"Ufufu… fufufu, hahahaha…!!"
Two more gone. Erased from the hateful boy's world, the one who knew her secret. Natsumi laughed, her face alight with ecstasy.
Exhilarating. Utterly exhilarating! His face—a mix of dread, panic, and everything in between. The despair from his mistaken choices brought her unparalleled pleasure. His tireless efforts to find her, working without sleep, were pitiful yet comical in her eyes.
Not enough. Not enough, not enough, not enough! Even this wasn't satisfying. She craved his surrender, kneeling in resignation. She wanted his rage and despair at their peak—and the final move was already in play.
"But… what a pity."
Her only regret was the girl Shidou cherished, the one he mentioned during their talks as her disguise—"Kurumi," was it? That girl hadn't appeared. Was Shidou hiding her out of fear? Natsumi couldn't help but wonder what expression he'd show if even Kurumi were consumed.
Would he cry? Fade into despair? Or rage beyond her imagination?
"No helping it. I can't wait anymore."
She couldn't. Leaving someone who knew her secret free any longer was unbearable. She'd take, take, take, and consume everything.
He couldn't find her. Wouldn't find her. Shidou was no different. No one—
"Good evening, big sister."
"…!?"
Turning, she saw white. An unknowable something. A girl in pure white garb stood there, her voice youthful, her frame small. That was all Natsumi could discern. Nothing else made sense.
A something was present, undeniably there. Yet, this white-clad girl, within a spirit's perception, felt absent—an alien, singular presence.
"…Good evening. Kids shouldn't be out playing this late, you know."
"Then the same goes for you, big sister. It's dangerous for a girl to be alone at this hour."
"Heh, no worries. I'm stronger than I look."
No need to show her unease. Natsumi flashed a bold grin, indulging in surface-level banter.
Not human. No human could evade a spirit's senses and stand behind her.
"And what's your business? It's really naughty… carrying something so dangerous."
The sword at her waist wasn't AST gear. Then—a spirit.
The white-clad girl laughed softly, provocatively, like a jester.
"My apologies. I have a small request."
"Hmm?"
"More a plea, really—please overlook what's about to happen."
"…!!"
Natsumi's focus snapped to Shidou's house. In the moment she was distracted, someone had infiltrated. She couldn't tell who, but it was clearly tied to this girl.
"…Well played."
"You challenged him first, my queen did. Don't worry, I'm not here to ruin your game. The outcome won't change anyway."
No need to say who. Natsumi believed in her victory; the girl was certain of Shidou's. No further explanation required.
Natsumi narrowed her eyes, voice sharp. "And if I don't overlook it?"
"…Depends on your actions, I suppose."
The girl shrugged lightly, her tone almost joking. As expected. Even if Natsumi hadn't appeared, the girl would've shown herself the moment something seemed off. That was her plan.
Utterly… infuriating.
"Then here's my answer—Haniel!!"
Raising her broom-like angel, Natsumi unleashed a radiant burst of reiryoku.
Spirit or unknown, it didn't matter. Anyone obstructing her was an enemy to erase. Haniel's light could transform any opponent into something trivial. Challenging her without knowing that was foolish.
The transformative light surged toward the girl—and—
"What…?"
It vanished. Not negated, not dodged. The light itself disappeared the moment it touched her white garb.
"I don't particularly care what you do."
The girl vanished too—not gone, but moving beyond Natsumi's perception. A voice at point-blank and the hilt pressed against her back jolted her into unreality.
She couldn't comprehend what was happening. A chilling, terrifying voice, unlike the girl's, spoke.
"You can target Shidou Itsuka or Toka Yatogami and touch my queen's wrath if you like. But—"
A light push. Natsumi, reacting at her fastest, spun, only to face a colorless blade and unmistakable killing intent.
"If you interfere with my queen… you're my enemy to defeat."
Targeting Shidou or his loved ones was her choice, with consequences she'd bear. But harming Kurumi Tokisaki, her queen, meant the white-clad girl would eliminate Natsumi with full force.
Faced with that clear intent, Natsumi—
"Eek…!!"
Unexpectedly, showed the raw fear of a child, clashing with her demeanor.
"…?"
The girl, blade poised, was the most confused. She'd expected a fight, but Natsumi's reaction felt… off. The disparity between her appearance and emotion was fleeting, yet familiar. It unsettled the girl.
"…Enough."
She sheathed her sword, the tension dissipating with a click. Natsumi's guard didn't waver.
"What's… your deal?"
"I'm done. Lost interest. Fight if you want, but to beat me, you'd need Toka Yatogami."
Waving dismissively, the girl turned to leave. In Kurumi's terms, whimsy or boredom.
"I said my piece. Don't interfere with my queen, and do as you like."
"What… are you!?"
Appearing suddenly, spouting nonsense, and leaving—Natsumi could only call it incomprehensible.
Spirit or not, the irrational storm that hit her left with a jester's smile.
"Just a passing spirit—no need to remember me."
Shidou pored over the data mindlessly—or not quite. Mindlessly wasn't right. He meticulously analyzed records, videos, and scattered documents, deliberating each detail.
Five days into Natsumi's game, two since Toka vanished. His mental state was far from good. It was a wonder he hadn't collapsed.
Not just Toka—Yoshino, Yuzuru, Tonomachi, Ai, Mai, Mii, Tama-chan-sensei—all taken because of his failures. No more would disappear.
He scoured Ratatosk's data and footage repeatedly, searching for any oversight.
"…Just a bit more…"
There had to be something. A nagging sense of discrepancy in his mind. Natsumi left no evidence, only suspects. Something critical was trying to surface. Maybe fatigue and pressure were driving him mad, but he had to bet on it. As stress threatened to overwhelm him, he reached for another document—and it vanished.
"—My, my, you've been thorough."
