The sun hung low on this typical Monday afternoon, casting a shadow on the Hieda Temple School's courtyard. Standing tall was the proud figure of Aya Shameimaru, smirking as she pulled out her Bunkachou.
A soft breeze swept past the vacated lot, tensions rising high in this three-person scene.
Glaring at the new arrival, Keine made it clear to the crow tengu that she wasn't welcome here.
But the journalist paid it no mind, brushing it aside.
"Why the sudden hostility? Surely a humble reporter asking a few questions isn't a crime?"
Aya's tone was playful, jovial, and mocking the teacher.
Keine didn't let it affect her.
"There is a time and place for that, and you chose the wrong one."
"Oh? Pray tell, but it seems both time and place are as good as any other."
Both of them stared each other down, neither backing off.
Seeing that the crow tengu didn't step down, Keine opened her mouth, her next move.
"We both know your kind isn't welcome in the village."
One sentence.
That was all it took to saturate the tension in the air to the maximum.
Anyone in this courtyard right now had the willpower, constitution, or shamelessness to withstand the exuded pressure. But, if a normal person entered, they would immediately faint.
The smile on Aya's face hadn't faded, but it didn't reach her eyes anymore.
"Could you clarify it to silly old me? With 'your kind,' do you mean crow tengus, tengus in general, or..."
"Youkaikind. All of them. Every youkai, no exceptions. Of course..."
Keine stared back into Aya's eyes, not intimidated by a second by the death glare she received.
"...that also includes a stinky tengu like you, Aya Shameimaru."
Aya could already tell—even from a brief exchange—that Keine's spirit was unyielding.
Like a rock pillar holding steadfast against the violent waves of the ocean.
Simple intimidation won't cut it with her.
"Is that so? That's a darn shame."
Her pupils dilated, anticipation rising in the tengu. Aya decided to abandon courtesy and immediately went straight for the killing blow.
"Are you included on this list, Hakutaku Keine Kamishirasawa?"
A crack appeared in the solid defenses of the Were-Hakutaku. Like Aya, her pupils dilated too, but for a completely different reason: a smudge of unease rising within her.
Something that didn't escape the attention of the Tengu reporter.
"Ayaya? And here I was, thinking our relationship was closer than this.
Or was the hospitality you offered me on last year's interview a lie?"
Aya's tone of voice was cheerful and friendly, but the glint in her eyes revealed her true intentions.
"As I already told you. Time and place. Please, don't make me repeat myself, Shameimaru."
"You know very well that's not what I meant, Kamishirasawa. Or did taking over the Hakurei's duties make you forget your standing-"
Before Aya could end her sentence, before she realized it herself, Keine's hand shot out, grabbing the tengu by the collar.
"Not another word, tengu."
Once again, the mood completely shifted.
The oppressive air around Aya disappeared as if it had been a lie. But it was neither because Aya calmed down nor because she decided to de-escalate the situation.
No, if her expression and face were anything to go by, it almost seemed she was more enthusiastic than before.
"Just concealing history? What a joke!"
Twisting her body, Aya gripped Keine's arm, stabilizing her position.
"History eater, Keine Kamishirasawa. It's really surprising to experience it in the flesh, but you truly devoured my history of releasing my energy just now!"
With a crazed smile on her face, a dangerous glint appeared in the tengu's eyes.
Keine ignored the tengu's analysis, irritation apparent in her eyes. She was close to snapping, yet barely managed to hold herself back.
"I know your game, tengu. Goading me, provoking me like this, all for a scoop in your vulgar paper."
Taking a deep breath, Keine eased her grip, letting the tengu drop flat on her butt.
"I always have and will be an ally of humanity, and there is nothing you can do to shake my convictions."
Seeing the resolute eyes on the teacher again, Aya sighed. If the situation had just escalated, it might have been newsworthy.
Maybe even an article that is good enough for a front page. But as it was now?
It wasn't even worth putting in her paper. At best, it was a third-page filler in a corner.
After all, even if she pointed out this hypocrisy, it was an already known and accepted fact.
In other words, old news.
Standing up, the crow tengu dusted off her butt, scratching her head in frustration at the lack of news.
She was here for an interview with Rin, but as Keine already made painfully clear, it won't happen in the village.
"You!"
Aya called out to Rin with a frown, pointing her ink pen toward the nurse.
"Yes, me?"
The nurse said, flinching in surprise as she pointed toward herself.
"Who else? Forget it, unimportant. When do you have time for an interview?"
"Well, I've got an appointment with the Hakurei Maiden in an hour or two, so maybe then-"
"Good."
Before Rin properly finished her sentence, Aya crouched low, stomping once, and vanished with a gust of wind.
Her figure had already disappeared from the courtyard by the next blink.
Rin gulped, brushing her hair back as the wind settled.
"So that's the speed of the fastest tengu in Gensokyo..."
As quickly as Aya appeared, she disappeared just as fast.
...
High up in the sky, Aya Shameimaru was reflecting on her recent failure to gather information.
The cold wind rushing past her hair calmed the tengu as she shot past the clouds like an arrow.
The rush of air centered her and focused her thoughts. Before she realized it, the human village below her disappeared from her sight, and the bitter taste of defeat with it.
"Ayaya..."
She muttered, ruffling her feathers a bit, skipping past the pages, the rough notes inside her Bunkachou.
"Not even enough for a side column. Old news, common knowledge... dull, boring."
Speed didn't guarantee good material, good news.
But what could she do? That was her job, even one she chose to do. What? Should she quit just because she was facing some hardships?
If she didn't want to face them, she could have just played it safe like the rest of her brethren and written uninspiring slop about Tengu politics.
