FOREST OF MAGIC - SELECTION 1:

[1.1.0 - Forest of Magic, Wooded Thickets, afternoon]

Even on the surface, not that far from the Village, exist places that no average human would ever be able to completely chart on their own let alone even dream of bearing full witness to without putting themselves in danger.

Sometimes it can be the areas you’d least expect, a decent rule of thumb for most locations either way, but there are plenty more places that have already been spoken of for generations prior and for good reason.

Places where a person could go mad simply by getting lost at the wrong time of day, or even done in by their own weak constitution due to the very nature of the location itself.


These are the parts of Gensokyo where Youkai thrive and Villagers may end up putting their very lives at risk because of that fact, should the wrong moves be taken that is.

Lucky for me, I know with certainty I’m not the only human foolhardy enough to trek through where I am now for one reason or another. There’s really no other way to get to the Hakurei Shrine ‘safely’ for most after all.


The Forest of Magic blankets most of the eastern edge of the valley with its unending supply of dense foliage and exotic flora valued by desperate foragers & eccentric alchemists alike.

The treetops are thick enough in some areas to only allow a spotty amount of sunlight through at best, even during the clearest days of Spring.

If even that much anyways, some of these forest chunks I’ve been walking past make midday practically feel like the late evening.

That constant darkness also provides the perfect environment for rare breeds of mushrooms & fungi to grow rampant, the over-abundance of which all contributes to a thick, toxic miasma that emanates from the danker parts of the Forest endlessly like temple incense.


That being said, it is still a fairly serene sight to behold… in that beautifully idealistic way most of Gensokyo seems to pride itself on. Lush ferns, wildgrasses and moss pepper my surroundings like a pristine painting.

The amount of times I’ve been warned not to wander off into the nearby woods lest I meet a terrible fate makes much more sense now that I can see how enthralling it would’ve been for me were I younger. Nature can be blinding, after all.

Like most Villagers with business in the Forest, I made my way into these woods by traveling up the path that runs by the curio shop on its edge. Yet another location I’ve never seriously brought myself to but one goal at a time.


If I don’t pace myself properly then I’ll never be able to get what I’d like to done with the time I have…


Anyways, actually getting here is simple enough but it was a different story when it came to maintaining yourself on the proper pathways.

It’s not as if the surrounding flora was constantly changing the very nature of the landscape by sheer growth alone, unlike the Bamboo Forest across from the Canal, but some of these paths might as well have been untrodden grounds with how easy it is to get your surroundings mixed up.

Or maybe that’s just me… it’s not as if I’ve always had a completely keen sense of direction to take advantage of.


… I can’t tell if that’s the same stump I’ve ended up walking past twice now or not. Things can’t already be that hopeless for me, could they..?

It doesn’t help that my map lacks any internal indicators of where to go when you’re actually in the Forest itself. I wouldn’t doubt if it was made during a time when the Shrine was the only place of significance worth trudging through the woods for.

A shame that isn’t where I’ve decided to go for today I guess.


Come to think of it… have there really been many additions to the Forest since those days? There seems to be plenty more paths both new & old but their relevance feels dubious at best, especially with how unintentionally winding this hike has been.

Another fork in the road… at this point I think I’ve lost count of how many turns I’ve taken. At least it isn’t nighttime, right?


I try and recount some learned landmarks from memory to sort my surroundings as best I can. Besides the Shrine, the only thing eastward would be steep hills & mountain ranges. If I keep heading North for long enough then I should hit an abandoned settlement of some kind, can’t recall the name of it right now. West from there beyond the Forest would eventually be the plains and South of there would lead me towards… the Lake?

I had to have been wandering around here for well over an hour at least, so would that put me somewhere around… the middle? Maybe farther? I haven’t even seen the stairway up to the shrine yet, let alone anything else of significance besides dirt and shrubbery.

Maybe I should’ve stayed closer to the Forest’s edge so I could’ve kept better track of myself. Then again, would I really be exploring the Forest if I’m just doing nothing but tracing its border?


Hell, what am I even thinking? The ambiance might be pleasant enough but I can’t just keep stumbling around until the sun starts to set, especially when I’ve already run out of what little provisions I brought. My empty canteen clinks at my side tauntingly.

Damn this humidity… I’m thirsty again and I’m beginning to feel like this stale air thick with spores & pollens alike is starting to get to me. A bandanna over my face could’ve done me some good I bet…


Did I even have a clear goal in the first place besides just wandering around and seeing what might happen? So far it seems like the most likely outcome for me is exhaustion followed by succumbing to the fate of my own poor judgement.

Who in their right mind would even be this deep in the Forest? I’m fairly certain the only people who call this place their home are Magicians, some of which might be just as inhuman as the very creatures who’d prey upon defenseless saps like me.

