/jp/ - Otaku Culture

“How ya doing?” Marisa asks animatedly, and this scene wouldn’t seem out of place on a typical snowy day thirty years ago—minus the wrinkles and regrets. The whiplash is strong enough that I remain silent for a while, staring as she unstraps her feet and jumps to the ground, catching the broom with her free hand. “Heh~surprised?” She asks, twirling in place and lifting the hem of her skirt, my eyes narrowing as they climb up, her pregnant be—

… W-Wait a moment…

Her belly is as flat as her chest!

I met her eyes again, wide-eyed and speechless, my mind racing with confusion. “… Y-You lost your baby?!”

“Wha—n-no, I didn't, dumbass!” She strolls over and I get up from my kneeling position, about to say something—hadn't her broom hit the top of my head… Well, it didn't hurt, but it made me blink nonetheless. If she didn't lose the goddamn baby, then why is she— “Catch!” She tosses me the strange glowing jar she was holding, and I stutter to grab it, giving it a better look. Shrine Maiden senses kick in now that I am not freaking out about her getting an unexpected abortion… And my eyes widen, the awkward feelings from earlier gone: This jar is full of life!

Marisa must’ve seen the realization on my face because she smirked and wiped the bridge of her nose, looking so smug—

Which made her sneeze, heh~ “Ugh… Eh, I've tucked my kiddos into that jar~cool, innit?

Silence.

“W-Wait, wait—you did what?!” Frowning harder, I glanced back at the jar; her k-kids are in here…?

… And she just threw the jar at me as if a baseball…? “Yup, all THREE of them~hahaha! Can ya believe I'm having triplets—” She's having a gohei slamming the top of her head now; the ordinary magician nearly kissing the snow. “Ouch! The hell was that for?!” Teary-eyed, she shielded the bruised spot cocooned under her golden threads, her gaze of rage immediately met by death incarnated into a stare.

“Why are you throwing your children around, you idiot?! And you swooped here, holding them onto your shoulder and flying like a drunkard! What if they'd slipped?!” I brandish the gohei, the magician yelping and jumping back, a scared giggle leaving her… Ugh, that giggle always disarms me. “Is the jar, at the very least, indestructible? I'm sure you could do that—I mean, you somehow got your… Wait, you're having triplets~?! That's crazy!” I look again at the jar in my hands, a profound appreciation emerging from somewhere deep within: Hana is going to have seven siblings! That's so nice~though Marisa's look of guilt as she approaches again somewhat carefully doesn't sit right with me. “… You have no idea if the jar can break or not.”

Her steps freezing answer it better than any words; her cheeks puff when my gaze narrows to an edge similar to Sakuya's knives. “Does that even matter~? Not like I'd let them fall anyway! Their mama is headstrong and agile—she's a beast again!” That grinning again, her eyes slightly close with happiness that cannot be overstated…

… I sigh, letting more embers swim off my skin and warm the air to something more cozy for two—five?—people. “Ah, they're not surviving, poor devils.”

“Sheesh, don't jinx it, you witch! They'll survive, thrive and do lots of cool stuff~” She leans forward, tapping a finger delicately on the glass. Look at that! The three souls inside immediately darted towards her. Cute. “Though I still need to think of names—got any ideas?” We move as we talk to the veranda of the shrine, her jar children safely deposited on the sturdy wood by their mother as I got inside to prepare us a tea. Marisa let herself fall on her back, pulling up her shirt to let my embers directly touch her skin. “Tis good~fucking hate winter since that one incident we solved with Sakuya…” Her words bring up fond memories deep from the past, the water boiling in front of me with use of more pronounced embers—such a convenient power sometimes~

Still, her question nags me. “Ugh, I'm terrible with names…”

“Fuck off: you came up with 'Hana', the cutest one around, da-ze~” I smile with more and more memories that bubble up from deep inside. Naming Hana was such an endeavor; nothing ever seemed right at first and it'd get me all moody… Then, one weird day, everything came to a stop when I thought of 'Hana'.

And when I held that tiny palm in my hands; saw her eyes for the first time…

… 'Hana' felt just right.

“—Oi, Reimu, is the tea gonna take too long?”

I blinked as I absentmindedly poured the hot water into the herb-filled cups, the warm, gentle wind carrying that joy away. “Shut up or I'll make you shut!” A fleeting thought of grabbing a bottle of sake arises as I open the cabinets to retrieve a bag of rice crackers… It is easily ignored, and I take a seat next to Marisa, tray and jar between us.

Just two friends, drinking tea and eating crackers, watching time go by…

“It's been a while, huh, Reimu…?” I nod quietly. “You’re telling me already what’s wrong or will I need to force it outta you?”

… I can’t help but lift a smile.