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"Bleh, bleh, bleh! Big Sis, you clearly steep your tea leaves until they have no flavor! Why are you putting on an act now?"
Flandre strolled behind Leo.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Four heads poked out from behind her, each wearing a different mocking expression. The mental damage was critical.
After following the Fairy Swarm, Flandre realized the "treasure" was just vegetables. Gross.
She used to push her veggies onto Meiling's plate. Meiling would give her meat in return. Their covert operation was so obvious it had more holes than Swiss cheese.
"It's not tasty! Here, take it back!"
Flandre spat the half-eaten cookie onto Remilia's plate.
Remilia's blood pressure spiked. Red light glowed on her nails. She prepared to perform an Ansai Waist Drum solo—using Flandre as the drum.
"Forget it, forget it," Leo interjected, pulling out a basket. "Try my strawberries."
He placed the massive berries on the table. He planned to give everyone two.
But then, he saw Flandre reach out with Eight Hands.
Four of a Kind was really useful. Four times the trouble. Four times the fun. Four times the appetite.
Leo wasn't stingy. He placed a strawberry in every hand. The Scarlet Devil Mansion had helped him unlock the Universal Market. A few berries were a small price.
"Thank you, Onii-chan~!" Flandre beamed, ignoring her sister's darkened face. "You're way better than Big Sis! Can I run away and live at your house?"
Four Flandres surrounded Leo.
"Onii-chan~" "Onii-chan~" "Giegie~~"
Leo's heart melted. It was a dimensional strike against a lonely only child. He wanted to adopt her right now.
Flandre Scarlet Race: Vampire Ability: Destruction of Anything Occupation: Second Mistress of SDM Residence: Scarlet Devil Mansion Unlock Condition: Destroy any item 100 times. (100/100)
Leo had chopped thousands of trees. He met the condition ages ago.
He was about to kneel and propose (an invitation) when Remilia snapped.
"FLANDRE! I can't control you anymore, can I?! Today, I'll show you what it means for an Elder Sister to be like a Mother!"
Remilia lunged. She grabbed one Flandre and began to pinch her cheeks violently.
"Stinky Big Sis! Let me go!"
The majestic tea party dissolved into a wrestling match.
However, it was 4 vs 1. Flandre had the advantage.
"Uh... I'm leaving now," Leo whispered to Sakuya. He handed her the strawberries for Meiling and Patchouli.
Sakuya smiled her "Auntie Smile."
Leo fled.
On the way to the Kappa Office, he saw the chaos.
Kaguya (carrying Mokou) was RPG-questing. Wakasagihime (carried by Fairies) was salted fish.
"So, how is it?"
Yukari stepped out of a Gap, smiling elegantly as if she hadn't been tied up like a dumpling this morning. "The atmosphere of Gensokyo is pretty lively, isn't it?"
"It's quite good," Leo nodded. "Twenty-Strawberry."
Yukari's smile froze.
"If you call me that again, I'll kill you. You don't want to end up like Aya, do you?"
Inside the Gap, a muffled Mmph! echoed. Aya was trussed up in a sack.
"Okay," Leo smirked, feeling brave. "Miss Tender and Juicy Corn."
Yukari paused.
"Hmph. I'll let you off this once. Since you said 'Tender and Juicy'."
???
Leo blinked. Is her obsession with age that severe? Even agricultural terms make her happy?
"Where are Eirin and Yuuka?"
"Inspecting your crops," Yukari said, floating uphill on her Gap. Leo huffed and puffed, climbing the stairs manually.
He glanced at her. She looked away, whistling.
Petty Sage.
At the Kappa Office, Leo retrieved his Steel Axe and Steel Pickaxe.
"Need a lift to the Secret Forest?" Yukari offered.
"No thanks," Leo said stubbornly. "I have my pride. I will walk!"
"Tsk. Little Brother has a temper."
Zip.
A Gap opened under Leo's feet.
"AHHHH!"
Yukari closed the Gap, smiling. She returned to the farm to pet the fox. No one wins against the Sage.
Entrance to the Secret Forest.
Thump.
Leo fell from the sky onto the grass.
Cirno, who was trying to climb over the hardwood log barrier, was startled. She fell out of the tree.
Crash.
She landed squarely on Leo's stomach.
"Oof! My back!"
Luckily, she was light. If it had been Marisa, Leo would be dead.
"Are you okay?"
Daiyousei picked Cirno up and offered a hand to Leo. Her concern was genuine.
"I'm fine," Leo groaned, taking her hand. "Just got played by that Old Corn."
He looked at the massive Hardwood Log blocking the path.
He hefted his new Steel Axe.
It's chopping time.