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[X] Make up an excuse and head for the kitchen. You need to get away.

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What could possibly go wrong? It wouldn't be too bad if Chen started hallucinating and jumping around the room like crazy. He might even have a chance to see her cast spell cards at imaginary opponents in the room. Perfect for dinner and a show. Or perhaps the mushrooms would alter her perception and hormones. It might be nice to watch her struggle in discomfort until she snuggles up to the closest warm body she can find - namely himself. Maybe when the others arrive, they'll want to join in the fun too. Alternatively, the mushrooms might just make her sick. Nursing the cute little cat girl back to health sounds quite appealing, for some reason. Maybe she would begin to think of him as a real big brother then.

Grimnr shakes his head. No. He can't let Chen have even one bite of these mushrooms. That would be dangerous. That would be irresponsible. That would be downright idiotic. He has absolutely no idea what they do, and Marisa is in no condition to explain what they are for. It simply won't do to even consider such an option.

"Er, Chen?" he manages. "Are you hungry?"

The little nekomata nods vigorously before returning to her sniffing. She seems to be enjoying the aroma of the mushrooms quite a bit. Grimnr himself didn't smell anything especially good about them; maybe her sense of smell is like that of a cat?

"Then why don't we get you something from the kitchen? Maybe we can find you something nice."

Chen's eyes light up at the suggestion.

"I want a sweet bun!" she cries. "Big sis Yuyu~ always has great sweet buns!"

He pats her gently on the head in an attempt to calm her down. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but it did get her attention off the mushrooms. Still, his nervousness only increases. For some reason, he has a really bad feeling about the sweet buns.

"W-well then, why don't we see what's cooking?" he suggests.

Before he can say anything more, Chen grabs his hand and practically drags him out of the dining room. Half-running and half-tripping, Grimnr finds himself in the kitchen before he can get himself oriented. He rubs his head as he waits for his vision to clear.

"Is this the magician you were talking about?" says a blue-white blur on the left.

"Yep, that's him. Funny-looking fellow, isn't he?" replies a taller blur that could only be Komachi.

"Oh. I thought it might have been Vincent," comments a slightly disappointed voice from the back.

"Now that's why I told you to be nice to the man," the blue-white says. "He might just run off with someone else, and I know that I wouldn't turn him down~"

"L-Lady Yuyuko!" cries the voice from the back.

"Quit teasing her, you scheming ghost princess. The guy isn't that special. He's just a little bit different from the others." Komachi says.

"Ara? But didn't you say earlier that he was pretty cool when he protected Chen? Perhaps the lazy shinigami is scheming as well, I wonder~ I wonder~" says the blue-white.

"Stop listening only when it's convenient! A-and don't mind what I said! Don't mind! Don't mind!" argues Komachi.

Grimnr pauses. He heard a saying about this in the past - something that went like, "Wherever there are three women, it is noisy." He feels a bit guilty to overhear such a conversation.Somehow, he feels like he shouldn't hear any of this, even if the discussion doesn't seem to be about him.

Chen lets go of his hand and runs toward the blue-white blur. She seems to be excited.

After a few more moments, his vision returns to normal. He looks around. They all seem to be in a large kitchen, not unlike those in restaurants and hotels. Surely, such a large mansion is well-equipped for large parties and other events. There are several different cooking implements hanging on the walls, as if in display. He then notices that the owners of the three voices seem to be preparing dishes at different sides of the room.

To the left, a kimono-clad woman of otherworldly beauty cheerfully stirs a soup pot, adding a few ingredients every now and then. The childlike expression in her deep maroon eyes goes well with her antics. Dressed lavishly in a blue and white kimono, this must be Yuyuko Saigyouji, the Ghost Princess of Hakugyokurou. Chen is chatting with her animatedly.

To the right, a familiar girl seems to be stir-frying something. Wait, did she just add something like a snake into the pan? Her red eyes are full of focus as she concentrates on her cooking. For some reason, the look doesn't suit her. With her trademark scythe lying against the counter nearby, this is definitely Komachi, the shinigami from Sanzu River.

Somewhere toward the back, another girl is multi-tasking as she runs back and forth between three different counters. The speed at which she moves is incredible - she is but a blur in his eyes. As the silver-haired girl pauses to wipe her forehead, he manages to get a closer look. She wears a neatly pressed green and white dress of an Eastern design, yet that is not what catches his attention. A large ghostly wisp hovers beside her as she hurries with her work.

"Umm..."

[ ] Talk to Yuyuko Saigyouji and Chen.
[ ] Have a chat with Komachi.
[ ] Approach the silver-haired girl.
[ ] Don't talk to anyone. Head back to the dining room.

Optional:
[ ] Specify topic of discussion.