But she didn't. She didn't want to, even if it tanked her paper's sales.
Aya sighed. Her remaining choice was a difficult one.
"Going to Keine was playing it safe, but I won't have that luxury for the time being."
Going to the Hakurei would be possible as long as it was as a guest, but going as a newspaper solicitor would mean extermination.
She just recently wrote an article on the Witch, but going for an interview in the miasma-filled forest was a bold choice.
Well, as for Rin...
She seemed confined to the village for the foreseeable future, but luckily, she got an interview slot with her in 2 hours, so that front did well.
Still, a reporter could never be prepared enough for the news.
If what she was after was news about the incident, aside from the incident resolvers, there should be another group of people she could target.
The culprits.
The mistress, the gatekeeper, the librarian, the maid, all of them were valid targets.
Her eyes glinted, and her curiosity was reignited. With a goal in mind, Aya readjusted her course.
Her destination...
"East, towards Misty Lake and the silhouette of the recently appeared mansion!"
In a heartbeat, Aya surpassed the sound barrier—proof that Gensokyo's fastest meant business.
...
The title of headmaid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion wasn't a position any ordinary person could occupy.
Beyond the fact that the master to serve was an immortal monster with a short temperament, both the size of the mansion and the lack of personnel would prove a challenge.
It was a workload so unreasonable that only someone who could stop time could possibly finish it.
In other words, working as the maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion wasn't an easy duty.
Waking up, Sakuya would start the day at HX?-∅∅∅:??? O'clock.
Lazily pushing her blanket off her body, Sakuya would get out of bed, stretch, and move until her blood flowed properly and her tiredness disappeared.
Pulling out her pocket watch, Sakuya checked the clock, making a mental note, before nodding to herself, scheduling the rest of the day ahead.
The first order of business would be, of course, cleaning her own room. After all, how could you expect a maid to clean and tidy well if she can't clean and tidy up after herself?
As the perfect and elegant maid, this was just what was expected of her. Nothing more, nothing less.
After her room was perfect, Sakuya would naturally step out, giving everything a quick glance to remind herself of how the mansion looked before she slept.
Naturally, nothing should have changed.
After confirming that nothing interfered with her powers in her sleep, Sakuya would take a deep breath.
Focusing her mind, both conscious and subconscious, on the tasks ahead.
Then, a slow and patient breath out would follow.
And before the cycle could repeat, even in stopped time, the maid disappeared from her previous position.
The mansion was vast. There was much ground to cover, and even in stopped time, there was no time to waste.
Equipped with a broom, a dustcloth, and an empty bucket, the maid would quickly dart through the mansion.
In her path, dust would disappear, window curtains drawn shut, and vases, statues, and chandeliers polished.
She did her task quickly, efficiently, and perfectly.
Sakuya would not waste time, even if it was stopped.
And after everything was done, Sakuya would again check the time on her pocket watch.
HX0-∅∅∅:8VA would mark the end of her cleaning routine and her first round of duties in stopped time.
Seeing the number, Sakuya would quickly catch her breath, smiling, satisfied at a job well done.
Turning the dials, Sakuya reset the timer, and with a click-
Time resumed again.
05:03.
It was a beautiful day outside, and the sun slowly rose over the horizon.
With time resumed, Sakuya's day started.
For real, this time.
With the mansion spotless, Sakuya could finally take it a bit easier as she made her way to the kitchen at a relaxed pace.
After all, it was inelegant for a maid to run through the halls.
She could only afford to do so when the time was stopped. When nobody can watch her.
But even then, her powers over time weren't omnipotent.
For one, no matter how hard she tried, cooking wasn't possible when she stopped time.
Moving an object away from its original position was one thing, but it was another to try to change its state.
In other words, cooking was only possible when time was flowing.
Humming to herself, Sakuya would start to prepare everyone's breakfast.
For Patchouli, who had both anemia and asthma, she would prepare something easy on the stomach and easily digestible.
Sakuya took a dozen eggs, separated the yolks from three eggs to prepare a hollandaise sauce, and used the remaining whites for Meiling's breakfast.
Then, she would start poaching two eggs and hard-boil the remaining seven.
While the eggs were cooking, Sakuya was already preparing the next task.
If she wanted to, she could have sped up the time of the eggs to finish cooking them instantly. But if she did that, the eggs would be left cold until she finished preparing the other ingredients.
Speed was one thing, but that speed would be pointless if it were not done efficiently.
The eggs were the most straightforward part; now, she needed to make bread and cook the rice.
Speeding up her time again, Sakuya tossed the flour and rice skyward in perfect arcs, catching just the right amounts in two bowls before returning the bags to their original position.
The flour was thrown onto the counter while the rice was soaked in water.
Each movement was carefully considered, each action perfectly executed, and the time was scheduled down to the second.
If someone from the outside looked in, the scene would appear like a mess, but with a simple snap from her finger-
*Snap*
Time was sped up, and breakfast was prepared.
For Patchouli, an Eggs Benedict and a simple fruit salad, and for Meiling, a couple dozen Onigiris filled with hard-boiled eggs.
Satisfied with her work, she placed the two meals on the trays before using time magic to freeze them in time.
That way, they'll still taste freshly made even if hours have passed.
Pulling out her pocket watch, Sakuya checked the time.
5:16.
Time to prepare her mistress's meal.
It was early morning, hardly the time for a nocturnal vampire to be awake.
But her lady's sleep schedule had been disrupted since the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Incident.
Waking up in the morning like a human, going outside to meet the Shrine Maiden, and falling asleep at night.