I can’t give up just yet though, I’ve gone too far to psyche myself out of any of this now.


I just… I just need to catch my breath for a second. I’ll lean against this tree until my throat stops feeling so raw and then try and head out of here somehow. I’ve seen enough anyways.

At least the shade’s partially working in my favor. It’s much easier to gather my thoughts now that I’m not squarely focused on making sure I can still put one foot in front of the other.

There’s a few brightly-colored spotted mushrooms down by my feet growing at the base of the trunk though. Maybe I shouldn’t be breathing too deeply here…


Wait, there’s something else nearby I can hear over the chittering of the insects.

Something else besides the birds chirping in the treetops, or… someone else?

There it is again! The unnatural rustling of someone fooling around in the foliage. If it was closer to dusk I might be a little more concerned but, as it stands, it’d be pretty hard for most to get the jump on me without tipping me off.

I think.


The source seems to be not that far ahead. Another Villager? Maybe I could just get some simple directions home.

As I shuffle ever closer I also start to overhear… whistling. Definitely someone whistling casually while occasionally grunting, the grunts marked by further rustling. Whoever this is must be pretty carefree to be mucking about in the Forest of Magic like this.

It doesn’t take long before I finally get a good look at whoever I’m about to face.


[Marisa enters]

Her back is turned to me but it’s still pretty clear to see her figure hunched over a berry bush nearly her size. Her blonde hair jostles about with every strained tug at the shrub, berries errantly falling over her thick black dress until they tumble to the dirt below near her boots as she fills a dingy satchel with her haul.

The lighting of the woods above her head seems a little funny until it becomes painfully obvious she’s wearing a pointed hat with an almost comedically-sized brim compared to the rest of her.

It’s Marisa, that Witch of the Forest! She’s the girl that’s always buddying-up with the Hakurei Maiden, as well as apparently being one of Gensokyo’s top incident resolvers. When people aren’t thinking of a Miko coming to their aid, this ought to be the next person they imagine.


I wish I wasn’t so exhausted, I could be in much better spirits for such an encounter otherwise.

Still, it might not be so bad. Opportunities like this can’t always be 100% perfect and this gives me a chance to actually make something out of today’s excursion.

I do my best to recollect myself before beginning a casual stride over…

Only to step on a stray twig and immediately alert the girl to my presence. Her head shoots out of the bush fast enough to nearly send her broad hat flying but she doesn’t seem shocked, only mildly surprised.

The expression quickly melts into what I can only assume is her typical state of casualness, marked by a boyish smile and little extra fanfare before she gets back to focusing on her gathering.


(MK): “Oh, heya! What’s up?”

“A-Afternoon, not much really. Just uhh… taking myself for stroll I guess!”

(MK): “A little far from home t’be takin’ yerself out for a stroll now, aren’tchya?”

She looks at me over her shoulder while nonchalantly popping one of those berries in her mouth. I hope she knows what she’s doing when it comes to the plants around here…

“Well sure, but a little risk can be worth the effort sometimes. Right?”

(MK): “Huh… not a bad philosophy there. Though I’d put more effort behind actually puttin’ that into practice if I were you.”


There’s a certain amount of self-assuredness behind her tone, but not enough to be completely condescending. Makes enough sense when you’ve been through the wringer as many times as she has I suppose.

Only the strong & cunning could manage to thrive in a place like this as far as I can tell…

Or just the boar-headed at least.


“As a matter of fact, I’m working on just that believe it or not. Anyways, you’re Miss Marisa, right?”

That seems to have gotten the better of her attention, the blonde now properly standing as I watch her turn to fully face me.

She puts her hands on her hips, face reeking of mild suspicion as she’s probably wondering who the hell I think I am trying to engage with her so suddenly.

It’s funny, even when standing up straight I still have to angle my head down slightly to make sure I’m looking her in the eyes. If it wasn’t for her face & demeanor, she could almost pass as someone more around Kosuzu’s age from a distance.


(MK:) “Yeah… Kirisame Marisa that is. But please, just call me Marisa. No need t’be fancy out here.”

(MK:) “An’ just who might you be walkin’ around the Forest lookin’ for a girl like me?”

‘Kirisame’… I can swear I’ve heard that name around the Village before, but where?

It’ll likely come to me later, what’s important now is making sure I’m not flubbing this conversation as hard as I fear I am.

I can’t be coming off as that creepy, right? A little out of the ordinary maybe but it’s not as if someone dressed like her is an everyday occurrence for other humans.

I probably do look at least a little disheveled at this point, I’m used to toiling away physically but extended exposure to this forest is tougher to brave than I realized.


