Main Body Kurumi escaped when Kotori and Medusa were fighting. Although she had gained a lot of time this time, she didn't think she could deal with Medusa.
She had no choice but to escape, planning to properly talk to Inaba Tsukiyo next time, knowing that her Clone Kurumi was still in the Imaginary Space.
Spirit-transformed Kotori's emotions were clearly more volatile, as fiery as the flames constantly burning on her body.
She swung the axe in her hand, wanting to finish off Medusa, while Medusa constantly maneuvered with her agility.
At the end of the battle, Kotori stopped fighting due to Shiori's intervention, but her expression was grim, as if she was suppressing something.
As the battle ended, Medusa's body also began to change, with numerous specks of light emanating from her.
"Has Master woken up? It seems it's time for me to leave too. Our exchange ends here for now, Miss Itsukas."
"Wait! Mana, what about Mana!?"
Shiori cried out in a panic. Would Mana just remain petrified? Would her sister, whom she had finally reunited with, be a stone statue for the rest of her life?
"You didn't forget her even at the very end, did you? If you really want to save her, then plead with Master. I think Master should have a way to help you."
With that, Medusa's body completely vanished into Spirit Particles, and Inaba Tsukiyo returned.
Rubbing her somewhat dizzy head, Inaba Tsukiyo felt a bit helpless about this operation. She could have used an Imaginary Space barrier to block Mana's attack, but because time was too tight, she forgot about it.
Her mindset was still a bit restless; next time she faced such a situation, she needed to respond calmly. She didn't want to rely on Servants for help every time.
"Miss Inaba! Please help me!"
Shiori suddenly knelt before Inaba Tsukiyo, tears in her eyes, pleading with her.
"Please, let Mana recover. I will keep her in line. If you really want to punish someone, then let me, her older sister, take the punishment in her stead."
"..."
What's going on? Inaba Tsukiyo was a bit bewildered. Why did Shiori suddenly kneel before her? Why was the atmosphere so serious?
The surrounding barrier was constantly dissipating due to Medusa's departure. Inaba Tsukiyo noticed the statue of Mana behind Shiori, and her heart skipped a beat.
The ability to turn people into stone statues, probably only Medusa possessed it.
Thinking that Medusa had helped this time, Inaba Tsukiyo breathed a sigh of relief. If someone else had come out, Amamiya City or Japan would probably have been in trouble.
However... Shiori's reaction was very interesting. Should she tease her a bit?
The reason she was hit this time was because Mana wanted to ambush Clone Kurumi.
As Mana's older sister, Shiori really should accept punishment on her sister's behalf.
"Oh? You'll take her punishment? Then what if I ask you to do..."
Bending down, she whispered something into Shiori's ear. Shiori's pretty face grew redder and redder with Inaba Tsukiyo's words, until steam could be seen rising from her head.
"Ho... How could I! That's too embarrassing! How could I do such a thing!"
"If you don't do it, Mana Takamiya will remain petrified. Think carefully, is it sacrificing yourself on a night when no one is around, or sacrificing your sister's entire life? Your choice?"
"Ho... How could there be no one around!"
Shiori's face was almost bleeding from embarrassment. How could Inaba Tsukiyo propose such a shameful punishment!
She actually wanted her to wear a school swimsuit at night, with a puppy chain around her neck, and then walk in the park, led by Inaba Tsukiyo.
This could no longer be considered a punishment! It was completely humiliating P.L.A.Y., alright!
If she really agreed to such a thing, her dark history would increase! And Kotori would definitely watch this scene from the Bridge.
With live streaming and everything, Shiori felt like she was about to faint.
But if she didn't agree to Inaba Tsukiyo's request, Mana wouldn't be able to return to normal. Shiori hesitated, wondering whether to sacrifice herself or Mana.
Shiori's reaction made Inaba Tsukiyo laugh out loud. Indeed, this guy's skin was not just thin; it was exceptionally thin.
However, such a thing was indeed very impactful for a high school girl. Generally speaking, girls really couldn't accept such a thing.
"Forget it. Since you think there's a problem, then let's change it. I won't state this request now. When I need you to fulfill it, I'll come find you then."
"A friendly reminder: you must agree to any request I make. If I can turn Mana Takamiya to stone once, I can do it a second time. Perhaps next time, more people will be turned to stone, and then it won't be as simple as just one request."
"Mmm! Mmm!"
Although she didn't know what Inaba Tsukiyo was really planning, Shiori was willing to go all out if it meant Mana could return to her original state.
