1437 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
1437 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
Woah!
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This thing really works? Huh.
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...
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I wonder... this is the earliest the device seems to go.
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I shouldn't mess with things too much or I won't know what happens later.
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Woah!
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This thing really works? Huh.
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...
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Perhaps I could try to get the exams cancelled this time around?
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Though maybe without making all the teachers hate me.
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Easier said than done...
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Woah!
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This thing really works? Huh.
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...
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What if I go to the presentation and just act out everything again?
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Maybe if do things differently here though it'll also end up differently there?
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That, or, some things might be predetermined.
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Hold, hold, hold on I.
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What?
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Okay, okay. I think I've gotten a hold of myself.
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I'm not sure if I can keep track of what's happened and what hasn't so this is going to be... confusing.
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But I think I remember enough.
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If that's what you really want.
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Open it up again, it just needs a moment.
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Good evening.
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You all may know me as the substitute this past week for Professor Okazaki.
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I've been teaching Botany, a topic on which I am incredibly overqualified for, to idiots younger than you, but still very much similar to you.
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A few nervous chuckles break throughout the auditorium.
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But enough of the customary good-natured teasing, I am here because Professor Okazaki is returning today.
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As is stated in the faculty handbook she wrote and doodled over, because clearly not even she could have handwriting THAT horrendous,
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I must give a presentation to report to the faculty and administration exactly what I did as subsitute for Professor Okazaki.
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This is that presentation: a postmortem to my short time here, a retrospective of sorts.
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You might also be wondering why I've invited select students to attend this presentation.
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I will be getting to that, please do not leave your seats throughout this presentation. This should be brief.
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There I was, one week ago, naive, unsure of what I was looking at.
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What the hell am I looking at?
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Spring. It was the season for blooming petals, and I had come to one of my second-favorite flower fields in Gensokyo.
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But this time, and I do mean this time my dear audience, I found something more than just a trashed field.
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What a confoundingly shaped device.
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It reads: "When does Yuuka want to go?{/i}
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Is this some kind of prank? Because-
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And then at that instant I remember it, in flashes and not always clearly but, the future.
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The future that had already happened.
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W-wha-
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And then I woke up after this presentation ended. Or will end, I suppose.
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Spring. It was the season for blooming petals, and I had come to one of my second-favorite flower fields in Gensokyo.
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This used to be a gorgeous field of sunflowers, flowering red buckwheat, growing ever so softly towards the sky blue.
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Tell me fallen fauna, by whose footsoles were you trampled?
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Sent by a scientist you say? I think I might know who this is.
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Very well, then.
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I will have to wait until the next spring to enjoy your company, young flowers.
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In the meantime, I think that woman's bones would make for good fertilizer.
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When I first laid eyes on the school, I found its exterior to be less than appealing to me.
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What?
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Now I'm no stranger to different architectural sensibilities, I've had the privilege of owning mansion myself, but we all ought to admit...
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The hell am I looking at?
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This school is very out of place for Gensokyo.
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Gaudiness aside, this is absolutely where that outsider is.
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Now, to call her out here.
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Miss!
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?
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One of the students, a blonde girl in white, rushed out to greet me.
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It's a good thing you're here on time! Do you need directions?
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I think you have the wrong person, dear.
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You're the subsitute teacher right? I can show you to your class.
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That won't be necessary, after all...
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I've got a landmark don't I?
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A sunflower, each petal the size of a desk, grew out from beneath the stunned student and lifted them into the air.
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The flower tilted to one side and the student rolled off, falling onto the soft grass, as the sunflower grew to eclipse the building.
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Run along then. Save your drivel for someone who cares.
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I care!
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Always with the jokes.
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Can't help it when the situation's smelling funny.
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You'd know about smelling funny, little miss thief.
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Thief? I can't believe you'd try to slander me like that!
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I prefer to be called Robin Hood.
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Because you take from the rich and dress poor?
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Ack! How you wound me.
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Though given you were living it up in a mansion before, not wrong about the first half.
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Cut to chase, Marisa. I need to see that scientist friend of yours.
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Oh I'd tell you where Yumemi is, if I knew. But she's not here.
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And I'm to believe you're not lying when you've lied about who you got your oh-so-original Master Spark from?
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Uh, yeah. Because I'm not lying.
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...
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...
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So does that mean...
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Then I hit her really hard.
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:O
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From the earth you came, to the dirt you'll bite.
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Then she was gone, just like that.
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Is what I want to say happened, but we do have spellcard rules for a reason.
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Fine then. If you're not going to concede her, shall we duel?
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Every spellcard duel begins with a misunderstanding, they say.
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I'm not gonna even try to explain myself then! Let the bullets do the talking!
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Lets.
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Of course, the scientist really wasn't there.
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And by the time our battle ended, I had taken much of my anger out on the blonde punching bag.
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I vowed to return.
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Justice would come back around for the field one way or another, and I had long term plans to make Yumemi pay.
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But in the meantime, it was just me and a field that needed nurturing and healing now.
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But that didn't really happen, otherwise I wouldn't be here to talk to you all would I?
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And yet here I am.
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I don't understand how or why.
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I hope you can, in time.
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Best of luck.
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Long Term already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
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...
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...
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So does that mean...
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Fine, so she's not here?
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No, but I'm figuring out where she went.
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I see. Any leads?
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Well, I was trailing your fan until...
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The student was crawling to her feet, awe-struck gaze at Yuuka's newly grown sunflower.
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Wow, miss! You're incredible! What kind of magic is that?
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The fool doesn't realize who I am?
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We're pretty sure all the humans in this school aren't from Gensokyo.
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I'll leave the two of you to it then.
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Don't mess this up, teach.
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Don't call me tha- and she's gone.
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The student approached Yuuka, only slightly rattled.
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I hope we haven't gotten off on the wrong foot! Would you still like me to show the way?
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Yes, that would be very helpful.
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After tuck her away that is.
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Yuuka pointed to the giant flower.
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Led by the student, Yuuka entered the building.
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It's very...
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Modern, isn't it?
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The student, leading Yuuka to her class, held the door open for her, letting her get a peek inside.
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Oh, would you look at that? I think there's somewhere else I need to be, th-
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The substitute's here!
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Oh finally. I don't think there's enough time even for a quiz.
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I thought we're excused if they're late?
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She's kind of fugly with that weird outfit.
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Huh, what's happening? Is it a test?
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Amusing as a misunderstanding this is, I really should be...
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Hey teach, how about we get a move on before lunch's on!
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It was at this moment that I shot a glare at Marisa then took the time actually pick out individual faces from the crowd.
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It was at this moment that I took the time actually pick out individual faces from the crowd.
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There was Marisa Kirisame, cooled down from our earlier encounter.
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There was Marisa Kirisame, irritance, thief, and perpetual child as per usual.
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Sitting next to her was Alice Margatroid, hatchling spawn from Makai, and the relatively reasonable one of the three.
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Last was Reimu Hakurei, sitting in the back, with a glint in her eye staring back at me.
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She seemed to be itching for a fight. That or the stupidity of her face got to me. One of the two.
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A misunderstanding?
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While I was and forever will be confident in my ability to subdue our militant shrine maiden,
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I am a person who can play along. It makes encounters more interesting. I put on my most polite smile and...
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Yes, class! I'm afraid there will be no tests or lectures today.
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I'm afraid there will be no tests or lectures today, class.
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Barely contained cheering erupted throughout the room.
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Instead we'll be having an icebreaker.
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Barely contained sighs and groans erupted throughout the room.
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You there, in the red and white! Introduce yourself and tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
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I could be patient as long as it meant seeing these three flounder.
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I... uh, me?
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Yuuka's smile grew just that bit wider.
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You heard me.
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There were barely stifled giggles from Marisa's seat as Reimu gaped.
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Her hand went to her gohei and glare to Marisa before she realized the class had its eyes on her.
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Well, I'm Reimu Hakurei. I'm a shrine maiden.
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Uh, interesting facts...
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Stand up first, make sure the class can see you, Miss Hakurei.
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Tch.
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What was that now?
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Nothing.
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A lull fell for a moment as Reimu collected her thoughts.
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We haven't got all day, Ms. Hakurei.
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Well that's... I guess I'm ambidextrous?
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Marisa then broke out into laughter, unfazed by Alice's glance, and Reimu's melting glare.
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I-I can't, she's really the teacher? They hired HER?
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You're up next, blondie.
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Oh, crap.
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The rest of our time left in the class went swimmingly.
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Some of you may think I was overly hostile, judgemental, and sadistic on my first day.
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To that I will say: That's all? A sign of my excellent restraint.
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Afterwards, the trio pulled me aside.
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What do you think you're doing, exactly, Yuuka?
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I think you'll find I'm doing exactly as people ought to expect of me.
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Terrorizing and intimidating the young and innocent?
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Invading Gensokyo?
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Standing in the middle of a field for hours at a time?
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I've not done those since this morning. You know how routines get.
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I'm merely here to take a debt owed.
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You?
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Hm, this school just showed up earlier today. Apparently it's Yumemi's from what the students keep saying.
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Been a long time since that huh? The scramble for a wish, exploring those ruins...
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Marisa glanced back and forth between all of us.
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I wasn't there.
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Neither was I.
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Great times.
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Right, anyways we're just here to find her. There've been noise complaints from the Human Village about what they're getting up to here.
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Plus, all of the students? They're not from the village. They don't even know they're in Gensokyo!
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Plus, all of the students? Like I said, they're not from the village.
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They don't even know they're in Gensokyo!
