With the arrival of early morning, Hakurei Shrine, located in the midst of the trees, is supposed to be full of birds singing. It's just that it's winter, and the shrine doesn't have any leftovers of rice that can attract birds, so it's naturally silent.

But this is just right.,On the contrary, it's convenient for the Hakurei witch to return to the cage -

"Dangchang~"

At this time, the crisp sound echoed in the cash box.

Youning stood in front of the cash box and bowed seriously. He tilted his ears slightly, and heard a sound in the depths of the shrine, which was probably the movement of the futon.

"Yo ~ Reimu ~ Let's talk about the rent......"

Youning smiled and waved. Of course Reimu can't see it now, but it won't see it anymore - it's still the direction where there was a sound just now, and there is the sound of falling.

She fell asleep again.

This can be regarded as a rather cold attitude, but Youning didn't care at all. He just nodded rather happily, and then adjusted the shoulder straps on his chest with both hands. It was more than yesterday - an oversized travel bag. However, judging from Youning's relaxed appearance, the weight and volume of the backpack are not commensurate. After waiting for a while, there was no movement in the shrine, so Youning turned around with a slight smile and went straight down the mountain along the narrow path that Reimu swept out yesterday.

The morning light shone obliquely, and Yunei walked down the long steps of the shrine.

The red sun rises in the east, and Youning passes by the Xianglin Hall that has melted snow around it.

On the three poles of the sun, Youning crossed the ancient beast road, crossed the sprawling forest, and came to the front of the world.

Youning looked at the crowded village, holding the large but light backpack with one hand, and raising the other hand and pushing his glasses.

All the way, all the way, all the way. From dusk to dawn, from the monsters that are active to dawn, from the excitement of sunrise to sunset, all kinds of monsters, he doesn't know whether they are delicate or unintentional. Ground avoidance. Gensokyo is the only time of the day when Gensokyo is peaceful.

So what about before?

Under the cover of yesterday's night, before the dawn of today, the same as the long walk just now, how did he get here?

"Yo roar ~ open ~ "

Youning seemed to be imagining some kind of picture, and laughed happily.

Or did he never spend the night on earth, and he never walked this night road?

――――――――――――==――――――――――――

"Nana, Youning~~"

"Oh, it's Suzu."

On the quiet street, Yunei put down her backpack and greeted Suzu Motoi, who ran out of Suzuna-an.

"What's that?"

Youning pushed his glasses and replied with a smile, "It's a book." ”

"What book? Books from the outside world? ”

Xiao Ling blinked excitedly, and Yu Ning provoked Xiao Ling's curiosity with a mysterious look.

"You'll find out when I open. Why don't you come and watch? ”

So Motoju Xiaoling followed Youning, watched him walk the streets and alleys, and finally stayed in the empty space on the side of the street. Youning unloaded his backpack and landed on the ground, and there was a gentle sound of fabric folding.

It is a town of craftsmen, and there are many small shops along the road. The shops have their own unique character, each with its own interest, full of old-fashioned whimsy. Artisans make a living here with their craftsmanship and inspiration, and the air is filled with elegance for generations.

- Yes, it's like a heavy old book.

"What is this?"

"Huh? This is a tent umbrella. ”

"Not really."

"Look at it."

Youning pulled out a large bundle of steel frames with cloth in them from her backpack. As soon as he stretched the steel frame, it became the prototype of a four-legged roof. Then pull out the extension rod in the steel frame and fix it, and in a few moments, a large umbrella with a tent-like roof was erected. Youning continued to take it out of his backpack like that, the stalls, folding chairs, and finally, the signboard with a capital letter, Youning Hall.

He hung the cardboard on the side facing the street, then dragged his backpack to his feet, sat down on a folding chair, and began to dig out the books one by one.

"Sit down. You see, are there any books you want to buy? ”

Xiao Ling pulled the stool, but did not sit down, just played with the folding stool that could be folded into a flat plate at once. After probably understanding it, she paid attention to the book that Youning had stacked into squares.

"I can't read ......"

She looked at Youning a little aggrieved. On the cover of the stack of books, it was written neither kanji nor kana, and I was completely confused except for the author's name.

"This is a novel - a fantasy story of the outside world. The cover is in Western language. But don't worry, it's all words that you can understand. The name on the cover is pronounced fate......"

"Hey, little bell—your mother is looking for you. Remember to tell your family when you run out in the future. ”

While Youning was talking to Xiaoling, a young man ran out of the alley on the side of the street. He waved his hand as he ran to the front of Youning's bookshelf, his breath condensing into a white mist in the air. Xiao Ling was originally quite interested in Youning's words, but when she heard this voice, she suddenly woke up like a dream, "Oh no! The look.

"Wait a minute, I'll be home right away!"

After saying this, Suzu hurriedly lifted the skirt and ran to the back. Youning looked at the young man and stood up with a smile.

"Come, please be seated."

"Whew...... Thanks a lot. Ah, who are? …… I'm sorry, but I'm a correspondent of the Self-Police Force, Yasuhei Tamura. Need my help? ”

The young man who called himself Tamura Anhei sat down for a moment and quickly stood up, bowing very politely towards Youning.

