The dream of every idol is to set the hearts of their listeners ablaze with the burning passion of love, and indeed, ever since I finally found my stage, love has begun to blossom across Gensokyo Island. Indeed, today must be a day of love, as three happy couples decided to embark on a new stage in their romantic relationship, in the morning, afternoon, and evening respectively.
Puppy love is so cute! The only one who didn't start off a child is Mima, who has makeup caked all over her face.
Today, Desco Kazamatsuri finally found the courage to confess her feelings for Mitsukuni Haninozuka, and he accepted! It's so adorable seeing love blossom among the young ... oh, wait, I'm young too! And Honey senpai is almost eighteen years old despite looking like a little kid. But I still find it adorable. The two of them look like such sweet little honeybuns together!
Later today, Gary Oak, probably the most desirable unmarried young man on this island and responsible for breaking many a maiden's heart, decided to pop the question to his sweetheart Evil Spirit Mima. What, evil spirit??? Maybe Gary is thinking of starting a Ghost-type team? But Mima accepted and the two were happily married in an incredibly quick ceremony. Gary and Mima are now the 18th married couple (that's the 35th and 36th married islander, out of 51 currently resident) on Gensokyo Island.
Wowww! I mean, we travellers have been to lots of places and while Gensokyo Island is decent it's hardly one of the more savoury places around, with villains, demons, and mad scientists around every corner. And yet even in the dregs of the Miiverse, love can still blossom! That's the power of an idol ... er, I mean that's the power of love ... and love is an idol's power, so it all makes sense! Go, me!
And yet, that was not all which would unfold on this day of romance. Later that evening, Minamitsu Murasa finally accomplished what many others have tried and failed to do, including Okuu's Look-alike.
This is the umpteenth time this pairing has gone on a 'blind date', and the zillionth of Kanako's with any other character.
Kanako Yasaka finally found a willing guinea pig for her plans for experimentation .... I mean someone who was willing to reciprocate her love, in the form of Shanghai Margatroid, daughter of Alice Margatroid and Kyubey Incubator. I'm told that Kanako has been surreptitiously introduced to potential targets ... I mean love interests the most times of any islander on Gensokyo Island, with none willing to return her interest, until today.
In the meantime, however, I spotted Okuu's Look-alike angrily bashing her head against the wall and screaming obscenities after witnessing this joyful scene. Being both an intrepid junior reporter as well as a starlet dedicated to raising the spirits of those around me, I decided to find out more.
"How could the two of them get together! I thought their personalities were incompatible! We've done this ten times or more and they didn't get along every time!" Ugh, is Okuu's Look-alike playing a Dick Dastardly and trying to ruin love's true course? "I wanted to set her up with Suwako Moriya, dammit! My OTP ... nooo!!!!"
Kanako and Suwako really hate each other on Gensokyo Island. I wonder if that's actually true to canon.
After her temper tantrum had subsided, Okuu's Look-alike noticed me and decided to explain a few of her thoughts. "I really dislike the 'blind dating' system, it has the ability to pull two characters who have never put any effort in interacting with each other into a romantic relationship."
"So why not just tell them not to do it? Isn't that within your 'power'?" asked Yuzu. She seemed strangely prescient about the ability of Okuu's Look-alike to do things, or not do them.
"I just want to see what happens. Besides, isn't it more interesting when things don't always go the way you want them to?"
Wow, that's way too deep for me. Thinking deeply isn't one of my strengths ... my brain's already all cramped up just memorising song lyrics, the names of my fans, concert appointments, no sir. So, let's move on to someone who actually might be good at that stuff.
Today's character feature is about someone who's, well, pretty much the opposite of me in every way, including gender. I now present the profile of ... Rinnosuke Morichika, the Gensokyan Man!
Rinnosuke Morichika
All information correct as of 19 January 2015
You'll want to keep on The Man's good side.
Name: Rinnosuke Morichika
Nickname: Kourin
Date of Birth: 5th January 1996
Personality: Independent Lone Wolf
Favourite Colour: Light Blue
Quotation: "Buy at Kourindou"
Rinnosuke Morichika is the half-youkai owner of Kourindou, a shop located in Gensokyo, and first appeared in the side story series Curiosities of Lotus Asia written by Team Shanghai Alice. His primary claim to fame, apart from the fact that he is the sole named humanoid male existent in Gensokyo in the Touhou Project canon, is that he is also completely non-combatant, a stark contrast with the danmaku-happy ladies populating the fantasy land. Instead, his greatest talent is determining the uses of any artifacts he may find.
