Aya Shameimaru
Aya Shameimaru's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Aya
Hey, Miss PLAYER! Sorry to keep you waiting.
Aya
Thanks for coming all the way out to the hidden tengu village at night. I owe you one.
Don't mention it! So, what's up?
I came alone like you asked. So, what's the matter?
Aya
...
Aya
The Tenma ordered me to summon you here.
Aya
I suppose there's no point in lying to you. You can't escape now.
Aya
...I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But don't worry, I'll explain everything.
Aya
The Tenma wishes to keep you close in preparation for the coming Lost Word Incident.
Aya
But that's not so we can protect you or anything.
Aya
It's for the safety of the mountain and the tengu. We plan to use you.
Aya
And it's my job to carry out this secret mission.
Aya
Sages, oni... Gensokyo is full of troublemakers. Which makes me all the more glad you came here of your own accord.
Aya
My orders were to bring you in. And I did so rather skillfully if I do say so myself.
...Why are you doing this, Aya?
Aya
You really don't know?
Aya
Have you never thought about what humans are really like?
Aya
They're creatures filled with low cunning and deceit.
Aya
It's true, youkai deceive others as well, but they're far less proficient at it than humans.
Aya
Humans lie without hesitation. Without remorse.
Aya
They've slain many of my fellow youkai and pushed us to the brink of extinction. All without a second thought.
Aya
Don't you see? From the youkai's perspective, they're nothing but bad news.
Aya
Especially normal humans like you.
But why...?
Aya
I thought I made myself clear, but maybe this is all still too complicated for you.
Aya
...Still, I'd rather you stopped asking why all the time.
Aya
If only you weren't so... normal. Even the Hakurei shrine maiden is a step up from you. At least she's honest.
Aya
Listen up. We tengu are not content to leave Gensokyo's fate up to some ordinary human.
Aya
We plan to use you to save ourselves. And if we can't do that, we'll trap you here to stop you from doing anything reckless.
Aya
We're only doing what's necessary.
Aya
Don't look so disappointed. You do have some redeeming qualities.
Aya
For instance, when we keep you prisoner, you won't have the power to resist.
Aya
I can think of a certain human magician who would've given us a real headache if we captured her instead.
Aya
You came here willingly just because I asked you to. I meant it earlier when I said I owed you one.
...Before, I wasn't asking why you captured me.
Aya
No? Then what were you asking?
Why you were telling me about the Tenma's orders.
Why you were telling me the reason you're doing this.
Aya
...
Aya
...Hm. Nothing gets passed you, eh?
Aya
Miss PLAYER, let me apologize for the terrible things I've said to you tonight.
Aya
I didn't mean a word of it.
Aya
I just thought if I said all those horrible things...
Aya
Then you'd start to hate tengu... and that you'd stay away from us forever.
Aya
But I was mistaken. All I did was hurl petty insults at you.
Aya
I didn't want to follow the Tenma's orders. And if you cut ties with us, I thought I wouldn't have to.
Aya
Because, well... you're my friend, and I don't want to hold you captive.
Aya
I really thought I could get you to hate us... But I guess the Tenma must've planned for all of this.
I knew you were upset from the start...
...and that you didn't mean what you were saying.
Aya
Really?
Like you said, we're friends. I knew you were only―
―saying those things to help me in some way.
Aya
...Hahaha. You saw right through me.
Oh, before I forget, I have something for you!
It's a gift from Miss Okina!
Aya
The god of hindrances?!
Uh-huh. And she said to tell you something!
Aya
What?
"Hello, my distant relative. I can clearly see your back."
"Soon I will ask to borrow your wings of great speed."
Aya
So both you AND Okina Matara have me all figured out, huh?
Aya
Thank you, Miss PLAYER. And thank the god of hindrances for me too when you get the chance.
I will! See you, Aya!
Aya
...Right. It'll probably be sunrise by the time I get done writing my report for the Tenma.
Aya
Tengu society sure has a strict hierarchy. I'm glad we each get to publish freely, but it's still tough.
Aya
All the more reason...
Aya
To keep the great scoops about Miss PLAYER to myself!
Aya
Who better than me, Gensokyo's fastest reporter, to have her exclusive publishing rights!
Costume Presentation
Aya Shameimaru
As I suspected, you've caught the Tenma's attention. I suppose this was inevitable since the incident has such broad-reaching consequences, huh? You've become even more mysterious... but that's fine. I'm determined to stick with you to the end!
