An invitation to Gensokyo

Chapter 3: Tell me everything

Ran had made Ryusashi a fresh cup of coffee. Pouring herself a cup of tea, she sat down on the pillow across from him. "I don't make coffee very often, as Lady Yukari has a distaste for it, so I hope it's to your liking." Ryusashi brought the cup up to his face, the steaming hot liquid gave off a divine aroma. He sighed with satisfaction. "Well, it certainly smells great, and if you made it it must taste great too." Ryusashi said with a warm smile that made Ran blush a little. "Ahaha... you're charming, aren't you?" Ran chuckled as Ryusashi took his first sip. Ran stared at him as her tails quickly swayed from left to right, wagging with excitement. Ryusashi lowered the cup onto the table, and Ran continued looking at him, waiting for him to praise her work. Ryusashi just looked at the cup with a neutral expression, Ran's eccentric smile turned into a frown. Her tails stopped and her ears fell down in disappointment. "Y-you don't like it?" Ran said with a sad voice, she looked like she was about to cry. "Ah, it's not that I don't like it, it's just..." Ran's ears perked up again. "It's just?" She looked at him with curiosity. Ryusashi slid the cup over to her, and she raised an eyebrow. "Try it yourself and tell me how it tastes." Ryusashi said, and Ran picked up the cup and brought it to her lips, and took a sip. "It is very sweet. That's usually how Lady Yukari likes her tea and other hot beverages." She passed it back to Ryusashi and he sighed. "That's the problem. It's just to sweet, coffee should be bitter and savoury." Ran nodded with understanding. "I see, hold on, let me try again." She said before snatching the cup from his hands. "Ran, you don't have to make me anything. I'm fine, really." Ran shook her head at him. "It's better to have a chat when you have something hot to drink. Besides, I'm almost done." Ryusashi looked at her, confused. "Wha- already? You just got-" Ran placed the cup in front of him again and took her seat, the eccentric look of anticipation returned to her face as she wagged her tails and wiggled her ears. Ryusashi was dumbfounded, the cup of coffee was steaming, even though Ran didn't even take a full minute to prepare it. "How did you DO that?!" Ryusashi asked, and Ran simply smiled at him. "Years and years of experience. Go on, drink." Ryusashi brought the cup up to his face and took a sip, his eyes widened as the piping hot coffee entered his mouth. It was absolutely perfect, there were no faults. It's temperature was just right, hot, but not hot enough to burn your tongue. She put in just the right amount of cream and sugar, so they don't overtake the savouriness of the coffee on its own. Ryusashi was in Coffee heaven. "It's... it's perfect! Everything about this cup of coffee, from the temperature to the flavour and texture, everything is absolutely perfect!" Ran beamed at him, tails and ears continuing to sway with excitement, she chuckled. "Don't expect anything less than perfect from me, Ryusashi. I've been doing this for longer than you've been alive. But anyway, we should get back on topic. I need to know why you're here just as much as you do." She finished with a more serious tone.

Ryusashi drank the rest of his coffee and set the empty cup on the table. "Agreed, anyways, Yukari said that I'm here as a plan B, a backup plan of sorts." Ran tilted her head. "Backup? For what purpose?" Ryusashi put his arm on the table and rested his cheek in his hand. "She said if someone named "Reimu" wasn't available to resolve an incident, or if she was the cause of an incident, then I'd be the person she turns to." Ran nodded. "I see, though it's unlikely that Ms. Reimu would ever be unavailable. She's usually the first one to take action when an incident occurs." Ryusashi sighed. "She sounds like a diligent and hard worker." He replied, and Ran chuckled nervously. "That's... not accurate. Ms. Reimu is rather lazy and slacks off a lot. It's mainly because she has no work to do around her shrine, since nobody really visits." Ryusashi knew how that felt a little too well. He yawned. "Oh, you must be tired. Sorry for keeping you up for this long." Ryusashi leaned back on his arms again. "It's no trouble, I don't think I have anything to do tomorrow." Ran stood up. "Either way, we should both go to bed, it's getting late you know. I'll show you to your room." Ryusashi followed her down the hall to the same room he woke up in. The sheets were still kind of messy, it made Ran sigh uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, I should've tidied up in here." Her words made Ryusashi chuckle a little. "Relax your shoulders a little, Ran. You apologize way too much, it's fine, really!" Ran looked away, embarrassed, but she had a small smile on her face. She chuckled nervously. "Alright then. Goodnight Ryusashi, it was a pleasure to get to know you today." Ryusashi smiled at her and pulled the sheets together. "The pleasure was all mine, goodnight, Ran. Sleep well." Ran giggled a little as she left the room and she closed the door, but before she could, Ryusashi stopped her. "Hey, Ran?" Her ears perked up as she turned to face him. "Yes? Is everything alright?" Ryusashi rubbed the back of his neck. "I just wanted to say, thanks for being so nice today." She smiled at him before stepping out. "Well of course I would be, you're a guest here after all. Anyway, get some sleep now." Ryusashi got comfortable. "I will, goodnight." Ryusashi said as Ran slid the door the door shut.