Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"No one's here," says Vincent.

Youmu turns around and smiles at him mischievously. A shiver runs down his spine. For some reason, that expression doesn't feel right with this girl.

"W-what is it?" he mumbles.

The half-ghost winks at him.

"Since I beat you earlier, you have to do whatever I say, right?"

He manages a weak smile.

"I didn't know we agreed on terms for a prize."

"..."

Her smile slowly starts vanishing, and he can see the disappointment seep in. For some reason, his chest really hurts right now. This isn't fair. If she does that, he can't just..

"But I guess I'll do what you say, your softness."

Youmu blushes a little.

"D-don't call me soft! In any case, I just wondered if -"

Suddenly, the door to the kitchen slides open.

"Oh. You two are already back?"

Komachi steps into the room, unaware of the mood. She greets them both and walks straight toward him.

"Good timing, Vincent."

"W-what?"

She smiles and grabs him by the arm. He finds himself half-dragged to one of the stoves.

"I'd like you to help me with my cooking," she says. "I'm trying out a new recipe, and I'd like to see what you think. You see, the ingredients this time are..."

She starts discussing the details of some unusual dish (made of some type of 'ghost fish' apparently). Before he can speak, someone else runs into the room. Youmu seems to have her hands full keeping her in line.

"C-could you wait back in the dining room? I'll get you some sweet buns if you just go back for a while and -"

"Eh? But I smelled something nice in here! Ah! Is that big brother?"

"W-wait! Don't just -"

Suddenly, a familiar nekomata girl glomps him. Her two tails wag energetically. Vincent forces a smile as he returns the gesture. He can't help but feel really lucky. Not everyone has a little sister as cute as Chen. After a bit, he starts prying her off gently.

"Good to see you too. Now why don't you head back to the dining room and stay with big sister Yuyuko?"

"Big sis Yuyu? But there isn't anyone else in the dining room."

"... what?"

"Clang!"

The sound of metal echoes loudly along the kitchen. They all turn toward the source, but they don't see anyone there. Instead, there is a single tray full of sweet buns floating in mid-air. Youmu scowls angrily and stomps toward it.

"Lady Yuyuko!" she cries. "Those are for everyone's afternoon snacks!"

The ghost princess turns visible in an instant, giving them an innocent look.

"Ara? I have no idea what you are talking about~"

"P-put those down right now! This behavior is completely inappropriate, especially in front of our guests!"

...

Several minutes later, the Youmu finally gets everyone out of the kitchen. She seems adamant about preparing lunch by herself. Komachi and Chen head back without too much resistance. Yuyuko follows a little later after being promised an extra sweet bun if she behaves. Vincent sighs and shrugs to himself as he steps out as well, but something soft tugs at his sleeve. He turns around to see the half-ghost glance around nervously, making sure that the others have left.

"Wait," she whispers. "Could I talk for you for a moment?"

He gives her a nod and steps back inside. She carefully closes the door behind them.

"Err.. what's wrong?"

She sighs in relief and composes herself before speaking.

"W-well, it really isn't that important. You agreed to do whatever I say right?"

He laughs weakly.

"That kinda depends on what it is, but..."

"It is decided, then. You will follow my instruction, as is proper for an honorable swordsman."

She stares at him coldly. He can't help but nod in reply.

"R-right. So what do you want me to do?"

"..."

Suddenly, Youmu becomes really quiet. She clasps her hands together and starts fidgeting. Her face turns bright red, and she doesn't meet his eyes. When she finally speaks, her voice is almost a whisper.

"W-would you go out on a date with me?"



SOFT END

---

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---

Vincent slowly opens his eyes. A familiar face watches over him patiently. He manages a small smile as he recognizes the half-ghost.

"Welcome back," she whispers.

Seems like she won the match. That last technique is unlike anything he has ever seen. Not even his [other self] could recognize the attack. But despite his defeat, he feels satisfied. He hasn't felt so close to this girl up until now. In fact, her face is pretty close at the moment, and the soft sensation behind his head seems to be her lap.

"Good to see you're still too soft," he says.

Youmu frowns at him.

"Soft? Did you think I was holding back? If you must know, I only hesitated during that last attack. Besides, didn't we agree that this was a friendly duel? What did you expect? A fight to the death or -"

Vincent laughs softly. She frowns harder at him.

"You really are pretty soft, aren't you?"

