The forest that sunk into the darkness of night, is illuminated by the light of the flames.
Here is far from the ordinary city's peaceful forest. No one was coming around, not to mention there is fire. This fire is not likely to have been caused by lightning that strike a drop of dead wood.
However, today's forest fire was different. The dead wood burning is not caused by lightning nor is it by people who left a bonfire———it leaked from the fall of the giant transport aircraft’s fuel.
“———Oh my, oh my.”
The darkness seemed to distort into the form of a human, a young girl crawled out from the ground.
“Originally, I was planning on ambushing DEM's facilities, I did not expect for it to actually fall in such a place.”
The girl———Kurumi picked up a piece from the scattered wreckage with one hand, and then put the other hand out in front.
Then, the shadow around her feet started to move, flying out a shotgun and reached out to catch Kurumi.
“<Zafkiel>———[YudTenth bullet].”
After Kurumi said that name, the shadow sucked into the gun to become the bullet.
YudTenth bullet, the tenth bullet penetrated the object in order to convey its past memories into the shape of Kurumi’s bullets.
Kurumi placed the gun at the direction of herself, and then did not hesitate to pull the trigger. Concentrated shadows emitted through the debris directly hit Kurumi’s head.
Normally, such a bullet would have shattered Kurumi’s head like the breakdown of aircraft’s debris. However, within Kurumi’s mind, she saw the scene of the transport aircraft when it was still flying.
Piercing alarm sounds, the aircraft was shaking like a fetus, [Material A]. The Spirit seemed to be resonating with a great unknown wave response.
Then, a twinkling in the sky; a pillar of light emitted from an unknown distance from the aircraft.
“………I see. The the direct cause of this is Shidou-san.”
Kurumi could not help but laugh. Although she received reports of Shidou’s strange behavior from her clones, she never thought he would be involved with this.
“The second Spirit-san found Shidou-san's Spirit Wave from inside the transport and looked for his help… I guess? But if Shidou-san's power went berserk because of that, he sure must have caused Kotori-san and the others a lot of trouble.”
—Kurumi thought it’s useless to say that to a Spirit that’s locked inside a container. Whatever the outcome is, there's no use picking faults with someone looking for help.
“Either way——I did not expect, Shidou-san to be of so much help.”
Kurumi dives into the shadow, and then walked toward the rear conveyor in a loud pace.
In expectation for the arrival of the transport aircraft, she had placed her clones at any major DEM facility where she thought the aircraft might arrive. Even if the plane hadn’t crashed, she would still have the Second Spirit without exception, but it would have cost her numerous clones.
Kurumi was lucky to be able to achieve this goal without that sacrifice.
Her aim was not only [Material A]. It was also to get the information about the First Spirit from her in order to defeat it. The more manpower she could reserve, the better.
“—Well then, Spirit-san? Please let me see your face.”
Kurumi said while peeking into the container that dropped out of the transportation plane.
However—
“Huh?”
Kurumi could not help but widen her eyes.
Over there, it is an empty container that has been bursted open from the inside.
—The <Ratatoskr>'s round table was in a heavy discord.
But this is hardly surprising. One person, Clayton, had launched <Dáinsleif> beyond his authority, and in order to prevent it, even the mysterious Spirit <Phantom> had emerged.
“<Phantom>………?! What does this means! Why did that Spirit appeared there!”
“No, we were really lucky. Whatever the reason is, we didn’t lose the Reiryoku we’ve been collecting. Clayton, you were too hasty!”
“What are you saying! If I didn't start the attack, the situation would not have improved.”
“However, you didn’t have that privilege to fire it. This is a serious violation.”
“Well, more important than that is <Phantom>. Can you think of ways to catch it? That being was able to turn humans into Spirits. If we had that power…”
Woodman irritatedly hit the table.
“Shut up, brats”
"………! "
Woodman spoke in a cold voice, the three executives held their breath.
“I did not tell you to follow my lead, but at least you should comply with the agreement. If you want to violate the agreement, then I also have my intentions.”
“………”
Glaring at the nervous trio, Woodman continued.
“Disposal aside, you will be notified of Clayton punishment later.”
“At the disposal of………? You say you want me punished?! I'm doing this only for <Ratatoskr> sake………!”
“It’s true Sir Woodman. He did temper some impatience, but he…”
“I said shut it Almsted. You really think I wouldn’t notice? In your mind do you think I’m so foolish?”
“…………”
After listening to the words of Woodman, Almsted fell completely silent.
Woodman thought that someone as simple as Clayton can't prepare everything by himself alone. The key to <Dáinsleif> was probably created by Almsted and passed to Clayton. It's expectable from Almsted who doesn’t like getting his hand dirty. Clayton likely didn't even notice Almsted's involvement.
“I'm calling an end to today's meeting. Everyone, remember to be cautious with your footsteps.”
After much talking, sitting on a wheelchair, Woodman let Karen pushed him away from the meeting room.