How would that affect her health?
Still, she was just a maid. It wasn't her place to say how her mistress should live her life.
And so, alongside Patchouli's and Meiling's morning meals, she would also prepare Remilia's.
Remilia was not only a picky eater but also a light eater. In truth, outside of blood, she didn't need any sustenance. But, since she hired her, Remilia insisted that Sakuya cook proper meals for her.
It was something about proper maids having to cook for their master.
Still, Remilia insisted, and so Sakuya would oblige.
And after a quick walk, she finally reached the room in the basement.
The blood room.
The room where all their blood was stored.
Opening it, Rows and rows of glass bottles—labeled A, B, AB, and O—lined the walls, each filled to the brim with thick, crimson blood.
Seeing the well-ordered room, Sakuya chuckled to herself.
The room wasn't always like it was now.
In fact, the room changed after the events of the Scarlet Night.
Before, those bottles weren't labeled. In fact, the blood wasn't even stored in clean glass bottles but in wooden barrels instead.
One human, one barrel for their blood. Don't let it mix, or it will spoil, and leave it in the cellar like the wine, but unlike it, halt its time.
Dozens upon dozens of barrels were left standing, stacked on each other, lining the walls. Some barrels were opened and resealed, and others were freshly juiced.
The only way to differentiate those barrels was from the vague labels written on them.
Something that particularly stood out to Remilia when they were still human.
For example, things like "virgin," or "red-head," or a "butler who mouthed off."
The disorganized room, lacking even the faintest semblance of order, had gone untouched for centuries—until Rin came and renovated it.
Sakuya didn't know when, why, or even how the nurse escaped her notice, got to the cellar, and fully renovated it, but she somehow did.
Of course, Sakuya immediately notified Remilia of the change. But when Patchouli saw the change, she softly whispered something to herself, and the change was ultimately accepted without much resistance.
It wasn't that Sakuya didn't appreciate the change. Organized like it is now, keeping the room clean was easy.
Still, the nagging feeling that Rin had skimmed some of the blood for herself never left Sakuya.
She lacked proof and evidence to accuse Rin of anything, especially considering how disorganized the room was.
And with the volume of the containers differing significantly, it was even more impossible.
If she only kept track of it, but with the whimsy of her mistress, it would still have been a difficult task.
Not that it really mattered.
Much of the blood would have never been touched again if it had stayed as it previously did.
So, it couldn't be considered a loss if she just skimmed a couple of those bottles here and there as "payment" for the renovation.
Smiling about the good deal they received, Sakuya took a fresh bottle of AB negative out of the cellar and walked back to the kitchen.
Remilia requested something rare to celebrate their successful immigration into Gensokyo, after all.
Not to mention that the bottles Rin used were quite beautiful.
Putting all the food of the prominent residents of the Scarlet Devil Mansion on a cart, now was the time for her second round of duties.
5:34.
It was time to serve everyone their breakfast.
The sun was still hanging low, and most of Japan had yet to awake from slumber.
The world was peaceful, and the birds had yet to start chirping.
A tranquil world that was different from her silent, frozen world.
A pink sunrise that is only seen by a few people.
A beauty that was worth living for.
And before she realized it, she had already reached the gate of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Her heartbeat quickening, her pulse rising, and heat rising on her face, she casually made her way through the gate, greeting the gatekeeper with an elegant smile.
"Good morning, Meiling. Hard at work, or hardly working?"
Only to be met with disappointment at the sight of a bum who was unable to keep herself conscious.
Sakuya cleared her throat loudly, hoping to wake the gatekeeper.
She didn't.
The purpose of a gatekeeper was to have them guard the gate, watch for suspicious people around the perimeter, and protect the building's residents.
None of which a sleeping person can reasonably fulfill.
"Honestly... What good is a gatekeeper that doesn't keep the gate?"
No reply. Just a low grunt that came from the snoring gatekeeper.
How sloppy of Meiling.
Rolling up her skirt, Sakuya reached for a knife on her thigh holster, readying an attack.
Holding the familiar cold steel in her hand, a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes as the knife was flung without any mercy.
Containing killing intent, that attack would have killed most living beings if used against them, no matter how guarded they were, much less a sleeping person.
Most living beings except Meiling.
Feeling the suffocating intent behind the attack, Meiling's eyes instantly opened, catching the knife out of the air with one graceful motion and promptly sending it back to the sender.
Not prepared for her knife to get thrown back at her, Sakuya reflexively stepped aside, letting her knife disappear into the woods.
"Wah- Sakuya?! Please don't scare me like that! I thought a vampire hunter was attacking!"
Slightly perplexed at the unusual gatekeeper's competent display, Sakuya slowly lifted the basket filled with riceballs up to chest height.
"Breakfast."
She stated matter of factly.
"Really! You're a lifesaver! Gimme, gimme!"
Like a starving animal, Meiling took the basket from Sakuya's hands, opening it in anticipation of today's meal.
Mealtimes were the highlights of the day for the gatekeeper.
Not only was Sakuya a great cook, but it was also the only time someone would keep her company outside of Mother Nature.
Meiling didn't even bother to say anything as she took one of the riceballs out of the basket, taking the first bite out of one.
"Hm... just eggs? Weren't you quite lazy this morning, Sakuya?"
The maid's reply was a cold smile as one of her knives appeared in her right hand.
"Am I... hearing complaints?"
Under Sakuya's threat, Meiling immediately folded, trying to retract her previous statement.
"No! No, nononono, no! Not at all! I just was talking about how you usually prepare a bit more!"
Seeing Meiling panic like that, Sakuya couldn't stop herself and let a soft chuckle escape her mouth.