After Shiori agreed, to the other party's astonishment, Inaba Tsukiyo pulled a knife from Imaginary Space and slashed fiercely at the petrified Mana.
"Mana!"
Shiori couldn't help but shout. Medusa had said that if the statue suffered any damage, it would harm the person herself. Was Inaba Tsukiyo trying to kill Mana?
Just as Shiori thought the statue would be cut in half, the crack in the middle of the statue grew larger and larger, and dense cracks spread across the entire statue.
After the cracks reached their limit, there was a sudden explosion. Shiori shielded herself from the flying debris, and through the gaps in her arms, she saw a perfectly intact Mana lying on the ground, unconscious.
"A little progress. To be able to so easily kill the concept of [petrification], it seems I am also growing."
Nodding in satisfaction, a dazzling blue light flashed in Inaba Tsukiyo's eyes.
She didn't have a way to undo [petrification]. The reason she could free Mana from the [petrified] state was simply that she had killed Mana's [petrification]. It was that simple.
After doing all this, Inaba Tsukiyo turned and left, entering Imaginary Space.
As she entered Imaginary Space, Origami, whom she had confined there, walked over.
"Who was that girl just now?! Who is the true identity of Yama?! What... what is her relationship with Shiori?!"
"You're really agitated, Origami. Do you think Itsuka Kotori is the enemy who killed your parents back then?"
Origami didn't speak. She just quietly looked at Inaba Tsukiyo, hoping for her answer.
When she heard Itsuka Kotori, Origami understood the other party's identity. The surname Itsuka, which Shiori also had, meant that Kotori was Shiori's younger sister.
"Are you really planning to kill Itsuka Shiori? If you really intend to harm Kotori, then Shiori will definitely stop you. You will become adversaries, and you will never be together."
Inaba Tsukiyo paused for a moment, looking at the expressionless Origami, who was like a doll, then continued.
"Don't you want to be with Itsuka Shiori anymore?"
This sharp question calmed Origami's mind, making her pause slightly.
Did she want to be with Shiori? Of course, Origami wanted to be with Shiori; otherwise, she wouldn't have engaged in such perverted behavior.
But the goal of wanting to be with Shiori conflicted with the desire to avenge her parents.
In the struggle between these two ideals, Origami leaned more towards the latter. She wanted to avenge her parents; she wanted to kill Yama.
"No, I have my own goal, and she has her own pursuits. We are not on the same path."
Alright, seeing that Origami seemed to have completely lost her purpose in life, Inaba Tsukiyo realized the seriousness of the situation.
When an ordinary person has such thoughts, it means that she is not far from true death.
"Don't underestimate yourself, Origami. Your life shouldn't be like this. Your parents wouldn't want to see this."
"Why do you care about me? In your eyes, am I not just a tool with utilitarian value? If I didn't have anything worth using, you would abandon me without hesitation, right?"
"So... where did you get this idea from? Using you? Although you are indeed more interesting than others, I am a person. I am not some cold-blooded guy; I also have my own principles."
"A person... You're clearly a Spirit, yet you say such things."
Origami turned her head away and whispered.
She remembered Inaba Tsukiyo telling her that she had transformed from a human into a Spirit.
From the moment Inaba Tsukiyo appeared until now, she had never killed anyone. Even those two scumbags just now, she brought them back to life with her ability.
She had always targeted Inaba Tsukiyo, but Inaba Tsukiyo had never tried to kill her. The only serious method she used was letting her enjoy the sensation of medicated oil.
Inaba Tsukiyo wanted to find a reason for Origami to live, otherwise, she would constantly live in a dream of revenge, and the day her wish was fulfilled would be the day she died.
According to Inaba Tsukiyo's experience, the death of Origami's parents was definitely not that simple. If Origami truly avenged her parents, a tragedy would surely occur in the end.
'It seems I need to ask Nia about the truth behind Origami's parents' deaths when I get back. There must be something I don't know about.'
Although Origami wanted revenge, she didn't have the strength to deal with Spirits. Her Realizer unit from AST simply couldn't contend with Spirits.
"Think carefully, Origami. Although that memory is very painful, think about what the figure of the Spirit who killed your parents looked like that day?"
"Five years ago, Itsuka Kotori was only nine years old. Could she have been the size of the Spirit you remember killing your parents at that time?"
"...What do you mean by this? Are you trying to persuade me to give up revenge?"
"No... Just telling you to rationally consider the truth behind it. It's possible that things are different from what you think, and the truth might be different from what you imagine."
Perhaps it would be a desperate truth. The moment she learned the truth would be the moment Origami truly despaired.
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