Back at home, Shuo led Tohka inside—only to freeze at the sight of the living room. Beer cans and empty snack bags littered the table, evidence of Nia's latest rampage. Typical. If he ever caught that slacker Spirit, he'd give her a piece of his mind.
He turned to Tohka, who was still dressed in her dazzling Astral Dress.
"Hey, Tohka, that outfit's a bit… conspicuous. How about switching to something like this?"
He fished out his phone and tapped the screen, pulling up a photo of Shiori in her Raizen High school uniform.
"If you walk around like that, AST's mecha squad will be on you in seconds."
Tohka frowned at the mention of those troublesome girls, then leaned in to study the uniform on his phone. After a moment's thought, she nodded. It wasn't as pretty as her Spirit attire, but if it kept the peace, she'd go along.
A deep violet glow shimmered around her as her armor dissolved, replaced by the crisp lines of a school uniform. Shuo gave her a once-over and grinned.
"Doesn't matter what you wear—you're always adorable."
Tohka's cheeks turned pink, and she ducked her head shyly.
Oddly enough, Nia was nowhere to be seen today. For once, it was just Shuo and Tohka in the house.
To kill time, Shuo raided the fridge and piled the table high with snacks. The two of them dug in, Tohka munching away with the single-minded joy only a true foodie could muster.
Mid-bite, Shuo's phone buzzed with an unknown number. He answered, only to be blasted by a voice so loud he had to hold the phone at arm's length.
"Shuo Nangong! Where the hell have you been? Why did your phone suddenly go dead?!"
Kotori. Of course.
"Relax, Kotori. I'm home. What's up?"
"You went home?"
"Yep."
"Then where's the Princess? She vanished—did she go back to the neighboring world?"
Shuo glanced over at Tohka, who was still glued to the TV, shoveling snacks into her mouth. "She's here with me."
There was a long pause on the other end.
"You can't mean… the Princess is at our house?"
"That's right. Problem?"
Kotori let out a deep, exasperated sigh.
"Just… keep her calm. Don't let her blow up again. We're heading back."
She hung up before Shuo could reply. He shook his head and looked over at Tohka, now sprawled on the sofa, rubbing her stomach with utter contentment.
He grabbed a napkin and gently wiped the crumbs from her mouth.
"Tohka, I'm going to introduce you to some friends soon. Try not to let your Spirit power get out of control, okay?"
"Got it!" she chirped, nodding with serious determination.
A few minutes later, the front door opened.
"Looks like Kotori and Reine are back," Shuo said.
Kotori strode in, all business in her commander's uniform, followed by Reine—her work outfit unchanged, the battered panda plushie peeking from her breast pocket.
Tohka tensed, her eyes wary. Shuo squeezed her hand and offered a reassuring smile.
"No need to be nervous. This is Kotori, and that's Reine. You can just call them by name."
Tohka clung to Shuo's arm, nodding politely. "Hello! I'm Tohka—Yatogami Tohka. Not 'Princess,' okay?"
Her sweet, straightforward greeting caught Reine's attention. She glanced at Shuo, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
This guy… two meetings and he's already sealed the Princess?
Tohka beamed. "Yep, Shuo gave me this name. Isn't it pretty? You think so too, right? I love it!"
Praise made her glow—she was still a child at heart, hungry for kindness and approval.
Kotori eyed the smiling Tohka, jealousy prickling beneath her cool facade. She jabbed a finger at the mess on the table.
"So, I tell you to conquer the Spirit and you bring her home for dinner?"
Shuo blinked. "Is that a problem?"
"She's a foodie. Feed her and you're halfway there. Isn't that the whole point?"
Kotori's glare could have melted steel. "Of course it's a problem, you idiot! I told you to take her on a date! I even assembled Fraxinus's top talent to help you, and you blew them off. What are you playing at?"
Shuo ignored her outburst and turned to Tohka.
"Tohka, you want to fit in here, right? Experience human life—the fun, the newness?"
Tohka nodded eagerly, but her smile faded, replaced by a shadow of sadness.
"But… I'm a Spirit. I can't live in your world. Maybe soon I'll have to disappear, go back to that empty place…"
Shuo reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"In that case, let's make a contract."
He slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her softly.
Tohka's eyes fluttered shut, her cheeks burning. When they parted, she realized—her connection to that lonely void was gone.
Shuo, using the Star Cup's power, wrapped her (and the other girls) in a protective shield—one that would keep unwanted attention at bay.
"From now on, you don't have to worry about being a Spirit. You can live with me, free and happy. And trust me, you're not the only Spirit around here."
He shot a meaningful glance at Kotori and Reine, who exchanged looks of their own.
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