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We're thinking this is a major breach of the barrier.
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Except the barrier's entirely untouched.
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But, there's otherwise no evidence of anything done other than some disturbances caused by this school.
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A flicker of something worse nearly escaped me. I paused. I was angry. I was here for retribution.
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But I'd do no wrong to anyone who didn't deserve it. I would not lash out needlessly.
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Other than the flower field they destroyed?
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That's new.
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It's how I found out about this wretched place.
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In any case, we'll keep it in mind. We're going to keep attending as students until we figure this out.
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Good, and I will be looking for Yumemi.
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Marisa chuckled.
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Yuuka, who do you think you were substituting for?
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...huh?
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She's out for the week. No one told you, professor?
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Yuuka snarled. Marisa and Reimu stepped back instinctively.
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This charade is absurd and I've apparently no reason to be here. Good day to you all.
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I stomped my way back through the hallway.
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I was turning the corner before Alice caught up to me.
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Don't you think you're missing an opportunity?
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An opportunity to what?
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If you stick around, which by the way would be easy given the students have already accepted the fact that you're their teacher,
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You can just sit tight for a week and Yumemi will walk right into you. No messy incidents, no plotting.
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I could lay a trap.
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Exactly.
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Okay.
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Oh f-
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Huh?
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You made a good point, I concede that much.
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You don't usually concdede, ever.
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Are you feeling fine?
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Of course I am.
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And you're going to stay here, the whole week?
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Unless Yumemi shows up early, yes.
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Okay. This is good... if odd for you. In any case...
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A tempting offer, but I don't think I'll need any tricks to deal with that lout. I'll find her myself.
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Once more I turned away, and...
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Oh for Shinki's sake, are you scared of something?
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What?
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You talk to humans less than I do and I live in a poisonous swamp of a forest.
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You've barely talked to anyone other than us three after leaving your mansion in Mugenkan years ago.
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They're beneath me.
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Besides, I talk with Medicine.
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She's one kid. That hardly proves anything.
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Look, this is the first time I've seen you talk with humans without it being some kind of underlying threat or overlying threat. This could be good for you.
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And besides, even if she isn't here this is HER school. Her possessions, her office, they'd all be here. If you're going on a crusade, why leave?
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I...
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Before anything else, I have one last thing to say.
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It's a week. Just a week. At least come in tomorrow and give it a shot?
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...
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I do not agree with your points, Alice.
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But I consider you to know me better than most.
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Very well, I'll play along.
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Thank you. That's all I'm asking.
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I'll be back tomorrow. Goodbye Alice.
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Goodbye.
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I'm back here again.
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Alice may be a busybody but she means well enough.
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The only question is if I'm actually going along with this or... if I should at least get some fun out of this?
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And after all, I should get something in return for what I give them.
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Oh fine then. Alice is so insistent on me interacting with humans? Sure, no problems here.
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Genuinely.
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But what am I even teaching?
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Oh fine then. Alice is so insistent on me interacting with weaklings? Sure, no problems here.
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Especially, if I get a chance to shut them up.
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Good morning, class.
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Uh, teach-
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Teacher. It's teacher, not teach.
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Right... so teacher, why are we here?
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I don't see why not? It's a perfectly nice place to have our class today.
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Marisa took a look at the students around her, confused but unaware they were on the territory of a dangerous, powerful youkai.
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...sure.
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if there are no further questions, let's begin shall we?
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I'd like for us to go over some botany.
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She's really good at that! She made a giant flower bloom yesterday!
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We know, it's still there.
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Isn't it magic not botany?
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Tsk, tsk. You'd think Professor Okazaki would've taught you better.
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Botany is the study of plants and though we might call some things we do as being magic, that doesn't mean it can't be both.
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Let's talk about one kind of plant in specific actually.
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The sunflower.
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I sweeped my arms around to gesture at the garden, each sunflower standing tall.
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I brought out a potted sunflower I had prepared for that day.
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We all know that plants grow facing towards the sun, seeking sustenance, seeking the good source of life.
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But were you aware they also react to other things?
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The sunflowers around us began to turn their faces towards my lecture.
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The sunflower began to turn its face towards my students.
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Chemicals, sounds, temperature changes...
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The students began to react, gasping, pointing.
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...disease, infection, parasites.
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You could hear the chill going down their backs when they heard that.
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And here you are. A group of flower-trampling, clumsy-limbed mouth-breathers who trample where they please.
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A question for participation points: who are the parasites here?
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Alice got up, worried as she so often is when around me.
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Hold on, Yuuka. You can't-
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Do not waste the time of the class, Miss Margatroid. Answer the question or sit down.
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...
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If no one will answer the question, then let me give a hands-on demonstration.
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The sunflowers rushed, rapidly surrounding the students, stems twisting towards the sky.
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The students seemed to be getting the picture by then, the situation dawning on their gaping faces.
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Stop it!
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Oh, does one of our own have an answer?
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Save it for the spellcards, Yuuka.
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Fine then. Shall we duel?
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Three spell cards. Don't touch any of the students or I'll exterminate you.
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But of course. It was just a demonstration.
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By the time our battle ended, I had taken much of my anger out on the shrine maiden.
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But the human students seemed to understand by then, instinctively, what kind of being I am.
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They didn't have to wait for my permission to start running away.
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That, of course, ended my brief teaching career.
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My retribution on Yumemi would have to wait for another opportunity.
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But that didn't really happen, otherwise I wouldn't be here to talk to you all would I?
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And yet here I am.
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I don't understand how or why.
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I hope you can, in time.
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Best of luck.
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Scare Tactics already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
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They took to my "sense of humor" well enough, earning me one or two very polite chuckles.
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They are living things just like any of you, smarter, more articulate than you could imagine.
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Has anyone here heard of the language of flowers?
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One or two hands went up.
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In the back row.
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It's the use of flowers as symbolism in poetry and letters: telling things without saying them directly.
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Not entirely wrong but it extends past use OF flowers. Rather, it is the language that flowers themselves use.
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Today, I'll be teaching you all to learn to listen, not to me, but to the flowers.
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If you can learn to hear their voices, there may be hope for you yet.
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And really, I was staking Alice's plea on this.
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A week of my time is a valuable thing you understand, unless there were results, I would not wait.
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Split off into groups of three, pick your members yourself you're old enough not to need to be babied.
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I've brought one sunflower for each group and I want you all to try and discern what your flower is telling you.
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This is crazy.
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We're listening to flowers talk now?
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Well, we are learning magic aren't we?
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Magic that can't be understood is indistinguishable from...
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It's CAN be understood not CAN'T, you dolt.
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Do not harm any of the flowers. You WILL pay your debt if you do.
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Marisa, Alice, and Reimu instinctively shivered.
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Now get to it! We'll discuss the results in 15 minutes.
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Hey, teach! I think my flower's broken!
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I'm not getting anywhere with this.
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Reimu was the only one out of the three still taking the assignment seriously at this point.
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Listen to their voice...
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She was staring at her group's potted plant so hard you'd think she'd burn a hole.
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I guess you'd be pretty used to this kind of thing, huh Reimu?
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Marisa, shut up. Let her focus.
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...
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...I've got nothing.
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Let's wrap this up class! Return to your seats.
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After that, the session continued on/ For the most part, no one felt they managed to hear the sunflowers' voices.
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But...
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But don't you think they're pretty? I wonder if they could sense radiation.
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For your sake, I hope you don't test that out. I don't know how much our substitute was joking.
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Actually, we can't just call her the substitute for the whole week right? What is her nam
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I dunno about you guys but I think my sunflower can hear me.
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There was more enthusiasm than I had expected.
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Still I had made my decision.
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Back here, huh?
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What a waste of time.
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And leave I did.
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I vowed to return.
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Justice would come back around for the field one way or another, and I had long term plans to make Yumemi pay.
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But in the meantime, it was just me and a field that needed nurturing and healing now.
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Admittedly, there might've been something akin to potential in those students.
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However, they failed my simplest of tasks.
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In truth, the flowers speak for everyone even if I'm the only one who can hear them.
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Sad isn't it? To be heard by only one person in the world.
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...
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But that didn't really happen, otherwise I wouldn't be here to talk to you all would I?
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And yet here I am.
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I don't understand how or why.
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I hope you can, in time.
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Best of luck.
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Long Term already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
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I left the school not assuaged but...
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Feeling a little lighter.
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Ah, looking for something?
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I was just wondering where Professor Okazaki's teaching materials are, I was hoping to take a look at them.
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And destroy it so I'd see the look on her face when she returns.
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She didn't share it with you? Odd, but she has her own office.
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It's around the corner, behind a keypad. Did she tell you the passcode?
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No, I believe I was too late to catch her before she left.
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Well that's a shame, for all she gushes about technology, her office, her phone, she's a difficult person to contact.
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You'd know her better than me, probably. It's a four-digit code, can't be that hard to guess right?
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...sure.
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Nothing of importance here.
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It's where we are now. But at the time, it was empty.
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Nothing of importance here.
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I walked over to the classroom, opening the door.
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Empty.
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Lookin' for someone?
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Oh. It's you.
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She rolled her eyes at that one.
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I have a name you can use, you know.
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Most people do.
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Yeah.
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...
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Are you looking for something?
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Nothing in particular.
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Mhm.
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...
