From the abyss, an army of shadows emerged—each a beautiful girl, identical in face. A sight to inspire terror, like a nightmare.
"What is this?!" Miku shrieked.
"Thinking you're the only one who can wield miracles is arrogant. If you control thousands, I'll command thousands of myself," Kurumi declared.
Miku's enthralled girls were seized—hands, feet, bodies—none escaped. Her domain was overwritten by Kurumi's in an instant. Shadows laughed; thousands of Kurumis laughed. Miku's panic was understandable. Even she, who wielded the irrational power to dominate, couldn't fathom an army of identical girls.
A sudden gust tore through the shadowed domain, fierce enough to scatter it.
"Raphael—El Re'em!" Kaguya shouted.
"Response. Raphael—El Nahash!" Yuzuru echoed.
The supernatural wind was too much for Shidou, a mere human, to withstand.
"Guh…!" he grunted, braced for impact against a wall—an injury he couldn't afford. Resigned to rely on Camael's healing, he shut his eyes. But a Kurumi clone, emerging from the shadows, caught him, saving him.
"Thanks… Kurumi, right?" Shidou asked, hesitant. He'd seen clones before but never spoken to one. Identical to Kurumi, yet he sensed a difference, like the instinctual feeling of her presence.
The clone giggled. "Don't mind it. It's a privilege to touch you like this," she said, gripping him tightly, her hands wandering ticklishly.
"Uh… sure?" Shidou mumbled, confused.
"Yes, yes. I am quite possessive—" the clone began.
Smack! Kurumi slapped the clone's hands, yanking Shidou away. "What are you doing?"
"Unfair, me! I followed my orders to save Shidou. No reason for a scolding," the clone protested.
"Then why touch him excessively? I saw those hands wandering," Kurumi snapped.
"Gulp! Your eyes deceived you. I was merely checking for injuries," the clone retorted.
"You're confessing!" Kurumi exclaimed.
"Hey, Kurumi—both Kurumis—this isn't the time—" Shidou interjected, baffled by their comedic exchange.
A gust interrupted as Kaguya and Yuzuru, wings aloft, wielded a massive spear and pendulum, dominating the sky.
"Back again with your bizarre tricks? Harm my sister, and no mercy!" Kaguya roared.
"Warning. Final ultimatum. Leave now, or we'll eliminate you," Yuzuru added.
Their piercing glares showed recognition but unyielding hostility, twisted by Miku's control. Yoshino's Zadkiel conjured ice walls, halting the clones' advance.
"Heh, I've got three adorable Spirits. I can't lose!" Miku taunted.
"Heh, heh! Oh, dear, I'm in trouble. Such an attitude makes me want to crush you," Kurumi replied, her voice low and menacing, startling Miku.
"Kurumi!" Shidou warned, knowing her "serious" side was no joke.
"I know, I'm a bit riled," Kurumi said, shaking her head. "Go, my selves."
The clones opened suppressive fire, a storm of bullets. But to the wind-wielding Yamai sisters, it was a drizzle.
"Think this works on the Children of the Storm?" Kaguya laughed.
"Dismissed. Mere popguns before our winds," Yuzuru scoffed.
"As expected. We wouldn't want you hurt," a clone said, knowing the attack wouldn't suffice. Spirits, even limited, were formidable. Kurumi's clones performed perfectly for their greedy master, mindful of the controlled trio.
Kurumi raised a hand, a familiar gesture. Shidou tensed as she invoked a miracle's name.
"Let's show our power. Come—Zafkiel!"
The golden clock appeared, the sole Angel to defy irreversible time, crowning Kurumi the Queen of Time.
"Ready, Shidou?" she asked.
"Do it, even if it's rough," he replied.
"Fear not. I will protect you. For my reward, perhaps your lovely arm—" a clone teased.
"Enough!" Kurumi snapped, cutting off the clone. Shidou smirked at their banter. The plan was set, risks acknowledged. Kurumi's question wasn't about resolve but readiness.
