in silence, her fists clenched, head low.)

Yukari: (smiling with unsettling glee)

Oh my, what a delightful storm of emotions! Now then…

(A swirling gap opens midair—gentle, eerie. From it, a lacquered wooden box emerges, elegantly painted with the kanji for “Judgment” 「裁き」on one side, and the word "VOTE" in gold roman letters on the other.)

(Another gap unfolds beside it—this time, releasing a bundle of long, slender tanzaku papers.)

Yukari: These are Tanzaku of Fate~!

Write down the name of the one you believe to be the blackened. And slip it into the box.

So exciting, isn’t it? Who will it be?

Whoooo will it be?

(The music turns tense, low percussion beneath echoing heartbeats.)

Yukari:

Now…

CAST YOUR VOTES!

(Scene transition — fade to black... then fade in to a night sky blanketed in silence.)

(Somewhere far from the courtroom... in an open, quiet space...)

(Suddenly—)

DOOM... DOOM... DOOM...

(Slow, ceremonial taiko drums begin to beat in rhythm. The tension thickens. The stars above shimmer faintly.)

(In the center of the dark clearing stands a giant mechanical wheel, arcade-style. Each panel on the wheel shows an 8-bit pixel sprite of a remaining student, stylized like an old Famicom game. The wheel begins to spin rapidly—)

clack clack clack clack—

(A mechanical soundscape builds as it slows... slows... slows...)

CLICK.

(It lands squarely on Konngara’s 8-bit sprite, which lets out a cute chiptune "!" sound.)

(Everything pauses. Silence again—)

(Then—)

BOOM!

(A firework launches into the sky. A massive burst—fiery red and violet—forms Konngara’s face in shimmering sparks.)

(Another firework fires right after, bursting just beneath the first—)

This one spells, in massive glowing kanji and roman letters:

「有罪」 — GUILTY

CASE END 

"Now then... It appears that you were correct!! The one who killed the crow of Bunbunmaru is none other than Konngara, the dishonest Oni!!" Yukari declared with theatrical flourish, arms raised as if announcing the end of a grand performance.

Silence hung over the courtroom like a shroud. Most of the girls remained frozen, stunned. A few exchanged uneasy glances, their faces caught somewhere between disbelief and sorrow.

"I believe that you want to know why," Yukari continued, her tone softening, yet still smug. "I suppose this is also an important part of the foundation. I will let you to it."

Konngara stood in the center, shadowed beneath the courtroom’s eerie lighting. Her once-firm posture had weakened—shoulders slouched, fists unclenched. Her eyes were narrowed, unreadable.

"Konngara. Why did you do this?" Reimu asked, voice steady but heavy.

"..." Konngara said nothing. The room remained tense.

Some of the others leaned in slightly—Marisa, Sanae, even Satori. Whether out of justice, curiosity, or morbid necessity, they wanted to hear her speak.

"...Do you really want to know...?" Konngara finally muttered, her voice low. "It's better to live in blissful ignorance."

The others stepped forward, their silence giving way to unrest. Their eyes—once simply shocked—now brimmed with a demand for clarity.

“We need to know,” Satori said firmly, her gaze piercing. “If there’s even a shred of humanity in you, Konngara… tell us why Aya had to die.”

"Aya didn’t deserve this!" Sanae added, her voice shaking, torn between anger and sorrow.

Marisa had enough. A sharp breath escaped her lips—then she snapped.

“What the hell is wrong with you!?” she shouted, steam all but rising from her head. “You were working with Chen?! Are you one of the bastards running this game?!”

The room tensed again, all eyes locked on Konngara.

"..."

She remained silent.

Komachi crossed her arms tightly. "We wouldn't be asking if we didn't care. Just tell us already."

Remilia narrowed her eyes. "The truth is far better than ignorance. No matter how distasteful."

Reisen shifted uncomfortably. "We’re risking our lives in here… If there’s a bigger picture, we have to know."

Yumemi adjusted her glasses, visibly shaken. "I hate this… But not knowing would be worse."

Cirno clenched her fists. "You better talk, lady! You owe us that much!"

Rumia tilted her head, her voice quiet. "It’s weird… You didn’t seem like a bad person before this."

Alice muttered, "I just want to understand what pushed you to that point…"

Satori’s tone was steady. "Whether we understand or not, you need to say it. For closure, if nothing else."

Eiki closed her eyes, solemn. "Speak now, and perhaps you’ll still retain a shred of dignity."

Lunasa looked away, her expression unreadable, but her silence was agreement.

Sanae stood firm. "Say it. Please."

"..." Konngara slowly lifted her head, her eyes shaded but locked forward.

"You really want to know, huh?" she muttered, her voice low but clear. "...Alright. It's not like I have much time left anyway..."

She paused, drawing in a sharp breath.

"But just a heads-up… You're not gonna like what you're about to hear."

Konngara finally exhaled, as if releasing years of weight from her chest.

"...Do you all remember what I told you before? That I was the Gatekeeper of Makai?"

Everyone listened in silence, watching her closely.

