(Heartfelt thanks to 'M.V.P_Reverse Love' for the 1888 reward! And thanks to 'GS Master', 'Panda Ah!', 'Sha 5 What 2', and 'Yuezhao 8 Starry Sky' for their rewards!)
Gensokyo, Hakurei Shrine...
On the stone steps before Hakurei Shrine, Wu Yan held Alice's hand as they slowly climbed one step after another, walking steadily toward the shrine.
At that moment, Alice was like a shy child. She did not object to Wu Yan holding her hand, merely lowering her head and allowing him to lead her toward Hakurei Shrine.
Raising her head and looking at the end of the stone steps drawing ever nearer, Alice asked softly, her face full of confusion.
"Why did you bring me to the shrine?..."
Clearly, Alice did not know that something earth-shattering had happened at Hakurei Shrine yesterday.
Namely, Hakurei Shrine had collapsed.
By now, practically everyone in Gensokyo knew about it.
The reason was simple. Anyone whose eyes and senses were working properly should have seen Dream Seal, released by Reimu, falling from the sky yesterday like the sun itself.
That Dream Seal had truly been spectacular—so spectacular that no one in all of Gensokyo should have failed to notice it. Even the ordinary humans of Human Village might not have felt it, but they could certainly see it.
And after witnessing such an overwhelming attack, who would not be curious?...
There was simply no way the collapse of Hakurei Shrine could be concealed.
Yet Alice still looked utterly bewildered. It seemed she truly did not know about this matter that everyone else knew.
One could only imagine how isolated her life had been these past few days.
If Alice were allowed to continue like this, perhaps she might truly become a taciturn shut-in who never saw anyone again.
That was why Wu Yan