"Shidou!?"
The moment the monitor flashed with blinding light, a thunderbolt struck the hilltop park. Shattering sturdy structures with ease, black smoke engulfed the feed as Kotori screamed her brother's name.
"Situation report!"
"—Shidou-kun is safe!"
At Kannazuki's command, a crew member confirmed Shidou's figure through the clearing smoke. Not just him—five Spirits in limited astral dresses stood protecting him, alongside and a mysterious girl now visible on the monitor.
"Who… is that girl!?"
"That appearance… a Spirit!?"
Kotori's eyes locked onto the enigma. Her attire was unmistakably an astral dress—the absolute shield of a Spirit. Why had a Spirit-like girl appeared? It had to be tied to the now-visible sphere, but the blaring alarms left Kotori no time to think.
"Spherical visualization confirmed, expanding!"
"This reaction value… an angel!?"
Kotori gasped. The Spirits were already moving. It had begun—the unilateral condemnation by the judge.
"…You sure know how to keep us on edge," the white-clad girl muttered.
The Spirits' swift barrier of limited astral dresses shielded Shidou, narrowly evading the surprise attack. Half the park was gouged out, collapsed entirely. A direct hit would've reduced Shidou to ash before his regeneration could kick in. With a bitter expression, the white-clad girl glanced at , then at its supposed administrator.
"…This isn't your will, is it?"
Startled by her voice, Mayuri rose from the shock and shouted at the hovering angel.
"! What's happening? Stop!"
'—!!'
"It's coming again!"
But it didn't stop. The angel, meant to obey its Spirit master, refused. Faced with this impossible reality, the white-clad girl grimaced.
Following Kaguya's warning, 's sphere transformed again. Countless eyes appeared across its surface, blinking twice, thrice—then unleashed a barrage of thunder lances from every eye.
"Hmph!"
"…!"
'—!'
Kaguya, Yuzuru, Yoshino, and Miku countered with wind, ice, and invisible sonic barriers, deflecting the attacks aimed at them. But the assault's scope was too vast, mercilessly razing the park.
"They've widened the attack range… this is bad," the white-clad girl said.
"This is nuts! The city's done for at this rate!" Shidou shouted.
If a spatial quake were detected, Tenguu City's shelters could protect it. But no alarm had sounded for this chaos—there was no time.
Then, faint glimmers began circling .
"That's… Kotori Itsuka's ship," the white-clad girl noted.
She recognized them: , versatile standalone units from the airship . On Kotori's orders, Kannazuki had deployed them, detaching them to form a magical barrier between the angel and the ground. Not only that, they deftly launched the colossal angel skyward. Impressed by the swift response, the white-clad girl praised Kotori's crew.
"Well done… Shidou, now!"
"Yeah! Everyone, I'll explain later—just lend me your strength!"
"No need to ask! Leave it to us, Yuzuru!"
"Affirmative. Let's go, Kaguya."
Nodding at Shidou's plea, the Yamai sisters surged forward with wind-Spirit speed, breaching the magical barrier to confront the winged angel.
"… why…?" Mayuri murmured.
"…Stay here. We'll try to stop it somehow," the white-clad girl said.
"But…!"
"Worst case, I'll handle it. So stay put, princess."
"…I'm sorry."
As Mayuri's angel, its refusal to obey meant her power was effectively sealed. Moving her now, without knowing the cause of the rampage, was unwise.
Smiling faintly at Mayuri's apologetic frown, the white-clad girl touched her sword's scabbard. "You fulfilled your role. No need to apologize. Shidou, take care of her… and can I ask Miku to guard him?"
"Got it. Be careful!"
"Guarding darling? What a treat!"
Smirking at Shidou's nod and Miku's clingy enthusiasm, the white-clad girl joined Tohka and Yoshino. Meeting Tohka's resolute gaze, she saw her readiness.
"Let's go!"
"…Yes, let's. May I ride with the ice queen?"
