If the Spirit standing before us came from beyondour current future, why would she be asking us who killed Origami's parents?
We may not know why, but… it seems our future selves chose to hide the truth. If that's the case, we'd better do the same.
We hardly know anything about her—whether she's friend or foe. Shidou, don't trust her so easily.
Kurumi's voice echoed clearly in Shidou's mind, silent to everyone else—including Melusine.
But Shidou still couldn't shake one doubt.
But… Kurumi, only you can send someone into the past, right? If she's here, doesn't that mean she must've earned your—your future self's—trust?
You're not wrong. The Twelfth Bullet is my most precious ability. I wouldn't hand it out lightly… Just what was future me thinking?
Melusine didn't seem particularly bothered by Shidou's vague claim of not seeing the Spirit's face. Just confirming that Origami's parents were dead was enough.
Damn. I was still too late. If they're already dead, even the Thread of Life from the Three Fates can't save them now…
What puzzled her more was the identity of that Spirit.
Was it Origami? But why? She was human before this. Did she come here, encounter Mio, and get turned into a Spirit via Sephira Crystal?
Speculating without evidence wouldn't get her anywhere. If she wanted answers, she had to return to a time when things could still be undone.
And she knew exactly how to do that—and who she needed.
Sweeping her magical perception across all of Tengu City, Melusine quickly located the individual. They'd been in the same spot this whole time.
"Shidou. You're coming with me."
Melusine glanced at him, her voice cold, commanding, and offering no room for refusal.
Shidou flinched slightly but listened as she explained.
"You were sent here by Kurumi's Twelfth Bullet, correct? Then your time here is limited. Before long, you'll be forcibly returned to your present. Until then, stay close—I can't protect you otherwise."
Her words brimmed with calm certainty, and Shidou froze, momentarily stunned. He didn't come back to himself until she was already walking ahead.
She doesn't seem like a bad person…
He offered the thought quietly to Kurumi.
Hmph. You're far too trusting. Then let me handle the skepticism. For all we know, she's just trying to lull you into letting your guard down before turning you in.
I… I don't think so… Shidou scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Where are we going?" he asked after catching up.
"To find someone," Melusine replied coolly. "And then… to redo what's already been done."
Eventually, they arrived at a tall building.
Shidou moved toward the stairwell—but Melusine grabbed his sleeve.
"Time is precious. Let's not waste it."
The next moment, the ground disappeared beneath him.
Shidou nearly screamed from the fear of being yanked into the air—but before he could make a sound, his feet were back on solid ground.
"Regulate your breathing. Dizziness is normal. If your legs go weak, feel free to sit and rest."
"…"
Shidou did want to sit. The oppressive summer heat and rising flames had already drained his strength.
But Melusine was right—they didn't have time to waste.
From the rooftop, they had a clear view of the still-blazing streets below. Fire engine sirens wailed. Ambulances darted through the smoke.
Shidou turned away from the horrific scene—only to find Melusine watching silently, her face unreadable.
It was nearing dusk. The fire's glow had already swallowed the sun's final rays.
A burning city…
It reminded Melusine of a burning Fuyuki.
Back then, even lowly Dragon Tooth Warriors could threaten her life… and Olga Marie had still been alive.
Shidou scanned the rooftop.
But there was no one there.
No sign of the person they were supposed to meet.
"Did she already leave?" he asked reflexively.
"No. She's been here the whole time."
And then, almost as if responding to Melusine's words—
Click. Click. Click.
That unmistakable sound surrounded them from all sides.
Shidou tensed. He recognized it instantly—flintlocks being cocked.
"My, my…"
A familiar voice. A familiar cadence.
"To think I'd receive visitors in a place like this… What a rare occasion."
One after another, shadows solidified into versions of Tokisaki Kurumi, each wearing the same seductive smile.
Gun barrels aimed directly at them. Shidou stiffened and edged closer to Melusine.
But it didn't look like he was seeking protection.
It looked like he was trying to protect her.
Melusine's eyes flicked toward him, subtly assessing his reaction.
He didn't notice.
He was too busy taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, eyes locked on one particular figure standing at the rooftop's edge.
This Kurumi was different.
She hadn't raised her flintlock.
Her outfit wasn't the one Shidou was used to.
Most striking of all—
Kurumi… why are you wearing an eyepatch?
Please don't worry about it.
Did you get hurt?
Please don't worry about it.
