Spirit. Special Disaster Designated Lifeform from the Boundary.
Method 1: Annihilate with force.
Method 2: Date and charm.
"Hello, Onii-chan?"
"Kotori? It's me."
After homeroom, Shidou bolts to the window, dialing Kotori. Luckily, she answers, her usual sister drawl—not commander mode—coming through.
"If this is a scam, I'm booked. What's up at this hour? Ten seconds earlier, and the teacher—"
"Kurumi's a Spirit."
"…"
No time for jokes. His blunt words are met with rustling fabric—Kotori shifting to commander mode, as expected. Her tone sharpens.
"Not a funny joke. Have you finally lost it—"
"Not a joke!!"
Her gasp carries through. Shidou glances back, relieved the class is engrossed in the transfer student.
"…Sorry for yelling."
"Doesn't sound like a bad prank."
If only. He wishes she'd say it's a lie. The transfer student, his friend—Tokisaki Kurumi, a Spirit.
"A transfer student joined our class… it's Kurumi. She said, 'I'm a Spirit.'"
"What? Fraxisnus confirmed no Spirit readings then. How…"
"No clue… Why's she a Spirit? What's going on!?"
Frustration spills as he rakes his hair. Kurumi, who met him repeatedly, helped Yoshino, a Spirit? Confusion reigns.
"Calm down, Shidou. We'll investigate. This is a unique case—stay level-headed."
"Yeah, got it. Please, Kotori."
"Later." Call ends. If Kurumi's truly a Spirit, what then? Facing Spirits is clear, but her hidden motives cloud everything. What if she's the worst Spirit the robed girl mentioned—
"Shidou?"
"—!"
Only one person calls his name like that. Turning, he sees Tohka, her face anxious with worry.
"Hey, Tohka. What's up?"
"What's up with you? You look pale."
"Huh?"
He touches his face, uselessly. He's worrying her—bad if it destabilizes her.
"I'm fine, just… thinking."
"About that Kurumi girl?"
"—! Uh, yeah."
Her sudden mention startles him. He answers reflexively, grimacing. Kotori warned Tohka gets jealous, so he should've been smoother.
Tohka doesn't pout but looks complex, thoughtful.
"Shidou, Kurumi's your… friend, right?"
"…Yeah."
He hesitates. Hours ago, he'd have said it confidently. Now, he's stunned—he knows nothing about her. Just her search, her eerie aura, their promise to rely on him. That's it.
"Friend… yeah…"
He glances at Kurumi, surrounded, smiling charmingly. She feels… distant.
"Bottom line: Tokisaki Kurumi is a Spirit. No mistake."
"…Got it."
Kotori's report forces Shidou to accept reality. No lie, no joke—Kurumi's a Spirit. It's after school; if it were a dream, he'd have woken. He tries to resist.
"No idea how she masked it, but a Spirit means Ratatosk's mission stays. I get your confusion, but brace yourself, Shidou."
"…Yeah, I know."
After school, his thoughts are still muddled. Classes were a blur, and he avoided Kurumi's gaze, head down. But stalling changes nothing—time marches on.
For Ratatosk's mission and his desire to protect Spirits, he must confront Kurumi.
"Good answer. You're calmer than I thought. No spatial quake alarm, so AST won't interfere easily. Contact Kurumi now—oh, she's coming."
"—Shidou-san."
His heart races. Hand on chest, he turns slowly to the voice that could melt him.
"…Kurumi."
"Yes. It's been a while… I've longed to see you."
"…Yeah, me too."
First time facing her since morning, but no mistaking her. Every gesture radiates elegance, her beauty unreal. He could stare forever if not for the situation—Tokisaki Kurumi, no doubt.
She chuckles at his reply, but it feels… off.
"Really? You've been looking down all day—I thought you didn't want to see me."
"That's…"
"—Spirit."
His eyes widen. She giggles, her expression turning provocative.
"No mistake. Like Yoshino-san and Tohka-san… an absolute threat to humanity. That's me."
"Why…!"
Words fail. Questions pile—why hide she's a Spirit? Why reveal now? Why get close to him?
Silence falls until Kurumi claps, as if struck by an idea.
