FluffyGensouDreamer
Onshi
A Translation of My Fanfic "Silver Words".
I used Google translate, so It may not be entirely accurate.
You can find the original in Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/40232...=story_details_button&wp_uname=TheMonsterEyes
Silver Words
A typical day in Gensokyo.
The sun was quite hot today.
Its strong daily heat could be felt from Hakurei Shrine to Youkai Mountain.
Therefore, with this heat, the forest was unbearable due to the variety of plants that had absorbed moisture in the past few days and the overpowering aroma of some mushrooms.
However, that didn't stop Mima from going for a walk.
"Huh, how unbearable it is today... even I can't stand it," grumbled the ghost.
"Hmm, I should go see Alice. Maybe she's at home having a picnic like she always does..."
So the ghost wandered and wandered until she finally reached the Margatroid residence.
"Hey! What's new!" she commented.
"Oh. It's you," said the puppeteer. "Heh, and just as I thought, I find you having a picnic... with just dolls."
"What do you want?"
"Hey, I'm not here looking for trouble. You know, I just came to see what you're up to."
Alice was a little surprised by what he said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"But why? Why so suddenly?"
"Simple. I'm bored."
"Oh."
Alice looked a little disappointed.
"But you should already know that, shouldn't you? Why ask?"
"Yeah... you're right. You never change."
"Heh, and why should I? I'm already amazing this way."
"You're selfish and egotistical. I don't know what's so amazing about that."
"Heh, are you really saying that, my little Alice?"
"I'm not yours."
"Oh right, sorry. It's true you don't like being called that... right, 'Mage of the Supreme Grimoire'?"
Alice let out a small squeal of annoyance.
"Tchk. Why are you always like this? Don't you have anyone else to bother?"
"Hmm... I know several people, but..."
"That's not true. You need to meet more people, Mima."
"Oh yeah? Well, I know Reimu, Marisa, Rinnosuke, Shinki, Yuuka, and... uh..."
Mima remained silent.
"Several people."
"Yeah. And I'm sure you know at least two of those five."
"Well, I definitely know them better than you do."
"How much? Just from some danmaku battles in the past?"
"Yuuka... we still fight sometimes, you know?"
"Hmph, you know that's not what I mean."
Alice sighed.
"Mima... I think you need to meet more people."
"Nah, I'm fine with the ones I know."
"Just think about it, Mima. What if something happened someday that changed everything about your life?"
"Pfft, that's not possible. How bad would it have to be for it to affect me that much?"
"I... I don't know, Mima. I don't know what could be so awful as to reach that level, but... but I think you should think about it some more."
"Hmph, how boring. Did you just come here to try and lecture me?"
"Mima—I'm not trying to lecture you!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'd better get out of here, how boring."
"Mima..." The puppeteer sighed, being pulled out of the camera's view as Mima went back into the forest.
Meanwhile, Mima continued on her way, thinking about who to visit this time... but along the way, she ran into the woman she least wanted to see.
Yukari.
"Oh, I see you lurking around here," the lady with the sharp edges remarked.
"Oh, you again? What do you want this time?"
"You know what I want."
Mima was fed up again.
Yukari had already asked her the same thing more than a thousand times.
The typical "Do you want to die?"
"No. I'm not interested in any of that, psychopath," Mima replied.
"Don't take it personally. You know it's not personal."
"Yeah, don't worry. I know that. You're just trying to get attention as always, but that won't work."
"Then why are you still talking to me?"
"Because I'm bored. But not because I'm interested in giving you attention. Goodbye."
Yukari remained silent.
"You know I'll always be here."
That was the last thing Mima heard as she left her there.
And as Mima walked away, she could have continued thinking about what she was doing, as usual. Ignoring Yukari once again. As always.
After all, she wasn't afraid of her, and since she was dead, she had no reason to fear anything again.
However, for some strange reason, this time, she couldn't help but think about it more seriously.
"Why does Yukari keep insisting on the same thing? Why does she want my attention so badly? And if she really wanted me to die... why doesn't she do it? Why ask me?"
It was something that had confused Mima this time, for some reason.
After all, she wasn't stupid; everyone knew Yukari and knew what she was capable of.
If she had truly wanted her dead, she would have done it already.
The weather mysteriously began to turn grayer and grayer.
The clouds had gathered, and while Mima continued to think blankly about everything, an unusual face in the forest greeted her.
"Hey!" "The gardener commented.
"Oh no. Not you!" Mima exclaimed.
"Hm? Why not? Perhaps I'm wearing too much perfume for such a beautiful day?"
"Beautiful day? But it's... oh. That was quick. It was quite sunny just a moment ago."
Yuuka laughed innocently.
"Well, what's better than a sunny day? A sunny day followed by rain!"
"Oh, is it going to rain?"
"That Moriya girl, they say it's going to rain soon... you know, with her weird toys and all."
"I thought that being rain goddesses, they'd know, since they're exactly rain goddesses."
"Yeah, but her priestess is a weirdo. Like Reimu." She laughed again.
"And the truth is... my plants were already starting to need a little water after so many hot days."