"S-stop saying that! If you want, we can go at it again! I'll surely slash the stupid out of your head this time!"

He shakes his head.

"Don't misunderstand. I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Eh?"

The half-ghost looks at him incredulously. He just stares at her in reply. A moment later, her cheeks start turning pink. She quickly looks away.

"I, I don't really understand what you're saying..."

Vincent slowly holds one of her hands. She gasps in surprise, but she doesn't pull away. He squeezes it slightly. Their eyes meet, and silence fills the room. He can hear her heart beat just a little faster.

"By the way, your lap makes a great pillow."

"..."

The half-ghost slaps his hand away and puffs up her cheeks.

"S-shut up! Stupid! Hmph!"

He laughs at her reaction. It really is pretty cute, her angry face. He never really tires of it. Then, a moment later, he realizes something strange. He expected her to drop his head down to the hard wooden floor and start lecturing or kicking him.

"..."

Instead, she just stays still, letting him rest upon her lap. He doesn't really understand it, but maybe their worlds are starting to get just a little bit closer. Of course, he isn't lying about what he said. She really is a very soft girl. In fact, she is almost too soft. He can feel his mind melt as he closes his eyes to enjoy this rare sensation just a little bit longer.

~~~

The walk back to the mansion was uneventful, and neither of them had much to say. There were several extra guests for lunch, so Vincent offered to help out with the cooking. He wasn't really that good around the kitchen, but the half-ghost said that she didn't mind. An extra hand was always appreciated.

"Oh! Before I forget..."

Youmu stops in her tracks and pulls something out from her ghost half.

"I found this yesterday."

"Huh?"

She hands him a sealed letter. It seems to be addressed to him.

"When I woke up, my wounds were completely healed. But there was no one with me. This was the only clue I could find."

"What's inside?"

The half-ghost shakes her head.

"It is inappropriate to open letters addressed to others."

Youmu sighs to herself.

"I only hope that Lady Yuyuko learns that concept someday. I kept it hidden so she wouldn't get any ideas."

"I see. Thanks.. I think?"

He shrugs as he opens the letter in front of her. After everything that had happened, he feels that she deserves to know this. The fact that she had prudently kept this from Yuyuko made him feel only more guilty.

"Wait, what?"

There are a few things inside the envelope: two odd coins and a small note. The coins seem to be made of silver, but he doesn't recognize the insignia engraved on it. Is this a raven of some sort? The note is even more confusing.

> Change

He turns to Youmu and shows her the items, but she just gives him a puzzled look. Vincent shrugs to himself as he pockets the things.

"I don't get it. Did you find anything else?"

The half-ghost pauses to think.

"Well, Ran said that she found a strange black book at the sealing circle site. She said that she would take it to the lab for analysis. Was it anything important?"

"Ah.. well, not really," he mutters.

Vincent reminds himself to talk to Ran about it later. He needs to remove the seal on Youmu's ghost half as soon as he can. Then, he looks up to see the half-ghost staring at him.

"E-eh? What is it?" he says.

"It's important, isn't it?"

He sighs to himself and decides to come clean.

"If that's the same black book I'm thinking of, then I'll need it to remove the binding seal on your ghost half."

"I see," she says. "Well, I do hope you plan on getting that done one of these days. Carrying this skull around isn't as comfortable as it looks."

"Ahaha... sorry about that."

"You better be! Hmph!"

~~~

They didn't talk again until they arrived at the mansion. They didn't meet any of the others on the way to the kitchen, but the place was surprisingly noisy. Several wisps flew back and forth, carrying wooden planks, tools, and other odds and ends. Were they assisting with repair work?

"No one's here," he says aloud.

There isn't anyone in the kitchen either.

"Hey Vincent," says the half-ghost. "I just remembered something."

She turns around and smiles at him mischievously. For some reason, a shiver runs down his spine. While that expression is natural for someone like the ghost princess, it just doesn't feel right with this girl.

"W-what is it?" he mumbles.

Youmu winks at him.

"Since I beat you earlier, you have to do whatever I say, right?"

[ ] "That's right."
[ ] "No way."
[ ] Custom

Their swords clash once more, sparking with the impact for a brief moment before they part. Youmu's movements are definitely beyond the speed of humans, yet somehow he is able to keep up. If someone were to watch their duel, he would only see an odd dance of blurs and sparks. This is a sport that is only enjoyable to the players themselves.

