Date A Live - Volume 15 - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - The Locked Memories 

“——Hn, hn, hmmn, hn~.” 
A figure stood amidst the pitch-black darkness. No——to be precise, amidst a sea of stars. 
Hoshimiya Mukuro slowly drifted, her long hair dancing with glimmers of shining light and elegant grace. 
Overhead was the limitless stygian cosmos. Under her eyes’ gaze was an azure celestial body of astronomical proportions. 
That’s correct. After she had bid farewell to Shidou, Mukuro opened a gate in mid-air using <Michael> and once again teleported back to the wasteland known as space. 
Be that as it may, this did not by any means indicate that she had lost interest in Shidou and the surface. It would be better to say that the place they spent their stroll together was especially wonderful. However——if one needed to ponder over matters, the noiseless cosmos would triumph as the superior choice. 
“Howbeit——” 
Mukuro murmured to herself, aiming a glance at the planet beneath. 
“What a goodly clime. Oft espied, yet remorse none——Muku is truly prodigal.” 
On that day, Mukuro’s bosom was impaled with Shidou’s pseudo-<Michael>. 
“Hehe, Shidou is well deserving of Muku’s gratitude.” 
She then angled her body backwards, stretching her limbs and body. 
Exercise made one’s mind entirely free from worry. Not only that, but the scenery, respiration, and sunlight——after subsequently abstaining from external stimulus for a long period, it felt like someone had just struck her. 
Only this was—— 
“……Hueh?” 
At that instant, Mukuro tilted her head. 
Meticulously deliberating, it was a given that this world was blessed with such many things of splendor, so why had she sealed off her own heart? 
“Mmm……?” 
Mukuro joined her hands and feet together, leisurely rotating there while reminiscing. But no matter how much effort she put into it, nothing came up. 
At last, she gave up in futility and heaved a sigh. 
“Well, no matter.” 
Right, more importantly——there were more pressing affairs which required to be dealt with sooner. 
Shidou. Itsuka Shidou. The man who unlatched the lock on Mukuro’s heart and introduced her to this gorgeous, multicolored world. 
And of greatest importance——he is her lover and likewise she is his. 
“Mn, hn, merry indeed. To have one’s beloved swain in else loved, thus never struck as merriment in days gone by.” 
Simply by the thought of Shidou, her maiden heart gently fluttered with ebullient, exhilarated happiness. So this feeling was what Shidou had spoken of before. 
However, there was one more hurdle to cross. 
Mukuro’s infatuated crush was utterly too tender, too kind-hearted. 
“Woe betide Muku if naught be effectuated.” 
She smiled sweetly, though a little overly, and fished out from within the void a massive key—<Michael>. 
 
——Everyday was filled with joy to the brim. 
After I woke up in the morning, Father, Mother, and Ane-sama would say good morning to me. [1] 
Back then, I did not know how lovely it was to have my family members by my side whenever I woke up. 
Let alone how blissful it was to simply eat our breakfast together. 
Yet above all that, there was one thing worth more joy. 
Ane-sama would tie my hair for me. 
“——’s hair is so pretty!” 
She had a habit of saying that a lot while combing my hair. 
Being complimented by my beloved sister, I was overjoyed and proud. I always looked forward to this time of the day with all I could. 
Before I realized, Ane-sama’s fingertips had laced my hair into dangos. Within mere minutes, the muddleheaded cat just arisen from slumber had turned into a delightful young girl. When I had first experienced such a sensation, I even believed my sister to be a magician. 
After telling her my impressions in a happy-go-lucky tone, she looked fairly startled, only to smile from ear to ear——petting my head once again with a gentleness that plucked the strings of my heart. 
Following this, we would eat the delicious breakfast which Mother made for us and then head for school after an exchange of greetings. 
“We’re off!” 
“Take care!” 
Once we reached home, Mother would come and welcome us without fail. 
“Welcome back.” 
Watching the skies together on the roof with my star-loving sister after having dinner was something I ensured to do every night. 
During the scorching summertime, we would lay out a plastic board for the both of us to lie on and look up at the starlit sky. 
Ane-sama would point at each of the glittering speckles in the sky one by one, mentioning the names of those stars as well as their origins to me. 
