Chapter 34

It was a quiet night again.

No whistling winddss or distant horns from vehicles, not even the humming of machinery was heard.

Tonight's moon was too shy to appear even with nary a cloud to be seen and yet, here I drink.

With how busy I was with both work and play, to partake on a monthly ritual had slipped past my mind.

'For shame, me. For shame.' I thought as I slowly took another small sip.

But it has also got me thinking. I had too young back then, but now that I am more literate in terms of the supernatural, I know what I have done wrong.

My body is lax but my spirit is churning. The monthly gatherings are more than just simple parties and get-togethers. They had been a simple ritual, to unwind beneath the moonlight's gaze and have our spirits cleansed in mere instants.

'It does make me wonder.' I thought as I look at my reflection on the clear rice sake, my visage illuminated by the soft glow from my lantern.

How does that work? If any other Youkai or spirit were to do the same, they would have been partially purified at least. Even local gods and deities would have been hurt one way or another.

So what is it?

We are the same and yet, what made us locals of Gensokyo so different from those who reside outside it's reach? Does it have anything to do with the downfall? What even happened during it, or rather, what even is it?

The history books mentioned nothing about any anomalies. Even the tomes or scrolls borrowed from my friends add nothing to the equation. The more I live here, the more I questioned these things. The more I questioned, the more I realised that I know nothing.

The more I realised I can do nothing but not know.

'How bleak...' I thought, taking a other sip. 'Or maybe it's the pessimism talking again. It wouldn't be the first time.' I grimly chuckled before a soft chime was heard that brought me out of my musings. A second of silence was then followed by a brief knock on the door.

Silently standing up and making my over through my darkened room to the door and directly opening it. I looked down and took in my package, ignoring the flickering overhead lights.

I didn't need to be on guard, the bell would tell me if the one's coming are from our side, after all.

The package was something from nana --That I brought for a price, of course.-- that I ordered a few days ago. Opening the box, I was greeted by a elementary book about magics on wards, A single a black ball protected by styrofoam, cursed porcelain liquid for Hii-chan, the starry paint for my hobby, and a smaller box of suspicious potions along with smaller vials of something I clearly did not order.

The last one also contained a note. [For sweeter dreams] it said. Reading through the labels, I concur that these are the fast-acting type so while I may not use them for myself, I can still use them on my enemies.

The paint is obvious enough and the liquid is for the cracks on Hii-chan's body. I did order some potions, but only because I couldn't be bothered to make them with my mediocre skills. I'd rather drink something made by an actual professional rather than whatever slop I would have made that may or may not have unintended side effects due to being such a poor work.

Next are the first two items which are for Kuroko. The book is obvious enough but the black ball was something used to know a person's aptitude. All they have to do is let the ball soak in your essence by a minute or two and then crush it. The result would reveal itself within a cloud of smoke, something that's expected when the creator was such a smoke-lover herself.

And speaking of, it is really alright to ask my friend to run what's basically supernatural groceries for me? Maybe not but her main business is practically the same thing. She uses proxies to sell her dru- to sell her mediums so adding my other stuff is fine too. Nana doesn't seem to care so long as I pay extra anyways so it should be fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer break was over and school official began again. It was enjoyable but time must move on.

Currently, I am thinking about certain things on my lonesome while having lunch on the roof as per usual.

The delegation of informing and handing Uiharu the task of finding anything about the person asking for my help has been in progress for only a few days and she was starting to pick the pace on finding anything related to the hints that was given to me periodically. This goes without saying but, Uiharu is very skilled at what she does and the fact that it's giving her a challenge is making me think that whoever we're looking for has a quirk that grants them anti-memetic properties or something similar.

Kuroko was glad about the gift. The fact that she was overjoyed about something like an elementary book surprised me for a moment before I remembered that she didn't know much about my side yet. I'll tell her eventually about the hoarding of knowledge by the influential magic families and why they're the reason for stagnation but for now, I wouldn't like to sound like a conspiracy theorist.

My thoughts were interrupted when the harpy girl flew from the side of the building before stopping a few meters from me, trying to catch her breath.

"Haru. *Pant* the gardens."

Placing my half-eaten lunch on the side, I followed the harpy girl as I effortless climbed the safety fence and jumped down without a second thought and caught by my heads.

Together with the harpy girl, she guided me over to behind the school gym.

