A dizziness-like sensation struck Shido's head.
Next, he felt a warm current flow through his lips and into his body.
It was the same feeling he had already experienced during the dates with Tohka and Yoshino—the sensation of sealing a Spirit's power within himself.
However—
"...Huh?"
Holding his forehead, Shido absorbed the memories that poured into him together with Kotori's spirit power.
"Just now—that was…?"
Memories from five years ago, but taken entirely from Kotori's point of view. Compared to his own incomplete fragments, these were far more complete.
"Ah… I remember it too. Five years ago—"
Kotori had yet to recover her senses. But as her spirit power faded, the kimono and fiery ribbons she wore dissolved into particles of light, revealing her fair skin.
At the same time, Kotori collapsed unconscious.
Shido had already seen the same thing happen after sealing Tohka and Yoshino, so he was mentally prepared.
Although his sister's naked body was now completely exposed before his eyes, looking as if waiting to be taken—tempting as the sight was—Shido knew that now was not the time to admire such scenery. He needed to leave immediately.
Not only to protect Kotori from Origami, but also to keep himself alive from Tenqi.
However, in the next instant, several missiles flew precisely toward Kotori. Shido had no choice but to lift Kotori in his arms and run, using his own back to take the full brunt of the explosions.
The burning pain seared through him, yet Shido endured it.
This level of pain was nothing compared to the feeling of being constantly shredded like by a shotgun blast during Yoshino's blizzard.
"—Shido!"
Seeing that her attack had wounded Shido, Origami quickly descended to his side.
"...Tokisaki Kurumi, is that white-haired girl a Spirit?"
Tenqi narrowed her eyes. She had already predicted what would happen next.
"Why ask what you already know, Miss Tenqi?"
"No, I was just thinking… If that girl is a Spirit, then isn't she just a free gift for Shido Itsuka? The reaction is so boring—nothing like the fun I wanted to see. And besides…"
"Why is this happening— Forget it, even though I don't have a medical-type Realizer Unit, if I use this—"
Before she could finish her thought, Origami widened her eyes in shock, unable to believe the sight before her.
Shido's back—grotesquely scorched moments ago by the explosion—was now being rapidly restored under the licking flames, healing visibly fast. In no time, his injuries vanished completely.
"As expected… just like before…"
Shido took a deep breath, wanting to lay Kotori somewhere clean, but the area was covered in dust and dirt from the battle—there was nowhere suitable.
"Give her to me."
With a sweep of black-red light, Shido felt his arms lighten. Turning around, he found Tenqi lifting Kotori onto her shoulder, expressionless.
"! Miss Tenqi, if you want my life, I will give it to you anytime! Just don't harm—"
"Too much talking. Just go do what you're capable of. How boring."
Tenqi, disappointed that there was no delightful revenge scene to witness, carried Kotori toward Kurumi.
"Miss Tokisaki, do you have spare clothes?"
Seeing that Tenqi had no intention of harming Kotori, Shido let out a long breath, then turned with determined eyes toward Origami, who still wore a look of shock.
"Shido, you…"
"Origami, you said your target of revenge was the Spirit Efreet, not the human Kotori Itsuka, right?"
"Yes, but this—"
"Now, Efreet's spirit power has completely transferred to me. Which means that the current Kotori is fully human, and I am your target of revenge."
Shido wore the most serious expression he could muster—spouting logic that sounded utterly absurd to Tenqi. Yet Origami seemed genuinely stunned.
"How ridiculous. If it were me, I wouldn't bother distinguishing targets so clearly. I'd just choose whether to wipe out their entire clan or exterminate nine generations. Shido Itsuka, the only reason you're still alive is exactly that phrase—'the favored fear nothing.'"
As Tenqi spoke, she lowered her gaze to Kotori—now dressed by Kurumi's clones. Except for some looseness at the chest, the clothing fit reasonably well.
"Before that, could you listen to what I have to say? I finally remembered what happened five years ago. I remembered what I was doing… and what Kotori was doing back then…"
"Five years ago… Efreet killed my parents…"
"No! That's not what happened!"
For once, Shido mustered rare courage, interrupting Origami and explaining hurriedly:
"From the moment she gained Spirit powers until the moment they were sealed, Kotori had no one with her except me! Efreet's power was indeed the cause of the fire—that part I won't deny. But Kotori NEVER killed anyone!"
"! What… how could that be…"
"Origami, if you check the casualty records from the fire five years ago, you'll know—your parents didn't die in the fire."
"…"
Origami glared resentfully at the unconscious Kotori. With Tenqi and Kurumi right beside her, she could not act rashly. And according to her own investigations—though she did not want to admit it—Shido's words were true. She nodded heavily.
"But… I still saw a Spirit that day…"
"Was that Spirit Kotori? Was it Efreet?!"
Shido shouted.
Origami frowned, forcing herself to recall the events of that year.
"Five years ago… angels… a Spirit…"
"What an interesting expression," Tenqi remarked from the side. "Hatred and confusion… delightful. A vengeance-seeking troublemaker might actually be useful to keep around."
"Miss Tenqi, your personality is even worse than I imagined," Kurumi giggled.
"Says the pot to the kettle, Tokisaki Kurumi. If you could show an expression like this white-haired girl, I'd like you much more."
Kurumi's smile froze for an instant at Tenqi's careless remark.
It lasted only a second—before her usual expression returned. Tenqi did not notice the momentary stiffness.
"Hehe… Perhaps someday."
"Plenty of time for that. For both you and this guy."
Tenqi assumed Kurumi was once again speaking in riddles or plotting something.
Meanwhile, Shido continued his earnest attempts to persuade Origami.
"…And that's what you want me to believe?"
After a long silence, Origami's voice trembled.
It was not only her shaken emotions—her brain was reaching its limit from operating a Realizer Unit far beyond her capacity for such a long time.
"Yes. Please… believe me."
Shido's voice was sincere—but it wasn't enough.
Gritting her teeth, Origami raised her lightsaber and pointed it at the unconscious Kotori.
"Shido… I want to believe you. But… I cannot."
"How cliché—torn between hatred and affection. Do you really need to hesitate? Why choose love when you could choose hatred? Do you expect that worthless man to help you unlock your heart with his so-called 'love'?"
The next development was exactly what Tenqi least wanted to see—utterly boring.
If Origami really did lose her mind and cut down Kotori… well, that would at least be entertaining.
"Origami, if you cannot believe me, then kill me instead. Kill me, as Efreet."
Seeing that his words had no effect, Shido knelt forward, presenting himself for execution.
"This kind of thing…"
But at that instant, pain flashed across Origami's face. The lightsaber vanished, and the massive Realizer Unit behind her seemed to regain its proper weight, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Why now… of all times…"
"Please! Don't take Kotori away from me… Consider this my last request. Please—believe me!"
Shido threw himself into a full dogeza.
After several seconds of hesitation, Origami finally collapsed unconscious.