The spotlight centered on Sakuya. As she moved her bow across the strings, the opening notes of Night of Nights filled the air. The melody was like honey to their ears, every note weaving together into a frantic yet seamless tapestry of sound. The audience sat mesmerized, but it wasn't just the music the boundary-defying effects provided by Yukari Yakumo made the scene truly magical.
High above, Yukari Yakumo leaned back into her gap, looking like a bored goddess at a private light show. With a flick of her fan, she began to weave the "special effects."
"This is quite the show," she murmured to herself, carefully adjusting the trajectory of her danmaku to ensure she didn't accidentally kill anyone in the front row.
"She's... perfect! I finally found my darling!" Miku whispered, her eyes glazed over, completely mesmerized by Sakuya's poise. "I won't let her get away from me!" She began mentally cataloging plans to claim the maid for herself.
As the final note echoed through the hall, I stepped off the stage. The judge stood there, trembling, his clipboard hitting the floor with a clatter.
"The winner," the judge stammered, "is... whatever that just was."
"Wow! That was amazing! Can you teach me that? If I can do that, Yang will be super jealous!" Ruby chirped, speaking so fast the words blurred together into a high-pitched sound.
Suddenly, a slow clap drifted from behind me. It was Miku.
"I say, darling, that was amazing!" she cried, sprinting forward and throwing her arms around me. "Say, darling... do you want a reward~ from... me~?"
"I am not your 'darling,' so please unhand me," I replied, my voice as cold as a silver knife.
"Ohhh~ someone is playing hard to get~" Miku giggled, tightening her grip.
Nearby, Ruby and Yukari were doubled over.
"Someone got a new lover! Hahahaha!" Ruby wheezed, clutching her stomach while Yukari smirked behind her fan.
"Well, I have to go change. If you'll excuse me," I said, extricating myself and walking toward the dressing room.
I had just reached the privacy of the changing room when Yukari's head popped out of a gap in the ceiling, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Oh, Sakuya. We still have the after-party to attend. I hear they have excellent crepes."
"You are a big, lazy glutton," I sighed, pulling my regular outfit from the rack.
"Anyways, me and Ruby are going to eat, so... bye!" She vanished before I could protest.
I sighed, looking at my reflection. If this is what it feels like to have one of me... imagine ten of me. I shuddered at the thought of the various Touhou personalities I was currently juggling. I need to kill Westcott and leave this place just to save myself the headache.
Yukari's head popped back through the gap instantly. "So... Westcott is here now. Just telling you."
Pop.
She was gone again.
"Oh, you mothe—"
---
"Hi guys! It's me, Marisa! Sorry for disturbing you! I have an announcement! Ze~"
Marisa Kirisame tipped her hat, grinning at the fourth wall.
"So, because the Date A Live arc is going to end... I won't be able to do this anymore, *da ze*~ I'm gonna be way too busy playing my actual part in the plot. Which means... I won't be able to annoy the author anymore! Da ze~"
She gestured toward a massive, swirling hole behind her. "But don't worry, because another character will take my job! Ze~"
With a final wink toward the reader, she gave a wave and leaped into the void. "That's all folks! Goodbye! Da ze~"
---
In a secluded room on the school grounds, Isaac Westcott and his team moved with clinical precision.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Westcott asked, his voice dripping with practiced calm.
"Yes, sir. We have multiple readings of Reiryoku concentrated within this school."
"Good," Westcott said, a dark smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Prepare to capture them."
High in the corner of the room, a tiny, hairline fracture in reality opened. A single eye peered through.
"Well, shit," Yukari whispered.
Then The gap snapped shut.
A/N: so... I am back!