"Not a fluke," whispers the half-ghost. "Definitely not a fluke. I've never seen such sword skills since my last duel with my Master. You really are something, Vincent."

Vincent pauses to catch his breath. He can't take much more of this. Up until now, he hasn't found a single opening. Youmu seems to be fighting seriously this time.

"You are... damn good yourself."

The half-ghost smiles at him. Then, she sheathes her swords and closes her eyes to concentrate. He recognizes that form immediately, and he prepares a defensive stance. After a few seconds of silence, she rushes forward and draws both swords, swinging them with inhuman speed and accuracy. He blocks the attacks with his own weapon, but she manages to graze his side with the last swing.

"108 strikes," he says as his shoulder drips blood.

"And I still haven't hit you," says Youmu.

Vincent glances at her sword. It bears no bloodstain. Was he cut by the air pocket around her sword?

"But this time, you won't be so lucky, Vincent. I've prepared something special. Be thankful that you'll witness this original technique."

Youmu sheathes her short blade and wields the longer one with both hands. Vincent tightens his grip on his own weapon.

"I was saving this for Master," she whispers.

In the next instant, she is already in front of him. A single flash of light fills the room as their swords spark with the impact. Then, as the light dims, the two stand beside each other, frozen in time. Something falls to the ground with a clang.

"It's over," says Vincent.

He turns to his right. His sword lies several yards away. He starts to fall unceremoniously.

"255 strikes is just... too much," he whispers.

Youmu gasps in surprise. Before he hits the ground, the half-ghost catches him in her arms. She lowers her sword and checks him carefully for injuries.

"A-are you alright?" she cries. "Oh no! W-was it too much? Hey! Can you hear me?"

He looks up to see the her face. That worried expression really doesn't fit her.

"Just tired. Looks like that was my limit, ha ha.."

"I-I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry!"

...

Vincent opens his eyes. The half-ghost is watching over him patiently. The soft sensation he feels from behind his head seems to be her lap.

"Welcome back," she whispers.

He manages a small smile.

[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Don't hold yourself back.
[X] Custom

---

"A swordsman speaks with his blade and cleaves his own path to the truth."

Youmu draws both of her weapons and starts walking closer.

"I won't hesitate this time," says the half-ghost. "Master told me to believe in nothing but the sword. Slashing will tell me who the target should be."

"W-wait, what are you -"

"Defend yourself, ghost hunter."

She takes another step toward him. Suddenly, she vanishes from sight. Or at least, she would have, if he hadn't seen this before. After everything that has happened over the past few days, his eyes have grown used to such inhuman speed and movement. He quickly senses her coming from the left. Youmu reappears beside him and swings the longer blade. He easily blocks it with his longsword. Then, she tries to slash at him with the shorter blade. He barely dodges the second strike with a backward leap.

"..."

A few strands of hair fall to the ground where he stood. Vincent gasps when he realizes that she sliced a few hairs from his bangs. If that strike connected, his head would have been -

"D-damn it, Youmu!" he cries out.

The half-ghost disappears once more. Vincent curses to himself as he focuses his eyes. She really isn't kidding about this. If he holds back even a little, he might end up dead. He tightens his grip on his weapon. She seems to be coming from the right this time.

"That's really dangerous! Are you trying to -"

She slashes at him with both blades. He barely blocks them with his own weapon. With his other hand, he grabs his scabbard and swings it wildly. The half-ghost retreats to dodge the counterattack.

"Not bad," she says. "Not bad at all."

Vincent pauses to catch his breath. The half-ghost moves with ridiculous speed, and he can barely react to her attacks. Her skills and abilities are definitely several notches above his own. This isn't a fight he can win. But despite that, he can feel his body shivering in excitement.

"A duel, was it?" he says.

Youmu smiles at him and nods. In that instant, he realizes that she is feeling the same way.

"I'm glad that we understand each other this time. I'm not going to hold back. Prepare yourself, half-ghost!"

With his weapon in hand, he rushes at Youmu with everything he has. The half-ghost does the same, with every intention of meeting his charge. Both of them are smiling.

After all, this is fun.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Investigate the dojo.

---

"Pardon the intrusion," he says out of reflex.

