"So, that's the situation?" Kurumi asked.
Tap tap. Her shoes clicked, making Shidou—Shiori—flinch visibly. The small, animal-like gesture was adorable, but after hearing his troubles, Kurumi's expression was half amusement, half exasperation.
"Shiori-san successfully contacted Miku," she continued. "But, enraged by her words, you ignored Kotori-san's warnings and told a Spirit you hate her."
"Yes," Shidou mumbled.
"As a result, you're now facing her in her own arena. If you lose, Takanotsume-san and the other five sealed Spirits become hers. Correct?"
"…Yes," he admitted.
"Shidou-san," Kurumi said sternly.
"…Yes," he replied, head bowed.
"I told you to temper your recklessness, didn't I?"
"I have no excuses."
As Shiori, his dogeza was impressively graceful—his second time, after all. The first was to Ratatoskr's crew, including Commander Kotori. Back then, he'd argued but was thoroughly outmatched, as usual. This time, having ignored Kurumi's advice entirely, he had no defense.
Not content with dueling Kurumi, he'd now picked a fight with another Spirit on her turf. No wonder people might think he lived impulsively.
"…I understand why you got angry," Kurumi said. "I'm hardly one to judge, but she has a rather… twisted sense of ethics."
"Right!?" Shidou exclaimed. "You think so too, don't you!?"
"That doesn't mean you should snap and say such things so soon after meeting her," Kurumi chided.
"…Oof," Shidou groaned, bowing his head again. While she understood his reasons, Kurumi's logic cut him down just like Kotori's.
He regretted the trouble he'd caused Kotori and the others, dragging the Spirits into this mess. But he couldn't hold back.
"It'll be such a hassle to find another girl I like."
"Look, she adores me. Dying for me would be her greatest joy, right?"
Miku Izayoi, in a word, was alien. Causing spatial quakes just to sing, genuinely believing it was happiness if girls died for her sake. Unlike Kurumi, who embraced her madness with awareness of life's weight, Miku held no malice, no intent—perhaps no purpose. It was simply her norm.
Everyone obeyed her. Everyone affirmed her. So Shidou had to say it—to this tragic Spirit, unaware of her wrongs, that not everyone would bend to her will. That he would reject her.
"…But I don't regret telling Miku I reject her," Shidou said.
"Of course not," Kurumi replied. "You're the kind of person who'd save even a hopeless case like me."
"I'd argue the 'hopeless' part," he shot back.
"Ufufu…" Kurumi giggled, hands clasped behind her, smiling at his indignant expression. He wasn't defending himself but her—an endearing trait.
She'd called him reckless, but her feelings—reluctantly—aligned with his sister's.
"I… find your passionate heart admirable," Kurumi said.
"Huh?" Shidou blinked.
"Stay true to yourself, Shidou-san," she clarified.
"Oh… thanks," he said, scratching his head—then, remembering his wig, awkwardly switching to his cheek. His boldness earlier contrasted with this shy purity, deepening Kurumi's smile.
Shidou's fearless defiance of Miku's alien values and immense power was precarious yet dazzling. Those touched by his way of life—like Kurumi—were swayed. Yet, Miku's favorability toward Shiori, the foreign element immune to her commanding voice, hadn't dropped.
Why did Miku, who could control others, desire Shiori?
"Speculating is pointless," Kurumi said. "Shidou-san, the first day of the Ten-O Festival is your showdown, correct?"
"Yeah," he said. "Miku's performing, so she told me to do the same."
"Challenging Miku-san in music? You're truly reckless," Kurumi teased.
"You're telling me…" Shidou sighed.
Facing the renowned Miku in a stage battle was a lost cause to anyone asked. She was a pro among pros; Shidou's side, a ragtag amateur group. No wonder Kurumi pressed her cheek, exasperated.
Still, Miku had conceded much. She didn't want her powers sealed and had no reason to compete. Using Shiori as bait to secure a challenge was fortunate. Now, it was up to Shidou's team to fight for victory. Kurumi's role was elsewhere.
"Ufufu, I'll cheer you on, however modestly," she said. "Don't worry—if you lose, I'll devour Shiori-san myself."
"…That's the best encouragement," Shidou replied dryly, meaning a loss to Miku would end his duel with Kurumi too.
He couldn't lose. He had to win—for a certain invitation.
"Hey, Kurumi… if you're up for it," Shidou began, "would you… go around the Ten-O Festival's second day with me?"
"What—" Kurumi gasped.
"Let's go on a date," he said.
The Ten-O Festival was already a done deal in his mind. His slight hesitation stemmed from shyness or fear she'd refuse. He'd been saddled with festival committee duties but fought for the second day's schedule—all to ask Kurumi out.
He'd thought the same thing as her wide-eyed, astonished self.
Her blooming smile, free of calculation, met his outstretched hand. This time, Kurumi took it.
"Yes… if I'll do, I'd love to," she said.
"You're perfect," Shidou said. "It's you, Kurumi."
"Fufu, it's odd seeing Shiori-san like this," she teased.
"…Don't say that," he grumbled.
To an onlooker, it was just a girl asking a beauty out. He'd tried not to dwell on it, but he really wanted to ditch the female guise. Still a guy, obviously.
Kurumi giggled at his reaction, continuing, "If you want a date with me, you can't lose. The only one in the world to claim all of you is me, Tokisaki Kurumi."
"Nah, it's the other way around," Shidou countered. "I'm the only one to claim all of you. So I'll win."
