Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Late at night.

But the small house halfway up the mountain was still brightly lit, which was out of place with the quiet environment around it. In the dead of winter, even the buzzing of insects was no longer heard.

In front of the small house window, Aya Shameimaru was hunched over her desk, writing furiously. She had a black ribbon tied around her forehead, and it seemed she wouldn't stop until she finished writing.

The new issue of the newspaper will be available for purchase tomorrow, or more accurately, this morning, since midnight has already passed and it's now the early hours of the next day.

The newspaper article was still a little blank and hadn't been filled in. Shameimaru thought he had almost finished writing it and was just waiting for it to be printed.

Unexpectedly, there was a lapse in memory, and at the last moment, there was still a little bit of content left to complete.

Now that things have come to this, Aya Shameimaru no longer wants to investigate what went wrong. All she wants now is to finish the manuscript as soon as possible and put it into the printing press.

So, the more fun Shameimaru had yesterday, the more chaotic her manuscript-writing became tonight. But if you ask her if she regrets it—there's no time to answer right now!

Lines of text leaped onto the page; Aya Shameimaru had compiled and edited the text based on photos she had taken a few days earlier. Whether the news was true or not was another matter; as long as the fabrication matched the content of the photos, it was fine—add a little sensationalism, and it would be perfect.

Even so, Aya Shameimaru was overwhelmed with work and had a lot of debt to pay. After finishing writing, she still had to check for typos.

Aya Shameimaru wasn't the only one who hadn't slept that night; Kaoru Himekai was also deep in thought at her desk.

She was also having a terrible headache because of the issue of reading the newspaper aloud by Hanako. Ironically, this matter was also related to Akina Sawa.

Previously, while browsing the crabapple trees by the pool on the mountainside, I received a few suggestions from Akina Sawaya—to make the title eye-catching and flashy.

But here's the problem. Although she knew what to do, Ji Haitang just couldn't come up with a suitable title that would achieve her desired result.

If I could just pick a random, ordinary name like before, it wouldn't be so painful. (Meat stool)

But Ji Haitang herself was unwilling. She had just told Qiu Mingze to wait for her to read the next issue of "Flower and Fruit" newspaper, but then she posted it up again exactly as it was. She couldn't get over that in her heart.

She threw down her pen, turned around, lay down on the bed, covered her head with the blanket, and rolled around on it.

"Ah! How on earth did Aya Shameimaru come up with those headlines?"

Despite racking her brains, she couldn't come up with a solution. After a while of playful fighting, Himekai Tangka poked her eyes out from under the covers and declared, "I refuse to believe that Aya Shameimaru is smarter than me! I'm going to prove him wrong!"

Regrouping, Ji Haitangguo sat down at her desk once more, picked up the pen she had tossed aside, and the battle began...

The moon sets and the sun rises; the rooster crows, and a new day begins.

At the Akina residence, Akina Sawa also got out of bed and stretched. He had slept too crampedly last night, and now his bones were creaking.

He turned to look to the side, and sure enough, it was empty; Aya Shameimaru wasn't lying there. She hadn't returned after leaving last night.

What could possibly require you to go out in the middle of the night? And why wait until someone is asleep?

If Akina Ze hadn't been sleeping with his head hunched over last night and hadn't been unable to fall asleep due to his discomfort, he might not have known that she had gone out.

Moreover, his face turned red whenever he thought of what Aya Shameimaru had said before she left last night. It wasn't because he was shy—how could you do something so shameful, Miss Aya?

As soon as he recalled it, Akina Zeya couldn't stop blushing. He decided it was better not to mention to Shameimaru Aya that he was actually awake, for everyone's own good.

Shaking his head, Akina Ze also came from the bedroom to the living room.

"You got up so early today?" In the living room, Aya Shameimaru was drinking a cup of tea and holding a newspaper in her hand.

It smelled like green tea. Akina Ze also noticed a faint tea fragrance in the air thanks to his keen sense of smell. This was completely different from the chrysanthemum tea he usually brewed. In addition, there was a foul smell in the air, like ink that hadn't dried.

Let's not alert them yet... Akina Sawa also walked over nonchalantly and sat down opposite Shameimaru Aya.

Ayami Akina, who was sitting directly opposite her, turned her head away, feeling uncomfortable, and refused to look at her directly.

"Is this the latest issue of 'Wenwen, the News'?" he asked.

"Ah."

Is there anything noteworthy inside?

"Probably...?" Aya Shameimaru replied uncertainly.

Although the words printed on the newspaper in front of her were all handwritten by her, Aya Shameimaru didn't have much of an impression of them—she was lucky to remember anything she had made up last night.

Suddenly, Akina Sawa also pointed at Shameimaru Aya's face.

"What, is there something on my face?" Suddenly being pointed at by Akina Sawa, Shameimaru Ayame panicked a little... She must have washed her face before coming here this morning, so there shouldn't be anything dirty, right?

"Your dark circles are quite severe, even your under-eye bags are dark." Then he said, "Did you not sleep well last night?"

