42 42. Maiden's Arrival: A Symphony of Time and Roses.
Kouske's POV
It's 26th of October, the day of my 7th birthday. Apparently, we both share the same birthday both in this life and the previous one.
Lavinia and the others have been acting weird since two days ago. They have been rather secretive about something. And I'm not dull enough to not know what it's about. But I decided not to say anything to ruin their fun.
A few days ago, I noticed Lavinia and Asagi entering a room in my house, and when curiosity led me to investigate, Lavinia swiftly interjected with a firm "Ko-kun! Do not enter this room!" – an unexpected denial of access within my own home.
Subsequently, Saki, Rin, and Irina also made visits. Choosing to overlook their activities, given the obvious reasons for their actions and their status as children, I decided to let them enjoy their youthful escapades without further interference.
I chose to revel in the beauty of nature for the time being. As autumn nears its end, the foliage in the surroundings gracefully surrenders its vibrant hues to embrace the impending winter. The cycle of ripened fruits and nuts approaches its conclusion.
In response, I've embarked on a garden transformation, introducing Sakura Cherry trees and an array of roses, including the enchanting blue ones – a personal favorite and a delight for Lavinia. While it requires patience for these additions to flourish, I've also planted an assortment of fruits and flowers, anticipating a diverse and vibrant garden in the seasons to come.
The day concluded with an air of normalcy, yet the people around me continued to exhibit suspicious behavior. At around 9 pm, Lavinia herself ushered me into the room she had vehemently warned me to avoid before. I could feel people's presence in this room.
When I entered, the whole room was adorned with an array of colorful balloons, each one gently swaying in the ambient air. The walls were draped with shimmering streamers, casting a festive glow across the space. A table at the center boasted a delightful spread of birthday treats, surrounded by joyful chatter and laughter echoing in the celebration-filled room.
The joyous chorus of "Happy Birthday!" resonated as I stepped into the room, greeted by a grand birthday cake presented by everyone. Swiftly, I cut the cake and shared its sweetness, distributing joy among everyone present.
The Tenjoins, the Kujos, the Azusawas, and the Shidous gathered along with Momo, creating an intimate birthday party that lasted for about an hour or so. I was actually touched by the presence of each one of them. Following the cake-cutting ceremony, we all enjoyed a shared dinner, and they generously presented me with thoughtful gifts.
Despite my nonchalant view towards birthdays, recognizing them as a marker of passing years, the occasional celebration proved to be a pleasant deviation from the routine of life.
*
*
*
In the hallway of my home, I stood alongside Lavinia, holding the summoning card I obtained from clearing the tutorial dungeon. Presently, I am in my adult form.
"Ko-kun, what's that card?" Lavinia asked, her curiosity evident as she pointed at the sudden appearance of the card in my hand.
"It's a summoning card. It will let us summon someone who might join us in our home to stay with us," I replied.
"So new family?!" Lavinia asked excitedly.
I nodded in response to Lavinia's excitement.
"Yes, potentially a new family member," I confirmed, holding the summoning card with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. The card's gacha function meant it could summon anyone, and my luck with gacha had always been questionable. The prospect of summoning someone unexpected, perhaps even eccentric, loomed over me. The fear of summoning someone like Puri-puri Prisoner sent shivers down my spine, my body involuntarily reacting to the unsettling possibility.
An angel like Lavinia will gladly accept someone like him. But the mere thought of expending my precious summoning card on such a choice was both infuriating and disappointing. Gacha had never been my preference, and this unexpected dilemma only intensified my distaste for the unpredictable outcomes it brought.
"[Kouske! Don't worry about all that and just inject your mana.]" Clarice's optimistic encouragement resonated in my mind.
"Just get on with it without dawdling," urged Vritra, prompting me to proceed swiftly.
Their contrasting but straightforward advice compelled me to focus on the task at hand and inject mana into the summoning card without further hesitation.
