Chapter 440: The Poor Shikigami, Yakumo Ran, and Lady Yukari's Petty Revenge
The Sunflower Field was steeped in an utter, deep serenity. A gentle breeze rustled through the sea of golden heads, carrying with it a faint, whispering sound. The sun had not yet crested the horizon here; only a sliver of nascent light painted the distant edge of the world. Above, clouds drifted in quiet procession across a clear blue canvas, a picturesque and tranquil scene.
Yuuka Kazami sat amidst her flowers, her posture as elegant as the stems surrounding her. "Lady Yukari," she said, her voice soft yet firm, "You were… no. You were a little too zealous yesterday."
Yakumo Yukari simply smiled, a fan hiding the lower half of her face. "Oh my~ Yuuka, and why shouldn't I have been? It was all so very interesting, wasn't it?"
Yuuka offered no reply, her silence a statement in itself. She remained perfectly still, a part of the landscape.
Yukari stood before her, the picture of playful grace. "Compared to me, Yuuka, you're the one who's acting strangely. No matter how I ponder it, you are being far too friendly towards our dear Mr. Shopkeeper."
"Ren is the first human man I have ever admired and acknowledged," Yuuka stated, her tone indifferent, as if reciting a simple fact. "I have already given you this reason. You, on the other hand, Lady Yukari… your interest in him is far more conspicuous."
Yukari did not argue the point. The two powerful youkai stared at each other, the silence stretching for several long seconds. Finally, the perpetual, whimsical smile fell from Yukari's face, replaced by a rare and subtle seriousness. "This matter is not trivial. It requires careful consideration."
"That is your business. It has nothing to do with me."
Yukari hadn't expected Yuuka to offer any help. After a moment of thought, she nodded. "I will observe and ponder this carefully. As for you, Yuuka… I have a question."
"What do you think of Mr. Shopkeeper?"
Yuuka's gaze deepened, her eyes seeming to pierce through Yukari's facade. A long while passed before she spoke, her voice a mere whisper on the wind. "My assessment of him has not changed. I have no intention of repeating it a third time."
Yukari nodded, and then her mischievous smile suddenly returned. "Yuuka, you really did interfere with my fun, you know…"
"You want to bring Aoandon to Gensokyo," Yuuka said softly, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "While this may be a good thing for youkai, it has nothing to do with me. Are you planning to make her a shikigami?"
"Oh, but Ran would be so upset."
"Are you certain she wouldn't be delighted to have someone to share her workload?"
Yukari's smile widened. "And so, Yuuka, you truly leave me at a loss… Isn't it a wonderful thing for Gensokyo to gain one more youkai? Why must you stop me? I am performing a good deed."
"If you ever decide whether or not to link the worlds, I will naturally not stand in your way," Yuuka replied, her voice still quiet but carrying an unyielding weight. "But until that day comes, Lady Yukari, I've told you before: rein in your little schemes."
"Yuuka, you truly have presented me with a difficult problem. Very well, then. I shall see you tonight."
"Ren's shop. Don't tell anyone."
"I know~"
With that, Yukari took a single step back, her form dissolving into a shimmering gap that snapped shut behind her.
Left alone, Yuuka Kazami gazed out at the swaying heads of her sunflowers. A soft sigh escaped her lips. "Research… Isn't that just a pretense to research Ren? How very bold of her…"
Meanwhile, after Yakumo Yukari returned to her residence, she found her shikigami kneeling gracefully, preparing tea. A playful, almost wicked smile touched Yukari's lips.
"Ran, I'm back!" she announced cheerfully.
Upon hearing that voice, Yakumo Ran felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The poor fox stiffened, but she dutifully looked up. "Lady Yukari… did you go out?"
Yukari nodded, her smile never wavering. "I did, Ran. I went to a very interesting place."
"I can't possibly explain it all to you, Ran. But you've been working so hard lately. As a reward, I shall take you out for something delicious tonight! Aren't you happy?"
Yakumo Ran's fluffy fox ears twitched violently. For a moment, she was certain she had misheard. She was actually getting a reward? A day like this had finally come! It was so rare, so unheard of… Was she dreaming?
Seeing her shikigami staring blankly, Yukari let out a theatrical sigh. "What's wrong? You don't wish to go?"
"Lady Yukari… Is it really… to eat something delicious?" Ran asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"I want to go! I want to go! I want to go!" she blurted out, her composure finally breaking.
Yukari beamed. "Mm, then I shall confidently leave today's daytime affairs in your capable hands, Ran. I have the utmost faith in you. As for me, I haven't slept a wink all night and I'm simply about to die from exhaustion."
Watching her master turn and glide away, Yakumo Ran remained frozen. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with those words on the surface, but…
"Eh?" Ran murmured in confusion. "Doesn't Lady Yukari normally sleep during the day and operate at night?… Eh?! She pushed everything onto me again! Wuwuwu…"
In that instant, a certain fox truly understood the treacherous nature of a youkai's heart. Only the plate of fried tofu beside her could offer a sliver of warmth and comfort. Thinking of her favorite treat, Yakumo Ran turned her head excitedly, only to collapse to her knees the very next moment.
Only two lonely pieces of her precious fried tofu remained…
But she was just a timid shikigami. She naturally chose to suffer in silence, praying with all her might that the promise of delicious food tonight was real.
At that moment, Yakumo Yukari was delicately chewing on a piece of fried tofu she had pilfered. "Ugh… It really isn't as good as the shopkeeper's, is it?" she mused aloud. "Eh? But I've never had the shopkeeper's fried tofu, have I? Oh, never mind… It's all the same."
After finishing the last piece, she didn't forget to critique it. Swallowing, she let a sly, playful smile spread across her face. "Yuuka… I didn't tell anyone… Ran is a youkai, isn't she? And Yuyuko doesn't seem to be human, either… Marisa… hmm… Are witches and shrine maidens considered human?"
If Yuuka Kazami could hear Yukari's blatant logic-chopping, she would undoubtedly appear at her doorstep and unleash the full, terrifying fury of the Flower Tyrant's magic cannon upon her. She truly held a grudge! No, this went beyond a simple grudge; this was pure, unadulterated pettiness.
Back at the shop, the others had learned about Aoandon and nodded in welcome, showing great interest in her classic, elegant attire. Coupled with her striking beauty, she made an excellent first impression on everyone.
This was the first time Aoandon had ever eaten a meal with so many people. Much like the culture of dining itself, there was no friendship that couldn't be forged over a good meal, especially one as lively as this. It was a bit of a letdown for the group to learn that she didn't live here, but she promised she would visit often.
Aoandon had never experienced such warm hospitality before. The youkai found herself in a pleasant daze, her hands moving on their own to bring more food to her lips as she simply tried to process it all.
Ren smiled gently. "Aoandon, how do you find it here during the day?"
She was startled from her reverie, turning to look at Ren. Just as she was about to speak, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the shop, followed by hurried footsteps. The next moment, Kasugano Sora came running down the stairs with her school bag slung over her shoulder. She was about to inhale her breakfast at lightning speed when she heard Courage ask in confusion, "Sora, what's the rush?"
"I'm going to be late!" she cried out, her voice filled with panic.
A chorus of eight voices replied in perfect, bewildered unison.
"But today is Saturday…"
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