"Hah… ugh…!"
"Tch… spasms… ahh…!"
"…"
Peering at a scene of infidelity might feel something like this, Kurumi mused, her expression unreadable. Perhaps this was a rare, precious experience. On the screen before her, Shidou was applying lotion to Yuzuru and Kaguya, both in swimsuits, under the bright sun. The sight stirred a peculiar mix of emotions in her chest.
It wasn't as if Shidou was doing anything lewd—just applying sunscreen, nothing more. Yet, whether due to his deft hands or some inexplicable alchemy, the twins' voices carried an undeniably sultry edge. Officially, Kurumi was there to "assist," equipped with an earpiece to stay in constant contact with Shidou. But it seemed her help was hardly needed.
From Kurumi's perspective, such assistance was unnecessary to begin with. More than that, she believed that her presence—another Spirit—might hinder Shidou's efforts to win over the twins' hearts. She wasn't so arrogant as to think her involvement would distract him from his mission. Kurumi knew Shidou well enough to understand he wasn't that kind of man. His earnest, gentle nature was what she found so endearing, even if it sometimes left her feeling… A sudden ring from her communication device interrupted her thoughts. Placing it on speaker and setting it on the table, she answered without hesitation.
"Hello?"
"—Hiii, my queen. Enjoying your little vacation?"
A pickup line, really? Kurumi's lips twitched with exasperation. Of course, she hadn't saved any sleazy suitors in her contacts, so the voice was unmistakably that of a certain white-haired girl.
"It's… tolerable, I suppose," Kurumi replied.
"Hmm. And Shidou Itsuka is—?"
"Ugh, ahh… ahhh!"
A duet of moans echoed through the speaker. Apparently, after some playful tussling, both twins had fallen prey to Shidou's divine touch.
"…He's on a date with two charming ladies," Kurumi said dryly.
"…A date, you say? Those voices sound awfully suggestive for a date."
Kurumi wished the girl would direct that comment to Reine, who'd orchestrated this plan. It was a private beach, so there was no risk of prying eyes, but still…
"Is that really okay with you? If anyone has the right to intervene when Shidou's with other Spirits, it's you. And he wouldn't refuse you, would he?"
"If Shidou-san can seal their powers, that spiritual energy will eventually become mine. I see no reason to interfere," Kurumi replied coolly.
That had been her stance from the moment Shidou accepted this challenge. His success in sealing Spirits was strategically advantageous for her. More than that, she had no right to trample on his pure intentions with petty jealousy—not with the weight of her own feelings for him. Besides—
"H-Hey, are you okay!? You're not okay! Um, in times like this, uh, uh…!"
"Urgent. Calm down. First, we should pull her out of the hot tub. Quickly."
"Right, that's it! Good call, Yuzuru!"
—if the twins were just a bit more devious, perhaps Kurumi could've justified a twinge of jealousy.
"…My queen is awfully kind. Is forgiving a man's infidelity part of a lady's charm?"
"Perhaps," Kurumi said with a faint smile. "If it's just ten or so Spirits, I can afford to be magnanimous."
"Oh my. And if he strays with someone not a Spirit—?"
"I'd kill him."
Silence. Not even a dry laugh came through the speaker—just the faint sounds of the trio on the screen.
"…That was a joke," Kurumi added.
"When you say it, it doesn't sound like one. My heart can't take it."
Kurumi had meant it lightly, but her tone must've carried more menace than she intended. Apparently, her voice had a way of sounding too convincing.
"SHIDOU!!"
"Tch, Takanotsume…!?"
"Oh?" Kurumi's eyes flicked to the screen. From a distance, Takanotsume's voice rang out. A camera panned toward the sea, capturing her swimming toward the beach with a chaotic form, contrasted by Origami's graceful crawl. The coast was far enough that they'd traveled by rental car—yet here they were, powered by sheer determination and what Kurumi could only assume was a "Shidou radar."
Snap. Kurumi clicked her fingers. Instantly, the shadows around her expanded, and a pale hand emerged, followed by a girl identical to herself—a clone for periodic reports. If Takanotsume was on the move, their target would likely act soon. Isolated, in small numbers, swimming out to sea—it was the perfect opportunity for DEM to strike at Takanotsume.