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I should go-
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When I said I had nothing, during the activity earlier.
|
|
I meant I didn't hear anything.
|
|
I did feel... something?
|
|
Is that so?
|
|
It was a passing sensation, just an instant, nearly nothing really.
|
|
Still, I'm looking forward to you next class.
|
|
...I see. Thank you for telling me that, Reimu.
|
|
And then I left without waiting for a response, her footsteps in the opposite direction from mine.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Hey youngster.
|
|
Looks like you've been workin' hard huh? Or hardly workin'?
|
|
Har, har.
|
|
Anyhow, here ya go.
|
|
?
|
|
Hold on, this is!
|
|
Wait, where'd she go?
|
|
It's exhausting, hamming it up for so many people.
|
|
I stood there, learning against a wall, not sure what I was waiting for when a cup of tea with my name was at home.
|
|
Hm, you tha' new substitute teacher?
|
|
I, of course, did not deign to turn my head to look at whoever was talking to me.
|
|
You younguns', tsk, tsk. No respect for 'ur elders.
|
|
Ya mind standin' somewhere else so I can clean?
|
|
...
|
|
Suit 'urself, whippersnapper.
|
|
And if u ever need somethin' just ask.
|
|
Me and Professor Okazaki go way back!
|
|
Here we are again.
|
|
I better pick carefully.
|
|
Here we are.
|
|
Gotta say, it looks like any other door I've seen. Except for the keypad that is.
|
|
And ...it hasn't locked out on me yet.
|
|
SCAN KEYCARD TO COMPLETE ENTRY
|
|
Scan it... how do you make this dreadful thing work?
|
|
Uh huh, uh, okay. There we go.
|
|
KEYCARD CORRECT
|
|
WELCOME PROFESSOR OKAZAKI
|
|
Now I won't spoil exactly what I saw in that office but I will say.
|
|
In addition to finding the exam data, stored in some kind of machinery that I deigned not to try to understand,
|
|
Which is to say that I smashed it to little metal bits with great delight.
|
|
There was also an intriguing absence of any time machine device, save for an opened safe that looked like it could've stored the device I hold now.
|
|
Now, I'm not one for paradoxes...
|
|
...
|
|
And that's all I have to say on that subject. You could call in an expert. That's not what's important.
|
|
With all the data gone...
|
|
A keycard!? You mean I've been working my ass off to just get another lock?
|
|
Fuck this. I'm out.
|
|
And... crap.
|
|
Wrong again.
|
|
And that should be... wrong. Great.
|
|
Oh, and would you look at that, it's locked me out. Wonderful.
|
|
Damn it, that might've been my only try at this.
|
|
Fine then, maybe I ought to pivot to focusing on Yumemi herself instead of bothering with what she owns.
|
|
...or I could bust this door down.
|
|
Nah, saying it out loud makes it obvious that's just asking for people to turn on me. I'll find another approach to this.
|
|
Consultations, right. That's how I found out I wasn't even teaching the same subject as Yumemi.
|
|
I need to talk to the other teachers.
|
|
I can't yet.
|
|
There's something I wanted to ask.
|
|
Yes?
|
|
There was this field I was fond of, not too far from here. It's been DESTROYED since, do you know what happened?
|
|
Ah. Apologies but I don't think I've heard about that.
|
|
I see.
|
|
What a shame... I think I've seen that same field.
|
|
When will we stop this shameless destruction?
|
|
We? This school has done similar things before?
|
|
God, I hope not.
|
|
I'm just speaking in general, about all of humanity.
|
|
We've devastated the world enough, haven't we? Not that our leaders listen.
|
|
...no, they certainly don't. I'm glad to see you understand.
|
|
...
|
|
Ah, looking for something?
|
|
I was just wondering where Professor Okazaki's teaching materials are, I was hoping to take a look at them.
|
|
And destroy it so I'd see the look on her face when she returns.
|
|
She didn't share it with you? Odd, but she has her own office.
|
|
It's around the corner, behind a keypad. Did she tell you the passcode?
|
|
No, I believe I was too late to catch her before she left.
|
|
Well that's a shame, for all she gushes about technology, her office, her phone, she's a difficult person to contact.
|
|
You'd know her better than me, probably. It's a four-digit code, can't be that hard to guess right?
|
|
...sure.
|
|
I have another concern actually.
|
|
Ah, Miss... uh-
|
|
We need to make some last-minute adjustments to the exam.
|
|
Adjustments?
|
|
To incorporate some recent curriculum changes.
|
|
It's quite late for those but even if we wanted to, the exams are automatically printed by Professor Okazaki's wireless printer.
|
|
Given she's not here, it's too late to make any changes.
|
|
But, we have pens and blank paper, yes?
|
|
Yes, but I'm not sure what you're getting at?
|
|
We write up the exam by hand.
|
|
That would take terribly long.
|
|
Well...
|
|
WE better get started.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...no one here.
|
|
|
|
We seem to running into each other a lot.
|
|
Used to be a rare thing, running into you. I guess we might keep doing that while we're here, huh.
|
|
It's a school and we both go to the same classroom. I'm not sure we could avoid each other if we tried.
|
|
I'm sure you'd manage.
|
|
How was the lecture today?
|
|
Good. I think I got some clarification into what exactly we're learning.
|
|
And what are you learning exactly?
|
|
Not quite what you think we are.
|
|
?
|
|
What about poor Marisa though? She had her own question.
|
|
Knowing her it'd be inane. Besides...
|
|
I'm a bit sad I didn't get my question answered.
|
|
Well I can't exactly bend to all of your wills at once now can I?
|
|
I'm rather outnumbered, you must understand. Would you think cutting a few down to size could help with that?
|
|
Don't go for Marisa. She needs the blood to live.
|
|
And you don't?
|
|
I'll borrow some from Marisa.
|
|
I don't suppose us, youkai count for that then.
|
|
I'm sure a little pain can't hurt.
|
|
It most assuredly can and does. And bisecting a person into two isn't a little.
|
|
Not for most.
|
|
...
|
|
You're not going to ask about the exams?
|
|
I'm... choosing to trust you on this.
|
|
For now.
|
|
Thank you, Reimu.
|
|
No problem.
|
|
Hey, and I wanted to ask if you saw Yumemi's office?
|
|
I know of it, if that's what you're asking.
|
|
No.
|
|
You should. Ask around about it.
|
|
I think there's something important inside. Marisa says we shouldn't try and brute force in and I'm inclined to agree.
|
|
It seems perfectly in-character for Yumemi to have put some measures that'll inevitably bite us in the ass if we try to break in.
|
|
Why don't you try to figure it out then?
|
|
I'm still trying to talk to the faculty around here, get any info about some suspicious type in the hallways.
|
|
Not you, of course.
|
|
...right.
|
|
Whatever Yumemi has planned, is big, like orders of magnitude bigger than we first thought.
|
|
Orders of magnitude... you think she might play into that for the passcode? Something grand?
|
|
I don't know how grand you can get in four digits but sure. That's probable.
|
|
I'll be seeing you around then.
|
|
Thank you, again, Reimu.
|
|
Bye, Yuuka.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Fancy seeing you here.
|
|
Oh!
|
|
Nice to see you too, Yuuka.
|
|
Alice, I've been trying to figure a way into Yumemi's office.
|
|
I've gone over it with Reimu and Marisa and we've just made guesses about what it could be.
|
|
I'm hoping I could ask if you have any ideas yourself?
|
|
Well... I think there's one thing.
|
|
Yumemi's a woman of science, through and through.
|
|
She loves ordering chaos, making sense of the supernatural, mastering magic as a science.
|
|
I admire it to a degree, though I think she's strangling the beauty of magic when she does as far as to make it into a science.
|
|
That said, she'd probably pick a passcode that is orderly, symmetrical even.
|
|
Like one of those... anagrams?
|
|
That's for two words that use the same letters and so can be rearranged to form one or the other.
|
|
There are also ambigrams, which is what I mean. It's spelled backwards the same way as it's spelled forwards.
|
|
There are a few other types, I have a fondness for 90° ambigrams myself.
|
|
Thank you, Alice. That might be what I need to figure this out.
|
|
...you're welcome, Yuuka. Good luck.
|
|
Mhm. I was wondering about...
|
|
Actually, nevermind.
|
|
Mhm.
|
|
...
|
|
You know, if you have a question to ask, you can always ask me.
|
|
I'm being a little obvious aren't I?
|
|
A little.
|
|
You can tell?
|
|
I've been around you long enough to.
|
|
Sometimes you act before you think, but other times you just don't know who to talk to.
|
|
If it's about the exam, the flower field, your garden, or anything at all you can always ask.
|
|
I... thank you.
|
|
I'll think about it.
|
|
That's good.
|
|
And you? Is there anything you'd want to share with me?
|
|
...not at the moment.
|
|
Then, I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Alice.
|
|
Goodbye, Yuuka.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Hey youngster.
|
|
Looks like you've been workin' hard huh? Or hardly workin'?
|
|
Har, har.
|
|
Anyhow, here ya go.
|
|
?
|
|
Hold on, this is!
|
|
Wait, where'd she go?
|
|
Ya ever see anything like it?
|
|
Caught up in my own waiting I did not respond.
|
|
When the students are out, this place's a lot prettier.
|
|
'course that's cause of me.
|
|
...
|
|
See ya in January, grass-hair.
|
|
And if u ever need somethin' just ask.
|
|
Me and Professor Okazaki go way back!
|
|
Classes don't even end in J-
|
|
And she's gone.
|
|
Here we are again.
|
|
I better pick carefully.
|
|
Here we are.
|
|
Gotta say, it looks like any other door I've seen. Except for the keypad that is.
|
|
And ...it hasn't locked out on me yet.
