Silently standing in front of a closed door that could remain like that for a long time, someone was considering their options and observing it, thinking about whether to open it or not. They were not used to this type of situation but bracing themselves, they did so and stepped inside the room.

???: ...

The lack of light in the room completely left the person in the dark, not like it changed the result. The one standing in the doorway was a woman with a powerful gaze, whenever she wanted to be threatening. One of the details were the many tails following her, moving with the flow of the air. Her hands held together and hidden under the long sleeves of her outfit, she stepped further into the room and spoke up.

???: Lady Yakumo.

She called with a stern voice. Some movements were heard and then nothing for a moment. The woman standing turned around and saw the person she called now in the doorway, pretending that she was never in the room to begin with.

???: What is it Ran?

The second woman asked, supporting her left arm with the extravagant umbrella that she is often seen carrying around. Ran, who took a second to process the question, prepared herself and replied.

Ran: We need to talk about something.

???: Do tell, I'm curious to know what is so important to you-

Ran: Lady Yukari, it's about Reimu Hakurei, we might have an emergency.

Immediately, the lady with a purple dress stopped dead in her track and silently stared into the void. Putting the gears together, she swiftly made a motion with her hand, telling Ran to leave the room with her, a conversation needed.

Yukari: Tell all the details.

Ran: Understood.

...

...

Y/N: Well, that's not good.

He mumbled to himself when a wave of dread overcame him, the feeling that a target has been placed on its back. He knew that feeling and instinctively turned to the door that has yet to open ever since Koishi left. Still, nothing came out of it and he was on his own.

Y/N: ...

Something was definitely going on, the youkai who promised to come back was still missing after many hours. He wanted to toss aside that worry but it was growing like a cancer, he started to think that she got killed on the way back by something powerful. Tapping the ground lightly, he counted the minutes but felt no relief in doing so.

Y/N's mind: It's probably nothing, I hope.

Going outside was suicidal, that witch was still alive and could be waiting for him to leave. He couldn't take the risk of stepping outside when he had the advantage inside the library. Waiting was the only thing he could do... at least the more logical action to take.

...But gone for hours? What was she bringing back that would take such a long time? Is she planning to bring people to murder him, betray him like many others who feigned innocence? She was one that was unstable to begin with, maybe she finally got bored of him and abandoned him or-

*Dong* *Dong* *Dong*

???: Intruders detected inside the library. Koishi Komeiji, proceed with caution.

Y/N: !

Turning his head to the entrance, he recognized the small person entering the library. She was looking back at him but not with a smile, she was blankly staring at him with a devastated look. Confused, he welcomed her and asked her what was wrong.

Koishi: I...

Looking down at her feet, she fell back to her silent state. Sensing the knot inside her mind, the librarian kneeled to be at her height and looked into her stare with his own pair of eyes, deprived from sleep. They were both afflicted by something different but maybe that was the only reason the both of them were able to connect so easily.

Y/N: What happened?

Koishi: I could hear people... hear things.

Y/N: ...Like what?

Koishi: Am I creepy?

She asked the man and he was taken aback for a moment. However, he still had to answer her question or else it would make her mood drop drastically. Picking the right words to use, he glanced back at her gloomy face.

Y/N: On a normal viewpoint, a little girl constantly smiling with not an ounce of happiness in that smile is creepy. However, I can say the opposite, it's all up to someone's point of view.

Seeing her lack of response to his reply, he frowned a little.

Y/N: You heard people speak behind your back, right?

Koishi: I tried to ignore them, they don't acknowledge me or they talk behind my back. They were talking about the fight that happened.

Y/N: Oh... I see.

Remembering the way he ordered the monsters living there, it was bound to happen that some rumors would emerge after they see her pick a fight with a random outsider. Whatever they said was enough for her to return in that state.

Y/N: Don't heed their words, it's all I can say unfortunately.

Koishi: Did it happen to you?

Y/N: Well...

He wanted to tell her the answer but he was bumping into a large wall. He could easily search inside his mind to recover the memories of after he woke up in the library for the first time but he couldn't go past that point for some reason. No matter how many times he tried, he was stuck there and unable to remember anything else.

Y/N: I... don't know.

Sometimes, useless dreams would appear in his head but their importance was close to none and so they vanished soon after. During that fight with the witch, he remember comparing her attacks to a magical girl he knew... but he doesn't remember ever seeing said magical girl, was he only imagining himself that information?

Y/N: I can't confirm nor deny that it happened. All I know is that if you react to those murmurs, they will only become worse.

Koishi: Okay...

Y/N: Come on now, it's all past you, show your smile.

