Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Inaba Tei clung to the threshold, trembling as he crawled out of the house, his long rabbit ears drooping listlessly onto the floor.

Hearing the intense cranking sound that had stopped for a while and then resumed behind her, Inaba Tei's face showed a look of panic. Even though her body was already very tired, she still used her hands and feet to wriggle out, as if she were escaping some kind of hellhole.

Ever since Princess Kaguya came across a new game called Street Fighter X, she has devoted all her energy to it day and night, completely oblivious to the passage of time.

Eirin Yagokoro was also helpless against Princess Kaguya. Even if he cut off her internet connection, he couldn't stop her fervent desire to play the game. He could only hope that Princess Kaguya would eventually grow tired of the game.

But this made things difficult for the rabbits of Eientei. Princess Kaguya got tired of fighting AI, so she made the rabbit yokai her opponents, and they fought each other all day long. Basically, all the rabbits were beaten up.

But Kaguya Houraisan was still not annoyed. She treated the rabbit spirits like AI, and only let them go after she had drained all their energy. The rabbit spirits that were chosen were in big trouble, and each of them was praying that they would not be chosen.

Ordinary rabbit spirits are alright, but the most pitiful are Inaba Tei and Reisen. They are her regular sparring partners, unable to leave even for a moment. As soon as they regain their energy, Kaguya calls them into the house for a PK battle.

Just now, Inaba Tei had just escaped from her sparring partner. She didn't know how many days she had been sparring; she only remembered that her lunchbox, filled with dumplings, had been emptied and refilled several times over.

Looking up at the clear sky, Inaba Tei suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

"This can't go on..."

The thought that he might have to spend the next few years like this made Inaba Tei cover his head in anguish.

"Are you ok?"

Reisen, a girl dressed in JK uniform, asked Inaba Tei, who was squatting in the corner and exuding an aura of depression, with concern.

She had just finished resting when she came to the vicinity of Princess Kaguya's room to await orders and be ready to enter at any time.

Ordinary rabbit monsters are very fragile. Reisen didn't want to see her fellow rabbits suffer, so she took on all the sparring partners herself. But even she couldn't withstand the high intensity of the game, and she had to ask Inaba Tei to fill in from time to time.

But if Inaba Tai also has a problem... Reisen's eyes showed a few traces of worry. She couldn't find anyone who could take Inaba Tai's place and fight against Kaguya-hime during her recovery period when her energy was exhausted.

"Reisen, I have an idea..."

With his hands down, Inaba Tei slowly stood up, turned to face Reisen, and his originally tired face gradually turned into a look of madness.

"What's this?" Reisen asked, puzzled.

Without responding, Inaba grabbed her shoulder, looked up and stared intently into Reisen's eyes, a hint of madness flashing in his red eyes.

"Think about it, Princess Kaguya is from Hourai, her energy is limitless, how could we possibly outlast her?!"

"What are you trying to say?" Reisen raised an eyebrow and asked in return.

If Inaba Tei utters any more treasonous words, she, as Kaguya-hime's rabbit and the de facto leader of the Eientei rabbits, will make Inaba Tei repent.

"I've heard a saying: 'It's always fun to bully noobs, and it's always fun to bully noobs.'" Inaba Tei said seriously. "And Kaguya-hime treats us as noobs and keeps bullying us."

What we need to do is find someone to break her cycle of enjoyment in the game. That way, Princess Kaguya will get bored with the game, and we'll be free from this misery and victorious!

Reisen frowned deeply. She understood what Inaba Tei was trying to say, but in Gensokyo, there was practically no one who could defeat Princess Kaguya in a game.

Wait, perhaps such people do exist?

A man's image inexplicably appeared in Reisen's mind. During the few days that man lived in Eientei, she had secretly followed him and witnessed him knock Kaguya-sama to the ground, unable to get up again.

"If it were him... perhaps he could do it~" Reisen murmured to herself.

Although her eyes reflected Inaba Tei's face, her mind held the image of someone else.

......

"I heard there's been some commotion in the Lost Bamboo Forest lately, with many rabbit monsters escaping. Do you know why?"

On the way home from grocery shopping at the Human Village Market, Akina Sawa asked Shameimaru Aya, who had been shopping with him.

"I'm not entirely sure, but if you want to know, I'll go look into it right now~"

Since returning from the old Jigoku Onsen Ryokan, Aya Shameimaru has become increasingly attached to Sawaya Akina, even neglecting her regular work. She has also decided to greatly extend the broadcast time of "Aya, the News," wanting to stay at home all the time.