"M-Me…?"
"Yes. Flying's not my forte."
'Muu, fancy words! But okay! Right, Yoshino?'
"U-Um… please, take care…"
"That's my line. Thank you."
Pure innocence could disarm anyone. With that thought, the white-clad girl mounted the now-giant rabbit puppet, , and soared past the barrier with Tohka and Yoshino.
In the sky, Kaguya and Yuzuru dodged thunderbolts, countering with gales. Tohka swung fiercely, unleashing radiant slashes, while roared, plunging the area into subzero cold. But…
"Ugh…"
Tohka grunted, retreating. Precise counter-thunder targeted her, and the same struck Kaguya, Yuzuru, and Yoshino. Even in limited astral dresses, the angel shrugged off their attacks, retaliating relentlessly.
"…I'm going in. Handle its attacks!"
"Y-Yes!"
'Sure thing, leave it to us!'
With Yoshino's wide-eyed nod and Yoshinon's quirky cheer, the white-clad girl leapt. The oncoming thunder was nullified by the Yamai sisters' winds and Tohka's slashes, guided by her intent.
"Haa!"
Using her descent's momentum, she drew her colorless blade and struck the mechanical wings with all her might.
"…!"
It was hard. Her blade, which had sliced through anything like paper, was pushed back. It bit into the wing slightly, but regenerated instantly.
"Tch, mimicking Kotori Itsuka!?"
Yanking her blade free, she used the wing as a springboard to leap skyward. Yoshino swiftly caught her on , dodging thunder while attacking with ice. But neither her, Tohka's, nor the Yamai sisters' strikes left a scratch.
'Ugh, too tough!'
"This won't do…"
"Agreement. We're getting nowhere."
Minor attacks were repelled. They lacked a way to pierce the angel's defense and regeneration.
'—Everyone, fall back!'
"Kotori Itsuka…!?"
Tracing the booming voice, the white-clad girl saw a massive airship, its cannons glowing. , uncloaked, rivaled the angel's size, ready to unleash ruinous light.
"Time to end this. Convergent Magic Cannon , prepare to fire!"
"Understood! , maximum output—fire!"
At Kotori's fiery command, Kannazuki gave the order. The colossal magical blast, powered by the airship's manifestation device, dwarfed any individual cannon. It scorched the sky, a pillar of light hurtling toward —and exploded.
But the Spirits widened their eyes. The angel, using its wings as a shield, stood unscathed.
"…Ridiculous," the white-clad girl muttered.
Even knowing its power, she couldn't help but speak. Blocking that monstrous cannon without regenerating? Absurd.
"…!?"
Her shock deepened as the angel glowed, forming another sphere.
"What's that…?"
"…Damn!"
While the Spirits stared in confusion, only the white-clad girl realized 's target. She leapt from , but it was too late—the sphere was already descending.
And it reached its destination—
"Ah—!"
—Mayuri, its master.
"Mayuri!"
Before Shidou could reach her, the sphere extended twisting pillars, forming a birdcage-like prison with four wings, trapping its supposed master.
'Let her go!'
Miku unleashed her voice. No mere sound, her charmed voice, laced with spiritual power, carried sonic force to shatter the cage.
"…!"
Miku faltered. Her shockwave was effortlessly deflected by the cage's flapping wings.
Ignoring Shidou and Miku, the cage soared skyward with Mayuri, returning to .
"What kind of angel disobeys and imprisons its master!?"
Just before, the white-clad girl had grabbed the cage, clinging to it.
"You!"
"Glad you're safe. What's this…!?"
"Kyaa…!?"
The sphere merged with the angel's lower section, as if feeding on Mayuri's power.
"Tch, , what are you…"
'—!!'
The spiritual pressure, searing like burning skin, shifted—no, surged. The angel's silent roar signaled a renewed assault.
"This spiritual power…!"
