/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46756271
「...And listen, Alice might seem human and act normal, but she's a Youkai and get's up to weird things like hammering straw dolls to trees, not like Marisa who, you know what, don't get close to either of them.」Reimu ordered while we sat on the shrine porch, waiting for our guests.

"Hai." I told her, nodding.

She sighed and rested her cheek on her hand. 「Yeah, I guess you'd say yes to anything I told you. How about you go jump in a lake huh?」

「I can't, the Shrine Maiden would worry about me!」 I replied with a smile.

「Ughh, your making me appreciate Kokoro's obnoxious clarity. I ought ask her for a charm or something. 」She groaned, but didn't seem unhappy.

It wasn't long until the two blonde girls arrived, both of them seeming rather chipper on this morning. 「Oi! Reimu, ya get yourself hitched already? Your moving fast I see!」Marisa called.

「Marisa! That's so uncouth! 」The taller blonde woman, whom I presume was Alice, scolded her.

「Oh, I don't mind. In fact, I think it's the least I can do is let her have her little jabs. After all, no man want's a girl with such short legs.」Reimu said, not bothered in the slightest by Marisa's teasing.

「Ehh? Is this really something you want to start with those bags forming under your eyes?」Marisa fired back.

"So!" Alice clapped, interrupting what I can only assume was teenage bickering. "I'm Alice Margatroid, lovely to meet you sir." The Girl said, giving a small curtsey.

"Ah, yes, a pleasure." I said, giving my own little bow. "It's a relief to finally meet someone who also speaks English, I don't think I've had a fluent conversation in weeks."

"Hey I, uh speak English too!" Marisa struggled out.

「Geez, stop forcing yourself, it's embarrassing to watch.」Reimu told Marisa.

「Hey! Sometimes you've got to try something new, otherwise your Danmaku will grow stale won't it?」She fired back.

「Oh? Why don't you show me what 'fresh' danmaku looks like then? Will I get a reward for dodging my 100th Master Spark I wonder? And you..」Reimu said to me, standing up「Make sure to pay special attention.」And then the girls were off into the sky, trading blows and firing off barrages of fireworks.

"Sorry about that, Danmaku is uhm, the Gensokyo way of saying hello." Alice said apologetically taking a seat. "They're really just being friendly is all."

"Oh I don't doubt it. Those two seem like good friends. It's nice to see people wear their rivalries on their sleeves I think. Would you like some tea?" I asked pushing forward a tray.

"Ah, thank you, it's quite a walk to the shrine." She said, taking a cup and having a sip. "So, how did you end up here, if you don't mind me asking?"

"A friend asked me to look for a rare bird that was rumored to be in an 'ecological black hole', a dense forest nobody could seem to get to without becoming lost, I picked a point on the map, managed to get into the zone, fell off a cliff, and found myself here." I shrugged. "I can't seem to go home now for some reason."

"Oh, that's awfully strange. Humans tend to fall into Gensokyo from time to time, maybe you also fell through a 'crack'?" she suggested.

"Hmm maybe, although I suspect it wasn't so random. This place might be the rumored 'black hole' after all. Anyway, I am lucky Reimu took me in." I said.

"Yes, that's also a little strange. I once asked Reimu why she doesn't have any hands for the shrine and she told me 'they'd just be a bother'."

"Ha! That sounds just like her!." I waved.

"What I mean to say is that she's a young girl and..." Alice trailed off.

"I might be a little dense Miss Alice, but I'm not some buffoon who's totally ignorant of a woman's feelings." I said with a smile. "It just that, Reimu is so young and, if what you told me is true, this is the first time she's felt this way. So, I want her to have a little time to understand the feeling."

Alice sighed. "That's a relief, I was worried you'd be the kind of guy who's totally ignorant of a girl's heart, but I misjudged you."

"Well, I'm not entirely selfless." I chuckled. "After all, there are people on the outside waiting for me and if I accepted Reimu, who has a duty here, that'd be the same as saying goodbye to them. I don't know if I'm willing to accept that."

Alice began to say something, but was interrupted by the arrival of the two girls, Reimu looking victorious and Marisa defeated.

「Geez, are you feeling well? Your style's supposed to be a little laid back.」Marisa complained.

「Says the loser! Hey, You watched carefully right?」Reimu addressed me, quickly approaching 「I noticed you were talking to Alice while we were fighting, you didn't spend that whole time chatting with another girl while I was trying to show you real Danmaku right?」She said, a little quieter.

Was she mad at me for chatting with Alice? Could she tell from so far up high? this girl's eyesight is really good!「Meteoric Shower, Master Spark, Fantasy Seal」I said, repeating the words the girl's had shouted during the fight.