"I never really went into detail about how I got that title," she continued, voice slow and deliberate. "Because, truth is... it wasn’t a title I earned through honor, or tradition, or legacy."

She closed her eyes for a moment. Her next words came with more weight.

"I was a rogue Oni. I didn’t have a homeland, a clan, or even a damned friend. I didn’t drink, I didn’t laugh. I was everything an Oni shouldn’t be."

Marisa blinked. "You... chose to be like that?"

"I wanted to be different," Konngara said sharply. "Different from the dumb, proud, honor-bound drunkards that came before me. I wanted to be strong in my own way. Stronger than anyone."

She looked up now—eyes fierce, but tired.

"And one day... I decided to test that strength. I sought out Sariel. The angel of death."

Gasps rippled through the group. Even Satori’s brows lifted slightly.

"I challenged her to a duel, thinking that if I beat her, I'd finally prove myself," Konngara said, a bitter smile creeping in. "...She absolutely destroyed me."

Silence followed, until she chuckled once—low and humorless.

"But she didn’t kill me. Instead... she said I had potential. That my rage, my rejection of Oni pride—it could be used."

"Used?" Remilia repeated.

"She gave me a job. Said Makai needed a gatekeeper. Someone brutal, detached, willing to act as the first wall between Hell and everything else. And I took it."

Konngara continued, her voice softer now—more reflective.

“My job… it’s not glamorous. You think standing between realms sounds exciting, but most days, it’s just endless silence. Watching. Waiting. Alone.”

She paused, eyes drifting toward the floor as if recalling something far away.

“But then… one day, I met her—Kikuri.”

Some of the girls reacted with confusion at the unfamiliar name.

“She’s a sentient moon. Lives in Hell. A spirit bound to a celestial body. Cold as ice, sharp-tongued, always criticizing everything I did… and honestly?”

A faint, wistful smile crossed Konngara’s face.

“She was annoying as hell.”

Sanae blinked. “You two… were friends?”

“She became my closest friend,” Konngara nodded. “Maybe my only real one. We’d argue, we’d spar, we’d insult each other constantly… but something about her made the silence easier. For the first time, I didn’t hate standing at the gate.”

She looked away, trying to mask the emotion growing in her expression.

"I didn’t realize it at the time, but… part of me actually enjoyed her company.”

Konngara’s voice grew heavier, the weight of regret threading each word.

“All of that… the life I had built for myself—Kikuri, Sariel, my duty—was cut short the moment I was dragged into this place.”

She clenched her fists, her tone darkening.

“I was ripped away from everything. My station. My promise. The only people who gave me meaning. I was put here like some pawn in a twisted game, and all I could feel was that silence again—that same damn silence I thought I’d left behind.”

The girls exchanged glances. For the first time, Konngara wasn’t yelling—she was mourning.

“And yeah… I know it’s only been five days,” she continued bitterly. “But when you’ve fought and bled for a purpose your whole life, five days without it feels like an eternity.”

Marisa scowled. “So what? None of us mattered? Were we just background noise to you?!”

Sanae added, “You really couldn’t wait even a week before snapping like this?”

Reisen frowned. “Is that all we were to you?”

Konngara shook her head. “No… you do matter to me. All of you.”

She looked at them directly, tone earnest—painfully so.

“I enjoyed our meals. I laughed at your antics. Even when I grumbled, I appreciated your company. But Kikuri… Sariel… They gave me everything. I owed them more than I can explain.”

Remilia folded her arms. “So that was the price, then? Aya’s life, for the chance to return?”

Konngara’s expression hardened again. “The deal I made wasn’t just temptation. It was obligation. It compelled me.”

She exhaled sharply. “And in that moment… I chose them over all of you.”

Konngara's voice wavered as she recounted the memory, the courtroom tense with silence.

"I remember... walking alone through the hallway that night. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted. My thoughts were a mess. I’d just torn my ticket apart—I didn’t want to see any more of this madness."

Her expression darkened.

"That’s when she showed up."

[FLASHBACK]

The empty hallway flickered dimly under the artificial lights. Konngara stood hunched, bits of golden paper falling from her hands like autumn leaves.

"Stupid thing..." she muttered, tossing the last piece to the floor.

From the shadows, a soft voice chimed out—too chipper for the hour.

"You're gonna get in sooo much trouble for that~"

Konngara jerked around. "You— Chen?"

The nekomata was perched sideways along the wall, almost like she’d been sewn into it. Her eyes glinted with eerie mischief.

"I was just watching... and I saw you rip it up. Yukari-sama wouldn’t be very happy, you know."

"What are you even doing here?" Konngara growled.

Chen tilted her head, purring faintly. "Just wanted to see if you really scratched off the back. Did you?"

Konngara hesitated, lips curling. "That thing? I didn’t even bother—"

Chen interrupted cheerfully, "You should. Everyone should see their fortune."

Skeptical but curious, Konngara reluctantly picked up a half-intact fragment and tilted it beneath the light.

As soon as she read it, her pupils shrank.

 “The first murderer gets to leave scot-free. No bidders attached.”

