Chris looked at Reimu with mild exasperation, arms crossed, wings twitching lazily behind him. It had been two years since the whole Lunar Capital mess in Touhou 13, and now Gensokyo was being hit with something arguably worse: existential despair.
"So... the humans are losing hope?" he asked, not hiding his disbelief.
Reimu shrugged in that classic Reimu fashion as if the world falling apart was just another Tuesday. "Yeah, pretty much. Spirits of despair are rising, and people are more interested in arguing over ideologies than going to the shrine or doing anything useful."
Cassidy leaned back, sipping from a can of energy drink like she wasn't standing in the middle of a supernatural faith crisis. "So, do we know the reason for this? Any cursed objects, dark gods, manipulative tanukis?"
Reimu sighed. "Nope. None at all. It's just... vibes, I guess? People started losing hope, and then it spiralled. So… wanna help me investigate?"
Chris raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a dry smirk. He recalled his old life, the weight of faith, responsibility, and the irony of watching a shrine maiden casually shrug off the collapse of societal morale.
"...I'd rather not," he deadpanned. "You're asking the most Christian guy in Gensokyo to help with a faith crisis caused by other religions getting too aggressive."
Reimu tilted her head. "So… you're saying you don't want to spread Christianity in Gensokyo?"
Chris held up a hand immediately. "No, no. That's Cassidy's thing. She already tried that last spring festival with the fake loaves and fish stunt."
Cassidy laughed. "Hey, that got me thirty followers and a stack of betting money. Don't hate the player."
Reimu sighed. "Fine. Then just commentate the fights. I need someone sane up there."
Chris raised both brows. "So you came to me?"
"...Okay, sane enough," she corrected.
He looked toward the tournament arena being set up in the distance. "Alright, fine. But I'm not wearing a suit."
Cassidy raised her hand, grinning. "Can I bet against Reimu?"
Chris and Reimu both answered in perfect sync.
"No."
Chris looked at Reimu as he spoke. "Why Exactly is there torment to decide fate? I thought maybe I don't a debate would be better?".
Reimu rolled her eyes and waved a hand in the air like she was trying to swat away the logic itself.
"Because Chris," she said, clearly exasperated, "this is Gensokyo. When has anything ever been decided by debate here? We solve our problems by shooting each other with colourful magic until someone gets bored or faints."
Chris crossed his arms. "So instead of talking it out like rational beings, we're holding a whole tournament to decide whose ideology gives people hope?"
Reimu smirked. "Exactly."
Cassidy, leaning against a nearby tree, chimed in with a grin. "To be fair, the last time someone tried a debate, it turned into a spell card duel because someone mispronounced 'faith.'"
Chris facepalmed. "Let me guess. That someone was Sanae?"
Reimu nodded. "She called Kanako's teachings 'diet Shinto' and then it went downhill fast."
Chris sighed dramatically. "Gensokyo is insane."
Cassidy shrugged. "That's why we live here."
Chris looked back at the arena preparations. "Alright, fine. Let's see which ideology wins this time. But I'm bringing popcorn."
Reimu smirked. "You're doing commentary, not snacking."
Chris smirked right back. "Who says I can't do both?"
Chris started to walk to the Stadium, and he saw a Magic Barrier there, probably to stop everyone from burning this place to the ground, as he stopped and saw Kasen
Chris looked at her, and she looked back at him; as he decided, he just quickly walked away and ignored the girl.
Kasen narrowed her eyes as Chris speed-walked past her like she was a salesman holding a clipboard.
"Oh come on," she called out, arms crossed. "You're still ignoring me? I didn't even kidnap you this week!"
Chris didn't stop. "And I appreciate that. Let's keep the streak going."
Kasen huffed and jogged up next to him, stepping over the invisible boundary of personal space like it was optional. "Look, I'm here to support a friend in his new gig. You know, commentary duty? You're the voice of the people now!"
Chris deadpanned. "Yeah, nothing says 'hope' like being heckled by your stalker mid-fight."
Kasen gave him a toothy grin. "Oh, please. If I were stalking, you wouldn't see me."
Chris blinked. "...That's somehow worse."
Kasen placed a hand on her hip. "Fine, fine. I'll just be over here cheering you on like a supportive member of the harem."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Didn't realize we were doing roll call."
Just then, Seiga floated by on a cloud of slightly spooky energy, sipping tea.
