An unchanging daily life is a precious thing, a lesson Shidou Itsuka had learned well over the past six months. From an ordinary high schooler to someone thrust into the extraordinary, Shidou had encountered beings who were the epitome of unreasonableness—wielding magical powers unbound by common sense, leading to irreplaceable meetings.
The answer he'd gleaned from these experiences was clear: the value of the days spent with everyone. In other words…
"Man, don't I ever get a break?!"
A new wave of the extraordinary was unfolding before him.
Being chased for a crime he didn't commit was mentally exhausting, and running around the vast school was physically draining. Yet, he could still muster a quip of sarcasm—thanks to her, no doubt. Thinking about the obvious answer was unnecessary.
Running, climbing stairs, darting through halls—after several rounds, Shidou's stamina was nearing its limit when he finally reached the rooftop, a dead end. He didn't assume he'd cornered his pursuer. With unreasonableness, anything could happen—that was its rule.
"Hey, you're faster than I expected."
"…!!"
Beyond the open door, under the blue sky, he stood. Dressed in a school uniform, with short blue hair, he smirked casually—a face Shidou saw in the mirror every morning.
Another him stood there, a perfect mirror image, as if his reflection had stepped out of the glass.
For someone less accustomed to the unreasonable, this might've caused panic. But for Shidou, two identical faces weren't shocking. He knew someone far more experienced with multiple selves. Glaring at "Shidou," he noticed "Shidou" widen his eyes slightly, surprised.
"Huh. I thought you'd be more shocked."
"Sorry to disappoint. When it comes to duplicate faces, I know the world's top expert. This is just another day for me."
"Really now…"
Even "Shidou's" intrigued expression and gestures were perfectly Shidou. If this imposter took his place, only she might notice. The mimicry of Shidou Itsuka was flawless.
Of course, Shidou's bold smirk hid his lack of composure. His feigned confidence, honed over time, was a front to mask his inner turmoil—a suggestion to both his opponent and himself.
"Might be cliché, but I'll say it."
Bracing himself, suppressing unknown fear, Shidou pointed at "Shidou" like a detective cornering a culprit and declared:
"Who… are you?"
"Pfft—hahahahaha!!"
It wasn't the desperate laugh of the cornered. It was a mocking, derisive cackle.
"Wow, that's rich. You've thought this far and still don't get it, Shidou-kun?"
"…That voice!"
A woman's voice. Shidou was startled by the seamless shift in tone, but more than that—it was a voice he'd heard just recently.
Codename: Witch. A new spirit from the neighboring world, wielding the angel Haniel, capable of transforming anything at will—
"…Natsumi!!"
"Ding-ding-ding! Correct! Well done!"
"Why are you disguised as me?! Why are you doing this…?"
Toka, the trio, Origami, the Yamai sisters, Tama-chan-sensei, Tonomachi—all insisted Shidou had committed misdeeds he had no memory of. The culprit was clear: Natsumi, disguised as "Shidou," whom he'd met only yesterday. But why? Shidou couldn't fathom why a spirit like Natsumi would target him personally with such harassment.
"…You really don't know?"
"…!!"
Natsumi's piercing, murderous glare made Shidou flinch. Beyond the act of facing his own killing intent, her sheer intensity shredded his composure.
Then, he recalled her parting words from their last encounter:
"—Since you saw, I won't let you off easy…! Just you wait. I'll ruin your life…!!"
"Oh…"
"Heh, finally remembered?"
Natsumi's cruel smile, as "Shidou," faced him—to erase the one who knew her secret.
"Your fate is in my hands… I'll take everything from you!!"
"Doppelgangers are said to appear to those nearing death."
"Don't say such ominous things."
Looking up from her magazine with a deadpan stare, Kurumi received the white-clad girl's half-hearted apology. It was a familiar scene, a rare return to normalcy. After everything, Kurumi felt an odd nostalgia, as if skipping this banter would make it feel too long since their last.
"It's not a doppelganger but a spirit who appeared to Shidou-san. That theory doesn't apply."
"True."
"Besides, if doppelganger lore held, I'd have been dead long ago. I see myself daily."
"You're saying that yourself?"
Kurumi's words, from someone commanding thousands of clones, carried unmatched weight. The surreal image of spirits discussing something as mundane as doppelgangers was almost comical.
With a snap, Kurumi closed her magazine. It was likely a prop to show she was "resting" after the girl's intelligence report. The girl, matching the shift, spoke without altering her tone.
"After Witch disguised herself as Shidou Itsuka, Toka Yatogami and Origami Tobiichi saw through it."
"Yes, yes. My selves have been reporting, but let's organize and confirm here."
The ones who exposed Natsumi, disguised as "Shidou," were Toka and Origami. The details… Kurumi felt a mix of exasperation and pity, while the girl gave a dry laugh, half-recoiling. Toka aside, Origami's perception made them question her humanity. Seeing through a spirit's perfect disguise was unfairly absurd.
But that incident was over, unrelated to Kurumi and the girl. The issue was the game Natsumi had set for Shidou.
"Find me among twelve… He's got a knack for spirit games."
"Not necessarily twelve."