Konngara stood still. Cold.

"...What the hell is this?"

Chen's voice dropped into something far more measured. Not mocking—calculated.

"It’s exactly what it says. No catch. No tricks."

"You really expect me to believe that?"

"You don't have to," Chen said with a grin. "But... if you do decide to take that offer, I can help. I can see through every wall here. Courtesy of Lady Yukari."

There was a silence. The two locked eyes.

Then Chen spun on her heels and skipped away like a cat with bloodless paws.

"I’ll leave the rest to you~"

[BACK TO PRESENT]

Konngara looked away in shame.

"She never told me to kill. But she knew. They all knew. And they let me think I had a choice."

Konngara didn’t lift her head. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides.

"...And that’s how Chen got involved," Reimu murmured, her voice low and heavy. "She was watching... waiting for the moment you'd take the bait."

[FLASHBACK]

The dining hall was dim and quiet, save for the faint hum of the overhead lights. Aya's lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor. A single loud clang echoed—the camera, stepped on. Blood soaked into the tiles.

The alarm clock had just rung.

Konngara stood frozen, clutching the heavy club in her hands, her breath unsteady. The rush of the act was fading, replaced by a creeping wave of dread.

That’s when it happened.

A gap silently opened behind her—purple-lined, blooming like a wound in the air. From within stepped Chen, calm and composed, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"Ah... just as I thought." Chen said softly, almost pleased. “You really went through with it.”

Konngara turned abruptly. "What—How did you—?"

Chen didn’t answer. She casually strolled up to her, glancing down at Aya’s corpse, then at the club still stained with dark red.

“Give it to me,” she said, extending a hand.

Konngara hesitated. “Why?”

"No time for questions. You made a mess. If you want that promise to stay true... let me do my part."

Before Konngara could fully respond, Chen yanked the bloodied weapon from her grip.

"You should get going. The others are waking up."

And just like that, the gap behind her opened wider. Chen stepped backward into it, cradling the bloodstained club like a precious item. Her tail flicked as she disappeared behind the veil.

The gap closed silently.

[BACK TO PRESENT]

"She... just took it," Konngara muttered bitterly. "No more words. Just vanished like a phantom."

"...And none of us ever suspected," Reisen said, her voice barely audible.

"...Until it was too late," Satori added quietly.

Marisa crossed her arms, eyes narrowed toward the now-silent Chen.

"Sounds to me like Chen tricked you, ze."

Konngara didn’t reply. Her gaze was distant, heavy with regret.

"...I remember just walking aimlessly around the place," she muttered.

"Until I stumbled upon the dining hall."

---

[FLASHBACK]

The halls were quiet, lit dimly by the faint magical lights embedded in the walls. Konngara's footsteps echoed softly across the floor. She stopped as she reached the entrance to the dining hall, seeing someone moving inside.

Aya.

The crow tengu knelt by the large central table, her eyes focused beneath it. She seemed to be looking for something—her camera close in hand. Konngara stepped forward, her curiosity piqued.

“Yo,” Konngara greeted casually.

Aya jumped. Click!

A flash lit the room briefly as her fingers twitched in panic and accidentally triggered the camera.

“Ayaya! Don’t scare me like that—It’s just you, Konngara.”

Aya exhaled sharply. “What are you doing here at this hour?”

Konngara tilted her head. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Aya paused, then offered a soft laugh. “Just investigating something. A little lead I had... nothing important. Just… go back to sleep, alright?”

Konngara hesitated but eventually gave a nod, stepping back out.

---

But only a few steps away, her feet slowed.

A new thought pierced her mind—sharp, invasive.

The ticket.

The message.

The deal.

She turned.

Konngara stood firm, her voice bitter but steady, her gaze fixed ahead—not on anyone in particular, but on the weight of her own confession.

"Even if it ended up a lie... I had to take my shot."

She clenched her jaw, fingers curled into fists.

"An opportunity showed up in front of me. And I took it. And with it came Aya's life."

Her voice cracked ever so slightly, but she pushed through.

"Turned out it was all for freaking naught. Because the day after, I learned that it was all a trick—and I had to do a god damn trial to leave."

She looked directly at Chen now, face twisted in a mixture of fury and disbelief.

"I had to hold everything in my power to stop me from killing that damn cat right then and there."

Silence. Heavy. Awkward. Drenched in tension.

"...So I went with it. I decided to win fair and square." She gave a humorless laugh. "And well... it didn’t work."

Her expression softened into something distant, almost melancholic.

"See why I didn’t want to tell you?"

She turned her head toward the others—each of them watching, listening.

"My motive is selfish to the core."

Eiki's tone tone—cold and unshaking.

"You took an innocent life. And you would’ve taken all of ours had this trial gone your way. All to return to your so-called ‘duty.’ Is that truly what you value above everything else?"

Konngara didn’t flinch. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"It wasn’t about duty."

She looked away, toward the floor.

"...It was about purpose."

The courtroom went still.

"I don’t belong here," she continued, her voice low but resolute. "Not with these games. Not in this fake world. I was needed out there. I had a reason to exist. Sariel gave me that. Kikuri gave me that."

