Hisami Yomotsu
Hisami Yomotsu's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Hmm, Miss Hisami should be around here somewhere.
...At least, that's what Miss Eiki and the others told me.
???
Huh...?
Hisami
Miss PLAYER? What are you doing all the way out here?
Hisami
You came to find me, didn't you? But this place isn't exactly safe.
Hisami
And it's incredibly easy to get lost here. No place for a regular human like you.
I-I'm sorry! But I really have to see Miss Zanmu...
And the only way to her is through you.
Plus, I wanted to have a word with you too!
Hisami
Hehehe.
Hisami
Ahahahaha!
(That's... an odd reaction.)
Hisami
That look of unease on your face... I love it. It's perfect.
Hisami
This is a gateway for the dead and the oni. It's not a place for humans to be loitering around with a smile on their face.
Hisami
We've been through a lot together, but...
Hisami
I've got a job to do, and I can't play favorites.
Hisami
You need to keep that look of unease and fear on your face.
Hisami
You come into a place like this, you gotta act the part. Call it... an emotional dress code, if you will.
A dress code for emotions?!
You sure are all business when you're working.
Hisami
Surprised? I am a yomotsu-shikome, after all.
Hisami
The one I truly serve is the ruler of Yomi. Their name isn't one you speak lightly. Lady Zanmu isn't my whole world.
Oh, right, you're a yomotsu-shikome!
Weird how that means ugly. You look way too good.
Hisami
Hm, I see what you mean.
Hisami
Shikome can mean ugly, sure, but it also means strong.
Hisami
That's where we're linked to yomotsu-ikusa. I'm pretty strong, you know? I could beat Kanako Yasaka at sumo.
Hisami
Ugly in this case refers to decaying bodies. Very appropriate for the evil spirits lurking around Yomotsu Hirasaka.
Does that mean you're technically not a youkai?
Hisami
I'm not human, so in a broad sense, I am a youkai. But technically, not quite.
Hisami
There are those like the oni or the Houjuus, who claim to be older than the typical youkai...
Hisami
Basically, they were around before the term "youkai" was ever a thing. Same goes for me.
Hisami
The oldest records on the yomotsu-shikome don't actually describe us as youkai.
Hisami
But of course, that's all from a human perspective. We are what we are, and I'm just me.
Hisami
Honestly, I'm just reciting the standard lines. You know, like a tour guide introducing themselves.
Hisami
Gotta keep the souls entertained. Make 'em feel like they could spend eternity here... not like they've got a choice.
(Sounds entertaining... if you're dead.)
(I can totally picture her as a tour guide.)
Hisami
...
Hisami
So... you came all the way here to hear me ramble? Leaving aside your request to be taken to Lady Zanmu, of course.
Hisami
Even if it were Lady Zanmu's direct order, there's no way I'd just lead you straight to her.
Hisami
Trust me, I'm no plain old tour guide. This is Hell. We have standards.
Hisami
Even the dead would get sick of that. I'd be out of a job in no time.
(Yep, this kind of fun only makes sense if you're dead.)
Hisami
Well? What do you need? We're all swamped with the Lost Word Incident, you know.
Hisami
You're human, but you share my admiration for Lady Zanmu. I can bend the rules a little for you.
Hisami
I mean, I already gave you the dead-people-only tour guide intro for free. You're welcome, by the way.
Um, well...
For starters, I wanted to learn more about you.
About yomotsu-shikome, but you've covered that.
Hisami
And what brought that on? It's not like we just met yesterday.
Hisami
...You've probably figured this out already, but I'm the question-everything type. It's a yomotsu-shikome thing.
That's OK. It's something I need to explain anyway.
I'm trying to deal with the Lost Word Incident...
I've been gathering info on everyone involved.
Hisami
That actually explains a lot.
Hisami
Just because it seems hopeless doesn't mean there aren't options.
Hisami
I mean, no one even really understands the Lost Word Incident yet.
Hisami
Which means... someone among us might hold the key to resolving it. That's what you're thinking, right?
Exactly!
Wow, Miss Hisami, you've got beauty and brains!
I wanna be just like you when I'm dead someday!
Hisami
That flattery had all the grace of a zombie in a tutu!
(She saw right through me!)
Hisami
You're going to see Lady Zanmu next, right? Then spare her that kind of empty flattery.
Hisami
I'll let it slide, but Lady Zanmu won't. Speak from the heart when you stand before her.
(Whew, at least she's letting it slide.)
So, does that mean you'll take me to see Miss Zanmu?
Hisami
Yep, that's the plan.
Hisami
So, what's the other thing you needed?
Is there anything else you could tell me?
Anything you'd like to add?
Hisami
You want me to spill secrets?!
Whoa there, dial down the death glare!
Hisami
Hehe, my bad. That kind of thing kills with the dead.
Hisami
Well, I suppose Lady Zanmu would be pleased if you wised up a bit.
Hisami
She has no patience for fools. So? What do you wanna know?
Hisami
Some juicy Lady Zanmu secrets?
Haha, OK, very funny.
