Dining with the Dead
After the Festival
After the battle with the mysterious spooks, the yukkuris had to say a tearful goodbye to Yukkuri PLAYER.
But, right after, PLAYER appeared back at Hakurei Shrine, leading to much joy and confusion.
Yukkuris
What happened...?
That's what I wanna know...
Yukkuri Reimu
Does this mean you never got taken back to your world?
Yukkuri Marisa
Maybe... PLAYER's instincts told her she was getting sent back, but there's no way to actually confirm it.
Yukkuri Alice
We've talked about this before, but it could be that Seal Crystals simply don't work on Yukkuri PLAYER.
Yukkuri Cirno
I think I remember hearing something about that when we first met.
Yukkuri Sanae
There's another possibility. I've seen something like this before... She might be stuck in a loop!
Oh, I think I've seen that movie, too.
It was fun seeing things repeat over and over again.
Yukkuri Sanae
Miss PLAYER will keep returning to this Gensokyo until she completes her mission! How cool is that?!
Yukkuri Marisa
Mission? What mission? You saying PLAYER came here for a reason?
I wanna enjoy the autumn festival and eat takoyaki!
Yukkuri Marisa
That's a pretty good mission.
Yukkuri Remilia
Hold on. We might have to save the takoyaki for later. Yukkuri Flan has sensed something.
Yukkuri Flan
Someone's here! They're attacking!
No way...
Don't tell me it's another spook.
Yukkuri Reimu
Argh, I've had it with them spooks! How many times do we have to shoot them before they give up?!
Yukkuri Flan
PLAYER's back now! I'll never let them take her again!
Yukkuri Reimu
Huh? That's no spook... It's Yukkuri Youmu! I got all worked up for nothing.
Yukkuri Youmu
As Yukkuri Yuyuko ordered, so must it be... I don't know who you are, but prepare to be cut!
Yukkuri Reimu
B-But why?
Yukkuri Youmu
Argh! I'm sorry, Yukkuri Yuyuko! I lost to these weird, otherworldly squish-balls...
Yukkuri Reimu
Who're you calling otherworldly? We're this world's squish-balls, same as you.
Yukkuri Youmu
Huh? You're Yukkuri Reimu! Why are you fighting me...?
Yukkuri Reimu
You attacked us!
Yukkuri Youmu
No, I'm just trying to follow Yukkuri Yuyuko's orders...
Yukkuri Youmu
She told me to slice and dice the unfamiliar enemies that appeared in this world.
Yukkuri Marisa
Yikes. So, in other words, she ordered violence...
Yukkuri Youmu
Look, there's an unfamiliar enemy right there! You tried to stop me from cutting it, so I assumed you were enemies, too.
Wait, are you talking about me, Yukkuri Youmu?
You might not know me, but I'm not your enemy!
Yukkuri Youmu
Truly...? Are you saying I was about to slice and dice in error? Then where are the unfamiliar enemies?!
Yukkuri Youmu
There were a bunch of weird things flying around earlier. I followed them here.
Yukkuri Remilia
You must be talking about the spooks.
Yukkuri Youmu
Spooks...?
Yukkuri Youmu
Do you mean the spooky vampires? Are you one of these spooks, Yukkuri Remilia?! Don't lie―
Yukkuri Marisa
Calm down, Yukkuri Youmu. We were confused enough before you showed up. Don't make it even worse!
Yukkuri Cirno
Yeah, we were trying to figure out what's up with Yukkuri PLAYER.
Yukkuri Youmu
What's up with her? You mean whether she's an enemy or not?
Yukkuri Flan
No! She's our friend!
Yukkuri Remilia
And I'm a super spooky and charismatic vampire!
Yukkuri Youmu
So you are a spook!
Yukkuri Alice
It's yukkuri chaos...
Yukkuri Alice
It seems we're all a bit confused. So let's calm down and talk it out.
Slice and Dice
Yukkuri Youmu
Very well. I'll start. I'm Yukkuri Youmu, Hakugyokurou's yukkuri swordsmanship instructor and gardener.
Isn't Yukkuri Yuyuko with you today?
Yukkuri Youmu
You know about Yukkuri Yuyuko, too? You're very well informed!
Yukkuri Reimu
Yukkuri PLAYER basically knows all of us by now. A lot happened, but we'll explain that later.
Yukkuri Youmu
I see... How mysterious. I look forward to hearing about it. Now, as I was saying...
Yukkuri Youmu
I came here alone from the Netherworld to fulfill the missions Yukkuri Yuyuko entrusted to me.
Wow, multiple missions! That's cool.
We were just talking about how I might have one, too.
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Yuyuko said, "I have two or three missions for you in the world of the living. Take care of them for me, would you?"
Yukkuri Alice
She hands missions out like candy...
Yukkuri Marisa
Why'd she have to say two or three? Couldn't she have given an exact number?
Yukkuri Youmu
One of those missions was to find the stray yukkuri everyone's been talking about and bring her to Yukkuri Yuyuko.
By "stray yukkuri," does she mean me?
Unlike everyone else, I don't have a Yukkuri Master.
Yukkuri Reimu
Probably. I guess she wants to see you for some reason...
Yukkuri Youmu
My other mission was to cut down the unfamiliar enemies.
Yukkuri Youmu
I saw these strange cubes at the festival! At first, I thought they were decorations, but then they all flew off!
Yukkuri Youmu
They had this real "enemy" look about them. Did you guys see them, too?
Yukkuri Remilia
See them? We fought them. You can tell how fierce our battle was by looking at all the scratches on these pumpkins.
Yukkuri Youmu
Whoa, what are they? Should I slice and dice them?
Yukkuri Flan
No, they're just pumpkins.
Yukkuri Youmu
R-Right... There sure are a lot of them. And why do they all have faces?
Yukkuri Alice
That's not important. Anyway, now we know why Yukkuri Youmu is here: she came to investigate the spooks.
Yukkuri Alice
But we were fighting the spooks, so that doesn't explain why you attacked us.
Yukkuri Youmu
I didn't realize. I must've gotten here too late.
Yukkuri Youmu
When I followed those cube things around the back of the shrine, they had all disappeared.
Yukkuri Youmu
Instead, I saw what I could only assume was their boss. So, thinking I was following Yukkuri Yuyuko's orders, I attacked.
Their boss? You don't mean me again, don't you?!
Yukkuri Youmu
What else was I to think? You're armed to the teeth...
Yukkuri Marisa
Oh, right... You've got all your presents back now, PLAYER. You do look kinda like a boss.
I've got seven different items!
Yukkuri Flan
You can give me back my Yukkuri Remilia Doll now!
Sure! That's what I promised!
Yukkuri Marisa
I'm still a bit confused, Yukkuri Youmu. Weren't you also told to bring the stray yukkuri to Yukkuri Yuyuko?
Yukkuri Alice
Right. If you saw an unfamiliar round thing, wouldn't you assume it to be the stray yukkuri, not an enemy?
Yukkuri Youmu
I'm sorry! Me and my swords... we acted before thinking things through!
Yukkuri Youmu
When I saw the enemies' boss, I completely forgot about my other mission.
Yukkuri Marisa
Seems you get really focused on a single task.
Yukkuri Sanae
That's Yukkuri Youmu in a nutshell... Still, it's kinda scary that your first instinct is to swing your sword.
Yukkuri Youmu
That's my second instinct, too! Look, I've got two swords!
Yukkuri Reimu
Don't act so smug about it!
You-kuri Commentary
Yukkuri Marisa
OK, now that we understand what Yukkuri Youmu was doing, it's our turn to tell her all about PLAYER.
Yukkuri Reimu
Going over everything might help us, too, since there are a bunch of things I still can't wrap my head around.
Yukkuri Marisa
Let's do this.
Yukkuri Reimu
I'm Yukkuri Reimu.
Yukkuri Marisa
And I'm Yukkuri Marisa.
Yukkuri Marisa
Today, we'll explain all about Yukkuri PLAYER!
It's a Yukkuri Commentary about me! Woohoo!
Yukkuri Youmu
This is great! I don't know much about her at all, so I'd appreciate anything you could teach me...
Yukkuri Reimu
She was a normal human originally from the outside world, who lived with Reimu and the others in another Gensokyo.
Yukkuri Marisa
But then, she ended up in this Gensokyo, and she turned into a yukkuri.
Yukkuri Youmu
Unbelievable!
Yukkuri Marisa
PLAYER can't remember her life in the outside world, why she came here, or how she turned into a yukkuri.
Yukkuri Reimu
Also, unlike the rest of us yukkuris, she doesn't have a Yukkuri Master. She's like a forgetful ball of mysteries.
