We finally made it outside, and the cool air brushed against my skin as Fndre eagerly turo me. "I want to py danmaku!" she decred, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  I blinked in fusion, unsure of what she meant. "Danmaku? What's that?"

  Sakuya, always ready to expin, stepped in with a calm tone. "Danmaku is a game, or rather, a battle style, where you dodge or shoot colored bullets. It's a test of reflexes and pattern reition. Some people call it a form of bat, but others see it as a game. There are many different types of danmaku, from simple to plex patterns. The aim is to avoid the bullets or fire your own to defeat your oppo."

  Sakuya tinued expining the rules in more detail, like how the bullet patterns could be simple finners or more plex for those with advanced skill, and horactitioner has their own style of attack. "Yoal is to dodge your oppo's bullets while trying to create patterns of your own that are difficult to dodge."

  Once Sakuya finished expining, Fndre spun around to face me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Big brother, I'm going to teach you how to use spell cards!" she announced, her wings fluttering eagerly. Her childish smile was iious, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and worry.

  I blinked, fused. "Spell cards?"

  Sakuya expin again, "Spell cards are a form of danmaku, but they're more structured. They're like special moves with uterns and effects. Each card has a name and a set of rules. They're a way to show off your power without causing serious harm." Sakuya paused, then added, "It's a tradition here in Gensokyo."

  Fndre's eyes sparkled as she cpped her hands. "I'll show you mine! Watch carefully, big brother!" Without waiting for my response, she floated up into the sky, her wings shimmering uhe sunlight.

  I followed her, my heart pounding as I hovered across from her. The air felt electric, charged with Fndre's overwhelming energy. I knew she was strong—even terrifyingly strong. I had fought her once before and barely made it out. But seeing her childlike enthusiasm, I couldn't help but smile. She really just wao py.

  Fndre poi me, grinning widely. "Here es the first oaboo 'berry Trap'!"

  Crimson bullets filled the sky, swirling around me in intricate, spiraling patterns. They danced pyfully, creating a maze that seemed to close in on me from all sides. I tried to dodge, flying to the left, then the right, but the bullets moved with deliberate rhythm, cutting off every escape route.

  Fndre giggled, her ughter eg through the sky. "You're not gon away that easily, big brother! This one's meant to trap you like a little mouse!" Her childish voice was filled with delight as she watched me struggle.

  I barely avoided getting hit, my movements growing frantic as the bullets closed in. "This... is way harder than it looks!" I gasped, narrowly dodging a cluster of crimson spheres.

  Fndre's wings sparkled as she spun gracefully, tinuing her relentless barrage. "But you're doing good, big brother! Let's see if you hahe one!"

  I finally mao break free of the swirling maze, my heart rag as I caught my breath. But Fndre was already preparing her move. Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she held out her hand, summoning a fiery sword that crackled with energy. "Taboo 'L?vateinn'!"

  With a pyful grin, she swung the sword, sending a wave of fme-like bullets hurtling toward me. The intense heat made me flinch, and I instinctively flew backward, narrowly avoiding the first wave. But Fndre didn't stop. She twirled in the air, her movements fluid and graceful as she unleashed another fiery barrage.

  The sky was abze with her power, the bullets swirling and spiraling in hypnotic patterns. I dodged left, then right, feeling the heat of the fmes as they whizzed past me. My heart ounding, and I could feel my energy draining as I struggled to keep up.

  Fndre's ughter rang out, her childish voice filled with joy. "You're fun to py with, big brother! But you're still too slow!"

  I gritted my teeth, barely avoiding another wave of bullets. "How... are you so fast?"

  Fndre just giggled, twirling through the sky as if dang. "I've been practig for a long, long time! But you're doier than I thought!" Her face lit up with genuiement, and I realized she was really enjoying herself.

  Just as I thought I was getting the hang of it, Fndre's expression turned serious. She floated a little higher, her wings glowing with vibrant light. "Okay, big brother! Here es my stro one! Let's see if you hahis!" She took a deep breath, her voice eg with anticipation. "Taboo 'Four of a Kind'!"

  In an instant, her body shimmered, and then there were four of her. Four identical Fndres surrounded me, each with the same pyful grin and sparkling eyes. "Now you 't run away! Hehe!" they all giggled in unison, their voices overpping eerily.

  Before I could react, bullets came from every dire. The four Fndres moved in perfect harmony, weaving an intricate web of danmaku that boxed me in. Their bined patterns overpped, creating a byrinth of bullets that left me no room to breathe.

  I tried to dodge, my eyes dartiween the four Fndres as they moved in perfect synization. But no matter where I went, there was always another wave of bullets waiting for me. It was like fag an unstoppable force.

  My movements grew desperate as I tried to find a way out, but it was hopeless. The four Fndres were relentless, their childish giggles eg through the sky as they tiheir assault. I was pletely overwhelmed.

  Finally, my energy gave out, and I couldn't keep up anymore. A barrage of bullets collided with me, and I fell from the sky, crashing to the ground below. "I... I give up... You're... to..." I gasped, my vision spinning as the four Fndres merged bato one.

  Fndre floated down beside me, her expression worried. "Big brother! Are you okay? Did I py th?" Her eyes were wide with , and she reached out her hand to help me up.

  I took her hand, smiling weakly. "I'm okay... I just didn't know you were this powerful..."

  Fndre's face lit up with pride, her wings fluttering happily. "Of course! I'm Fndre Scarlet! I'm really, really strong!" She giggled, her childish innoce shining through despite her overwhelming power. "But I'm gd you pyed with me, big brother. It was fun!"

  I couldn't help but ugh, despite my exhaustion. "Yeah... It was fun... even though you pletely destroyed me..."

  We walked back to the mansion, where Remilia and Patchouli were leisurely drinking tea in the garden. Sakuya stood beside Remilia, her watchful eyes never leaving her mistress. Hong Meiling was back at her post, standing guard at the gate once more.

  Remilia looked up as roached, a smirk on her lips. "So, did my little sister py h you?"

  I gave a tired ugh, gng at Fndre, who was smiling ily. "Yeah... She taught me a lot..."

  Patchouli took a sip of her tea, her eyes flig toward Fndre. "It seems she's taken quite a liking to you."

  Fndre beamed, hugging my arm tightly. "Big brother's fun to py with!"

  Then I smile at Fndre, but who knows what Remilia said ged everything.