/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46269139 (4/4—p4)
—
Out of the door came a woman, crossed arms resting on top of Aya's head—the crow groaning from the weight—hair a pale blonde with a brown hat, eyes of gold and a casual smile…

For a moment, I saw purple eyes, my bones chilling as ice-cold water pumped inside my veins…

That's not Yukari; I recognize her from Mother's words.

Okina Matara scanned the table, stopping on me for a brief moment that felt like a lifetime, body heavy as lead—divine judgment… That's how it feels?—Still, her nose wrinkled with disinterest before continuing their scanning and finally landing on the cat sitting on Mother's lap. A dangerous gleam accompanied the big smile on her face. “Hello, everyone, how are you doing?” She waved, her eyes never leaving the cat, who, tense, winced back onto Mother's chest, a powerful arm shielding her from the goddess' eyes. Ran hadn't her sleeves together anymore, an avalanche behind her eyes that—barely—remained contained. “Hm, that's how you welcome the honored one who'll turn a lost battle into a win? Shameful~don't you think, sweet Chen—”

The goddess fell back with a giggle, dodging a comically large spork that almost flattened her head. “Stop being a fucking creep and just say what you want!” Toutetsu exclaimed with an unnatural amount of rage—Ran appeared grateful… And Aya a tad tense? A door, much like a Gap, appeared by the latter’s side, the blonde deity leaving with not an ounce of concern.

“Sorry if I hit a nerve; I was just being playful. Kids like that, after all~” She hummed, not walking but instead sitting on a floating chair, eyes closed. “Anyway—Reimu, Ran; a pleasure to see you after so long… And Hana, of course, though I don't think you remember me; you were little as a bamboo shoot at that time.”

“H-Hello, sorry, I don’t remember.” I bow down in respect.

Mother, intense, growled a 'Hi', while Ran bowed and said, “Matarajin, it is a pleasure to see you again.” It clearly wasn't. With a swallow, Chen waved, and the goddess waved back. “Though I must ask: what brings you here?”

“Information, of course. Given that we are a team—albeit a motley one—we must communicate~” She turns to the still-open backdoor. “And you? Will I need to pull you by your cute nipples?”

“S-Shut up; you don't even know what they look like!” A voice echoed from inside the backdoor, similar to things I've seen Yukari do. Okina laughed to herself, her chair falling from its floating state with a thud that scared the cats away. Sulking and mumbling knife-like words, a pink child dressed in pajamas left the backdoor—her eyes jumped to me, face burning red. “I'm not a child, fool! And these aren't pajamas!” H-Huh?!

Toutetsu was laughing in the background. “That's Satori Komeiji, Hana; Princess of the Underground… or something, I don't remember.” Mother said, the cat entranced by the weird eye floating eye—

Satori frowns and says, “Do not hurt its feelings.” The big eye narrows at me, and the dots begin to connect— “Yes, sadly, I can read your obtuse mind.” The cat joined the goat in laughter, the latter clutching her stomach from cackling like a hyena, my face red with embarrassment, hand holding tight to the gohei—not nearly dumb enough to attempt attacking Yuuma Toutetsu, but still, they're laughing at me—

“Ouch!” The goat fell to the ground when a small pebble hit her head, bounced up, and loudly tore a hole in the roof.

Sulking and mad, Mother supported her face with a hand. “Only I can hysterically laugh at my daughter!” She utters with an imposing tone… That doesn't help much. The cat whispers an apology, hiding her laughter behind crossed hands as Tetsu climbs up again on top of her spork and though there's a massive bulge on her forehead, she still looks amused.

“Ugh, what a headache…” The satori complains, massaging her temples before seating by Okina—the table was getting overcrowded… At least the cats seemed to enjoy all the attention.

“I apologize for not being able to attend a meeting sooner; even with this lovely smile, I am a very busy woman—not everyone can handle a fairy invasion like I can, anyway~.” Satori seems even more depressed for a moment. “But I'm grateful I could do it now…” Her smile, until now carefree, takes on this sharp edge, eyes on Ran across the table. “… Were you planning to tell them about the enslaved dragon in the Underground, Ran?”

The… what?

I blink, all sense of amusement or awkwardness having vanished at those simple words. Aya's expression is hard to discern, not writing anymore in her notebook yet still holding her pen; Toutetsu is not smiling anymore; the satori has taken a deep breath; Chen looks puzzled; and Ran… seems rather sad. But it was Mother who grabbed my attention as she deeply frowned and let go of Chen. “Dragon…?”

“Yes, one you might even know personally, Reimu-san.” Mother freezes still like a flower stalk in the winter. “Kasen's dragon, enslaved by Yukari to protect her doomsday project.” Okina doesn't look amused.