"Any movement from the target?" Kurumi asked.
"She's… playing in the sand," the clone replied.
"…Pardon?"
"I said, she's playing in the sand with her classmates. Buried up to her neck, actually."
Kurumi and her clone shared a baffled look. Could the intel about targeting Takanotsume be wrong? Was she just here to play? Kurumi couldn't be blamed for wondering. Why was DEM's so-called strongest mage happily playing in the sand with Shidou's classmates?
"Hahaha! What a shame I can't see it for myself!"
"…She'll likely move under cover of night. For now, we leave her be," Kurumi said.
"Oh, my queen. If you get the chance, do deliver my little 'gift' to that self-proclaimed strongest mage."
"Understood."
Still, this was the world's most formidable mage. Would Kurumi even have the chance to use such a ridiculous item? She didn't overestimate her own power. Arrogance and overconfidence were her greatest enemies. Could pillow fights and sandcastles be a ploy to lower her guard?
"—Can you hear me, Kurumi?"
Reine's voice crackled through the earpiece. The reason was obvious: Takanotsume and Origami's arrival had forced a shift to Plan B.
"We're moving to Plan B. Can you assist?"
"Understood," Kurumi replied.
Her desire to avoid interfering with Shidou's mission clashed with the thrill of being near him. Suppressing those feelings, she reached for her disguise. It was a risky getup, but with her power, it would suffice. This outfit would let her blend into the shadows without drawing Shidou's attention. Kurumi began changing swiftly.
"—Hah!?"
Shidou couldn't believe his eyes. He thought he'd gone mad. Reine, who was supposed to be guiding him through the earpiece, was standing right there—fine, she'd explain later. But the person next to her… her outfit was the issue.
A hat and sunglasses. Long black hair tied in a ponytail, exuding a charming contrast to her usual style. Her bare legs gleamed with breathtaking allure, and the hoodie she wore created an intoxicating "absolute territory," hinting at what wasn't there. It was perfect. Shidou nearly gave a thumbs-up—then stopped himself. There was no mistaking her.
"…Since we've got more people, we've set up a court over there. How about some beach volleyball?" Reine said. "My friend, who's traveling with us, offered to referee. Her name's Tokiko."
"Pfft!" Shidou choked. Tokiko? Really? Couldn't they come up with something better? "Tokiko" gave a polite bow, acting perfectly normal, but there was no way this disguise could fool—
"Hmph, fine by me," Kaguya declared. "Whatever we play, I'll stand at the pinnacle. Keep your eyes wide open and witness my victory!"
"Agreed. No objections. Yuzuru will win anyway. We demand a fair referee."
"…Seriously?" Shidou muttered. It worked? How did they not see through it? Was he the crazy one? His silent protests went unheard as Takanotsume and Origami—Origami looking mildly suspicious but saying nothing—headed toward the court.
"Reine-san," Shidou whispered.
"…Yes. Takanotsume and Origami's arrival was unexpected, so we've switched to Plan B. By teaming up, we'll foster their camaraderie and—"
"No, not that! It's Kurumi! What's with 'Tokiko'!?"
"…Is it bad?"
Reine tilted her head, genuinely puzzled, and Shidou wanted to ask what part of this she thought was good—the cliché disguise or the absurd name.
"I must object to the name as well," Kurumi interjected.
"…Sorry. If we had more time, I could've picked something better."
"…It's not that I dislike it, per se."
"…My apologies."
Shidou blinked, stunned by how chummy the two had become. Women, apparently, had their own wavelength. Regardless, he had plenty to say to "Tokiko." As they walked to the court, he sidled up to her and spoke in a low voice.
"Kurumi, that disguise…"
"Hehe, quite shabby, isn't it? Thanks to a little trick, no one but you noticed," she said with a playful smirk.
"No way, it's not shabby. I couldn't take my eyes off you. You look insanely cute."