Even though my childhood self could not quite understand her, I took pleasure in seeing Ane-sama enthusiastically explaining those seemingly unreachable concepts to me, so I would usually return to the roof of the house by the time evening arrived. 
Not long after drowsiness assaulted and my consciousness dimmed, Ane- sama would for sure force a grin as if in apology and fondly caress my hair. 
“Sorry for getting carried away.” 
I liked falling asleep so peacefully, enveloped by such warmth. 
In what felt like an instant, I woke up——a new day was beginning. 
Living this common, incomparable life was blissful and irresistible for me. 
Greeting Father, Mother, and Ane-sama again gave me immeasurable joy. 
My family that belonged to only me, a space mine alone, there were people who loved me and people that I loved. 
Times as happy as those, my childhood self would always think that they could go on forever. 
Nevertheless, the day that world came to an end came much faster than expected. 
Nothing drastic occurred. It was neither an unfortunate accident which sent everyone to another world, nor a divorce that caused the family to fall into pieces. It wasn’t even the appearance of blood relatives who revoked from them the rights to my custody. 
——That day. 
I eagerly waited for that day. After all, Ane-sama had promised to take me to Tenguu Tower. 
However, that day, she had also brought along friends from school. 
That’s correct. Just like that. 
There was no other noteworthy thing, just another page of everyday life. 
But it was unacceptable for myself. 
That’s because Ane-sama belonged to only me. 
Ane-sama should love only me. She should love only me. 
Yet this sister, unbeknownst to me, was having fun with a friend I did not know of. That person was intruding in the world between only my sister and me. 
This thought alone wrenched my heart. It was grueling. It was unbearable. 
But I could not do anything. 
I tried my best to endure, to withstand it and enjoy the day like everyone else. 
However, when I was looking into the distant landscape from the observation tower, Ane-sama’s friend spoke to me. 
“Ne, ——-chan, your hair is really long. Wouldn’t it be better to make it a little shorter? Ne, ——, don’t you think so too?” 
Then, my sister, being sought for acquiescence, thought awhile before turning towards me and said: 
“Un…… That’s right. Isn’t it a little long? Should we go shorten it some other time?” 
——It was not as if both of them harbored any ill will. 
Ane-sama and her friend merely noticed that my lengthy hair tended to rock to and fro whenever I walked, so they just suggested so. 
But the impact those words lashed to my heart was one which gripped onto it and threatened to crumble it. I ran away from Tenguu Tower as if my life depended on it. 
——I was helpless at my suffering. 
Ane-sama had said that it was pretty. 
Ane-sama had said that she liked it. 
A simple remark from her friend had changed Ane-sama. 
In other words, she valued that person more than she valued me. If Ane- sama found herself in a situation where she had to choose between her friend and me, she would choose that person without a doubt. 
Such notions were similar to ink staining my attire, spreading at a rapid, uncatchable rate. 
I had always taken for granted that Father, Mother, and Ane-sama loved me the most. 
But those three people, prior to my appearance, had always lived in this world——each of them keeping interpersonal relationships secret from me. 
Father, Mother, Ane-sama all had, unbeknownst to me, fraternized with people unfamiliar to me, and rubbed shoulders with strangers. 
“Ugh…… Ah……” 
Once I barely came up against this cruel fact, a sick, vomiting feeling surged up my chest. 
My heart, having known to love and be loved, understood at last that this emotion was sorrow. 
Then, that time—— 
 
“………huh.” 
A night had passed since the date with Mukuro. 
Shidou had woken up earlier than usual. 
It was not like he had something peculiar to attend to or he had been stirred awake by an alarm clock. Last night, being plagued by the words Mukuro left behind at her departure, Shidou had been unable to get a good night’s sleep. 
On top of that, he had a terrible nightmare. 
Of the events which occurred after dropping from the sky that day, it was a truly grievous dream; a lifelike vision retelling what had once happened to him in such vivid detail. 
Though in the end, what Shidou had obtained in his new home was not an older sister, but a cute little sister. 
“……Hm——” 
The lack of sleep had proved to be detrimental for the condition of Shidou’s body. Even so, falling asleep right after waking up was quite demanding. 
Either way, if he could not sleep anymore, beginning preparations for breakfast would be the best course of action. Shidou glimpsed at the clock to confirm what time it was before emitted a long yawn and crawled upright from the bed. 