Yukkuri Reimu
She appeared unconscious in front of Hakurei Shrine, so Reimu and Marisa took her in, and now she's living with us.
Yukkuri Youmu
I see...
Yukkuri Marisa
Since then, we've been trying to send her back to her world, or at least turn her back into a human.
Yukkuri Reimu
But nothing worked.
Yukkuri Marisa
We thought the big Seal Crystal might've been what we needed, but then it summoned spooks, which took her away...
Yukkuri Reimu
Just to be sure, those spooks are gone for good now, right?
Yukkuri Marisa
Well, the Seal Crystal's gone, so... My guess is that they vanished after doing what they came here to do.
Yukkuri Reimu
Good riddance! There were way too many, and they just wouldn't give up! I never wanna see 'em again!
Yukkuri Marisa
But that weird mist gathered by the Seal Crystal is still there, in the hollow of the tree. We never figured out what it is.
Yukkuri Reimu
All right, let's summarize all this in a numbered list! 1. Before coming here, PLAYER lived in another Gensokyo!
Yukkuri Reimu
2. She's got no memories of just before or after she came here! 3. She wasn't always a yukkuri―she used to be human!
Yukkuri Reimu
4. Trying to send her back with Seal Crystals doesn't work! 5. The big Seal Crystal sent her back, but then she returned!
Yukkuri Reimu
I'm pretty sure that's everything.
Yukkuri Youmu
Thank you so much! That was very easy to understand. Yukkuri PLAYER has gone through a lot...
Yukkuri Marisa
Hearing it all summarized like that makes me think that PLAYER might actually be from this Gensokyo.
Yukkuri Marisa
That might explain why she came back here.
You mean 'cause I can't remember how I came here?
That I was mistaken, and have always been a yukkuri?
Yukkuri Alice
We can theorize all we want, but there's no way to prove any of this.
Yukkuri Alice
Setting aside all of PLAYER's mysteries, there are still so many things we don't know about us, about yukkuris!
Yukkuri Marisa
Right. We always come back to that.
Yukkuri Alice
What even is a yukkuri?! No one's been bothered enough to research us!
Yukkuri Alice
We can't even rule out that PLAYER's situation isn't caused by her being a yukkuri. It might affect all of us.
Yukkuri Cirno
Isn't there a yukkuri who knows this stuff?! I may be the strongest, but that doesn't mean I know everything!
Yukkuri Remilia
We all know that, at least.
Yukkuri Reimu
Hold on. What about Yukkuri Yuyuko?
Yukkuri Youmu
Hm?
Yukkuri Hakugyokurou
Yukkuri Reimu
Yukkuri Youmu, you're here 'cause Yukkuri Yuyuko gave you missions, correct?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yes! Two or three!
Yukkuri Reimu
Going from what you said earlier, those missions concern PLAYER and the spooks...
Yukkuri Marisa
Ah, I see. If she knew about them, she might also know something we don't.
Yukkuri Reimu
Tell us, Yukkuri Youmu. What exactly did she say before sending you down here?
Yukkuri Youmu
Umm, let me think...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
All right, Yukkuri Youmu, I'm going to give you two or three missions.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Find the stray yukkuri everyone's been talking about and bring her to me. She should be at Hakurei Shrine.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Also, some unfamiliar enemies have appeared in Gensokyo, so go and cut them for me, would you?
Yukkuri Youmu
Understood!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Take care.
Yukkuri Reimu
What a useless flashback! That didn't give us any new info!
Yukkuri Marisa
She agreed without even thinking about it!
Yukkuri Reimu
Didn't you at least ask how she knew about the enemies or where they came from?
Yukkuri Youmu
Nope!
Yukkuri Alice
Wow... Where does that confidence come from?
Yukkuri Flan
Just a thought, but maybe you shouldn't just blindly follow your master's orders.
Yukkuri Remilia
Thinking about my servants, I'm a bit jealous.
If Yukkuri Yuyuko knows something...
Maybe we should meet her.
Yukkuri Alice
I agree. She clearly wants to meet you, and if we want to know what she knows, asking her directly is our best bet.
Yukkuri Marisa
I've actually been wanting to consult a yukkuri like her about PLAYER for a while now.
Yukkuri Marisa
But I'm worried that even if she knows something, she won't give us a straight answer...
Yukkuri Alice
You could say that about most knowledgeable people in Gensokyo...
Yukkuri Youmu
It seems like I'll be able to fulfill my mission. I promise to bring you to Yukkuri Yuyuko, Miss PLAYER!
Yukkuri Youmu
Eeep! Enemies! And just when we were about to leave!
Yukkuri Sanae
Not again... I still haven't recovered mentally from the last time...
Yukkuri Cirno
If we lose now, all our efforts will have been for nothing! I don't like spooks, either, but we gotta give this our all!
Yukkuri Flan
I-I'll try my best!
Yukkuri Reimu
We got all fired up, but they weren't spooks... Just some phantoms excited by the autumn festival.
Yukkuri Flan
What's with that?! I went all out, thinking they were spooks again!
Yukkuri Flan
Guess it's better that they weren't... They're... gone for good now... right? I... tried... a bit too hard...
You OK, Yukkuri Flan?
Yukkuri Remilia
She must've tired herself out... I think I've used up all my charisma for the day, too... Zzzz...
Yukkuri Cirno
Zzzz...
Yukkuri Marisa
Heh, she just fell asleep without... even saying... anything... *yawn*
Looks like everyone's at their limit... Me... too...
Yukkuri Youmu
Oh, everyone's asleep. That must've been an intense battle you fought earlier... and I guess it is pretty late.
Yukkuri Youmu
Honestly, after flying here all the way from the Netherworld, I'm tired, too! Good night!
A New Adventure
Exhausted after doing the opposite of "taking it easy," we all fell asleep...
When we awoke, it was already past noon the following day.
Yukkuri Flan
...
Yukkuri Remilia
She's been like this since we woke up.
Huh? You mean she's stuck like that?
Reminds me of when she ate that weird apple...
Yukkuri Remilia
She gave it her all and then some to protect you, but then we had to battle against Yukkuri Youmu and the phantoms.
Yukkuri Remilia
Seems she ran out of energy and can no longer move.
I see... Sorry, Yukkuri Flan.
Thanks for protecting me.
Yukkuri Remilia
I also used up all my charisma yesterday. I'm so uncharismatic now that birds and bugs think I'm a rock they can sit on.
So charisma's a thing you can run out of...
The more you know...
Yukkuri Reimu
Seems you two need a longer rest. Maybe you should get your masters to take you home.
Yukkuri Reimu
They stayed the night at the shrine after visiting the autumn festival. I think they're still talking to Reimu.
Yukkuri Remilia
That's the plan. We'll recover at the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I wanna get outta this sunlight as soon as possible... Urgh...
Yukkuri Remilia
Later, Yukkuri PLAYER. We'll play again when you get back.
Yeah, see you then!
(It's true. She doesn't sound as charismatic as usual...)
Yukkuri Alice
Those sisters really went all out. Yukkuri Remilia's incredible leadership made her seem like a proper mistress for once.
Yukkuri Marisa
We should follow their example. Let's act like proper magicians and figure out what this mist is.
Yukkuri Marisa
Why is the mist confined to the tree hollow? I had assumed it was caused by the big Seal Crystal...
Yukkuri Alice
But the Seal Crystal's gone, and the mist remains...
Yukkuri Reimu
We suffered two false alarms last night, but that doesn't necessarily mean the spooks will never come back.
Yukkuri Reimu
It's annoying how we can't ask Reimu for help even though this is all occurring around the back of her shrine...
Yukkuri Reimu
But there's no use complaining! As the yukkuri Hakurei shrine maiden, I'll stay here and prepare in case they return!
Yukkuri Alice
That means PLAYER won't have nearly as many yukkuris to go with her to Hakugyokurou.
Yukkuri Youmu
Don't worry, Miss PLAYER. If someone gets in our way, I'll cut them down.
Yukkuri Cirno
You'll also have me, the strongest yukkuri! I'll freeze anyone who tries to stop us!
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm coming too. With me and my miracles, perhaps we'll get there without even meeting any enemies.
So it's just the four of us, huh? This should be fun!
Yukkuri Sanae
Hopefully, a tiny miracle will also occur, and we'll end up finding something yummy to eat on the way.
Yukkuri Cirno
That's my kind of adventure! I can't wait for the ice-cold sashimi and noodles!
Yukkuri Reimu
No fair! That sounds way too fun! Hey, Yukkuri Sanae, wanna become the Hakurei shrine maiden?
Yukkuri Marisa
Don't try to switch shrines just for the chance at getting a yummy meal...