"Shidou-san, I'm new and unfamiliar with this school. Would you guide me?"
"Huh? What're you—"
"Fufu, let's go."
"Hey!"
Before he can respond, she skips out, peeking back to beckon—adorably.
"What're you doing, letting her take the lead? Stop gawking and follow!"
"Huh? W-Who's gawking!?"
"You, obviously. We'll support as needed, but if your instincts are right, bold moves are risky. Limit comms replies."
True—Kurumi's knowledge is unclear, but Fraxisnus comms could alert her. She knew Yoshino was a Spirit—maybe this is calculated.
"Got it." He follows her into the hall. She waits, smiling brightly, a living portrait.
"Jeez, don't run off. Scared me… I'll guide you, though."
"My apologies. Where to first, Shidou-san?"
"…How about the cafeteria? Might need it."
"Anywhere's fine if you're guiding."
She walks beside him. Her casual remark spikes his heart rate, but he keeps pace, feigning calm.
The cafeteria was a snap choice, but Kotori's not bad confirms it's safe. If Kurumi were a stranger, Fraxisnus might've pushed bolder options.
He glances at her. Noticing, she smiles—her usual smile.
"Something wrong?"
"N-No, nothing…"
"Fufu, funny Shidou-san."
Her giggle, hand to mouth, is pure Kurumi. He could ignore the unease, lost in her crimson eyes, delicate arms, unique fragrance shaking his heart.
She's here. Despite everything, his emotions surge—
"…!"
Calm down. Familiarity makes it worse—he's charmed every time. He's the one being swayed.
"Shidou-san?"
Stay cool. What does she know? How much did she know while getting close?
"Shidou-san, are you okay?"
She's taunting, using Spirit to test him. Does she know his goal, like the robed girl?
"Shii-dou-saan?"
Doubts spiral, souring his mood. Yet, he can't believe her expressions with Yoshino were fake—
…Munyuu?
A sensation blasts through his serious thoughts. Heavenly softness on his arm—Kurumi clinging to him.
"—Kurumi-san!? What are you doing!?"
He stammers, impressed he can speak at all.
"…You didn't respond, so it's your fault."
Her aloof air shifts to shy, pouting clinging—dangerously cute. Brain-melting, folder-worthy cute. No angel compares—
"Shidou! You're the one being charmed! Snap out of it!!"
"Hah! S-Sorry, Kurumi!!"
Kotori's scolding yanks him back. He frees his arm, stepping back, swearing to keep the lingering softness secret forever.
"No, Shidou-kun! You say, 'Sorry for making you lonely, my honey,' and hug back—"
"Hmph!!"
"Guh!"
A punch-like sound and Kannazuki's collapse echo, but Shidou's too busy cooling his flushed body to care. He'd never say that.
"…Kurumi, don't do that to guys—it could be misunderstood."
"Oh? I only do this with you, Shidou-san."
"D-Don't tease…!"
From shy to devilish, she toys with him, her mood shifting like a breeze. Either way, he's at her mercy.
"I'm not teasing. So, what were you brooding about, ignoring me?"
"It was… about you."
Her words feel distant, but he counters, hesitantly turning the tables. Face burning, he looks away.
A whistle from the earpiece praises him. Glancing at Kurumi—
"My, oh my."
"!?"
Her seductive smile could ensnare any man. She closes the gap instantly, grabbing his hands with hers.
"Kurumi… san?"
"I'm so happy. That you think of me so much… I could cry."
"C-Cry, come on…!"
"Fufu, truly—" Her voice, lips, bewitching expression swallow his thoughts. Her soft fingers intertwine with his.
He's prey. A fleeting thought: maybe it's fine with Kurumi. Her lips move—
"Shidou-san, I—"
"Nwa…!?"
"…!"
A crash—like a locker dumped out—and familiar voices echo. Shidou and Kurumi freeze, stunned. Tohka and Origami tumble into the hall, tangled.
"…Huh?"
"…Yes?"
The mood shatters. Fraxisnus noted a tail, but Shidou, lost in Kurumi, missed it.
By the way, a rumor later spread about a playboy snagging the transfer student—total aside.