He asked while placing both his hands on her cheeks. Slightly shocked, she forced one on her face and the one holding her head flashed her a quick smile as well. Even through the mist of delusions and exhaustion, he gave a look of kindness once more.

Y/N: So, what did you wanted to bring back?

He finally asked the girl once he stood up and her eyes widened.

Koishi: I forgot... sorry.

Y/N: What were you doing for a couple of hours then?

Koishi: Wandering around, trying to remember if I forgot something.

Y/N: Yea, sounds just like you.

He dropped his response with a single bead of sweat going down his face, not expecting anything grandiose to begin with. He was a little curious to know what she would have brought but it was enough for him.

Koishi: Are we going to wait for people to enter the library now?

Y/N: Well, not much of a choice, unless you want to bring them here by force.

Koishi: Great idea, give me a moment!

Y/N: I was joking. Hey, wait!

Seeing the girl running to the door with a proud smile, he chased after her in an attempt to dissuade her from doing so. Clearly not listening she was laughing and running to the exit with excited steps.

...For once, someone actually cared about her beside the ones she was living with. Seeing the librarian yell at her with worry made the smile plastered on her face feel less forced.

Y/N: Huh, did something happen?

He asked when he noticed the genuine smile on her face. He stopped in his track and saw her stare back at him. Hiding her hands behind her back, she turned to face him and tilted her head to the side. Demonstrating an expression that could be described as rare as pure diamonds, her eyes lit up for a moment.

Koishi: Thank you mister Y/N.

Y/N: Thank... me? Come on, no need to thank me, I'm just a librarian, I simply gave you the small motivation that you had from the start deep in your heart.

Koishi: If you say so.

She chuckled while speaking those words, a chuckle that was not left unnoticed by the man who comforted her. Not sure what to say to that smile and look that was for once filled with life, he decided that saying nothing else was the best decision and replied with a smile too, albeit less powerful due to tiredness.

Y/N: So, about what I said-

Koishi: I'm not going to do it, don't worry!

Y/N: Phew, you scared me for a moment.

Sighing in relief, he placed his left hand against his outfit and took a deep breath. The Satori with its 3rd eye closed saw his expression and leaned closer.

Koishi: Were you worried about me mister Y/N? I thought you didn't trust anyone.

Y/N: Well, that's a lie and a half if I've ever heard one, I did give my trust to many people.

Koishi: Right, your friends. Then what about me?

Y/N: ...

Impatiently waiting for him to say something, she stepped closer and tried her best to stay on her feet. Seeing her excitement, the one burdened by many sorrows allowed himself to forget about those memories for a moment.

Y/N: ...After everything you did to help me, I trust you.

Koishi: Yea, mister Y/N trusts me!

Y/N: ...

He silently took a hold of the painful memories and allowed them back inside his head once he was done. He could not forget about those who died due to his selfishness, it would be the most disrespectful thing to do now.

...And so, what if he fails another time, who will die due to his error? The only one that could take the bullet was the youkai standing in front of him. He placed his trust in the ones that were trapped with him inside the library and they all perished, the cycle continued with her now.

Y/N's mind: No, I'm closer to my goal, I can't think about that.

He made many enemies and many enemies will be formed in the future, he knew it. However, once his task forcing him to do the immoral action of taking the life of others is over, maybe the rest that he didn't want to take from fear of getting killed by someone would arrive. To land in a bed and close his eyes, to fall into a dream where he won't have any nightmares for once.

Koishi: Mister Y/N? You look more tired than before.

Y/N: Well, I haven't slept in forever, of course I'm tired.

Laughing at her question, he gave her a pat on the head, on top of her hat. Puffing her cheeks slightly, she looked away and tried to ignore him doing so.

Y/N: Now, to return to the plan, it's rather simple. Since the library sends invitations to people who are looking for knowledge, we are bound to receive someone here if we wait long enough.

Koishi: Then we defeat them!

Y/N: Well, I would like to do it myself, since it's my sole purpose but in the end, I can't really stop you.

Koishi: Nope.

She confirmed his doubts with a wide smile. He didn't want her to fight but it's not like he can do much about it, she had the advantage on him when it comes to that. After seeing him fight so many times, a little help wouldn't hurt so much.

Y/N: *Sigh* Remember that the guests I receive are nothing to overlook, they'll gladly chop your head off if they have the chance to do so.

Koishi: Speaking of that, why do they want to kill you? Can't they just defeat you and then take the books?

Y/N: ...I was confused too at first, I simply assumed that it was greed. In the end, all who entered the library as a "guest" becomes fixated on the books and doesn't mind killing the ones in their way.