Yukkuri Youmu
Oh, I almost forgot! I'm happy to take you to Hakugyokurou...
Yukkuri Youmu
But on the way, I have to complete my other missions.
Title Drop
Yuyuko
Youmu?
Youmu
What is it, Lady Yuyuko?
Yuyuko
I heard from a newly deceased phantom about some delicacies in the world of the living.
Youmu
If they're a new phantom, they probably know what they're talking about.
Yuyuko
Exactly. And it seems they were quite the connoisseur.
Yuyuko
They talked about main courses, appetizers, and desserts... It was fun. And they also told me where to find them.
Youmu
Hmm, I see. It seems there are some things we can only eat in the Human Village...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Did you hear that, Yukkuri Youmu? Perhaps they'll leave us some of their delicious leftovers.
Yukkuri Youmu
Please don't drool at the thought of leftovers! It's embarrassing.
Yuyuko
Our yukkuris always look so happy when we talk about food. It's almost like they can understand us.
Yuyuko
Of course, they keep saying, "Yuyuyu," whatever that means. But if they can say that... Hey, try saying "Yummy yuzu cake!"
Yukkuri Youmu
Yummy yuzu cake!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
You're much too obedient, Yukkuri Youmu. All she will hear is "Yuyuyu."
Yukkuri Youmu
Sorry, she's your Yukkuri Master, so I felt like I had to obey her...
Youmu
So, Lady Yuyuko, are we going to eat one of those delicacies today?
Yuyuko
No, not today. There are so many things to do. I was merely making light conversation.
Youmu
Oh, I didn't realize! I was about to get ready for our departure.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
They're not going? Then... what about my leftovers?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Yuyuko! You're drooling again!
Yuyuko
More importantly, Youmu, I'd like you to prune this tree over here. Its branches are growing in an odd direction―
Yukkuri Yuyuko
They've wandered off into the garden. Seems I won't get to eat that yummy food, after all...
Yukkuri Youmu
How about I go to the world of the living and bring it back for you, Yukkuri Yuyuko?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Yes, I'm sure you can handle that. You're so kind and dependable, Yukkuri Youmu.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
And since you'll be down there anyway, there are some other things I'd like you to take care of.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
All right, Yukkuri Youmu, I'm going to give you two or three missions.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Find the stray yukkuri everyone's been talking about and bring her to me. She should be at Hakurei Shrine.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Also, some unfamiliar enemies have appeared in Gensokyo, so go and cut them for me, would you?
Yukkuri Youmu
Understood!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Take care.
Yukkuri Youmu
...And then I left Hakugyokurou. So, I need to finish my errand before I return.
Yukkuri Marisa
Yukkuri Yuyuko's even more food-obsessed than her master... But still! She shouldn't mix important missions with errands!
Yukkuri Alice
I guess that explains why she said two or three. One was an errand, so it might not count as a mission.
Yukkuri Reimu
From what I saw in the flashback, she seemed to be treating the other two tasks like errands...
Yukkuri Sanae
There was a lot to comment on, but also a lot to look forward to! Yummy food!
Yukkuri Cirno
It really sounds like we're going on a food adventure! I can't wait for the ice-cold sashimi!
Yukkuri Youmu
You're in luck. Apparently, the appetizer will be made from wild vegetables, but the main dish is sashimi.
Yukkuri Cirno
Yippee!
Yukkuri Reimu
Grrrr... Stop making me jealous!
Yukkuri Marisa
Stop letting your stomach think for you, Yukkuri Reimu. You're staying here with us.
Yukkuri Reimu
Why can't I go, too?! All I wanna do is dine with the dead in the Netherworld.
Yukkuri Sanae
Please don't say it like that.
Yukkuri Marisa
I also wanna try those wild veggies, but no, I can wait! Go! We'll hold Yukkuri Reimu back!
Yukkuri Alice
Leave this to us, and go enjoy your adventure.
This feels like a scene from an action movie...
But all they're holding back is a hungry Yukkuri Reimu.
Yukkuri Cirno
Dragging this out will only make it harder for her. Let's go already, Yukkuri Youmu.
Yukkuri Youmu
You're right. Follow me!
Yukkuri Reimu
Noooo! My sashimi! My dessert! They're getting away...
STRONGEST Team
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu!
Yukkuri Youmu
Did you see Yukkuri Reimu's vengeful glare as she saw us off? It was such a moving scene.
Yukkuri Sanae
Y-You think? It felt more like we were running from a ravenously hungry monster.
Yukkuri Youmu
Oh, before I forget... Miss PLAYER!
Y-Yes?! What is it, Yukkuri Youmu?
Yukkuri Youmu
Now that I've heard about you from Yukkuri Reimu and everyone else...
Yukkuri Youmu
I understand that you're very important, earnest, and strong! I can't believe that I mistakenly tried to cut you...
Yukkuri Youmu
From now on, I swear to protect you, no matter what!
Thanks, but you don't have to do that.
Yukkuri Youmu
No, I insist! I'll protect you just a little bit less than I protect Yukkuri Yuyuko.
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Reimu was so sad to part with you, her dear friend. So it's my duty to protect you for her sake, too.
Yukkuri Cirno
Wow, you're so serious, Yukkuri Youmu! If you want, you can also serve me, the strongest.
Yukkuri Youmu
No thanks.
She flat-out refused!
Yukkuri Sanae
Umm, sorry to interrupt your happy talk...
Yukkuri Sanae
But fairies are attacking. Yukkuri Cirno's getting hit in the back.
Yukkuri Cirno
I was wondering what that was! Oh no! AAAAAAAAAH!
Yukkuri Cirno
I won't let sneak attacks get to me. 'Cause I'm the strongest yukkuri!
Yukkuri Sanae
Yukkuri Youmu's also good at fighting with her two swords, and I can exorcise anything spiritual. Don't you think we―
Might be the STRONGEST team!
Yukkuri Cirno
I was gonna say that!
Yukkuri Sanae
Hahahaha.
Yukkuri Youmu
We had so much fun chatting that we're already at the Human Village. Let's start with the sweet shop.
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu.
Yukkuri Youmu
All right, here's the sweet shop where we can buy the youkan the phantom talked about. Let's, um... buy it...?
Yukkuri Cirno
How? Humans can't understand us. Do we just leave them the money or something?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Yuyuko didn't mention anything about this... I just realized that she didn't give me any money, either.
Yukkuri Sanae
Then how are we going to buy the sweets?
Yukkuri Youmu
It's over. There's nothing we can do.
Aren't you giving up a bit too soon?
Yukkuri Cirno
Our food adventure can't be over already! C'mon, someone come up with an idea.
Yukkuri Sanae
But... the yukkuris who usually come up with all the plans and ideas aren't with us this time.
Wait, I think we ran into a similar problem with Reimu!
We wanted her Seal Crystal.
Nothing worked at first, so we tried to take it by force―
Yukkuri Cirno
Guess there's nothing else for it! Luckily, that plays to our strengths! C'mon, let's fight and take it! Follow me!
Yukkuri Youmu
One sliced and diced youkan coming up...
Stop! Stop! We can't do that!
Yukkuri Sanae
Stealing is wrong! We're yukkuris, not thieves!
Yukkuri Cirno
Then how are we gonna get the youkan?!
If we can't pay, we'll trade. That's what we did before.
We traded a yukkuri offering box for the Seal Crystal.
Yukkuri Sanae
Wow, that's actually a sensible idea! Nice one, Miss PLAYER! But what could we make here?
Yukkuri Cirno
There's no tools or materials like in the shrine office.
Yukkuri Youmu
We need to trade something of equal value, but we don't have any items... So, we'll just have to pay with good faith.
Yukkuri Youmu
Open up! I'd like some of that youkan you're selling!
Yukkuri Youmu
OPEN UP!
Yukkuri Cirno
She sounds like some kinda thug trying to beat down the door...
But to everyone else...
All they hear is "yuyuyu," right?
Yukkuri Sanae
They're all smiling at us...
Yukkuri Sanae
That's it! I've just had a brilliant idea!
Yukkuri Sanae
But I need everyone's help!
Cuteness
What's your idea, Yukkuri Sanae?
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm pretty proud of it, actually! Listen up!
Yukkuri Sanae
Like all yukkuris, we're cute! Soooo, we'll use our cuteness to make them give us youkan!
Yukkuri Cirno
Seriously...?
I-I'm kinda with Yukkuri Cirno on this...
Yukkuri Sanae
Whoa, please don't look at me like that...
Yukkuri Youmu
Someone has a high opinion of herself.
Yukkuri Youmu... I was trying not to say that.
Yukkuri Sanae
You've got it all wrong! Sure, I think I'm cute, but that doesn't make it a bad plan!