“Oh I really wasn’t looking for much of anything honestly. You’re the first person I’ve run into here after walking around for what feels like hours.”

(MK): “Hours? This ain’t exactly a place for frolickin’ about y’know!”

‘Frolicking’..?

“I know that much! It’s not like I decided to head into the woods at the foot of Youkai Mountain. I’m just… trying to get myself out there is all.”

(MK:) “Interestin’ place t’be doin’ it then if ya ask me.”

She shrugs before turning back to her foraging business, scanning the weeds for anything of decent value.


This is actually a fairly fertile area, makes me wonder if she’s really taking advantage of this as much as she could be.

(MK:) “The Village doesn’t really do it for ya then, huh?”

“Honestly, no. No it doesn’t. Spent enough time in that place and there’s too much going on in the rest of Gensokyo for me to keep missing out.”

It’s subtle, but I swear I can see her hesitate for a second after saying that.

(MK:) “You too, da ze~?”

The change in her tone almost throws me off as well. So casual… even when she isn’t facing you, it’s pretty easy to tell when this girl is speaking with a smirk.


Maybe this would be a good opportunity to ask something small…

“You want some help there by the way?”

(MK:) “Eh? ‘Help’?”

“Yeah. You’re gathering seasonal plants and such, right? I work in the fields, I’d know what I’m doing when it comes to this sort of thing. You could probably walk away with a lot more with two pairs of hands.”

The side-eyed look she starts giving me in return is still one marked by suspicion. It’s not as if I’m completely doubting her own capabilities, just seems like she’s also overly used to working on her own.

“I have nothing better to do besides frolic some more, after all.”


Now she’s smiling, standing up again with her hands behind her head as she considers the offer.

(MK:) “What’dya say yer name was again?”

Oh, damn. Figures I’d be forgetting something.

“[Anonymous]. Should’ve opened with that, just thought I’d give the offer when I had the chance.”

(MK:) “Well [Anonymous], don’t take this the wrong way but ya look completely exhausted.

(MK:) “I’m surprised ya even made it this far if ya really have been out here for hours.”

She’s got me there, but it’s not like I’ll just start begging her to bring me back to safety.

“I’m still standing, aren’t I? We shouldn’t even need to be walking around that much anyways.”


As long as I don’t overexert myself, things should be just fine. Glad there’s still plenty of day left for something like this.

(MK): “… “

(MK:) “Well, if ya say so. Just stay close ‘n don’t try any kinda funny business. Ya seem alright but I’m not exactly eager t’get my day started with a small crisis with some villager.”

Works for me. Now simply comes the matter of where to start…


[choice 1.1.1]: Offer to focus on the plants.
[choice 1.1.2]: Offer to focus on the fungi.


[1.1.1]

“Don’t worry, I know how to take care of myself. What were you thinking of getting to next?”

(MK:) “Mushrooms. I use ‘em for more than just eatin’ an’ this is a great time t’be grabbin’ some!”

“Alright then, I’ll stick to the ferns and tubers if I can find any.”

(MK:) “Anythin’ that could work well in a stew or at least store nicely. Don’t get too crazy with yerself either! This sack is all we’re workin’ with.”

She says that as she takes off her hat and flips it around, presumably as a receptacle for her oncoming mushroom hoard. I’d ask for the bag for myself but I don’t want her to think I’m trying to pull a fast one and make off with some free grub.


Looking around quickly reveals some sprouting butterbur buds to start with. I’m sure she’ll know how to prep these properly when their time eventually comes.

“So I’m guessing you make do with most of what you’d find in the Forest here, huh?”

(MK:) “Sometimes I’ll take a stroll ‘round a market or two, but it sure is convenient when ya know what you’re lookin’ for out here.”

She’s squatting down near some moist dirt at the base of a thick tree now, carefully plucking out her mushrooms of choice while occasionally flicking off any straggling insects from their frills.

“Ever get to cook for anyone or you just making sure you have enough for yourself?”

(MK:) “Eh, half the time it seems like my friends don’t exactly appreciate my cookin’ but I think I just have an acquired taste~.”


I hear her chuckle softly to herself as I’m pulling out a few clumps of sweetgrass for her as well, it’d probably be too much for me to suggest she could try my cooking one of these days but the fierce independence on display is incredibly refreshing.

That’s probably really why connecting with most other Villagers feels so impenetrable, I don’t fit enough in a place where fitting in already feels so prioritized.

“Hey, nothing wrong with unconventional preferences. As long as it works for you, right?”

(MK): “Finally, someone who gets it! If nobody else likes what I like then that just means more for me.”


“How long have you been staying on your own out here then? If you don’t mind the ask.”