Treading drawn-out steps as he descended to the first floor, Shidou washed his face and prepared a change of clothes, slipping into his combat uniform for men afterwards——the apron-adorned Shidou proficiently cooked breakfast. 
Then, unaware of the passage of time, right when the savory fragrance of the fish he was frying had spread out, Shidou heard the sounds of footsteps coming from the second floor. 
It appeared that Kotori had risen from her slumber. She had been managing Mukuro’s search and surveillance data last night, continuing her work at Fraxinus till very late into the evening. The fatigue still lingering in her body should have exceeded that of what he felt. 
Kotori rubbed her eyes while slowly limping down the stairs like a zombie. 
Shidou forced a grin, waving his hand to greet her. 
“G-Good morning, Kotori.” 
“Un…… morning’s good……” 
Suddenly. 
Just as she finished her line, Kotori seemed to have noticed something, abruptly opening her eyes wide—— 
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!?” 
An epic cry came out of her mouth. 
“……! W-What’s wrong……!?” 
Shidou could not help but plug his ears with his hands, shooting a confused look at his sister. 
“What is it, Kotori, did something happen?” 
However, as though refusing to even answer him, Kotori stared at Shidou with a sharp gaze. 
Then, she uttered an emotional voice of warning. 
“Who the hell are you? Why are you in my house!?” 
That statement excessively exceeded his expectations. 
“……………………Hah?” 
Shidou’s eyes were shrunk into two tiny dots. 
Yet that was only natural, as such a question naturally puzzled him. Why he was in her house; such a query robbed him of words. No matter what, Shidou had lived in that house for more than a decade. Even if they were not related by blood, they were still brother and sister. 
“……Guh, what are you saying, Kotori?” 
Shidou scratched his face and attempted to approach her, only to elicit a yell from the girl as if to ward him off afterwards. 
“Don’t come near me! I’m calling the police!” 
“Eh……” 
Dumbfounded, Shidou wiped off the sweat forming on his forehead. 
What was Kotori doing; this was going overboard for a mere joke. In other words—— 
Right when he was cudgeling his brains, Kotori grabbed a random ornament from nearby anxiously. 
“You…… what are you standing there in a daze for! I told you to get the hell…… out of here already!” 
“Uwah!?” 
Kotori hurled the ornament in her hand towards him without mercy. Shidou hurriedly moved his body away to avoid the attack. 
“H-Hey, that’s dangerous——” 
“Shut up! Get lost!” 
Kotori shrieked in a fit of hysteria, snatching another projectile to throw. 
Although he was clueless as to Kotori’s actions, Shidou knew that his words would be incapable of properly reaching her. In a flurry, he took his bag and jacket, fleeing the place. 
“Guh, hya!” 
“Ahh! Hey, freeze!” 
Previously ordering him to get out of her sight, now she was forbidding him from running away. That being said now was not the time to point out such an occasion in a carefree manner. Shidou laid hold of the shoes sitting idle on the porch, dashing out the house with bare feet. 
“Hah…… Hah…… Hah……” 
After sprinting for some time and confirming the absence of any pursuit by Kotori, Shidou could finally exhale a deep breath of relief. As he stabilized his breathing and took off his apron, Shidou succeeded in putting on his school uniform. 
“Really…… This is uncalled for even if she couldn’t get any sleep. Your brother’s going to cry!” 
Shidou rubbed his face as he spoke to himself, walking along his current route. 
It was the first month of the New Year. To tell the truth, wearing only a jacket made him feel like dying from the cold. If the conditions would allow, Shidou wanted to return home for the time being and bring along his winter clothes to protect him against the weather. 
Even so, since there was still the possibility of Kotori going berserk, not heading towards the Itsuka residence for the moment was the better choice. 
Granted that she would not call the local police, her fits of anger would probably invoke a few rumors and slanders in the neighborhood. 
Other people’s digressing gossip would last for 75 days, but for the present Shidou, he was trapped in a vicious circle doomed to have it evolved into another rumor before that period ended. He hoped to avert the spread of any wicked criticism as much as possible, “I guess I can’t do anything…… might as well go to school for now.” 
Shidou said his utterances of abandonment, suffering the bone-chilling winds while shivering as he trudged on the road to school. 
Then, after several sneezes and walking for a few minutes, Shidou arrived at Raizen High School at last. 