Her tone sharpened.

"And here? I’m just... killing time. And now I’m the killer. Isn’t that poetic?"

She laughed bitterly.

"I’ve always lived to be strong. For others. And when this place took that from me, all I could think was: what am I without it?"

Silence lingered for a beat too long.

"I did what I thought I had to. I don't regret it."

That was the line.

Marisa stepped forward, slamming her fist on the railing. "You don’t regret it?! Aya’s gone! And you’re telling me you’d do it again?!"

"She was just in the way."

Sanae gasped. Reisen visibly recoiled. Even Yumemi clenched her fists.

Remilia shook her head. "And here I thought Oni were supposed to be honest, not heartless."

Komachi muttered, "Guess we were wrong on that one."

Only Lunasa remained silent, staring at Konngara with unreadable eyes.

"You chose strength over kindness," Satori said flatly. "That’s the part no one here can accept."

"You can say all you want. You have the right to express your thoughts," Konngara spoke, her voice unwavering. "If you want to punch me, kick me, cut me—go ahead. I won't stop you. But I won't be here for long. Just reminding you..."

Her words fell over the courtroom like a thick fog. No one responded. Not with words, not with movement. Only silence.

All eyes were on her—some filled with anger, others with sadness, and a few with betrayal.

Reimu remained still, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. But within her mind, thoughts churned like a quiet storm.

So that’s her story... A lonely Oni. Desperate for purpose. Trapped in a world that stripped her of meaning. She clung to her old life with everything she had. And when an illusion of hope was dangled before her—she took it. Even if it meant taking someone else’s life.

Was it right? No. Did it make sense...? Maybe.

But her heart never wavered. Cold. Neutral. Focused. In the end, Konngara stayed true to herself... even if it meant damning herself.

Reimu slowly closed her eyes.

"...I see," she whispered under her breath.

"Hey, Yukari... Can we move on now?" Konngara asked with a bitter edge, stepping forward, arms lowered but not trembling. "You said there were consequences to the guilt if they were found out, right? I'm ready. Bring it on!"

A heavy silence swept over the courtroom.

"...What...?" Sanae muttered, eyes wide.

"Is she serious?" Marisa asked, her voice almost breaking.

"She's not even trying to fight it anymore..." Reisen whispered.

"She’s really going through with it...?" Yumemi murmured, hands clasped nervously.

"Foolish," Eiki said, eyes narrowed. "So eager to face judgment, yet unwilling to repent."

Cirno held onto Rumia's sleeve, too stunned to speak.

Even Satori looked momentarily taken aback. "She accepts her fate... just like that?"

Reimu's eyes widened for a second, then narrowed with realization.

"...That's right..." she muttered. "Yukari said it herself. That the guilty party faces punishment if they’re found out."

Yukari, who had been unusually quiet, opened a glowing gap before her and stepped forward slowly, smiling as if amused by a private joke.

"Indeed, it is about time," she said sweetly. "Rules are rules, after all. And poor Chen and Ran... oh, they’ve worked very hard on these exterminations. It would be quite rude to let all that effort go to waste."

As if summoned by her words, the courtroom began to tremble.

The floor began to tremble violently, sending an eerie vibration up through everyone's legs.

"W-What the hell is going on?!" Marisa shouted, struggling to keep her balance.

"The ground... it’s moving!" Sanae cried, clutching onto Lunasa for support.

"Th-This is unnatural..." Eiki muttered, trying to keep her footing steady.

"NYAAAA!!" Chen giggled in delight, floating above the ground with ease. "It's time! It's tiiiime~!"

"Ugh—!" Yumemi yelped as she tripped and fell hard onto the polished courtroom floor. "I knew I should’ve worn flats!"

"Reimu..." Reisen said, her voice trembling, "...what’s going to happen to her?"

Reimu didn’t answer. Her eyes were locked on Konngara.

The Oni stood still amidst the chaos, unshaken—eyes forward, fists clenched, shoulders broad. There was no fear in her stance. Only resolve.

"...So this is it," Konngara muttered under her breath, barely audible over the rumbling.

And then, with ceremonial grace, Ran stepped forward. Her sleeves swayed with elegance, and her nine tails lifted slowly as if moved by unseen wind.

She closed her eyes.

"O mighty heavens, and deep-shadowed pits of punishment... Bear witness to the oath of consequence."

A golden light surrounded her as she raised one hand, voice rising in solemn rhythm.

"The gate stood tall, and the gatekeeper unwavering.

Yet the blood upon the stones sings of betrayal.

One strike, one fall, one truth laid bare—

Now ends the watch of the wandering Oni."

She lowered her arm. The light faded.

Yukari smiled, her voice soft but carrying through the entire chamber.

"Now then... Ran and Chen have prepared a very special punishment..."

She snapped her fan open.

"...For Konngara, the Gatekeeper of Makai!"

"...Hey. Shrine maiden."

Reimu turned, surprised by the sudden address. "Huh?"

Konngara didn’t look at her. Her gaze was ahead, firm, but there was a faint, almost joking tone in her voice.

