I walked along the dirt path, feeling the ch of gravel beh my feet. I could've flown, but I wao take my time a a feel for the pce. Besides, s above a vilge like some youkai would definitely draw unwatention. Maybe I already got the attention, when the first time I came here.

  As I approached the entrance of Human vilge, I noticed a guard standing watch, his posture rexed but his eyes alert. He was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard and a spear resting casually at his side.

  "Excuse me," I called out, giving a friendly wave.

  The guard turo me, his eyes widening slightly. "You... you're that magi, aren't you? The one from the neer!"

  I blinked, surprised. "You heard about me?"

  He nodded, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "Yeah, the Tengu's paper had quite the article. 'Mysterious Magi from Outside the Vilge,' it said. And that outfit... you're hard to miss."

  I ughed, scratg the bay head. "I guess I did stand out a bit." I cleared my throat, adopting a more serious tone. "I'm looking for Keine Kamishirasawa. Do you know where I find her?"

  The guard's gaze sharpened. "What do you want with Miss Keine?"

  "I just o ask her about setting up a food stall he vilge," I expined, keeping my tone casual. "For a friend."

  He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if trying to see through me. "Are you... a youkai?"

  I shook my head, my voice steady. "Nope. I'm human. Just a traveling magi."

  The guard looked at me from head to feet. His shoulders rexed slightly. "You don't seem like you're lying..." He sighed, leaning on his spear. "Alright. Keine-sama's school isn't far from here. It's at the end of this road, he school. Her school has a red roof and a small garden out front. You 't miss it."

  I gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

  The guard grunted, waving me off. "Just don't cause any trouble. Keine-sama already got her hands full with the kids today."

  I urning to walk through the vilge gates. As I entered, I couldn't help but notice the curious stares from the vilgers. It wasn't like that when I first arrived here. Aya should be responsible for this.

  Some whispered to each other, clearly reizing me from the neer. Others just looked at my magi's outfit with fusion.

  I smiled and gave a friendly wave to a few children who were pointing at me excitedly. It seemed word traveled fast in Gensokyo.

  Following the guard's dires, I walked through the vilge, taking in the sights and sounds. It was lively and weling, not at all what I expected from a pce surrounded by youkai. After that I reach the house where Keine is.

  I stood outside the school, watg through the open window as Keine Kamishirasawa taught a group of children. Her voice was firm yet gentle, her presenanding respect.

  To my surprise, two familiar faces were among them—o and Rumia. They sat at the back, to copy something from Rumia's paper while Rumia was drawing... something that looked suspiciously like food.

  I couldn't help but chuckle. "What are they doing here...?" I murmured to myself. But then I remembered. Mystia once mentiohat Keiaught both human and youkai children. A teacher respected by all... so this is who Mystia was afraid of?

  Before I could tinue my thoughts, Keine looked up and her eyes met mine. Her gaze was sharp, observant. I felt a chill run down my spine, like she could see right through me.

  She said something to the children, and they immediately began chatting and pying amongst themselves. She then walked towards me, her steps steady and deliberate. As she approached, I could feel an aura of authority surrounding her.

  "So," she began, her voice calm but firm, "you're the one lurking outside my ."

  I quickly straightened myself, giving a nervous smile. "Ah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to interrupt your lesson."

  She crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Who are you?"

  I hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm Mirage Carl. I came to see you about getting a permit to set up a food stall he vilge."

  Keine raised an eyebrow, her eyes never leaving mine. "A food stall? And who's it for?"

  "For a friend," I expined, choosing my words carefully. "She wants to sell grilled mprey he vilge."

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Grilled mprey... you mean Mystia Lorelei, don't you?"

  I flinched. "Y-You know her?"

  Keine's gaze hardened. "Of course, I do. She's notorious for causing trouble with her singing, fusing travelers at night."

  I could feel the tension in her voice. It was clear she didn't trust Mystia. I took a deep breath, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "I uand your . But Mystia... she just wants to sell food, nothing more. I'll make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."

  Keiared at me, her eyes pierg. It felt like she was reading my very soul. "Why are you helping a youkai?"

  I paused, choosing my words carefully. "She's... my friend. She's been kind to me, and I want to help her achieve her dream."

  Her expression softened just a bit, her arms l. "You're... an iing human. Not many would befriend a youkai, let alone help one."

  Before I could respond, a familiar voice shouted, "Oi! Mirage!"

  I looked over to see o wavihusiastically. "What're you doing here? You y?"

  Rumia's eyes lit up. "Are you here for lunch?"

  Keine sighed, ping the bridge of her nose. "You two... don't bother uest."

  o grinned, unfazed. "But teacher, Mirage is fun! He showed me this cool trick st time!"

  Keine gnced back at me, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "A magi, huh?"

  I scratched the bay head. "Yeah... something like that."

  I stood there, feeling the weight of Keine's gaze on me as she looked me over. Her eyes were sharp, and her pave off the impression that she was always in trol. After a long pause, she finally nodded, but then she seemed to hesitate, as though a thought was swirling in her mind.

  " I ask you something?" she said, her voice calm but curious.

  I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

  Keiook a moment to gather her thoughts. She looked at the children briefly, some still pying while others were returning to their seats. Then, she turned bae, her expression thoughtful.