(So she does think that.)
Yukkuri Sanae
When Yukkuri Youmu was desperately trying to get the shopkeeper's attention, everyone was smiling at us.
Yukkuri Sanae
So, even if we have nothing to trade, just by existing, we can convince people to share their food and sweets with us.
Yukkuri Cirno
You mean like a cat or a dog?
Yukkuri Sanae
Yes! Exactly! I'll give you a demonstration!
Yukkuri Sanae
Helloooo, it's me, Yukkuri Sanaeeeee! The Moriya Shrine's yukkuriiii wind priestess.
Yukkuri Sanae
That candy looks really, really yummyyyy. Can I have one? *puppy dog eyes*
She's so manipulative...
Customer With Candy
Wow, the yukkuri's bouncing up and down! So cute!
Yukkuri Cirno
They seem to be enjoying it, though. This might actually work!
Yukkuri Youmu
So your special technique is to stretch out your vowel sounds?
Yukkuri Sanae
Please don't analyze it. You're gonna make me bluuuush.
I feel bad leaving this all to Yukkuri Sanae...
Umm, I-I'm really cuuuuute!
Yukkuri Youmu
I'll keep trying, too! Open uuuuuup! Open uuuuuup!
Yukkuri Sanae
I don't think that really changes anything.
Yukkuri Cirno
Hmmm, this sounds tricky. I can only talk how I talk, and I'm no good at puppy dog eyes.
Yukkuri Cirno
I'll just have to use this instead.
Customer With Candy
Wow, so adorable!
Yukkuri Cirno
All I can offer is my smile.
So cute... You also sound really cool...
Alice
What's with this huge crowd? So noisy.
Sanae
Huh? Miss Alice? Are you the reason everyone's gathered here?
Alice
No, I just wandered over here to see what all the fuss was about. I'm guessing you're in the same boat.
Sanae
Pretty much. I came to the village to play, and then I heard all this noise...
Sanae
I wonder what they're looking at. Is it the youkan shop? I heard it's pretty popular.
Yukkuri Sanae
Seems smiles might work, too. Then how about this?!
Yukkuri Sanae
Shiitake, please!
Youkan! We want youkan, Yukkuri Sanae!
Yukkuri Cirno
Heh, seems they like my smile more.
Yukkuri Sanae
Is that a challenge?! There's no way you're cuter than me, Yukkuri Cirno!
She says the craziest things when she loses her cool...
Yukkuri Youmu, can you help me calm her down?
Yukkuri Youmu
So, to get sweets, we need to make funny faces. Is this right?
We'll do that after! Also, that's not even a smile!
Alice
So yukkuris were the cause of all this. Hey, stop fighting, you lot.
Sanae
My yukkuri's there, too! She's usually so happy and peaceful... I wonder what caused her to fight.
Yukkuri Sanae
Sanaeeee! Yukkuri Cirno threatened our biggest selling point with her smile!
Yukkuri Cirno
I think I might've awakened a new skill that I never knew I had...
Alice
Their "yuyuyus" don't tell us much, but they're probably just fighting 'cause they're hungry.
Sanae
Sounds about right. The youkan they sell here is meant to be super yummy. I'll buy you some, so play nice, OK?
Wow, it all worked out somehow! We got youkan!
Yukkuris
Yippee!
Second Cut
Youmu
Lady Yuyuko! Oh, and Yukkuri Yuyuko. Have either of you seen my Yukkuri Youmu?
Yuyuko
Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her around lately. Has she gone out?
Youmu
She's been gone for a few days. I looked all around Hakugyokurou, but I couldn't find her.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
(She must still be attending to those two or three missions I gave her. But I can't tell them that, so I'll just keep quiet.)
Yuyuko
Are you worried about your cute little buddy, Youmu?
Youmu
It's not unusual for yukkuris to wander off on their own, and I know they always come back eventually...
Youmu
So, I'm not exactly worried about her. I'm more worried about the trouble she might cause with no one to watch over her.
Yuyuko
Right. She could cause a bit of trouble with her Roukanken and Hakurouken, even if they're just tiny yukkuri versions.
Youmu
It's also that she can be―how do I say this? Impulsive? She gets so focused on one thing that she loses sight of all else.
Yuyuko
You mean she's a lot like you?
Youmu
Is she?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I have to agree with Yuyuko on this one, Youmu. Teehee.
Youmu
Anyway, my Yukkuri Youmu is kinda dangerous.
Youmu
Everyone tends to treat their yukkuri like a pet, but she's more like a guard dog or a wild cat...
Yuyuko
You worry too much. I'm sure it'll be fine.
Yuyuko
Anyway, do you remember those delicacies I talked about the other day?
Youmu
Of course! Sashimi, wild veggies, and youkan, correct?
Yuyuko
Thinking about it some more, I really want to try them... You can't find any of those things in the Netherworld.
Yuyuko
Can you go get them for me, Youmu?
Youmu
Understood! I'll go right now.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Yuyuko shouldn't know that I sent Yukkuri Youmu to the world of the living to get the same food for me...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
So was this just a coincidence?
Yuyuko
Teehee. Yukkuri Yuyuko's staring at me.
Yuyuko
Do you know more than you let on?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
That's my line. Teeheehee...
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm glad we managed to get the youkan! What's next?
Yukkuri Youmu
Let's go get the sashimi. For that, we need to go to the Misty Lake.
Yukkuri Cirno
Don't tell me we're gonna fish up the Master of the Lake and eat it.
Yukkuri Youmu
Something like that.
Yukkuri Cirno
But we won't be able to catch it if we go there now. It only appears on moonless nights.
Like the night we tried to catch it with the yukkuri net.
Yukkuri Youmu
Don't worry about the Moon. That shouldn't affect us!
Yukkuri Youmu
The sashimi's connected to the Master of the Lake, but we're not gonna eat the master itself.
Swallowed Whole
Yukkuri Sanae
It's connected to the Master of the Lake, but we're not gonna eat the master? Is that some kinda riddle...?
Yukkuri Youmu
No, um, let me explain.
Yukkuri Youmu
The sashimi Yukkuri Yuyuko told me about was made from the Master of the Lake's tiny fishlings!
Yukkuri Youmu
But I guess it was Lady Yuyuko who told her about it first... Oh, but she first heard it from a phantom connoisseur.
Yukkuri Youmu
So, actually, I heard from Yukkuri Yuyuko, who heard from Lady Yuyuko, who heard from a phantom that―
Yukkuri Cirno
Nobody asked about any of that! Now I've forgotten what we were talking about!
Yukkuri Sanae
Basically, we're going to catch the Master of the Lake's children, is that right?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yes. The Master of the Lake is a massive fish, big enough to eat a human, but I'm sure it wasn't always that big.
Yukkuri Youmu
Its fishlings are easy to catch, no matter what the phase of the Moon is, and they're super tasty with lots of fat on them.
That does sound yummy...
Yukkuri Cirno
'Course it does! Ice-cold sashimi is always yummy! I'm really looking forward to this!
Yukkuri Sanae
Look at the leaves floating down the river. We're on an adventure, but I can't help but stop to admire the view...
Yeah, it's so peaceful.
Yukkuri Cirno
Don't let its beauty fool you. The riverside is super dangerous and scary.
Yukkuri Youmu
You mean we could accidentally slip and fall in? The water is flowing pretty fast.
Yukkuri Sanae
We'd be like manju bobbing up and down on the water as it takes us away. That might be quite a sight, too.
Yukkuri Cirno
That's not what I meant at all! Listen, there's a giant toad around here! It ate me.
It ate you?!
Yukkuri Cirno
Yeah. In one bite, like I really was a manju.
Yukkuri Cirno
All I was doing was freezing frogs with Cirno, but then it showed up all angry and swallowed me! How unfair is that?!
Yukkuri Youmu
Seems like it had a good reason to be angry...
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm surprised you're still here to tell us about it. How did you survive?
Yukkuri Cirno
I made some icicles in its tummy, and it spat me out. If any of you get eaten by a giant toad, remember to make icicles.
Pretty sure only you can do that.
Yukkuri Youmu
I see. Guess I'll have to learn how to make them... I'll add that to my training regime.
Yukkuri Sanae
I really don't think you need to...
Yukkuri Cirno
Whoa! It's here! Get your icicles ready!
We can't. I already told you that.
Yukkuri Cirno
That really surprised me, but turns out, it was only a kappa!
Yukkuri Sanae
Kappa are actually a pretty big threat for most yukkuris, but if there's one thing our team is good at, it's fighting.
Yukkuri Youmu
I'm glad to be of use. I'll continue to give my all and cut for Miss PLAYER!
