First Stop
Episode 1
One day, on the Youkai Mountain...
Sanae
Are you ready?
I, uhh...
I think so.
Sanae
Speak up! You're part of this exploration squad, aren't you?!
Sanae
Let's try that again.
Sanae
Are you ready?!
Y-You bet I am!
Sanae
Good. Then let's get going―
H-Hang on, Sanae.
Are we really doing this?
Are we really going deep into the mountain?
Sanae
We sure are!
Isn't it, like, dangerous―
Sanae
Miss PLAYER!
Sanae
Gensokyo is full of amazing places and fun things to do...
Sanae
But they're not gonna come knocking on your door. You gotta go find 'em yourself.
Sanae
And if that means getting told off or facing a little danger, then so be it!
(It's like she KNOWS we're gonna get told off...)
(Whatever. If things get too sketchy, I'll drag her back.)
(But I have to admit...)
Sanae
C'mon, we're going on an adventure!
Sanae
It's a long walk. If you get tired, just say the word and I'll give you a piggyback!
(Seeing Sanae so excited about this secret spot...)
(Has got me kinda curious!)
Yep. My curiosity got the better of me.
I was lured in by the promise of a secret spot for just the two of us.
I knew I might get in trouble later, but that wasn't enough to stop me.
I think I was just happy that Sanae had trusted me to be her adventure buddy.
I never would've guessed what it would all lead to...
Whoaaaaa! What is this place?!
I could scarcely believe my eyes.
Sanae
Hahaha!
Sanae
That's exactly what I said when I first saw it!
Sanae
And it's just what I wanted to hear!
We're still inside the mountain, right?
How come it's so bright?!
Sanae
I know, right?! I noticed that, too!
Sanae
Who made this place? How did they make it? Why did they make it? So many questions!
D-Do you have any answers?
Sanae
Not even one!
...
Figures...
Sanae
Hey! Don't give me that look!
Sanae
Whaddya want from me? This is only my second time here!
Sanae
I've been dying to explore this place some more, but Lady Suwako and Lady Kanako told me I wasn't allowed.
(Sounds about right.)
Sanae
But, c'mon, a place this strange... How could I NOT come back?!
Sanae
Just don't tell anyone, OK?
I won't... but why bring me at all?
Sanae
Oh, uhh... You know, it's like...
Sanae
I didn't wanna be all alone in here... And I kinda wanted to show it off to someone...
Sanae
But also... what could be more fun than two friends sharing a secret?
Sanae
...
Sanae
*wind priestess blush*
(H-How is she this cute?)
(Or is she more adorable? ...No, no. Definitely cute!)
Sanae
Anyway, we're here together now!
Sanae
That's all I really wanted!
Sanae
I still can't believe a place like this exists in Gensokyo!
Sanae
I figure it's our job―no, our DUTY...
Sanae
To do a little exploring!
Sanae
So let me ask you one last time...
Sanae
Are you ready, Miss PLAYER?
(Maybe I should say no.)
(Maybe I should turn back.)
(But I've already come this far...)
Super ready!
Sanae
That's the spirit! Exploration squad, move out!
And so, we began exploring the mysterious station...
Episode 2
In Sanae's secret place...
Sanae
All right, we're ready to explore. Now that we're up close and personal with it...
Sanae
I'd say this is some kinda station.
A station, huh? What kind?
Sanae
Hmm...
Sanae
The only thing that makes sense is a station for minecarts. But this place is way too big for that.
Sanae
...Hey, check this out.
It looks like...
An old timetable.
Sanae
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Sanae
The writing's faded, but this right here means SOMETHING used to arrive here on a schedule.
Sanae
And this place was built to be ready for it.
Sanae
But...
Sanae
There's no one here anymore.
Sanae
This place was either abandoned or simply outlived its purpose.
Sanae
A station that no longer transports people or objects...
It's still super clean, though, huh?
Sanae
That's what I was thinking.
Sanae
Sure, Gensokyo is a mysterious place...
Sanae
But this place doesn't feel all that mysterious. It has―or had―a clear purpose.
Sanae
It's here because someone wanted it to be here.
Sanae
And there's nothing mysterious about that. Whoever built it probably came to see it as pretty mundane.
Sanae
From its point of view, WE'RE the mysterious ones...
Umm, Sanae?
Sanae
S-Sorry! Just got a little lost in thought there.
Sanae
For now, let's assume this IS a station of some kind.
Sanae
That would mean people came and went from here. That much is clear from the layout.
Sanae
Benches, trash cans... They were clearly used in the past.
So the real question is who was coming here?
And why?
Sanae
Nobody in Gensokyo seems to know about this place. If they did, the kappa would've sniffed it out by now.
Sanae
Which means...
People came here from OUTSIDE Gensokyo?
Sanae
Bingo!
Sanae
That's what a station's for, after all. To carry people and objects to and from faraway places.
Sanae
Maybe someone's trying to infiltrate Gensokyo! This could be, like, a secret outpost!
Sanae
Hmm... the plot thickens!
