Sumireko Usami
Sumireko Usami's Fantasy Rebirth Story
The existence of the Lost Word Incident has not yet been made public.
Only PLAYER and a handful of Gensokyo's wisest and most powerful denizens know about it.
But things are about to change...
Good evening, Miss Sumireko. You're in bed early.
Maybe I should get some sleep too.
Sumireko
...Thank goodness! You're safe!
Sumireko
Or rather... you're normal!
I can't breathe! Timeout, timeout!
Safe? Normal? What're you talking about?!
Sumireko
I guess I should explain, huh?!
Sumireko
My bad! I just got a little carried away.
Sumireko
Is Reimers around? You haven't noticed her acting strange, have you? Or Rissa, for that matter.
They seem the same as usual to me.
Sumireko
Hm... In that case, Gensokyo is probably fine.
Did something happen in the outside world?
Sumireko
Wait, what was I about to do...? Oh, yeah! Explain what's going on!
Sumireko
Everyone's acting super weird...
You mean in the outside world?
Sumireko
Yeah. Basically, everyone I know is out of whack, my classmates especially.
Sumireko
I dunno how to describe it.
Sumireko
It's like they're living on autopilot. It's not like they've turned into zombies or anything, but... How can I describe it...?
T-Tell me everything!
Sumireko
Whoops, sorry. I feel like I've been talking nonstop for ages.
Sumireko
Explaining it all like that helped me get a handle on things. It must've sounded like nonsense to you, though.
Not at all.
But... what exactly is going on out there?
Sumireko
It's crazy, I know. I wish it was all just my imagination working overtime...
Sumireko
But that doesn't seem to be the case.
Everyone still looks the same as normal, right?
Sumireko
Yep. And it's not just their appearances. Literally everything about them is the same as before.
Oh, right. You can tell because of your psychic powers.
Sumireko
Exactly. But even with my powers, I can't find anything different about anyone anywhere.
Sumireko
And yet, I can't shake the feeling something's wrong.
Sumireko
And it's not just the people. It's the animals, the buildings, the sky... Wherever I look, I get the same weird feeling.
Sumireko
It's like the whole world is ever so slightly out of tune.
Sumireko
Or rather, like the world around me has been replaced with a perfect replica.
Sumireko
But I'm the only one who seems to have noticed. No one else thinks anything's wrong.
Sumireko
When I worked up the courage to talk to someone about it, they just looked at me like I was crazy.
Sumireko
Although, I'm kinda used to that by now.
Sumireko
You're probably wondering why only I feel like something's wrong, and why I can't point to anything specific.
Sumireko
Maybe that's the real mystery here.
How long have you felt this way?
Sumireko
Hm... Since I woke up this morning.
Sumireko
Wait a sec.
Sumireko
No one but me feels like there's something wrong. And I don't know why I feel like there is.
Sumireko
No matter how hard I search, nothing's out of place... except for this feeling inside me.
Sumireko
In other words...!
Sumireko
Maybe this feeling's been there a long time... and I only happened to notice it today!
I guess that could be true...
Sumireko
If it is, does that mean this is some kind of incident?
Sumireko
No, it can't be. There aren't any incidents in the outside world.
Sumireko
There couldn't be.
Sumireko
It's impossible...!
Sumireko
And I'd know. Since I arrived in Gensokyo, I've done a ton of research at Kossy's shop and Kyukyu's library.
Sumireko
I'm positive.
Sumireko
A strange, far-reaching incident like this couldn't occur in the outside world.
Sumireko
All the truly strange things have already been transported to Gensokyo. Only minor oddities are left.
Sumireko
If there was something this big and unknown in my world―
Sumireko
I'd know about it.
Sumireko
The outside world is where all the humans live, and there's nothing strange about it.
Sumireko
So an incident couldn't possible occur there.
Sumireko
I'm sure of it.
I agree.
And I think Miss Yukari would too.
Sumireko
Miss Yukari...? Oh, you mean Yuka?
Sumireko
...Actually, I think I'll just stick to Miss Yukari. Yuka doesn't feel right.
Sumireko
Anyway, why did you mention her?
She wanted me to give you a message... And this.
Sumireko
What is it?
Sumireko
Wow!
Sumireko
I-It's so cool! And kinda out there... which makes it even cooler!
Sumireko
Thanks, PLAYER-o. Guess I should go say thanks to Miss Yukari too, huh?
Sumireko
But first... what's this about a message?
Sumireko
Oh, it looks like it's written on this card.
Sumireko
Let me see...
Sumireko
"Incidents can't occur in the outside world. But one has. That can only mean one thing..."
Sumireko
What's she on about? I'm confused already.
Sumireko
"In the not-so-distant future, an extremely rare exception to the rules will be made. After a rigorous selection process―"
Sumireko
"―with dozens of strict criteria, we've selected an investigation team to send to the outside world."
Sumireko
Whoa, no way!
Sumireko
Is she for real?!
Sumireko
"It goes without saying that Gensokyo interfering with the outside world is something we wished to avoid at all costs."
Sumireko
"No matter how careful we are, it will never suffice."
Sumireko
(I've heard some youkai visit there pretty often, but whatever.)
Sumireko
"To keep this exception a one-off, we wish for a human from the outside world to conduct a preliminary investigation."
Sumireko
"We're counting on you, Sumireko Usami."
Sumireko
"Now's the time for the Secret Sealing Club to live up to its potential."
Sumireko
Whoa...
All the sages must've written that together.
Sumireko
Haha! Yeah, I think you're right.
Sumireko
The Secret Sealing Club's potential, huh...?
Costume Presentation
Sumireko
Our upbringings were different, but if you ignore all that along with our abilities and talents... I feel like we're similar. We're both lonely, you know? Argh, no, that's not what I'm trying to say! Ahaha! I mean that we're friends! That's all!