"I know I don't have the right to ask you this... But—please—beat the living shit out of that smug cat for me."

Reimu paused. Then, quietly, she answered, "Duly noted."

From above, Yukari tilted her head with a faint smirk. Her fan opened with a flourish, concealing half her face.

"A soul weighed by loyalty, shattered by deceit...

A gate left unguarded, a fate incomplete.

Now ends the silence of stone and flame...

Let the show begin!!"

A massive gap unfurled beneath Konngara’s feet, radiant and swirling with energy.

Konngara didn't resist. She stood tall, smiling faintly as wind howled around her.

"Lady Sariel..."

she whispered to the void above.

"I hope you can find another gatekeeper worthy of your status."

Then, for the first time since the trial began—her voice cracked, but her smile remained.

"This is goodbye."

And with that, Konngara disappeared into the light.

(A chibi-stylized Ran appears on screen, her expression unusually cheerful for the occasion. She holds out a comically tiny wooden hammer.)

"Here you go, Chen," she says sweetly.

Chen, also rendered in chibi form, snatches the hammer with a sharp grin.

"With pleasure~!"

She turns, slams the hammer down on a glowing white button with an eager thunk, and everything suddenly shifts.

Above them, a static-filled TV—clearly out of place in the courtroom—flickers to life. The screen glitches for a moment, before stabilizing.

8-bit Konngara appears on the display, rendered in classic pixel art. Her sprite stands tall, club in hand, neutral as ever.

A loud, garbled announcement echoes in bitcrushed tones:

“KONNGARA HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT.”

Suddenly, 8-bit Ran and Chen leap onto the screen from opposite sides, grabbing Konngara’s sprite by the arms. The screen jolts violently as the trio vanishes, dragged offscreen to the right with a burst of retro-style smoke.

Konngara is dragged through a tunnel of flickering light, her body limp but her expression unwavering. As the spectral corridor ends, dozens of disembodied hands emerge from the darkness below, grasping at her limbs, lifting her upward like a condemned warrior ascending to judgment.

A massive gap tears open above the void—out from it, she is thrown violently downward.

She lands with a thud in front of a colossal replica of Makai's sacred gate, the structure cracked, discolored, and bathed in a violet glow. The scenery is warped—an imitation of her sacred post twisted into a stage of irony.

And then, Chen appears.

She’s dressed mockingly in Reimu's shrine maiden robes, dyed in pale purple. Her usual grin is sharpened by cruel parody. Without hesitation, she hurls a glowing Yin-Yang orb toward Konngara.

Just before it lands—

THUD.

Her bloodstained ony club crashes down from above, planting itself at her feet.

"Trial of the False Gatekeeper"

Konngara's Extermination.

The arena twists and roars with magical pressure.

Dozens of Yin-Yang orbs begin to swirl and fire down from the broken heavens, each of them aimed directly at the replica gate of Makai. Konngara grabs her bloody club with both hands, blood dripping from her previous wounds. Her eyes burn with fury—and defiance.

Without hesitation, she swings.

CRACK!

The first orb is deflected. Then another. And another. Each impact causes a thunderous shockwave across the ground, the momentum of her swings throwing her body into violent motion. Her muscles burn. Her knuckles split. Her eyes narrow with each passing second.

But the orbs multiply.

Soon they come by the dozens, then the hundreds—a blizzard of glowing energy meant to obliterate her symbol of duty, and her pride.

She strikes faster.

She spins. She dashes. Her blood leaves trails as some orbs strike her—slashing through her arms, grazing her legs, breaking the skin on her shoulder. Each wound slows her.

Yet her determination—never does.

The camera zooms in: Konngara’s face is drenched in sweat and blood, lips curled into a half-smile, half-snarl. Her body screams for rest, but she refuses to yield. Her legacy is on the line.

Until—

"HRAAAAAAAGH!!"

With a mighty roar, she gathers all her strength and swings in a full-circle arc, her club radiating sheer will.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!

All the remaining orbs are deflected—hundreds of them fly straight upward and toward the sky, where Chen, still in her fake shrine maiden outfit, gasps just before—

CRASH!!

The orbs rain down on Chen comically, burying her under an avalanche of magical spheres with a puff of cartoonish smoke. A muffled "nyaaah!" is heard from beneath the pile.

Konngara drops her weapon.

She stumbles toward the gate, victorious, dragging her heavy feet.

One step.

Two steps.

And then—

She collapses.

Face down. A long, shuddering breath leaves her.

She doesn’t rise.

The final shot lingers on her expression: a faint smile, peaceful. Her hand still slightly outstretched, pointing toward the gate she would never cross again.

Chapter Text

As the doors to the courtroom shut behind them, Reimu remained silent. The others filed back toward the main hall with slow, heavy steps—some in shock, some muttering, some quietly lost in thought. But she lingered behind, staring down the hallway, her mind swirling with unease.

Reimu's Thoughts:

"So it’s not over yet... Of course it isn't. One trial doesn’t end a game. It only proves it’s real. That someone was willing to take a life."