The attacks were incomparable to before. Thunderbolts from the sphere were joined by blasts from the wings and spiked wheels, assaulting the Spirits. had isolated Mayuri, amplifying its power. An already overwhelming angel growing stronger was a nightmare, and the white-clad girl couldn't help but click her tongue.
Seeing her, Mayuri, with a pained expression, narrowed her eyes in resolve.
"…Listen. I have a request."
"What!? If it's breaking you out, I'm already on it—"
"—Erase me."
The white-clad girl froze, her hand on her sword's hilt.
"Make me and disappear. You can do it. Before it hurts them more—hurry!"
"You…!"
"Don't joke!"
Mayuri flinched as the white-clad girl slammed the cage with all her might. She was right—erasing Mayuri was logical. This angel could reduce the city to ashes, or worse. One fated Spirit versus the world? No contest.
But the white-clad girl refused to accept it.
"I didn't want you to meet him for this! I didn't want to see that face!"
"But at this rate—!"
"So what!? I won't accept this ending!"
She wouldn't allow it. No matter what anyone said, Mayuri didn't deserve such cruelty. Driven by impulse, forgetting her facade, she wove words desperately.
"I accepted you'd vanish, but I never once wanted you gone!"
Tohka, Yoshino, Kotori, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Miku—Kurumi. Mayuri was born bearing their feelings. She'd devoted her short life to her mission with nobility. Such a girl deserved a worthy end. The white-clad girl didn't want her gone. She couldn't save her—wouldn't. It was selfish, presumptuous. But she sought a redemptive end for her.
"I won't save you… but at least, you should die smiling by his side, right?"
"I…"
"If you must vanish, do it satisfied. Say you don't want to go. Don't make that sad face—Mayuri!"
Such a beautiful name. The white-clad girl rejected a cruel end.
"Why… why go so far for me?"
"…I'd like to know that myself."
To Mayuri's wide-eyed question, the white-clad girl readjusted her slipping mask, feigning her usual jest. It was her most inexplicable act, far from her plan's core.
She fought because she couldn't forgive this end. That was all.
"Wait there, princess. I'll bring your beloved prince."
The dashing prince always saved the captive princess—in every story, she believed. Even if this tale was orchestrated by her, the feelings she'd witnessed were real.
Stunned by her bold words, Mayuri gasped, spotting something. "Watch out!"
"…!"
Heeding the warning instantly, the white-clad girl swung her blade as a gear struck, sparks flying. The spinning gear forced her airborne, disrupting her stance.
Blades closed in from all sides. In her position, dodging or deflecting was impossible.
"Damn…!"
", stop!"
Mayuri's plea went unheard. In seconds, the blades would tear her apart. Imagining it, Mayuri clasped her hands, eyes shut.
A clash rang out.
"Are you okay!?"
"Tohka Yatogami!?"
Tohka's name, called in shock, confirmed her safety. Nodding, Tohka held the white-clad girl, retreating from the angel.
"Are you alright…?"
"Too reckless! What if you got hurt!?"
"Agreement. That was close."
"You all…"
Tohka's strength wasn't alone. Despite the angel's onslaught, Yoshino and the Yamai sisters had rushed to aid Tohka, saving the white-clad girl unscathed. Now it was her turn to be stunned.
"Why…?"
"Why need a reason to save you?"
Tohka's genuine confusion made the white-clad girl smile wryly. They were different—saving without calculation, unlike her plan-driven self.
She didn't realize she, too, fighting for Mayuri, was influenced by them and Shidou.
"…Sorry, odd question. Thank you, everyone."
"No worries—!"
No time for leisurely chats. The angel's renewed thunder and gears assaulted them. They were holding, but it was a matter of time. Adjusting her earpiece while held by Tohka, the white-clad girl acted.
"Tohka Yatogami, buy me some time!"
"Got a plan!?"
"Making one now!"
"Got it!"