"It's nothing, I was just asking casually." Qiu Mingze also lifted the bag he was carrying. "I bought your favorite food today, I'll cook some of your favorite dishes for lunch."

"Hehe, don't underestimate my appetite, this isn't enough~" Aya Shameimaru tapped Sawaya Akina's arm and laughed.

"Isn't this enough?" Akina Zeya's expression suddenly turned serious. He looked Shameimaru Aya up and down and said leisurely, "Have you noticed that you've gained a lot of weight recently?"

"What are you saying!" Aya Shameimaru immediately denied it, extending a fair arm to Sawa Akina and provocatively saying, "Why don't you pinch my arm and see if I've gotten fat or not!"

Akina Ze shrugged, raised his hand to grasp the slender white bowl in front of him, and laughed, "Don't get excited, even if I really gain weight, it's okay for me."

“I…” Aya Shameimaru was stunned for a moment, but then she started fussing again, “I’m not fat, I’m not fat!”

However, this time the sound was much calmer.

Even out of Akina's sight, Aya Shameimaru secretly pinched her thigh. "Have I really gotten fat?"

Turning her head to glance at Akina Sawa's impressive physique, Shameimaru Aya pouted and secretly made up her mind to start exercising, beginning tonight.

The journey home is not far.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the two figures appeared at the end of the path where the Akina residence could be seen.

But when he saw the front door, Akina Ze also looked puzzled, because he saw a girl wearing a JK skirt standing obediently at the door.

It's winter now, yet this girl is wearing a short skirt, revealing her fair thighs, and doesn't seem to be cold at all.

As the distance closed, the doubt on Akina Ze's face disappeared.

Isn't this Reisen from Eientei? What are you doing at my house?

"Aki, Akina-sama!"

Upon seeing the visitor, Reisen smiled and bowed respectfully.

From an angle unseen by Akina Sawaya and Shameimaru Aya, Reisen's fair face flushed crimson.

She finally smelled that scent from Eientei again, this time even richer... even more alluring!

......

Chapter 172 The Similarities Between Rabbits and Humans

The high school girl in front of the door was very respectful, but Akina Sawa felt like he was being watched closely. Even without turning around, he knew that it was Aya Shameimaru staring at him.

This has nothing to do with me; she came to me herself!

"Um, Ms. Reisen, is there something you need from me?"

To avoid any misunderstanding, Akina asked in a businesslike manner, although a piece of bright green scallion could be seen sticking out of the bag he was carrying in his left hand, which made him seem a bit unserious.

"Only you can help us, please save us!" Reisen stepped forward and grasped Akina Sawaya's right hand with both of hers, her face full of pleading.

"Oh, I didn't expect you could save the rabbit from Eientei. It seems the old lady there, cough cough, even the Sage isn't so great~"

Behind him, Aya Shameimaru's ambiguous words reached his ears.

Akina Ze could only silently endure it; after all, it was indeed a bit outrageous that a rabbit would suddenly appear at her doorstep and say that she needed to be rescued.

"Lord Yagokoro has his own considerations, so don't talk nonsense, you gossipy tengu!" Reisen's respectful attitude was only directed at Akina Sawaya. Faced with Shameimaru Aya's sarcasm, she did not hesitate to retort.

"Considering having your own rabbit seek help from others?" Aya Shameimaru smiled, her tone sharp and sarcastic.

She had finally managed to go to the market to buy groceries with Zeya-kun, but her happy mood didn't last long. However, when she got home, she was met with a huge pile of food, which she couldn't bear to eat.

"No way! This is all Lord Yagokoro's plan!" Reisen exclaimed, her cheeks puffed out, clearly getting agitated.

Although rabbits are naturally prone to anger, it is even easier for them to become enraged if someone slanders Eirin Yagokoro, a figure revered by the rabbits of Lunar Capital.

"Why don't we go inside first? It's terribly cold outside."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Akina Ze took the initiative to change the subject and calm them down.

"Hmph!" Aya Shameimaru snorted coldly and walked into the house without turning her head.

Akina Sawa smiled awkwardly. It seemed that Miss Wenwen was probably angry again. It looked like he should cook more cooling dishes for her lately, as being easily angered was bad for her health.

After thinking for a moment about the menu for the next few days, Akina Ze glanced at Reisen, who was a little reserved in front of him, and said, "Let's go in first. Miss Aya might be feeling a bit feverish lately, don't worry about it."

Akina Ze also doesn't consider himself a good person, just an ordinary person, but when someone comes to him for help, he still has to listen.

After all, Gensokyo isn't very big, and the Bamboo Grove of the Lost is practically a neighbor, so it's good to help if you can. Not to mention, Eientei has a very high level of medical expertise; even if you might not need it yourself, others might.

