"Sorry, but we'll take our leave. Survive, and we'll meet again, Takamiya… no, Itsuka Shidou."
"What…?"
Shidou frowned at Westcott's words. Takamiya—the surname of Mana, who claimed to be his sister. This smug man knew something about Shidou's past that he didn't.
"Wait, you know me!?"
"No, I don't know Itsuka Shidou."
"Hey, hold on!!"
Westcott placed a hand on Ellen's shoulder. Her Territory enveloped him, and they vanished into the sky, leaving only the consequences of their actions.
"Damn that bastard…!!"
Shidou's frustration boiled, but a Spirit above stole his attention—not Miku beside him, but the one they came to save.
"Now… you, huh?"
A figure resembling Yatogami Tohka radiated murderous intent, an overwhelming Spirit glaring down at them.
"She's not your friend? She's insanely strong—doesn't even need saving! What's going on!?"
"Don't ask me… I'm clueless too."
Shidou recalled that moment when Ellen's blade nearly took his life. Tohka's scream—a resentful cry he somehow recognized—had unleashed black light, engulfing everything. When it cleared, everything changed. Clad in pitch-black Astral Dress, exuding a king's aura, it was Tohka, yet not Tohka.
"Hmph."
"—Crap!!"
"Eek!!"
Tohka's gaze swept over them, her sword slashing wildly. Shidou instinctively raised Sandalphon as a shield, deflecting a black shockwave.
"As expected, Sandalphon… Why do you wield that Angel?"
"Tohka…!!"
That attack could've killed both him and Miku if not blocked. Tohka would never do this. She knew Sandalphon, yet she wasn't herself. Shidou's mind spun, wishing for someone calm to help—like her.
"Relying on her too much, huh? Pathetic."
He shook off the thought. She wasn't here. He had to bring Tohka back himself. Assessing calmly, this wasn't simple spiritual overflow. Tohka's Astral Dress and Angel were different—negative, like a photo's inverse. Her sword, Nahemah, gleamed black, unlike Sandalphon. It felt familiar, as if he'd held it before—an impossible déjà vu.
As Shidou stared at the black blade, Tohka's sharp gaze softened with confusion.
"You… I've seen you…"
"Tohka…! Are you—!?"
"Tohka… is that my name?"
She didn't remember him or even herself.
"What the hell's happening…?"
No matter how calmly he thought, it made no sense. But one truth remained: no matter what, he'd bring Tohka back.
Godlike speed and twin tempests mowed down everything. Mages couldn't even perceive the chase, blown away by the pursuing winds.
This superhuman game was, naturally, a contest where both parties kept each other in sight.
"Your fancy flight should crash with limited power release!!"
"Haha, escaping us Yatsume sisters!? Not bad, Whitey!!"
"Kurumi gets 'vampire,' and I'm just 'Whitey'? That's unfair!!"
Yaguya ignored the white girl's protest, thrusting her lance mid-flight. Its tip spun like a drill, unleashing a condensed typhoon.
"Tch…"
The attack's range was vast. The girl leaped skyward to escape. But in that fleeting moment, Yuzuru's pendulum chains encircled her, closing in with wind-wrapped speed.
No escape. So, she'd make one. With a sheath's clink, she drew her blade, clashing with the chains. Metal rang as they tangled her sword—her plan.
"Haaa!!"
"What…!?"
Not aiming to cut, she swung the entangled blade, hurling Yuzuru with it. Releasing the sword, she landed on a building.
"Overpowering Yuzuru… such brute strength for your looks."
"Nope, not my forte. That was my all, sadly."
Truth or lie, her robed face hid it. Yuzuru rejoined Yaguya above.
"Point: Discarding your only weapon is foolish."
"Thanks for the tip, but—"
The blade traced a path back to her hand, as if sentient. She smirked.
"This one's pretty smart."
"Fascinating trick. Entertaining…!!"
A reset. The girl pondered her next move. She had no reason to fight them, but leaving them to AST—or Origami, half-dead—was risky.
"Unlike Kurumi, I'm not great at this…"
Grumbling, she readied her blade. Direct combat wasn't her style, especially on their terms. Escape was her only option, but she couldn't hide while drawing their attention. Less deft than Kurumi, she walked a tightrope.
"…Hm?"
"Doubt: This place…?"
The playful battle ended abruptly. Yaguya and Yuzuru exchanged puzzled looks, their aggression flipping. The girl tilted her head, guessing.
"The caster… something happened?"
They fought under Miku's Angel. If its effect ended suddenly, either Miku stopped it willingly, or she exhausted her power. The worst case crossed her mind, but two glowing spiritual forces in the distance suggested otherwise.
"You two know Kurumi, right?"
She spoke casually to the confused sisters.
"Who are you? Why are we here?"
"That's a long story. As for me… think of me as Kurumi's nameless servant."
"That's kinda cool!"
"…Is it?"
Their sense of cool seemed off.
"Binding me? Know your place."
Tohka's sword was annihilation itself. Even Miku's Astral Dress couldn't withstand it.
"—"
Miku collapsed, voiceless. She'd recklessly burned through her spiritual power, trying to stop Tohka—a monstrous Spirit. She'd lost everything. Without her Voice, she was worthless. Nobody would look at her, hear her. It was over. She'd had the best moments, yet helping Shidou led to this.
Shidou never gave up. He spoke of trust between Spirits and humans, foolishly aiming to save someone precious. Miku wanted to believe—in him, in Kurumi, whom he trusted.
Kurumi was strong, vivid, noble. Miku couldn't accept such a Spirit bonding with a human. But if Kurumi trusted Shidou, if he could truly love another…
Love and be loved—a simple, difficult, beautiful bond. If Miku had met Shidou when her heart was scarred, maybe things could've been different. A fantasy, a path not taken. Too grand for a voiceless her. Closing her eyes—
"Miku—!!"