"Is that why you're so cheerful?"
"Hm? Can't I be cheerful about a little rain?"
"It's not that, it's just that I've never seen you laugh and smile so much."
"That's because after the bet, you never came to see me again."
"Oh. The Bet."
It was true, Mima had forgotten about the bet she'd made with Yuuka the last time. They'd bet that Mima would stop seeing Reimu and Marisa indefinitely, to see how long it would take them to look for her. Yuuka had innocently complained that no one missed her. So Mima bet on that, and that if they came looking for her within a week, Yuuka would have to cook her dinner. But no one had come yet.
"So... how did it go? Did they come looking for you?"
"..." Mima remained silent. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since they'd last seen each other. A week? Two? Three weeks? Had she been that busy? Did time pass that quickly? Nah, no way. They probably couldn't come looking for her because they were too busy. That had to be it.
"...Mima?"
"...No.
They didn't."
"Oh." The green-haired girl commented. She felt uncomfortable now.
"...are you okay? Are you sure you don't need some water?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine, little flower. Don't panic yet, it's not what you think." Mima refused
"Really?"
"Yep. They've probably just been very busy lately. That must be it."
"Hmmm..." Yuuka commented, sounding somewhat doubtful.
"Are you serious?" Yuuka asked.
"Of course I'm serious!" Mima replied.
"Those two are always resolving incidents and getting into trouble. How could they not be busy?"
"But... the last time there wasn't an incident was a month ago."
"A month?" the mage thought.
"...n-nonsense! It couldn't have only been a month..."
"Wait, how long has it been since we last saw each other?" "It wasn't like it used to be..."
"...Don't say that!" Mima exclaimed, suddenly covering her mouth.
"...Hey, rude girl." Yuuka said, removing her hands. But when she saw her, she felt a little embarrassed.
"...Are you sure you're okay?" Yuuka asked, looking a little worried.
"Y-yes! Of course I am... it's just... um..."
Mima didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to think. But at the same time, she couldn't believe it wasn't anything significant to them.
After all, she was the one who helped Reimu! And Marisa wouldn't have anything she has now if it weren't for her. There was simply no way that was going to happen...
right?
"Mima," the green-haired girl said.
"?"
"I... I know better than anyone what's going on."
"What... What are you talking about?"
Mima got a little flustered.
"Heh... that's how things are, isn't it?
Only a few years pass... they grow up... they become independent... and then you don't recognize them anymore." Mima stared at her, lost in thought.
What was she talking about? What was she babbling about?
The wind began to blow. And in the cloudy sky, the leaves began to fall from the trees.
"...what are you trying to say?" Mima commented in a serious tone.
"*sigh* You know very well what I'm talking about, Mima.
I think they... Reimu and Marisa..."
But before she could finish the sentence, Mima slapped her.
The wind blew even harder.
"What the...?" Yuuka exclaimed.
"Nonsense," the mage said.
"You think you're funny, don't you, little flower?"
"Mima... I don't think I'm funny... I just..."
"Shut up. Reimu and Marisa—especially Marisa—would never do that.
Do you think that just because you won a silly bet, you have the right to talk over them?"
"Mima, I swear I'm not talking about the bet—"
"Shut up and listen to me. Reimu and Marisa may be just human. They may be fragile. They may hurt others. They may still make the same mistakes humans make. But they would never let me down. They would never betray a friend. Never—"
"And how do you know they consider you their friend?"
Suddenly, the wind stopped. Mima was shocked.
"E-excuse me?"
"That's all I'm worried about. How do you know if they consider you their friend?"
"Are you going to—"
"Have they ever invited you over? Have they ever called you their friend? Have they ever treated you well? Have they ever been interested in your day?"
Mima clenched her fist and remained silent.
"...Treating me well...if they still do that..."
"Really?" Or are you only referring to the days of the past? To the days when it was just the three of you?" Mima lowered her gaze and clenched her knuckles tighter.
"Mima... I'm not saying this to make you feel bad... I just..."
But Mima interrupted her with a dry, empty, and serious look.
"Fine. So, how about we do this?"
Yuuka looked at her, confused.
"I'll go see Marisa and Reimu now.
You'll see that you're not well, and then I'll come back and give you the obvious news.
And then... you'd better give me a delicious dinner. "Understood?"
"Mima-"
"Goodbye."
With that, Mima headed straight for the Hakurei Shrine, where, from Yuuka's perspective, she could only see her figure disappear among the trees.
Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps Mima was right. Perhaps Reimu and Marisa did remember her, the youkai of the seasons thought.
But... she had seen this kind of scenario several times in her life. And when these kinds of things happen... they usually don't end happily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Mima hurried toward the shrine,
A few drops of rain began to form in the sky, and the wind seemed to push her against it, as if the universe didn't want her to get there.
But Mima didn't care. She just wanted to reach their meeting point.
Once she had crossed the entire path, She arrived at her destination. The Hakurei Shrine.
When she got there, the wind whispered through the bells, as if they had a life of their own.
