"Sorry, Reimu, but I... I absolutely can't fall here!"
Marisa's low, determined roar echoed through the room as she staggered to her feet from Rin's lap, her face filled with a resolute, almost desperate determination.
Though every step she took caused her body to tremble violently, sweat pouring down like a waterfall, her breathing becoming erratic and uneven.
Yet, each step was firm and unwavering, as if she had cast aside all burdens and was now facing an insurmountable mountain of hardship.
Reimu, holding her cup of hot tea, watched this inexplicably fired-up girl with a nuanced expression, her gaze gradually lowering.
Pale, white sweat continued to drip down Marisa's thighs, darkening the floor beneath her.
What kind of new play is this?
As Reimu turned to look at Rin, he acted as if he knew nothing, turning his head away while casually opening a packet of instant noodle seasoning.
Reimu's eye twitched as she watched Marisa's painfully slow progress, silently taking a few steps back.
Marisa panicked.
"Y-you... don't retreat! Where's your... your sense of dueling spirit?!"
Oh, I am a part of this play now?
Reimu shot her a sideways glance, visibly disgusted as she moved even further away.
'You guys can play your games, but don't drag me into it!'
Marisa stared desperately at Reimu's increasingly distant figure, her already fragile heart wavered even more as Reimu's distance between her widened.
That distance... there's no way I can make it!
No... I can't...
In an instant, Marisa's energy burned out, and she collapsed to the floor. As she lost consciousness, her body twitched reflexively a few times.
Even so, Rin couldn't help but show a look of surprise.
'This girl's adaptability is terrifying. A few more times like this, and she might be able to move around without batting an eye.
Maybe I'll double the intensity next time…'
After dragging the defeated Marisa to the back room to rest, Rin returned to the grocery store with a mop to clean the floor.
But as he mopped, his gaze drifted toward Yukari.
Yukari, feeling the weight of his stare, quickly spoke up—
"I didn't eat that much! It was that little brat who framed me. If you want to settle accounts, go after her."
"And I didn't touch the tea either! Reimu's the one who drank the most, non-stop."
"..."
Reimu's tea-drinking came to an abrupt halt.
Wait, why is everyone trying to drag me down as their scapegoat?
Do they really think I'm that easy to push around?!
Reimu frowned, about to retort, when a gap suddenly opened, slipping a 1,000-yen bill into her hand.
"That's right! I'm the one who killed Cock—wait, no... I'm the one who drank the tea!"
Reimu pocketed the bill and declared with righteous indignation.
If you give me more, I'll admit to the other accounts too!
As for whether I'll pay it back...
Well, I've got no money, but I've got my life!
Noticing the little exchange between the two, Rin rolled his eyes and spoke up irritably—
"I was just asking what Chen likes to eat. I'm going grocery shopping, so I can make something for lunch."
"As for your accounts, you'll pay them back eventually."
At this, Rin's face broke into a kind smile, which sent shivers down both their spines.
Recalling Marisa's earlier tragedy, they couldn't help but imagine many inappropriate situations that will befall them, their faces flushing slightly.
It... it probably won't come to that, right?
But Yukari quickly relaxed. After all, she had Ran at home. If it came down to it, she could just push Ran out to take the blame!
Who could resist those nine fluffy tails?
With that thought, Yukari's demeanor relaxed again—
"As for Chen, she likes anything with fish. The healthier, the better."
"As for me, I'd like some seafood sauerkraut. The smell from the instant noodles this morning was quite tempting."
Yukari smiled as she made her suggestion, no longer bothering to hide her intentions now that she had a scapegoat.
Ran, truly the pillar of the Yakumo household!
Rin shot her a sideways glance, then turned to Reimu.
Realizing what was happening, Reimu's eyes lit up.
I get a share too?
Marisa, your death was tragic, but it was worth it!
"I'm not picky!"
"Alright. Marisa's still out cold, so Reimu, you mind the store for a bit. Don't let the store be robbed by someone."
"Got it~"
Reimu immediately grabbed the teapot and happily took her seat at the counter. Free food and drinks? This is way better than staying at the shrine!
I'm definitely coming back tomorrow!
Under Yukari's unhappy and resentful gaze, Rin grabbed a shopping basket and left the store.
The market was located in the northern part of the Human Village, the most bustling area of the entire settlement. Rin often came here to stroll or grab breakfast.
The nearby eatery was quite good, and he was on friendly terms with many of them, even getting discounts.
But as he walked, Rin couldn't shake the feeling of being followed. From start to finish, there was a gaze that seemed to eye their prey from the very beginning.
Yet, whenever he turned around, the gaze would vanish, and he couldn't spot any suspicious figures.
Was that hag up to something again? Doesn't feel like it...
Rin frowned, turning his attention back to the road as he cautiously continued on his way, using every reflective surface to check behind him.
But the stalker clearly had excellent area awareness, and not a single trace was revealed the entire way.
Instead, Rin was left feeling increasingly uneasy, no matter how much he diverged.
Fortunately, once he entered the market, the feeling of being watched gradually dissipated amidst the bustling people, as if the stalker was worried about being caught.
Rin breathed a sigh of relief and finally began browsing the stalls, greeting some of the familiar vendors as he went.
"Boss, how much for this black fish?"
"Also, give me a block of tofu."
"Hey! Boss, I'm back. Same as usual."
"You're giving me a turtle too? You're too kind. Next time, I'll grab an extra can of tea from the store."
"These ribs look great. Boss, I'll take these two..."
As Rin pointed to the ribs on the meat stall, a slender finger pointed to the exact same spot at almost the same time.
Instinctively turning his head, a serene and delicate profile came into view.
The sleek, silver maid stood out like the most striking color in the crowd, with two small braids on either side of her temples adding a touch of elegance.
The clean and pristine blue-and-white maid outfit was spotless, as if any stain on it would be a taint to her image.
When their eyes met, her crystal blue eye reflected Rin's figure, causing his heart to skip a beat.
『 The system has detected a being that can be targeted. Added to the list 』
『 Main quest established: "Capture" Sakuya Izayoi 』
『 Reward: Time Stop 』