After the courtyard was ed and the brooms were put away, Mirage Carl dusted off his coat, his eyes twinkling with satisfaarisa's mess had been quite the ordeal, but it was nothing a little teamwork couldn't fix.

  Reimu, however, was less than pleased. She stood with her arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently as she looked at the cracked tiles and charred wood. Her shrine was in desperate need of repairs, and she wasn't about to let the culprits off the hook.

  "Alright, who's paying for this?" she demanded, her gre sharp enough to cut through steel.Marisa nervously scratched her head, avoiding eye tabsp;

  "Ahaha... Well, I just remembered I left something at Kourindou! Gotta go!" She dashed off, leaving only a cloud of dust behind her.

  Reimu's eyes narrowed as she looked at Mirage Carl, who was still standing there with a calm smile. "Well?" she asked, her voice cold. "Are you going to run away too?"

  Mirage Carl shook his head. "A gentleman never flees from his responsibilities." He reached into his coat pocket, his fingers brushing against etal. With a flourish, he revealed two gleaming gold s, holding them up so they caught the sunlight.

  Reimu's eyes widened in surprise. "You... actually have money?"

  Mirage Carl grinned. "I told you, I'm a magi. I always keep a few s handy."

  Reimu's expression softened as she reached out to take the s, but Mirage Carl pulled his hand back, his grin widening. "Not so fast. Let's make things a little more iing."Reimu's eyes narrowed in suspi. "Iing?"Mirage Carl tossed the s into the air, catg them in his palm with ease. "I'll make you a bet. I'm going to hide these s. If you guess where they are, I'll give you double the amount."

  Reimu crossed her arms, her gaze skeptical. "And if I guess wrong?"

  Mirage Carl's smile yful. "Then I keep them. Simple as that."

  Reimu's eyes flicked to the s, then back to his face. "Fine. But no cheating. If I catch you pulling a fast one, I'll exterminate you on the spot!"

  Mirage Carl ughed. "Wouldn't dream of it. Watch closely now."

  He held the s up once more, letting Reimu get a good look before closing his hands around them. His fingers moved swiftly, his hands a blur as he performed the trick with practiced ease. He theed his closed fists, one above the other. "Which hand?"

  Reimu's eyes were sharp, carefully analyzing his posture, his expression, the slightest twitch of his fingers. "Left."Mirage Carl's grin widened. "Are you sure?"Reimu's gaze didn't waver. "Positive."Mirage Carl opened his left hand... revealing nothing. It was pletely empty.Reimu's eyes widened. "Then it's in yht!"Mirage Carl opened his right hand, which was also empty.Reimu's jaw dropped. "Wait... Where are they!?"

  Mirage Carl's grin turned mischievous. "I never said they were in my hands."

  Reimu looked at him in fusion, the a weight in her palm. She opened her hand and gasped. There, gleaming uhe sunlight, were not two, but fold s."H-How...?" Reimu's voice trembled with shock. "When did you...?"

  Mirage Carl wiapping the brim of his hat. "A magi never reveals his secrets."

  Reimu's face turned red. "You... You cheated!"

  Mirage Carl ughed. "I never lied. I just didn't tell the whole truth."

  Reimu huffed, but her fiightened around the s. "You're definitely suspicious... but I 't pin about the oute." She tucked the s into her sleeve, her posture rexing. "I guess you're not so bad... for a trickster."

  Mirage Carl gave a dramatic bow. "I'll take that as a pliment."Reimu turned and walked back to the shrine, muttering to herself, "That'll cover the repairs... and maybe even a meal."

  Mirage Carl watched her go, his grin never fading.