"Oh, are we doing the awkward reunion thing?" she chimed in. "Because I still haven't forgotten the kidnapping thing either. Not that I regret it, but you did scream very loudly."
Chris groaned. "I need hazard pay."
Chris then looked at her as he spoke. "Now that I think about it, this is the First time I have met you, Blue Hair girl; what's your deal?".
Seiga gave Chris a coy smile, tilting her head slightly as her pale blue hair shimmered faintly in the afternoon light.
"My deal?" she echoed, voice light and teasing. "Oh, I'm just your friendly neighborhood hermit. Who also happens to be able to open walls and bring the dead back to life. Little things."
Chris blinked. "...That sounds exactly like someone I should not be talking to."
Seiga grinned wider. "And yet, here you are. Talking to me."
Chris pointed a finger at her. "You're on thin ice, Seiga. I'm still traumatized from that whole 'ghost kidnapping incident'."
Seiga floated in a slow circle around him like an amused vulture. "And yet, you survived. Stronger. Handsomer. More sarcastic. Surely, I deserve some credit."
Chris sighed. "No wonder Reimu wanted me to deal with this mess. You're all insane."
"Pot, meet kettle," Seiga said with a wink. "Besides, you've clearly got a type. Kasen. Junko. Me... You like 'em spooky, don't you?"
Chris muttered under his breath, "This is why I commentate now. Can't get beat up or possessed mid-broadcast."
"You say that," Seiga hummed, tapping her fan against her chin, "but wait until Meiling shows up and starts demanding answers about your Scarlet Mansion connections."
Chris froze. "...I hate foreshadowing."
Meanwhile, the Scarlet Mansion shows Meiling as she is talking to another hair girl.
She has Red hair she Wears a black top with a white shirt under it and a long black skirt with two lines on the bottom. She has a small pair of black, bat-like wings on the sides of her head and back and short, wavy red hair.
[Insert Image of Koakuma]
Meiling looked at her friend as she spoke. "So, what is happening outside our territory?"
Koakuma looked at her as she spoke. "I religion's Battle Royal".
Meiling just blinked as she pulled out a list and updated it. "That is going to No 6".
Koakuma tilted her head as she leaned in slightly. "No. 6 on what, exactly?"
Meiling held up the now slightly crumpled list, revealing the title scrawled at the top in bold letters:
"Top 10 Gensokyo Moments That Make Me Regret Asking"
Koakuma squinted. "You've got the Scarlet Devil Mansion being set on fire at number one."
Meiling nodded solemnly. "That was Flandre's doing. Again."
Koakuma's eyes drifted down. "Number three is just… 'Patchouli sneezed and summoned a demon by accident'?"
"I didn't even know she could sneeze," Meiling added with a shiver.
Koakuma looked back up at her. "So… this religion brawl thing is only number six?"
"Yeah," Meiling said, folding the list back and stuffing it into her jacket. "You know something's wrong with this place when a divine ideological war is just barely above 'Sakuya broke the timeline trying to make tea on time.'"
Koakuma leaned against the railing, wings twitching in mild amusement. "And what are we doing about it?"
Meiling stretched with a groan. "Well, apparently Remilia's too busy prepping her speech on how vampires are clearly the superior spiritual figures. I'm just waiting for Chris to get dragged into this so I can ask him why the hell he's friends with all of us."
Koakuma smirked. "Think he'll explain?"
"Doubt it," Meiling muttered. "He probably has a list of his own."
Meiling then saw Flandre and Sakuya, leaving the Mansion. "Hey, were you 3 going".
Sakuya looked at her as she spoke. "To see the Tournament".
Flandre giggled as she spoke. "I heard the announcer is a Cirten Angel (Chris), so bye"
They used a Teleportation magic, and they deciphered. Koakuma looked at her friend as she spoke. "You following them aren't you?."
Meiling just jumped off the rooftop and landed on the ground as she spoke. "YES!"
As she left, Koakuma sighed and started to follow her to the human Village; as she was flying and she was Meiling started to fly as well, once again wondering how every supernatural entity in this place has a built flying mode.
Koakuma muttered under her breath, "It's like flight's just included in the Gensokyo starter pack."
She flapped lazily behind Meiling, watching the gatekeeper zip forward with surprising speed for someone whose main job was napping by a door. "Seriously, who needs walking anymore?" Koakuma added, adjusting her flight path as the human village came into view.
Down below, the streets were already filling up. Paper signs fluttered in the breeze, booths were being set up, and people—human and youkai alike—were crowding toward the stadium, whispering excitedly about the upcoming Hopeless Masquerade Tournament.
