Forbidden Knowledge Vol.1 (Marisa Kirisame X Male Reader)

Chapter 10 - Youkai of the Dusk

Marisa's shop was as cluttered as ever. Piles of books, vials, strange artefacts, and who-knows-what lay scattered around the place. I stood by the doorway, watching her dart around, collecting random things from shelves like it was second nature. Her hat tilted slightly as she climbed up a tall ladder, her boots skidding on the wood floor. I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"So, what's the big deal this time?" I asked, eyeing her warily.

Marisa paused mid-climb, glancing down at me with a smirk. "You'll see."

With a small grunt, she threw a heavy book down from the top shelf. I barely caught it, the weight knocking me back a step. Flipping it open, I skimmed the pages filled with strange, magical ingredients—most of which I couldn't even pronounce. My eyes landed on one particular entry: "Stardust."

I chuckled to myself. "Stardust? Really? Shaped like stars, too? Who names this stuff?"

Marisa, now back on solid ground, snatched the book from my hands with a playful huff. "Very funny, but I need it for my potions. So, quit your mocking." She tapped the page with a sharp finger. "This stuff is important."

I raised an eyebrow, half-teasing, half-curious. "If you know where to find it, why don't you go get it yourself?"

She froze for a second, glaring at me as if I'd just insulted her family. "Wow, that's rude!"

"Was it?" I blinked innocently. "Thanks! I'm still working on my social interaction."

Marisa let out a long, exaggerated sigh, rubbing her temples like she was dealing with a troublesome child. "You mean sorry... But whatever, look, here's the deal. We're killing two birds with one stone. You get to explore Gensokyo, y'know, tick off a thing on your little bucket list. And I get the materials I need, 'cause I'm far too bus-..." She coughed. "I mean, far too lazy... no, I mean busy to go out there myself. So, come on, help a gal out."

I squinted at her. "The Forest of Magic? Isn't it dangerous?"

Marisa rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Please, you managed to defeat Reimu in a bullet battle. You'll be fine. Just stay out of the forest at night, don't go near Misty Lake, avoid wandering off the path, and for the love of everything, don't get anywhere near the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Simple stuff, right? Easy."

She gave me a playful nudge, that smirk plastered back on her face. "Consider it your first solo adventure. Go out there, find some stardust, and have fun while you're at it."

I flipped through the pages of the book again, still unsure. The more I read, the less confidence I had. "It says here the craters with stardust glow faintly, but... how much are you asking for, exactly?"

Marisa put her hands on her hips and stretched her arms wide, trying to estimate with a ridiculous gesture. "This much! Like, a bunch. Maybe more depends on how much you find. Y'know, just enough to fill a small cauldron."

I stared at her blankly. "Uh-huh... fine."

"Atta boy!" Marisa cheered, grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks! I really owe you one. Now go and get 'em, sport! Have a great day at school, love ya, bye-bye!" She added with a laugh, pushing me toward the door.

Before I knew it, I was outside, the door slamming shut behind me. I stood there for a moment, staring at the shop. I could hear the curtains being drawn inside. A soft click followed—the sound of her door locking.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Whatever she's up to..." I muttered, stuffing the book under my arm. There was no use in questioning Marisa's antics at this point. She was always up to something.