(MK:) “Well it’s not like ya need t’know my whole life story here but for as long as I could is the short answer. Fixed up a nice place not too far from here ‘n started runnin’ my own business outta it. Tell yer friends once ya head back: the Kirisame Magic Shop is the place t’go for all yer magical needs!”

Right, yeah. All three of them…

Would a girl like Marisa even be that successful stationed this far out? That family name still feels familiar but it certainly isn’t because everyone keeps talking about some Magician’s shop out in the middle of the Forest of Magic.

She prides herself on what she does at least, that much is certain. That kind of drive has to come from somewhere after all.


(MK:) “So, lemme guess - you’re lookin’ for some sorta fresh start out here in the woods now that ya got a taste for exploration. Is that it or have ya even thought that far ahead?”

Have I thought that far ahead? There’s the Flower Viewing, sure, but this can be a little deeper than that too without being too complex, can’t it?

“Again, it really isn’t like I’ve scouted you out or anything. You don’t need to know my whole life story either but I will at least say I never went out that much in my youth.”

(MK:) “Yeah, that ain’t real surprising’ t’hear neither. But hey, you’re doin’ somethin’ about it now, aren’tchya?”

(MK:) “And best of all, you’re makin’ yerself useful to a girl like me on top ‘a that~! Heheheh”


Now I’m the one chuckling too. For one of the apparent saviors of this land, Marisa sure seems pretty cocky! She isn’t even that obnoxious with it either. Makes me wonder how someone like the Hakurei Maiden handles it on a regular basis.

I drift over to a small patch of bracken and feel myself getting lost in thought over this rustic blonde, what she must be like behind closed doors and how much she’s willing to open up to people she considers herself close to…

It’s not that I crave constant emotional vulnerability, a girl like Marisa just knows how to make a person curious without even trying is all.


It’s endearing.

… it takes me a minute to catch myself subtly glancing over my shoulder at her squatting near another brightly-colored mushroom patch, her worn gloves mildly caked with dirt as she takes a moment to wipe the small bit of sweat from her brow with her free arm.

This isn’t the time to be dwelling on those sorts of details. I need to reorient my focus back to foraging and consider myself lucky for even being able to work alongside Marisa in the first place.


Things would continue like this for around another hour or two, the lack of a visible sky certainly doesn’t help but it’d be hard to keep track of time anyways with all the hopping around we end up doing.

So much for not walking around too much.

I gather more greens while taking my haul back to the storage sack for deposit each time my hands get full, our gathering marked with the occasional mild banter over the location or random incidental habits of ours. Other moments have us simply soaking in the silence of nature while we work.


At one point I catch her standing up while catching her breath and watching me from a small distance. It didn’t feel insidious, more like she was making sure I was actually doing what I was supposed to.

(MK:) “Just keepin’ an eye on ya. This ain’t exactly a regular occurrence for me y’know.”

Fair enough.

Eventually she tells me we’ve gotten more than enough supplies to last her for at least a few weeks, as if the now hefty satchel and overflowing hat filled with fungus of all shapes & sizes wasn’t enough of an indication.

It doesn’t take long for her to lead the way back to her touted shop of legends, a decent ways into the Forest itself but apparently not too far from a few other notable locations.


[Fade-in; Ext. - Kirisame Magic Shop, afternoon]

(MK:) “This is the place! Not too shabby, right?”

If I were a carpenter I might have something to say over the matter but I’m practically too exhausted to even care much anyways.

It already has more charm than my own meager dwelling but there really isn’t much to signify the fact this is apparently a storefront, aside from a single mold-caked sign we’d already passed a good few meters back.

(MK:) “Real quick, ya mind handin’ over that canteen ‘a yers for a second?”

I nearly forgot I had the thing on me, letting her take it along with our haul without much of a second thought.


(MK:) “Perfect. I’ll be back in a minute or two. Don’t go wanderin’ off ‘till I’m back! This Forest ain’t the greatest place for most folk.”

“I’m aware, trust me. Just take your time.”

She flashes me a smile before dashing off inside with enthusiasm, a few mushroom caps bounding out of her hat as they fall into the patchy grass outside her house.


[Marisa leaves]

The steady ambiance of the Forest quickly fills the space around me once again, my body trying to stave off complete dehydration as I take in everything that just took place.

It’s not like I completely knew what I was looking for. I was at least aware that Marisa lived here along with a few other abnormal characters but I figured the girl was busy enough as it stands.

She doesn’t seem like the kind of person to solely use others to her own advantage, though offering to help regardless & be smart about it definitely had to be the right move.

Marisa isn’t exactly the kind of person any old schlub like myself can just immediately cozy up to without seeming suspicious… or maybe she does have that kind of softer side to her? She is awfully forward for a human.


