/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>47104944

Night was inches away; the sky was a deep red as the sun crested the mountains, the shadows were dark and deep to the delight of all youkai. The clouds that remained high in the sky promised a cold night, on the other hand, the beauty of the stars promised to be in full bloom. It was the kind of light-hearted, energetic evening that promised fulfill the wishes of those that danced under them. It was as if the village square and the surrounding streets thrummed with life that not even the largest holidays could draw out.

Lanterns and banners streamed between poles that normally hung laundry, casting colorful light and deliberately made shadows of festive animals, jovial tools, and men dancing together. It made a wondrous and eye-catching mood that one couldn’t help but walk among the spectral revelers, nor did they as flooded as the streets are. Incense even burned among the poles upon little burners installed that had never been there before, the scents reminded the keen nosed of the atmosphere of old hell and the unique lively and fiery fragrance that saturated the rare trade good that wound up in market.

The masses filled the streets, even the thick branches that were the four main routes were buzzing with excitement as visitors flooded in. Smiling faces and chattering heads filled the streets and congested the square itself, the adults sauntered around in relaxed groups while the children ran about in energetic packs. The stalls thronged the masses in the streets and they broke the hordes into gawking mobs in the square itself. A festive chaos filled the square provoking a sense of mystery and good cheer on a level not felt since the last of the big incidents years ago.

Many of the adults mixed and mingled, forming pairs as the afternoon dragged on and the allure of night expressed itself in full. All smiling and chattering, holding small cups of sake to loosen the lips and embolden the spirit; rumor was that some vendors were giving it away to couples. Live music played in the square, a motely collection of musical talent from across Gensokyo played: popular headliners from the human village, singers and musicians proper, but as well Youkai musicians and dancers aplenty took stage and sang whatever they knew. It was said that in time a special show from the Prismriver band would take place, during the height of the night.

It was by all metrics, a good festival. Every effort was spared it seemed, the stalls were high quality, with certain shops’ stands, like the Suzunaan, being more individualized than others; how they were chosen was a mystery. The foods smelled great, it seemed every other shop was selling something grilled, fried, or candied. Among them were signs advertising more exotic foods, fare that was novel even to the foodies among the patrons and stimulated the palates of the adventurous. Even the knick-knacks, the usual line ups for festivals; but also including novel Kappa tech sitting alongside handmade figures, toys, and clothing.

There was a glaring flaw in this festival however, one that stuck out like a sore thumb to any outside observer. Along the northside of the square, normally lined by high-end shops and accessed by a wide northern road where the well-to-do lived, sat a large, heavy, and hastily erected wooden wall.

The wall was unadorned by any decoration, spikes lined the bottom in jagged traps meant to block anyone from scaling the nearly 13ft tall wall. The very material of the buildings cannibalized to create this stronghold; it looked as awkward as the barricades that prevented travel through the gates of Heida complex. Made of wire with bits of metal as sharp as a hawks’ talons, reinforced with wooden or earthen barricades and berms, and lined with clusters of fully armored samurai; they hefted traditional and exotic outsider weapons in mixed groups.

The severity of the oni portrayed upon their masks was fearsome, and the large emplacements they clustered around only added to the imposing nature the Heida estate had taken practically overnight. That was nothing to say of the lesser warriors and household staff that buzzed around with deadly weapons of their owns, or the ominous supplies they brought to and fro.

Among all that chaos, in the corner of that hastily constructed fortress, stood a portion of the wall cleared of any concealing barricades, fiery braziers, or weapon emplacements. In fact, it stood neatly and proper, as if the cornerstone and epitome of the resolve of those that manned the walls. Particularly, it seemed to be the will of the man who stood stock still on the illuminated observation platform that jutted out from the wall, the Patriarch of the Heida household himself.

The party started on the mild side.

Not everyone was familiar with each other, and the 'intrusion' of Tewi, her entourage, and Mamizou soured things. The mood was one of awkward tension… Then Hana arrived, and it was like the flip of a coin. She brought with her energy that filled everyone's soul; though she was cutely tense as a rod and sweating bullets at first, it endeared more than weirded out.

Energy spread out, volatile and warm, grew exponentially, and now a true party is unfolding before my eyes.

