/jp/ - Otaku Culture

It was amazing. There weren't any other words to describe the flavours that I could taste as I chewed. Savoury, yet slightly salty and just the right amount of cooked. The rice was fluffy and at the perfect level of stickiness. I suddenly understood what she had meant when she had said that I might struggle to go back to my usual food now that I'd eaten something so well prepared. "It's good, isn't it? And yet, something died to give you that meal. Are we truly as different as you think we are?" She had eaten some of her food and it reminded me that I was sitting across from someone who was casually consuming human meat right in front of me. "I've heard some of your conversations with Reimu. That spider who controls infectious disease seems to be turning into something of a pet project for you, isn't she? I did a little spying. Do you really think you can convince her to...quit? To never eat another human?" I felt my jaw tighten at her flagrant invasion of privacy, but I knew I wouldn't get away with lying to her. Through gritted teeth, I told her that I believed in her success. "Is that so? Well, isn't that sweet? I do hope she has the same faith in you. To deny that part of yourself isn't a simple feat." She raised her glass. "But, I can respect the conviction. To her success." She raised her glass and I echoed the movement, then took another sip and managed to eat some more. The food was so good that it was hard to resist, even with the knowledge of what was being eaten opposite me.
It took some doing, but I managed to finish the meal. Hearn directed me to look out of the window. "Impressive, isn't it? Humans can accomplish so much in so little time. A hundred years ago, the tallest building in this whole city was smaller than half of this building's height." I knew it was night, and the rain was keeping me from seeing anything substantial, but I was quite impressed at how bright it was despite the rain. Hearn sighed, and I was surprised to hear a hint of wistfulness in her voice. "The outside world fears not the night nor the youkai. Very few of my kind exist out there anymore." I asked her why she was here, if it was so hostile to youkai. "I...think it's good to remind oneself why you fight." After a moment, she smiled. "Well, the food and drink is rather excellent out here. Technology might be the death of me, but at least I'll be well-fed when I get there."

I didn't have much of value to say to that. "The rain will let up soon." Hearn told me, sipping at her sake. "The weather forecasts of the outside world are typically very accurate. The typhoon in Gensokyo will end, and all can emerge from their cosy homes." At least that was good, I supposed. I felt like I'd been starting to go a little stir-crazy in the Shrine, so while I had been kidnapped, at least I had been able to spend some time somewhere else.

Finally, I asked her why she had brought me here. She had wanted to talk, yes, but there was no reason to go to these lengths. "Well..." She trailed off and looked over at me. "My shikigami approved of your courage. Not many can stand opposite someone of her power and refuse to back down. I wanted to know just what kind of person Reimu had taken an interest in." I didn't know who this shikigami was, but there was something about Hearn. Something nagging at my brain that I'd seen her before somewhere. I couldn't place it, and it was incredibly annoying.