Whatever the case, she certainly lives as honestly as she carries herself.

I don’t even need to enter her house to guess that she isn’t the kind of girl to keep everything spotless & orderly.

Vines grow freely through the cracks in her walls while the occasional stray roof tile litters the lawn around the path to the front door. Weeds grow rampantly and many of the outside features are chipped or worn with age.

The observatory attached to the place looks fairly impressive but I wouldn’t doubt if it was something added long after initial construction.

If she wasn’t already committed to her life as a Magician, maybe Marisa could’ve made for a half-decent repairwoman.


[Marisa enters]

And here she comes again, carrying my canteen along with a small tied bundle of cloth with, presumably, some unknown goods inside.

A free sample of her wares perhaps..?

(MK:) “Listen, I know I might’ve seemed a little cold with ya back there but I try ‘n keep my guard up in a place like this for a reason.”

(MK:) “That bein’ said, ya actually managed to help me get an oversupply of what I can reasonably keep! Consider this a token of my thanks for that.”

The bundle isn’t terribly hefty but could easily be around a fourth of what we managed to collect together. More generous than I would’ve been with a near-complete stranger, that’s for sure.

Well… maybe that’s a trait I ought to start changing when I can.


(MK:) “And drink some water for cryin’ out loud! You’re lucky I didn’t have’ta drag yer sorry self home.”

The canteen is tossed my way, I’m as prepared as I can be to grab it but the impact still knocks the wind out of my chest a bit.

Doesn’t stop me from taking a hearty swig of the thing. It’s surprisingly cool, did she find a way to chill it somehow? It’s not like there’s any ice rattling around in there.

(MK:) “Took the liberty of fillin’ that up with some ‘a my own purified supply. Try comin’ a little more prepared next time, huh?”

“Can do…I appreciate it though.”

(MK:) “Don’t mention it.”


With that, I turn around to head home satisfied. Shouldn’t be long before dusk by the time I’m fully settled back in the Village.

I’m already picturing what I’ll be able to make for dinner with the ingredients I’ve gathered today when a finger tapping my shoulder stops me in my tracks.

(MK:) “Hey.”

“Yeah..?”

(MK:) “Need a ride home~?”

The wink she’s giving me is all the confirmation I need to know I’ll be in safe hands sticking with her.

Doesn’t feel bad at all being able to rely on someone else for a change.


[Fade-in; Skies of Gensokyo, afternoon]

Before I know it, the both of us are higher off the ground than I ever would’ve dreamed of being in my short life so far.

She retied the bundle to the front end of her broomstick, leaving me free to grip the handle as tightly as I could while the winds skimming the treetops whipped around us from all directions. It’s a miracle her hat didn’t immediately fly off once we got going.


The view is nearly indescribable, Youkai Mountain somehow imposing itself even more grandly with the whole of the valley perfectly framed around it. The landscape below shimmered with the multicolored decor of Spring, highlighted mostly with the pinks of its many flowering cherry blossoms.

The Spring Path just outside the Forest looks especially scenic, dozens of swaying flower petals being blown right towards the Village to create the perfect scenic atmosphere.

If only it was just a little later in the day, then the sights would be even more perfect bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.


I try not to look as childish as I feel but at some point I’m sure I catch Marisa trying to steal a glance at my bewildered expression with a smirk.

It’s a little embarrassing… but at least it’s just us up here.


[Fade-in: Ext. - Human Village Gates, afternoon]

Thankfully there aren’t too many other people around when we arrive, though I doubt anyone else in my position would really care that much. Marisa simply hovers just above the ground while I’m free to dismount and take my gifted parcel.

(MK:) “Here should be fine enough for ya, right?”

“Yeah, this is more than enough for me. Thank you for the lift, genuinely.”

(MK:) “No problem, I could fly back t’this place in my sleep if I wanted.”

(MK:) “See ya around, [Anonymous]! Just be sure t’keep yerself safer next time!”


[Marisa leaves]

With a tip of her hat, the Ordinary Magician of the Forest takes her leave once again.

I watch as she zips on back towards those woods until she’s nothing more than a speck amongst a sparsely-clouded sky.


The bundle she prepared for me may not be much, but it’s still more than most people I’ve run into since I’ve started living on my own have been willing to offer me in years.

Especially under such circumstances. It’s not like she had to accept my help but the fact that she did despite a little bit of attitude says a lot about her character.

Regardless, that whole excursion still went far better than I could’ve guessed from the outset.

If I end up heading over there once more, maybe to even hang out with Marisa again somehow, I’ll be thankful to no longer feel like such a stranger in the woods anymore.