Koakuma descended next to Meiling, who had landed in front of a takoyaki stand and was already munching on a skewer.
"You realize we're not exactly invited, right?" Koakuma said.
Meiling shrugged, her mouth full. "That never stopped anyone in Gensokyo."
Just then, a sudden cheer erupted from inside the stadium. A loud magical projection flared to life above the arena—Chris stood at its center, mic in hand, dressed in a ridiculous yet charming announcer outfit complete with angelic wings that shimmered for show.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and immortals," Chris's voice boomed, "Welcome to the most chaotic spiritual smackdown in Gensokyo history!"
Meiling nearly choked on her food.
Koakuma looked to the sky with the deadest ofpan expressions. "I think this just hit No. 3."
Meanwhile, Chris looked at the first fight being Started; as he looked down from his box, he saw the mark on his four heads, aka the star mark glowing a bit, as the Projection ended. "Hello, Junko".
As there just behind, was the residents MILF of Gensokyo, aka Junko, as she giggled as she looked at him.
Junko tapped his four heads as she spoke. "Looks like the Mark I gave you is very effective".
Chris looked at her as he spoke. "Yeah, it helps me not always hear the Voice of the Dead; I didn't know I had that power until the events of Subterranean Animism".
Junko laughed a bit, as she patted his head. "So, that is what they calling it"
Chris looked at her as he spoke. "That is what Yukari calls it; we just went it, just how she called the latest one that happened, Ten Desire, and this one Hopeless Masquerade".
Junko looked at him as she spoke. "Fufufu, I'm sure a Cirten Purple hair librarian is more than happy with these names".
Chris smirked, leaning against the railing of his viewing box. "Patchouli's the type to pretend she's above it all, but I caught her organizing her books by incident name last week. 'Subterranean Animism' even got its own shelf."
Junko chuckled, resting her hand under her chin as she sat beside him. "So dramatic. But fitting, don't you think? The names may be absurd, but they capture the madness of this land."
Chris exhaled, watching the first fighters enter the ring below. "Yeah. Still weird how Yukari just... names every catastrophe like it's a light novel arc."
Junko turned toward him, the mischievous glint never leaving her eyes. "You say that like you're not enjoying the theatrics, dear angel."
Chris didn't respond immediately, just let out a small huff of amusement. "Touché."
Just then, the crowd below roared as Byakuren and Mamizou stepped into the fighting ring, preparing for a spiritual showdown of ideologies and fists.
Chris leaned forward with a raised brow. "This is gonna be one hell of a match. Literal hell, probably."
Junko looked down at the arena and whispered, "Hope they're ready. Ideological wars are the most exhausting kind."
Chris added, "And the most entertaining, apparently."
Chris Projection was, once again, shown since it was made by Magic; using that Illusion spell was so easy for him to do. "People of Gensokyo, Get ready for our first battle, no killing; outside of that, everything else is fair game, 3 2 1, let is start".
The illusion shimmered with dazzling clarity, Chris's projection towering above the arena like some celestial host with flair. His voice boomed across the stadium, laced with theatrical gusto and just a touch of sarcasm:
"People of Gensokyo!"
A cheer erupted from the crowd.
"Get ready for our first battle! No killing—outside of that, everything else is fair game!"
Gasps, laughter, and a few excited whoops echoed from the audience.
"Three..."
The camera panned dramatically to Byakuren, who cracked her knuckles with a radiant smile.
"Two..."
Mamizou twirled her leaf in her fingers, tail swishing behind her with a smug grin.
"One..."
Tension skyrocketed. Even the fairies quieted down.
"Let it START!"
And with that declaration, the arena lit up—Byakuren surged forward in a blur of light, while Mamizou's form distorted and multiplied with illusionary clones, both women ready to fight not just for faith, but for the spectacle.
Chris leaned back in his real box seat, arms folded as he chuckled. "Yep. Definitely more fun than a debate."
Junko sipped tea beside him. "Fufufu, this is already much more entertaining than most divine squabbles I've seen."
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones
Quick Side note, I have decided to add Madoka Magica in Thai Fanfic, and Higurashi, but With Higurashi there is another Fanfic Coming out with a Different Afton, and anyway I am Back, as for the Madoka Magica thing that is End of Volume 1 start of Volume 2 shit, so yeah, hope people like this Ch and give me power stones and enjoy