Reimu Hakurei sat across from Luna, her expression a mixture of mild exasperation and curiosity as she listeo the blonde ali excitedly ramble about magic, parallel worlds, and how wonderful the tea was. The shrine maiden, for her part, sipped her own tea calmly, occasionally nodding but otherwise remaining quiet.

  Harry and Daphne, however, were far less at ease. They sat stiffly on their knees, carefully sipping the tea that had been offered to them, their eyes dartiween each other and the versatioween Luna and Reimu. The tension in the room alpable—at least for them. her was sure how they had mao stumble into a hidden nd, nor were they vihey weren’t in some sort of immediate danger.“So, let me get this straight,” Reimu finally interrupted, raising a hand to halt Luna’s endless enthusiasm. “You three were trying to get to Kyoto, and instead, you actally teleported here? To Gensokyo? Through the barrier?”

  Luna nodded eagerly. “Oh yes, quite fasating, isn’t it? I must say this shrine is also really strong for not having received a blessing in a rather long time. I would totally be happy to bless it for you, I mean as a shrine maiden that should give you a solid power boost too.”

  ”You are a goddess? An you mao breach the barrier? “ Remiu shakes her head in exasperation “That old gap hagis going to be upset when she finds out. you at least doo the shrine while you are here?”” Remiu asks everything starting to clito pce.

  Luna cpped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, of course! I’d be delighted to support a shrine maiden. After all, faith and s are important for maintaining divine influence, aren’t they?”

  Reimu sighed, rubbiemples. “Yeah, tell that to the vilgers who barely donate anything. If you actually have mohat’d be a nice ge from all the freeloaders who just e here to make requests.”

  Luna reached into her robes and pulled out a small pouch, shaking it slightly to reveal the unmistakable sound of s. With a bright smile, she pced it on the box. “A gift, from one divine preseo another.”

  Reimu peeked ihe pouch, raising an eyebrow as she spotted a mix of fn wizarding gold and what looked suspiciously like actual lunar s. She gave Luna a look. “You didn’t just jure this out of thin air, did you?”

  Luna giggled. “Oh no, these are real! Some of them may be a bit... unon, but they are valuable. And I’d be more than happy to help the shrine flourish.”

  Reimu stared at her for a long moment before sighing again. “Fi least someone’s actually giving me mooday.”

  Harry, who had been silent for most of the versation, finally spoke up. “So, Reimu, was it? you tell us exactly where we are and if there’s a way back?”

  Reimu gave him a ft look. “You’re in Gensokyo, a nd sealed off from the outside world by a powerful barrier. People don’t just e and go as they please. If you somehow got in, Yukari’s going to have to deal with it.”

  Daphne frowned. “You keep mentioning this Yukari. Who is she?”

  Reimu rolled her eyes. “The so-called ‘Gap Hag’—a youkai who trols boundaries. If anyone’s going to figure out how you slipped through the barrier, it’s her.” She took another sip of her tea. “Not that she’ll be in any rush to help you leave. She enjoys messing with outsiders.”

  Harry sighed, already feeling a headache ing on. “Fantastic. So we’re stuck here until she decides to show up?”

  “Nah, i could make another shot for Kyoto whenever we want.” Luna states Yukari chuckled from her pce at the table, a knowing smirk pying on her lips. “Oh, dear Luna, that’s quite the cim.” She sipped her tea with deliberate grace. “You tore through the Great Hakurei Barrier once, but do you truly think you avigate back to Kyoto so easily? Even I don’t take such matters lightly.”

  Luna tilted her head, golden eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, I wouldn’t say easily, but I’ve always been good at finding my way through pces others deem impassable. I mean I broke my 1000 year seal on the moon about 5 years early.”Daphurns over and whispers to Harry. “When did she get here?” Daphne asks Harry exhaled sharply through his nose, frustration creeping in. “I noticed,” he muttered back. “But I couldn’t pin down where.”

  A soft chuckle echoed through the air, smooth and teasing, and then—just like that—Yukari Yakumo was sitting at the table with them, sippiea as if she had beehe eime.Yukari’s golden eyes shimmered with amusement as she gracefully lowered her teacup, her ever-present smirk only deepening. “My, my, such sharp senses. You noticed me, but couldn’t quite find me?” She chuckled, fanning herself lightly with a decorative folding fan. “I must say, that’s quite impressive for an outsider. Most don’t even realize I’m here until I want them to.”

  Harry kept his expressioral, though he could feel Daphensing beside him. Luna, oher hand, looked absolutely delighted.

  “Oh, so you were watg us! I thought I felt something off.” Luna grinned. “You must be Yukari, then? The boundary youkai?”

  Yukari’s smirk widened. “Guilty as charged.” She g Reimu, who merely sighed and tinued drinkiea. “It’s not every day someone—especially an outsider—tears through my boundary like it’s made of part. I simply had to e see for myself.”

  Daphne narrowed her eyes. “A me guess, you’re not here to help us leave?”

  Yukari’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Oh, I could send you back. But where’s the fun in that?” She tapped her in mock thought. “You’ve e all this way, pletely by act, no less. Surely, it would be a waste to leave without expl a little first?”

  Harry sighed, already feeling the telltale signs of yet another headache f. “You just want to mess with us, don’t you?”

  Yukari giggled. “Oh, you wound me, dear boy. I prefer to think of it as… guiding your journey.”.“She’s kinda like a sed Luna.” Daphters to Harry horrified.

  “Well its not like she is going to be joining us, also we got all summer and the thing I wao do we have another 4 days till that starts.” Luna says with a smile.

  Yukari’s smirk only deepe Daphne’s horrified whisper. “Oh my, what a fttering parison,” she purred, folding her hands ly over her p. “To think you’d pce me in the same category as dear Luna here.” She g the ali with amusement. “I must say, I quite like her already.”

  Luna beamed. “Oh, I like you too! You seem like someone who uands the joys of a little chaos.”

  Reimu groaned into her tea. “Great, that’s the st thing we need. Another one.”

  Daphne pihe bridge of her nose. “Luna, we don’t have time to get sidetracked here. We were on our way to Kyoto, remember? We still have things to do.”

  “Oh, but you do have time,” Yukari interjected smoothly, her tone light yet dripping with hidden i. “You said it yourself, didn’t you? You have four days before whatever event you’re aiming for. That’s plenty of time to take a little detour ahe wonders of Gensokyo.”

  “Reimu! I smelled food—oh, you have guests?” The newer, Marisa Kirisame, skidded to a stop, her witch’s hat slightly askew as she bli the unfamiliar faces seated around the shrine’s porch.

  Reimu sighed, already rubbiemples. “Marisa, do you ever wait to be invited before showing up to steal my food?”

  “Hey, ‘steal’ is a strong word!” Marisa grinned shamelessly, plopping dowo Reimu as if she owhe pce. “I prefer ‘strategic resource acquisition.’” She grabbed a teacup from the tray and poured herself a cup without hesitation. “Besides, ya never finish all of it anyway.”

  Daphill adjusting to the casual absurdity of Gensokyo, bli the sudden arrival. “Who—?”

  “Marisa Kirisame, i'm a witch.” Marisa states introdug herself to harry and daphne’s shock

  Harry and Daphh stared, processing the blunt introdu.

  “A witch?” Daphne echoed, her brow furrowing. “Like… wand-waving, potion-brewing, spell-casting?”

  Marisa griipping her hat. “Well, kinda, but I don’t bother with wands. I prefer good old-fashioned firepower.” She patted the broom resting against her shoulder. “And a quick getaway when things get dicey.”

  Daphne’s eye twitches as it is rather clear she has reached her limit.