Of course, Vincent doesn't expect anyone to actually answer. There are many things in his mind, and the odd presence is quite possibly a figment of his imagination. He looks around the empty dojo. The place looks surprisingly clean for something so lifeless. The floor is freshly scrubbed, and the practice swords and equipment are all aligned neatly to the side. At first glance, he would have thought that this place is still being maintained by the half-ghost. In fact, she seems to be seated on the floor with her back against him. Huh? Wait, what the -

"Youmu?"

"..."

Dressed in her usual green and white, the half-ghost stays perfectly still. Her black hair ribbon is tied neatly upon her short silver hair. Both of her blades lie sheathed beside her. Her ghost half hovers ominously beside her.

"Good morning, Vincent."

Her voice is cold and business-like. It sends a shiver down his spine. He reflexively lowers his hand toward his sword.

"I don't understand," he says slowly. "How did you -"

"That isn't important," she says.

The half-ghost stands up slowly. She turns around and looks at him.

"Better late than never. I'm glad you can make it."

"Huh?"

She smiles gently at him.

"Have you already forgotten your promise?"

"Promise?"

"A swordsman speaks with his blade and cleaves his own path to the truth."

Youmu draws both of her weapons and starts walking closer. She doesn't look like she is joking.

Is this a duel?
[ ] Don't hold yourself back.
[ ] Fight competently.
[ ] Let her win.
[ ] Refuse to fight.
[ ] Custom

"W-wait a minute! D-don't come in so fa-"

A small red blur slams hard into Vincent's chest. He barely manages to keep his balance as he catches the thing. It feels soft and warm in his hands. He smiles gently.

"Brother! You're alright!"

Without warning, Chen gives him a tight hug.

"Yeah. It's good to see yo-aaargh!"

Vincent cringes in pain as he becomes aware of her unnatural youkai strength. He doesn't remember this girl being so strong! His eyes widen in horror as he hears something pop. The nekomata girl quickly steps back and apologizes. He takes a moment to check himself for permanent damage. After confirming that the pain was the worst of it, he turns back to Chen.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she says again.

That cute, teary-eyed face... how could he stay mad? He quickly forces himself to smile as he ruffles her hair reassuringly.

"You're pretty good, aren't you?"

She nods slowly as she wipes her eyes.

"When Master Ran is nearby, I can use my full power. I become really strong!"

"Yep, I saw. Good work on defeating Rin back there."

"Hmph!"

The other cat girl lands beside them, pouting.

"She just got lucky that time! I wasn't ready for that last spellcard."

He lowers his hand and stares at the red-haired girl for several moments. She notices his gaze and frowns at him.

"Eh? W-what are you looking at? It's rude to stare! Doesn't anyone teach you little humans any manners?"

Ran clears her throat.

"This is Vincent," she says. "The one we talked about earlier."

"Ah! Is he, now~"

Rin's eyes start sparkling as she takes a better look at him. Vincent swallows nervously as he feels her gaze probe every inch of him. Then, she smiles widely.

"My friends call me Orin! Nice to meet ya!"

"Umm... nice to meet you too?"

"Alright! We're friends now, so I'm going to take him home~"

"Wait, what?"

Suddenly, Chen grabs Vincent's arm and clings to him tightly.

"I-I won't let you!" she cries. "I'm going to protect my brother!"

The two cat-eared girls stare angrily at each other. This looks dangerous. Thankfully, Ran speaks up before things get worse.

"We are heading back to the mansion. Take the medication I left in your rooms and get some rest."

"Eh? But I wanna take him home!"

"Master Ran? I won't let this girl do whatever she -"

