"W-what is this for? You don't give your enemy only weapon, you must be crazy or just plain stupid!" Sakuya says.

"..."

"I don't need this to kill you, you know that."

"Let's just say I'm a coward, and I'm afraid of dying painfully." Grey says.

"Don't think I won't kill you. I just can't risk anything like that happening again."

The knife disappears from her hand. She takes the gun in both hands and points it at Grey.

"I am r-r-really going to enjoy this," she says.

Her hands are shuddering violently as she struggles to aim.

"Any last requests?" she asks.

She manages a menacing grin as she finally managed to steady her arms. At this range, she can't possibly miss.

"Thank Remilia for me," Grey says.

He closes his eyes as he waits for her to shoot.

Remilia. She was always difficult to understand. Sometimes childish and sometimes crafty, she acted as if she was some grand pupeteer, pulling the strings from behind. But despite that, she believed in him from the start, even when he couldn't believe in himself. He wonders how things would have turned out if he spent more time with her. Perhaps he would learn to see through her cryptic words and find something more.

Flandre. The little sister scared him from the very beginning, and even now she still scares him. Her sheer destructive power is a natural thing to fear. But meeting her in person, he somehow feels that she is very different from the person he heard about. She still speaks and acts in an odd manner, but she is starting to understand the value of things that can't be "unbroken". Perhaps he could teach her more, if he had a chance.

Patchouli. The first person he met in the mansion. Intelligent, but a little clumsy, perhaps he can thank her for surviving his first night in Gensokyo. She showed unexpected kindness to a stranger she only met a few days ago. She even saved his life. Even if she spends most of her time in the Voile Library, he has no doubt that she would help him if he asked. Perhaps he should try to repay her kindness next time.

Koakuma. She was the most understanding and selfless. Despite her claims that it was her mistress' orders, it was obvious that she was going out of her way to help him. She trusted him when he found the most suspicious of things, and she fought by his side when it came to battle. If there was someone he could count on, even against the others, it would be her. Perhaps he shouldn't forget his promises next time.

He pauses as he realizes how long he has been reflecting on the last few days. Shouldn't he be shot yet?

He opens his eyes to see that Sakuya has lowered her arms. She is still holding the pistol in her right hand. He can't see the expression on her face clearly, but was she...

In the next moment, Sakuya vanishes. He blinks. He feels something heavy fall into his holster.

"If you don't hurry up, I'm going to leave you. It's a long way to the village, you know."

He turns around to see that Sakuya is already several yards away. She pauses and turns her face toward him, revealing a confident smile.

"We have a lot of work waiting for us back at the mansion. Don't think you can slack off just because you're an Outsider."