"Hey, Mokou, what is Teacher Keine doing?" It was nearly class time at the Terakoya, and Kamishirasawa Keine still hadn't arrived. Kars approached Fujiwara no Mokou, who was temporarily watching the students, to ask about the situation. Keine had apparently gone to retrieve materials for the class, but Kars didn't know what they were.
"I don't know either." Mokou hadn't inquired about it. She was just called in to watch the students and make sure that disruptive kids like Cirno didn't cause trouble.
"But she probably found another suitable person to teach, otherwise Keine wouldn't be acting this way. If it were her own lesson, she would prepare the materials at her house, not run off to get something somewhere else." Mokou figured that was the case. As for who it was, she couldn't imagine. After all, Keine had even brought in a Kappa to teach; she was out of ideas as to who else Keine could recruit.
Just as Mokou was thinking, she sensed someone at the door. When she looked over, her expression instantly changed to one of shock. An entirely unexpected person had appeared.
"Yuuka Kazami…" Mokou had certainly not expected the Great Yokai known as the Flower Master to show up here. Keine truly had the audacity to invite anyone, and the most surprising part was that this person had actually accepted.
Everyone in the Terakoya looked toward the person standing at the door. When their eyes met Yuuka Kazami's, she narrowed her eyes and displayed a seemingly gentle smile.
"W-what is this feeling? Even I, the self-proclaimed strongest in Gensokyo, feel terrified?" Cirno instinctively felt danger upon seeing Yuuka's smile and immediately quieted down, sitting motionless in her seat.
"Were you invited by Keine to teach?" A somewhat uncertain Mokou asked Yuuka Kazami, trying to confirm the situation.
"Yes, Yuuka is here to teach a gardening class." Yuuka didn't answer; instead, Kamishirasawa Keine, who had followed her in, explained. Keine was carrying several empty flowerpots.
As Yuuka Kazami stepped into the room, her gaze swept over everyone. When her eyes lingered on Cirno, the girl instinctively tensed up, sitting still and looking down nervously. When Yuuka looked at Wriggle Nightbug, her smile grew even more pronounced, which was not a good feeling for Wriggle.
Next, she looked at Kars, who was standing by Mokou. Kars was staring intently at her. Their similarly colored eyes met.
"An interesting little fellow." Yuuka noticed the energy constantly flowing from Kars. When she perceived it, it felt quite similar to the feeling of basking in the sun in her flower field.
Noticing Kars staring fixedly at Yuuka Kazami, Kamishirasawa Keine worried that he might do what he did when they first met. Recognizing the possibility, she stepped forward and made Kars return to his seat.
The gardening class then began. After everyone received a flowerpot, Yuuka Kazami meticulously explained the planting process. She then had everyone plant a seed, before using her power to make the seed instantly sprout and grow into a beautiful sunflower. Next, she explained how to care for the plants. When she started talking about pest control, Wriggle Nightbug involuntarily trembled, especially since she could feel the insects always following her were all cowering and motionless. This course was proving to be extremely unfriendly to her…
Kars looked at the sunflower in his pot, which was facing him, and thought it was wonderful. He felt that sunflowers suited him perfectly.
As they moved on to plant care demonstrations, Yuuka Kazami walked around and observed the students. When she stood next to Wriggle, Kars couldn't understand Wriggle's frightened reaction. What was so scary? That smile when she came in seemed genuinely kind.
When Yuuka came near Cirno, she stood behind her, conjured a flower out of thin air, and placed it on the tense Cirno's head like an adornment, apparently enjoying the act.
"Um, can I call you Sister Yuuka?" When Yuuka Kazami came over to Kars, she looked at the slightly unusual boy with a soft smile after hearing his form of address. Kamishirasawa Keine immediately looked over. Considering Kars's past behavior, she felt she had to stop him before he said anything strange.
"I wanted to ask, do you like sunbathing?"
It's a normal topic?! Kamishirasawa Keine, who was about to speak, stopped. Her previous worries hadn't materialized, and she instantly felt relieved.
"Sunbathing, you say? It's something I do every day." Yuuka Kazami answered Kars's question.
"That means you like sunbathing too!" This discovery brought a look of pleasant surprise to Kars's face. Meeting someone who shared his passion was undoubtedly a joyous event for him.
Especially since this person was a mature, kind, gentle-looking older sister who loved sunbathing—all those qualities combined! Kars felt this was exactly the person he had been waiting for!
Little Auntie! I might have found the person who is meant to be!
"You seem very happy." Yuuka Kazami noticed Kars's eyes were practically glowing when he looked at her. And that wasn't just a metaphor; his eyes were literally emitting light. If he got any more excited, he might even shoot beams of light.
"Yes, because I also love sunbathing! I wake up on time every morning to soak up the newly risen sun, because I think the light is most glorious at that time."
"In the morning, you say? I prefer enjoying the afternoon sun, as the light is most comfortable then. Why do you like sunbathing?" Yuuka Kazami seemed quite interested in this topic and began discussing it with Kars, even asking why Kars enjoyed sunbathing.
"Sunbathing makes me stronger and helps me grow up faster."
Yuuka Kazami: Ծ ̮ Ծ
That really is interesting. Is this child some kind of plant yokai?