/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46552062
like the cat she is, she came back with a friend!

(1/2)
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Six weeks, ugh… Mother Nature truly doesn't understand civilization, does she?

I remain serene and austere in posture and facade while inside a fire burned akin to a massive pyre, legs begging to cross, heart begging for another thing entirely. Nothing that bothers my workflow, but it really makes things weird when a yamawaro half my size approaches and stays so goddamn close to my—

—I take a deep breath, patiently waiting while writing on a small notebook arithmetic expressions almost absentmindedly. It doesn't calm me as much as it used to…

A twitch of my ear tells me the expected people were approaching, two or three hallways away, and I didn't fight the small smile: Considering everything that's been happening and the stress of our latest reunions, it's a miracle Chen can still smile~I wonder what they're talking about. “So it’s true! Reimu-san beat you two with closed eyes! She so cool~! I thought she was joking when she told me that, but wow… I'll knit her something fancy as an apology.” Chen beamed, gesturing with her arms to an astonished Flandre, the vampire's arms behind her neck. A resigned Goro and an embarrassed Seiga followed the duo.

“It's been so long since I fought Reimu. I wonder what'd happen if we two fought blindfolded…” Flan pondered. “But with closed eyes AND without attacking back? I'd die from boredom!”

“In my opinion, it’s the best kind of duel: no one gets harmed, and you just have fun together—danmaku hurts so much sometimes, ugh… Parsee-chan didn’t react well to my ‘no’ to her marriage proposal…”

“Bleh, I feel you: creepy grandmas are the worst! 'Kina is always showing her panties and asking to see mine in return… But I like the pain danmaku causes! Makes me feel all giddy~but the head pain—” she hits a closed fist on her head as if a coconut. “—of losing a duel where the other doesn't attack and fights with closed eyes? I wouldn't like that pain.”

“You brats are very lucky you are cute; otherwise, I'd…” Seiga murmured under her breath, the man by her side concealing his laughter well. Probably moved by hormones, I decided to join the fun, stretching the Gap I was using to listen to them and walking through it.

“Otherwise you'd do what, Seiga-san?” I speak behind her, my tone high, posture tall, and expression of harsh neutrality. The reaction is immediate and the woman jumps forward from the scare, one much more prominent than what I was expecting; blaming her for being immersed in her head to escape the cute banter wouldn't be right, so I keep my mouth shut. Chen and Flandre didn't react as vocally; the first lived her whole life with the presence of the Gap, and I guess Okina has desensitized Flan at this point.

“Ran!”

“Ranryu!”

Chen and the vampire—whose cute nickname brings back fond memories~—, hug me the next moment, and I can't help but smile as I hold them. Visions of a lovely future flood my mind and I silently say, “Not now,” mentally. “Ran, Ran! Reimu wasn't lying when she bragged about fighting blind!” Chen comes first as the hug comes to an end.

“I was aware—I read on the Bunbunmaru~”

A recovered, yet redder than before, Seiga answers, “I'll kill that fu—friggin’ bird—”

“Don't be mean to Ayaya! I won't stand by that!” Unexpectedly, with red, puffy cheeks—if only I had Sakuya-san's abilities…—Chen charges over to the Amanojaku and gives her a shin kick. With that, Goro-san lost all control and laughed with Flan, while Seiga inhaled deeply and gazed at the ceiling with one eyelid quivering. A gentle head pat, similar to the ones Anon gives me, from a cursed hand calms her anger toward the bakeneko. “Be kind to those who bring us the news; she was just doing her duty as a reporter!”

“You heard it, Seiga; be nice to your reporters; even they deserve respect.” Chen nodded, missing the sarcasm. “Tribulation comes for the wicked… Mainly the financial kind.” As soon as she hears the penultimate word, Flandre covers her ears.

“Boring subject spotted! C'mon, c'mon—let's see your room already!” She demands, and though adorable, I remember that all it would take is one bad tantrum of hers to nuke the entire village…

Faking a giggle, I bow to Goro and Seija. “Sorry for the scare, Seiga-san, Goro-san—” I force Chen to bow too, much to her bewilderment. “And for Chen's way to protect those she likes.” The bakeneko pouts, arms crossed.

“No harm done.” Goro-san immediately returns the bow with a smile, though Seiga takes a moment, grunts, and THEN bows back.

That subject out of the way, I gap myself to the front to lead the group, sleeves conjoined and smile simple, though inside the struggle continues. “I'll show you your quarters now—they were handcrafted by Yukari-sama, so I hope you enjoy.”

With the rest of the group trailing closely behind, the man remarks, “Anything better than the minimalistic approach of the temple. Though, Ran-sama, if you don't mind: what did Flan-chan meant with… 'Ranryu'?”

I blush and, to the side, Flandre’s eyes light up.