She was just so endearing like that.
"I was just joking, Meiling. We just had a surplus of eggs today, that's all."
Realizing it was just a joke, Meiling felt slightly flustered as she rubbed the back of her head.
Joking at her expense like that, not that she wasn't used to being the butt of the joke at this point.
"Is that so? You know, one of these days, I might sleep through one of your wake-up greetings. Then what?"
Sakuya made her way to Meiling, leaning against the spot on the wall right beside the gatekeeper.
"Then it's to replace you with a proper gatekeeper. Simple as that."
Hearing those harsh words, Meiling froze up. So, she was just a replaceable pawn to them.
She felt that was the case, but hearing it formulated into words hurt more than expected.
A long pause followed—but then Sakuya's voice softened.
"But I knew you'd catch it. It was a blade meant to kill—unless you were Hong Meiling. You are the kind who wouldn't die, even if her heart burst and her brain failed, if it meant protecting the Scarlet Devil Mansion after all."
Throwing a curveball like that...
It was unfair, especially with that beautiful smile of hers.
"What kind of Youkai do you think I am? Those kinds of wounds would definitely incapacitate me."
Sakuya chuckled at Meiling's quick quips, and seeing the maid laugh in turn made the gatekeeper laugh.
And so, they shared a warm morning in each other's presence.
It was such a peaceful day...
That Sakuya felt guilt as she gripped her fist a bit too forcefully.
"Meiling, you know nobody expects you to guard the gate around the clock, under any weather, every day of the year, right?"
Suddenly receiving such a serious question, Meiling didn't know what to say, staring at Sakuya to ensure she wasn't hearing things.
"Are you sure? I thought it was in the job description."
She said with the usual joking, self-deprecating voice when talking about herself.
"Meiling!"
That was unusual.
Sakuya's voice cracked, sharp, jarring.
It was unlike her usual perfect self. Sakuya never raised her voice like that. Never.
"Don't think I am unaware of what you are trying! I am telling you to cut it out!"
Where did this sudden outburst come from? Meiling was confused, unsure what was happening.
"Do you really think you can live like me?! Being active the entire day?! Not sleeping a wink?! I am cheating, Meiling... I sleep when time is stopped—when no one can see me, where nobody can judge me for what I am..."
Tears welled up in the maid's eyes, about to burst.
"Don't think I don't know that your narcolepsy is the result of you trying to imitate me! I am telling you to cut it out! Get proper sleep! You are much more useful if you aren't constantly dozing off like that-"
Before she could continue complaining, Meiling pulled Sakuya into a tight embrace, hugging the maid and slowly brushing the hair on her head.
She called it cheating, but what game would punish you for taking a break?
"I can very well return those words to you, Sakuya. Don't think I don't know how lonely you are, that you distance yourself from everyone for fear of getting hurt..."
At once, Meiling's arm tightened around Sakuya, almost as if she feared that the frail woman could disappear at any moment if she just loosened her grip slightly.
"That you think you are monster because of your powers."
Being confronted with her fears, Sakuya tried to push out of Meiling's embrace, but to no avail.
No matter how much strength she put into her arms, or even if she stopped time, she couldn't get away from the gatekeeper.
If she was honest, that worry had plagued her for a while now.
The nature of her abilities, and especially what it meant about her.
But she didn't need to think about it for so long.
She was always busy. She had been busy for so long, long before they arrived in Gensokyo.
It was just that ever since the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil incident passed, the voices lingering in the back of her mind grew louder.
And when she saw Meiling trying to imitate her with a smile on her face, it all suddenly came crashing down.
"But, I am. I am different from everyone else! A freak that isn't even a youkai, wielding supernatural powers like that-"
Hearing Sakuya say those words, a soft chuckle escaped Meiling's mouth.
"What's so funny! This is serious!"
And when she saw Sakuya's crying, pouting face, Meiling couldn't suppress her laughter.
"I am sorry, it's just..."
After pulling herself together, Meiling loosened her arms around the maid but still ensured a tight grip remained around her shoulders.
"...what kind of pointless worry is that after we moved to Gensokyo?"
Sakuya flinched when she heard Meiling make light of her anxieties.
"Pointless?!"
She was boiling over from anger that it wouldn't even be a surprise if she murdered Meiling right now.
"It's just, even if we ignored the monsters living in this land, which would of course include the one we serve, didn't you just recently meet humans that by all means could be called freaks just like you?"
Thinking about Meiling's words, Sakuya slightly blushed as she realized that Meiling wasn't really wrong.
"I mean, think back on the incident. Reimu, Marisa, Rin, all three of the are definitely human. Yet, they all beat you fair and square in a fight. Honestly, out of all the humans I know (that are currently alive), you are the most normal out of all of them, Sakuya!"
Listening to Meiling's clumsy words, Sakuya found herself inexplicably cheered up.
It was almost as if all her worries had disappeared, and the weight on her shoulders had been lifted.
Right...
That was the kind of place Gensokyo was, accepting even people like her.
So, maybe there was also hope for...
Her.
Pulling out her pocket watch, Sakuya checked the time.
5:56.
"Phew, still within schedule."
Wiping her tears away, Sakuya made it so that it never looked like she cried.
"That was a fruitful talk, Meiling. Same time, same place?"
Meiling responded with a simple thumbs-up and a big smile.
"You can always come to me with your worries. For you, I'll always have time."
She almost regretted it. Some part of her wanted to stop Sakuya, hold her by the hand, and tell her that she could take a bit more time to rest.
But both of them knew that the maid would once again stop time and do so when nobody could observe her.
"Sakuya..."