"Konngara... She tried to justify it. She had her reasons. Her past, her duty, her longing for something more than this distorted reality. But that doesn't excuse it. No amount of loyalty or desperation does."

She clenched her fists lightly.

"Yukari said this is a test. A trial. But a test for what? To measure our loyalty? Our strength? Our will to live? She said the deadline was one month. So what happens then? Do we all go free? Do we all die? Or is there some other purpose none of us have seen yet?"

She began walking slowly, her footsteps echoing through the hallway.

"Chen. Ran. Yukari... They’ve been watching everything. Orchestrating it. Helping it unfold while staying just out of reach. 

"I don’t believe it’s just to see us break. That would be too simple. Too... shallow. Yukari never does things without a deeper meaning. So what is it, then? What does she want from us?"

She paused just before rejoining the others, her eyes narrowing.

"If this is a test... then I’ll pass it. But not the way she wants me to. I won’t be a piece on her board. I’ll find out what this game is really about. And I’ll end it myself."

Reimu stood silently in the center of the now-dim main hall, the others having already scattered into their respective rooms. The atmosphere was heavier than before—tainted with the lingering specter of Konngara’s execution. Even those who tried to act composed wore the weight of it in their eyes.

She watched Eiki walk briskly down one of the halls with Komachi trailing beside her. The yama’s posture was firm, resolute. Reimu could tell—new rules would soon be drafted. Perhaps curfews, patrol systems, designated pairing... anything to discourage further bloodshed. It was expected of Eiki. It was in her nature to impose order upon chaos. And yet...

"Can it really stop another murder from happening?" Reimu thought. "If someone’s desperate enough, they’ll find a way. Just like Konngara did."

She turned to head toward her room, but paused midway through the corridor. A detail tugged at her memory. Her eyes narrowed faintly.

"The hatch... Aya died for that clue.If she thought it was that important, if she died over it... then the least I can do is check it out."

Reimu turned around and made her way quietly toward the dining hall. The lights were off. Chairs were still askew. The long table—once a place for jokes and casual meals—now felt like the stage of a tragedy. She walked to the end of the table, knelt down, and reached beneath.

There it was.

A metal lever.

Small. Almost decorative. Aya would’ve had to look carefully to find it, but of course she would. Reimu hesitated for just a second, then pulled it.

Click.

The sound of mechanisms grinding beneath the floor echoed faintly. A panel of the tiled floor shifted slightly, revealing a hatch. The same one she had seen with Aya on Day 4. But now... it was open.

She stood above it and looked down. Cold air wafted up from the darkness below, carrying with it the scent of stillness and something faintly metallic.

"What’s down there…?" Reimu thought.

She considered returning to her room. She was tired. She’d already been through hell tonight. But the thought of turning her back on what Aya died for... made her hands clench.

No.

She couldn’t ignore it.

Not now.

Not anymore.

Taking a breath, Reimu grabbed a flashlight from the supply shelf nearby and turned it on, casting a thin beam into the darkness of the hatch. Then, with cautious steps, she descended into the unknown.

The silence below was unlike anything Reimu had experienced before—thick, oppressive, and filled with a cold dread that crawled up her spine with every step. Her flashlight’s flickering beam danced along the stone walls as she walked slowly, carefully, trying to make sense of the hidden world beneath their confinement.

Then her light caught something.

Scattered across the floor, half-buried under dust and aged grime, were several curled, yellowing photographs. Reimu stooped down and carefully picked them up, brushing off the dirt as her breath caught in her throat.

The first photo… she recognized it instantly.

It was her. Standing front and center, flanked by several familiar faces—Remilia, Sanae, Marisa, Aya, Komachi, Reisen, Rumia... all smiling as though nothing in the world was wrong. A group photo, casual, taken in the sun-drenched hills of Gensokyo. A time of peace.

But she couldn’t remember this moment. Not at all.

Her fingers trembled as she turned to the second photograph.

A mansion—burned and broken, charred rubble where stone and elegance once stood. Smoke rose from the wreckage. It was hard to tell, but something about the shape of the courtyard… it felt familiar.

Then the third.

This one shook her to her core.

A wide view of the sky over Gensokyo. Massive, fiery meteors—no, chunks of something—rained down from the heavens. Villages aflame. The shrine, her shrine, in the distance, cracked open and crumbling.

“This… This isn’t right,” Reimu muttered, standing slowly.

She looked around the chamber now with different eyes. This wasn’t just some underground storage. This was a vault—of memories, of history, or perhaps… of erased truths.

"Why do I have no memory of this?"

As she turned to leave, a faint, mechanical whir echoed from deeper down the hall.

Reimu turned her light toward the sound. Far in the distance, a large metallic door was embedded into the wall—sealed tightly, but faintly humming.

Reimu stepped slowly into the room.

The light was blinding. Sterile. White. The transition from the damp underground gloom to this clinical brightness made her eyes sting. It was silent—eerily so, with no echoes, no dripping water, no ambient hum. It felt... artificial. Almost wrong.