Shidou slipped out of his shoes and replaced them with his indoor ones. 
Marching towards his classroom, he placed his bag on top of his table with movements he was accustomed to, and then pulled his chair out before taking a seat. 
“…………Hm?” 
Inhaling a big breath within the warm room, Shidou felt a subtle premonition that something was amiss. 
To put it bluntly, it was as if he had entered a wrong classroom by mistake. 
His classmates in the room were time and again darting looks of incomprehension in his direction, even discussing among themselves. 
“What’s the matter……?” 
Shidou slanted his head, scanning his attire to see if something was wrong, whether he was until now dressed in his pajama trousers due to leaving the house in a rush, or his shoes were put on in reverse. 
Yet as he double checked himself, no portion of his accoutrements were out of place. Just in case, Shidou touched his hair, only to find that there was no sign of it being disheveled owing to sleep. 
“Hm……” 
Could it be that, in this frigid climate, not donning an overcoat and making one’s way to school while trembling was an uncommon practice? Shidou drew up on such a conclusion for the time being, fishing out his stationery and notebook from his bag. 
“Ho~Hoho~Hohoho! Hukehkehkeh……” 
As such, snorting a series of weird nasal sounds, a boy who styled his hair with pomade entered the classroom. ——He was one of Shidou’s rather iniquitous friends: Tonomachi Hiroto. 
“Ooh, Tonomachi.” 
“Hm? Aah, morning, fellow classmate.” 
Shidou stood up and called out his name, and Tonomachi replied with his consistently frivolous manner of speaking. 
However. 
“Long time no see, huh? I wonder how long it’s been…… Ah, forgive me, I presumptuously addressed you. Sorry, but who are you again?” 
The expression on Tonomachi’s face grew more and more anxious as he spoke until he lowered his head in apology. Shidou was stark speechless, broadening both his eyes. 
“Hah?” 
“Yah, I’m really sorry about this. ……Ah, did we meet each other in karaoke previously? There were so many people that time so I couldn’t remember—.” 
“……No no no, what are you saying, Tonomachi? It’s me, Itsuka Shidou. 
Haven’t we always been classmates?” 
Shidou furrowed his brows, but it was now Tonomachi’s turn to display a perplexed expression. 
“Classmates……? From?” 
“Tonomachi……?” 
Seeing his friend’s response, Shidou once again creased his eyebrows. 
Certainly, Tonomachi had sometimes cracked jokes which nobody was able to figure out in the past, but his current appearance gave off an impression entirely different in comparison to the past. To say it bluntly, it was as if he had genuinely forgotten about Shidou. 
If Tonomachi’s acting skills had dramatically skyrocketed without Shidou knowing, that would have meant…… 
Shidou looked at his surroundings, calling out to his other classmates inside the room. 
“Um, Yamabuki, Hazakura, Fujibakama.” 
“Haeh?” 
“Hueh?” 
“Hoeh?” 
Reacting to Shidou’s voice, the three girls who were chatting nearby then lifted their heads in an organized manner——a tall and lanky girl wearing a purposely tattered school uniform, a girl of medium stature whose particular distinction was having none at all, along with a spectacles-wearing petite girl. 
They were the renowned Ai, Mai, and Mii trio of class 2-4. 
“Tonomachi’s still talking nonsense…… You three recognize me, right?” 
After Shidou asked so, the trio glanced at each other back and forth with looks of dubiety. 
“……Ugh, who’s he?” 
“Uwah, is he hitting on us? So lame——” 
“Has spring come already——Who are you targeting? Who?” 
Ai, Mai, and Mii suddenly stood up, making quite the uproar. 
But on the contrary, all color faded from Shidou’s now pale face. 
“You don’t…… know me……?” 
Emitting a dried-up, withered voice, Shidou vacantly surveyed his vicinity. Yet to no avail, as there was not a single person begging to differ from Tonomachi and the Ai, Mai, and Mii trio. Not only that, but the students also shot at him glimpses of utter shock. 
This was obviously an abnormal situation he had found himself in. Was Shidou yet to awaken from a dream, or were all his fellow classmates playing a joke on him…… Even so, they would not have done that without any explanation. Shidou felt as if he had got lost in a place he had been extremely familiar with. 
Then—— 
“Hoho, good morning everyone!” 
