…Perhaps I can survive in this world.
If Shidou is by my side, maybe the answers to everything else can be found.
Even though the future is still unclear, in Tohka’s eyes, simply living feels incredibly difficult.
But just as Shidou said, as long as there is someone who affirms her existence, perhaps everything will work out.
“Shidou, let’s do it.”
Having made up her mind, Tohka raised her head, her gaze filled with determination.
“…You say ‘let’s do it’…”
“Sealing? Kiss? Anything is fine, just tell me the steps for that kind of thing.”
Even though Kyoumi had explained it before, the only person who could seal a spirit’s power was the Shidou standing right in front of her, so to confirm one last time, Tohka stared brightly at the boy’s face.
Shidou Itsuka could even see his own reflection in those clear eyes.
He was being watched, being trusted.
“A kiss is…”
Even at this point—no, precisely because it had reached this point—Shidou Itsuka couldn’t help but doubt Kotori’s words even more.
Even though rationally he believed that the sister he had lived with for so long wouldn’t joke about something like this.
But if this sealing method really was one of her pranks, if it was just a girl’s mischievous trick…
Then even if he had to endure two whole days of headache-inducing teasing, he would absolutely punish her with the “double-sized Pocky ban” for an entire day.
“It’s true, Tohka’s affection level has reached the point where sealing is possible, and she’s willing. Just do as she says.”
…Reine-san, if you’re also part of this prank conspiracy, then Kotori’s punishment will be extended by six hours!
“…Probably… it’s when lips… touch… ngh?!”
He no longer knew what he was thinking anymore.
Shidou Itsuka stammered out the explanation, his gaze involuntarily falling onto the girl’s seemingly soft lips…
“?!”
Yet before he could react, the girl pulled him in with irresistible force and pressed their lips together.
There’s an old saying: the taste of a kiss is lemon-flavored.
Shidou Itsuka now confirmed that saying was completely made up.
The fragrance brought by a kiss only depended on what the other person last ate, and within that soft, moist sensation, the scent that lingered was—cream chocolate flavor.
It was the taste of the remaining half-cup of sundae that Tohka had wolfed down so as not to waste food, the one Kyoumi had left behind.
The sensation he had never experienced before in his memories caused Shidou Itsuka’s brain to crash for an instant.
Clearly, he was the one supposed to seal the spirit’s power, and logically, the boy should have made the first move, but Tohka was so decisive and direct.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant…
But for everyone else, personal perception didn’t matter.
So…
After roughly one second—
Since Shidou had only explained the part about pressing lips together, Tohka had no concept of exactly how long it needed to last.
But someone noticed first: that pride of a spirit, the strongest shield that protected spirits, the Divine Raiment that Tohka had shaped into a middle school uniform-like outfit, began emitting dreamy specks of light from the hem of the skirt and the edges of her knee-high socks.
“——!”
The sound of the zipper scraping open at high speed was like the shrill cry of some creature, accompanied by the popping of buttons and the rustling of fabric.
The violent force piercing through caused Shidou Itsuka to involuntarily step back twice, and even his feverish, dazed mind slowly cleared.
It was a purple afterimage.
Due to the excessive force of the launch, one side of the platform’s ground even cracked.
Something was practically thrown over with a smashing motion.
Tohka blinked in slight confusion, then belatedly realized that the uniform made from her Divine Raiment had completely vanished from the inside out, and a purple, zippered, elongated vest-like coat had been tossed into her arms.
The panic from losing her vital protection slowly subsided thanks to the slightly cool coat now in her embrace.
Feeling a tightening sensation around her waist, Tohka looked down and saw Kyoumi crossing the lower hem at her waist, adjusting and fastening it for her.
“Phew… My outerwear can’t possibly fit someone with your figure, so just drape it like that. Showing your back is better than showing your stomach.”
That usual frivolous tone brought a bit of reassurance to the girl who had lost her Divine Raiment.
If Kyoumi weren’t lightly panting from the sudden burst of speed, she might have looked more composed.
“Sealing spiritual power… Hmph, overlooking that was my mistake. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to use my own Divine Raiment as a temporary fix. I suppose Kotori could still prepare some spare clothes.”
Just as Kyoumi had casually mentioned in the restaurant, her Divine Raiment was indeed detachable.
“Alright, don’t move too much. I’m not planning to give you my shoes or underwear, so make do with this for now.”
She stood up with a tap, the sound of her heels striking the ground resembling metal.
Upon closer inspection, the edges of the girl’s boots were now lined with sharp spikes, but according to the intelligence on Beast and her previous descriptions, her Divine Raiment did not possess such deformation functions.
“…Thank you, Kyoumi. My Divine Raiment suddenly disappearing really startled me…”
Tohka softly expressed her gratitude, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
She clumsily put on the girl’s outerwear in reverse.
Just as Kyoumi said, even wearing it backwards already made her feel a bit constricted in the chest, but compared to that sensation…
Tohka slowly shifted her bare legs, hiding her body behind the girl and peeking out with only half her head.
“…Having to use Metatron (Seraphic Armor) for something like this… I really am working hard.”
Kyoumi shook her hand lightly, standing straighter to make her slender frame appear slightly larger.
Together with Tohka, who was peeking out, she stared at the stunned boy.
Having removed her outer layer and revealing her inner outfit, Kyoumi looked less arrogantly proud than before and instead gave off a more intellectual vibe.
But Shidou Itsuka had no time to admire the girl’s different kind of beauty…
“…S-s-s-s-sorry, Tohka! I only heard about sealing… I didn’t know it would make the Divine Raiment disappear…!!”
Awakened by the girls’ oppressive gazes, the boy jumped up, quickly retreating a distance while curling his body into a ball, assuming a standard kneeling apology pose.
“…”
Silence fell, so heavy that the boy—who had prepared himself to be stomped on or cursed at—felt his heart sink.
Until he could no longer bear it and was about to lift his head to check if the girl was still in front of him, he heard a voice.
“Shidou…”
It was Tohka’s voice, sounding a little weak.
“Yes?! I’m here!!!”
“…What kind of way is that to respond…”
Tohka muttered softly, shaking her head that peeked out from behind Kyoumi.
“Shidou… from now on… can we still go on dates?”
“Of course! Anytime!”
“I see…”
Tohka let out a breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and leaned her weight against the girl in front of her.
“That’s really great…”
“Origami, calm down, Origami… You’re about to crush the gun barrel…”
Ryoko Kusakabe, who had come here for the serious duty of protecting humanity, suddenly found her subordinate sporting a shiny green hat.
She didn’t even have the mood to complain and could only awkwardly rack her brain, trying to soothe the girl beside her who was gnashing her teeth so hard the rifle was creaking in her grip…
“…Unforgivable… Shidou’s first kiss… unforgivable…”
“Hey, Origami? Hey?!”