|
|
SCAN KEYCARD TO COMPLETE ENTRY
|
|
Scan it... how do you make this dreadful thing work?
|
|
Uh huh, uh, okay. There we go.
|
|
KEYCARD CORRECT
|
|
WELCOME PROFESSOR OKAZAKI
|
|
Now I won't spoil exactly what I saw in that office but I will say.
|
|
In addition to finding the exam data, stored in some kind of machinery that I deigned not to try to understand,
|
|
Which is to say that I smashed it to little metal bits with great delight.
|
|
There was also an intriguing absence of any time machine device, save for an opened safe that looked like it could've stored the device I hold now.
|
|
Now, I'm not one for paradoxes...
|
|
...
|
|
And that's all I have to say on that subject. You could call in an expert. That's not what's important.
|
|
With all the data gone...
|
|
A keycard!? You mean I've been working my ass off to just get another lock?
|
|
Fuck this. I'm out.
|
|
And... crap.
|
|
Wrong again.
|
|
And that should be... wrong. Great.
|
|
Oh, and would you look at that, it's locked me out. Wonderful.
|
|
Damn it, that might've been my only try at this.
|
|
Fine then, maybe I ought to pivot to focusing on Yumemi herself instead of bothering with what she owns.
|
|
...or I could bust this door down.
|
|
Nah, saying it out loud makes it obvious that's just asking for people to turn on me. I'll find another approach to this.
|
|
Back to exam day.
|
|
They seemed to enjoy that exam. I'm... I'm glad.
|
|
Of course, I went home.
|
|
I had to be up and rested for today.
|
|
Let's do a run through of said day, shall we?
|
|
There's something I wanted to ask.
|
|
Yes?
|
|
There was this field I was fond of, not too far from here. It's been DESTROYED since, do you know what happened?
|
|
Ah. Apologies but I don't think I've heard about that.
|
|
I see.
|
|
What a shame... I think I've seen that same field.
|
|
When will we stop this shameless destruction?
|
|
We? This school has done similar things before?
|
|
God, I hope not.
|
|
I'm just speaking in general, about all of humanity.
|
|
We've devastated the world enough, haven't we? Not that our leaders listen.
|
|
...no, they certainly don't. I'm glad to see you understand.
|
|
...
|
|
Ah, looking for something?
|
|
I was just wondering where Professor Okazaki's teaching materials are, I was hoping to take a look at them.
|
|
And destroy it so I'd see the look on her face when she returns.
|
|
She didn't share it with you? Odd, but she has her own office.
|
|
It's around the corner, behind a keypad. Did she tell you the passcode?
|
|
No, I believe I was too late to catch her before she left.
|
|
Well that's a shame, for all she gushes about technology, her office, her phone, she's a difficult person to contact.
|
|
You'd know her better than me, probably. It's a four-digit code, can't be that hard to guess right?
|
|
...sure.
|
|
I have another concern actually.
|
|
Professor Okazaki should be arriving in a few days, right?
|
|
Well, that was the plan but you know how she can get.
|
|
Brilliant but impulsive. She's coming back tomorrow; one of your students spotted her.
|
|
Marisa?
|
|
I didn't get a name. Blonde girl, white sailor uniform?
|
|
Blonde, yes. Not the other one.
|
|
Someone else then.
|
|
Who?
|
|
I didn't get a name. Blonde girl, white uniform?
|
|
Hm. I suppose it doesn't matter who.
|
|
Tomorrow... that's sooner than I thought.
|
|
Good. That's less time until I get to face with her.
|
|
You're close with her?
|
|
Ah, well, keep your friends close...
|
|
?
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
I found a student who's talking unnaturally like you said.
|
|
What happened?
|
|
Huh, Marisa.
|
|
That's the name.
|
|
If you're here to gush about the school or about me or...
|
|
Huh? No, I'm just chilling. You know they just have Outside World technology lying around here?
|
|
Don't steal it.
|
|
Haha, sure.
|
|
I saw her then pat her pockets, as if to smooth out any technology-shaped wrinkles.
|
|
What's in the pockets?
|
|
Nothin'. You figure out the buisiness with the destroyed field?
|
|
Deflecting, huh? Well, I already knew its Yumemi's fault from the get-go.
|
|
Right. In any case, things have been off on my end.
|
|
Reimu and Alice haven't managed to dig up anything on their end either, though Reimu has been talking to some of the faculty about a suspicious lookin' janitor.
|
|
I think I know them myself... if not by face.
|
|
I'm not sure I follow.
|
|
Eh don't worry too much about it. Reimu does what Reimu does best, and that's following her instincts.
|
|
I've been asking the students myself but it's been weird.
|
|
There's a lot of repeated words, phrases, sentences. It's all a little unnatural. They're all normal humans as far as I can tell, of course. It's just... weird.
|
|
Well, I'm glad there's at least some effort on your ends.
|
|
What you thought we were just here for the fun of going to school? Yuck!
|
|
Nice job on the new exam by the way. I still had to get creative with it but at least I knew the last question by heart.
|
|
Nice job by the way with cancelling the exams.
|
|
You're welcome.
|
|
"You're welcome?" The tiger does knows manners!
|
|
Careful, this one knows how to bite too.
|
|
I certainly won't say you're all paper. Fifty percent max: you're part parcel.
|
|
Would you like to test that theory?
|
|
Any day.
|
|
Hmph. Well, you never stood out for your timidity.
|
|
What can I say? My heart's as big as my hat. The normal one, this little cap's tiny in comparison.
|
|
I'll see you around, Marisa.
|
|
I sure hope so.
|
|
I had a similar experience earlier, actually.
|
|
How about I show you?
|
|
Hmm, show away then.
|
|
Hey.
|
|
Oh! Good afternoon, Miss! Good afternoon, Marisa! I was just arranging the seats.
|
|
You said that earlier didn't you?
|
|
I did? That's a funny coincidence.
|
|
She's not acting THAT weird compared to normal.
|
|
Her eyes went glassy earlier after we talked for a bit. Let me try something.
|
|
You're a real bundle of joy; even more than usual. Are you excited because the exam's over?
|
|
It's not that, though I'm happy to finally have some free time.
|
|
It's just seems like everything's changed lately. It's so... exciting.
|
|
There we go. Look at her eyes.
|
|
I'm looking.
|
|
The world outside seems different somehow... like we've forgotten something for so long only for it to slip back in without us noticing.
|
|
I wonder... when was the last time I saw the city?
|
|
Exactly what she said earlier.
|
|
I've got things to say. Let's move back, first.
|
|
Thanks again, Miss!
|
|
Yeah, I had the same thing happen while I was trying to chat with some of the students.
|
|
They all arrive to school in the morning and leave in the evening but where are they coming and going from?
|
|
I tried tailing them but then I'd just blank out myself.
|
|
This is deeply concerning.
|
|
I wonder... didn't I tell Reimu and Alice this too? Have they not brought it up with you?
|
|
No, never.
|
|
...this seems bad. I'm gonna go now, I'll see if I can track down Yumemi right now.
|
|
I've got a feeling this is full-blown incident.
|
|
You know Yumemi's office right?
|
|
Yes.
|
|
I've not seen it, no.
|
|
Ask around, the teachers would know.
|
|
You should try and open the door.
|
|
Don't bother brute-forcing it by the way. Yumemi's stupid good with building things.
|
|
I'm sure I could put a hole in it.
|
|
Nuh uh. And if you could, she'd probably put something dumb inside anyway to screw you and us over.
|
|
She loves to play games, so play along for now.
|
|
And how, pray tell, am I getting past her lock?
|
|
It's four-digit keycode. It's probably something to do with a date or if she's trying to act clever, which is her default mode, then it's a date and something else.
|
|
A birthday probably? Birth month, birth year? Could be anything, would have to narrow it from there.
|
|
Just keep that in mind. Probably a date and something else.
|
|
In that order?
|
|
Doesn't have to be, but probably. It's an easy order to stick in your head: significant date then something less obvious.
|
|
And this is just a hunch... but Yumemi doesn't seem like the kind to get stuck on a particular year, yeah? Just conjecture, 'course.
|
|
But I think, a day or month would make more sense.
|
|
Alright. Thank you, Marisa.
|
|
No problem, see ya teach.
|
|
Hm.
|
|
Oh! Good afternoon, Miss! I was just arranging the seats.
|
|
Good afternoon.
|
|
Hard working aren't you?
|
|
I try, Miss.
|
|
I must say, while it's not our subject I'm finding your lectures to be really intriguing.
|
|
Tell me, what were the principles behind that gigantic flower you created?
|
|
Was there a reason for the sudden switch? From physics to botany that is.
|
|
Don't ask, I-
|
|
A sullen pitiful expression turnt on her face and her feet stamped like an overanxious jackrabbit.
|
|
...I can go in-depth if you'd want me to. Not now but, I think I can make time after Professor Okazaki is back.
|
|
...I think I can make time to explain my reasons after Professor Okazaki is back.
|
|
Really!? That'd mean the world to me!
|
|
In her excitement, the student knocked over a chair.
|
|
...oops.
|
|
You're a real bundle of nerv- joy.
|
|
A bundle of joy; even more than usual. Are you excited because the exam's over?
|
|
It's not that, though I'm happy to finally have some free time.
|
|
It's just seems like everything's changed lately. It's so... exciting.
|
|
She took on a glassy-eyed expression after that.
|
|
The world outside seems different somehow... like we've forgotten something for so long only for it to slip back in without us noticing.
|
|
I wonder... when was the last time I saw the city?
|
|
Where do you go after school is over anyway? The village?
|
|
Huh? What are you talking about, Miss?
|
|
I'm just glad to have made it... when did I enter this school-
|
|
I'm just glad to have made it past that exam!
|
|
And that expression disappeared into her cheerful self.
|
|
R-right.
|
|
I'll be going now. Take care of yourself.
|
|
Right! Thanks again, Miss!
|
|
Didn't Marisa say something about unnatural conversations?