Hisami
What part of that was a joke?
...Wait, what?
Hisami
You want to learn something that'll make you wiser, right?
Hisami
Then, unless it's about Lady Zanmu, don't bother. Everything else is a waste of time.
Hisami
I know everything about her. Even what she did this morning. Every. Single. Detail.
Hisami
She had her third-favorite breakfast. I remember her every hair out of place, every crease in her pajamas...
Hisami
Her yawns, number of times she rubbed her eyes, how long she stretched, her face, her voice, her scent―all of it.
(I thought she said Miss Zanmu isn't her whole world!)
Hisami
Let's talk about Lady Zanmu all night long!
Hisami
...So, long story short: Yomotsu Hirasaka is a kind of boundary between worlds.
(So much for the juicy secrets...
She didn't tell me much about Miss Zanmu.
And now we're back to the lecture on Hell.)
Hisami
This idea of a boundary is more crucial than people realize.
Hisami
The beauty of bullet battles is dodging right on the boundary of danger. Whoever came up with that rule was a genius.
Hisami
Boundaries are part of our everyday lives. They shape every world we know.
Hisami
SDM, Former Hell, the Youkai Mountain, the Dream World... Go where you don't belong, and a gatekeeper will be there.
You're a gatekeeper too!
Hisami
Spot on. This place sits right on the boundary of several Hell sectors, and I'm the gatekeeper. There are others, too.
Hisami
Shinigami guide souls to Higan, the Yama decides where they go, and attendants choose their path. All gatekeepers.
That's a lot of gatekeepers in Hell!
Hisami
Dealing with souls takes a certain level of care. Though... sometimes they end up in the wrong place by mistake anyway.
(Yeah, right... "by mistake.")
Hisami
Well, that's the gist of it.
Hisami
The Lost Word Incident originated in another world. One completely unknown to us.
Hisami
But from what we do know, crossing into other worlds and crossing boundaries is not exactly rare around here.
Hisami
At least not for gatekeepers.
Hisami
Maybe that's a lead on how to fight this thing.
Wh-Whoa!
Does that mean you're offering your support?
Hisami
...
Hisami
I'll help. Because I'm not ready to give up everything just yet.
Hisami
My life as a yomotsu-shikome is what lets me spend my days fawning over Lady Zanmu. That's everything to me.
Hisami
And as long as I can keep doing that, the rest of the world can fall apart for all I care.
It's all linked. We can't pick and choose what to protect.
Hisami
That's true. It's the same as having a work-life balance... as frustrating as it is!
(Is this secretly a rant about her fangirl problems?!)
(You can't just toss out important things on a whim.)
(Upending your life on impulse is never a good idea!)
Hisami
Sigh... If only Lady Zanmu's presence were enough to live on.
Speaking of Miss Zanmu...
This was given to me by a sage of Gensokyo.
And there's a message from Miss Zanmu included.
Hisami
W-Wait, wh-what?!
Hisami
...
Hisami
No way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way no way!
Calm down, Miss Hisami!
Hisami
Lady Zanmu... sent something? For me? A gift?! That's... No way. Nooo way. NO WAY!
Hisami
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Hisami
I'm so happy I could drop dead!
Please don't. (Even if we're already in Hell.)
Hisami
This doesn't make sense. That's not like Lady Zanmu at all. Something's wrong. Is she... sick?!
That's some world-class overthinking.
Hisami
This letter is too much for my heart to handle. Mind if I read it right before I die?
Read it now. (We're in Hell anyway, remember?)
Hisami
Ugh...!
Hisami
...
Hisami
"Dear Hisami, the sages said they'd prepare your outfit, but I decided to personally design it for you.
Hisami
Even if you don't wear it, it still works as a restraint. You're too free-spirited. This is just me trying to rein you in a bit.
Hisami
Not that it'll stop you. You'll do whatever you want anyway.
Hisami
So that's all I'll say about it. Do as you please.
Hisami
Just one last thing...
Hisami
Knowing you, you probably spilled all my secrets to PLAYER.
Hisami
Can't undo what you've said. But forget everything you remember.
Hisami
Immediately. Got it? That's all."
Hisami
...
Hisami
...
Um... aren't you gonna open the box?
Hisami
...
Hisami
...
Hisami
Sorry, did you say something? I'm, uh... emotionally unavailable right now.
(This might literally kill her if she opens it now.)
Hisami
...
Hisami
...
Hisami
Oh, no.
Hisami
AAAAAAAH!
What's wrong?!
(I hope she doesn't explode.)
Hisami
They're fading!
Hisami
All those beautiful memories of my time with Lady Zanmu... even if they were only in my head... They're all disappearing!
Wait, you're actually wiping your own memories?!
Hisami
Urgh! I'm... surprisingly good at this...!
(Well, at least Miss Zanmu can be at ease now.)
Costume Presentation
Hisami
You're always welcome in Hell. In fact, I'll never let you leave. But I refuse to take you to Lady Zanmu. You'll have to find her yourself. When you end up in Hell for real, be sure to come find me. I'll prepare a killer Hell tour for you.