A hero's voice snapped them open.
Shidou ran, logic and calm absent. He couldn't let Tohka's strike reach Miku. He didn't want her to die. Months ago, he'd failed to protect a girl and his sister from clashing. This wasn't the same. He wouldn't be powerless again.
He had the power to save Miku. His wish, his prayer, would reach that Angel. A girl's ultimate compassion fueled it. A prayer to protect couldn't fail.
The Angel answered, shining. As black aurora loomed, a sturdy ice shield appeared.
"You okay, Miku?"
"…"
Miku stared, stunned, her voice faintly returning. Zadkiel's ice shield stood before Shidou, protecting her.
"What… are you doing…?"
"I promised, didn't I? I'd save you."
"…!!"
A small promise.
"If I were in danger like Tohka, would you risk your life to save me!?"
"Obviously!! I'd save you. That's a promise."
He'd answered her childish tantrum without hesitation. That promise, for a worthless, voiceless Miku—Shidou kept it. Tears flowed, not from sadness, for the first time in ages. She reached for his fingers, feeling no disgust.
"Petty tricks…"
Tohka, puzzled by Shidou's new Angel, raised her sword again. As he braced, shadows stirred.
"Kihehehe!!"
"What!?"
"What…?"
The shadows laughed—a mad voice Miku recognized, making her flinch. Tohka floated to dodge bullets. Shadows writhed, revealing girls in red-black dresses.
"Oh my, oh my."
A chuckle. Heels clicked. Shidou stared into the dark. Moonlight revealed her—
"You've been reckless again… but even that's charming, Shidou-san."
"Falling for me again?"
"Oh, you hopeless man."
Kurumi smiled, troubled yet graceful, standing by Shidou.
"Kuru…"
Miku tried to speak but couldn't. Kurumi, perceptive, frowned.
"Your Voice… you exhausted it."
"…!!"
Kurumi reached out. Miku flinched, expecting trauma, but—
"Thank you."
"…?"
Kurumi's gentle head-pat and gratitude stunned her. Why thank a worthless her?
"You protected Shidou-san, even losing your Voice in this dangerous place. You kept your promise."
"…"
No, Shidou protected her. He kept the promise. Miku came out of stubborn pride. But to Kurumi, it mattered. Her gentle, caring smile—not mocking or bold—proved it. Kurumi cherished others, expressing it naturally. Miku rediscovered a heart she thought lost. Spirits could be so kind, so radiant.
"Leave the rest to us."
"…!!"
Miku shook her head, glancing at Shidou and Kurumi with concern. Kurumi's eyes widened, then narrowed with a bold smile—reminiscent of Shidou's promise.
"No need to worry. As you know, I'm not just a pretty face."
Elegant, delicate, yet daring, Kurumi turned, her golden eyes on Miku, a vision of ethereal beauty. Even Shidou blushed, captivated.
"Man, you're one hell of a woman."
"Just noticing?"
"Nah, just falling harder. I know your charm better than anyone."
"Flatterer. Let's go."
"Yeah—Miku."
He gently pulled his hand free, smiling.
"I'm off to save the princess—to keep my promise."
"…"
Miku nodded, and Shidou walked toward Tohka, still battling Kurumi's clones.
"Got a cool plan to save Tohka, Shidou-san?"
"Same as always."
"You're hopeless."
Kurumi's blunt jab made Shidou wince, his body aching.
"No choice! I don't know what's wrong with Tohka, and Kotori says it's the only way!!"
Thanks to a collapsed ceiling, Fraxinus reconnected, but Kotori's possibility was just their usual approach. Kurumi's sharp tone and sour expression hinted at irritation.
"Not the time, but… you okay, Kurumi?"
"Perfectly fine. Just a bad dream. Not at all bothered by you ignoring my warnings or fawning over other girls."
"That's not convincing! I'm sorry for being reckless, but I didn't fawn over anyone!"
"You'll regret saying that."
Kurumi noticed Miku's changed gaze toward Shidou but wasn't truly upset. His universal charm was inevitable. But hearing "same as always" stung, as their bond wasn't distant enough for her to stay calm. Especially knowing the method's effectiveness.
"Kotori's possibility isn't wrong. To wake Tohka from her dark side, we need something intense. It's logical, but with your body, you've got one shot."
"…You saw through me."
"Don't underestimate me. Overusing Angels, simultaneous manifestation—you're barely standing."
She was right. Using Angels ravaged Shidou's body—tearing pain, flames burning to heal it. Standing was a struggle; a normal person would've lost their mind. Yet Shidou stood calmly beside her. Why? To save Tohka. And for male pride—pointless to others, but enough for him.
"You know, Kurumi, guys… want to look good in front of the girl they love."
"You're impossible."
His cocky grin made her blush under the moonlight. A gun emerged from the shadows, and she raised it.
"For your bravado, I'll handle stopping Tohka. But with her power, it's 50/50. A deadly game. Ready?"
"Fifty percent with you? I'll take the other half. That's 100%. I'll save Tohka and keep our date promise. Perfect, right?"
"Wonderful. Perfect."
Kurumi tapped her heels, floating upward, switching with her clones to face Tohka.
The captive princess—Sleeping Beauty. A role any girl might dream of, saved by a prince. But Kurumi?
"Kihehe! Thinking unlike me."
"Who are you?"
Tohka aimed Nahemah, her kingly gaze piercing Kurumi. Zafkiel rose, and the Queen of Time answered simply.
"Greetings. I'm a Spirit. Pleased to meet you—enviable, adorable princess."
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