Chapter 53
Marisa, Kusa, and Reimu are talking while Mokou is playing with Futo on goldfish scooping
Marisa: I see...
Reimu: I guess we should expect that this incident will come to a close...
Marisa: also it's a good thing that you have apologised to Futo
Kusa: I can't help it she is cute to tease
Kusa: but I guess I should tone out a bit
Marisa: I'm glad you-
Kusa: I have a list of people to annoy after all
Marisa just looked blankly at Kusa while Reimu just smiles wryly
Futo and Mokou arrived
Futo: Look! I caught a goldfish by myself!!!
Kusa: isn't that great!
Kusa pats Futo in the head while futo just giggles in response
Futo: wait! I'm not a child!!!
All: (you act like one though)
The three sweatdrop at Futo's remarks because her action and words don't match
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The four of them continued to walk to find Kokoro and Koishi but because of Kusa's ability they immediately got reunited
Kusa: Kokoro!
Kokoro who is talking with Koishi with a mask on suddenly pushes her mask beside her face revealing her emotionless face
Kokoro: Kusa
Kusa: meet my wives!
Kusa: The red one that has the shrine maiden outfit is Reimu
Kusa: the one that has a broom and wears white and black clothes is Marisa
Kusa: the person who has many ribbons on her hair is Mokou
Kokoro looked at them curiously
Kokoro: Kokoro Hata, nice to meet you
Marisa: likewise!
Reimu: nice to meet you too
Mokou: Nice to meet you
Kusa: and my daughter Futo
Futo: who wants you to be their mother!!!
Kusa: many to count, to be honest...
Koishi: I'm one of them!
Futo: ehh?!
Kusa: well... We should not delve deeper into that topic
Kusa: well Kokoro did you finish your clean up?
Kokoro: yeah... And I meet some stronger ones
Kusa: I guess it's Miko and Hijiri
Kusa: by the way Reimu where are you when the incident is happening?
Reimu: I have been napping in the shrine
Marisa: while I am finding you left and right with Mokou
Mokou: I didn't open my stall because of it
Kusa: I'm sorry...
Marisa: I don't accept it
Mokou: me too
Kusa: ehhh?!!! Why?!
Marisa: you have to fulfil our request right Mokou?
Mokou nods
Kusa: fine ill do anything!
Reimu: I think you have fallen from their trap-
Marisa and Mokou looked at Reimu with an intent that makes her stop saying their plans
Koishi: do you know that there is a performance later on?
Kusa: yes and the performer is beside you
Koishi: Kokoro?! You are going to perform?!
Kokoro: yes... Do you want to watch it?
Koishi: of course!!!
Kokoro looked at them
All: of course!
Futo: I'm going to invite some people is that okay?
Kusa: I think it's okay because we are in the village after all
Futo: then I'm going!
Futo runs to find Miko to watch the play
The group walks towards the back of the Noh stage
Kusa: do you need to practice before heading out on the stage?
Kokoro: I could but you will be spoiled with it before the performance
Kusa: I see... Spoilers aren't good
Reimu: hmm... Then how about we warm up but use bullet battles
Kusa: eh?!
Mokou: that's a great idea
Kusa: you too?
Marisa: I agree!
Kusa: as expected...
Kokoro: very well let's fight
Kusa: (I forgot that bullet battles are the main pillar in this world)
Kusa: fine... Do what you guys do
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Because Kusa manipulated plants she managed to create a giant stadium setting just because she can
In the front Kusa, Reimu, Marisa, and Mokou are on it while Miko, Hijiri, Futo, Mamizhou, Seiga, Yoshika, Soga, Satori, Rin, Koishi, Utsuho, Parsee, Yamame are next to them
On the other side Chen, Luna Child, Patchouli Knowledge, Ran Yakumo, Remilia Scarlet, Sakuya Izayoi, Star Sapphire, Sunny Milk, and Yukari Yakumo can be seen
On the backside of Kusa's group Alice Margatroid, Eirin Yagokoro, Kaguya Houraisan, Keine Kamishirasawa, Kosuzu Motoori, Reisen Udongein Inaba, Rinnosuke Morichika, Suika Ibuki, Tewi Inaba, and Yuugi Hoshiguma, Aya Shameimaru, Hatate Himekaidou, Kogasa Tatara, Kyouko Kasodani, Shou Toramaru, Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu, Komachi Onozuka, Youmu Konpaku, Yuyuko Saigyouji can be seen
While on the backs side of the other group Iku Nagae, Lily White, Lunasa Prismriver, Lyrica Prismriver, Merlin Prismriver, Minamitsu Murasa, Nazrin, Nue Houjuu, Tenshi Hinanawi, Cirno, Letty Whiterock, Medicine Melancholy, Mystia Lorelei, Wriggle Nightbug, Luna Child, Star Sapphire, Sunny Milk, Yuuka Kazami, Lily White, Rumia, Kanako Yasaka, Minoriko Aki, Hina Kagiyama, Sanae Kochiya, Shizuha Aki, Suwako Moriya can be seen
Kokoro has entered the stage with a mask of a fox
Music started to resound within the area
Kokoro's movement and the music are in sync making the scene have more impact than expected
It's a story about a very arrogant fox
The fox always thinks she is fine alone and will refuse any help from other people
She uses tricks just to get what she wants
The fox continued her life but in the end, she found herself alone
No matter she is desperate to fit in... she can't fit well with her surroundings
She realized that too late... The people she knew no longer cared about her
She hates herself and continued to wander around aimlessly to find a reason to continue
She lost her emotions and become an empty husk of what she is supposed to be
The fox decided to act like an actor deceiving herself and her surroundings
She has received love once again yet this time she lost herself
She continued to act making herself like a doll to entertain people
But when she meets a person that doesn't care about what is her past and took a liken to her emotionless self
The fox felt alive... The feeling that she desperately yearns to float once again
The fox felt alive and can no longer stay behind her mask
She proudly removes her mask showing herself that has been developed by that person's warmth
The fox smiled without her mask making the audience gasp in surprised
The fox can only softly say thank you to the person who made her find herself
The person who shares her hope toward her
To the person who made her feel alive
The surroundings clap for the fox and for The actress who retells her story
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[Alternate Ending] its when Kusa is still single till 14.5
The fox smiled without her mask making the surroundings mesmerised by it
She looked at the one that gives her hope and walked toward her slowly while letting out the aura of a regal fox
She ignores the stares looking at her and deeply kissed the person that teach her things and teach her what emotions is
Kokoro: you said that love is different for everyone and I need to find how I feel about love
Kokoro look onto Kusa's eyes
Kokoro: I have found that I love you and I'm here to affirm it
Making the surroundings surprised by the development
Kokoro: That's why... stay with me forever
The girl with light green-haired wipes her tears
Kusa: I agree...
The whole surroundings cheer onto them
The fox has successfully learned how to love once again because in her arms is her hope and light