Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

"Marisa, do you want to know my answer?"

"It's my friend who wants to know." Marisa Kirisame was completely unaware that she had given herself away and was still trying to maintain the facade.

"Since you want to know, then I will tell you."

The stars twinkled in the night sky. Reimu Hakurei didn't turn around. Her slender fingers gripped the window tightly as she calmly said, "I will choose to help you, and then give up."

“Oh, right, I was talking about your friend.” After a pause, Reimu Hakurei added.

"Give up..." Marisa Kirisame murmured to herself, having found her answer.

“Even Reimu thinks the same way…” Marisa Kirisame lowered her head, making it impossible to see her expression.

“Yes, give up,” Reimu Hakurei repeated, but some bluish veins could still be seen on the back of her hand due to excessive force.

"I see......"

After thinking for a long time, Marisa Kirisame picked up a tall hat from the side and put it on her head. She slowly got up, walked absentmindedly to the broom, and just as she was about to take off, she seemed to remember something and turned back to Reimu Hakurei, calling out, "Thank you, Reimu."

Like a broken string on a musical instrument, Reimu Hakurei inexplicably sensed a touch of sorrow from those words.

As a result, Reimu Hakurei loosened her grip on the windowsill and turned around to see Marisa Kirisame taking off, her back radiating a strong sense of loneliness.

"Why...shouldn't Marisa be happy?" Reimu Hakurei finally realized something was wrong, her brows furrowing slightly.

Sitting back on the tatami mat, Reimu Hakurei finished the last of her water in one gulp and reviewed the conversation between the two of them. Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind.

Is it possible that... the other friend Marisa mentioned wasn't referring to her?

Like a bolt from the blue, it struck her mind, and in an instant, Hakurei Reimu understood everything that had just happened.

So it wasn't me they were talking about... A hint of smugness flashed through Reimu Hakurei's mind, but she quickly realized how much her words would affect Marisa Kirisame.

"Marisa!" Reimu Hakurei called out instinctively, trying to call Marisa Kirisame back to explain again, but Marisa's figure had already completely disappeared into the horizon.

It was late at night, but Reimu Hakurei was filled with unease. She wanted to go out and explain things to Marisa, but before leaving, she remembered a detail.

If the other friend Marisa mentioned wasn't her, then who could it be...?

Thinking of this, Reimu Hakurei stopped in her tracks and murmured to herself, "Alice..."

......

Chapter 113 Marisa Also Has a Plan

"Wenwen, Marisa wants to go fishing with me, do you want to go?"

Holding his meticulously repaired fishing rod, Akina Sawa turned to the Tengu reporter, who was huddled in the kotatsu to avoid the cold, and asked a question.

"No, fishing isn't fun at all. I prefer the warm feeling of being in a kotatsu."

Shameimaru Aya, who was hopelessly addicted to the kotatsu, responded listlessly.

"Alright, since you're not going, I'm leaving. Maybe we can have fish for dinner tonight."

"Oh~" Aya Shameimaru waved her hand dismissively, "Just remember to come back and cook dinner tonight."

Fishing couldn't be delayed, and seeing that Aya Shameimaru didn't object, Sawa Akina didn't hesitate for long and hurriedly went out.

......

Sunny weather.

However, occasional passing clouds block the sun, preventing people from being directly exposed to its rays.

Although it is winter, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation is still present.

Arriving at the agreed location, Akina Sawa looked around but couldn't find Marisa. Scratching his head, he asked in confusion:

"Did I come too early?"

Just then, Akina Sawa also noticed a figure slowly walking towards them in the distance.

Upon seeing who it was, Akina Ze broke out in a cold sweat – it was Alice.

Since their tacit separation during their last picnic, Akina Sawa has not seen Alice again.

It wasn't that Akina Sawa was deliberately avoiding her, but rather that Aya Shameimaru needed him to revise the manuscript she had written, and the greenhouse soil hadn't been tended since the last potato harvest, and now it was full of potholes and needed to be replanted.

Alice, who was in the distance, also saw Akina Zeya standing on the shore wearing a straw hat.

The two people, not far apart, met each other's gazes in the air, their eyes reflecting each other's images perfectly...

"Click~"

The crisp sound of a branch breaking.

"Marisa?"

Coming to his senses, Akina Ze turned his head and looked in the direction from which the sound came, asking.

"Cough cough~"

Seeing that she could no longer hide, Marisa Kirisame emerged from behind a tree with a big smile on her face. "I was accidentally delayed on the way. You didn't have to wait for me for too long, did you?"

"I just arrived too." After replying, Akina Sawa leaned closer to Kirisame Marisa and whispered, "Didn't you only ask me to go fishing? Why is Alice here too?"

If Alice makes that request again, although it might ruin the atmosphere, Akina Sawa still won't agree.

"Huh? Didn't I tell you?" To her surprise, Marisa Kirisame looked surprised. "I've always invited two people."

"but......"

"Don't worry about it. Master Akina, let's go fishing. This time, Alice and I will accompany you. You shouldn't be bored."

Before Akina Sawa could finish speaking, Kirisame Marisa pushed him and said.

"How could fishing be a boring thing?"

Despite being pushed along, Akina Sawa still retorted.

Isn't it a highly rewarding and entertaining activity to invest patience and time to reap great rewards?