But—
I. Said. Don't. Worry. About. It!
He couldn't tell if she was gritting her teeth or just embarrassed. Either way, Shidou quickly realized:
Better pretend I didn't see anything.
As the Chinese proverb goes: "Those who recognize the times are wise."
To undo this timeline, they had to go back again—before anything happened.
They needed the Twelfth Bullet once more.
But the present-day Kurumi wouldn't lend such a vital ability easily. Not only did it consume a massive amount of Spirit power, it also held deep personal meaning for her.
Since she didn't trust strangers like Melusine and Shidou, they needed someone she would trust.
In other words—her future self.
With the future Kurumi vouching for them, present-day Kurumi finally relented and fired the Twelfth Bullet again.
As the bullet struck, Shidou felt his body twist into a spiral, as if being swallowed by the bullet's force.
Then, like being pulled into a vortex—his vision went black.
"Shi—Shidou! Shidou!"
A frantic voice echoed in his mind. Shidou's eyes flew open.
And then his heart skipped a beat.
A shining blade hovered just inches from his throat.
"Enough. Tell me your true identity."
Before him stood Melusine—clad in lake-blue armor. The aura of a knight radiated from her in waves. Pure. Disciplined. Even her petite frame and delicate voice couldn't soften the razor's edge of her presence.
"Y-You… what are you talking about?"
Pale-faced, Shidou stammered. "I—I'm Itsuka Shidou! You know me—!"
"You're not the Shidou I know. At least… not my Shidou."
Melusine frowned, her voice cold.
"The Shidou I know pushed his body past its limits during the battle with DEM. Though his body has mostly healed, his Spirit power still catches when flowing through his left shoulder and abdomen. But you? When you reacted to Kurumi's clone earlier, you used Spirit energy without hesitation or resistance."
Her words were loaded. Shidou's eyes widened.
Battle with DEM? Spirit overuse?
None of that had happened to him.
Which only strengthened his belief—this Melusine was from the future.
Kurumi had warned him not to reveal his identity outright… to let her misunderstanding continue.
But now that he was exposed, Shidou didn't hesitate.
"Wait! You're right—I'm not the Shidou you know."
He raised both hands and swallowed hard. "I'm from five years in the future. You're from even farther ahead, right? Kurumi and my future self must've told you that—"
"…?"
Even someone as sharp as Melusine took a moment to process his words.
"I don't follow. I came from five years in the future. I promised Origami I'd help her go back and save her parents—and in return, she swore she'd let go of her hatred and try to get along with Tohka and the others."
"Origami… had already recovered in your timeline?"
Shidou's gaze sharpened. At the mention of Origami, all hesitation vanished from his eyes—even the sword at his throat didn't faze him.
"You still don't understand what I mean… but fine. If you claim to be Shidou, then let me confirm it."
"Confirm it how?"
He blinked, confused.
"Why, with… 'Flash Bang Explosion!!'"
"GAHHHHH—!! How do you even know about that?!"
Three minutes later, Melusine sheathed her blade and let go of Shidou.
"Judging by that reaction, you really are Shidou."
Crumpled against the wall and reduced to grayscale despair, Shidou looked utterly defeated.
Melusine stood beside him, unfazed.
"Also, the multiple Spirit signatures inside your body serve as further proof."
"Then I didn't need to suffer like that in the first place?!"
He was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Flash Bang Explosion"—the chūni-name of an attack Shidou made up during his edgy phase. A dark, forgotten piece of his past—one that now made him want to crawl into a hole and die.
And the worst part?
They had an audience.
"Oh my, oh my… I seem to have overheard something very interesting. As expected, Shidou is just too cute~."
Kurumi's voice purred through his mind, full of mischief and malicious glee.
Now he understood how she felt when he witnessed her embarrassing past. Payback had come full circle.
"Still, don't relax just yet. All Spirit powers come from the First Spirit. If it were her, she might be able to mimic having multiple energy signatures."
Melusine's voice turned serious again. "So this was just extra precaution. Besides… I had more questions prepared."
"Q-Questions?"
Shidou looked up weakly.
"Of course. What's your fetish? What's your daily routine? What makes something 'super amazing'? How do you get to school each morning? Who do you let sleep beside you? How many girls do you flirt with per second? Where do you go every night? What games do you play? What's your ultimate goal?"
"I—I—!"
"These are all things the real Shidou has said. If you can answer all of them, you must be the real deal."
Shidou's brain short-circuited. Sweat poured from his forehead.
How do you even know all this—?!
I'm. So. Dead.