"Kurumi…!?"
Her name caught in his throat as nausea and dizziness hit. Unable to stand, he nearly collapsed, but white arms from a shadow caught him. Their master leaned against the window, casually flipping through his documents.
"…Kuru…mi…"
"Greetings. You're looking rather unlike yourself, Shidou-san."
In her astral dress, Kurumi Tokisaki stood before him. His exhausted mind knew this wasn't a hallucination. Her aloof expression carried clear meaning.
"…Sorry for showing you this pathetic side."
Pathetic. Outplayed by Natsumi, missing even Kurumi's approach—something he'd never fail to notice normally. But time was too precious now.
"Sorry, but now—"
His words halted.
Her expression vanished. Instinct screamed he'd made a fatal mistake.
Dropping the documents, Kurumi approached. He couldn't move—not his body, but his heart refused to.
"Shidou-san."
"…!!"
It wasn't just chilling—her voice could freeze him entirely. Her slender hand touched his neck, delicate yet now a mad grip on his life.
"Look at me."
He couldn't look away. Captivated by her crazed eyes, bound by her words. He hadn't been seeing Kurumi, even briefly. That's why he missed her approach.
For a moment, he'd neglected the one he swore to save. Cornered, Kurumi showed no mercy. Her grip tightened, his tense body and dry lips betraying his fear. Her cold touch mirrored her expression.
"Your pain, I'll understand. Your anguish, I'll accept. I'll do anything to support you. But that—I won't forgive."
"Kurumi…"
"I won't forgive, I won't forgive. Looking at others, helping them—that's you, not even a question. But—"
Her grip tightened further, amplifying his breathlessness. Her gaze revealed a Kurumi he'd never seen, caused by none other than himself.
"Looking away from me—that, I won't forgive."
She loved the Shidou who'd made her this way. He bore the responsibility never to shirk that vow, even for a moment.
"If you turn from me, even for an instant, I cease to be me. If you try to forget me—"
She smiled—a horrific, nightmare-inducing smile. The eyes of an absolute predator, holding his life. Yet, Shidou found her more beautiful than anything. Her smile carried—
"I'll kill you—no, I'll never let you go."
A trace of loneliness.
To others, her love was warped, mad. Kurumi Tokisaki, burdened by her mission, expressed love clumsily. She'd yield to no one, never break her promise. Shidou answered by embracing her hand.
"…Sorry, Kurumi. I lost myself."
"Shidou-san."
"Neglecting what I promised is wrong. No matter what… I want our war date."
What was he doing? Hardships, responsibilities—letting them distract him from Kurumi was suicidal. He'd bear every burden and love her. That was his choice.
"Shidou…san."
"I'm fine. I'm looking at you."
He wouldn't look away. Kurumi trembled under his gaze, her hand shaking. He gently held it.
"Sorry… for being this kind of woman."
"I'm the one who messed up. I was too frantic."
"No, no. You didn't—"
It was impulsive. Her words ignited her, a burning passion she couldn't stop. She'd gripped his neck, unleashing her hidden feelings on him, so cornered.
Expectation and fear were two sides of one coin. She expected him to overcome this trial to win her, yet feared she was the one cornering him.
Shidou gently accepted her scattered words.
"I'm okay now. Seeing you again… I'm relieved—"
"Shidou-san!!"
Without the shadow's support, his tension broke, and he stumbled. Kurumi caught him, feeling his warmth, weight, heartbeat. Blushing, her expression soon hardened.
"…Shidou-san. Have you been eating and sleeping properly?"
"Uh, well… you gotta eat to live, right?"
"You've changed quite a bit…"
In days, while Kurumi suppressed her feelings and stayed away, he'd transformed—weight, complexion, not the Shidou from before. No wonder his mind was sluggish.
"Ugh," he groaned, guilty. He hadn't lied, but clearly hadn't taken enough.
"These past days… especially since Toka vanished. I know it's bad, but…"
"…Honestly. Do I need to stay by your side always?"
"Haha, maybe… I'd be happy if you did."
A light joke, but her smile sent a shiver through him.
"Then—let's fulfill your wish a little."
"Huh—whoa!?"
He realized his mistake as his body floated, carried by her control onto a bed, cushioned by her shadow. Before him, Kurumi smiled shyly, impossibly close—close enough for bed-sharing.
"…Kurumi-san?"
"Oh my, is my company not enough? If you wish, I can undress as usual—"
"No way, I'm perfectly satisfied!!"
As usual? Did she sleep without clothes? Shidou frantically shut down his imagination. Unlocking that was dangerous, a forbidden fruit his rationality couldn't afford.
"…Ugh."
His strength faded. Days of stress and strain had pushed his body past its limits. Normally, Kurumi's revealing astral dress and close contact would keep him awake, but her warmth, heartbeat, and reassurance accelerated his descent into darkness. Her smiling face blurred.
"I'm here. Rest, Shidou-san."
"No… I haven't…"
He was close to grasping something. Resting now—her fingers through his hair felt too comforting to resist.
"I've warned you before. Without calm, you can't save anyone. You need rest to clear your haste. Then, you'll find the answer you seek."
"Answer…"
The something in him was guiding him toward the answer.
"You'll reach it, Shidou-san. No matter how cleverly hidden, the truth lies in what you've seen."
"What I've… seen?"
"Yes. You've already seen the answer. Eliminate the impossible, the implausible—that's the lie. For you, who unmasked me, it's not so hard, is it?"
What had he seen? What would he see? His consciousness faded, unable to think. She was still speaking.
"Shidou-san. My dear, dear Shidou-san. I don't want to kill you, yet I want you all to myself—my cute Shidou-san. Overcome this trial and quickly—"
Quickly what? The rest was lost.
He fell into deep sleep, filled with a long-missed peace.
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