L-Let's not jump to any conclusions...
Sanae
Even if I'm right, we have no way to find out.
Sanae
To be honest, everything I've said so far has been wild speculation.
Sanae
If I had to base my theory on what we know for sure...
Sanae
I'd say this is a remnant from back when someone was trying to develop the Youkai Mountain.
Sanae
Look, the tracks start from here. Maybe this was the first stop.
Sanae
A place to load up and haul supplies too big for a regular minecart.
Sanae
Given how big this place is, maybe workers lived here as they built the station and opened up the surrounding area.
Sanae
So even if we follow the tracks, it'll probably just lead to empty tunnels, just like the Rainbow Dragon Cave above.
Sanae
I said this station was the first stop, but for all we know, it could be the only one.
Sanae
*sigh* That'd be so lame...
Hmm... sounds pretty believable though.
This is like one big history lesson.
Sanae
Heh, I guess we were never gonna stumble onto some huge discovery that easy.
Sanae
But I'm still glad I got to hang out with you here.
Sanae
I don't get many chances to talk about crazy theories like that.
Hehe, normally you're super down to Earth.
Sanae
Yep! I had to pull a few strings to make this trip happen, you know?
What kinda strings?
Sanae
Oops, shouldn't have said that.
Sanae
That reminds me, I've got that promise to keep...
Sanae
Hm?
Sanae
Don't go wandering off alone, OK, Miss PLAYER?
Sanae
Just 'cause no one's here doesn't mean it's completely safe.
What are you talking about?
I'm right here.
Sanae
Huh? That means...
???
Ah!
Sanae
Someone else is here!
Episode 3
A voice rang out.
It was SANAE'S voice―even though she was standing right beside me.
I couldn't see her. Just the sound of feet shuffling and quiet breathing.
But I knew it was her.
ANOTHER Sanae.
She must've followed the tracks all the way to us.
Her footsteps grew faint, heading away down those same tracks...
Sanae
H-Hey, wait up! Waiiit!
Sanae
Why is there someone here?! I mean, it's a station, so technically, there should be a bunch of people here...
Sanae
But forget about that!
She kinda looked like you...
Sanae
I know, right?!
Sanae
She wasn't the same height as me, but her voice? It was identical to mine.
How's that possible?
Are there really two yous?
Sanae
...
Sanae?
Sanae
I dunno. But I wanna... I wanna...
Sanae
I wanna find out!
Sanae
Why? Why is there another maybe-me here?!
Sanae
What does she want?! What's this place hiding?! There are so many mysteries waiting to be uncovered!
Sanae
...That's it. I've made up my mind.
Sanae
Miss PLAYER! I need to ask you the favor of a lifetime!
Eep!
Sanae
Will you follow the tracks with me?!
(That IS a big favor!)
Sanae
I have so many questions and not a single answer! I wanna know what this place is, who the maybe-me is...
Yeah, but shouldn't we head back and tell the others―
Sanae
If we do that, we might lose our chance. This is OUR adventure, and these are OUR mysteries.
Sanae
Besides, us coming here together was a secret, remember?
Sanae
I know I'm being selfish. I know I sound crazy.
Sanae
But I'm just so―
Curious.
Sanae
Exactly!
Sanae
I promise, if it gets dangerous, we'll head back immediately.
Sanae
I'd never put a friend like you in harm's way.
Sanae
So if you're as curious as I am...
Sanae
Then let's get to the bottom of this together.
Sanae
Whaddya say?
I couldn't answer right away.
I felt like―no, I KNEW that it was safer to leave.
But I was there for the same reason Sanae was.
Because I love mysteries.
So of course I was curious. Every bit as curious as her.
And besides―
If things get dangerous, we go back. Right?
Sanae
Right!
I suppose this is a once-in-a-lifetime favor...
Sanae
Miss PLAYER!
Sanae
Thank you!
I tried not to sound too enthusiastic, but Sanae smiled all the same.
And that made it impossible for me not to smile.
Sanae's such a wonderful friend. She's super cute, and she shared this secret with me.
I thought I was there because I loved mysteries...
But maybe I was only there to see her smile.
I could stare at it all day...
Sanae
All right then, Miss PLAYER, follow me!
Sanae
We're setting off from the first stop― ...This place needs a name, huh?
Sanae
Technically, it's on Moriya land...
Sanae
And no one's ever mapped it out before.
Sanae
How about...
Sanae
Moriya Unmapped!
Sanae
*wind priestess throat clear*
Sanae
Moriya Unmapped Exploration Squad...
Sanae
Move out!
With arms raised, we both shouted, "Yippee!"
As the echoes faded, we lowered our arms, not wanting to tire ourselves out.
But our smiles stayed fixed on our faces.
I hoped that feeling would last.
And I'm sure Sanae was thinking the same thing...
Because she squeezed my hand with a giggle.
I wanted to stay with her as long as I could. I wanted to solve as many of the mysteries as I could.
With those simple desires and curiosity in my heart, our real adventure began.
