Kurumi sips her tea, setting the cup down as the white-robed girl speaks abruptly. "You should've kept going."
"Pardon? You're awfully vague," Kurumi retorts, sensing déjà vu. Even her sharp intuition struggles without context.
"My apologies," the girl says, her tone dubious. "School. A chance to get close to Shidou. Why give it up?"
"Obviously," Kurumi replies coolly. "Continuing would require your constant aid—hardly practical."
"No issue for me," the girl insists.
"I'll pass," Kurumi says, inwardly sighing. The offer tempts her, but as a neutral third party, she prioritizes information. Burdening the girl, her key asset, for personal reasons is unwise—though she's already straining her for other matters. Besides, the girl would act on Kurumi's whims without hesitation, making it critical to avoid selfish missteps.
Private feelings caused this mess, didn't they? Kurumi ignores her clones' silent jab, fully aware of her own contradictions.
"If it's no big deal, just visit Shidou," the girl presses. "How long will you keep using me to gauge the timing?"
"Tch…" Kurumi flushes, visibly flustered. The girl sighs, noting this isn't new—Shidou brings out a predictable side of Kurumi.
"Shidou-san is busy," Kurumi deflects. "It wouldn't be fair to intrude."
"Weeks have passed. Love rookie, my queen?" the girl teases.
"Quiet!" Kurumi snaps, embarrassed. Shidou's hectic life—balancing spirits, chores, and studies—is real, and her insistence on fairness is genuine. Yet, waiting for the perfect moment has left her in limbo, an unexpected miscalculation. Opportunities existed; the girl's scouting confirmed Shidou wasn't always busy. But Kurumi hesitated, plagued by doubts. After such a grand declaration, should their next meeting be mundane? Her love for dramatic flair, mixed with shy embarrassment, traps her in inexperience.
"Why not use your clones to watch him constantly?" the girl suggests.
"No!" Kurumi blurts, covering her mouth too late. Clearing her throat, she continues, "A fine idea, but my clones are… too young."
"You mean too smitten," the girl quips.
"Mind your words!" Kurumi protests, mortified. Her clones, born from Zafkiel's Eighth Bullet, are past selves with independent wills. They'd excel at surveillance, but Kurumi fears their susceptibility to Shidou's charm—ironic, given her own weakness. Secretly, she also feels it's unfair for clones to monopolize his attention, a petty thought she buries.
"Constant surveillance would imply I'm that obsessed…" she mutters.
"You are that in love," the girl says bluntly.
"I am!" Kurumi admits, red-faced. "But that's not the point!"
The girl smirks, thinking Kurumi's flustered side would floor Shidou, though she'd likely revert to her poised self in his presence. "Fine, no clones. I'll keep helping, though it's no burden," the girl says.
"Then why bring it up?" Kurumi asks, exasperated.
"Wanted to see your cute reaction," the girl admits.
Kurumi rubs her temple, wishing she could get used to this teasing. The pleasant embarrassment, however, shows no sign of fading.
"Enough. Report," Kurumi says, shifting to business.
"Yes, my queen," the girl replies playfully. "Tobiichi Origami's punishment: two-month suspension. She's enjoying a pseudo-vacation."
"How generous," Kurumi notes dryly.
"Deus Ex Machina Industries," the girl adds.
Kurumi's brow twitches. DEM, a key player in her intelligence network, manufactures Realizers and wields enough influence to sway AST. "Origami's caught their eye," she muses.
"Her talent's rare. The top dog himself stepped in," the girl confirms. "Tohka?"
"No spiritual reaction, so they can't act… but DEM's not fooled," Kurumi says. Sealed spirits are hard to track, but staying in one place makes it easier. DEM's bold moves are limited in AST's territory, but they have options.
"Funny thing," the girl continues. "Raizen High's school trip destination changed. The old lodge collapsed, and a travel agency—conveniently tied to DEM—offered a new spot: Arubi Island. With a cameraman… the world's strongest wizard."
"Coincidence piling up becomes fate," Kurumi murmurs, her smile sharp as she calculates. DEM targeting sealed spirits with such a heavy hitter is overkill, assuming they don't know about sealing. It's strategic caution—but targeting Tohka? That irks her.
"I'd rather avoid that wizard," the girl says.
"Rare for you to say," Kurumi notes, surprised, though the girl's hooded face hides her expression.
"Sorry, but for your safety…" the girl trails off.
"No matter," Kurumi interrupts. "You think I'd lose, even to the strongest wizard?"
"Of course not," the girl replies breezily. She'd fight for Kurumi if needed, but with Kurumi taking charge, there's no worry.
"Against spirits, maybe. But a wizard? My queen never loses," the girl declares.
"I must live up to that trust," Kurumi laughs. She had no reason to get involved—until now. "A Pacific island… sounds like a delightful trip."
"Your concern for your friend is touching," the girl teases.
"I said no such thing," Kurumi retorts, denying personal motives like guilt over past actions with Tohka. The girl's mock apology doesn't fool her.
"By the way, a date with Shidou might steal the show," the girl adds.
"What!" Kurumi gasps, blushing.
"Careful. He's likely a target now," the girl warns ominously.
Kurumi catches the implication: DEM. "They know his power?" she asks.
"Not yet, but with his sealing, it's only a matter of time," the girl replies.
Kurumi hums thoughtfully. Shidou's ability to seal spirit powers is extraordinary, unlikely to be uncovered easily. The girl's "soon" hints at something more—something even Kurumi doesn't know.
"What will happen to Shidou-san?" she presses.
"You'll see soon enough," the girl replies cryptically. "Especially you, Kurumi."
Arubi Island, July 17
Shidou, trailing Tohka, sighs as they've lost their classmates during the school trip. Since arriving, Tohka's insisted someone's watching her. "Enough already," he says. "Nobody's there."
"No, it's different," Tohka insists. "The strange gaze just… vanished."
"What?" Shidou scratches his head, glancing at her as she scans their surroundings. Initially, she thought it was the accompanying "cameraman," but the feeling persisted. Shidou, indulging her, fell behind the group, and her constant vigilance slowed them further. Now, she claims the gaze is gone, leaving him puzzled.
Tohka's sharp instincts, possibly spiritual, make Shidou hesitate to dismiss her. He touches his earpiece to contact Fraxinus, floating above the island, but pauses. A familiar sensation hits him—joyful, unmistakable. "Tohka, hold on," he says, swapping places with her.
The path ahead seems empty. He breathes deeply, rationality insisting Kurumi wouldn't be here. Yet, his heart speaks. "Fancy meeting you here," he calls.
"Indeed," a voice replies.
Tohka gasps. There, in a long-sleeved dress and monochrome skirt, stands Kurumi, her otherworldly beauty almost doll-like. Her troubled expression—surprised at being spotted—charms Shidou. Confident he'd find her anywhere, he grins. "Here for a trip? Or to see me?"
"Which would you prefer?" Kurumi teases, her laugh sultry.
"The latter, obviously. You know that… Kurumi," he says.
"Of course, my dear, dear Shidou-san," she replies.
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