[1.1.2]

“I shouldn’t be that much of a burden, I wouldn’t want to be anyways. Did you need me to start collecting some of these mushrooms maybe while you kept at it with the plants?”

(MK:) “Actually… yeah. I was about t’switch over t’those myself but it wouldn’t be too bad if that was handled in the meantime.”

(MK:) “Y’sure ya know what you’re doin’ when it comes t’pickin’ mushrooms? Some of these are pretty dangerous if they ain’t handled with experience.”

Truth be told, this wasn’t a subject I considered myself terribly well-versed over compared to her but what better way to learn than from firsthand experience?

“It can’t be that hard, I’ve made it this far already and I’ve walked past plenty of questionable patches.”


(MK:) “Hmph. If ya say so. Here,”

She tosses her hat over near my feet after flipping it off.

(MK:) “Just go ahead an’ pile up what ya find in there. I usually try t’get myself plenty but don’t feel too pressured t’grab absolutely everythin’ for my sake.”

“Got it, I’ll take my time and collect what I can.”

Marisa carries on to another nearby bush while I get to taking care of the nearest collection of caps that I see. I may not have gloves like Marisa but I should be alright as long as I keep my hands away from my face.


Some of the smaller, plainer-looking mushrooms I’m able to recognize as shiitakes but others of varying colors and sizes elude any knowledge I’d have.

Spotted ones are a likely no, the thin orange bell-shaped ones are probably okay… these light blue ones though? They’re slimy to the touch but maybe they could be used for brewing tonics in a way I wouldn’t understand. Into the pile they all go.


A few of the thicker-stemmed ones are a little difficult to pull out from the ground smoothly, the mycelium underneath putting up some decent resistance and only giving way when I tug with enough force to puff up a cloud of what I hope is mostly dirt & dust.

Waving away the particles as best I can still doesn’t stop me from releasing a quick sneeze. Nothing to worry about, I’m sure…


Just a little allergic reaction from not being outside all that often.


(MK:) “How’s it goin’ over there Mister Field Worker? Takin’ care ‘a business alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s just…*ahem*, just fine.”

(MK:) “You can take a break if ya really need one y’know, I ain’t forcin’ ya t’slave away for my sake.”

“I know. I’ll let you know.”


I was starting to feel a little funny, my limbs getting slightly fuzzy on the inside in a way that was hard to articulate from how alien the sensation was. Had to just be overexertion, unless the spores really were seriously getting to me… my nose was starting to run too.

Maybe a break wouldn’t be a bad idea… after just a few more mushrooms.

Gotta make at least a little more progress for her sake. She’s already taking a decent risk in faith by letting me help.


“How often do you tend to go out for supplies anyhow?”

(MK:) “Oh every few weeks or so, at least for the bigger trips. If I only need one or two specific items then that’s simple enough but it’s not like I’m constantly burnin’ through my supply.”

“Yeah… that… that makes sense.”


Another sneeze. Did that mushroom just change colors? Maybe it was just a trick of the light.

Everything’s starting to seem… bright. These mushrooms at least smell nice, sickly sweet like an earthy glass of cream.

Maybe I just need to rub my eyes a little, that might help.


Wait, shit, gotta keep my hands away from my face! Now my eyes just sting, I can feel tears starting to pool up in response to the foreign contaminants.

That patch of nearby grass & moss is starting to look more and more appealing…


(MK:) “Hey, [Anonymous]! You’re startin’ to sway on yer knees there, I thought ya knew what you were doin’?”

“I… I do M-Miss Marisa. I just… I j-just need to… to lie down for… I just… “

(MK:) “Damnit! Don’t fall asleep near those mushrooms! Ah hell… get yerself away from there!”


I hear Marisa drop her satchel as my surroundings melt together into a blur, letting go of the particularly large mushroom I’d found myself barely holding on to.

The last thing I remember before everything fades away is a thudding sensation against my face followed by the damp stench of mildew filling my sinuses. The sound of boots crunching closer over nearby twigs echoed on into the nothingness that engrossed my perception of the world.


[Fade to black]


“… ”


(MK:) “Hey, wake up! C’mon, get up already ya fool!”


“..?”


[Fade-in; Ext. - Human Village Gates, evening]

Oh god… my head…

My face feels wet… and cold. Was I just splashed awake with water?

I just made one big fool out of myself, didn’t I.


“Ughh, how… how long was I out for?”

(MK:) “Hours! You’ve been unconscious for hours while I had t’cut my resource gatherin’ short just so I could drag ya back t’the Shop an’ personally nurse yer exhausted body back t’health!”


Looking around, I notice I’ve been unceremoniously propped up against the outer walls by one of the Village gates. There doesn’t seem to be many people around but that doesn’t make the situation any less embarrassing.