"Hm-?"
The maid stopped, looking back at Meiling.
"Take it easy."
Hearing those words, Sakuya nodded, taking the suggestion to heart.
"Thanks, I will. And it won't be during stopped time."
5:58.
What an eventful morning.
...
6:00.
Arriving at the Voile Library.
Stepping foot this early into Patchouli's sanctuary, her magical atelier, the last thing somebody would expect from the bookworm was that she was an early riser.
And they would, in fact, be correct.
"No sleep today as well, Lady Patchouli?"
Emerging from a pile of books, the lilac magician grunted in affirmation, confirming that she hadn't slept a wink that night.
"Lady Patchouli, with your fragile health, skipping out on sleep won't do well for you."
Taking out a pot of chamomile tea, Sakuya elegantly poured a cup for Patchouli, setting it down in a place that wasn't cluttered with books.
Smelling the sweet and calming aroma, Patchouli stretched her body, sitting up straight.
"Dawn already? Sigh, time passes so quickly nowadays. One moment I am deeply focused on my research, and the next it's morning already..."
Patchouli silently said, almost whispering from being too acclimated to the library's silence.
Taking the hot tea, she softly blew on it to cool it down, slowly sipping on it.
"Haw~, so good..."
Thoroughly enjoying her beverage, Patchouli now turned her attention to Sakuya, a smug expression on her face.
"Sakuya, I abandoned worms long ago. I am practically immortal. Something like sleep is just a luxury for a magician like me."
"And yet, you have health complications like a human anyway."
Receiving such a sharp counter, Patchouli flinched, almost feeling guilty.
"Speaking of luxuries, here is your breakfast."
Taking out a silver tray, Sakuya opened it to reveal two eggs benedict.
They were still fresh and warm. Almost as if they were cooked right before Patchouli.
"Eggs benedict? Don't you think poached eggs are quite messy to eat?"
"But it's also one of your favored dishes."
Patchouli let out a low hum, almost annoyed at the maid for pointing out her contradictions.
"Sigh... Knife and fork."
The utensils were swiftly handed to Patchouli.
"Bon appétit."
The magician said flatly. Around her, the piles of books floated up, returning to their proper places.
Lifting the cutlery, Patchouli's hands trembled slightly, not from weakness but from the unfamiliarity of handling something with her hands.
"Such a bother. Then again, eating also is a way to refuel magical energy."
Cutting into the egg, Patchouli made sure not to spill any of the yolk as she put a bite into her mouth.
Tasting the food, the magician shivered upon the stimulus of her sense of taste.
As always, a meal cooked by Sakuya had to be good.
"You know, for complaining about how messy eating poached eggs is, your plate is almost so clean that I don't even need to wash it afterward."
Small talk.
Something Patchouli almost found unnecessary, but she also learned that those small, insignificant things in life were what enriched it.
"Eating messily, while easy because of its thoughtlessness, ultimately creates a mess. Simply, it wastes time. Not to mention, it's inefficient. I am only bothering with etiquette because it leads to a quicker, more efficient result."
Taking the last bite of one of the eggs benedict, Patchouli breathed out as she leaned back in her chair.
Tapping her fingers against the armrest of her chair...
"Koakuma!"
...the magician called for her familiar, a little devil, or maybe she was an imp or succubus?
Anyways, her familiar appeared in a puff of red sparkles.
"Yes, what is it, Lady Patchouli?"
"Clean up."
Koakuma didn't need to be told twice. She floated over, picking up the tray with practiced ease.
"Ah- Of course, I'll take care of it as usual~, Lady Patchouli! But..."
The little demon familiar hesitated slightly, scared of her master's response if she said her thoughts out loud.
"You always say you don't need sleep, Lady Patchouli, but your body isn't reflecting that."
Fidgeting, Koakuma waited for the eventual of her master, only for it not to come.
"Dully noted. Now, get back to doing your work."
Was the magician's only response, lazily waving the little imp away.
Nibbling on the untouched second benedict, Koakuma floated off to somewhere only she would know of.
Sakuya just watched the back of the disappearing devil, unconcerned that Patchouli's familiar just disappeared with the dishes to who knows where.
It was the same every morning—Patchouli's appetite always seemed to be less than the portions she prepared, and Koakuma would always eat what was left of the meal.
Thinking about it, it was rather amusing to watch.
"Lady Patchouli, you say sleep is a luxury..."
Seeing that Patchouli finished her tea, Sakuya poured a new cup for the magician.
"...but your familiar sure doesn't act like that's the truth."
Listlessly leaning over the table, Patchouli yawned. She was growing tired of this conversation.
"3.5 Billion years of evolution, yet sleep couldn't be phased out. Why do you think that is the case, Sakuya?"
"Isn't that simply because sleep is one the few truly enjoyable necessities?"
Patchouli snickered at that reply.
Such a simple, straightforward answer. Fitting for someone who is so utilitarian.
"Well, it's certainly a creative response. But, the fact is, we don't have a clear answer to that one. There are several models and theories on why that is the case, but there is no consensus. But, if I myself had to answer that question..."
Patchouli sneered, acting as if what she said was obvious.
"Evolution doesn't chase perfection—it simply settles for whatever stumbles across the finish line alive. Sleep works, doesn't matter whether it's inefficient, inconvenient, or puts organisms in a vulnerable state for a third of their lives. It solved enough problems well enough—energy conservation, memory consolidation, and cellular repair. Since it was good enough, there was no reason to find something else."
Patchouli sighed, frustrated that she had to admit that her body was growing tired.