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Hey youngster.
|
|
Looks like you've been workin' hard huh? Or hardly workin'?
|
|
Har, har.
|
|
Anyhow, here ya go.
|
|
?
|
|
Hold on, this is!
|
|
Wait, where'd she go?
|
|
So it's over, aye?
|
|
You enjoy soliciting conversations from strangers, much?
|
|
In my attempt to ignore this person, I kept my eyes closed.
|
|
Not oft'n.
|
|
...
|
|
Don't look so down, aye?
|
|
And if u ever need somethin' just ask.
|
|
Me and Professor Okazaki go way back!
|
|
Here we are again.
|
|
I better pick carefully.
|
|
Here we are.
|
|
Gotta say, it looks like any other door I've seen. Except for the keypad that is.
|
|
And ...it hasn't locked out on me yet.
|
|
SCAN KEYCARD TO COMPLETE ENTRY
|
|
Scan it... how do you make this dreadful thing work?
|
|
Uh huh, uh, okay. There we go.
|
|
KEYCARD CORRECT
|
|
WELCOME PROFESSOR OKAZAKI
|
|
Now I won't spoil exactly what I saw in that office but I will say.
|
|
In addition to finding the exam data, stored in some kind of machinery that I deigned not to try to understand,
|
|
Which is to say that I smashed it to little metal bits with great delight.
|
|
There was also an intriguing absence of any time machine device, save for an opened safe that looked like it could've stored the device I hold now.
|
|
Now, I'm not one for paradoxes...
|
|
...
|
|
And that's all I have to say on that subject. You could call in an expert. That's not what's important.
|
|
With all the data gone...
|
|
A keycard!? You mean I've been working my ass off to just get another lock?
|
|
Fuck this. I'm out.
|
|
And... crap.
|
|
Wrong again.
|
|
And that should be... wrong. Great.
|
|
Oh, and would you look at that, it's locked me out. Wonderful.
|
|
Damn it, that might've been my only try at this.
|
|
Fine then, maybe I ought to pivot to focusing on Yumemi herself instead of bothering with what she owns.
|
|
...or I could bust this door down.
|
|
Nah, saying it out loud makes it obvious that's just asking for people to turn on me. I'll find another approach to this.
|
|
I shouldn't be able to be here, should I.
|
|
Not normally at least.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
It's so quiet...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Surely, someone must've stayed behind somewhere in this school?
|
|
Surely...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Empty.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Hey youngster.
|
|
Looks like you've been workin' hard huh? Or hardly workin'?
|
|
Har, har.
|
|
Anyhow, here ya go.
|
|
?
|
|
Hold on, this is!
|
|
Wait, where'd she go?
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Here we are again.
|
|
I better pick carefully.
|
|
Here we are.
|
|
Gotta say, it looks like any other door I've seen. Except for the keypad that is.
|
|
And ...it hasn't locked out on me yet.
|
|
SCAN KEYCARD TO COMPLETE ENTRY
|
|
Scan it... how do you make this dreadful thing work?
|
|
Uh huh, uh, okay. There we go.
|
|
KEYCARD CORRECT
|
|
WELCOME PROFESSOR OKAZAKI
|
|
Now I won't spoil exactly what I saw in that office but I will say.
|
|
In addition to finding the exam data, stored in some kind of machinery that I deigned not to try to understand,
|
|
Which is to say that I smashed it to little metal bits with great delight.
|
|
There was also an intriguing absence of any time machine device, save for an opened safe that looked like it could've stored the device I hold now.
|
|
Now, I'm not one for paradoxes...
|
|
...
|
|
And that's all I have to say on that subject. You could call in an expert. That's not what's important.
|
|
With all the data gone...
|
|
A keycard!? You mean I've been working my ass off to just get another lock?
|
|
Fuck this. I'm out.
|
|
And... crap.
|
|
Wrong again.
|
|
And that should be... wrong. Great.
|
|
Oh, and would you look at that, it's locked me out. Wonderful.
|
|
Damn it, that might've been my only try at this.
|
|
Fine then, maybe I ought to pivot to focusing on Yumemi herself instead of bothering with what she owns.
|
|
...or I could bust this door down.
|
|
Nah, saying it out loud makes it obvious that's just asking for people to turn on me. I'll find another approach to this.
|
|
Next few days, technically.
|
|
But I spent those days doing the same thing.
|
|
Teaching.
|
|
I learnt that this wasn't necessarily a normal school with my time here.
|
|
Well normal as far as circumstances could allow.
|
|
It was specifically a school merging Outside World education with magic.
|
|
Now, I've no experience with the former but when it comes to magic, I think of myself as being well above average.
|
|
Things did get tense from time to time.
|
|
Are you just dense or was your brain replaced with wool during the birth!?
|
|
We've put that behind us since then.
|
|
You sicken me, the way you treat the forest you live in betrays either utter incompetence or-
|
|
That one too.
|
|
Are you f-
|
|
I like to think I did a lot of growing as a person.
|
|
The students kept attending, for the most part, which was a surprise.
|
|
Professor Okazaki was apparently equally eccentric as I was.
|
|
Part of what convinced people I was the real substitute.
|
|
Which only made it more odd that the real one never showed up, if there ever was one.
|
|
The care of flowers should not only be to ensure their appearance, but to ensure they are fulfilled.
|
|
To prolong the life, to let it bloom and thrive, to not...
|
|
...
|
|
To not allow harm to come to it.
|
|
I had gotten some leads into the destruction of the field that precipitated my arrival here.
|
|
However, I had found just as many dead ends. Things didn't add up.
|
|
I don't think I could've seen it coming, but I made my decision all the same.
|
|
I had only begun investigating the destruction of the field that precipatated my arrival here.
|
|
I should've set aside more time for that. I couldn't have known either way...
|
|
But it never hurts to be prepared.
|
|
I had neglected to look into the the destruction of the field that precipatated my arrival here.
|
|
And for what reason should I have? It was obvious who was at fault.
|
|
Perhaps, I should've looked into it.
|
|
Any questions class?
|
|
A few hands went up, too many to get to all of them in the time left, though notably one of the hands belonged to Reimu, another to Marisa.
|
|
Yes?
|
|
I've heard that flower arranging focuses on having the flowers mirror the sun, moon, and earth.
|
|
Not really, a question but yes. It's not something I've ever used.
|
|
What each flower says shouldn't be limited to how we interpret it. A single petal stretches farther than the ocean beyond.
|
|
Another hand went up.
|
|
Yes?
|
|
What other than interpretation do we have then?
|
|
I'm glad you asked, let me bring our conversation back to the language of flowers...
|
|
Yes. Ms. Hakurei?
|
|
Would you say that what we're doing, trying to connect with the flowers, is like what, say, a priest does with a god?
|
|
Mhm, while I wouldn't say it's the exact same, there are definite parallels.
|
|
What about gods of nature, of seasons, of... flowers? Is what we're doing talking to the flowers or to the god that might represent them?
|
|
That's a matter of demarcation. Now I've my own opinions on this, but let me walk you through the reasoning...
|
|
Yes, Ms. Kirisame?
|
|
So when I'm picking out flowers from the forest paths...
|
|
I'd expect "picking flowers" to mean devasting the forest when coming from your mouth, Ms. Kirisame.
|
|
That's a bad thing, yes, if that was your question.
|
|
But what if I using them to make something good, like medicine?
|
|
Like a disasterous alchemical explosion?
|
|
Or that.
|
|
Well... if a flower is nearing the end of its lifespan then that would be the time to consider such things.
|
|
But we have to be able to tell the difference between a flower whose care has been neglected and one coming to its natural end. The first will...
|
|
Soon however, exams would come.
|
|
Now I'm talking about their midterm exams:he halfway mark.
|
|
No, it's not as dramatic a climax as final exams.
|
|
But who would allow an untrained substitute that late into the semester to dictate the class?
|
|
Especially one who has no idea what they're learning or even what subject she's taking over for.
|
|
Professor Okazaki would allow such an untrained substitute, that's who.
|
|
The FINAL exams would come soon. And I was entirely unprepared.
|
|
Please, you've got to tell me how you did that giant sunflower!
|
|
I'd kill to know how, it'd impress so much!
|
|
The final exams were to be a presentation of your best magic. Whether it be the most perfected, most flashy, most personal, most elegant.
|
|
Kill, you say?
|
|
That's right! So you see, I'm trying to get a good score in the Mass section of our rubric, based on last year's finals. As far as I can tell your magic is the most massive I've seen so far!
|
|
Bar, Professor Okazaki's masterstroke last year, of course. On that, have you communicated with her? Are we still using last year's rubric or-
|
|
The final exams were to be a presentation of your best magic. Whether it be the most perfected, most flashy, most personal, most elegant.
|
|
You say you wanted to ask me something?
|
|
That's right! So you see, I'm trying to get a good score in the Mass section of our rubric, based on last year's finals. As far as I can tell your magic is the most massive I've seen so far!
|
|
Bar, Professor Okazaki's masterstroke last year, of course. On that, have you communicated with her? Are we still using last year's rubric or-
|
|
Please, you've got to tell me how you did that giant sunflower!
|
|
Of course! So you see, I'm trying to get a good score in the Mass section of our-
|
|
Tell me, are you a fan of Professor Okazaki?
|
|
Who isn't? Her masterstroke last year is the most massive I've seen with-
|
|
You sure do know a lot about her.
|
|
She's my favorite! You're a very close second, though!