She turned off her flashlight instinctively. She wouldn't need it here.

There wasn’t much inside the room. Just bare white walls. No furniture, no machinery. Nothing—except a single, slightly crumpled sheet of white paper, lying directly in the center of the floor as if it had been placed deliberately for her.

Reimu picked it up cautiously.

The title across the top was clear, printed in a sharp, clinical font:

"Test Participants"

Her brow furrowed.

Below the title were the names of every girl currently trapped in this nightmare with her—Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame, Sanae Kochiya, Komachi Onozuka, Eiki Shiki, Remilia Scarlet,Lunasa Prismriver, Reisen Udongein Inaba, Aya Shameimaru, Rumia, Satori Komeiji, Alice Margatroid, Cirno...

And—Konngara.

Her name was still on the list, not even crossed out. As if death didn’t disqualify her.

Strangely, however, Yumemi’s name was not present.

Reimu frowned. Her fingers traced down the list, but then stopped. Below the known names, there was a distinct tear in the page—someone had ripped the bottom portion off. Almost surgically. Intentionally.

Still, part of that lower section remained. Just enough for fragments of names to survive:

Hatate, Koishi, Flandre, Hata no Kokoro, Kyoko, Youmu...

And one of them stood out to her like a flash of lightning in her mind:

"Aunn."

"...Aunn...?" Reimu murmured aloud. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Her trusted shrine guardian. Her loyal friend. Someone who wasn't in this game—or so she thought.

The names continued:

Tenshi.

Seija.

Her eyes drifted to the edges of the torn section, trying to make out any more information—but it was no use. Too much had been removed.

"Why... are these names even here?" she muttered, gripping the paper tightly. "Was this... another group? Another batch of participants?"

Or was it meant to be a future list?

...

...

...

...

...

...

"Finally... someone..."

Reimu froze.

A voice, frail and wavering, called out from the far side of the sterile room:

Startled, she turned sharply—and saw her.

A girl—no older than the rest—stood against the far wall. Or rather, leaned against it, barely upright. Her blonde hair was unkempt, tangled into loose strands that clung to her face with sweat. A large, frayed ribbon sat atop her head, slightly off-center, its cherry-shaped hairpins dulled from wear and dust. Her blouse, though once elegant, now hung on her frame like a wilted flower, and the deep, earthy red of her skirt had faded almost to brown. And in her trembling hands—she held an erhu. Upside down.

Reimu stepped back instinctively, body tensing. This was… unexpected.

Someone else was here.

Trapped.

Alive.

The girl’s lips quivered as she tried to smile.

"I've been here... for so long..." she whispered. Her voice cracked with dryness, like paper tearing. "You don't know... Did you come to save me?"

Her legs gave out.

She stumbled forward—then collapsed against Reimu.

Reimu instinctively caught her, her senses momentarily overwhelmed. The girl's body was frighteningly light. Skin clammy. Muscles gaunt.

Her stomach—flat, sunken. No resistance, no warmth. It was the belly of someone who hadn't eaten in days. Maybe longer.

"...What the hell..." Reimu murmured. She gently lowered the girl to the floor, trying to make sense of the scene. This wasn’t like the others. This girl wasn’t part of the Extermination Game. She hadn’t seen her name on the participant list. Had she missed something?

Reimu’s eyes narrowed.

"...Who are you?" she asked quietly.

But the girl didn’t respond. Her eyes fluttered closed, breathing shallow. A faint hum came from her lips—a broken melody—scraping out the beginning of what sounded like a lullaby. One that was never meant to be heard again.

Suddenly, just as Reimu was about to stand—just as the silence in the white room grew too heavy to bear—

The girl stirred.

With a weak, but unmistakably gentle smile, she opened her eyes just enough to meet Reimu’s gaze and whispered:

"I'm Rin Satsuki.

It's nice to meet you."

CHAPTER 1 END.

SURVIVING PARTICIPANTS:

1. Reimu Hakurei

2. Marisa Kirisame

3. Sanae Kochiya

4. Yumemi Okazaki

5. Komachi Onozuka

6. Eiki Shiki

7. Rumia

8. Satori Komeiji

9. Alice Margatroid

10. Remilia Scarlet

11. Reisen Udongein Inaba

12. Lunasa Prismriver

13. Cirno

Aya Shameimaru

Konngara

TO BE CONTINUED.

Chapter Text

Hello everyone.

Its been a little while hasn't it?

Before anything, i would sincerely like to thank all the people who have read this story. While its not as popular as the first attempt at this (Gensokyo mutual killing game.) Its still managed to surprise me, with the amount of hits this has achievied.

Kudos,

And one person even tried to figure out what was going on last chapter.

I hope to be able to reach more attention when i turn this work to a fangan (if i mean...You never know.)

I'm really excited to show you Chapter 2 and beyond when it comes out.

I have... (Smirks)...Some plans, let’s just call it.

However of course. I still want to get the first and second free time event completed first. I have not made any progress on those yet.

But that’s where the title of the chapter comes in.

I decided that i should get a second brain to discuss the script and general ideas.