"W-What!?" Kurumi's cheeks flushed visibly. Origami, walking ahead, glanced back at the sound of her faltering steps, and Kurumi hurriedly bowed to deflect suspicion.
"…This is hardly the time to flirt," she muttered.
"Sorry, it just slipped out."
"…I don't doubt your sincerity, but what's so appealing about this getup?"
"If I start, I won't stop. Want me to list everything?"
"As frustrating as it is, I'll pass," Kurumi said, chuckling as she adjusted her hat. "You truly have a strange sense of taste, Shidou-san."
Shidou privately thought "absolute territory" was every teenager's dream, especially on Kurumi. If she'd been in a swimsuit, he'd have been even more effusive. By the time he shook off those thoughts, they'd reached the volleyball court.
A "fair" lottery sorted them into teams: Team A—Kaguya, Yuzuru, Shidou; Team B—Takanotsume, Origami, Reine. Complaints were inevitable, but Reine's cryptic lottery ensured fairness (or so she claimed). Any lingering grumbling was silenced by her offer: the winning team would learn a secret Shidou desperately wanted to keep hidden. His protests, naturally, were ignored. Kurumi's eyes gleamed beneath her sunglasses, and Shidou felt surrounded by enemies.
The match began with Takanotsume's bullet-like serve piercing the net. Kaguya returned it with a surprisingly graceful form, shouting, "Here we go!"
"It's coming!" Takanotsume called.
"Don't get in my way," Origami snapped, cutting her off. Shidou barely had time to marvel at their dynamic before Reine tossed the ball with a perfect arc—her chest swaying distractingly. Male instinct took over, and Shidou's gaze locked on.
"Shi-dou-san?"
"H-Huh!?" Shidou froze as Kurumi's chilling voice pierced his earpiece, her killing intent palpable. He was ready to grovel for forgiveness.
"Warning. Danger."
Yuzuru's alert wasn't about Kurumi. Takanotsume had leaped high, slamming the ball down with terrifying force. Shidou couldn't react, but Kaguya and Yuzuru, as Spirits, dove for it—only to collide head-on and collapse.
"Ow! What are you doing, Yuzuru!?" Kaguya groaned.
"Counter. That's my line. Stay out of my way."
A shrill whistle cut through the air. Shidou glanced at the referee—Kurumi's smile was radiant but laced with menace. As Takanotsume's team celebrated, Shidou seized the moment to execute a diving apology. Eighty percent of a man's job was decisive action, after all.
While Shidou wallowed in his pathetic resolve, Kaguya and Yuzuru's bickering continued. Maybe teaming them up to build camaraderie was a pipe dream. Then—
"Hmph, is that all you've got, Kaguya and Yuzuru?" Takanotsume taunted.
"Disappointing. Challenging me with that level of skill? Know your place."
Kurumi, having seen Reine whisper to them, understood the ploy. Such obvious provocation seemed flimsy, but the twins' shoulders twitched, their eyes narrowing. Too easy, Kurumi thought, perhaps hypocritically.
"…Hey, Yuzuru," Kaguya said.
"Response. Yes?"
"Shall we do this?"
"Agreement. Let's do this."
The air shifted. Their earlier discord vanished, replaced by a seamless synergy. Kurumi's gaze sharpened beneath her sunglasses. The game resumed, and their movements were flawless, a stark contrast to their earlier clumsiness.
Then, Takanotsume's next shot rocketed straight into Shidou's face, the net no obstacle to her bullet-like ball.
"Gah!?" Shidou yelped.
"Shidou-san, that was dangerous," Kurumi said, her tone leisurely despite the trauma he'd just endured. As his consciousness faded, he could've sworn he heard praise.
"Commendation. Nice work—Setup, Kaguya."
"Hell yeah!" Kaguya roared.
Yuzuru clapped her hands upward, and Kaguya sprinted forward. The Yamai sisters soared into the air.
"—HAAAAAAA!"
Kaguya caught the ball high above, unleashing a shot like a gust of wind. It pierced the enemy court, undeniable and perfect. Kurumi blew her whistle, and Kaguya landed, rushing to Yuzuru for a triumphant high-five. Their earlier hostility was gone, replaced by jubilant camaraderie.