Marisa Kirisame didn't respond further. Instead, after pulling Akina Sawa to the designated spot, she walked up to Alice and pushed her over as well.

Thus, the three-person fishing group was formed.

Akina Ze sat in the middle, while Alice and Kirisame Marisa sat on either side.

Although surrounded by the warm fragrance of jade, fishing time is fishing time. Akina Ze took out his fishing rod, skillfully baited it, and then cast it into the river in a big swirl.

Watching the float, and waiting for it to settle in the river, Akina Ze then shifted his focus from the fishing rod to the two people beside him.

Marisa Kirisame had almost finished baiting her fish, but Alice was noticeably slower.

Skilled hands accustomed to needle and thread are quite unfamiliar with these fishhooks with sharp barbs.

However, fishing is not about speed; good luck is more important than casting your line early.

"Master Akina, could you help Alice prepare some bait?" Marisa suddenly said after finishing her work.

"Uh." Since Marisa had said so, Akina Sawa didn't insist on his own idea. He took the fishing hook from Alice, quickly baited it, and said, "Here you go."

"Um......"

Alice took the fishing hook, glanced at Marisa Kirisame who was staring intently at the floating buoy on the river, her cherry lips parted slightly, but she still couldn't say anything.

A white cloud drifted by and blocked the sun, casting shadows on the three people's faces.

Alice sensed a bad premonition...

This morning, when Marisa Kirisame came to visit and invited her to go fishing, Alice was very happy. Although she didn't really like fishing, she didn't mind for Marisa's sake.

But upon reaching the shore, an unexpected person appeared there—Akina Sawaya.

This was an unexpected situation, and Alice immediately wanted to leave.

Since that picnic, Alice has been filled with unease, not only because of Marisa's sudden arrival and the fact that she accidentally fell asleep under the table.

Although everything was proceeding according to plan, Alice felt a sense of unease. Now, whenever she recalled what happened after she woke up, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Alice had originally planned to proceed with her scheme after calming down, but before she could even find peace, she ran into Akina Sawa again...

In order not to waver, she really wanted to turn around and leave, but their eyes had already met.

Looking at her reflection in Akina Zeya's eyes, Alice once again recalled how she had acted cute and charming that day, and a blush unconsciously crept onto her cheeks.

......

Thump~ Thump~

A tremendous force was transmitted to Alice through the fishing rod.

Caught off guard, Alice, lost in her memories, stumbled forward and was about to fall into the river when a strong hand reached out and grabbed her.

"Be careful, are you alright?" A gentle voice came from beside my ear.

Alice turned her head in a daze and saw a profile.

Akina Ze was intently watching the large fish that had bitten the hook and was thrashing about, his sharp eyebrows and cold fingers pointing out.

Alice's hand, gripping the fishing rod, was tightly enveloped in warmth, and she couldn't break free.

But right now, Akina Zeya's entire focus was on the fish that had taken the bait, and he was completely unaware of Alice's little tricks.

The big fish struggled desperately in the river, causing the fishing rod to sway from side to side.

Alice was in a position similar to being held by Akina Sawaya, with her delicate nose constantly receiving the breath of her embrace.

It didn't smell bad; on the contrary, it smelled quite pleasant and reassuring...

"The fish is here!"

Finally, after a struggle, the big fish was exhausted, and Akina Ze excitedly lifted the fishing rod.

The large fish was pulled out of the water, its scales shimmering with a cold, silvery light in the sunlight.

Alice turned her back and rubbed her hands, which were a little sore from being pinched, as she looked at Akina Zeya, who was excitedly showing her the length of the big fish.

"These are the fish you caught!" Akina Ze also said.

"No, we caught this together, Zeya-kun."

Now, Alice can no longer tell whether this is still part of the plan or not.

After saying this, Alice subconsciously looked at Marisa, her gaze somewhat evasive.

"Congratulations, Alice." Marisa Kirisame turned her head slightly to rub her eyes, then turned back with a happy expression. "You caught such a big fish!"

"Marisa?"

Alice was stunned, because she clearly saw a faint blush appear at the corner of Marisa's eyes.

Is this part of the plan...?

......

Chapter 114 This is not me...

They look down on people.

Half of the big fish's body was sticking out of the bucket, its large, clear black and white eyes opening and closing. Although it was just a fish, its face showed no expression.

But Akina Sawa always felt that it was mocking him.

Unable to resist, Akina Sawa also reached out and grabbed the slippery fish, trying to press it all into the bucket.

But surprisingly, it didn't press.

"Hmm?" Akina Ze frowned slightly, rolled up his sleeves, and decided to get serious.

Taking a deep breath, Akina Ze grabbed the fish head with one hand and the fish body with the other, his eyebrows furrowed, and he attacked with both hands simultaneously.

But the big fish didn't give up. It stood upright, unwilling to bend down, letting the force ravage it, as if to say, "You only attacked me when I was exhausted. Now let's fight three hundred more rounds."

Seeing this, Akina Ze also began to intensify his efforts. I don't believe that a mere fish can last long.

Click~

Before long, the bucket containing the fish made a slight cracking sound; it was about to break under the pressure of the two forces.

This is a classic case of collateral damage.

There was no other way, so Akina Sawa let go. If he continued like this, the bucket would break, and in the end, it would be a losing proposition.