"…You know the answer, don't you?"
"Ki-hihihi, my eyes see differently."
Sighing at Kurumi's smug smile, the girl knew no spirit rivaled her in deduction. Beyond her sharp mind, Kurumi's clones provided countless eyes. She could practically know the answer before the game began. This time… likely the same.
"Don't play coy. Why not tell him?"
"That won't do. This is Shidou-san's challenge from Natsumi-san. Even if I gave him the answer, she wouldn't accept it."
Though somewhat one-sided, Shidou had accepted Natsumi's challenge. If Kurumi intervened with the answer, it would hinder resolving Natsumi's heart. Shidou needed to win on his own. Their relationship was about taking his life—getting too close wasn't ideal.
…Or so Kurumi reasoned. The girl shrugged at her stubbornly indirect nature.
"What a hassle… What grudge does she have against Shidou Itsuka?"
"Who knows? Everyone has secrets they'd rather hide. For Natsumi-san, it might be life-or-death sensitive."
"Secrets, huh…"
For the girl, perhaps her face beneath the hood. She had life-altering secrets, but even she couldn't guess Natsumi's. Lacking deeper feelings beyond seeing her as a spirit challenging Shidou, she didn't dwell on it. Plus, the game's nature made her frown—different from the sympathy she'd felt for past spirits.
"…If she's erasing people to protect that secret, I hope it's worth it."
"Even in an unfair game, Shidou-san's running out of room."
"Guess who I am?"
Twelve photos and a threat. Shidou's victory condition was finding Natsumi before everyone vanished; their defeat if all were taken first. That was her challenge.
Ratatosk was trying to flush her out by having Shidou date key people, but results were poor. Half had already been taken by Natsumi, the pace accelerating. Kurumi and the girl's information review stemmed from this urgency.
Kurumi believed in Shidou's victory but foresaw his possible defeat. Overlooking that future was unthinkable for the one who most wanted a war date with him.
And it was the girl's role, as her vassal, to naturally guide her reticent queen to Shidou.
"—My queen, this is a chance."
"A chance…?"
"Yes. Your ultimate goal is to make Shidou Itsuka fall for you. With that stalled, comforting him in his weakened state is nothing but an opportunity."
Exploiting weakness sounded harsh but fit. Friends, teachers, beloved spirits—taken unjustly, Shidou's mental state was likely frayed to its limit.
Understanding her intent, Kurumi sighed with lowered brows.
"You want me to… heal Shidou-san?"
"Exactly. It's his best medicine. Maybe toss in a hint or two."
"Why are you giving permission? For spirit sealing, my unsealed presence near Natsumi-san is… inconvenient."
Indeed, Ratatosk sealed spirits' powers for their safety. Unsealed spirits like Kurumi or the girl nearby weakened the case for sealing.
Still, the girl pressed on, prioritizing sealing's benefits.
"So what? Shidou Itsuka can handle that risk, right? Plus, he's got a silver tongue. The benefit of winning him over outweighs the drawback. Get a bit greedier, my queen."
"That last bit was uncalled for. My goal is his reiryoku…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Am I being mocked by my vassal?"
"Your imagination."
Kurumi glared at the girl's deadpan dodge. Reiryoku was her goal, no matter how "dishonest" she was called.
Her stubbornness was why she was called obstinate. The girl pushed further.
"…You're worried about him, aren't you? Make up an excuse and go see him."
"…I can't deny that."
Blushing slightly, Kurumi averted her gaze. Seeking reiryoku was true. Fearing sealing risks was true. Caring for Shidou was truer.
Aiming for his life yet worrying for it—or worrying because she aimed for it. The girl didn't care for the debate. She just wanted to advance her less-than-honest master's desires.
No more one step forward, two steps back.
"…I'll handle Witch, even if it's forceful. My abilities make it easiest—"
Prefacing with anyway, the girl spoke with conviction.
"No matter what, Shidou Itsuka will win. Don't miss a chance to boost his affection over needless worries, my queen."
It was certain. Shidou would defeat Natsumi. Kurumi, surprised by the girl's shift, widened her eyes.
"…Can you see the future?"
"As if. I'm not you, Kurumi—my lovely queen who believes in me. Won't you grant my wish?"
Like a jester, the girl gestured grandly, offering her usual vassal's bow.
She couldn't see the future. That was Kurumi's privilege, wielder of Zafkiel, evolving unpredictably. The girl's only asset was trust in the boy, built over time.
"…You're changing, aren't you?"
"If my queen says she believes in me… I thought I'd be a bit selfish."
All for her queen, with a touch of care for Shidou. If only Kurumi would direct some of that toward her… Smiling, Kurumi accepted her vassal's wish.
"Very well, very well. I'll take on your selfishness."
"Thank you, my queen."
With the pretext of granting her vassal's wish, the queen ceased being a bystander. Time for a slightly delayed war date.
"…By the way, when this is over, I have something to check on, so I'll act separately."
"Oh my, no problem. Compared to sneaking out of the medbay weeks ago, you've grown."
"…Can you not?"
Being caught by Fraxinus's sharp analyst after thinking she'd gone unnoticed was a fresh, bitter memory.
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