"If it's Shidou, he'd save Tohka without a moment's hesitation, even if it meant his death," Yoshino said.
"Hah, that's Shidou alright. I'd bet on it. He'd dive into danger for me or Yuzuru without a thought," Kaguya agreed.
"Affirmative. Harshly put, he's crazy. For Tohka, he'd sacrifice anything," Yuzuru added.
All three agreed: Shidou would risk his life for a captured Spirit. Bound by Miku's Gabriel, the girls couldn't lie.
"Tohka's precious. That's reason enough," Shidou's words echoed.
"What's that…?!" Miku muttered, his words sticking. Precious? Just human platitudes. People are selfish, foolish creatures. They have to be.
"I've sworn my heart to one man alone. His seat is taken," Kurumi's voice rang.
Love was worthless, easily swapped for something better—a trivial thing.
"Does anyone know about Kurumi and Shidou's relationship?" Miku asked, curious about the mysterious Spirit who boldly confronted her, exuding terrifying power yet tied to Shidou. She hoped for intel, and the Spirits answered.
"Shidou loves Kurumi deeply… and I think she feels the same," Yoshino said.
"I don't know much, but they've sworn an oath. A strong bond, though not as great as ours!" Kaguya boasted.
"Agreed. They seem apart, yet always together," Yuzuru noted.
Miku bit her lip, scowling. Incomprehensible. A powerful Spirit like Kurumi, entwined with a human—a man? Absurd. They're just drunk on their trust. Her irritation grew, unshaken by beauty or fine food. What she deemed worthless fueled her anger.
The songstress, who'd forsaken trust, couldn't fathom human-Spirit bonds. That's why Shidou and Kurumi haunted her. Unaware, she was beyond saving in her lonely castle.
"Hm," the white-haired girl mused, waiting under the vast starry sky for contact. It was taking longer than expected, but if that protected her from Miku's voice, a response was due. A crackle in Shidou's earpiece brought Kotori's voice.
"Shidou, can you hear me? Answer if you can."
"Sorry, Shidou's on a night date. Care for a chat with me?" the girl replied.
"You…" Kotori gasped, recognizing the voice instantly.
"First time talking. I've no name, so call me what you like," the girl said.
"Odd, after all your help. I'm Kotori Itsuka. Nice to meet you… passing Spirit?" Kotori said.
"Yes, pleasure to meet you, Kotori. Lovely name," the girl replied.
They knew of each other as Spirits but had never spoken. Now, they connected via comms. Kotori responded to the compliment, half-joking, half-sincere.
"Thanks. Flattery gets you nowhere from here."
"No flattery, just my honest feeling," the girl said.
"So, Shidou's with that headstrong lady?"
"Yes. Mind keeping me company?"
"Fine. You saved my life, so I owe you that much."
"You noticed that quickly," the girl said, surprised. She'd expected Kotori to catch on, but not so fast. A chuckle from Kotori made her realize her slip.
"Got me," the girl admitted.
"Yes, but I didn't expect an easy catch, especially after Origami's case."
"I'm not good at this. I can't maneuver like Kurumi," the girl said. Her knowledge didn't match Kurumi's finesse. She wasn't built for verbal sparring.
"Surprising. I thought you'd be skilled at this."
"Just good at seeming so. I know a bit more than most."
"You know about us, then."
"Ratatosk, the only group aiming to protect Spirits, not destroy them. I don't know the higher-ups, but you field agents are serious. You'd face my queen to achieve it."
"Flattered. You know that much, so you get what I want, right?"
"Yes. You want to seal my power. I understand and respect it. But I'm sorry—my plan requires this power."
Kotori was earnest, chasing the dream of Spirit protection, risking Shidou in the process. The girl understood but couldn't accept their kindness.
"Plan, huh? Will you share if I ask?"
"Maybe, within limits."
"Straight to it, then. What's your goal?"
The blunt question drew a wry smile. Kotori's fiery directness nearly made her slip again.
"It might seem small, trivial to you. But to me, it's worth any sacrifice," the girl said.
She'd achieve it, uncaring of understanding or condemnation, wielding her blade. Like Shidou's vow to save Kurumi or Kurumi's resolve, she had her plan.
"That's all I'll say," she added.
"I get you have resolve. Is your plan why you stick with Kurumi?"
"You could say that. Our goals differ, though. Want to know about Kurumi? Ask Shidou—he's closest to her."
"True… ugh, he fell for a real bad girl."
"Heh, that bad girl might be your future sister-in-law," the girl teased.
The mutual feelings were strong, yet complications lingered. Kotori groaned in disgust.