The army of dolls played with everyone, exhilarated with all the attention; the rabbits, Sana and Sara, the biggest contributors to their excitement, hopped around and chased the dolls around, loudly telling stories of their massive family and competing to see who could eat more—an amusing sight, considering the dolls' and rabbits' minuscule stomachs. It came down to manpower and with so many dolls, it wasn't surprising they'd won all matches~

Mamizou was content to stay in her corner, eating and indulging in gossip with whoever decided to approach. I stopped by when Marisa and Alice approached and, oh, what I got was gold: apparently, during one of Alice's visits to Anon, she was caught leaving the Fake Shrine running on all fours, her eyes wide like those of a wolf tengu in heat. Aya, always the opportunist, heard that and was furiously writing, much to the dismay of Alice, her face as red as Kanako-sama's dresses, stuttering and just about to melt from embarrassment.

Then Mamizou followed with how Aya got her wings petted by a mysterious person, turning into a bubbling pool of pleasure in seconds. Aya was even redder than Alice.

Serves her well for that preposterous 'gift' she gave me some time ago—it destroyed Kanako-sama…

Marisa was cackling the entire time.

Gossip continued between them—at one point, I caught a glimpse of Marisa just as red as the other girls and couldn't stomach the regret for not staying to listen more—and I moved, engaging with sweet Kosuzu about her humble bookstore; though she asked me if I was interested in any books recently, I smartly—and for my own decency—didn't tell her about my growing curiosity to consume, well… Spicy content.

… It seems it destroyed me too.

Our attention was caught by Hana laughing out loud, Yuuka seeming immensely exasperated. To their side was Tewi, smug gone as she arduously attempted to get Aunn off of her, the Komainu fond of her carrot necklace for some ungodly reason. "B-But vines are an essential part of the ecosystem! Harmless, mostly—how could you fear them?!" Yuuka asked, closed fists going up and down, Mima floating by a giggling Hana.

I and Suzu glanced at each other, and we knew that whatever was happening there, we must be a part of.

"S-Stop, usa, usa—Hana get your hound off me!"

"Ah, I miss him so muuuuuuuch~" Aunn cried, sniffing the necklace and appearing on the verge of tears… Wait, that drink in her hand and the redness of her face—I hear Marisa giggling nearby. "Anooooooon, come back! Leave the nasty place!! I want to be petted!!"

"… Marisa really gave Aunn alcohol?" I mutter, Suzu laughing, carefully drinking her own mix. We approach Hana and Yuuka, the first noticing me and quickly grasping me in a hug, radiant unlike anything I've ever seen, almost trembling with emotion. It made me fuzzy inside to see her so happy.

Yuuka pouted at the sight but was cut by Hana. "They look like snakes! A snake once tried to eat me, doing unfathomable damage to little me—and vines, ugh… They're all, uh—" As if pondering, Hana suddenly looked all thoughtful, eyes gleaming. "They're all like this~" Hana stretched, thinned, and was jiggling like jelly. I watched it all in horror before bursting into laughter. Oh, yeah, reality-bending. Yuuka didn't appear as surprised, nor did Suzu. The demonstration sparked gasps of surprise and murmurs throughout the entire cast of attendees, Hana soon returning to her normal form. "—And I hate things that are like this~" She showed again, Sana and Sara rushing to the front lines to see better, hopping in place with fear yet exhilaration. "—And this~" She repeated the pattern, but now horizontally. "They remind me of snakes."

"I hate snakes!" Sara yelled, hugging Sana. Sana nodded.

Hana had an evil smirk. "Yeah, me too; they're all like—" Mima's hand was fast on her shoulder, giving the teen a disapproving look—albeit amused nonetheless—about scaring the little rabbits. She quickly recovered, turning to me, her face red, eyes loaded with childish wonder. "Sanae, Sanae! What did you think?! I'm learning so much on how to control my powers~" She asked, and though I could've given her a nod and a simple compliment as I do with my students…

I decided to lovingly pat her head. "It was incredible, Hana! You did great!"

She was beaming.

Yuuka—still pouting with jealousy as green as her hair—applauded before pulling Hana into a close hug. "We're so proud of you, Hana!"

She was beaming, now even more.