/jp/ - Otaku Culture

(1/3)
—
I hug Hana, barely six years old, who sits on my lap with her favorite cup filled with hot cocoa in those little hands as she watches intently the snow-covered landscape outside, Aunn coiled up on her feet as the massive blanket taken from the kotatsu encapsulates us all here, sitting on the ground in front of the window…

We're waiting for Reimu.

Things are harsh, as expected: the Hakurei Shrine already doesn't get many visitors at this time of the year, and the blizzard that came with the Winter Solstice doesn't help; meaning money, thus food and supplies, are way shorter recently and Reimu needs to get more and more jobs so we don't starve…

She left a day before the blizzard to deal with a Youkai problem and still hasn't returned.

My hands clutch Hana's midsection, eyes tensing if for a moment: In typical fashion, Reimu took nothing with her, just ate and drank sake before leaving—and, to my awareness, she can only float above things while calm… Reimu is never calm when she's hungry. “Dad?” Hana calls, her voice a tad trembling, eyes never turning away from the knee-deep blankets of snow and consuming darkness the magically illuminated torii gates can hardly ward off. “… I want mum.” Hana says for what feels the thousandth time, yet the same despondency sparks inside, a feeling I easily detach myself from as one hand climbs and gently brushes Hana's hair: these problems are not hers… She needs a happy childhood—it is the least I can give her.

Still, as the hours go by, a weight settles inside, pulling me down in a way I've never thought I'd feel again—even after all the pain, abuse and more, I still haven't stopped lovi—

—suddenly, the world rumbles.

Hana cries in confusion as a crimson light abruptly crashes down on the front lawn. Aunn jumps alert, breathing heavily and focusing her eyes outside, tense as if a rod. I clutch Hana for dear life, heart screaming: a Youkai attack?! Today…?

R-Reimu is nowhere near; of course I'd be today!

I need to run, hide—protect Hana at any cost!

Just as I am about to rush to the back of the shrine and get Genji, a small word takes my word to a halt. “… M-Mum?” Hana whispers, those big eyes on whatever crashed in the snow. Aunn and I share a perplexed glance before we stack on the window and take another peek outside, the lifted dust and snow dissipating just enough for me to make, in the dim light of the Torii gates, a silhouette…

I'd recognize that red bow anywhere. She’unconscious, too.

“It’s just her… Aunn prepare the futon—and stay here, Hana; you don't want to greet her with a fever!” Gently dropping the girl on the floor, I pick up a towel on the way out with a sigh. So my concerns were unfounded, huh? She likely drowned in sake to stay warm, as she usually does, which is why she is unconscious… I wonder if she'll ever change.

Well, no gain in pondering that now.

I braved the outside frost, my arms and legs immediately numb despite being covered in many layers of clothing, eyes on the shrine maiden sunken in the snow. Hopefully the money she gained didn't wet; she gets so upset if even a meager penny—

—I pause.

It's weird at first; confusing, too…

… Why… How did she…

Then, a wave of utter and complete fear and haste as I rush the rest of the way, nigh jumping over Reimu, forgetting Hana is watching this. H-How did—

… No time for questions!

With strength born from labor, I lift Reimu in my arms as if she were that bride again and head inside the shrine, eyes wide and heart racing. Hana's piercing wail of terror shakes me to my core even before I get into the shrine. “MAMA!!” Aunn came running back to the living room upon hearing that loud shriek, yet I ignored all, shutting the doors behind me and sprinting to the kitchen, eyes making sure whatever I'm seeing is real: Reimu…

She's missing her right arm.

Cut at about the middle of the biceps, it was simply gone. H-How did that happen?! Isn't she one of the strongest around? Who'd manage to do this to her…?

The question stirs inside as I lay her down on the kotatsu blanket, Aunn running off in tears to grab the futon as I frantically turn on the stove and fill it to the top—it'll drain precious resources to keep the fire alive, but that doesn't matter—, Hana's breathless cries as she kneels to the side of her mother claw at my spine with no end. “I-Is mum gonna die?!” Hana asks nervously, and I find myself looking at the wound again, stomach churning: I don't know… But to give Hana anything but hope would be a crime. So, struggling to form a fake smile, I'm about to say—

—“I just… Mother just needs her rest, Hana.” Reimu weakly utters, an eye half open.

“MUM!” Hana yells in tears, jumping on top of Reimu and clinging there as if a monkey, bells ringing; t-that'd disturb the wound, causing pain, and in this state, Reimu would—

—she laughs softly, muttering 'ouch, ouch, ouch's as her only hand tenderly encapsulates our weeping Hana, her fleeting smile warm as the sun…

… What the hell.

was thinking about what cover to use for the next thread, and was between this one and the Hana pantsu shitpost. Hana literally being a 1 to 1 copy of teenager Reimu is funny, but Punished Reimu looking like her mother is just a nice thought~
will probably go with the Hana pantsu, it's just so silly
and good morning, everyone! Have a pleasant sunday!