After a moment of gathering myself, I infused the card with mana. It responded with a luminous flash, hovering in front of me. Lavinia observed the spectacle with sparkling eyes.
Subsequently, the familiar blue summoning circle of the system materialized, and from its ethereal glow, a figure emerged, marking the culmination of the summoning ritual.
The figure materialized from the summoning circle, and as the radiant light subsided, a mysterious yet elegant presence stood before us. It was a woman with flowing silver hair and scarlet eyes, adorned in a meticulously designed maid uniform that exuded an air of sophistication. The aura of grace and mystery enveloped her, leaving an indelible impression on the hallway of our home.
'Is that Grayfia Lucifuge?!' I exclaimed, caught off guard by the striking resemblance. The shock rippled through me—why would Lucifer's wife be in my house? Questions about her identity, whether she was the same Grayfia or a doppelganger from another world, flooded my mind in rapid succession. However, as quickly as these thoughts arose, they dissipated when she gracefully introduced herself.
"Sakuya Izayoi, at your service," she spoke with a graceful bow, dispelling any doubt.
Indeed, she is Sakuya Izayoi from the illustrious Scarlet Mansion in the Touhou Project, recognized as the Perfect and Elegant Maid, often referred to as the Time-Stopping Maid. Gifted with the remarkable ability to halt or decelerate time, she seamlessly weaves her time magic into a breathtaking display of precise and elegant knife-throwing techniques, making her a captivating and formidable presence in the Touhou universe.
Most significantly, her unwavering loyalty to Remilia Scarlet in the Scarlet Mansion establishes her as an exceptionally trustworthy individual. If I remember correctly Grayfia's character was inspired by Sakuya.
Lavinia's eyes widened in awe, at seeing the elegant maid.
"Wow! She looks amazing! Can she stay with us, Ko-kun?" Lavinia asked, excitement evident in her voice.
'That was the entire reason for the summon,' I replied silently in my head.
"Welcome to our house, Izayoi-san. I'm Kouske Miyamura, and this is Lavinia Reni," I greeted Sakuya.
"Are you the one who summoned me?" Sakuya asked curiously.
"Yes," I replied.
"And the reason being?" Sakuya inquired.
I explained to her how I obtained a summoning card, which had the potential to summon just about anyone. As a result of the summoning ritual, she found herself summoned into our home.
"I understand," Sakuya replied very calmly.
"Then, do you have any problem living with us in this house, Izayoi-san?" I asked her, while Lavinia looked at her in nervous anticipation.
"I can live in this house as your maid. But you will have to call me Sakuya, as the master giving his maid so much respect is sometimes frowned upon," Sakuya replied.
"That's easy, Sakuya-san," I replied immediately in glee. Why would I refuse her generous offer like those betas?
After that, I showed her an empty room for her to stay. Then, I reverted to my younger form and started explaining to her about this world and my status as a half-devil. I also explained some of my powers and heritage.
At first, she was surprised to see me take a younger form, but in a private conversation away from Lavinia, I explained about my older soul and the ability to change my age at will. She, having seen many strange things in her life, easily accepted this revelation.
The reason for initially appearing as an adult was to create a lasting first impression. Recognizing that no one would take a child seriously, especially in a professional setting, I aimed to ensure she treated me accordingly due to being an adult.
Now, whenever she dealt with me, she would be aware that she was interacting with an adult rather than a child, even if I looked like this for the moment. It served as a precautionary measure against whoever might have been summoned through the card.
Her loyalty was also secured through the system, even though someone with her personality didn't necessarily need such measures. It wasn't a form of brainwashing by any means; she had the freedom to refuse to stay here, but she couldn't disclose any information about me. Clarice had explained this to me before – it was a precautionary measure.
It was quite late in the middle of the night, so we all went to sleep in our respective rooms. Sakuya didn't say anything after seeing Lavinia and me sleeping together. A small part of me kind of hoped she would join us.
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