The temple was dark. And there wasn't the slightest sound inside.
No fairies around, no youkai causing trouble—nothing. Dry.
Just a haunting temple singing in the middle of nowhere... as if it were a haunted place.
Mima found this strange. Usually, the place was much more... alive.
So she decided to get a little closer and call out her name.
"Reimu, Marisa! It's me, Mima!
Your old friend!"
But no one answered.
"...how strange, I'm sure they should be around here..."
And when she said that, a voice approached from behind her.
"Well, well, who—or rather, what—do we have here?"
Mima recognized her. It was Reimu.
"Reimu...!" And she tried to approach, but—
"Stay right where you are, Mima. Don't come near me."
Mima blinked in confusion. But then she laughed.
"Pfft, Reimu, no need for such modesty!
You know that with me you-"
"Get out of my sight."
"W-what?!"
"I thought I was finally rid of you... but I see that teasing is all you know how to do."
Usually, Mima would joke around and use her charm as always—but this time she was offended. And she was seriously offended.
But she tried to react well. As she always did.
"C-come on... you know that I, um..." She regained her composure.
"Afufufu, you know very well that you love me very much, priestess~"
That should work, right? She would tease her again, and everything would continue as usual, right?
"Love you?" Reimu looked at her, confused.
"Obviously!" She tried to sound confident, although her voice was a little off-key at the end.
"More like tolerate you."
"Pfft, Reimu-"
"As always, I have to tolerate everyone, you know?"
"Listen, I know you must be tired and all, but—"
"But nothing. I'm always the one who has to deal with problem after problem after problem. There's always some idiot causing trouble, and I'm the one who has to put up with all the mess, you know?"
"I know you must be angry, but—"
"Angry?! I'm furious! I'm furious to see ghosts like you here!"
"Did you just call me... a ghost?" Mima said, sounding a little offended.
"Isn't that what you are? An annoying, useless ghost! I thought I was finally rid of you, but I see you have no shame!"
"I—"
"On top of everything, you're the worst person I have to put up with!
Just get lost!"
Mima was furious—no, hurt. The worst? Seriously, out of all the criminals, she was the worst?
A youkai who attacked her shrine? A devil who spread satanic mist? A princess who stole spring? Aliens who stole the moon? And from all of them... she was the worst?
And what about all those times she helped her? When they solved the Dimensional Dream incident together? When she helped her rebuild her shrine after the Seasonal Youkai Incident? When she exterminated all of those demons from the Makai? All of that...
Was it just some kind of joke?
"The... the worst?!" Mima screamed.
"How can you call your friend the worst?!"
"We're not friends." And a powerful clap of thunder resounded.
Then, Reimu simply entered the shrine and closed the door.
Mima remained silent. Drops of sweat began to fall, and she felt shattered. She crouched down. She stared for a few minutes, then looked back up at the shrine. She took a breath and shouted.
"Oh yeah? Well, I have Marisa on my side! And she'll hate you once she finds out what you told me!"
Then Mima stormed off and headed straight for the forest.
"Come on, Mima, there's no way, no way, right? You may have lost Reimu... but Marisa would never betray you! She... she's still alive because of you...! She... she's so strong because of you...! She loves you! You love her! You both love each other! She's your friend! You're her friend! You're friends!
Your life... your life matters! You... you're important!
Of course you are!"
That was the train of thought running through her head as she wandered aimlessly toward Marisa's house. And because she hadn't been paying attention along the way, she'd bumped into a huge branch, which sent her tumbling into a mud puddle, covering it's face completely.
When she looked up, and there she was—Marisa. Right in front of her. With the clouds a striking dark gray overhead.
"Marisa!" she exclaimed.
"Oh. It's you," Marisa said.
"I'm so glad to see you!"
"Uh, really? You disappeared for like six months."
Six months? Had that much time really passed?
No, there was no way. She could be a little forgetful, maybe, but never to that extent.
Right?
Mima took a breath and thought.
"A-ah! I get it! That's a great kind of joke, Marisa! Hahaha!"
"Mima, I'm not joking.
You disappeared for six months."
Mima felt like she'd lost her mind.
Six months? But she swore it had only been a few weeks!
She can't be crazy, can she? Right?
"Marisa! I know you like to joke around and all, but this isn't the time for those kinds of jokes!"
"Why so serious? It's not that big of a deal. I don't care, actually."
"R-really...?"
"Yep."
"A-aren't you upset or something...?"
"Upset?"
"Yes..."
"Oh, come on, Mima!
As if I cared about you!"
Those words.
Those words had pierced her mind.
Like an arrow, she felt it pierce her soul. Sharp and cold.
"M-Marisa... what did you just say?"
"Mima, are you an idiot or what? Do you really think I ever cared about you? Do you really think all those times I complimented you were true?
Are you that stupid?"
Mima's face had turned pale, and the sky had become so dark it looked black.
The rain began to pour down.
"Ma-Marisa... no... there's no way."
"Mima. I only used you. I was in need, and I needed to get out of that stinking village somehow."
"You... you weren't in need!"
"My magic IS a need."