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
Run along then, I need to prepare. We're going to be annnouncing something very interesting later.
|
|
Please... just stop talking.
|
|
Okay. Now what?
|
|
Now what, what?
|
|
Now what do you want me to do? If it means a good grade, I'll do anything!
|
|
Well first, off you're still talking and, uh, second...
|
|
...I'll need you to turn around, face the door.
|
|
Sure, done.
|
|
Then walk outside and leave. Come back tomorrow.
|
|
Got it! I'll do my best!
|
|
And that's why you're my favorite student.
|
|
She left soon after.
|
|
Having trouble with the kids, Miss... I still don't believe I've gotten your name?
|
|
That's because I haven't given it. And yes, I didn't expect consultations. I'd have thought the buggers, given how happy they are when class ends, wouldn't want more.
|
|
...well, I'm sure they feel they need any advantage they can get this late into the semester.
|
|
Has taking over Professor Okazaki's Magi-Physics class caused any issues?
|
|
Magi-what?
|
|
I mean, no, absolutely no issues.
|
|
I soon realized an issue.
|
|
Class, given your final exam is in two days, I've come to a decision.
|
|
We are going to walk out on the upcoming exam. There will be no exam, so long as there are no teachers or students to take it.
|
|
No exam? Let's gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
|
|
But how will this affect the economy?
|
|
Who cares about the economy? Anarchy!
|
|
That's not what anarchy means. It literally means order without r
|
|
I am begging you all to shut up.
|
|
The teachers are in on this? Who exactly are we protesting then?
|
|
The principal, I guess. Do we have a principal?
|
|
I'd assume Professor Okazaki, isn't she the founder?
|
|
Yeah, but she was fired.
|
|
Huh, what's happening? Is it a test?
|
|
Dude, you ask that every time we have class. Stop staying up, playing League of
|
|
Dude, you ask that every time we have class. Stop staying up, playing Outlasting Maroon
|
|
Are we clear on this?
|
|
No!
|
|
Good.
|
|
This is a terrible decision, Yuuka. Have you thought this out at all? You could tip Yumemi off that something's wrong.
|
|
Worse than that, this means no Libraonmics class at two-thirty!
|
|
You've never attended that class.
|
|
That's right. The timeslot is perfect since it's taught by the school's main librarian.
|
|
I'm in and out with a stack of books before the replacement can arrive. It's a way easier target than the Scarlets'
|
|
Marisa, they lend those books out for free.
|
|
And also could we bring this back to the topic at hand? You're creating chaos, the students are out of control!
|
|
Class, I'll be opening up student tutoring regarding Magi-Physics.
|
|
It was weird we suddenly started doing Magi-Botany.
|
|
I took it in stride, this is easy shit in comparison.
|
|
We changed teachers?
|
|
How have you just now noticed? Professor Okazaki is bright red from hair to clothes, you'd have to be blind to confuse her and... uh, I know this... it was...
|
|
To be fair, I thought she could've just dyed her hair.
|
|
Are we clear on this?
|
|
A familiar hand went up.
|
|
Yes?
|
|
May I volunteer my friend, my inspiration, Ch-
|
|
You backstabber! You should be the one tutoring, you actually like this class!
|
|
Right, because you only like Professor Okazaki and her strawberry red hair, and her cape, so cool, and
|
|
It is kind of obvious.
|
|
Any kind of attraction I feel towards the professor is entirely admiration, and nothing onroward!
|
|
Can we go back to just having the one tutor? Since Ch-
|
|
Oh so, she's a better tutor than me?
|
|
Just saying, you're admitting to being the better sacrifice. Learn to play the game, would ya?
|
|
Wow, I've really imparted my values onto this class haven't I.
|
|
That, for better or worse, you have.
|
|
Worse. Definitely worse.
|
|
Eh. It's about the same as how they'd react in the school in the Human Village.
|
|
But those are kindergarteners?
|
|
Exactly.
|
|
Reimu pointed at the class, arguments in various small pockets melding into a cacophony of voices.
|
|
Kindergarteners.
|
|
I'm glad you all see it my way~
|
|
Let's take this outside if we're actually going to talk. I'm getting a headache from listening to this.
|
|
So?
|
|
What do you mean, "so"?
|
|
Weren't you the one, Alice, that said I had to interact with humans more? I've been doing exactly that and see how it ended up.
|
|
Chaos and rage directed at one another: treating each other like how they treat the rest of nature's providence.
|
|
I simply let them be as they are.
|
|
I can't b-
|
|
You know, what Yuuka?
|
|
I'm not even going to argue with you.
|
|
You've determined you're right and that's all that matters to you.
|
|
Not the students, not me, and certainly most of all: not the flowers you act like you're the sole representative for.
|
|
I quite literally am. I'm a flower youkai.
|
|
Not from the beginning. You just took it up as another face for yourself.
|
|
You don't seem to think of this as different from playing with your food.
|
|
And frankly, I'm done trying to work with you on this.
|
|
Is that some kind of middling threat? I'm genuinely confused here.
|
|
It is the opposite of one. You're not my concern anymore.
|
|
Oh for your mother's sake, Alice. You know fully well what they've done, the thousands of lives beneath their feet, taken carelessly, thoughtlessly.
|
|
You don't know that. Is each person here personally responsible?
|
|
We haven't had any activities, school events, or learning materials that would imply the students are taught to do such things.
|
|
Why do you keep taking your anger out on whoever's within arm's length?
|
|
Should we really be here?
|
|
I say we stick to the sidelines for now.
|
|
You keep telling me to be mindful, to be considerate. Why, when so few will give the plants, give me that same chance?
|
|
It's hypocrisy to demand of me so much when you don't speak the same way to those... children.
|
|
...
|
|
I speak that way to you, Yuuka, because you are my friend.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
I'm not sure what response she was looking for but... Alice sighed deeply then.
|
|
To a degree I did, and still do, understand what she was getting at.
|
|
Stubborn as we could both be.
|
|
I suppose... it's not our problem if the students don't pass their class.
|
|
Only if it turns into trouble for the rest of Gensokyo.
|
|
And ya did kind of start a shouting match back there. That's noise disturbances at minimum.
|
|
Humans could do well to be be quieter.
|
|
Well, let's try and contain this before it erupts into something worse.
|
|
I was serious about there not being an exam.
|
|
I've seen their curriculum, it's all useless, extraneous topics.
|
|
Who would ever need to know how to file taxes when Gensokyo has no taxes?
|
|
Agreed. If only they taught more important things like geography and linear algebra.
|
|
A-are we doing a bit? Who uses those things?
|
|
Me.
|
|
Why?
|
|
For my dolls and... my dolls. They're all named after cities, did you never notice?
|
|
Well, you did name one of them Hourai.
|
|
That's a mountain. The elixir is named after the mountain.
|
|
Ohhhhhhhhhh. I think I just didn't think about it 'cause it's a funny name.
|
|
Would you all happen to be familiar with the Magi-physics that was previously taught?
|
|
Well, I know magic and I know physics. It's just combining the two, no?
|
|
Skilled as a practioner you are, you're hardly a theoretician when it comes to magic, let alone physics, Marisa. Do you even know Netwon's three principles?
|
|
Drop a ball from a tower and it falls, shoot someone with a spellcard and they fall. Same thing right?
|
|
That's Galileo. That's not Newton. Those aren't even three laws.
|
|
I thought Newton invented gravity?
|
|
Do you actively try to be an idiot, Marisa?
|
|
I don't have to try; skills just come naturally to me.
|
|
This is going nowhere.
|
|
Yuuka, you're clearly more invested in these students' education that your attitude lets on.
|
|
If you care about their exam, then do you have a plan? A next step?
|
|
Well... let's say I've done something VERY similar to this before. A little spitshine to grease the tires of progress couldn't hurt.
|
|
Spitshine... a tire?
|
|
Yes, I just need to ensure certain people are convinced the exam is unnecessary or that they would rather not go at all.
|
|
I'll talk with the actual teachers, see if I can't twist their arms into dropping this exam buisiness entirely.
|
|
Okay. Don't actually twist their arms.
|
|
It's just a figure of speech.
|
|
And repeat it back to me, slowly.
|
|
Yes, yes! No exams, I get it! Now LET GO OF MY ARM!
|
|
I glad to report to you all that the other teachers and I have come to a consensus regarding your exams. There will be no final exams.
|
|
I'm happy we have a substitute who's so forgiving, huh Alice?
|
|
Right. Forgiving.
|
|
Thinking about it, I don't even need to talk to the teachers do I?
|
|
So long as there are no students, there's no one to fail.
|
|
Then they'll just fail everyone.
|
|
Does it mean anything at that point?
|
|
Well... yes. They'd held back a year.
|
|
But so would everyone else.
|
|
And so nothing would change! Not a bad idea!
|
|
They'd still have to repeat a year?
|
|
We could use the same tactic to stop them from repeating a year.
|
|
That might actually work...
|
|
This all seems ill-planned out.
|
|
Stick in a mud as usual, Alice. Don't worry, I'll handle everything.
|
|
I said what I said. The students are just going to have to teach each other.