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu!
Yukkuri Sanae
We've safely arrived at the Misty Lake!
Yukkuri Cirno
Oh, looks like Cirno's here, too. She's talking to someone.
Cirno
Huh? Whaddya mean? Explain it one more time!
Youmu
As I've already said, I'm here on behalf of Lady Yuyuko. I have an errand to run here at the Misty Lake...
Yukkuri Youmu
She's talking to Youmu, my Yukkuri Master. I thought she was still in Hakugyokurou.
Youmu
I want to ask you about the Master of the Lake.
Yukkuri Youmu
Seems my master's asking Yukkuri Cirno's master about the Master of the Lake.
Yukkuri Cirno
You lost me at master...
Masters make everything more confusing.
Ice-Cold Sashimi
Youmu
This lake is like a hotspot for fairies, right? And you claim to be the strongest among them.
Cirno
That's right! I didn't realize you came here to praise me. Keep it coming!
Youmu
So, does that mean you're the Master of the Lake?
Cirno
Hm? Well... I guess you could say that. I'm definitely the top fairy of the lake!
Youmu
Then where are your fishlings?
Cirno
My... fishlings?
Cirno
I'm not a fish...
Yukkuri Sanae
I feel like I'm missing some context, but they seem to be arguing about something.
Yukkuri Youmu
It's not so much an argument as Youmu dual-wielding misunderstandings.
Yukkuri Cirno
Does your master do that too?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yes, when she travels by herself. Without any friends to correct her mistakes, she goes completely off the rails...
I can see that...
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Yuyuko gave me the advice that it can be really fun to watch when she refuses to let go of a wrong assumption.
Yukkuri Sanae
Is that advice? Sounds like she's having a go at you...
Yukkuri Cirno
If it's gonna be fun, we should get closer. Let's grab some front row seats.
Youmu
Wait. If you're the Master of the Lake, does that mean your fishling is... Yukkuri Cirno?
Youmu
Oh! Speak of the yukkuri! She's here, too!
Cirno
Welcome back, Yukkuri Cirno.
Yukkuri Cirno
Hey, Cirno.
Youmu
No... Lady Yuyuko...! I-I can't do it! I can't turn Yukkuri Cirno into sashimi...
Yukkuri Cirno
What did she just say?!
Yukkuri Youmu
You did say you wanted ice-cold sashimi.
Yukkuri Cirno
I didn't say I wanted to BE sashimi! This is way too scary!
Cirno
Youmu, I think you're misunderstanding something. The Master of the Lake is what we call the lake's biggest fish.
Youmu
You mean you're actually a fish?
Cirno
No! There's me, and there's also a fish called the Master of the Lake!
Cirno
You can be stubbornly blockheaded sometimes, huh? Is your brain frozen or something?
Youmu
Well, as a half-phantom, I have a low body temperature... but I've never measured the temperature of my brain.
Cirno
OK. I'll explain it all from the beginning. You see, on moonless nights, the Misty Lake...
Yukkuri Sanae
Looks like Youmu will soon realize her mistake thanks to Cirno's explanation. So let's do what we came here to do!
Right. We gotta catch the fishlings.
Use this, Yukkuri Cirno!
Yukkuri Cirno
It's the yukkuri net. Now I remember. I gave it to you as a present.
You're a better thrower, so I think you should use it.
Yukkuri Cirno
Leave it to me. Wooooosh!
Yukkuri Youmu
Marvelous throw! Looks like something's caught in it.
Yukkuri Cirno
I think it's a crab. Aww, it escaped through one of the holes.
Yukkuri Sanae
Either way, it wasn't a fish... Can you even catch fish by randomly throwing a net?
Youmu
Hyaaaa!
Whoa! Youmu just attacked with her swords!
Yukkuri Cirno
D-Did I just get sashimied?!
Yukkuri Youmu
Don't worry. She was aiming for a fish near the surface of the lake.
Youmu
I see... So I'm meant to be cutting fish. Thanks for telling me, Cirno.
Cirno
I shouldn't have to tell you I'm not a fish! Even yukkuris know that!
Cirno
Still, are you sure that's the fish you're looking for?
Youmu
Yes. If the Master of the Lake is as big as you say, its fishling should be around this size.
Cirno
You say it's a fishling, but that's just a common carp. You can find them all over the lake.
Youmu
Huh...? B-But carp can taste good too if it's prepared correctly.
Youmu
Oh, but I've already cut it into sashimi. And I still have to get two more delicacies!
Cirno
You plan to run errands while carrying sashimi around? *sigh* Give it here. I'll freeze it for you.
Youmu
Thank you so much. Now, I have to hurry... Umm, I should stop by the Human Village first...
Yukkuri Sanae
When Miss Youmu was swinging her swords around, a piece of sashimi came flying this way.
Yukkuri Sanae
Miraculously, I caught it before it touched the ground. Is this enough?
Yukkuri Youmu
Yes, that should be enough for a yukkuri.
Yukkuri Cirno
I'll copy Cirno and freeze it for you.
Yukkuri Youmu
Thanks! Now, let's go get the third delicacy!
Those Left Behind
Meanwhile, around the back of Hakurei Shrine...
Yukkuri Alice
I think it's safe to say the big Seal Crystal has completely disappeared.
Yukkuri Alice
I had my yukkuri yukkuri dolls look inside the tree hollow, but they didn't find anything―not even a sliver.
Yukkuri Marisa
Then we can assume it followed the usual pattern. Like all the other Seal Crystals, it disappeared after granting a wish...
Yukkuri Marisa
But then why is the weird mist still here? It's a mystery.
Yukkuri Marisa
Hang on...
Yukkuri Marisa
What happens when someone, summoned by a Seal Crystal, leaves something behind in this world?
Yukkuri Marisa
It could be an item or a result of their actions―would they stay even after that person returns to their world?
Yukkuri Alice
Hmm, you might be on to something. Think back to what happened with Yukkuri Red Marisa.
Yukkuri Alice
When she wandered into the Garden of the Sun and made it all hot, sunflowers grew thanks to her heat.
Yukkuri Marisa
And the seeds they produced fed the animals of this world. Her being summoned caused lasting, unforeseen changes.
Yukkuri Alice
We're lucky this mist hasn't caused any trouble. But that also makes it impossible to identify.
Yukkuri Marisa
Even if we stayed here, studying it forever, we could only learn so much.
Yukkuri Marisa
Not to mention that we're yukkuris. If we think too hard, we'll overheat.
Yukkuri Alice
You'd better not turn red, too.
Yukkuri Reimu
According to Yukkuri Marisa and Yukkuri Alice, the spooks shouldn't show up anymore.
Yukkuri Reimu
But that doesn't mean I can let my guard down. I'm the yukkuri defender of Gensokyo!
Yukkuri Reimu
Thankfully, PLAYER left me with this, saying it was too bulky to carry around. It's one of her most precious items.
Yukkuri Reimu
But now that the Prank Festival is over, it's just a funny-looking ornament... or a weird piece of art.
Reimu
Hey, Yukkuri Reimu. Are you on your own today?
Reimu
Wait, what's that you've got...? A pumpkin with a face on it? Looks pretty well made.
Yukkuri Reimu
Heh, praise me more, Reimu! We all carved pumpkins together! Isn't that amazing?!
Reimu
Wait. Isn't that the pumpkin that pranked me before? I was sweeping the shrine grounds, and it took my broom...
Yukkuri Reimu
Ah. Th-That was Yukkuri Marisa having a bit of fun. I had nothing to do with it.
Reimu
So it was YOU, Yukkuri Reimu! Bad yukkuris don't get any snacks!
Yukkuri Reimu
But it wasn't me! Oh no! I'm gonna lose my snacks! If this isn't an incident, I don't know what is!
Remilia
OK, time for your tomato juice. Try not to spill any.
Yukkuri Remilia
*glug* Fresh juice from the hand of Miss Charisma herself. I must be extra charismatic to receive such special treatment.
Flandre
You're spoiling her. She's got this smug look on her face like she thinks she's the mistress of the entire world.
Remilia
There's no way she'd think that. She should know that I am the ultimate mistress of unmatched charisma!
Yukkuri Remilia
No one's more charismatic than me!
Flandre
That's not the vibe I get... Well, whatever! Time for your apple juice, Yukkuri Flan.
Flandre
I'll let you drink even more than Yukkuri Remilia, so try not to spill any.
Yukkuri Flan
Flan always gives me the yummiest juice. I feel so relaxed...
Yukkuri Flan
I was hoping to get my strength back quickly so I could play with PLAYER again...
Yukkuri Flan
But maybe we should take it easy for a while.