"I'll buy as much time as possible. Convince Miku to not interfere with Tohka's rescue. Whether she keeps promises is another matter," Kurumi said.
"You're harsh on Miku," Shidou noted.
"I dislike those who break oaths. Aren't you too soft?" she countered.
"I deceived her. Gotta apologize first," Shidou said.
"That kindness draws people in," Kurumi murmured, smiling wryly, aiming at a clone.
"Protect Shidou, me," she ordered.
"Of course, me. Heh, I know you're worried—" the clone began.
"Zafkiel—Bullet One: Aleph!" Kurumi fired, accelerating the clone.
"Guh!" Shidou grunted under the pressure as the clone, holding him, dashed to Miku's stage. The Yamai sisters' sharp eyes tracked the speed, but the clones' suppressive fire delayed them, letting Shidou reach Yoshino's ice barrier.
"Heh!" the clone laughed.
"Eek!" Miku yelped.
"Yoshino, that's a bit unfair!" Miku protested as clones swarmed Zadkiel like bullets, outpacing Yoshino's ice. Kurumi wouldn't hold back, and Shidou couldn't afford to be choosy.
A clone reached Miku, sealing her mouth with shadows to silence her voice. More clones restrained her, dragging her into the shadows alongside Shidou, who surrendered calmly, trusting Kurumi's plan. As his body sank into the darkness, he turned.
"Thanks, Kurumi! Be careful!" he shouted, needing to say it despite her strength.
"Worrying about me? Foolish boy," Kurumi muttered, smiling.
"You look pleased," a clone teased.
"Quiet," Kurumi snapped as the clone, feigning a scream, joined the fight against the Yamai sisters.
Kurumi knew her clones shared her feelings for Shidou. Did he consider she might take both his and Miku's powers? No, he trusted her completely.
"You dare touch my sister, vampire?!" Kaguya roared.
"That name again—Bullet One: Aleph!" Kurumi fired at her clones, speeding them up. They coordinated, disrupting the three Spirits.
"No challenge," Yuzuru said.
"Go, Yoshino!" Kaguya urged.
"Totally nimble!" Yoshino exclaimed.
The wind Spirits countered, scattering clones with gusts. Yoshino's Zadkiel conjured icicles, felling more. Despite limited power, the trio was formidable. Kurumi, conserving energy and protecting the shadows, fought cautiously, mindful of borrowed power limits.
She overheard Shidou's talk with Miku—resistance but progress. He proposed a new condition: help save Tohka.
"Help save Tohka," Shidou's voice echoed.
Kurumi stomped the shadow, purely coincidental. She understood his logic but felt a twinge of irritation.
"What was that?" Shidou asked, startled by the shadow's tremor.
Miku, equally surprised, hadn't caused it—likely the external battle's impact. Shidou pressed on. "Miku, I meant it. Help save Tohka. That's all I ask for our deal."
"You just want to seal my power! Why go so far?" Miku demanded.
"Because Tohka's precious. That's enough," Shidou said.
For Shidou, no further reason was needed. He'd say the same for any Spirit. But to Miku, it was unthinkable, something she refused to believe.
"No way! Why should I?!" Miku snapped.
"Miku…"
"I'm done! Your words are lies! Humans are selfish—they can't care that much!" Miku shouted.
"Why say that? Why reject humans?!" Shidou pressed, unable to grasp her worldview. Her past, her songs' emotions—something was missing. He needed to know why she lived so sadly.
"Why hate humans? You're—"
"Shidou, time's up," Kurumi's voice cut through.
"—!" Light pierced the dark, pulling them out. Shidou's vision shifted from black to vibrant colors.
"Kurumi…" he gasped.
"Wanted more time, but three Spirits are tough. Time to retreat," she said.
Shidou surveyed the scene—many clones remained, but countless "corpses" lay strewn. He wanted more time with Miku but couldn't blame Kurumi. "Got it… sorry—"
His words cut off as a massive icicle from Zadkiel hurtled toward them. Defenseless, Shidou braced—then it split, diverted.
"You!" Shidou exclaimed.