"Kihehehe! I'm counting on it," Kurumi said. "By the way… is your body alright?"
"Huh?" Shidou blinked at the sudden shift. "You mean the other day? She saved me, so I'm fine. Thanks."
"No, not that," Kurumi said. "Actually, I have something for you… from her."
"Something?" Shidou asked.
Nodding, Kurumi produced an item she'd been given earlier. Since she'd brought it up, now was perfect—though it wasn't for Shidou.
"This is for—"
"I'm ho—ow!?" Shidou yelped.
"You're late!" Kotori snapped, her kick landing squarely on his shin. Critical sparking! Ambushing him at the entrance, her blow left him clutching his leg before he could even remove his shoes.
"Kotori… have some mercy," Shidou groaned. "I'm swamped with band practice and committee duties."
"The first is your own fault, dummy," Kotori retorted. "More importantly, you met Kurumi today, didn't you?"
"Uh… yeah, on the rooftop," he admitted.
How was that a casual meeting? Kotori's eyes narrowed, pointing sharply at him. "That's not just a meeting! Contact us the moment you see her!"
"Sorry, my head wasn't there," he said.
"Ugh, what do you think Ratatoskr is for?" Kotori huffed, arms crossed, glaring.
Shidou bowed again, knowing it was his fault. He trusted Kurumi was safe now, but Kotori wanted utmost caution. He'd call for help instantly with other Spirits, but Kurumi was… special. Belatedly, he realized contacting Fraxi-nas could've avoided her seeing him as Shiori. Too late—and Kotori likely wouldn't have allowed it.
"Sorry, I'll be careful," he said.
"You'd better," Kotori said. "What'd you talk about?"
"Uh… Miku, mostly," he said.
"You spilled our details?" she asked.
"Sorry, was that bad?" he said.
"…It's fine," Kotori sighed. "They probably know everything anyway."
Shidou's loose lips around Kurumi were risky, but the duo would've uncovered it regardless. Since they weren't sabotaging the Spirit mission, his slip was harmless. He thanked their maturity.
"Also… I asked Kurumi to go with me to the Ten-O Festival's second day," he said. "Can you support us?"
"Duh, that's what Ratatoskr's for," Kotori said. "But if Shiori-chan loses on day one, it's all for nothing."
"I'll do my absolute best," Shidou said, bowing deeply.
"Good," Kotori said. "Don't worry—Ratatoskr's got your back. Just go all out."
"Thanks, I'm counting on you," he said.
Weird multiple-choice prompts aside, Ratatoskr's support was invaluable. Without Kotori and the crew, saving Spirits—even Kurumi—would be near impossible. Initially dragged into this, Shidou was now deeply grateful.
His sincerity made Kotori blush slightly. "Y-yeah… So, any changes after meeting Kurumi?"
"Changes?" Shidou asked.
"Like… feeling off after seeing her," she clarified.
"Nah, I'm fine," he said. "Why's everyone asking that? Even Kurumi did."
If anything, Kurumi had energized him, easing his Shiori worries and securing a date. Kotori's concern since the school trip wasn't his imagination.
"Kurumi did?" Kotori asked.
"Yeah, about my health," he said. "Do you know something?"
Even slow-on-the-uptake Shidou found it odd to be asked about his health twice in a day when he felt fine. Kotori, hand on her chin, thought briefly, then shook her head and headed to the living room.
"It's nothing," she said. "Don't worry about it."
"Hey—wait!" Shidou called. "Oh, I've got something for you."
"For me?" Kotori stopped, turning gracefully.
"Yeah," he said, offering it.
"An… amulet?" Kotori asked.
"Yeah, I… got a vibe on the way home," he said.
A weak excuse, but he smiled through it. Of course, there was more to it. He recalled his rooftop talk with Kurumi.
"For Kotori?"
"Yes, she wanted Kotori-san to have it, preferably without saying it's from her," Kurumi said.
Staring at the plain white amulet, it seemed ordinary.
"Why Kotori?"
"I don't know," Kurumi said. "She said to throw it away if you think it's suspicious."
"Like anyone could toss something from her," Shidou said.
He wasn't ungrateful enough to discard a gift from someone who'd saved him repeatedly. Still, questions lingered. Kotori and the white-haired girl's connection was unclear. She'd protected Kotori once, but they'd never met directly, as Kotori herself confirmed.
It was just an amulet, but Shidou wasn't naive enough to think it was only that. Yet, he doubted the girl would harm them through Kurumi.
"Alright, I'll find a way to give it to her," he said.
"What's this? Finally losing it?" Kotori teased.
"No, just… take it, for peace of mind?" Shidou pleaded.
"Give gifts like this to the other Spirits," Kotori said. "I'm stable—"
"Maybe," Shidou interrupted, "but I worry about you too. It might be silly, but it could help. You never know what's out there."
He'd meant to make an excuse, but his genuine concern slipped out. Kotori, despite her commander role, faced stress, and DEM had their own Fraxi-nas-like ship. Her safety wasn't guaranteed.
His gut, without proof, told him this amulet would protect her—because Unknown chose Kotori specifically. There had to be something.
Kotori eyed his awkward smile suspiciously but softened, snatching the amulet. "Fine, if you insist, I'll take it. Thanks."
Her brusque tone, typical of black-ribbon Kotori, belied the slight sway in her step as she headed to the living room. Shidou, scratching his head, followed, thinking she seemed in a good mood.
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