  " you... make the children ied in my lesson?" she asked, a touch of hesitation in her voice. "I know it sounds odd, but I've been having trouble keeping their attention. They find my lessons b."

  I blinked, surprised by her hoy. It wasn't every day someone admitted to something like that. "Why do you think they're bored?" I asked, genuinely curious.

  She sighed, looking a little defeated. "I teach them the importance of history, culture... things that are essential for their future. But it seems like they just don't care. My methods might be a little too dull for them." She gave a small shrug. "I've tried everything, but nothing works. So, I thought... maybe you, as a stranger, could do something that I 't."

  I thought for a moment, then replied, "I'd be happy to help. But first, I want to see how you teach. Maybe I'll uand what's missing."

  Keine smiled faintly, relieved. "Alright then, please watch my css."

  I nodded, and she turned back to the children, signaling that css was beginning again. The children slowly gathered around her, sitting quietly as she began her lesson.

  It didn't take long for me to notice the restlessness in the air. o, in the back, was already muttering under her breath.

  "I don't like lessons," o grumbled, crossing her arms and sloug in her seat.

  Rumia, oher hand, had a different agenda. She was sneaking food from one of the other children, quietly grabbing a piece of rice from a nearby bowl. It didn't take long before she was caught.

  "Rumia," Keine's voice rang out, sharp and direct. "What do we say about stealing?"

  Rumia froze, looking sheepish as she pulled the rice back from her mouth. "Sorry..."

  "And o," Keine tinued, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned her attention to the ice fairy, "Why don't you try paying attention instead of pining?"

  o grumbled but didn't argue. "Fine, fine, I'm listening."

  Keine sighed, looking exhausted but resolute. "I'm not asking for perfect behavior, but please, at least respect the lesson. You're here to learn."

  She turned back to the board, tinuing her lesson, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. Her voice was firm, but there was an underlying weario it. Despite her authority, the children's ck of i clearly weighed on her.

  The minutes dragged on as I sat there, trying my best to stay focused, but the monotony of Keine's lesson was beginning to get to me. I noticed the other children fidgeting in their seats, some staring off into space, others yawning or barely keeping their eyes open. Even o, the loud, eic fairy, was using the book to cover her face, her hands moving a small toy that I had given her before.

  Rumia, meanwhile, was supposed to be listening, but it was clear she had fallen asleep, her head tilted to one side as she rested against her desk. The se in front of me was almost ical, but it also made me feel a bit guilty for being so bored.

  Keine, however, seemed pletely oblivious. She tio lecture, her voice steady and calm, but her audiehough teically still present—was somewhere far away, lost in their own worlds.

  After about half an hour of this, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up quietly, causing Keio gnce over in surprise.

  "Did you find something you didn't like?" she asked, her voice tinged with .

  I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to phrase it. Finally, I decided to tell her the truth.

  "Holy... your lesson is... a little b," I admitted, giving her an apologetic look. "I know you're trying your best, but I think the kids just aren't ehey're falling asleep, pying with toys, and they're not really focused."

  Keine blinked, clearly disappointed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I see," she muttered, looking down at the floor. "I thought maybe I was doing something right, but... I guess I was wrong."

  I could see how hard she was trying, and I didn't wao give up just because the lesson wasn't going as pnned. So, I decided to offer a suggestion.

  "I think you just o spice things up a bit," I said, stepping forward. "How about I show them a trick? Something fun, something ued?"

  Keine raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but willing to give it a try. "A trick? How do you think that will help?"

  I smiled, taking out a few props from my bag. "Just trust me. Sometimes a little surprise is all it takes to get people ied again."

  Without waiting for her response, I began to set up my tri front of the css. The children, seeing me move around and prepare something different, began to look up, their attention now piqued. o sat up straight, her toy fotten, and even Rumia stirred from her nap.

  Keiched quietly, still unsure, but intrigued.

  I looked at the children, then at Keine, and winked. "Alright, everyone. Watch closely."

  With a few quick gestures and a fliy hand, I performed a simple sleight of hand trick—making a appear and disappear from my palm in a series of smooth movements. The children's eyes widened in surprise, their curiosity now fully captured. Even o leaned forward, eager to see what would happe.

  "How did you do that?!" a little boy gasped, his eyes sparkling.

  I grinned. "A magi never reveals his secrets." Then, I pulled out a colorful scarf from my sleeve and made it ge colors in the air. The children gasped again, their excitement growing.

  Keine was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. But as I turo look at her, I saw a faint smile tugging at the er of her lips. I didn't know if she was impressed by the trick itself, or if it was just the fact that the children were actually paying attention now, but she didn't seem as disappointed as she had before.

  "See?" I said, turning back to the kids. "History doesn't have to be b. It be as surprising and fun as magic."

  Some children jumped up, g their hands, askio teach them.

  Keiill watg the children's newfouhusiasm, finally spoke up. "I... I think I uand now," she said slowly. "Maybe I've been too focused on facts aures. I should be more... flexible, right?"

  I nodded, pleased with the shift ititude. "Exactly. Kids lear when they're having fun, and if they're ehey'll remember the lessoer."

  Keine looked at the children, who were now actively participating, asking questions and engaging with the material. She sighed with a small smile. "Thank you for that. I hought to approach it like that."

  "It's no problem," I said, grinning. "Just trying to help."