"Always like this with you," the white-haired girl said, sword ready. Her timely arrivals were uncanny.
"My queen, I'll handle this," she said.
"Do it—Bullet One: Aleph," Kurumi replied, speeding herself and Shidou, escaping through a stage hole into the night.
"Don't let them escape!" Yoshino cried.
"Agreed!" Kaguya shouted.
"Understood," Yuzuru added.
"Right back at you," the white-haired girl retorted, blocking their path with a blade that could cleave wind.
"Children of the Storm, want to test who's faster?" she taunted.
"Insolent!" Kaguya snapped.
"Accepted," Yuzuru replied.
Their forms vanished, a clash of wind and speed erupting.
"Sorry, Kurumi. I made her angrier instead of securing a promise," Shidou said, hiding in a building's shadow, relieved but frustrated.
Kurumi shook her head, smiling. "Don't blame yourself. Miku didn't seem intent on interfering. With me here, we're safe for now."
"Right…" Shidou nodded. Tohka's rescue was priority. If Miku wouldn't obstruct, they'd met the minimum goal.
"But…" Shidou began.
"But—ow, ow, ow!" he yelped as Kurumi yanked his ear, her smile laced with pressure.
"Kurumi! That hurts!"
"I entrusted Miku's persuasion to you, and you're perfect for it. But trying to recruit her? Are we not enough?" she asked, voice sharp.
"It's not that! I'm worried about you too! Don't sulk!" Shidou protested.
He trusted Kurumi and the white-haired girl, but no "certainty" existed against unknown enemies. Her obvious sulking surprised him.
"I'm not sulking. I understand your concern and the enemy's strength. I commend your judgment," Kurumi said, cheeks puffed.
"Sorry for not consulting you," Shidou apologized.
"You think so? Then praise me more," she said, eyes downcast.
"Huh?"
"Pet my head," she murmured.
Shidou's breath caught. Blushing, he gently stroked her silky hair over her red headband, marveling at its delicacy. Unlike her usual transcendent or fierce demeanor, she was like a content cat, relaxed under his touch.
"Keep going," she whispered.
"Easy enough," he replied, smiling.
Seconds or minutes passed in blissful silence. Then, Shidou noticed his other hand moving—toward another Kurumi.
"Hm?" he blinked.
"Your lovely arm, received," the clone giggled.
"Oh, from earlier—" Shidou began, but shadows yanked the clone away, a déjà vu.
"What are you doing without permission, me?" Kurumi demanded.
"It's unfair you get all the rewards! I speak for me!" the clone retorted.
"No excuses now?!" Kurumi exclaimed.
"It's the consensus of the Shidou faction!" the clone declared.
"Be quiet!" Kurumi snapped, snapping her fingers. The clone vanished into the shadows with a theatrical wail.
"Kurumi…" Shidou said.
"Ignore it. Nothing's in the shadows," she insisted.
"That's a stretch—"
"I know nothing," she dodged, avoiding his gaze.
The "Shidou faction" piqued his curiosity, but Kurumi stonewalled. The tender moment faded, and she inwardly groaned. She'd avoided letting clones near Shidou for this reason—her biggest enemy was herself.
"Uh, can I join?" a voice interrupted.
"Whoa! Unknown… you're okay," Shidou sighed, relieved to see the unscathed white-haired girl.
"I don't fight battles I can't win," she replied.
"What about them?" Shidou asked.
"Berserk? I stalled them and let them flee," she said.
"You escaped Kaguya and Yuzuru? That's incredible," Shidou marveled. The Yamai sisters were the fastest Spirits, yet she outran them.
"No need to fight on their terms. Hide, and they lose you," she explained.
"Nobody finds you when you hide," Kurumi added.
"Exactly. More importantly, we've located Tohka," the girl said.
"Really?! Where? Is she safe?" Shidou pressed, nearly grabbing her.
"Calm down," Kurumi urged, nodding to the girl.
"Deus Ex Machina Industries, Japan Branch, Building One. That's where Tohka's held," the girl revealed.
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