"You said it was such a hassle before, but now you're clearly having the time of your life. One more creature, one more spark of energy—isn't that a good thing?" Rinnosuke watched Reimu with quiet satisfaction.
"Yukari's the one who dumped her on me. And besides, having a mascot might bring in more worshippers. That Moriya Shrine keeps a frog, doesn't it?"
"Ha... Come to think of it, you don't even know what deity your own shrine is dedicated to. Anyway, now that there's a child at home, you ought to set a good example and act like a responsible adult."
One of Rinnosuke's hands clamped down on the manga in Reimu's grip. "So—can you let go? I went through a lot of trouble to get this still-sealed copy from the Outside World! A parent in the Human Village already reserved it for their kid. You want to crush a child's dream?"
Reimu released it, sending him stumbling. "I'm giving you two in return. Two thick volumes for one thin one—where's the loss?"
"Those two are ones Marisa swiped from me! Actually, isn't everything she's got at home basically a five-finger discount?"
Whenever Marisa got caught, she'd have the audacity to declare, "Human lifespans are only a few decades—just wait till I'm dead and take them back."
Reimu eyed the manga compilation titled Bird Without Wings with some regret. Interesting art style from the cover, but if a kid had dibs then that was that.
"I'll head back then. I'll swing by again to support the business sometime."
Rinnosuke watched her leave. "What kind of business doesn't involve actual money changing hands?"
The post-incident banquet had gone well, all things considered. A big turnout, plenty of expensive sake, and Reimu had demonstrated to everyone that she was alive and in good health.
So that stinky crow's rumors should crumble on their own now, right?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a tengu sidled up and whispered in her ear: "Did you hear? The Hakurei Shrine Maiden died. Yesterday, every notable youkai in Gensokyo went to the shrine for the funeral banquet."
Reimu nodded, then clamped a hand around her neck. "Are you blind? It's you AGAIN!"
The tengu gave her a horrified once-over. "Woe is me!"
Tengu were the most insufferable youkai. Bar none.
Back at the shrine, Reimu poked Genjii first. Once the turtle responded, she slid open the bedroom door.
Yimi stood inside with her arms folded across her chest, hips swaying through some baffling dance.
"Hm?"
"..."
They locked eyes for one second. Reimu closed the door, turned around, and headed for the steps.
Maybe I should go back to Kourindou for a folding screen. Give both of us some privacy.
「Achievement unlocked: Cleopatra Cat. Reward: Lottery draw +1」
"Meow."
She'd just been completing a previously prompted achievement.
"Lottery." If I pull another achievement prompt, this cat's gonna cuss you out.
「Congratulations! You received: Vehicle Operation—Automobile Edition」
Vehicle Operation—Automobile Edition: Type: Skill Book. Reading it grants automobile driving knowledge. Learning difficulty: Low.
Another book. Gensokyo didn't even have cars.
Yimi picked up the slim volume and bit into it. Knowledge of basic driving techniques flooded her brain like a tide.
No matter how many she ate, they never tasted any better. If only the books Keine-sensei gave her could be consumed the same way—but last time she'd gnawed off a corner without absorbing a thing.
After finishing, the kitten waited a beat. "How come you're not saying the line?"
"Congratulations on mastering automobile driving knowledge. This is the well-deserved reward of diligent study." At her insistence, the System delivered its scripted line.
Yimi nodded with satisfaction—then found herself hoisted by the collar. Reimu had reappeared.
"I haven't been skipping your meals, have I? If you're hungry, just tell me." Reimu had watched the entire book-eating process and was fairly stunned.
Good thing the stinky crow didn't dare come near the shrine right now. Tomorrow's headline would've been child abuse.
The perpetually tight-fisted Reimu grabbed Yimi's arm and led her down the shrine steps.
Dusk had settled in. Outside of certain festivals, the humans in the village rarely wandered around after dark. The food stalls closest to the shrine were actually the ones on the Youkai Trail.
"Two orders of grilled little bird."
"We don't sell grilled little bird!"
The woman running the modest stall was, naturally, Mystia—the very same Cat Vanguard who'd defected at the first sign of trouble.
She'd normally be here every evening. Keine, who'd been frustrated with her students at the time, had taken to stopping by to blow off steam—and somehow talked Mystia into enrolling at the temple school.
Mystia had been too scared to open up shop after hearing that Reimu had started eating youkai. And now, her very first customer on reopening night was the Crimson Slasher herself.
"Cat Vanguard." Yimi recognized her instantly.
"I'm not Cat Vanguard—these wings on my back should make it obvious, right? I'm a night sparrow youkai." Mystia fluttered her wings for emphasis.
Yimi remembered now: "The mean owner who blinds her customers."
So she was a bird. No wonder Kitty's first impulse upon seeing her had been to swat at her.
"I'm not THAT bad!"
"Night-blind, schmight-blind—where's your menu?" Reimu set Yimi down properly in a seat.
"R-right here." Mystia scrambled to present it, not daring to keep Reimu waiting.
Reimu scanned the single-page menu. One item: grilled lamprey.
"There's literally nothing else to choose from." She passed the menu to Yimi. "How much can you eat?"
"A hundred!" The kitten figured that was the biggest number.
Reimu nodded. "Two skewers, to go."
"Mm..." Adults never listened to kids.
"Coming right up." Mystia placed the pre-threaded lamprey on the grill, singing her usual odd little tune: "Lamprey~ lamprey~"
Reimu: "So noisy..."
"Sorry!"
For now it was just the two of them, but once the first skewer started sizzling, the dinnertime aroma would be enough to draw other customers.
"Cat Vanguard." Rumia emerged from a bush to greet her.
"I told you, I'm a night sparrow!"
"So expensive." Reimu finally noticed the menu price. Her gaze sharpened. "Come to think of it—you're operating without a permit on the Youkai Trail, aren't you?"
"B-but..." Hearing the code enforcement officer talk like that, Mystia hugged the stall's support pole and trembled.
"Hm?" Yimi looked up at Reimu.
Reimu caught the kitten's stare. She clicked her tongue, dug out her coin purse, and counted out a few coppers for Mystia.
Such a pain.
The kid had already picked up the blame-shifting trick from her. Best not let her learn anything else—if the brat started throwing Reimu's name around to bully people, that'd be a real headache.
"Let's go." She handed one skewer to Yimi.
"Just one?"
"How big is your mouth?"
"Phew..." Mystia sagged with relief and turned to Rumia. "What would you like?"
"Rumia just came to say hi to Cat Vanguard."
"I keep telling you, don't call me Cat Vanguard..."
"Lamprey!" A new customer's voice barged in.
"Welcome... huh?"
Mystia saw a pink-haired girl dressed like a ghost duck under the curtain flap, eyes locked on the grill with laser focus.
Then the girl's gaze drifted upward—to Mystia herself. Those eyes looked at her the way one looks at an ingredient.
Mystia backed away, shaking. "Wh-what do you want? I'm warning you—I'm the Cat Vanguard..."