Well well... This entry is very interesting. Would maybe rank itself high if the theme was still "Pride + Identity" like last year.
Saying this because of the "Alter" characters in there. The "original" universe that gets stiched together with Gensokyo is comprised of OCs, but also self-inserts(?), fanon depictions of Touhou characters (Kazami "Youkai Moe" Yuka), depictions of of what some characters could have been (Rinnosuke maybe? Alter Rinnosuke is some kind of serpent with multiple hands who hoards items instead of "selling" them; and a diligent Alter Reimu who looks like PC-98 Reimu )and "hidden" Touhou characters (Ran and the youkai fox she possesses who goes by the name Daji in this VN). Not sure about Hartmann's.
And by the context of the story, these contrasts between the original Touhou characters (the "Externals") and their respective Alters are so big they could bring up the theme of identity, the identity given and perceived by the Touhou fandom to the Touhou characters.
But that's not the main point isn't it? This story is mostly about A Mokou whose character develops thanks to the fateful encounters in this VN.
I may have not undertood all the references and inside jokes (but am I glad someone enjoys ido & co's fangames too lol) but I got glued so much I read everything to the end. The pace really dies at the end and gets a bit wierd after Silent got defeated, but nothing more Gensokyo than a party with everyone met on the way, hahaha.
(where's satsuki rin)