Kurumi's lowered voice carried a faint pressure.
"Settle the score, is it…"
Souta sighed. At last, the day had come.
But since he had already chosen the path of a harem, there was no running from this.
He had to face it head-on.
And besides… he already had a keikaku.
…
Looking at Kurumi, who clearly wasn't going to let him off easily, Souta said calmly,
"I've already decided. Kurumi, as punishment, aside from leaving me, you can make any request you want."
After speaking, he cautiously added,
"Of course, crossdressing is absolutely out of the question. If you make me do that, I'd rather run around naked through the streets."
"Then do it," Kurumi replied smoothly.
"…"
Souta fell silent and began taking off his jacket.
He was sure Kurumi was just teasing him.
If he actually went along with it, she would stop him instead.
Wait and see...
Sure enough.
The moment he pulled down his coat, Kurumi slapped his hand.
"Alright, I've seen your sincerity. Even if you wanted to go, I wouldn't allow it."
Kurumi looked at him, suddenly curious.
"Tell me… you weren't really planning to do it, were you?"
The speed and determination with which he stripped his coat off, she had to admit, it startled her.
She had only been joking, never intending to punish him seriously.
After all, she couldn't let herself look petty and narrow-minded.
As the rightful queen, she had to keep her composure and magnanimity… Kurumi quickly pinched her thigh. Careful, she was about to slip into the mindset of being a member of his harem.
That kind of submissive thinking was unacceptable!
"No choice, I did upset you. I feel guilty about it."
Souta had no intention of streaking, but once the words left his mouth, they became irony.
"Don't stop me. I'm just destroying my own image, that's all. If it helps you vent your anger, it's worth it."
With that, he stood, teeth clenched, putting on the look of someone ready to throw everything away.
Kurumi hurriedly pulled him back and pushed him down on the sofa again.
"Wait, you weren't joking?" she asked, surprised.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Souta's tone was grave.
"This isn't just about making you feel better. I feel guilty myself. This kind of self-punishment is a way to ease that guilt, otherwise I'll explode inside."
"Enough." He waved his hand. "Don't stop me. I'll just commit three laps around Tengu City. When I come back, you can chop me up with your 'Cancer Sword Sartan.' It'll vent your anger and help me at the same time."
He flared his divine spark, creating a speedforce whiplash that pushed Kurumi aside.
"Wait!" Kurumi teleported back in front of him, leveling her old-fashioned pistol at him. "Don't move. Sit down, or I'll stop your time and then…"
She tugged at her dress, then pointed at him.
"You know what I mean."
"…That's character death!"
Souta's expression turned serious.
"Kurumi, you must have read the Date A Live novels or watched the anime, so you think crossdressing is fun. Hold on, let me show you something…"
He conjured a laptop, searched online, and displayed countless cringe-worthy crossdressing photos before her eyes.
"Look. This is the difference between 2D and 3D. Disgusting, isn't it?"
"…Yeah, that is… kind of disgusting." Kurumi rubbed her eyes.
"Good. I'm glad you understand."
"But isn't that more a matter of dignity?"
Kurumi's eyes glimmered with thought.
"If the dignity is good, anything probably looks good."
Souta twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"Are you really that shallow?"
"Oh my, trying to provoke me now?"
Kurumi pressed her lips together in a smile and then said,
"Fine, I get it. You really, really hate the idea of crossdressing. I'll seal that thought away forever. Let's just drop this topic."
Hearing this promise, Souta finally felt relieved.
One minefield cleared at last.
Kurumi's strength surpassed his, so he was still a little nervous.
This wasn't cowardice, no...this was protecting his dignity, creed. Yes, that's exactly what it was.
"Souta, you don't think I'd really force you into anything, do you?"
Kurumi looked at his expression with exasperation.
"That's a painful misunderstanding!
And about that thang… how did I not realize before how stubborn you are?
I already said you don't need to. What are you holding on to?"
She thought for a moment, then tapped his forehead lightly.
"Alright, that counts as my revenge. Don't feel guilty anymore. And no more self-punishment!"
Souta sighed. "Since you've gone this far… fine, I'll give you this face."
Something felt off. Kurumi frowned.
"Why do I feel like… our roles just flipped?"
"Your imagination." Souta shook his head.
"Let's not dwell on it. The more we talk, the more… guilty I feel."
"…"
Kurumi frowned slightly.
Why did she feel like she was falling into one of his tricks?
It seemed whenever it came to Souta, her intelligence just… dropped.
Forget it.
She had already decided on her way to vent.
Tonight, she would put it into action.
At that moment, the sofa stirred.
Both of them looked over and saw Mio beginning to wake.
"Let's go," Kurumi suggested. "We'll bring Mio and settle Shiori's issue. Then it'll all be resolved."
"No," Souta shook his head. "That can wait. It doesn't need to be today."
He rose from the sofa, grasped Kurumi's shoulders, and gently pushed her toward the door.
"The Sephira Crystal evolution took so long. You haven't had time to relax, have you? Come on, let's go for a walk. Call it… a long overdue date."
"My, my, so forward… that's rare." Kurumi turned back at him. "Is it because you did something guilty, so now you're trying to win me over?"
"…Are you going or not? If not, forget it." Souta said helplessly.
"I'll go." Kurumi smiled. "But the evening is yours to arrange. You'd better make me so happy I forgive you completely."
She stretched lightly, easing the fatigue of battle.
Her graceful motion was like a Persian cat stretching after a nap… alluring, enough to make someone want to wrap an arm around her slim waist.
"By the way," Kurumi glanced at the sofa. "What about Mio? She's waking."
"Simple."
Souta's lips curled as he walked toward her.
Just in time, Mio opened her eyes, slowly sat up, and scanned the room.
Her face still bore the weakness of having her power drained away, fragile and pitiful.
"You are…"
Her gaze locked onto Souta as he approached. Recognition lit her eyes.
"Sout—"
Crack! Souta chopped her neck with a hand strike.
Her eyes rolled back, and the next moment, she collapsed unconscious onto the sofa.
"Alright, she won't be bothering us."
For safety, Souta then unleashed a dozen sleep spells in succession, all layered onto Mio's body.
When he was done, he turned back, smiling at Kurumi.
"Problem solved. Let's go."
Kurumi: "?"