Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

"Back then, me, my mother, and Lu..." Reimu paused abruptly, her eyes gradually reddening.

"Reimu..."

Akina Zeya, who didn't know why Hakurei Reimu suddenly had that expression, wanted to comfort her but didn't know what to say.

But Reimu Hakurei didn't pause for long. She looked up and gave a heartbreaking smile, saying, "The three of us had a lot of fun watching the fireworks together!"

Just then, a giant star appeared in the sky above the village of humans, and then suddenly exploded.

Countless tiny stars burst forth from the large star, shimmering with dazzling, seven-colored light, before exploding and splitting into even smaller stars...

A spectacular meteor shower, as dazzling as the Milky Way, appeared in the sky, making the night as bright as day.

At the edge of the cliff, Akina Zeya, who could only see blurry details in the darkness.

At the moment the fireworks burst open, I saw two sparkling gems streaming down Reimu Hakurei's cheeks.

"Reimu..."

For some reason, Akina Zeya suddenly felt a strong feeling inside him.

No, he knew what that felt like. How could he not feel a strong urge to protect a girl when he saw her crying in front of him?

Yes, that’s it!

Akina Ze also reached out, intending to use the head-patting technique, which was very effective on his Niqua.

Unfortunately, before Akina could also reach out to Reimu's head...

Reimu Hakurei stood up on her own.

"Don't overthink it! I just got sand in my eye! No, no, this has nothing to do with you!"

Reimu Hakurei was rambling incoherently, and it was impossible to understand what she was saying.

"Yes, I know. That old lady you mentioned must be very good to you."

Akina Sawa sat alone on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the fireworks that were still blooming in the sky for the first and last time at their most beautiful moment.

"I was raised by society from a young age and didn't experience it myself, but I know it must have been a wonderful experience."

Akina Zeya's tone was full of tenderness and envy.

"Huh? You're an orphan... cough cough, I mean you grew up alone? No! What am I even talking about?!"

Reimu Hakurei, standing to the side, scratched the back of her head in distress.

"It's not what you think," Akina Ze said with a smile. "People outside are not like the people in the Human Village. Everyone is sent to a social care center from birth to receive a standardized education, where they are taught according to their individual characteristics. After growing up, they do what they like and have a prosperous life. So, I'm actually doing very well."

"Eh?"

What Akina Zeya said was somewhat incomprehensible to Hakurei Reimu.

"Haha, I've said too many things I shouldn't have. Just pretend I didn't say anything. Anyway, it was all worth it."

"Uh... okay."

The unexpected topic eased the sadness in their hearts.

Inside the shrine, Yakumo Yukari swirled the sake cup in her hand, but the cup was already empty...

Volume Two: The Proceedings of Summer

Chapter One: Summer is Coming

A few days have passed since the Flower Dance Festival, and Gensokyo has entered the sweltering summer.

The sweltering heat enveloped the entire Gensokyo.

"Ah~ It's so hot~~~"

In the remote farmhouse, Akina Ze tried his best to blow the fan on his face, but it was only a drop in the ocean, and sweat kept seeping out of his skin.

Niqua, a water fairy, lay sprawled on the mat, not wanting to move at all, and from time to time, gas resembling water evaporating came out of her body.

Human Village was, after all, a backward agricultural society. There were no electric fans or air conditioners. Only by fanning oneself with a hand fan could one experience a fleeting moment of coolness.

"Nikua, pour me a glass of water."

It seemed that Akina Ze had lost too much water from his body, and he also became thirsty. He picked up a cup and asked Nikua to make some water for him.

Incidentally, it hasn't rained for a long time since the beginning of summer, and our well is located in a relatively high place, which has led to a very bad situation.

The well is empty.

This is what Akina Zeya found this morning when he was carrying a bucket to draw some water from the well to water his plants.

Fortunately, they happened to have a water sprite in their house, and in the end, they were able to get some water from Nikua to irrigate the plants.

However, she heard that the amount of water molecules in the nearby air was already very low, so Nikua could only expand the area she summoned to create water, but this was very physically demanding and she couldn't do it often.

However, the amount of water was just enough to irrigate their own fields once.

If it's just for summoning water for daily life, then it's more than enough.

Therefore, in order not to deplete Niqua's stamina too much, Akina Ze has been trying very hard to suppress his urge to drink water.

But now he can't hold on any longer; the water is draining too quickly, so he has no choice but to ask Nikua to make him a cup of water.

Looking at the cup extended in front of her, Nikua sat up listlessly, extended a finger, and a stream of water shot from her fingertip into the cup.

The cup wasn't very big, and it filled up quickly. After pouring the water, Nikua went into standby mode and lay down on the mat.

It wasn't just the water supply that was the problem; the sweltering heat was constantly draining her energy.

In short, it's too hot.

"Thank you"

His response was equally weak, and then Akina Sawa placed the cup on his lips, which were beginning to crack.

