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Ugh, we couldn't finish things.
Haha, wasn't it kinda hard to move in that cold?
I'm sorry, Mr. Shopkeep. We couldn't catch the burglar.
I don't mind. It's just food, not like she took anything valuable.
But isn't food really important right now? You won't be able to restock during the winter.
I'm half-youkai, half human. So I don't need to eat as much as you.
Oh, so then I guess you won't be needing the tea that Sakuya's brewing for us.
That's a separate matter. I'm always open to enjoying fine drinks.
Sorry for the wait, I made some black tea.
Whoa, perfect timing. I'll take some, thanks.
Oh, I saw this teacup in the storeroom earlier.
There weren't enough cups, so I borrowed some from the merchandise. They're all used goods anyway.
That may be true, but you don't have to put it so bluntly. Oh well. I'm the one who asked you to make tea anyway. For now, let's just enjoy them.
Everybody takes a sip.
!
It's delicious! You made this, Sakuya?
I was actually trying to hold back, since I'm just a guest here. You really like it that much?
Ah, the taste, the smell, they're indescribable. And the temperature! It's just right. You can really tell how much care went into making this. Just what I'd expect from the chief maid. It's no exaggeration to call this the ultimate tea.
It's great. I wonder if we should start making black tea at home, instead of our bitter green tea.
What do you know? This is pretty good. Next time give us your best though.
Now that you mention it, what kinds of foods do you normally eat, Sanae? It seems you've been leaving the mountain recently, but I suppose as long as you receive offerings you can get by without visiting the village.
Yes, we've received quite a lot from the tengu. As for the kappa, they're making arrangements to provide us with electricity.
I see. I've heard that electricity is a sort of magic from the outside world, but I suppose you've got Nitori and the others there to help out.
How convenient. The people on the mountain are the only ones with all these tools.
Indeed, wasn't there also something called a camera? Aya was holding it. I would never have my picture taken, but it seems like it would be fun to own something like that.
I never expected you to be camera-shy.
Well, doesn't it take your soul along with the photograph?
I see, so this is pre-modern thinking.
Hmm, I guess the mountain's made a lot progress while I was gone. It's nice to have ambitions.
Oh, you don't think badly of what Youkai Mountain has become? Since all the oni disappeared, I was sure you'd abandoned Gensokyo and humanity out of spite.
Eh, we choose not to mind the details. I don't care about about either the mountain or the past.
Oh, so that's why you show up at the shrine dead drunk every day.
You say you don't care, but is it really that easy to stop caring? When you live a long life, the number of things that are important to you only increases. Or so I've heard.
Well, that happens too. But holding onto your attachments for too long will only destroy you.
How do you mean?
Even youkai tend to pick up baggage over the years when they live long enough. Love and hate, pride and regrets, resentment and jealousy. There's only so much of that stuff you can fit in your head, after a couple thousand years.
Is that how it is? I can't even imagine living for a thousand years.
I'm half youkai, so I can understand. As youkai are primarily emotional and spiritual beings, afflictions of the heart are deadly serious.
Rinnosuke is actually one of the oldest people around.
Uh huh. I don't follow most of that, but I guess even youkai have cares and worries?
Pretty much. It takes a crazy amount of resolve to live your life taking everything upon yourself. Even I only know one person nuts enough to do that.
Who's that?
Ah, I hate to interrupt, but it's growing dark. I'd better get back and start getting a late dinner ready.
Oh, good point. I told them I'd be back by dinnertime. Mr. Shopkeep, could I ask you to show me the kotatsus one more time?
Certainly. In fact, here's my top recommendation...