"Complex systems don't evolve toward perfection. They develop toward survivability. If sleep lets you survive long enough to reproduce, it stays—even if it's an embarrassment of a design decision."
Patchouli traced the rim of her teacup, her thoughts scattering. There were still so many things she wanted to do, so much to research.
It was definitely a sign that she was about to doze off.
"And I am no exception to that role. The abandon worms spell only stops aging, not sleeping itself."
Seeing Patchouli grow more sluggish by the second, Sakuya stopped time and returned with a blanket, ready to cover her once she fell asleep.
"So, is that the topic of your research, Lady Patchouli? Sleep? It has been quite a while since you've been this absorbed into a topic."
A casual inquiry. Nothing Patchouli couldn't share with Sakuya.
The magician shook her head as her immediate answer.
"No, it's about time, space, timelines, and fate. Specifically revolving about your and Remilia's abilities, with the occasional extension into... her."
Hearing that she was the research topic, Sakuya stopped moving, slightly concerned that she caught Patchouli's attention as a subject.
"Is that so? So, what are the results?"
Patchouli mumbled half to herself, half to Sakuya. It seemed the conscious part of her brain had already shut off.
"...Sakuya. Tell me..."
The latter half of her words were only barely audible.
"...can you even trace your own past?"
With those words, Patchouli left for the land of dreams.
Putting the blanket over her, Sakuya cleaned the place before leaving the library.
What a curious inquiry. Of course, Sakuya remembered her past.
The more fitting questions would have been...
"Which one?"
Having given her reply, it was time for the last item on her checklist for this morning.
Serving breakfast for Remilia.
Once again, Sakuya checked her pocketwatch.
6:23.
There was still some time left.
...
6:31.
Sakuya stood at the bedside of Remilia's massive bed, waiting in the dark for any sign of movement from her master.
It was still early morning, but expecting consistency from a lopsided sleep schedule would be unrealistic.
And so, Sakuya was waiting for any movement from Remilia's coffin.
7:11.
Forty minutes passed, and Sakuya stood perfectly still, waiting for her mistress.
The silence was only broken by the tick of her pocket watch. Time moved, as it always did, but anything related to Remilia had long ceased to be a burden for Sakuya.
Seeing even the remotest trembles on the lid, all the candles inside the room were immediately lit, illuminating the room in a warm orange glow.
"I wish you a pleasant morning, Lady Remilia."
Emerging from the coffin, the petite vampire with a small frame stretched her body, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Morning to you too, Sakuya. What time is it?"
"It's the 11th minute of the 7th hour of this day, my lady."
Hearing the time of day, Remilia nodded, stepping out of her coffin.
"It's rather early, isn't Sakuya?"
"Yes, of course, my lady. Do you perhaps plan to fix your sleep schedule?"
In the blink of an eye, Sakuya was all over the trim vampire, dressing her, brushing her blue hair, washing her face, cleaning her teeth, and applying light makeup.
All within a fraction of a second.
"No, I don't think so. If I did, I'd miss the opportunity to interact with all the fun humans around here."
"A pity. Having a lopsided sleep schedule isn't healthy, after all."
Remilia laughed at her maid's dry reply.
Entertaining, as always.
"I don't want to hear that from you, who sleeps at a time only possible for her."
"Touché, Lady Remilia."
Sakuya curtly replied, putting the finishing touches on Remilia's appearance.
A full-length, Victorian-style inspired dress consisting of a fully scarlet bodice, a white capelet fastened by a matching bow, and a voluminous, frilly white skirt in the shape of a bell that reached her ankles gathered at the waist by a scarlet sash, tied into a bow behind her.
Atop her head sat a bulkier-than-usual white cap, its broad, rounded form adorned with a large, elegant red bow.
"How do I look, Sakuya?"
Remilia twirled around, showing off the dress.
Seeing her mistress twirl in satisfaction, Sakuya couldn't help but feel a quiet pride bloom inside her chest.
Not only in her mistress's appearance, which was divine—but also in the joy it brought her.
"How about looking in the mirror? With an appearance like that, you need to see for yourself how good it is."
Receiving Sakuya's compliment, Remilia grimaced at her maid for saying something so profoundly idiotic.
"Sakuya, I am a vampire. We don't have reflections?!"
Sakuya blinked, almost like the words went into one ear and out the other.
"Isn't that because mirrors used to be made of silver, and you have to avoid running water? Wouldn't a bronze or modern one work?"
She asked innocently, tilting her head.
That...
"That's... a sound argument."
Remilia didn't have anything to retort with. After all, silver was indeed one of the vampire's most significant weaknesses.
Biting her nails, Remilia was frustrated that she was so easily beaten in an argument.
Deep within, she knew it was petty. But, as Sakuya's master, she couldn't allow her charismatic image to shatter that easily.
"Yes, silver is a considerable weakness for us, but it's not why we lack a reflection. After all, Vampires are undead monsters and undead lack souls. Simple as that."
That was a great retort. Sometimes, Remilia couldn't believe her genius for coming up with such a great reply on the spot-
"But is that truly the case and not fabrication from the church to find a reason to persecute and hunt vampires?"
Silence took over the room.
Remilia gripped her hands, and her pupils were dilating.
It seems she was reminded of a bad set of memories.
"If that's a joke, you chose quite the tasteless topic, Sakuya."
Feeling her master's bloodlust, Sakuya was about to gasp. Yet, instead of retracting her statement or backing down, an elegant smile appeared on the maid's face as she slowly approached her master.
"I don't know about lower undead such as ghouls or zombies..."
Casually brushing her mistress's hair, Sakuya continued.
