As Kotori Itsuka warily stepped in front of the boy, their brief moment alone came to an end.
Kyoumi didn’t care whether Shidou would choose to believe her or not.
It was less a request and more a declaration.
No matter what choice he made, the girl named Kyoumi would always act according to her own pace.
The reason she bothered to tell Shidou was, as she had said, merely a small act of revenge to trouble the boy—simply her mischievous whim.
BOOM—
“That’s too sneaky, Kyoumi! Running off with Shidou first like that!”
Puffing her cheeks and waving her arms in dissatisfaction, Tohka kicked the door open and complained loudly.
It was hard to imagine such a thud coming from small leather shoes, but considering that outfit was originally her Divine Raiment, and Tohka was a type with immense physical strength, kicking a sliding door until it barely hung on the wall was probably her holding back.
“I’m just really looking forward to what comes next,” the colorful raffle ticket fluttered between the girl’s fingers as Kyoumi glanced at the boy shielded behind Kotori.
“And I wanted a little more alone time with Shidou, that’s all.”
“Not fair! I want that too! Shidou!”
Turning her angry bun-face toward Shidou Itsuka, Tohka also pulled a ticket from the ones in his hand.
“Yes, yes… Kotori, do you want one too?”
Noticing even his sister’s expression, Shidou Itsuka said with some distress, handing a ticket to the girl who had looked over.
“…What exactly did she pull you out here for?”
Not satisfied with that, Kotori Itsuka asked while taking the ticket and shoving the earpiece Shidou had removed earlier back into his ear.
“…What did she say…”
Shidou Itsuka instinctively looked at the girl, only to see her playful smile, as if the earlier gloom and seriousness had been an illusion.
In her words, aside from entrusting him to protect Tohka like a daughter, the rest was clearly avoiding Kotori.
He really wanted to ask his sister directly about what Kyoumi had mentioned—high mental strain, impurities in her body—either one made it hard for Shidou to feel at ease.
“……”
“She… is probably really looking forward to her date with you.”
Kyoumi’s voice still echoed in his mind.
Sealing a spirit’s power required dating, gradually raising affection—Shidou Itsuka had been told this.
If he bluntly asked what was wrong with her, it would definitely upset Kotori, right?
Though she acted strong willed and sharp-tongued, the person before him was indeed his sister. Shidou couldn’t bear to let Kotori down.
…But the target of this operation was Tohka.
From tactical planning to designating the date, Fraxinus’s support for Shidou was based on capturing Tohka alone, not a group date.
The one who had caused this outcome was the girl who seemed capricious yet always steered the situation, throwing problems and bits of truth at Shidou.
“Since you’re taking her power, you must protect her properly.”
Informing him of Kotori’s abnormality, entrusting Tohka to him, yet voluntarily giving up this sealing opportunity herself…
Was someone like her really as willful as she appeared?
Shidou Itsuka reached a conclusion in his heart.
“She didn’t say anything strange. Kyoumi said she wanted to draw prizes quickly, and…”
I want to believe her. I’m willing to believe her.
The boy turned his gaze to the girl explaining to Tohka what raffle tickets were.
“And she asked me to keep the flag safe for her, to return it next time we meet.”
He didn’t lower his voice—there was no need to.
This was Shidou’s response to the girl’s feelings, the answer he gave.
Capturing two spirits in one appearance window was highly unrealistic.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it, Tohka had already vanished before him twice.
A spirit’s appearance time wouldn’t extend just because of the boy’s greed, but…
Watch closely, Kyoumi.
This time, I will save Tohka. I will save Kotori.
Next time, I will save you.
“Is that really it?”
Kotori Itsuka still looked suspicious, but for now, it seemed she couldn’t get more and gave up pressing further.
“…Oh?”
Sensing the boy’s resolve, the girl’s rose-pink eyes turned toward him.
“Rather than next time, I’m more concerned with the outcome of this date.”
She didn’t accept the boy’s unilateral promise.
“Shidou, Shidou! Let’s go draw prizes! Kyoumi said lucky people might win kinako bread!”
“…Kinako bread isn’t usually a prize…”
Infected by Tohka’s cheerfulness, Shidou Itsuka’s gaze shifted to the girl who had already turned her head away, spreading odd common knowledge to Tohka.
“But I’m looking forward to it too. Let’s go, Tohka, Kotori~”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Shidou? The priority right now is Tohka, isn’t it?”
“What’s the big deal? It’s been a while since I went shopping with Kotori.”
“You… if you put it that way… it’s not impossible…”
Tohka needed saving, and so did Kotori. It was greedy, but this was Shidou’s decision.
After all… no matter how seriously the girl said it.
Suppressing with physical means… sounded extremely dangerous.
Though during that battle between Kotori and Kyoumi, he hadn’t seen the full thing due to a sudden headache.
But Kotori had definitely been off… not because he noticed her physical abnormality, but the immense heat that burned the rooftop and scorched the sky.
Even with a splitting headache, no one could ignore such a scene.
That ferocious bombardment could be called the synonym of destruction.
And the her who directed such an attack at a spirit was absolutely not the usual sharp-tongued but reliable sister who encouraged peaceful negotiations with spirits.
Though Kotori had acted normal afterward, if what Kyoumi said was true—if regaining her spirit power was such a burden on Kotori—then no matter what, Shidou Itsuka had to seal Kotori as well.
…If he couldn’t do it before Kyoumi disappeared, she really would use physical means… and…
…She would present it with a casual, willful attitude, just like her earlier attack on him, just like her earlier questions…
Just like saying “I’m tired of playing,” baring her fangs.
Though gentle and delicate, she seemed so unrestrained.
Those words actually held no intention of discussing with him, right?
Gaining a deeper understanding of the girl, Shidou Itsuka quietly clenched his fist, cheering himself on in his heart.
Absolutely, I will prove it to you—
This determination began to waver after walking straight ahead and seeing the street-side scene.
In an open space, a large raffle machine sat on a table draped with red cloth.
Several men in happi coats stood by the machine, with prizes like bicycles and bags of rice lined up behind them.
Banners hung from streetlights along the way, marked with arrows saying “This way” and promotional slogans.
Though he didn’t want to dampen the enthusiasm of the Ratatoskr staff…
From a normal person’s perspective, this raffle booth was way too suspicious, right?
Currently Disclosable Information: Physical Stats Edition
Kyoumi
Height: 151 cm
Measurements: B74 / W56 / H81