“Nn………”
With a soft moan, Shidou opened his eyes.
This is not his own room, but similar to the infirmary at school. After a few seconds, Shidou finally perceive himself to be in the <Ratatoskr>’s facility.
“Oh, you woke up?”
After hearing the sound, Shidou looked, and found Kotori.
After seeing the way the Kotori was, Shidou tried to recall what happened.
“I see, after that I………”
After Tohka and Shidou lost consciousness, Kotori took them to <Ratatoskr>’s underground facilities in order to receive a thorough examination.
“Uh………”
But before that, his memory is very hazy, he can’t remember how. He can’t remember----those words were not very accurate. Clearly, he remember what they have done, but if he want to carefully recall that incident more clearly, he can’t remember anything. It’s like as if trying to recall a dream last night; the results are different from what had actually happened.
“Don’t force yourself. The path has settled down, but your current state is no different from recovering from an illness.”
“Ah………Where are the others?”
After hearing Shidou’s question, Kotori gave a sigh and replied.
“Waiting in another room. I told them to get a good rest, but they said that they will wait for you to wake up. And——”
Saying that, Kotori pointed towards the bed at the right of Shidou. Chasing her finger with his line of sight, he noticed. There, with bandages and compresses wrapped all over her body, is a painful figure of Tohka who is currently sleeping.
“Tohka………”
“I had allowed her to sleep here since she can't sleep if she wasn't looking at Shidou's condition. When she wakes up, remembers to thank her. We were only able to save you because of Tohka’s perseverance. Moving through a whirlpool of Reiryoku is not something anyone can do.” [Well, some idiot also did something similar once], Kotori added. Shidou had no choice but to smile.
At the same time, some of his vague memories had suddenly become clear.
Shidou thought about it, at that time Tohka was, regardless of the danger tried to save him.
“……Thank you, Tohka”
Shidou lean his body from the bed and, stroked Tohka’s head. Feeling a tickle, Tohka squirmed a little, making a soft *Tsu* *Tsu* sound before smoothing out her breathing.
Seeing Tohka sleeping, Shidou couldn’t help but smile. Then he returned his gaze towards Kotori.
“Kotori too……Thank you very much. You also have done a lot of work for my sake, right?”
“……Th, that is”
Kotori started to stutter over Shidou’s words and---before long, while grasping the hem of her skirt, large particle of tears began to shed.
“Ko, Kotori? Just what had happened?”
“……I'm, sorry,………I——”
Kotori continued the words of apology haltingly.
She knew the risk of Shidou going berserk but she remained silent. The fact that <Ratatoskr> has a weapon prepared for killing Shidou just in case. And---the fact that the person who is in charge of the ignition key was Kotori herself.
“I'm sorry……that I keep quiet the whole time. It’s all started when you sealed my Reiryoku, just let your body turned into something like that……I'm sorry.”
“………”
Shidou who had been listening to Kotori's words quietly, breathed out a sigh.
“Don't cry, Kotori.”
“But, I put Onii-chan……”
“Well, being watched all day isn’t really good……but there was no other way. Taking into account the situation in case of me going berserk, then it makes sense to prepare a countermeasure in advance.——If so many people died because of me, then I would never be able to forgive myself.”
“Onii-chan………”
And, Shidou continues.
“Even everything is returned to that of five years ago right now, I would still seal your Reiryoku………Having said that, might make you say I do not included myself to the list of lives to save——but this is now my nature. I can't do anything with it. For me, it's more painful to see you broke down in tears than it.”
“……”
“So, please stop crying, Kotori. I just managed to flee from the gates of hell, the results of waking up to see you crying is too hard to endure.”
“……”
Kotori wiped tears from her eyes with her sleeve and smiled with her eyes and nose still in red.
As if responding to that, Shidou also make a smile.
“See, you're cuter that way. My sister is world's best.”
“……Idiot”
Kotori mumbled shyly, and then turned her back towards Shidou and opened the door.
“I’ll call the others. They must all be worried about you.”
“Aa, I’m counting on you.”
After Shidou finished, Kotori nodded and left the room. But before Kotori step out the door…
“……Thank you, Onii-chan.”
Leaving these words, she shut the door.
After watching her leave, Shidou tried to stretch his stiff body. However, he can't raise up his arms because of the muscle pains.
“Ah it hurts……”
And, as if to respond to that voice, Tohka who slept on the bed beside Shidou let out a voice and *Goshi* *Goshi* rubbed her eyes.
“Nn……Uu……”
“Ou, Tohka. Good morning.”
“……,……! Shidou!”
Tohka’s vision was not very clear, but after seeing Shidou’s figure, she immediately opened her eyes and sat up.
“Ugu……”
Perhaps because the physical pain did not subside, Tohka could not help but groan in pain.
“Hey, don’t force yourself.”
“No……I'm okay. More importantly, is Shidou’s body okay?”