|
|
Besides didn't they have an entire semester to learn this? Surely they know something about the topic they've taken up thus far.
|
|
Students wouldn't be unprepared for an upcoming exam, would they?
|
|
No, surely not. They also would not procrastinate on their studies even if under a subsitute teacher.
|
|
I'm glad we've got our thumbs to the beating heart of the students, Alice. Knowing that, it's probably best to assign them to each other than leave them to their own devices.
|
|
I am deeply uncomfortable with you saying you're holding the students' beating heart.
|
|
I got chills from that image.
|
|
I went back in time to the scheduled day of exam to see the fruits of my labor.
|
|
And there it was. The exams were cancelled.
|
|
As you all know, the exams were to be called off the next day.
|
|
The students were estatic but the faculty were deeply worried.
|
|
Worry no longer, for you now know the truth of how and why.
|
|
Though it can never free you, at least you know.
|
|
I ask not for sympathy. Just an understanding.
|
|
Now there's only one last place for us, all of us, to go.
|
|
Not just that, but the faculty of the school went on a walk out, in protest of what they called my "heavy-handed approach".
|
|
A shame, really.
|
|
It coincided with today and so, I'm sorry you couldn't be here today.
|
|
...
|
|
But that didn't really happen, otherwise I wouldn't be here to talk to you all would I?
|
|
And yet here I am.
|
|
I don't understand how or why.
|
|
I hope you can, in time.
|
|
Best of luck.
|
|
Very Loud Quitting already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
|
|
The students were estatic but the faculty were deeply worried.
|
|
Rightfully so.
|
|
Worry no longer, for you now know the truth of how and why.
|
|
But before anything else, let me finish and judge me how you will, I did what I did.
|
|
The students took to it well.
|
|
We were correct that they had been prepared throughout the semester.
|
|
And by that we mean they crammed like their lives depended on it.
|
|
A sentiment that must be familiar to you all.
|
|
The day fast approached and I had my own preparations to do...
|
|
Seeing them work hard (with the addition of an extreme pressure) meant I felt a bit generous.
|
|
It took a little bit of convincing but let me complete our presentation and judge me how you will, I did what I did.
|
|
Hey, Reimu!
|
|
Huh, uh, yeah?
|
|
Damn, I've been getting way to used to being a student.
|
|
Did you review Professor Okazaki's research into the soul? I'm still confused by it, I was hoping you understood it better than I did.
|
|
Oh, you could explain what you know then, to make sure we're on the same page.
|
|
And so I'll know what on earth you're going on about.
|
|
Sure!
|
|
So the force of a magical attack is its mass measured in the weight of a soul times acceleration.
|
|
That means we can derive the weight of a soul if we divide the force of a magical attack by its acceleration.
|
|
Now, we need a way to measure the force of a-
|
|
Take your seats and put away anything that isn't a pen.
|
|
Oh, uh, you measure it with a ballistic pend-
|
|
Now.
|
|
The student sat back down, hesitating, leaving Reimu as the exam sheets were passed backwards.
|
|
Starting exam in 3. 2. 1.
|
|
What is the formula for the mass of a magical attack?
|
|
I hope I got that right...
|
|
It's [persistent.playeranswer1] right?
|
|
With what device do you measure the force of a magical attack?
|
|
I hope I got that right...
|
|
It should be... [persistent.playeranswer2]. I think?
|
|
What flower is well-known for turning to face the sun?
|
|
That's a weird one but it seems pretty easy, no?
|
|
That's a weird one but [persistent.playeranswer3], right? It seems easy compared to the others?
|
|
What is the language of flowers?
|
|
Hey wait a minute...
|
|
[persistent.playeranswer4]. Hey wait a minute...
|
|
Who's gonna pass this exam?
|
|
Did Yuuka change the exam questions?
|
|
That's... really nice of her. If she keeps this up I'll have to ask Akyuu to change her profile in the Gensokyo Chronicle.
|
|
Assuming this isn't just a plot of hers.
|
|
...I hope it isn't. Besides, she's more of the brute force type anyway.
|
|
When I arrived at school I was greeted by one of the faculty members, nervous.
|
|
Ah it's you. There's been a development.
|
|
I know, Professor Okazaki's back today right?
|
|
Yes and you're giving a presentation this evening.
|
|
What?
|
|
What's this about?
|
|
Professor Okazaki's arriving today.
|
|
She's a few days early.
|
|
Yes and you're giving a presentation this evening.
|
|
What?
|
|
I know, I know I didn't want to be the one to break it to you but it's school policy.
|
|
Technically, she wrote it but still. You have to give a presentation if you subsituted for her.
|
|
That's absurd.
|
|
You can read the handbook if you want to.
|
|
They handed me the book and I opened it in front of them.
|
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...these are chicken scratches.
|
|
Legally binding chicken scratches.
|
|
Hm.
|
|
Well, alright then.
|
|
Any requirements on what the presentation should have?
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Other than being about your time here? If there are any it's illegible.
|
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That would make things convenient.
|
|
I decided to use this opportunity to my advantage.
|
|
To get Reimu, Marisa, and Alice in the same meeting at the same time as Yumemi would only make her defeat all the sweeter.
|
|
Now we're back here.
|
|
Did you get all of that, Professor Okazaki?
|
|
Indeed.
|
|
Truly, a wonderful presentation Professor Kazami!
|
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I still don't understand why you'd wanted it.
|
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It's part of a little lesson I learned from my previous professorship.
|
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I've found it important to know the opinions of others. Especially before they make them known forcefully.
|
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But enough of that!
|
|
I understand that the rest of the school who hadn't had the fortune of knowing her prior to her chance encounter with our school won't recognize that name.
|
|
This is Yuuka Kazami, a powerful youkai.
|
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I think they'd understand at least that much by now after this entire presentation, no?
|
|
Try and hold your snark for the appetizers, fraulein.
|
|
I have comments after all. You did read the handbook didn't you?
|
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Don't answer that, it's just-
|
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Rhetroic, right?
|
|
...clever. clever.
|
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Let's skip the pleasantries then, shall we?
|
|
Don't answer that, it's just rhetoric.
|
|
Let's go over your track record then, shall we?
|
|
You've said a lot, including things that never happened. Dreams?
|
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Firstly, I don't know anything about a field of flowers.
|
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You lie.
|
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I'm a woman of my word, Yuuka! It's not something I'd do. I extend my deepest of regrets to you.
|
|
Truly.
|
|
Continuing on...
|
|
You attacked one of my students.
|
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I'm okay!
|
|
In your dreams, you scared off my entire class by antagonizing them.
|
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You also apparently caused my teachers to quit enmass, despite them being here.
|
|
Wow, you got really far into my puzzle! And yet still stumped? How sad. Use your head, there's barely any candidates left!
|
|
It seems you almost figured out my puzzle. What a shame, you fell short at the finish line.
|
|
You made a little progress into my puzzle. Not bad, but not good either. Should've tried a bit harder.
|
|
You barely even touched my puzzle! Come on, at least put some effort into the game.
|
|
You didn't even get a single clue? Seriously!? Jeez, I expected better.
|
|
...you don't even know where my office is? Is this all a game to you?
|
|
Hmph.
|
|
Now, all that aside.
|
|
...huh. That's about it. Now, that aside.
|
|
If this were yesteryear, I'd ask if you had a wish you wanted granted if you win.
|
|
How about you grant my wish now? It's for you to shut your face and eat a spellcard.
|
|
Why, my dear, it's only if you win.
|
|
And probability is on the side of rigorous.
|
|
Get away from Miss Kazami! You need to stop, Professor Okazaki!
|
|
Don't fight!
|
|
You'll get your ass beat, she's terrifying, don't try it Professor!
|
|
Can we please all just remain calm, this is getting out of control!
|
|
Yeah! She's kind of cute, actually-
|
|
Huh, what's happening?
|
|
...
|
|
Yumemi's gaze went out to a particular soul in the audience of students, hovering, before turning away.
|
|
Thank you all. But I can fight my own battles.
|
|
Shall we then?
|
|
Hah, prepare however you need. No power can compare the infinite worlds I can pick and choose! You face a challenge you can't even concieve of!
|
|
...
|
|
And then I hit her really hard.
|
|
From the earth you came, to the dirt you'll bite.
|
|
Oh wow, these are unprecedented velocities- I'm going higher, and higher and higher and it's dizzying, terrifying, but I can't stop, I'm going so fast!
|
|
I'm going, I can't stop, any object in motion remains in- I'm going, I am not stopping! If I look down, I'll get naseous!
|
|
In the time since, I've gone back to caring for my garden.
|
|
But I can't help but have some fond memories to look back on from my short time in that school, dreadful as the circumstances were.
|
|
...but, that couldn't have had happened.
|
|
They Have Your Back already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
|
|
Somewhere... something began again.
|
|
A new START.
|
|
RETURN and you'll find things not to be the same.
|
|
I'm standing right here, you know.
|
|
Your school is a madhouse wearing a thin mask. Whether from the Outside World or Gensokyo, I can't overlook all these humans here.
|
|
This has gone on long enough. You're teaching a mockery of magic to earnest young students.
|
|
You wear a single color. Your power is a mere fourteen-point-two percent of mine!
|
|
I'm a fan of keeping things suitably dramatic, but you're annoying more than anything else.
|
|
Sure, make another incident but let's keep normal people out of these things, yeah?
|
|
Thank you, everyone.
|
|
I'm standing right here, you know.
|
|
Your school is a madhouse wearing a thin mask. Whether from the Outside World or Gensokyo, I can't overlook all these humans here.
