It was already evening, and the sky ainted with hues e and pink as the sun dipped behind the mountains. Mirage Carl wiped the sweat from his brow, stepping baire his work. He never imagihere would be such a spacious room for a ba the Hakurei Shrihe wooden flleamed, freshly ed, and the Japayle low tables were ly arranged in rows, ready for the guests.

  Just as he was about to catch his breath, Marisa burst through the door, her arms full of sake bottles that ked dangerously as she stumbled in. "Yo, Mirage! Got the goods!" she shouted, her voice eg through the shrine.

  Mirage Carl stared at the t stack of sake she carried. There were so many bottles he was amazed she could even see where she was going. "Do we really hat much?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Marisa grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Trust me. By the end of the night, oy bottles will be left!" She set the bottles down with a loud thud, wiping her hands on her skirt. "We've got heavy drinkers ing tonight. Wouldn't be a ba without enough booze to drown an oni!"

  "Oni?" Mirage Carl echoed, fused. "Are you saying actual oni are ing?"

  Marisa ughed, her shoulders shaking. "You'll see. Just try not to get yourself eaten."

  Mirage Carl gulped, unsure if she was joking. He looked around the room once more, making sure everything was in pce. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow. The st of freshly brewed tea wafted from the kit where Reimu was finishing the final preparations.

  Marisa spped him on the back, almost knog him over. "Cheer up, Mirage! This is gonna be one hell of a ba! Oh, and make sure to show off some of your tricks. I'm betting those tengu will be watg."

  Mirage Carl's eyes narrowed. He remembered Aya's visit earlier. So, she's ing after all... He couldn't help but grin. "Oh, I'll give them a show they won't fet."

  Just as Mirage Carl was about to help Marisa with the st of the preparations, a sudden realization hit him. He spped his forehead. "I fot to invite Mystia!"

  Marisa looked up from her stack of sake bottles, blinking in fusion. "Mystia? You mean that night sparrow? Wouldn't she just show up if she smelled food?"

  Mirage Carl shook his head, already moving toward the door. "I don't want to take any ces. Besides, she's my neighbor. It'd be rude not to invite her properly."

  Marisa waved him off. "Alright, but be quick about it! The guests will be here soon!"

  Without another word, Mirage Carl took off into the sky, his body gliding effortlessly through the evening air. The trees below blurred as he raced towards his treehouse, but halfway there, he remembered where Mystia was likely to be. She should be at her usual spot...

  He ged dire, flying towards the familiar grove where Mystia often sang uhe moonlight. Sure enough, he heard the faint melody of her voice carried by the wind. He followed the sound, nding softly behind a tree to see Mystia standing on a branch, her song eg beautifully through the night.

  But she wasn't alone. A small figure stood below her, listening ily. Short blonde hair, a bck dress, and a red ribbon tied in her hair. The girl turned her crimsooward him as soon as he approached. Her face brightened with curiosity. "Hey, are you human?" she asked, tilting her head. " I eat you?"

  Mirage Carl froze. Wait, what? Before he could react, Mystia swooped down, standiween them with her wings spread protectively. "Rumia! ing him! He's my friend!"

  Rumia's face fell, her expression childlike and i. "But... he looks tasty."

  Mystia puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms. "If you eat my friend, I'll never five you! And we won't be friends anymore!"

  Rumia's eyes widened, her excitement instantly repced by panio! I don't want that! I like being friends with Mystia!"

  Mirage Carl let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Thanks, Mystia... I owe you one."

  Mystia turned, smiling cheerfully. "Don't worry about it! But what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the ba?"

  He spped his forehead again. "Right! That's why I'm here! I came to invite you!"

  Mystia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A ba? At the shrihat sounds fun!"

  He grinned, feeling relieved. "Yeah, and you bring some friends if you want. Just... maybe not the maing ones." He gnervously at Rumia.

  Rumia just tilted her head again, looking as i as ever. "Ba? Is there food?"

  Mystia giggled. "There'll be plenty of food! And if you behave, you even have some!"

  Rumia's eyes lit up with joy. "Yay! I'll be good, I promise!"

  Mirage Carl couldn't help but smile.

  "Alright the's go! Marisa's waiting, and I don't want to miss the look on Reimu's face when she sees hoeople show up!" He took off into the sky once more, Mystia flying by his side and Rumia floating behind them, ughing cheerfully.

  As I flew back to the shrih Mystia and Rumia, I noticed someone unfamiliar he entrance. A small figure stood there, her posture rexed, as if she owhe pce. She was short, even shorter than Mystia, with messy blonde hair tied into twin horns that looked surprisingly real. She wore a tattered white shirt and blue skirt, looking like she walked straight out of a festival. A small gourd dangled from her waist, and she took a swig from it with a carefree grin.

  "Hey, who's that?" I asked Mystia, pointing at the little girl.

  Mystia's eyes widened. "Oh no... That's Suika Ibuki! One of the oni!"

  "Oni?" I repeated, gng back at the small figure. She looked like a child. "Are you sure? She's so... small."

  Mystia nodded seriously. "Don't be fooled by her appearance. Oni are incredibly strong. They love drinking and fighting. Be careful around her."

  As roached, Suika's eyes lit up with curiosity. She stumbled forward, clearly tipsy but moving with surprising agility. "Hey, new face!" she shouted, waving at me. "You're the magi Marisa was talking about, huh?"

  Before I could answer, she was already in front of me, looking up with a mischievous grin. "Name's Suika! You look funny. What are you, some kind of party trickster?"

  "Something like that," I replied with a smile. "Mirage Carl, at your service."

  She took another swig from her gourd, her cheeks flushing pink. "You smell weird. Did you turn into a youkai or something?" Her eyes sparkled with i. "You seem fun. Wanna wrestle?"

  I took a step back, ughing nervously. "I'll pass. I'm not that strong, you know."

  She pouted, then shrugged. "Your loss. Fighting's the best way to make friends!" She looked at Mystia and Rumia. "Oh, yht muests! This bas' gonna be wild!"

  Mystia whispered to me, "Be careful. When Suika drinks, her strength gets even more ridiculous."

  "Noted," I replied, watg as Suika skipped towards the shrine, already yelling for Reimu.

  I had a feeling this party was going to be anything but ordinary.