Like it's namesake, it is a place where the school gardens are located and it is the culmination of the efforts of various students. Not only did this place just grow shrubbery and flowers, but this is also a place where the school also cultivates vegetables and fruit trees.

Because of the picturesque scenery, the gardens are a prime place for confessions, but that's not the reason Haru can be found there.

The tea ceremony club also has a delegated plot in the garden to grow their tea leaves and since Haru's quirk is literally called [Self-Garden], people found it obvious that he should be in charge for whatever other reason.

Looking at the scene now though, is another matter.

The saplings that had been tenderly cared for by Haru are now broken and dead. The obvious footprints on the soil suggesting that then have been trampled with underfoot. Meanwhile, Haru was staring at the scene with a blank expression, the usual light from his eyes were nowhere to be seen but the constant wriggling of his roots and the subtle shaking of his flower are signs that he wasn't as calm beneath the surface.

Me and the harpy girl landed audibly behind him but he didn't react one bit. Even calling out to him didn't catch his attention.

Adamantly, I pulled his shoulder back so he can face me. "Hey, hey! Snap out of it!"

"Huh?"That seemed to get him out of his mind as he finally noticed us. "Oh, hey man... What brings you here?"

"Don't 'hey man' me! What in the great moon's name happened here?!"

"Great moon?" He confusedly repeated. "Ah, but, nothing happened really, just the usual."

""WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'THE USUAL'?!!" Me and the harpy girl exclaimed at the same time. This brought her back to our attention as me and Haru looked at her.

"Um, sorry but who are you again?" "Shiina-chan, you're here too?"

This time, it was our turn to have our voices overlap but the contents were different.

"You know her?" "You don't know her?"

"OKAY! First of all, we're getting off topic." She said getting our attention. "And second, Rude! We're in the same class, I literally sit right next to you!"

"There was also that one time your head fell on her wing when you were dozing off. You didn't even wake up when she shrieked." Pointedly said Haru.

"Getting back on track, what do you mean that this was just 'The usual'?" Interrupted the harpy, shiina.

"Tsk. Almost had it." He mumbled under his breath.

"Did you just click your tongue?"

"No... Ahem, anyways, since I can't hide it anymore then I might as well just spill or whatever..."

Haru then proceeded to regale to us the events that happened that lead to this moment. However, I mostly tuned him out during the embellished and dramatised moments but it can all be summed up to simple high school drama.

What essentially happened was that Haru caught the attention of a senpai in his Tea ceremony club when he displayed his talents. Said senpai was a good person that doesn't discriminate by appearances but the same can't be said about the other members that didn't have as much skill but had better looks so they turned to 'petty' revenge.

'Yup, High school drama at it's finest' I chuckled inwardly while still attentively and stoically nodding along to Haru's story.

"And that's basically it." He finished his story with a wave of his hands.

"It's a girl, isn't it?" Said Shiina.

"A hundred percent a girl." I nodded.

"Just... Help me out here." He resignedly sighed.

"Sure." I said while rolling my sleeves and eyeing the mess of a garden. "Salvage what we can and discard the rest. I don't know too much about plants so tell me what to do."

"I'll help too! Although, I might need a broomstick or a rake instead. Wings aren't exactly know for being dextrous and I'd rather not have dirt in my feathers..."

"Yeah, that too but by help I meant the other guys."

"You saying we should beat them up?"

"What?! No I-"

"Relax. I know what you meant." I shrugged. "I was just thinking that since they had the guts to do something like this, either they're dumb and lacking or they're gonna cry to their parents for protection to stuff the principal's pockets to shut him up when we do file a complaint."

The two of them gave me a weird hesitant look before they turned around and Whispered to themselves. I watched in amusement but said nothing. They then turned back to face me and Haru spoke up.

"So, uh... Do you have a problem with governments or something?"

"Corrupt ones, sure but who wouldn't, really?"

"Point."

We then cleaned up the place as directed by Haru. Somehow, Saten and Uiharu heard about it too and helped out. It was a suprise when Saten pulled together the baseball team to lend a hand. I knew she was popular but I didn't think she'd be that popular.

In any case, that was that and the day ended relatively peacefully.

Although, I really have know idea about why a certain group of people that ruined gardens, just so happened to have their dirtiest secrets revealed online by someone with a codename [Goalkeeper]. Nor do I know the reason why they suddenly have nightmares and trouble waking up after being splashed with a suspicious potion. It truly is a mystery.