"…!"
Shidou's consciousness snapped awake, as if the clichéd "I suddenly woke up" line had floated into his mind. His senses shifted seamlessly from dormancy to full alertness.
He glanced at the time. Midnight, just as the date changed. Normally, he'd need to rest his sharp mind for Tohka's date—the last of the six. But instead of returning to sleep, he leapt from bed, changed out of his pajamas into something light, and slipped out of his room. Careful not to wake Kotori, he moved silently, driven by certainty. He didn't need to think about who awaited him. He knew.
Alright, it's a bit late, but—let's have a wonderful date under the starlit night.
Outside, every electric light was off, leaving only streetlamps and the gravity-defying spiritual sphere to illuminate the dark.
"…Yo. It's dangerous for a girl to be out alone this late," Shidou said.
His gaze locked onto a single point in the darkness—a flicker of light under a streetlamp, swallowed by an inky shadow.
"—Kurukurumi!"
From the shadow emerged a breathtakingly beautiful girl, twirling as if dancing. Her dazzling dress, woven with crimson and darkness, seemed otherworldly. Her golden eyes, adorned with a clock face, were so captivating that no word but "beautiful" could describe them, no matter how many times he saw her.
Kurumi. Tokisaki Kurumi. The Spirit Shidou loved with all his heart. With a light toss of her hair, she faced him.
"Good evening, Shidou-san… Shidou-san?"
Even the transcendent Kurumi blinked in surprise, calling his name twice, the second with a questioning lilt. The reason? Shidou's bizarre behavior.
For some reason, he was striking a perfect camera pose, reminiscent of Origami. Though not as prepared as her, his phone's camera was modern enough to capture Kurumi's astral dress in stunning clarity. Or rather—
"…What are you doing?" she asked.
"One more," Shidou said.
"Pardon?"
"Do that again, please."
His words carried an eerie intensity. His expression was as blank as Origami's, yet tinged with excitement. It was as if her spirit had possessed him. Kurumi, her face twitching, took a step back.
"…I-I refuse," she stammered.
"Come on, just once!"
"No way. That was a one-time special. You'll see it again in a year."
A lie. She had no intention of repeating it. It was a fleeting mistake born of her heightened mood. Though she'd grown more polished, being calmly asked for an encore was tougher than she'd admit.
"Tch, that's harsh… Demon! Devil! Kurumi!"
"That's all!?" she retorted. "What does that even mean!?"
His nonsensical outburst shattered her composure, prompting a yell in return. Truly baffling—but had her impulsive act triggered his oddity? Was she to blame? As Kurumi spiraled into unprecedented confusion, Shidou regained his calm, pocketing his phone.
"…Sorry. You were too cute, I lost it. I'm good now."
"That's… good?"
He still seemed off, but she wasn't one to poke a hornet's nest, so she let it slide. Sometimes, selective ignorance was key.
Clearing her throat to mask her flushed cheeks from his sudden compliment, Kurumi spoke. "Good evening, Shidou-san. It's late, but… would you keep me company?"
"Sure, a date? I'm all in."
"…I know it's odd for me to ask, but are you sure?"
Today, with Tohka's date looming, he should conserve energy, even if she planned it.
"I went to bed early, so I'm fine for a bit," he said. "But if you're worried, why come at this hour—"
This hour. The second question. The first sparked déjà vu. He'd been called out at midnight before, after Kotori's date. Now, again, right after her date. The coincidence clicked.
"…I get it," he said, a fond smile forming.
He hadn't expected to solve that months-old mystery now. Grateful for the coincidence, he saw Kurumi's thoughtfulness in her timing.
It was simple. Until midnight, it was Kotori's date time. After, it was Shidou's free time—a subtle, endearing gesture from the time-wielding Spirit. A girlish invitation she'd never admit.
"That's so you," he said. "I love that about you."
"I haven't the faintest idea what you mean," she replied.
Her refusal to admit her kindness was classic Kurumi, making Shidou chuckle. She surely knew he'd figured it out. Seeing his smile, she softened slightly and continued.