"No, I slept soundly. Ah, it feels so good to sleep with a fairy in my arms!" Aya Shameimaru explained, gesturing wildly as she panicked.

"But I didn't see you when I went to the bathroom last night."

In the end, Akina Sawa still concealed the fact that he was actually awake when Shameimaru Aya left.

“I…” Aya Shameimaru couldn’t think of a reason for a moment, so she picked up her teacup and took a sip to buy time.

“There’s no need to hide it, it’s okay to tell me.” Akina Ze said directly, “The newspaper in your hand still smells strongly of ink, it was probably printed out in the early hours of the morning.”

Seeing that his plan had been exposed, Aya Shameimaru was speechless.

“You kept saying you were very free during the day yesterday, and I really believed you were,” Akina Ze continued. “But when I mentioned the newspaper last night, you got off. I should have noticed sooner.”

Akina Sawa also stood up and took the newspaper from Aya Shameimaru's hand, glancing at it. "Although I don't know why you kept following me yesterday, if you had told me you wanted to stay by my side, I wouldn't have refused you. Ms. Aya, you don't need to use a reason like 'being very free' which isn't a valid reason."

"And look, there are a few typos in this newspaper," Akina Ze said, pointing to the newspaper.

A double blow... It was a complete defeat... Aya Shameimaru was speechless. If there were a hole in the ground right now, she would immediately crawl into it.

Love makes people's IQ drop to zero; even the greatest monsters are not immune to this.

Aya Shameimaru didn't want to admit it, but what else could she say? Perhaps there was a sufficient reason to explain everything that was happening before her eyes?

But she couldn't believe it... After a sleepless night, her mind was foggy, and she couldn't think straight... Should she just confess? Or...?

"Akina-kun, I'm hungry, I want breakfast~"

Standing in front of the bedroom door, Nikua, still half-asleep and clutching a pillow, spoke, completely unaware of what was happening in the living room.

Call ~

Double exhale.

Akina Ze also breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere just now had made him a little anxious, but it was good that things had calmed down. It was time to make breakfast.

As for the matter mentioned earlier, let's ask about it after we finish eating; maybe we'll get a satisfactory answer then.

Chapter Sixty-Six: It's better to get straight to the point.

In the pot that was constantly steaming, white radishes and yellow potato chunks floated on top of thick rice porridge.

This is a new product – radish and potato porridge. One bite and you'll be able to tell the difference between the texture of potatoes and radish chunks. You really won't be able to tell them apart.

Actually, Akina Zeya had just finished preparing the white radishes and potatoes on the cutting board while making breakfast, and then threw them directly into the pot.

Thinking too much while cooking can easily lead to distraction and habitual behavior, causing you to cut everything on the cutting board without thinking.

If it had been Maoyu (a type of wild vegetable) on the cutting board, it might have been a new dish—radish, Maoyu, and meat stewed porridge. But this dish seems alright.

Now, Akina Ze is also worried about the radish and potato porridge that has already been made. It's probably too late to make a new one, and besides, he can't let that whole pot of porridge go to waste.

There was no other way but to use my secret techniques.

"Radish chunks are chunks, potato chunks are chunks, it's fine to eat them together." Qiu Mingze muttered to himself as he added a spoonful of white sugar.

A touch of sweetness can mask a hundred flaws. If it doesn't, then you definitely didn't put in enough sugar; next time, just use a whole jar.

Carrying her 'carefully' prepared surprise, Akina Sawa also came to the living room and saw Aya Shameimaru and two little fairies sitting around the kotatsu.

Winter mornings can be a bit chilly, so a warm kotatsu (heated bed) is essential.

Sitting in the empty seat that had been reserved, Akina Ze distributed the rice porridge equally among the group and then ate it in silence.

It wasn't because of breakfast that he was silent, but because of Aya Shameimaru sitting across from him.

After talking so much before cooking, Akina Ze didn't know what to say to her. The reason he talked so much before was because he had just woken up and his head was still a little groggy, which led to his impulsiveness. Now that he had calmed down, he felt a little awkward about continuing the conversation. He couldn't find the words to say and could only eat in silence.

Just as Akina Sawa couldn't find a topic to talk about and was silently drinking his porridge...

Shameimaru Aya, who is usually calm, composed, and collected, stood up with dark circles under her eyes and slammed her hand on the table. Everyone who was drinking porridge looked at her, including Akina.

"It's decided, I'm moving the newspaper here!" Aya Shameimaru stared fiercely into Sawa Akina's eyes. Now that things had been exposed, she wasn't going to pretend anymore. She would do whatever felt comfortable. In short, she was going all out.

Swallowing the still-steaming porridge in his mouth with a look of surprise, Akina Ze tentatively asked, "Miss Wenwen, where do you plan to move the newspaper office? I can ask Mokou; she should know some good places."

"You know what I'm talking about!" No longer intending to stall or argue, Aya Shameimaru stepped forward and, to Akina Sawaya's shocked expression, forcefully pressed his hands against his face, looking him straight in the eye, and said, "Listen carefully, I said I'm moving the newspaper office to your house! Akina Sawaya, I'm talking about you!"