"Your-yours?!"
"Of course it's mine, you fool!
While you were wandering around, Reimu and I spent our time strengthening and improving our techniques.
In fact, I don't know if you knew, but I even managed to make a potion of immortality, did you know?
And it only has one flaw, ta-da!"
Was that even Marisa?
Why was she doing ta-da?
Why was she doing ta-da?!
Why was Marisa—HER Marisa—acting that way?!-
That wasn't the Marisa she knew and raised.
That wasn't the Marisa who trained happily and honestly.
That wasn't the Marisa who greeted her every day with a big smile.
That wasn't Marisa.
Not her Marisa.
"...nothing?
Aren't you going to say anything?" Asked the ordinary magician, with such a smirk in her face.
Mima remained silent.
She stared at the ground, unsure whether to scream, fight, run away, or burst into tears.
She stood there. Still.
Standing in a mud puddle, dirty, her face soaked by the rain, while Marisa smiled brazenly as if she were the center of attention.
A Marisa who didn't move an inch.
A Marisa who seemed completely unaffected by the torrential rain.
Could this be any more humiliating?
"...well, it's better this way. Anyway, I've met better, more fun, and more interesting girls than you.
See you!"
And with that, Marisa grabbed her broom and soared into the sky.
She left as fleetingly as she had come.
And when she left, the sky calmed.
The clouds vanished, everything turned turquoise, and the sun began to rise once more.
And from there, from the faint sunlight catching the trees, as if it were a fairy tale, as if it were a Disney movie—she emerged.
The moment Mima saw her, she reacted.
"...you...what have you done...?
It's your fault, isn't it...?"
"...I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but...no.
What you just heard...
What you just saw...
What they told you...
They did it. On their own.
And only they did."
Then Mima clenched her fists and grabbed the woman who appeared before her by the chest.
"I don't believe a word you say... I—I...I don't believe a word you say!" Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she remained strong. She knew the lady couldn't be trusted. She knew she shouldn't trust a single word she said, but...
unfortunately for her, what the damsel told her was true.
She did nothing.
Reimu and Marisa did. All on their own.
"...Just let me help you." Yukari said.
Mima couldn't lift her gaze.
She felt shattered. Mocked. Terrified.
Terror.
A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.
A feeling she hadn't remembered since living in the shadows of hell.
No. It was something worse.
It was a feeling worse than that.
It was a feeling worse than a thousand hells.
It was... hopelessness.
"What...what do you want now?" the witch managed to ask.
"I just want to help you." The lady said.
"Why?"
"You don't deserve to deal with this suffering."
"And why should you care...?"
"Because I owe you thanks."
Mima was shocked.
"Thanks... to me?"
"Yes. That's right."
"But... why...?"
With that, the lady took a small breath and exhaled.
"Because I know better than anyone how you helped them when I wasn't there.
I know better than anyone how honest you were when you helped them.
I know better than anyone how much you valued them...
And for all of that, I must thank you...
and helping you is my way of saying thank you.
Thank you."
With that, the lady leaned a little closer to her and looked at her the way a mother would look at a daughter.
"N-no, that's not true... You don't want to help me. I don't believe you. I don't believe you. I don't believe you..."
"But, my little ghostly being... how can you not believe me when the truth has already been revealed to you?"
"..."
Mima remained silent. She didn't know whether to believe her or not. She didn't know if she was lying or not. She didn't know if she should trust her or not.
She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know what to do.
"It was only a matter of time. I knew this was going to happen."
"He...hehehehe...hehehe!" Mima laughed. And trying to catch her breath, she said,
"If... if what you say is so true, then... why?
Why...?
Why you... why you...!
Why didn't you try anything?!
Why didn't you try to stop all this from happening?!" the mage cried out in anguish.
A cry so loud it made her burst into tears. Tears.
Tears she hadn't been able to shed for a very, very, very long time.
Then, Yukari let her calm down a little and said...
"But Mima... I tried to help you. All this time."
"W-what are you trying to say?" the mage stammered through her tears.
Yukari remained silent. She simply gazed at her with her characteristic crystalline eyes, those eyes that seemed to be made of purple butterflies. Eyes that no one could tell if they held indifference or sincerity. Eyes that no one could distinguish.
In her silence, Mima pondered what Yukari was trying to tell her—
And then Mima understood.
She understood what Yukari was getting at.
"...there are only two ways to fix all this." The lady replied.
"You can try again, or...you can let me ease your pain."
The wise woman of Gensokyo, then,
Closed her eyes, remained silent a little longer, and asked her;
"Which do you prefer?"
That's what the lady said. Without losing her serenity, calm, and composure.
As if she were some kind of god.
As if she were royalty.
As if she were A Disney princess.
Why can't I be like her?
Why she's powerful?
Why she's important?
Why she's... so compassionate toward me? the wounded witch tormented herself.
But she knew it wasn't time for that.
She knew it wasn't time for lamenting.
She knew she had to choose between trying again... or accepting, once and for all, the cycle of life and death.
But whatever decision she was about to make...
She knew well that... that those words...
