"It's you, Onii-san. I finally found you."
"But I'm sorry. You are a Spirit. And a Spirit's fate... is only death!"
Uttering what sounded like a death sentence, as her Realizer unit activated, Origami's first move was to charge at Ryuya's side and deliver a powerful slash with her blade!
Thud!
"Tobiichi Origami, what do you think you're doing?"
Reacting instantly, Kurumi materialized Zafkiel. Although part of her spiritual power was sealed by Ryuya, her control over her remaining power was clearly much better than the other Spirits.
Blocking Origami's blade with the butt of Zafkiel's gun, she couldn't understand why this girl was attacking Ryuya.
After all, four years ago, Ryuya had brought her and Nia to save her.
"What am I doing? Does that need explanation?"
Clearly having the advantage in strength against Kurumi, Origami pushed her back and looked at Kurumi with a smile, "I thought my memories of you from four years ago might be an illusion, but it seems you really are the Time Spirit."
Having accessed much information about Spirits unknown to ordinary people after joining AST, she naturally remembered the appearances of Nia and Kurumi. Though it was only a brief encounter, Origami remembered them vividly.
Giving Kurumi a cold stare, she showed no intention of holding back.
"Wait, wait, Tobiichi-san! Why are you fighting Takami-sensei? Isn't Sensei just an ordinary person?"
Completely unable to understand Origami's sudden violent attack, Shiori's naivety could become her fatal flaw.
"Shiori-nee, Spirits are humanity's enemy. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
Also drawing her blade, Mana was engaged in combat with Yamai Sisters.
Holding no particular feelings for Ryuya, in her view, Spirits were enemies, that was the education and belief instilled in AST.
"Spirits? How is Takami-sensei a Spirit? Are you joking? Please tell me you're joking, right?"
Her emotions were crumbling. For Shiori, encountering the unprecedented Spacequake yesterday was already hard to accept.
Now, seeing Origami and her own sister Mana fighting Ryuya, who had saved her yesterday, was a situation she simply couldn't comprehend.
"Combat is no joke, little girl."
Shaking his head, looking at Shiori, Ryuya confirmed this child was this world's equivalent of Itsuka Shido, but she was definitely female.
Smiling and shaking his head, Ryuya signaled for Kurumi to stand down. He had a guess about why Origami was fighting him.
Stepping forward to replace Kurumi, he transformed his palm into a blade and easily made contact with Origami's sword. The immense force directly shattered part of the girl's Realizer unit.
"...As expected of Onii-san, reacting so quickly."
As her Realizer unit broke, Origami stood still for less than two seconds before suddenly exerting force and appearing behind Mana. A single chop to the neck rendered her subordinate unconscious.
Then, she stomped on and destroyed the communication device on Mana's person.
"That should do it. Now we can talk properly."
Origami said lightly.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Seeing Origami 'attack' her own companion, Kurumi, Yamai Sisters, and even the agitated Tohka all stopped.
They looked at Origami in doubts, clearly not understanding what was happening.
"Well, simply put, Origami had AST's surveillance equipment on her. Her earlier attack was for the benefit of AST's leadership. Now, due to the 'intense' battle, her equipment, including the surveillance devices, are broken. So now she can express her true thoughts."
Actively explaining to Kurumi and the others, Ryuya had understood Origami's plan at a glance.
"Yes, just as Onii-san said. I was never his enemy."
Taking a deep breath, having reverted to her ordinary young girl appearance, Origami slowly walked up to Ryuya.
She gently touched the man with her fingertips, then spoke in an incredulous tone, "Onii-san, is it really you? Am I not dreaming?"
Her obsession and persistence regarding Ryuya could be said to rival Mio's. After her parents passed away, Ryuya became the only color left in Origami's world.
During her studies and progress, she gradually realized the 'gas explosion' in her neighborhood years ago wasn't a simple accident but the work of a Spirit.
Wanting desperately to help Ryuya, Origami intentionally joined AST to gather intelligence for him.
Now, finally awaiting Ryuya's return, she declared she had never forgotten the man who saved her parents' lives and gave her life a new start.
However...
"Origami, you should understand that the accident four years ago was caused by a Spirit. To some extent, I was merely rectifying a mistake I was involved in. Am I someone worthy of such devotion from you?"
Well aware that the explosion caused by the Fire Spirit four years ago was a crisis orchestrated by Mio, it ultimately stemmed from his own actions.
Disliking the idea of using, deceiving, or muddling anyone's will, Ryuya hoped Origami wouldn't lose her independence and individuality just because of a small act of help from him.
"Ah? What are you saying, Onii-san?"
Looking at Ryuya with a soft, radiant smile… an expression never shown to the world, Origami spoke.
"About saving me... Onii-san, you could have chosen to do nothing, right?"
Having witnessed too many people making mistakes, even committing wrongs for trivial gains during her growth, the saying 'Do not neglect any good deed, no matter how small; do not commit any evil deed, no matter how small' wasn't just words to Origami.
She believed Ryuya had no obligation to prevent the disasters caused by Spirits, etc. The fact that he did so was solely due to his noble character and concern for humanity.
Shaking her head, Origami understood perfectly well that Ryuya was atoning for the Spirits' past mistakes, but she understood even more the preciousness of his actions.
She never fell in love with him simply because he saved her. She could clearly distinguish between gratitude and love.
Standing thus before Ryuya, the young girl softly declared, "From now on, Tobiichi Origami lives only for you, Your Majesty, the Emperor."