"If you hadn't noticed, I'd have given up and left. But you, Shidou-san, saw through it so easily."
"I've been honing my sixth sense lately. I can find you in a heartbeat."
"My, my! Splendid, splendid. As expected of you, Shidou-san—so reliable."
"Haha, that takes me back. Like our early days."
Her flattery reminded him of their second meeting, when her aura overwhelmed him. Now, they bantered like this. Life was unpredictable.
"Hehe, you remembered," she said.
"Forget you? Never. Or rather, you don't let me forget."
Those memories weren't easily dismissed. The past six months, dense with events, outshone his entire life.
Now, what to do? It was late, limiting their options. Going too far or staying out too long could disrupt Tohka's date. His choices were few.
"Not much time, but… wanna just talk?" he suggested.
"I don't mind. Anything with you is happiness."
He sat on a railing near a streetlamp, and she followed suit. Her enchanting smile, as always, captivated him. He scratched his reddened cheek to hide it. Her words were a bit unfair, but she likely knew he felt the same and beat him to it. She'd gotten the upper hand again.
"Well, well… I'm glad you're enjoying your dates with everyone," she said.
"Guh… Y-You saw?"
Her blunt mention of a sensitive topic made him groan. Even with her approval, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt. Typical guy, he supposed.
She shook her head, denying his assumption. "No, I have some tact. I wouldn't intrude on their dates."
"Then how—"
"I'd love to say it's written on your face, but the real reason is that." She pointed to the spiritual sphere.
"…The sphere?"
Recalling Kotori's mention of its "changes," he pieced it together. "Did you sense its spiritual waves shifting?"
"Precisely. What changes when your date with Tohka ends… it'll be quite the sight."
"Something'll happen? seemed to know something…"
The white-clad girl had hinted at knowledge but left without explaining. Did she know what'd happen when the waves weakened? Given her connection to Kurumi, he thought she might know.
"…You met her, Shidou-san?" Kurumi asked.
"Huh? Y-Yeah… the night before the dates started, she came to my room…"
Her wide-eyed surprise mirrored his own. He'd assumed she knew.
"—Shidou-san."
"Whoa!?"
Lost in thought, Kurumi leaned in close. Her flawless face and faint fragrance sent his heart racing.
"W-What?"
"She's my 'accomplice,'" she said.
"Huh?"
"So, if you want to win her over… you'll have to go through me first."
…What? Did she mean, Want her? Step over my corpse?
"No, no, no! How'd it come to that!?"
"Isn't this about you 'conquering' her?"
"That's a huge leap! I've never even seen her face!"
"Oh? Neither have I."
Shidou froze. He'd assumed Kurumi, of all people, knew her face. The revelation was a shock.
"…You don't know either?"
"No. Apparently, no one does except her. I never tried to force a look."
"You've been together so long… aren't you curious?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. But if she hides her face, she has her reasons. Prying would be in poor taste."
"Yeah… fair enough."
He wasn't alone in wondering about the robe. But more than that, he worried about the darkness she carried. Did Kurumi know?
"…She doesn't like talking about herself," Kurumi said. "We've been together so long, but that makes me a bit lonely sometimes."
"…Mind telling me about her?"
"About her?"
"Yeah. I talked to her and… I want to know more. Is that okay?"
Why did she deny herself so fiercely? Why dismiss her own "value" while obsessing over it? To understand her convictions, he needed to know her. And Kurumi knew her best. Her nod and smile eased his tension.
"I wonder what you two talked about… I might not have much to share."
"That's fine. I want to know the her you know."
"…As I said, we've been together a long time. Since before I was known as ."
"That long…"
"Yes. Since I swore to fulfill my 'vow,' she's been by my side. Though, she wasn't always so… theatrical."
Her jester-like demeanor was recent. Back then, Kurumi didn't know why it changed, but now she understood.
"In hindsight, it was to look out for me."