Those silver words...
Will never leave her heart.
I used Google translate, so It may not be entirely accurate.
You can find the original in Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/40232...=story_details_button&wp_uname=TheMonsterEyes
Silver Words
A typical day in Gensokyo.
The sun was quite hot today.
Its strong daily heat could be felt from Hakurei Shrine to Youkai Mountain.
Therefore, with this heat, the forest was unbearable due to the variety of plants that had absorbed moisture in the past few days and the overpowering aroma of some mushrooms.
However, that didn't stop Mima from going for a walk.
"Huh, how unbearable it is today... even I can't stand it," grumbled the ghost.
"Hmm, I should go see Alice. Maybe she's at home having a picnic like she always does..."
So the ghost wandered and wandered until she finally reached the Margatroid residence.
"Hey! What's new!" she commented.
"Oh. It's you," said the puppeteer. "Heh, and just as I thought, I find you having a picnic... with just dolls."
"What do you want?"
"Hey, I'm not here looking for trouble. You know, I just came to see what you're up to."
Alice was a little surprised by what he said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"But why? Why so suddenly?"
"Simple. I'm bored."
"Oh."
Alice looked a little disappointed.
"But you should already know that, shouldn't you? Why ask?"
"Yeah... you're right. You never change."
"Heh, and why should I? I'm already amazing this way."
"You're selfish and egotistical. I don't know what's so amazing about that."
"Heh, are you really saying that, my little Alice?"
"I'm not yours."
"Oh right, sorry. It's true you don't like being called that... right, 'Mage of the Supreme Grimoire'?"
Alice let out a small squeal of annoyance.
"Tchk. Why are you always like this? Don't you have anyone else to bother?"
"Hmm... I know several people, but..."
"That's not true. You need to meet more people, Mima."
"Oh yeah? Well, I know Reimu, Marisa, Rinnosuke, Shinki, Yuuka, and... uh..."
Mima remained silent.
"Several people."
"Yeah. And I'm sure you know at least two of those five."
"Well, I definitely know them better than you do."
"How much? Just from some danmaku battles in the past?"
"Yuuka... we still fight sometimes, you know?"
"Hmph, you know that's not what I mean."
Alice sighed.
"Mima... I think you need to meet more people."
"Nah, I'm fine with the ones I know."
"Just think about it, Mima. What if something happened someday that changed everything about your life?"
"Pfft, that's not possible. How bad would it have to be for it to affect me that much?"
"I... I don't know, Mima. I don't know what could be so awful as to reach that level, but... but I think you should think about it some more."
"Hmph, how boring. Did you just come here to try and lecture me?"
"Mima—I'm not trying to lecture you!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'd better get out of here, how boring."
"Mima..." The puppeteer sighed, being pulled out of the camera's view as Mima went back into the forest.
Meanwhile, Mima continued on her way, thinking about who to visit this time... but along the way, she ran into the woman she least wanted to see.
Yukari.
"Oh, I see you lurking around here," the lady with the sharp edges remarked.
"Oh, you again? What do you want this time?"
"You know what I want."
Mima was fed up again.
Yukari had already asked her the same thing more than a thousand times.
The typical "Do you want to die?"
"No. I'm not interested in any of that, psychopath," Mima replied.
"Don't take it personally. You know it's not personal."
"Yeah, don't worry. I know that. You're just trying to get attention as always, but that won't work."
"Then why are you still talking to me?"
"Because I'm bored. But not because I'm interested in giving you attention. Goodbye."
Yukari remained silent.
"You know I'll always be here."
That was the last thing Mima heard as she left her there.
And as Mima walked away, she could have continued thinking about what she was doing, as usual. Ignoring Yukari once again. As always.
After all, she wasn't afraid of her, and since she was dead, she had no reason to fear anything again.
However, for some strange reason, this time, she couldn't help but think about it more seriously.
"Why does Yukari keep insisting on the same thing? Why does she want my attention so badly? And if she really wanted me to die... why doesn't she do it? Why ask me?"
It was something that had confused Mima this time, for some reason.
After all, she wasn't stupid; everyone knew Yukari and knew what she was capable of.
If she had truly wanted her dead, she would have done it already.
The weather mysteriously began to turn grayer and grayer.
The clouds had gathered, and while Mima continued to think blankly about everything, an unusual face in the forest greeted her.
"Hey!" "The gardener commented.
"Oh no. Not you!" Mima exclaimed.
"Hm? Why not? Perhaps I'm wearing too much perfume for such a beautiful day?"
"Beautiful day? But it's... oh. That was quick. It was quite sunny just a moment ago."
Yuuka laughed innocently.
"Well, what's better than a sunny day? A sunny day followed by rain!"
"Oh, is it going to rain?"
"That Moriya girl, they say it's going to rain soon... you know, with her weird toys and all."
"I thought that being rain goddesses, they'd know, since they're exactly rain goddesses."
"Yeah, but her priestess is a weirdo. Like Reimu." She laughed again.
"And the truth is... my plants were already starting to need a little water after so many hot days."
