EPISODE CONTEXT

Following Episode 1's inciting incident — the theft of the Hakurei Shrine's donation box — this second episode broadens the mystery by revealing that similar disappearances have struck other locations across Gensokyo, raising the stakes considerably. 'Pre-Established Harmony' functions as a connective chapter, deepening the central intrigue and positioning key characters for the confrontations and revelations that later episodes will deliver. It's a necessary escalation point that transforms a local incident into a Gensokyo-wide concern.