"Spare me… You're on Kurumi's side. Okay to assume Shidou wins?"
"A slip. Please keep it to yourself."
"No denial? Sounds like you want Shidou to win."
"Maybe. I just seek the best path for my plan—all for my queen."
Whether Kurumi or Shidou won, her goal remained. She'd seize that outcome, no matter the twists. That was the white-haired girl's essence.
"I spoke too much. It was a pleasure, Kotori," she said.
"Same… Don't tell me you just wanted to chat?"
"Yes, no other reason. I expected contact sooner, given that."
"Thanks to my crew's efficiency, comms took longer to restore."
"My condolences," the girl said.
Kotori's rampage had added physical damage, delaying repairs—a detail the girl didn't know.
"True. And… thank you. For this, for sealing my power, for helping Shidou."
"Just necessary for my goals. You siblings are so earnest—it's ticklish."
"High praise. I'll take it. Was sending this through Shidou part of your plan?"
"Think of it as extra care to keep you in the game. You're vital to my plan."
Kotori likely studied the unassuming amulet, a minor protective charm. If it helped her, the risk was worth it. Kotori was a key queen in her plan.
"So, it's your Angel's power? Incredible."
"Up to you. Use or discard it as you like."
"I'll keep it. No need to reject kindness to win you over."
"You won't give up, huh?"
Kotori's confident reply showed no surrender. "Of course. Giving up isn't our style—especially Shidou's."
"I don't dislike that about him," the girl admitted.
Shidou's self-sacrificing kindness drew others, crafting words that saved. Seeing him, not memories of him, made her bet on him—the boy chosen by her queen.
"Time to return this comm. You'll want to confirm his safety," the girl said.
"Mana's got a new earpiece—" Kotori paused, realizing the implication.
"She did, huh?" the girl said.
"Yes, Mana."
"You don't know about her and Kurumi, right?"
"No. We're unsure how to explain. Also, you were arguing with Kurumi's clone earlier."
Mana, sheltered by Ratatosk after DEM's cruelty, knew little of recent events. The clone skirmish at Tenguu Square ended before escalating, but Mana would likely see Kurumi as the worst Spirit seducing her brother.
"Here… Tohka's here," Shidou said.
"This area's all DEM facilities—offices, research labs. The first building, where Tohka's held, is that central one," Kurumi explained.
"There!" Shidou glared at the towering structure in the quiet office district. With Kurumi's help, he'd reached the rescue's doorstep. But DEM's stronghold, with unclear motives, was no easy foe.
"What do they want with Tohka? Do you know DEM's plans?" he asked.
"I know as much as you. To learn their reasons, ask the mastermind. Greed, power, glory—many motives are possible, but their methods are too crude for a global corporation," Kurumi said.
Capturing Spirits could serve various ends—using their power or boosting influence. Yet DEM's aggressive tactics, clashing openly with local forces, suggested arrogance, madness, or a goal beyond consequences.
"Maybe they don't want the Spirit itself, but what's inside," Kurumi mused.
"Inside? What's that—" Shidou began, stopping as a familiar sensation brushed his skin upon entering DEM's grounds. Moments later, a shrill alarm blared.
"Spacequake alarm?! No way!" Shidou exclaimed.
"No Spirit crossing over. Not a malfunction either. They detected us," Kurumi said.
People evacuated to underground shelters with practiced efficiency, minimizing witnesses.
"That feeling earlier… then this is…" Shidou trailed off.
"Likely to reduce witnesses and eliminate threats," Kurumi said, grabbing Shidou and leaping skyward as a light blast cratered their previous spot.
"Too extreme!" Shidou shouted, spotting Bandersnatch units—dozens more than he'd seen before—attacking despite fleeing civilians. Kurumi, holding him, dodged gracefully, summoning clones from shadows, numbering over a hundred.
Mindless Bandersnatch units were no match. Clones dismantled them swiftly, turning the calm night into a battlefield of metal and shadow. But more arrived.
"Kurumi, look!" Shidou pointed.
"I see. Reinforcements," she replied, eyeing the swarm of Bandersnatch and wizards emerging from transforming walls—over five hundred, an unimaginable force for a company.
A normal person would quake, but Kurumi, no ordinary being, was a madwoman. Facing overwhelming odds, she smirked with mad beauty.
"Challenging me with numbers? Fine. I'll crush such arrogance," she declared.
Enemy territory or not, where shadows existed, it was her domain. Her beauty was fierce, unlike a song's—tyrannical and breathtaking.
"This is our stage," Kurumi proclaimed.
The nightmare's frenzied concert began.
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