"...but Lady Remilia, there is no denying your love for me, compassion for Patchouli, respect for Meiling, and worry for the little mistress. Just like humans do, you feel the full emotional breadth. You can act spoiled like a child yet, without a doubt, you command respect and admiration neither of which are facades, but genuinely 'you'."
Setting down the brush, Sakuya left the room, leaving Remilia alone with her thoughts.
"Indeed, Sakuya. What even is a soul? No one can touch it, see it. Yet the church insists it's the proof of humanity's worth—and the undead's damnation."
Does she have a soul, or does she not?
To be or not to be. That was something only Remilia could decide for herself and not something someone else could impose on her.
"So, with all that said, won't you try seeing yourself in a mirror."
Having her maid appear out of nowhere like that, Remilia flinched, startled by her actions.
"Make some noise when you approach me, geez..."
Sighing, Remilia looked at the object that Sakuya so gracefully covered with a blanket.
"But this is Gensokyo. Even if it was just a rumor in the outside world, here, as long as the collective unconscious of humanity believes in it, concepts associated with us will get superimposed on us, regardless whether we desire so or not."
Seeing Remilia's worries on her face, Sakuya had only one response.
Uncovering the mirror.
"Wah-!"
"Just like there is a limit to the wishes a holy grail can grant, I also believe that Gensokyo is limited on the lies it can turn into truths."
The blanket fluttering down, Remilia was met back with the gaze of a young, pretty woman.
"I, for one, doubt it can take away what you always possessed."
Looking at herself in the mirror, Remilia trembled as she saw her reflection.
The unfamiliar yet so familiar face of the blue-haired aristocratic girl before her was undoubtedly "Remilia."
"Sakuya, is that pretty girl before me really me? My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, are they?"
There it was, her more childish nature. Yet, it was all the more proof of her soul.
"Your glass of AB negative, my lady."
"Yeah, this is cause to celebrate, isn't it, Sakuya?!"
Sakuya didn't respond. It was unnecessary.
Their bond as master and servant long surpassed the need for speech.
Looking at her master's beaming eyes, Sakuya couldn't help but smile to herself.
How long has it been since Remilia could smile so carefree?
Gensokyo really was paradise, after all.
...
7:59.
If today had already strayed from the ordinary, what followed would turn it into something special.
Without a doubt, despite living together in this big mansion, everyone lived by vastly different rhythms, so their shared home rarely felt like a shared life.
Meiling guarded the gate day and night, Patchouli isolated herself in her library, Sakuya lived most of her life in stopped time, and Remilia did whatever pleased her.
Yet, somehow, on this day, the clock hitting 8, these four people with vastly different rhythms gathered in the main dining hall.
Even Patchouli, who had fallen asleep 97 minutes ago.
"Oh my, my~. It's rare to see the central residents of my manor gather like this. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Remilia asked as she sat down at the head of the table, curiosity taking over.
At first, nobody replied, just sitting down in their respective seats.
Patchouli was somewhere on the left side of the table, Meiling somewhere on the right, and Sakuya stayed standing on her mistress's right side.
Overlooking the situation, Remilia couldn't help but look a bit disappointed.
"Is it just me, or is the room looking a bit desolate?"
Patchouli narrowly turned her head towards Remilia, returning a tired, deadpan stare.
"You insisted on the big table, Remi... Something about the vibes of an evil organisation."
Meiling scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed to voice her opinion.
"We also don't really have a clear-cut hierarchy in this house. Sakuya and I are your subordinates, but Sakuya is more my equal than my superior. And Lady Patchouli is your friend and not your underling. So, there isn't really any seating order for us to adhere to when sitting down here..."
Letting out a huff, Sakuya started to pout in her lady's stead.
"Ladies, stop it. It might have been questionable for Lady Remilia to wish for a table big enough to seat 50 people, but the table has to be at least this big so Remilia can at least imagine that this many people will show up when she is throwing a celebration!"
Whether it was done intentionally or not, the words of her friends felt like arrows that hit Remilia's heart directly.
Blushing, shame, anger, frustration, and embarrassment mixed inside Remilia as she clenched her fists and started trembling.
Something that didn't escape anyone's notice in the room...
"Uuu..."
As Remilia broke out in tears.
"Uuu...! That's not true! I do have friends! I have a lot of them...!"
Seeing the usually dignified Remilia start crying, everyone was startled.
Yes, they were prepared and expected Remilia to get angry, but crying?
That was new.
Standing up from her seat, Patchouli walked over to Remilia and pressed her into her bosom, petting her head.
"There, there, Remilia. Of course, you have plenty of friends, Remilia. After all, I am one of them. But, unlike me, most of them weren't long-lived species. Most of them probably aren't around anymore..."
The room turned solemn upon Patchouli's word.
"Yes, it's only natural that most aren't around anymore. You've always had a particular affection toward humans, especially power ones, but..."
Sakuya sighed, some of the frustration coming from her being human.
"...most humans don't even make it to a century, let alone five of them."
Once again, the room turned silent, nobody knowing what to say next.
Uncomfortable with the mood, Remilia pushed Patchouli away from her.
"Mukyu!"
Patchouli yelped out as she fell onto her butt, not having braced for impact.
Remilia wiped her tears away, clearly not in the mood for melodrama.
"That's not what I am talking about! Grah!"
Ruffling her hair from frustration, Remilia pointed at Sakuya, issuing an order.
"It doesn't matter! Sakuya, send out invitations! Don't underestimate the head of this house! I am Remilia Scarlet! Filling this meagre table is child's play for me!"
Receiving the order, Sakuya just smiled and gave Remilia a curtsy.