Without the slightest hesitation, Akina Ze tilted his head back and gulped down all the water in the cup, quenching the thirst of his dehydrated cells.

Unfortunately, the water created by Nikua is hot, but there's nothing that can be done about it, since it's drawn from the surrounding air and its temperature is the same as the outside temperature.

Hmm? It seems there are still some water droplets left on the inside of the cup.

Upon discovering this, Akina Sawa didn't hesitate to lower his head, stick out his tongue, and wipe the contents clean before finally putting down the cup with satisfaction.

Then, a long silence fell over the room. Neither Akina Zeya nor Nikua made a sound. The only sound in the sweltering room was their heavy breathing.

Outside, the incessant chirping of cicadas agitated the two people's sensitive nerves, and even the two grown-up little yellow chickens by the courtyard wall lay listlessly inside their house.

Summer has barely arrived and it's already showing its power without restraint.

"How can it be repaired!!!"

In the end, the taut string in Akina Zeya's mind finally snapped.

He needed to find something to cool down the house, or at least make his sleeping area cooler.

"Nikua, I'm going to find something that can cool us down. You stay home."

Akina Ze also stood up from the swaying old chair and walked impatiently to the door.

"Okay, go early and come back early."

Nikua, whose head was already spinning from the heat, could only manage to lift her head to respond briefly before lying down again.

After receiving Nikua's response, Akina Sawa took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

A wave of heat hit him in the face.

The temperature outside is actually higher than inside...

The blazing sun hung high in the sky, where there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The sun shamelessly flaunted its power, scorching all living things on the earth.

This is summer.

However, Akina Sawa had no choice but to move forward; he had had enough.

It's unimaginable to survive on just a manual fan!

In the courtyard, the plants were all dying under the scorching heat.

But now is not the time to consider these things. Akina Sawa's head, which was also being scorched by the heat, had only one thought in mind: to find something that could cool him down.

As for where to look, he had already thought that out before he even set off.

Perhaps Kōrin-dō has what he wants.

Now that we've decided where to go, we should act immediately without delay.

Xianglin Hall is located at the entrance to the Magic Forest.

That place is quite a distance from the human world.

Although the road ahead is long, as long as we take one step at a time, we will eventually reach our destination, even if we are under an endless fireball radiating heat.

And he is no longer the slightly chubby man he used to be.

Since I started exercising every day, all the excess fat on my body has disappeared, and now my body is full of strength.

What used to be a long journey should now be achievable much faster.

And so, Akina Sawa ran towards Kourindo step by step.

Along the earthy country path, rows of footprints, some spaced far apart and deeply embedded in the soil, stretched endlessly towards the magical forest...

"Please forgive me, young lady!"

In a shady mansion, a silver-haired, elegant maid knelt before her petite mistress.

"Humph!"

Unfortunately, even though her servant had done such a thing, the still angry master did not forgive her, and with a snort, she walked past the maid.

Helpless, the maid could only watch her stubborn master walk away.

This is the Scarlet Devil Mansion, protected by a barrier set up by the Seven Luminaries' magicians, so the outside temperature has no effect on the interior.

As for why things turned out this way, it all started with the Flower Dance Festival that day.

Remilia, who had dressed up carefully for a long time, wanting to highlight her majesty, hurriedly took Izayoi Sakuya and Flandre, who hadn't been out for a long time, and flew to the Hakurei Shrine.

Although it was pitch black at the time, Remilia and Flandre were both vampires with night vision, so the dark environment had no effect on them.

Remilia, realizing she had wasted a lot of time, flew at full speed.

Along the way, the maid, having witnessed certain sights, covered her nose but couldn't suppress her unwavering loyalty.

Therefore, all this overflowing loyalty dripped down the flight path into the forest below.

It dripped in front of someone.

And so, naturally, some things happened; it was almost as if fate had arranged it.

Finally, the three people, who were engaged in a fierce battle in the sky above the forest, inevitably saw the magnificent fireworks over the village of humans.

In that instant, they already knew the banquet was over...

Regardless of what happens afterward, all we need to know is that Sakuya Izayoi is currently engaged in a massive campaign to seek forgiveness.

......

Chapter Two: Statements Regarding Refrigeration Machines

The scorching sun relentlessly baked the earth.

On this dirt path connecting the magic forest and the human village, Akina Sawa is also walking forward step by step.

The air in front of them looked somewhat distorted due to the high temperature. Akina Ze squinted wearily at the road ahead, calculating how long it would take to reach Kourindo.

White particles had appeared on his vest. The vest was originally completely soaked with sweat, but it was quickly heated by the sun and eventually turned into a wisp of steam that dissipated, leaving behind these white particles, or rather, salt grains.

"You'll arrive after you cross that slope."

A hoarse voice came from Akina Zeya's throat; his body was extremely dehydrated.

Even a brain dazed from dehydration could still determine how far it was from its destination.

No longer hesitate.