Tohka nodded without hesitation, dodging attacks despite carrying her, countering with . Amazed by her boundless energy, the white-clad girl tapped her earpiece.
"Kotori Itsuka, can you hear me!?"
'—Contact me sooner!'
"…You assumed I'd call?"
The ear-splitting shout suggested Kotori expected it. Who'd have thought the earpiece would prove useful now?
Snorting, Kotori spoke rapidly. 'Obviously. Now, what's your point? I've got questions too.'
"…First, your doubts. She's Mayuri, born from your spiritual energy to judge Shidou—a pseudo-Spirit of the world, so to speak."
'That's wild… go on.'
"…Mayuri's the judge. If she deems the 'vessel' unworthy, the angel awakens. That's the system."
Each Spirit could destroy the world. Combining their power in one vessel was unthinkable—except for Shidou. The world feared it, thus judged it. If the vessel wielded power selfishly, a force to subdue it was needed: .
'So, Shidou wasn't deemed worthy?'
"…No. That's what I need to know. What happened to the sphere's waves before the angel woke?"
'They were stable. Tohka's date was going well, like the others. The waves were decreasing. In minutes, the sphere would've vanished.'
"…Yet the system activated…"
It didn't add up. An angel reflected its master's heart, fulfilling their wishes. , a fusion of multiple spiritual energies, was structurally like a Spirit. Its angel should be too.
Mayuri chose to vanish. Did reject that? No, not quite.
Recall Mayuri's actions. Watching the dates, she'd followed them, as if experiencing them herself. No—Mayuri wanted to date.
"I see… that girl…"
'Figured something out!?'
"…There should be a slight change in the angel's waves, right?"
'Just got the analysis. There's one extra wavelength besides ours…!'
It clicked. The angel didn't obey Mayuri's words but her feelings—in the worst way. It had grown uncontrollable, even for her. The white-clad girl had seen it before. Why didn't she notice? The seed within the irrational, uncontrollable emotion of love.
"—Jealousy."
'—Jealousy.'
Their answers rang out simultaneously, and the white-clad girl gasped.
"…Analyst?"
'…Reine Murasame. But you knew and chose not to say, hm?'
"…I'll leave that to your imagination. Seems we agree."
Jealousy, longing—desire. Mayuri's unconscious envy of the Spirits should've let her talk to Shidou and vanish. But , reflecting her heart, rejected that.
"…Mayuri didn't expect her jealousy. The angel absorbed it, forcing her true feelings out. Quite the devoted angel."
'No time for jokes! She loves Shidou too… but how do we—'
Mayuri, the only one who could stop it, was trapped. The Spirits' attacks failed. Even 's cannon was deflected. Options were dwindling.
'—We have to destroy it.'
"…Mana Takamiya."
A meteor shot from . Mana, clad in CR-Unit
"Whatever the situation, the city's toast at this rate. If the cannon's useless, I'll take it down directly—!"
'—Wait!'
"…Brother!?"
A voice echoed. Mana halted her thrusters, stopping her attack. The white-clad girl grinned at the long-awaited voice—the king of Spirits, now on 's bridge.
"…No need to ask, but what's your wish, Itsuka Shidou?"
'Bring Mayuri back! I'll handle it… don't destroy it yet!'
'Shidou!?'
Kotori's shock was understandable—the danger was too great. But Shidou had an unyielding wish, a prayer he couldn't abandon.
"Even if it's reckless?"
'Mayuri was born from everyone's spiritual energy, right!?'
Yes. Mayuri carried the feelings of Tohka and the others, blessed into existence.
'Tohka, Yoshino, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Miku, Kotori—Mayuri's their avatar!'
"…Yes. Born from their feelings. Shidou, I'll say it now—I won't let her end like this."
'Same here! She said she'd vanish after her role, that she was born for that.'
That was the one thing Shidou couldn't accept. Declaring her worthless was unforgivable. A life meant only to vanish? Unacceptable.