"Order received. To what occasion and to whom should the letters be sent out?"
Pausing for a moment, Remilia pondered for a while before concluding.
"The occasion is the resolution of the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil incident. As for the invitees, it has to be incident resolvers, of course. Reimu, Marisa, Rin, oh, and we should also invite the chronicler! Tell them that they can also invite a plus one and two!"
"Consider it done."
Sakuya nodded, pulling out her pocket watch as she prepared to stop time.
But before she could do so, Meiling stopped her.
"Let's not get too hasty... Aren't we all forgetting something?"
With all the attention now on her, Meiling swallowed back some dry saliva, a bit nervous that she had to speak before a group.
"Didn't we fail to address the topic on why everyone gathered here, despite not getting called?"
Now that she said it out loud, everyone halted as if to recall their original reason to gather.
Remilia was the first to speak out.
"Well, out with it then. Why did we gather? Especially you two, Meiling and Patchouli. I am the head of the house, so it is common for me to walk around my estate, and Sakuya, my maid, is expected to follow me like a tail. But it's unusual for you to leave your post, Meiling, and for Patchy to go out of her atelier..."
Exchanging gazes, both seemed to silently agree that it was time to talk about her.
"Isn't it about time we talked about the young mistress?"
Both said, almost in unison.
Hearing their question, Remilia sighed. In her heart, she expected them to ask that question as it was also a subject in her mind, but she wasn't quite ready for it yet.
But she feared if she didn't address it now, she would never address it.
Taking a deep breath, Remilia steadied her heartbeat as she looked directly into the group.
Her sister, huh?
"What about Flandre?"
...
16:00, late afternoon.
As Sakuya reminisced about the day, she realized a lot had happened, even more so than usual.
Even ignoring the uncommonly busy morning she had today, going to the village and delivering Rin the letter at 10, early morning shopping at 11, giving an invitation to Akyuu at 12, supply shopping at 13, going to the Hakurei Shrine and giving Reimu, and also Marisa who was conveniently there, their invitations at around 14, and now returning home.
Today had been an eventful day, to say the least.
"Yo, Sakuya, back home at least?"
Seeing Meiling's energetic greeting, Sakuya felt some of her energy return.
Receiving her greeting, it genuinely felt like she finally returned home.
"I am back, Meiling."
Smiling at each other, the atmosphere turned warm. At least, it would have if Sakuya hadn't dumped one week of groceries and supplies on Meiling.
"You know where to put all of it, Meiling~."
With a mischievous smile and wave, Sakuya disappeared before the gate, probably back to supervising the fairy maids again.
Meiling could only reluctantly nod and accept the task forced upon her.
"Yes, of course, Sakuya."
If Sakuya could do it, she should also be able to accomplish it. At least, that's what Meiling told herself whenever something unreasonable happened.
"Sigh, speak for myself. I am also the one who tries to forgo sleep to do what only Sakuya is supposed to do."
Carrying the stuff to the storage, Meiling noticed a black streak in the sky passing her.
On an ordinary day, Meiling wouldn't have thought twice about the occurrence and returned to whatever task was given her.
But today wasn't an ordinary day.
"Three Blossoms: [Colorful Ultimate Mountain-Breaking Cannon]!"
Using her ultimate attack, Meiling aimed to hit the black streak that passed by her.
But as nothing fell out of the sky, Meiling rubbed her head and returned to her job.
Storing groceries.
"Must have been the wind."
Meanwhile, the aforementioned black streak was breathing heavily as she clutched her chest, feeling relief from narrowly escaping what felt like death.
Indeed, the black streak was the Tengu news reporter Aya Shameimaru, searching for the newest scoop.
"What the hell was that, why would she attack out of nowhere?"
Still not having caught her breath, Aya was hiding in the bushes of the mansion, hoping not to get caught trespassing.
"Geez... and I thought that gatekeeper was just muscle. What the hell was that attack?"
Sighing a sigh of relief, Aya was glad that her plan worked out. After all, her news reporter instincts told her that she would have failed if she tried to pass the gatekeeper from the front.
Getting out of her hiding space, Aya patted the dust off her clothes before making her way onto the roof of the giant building.
After all, from such a high vantage point and her superior Tengu eyes, this was the perfect place to find new news about the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Making herself comfortable and staking out there, Aya looked through every window to see if anything interesting might be happening.
Of course, chances were that nothing of interest would happen, but that was something that had to be expected in this line of work.
After all, part of getting good news was having a good fortune.
Time passed, and Aya was ready to cut her losses when she noticed the head of the house passed by one of them.
Specifically, it was a ground window from one of the few basement windows.
What business could the head of the house possibly have in the basement?
Aya Shameimaru could smell it.
It was news.
"Jackpot."
"And what might be the jackpot, if I may ask?"
"The head of the mansion personally went to the basement. Someone like her should have plenty of servants to retrieve whatever she desires, but instead, she went in person. This smells suspicious from a mile away. Finally something newsworthy to report~."
"Is that so?"
"That is so!"
The wind awkwardly blew past Aya as she realized she had been speaking to someone this entire time.
She recognized she was in deep trouble.
After all, this was still the roof.
"It is the duty of the maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion to get rid of any pests disturbing the Ladies life."
Feeling the bloodlust crawl on her skin, Aya felt her mouth dry as she tried to swallow.
"Can't we talk this through?"
Time stopped and resumed.
The only difference was that Aya was now surrounded by thousands upon thousands of knives.
"I'll take that as a no~...?"
Indeed.
It was a no.
"Maid Secret Skill: [Killing Doll]."
What the hell were the Ladies of the Scarlet Devil Mansion!