Yukkuri Remilia
I suppose. *glug glug* But you gotta... *glug* ...be careful... *gulp* ...Flan.
Yukkuri Remilia
Our sense of time... *glug* ...is different. *glug glug* So our "little while" could end up being a couple of hundred years.
Sakuya
Mistress, you're giving her too much juice. She's going to be covered in it soon.
Remilia
Oops.
Yukkuri Remilia
*glug glug glug* Scarlet slime. *glug glug*
Lost Commentary
Yukkuri Youmu
The third and last delicacy that Yukkuri Yuyuko requested is wild veggies...
Yukkuri Youmu
Specifically, bamboo shoots from the Bamboo Forest of the Lost!
Yukkuri Sanae
I love bamboo shoots! You can boil 'em, fry 'em, or cook 'em with rice, and they always taste good.
Yukkuri Sanae
Wait... I thought they were only harvested in spring.
You're right. Will we even find any now?
Yukkuri Youmu
Apparently, you can dig up the young shoots earlier, while it's still cold, and they taste really good.
Yukkuri Sanae
Wow. That does sound like a delicacy.
Yukkuri Cirno
Makes sense. Anything cold tastes good!
I can see why you think that.
Yukkuri Youmu
As you can tell from the name of this place, we gotta be careful not to get lost. Everywhere here looks the same.
Yukkuri Sanae
Let's hold hands! ...Oh, umm, maybe we could tie our hair together. Would that work?
Yukkuri Cirno
We could bite onto each other's heads. That'd stop us from getting separated.
Yukkuri Youmu
I feel like that'd turn us into some kinda youkai. If someone saw us, they'd probably run in fright.
Yukkuri Cirno
Sounds like the strongest formation! We could win without even fighting. Let's save it for when we really need it.
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm not doing that.
The Bamboo Forest of the Lost...
This is my first time here since becoming a yukkuri.
Yukkuri Youmu
Are you worried about being somewhere new?
Yukkuri Cirno
There's nothing to worry about, PLAYER. It's only bamboo, and don't forget, I'm here with you, too.
No, I'm not worried.
It just... feels like there's something missing.
Yukkuri Sanae
Oh! I get it!
Yukkuri Sanae
This is a new location, so you wanted to hear Yukkuri Reimu and Yukkuri Marisa's Yukkuri Commentary. Is that right?
Yeah...
But we left them back at the shrine...
Yukkuri Sanae
What are you talking about? It's only a Yukkuri Commentary. If Yukkuri Reimu can do it, so can I!
Yukkuri Sanae
I'm Yukkuri Sanae.
Yukkuri Cirno
A-And I'm Yukkuri Cirno?
Yukkuri Sanae & Cirno
Take it easy!
Yukkuri Sanae
Today, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the Bamboo Forest of the Lost.
Yukkuri Sanae
To be honest, I don't actually know much about this forest. How about you, Yukkuri Cirno?
Yukkuri Cirno
I don't know anything either.
Was that it?!
Yukkuri Sanae
Strange... That should've worked. I did exactly what Yukkuri Reimu does, and asked my partner to explain everything.
Yukkuri Cirno
That only works 'cause Yukkuri Marisa knows stuff. I don't know anything about forests or bamboo!
Yukkuri Sanae
Maybe I should ask Yukkuri Youmu instead. Can you tell us about the Bamboo Forest of the Lost?
Yukkuri Youmu
Sure. I'll do my best.
Yukkuri Youmu
I can cut this bamboo stalk. This one's fairly easy to cut. And this one's difficult... but I can cut it.
Yukkuri Youmu
Also, look at this stone here. I'll have to concentrate pretty hard, but I can cut it.
Yukkuri Sanae
You're only explaining what you can or can't cut... And you can cut everything!
Yukkuri Youmu
Oh... Seems all my cutting attracted the attention of a youkai. Looks like it wants to play with us.
Yukkuri Youmu
Shall I see if I can cut it, too?
Diverging Paths
Yukkuri Youmu
Seems I can cut the Bamboo Forest of the Lost's youkai. But it ran away before I could cleanly bisect it...
Yukkuri Youmu
I think that does it for my explanation. Unless there's anything else I should cut.
For a yukkuri, she's not taking it easy at all...
Yukkuri Sanae
It felt more like a demonstration than a Yukkuri Commentary. Like, from a super strict sports coach or martial arts instructor.
Yukkuri Cirno
Forget about that. I wanna eat the sashimi already. I froze it earlier, but it won't taste good once it melts.
Right. Raw fish goes bad quickly.
Yukkuri Youmu
We should hurry and find some bamboo shoots. Let's start digging randomly.
Yukkuri Sanae
I hope some miracle occurs and we find some! I can't wait for the yummy shiitake.
Bamboo shoots!
Youmu
That's everything Lady Yuyuko asked me to get, but I can't help but feel that I'm forgetting something...
Sanae
Hello, Miss Youmu! Are you running errands in the village?
Youmu
Oh, hello, Miss Sanae. Miss Sanae...? Haven't I already seen you somewhere today?
Sanae
I saw someone who looked like you. Your yukkuri was here earlier.
Sanae
And I thought to myself, "Fancy seeing two Youmus in one day, I should probably say hello"!
Youmu
Ah, that explains it! I saw your yukkuri, too.
Youmu
She was at the Misty Lake with Yukkuri Youmu, Yukkuri Cirno, and... another yukkuri who I've never seen before.
Sanae
That's probably Yukkuri PLAYER. She's been playing with Yukkuri Sanae and the others a lot lately.
Sanae
When I saw those four this morning, they were causing a fuss in front of a sweet shop because they wanted youkan.
Youmu
You mean the shop I just visited? I should go apologize to the owner...
Sanae
Well, I say a fuss, but it wasn't that big a deal. They only had a little battle of bullets with each other.
Youmu
That's not just a big deal―it's dangerous! My Yukkuri Youmu wields a pair of sharp swords―
Youmu
Oh... Now I know what I was forgetting.
Youmu
I was meant to be looking for Yukkuri Youmu because she can be a danger to others if no one watches over her.
Youmu
I saw her at the Misty Lake, but I was so focused on getting sashimi that I forgot.
Sanae
Focusing does make you forget things, doesn't it? When I pray, I go into a kind of trance, and I forget everything!
Youmu
Should I go and look for Yukkuri Youmu now...? But Lady Yuyuko's waiting for her sashimi...
Youmu
If I have to prioritize one over the other, it has to be... Lady Yuyuko!
Sanae
I'm not really following, but it seems like you have your answer. Are you worried about Yukkuri Youmu? Is that it?
Sanae
If so, I'm sure she's fine. Their battle in front of the sweet shop didn't harm anyone.
Sanae
And she's with Yukkuri Sanae and her other friends, so I'm sure she won't get lost.
Youmu
You're probably right... If you've got friends and Lady Yuyuko, there's nothing to worry about. Thank you, Miss Sanae.
Sanae
You're welcome! Friends, Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako can solve all life's problems.
Youmu
I'll head home after I finish buying winter bamboo shoots here.
Sanae
Huh? What are winter bamboo shoots? Don't they sprout in spring?
Youmu
I'm not really sure. Apparently, they're a rare delicacy that has been trending in the Human Village recently.
Youmu
Luckily, I found some on sale today, so I'm going to quickly buy some and then head back to Hakugyokurou.
Youmu
It saved me a trip to the Bamboo Forest of the Lost.
Yukkuri Youmu
This forest is aptly named... We're completely lost. And we haven't even found any bamboo shoots.
Yukkuri Cirno
Oh no, the sashimi's gonna melt... I'll keep hold of it to make it last a little bit longer!
Yukkuri Youmu
Thank you. As a half-phantom, I'm also pretty cold, but it'd be safer if you held it, Yukkuri Cirno.
Yukkuri Sanae
What are we gonna do? I hope we're not stuck here forever...
Yukkuri Youmu
It seemed like Youmu was also out looking for delicacies, so let's hope she comes to the bamboo forest and finds us.
Yukkuri Cirno
Save us, Youmuuuu! At this rate, we're all gonna become stray yukkuris!
Round in Circles
Yukkuri Cirno
This sucks! We don't know where to go, and youkai keep attacking us!
Yukkuri Sanae
I think I just got stepped on by some kinda badger. It was warm and soft.
That's nice...
So not even wild animals treat yukkuris as a threat.
???
Seems I was right to worry about you guys. You've gone and gotten lost. Don't worry. You're safe now that I'm here.
Yukkuri Youmu
Is Youmu here to save us? That didn't sound like her...
Yukkuri Sanae
It sounded like a yukkuri!
Yukkuri Marisa
I'm Yukkuri Marisa.