(MK:) “Thought ya said ya knew what you were doin’ back there? Ya coulda just asked me for some pointers if ya really needed ‘em.”

“I know, I should’ve been a lot more cautious. I’m genuinely sorry for the wasted time. I just… wanted to see if I could help a little.”

(MK:) “Well now yer ‘little bit ‘a help’ has cost me today’s daylight and some perfectly decent medicine! Here,”

She shoves a small glass bottle into my hands.


(MK:) “Take that once ya wake up tomorrow or else you’re gonna be recoverin’ for the next week. If ya really did end up on yer own when that happened then ya might as well have been Youkai food from the start!”

“I guess I’ll learn to be more careful with myself next time I’m around.”

(MK:) “For yer sake I hope so, good grief… ”

She sighs before taking a few steps away from me and hopping back on her broom. She must’ve flown my unconscious body all the way over on her own as well.

Did she have to tie me to the thing, or maybe just drape my arms over her shoulders and fly as steady as she could?


Every little detail only seems to make the situation worse. I’m almost glad I’m only experiencing the aftermath of it all but this was still a terrible first impression for someone like Marisa.

She hovers a few feet in front of me, only giving me a forlorn side glance wracked with disappointment before her parting words for now.

(MK:) “Take care ‘a yerself [Anonymous], it may not seem like it sometimes but there’s gotta be some folks out there who wouldn’t exactly be thrilled t’hear ya’ve done yerself in so carelessly.”

A meager nod and a wave is all I can manage before she’s off to the Forest again without a trace.


There’s no use dwelling on much, it’s not like she told me to never come near her again but this is what I get for not being smarter with myself out in the wilds.

The medicine was at least a decent gesture, though likely more out of guilt-ridden obligation than anything else. If it were anyone else besides Marisa…

I turn around to head back home myself, making sure not to make too much eye contact with any passersby while holding the bottle closely & firmly.

[Fade to black]


NIGHT 1:

[Fade-in; Int. - Anon’s House, night w/ light of the irori]

This late at night, the crackling of the irori’s coals are the only sound complimenting my internal monologue.

That, and the occasional creaking of the wooden boards throughout the house. If this place had been built by someone like my father in his prime then it could’ve had a fair chance at being one of the most structurally sound buildings in the Village.

Still, it could be a lot worse in here. I can make decent food for myself and the obvious privacy is almost always welcome after eventful days like today.


My first real attempt at getting myself out there since the move… can’t say it all went just as I planned but what ever does?

It’d be fortunate enough if I somehow ended up meeting at least one new interesting individual a day but maybe this free time I have doesn’t even need to feel that layered.

The context of today alone would be more than enough to make my younger self jealous. Maybe not in every way that he’d imagine from his perspective, but it’d still be a good story to tell to someone stuck in his studies.


A good story… that’d be more than enough to satisfy me for a little while even without the Flower Viewing in mind.

If the steps I took today alone are already proving to be this eventful compared to how I usually carry myself around here, then there’s at least a little bit of hope I can hold onto for now to keep me going.


The warm glow of the embers makes the comfort of my futon feel just right.

At some point I’m sure it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get to reading the book I got from Suzunaan before bed. Hopefully Kosuzu has been doing alright with herself as well…

[Fade to black]


DAY 2:

[0.2.0 - Human Village, [Anonymous]’s House; morning]

[Fade-in; Ext. - Anon’s House, dim lighting]

This has been the first time in a while I’ve been able to consistently get myself up in the mornings without the pressure of total obligation to something beyond myself.

I’ll be sure to get a good breakfast in later but for now I take a deep breath of my surroundings while I stand outside the front of my house and soak in the start to my day.


Every so often I’ll find myself idly watching the crowds, as long as I’m out of the way enough that is. There aren’t too many around this early of course but I find it oddly interesting to observe others in their more casual states without being too intrusive.

Could be that inherent lack of socialization on my part but it really can be engaging to witness people in their natural element. They simply act differently when they aren’t worried over being watched or acting on their own and it reminds me of myself in a way.


…

I really do need to get out more. I’d almost resent being considered “normal” but maybe some of these habits would be best curbed in the long run.

At least my few neighbors don’t think much of me. Not that there are any real familiar faces out & about right now anyways.


Actually… there is one woman that does look fairly recognizable, even with the lack of any direct sunlight casting her in mostly shadow.

My suspicions are only confirmed when I realize she’s heading right towards me for a chat.


[Keine enters]

(KK:) “Good morning [Anonymous]! Out for some fresh air to start your day again?”

Even after all these years, I still have to stop myself from referring to her as Professor Kamishirasawa.

