"….."
Speechlessly watching her inverse self-getting angry at her, Tohka didn't even want to complain anymore. Wasn't this just because she'd interrupted her dream feast? And why did this look so familiar?
"Um…I already had Miku Izayoi inject her spirit energy into me, but there was no reaction at all, so I wanted you to take a look."
Even so, Tohka still explained why she was here. After all, if she didn't bring something up, the two of them might end up fighting again.
"Huh, really?" Hearing Tohka's words, Demon King Tohka froze for a moment.
Then she temporarily set aside her irritation at having her dream ruined and closed her eyes to focus. Meanwhile, Tohka just sat next to her quietly, watching.
"Her crystal seems to have an issue." After a while, Inverse Tohka opened her eyes and spoke uncertainly: "It looks like we're missing a catalyst, and Miku Izayoi's crystal has been tampered with."
"Huh? Really?" Hearing that, Tohka tilted her head, thinking back. Then, in her mind, she pictured a certain person who was always walking around with dark circles under his eyes.
"Right, I realized we're still missing an important key to unlock the other nodes." At that moment, Inverse Tohka's voice sounded again.
"Forget it—I think I know who it is." Hearing that, Tohka's mouth twitched. She had already guessed what exactly they were missing. It looked like she'd have to make a shady deal with that guy after all.
"By the way, since you're helping me so much, is there anything you'd like my help with?" Having roughly figured out what she needed to do, Tohka decided to ask another question. In her mind, Inverse Tohka surely had something she wanted too.
"Actually…I'd like you to help me get a body." Hearing Tohka's question, Inverse Tohka didn't even think before blurting out her wish.
"Ah?"
"You don't get it? Staying here doing nothing is seriously boring." Seeing Tohka's odd expression, Inverse Tohka continued explaining.
And it was true—being stuck here all this time, only going out twice, she was lonely as hell. Plus, before, Tohka hadn't been able to communicate with her, so she'd just been alone the whole time.
"Oh…" Tohka stared blankly at the other version of herself. She didn't know how Inverse Tohka was portrayed in the original story. But since here she had always had her own consciousness, Tohka couldn't stand to see her so lonely. After all, they weren't like those emotionless spirits of the cosmos who shut themselves away.
"By the way, didn't you take over my body before? Can you still do that now?" After thinking for a bit, Tohka asked her inverse self.
"Hm? Why are you asking that?" Inverse Tohka paused for a moment before answering: "In theory, I can only come out if you suffer a fatal injury or have a huge emotional upheaval. As for last time, that guy's scepter first suppressed your personality, and then tried to control you.
But I emerged while your personality was suppressed. If you really want me to, as long as you don't resist, I can still come out—but it won't be for very long. Maybe an hour or two at most, and after that, it'll take a long time before I can do it again."
"In that case…" Hearing that, Tohka thought for a moment and then continued: "Anyway, we just finished a big battle, and logically there shouldn't be any strong enemies for a while. So…tomorrow, how about you go out instead of me and spend some time with Miku Izayoi?"
"N-Nani?" Hearing that, Inverse Tohka froze completely. She had never imagined Tohka would make such a suggestion. She just stared blankly, not knowing what to say.
"By the way—when you're out, you're not allowed to bully Miku Izayoi. And don't start smashing things, or you'll put me in an awkward position."
Tohka didn't care about her reaction and went on instructing her seriously. After all, this one's violent and destructive tendencies were too strong—she had to warn her. In the original, she'd taken away all of Miku Izayoi's power in a single strike, and left her temporarily mute.
"..…"
"Alright, that's it." Having finished talking with Inverse Tohka,
Tohka backed out. Though just before she left, she noticed the complicated look in Inverse Tohka's eyes. There was surprise in that gaze, and gratitude…and something else. She didn't want to think about it. After all, she'd seen that same expression in Miku Izayoi's eyes too.
"Hey—what are you doing?"
As soon as she opened her eyes, Tohka saw Miku leaning in close. She had only been sitting cross-legged for a bit—how did this girl end up right in her face again?
"Ahaha, you woke up! I was just worried about you, you know? After all, right after you absorbed my energy, you closed your eyes, and I was worried!" Miku said this in a perfectly justified tone and with an excellent reason.
But the problem was that her eyes, shifting left and right, totally betrayed her true thoughts.
"Whatever…let's get some rest. We did just fight a huge battle today. Oh, and tomorrow you should be on your guard." Tohka looked at her and sighed tiredly.
Then she flopped onto the bed, ready to sleep. But at the last moment, she decided she had to warn Miku. After all, as they'd agreed, Inverse Tohka would be coming out to stretch her legs in the morning.
And with the way Miku always hovered over her, she was sure Inverse Tohka would end up giving her a serious scare—so it was best to say something in advance.
"Eh???" Miku blinked, puzzled by why Tohka was saying that. She was about to ask, but then she heard Tohka's soft, even breathing—she had already fallen asleep.
"Hehe…tomorrow I can drag Tohka out shopping again. What kind of clothes should I make her try on? Let me think…" Looking at the sleeping Tohka, Miku didn't understand that last remark at all.
She just showed a mischievous smile. For now, she wasn't in the mood to pester her anymore. She lay back on her own bed and started planning what she would do tomorrow.