"Is that why you're so cheerful?"
"Hm? Can't I be cheerful about a little rain?"
"It's not that, it's just that I've never seen you laugh and smile so much."
"That's because after the bet, you never came to see me again."
"Oh. The Bet."
It was true, Mima had forgotten about the bet she'd made with Yuuka the last time. They'd bet that Mima would stop seeing Reimu and Marisa indefinitely, to see how long it would take them to look for her. Yuuka had innocently complained that no one missed her. So Mima bet on that, and that if they came looking for her within a week, Yuuka would have to cook her dinner. But no one had come yet.
"So... how did it go? Did they come looking for you?"
"..." Mima remained silent. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since they'd last seen each other. A week? Two? Three weeks? Had she been that busy? Did time pass that quickly? Nah, no way. They probably couldn't come looking for her because they were too busy. That had to be it.
"...Mima?"
"...No.
They didn't."
"Oh." The green-haired girl commented. She felt uncomfortable now.
"...are you okay? Are you sure you don't need some water?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine, little flower. Don't panic yet, it's not what you think." Mima refused
"Really?"
"Yep. They've probably just been very busy lately. That must be it."
"Hmmm..." Yuuka commented, sounding somewhat doubtful.
"Are you serious?" Yuuka asked.
"Of course I'm serious!" Mima replied.
"Those two are always resolving incidents and getting into trouble. How could they not be busy?"
"But... the last time there wasn't an incident was a month ago."
"A month?" the mage thought.
"...n-nonsense! It couldn't have only been a month..."
"Wait, how long has it been since we last saw each other?" "It wasn't like it used to be..."
"...Don't say that!" Mima exclaimed, suddenly covering her mouth.
"...Hey, rude girl." Yuuka said, removing her hands. But when she saw her, she felt a little embarrassed.
"...Are you sure you're okay?" Yuuka asked, looking a little worried.
"Y-yes! Of course I am... it's just... um..."
Mima didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to think. But at the same time, she couldn't believe it wasn't anything significant to them.
After all, she was the one who helped Reimu! And Marisa wouldn't have anything she has now if it weren't for her. There was simply no way that was going to happen...
right?
"Mima," the green-haired girl said.
"?"
"I... I know better than anyone what's going on."
"What... What are you talking about?"
Mima got a little flustered.
"Heh... that's how things are, isn't it?
Only a few years pass... they grow up... they become independent... and then you don't recognize them anymore." Mima stared at her, lost in thought.
What was she talking about? What was she babbling about?
The wind began to blow. And in the cloudy sky, the leaves began to fall from the trees.
"...what are you trying to say?" Mima commented in a serious tone.
"*sigh* You know very well what I'm talking about, Mima.
I think they... Reimu and Marisa..."
But before she could finish the sentence, Mima slapped her.
The wind blew even harder.
"What the...?" Yuuka exclaimed.
"Nonsense," the mage said.
"You think you're funny, don't you, little flower?"
"Mima... I don't think I'm funny... I just..."
"Shut up. Reimu and Marisa—especially Marisa—would never do that.
Do you think that just because you won a silly bet, you have the right to talk over them?"
"Mima, I swear I'm not talking about the bet—"
"Shut up and listen to me. Reimu and Marisa may be just human. They may be fragile. They may hurt others. They may still make the same mistakes humans make. But they would never let me down. They would never betray a friend. Never—"
"And how do you know they consider you their friend?"
Suddenly, the wind stopped. Mima was shocked.
"E-excuse me?"
"That's all I'm worried about. How do you know if they consider you their friend?"
"Are you going to—"
"Have they ever invited you over? Have they ever called you their friend? Have they ever treated you well? Have they ever been interested in your day?"
Mima clenched her fist and remained silent.
"...Treating me well...if they still do that..."
"Really?" Or are you only referring to the days of the past? To the days when it was just the three of you?" Mima lowered her gaze and clenched her knuckles tighter.
"Mima... I'm not saying this to make you feel bad... I just..."
But Mima interrupted her with a dry, empty, and serious look.
"Fine. So, how about we do this?"
Yuuka looked at her, confused.
"I'll go see Marisa and Reimu now.
You'll see that you're not well, and then I'll come back and give you the obvious news.
And then... you'd better give me a delicious dinner. "Understood?"
"Mima-"
"Goodbye."
With that, Mima headed straight for the Hakurei Shrine, where, from Yuuka's perspective, she could only see her figure disappear among the trees.
Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps Mima was right. Perhaps Reimu and Marisa did remember her, the youkai of the seasons thought.
But... she had seen this kind of scenario several times in her life. And when these kinds of things happen... they usually don't end happily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Mima hurried toward the shrine,
A few drops of rain began to form in the sky, and the wind seemed to push her against it, as if the universe didn't want her to get there.
But Mima didn't care. She just wanted to reach their meeting point.
Once she had crossed the entire path, She arrived at her destination. The Hakurei Shrine.
When she got there, the wind whispered through the bells, as if they had a life of their own.
The temple was dark. And there wasn't the slightest sound inside.