I am glad we were able to keep casual relations once I was officially done with tutoring however. She’s been a good grounding agent when I’ve had nobody else besides myself & my folks during some particularly trying times.


“Morning Miss Keine. I was able to get some time away from work actually and I’m just trying to enjoy it as best I can.”

(KK:) “Ahh, of course, of course. It’s certainly a good habit to be in either way, I’m just glad to see you motivated enough to stick to it.”

Sometimes it feels like she thinks higher of me than she ought to but it’s not as if I truly know what it’s like to see myself through someone else’s lens.

I will share certain anxieties with her every once in a while, she’s seen a lot of what I’ve been through after all, but I don’t need to burden her with everything.


“I’m doing my best anyways, you seem pretty motivated yourself today. That stack of papers your usual assortment of graded classwork for the Temple School?”

(KK:) “Right you are, had to get up extra early to make sure the students have all the notes they need for what we’ve been going over. It really helps them out when they have something they can take home to look back upon after all.”

“Easy with the amount of information you give them at once though, huh? Sometimes those kids might think they have better things to focus on.”

(KK:) “Hah! You’re one to talk, let’s not forget how much of a workaholic you were back when your life revolved around these lessons.”

(KK:) “I may not have been your only tutor but it was still a refreshing attitude to see at that age. Don’t forget to give yourself more credit for what you’ve been through.”


Jeez, at this point I might as well consider her emotional support of me her other part-time job.

Maybe I’ll finally get used to it one of these days, but that still doesn’t make me any less thankful.

Even if I do have an admittedly hard time showing that in moments like this.


“Yeah yeah… I’m still keeping that in mind when I can.”

(KK:) “That’s good to hear. Speaking of keeping things in mind, have you given much thought over the Flower Viewing at the Hakurei Shrine since our last conversation?”

“I guess so, I dunno. It’s still a week or so away, isn’t it?”

(KK:) “Yes, but there was a reason I decided to bring it up then besides planning for my own sake.”


(KK:) “I know you have trouble with crowds but, in my opinion, you can’t keep avoiding facing that fear forever. It’ll be a very comfortable environment up there with all the festivities being planned!”

(KK:) “Several of the Village’s best street-food vendors are already making preparations. I know for a fact your mother’s cooking influenced many of their own recipes back in the day and they would be more than happy to serve you for the sake of comparison.”

Oh great, just what I need: more reinforcement over my lack of individuality by strangers happier with themselves than me.

I really do try to stay more positive than normal when I’m spending time with Miss Keine, most of the time, but there are moments when my outward demeanor betrays that effort.


Whatever expression my face starts to assume seems to be the driving tell behind my true emotions right now.

Her unwavering tone says it all.

(KK:) “It really wouldn’t be that bad for you [Anonymous], I’ll be there and it’d be a pleasant surprise to see you attend.”

(KK:) “You don’t even have to be as social as you think! Plus, you might even run into someone new there you’d really end up liking.”

(KK:) “Have you even tried seriously getting yourself out there as of late? You have the time for it after all, at least for a small while. Right?”

“Actually, yes! That’s exactly why I’m still making sure I’m doing something with myself while I’m up this early for your information…m-ma’am.”


For a second, I’m almost afraid the look on her face is a negative reaction to how brazen my attitude became just then.

Those fears are quickly quelled once I see her break into a relieving smile however.

(KK:) “Oh my, really? That’s wonderful! I would’ve figured such a sudden shift would take you a bit more time and a few more pushes.”

(KK:) “How’s that been working out for you then?”

She probably wouldn’t be terribly thrilled to hear of my thoughts over willingly waltzing into Youkai territory to see what might happen…

But I can still give her enough reassurance over my continued exploits to quell some basic curiosity. At least for now.

I haven’t always been perfect at hiding certain things from this woman…


“Not too badly really, at least for my first real commitment to something along those lines. There’s… certainly a lot of interesting folk out there to run into.”

(KK:) “That’s the spirit! I’m happy for you [Anonymous], I genuinely hope this leads you to bigger & better places for your future.”

(KK:) “If you do decide to attend the Flower Viewing, just let me know when you get the chance. I won’t keep you from your plans any longer and I need to make sure I’m ready for the day myself.”

“Take care then, Keine-san. Good seeing you.”


She offers a gentle wave before making her way off to the Temple School. It isn’t situated far from here so she very easily could’ve decided to improvise a quick stop by my place on the off-chance I was lingering around.


[Keine leaves]

Guess the gamble payed off if that was the case.

I won’t be able to keep everything from her forever, especially if I start interacting with more non-Village residents, but it’s nice to have her faith in what I’m doing for the time being.

As decent of a start to my day so far as I could’ve asked for.


[Fade to Map - Second Selection]