"…"
Kurumi's path was likely far harsher than Shidou could imagine. Seeing her struggle, the girl's "performance" might've been her way to help.
"I know she cares for me, thinks of me. But… that's why I worry sometimes."
"Worry?"
Kurumi nodded, her fragile expression captivating. She spoke softly, giving shape to her feelings.
"What have I given her in return? When I think about it, I've done nothing for someone so devoted."
"Kurumi…"
"Her presence became so natural, her leaving without a word… it might've made me anxious."
Her anger at the girl's absence had morphed into worry, as her clone suggested. But admitting that weakness was hard for Kurumi.
"She said she'd give everything to me. So I feel responsible for her life. That's my trust in her… but maybe my lack of words drove her away."
"If you feel you fell short, just say it now," Shidou said.
"Huh?"
She tilted her head, and he met her gaze firmly. "If you think you didn't say enough, put it into words. I doubt she's fed up with you, so it'll be fine."
"…Why do you think that?"
Kurumi knew nothing was absolute. How could Shidou, who knew the girl less, be so sure?
He couldn't explain it fully—it was a feeling only those who shared it could understand.
"Simple. Just like I love you… she loves you too."
"Wha…!"
"Am I wrong?"
"It's… not wrong."
She averted her eyes, unable to counter his smug grin. Their direct affection for her was comparable. After all, the girl constantly declared she'd give everything to Kurumi.
"So worrying about her being fed up is pointless," Shidou said. "But she probably doesn't realize how much you care. If she left without a word, scold her when she's back."
Their love for Kurumi aligned, but her intense self-denial suggested she might not fathom Kurumi's worry—hence her silent absence.
"…You're right," Kurumi said. "Her leaving without a word was a first, so I overthought it. I'll try putting it into words, as you suggest."
"That's the spirit."
"Hehe, you solving my worries feels… new."
"I'm usually the one you help. About time I return the favor, right?"
His playful smile drew one from her, though she inwardly disagreed. She was the one constantly saved—by his smile, his way of life, his kindness. She hadn't planned to seek him out until her task was done, yet here she was, likely craving his support for her anxiety.
That "weakness" emerged from knowing him.
"I've… become weak," she said.
"Weak? You?"
"Yes. The old me wouldn't have faltered like this. No, I didn't have the luxury to falter."
Her mind, once taut like a bowstring, had no room for hesitation. Now, his presence brought peace, his kindness pierced her heart, and she'd grown weak.
"This is my 'weakness.' To feel anxious over such trifles—it's not like me."
"Then get as weak as you want," Shidou declared, taking her hand.
Startled, she met his intense gaze, matching his words' strength. Her "weakness" was relying on others. If refusing to rely was "strength," it was mere bravado.
"No one lives alone. We help each other, right?"
"But I…"
"No matter what bad things you've done, that's no reason for me to not help you."
"…!"
"If you're anxious, rely on me like tonight. I want to be someone you can truly depend on."
He'd decided to bear her burdens—her sins, her punishments, her anxieties. Her opening up tonight was genuinely precious to him. Gripping her delicate hand tightly, he continued.
"And if you still think you're weak—then I'll get strong enough for both of us. Strong enough to support you for a lifetime."
"My, my. A lifetime together?" she teased.
"What's new? If you'd just let yourself fall for me, I'm ready to dedicate my life to you."
He wanted to grow strong enough to protect everyone, Kurumi included, without abandoning anyone. That resolve, declared on that rooftop, never wavered. If only she'd let herself fall…
She squeezed his hand back, her flushed face turning into a smile.
"You're troublesome. You know I can't choose that, yet you say it."
"That's what our war dates are for—making you choose, even by force."
"Indeed, indeed. You're truly… an irresistibly charming man."
A lover's game under the stars. A teetering seesaw where a moment's lapse could be fatal. Falling for him would be easy, but she couldn't.
Oh, how she cursed the cruel fortune of meeting such a wonderful man, her smile betraying both joy and sorrow.
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