No fairies around, no youkai causing trouble—nothing. Dry.
Just a haunting temple singing in the middle of nowhere... as if it were a haunted place.
Mima found this strange. Usually, the place was much more... alive.
So she decided to get a little closer and call out her name.
"Reimu, Marisa! It's me, Mima!
Your old friend!"
But no one answered.
"...how strange, I'm sure they should be around here..."
And when she said that, a voice approached from behind her.
"Well, well, who—or rather, what—do we have here?"
Mima recognized her. It was Reimu.
"Reimu...!" And she tried to approach, but—
"Stay right where you are, Mima. Don't come near me."
Mima blinked in confusion. But then she laughed.
"Pfft, Reimu, no need for such modesty!
You know that with me you-"
"Get out of my sight."
"W-what?!"
"I thought I was finally rid of you... but I see that teasing is all you know how to do."
Usually, Mima would joke around and use her charm as always—but this time she was offended. And she was seriously offended.
But she tried to react well. As she always did.
"C-come on... you know that I, um..." She regained her composure.
"Afufufu, you know very well that you love me very much, priestess~"
That should work, right? She would tease her again, and everything would continue as usual, right?
"Love you?" Reimu looked at her, confused.
"Obviously!" She tried to sound confident, although her voice was a little off-key at the end.
"More like tolerate you."
"Pfft, Reimu-"
"As always, I have to tolerate everyone, you know?"
"Listen, I know you must be tired and all, but—"
"But nothing. I'm always the one who has to deal with problem after problem after problem. There's always some idiot causing trouble, and I'm the one who has to put up with all the mess, you know?"
"I know you must be angry, but—"
"Angry?! I'm furious! I'm furious to see ghosts like you here!"
"Did you just call me... a ghost?" Mima said, sounding a little offended.
"Isn't that what you are? An annoying, useless ghost! I thought I was finally rid of you, but I see you have no shame!"
"I—"
"On top of everything, you're the worst person I have to put up with!
Just get lost!"
Mima was furious—no, hurt. The worst? Seriously, out of all the criminals, she was the worst?
A youkai who attacked her shrine? A devil who spread satanic mist? A princess who stole spring? Aliens who stole the moon? And from all of them... she was the worst?
And what about all those times she helped her? When they solved the Dimensional Dream incident together? When she helped her rebuild her shrine after the Seasonal Youkai Incident? When she exterminated all of those demons from the Makai? All of that...
Was it just some kind of joke?
"The... the worst?!" Mima screamed.
"How can you call your friend the worst?!"
"We're not friends." And a powerful clap of thunder resounded.
Then, Reimu simply entered the shrine and closed the door.
Mima remained silent. Drops of sweat began to fall, and she felt shattered. She crouched down. She stared for a few minutes, then looked back up at the shrine. She took a breath and shouted.
"Oh yeah? Well, I have Marisa on my side! And she'll hate you once she finds out what you told me!"
Then Mima stormed off and headed straight for the forest.
"Come on, Mima, there's no way, no way, right? You may have lost Reimu... but Marisa would never betray you! She... she's still alive because of you...! She... she's so strong because of you...! She loves you! You love her! You both love each other! She's your friend! You're her friend! You're friends!
Your life... your life matters! You... you're important!
Of course you are!"
That was the train of thought running through her head as she wandered aimlessly toward Marisa's house. And because she hadn't been paying attention along the way, she'd bumped into a huge branch, which sent her tumbling into a mud puddle, covering it's face completely.
When she looked up, and there she was—Marisa. Right in front of her. With the clouds a striking dark gray overhead.
"Marisa!" she exclaimed.
"Oh. It's you," Marisa said.
"I'm so glad to see you!"
"Uh, really? You disappeared for like six months."
Six months? Had that much time really passed?
No, there was no way. She could be a little forgetful, maybe, but never to that extent.
Right?
Mima took a breath and thought.
"A-ah! I get it! That's a great kind of joke, Marisa! Hahaha!"
"Mima, I'm not joking.
You disappeared for six months."
Mima felt like she'd lost her mind.
Six months? But she swore it had only been a few weeks!
She can't be crazy, can she? Right?
"Marisa! I know you like to joke around and all, but this isn't the time for those kinds of jokes!"
"Why so serious? It's not that big of a deal. I don't care, actually."
"R-really...?"
"Yep."
"A-aren't you upset or something...?"
"Upset?"
"Yes..."
"Oh, come on, Mima!
As if I cared about you!"
Those words.
Those words had pierced her mind.
Like an arrow, she felt it pierce her soul. Sharp and cold.
"M-Marisa... what did you just say?"
"Mima, are you an idiot or what? Do you really think I ever cared about you? Do you really think all those times I complimented you were true?
Are you that stupid?"
Mima's face had turned pale, and the sky had become so dark it looked black.
The rain began to pour down.
"Ma-Marisa... no... there's no way."
"Mima. I only used you. I was in need, and I needed to get out of that stinking village somehow."
"You... you weren't in need!"
"My magic IS a need."
"Your-yours?!"
"Of course it's mine, you fool!