I want the free time events and of course, chapter 2 to be a bit more interesting character wise.

I have a feeling i'm not fully confident in giving more depth to individual characters.

So.

I proposed this:

Your name will be featured in the co-creators list.

If you wish for more info. Comment below.

I won't charge anyone. There's no payment involved in either side.

Should you be interested. I'll let you choose a place where discussion will be taking place.

That's all.

Chapter Text

Reimu is walking back from her “investigation,” clearly exhausted. Aya swoops down, notebook in hand, eyes sparkling with relentless curiosity.

Aya: (grinning) "Hakurei Reimu! Perfect timing. I’ve been waiting for you. Care to answer a few questions for the public record?"

Reimu: (sighs) "I just wanted to sleep… and now I’ve got a crow pecking at me."

Aya: (leans forward) "Sleep later.Don’t you realize how important your words are right now? Everyone’s unsettled, and if I’m going to report accurately, I need facts. Who better than the shrine maiden of paradise herself?"

Reimu gives Aya a long, unimpressed stare.

[Pop-up appears:]

Would you like to spend time with Aya?

Yes.

...

[Cut to later…]

Five minutes pass. Aya’s notebook is already half-filled with scribbles, while Reimu looks one second away from napping on the spot.

Aya: (tapping her pen impatiently) "Ugh. Is that really all you’ve got? Every answer’s been… mundane. Pointless. Nothing that’ll make for a good scoop."

Reimu: (flat) "Sorry my actual life isn’t exciting enough to pad your headlines."

Aya: (snaps her notebook shut, annoyed) "Don’t twist it like that. The problem isn’t me—it’s the material. You’re the fourteenth person I’ve interviewed so far, and none of it’s usable! Just scraps and footnotes."

Reimu: (smirks) "Maybe you’re just not paying enough attention. You know, bad journalism."

Aya: (eyes widen, offended) "Excuse me? Bad—journalism? Me? I’m Shameimaru Aya! I could spin even your yawns into front-page news if I wanted!"

Reimu: (narrowed eyes) "Why are you even bothering with this anyway? We’re stuck, completely shut out from the outside. Why care about a newspaper now of all times?"

Aya: (serious for once) "Because it’s who I am. No matter where I am, I’ll keep searching, peeking into every crack and corner. That’s the only way to live as a reporter."

Reimu: (crosses arms) "That’s not an answer. It’s just an excuse."

Aya: (leans closer, voice lowering) "Fine, then I’ll spell it out. Yes, this situation terrifies me. We’ve been yanked from Gensokyo, stripped of our memories, and trapped in some sadistic ‘game’ run by Yukari Yakumo herself. Fifteen lives dangling over the abyss… doesn’t that scream potential to you?"

Reimu: (scowls) "…So you’re using our potentially life-threatening situation as gain for yourself?"

Aya: (smirks, eyes sharp) "Call it gain, call it record-keeping, call it survival. In a place like this, the only thing more dangerous than dying is being forgotten.

Aya: (suddenly calm, reflective) "This isn’t new for me, Reimu. It’s what I’ve been doing for a thousand years. For as long as I can remember, my life has been chasing leads, publishing stories, weaving the Chronicle together."

Reimu: (raises an eyebrow) "A thousand years of just… reporting?"

Aya: (nods firmly) "Exactly. It stopped being a job centuries ago—it’s my purpose. I’ve given up everything else for it. Friends, hobbies, even privacy. All discarded. Because nothing compares to chasing the next truth before anyone else can."

Reimu tilts her head slightly, thinking.

Reimu (thought): "…Huh? She actually sounds like a hard worker."

Aya: (smirks knowingly) "Hard worker, obsessed, take your pick. I’ve grown used to it. Waking at the crack of dawn, sprinting across Gensokyo before anyone else stirs—that’s my normal."

Reimu: (grimaces) "Ugh. Morning people. I can barely wake up before noon without Kasen dragging me out of bed. You do that every day?"

Aya: (chuckles, teasing) "Every single day. Guess some people are born for discipline.

Aya: (snaps her notebook shut with a flourish) "Well then. I should get going. You’re free to go now, Ms. Shrine Maiden!"

Reimu: (half relieved, half annoyed) "Finally."

Aya: (grinning wide) "Our conversation was short, but quite enjoyable. If you ever stumble onto anything worthwhile… you know who to find!"

Before Reimu can answer, Aya leaps into the air—gone in the blink of an eye, leaving only the faint rustle of feathers behind.

Reimu: (sighs) "Pushy crow… but at least she’s passionate."

---

[Free Time Event Complete!]

Aya Shameimaru Report Card has been updated.

Reimu steps into the room, rubbing her eyes. Aya stands by a small counter, pouring coffee with precision, steam curling around her fingers.

Aya: (without looking up) "Good evening, Human."

Reimu: (frowns, glances at the light outside… or absence of it) "It’s… morning… Actually, who knows anymore? There’s no clocks."

Aya chuckles softly, setting down the coffee cup.

Aya: "Time is relative when you’re chasing stories… and trapped in some bizarre game, apparently."