19th Hakurei Shrine Reitaisai

The girls suddenly remembered that the "event" would be held soon, so they quickly finished preparations and checked their schedules for the day. This is almost a routine by now for these girls who all have a connection with Hakurei Shrine.

That's right. It was the day of the Reitaisai.
They each fantasized about what kind of festival they would find this year and headed out in the same direction.

The shrine maiden got out of bed at sunrise and was still half-asleep but forced herself to think. She went over the steps and time required for the preparations and what she needed to get them done. She needed helpers...

"I guess I'll just make the people who arrive early help."

The guests to the Hakurei Shrine Reitaisai are not just humans... but gods, youkai, fairies, and phantoms too. All folks are welcome, and that's what's good about it.

It seems the shrine maiden has also gotten used to the occasion. Since back during the first festival, she looked suspiciously at every single attendee...

By the time sun had reached its zenith, the shrine grounds were bustling with activity. All of the preparations had to get finished before the visitors came in earnest. That's why the shrine maiden forced herself to get out of bed at sunrise... but it wasn't going as she planned.

She secured some helpers. A few people quickly sensed that a festival was going to happen and came early... just as she predicted. But they hadn't gotten on with their tasks at all. The humans seemed to think the work was just a part of the festival, so they only moved their mouths and not their hands. The fairies had forgotten all about their tasks and were running around playing. And there were even some brazen oni who had already started partying while watching the fairies play. But that is how it usually goes...

The sun started to set, bathing the shrine grounds in the colors of flame and giving everything a fantastical atmosphere. There were indications of the helpers cutting corners, or rather, giving up, with tools left lying about and half-finished decorations. However, no one seemed to mind.

There had been a change in the type of attendees. During the day, most of the guests were humans or fairies, but with the sun setting, the gods and phantoms were in the majority. They are wise, so they probably realized that they would be made to help with the preparations if they arrived earlier. The grumpy look on the shrine maiden's face indicated that she knew this too.

The festival showed no signs of stopping after the sun had set, even when all the Human Village lights had gone out. No matter how many people start heading home after having their fill of the festival, they were replaced by late-arriving youkai. Ghost and youkai stories are always set at nighttime, so the night is their domain. The shrine maiden greeted them in a somewhat cold but welcomingly manner. Unlike how they may have been greeted in the past, she showed them a friendly smile full of genuine fun.

And the festival kept on going long into the night, creating even more noise that echoed across Gensokyo...