Anyone running a Gensokyo Island and seeking any sort of gender balance (as I do) would most definitely have Kourin as one of its first denizens. However, because he does not appear in the games, it may be hard for those who have never read the side stories to pin down his personality. As far as I can gather, he sort of tolerates Gensokyo's residents such as Reimu Hakurei, Marisa Kirisame and Yukari Yakumo, who enjoy bothering him on a regular basis, engaging them in friendly banter one day and trying to kick them out of his shop the next.
As such, I have imagine him as a kind of intellectual person who thinks more than he acts, and while he is intelligent he can also be snide and surly. Because of this, he has come to be regarded as the "Shadow King" of Gensokyo Island, the real brains behind the island's operation. While ZUN presents a friendly face and has a warm and genial personality, Kourin calculates, plots, holds grudges, and is quick to shoot down those who step out of line. While ZUN is forgiving and slow to anger, annoying Kourin ever so slightly will make you his enemy for life. It's no surprise that Kourin's harsh and unforgiving personality also gives him the ideal temperament for succeeding at rap battles.
A candid shot of Kourin and family. That's baby Akihiko, he's tiny isn't he?
Wife: Utsuho Reiuji
Best Friend: Overlord Laharl
Children: Unyuho Morichika, Rinko, Sora, Akihiko
The only change since Okuu's profile was written was the addition of Akihiko to the family. He was sent off to earn his own living as a traveller today, so the house has now grown quiet again. It was a blessing in disguise, as the time spent looking after him helped Kourin and Okuu to bond as a couple again - while Kourin and Okuu have nearly opposite personalities, this was the first time their relationship had ever dropped below the starting yellow mark. I wonder, does Kourin's caustic, condescending personality really complement Okuu's exuberant and aggressive nature? Maybe he is the only one who can tame her.
The choice of Overlord Laharl as a best friend is also rather unusual as Laharl's personality is nearly opposite to Kourin's as well. I can only presume that the two of them get along by bonding over practicing evil laughs, snarking about others, and complaining about there being too many girls in their respective universes.
Kourin's youngest son, Akihiko, all grown up. He looks remarkably well-adjusted.
Food Preferences:
Worst Ever: Smoothie
Okuu's Look-alike Rating - Smoothie: Love! The exact flavour matters, meaning there are some smoothies that I definitely wouldn't drink, but smoothies as a whole are one of my favourite drinks which I have at least once a week, if not more often. The only reason I could think of as to why Kourin hates smoothies would be that he thinks they are hipster food. And everyone hates hipsters.
Song Participation:
Marisa My Love: Ballad, backup singer for Marisa Fan Club
Kourin is one of the characters that Marisa is most often shipped with (both characters have a tendency to be shipped with anyone, anyway), and both of them have a common interest in collecting rare items. On Gensokyo Island, though, Marisa was leaning towards ZUN up until a certain incident which we'll discuss in her profile.
Apartment: Apt 106, formerly Apt. 107
Islander Tier Rating: Top Tier
Marisa formerly occupied Apt. 106, but she and Kourin traded places when it became pretty sure that she wasn't going for him romantically and when any chances of her hooking up with ZUN were shot down.
Kourin, much like Wriggle, is a character who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to demand it, his high level owing much to his insistance on receiving the Gensokyo Island's owner's favour. In contrast, however, he has fewer friends among the islanders - as a Lone Wolf, he tends to keep to himself rather than seek to make new friends, and only really gets to know others when they partake in the same activity like Yoga together.
Kourin is dour, grim, and at times also scathing, but it's those qualities that make him someone to watch out for on Gensokyo Island. Do you need an islander who doesn't simply stand out from the crowd, but chews them out, makes them apologise and won't take no for an answer? That's Kourin right there.
It's no exaggeration to say that in a world of danmaku, his personality is his strongest weapon.
BUNBUNMARU NEWS, 19th January 2015
Relationships and Marriage
Desco Kazamatsuri and Mitsukuni Haninozuka became sweethearts! It was DESCO who confessed her love.
Gary Oak proposed to Evil Spirit Mima today. She accepted! Congratulations to the newly married couple!
Kanako Yasaka and Shanghai Margatroid became sweethearts! They were set up by Minamitsu Murasa.
Children
Pochi was born to Kyouko Kasodani and Wriggle Nightbug. It's their fourth child! She is a Confident Adventurer.
Akihiko, son of Utsuho Reiuji and Rinnosuke Morichika, grew up. He was made to leave Gensokyo Island and become a traveller!
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