Koishi: So...

Y/N: It's the library's doing, it wants the guests to kill the librarians.

Koishi: Why would it do that?!

Y/N: A weak librarian does not deserve life if I have to take a guess, the future guests could use them as an advantage and thus this place assures that the defeated librarians are killed.

Koishi: But I defeated you and you're still alive.

Y/N: Did you get invited by the library?

Koishi: ...No, I just walked inside.

Y/N: I assume that's the reason, or you simply forgot about it. All the guests so far have come here with the invitation that it sends.

Koishi: So, if I had an invitation, I would have killed you?

Y/N: Well, that's how it works, the library doesn't reward thieves. It's either you kill or you die trying.

Waving his hand to dismiss the subject, he grabbed a random book near him and looked at the cover without a specific goal. Holding it with one hand, he was thinking of the future enemies that he will encounter.

...Many are looking for knowledge that they do not possess, which one will come first to challenge the single librarian remaining inside?

Koishi: Also, can I ask you something else?

Y/N: Go ahead.

Koishi: If you get killed by someone, what will happen to the library?

Y/N: ...I don't know but I have my own theory.

Turning around to face the girl, he tossed the book that he was holding to her and she grabbed it instinctively. Not paying attention to the cover, she watched the man rise his left hand to point at the ceiling.

Y/N: Since the library is unable to be accessed without the presence of a librarian inside or interacting with the door, if the last librarian were to perish, so would this place. It would remain locked and never reachable again.

Koishi: Then nobody would enter.

Y/N: I guess that's the point. You shouldn't look into knowledge that you don't need to know. By closing it permanently, it would also stop people from peeking into things that they normally wouldn't look for.

He was as confused about the whole ordeal as her. From his point of view, he woke up here with many other people and fought for a reason that they couldn't understand until each one of them died while doing so.

Y/N: But, if it happens, I want you to hold onto this.

He said with a serious voice, pointing the book that she was holding. Curious, she finally peeked at the title and saw Y/N's name on it, it was his book containing everything about him. She looked back to the man.

Koishi: Why this?

Y/N: Why? Because I trust you of course.

He answered with honesty. The bags under his eyes seemed to lighten for a moment but quickly returned. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he continued.

Y/N: ...I could even say that you're the only friend I ever made outside of this library.

Koishi: ...

Staring at the lifeless floor below them, the lone librarian whispered the second part, hesitating. Yes, he trusted her but maybe she didn't consider him a friend, maybe he was only entertainment to her and he would be tossed aside once she gets bored.

Y/N: I just... now that I trust someone, I don't want to be forgotten once I pass away, I want someone to remember-

Koishi: I will defend this book with my life!

She exclaimed with a frown, showing him how earnest she was saying those words, Thightly holding the gift she received from him, she broke his assumptions immediately.

Koishi: Because... that's the first time I received a gift from a friend.

Y/N: I'm glad you like it then, I'm happy to hear that.

Gently smiling at her, his doubts vanished like clouds in the sky. Now, the sunlight could finally reach his mind and appease his paranoia, even for a little while. He was the cause of many people's death but it did not make him heartless, it made him even more heartbroken instead. Seeing someone smiling at him genuinely left him with a bit of happiness.

...Unfortunately, he knew that guests would not allow him to cherish that scene for long. Reimu Hakurei, her downfall will be his, he could feel it down to his being. It will only end badly, with nothing that he could do about it.

...

...

???: This place is a lot quieter than before.

Somewhere in the distance, a person could be seen standing in front of one of the many shrines inside the world of illusions known as Gensokyo. The silence was a little odd and even felt out of place. The one noticing that detail pushed it aside for now and focused on her duty right now. Walking to the door, she cleared her voice and wildly swung the door open.

???: Reimu, are you still slacking-

However, nobody was there, it was completely empty. The only thing that gave the scene a bit of life was a cup filled with a slightly darkened liquid. Allowing herself to enter, she kneeled near the small table and dipped one of her fingers inside the drink, testing if it was cold or not.

???: Cold... did she leave somewhere?

The woman mumbled to herself but remembered the usual attitude of the lazy shrine maiden. With nothing to do, she would have no reason to go anywhere, or even waste her drink. Something must have happened but she had no idea what exactly. With no clues to assist her, she tried to think about a solution and came up with one that would be logical.

???: Maybe Marisa knows something about this.

Stepping outside of the shrine, the one left with many questions flew into the distance in the search of the witch, hoping to obtain some light on the situation. Something tells her that Reimu didn't leave just because she felt like it, that would be out of character and she knew it.