'No life should exist just to disappear! Deciding to live only to end is wrong! This rampage is Mayuri's cry to not vanish!'
"…!"
His words widened the white-clad girl's eyes, turning to Mayuri, still pleading for the angel to stop.
Not just jealousy. Mayuri hadn't accepted vanishing. She'd suppressed it, feigned strength. That suppressed emotion birthed another Mayuri—.
"…She's been saying it all along, stubborn girl."
If she didn't want to vanish, someone needed to hear her.
"…Itsuka Shidou, I entrust my—our—wish to you."
'Yeah. We'll—'
The girl wished for a redemptive end. The boy prayed to prevent her end. Different wishes, same goal. Shidou declared it boldly.
'—Save everyone!'
That prayer sparked a miracle.
"…This!"
"Tohka Yatogami… no way!?"
Not just Tohka holding her. Yoshino, Kaguya, Yuzuru, and likely Kotori and Miku on glowed. A warm, pulsing light—a torrent of spiritual energy—enveloped them, unleashing power.
"…Astral dresses."
The ultimate armor of Spirits. The white-clad girl muttered in awe, seeing not limited but full astral dresses, like Kurumi's, perfectly manifested despite their seals.
"Tohka Yatogami, how…?"
"Mmm… I wanted to grant Shidou's wish. That's all I know…"
"…The others too? But how… the seals broke?"
'…Not quite.'
Reine's calm voice answered through the earpiece.
'The reason's unclear, but their feelings aligned with Shin's words.'
"Temporary spiritual release… tied to Mayuri? Incredible, but now…!"
'…Right. We don't know how long this lasts. This is our chance.'
Was it the "vessel's" power or Mayuri's influence? Either way, Reine was right—this was their shot.
's immense power required the Spirits' full strength. Thought impossible, Shidou and the Spirits had wrought a miracle.
"Hya!"
Tohka swung with a spirited cry, unleashing a radiant arc far stronger than before.
'—!!'
"It stings!"
"Counterattack. Here we go…!"
"Yoshinon…!"
'Time to go all out!'
"Mana's not losing!"
The angel roared, firing plasma and bladed gears. But wind, ice, magic, and Tohka's slashes shattered them, pushing back for the first time.
"This can work…!"
The white-clad girl grinned with certainty. Unlike before, they were holding the angel. Now, if he arrived…
"Everyone!"
"Shidou!"
He descended, supported by Kotori and Miku from . The king shouldn't be on the front lines, but his power was needed—to boost morale, to bet on his strength, to save Mayuri.
"…Itsuka Shidou. Ready?"
"Obviously—but we're not complete yet."
"Huh…?"
His words puzzled the white-clad girl, the Spirits, and Mana. All sealed Spirits had regained power, with Mana and her present. Who else would join this dangerous battle—
"I've gotta wait for her. The ultimate reinforcement… is coming."
"…!"
His bold, piercing smile struck her. Unmistakable, identical to her.
A deafening gunshot rang out, shocking everyone but Shidou.
"What!?"
"Ugh… that awful presence…!"
Kotori gasped, and Mana grimaced.
A hail of bullets struck , precisely avoiding Mayuri, pinning its wings.
An army-scale barrage. Only one Spirit wielded such overwhelming force.
"Am I in time for the party?"
A shadow danced in the sky, forming a human shape—a queen beloved by the gods.
Clad in a Spirit's armor like the others, her asymmetrical black hair gleamed, refined by her love. Her crimson-and-gold eyes, gem-like, could bring anyone to their knees.
The graceful queen lifted her divine dress's skirt, bowing boldly in this chaos. To her, this battlefield was merely a party.
Not just Shidou—everyone was captivated by her. Even the white-clad girl was no exception to Tokisaki Kurumi's allure.
"Greetings, everyone. May I join the festivities?"
"Yeah, right on time. Was waiting for you—Kurumi."
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