“Thanks to you, I’m fine. Thank you, I really did give you guys a lot of trouble huh.”
After Shidou finished, Tohka shook her head in response.
“Don't worry. I've been saved by your a lot more. It would be weird for Shidou who always tried your best to not be saved. Besides…”
“Besides?”
He tilted his head in inquiry. Then Tohka's cheek was dyed in red.
“No……the last one, is a secret.”
“What's with that, I'm curious. Just tell me now.”
“No. A secret is a secret after all———More importantly, Shidou”
Tohka then looked around restlessly and, her eyes fell on the basket with apples on top of the shelves. She take it with her hands, and skillfully started to peel the apple.
Then she took one of the apple slices and comes toward Shidou.
“Here Shidou, say [An~——].”
“Eh? What is it out of sudden”
After Shidou questioned that, Tohka continued on with a serious look.
“At that time, didn’t Shidou said to make you fall in love? But, I was the only person who didn’t make Shidou fall in love yet.”
“Heh? Really?”
“Yes. So here, An~——.”
“Ah, An~——”
Overwhelmed by Tohka’s momentum, Shidou had obediently opened his mouth to let Tohka fed him the apple.
“Is it delicious!?”
“Nn……yes, it’s delicious.”
“Did you get heart-thumped!?”
“Ah……I did get heart-thumped.”
“I see!”
When Shidou said that, Tohka smiled happily. Seeing Tohka's innocent smile, Shidou really felt his heart rate accelerating. Then, as if she doesn't notice his state, Tohka made a serious looks and stared into Shidou's eyes.
“Speaking of which, Shidou. I want to make sure of one thing.”
“Nn, what is it?”
“……I heard from Kotori that you are required to kiss in order to seal the Reiryoku……As I expected, you’ve kissed everyone until now?”
“Buu……!”
Having said that, Shidou unconsciously made a cough.
Come to think of it, after sealing Yoshino’s Reiryoku, Tohka said, “Don’t kiss with anyone other than me”.
In order to stabilize Tohka’s mental state, he had to agree to promise Tohka……but it seems after this incident Tohka finally knew.
“……That, Tohka, about that…”
“No, it's alright. Rather, I’m sorry for giving you an inconsiderate demand. It was self-contradictory to tell you to rescue other Spirits while prohibiting you from using the method.”
However, Tohka continued.
“But even so, isn't it better to say that on the spot? I have always thought until now, that there are other ways to seal Spirits outside of a kiss.”
“That……I'm sorry, you're indeed right.”
When Shidou lowered his head, Tohka shook her head again.
“Don't apologize. I forgive you. In exchange for that–”
“Eh?”
Shidou widen his eyes. Tohka was, while frowning in pain, slowly came out of the bed and then climbed onto Shidou’s bed.
“Er, Tohka?”
“I don't have any complains. But, it’s true that Shidou broke our promise. So——.”
Yoshino, Kotori, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Miku, Natsumi, Origami, Tohka counted with each finger as she said the Spirits' name.
Then, while her cheeks was blushing, she said in a small voice.
“……A total of seven people. That’s the number of times you kept it secret from me. I’ll forgive you if you kiss me seven times.”
“Ha……? H-Hey, wait, Tohka!?”
“No questions. Or……you don’t want to kiss me?”
“No, it’s not like that, but soon——”
“In that case there’s no problem! Sit still, I’ll be done fast.”
“W-Wait——”
Before Shidou could finish, Tohka, without any explanation, joined her lips and Shidou's together. Shidou felt a pleasure like his brain is burning up by the soft feeling and the faint fragrance of sweat.
“Nn……, chu……”
“……!……?!”
However, at that moment.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Shidou. I've brought everyone over——”
Opening the door to see inside, Kotori became dumbfounded at the scene.
Tohka widen her eyes in surprise and separate her lips away from his. Shidou's lips got pulled with her lips a little before it bounced back. Their lips are connected to each other with a glittering thread made of saliva.
With that scene, the Spirits and Mana rushed into the room.
“W-wait, what were you doing in this of short timespan, Shidou!?”
“U-um……both of you are still recovering……you should not too……”
“Ka, Kaka……Tohka sure takes the cake.”
“Pointing out. Kaguya seems frustrated.”
“Kyaa! Eh? I didn't see it properly, so could you do it again! Again please!”
“Uwa……to wake up and do such a thing, how gross……”
“…As expected, I can't be off guard.”
“Nii-sama! What are you doing!?”
Saying that, everyone came to surround Shidou’s bed.
“H-hey, everyone please calm down. This is……”
Shidou was thinking of how to defend himself.
But, an excuse that can easily gloss over this situation doesn't come to mind.
“Muu……”
Then, whether Tohka also thought the same thing, since it’s came to this, Tohka *giyuu* hugged Shidou. All the Spirits [Ah!] raised up their voices.
“Haha……”
In response to the loud noise, Shidou couldn’t help but give a wry smile while stroking Tohka’s head.
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