/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44514866

Mamizou sighed, her eyes narrowing. “I’m curious. Let’s just say the time has come for you to take over. How do you picture that going?” I thought about it. I always knew that I was going to take over, even as a little girl. But back then it seemed so far away then I never worried about it. But now, knowing more about my mother’s nature, I couldn’t imagine her retiring peacefully. No matter how much she bitched about her duties, would she really just accept the quiet life of maintaining the shrine while I dealt with all the problems? Would she be okay with the life of the Great Reimu Hakurei being well behind her? If she resisted there was no way I could beat her, even at her age.

“I”…. I manage to stammer out. I couldn’t tell her what I was thinking. I couldn’t admit my weakness to someone who would use it.

“I think I see the issue here” Mamizou said “Are you too scared of her that the thought of stepping out of her shadow near occurred to you?” She jabbed her pipe in my direction. I wanted to protest, but I just couldn’t find the words “Listen” she continued “You’re going to have to replace her someday. You must have known this. You can’t keep denying your purpose just because you don’t want to face up to her. I ain’t saying it’s gonna be easy, but you have to deal with it. Could this year, or ten years from now, but you can’t hide from it” She shakes her head and her expression softens.

“That’s enough nagging for today. This old lady is gonna head off now. I’m sure you’ll figure out what to do with your life, you already did good by separating from her, you just gather the courage to go all the way. When the time comes for the next Hakurei Shrine Maiden comes, I just hope you’re ready” Mamizou walked off to the temple, I could have flown back to the village, but I felt like walking instead to gather my thoughts. Was I really that scared of my mother that I’d rather hide away and hope I never had to deal with her again? Even if I did, how could I replace her? She’d battled so many powerful beings, being involved in so many incidents. Could I really fulfill her duties like this. The truth was no. Not at all. But if there was one good thing about being her daughter, it meant I might have had her potential. All I had to do was draw it out.