While you were wandering around, Reimu and I spent our time strengthening and improving our techniques.
In fact, I don't know if you knew, but I even managed to make a potion of immortality, did you know?
And it only has one flaw, ta-da!"
Was that even Marisa?
Why was she doing ta-da?
Why was she doing ta-da?!
Why was Marisa—HER Marisa—acting that way?!-
That wasn't the Marisa she knew and raised.
That wasn't the Marisa who trained happily and honestly.
That wasn't the Marisa who greeted her every day with a big smile.
That wasn't Marisa.
Not her Marisa.
"...nothing?
Aren't you going to say anything?" Asked the ordinary magician, with such a smirk in her face.
Mima remained silent.
She stared at the ground, unsure whether to scream, fight, run away, or burst into tears.
She stood there. Still.
Standing in a mud puddle, dirty, her face soaked by the rain, while Marisa smiled brazenly as if she were the center of attention.
A Marisa who didn't move an inch.
A Marisa who seemed completely unaffected by the torrential rain.
Could this be any more humiliating?
"...well, it's better this way. Anyway, I've met better, more fun, and more interesting girls than you.
See you!"
And with that, Marisa grabbed her broom and soared into the sky.
She left as fleetingly as she had come.
And when she left, the sky calmed.
The clouds vanished, everything turned turquoise, and the sun began to rise once more.
And from there, from the faint sunlight catching the trees, as if it were a fairy tale, as if it were a Disney movie—she emerged.
The moment Mima saw her, she reacted.
"...you...what have you done...?
It's your fault, isn't it...?"
"...I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but...no.
What you just heard...
What you just saw...
What they told you...
They did it. On their own.
And only they did."
Then Mima clenched her fists and grabbed the woman who appeared before her by the chest.
"I don't believe a word you say... I—I...I don't believe a word you say!" Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she remained strong. She knew the lady couldn't be trusted. She knew she shouldn't trust a single word she said, but...
unfortunately for her, what the damsel told her was true.
She did nothing.
Reimu and Marisa did. All on their own.
"...Just let me help you." Yukari said.
Mima couldn't lift her gaze.
She felt shattered. Mocked. Terrified.
Terror.
A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.
A feeling she hadn't remembered since living in the shadows of hell.
No. It was something worse.
It was a feeling worse than that.
It was a feeling worse than a thousand hells.
It was... hopelessness.
"What...what do you want now?" the witch managed to ask.
"I just want to help you." The lady said.
"Why?"
"You don't deserve to deal with this suffering."
"And why should you care...?"
"Because I owe you thanks."
Mima was shocked.
"Thanks... to me?"
"Yes. That's right."
"But... why...?"
With that, the lady took a small breath and exhaled.
"Because I know better than anyone how you helped them when I wasn't there.
I know better than anyone how honest you were when you helped them.
I know better than anyone how much you valued them...
And for all of that, I must thank you...
and helping you is my way of saying thank you.
Thank you."
With that, the lady leaned a little closer to her and looked at her the way a mother would look at a daughter.
"N-no, that's not true... You don't want to help me. I don't believe you. I don't believe you. I don't believe you..."
"But, my little ghostly being... how can you not believe me when the truth has already been revealed to you?"
"..."
Mima remained silent. She didn't know whether to believe her or not. She didn't know if she was lying or not. She didn't know if she should trust her or not.
She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know what to do.
"It was only a matter of time. I knew this was going to happen."
"He...hehehehe...hehehe!" Mima laughed. And trying to catch her breath, she said,
"If... if what you say is so true, then... why?
Why...?
Why you... why you...!
Why didn't you try anything?!
Why didn't you try to stop all this from happening?!" the mage cried out in anguish.
A cry so loud it made her burst into tears. Tears.
Tears she hadn't been able to shed for a very, very, very long time.
Then, Yukari let her calm down a little and said...
"But Mima... I tried to help you. All this time."
"W-what are you trying to say?" the mage stammered through her tears.
Yukari remained silent. She simply gazed at her with her characteristic crystalline eyes, those eyes that seemed to be made of purple butterflies. Eyes that no one could tell if they held indifference or sincerity. Eyes that no one could distinguish.
In her silence, Mima pondered what Yukari was trying to tell her—
And then Mima understood.
She understood what Yukari was getting at.
"...there are only two ways to fix all this." The lady replied.
"You can try again, or...you can let me ease your pain."
The wise woman of Gensokyo, then,
Closed her eyes, remained silent a little longer, and asked her;
"Which do you prefer?"
That's what the lady said. Without losing her serenity, calm, and composure.
As if she were some kind of god.
As if she were royalty.
As if she were A Disney princess.
Why can't I be like her?
Why she's powerful?
Why she's important?
Why she's... so compassionate toward me? the wounded witch tormented herself.
But she knew it wasn't time for that.
She knew it wasn't time for lamenting.
She knew she had to choose between trying again... or accepting, once and for all, the cycle of life and death.
But whatever decision she was about to make...
She knew well that... that those words...
Those silver words...
Will never leave her heart.