Follow the Script

Chapter 13

Koishi: Mister Y/N? You look more tired than before.

Y/N: Well, I haven't slept in forever, of course I'm tired.

Laughing at her question, he gave her a pat on the head, on top of her hat. Puffing her cheeks slightly, she looked away and tried to ignore him doing so.

Y/N: Now, to return to the plan, it's rather simple. Since the library sends invitations to people who are looking for knowledge, we are bound to receive someone here if we wait long enough.

Koishi: Then we defeat them!

Y/N: Well, I would like to do it myself, since it's my sole purpose but in the end, I can't really stop you.

Koishi: Nope.

She confirmed his doubts with a wide smile. He didn't want her to fight but it's not like he can do much about it, she had the advantage on him when it comes to that. After seeing him fight so many times, a little help wouldn't hurt so much.

Y/N: *Sigh* Remember that the guests I receive are nothing to overlook, they'll gladly chop your head off if they have the chance to do so.

Koishi: Speaking of that, why do they want to kill you? Can't they just defeat you and then take the books?

Y/N: ...I was confused too at first, I simply assumed that it was greed. In the end, all who entered the library as a "guest" becomes fixated on the books and doesn't mind killing the ones in their way.

Koishi: So...

Y/N: It's the library's doing, it wants the guests to kill the librarians.

Koishi: Why would it do that?!

Y/N: A weak librarian does not deserve life if I have to take a guess, the future guests could use them as an advantage and thus this place assures that the defeated librarians are killed.

Koishi: But I defeated you and you're still alive.

Y/N: Did you get invited by the library?

Koishi: ...No, I just walked inside.

Y/N: I assume that's the reason, or you simply forgot about it. All the guests so far have come here with the invitation that it sends.

Koishi: So, if I had an invitation, I would have killed you?

Y/N: Well, that's how it works, the library doesn't reward thieves. It's either you kill or you die trying.

Waving his hand to dismiss the subject, he grabbed a random book near him and looked at the cover without a specific goal. Holding it with one hand, he was thinking of the future enemies that he will encounter.

...Many are looking for knowledge that they do not possess, which one will come first to challenge the single librarian remaining inside?

Koishi: Also, can I ask you something else?

Y/N: Go ahead.

Koishi: If you get killed by someone, what will happen to the library?

Y/N: ...I don't know but I have my own theory.

Turning around to face the girl, he tossed the book that he was holding to her and she grabbed it instinctively. Not paying attention to the cover, she watched the man rise his left hand to point at the ceiling.

Y/N: Since the library is unable to be accessed without the presence of a librarian inside or interacting with the door, if the last librarian were to perish, so would this place. It would remain locked and never reachable again.

Koishi: Then nobody would enter.

Y/N: I guess that's the point. You shouldn't look into knowledge that you don't need to know. By closing it permanently, it would also stop people from peeking into things that they normally wouldn't look for.

He was as confused about the whole ordeal as her. From his point of view, he woke up here with many other people and fought for a reason that they couldn't understand until each one of them died while doing so.

Y/N: But, if it happens, I want you to hold onto this.

He said with a serious voice, pointing the book that she was holding. Curious, she finally peeked at the title and saw Y/N's name on it, it was his book containing everything about him. She looked back to the man.

Koishi: Why this?

Y/N: Why? Because I trust you of course.

He answered with honesty. The bags under his eyes seemed to lighten for a moment but quickly returned. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he continued.

Y/N: ...I could even say that you're the only friend I ever made outside of this library.

Koishi: ...

Staring at the lifeless floor below them, the lone librarian whispered the second part, hesitating. Yes, he trusted her but maybe she didn't consider him a friend, maybe he was only entertainment to her and he would be tossed aside once she gets bored.

Y/N: I just... now that I trust someone, I don't want to be forgotten once I pass away, I want someone to remember-

Koishi: I will defend this book with my life!

She exclaimed with a frown, showing him how earnest she was saying those words, Thightly holding the gift she received from him, she broke his assumptions immediately.

Koishi: Because... that's the first time I received a gift from a friend.

Y/N: I'm glad you like it then, I'm happy to hear that.

Gently smiling at her, his doubts vanished like clouds in the sky. Now, the sunlight could finally reach his mind and appease his paranoia, even for a little while. He was the cause of many people's death but it did not make him heartless, it made him even more heartbroken instead. Seeing someone smiling at him genuinely left him with a bit of happiness.

...Unfortunately, he knew that guests would not allow him to cherish that scene for long. Reimu Hakurei, her downfall will be his, he could feel it down to his being. It will only end badly, with nothing that he could do about it.

...

...

???: This place is a lot quieter than before.

Somewhere in the distance, a person could be seen standing in front of one of the many shrines inside the world of illusions known as Gensokyo. The silence was a little odd and even felt out of place. The one noticing that detail pushed it aside for now and focused on her duty right now. Walking to the door, she cleared her voice and wildly swung the door open.

???: Reimu, are you still slacking-

However, nobody was there, it was completely empty. The only thing that gave the scene a bit of life was a cup filled with a slightly darkened liquid. Allowing herself to enter, she kneeled near the small table and dipped one of her fingers inside the drink, testing if it was cold or not.

???: Cold... did she leave somewhere?

The woman mumbled to herself but remembered the usual attitude of the lazy shrine maiden. With nothing to do, she would have no reason to go anywhere, or even waste her drink. Something must have happened but she had no idea what exactly. With no clues to assist her, she tried to think about a solution and came up with one that would be logical.

???: Maybe Marisa knows something about this.

Stepping outside of the shrine, the one left with many questions flew into the distance in the search of the witch, hoping to obtain some light on the situation. Something tells her that Reimu didn't leave just because she felt like it, that would be out of character and she knew it.