|
|
This has gone on long enough. You're teaching a mockery of magic to earnest young students.
|
|
You wear a single color. Your power is a mere fourteen-point-two percent of mine!
|
|
Thank you, Reimu. You too, Alice.
|
|
I'm standing right here, you know.
|
|
Your school is a madhouse wearing a thin mask. Whether from the Outside World or Gensokyo, I can't overlook all these humans.
|
|
I'm a fan of keeping things suitably dramatic, but you're annoying more than anything else.
|
|
Sure, make another incident but let's keep normal people out of these things, yeah?
|
|
Thank you, Reimu. You too, Marisa.
|
|
I'm standing right here, you know.
|
|
Your school is a madhouse wearing a thin mask. Whether from the Outside World or Gensokyo, I can't overlook all these humans.
|
|
Thank you, Reimu.
|
|
Long time no see.
|
|
This has gone on long enough. You're teaching a mockery of magic to earnest young students.
|
|
You wear a single color. Your power is a mere fourteen-point-two percent of mine!
|
|
I'm a fan of keeping things suitably dramatic, but you're annoying more than anything else.
|
|
Sure, make another incident but let's keep normal people out of these things, yeah?
|
|
Thank you, Alice. You too, Marisa.
|
|
Long time no see.
|
|
This has gone on long enough. You're teaching a mockery of magic to earnest young students.
|
|
You wear a single color. Your power is a mere fourteen-point-two percent of mine!
|
|
Thank you, Alice.
|
|
How about we gamble on them odds?
|
|
I'm a fan of keeping things suitably dramatic, but you're annoying more than anything else.
|
|
Sure, make another incident but let's keep normal people out of these things, yeah?
|
|
Thank you, Marisa.
|
|
Shall we then?
|
|
Hah, turn their hearts if you feel the need. Nothing can compare the infinite worlds I can pick and choose! You face a challenge you can't even concieve of!
|
|
...
|
|
And then I hit her really hard.
|
|
From the earth you came, to the dirt you'll bite.
|
|
Oh wow, these are unprecedented velocities- I'm going higher, and higher and higher and it's dizzying, terrifying, but I can't stop, I'm going so fast!
|
|
I'm going, I can't stop, any object in motion remains in- I'm going, I am not stopping! If I look down, I'll get naseous!
|
|
In the time since, I've gone back to caring for my garden.
|
|
But I can't help but have some fond memories to look back on from my short time in that school, dreadful as the circumstances were.
|
|
...but, that couldn't have had happened.
|
|
She Has Your Back already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
|
|
Somewhere... something began again.
|
|
A new START.
|
|
RETURN and you'll find things not to be the same.
|
|
Shall we then?
|
|
Hah, prepare however you need. No power can compare the infinite worlds I can pick and choose! You face a challenge you can't even concieve of!
|
|
...
|
|
And then I hit her really hard.
|
|
From the earth you came, to the dirt you'll bite.
|
|
Oh wow, these are unprecedented velocities- I'm going higher, and higher and higher and it's dizzying, terrifying, but I can't stop, I'm going so fast!
|
|
I'm going, I can't stop, any object in motion remains in- I'm going, I am not stopping! If I look down, I'll get naseous!
|
|
In the time since, I've gone back to caring for my garden.
|
|
But I can't help but have some fond memories to look back on from my short time in that school, dreadful as the circumstances were.
|
|
...but, that couldn't have had happened.
|
|
Hedgehog's Dilemma Solved already has been completed. Consider finding a different ending.
|
|
Somewhere... something began again.
|
|
A new START.
|
|
RETURN and you'll find things not to be the same.
|
|
Hmm, flux capacitor is definitely the wrong term for this and it's not exactly measurable in gigawatts but...
|
|
I believe the new Probability Space Hypervessel is complete!
|
|
Smaller, sleeker, though with the tradeoff of one person at a time.
|
|
Finally, preparations for the field test are nearly done...
|
|
Ahem.
|
|
Yumemi turned to towards the voice, taking off her glasses, staring blinkingly.
|
|
Ah, the flower youkai! We've not met beyond in passing have we? What a shame, considering our mutual friends.
|
|
You... this place...
|
|
This is taking place in the future, so why is the flower field... intact? Why are you talking like that?
|
|
Ah, my dear. I always talk like this, in English! Odd, given I'm not from England but-
|
|
No, because I met you already. Multiple times in fact.
|
|
I don't understand.
|
|
I met you in the past?Or is that currently the future?
|
|
I met you in the past?Or is that currently the future?
|
|
...ah! The field test was a success then.
|
|
Field... test?
|
|
Indeed, but before the actual causal event of me activating my device began, you appeared.
|
|
That implies that the now currently displaced causal event is the precedent cause of your appearance but has since been upended from this timeline.
|
|
That didn't explain anything.
|
|
A lot of people say tell me that! In general, of course.Alas, most of my conversations are not about time travel.
|
|
A lot of people say tell me that! In general, of course.Alas, most of my conversations are not about time travel.
|
|
To put it another way, the Probability Space Hypervessel works off of making that which does exist, exist no longer, and that which doesn't exist, now exist.
|
|
Counterfactuals can become reality and vice versa. Fantasy becomes reality.
|
|
In return, something else must take its position. Elsewise, we'd have contraries and contradictories that are true with the same world!
|
|
...right.
|
|
Look, if I'm getting this right this is you before any of this buisiness with schools or destroying fields comes in.
|
|
I've certainly done buisiness with schools before and destroyed fields with my revolutionary ideas but sure.
|
|
I'm sensing I'm not going to get a satisfactory explanation from you, like this, but could you just not start an incident?
|
|
And especially don't touch my flowers or I'll beat your ass again. Or other you's ass. She kept denying she knew anything about the field.
|
|
Ah, but now I do. I suppose other-me and I-that-is-me must be two different people.
|
|
I'll pledge not to do anything heinous (soon) but I can't guarantee other versions of me will do the same.
|
|
I- okay?
|
|
But perhaps I could explain a little.
|
|
I believe this field destroying buisiness is referring to this one we stand in right now?
|
|
Correct.
|
|
This field we are in right now was traded in some way for whatever this school buisiness you're talking about is.
|
|
How it got to that point, I couldn't tell you. I apologize if other-me caused any harm.
|
|
Harm that you, yourself, were about to replicate.
|
|
Well, given I did not do so and counter factuals without use of my device have no truth-value...
|
|
Zip it with the mumbo jumbo. You won't get any forgiveness but I'll spare you from punting you like a football.
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...it's a beautiful field.
|
|
I know.
|
|
You know, I chose this field for a reason.
|
|
Tucked beneath the crowds upon crowds of the crested queens of the flora is the Forget-me-not.
|
|
Didn't take you for a fan of them, given your wanton destruction.
|
|
Yes, well I suppose other-me didn't have the foresight you've given me.
|
|
In any case, I chose the flower to forget.
|
|
...?
|
|
Forget what?
|
|
...
|
|
Forget it.
|
|
Though the flower's name is for rememberance, especially... for those we've lost, recall that the device trades reality, or certainty, for a fantasy, a probability.
|
|
One for the other.
|
|
Trading memories for the ability to, finally, forget.
|
|
The students... their glazed over eyes, and repeated conversations...
|
|
It affected an entire group of people? An execrable result. I must have been affected myself if I didn't intervene.
|
|
No, you just played games, made puzzles. All for me to figure out so I could get here. Not that I understand the reasoning.
|
|
Hmm.
|
|
I wanted you to come here, or to bring me here. It's the only explanation.
|
|
I've been lost for so long ever since...
|
|
Miss!
|
|
Oh? Do you hear that?
|
|
Hear what?
|
|
It's a good thing you're here on time! Do you need directions?
|
|
Oh dear.
|
|
It's not good for a woman of science to be hearing things.
|
|
Thank you for your time, Yuuka.
|
|
I'll leave the device here. Do with it what you may. Though I'd advise you not destroy it, as the effects would be...
|
|
Miss?
|
|
I'm coming!
|
|
Goodbye, Yuuka.
|
|
Goodbye.
|
|
Don't you worry my student, hang on to your neckerchief.
|
|
Oh, and Yuuka?
|
|
Yes?
|
|
Treasure what you have now.
|
|
That was... a time.
|
|
Only one left thing to do then.
|
|
Good riddance.
|
|
There's something... ominous about that.
|
|
Given I found it in this field, after all.
|
|
But perhaps it's fitting that it should end up where it started.
|
|
Good riddance.
|
|
Somewhere it'll never be seen again. A safe of some kind?
|
|
...given it came from a safe, that seems ominous.
|
|
But that's also fitting, in a way.
|
|
Good riddance.
|
|
The next day...
|
|
01101101 01100101 01100100 01101001 01110101 01101101 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101101 01110011 01100111
|
|
Getting... closer...
|
|
Return... three...
|
|
Good morning, my dears.
|
|
Indeed, quite a terrible act was inflicted on your brethren.
|
|
I have my plans. I do hope you eagerly await the fruits of my labor.
|
|
Good tidings, I believe I am planting seeds germinating in those miscreants.
|
|
In time, I will turn even Yumemi's own students against her.
|
|
I will take great pleasure in seeing her downfall, as well.
|
|
I'm sorry I haven't attended to you as much this past week. I've had other seedling taking up my time.
|
|
I'm sorry. There's just one more thing I have to do after this. I hope you'll understand.
|
|
...I really hope you'll understand.
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
...
|
|
Are... headed... with...
|