"Hello. My name is Youning. Anping, what a good name. ”

"Ahaha, if it weren't for that name, I wouldn't have been entrusted to the self-police team in the first place. …… Hey, Suzu! Don't rummage through other people's things! ”

"Oh, it's okay, it's okay."

Youning turned around and saw Suzu cowering behind her backpack and peeked inside. The backpack was really big, almost up to Suzu's chest. Suzu seemed to see something, and stretched out her arms to fumble inside, because it was so big, and half of her body sank into it. Hearing the sound here, Xiao Ling immediately straightened up, holding a piece of paper in her hand - red on a white background, which was Bo Li's talisman.

"That's the shrine maiden's...... Xiao Suzu, return it to others. ”

"Forget it, I'll send you. Hurry home. ”

Xiao Ling said happily, don't run away. Youning smiled at her back, then turned back to look at Tamura Yaspei.

This is a very ordinary person. Regardless of the body shape or appearance, it can only be called ordinary. But he had a very warm and sincere smile, and it was very flattering.

Youning also liked it, and he said, "Xiaoling has a pretty good relationship with you." ”

An Ping patted his chest heartily and said, "I know most of the people in the village." ”

"Oh? That's a big deal. ”

"It's not easy. When I first arrived in Gensokyo, ah......"

Anping began to gush. He was also originally an outsider, and originally had another name. He was just a teenager when he encountered the gods, and he didn't have the courage to trek to the shrine. Thanks to the guidance of his predecessors, he changed his name to Tamura Yaspei, and because of this auspicious name, he was able to hang a position as a correspondent in the self-police force. From the beginning, he worked hard to drag the oil bottle, and gradually, he also became a celebrity in the village.

"Because everyone comes to me when they are in trouble." Anping smiled proudly. "By the way, how long have you been in Gensokyo?"

"It didn't take long. Speaking of which, can you tell me the name of the senior you mentioned? ”

"The seniors are also their own names. The senior's name is Makoto Ito. ”

"Poof—"

Youning suddenly couldn't help laughing. An Ping looked at him inexplicably.

"What's wrong?"

"Haha, nothing, nothing. It's really a senior, that one. ”

"Ito-senpai lives next to this. Well, it's over there—"

Anping stood up as he spoke, ran to the other side of the street, stood still, and knocked on the door very seriously.

However, the door did not open.

"Hey, Anping. If I'm not mistaken, there's bad news for you. ”

Youning shouted from behind. An Ping turned back with some confusion.

"Ito's words were attacked by youkai before. He had amnesia. ”

"W-What?!"

An Ping's eyes widened in shock.

"Ito-senpai!"

He banged on the door, but as before, there was no movement inside the door. So he turned around.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Youning. I'm going to look for Ito-senpai. ”

Anping was seriously worried.

"He might be at home."

"No, it won't. Ito-senpai, is a very ......" Anhei didn't seem to think about how to describe it, and then he changed his words and said, "Even if you have amnesia, you can get along well with people." ”

"That's right. I'd love to get to know you. ”

"I've heard Ito-seni describe himself like that."

"Huh?"

Youning looked at An Ping, watched his face gradually become solemn, and said slowly in a slightly sad voice: "It was a long, long time ago. He was talking to himself.

He said that he was, "Remnant of the Two Realms". ”

Anping said.

"Ito-senpai used to be outsiders too. He made a name for himself with what we did there. Ito's predecessors lived here because the people on this street have a century-old craft. He probably thought he had found the same kind. ”

Youning put away her smile and listened quietly.

-- Remnants. An outsider like Anping, who is alone in Gensokyo, can be called a relic, right? Like the craftsmen here, they are also remnants - the world of a hundred years ago is lost in the world today, the last traces and perseverance?

And what kind of heart did Ito, who claimed to be a remnant of the two worlds, say this?

Youning thought, looked at the sky, and suddenly said, "It's snowing." ”

It did snow. It's dotted and hard to spot against a dark background. There was no cold in the air, but there was a smell of coolness.

"I have to go. ――Is this an English book? ”

"It's not. This is an old fiction novel. ”

"I'm sorry, I don't remember much about the outside world. I'll buy a copy and see how to sell it? ”

"This~ I don't know the price of Gensokyo. You can do it. ”

took the money handed by An Ping, Youning didn't count it, and threw it directly into the backpack.

"Oops, I didn't bring a bag. Can I take one copy and put the rest here? ”

"Absolutely. Don't forget to pick it up. ”

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Hmm. Thank you for your patronage~~"

Youning waved his hand and watched Anping leave in a hurry. He sniffed the tiny particles of snow in the air again, sighed, and began to clean up his stall.

"Well, even if it's Reimu, it's still going to miss."

He muttered to himself, smiled a little intricately, and then sighed again.

- After Youning left.

Snowflakes are already in the air.

The wooden door that says Ito's house slowly opens, and the craftsman looks around slowly, sluggishly. Through the crack in the door, the scene inside the room is revealed.

Inside, there was snow all over the house, and there was hoarfrost all over the place.