Huh? I thought you were staying at the shrine.
Yukkuri Marisa
Yeah, about that... We tried to investigate that strange mist, but we weren't really getting anywhere.
Yukkuri Alice
Why don't you leave this to me and try finding some clues by flying about? That always seems to work for you.
Yukkuri Marisa
...Taking Yukkuri Alice's advice, I decided to meet up with you guys.
Yukkuri Marisa
I heard you were going to the bamboo forest before you left, and I feared you might've gotten lost.
Yukkuri Marisa
Aren't you happy to have me here? Magicians, like me, feel right at home in mysterious and misleading places like this.
Yukkuri Cirno
I'm fine with mist, but not so much with forests! The giant toads are the worst.
Yukkuri Sanae
You won't find any giant toads here. Feels like there might be giant pandas, though...
I'd kinda like to see that...
Yukkuri Youmu
Even if you're good with forests, Yukkuri Marisa, it's pretty impressive that you managed to find us here.
Yukkuri Marisa
Call it my magician's intuition... Nah, I'm just kidding.
Yukkuri Marisa
Remember that charm I gave you, PLAYER? I can sense its magic.
You mean this?
Yukkuri Marisa
Without that, I could've searched forever and never found you.
Yukkuri Cirno
Wow, magic items are amazing!
Yukkuri Marisa
OK, now that I've revealed my magician tricks, what're we doing? Want me to lead you outta the forest?
Yukkuri Sanae
That'd be great. But we still haven't finished what we came here to do...
We weren't able to find any bamboo shoots.
Yukkuri Marisa
I was looking on my way here, but I didn't see any, either.
Yukkuri Marisa
They're small and hidden underground, so we might need an expert to find 'em. I scrounged some mushrooms, though.
Yukkuri Sanae
Any shiitake...?
Yukkuri Cirno
Forget about the shoots or the shiitake. Our biggest problem is the sashimi! It's getting less fresh by the second!
Yukkuri Youmu
That's a good point, Yukkuri Cirno. I got us all into this mess, so I'll make the hard decision.
Yukkuri Youmu
Let's give up on the bamboo shoots! We need to prioritize the sashimi and youkan that we already have.
I agree. That's probably for the best.
Yukkuri Youmu
Can you please lead us out of here, Yukkuri Marisa? Then we'll head straight to the Netherworld.
Yukkuri Marisa
Sure thing. Follow me.
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu!
Yukkuri Cirno
Yay! We're not lost anymore!
Yukkuri Marisa
All right, that's my job done. Can you lead us the rest of the way, Yukkuri Youmu?
Yukkuri Youmu
You can count on me!
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu!
Yukkuri Youmu
Here we are! The Netherworld!
Yukkuri Cirno
That was quick! Feels like we spent more time lost in the forest.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Welcome back, Yukkuri Youmu. I was waiting for you.
Yukkuri Youmu
Whoa, Yukkuri Yuyuko has come out to welcome us! Thank you so much.
Yukkuri Youmu
I was just about to lead everyone to Hakugyokurou.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Before letting everyone inside, I wanted to check whether you successfully completed your two or three missions. Teehee.
Yukkuri Youmu
I see... Then I shall give my full report now.
Yukkuri Youmu
I brought the stray yukkuri you wanted to see! Here she is!
Nice to meet you, Yukkuri Yuyuko.
I'm the new yukkuri everyone's been talking about!
Yukkuri Youmu
I cut down some unfamiliar enemies, but the rest of them suddenly disappeared, and I don't really know why!
Yukkuri Youmu
As for the errand, we have the sashimi and the youkan, but we couldn't find any bamboo shoots!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Well done, Yukkuri Youmu. Thank you for the clear and concise report...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
But it sounds like you only completed two or three of the two or three missions.
Yukkuri Yuyuko's Trial
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Actually, you've only fully completed one. All you managed to do was bring that yukkuri here.
Yukkuri Youmu
I can't really argue with that...
Yukkuri Sanae
But no one knows what those weird enemies were! Even Yukkuri Marisa and Yukkuri Alice couldn't figure it out!
Yukkuri Cirno
Yeah, there's nothing Yukkuri Youmu could do. Cut her some slack, Yukkuri Yuyuko.
Yukkuri Marisa
We actually came here 'cause we thought you might know something. Tell us, Yukkuri Yuyuko. How much do you know?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Teehee, you couldn't complete a simple errand, so I'm not telling you anything, and I'm not letting you in Hakugyokurou.
Whoa, where'd all these phantoms come from?
We're completely surrounded.
Yukkuri Youmu
They're for me. I was unable to fulfill my missions, so I must face Yukkuri Yuyuko's trial.
Yukkuri Youmu
Hop back, everyone. I won't let them touch you.
Yukkuri Sanae
Don't be silly, Yukkuri Youmu. We're your food adventure buddies―we're gonna fight with you.
Yukkuri Cirno
What she said!
Yukkuri Marisa
With all of us yukkuris working together, this should be a piece of cake.
Yukkuri Youmu
Everyone... I can't cut you enough!
Don't CUT us!
Yukkuri Youmu
S-Sorry. Thank you. I meant "Thank you." Sometimes, when I get excited, my swords just come out of their sheaths.
Yukkuri Marisa
That can't be a real thing...
Yukkuri Youmu
Thank you so much, everyone. We defeated Yukkuri Yuyuko's phantoms!
Yukkuri Cirno
You passed the trial... Well done, Yukkuri Youmu.
Yukkuri Marisa
Why are you acting like the judge?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Yukkuri Youmu, you've grown over the course of these two or three missions. You've even found some great friends...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
But you didn't find all my delicacies, so I can't let you in.
Yukkuri Sanae
Seriously? I was sure you were going to forgive her... Wasn't that what everything was leading up to?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Have you forgotten? This is the Netherworld. Life isn't fair, and neither is death.
???
Wait! You still haven't faced all of Yukkuri Youmu's friends! I'm here, at the eleventh hour, to turn the tide!
I know that voice!
Yukkuri Reimu
I'm Yukkuri Reimu.
Yukkuri Reimu's here!
Yukkuri Reimu
Look, Yukkuri Yuyuko! I got the rare bamboo shoots you wanted!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Oh, thank you.
Yukkuri Reimu
Is that it?! You're making me question why I made such a big, dramatic entrance. Now I feel embarrassed...
Yukkuri Marisa
She said thanks, like all you did was pass her the soy sauce.
Yukkuri Youmu
How did you get the bamboo shoots, Yukkuri Reimu? We looked for ages, but we couldn't find any.
Yukkuri Reimu
I was talking to Reimu at Hakurei Shrine...
Reimu
That festival really wore me out... It's time for dinner, but I don't feel like making anything...
Yukkuri Reimu
Go get my rice crackers, Reimu. I know you hid them, so I wouldn't snack on them!
Reimu
I got a bunch of gifts 'cause I'm the Hakurei shrine maiden. Maybe there's something I could eat...
Reimu
Oh, this youkan's delicious! This must be the one everyone in the village has been talking about lately.
Yukkuri Reimu
Isn't that the youkan Yukkuri Youmu was looking for? Wait, there's bamboo shoots, too...
Reimu
Why are you rolling those bamboo shoots around? Apparently, these ones are special and can only be harvested now.
Reimu
They're meant to be some kinda delicacy, but preparing bamboo shoots is such a pain. I'm way too tired for that.
Yukkuri Reimu
I knew it! These must be the rare bamboo shoots Yukkuri Youmu wanted! I bet they're delicious. Let's eat 'em, Reimu.
Reimu
She's bouncing around with the shoots... Haha, I never knew you liked them so much.
Reimu
Fine. Take them. I doubt yukkuris can cook, but well, you can try boiling 'em, frying 'em, or whatever.
Yukkuri Reimu
Yippee! I got some weird bamboo shoots!
Yukkuri Reimu
...And so, I decided to bring them here to the Netherworld.
Yukkuri Sanae
Wow, and I thought causing miracles to happen was my thing.
Yukkuri Reimu
I'm a shrine maiden, so creating miracles kinda comes with the job. It's not like I need an ability to do that.
Yukkuri Sanae
Says the yukkuri whose ability is capable of flying! Everyone can fly!
Yukkuri Reimu
You didn't just say that!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I thought she was here to save you all, but now the shrine maiden yukkuris are riling each other up.
Yukkuri Marisa
It's kinda fun to watch, but let's not get side-tracked... I'm borrowing your shoots, Yukkuri Reimu.
Yukkuri Reimu
Ah...
Yukkuri Marisa
Here, Yukkuri Yuyuko. Happy now?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Hmmm, all right. You pass. But only just.