"We are heading back. Now."

~~~

After watching Ran 'escort' the other two back, Vincent starts walking around the grounds. The morning is very peaceful now that their danmaku duel is over. Besides the wispy spirits that float along the path, he finds himself alone. His head and heart still feel heavy as he recalls yesterday's events. There are many things that he doesn't understand, and even more that he regrets.

"..."

Before he realizes it, he finds himself standing in front of the dojo behind the mansion. Vincent pauses thoughtfully. He arrives at this place without thinking, and now, he can feel a presence inside.

[ ] Investigate the dojo.
[ ] Head back to the mansion.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask for the fox lady's name.

---

Vincent stares at the golden-haired woman. While her clothes are a bit odd, something completely different grabs his attention. He can't keep his eyes off them. Those tails.. they look so soft and fluffy! If only he could -

"Don't even think about it," she says coldly.

He quickly shakes the stupid away.

"Ah! Sorry about that. In any case, who -"

"Yakumo. Ran Yakumo."

"I see, so what's -"

"It's a danmaku duel under standard spell card rules. Originally designed as a non-lethal method of resolving conflicts, these duel rules have expanded to several other uses. Right now, we are collecting data to confirm if the residual fields have resolved to an acceptable state."

"Huh?"

The woman named Ran sighs loudly.

"I'm checking if Chen got badly hurt," she says simply. "Same for Rin."

"You mean that red-haired girl? I thought that I -"

"Killed her?"

She smiles mysteriously. He stays silent.

"I don't deny that she was involved in the latest incident, but things aren't as simple as they seem. Rin was only another pawn in this game. In fact, if you had killed her, the incident might have escalated into a small war. The Komeiji group would definitely retaliate against the surface."

"A pawn," he repeats.

"From the early diagnostics I conducted, she was operating under a different spell contract for at least a week, maybe longer. Her spiritual wavelengths show traces of a class of proto-ethereal energy that has great similarities with shikigami possession."

"... what?"

She sighs again.

"Rin was being manipulated."

"I see."

Vincent takes a moment to watch the girl named Rin. She looks exactly the same as before, but she seems different. She laughs excitedly as she dodges Chen's attacks. The smile on her face is sincere, without a trace of the malevolence from before.

"Rin doesn't remember anything," says Ran. "I'm not sure if it is a side effect from the delusion terminating effect of Hakurouken, but I couldn't extract any pertinent information. Her core abilities are operational, but all the data from the contract period was lost."

The kitsune notes something on her clipboard before turning back to him.

"I was hoping that you could explain what you did to her."

Loading User Commands:
[X] Leave the room.

---

"..."

Vincent slowly pushes the ghost princess' hand away. He gives her a sad smile.

"Sorry," he says. "I can't take it easy like this."

Yuyuko sighs. Then, without warning, she gives him a tight hug. Her warmth is pleasant, though the lack of a heart beat is unnerving. A moment later, he notices something odd. He can feel her shivering in his arms. He can't see her face.

"..."

He has no words to say. They just stay like that for a few more seconds. Finally, he pulls away from her. Yuyuko reluctantly lets go, and when he looks at her, she has a strained smile on her face.

"I have to go," he says.

Vincent turns around and steps away from her. He leaves the room without looking back. She doesn't follow.

~~~

Suddenly, he hears something crash loudly from the direction of the gardens. The ground rumbles with the impact. With his weapon in hand, Vincent quickly runs off to investigate.

"Finally, we meet again. But watch out this time! I'm a totally new shikigami now!"

"Looks like you're havin' fun, sis! Mind if I join ya?"

Flying high above the gardens are two small figures. On the right is Chen. She has an excited smile on her face, and she looks like she is enjoying herself. On the right is.. that girl!? Vincent grits his teeth. Her fiery twin braids, cat ears, and two tails are unmistakable. He quickly prepares to draw his sword.

"That is quite unnecessary," says another voice.

He turns around. Leaning casually against one of the cherry trees is someone he doesn't recognize. She has yellow eyes and golden hair, with a strangely shaped hat upon her head. Her blue and white outfit reminds him of a priest or monk. She is holding a clipboard and pen as she observes the other two. Nine fluffy tails poke out from her dress.

"W-who?"

Vincent gasps in surprise. From her appearance, she defnitely isn't human. But he sensed no energy field or aura from her. In fact, he couldn't even sense this girl's presence at all.

"It's only a friendly danmaku duel," says the woman. "Don't interrupt them. You'll contaminate the field and ruin the session data."

"A friendly duel?"

He takes another glance at the two cat youkai in the air. Both of them have started firing strangely colored energy bolts while dodging the others' attacks.

"It is a test of strength. There won't be any serious injuries here. Don't worry about it."

Vincent watches the battle continue. From below, it is like watching a strange fireworks show during the daytime. Chen looks surprisingly focused and confident against her opponent.

"A danmaku duel," he repeats.

Well, it does look like some kind of game. But who was this fox girl?

[ ] Cheer for Chen.
[ ] Cheer for the other girl.
[ ] Ask for the fox lady's name.
[ ] Ask for an explanation of danmaku.
[ ] Ask something else. (Custom)
[ ] Just watch quietly.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head to the dining room.