The scene was inexplicably comical, at least from the fairies' perspective. Nikua even burst out laughing because Akina Zeya's face looked so strange, almost identical to 'Scream's' face.

Whew! Calm down, calm down!

Her own panicked expression was reflected in her crimson eyes, and Akina Sawa could see it clearly because they were so close... I wonder what Aya Shameimaru saw of herself in my eyes? Probably a very serious one.

At this critical juncture, Akina Zeya's thoughts were completely disrupted, but he had to do something about it.

With his face pinched, he said breathlessly, "But... the room... the room is too small. It definitely won't fit the printing press I saw at the newspaper office."

"Whether I can let go or not is another matter. So, do you agree to me moving the newspaper here?" Shameimaru Aya didn't let go. Courage is always strongest the first time. After she calms down, she might not do it again, because there are just too many obstacles, in every aspect...

Therefore... she will never give up, she will seize every minute and second, and she must succeed in one go.

Intense flames were burning fiercely... Akina Sawa seemed to sense it directly from Aya Shameimaru's crimson eyes.

He couldn't tell if he felt more shock or joy, with perhaps a slight regret. Finally, Akina nodded and said with difficulty, "Okay... I promise you."

“Very good,” Aya Shameimaru released her grip with satisfaction, leaving Sawa Akina panting on the spot. She raised her chin and said, “If I had known it was this simple, I should have done it a long time ago.”

She turned around proudly like a swan, clenching her fists with joy from an angle that Akina Sawa couldn't see, and then walked around the house like a master inspecting her territory.

"What is Wenwen doing?" After finishing a bowl of porridge, the Great Fairy looked up and saw this scene, and asked Nikua who was standing next to her.

"Maybe the porridge was just too delicious, so sweet. She must have liked it too, so she got up to express her appreciation." Nikua ate heartily, the cloyingly sweet porridge just to her liking.

"I see." The fairy nodded in understanding, but she couldn't express her liking in that way. At most, she would say, "One more bowl, please."

"Another bowl, Akina-ge," she said to Akina Zeye.

"Huh? Okay, no problem." Without moving his hand or looking, Akina Ze, still looking stunned, took the bowl from the fairy's hand and served her another serving.

No fairy can resist sweetness; if she doesn't like it, it must be because there wasn't enough.

Cherry blossom trees, yard, living room, bedroom, kitchen—Aya Shameimaru walked through every corner but still couldn't find a place to put her ridiculously large printing press.

However, she didn't seem like someone who had encountered a problem. Instead, she cheerfully asked Akina Sawa, who was still sitting in the living room drinking porridge, "You're right, there really isn't enough room for the printing press. Do you have any ideas?"

“If you can’t let go, then we’ll build you a study along the yard, and we can also solve your bed problem while we’re at it.” Silently drinking his porridge, Qiu Mingze said with unusual calm. The end of great joy and sorrow is an eerie calm. Emotions are a container; once they’re vented, they’re gone.

As Akina Sawa watched the lively Shameimaru Aya pacing around, a question popped into his mind: 'Am I dreaming?' But the scalding hot porridge on his spoon reminded him that this was not a dream, but reality.

...Living together? It's not that novel.

Akina Ze also pulled Nikua, who was sitting at the table drinking porridge, into his arms, experiencing the cool touch... This is still the best.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: A Lucky Mistake

In a corner of the courtyard, the wood left over from the construction of the greenhouse was covered with a layer of snow, but now it seemed to be putting it to good use again.

"Just stick these pieces of wood into the mud and stack them up, right?" Aya Shameimaru said casually, looking at the pile of wood.

Following behind her, Akina Ze also remarked, "Are you making a matchbox...?"

"A matchbox? A matchbox is fine too?" Aya Shameimaru kicked the wooden wall of the greenhouse next to her dismissively. "Isn't this a matchbox too?"

“I can’t deny it,” Akina Ze shrugged, “I wouldn’t mind if your study was made to look like a matchbox.”

He added, "The greenhouse is independent and not directly connected to the house because its matchbox structure is not a good match for the house. Forcing it together might cause structural problems. If the study is also made into a matchbox, it will also have to be separate."

“That won’t do. I don’t want to have to carry an umbrella to the study on a snowy day. I need a passageway connecting to it,” Aya Shameimaru protested.

“Yes,” Akina Ze nodded in agreement, “So what we need to do is expand the study to fit the original house structure, so that it will be more convenient for you.”

"So what should we do next?" Aya Shameimaru hopped onto the pile of wood on one foot, spread her arms, and limped across it as if she were walking on a balance beam.

“I can’t design,” Akina Ze said, taking her hand as they walked through the woodpile. “We need to find a professional.”

......

The professionals are hidden in the bustling city, or rather, they are not really hidden.

The shop in front of them, with its green paint and a small cucumber logo in the upper right corner, stood out from the surrounding black ink signs—this was the shop they were looking for.

Five large characters: Kappa Office.

If we're talking about professionals in Gensokyo, then only the kappa can be considered true experts.