Chapter 40: Do Androids Dream of Gensokyo?
Kirie, having changed her clothes, watched Luke making scones in the kitchen.
"I plan to head back. There are still some matters over there that need my attention. Besides, that zombie butler is probably looking for me everywhere."
"It's been hard work during this time. Next time you come, make sure to take good care of your body."
"Whose fault do you think it is?"
Kirie heard Luke's reply and chided playfully with a half-smile.
Not wanting to stay any longer in the place, Kirie turned and walked towards the restaurant's main door, disappearing amidst some light.
Usami Sumireko, waiting for breakfast, recalled the conversation she had just overheard after Kirie left, taking a sip of water.
"Luke-san, did that young lady just mention the word 'zombie'? Could it be that 'zombies' exist in her world?"
"I'm not quite sure about that aspect, but as a vampire, it's normal for her to have a few non-human subordinates."
Speaking of this topic, Usami Sumireko's interest was piqued.
She looked left and right, confirming no one else was around and she was the only customer, before continuing the previous conversation.
"Luke-san, I heard Rinnosuke-san mention that you seem to be an outsider from outside 'Gensokyo'."
"Precisely so. In this aspect, I'm like you, originally also living in modern society; though more accurately, it was the time before last..."
Luke turned around and placed a portion of scones in front of Usami Sumireko.
This girl, possessing psychic powers and able to come to 'Gensokyo' through dreams, instantly became interested.
While picking up her knife and fork, she pondered how to continue the chat.
Anyway, let's try the scone before me first.
So Usami Sumireko picked up the knife and fork, carefully cutting a small piece of the scone.
Looking at its soft interior, the faintly visible air pockets seemed to speak of its fluffiness.
She brought this small, delicious piece to her mouth.
First, she felt the slight crispness of the outer layer, followed by the cloud-like softness inside.
The scone's own flavor wasn't strong, yet possessed a natural sweetness—the pure flavor emitted after flour, milk, and eggs were simply cooked.
"There's maple syrup here too."
Luke pointed to the small dish on the side.
Usami Sumireko nodded, scooped up some maple syrup with a spoon, and slowly drizzled it over the remaining scone.
The golden syrup flowed down the edges of the scone, forming sweet little streams.
When she tasted it again, the unique aroma of the maple syrup merged perfectly with the scone, each bite filled with rich layers of texture.
"Quite delicious. No wonder when I occasionally run into Reimu and Marisa at Rinnosuke-san's shop, they sometimes mention Luke-san's cooking."
"Satisfying the diners is the greatest honor for me as a chef."
Luke liked this kind of life.
Simple and interesting.
Attracted by the taste, Usami Sumireko finished the scone first.
Showing a satisfied expression, she then drank up the water in her glass.
After eating and drinking her fill, Usami Sumireko remembered the topic she was concerned about earlier.
"Ah, right, right. Luke-san said you originally lived in the modern world too. Then why did you come here?"
"Simply found it interesting. You could also say I grew tired of the place I originally lived."
"Is that so... I can understand a little bit."
Usami Sumireko was a psychic, and also a lonely psychic.
However, she didn't think friends were superfluous beings.
But that was just from the practical perspective of knowledge; her true thought was: friends are only beneficial to those kinds of people who truly need friends.
It was precisely because of this thought that she couldn't make many friends in the world she lived in.
That being said, what might seem like a 'very miserable' school life in outsiders' eyes was quite fulfilling for Usami Sumireko.
Compared to wasting time on friends, it was better to try exploring newer things.
However, these thoughts changed after coming to Gensokyo.
Experience is the truth of this world, knowledge is merely to cover this up.
So here, Usami Sumireko gradually felt that making friends wasn't bad either.
"Running into Luke-san in 'Gensokyo' gives a familiar feeling..."
"I think we can chat when we have time, talk about the interesting aspects of 'modern society'."
"At least electrical appliances are convenient to use. For example, taking a car. I walked quite a distance to get here."
"For youkai, it's probably useless though, since they can all fly."
"That's true too."
Usami Sumireko smiled.
Before her voice faded, a collision sound suddenly came from the restaurant's main door.
Bang!
Then again.
Bang!!
The main door shook.
Its material was special and wouldn't be easily destroyed.
But this kind of impact was clearly abnormal.
Seeing this, Usami Sumireko intended to go check.
Luke also moved, leaving the kitchen.
As he walked into the main hall, Usami Sumireko had already opened the main door.
A figure rushed into the restaurant, stumbling and falling to the ground.
Luke saw clearly the person who suddenly rushed in this time.
"YoRHa 2B..."
The female protagonist of Nier: Automata, and also an android.
And now—
Whether androids dream of Gensokyo, Luke wasn't sure.
But one thing was certain, she had directly arrived in 'Gensokyo'.
...
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