Yukkuri Cooking
Yukkuris
Yuyu, yuyuyu, yu!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Welcome to Hakugyokurou.
Yukkuri Reimu
Huh?! Are you sure this is the right place? Isn't Hakugyokurou meant to be super pretty with lots of cherry blossoms?
Yukkuri Marisa
Yeah, it's meant to be a luxurious mansion full of things worth borrowing.
Yukkuri Youmu
Please don't borrow anything. I'll cut you.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I'll give you a proper tour later. I brought you here to the dojo for a very good reason...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
You have the ingredients, but they have yet to be prepared or plated. You can't just give them to me like that.
Yukkuri Sanae
You mean we gotta cook? Can yukkuris even cook...?
Yukkuri Cirno
'Course we can! Cooking is the same as making things, and we've done that plenty of times together at the shrine.
Yukkuri Cirno
Also, you might've forgotten, but I've already cooked. I made iced pumpkins for the Prank Festival!
(I didn't forget. That's what worries me...)
Yukkuri Reimu
Still, why the dojo? Aren't there better places to cook?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Phantoms are working in the kitchen right now, so if I brought you there, you'd get in their way.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Besides, Yukkuri Youmu will do all the cutting you need with her swords, so what better place for that than a dojo?
Yukkuri Youmu
Makes sense. My blades are raring to go!
Yukkuri Marisa
Just make sure you only cut the ingredients...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Well then, I'll leave you to it. I'm looking forward to a delicious meal.
So, ummm, are we gonna cook?
Maybe we should decide who's doing what first.
Yukkuri Youmu
I can cut pretty much anything.
Yukkuri Cirno
I can freeze things.
Yukkuri Marisa
And I've got firepower, so I guess I can burn things with my mini mini hakkero.
Yukkuri Sanae
We can do a lot of things, but nothing seems all that useful for cooking...
Yukkuri Reimu
You say that, but how much do we actually need to cook? Isn't it mostly ready to eat already?
Yukkuri Youmu
Good point. Youmu already cut the sashimi for us with her beautiful swordsmanship.
Yukkuri Cirno
But it's still frozen. Yukkuri Marisa, can you defrost this frozen sashimi?!
Yukkuri Marisa
Sure thing! A laser should do the trick.
Yukkuri Sanae
You defrosted it instantly, but it's also kinda burned!
Yukkuri Reimu
It's fine. It tastes better this way. I've got no idea how to prepare bamboo shoots, but heating them up should work.
Yukkuri Marisa
Leave it to me. Another laser, coming right up.
Yukkuri Sanae
They're burning... The dojo's filling up with smoke...
I've never seen such chaotic cooking...
Yukkuri Sanae
By the way, Yukkuri Reimu, what happened to keeping a watch over the shrine?
Yukkuri Reimu
Well, I was planning to stay there in case anything happened. I wanted to be first on the scene to deal with it, you know.
Yukkuri Reimu
But it didn't look like anything was ever gonna happen, and Yukkuri Alice said she'd hold the fort for me...
Yukkuri Marisa
She basically said the same thing to me. Guess that means Yukkuri Alice is taking care of the shrine on her own.
Yukkuri Alice
I know I volunteered for this, but I would really like some help!
Yukkuri Youmu
Yukkuri Yuyuko, we've finished cooking.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Good, I've been waiting. Hop inside, everyone.
Yukkuri Youmu
Understood.
Yukkuri Youmu
Here it is, your yukkuri full-course meal.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Oh my... A full course, you say? Hmm...
(This doesn't look good...)
Yukkuri Yuyuko
The presentation needs some work, but the taste... absolutely delicious! I can't get enough of these scorched bits!
She likes it! Woohoo!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
There isn't much, but let's all enjoy it together. I also had some food brought out for you from the kitchen.
Yukkuri Reimu
Yippee! We're dining with the dead!
Yukkuri Sanae
Please don't call it that.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Now, why don't we chat for a bit while we eat?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
You all came here because you wanted to ask me some questions, correct?
Yukkuri Cirno
Did we?
Yukkuri Sanae
Don't tell me you forgot. That's the main reason we agreed to come here!
Yukkuri Sanae
Sure, the adventure and cooking were so fun that I almost forgot too, but still...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Unfortunately, I doubt I can provide you with all the answers you seek.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
However, the things I do know and suspect should be valuable to Yukkuri PLAYER. I'll share all that I can.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
This should help you resolve a mystery that plagues every yukkuri.
Full Discourse
Yukkuri Reimu
Get to the point, Yukkuri Yuyuko. Why'd you call PLAYER here?
Yukkuri Reimu
And how come you already seemed to know about the spooks?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Very well.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
But be warned. What I'm about to tell you is a bit complex for us yukkuris. It might go right over your heads.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
To be brutally honest...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I seem to know everything you want to know, but I don't. I know bits and pieces.
Yukkuri Marisa
...Is she trying to dodge our questions?
Yukkuri Reimu
I hate it when she does this. The way she talks makes her sound super knowledgeable, but it just leaves me confused...
Yukkuri Reimu
Fine. I'll just hit her with my purifying rod. Then she'll start talking sense.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Wait. Hold on. I'm trying to answer your questions. I'm merely explaining what I can and cannot know!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I knew that some enemies, that no one had seen before, had appeared in this world. It seems you call them spooks.
Umm, yeah... 'Cause they're spooky.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
I also knew that you were here in this world, Yukkuri PLAYER, and that you're special.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
What's more, I knew those spooks were called here by you.
Yukkuri Marisa
We also suspected that's what happened, but we didn't have any proof...
Yukkuri Marisa
Does this mean the appearance of PLAYER and the spooks are related?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
As far as I know... yes.
I see...
Yukkuri Cirno
...
Yukkuri Sanae
This sounds super important, but Yukkuri Cirno's brain has completely frozen...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Oh my. It's only going to get more complicated from here. Now that I've started, I'd like you all to listen until the end.
Yukkuri Sanae
I'll try my best to keep up!
Me too!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Then I'll continue. Yukkuri Marisa, you can use magic, can you not?
Yukkuri Marisa
What's this all of a sudden? I'm not as good at it as Marisa, my master, but, yeah, I can use magic.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
That must be because you can understand what's written in grimoires. Yukkuri Sanae, you know about rituals, don't you?
Yukkuri Sanae
Of course. I'm the yukkuri wind priestess of Moriya Shrine!
Yukkuri Yuyuko
But isn't that strange? How did you both attain this knowledge? Neither of you can read words or magic symbols.
Yukkuri Marisa
Huh?! Now that you mention it, we do know quite a lot considering we don't even know how to read...
Yukkuri Sanae
Is it really that strange? We're yukkuris, so we have our master's ability.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
That's true. However, yukkuris are not perfect copies of their master. Some parts are missing, making us less than them.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
And it's not like yukkuris always accompany their master. Sometimes we act independently, like we're doing now.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Despite this, we inherit their knowledge and experiences. To better copy our masters, we suddenly start knowing things...
Yukkuri Yuyuko
And we understand them without having to think or learn. I'm sure you've all experienced something like this before.
Yukkuri Reimu
Yeah... I've definitely experienced that. I know how to run a shrine even though no one's actually taught me.
Yukkuri Youmu
Youmu has given me swordsmanship lessons, but I also know some of the techniques that she hasn't taught me yet.
Yukkuri Sanae
And I know about things in the outside world, like emails, even though I can't read... This is getting creepy.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Don't worry. There's nothing creepy here. Well, apart from all the phantoms. This is the Netherworld, after all.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Anyway, that's what I wanted you to understand. Without us doing anything, we know some of what our master knows.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
That's how I knew bits and pieces about PLAYER and the spooks.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
And that's why I invited her here. I wanted to meet her face-to-face to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.
Yukkuri Cirno
I know I'm not the smartest, so I'm trying my best to understand, but even then... I'm confused.
Nice work, Yukkuri Cirno! Trying is what's important!
Yukkuri Cirno
All I managed to gather is that Yukkuri Yuyuko doesn't know anything, either. Is that right?
Yukkuri Yuyuko
That's one way of putting it. Sorry I couldn't tell you anything more.
Yukkuri Marisa
Hold on! Why do you have to say it like that? Just give her a straight answer. It makes it sound like you weren't any help.
Yukkuri Marisa
We never would've realized this strange characteristic of yukkuris without you.
Yukkuri Reimu
And if what you're saying is true, and you only know bits and pieces...
Yukkuri Reimu
Then that means your master, Yuyuko, must know the full picture.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
But it won't be easy getting anything out of her. Teehee.
Yukkuri Yuyuko
Especially now that there are even more strange guests...
???
...