---

Vincent arrives at the dining room without incident. He glances around. There seems to be no one else in the room. Upon the table is a simple breakfast for one person. He makes his way to his seat and examines the food. Looks like it is still warm. He lays down his weapon beside him and takes a seat.

"..."

He takes a pair of chopsticks, but he doesn't start eating. Instead, he starts staring idly at the ceiling for a few minutes.

"I know you're there. Show yourself," he says without turning his head.

"Awww~"

The newcomer's head pops out from the table. He stares at it blankly.

"Don't do that," says Vincent. "It's really creepy, and I can't get to the food."

"Ara? But it isn't it fine if you have me, instead~"

"Please don't phase through my breakfast."

The pink haired girl pouts as she reluctantly steps in view. She takes a seat beside him. He opens his mouth to object, but then he changes his mind and says nothing. Vincent quietly starts eating. The ghost princess just watches him.

"..."

"..."

Vincent finishes eating his meal in relative peace. Not a word is spoken. He glances at Yuyuko. She only smiles a little in return. The silence is unnerving. After a few minutes, Vincent clears his throat.

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"..."

"I couldn't..."

"..."

"So..have you come to take my soul?"

"Hmm..?"

Yuyuko stands up and steps behind him. Gently, she embraces him from behind. He gasps in surprise. She feels so warm, as if she isn't a ghost at all. He can feel her tighten her grip. For some reason, he feels himself calm down in her arms.

"I can't," she whispers.

"..."

She holds him for a few more moments before letting go.

"I can't take something that already belongs to me~"

"..."

Vincent sighs heavily. Even without looking, he knows that she is laughing softly behind his back.

"You really know how to take it easy, don't you?"

She pauses for a moment and steps beside him.

"Sometimes, that is all we have left."

"..."

Yuyuko pats his shoulder reassuringly.

"So take it easy," she whispers.

"..."

"Just... take it easy... alright?"

[ ] Stay with her.
[ ] Leave the room.

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---

Loading User Commands:
[X] "... Youmu?"

---

Light seeps through his eyelids. Vincent twists and turns. He can hear a voice. Someone is shaking his side. Ugh...

"..cent! Hey.."

That voice sounds familiar. Where did he hear this before?

"..alright? Can you..."

So persistent. He can't take it easy like this.

".. moving! Answer..."

Vincent groans as he opens his eyes. A faceless blur gasps in surprise. He blinks stupidly at the person.

"... Youmu?"

She shakes her head.

"You really gave us a scare back there! We weren't sure if you were coming back."

He blinks again. A girl with bright red eyes, and short red hair tied in two places smiles patiently. Her hands are clasped together as she looks at him.

"Machi? Ugh... my head.."

Vincent sits himself up a little too fast. His vision starts blurring again. Komachi quickly catches him by the shoulders and holds him up until he recovers.

"Be careful! You might be healing quickly, but you're still human, you know?"

"Ah. Sorry about that.."

"In any case, you should take it easy and relax. Everything's alright now, so don't worry."

"Err.. Machi?"

"You can ask all the questions you want after you get something to eat. You need your strength."

"Machi..."

"It's not my style to lecture you like this, but I'll do what it takes to keep you in line! Do you understand!?"

"Well, yeah. But it's not that."

"Huh?"

"Umm... you can let go of me now. I think I'm alright."

The shinigami girl blushes slightly before letting him go. She laughs at herself uneasily.

"Ah! O-of course! Sorry about that..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"W-well.. umm..."

She scratches her head in embarrassment.

"This is kind of awkward, but I -"

Before she can finish, the ground suddenly rumbles. Then, he hears a loud crash coming from the zen gardens. Komachi just sighs.

"They're at it again," she mumbles.

"What was that?"

She shakes her head.

"Nothing important. Anyway, there is food in the dining room waiting for you. When you feel well enough, please help yourself."

"Huh? Well, alright."

"I think I'll walk around the grounds for a while. Just to clear my head, you know?"

Komachi starts walking toward the door. Then, she pauses. Slowly, she turns around and tosses something at Vincent. He catches it by reflex.

"You probably won't need it, but here it is anyway."

He takes a look. In his hands is a familiar longsword.

"I am familiar with feeling naked without a weapon, so I thought I'd give it back right away."

"... thanks, Machi."

Yep. He really does feel better with this in hand.

[ ] Head to the dining room.
[ ] Stay here and think for a while.
[ ] Accompany Machi around the grounds.
[ ] Investigate the commotion at the garden.