"Yeeeah!" Kaguya cheered.
"Joy. Yeeeah!"
"That was perfect, Yuzuru! Zoom, right through!"
"Affirmation. A splendid strike. Well done, Kaguya."
"No, no, that was all you—"
Kurumi watched, realization dawning. She'd suspected it from the start.
"Twenty-five wins, twenty-five losses, forty-nine draws… Quite the record."
As two halves of the same being, they could never coexist. Conflict was inevitable. Yet, in a contest of equals, luck should tip the scales—unless they weren't fighting at full strength. Kurumi might once have dismissed such a notion as absurd. Sacrificing oneself to save another? A fool's errand.
But she'd learned otherwise. Through her sins, she'd lost faith in such ideals—until a certain boy showed her their worth, rekindling what she'd buried.
"What… kind children," Kurumi murmured, her voice tinged with self-mockery. For someone like Tokisaki Kurumi to grow so soft…
If Shidou had heard her, he'd likely say she'd always been kind.
"Shidou-san, are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah… somehow…" Shidou groaned, regaining consciousness and retreating to the restroom entrance. The pain in his face was secondary to Kurumi's voice in his ear. Her usual allure was amplified through the earpiece, like a drug tailored just for him.
"—Kaguya is approaching."
"Huh?"
Seconds later, Kaguya peeked around the wall. She was supposed to be with the others—what did she want?
"Shidou… got a sec?"
"Sure, but… you're sticking with that tone?"
"—Oh." Kaguya's face screamed I messed up. Clearing her throat, she struck a dramatic pose. "Heh, fooled by my performance, were you? You danced like a clown in my palm!"
"You don't have to force it," Shidou said gently.
"…Ugh, but I'm a Spirit, right? Super cool and all. Don't I need some… gravitas or something?"
Her logic was adorably vague. Shidou, who'd had his own phase of trying to seem "cool," couldn't judge.
"Is that how it works…?"
"Hehe, don't you have similar memories, Shidou-san?"
"No comment," he muttered, wincing. That was a past he'd rather not revisit in front of Kurumi.
"Whatever, I'll drop it," Kaguya said. "Tomorrow, you're choosing between me and Yuzuru, right? To settle things."
"Yeah, but that's—"
"Shidou-san, shall I guess what Kaguya-san's about to say?"
Shidou froze. It was obvious, wasn't it? She came alone, so she'd ask him to pick her to win. Simple.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
"Shidou, tomorrow… choose Yuzuru," Kaguya said.
"You'll choose Yuzuru-san, right?"
"—What?" Shidou's eyes widened, stunned by Kaguya's words and Kurumi's perfect prediction.
"Request. Shidou, please choose Kaguya."
"You'll choose Kaguya-san—well, that was obvious."
Shidou was speechless. Kurumi had seen it coming, but he couldn't process it. "Why…?"
"Explanation. Kaguya is far superior to me. You've seen how adorable she is."
"Yuzuru's crazy cute, okay? She's not super expressive, but she's loyal, and… those curves? Like a dream come to life!"
No, he didn't want to understand. Because understanding meant—
"But if I do that, you'll…!" Shidou protested.
"Yeah… I'll disappear," Kaguya said softly.
"Naturally. I'll vanish."
Their own erasure. The weight of their choice crushed Shidou's heart.
"Then why—?"
"I don't want to disappear," Kaguya admitted. "But more than that, I want Yuzuru to live. To see the world, to enjoy it to the fullest."
"Wish. I want Kaguya to live. To explore, to savor this world. Kaguya is the true Yamai Spirit."
Their desires were identical, painfully kind, and utterly irreconcilable. Their unwavering smiles tore at Shidou's heart.
"Reminder. Choose Kaguya tomorrow, Shidou. Or else—"
"—I'll blow this island and all your friends to bits."
Even their threats were the same. Leaving a storm of emotions in their wake, the twins departed.
"Well, Shidou-san?"
An angel, a reaper, or perhaps… a whisper luring him into a nightmare.
"What… will you choose?"
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