......

Leading Reisen to the living room, Akina Sawa peeked inside and found that Aya Shameimaru wasn't there, and the study door was tightly closed.

"Is it really necessary..." Akina Sawa chuckled and shook his head. He'd comfort Reisen after he'd dealt with her matter.

"Please sit there first, I'll put some things down."

Akina Ze pointed to the cushion next to the kotatsu in the living room, indicating that Reisen should sit down first.

"Okay, okay," Miss Reisen replied, her voice trembling slightly.

However, Akina Sawa didn't notice any of this and went straight to the kitchen to put the things down. The bag he was carrying was quite heavy.

After a quick clean-up, Akina Sawa brought a ceramic cup filled with water from the kitchen and placed it on the table in front of Reisen. "Have some water first."

As if suppressing something, Reisen remained silent for a while before taking the cup and drinking it all in one gulp.

After finishing her drink, Reisen wiped her moist lips and said, "Thank you, Akina-sama."

Akina Ze also looked curious. It wasn't because Reisen's long rabbit ears were mysterious, but because he noticed that Reisen's lips, which had looked a little dry and chapped just moments before, quickly became moist and shiny after drinking a glass of water.

Is the rabbit monster's body reacting this quickly? And why is its face so red? I don't remember pouring hot water.

Without dwelling on it, Akina Sawa sat down opposite Reisen and asked directly:

"Speak, what do you need from me? What kind of help do you need?"

However, Ms. Reisen, who was sitting directly opposite, seemed to be asleep, with her head lowered and her expression unreadable, her body trembling slightly.

Oh no! Could it be some kind of rabbit disease? I'm not a veterinarian! And when it comes to treating illnesses, wouldn't your own Eientei be better?

Akina Sawa was also a little flustered. He got up and wanted to go closer to Reisen to check the situation, but as soon as his hand touched her arm, he saw Miss Rabbit jump up from the cushion and bow repeatedly like a medicine-pounding rabbit. She was also muttering something as if she was saying that her friends were suffering, but she was thinking about things that were not suitable for children. She was really guilty.

Akina couldn't quite understand what Reisen was saying, but seeing that she wasn't sick, he was relieved.

On the other hand, after reacting in this way, Reisen's mind went blank, and she realized that she seemed to have done something very embarrassing.

After being invited to sit down in the house by Akina Sawa, Reisen Udankein Inaba became extremely nervous, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

The room was filled with that extremely alluring scent emanating from Akina Sawaya.

Back in Eientei, Reisen was captivated by this flavor, and after the passage of time, she realized that she could never forget it.

This rustic charm is like an allure that comes from the genetic level.

Sitting in a room like this now, the fact that she can sit quietly without moving is already a great effort on her part.

But as Akina Sawa approached her with a hint of doubt, the rich scent in the air rushed into her nostrils, causing Reisen to jump up like a startled rabbit, thus falling into this awkward situation...

Friends... I may have to disappoint you. Reisen recalled the instructions given to her by Tei Inaba before her departure.

At that moment, Inaba Tei, who was nearing the end of his life, crawled out of Kaguya-hime's room and said to her in a trembling voice, "Everyone is counting on you, run! Reisen."

While she hesitated, Princess Kaguya's summons came as promised. A brave and fearless rabbit spirit sacrificed himself, righteously entering Princess Kaguya's room to take Reisen's place so that she would have time to find Akina Sawaya.

Reisen's fighting spirit was ignited by her companion's words and the relentless, nightmarish sound of the joystick, which briefly dispelled the pink fog in her mind.

Reisen looked up aggressively and stared into Akina Zeya's eyes.

Just as Akina Sawa was starting to get confused, Reisen suddenly knelt down and pleaded in a perfect Shigeza posture, "Please help us, Akina-sama!"

"Huh? What's going on?"

Akina Sawa froze on the spot, a chill running down his neck. What if Miss Wenwen saw this...?

Thinking of this, he suddenly looked towards the study and breathed a sigh of relief when he found the door closed.

Akina Sawa also quickly walked up to Reisen and tried to lift her up.

But Reisen remained motionless, as if nailed to the floor. Akina was worried that if she used too much force, she might attract Aya's attention.

He had no choice but to compromise, saying, "I will help you, but you have to tell me what it is first."

"Please come with me to Eientei. We... and Lady Kaguya need your help!" Reisen cried out desperately.

......

Chapter 173 (Probably forgotten)

In the courtyard, rustic bamboo tubes gently tap against a deep-set andesite rock as the water flows.

A distant, resonant sound echoed throughout the courtyard.