“Good morning.” 
While Shidou was being confined in a prison of confusion, two young girls entered the classroom. ——They were Tohka and Origami. 
“……!” 
Shidou just identified their figures and rushed towards them, planning to seek help from the two. 
“N-Ne! Tohka, Origami!” 
“Hoho!? W-What are you doing all of a sudden? Don’t scare me like that.” 
“…………” 
Tohka seemed to be rather startled, whereas Origami preserved her original composure as she turned towards Shidou. 
“A-Aah…… Sorry. But hear me out, you two. Everyone in class is acting weird. No…… not just that. Did Kotori also sleep herself silly——” 
“Muu……?” 
Even though Shidou was venting his grievances, Tohka wrinkled her eyebrows with a confounded expression instead. 
Such a reaction made him feel an illusion as though his heart was being forcibly plucked out. 
Shidou’s pulse began to palpitate faster and fiercer as more of his suspicions were proven true. Cold sweat was beading atop the skin of his whole body. A sensation similar to dizziness invaded his body from head to toe, threatening to overwhelm the boy there and then. A terrible prognostication flooded Shidou’s mind. 
However, Tohka and Origami did not perceive his present predicament and merely resumed their speech without any hint of concern. 
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying……” 
“Who are you specifically?” 
“——” 
Both of them vociferated such callous, hard-bitten words. 
Shidou could only dully stand there from beginning to end. 
 
It was now an hour past noon. The sun, which should have climbed to the summit a long time ago, was enshrouded by a thick layer of clouds, preventing any rays of light from being able to heat the ground. 
The gusting chilly winds deprived Shidou of his body temperature little by little. He let out a large yawn, sniffed a couple of times through his nose, and brushed his shoulders. 
Shidou was presently not in a classroom of Raizen High School, but outside a certain apartment complex next to the Itsuka residence——to be precise, he was situated in a position across the road where he could clearly see the building. He concealed his body from view behind an electricity pole, observing the block of flats with care. 
“……!” 
Without being aware of how long Shidou had loitered, the doors to the apartment were flung open, and two delicate girls exited. One of them was a docile girl who wore a cute hat on her head. She was adorned in a bloated overcoat and had a rabbit puppet mounted on her left hand. The other was dressed in plain clothes and had a muffler wrapped around her neck. This girl seemed to be in a rather unpleasant mood from her expression. ——They were Spirits who lived in that mansion, Yoshino and Natsumi. 
“……Uah, I’m freezing to death. My breath’s so white.” 
“Fuuu…… it’s true. Ha——” 
“Hihi—! <White Breath>!” 
In response to Natsumi’s words, Yoshino exhaled rimy white puffs of air, and, bearing this, the bunny puppet Yoshinon twisted its body. Yoshino giggled happily. 
But in contrast, Natsumi’s expression seemed more difficult to understand… 
Rather, it would be better to say that she was knitting her brows out of discomfort. 
“……Um, Yoshino? You didn’t have to come with me to buy stuff, you know? 
It’s not really a big deal, and if you were to catch a cold……” 
“That won’t happen, don’t worry. I can put up with this cold pretty well. And— 
—” 
Yoshino declared so as she took hold of Natsumi’s hand, squeezing it into the pouch on her clothes. 
“Hya?” 
Possibly due to being startled by Yoshino’s sudden action, Natsumi yelled in surprise. 
Yoshino slightly blushed before timidly stating. 
“Eh…… it’s warmer this way.” 
“Um…… yeah……” 
Natsumi hummed and hawed, her face was comparatively a hundredfold more flustered than Yoshino’s expression. Whether it was because the quantity of perspiration increased or otherwise, Natsumi loosened her scarf a bit with her free hand to let the breeze blow against her neck. 
“……Haha.” 
Watching the scene capable of bringing a smile to anyone’s face many times, Shidou could only unwind the corners of his lips. 
But Shidou immediately reminded himself. That’s right. Now was not the time to merely spy from afar. 
He pulled himself together by bracing his face, dashed from behind the electrical pole and leaped before the couple of girls. 
Then, he curbed the pestering unease in his heart and shouted. 
“Yoshino, Natsumi! And Yoshinon!” 
“Eh……?” 
“W-What is it all of a sudden……” 
“Uwaha—! You scared the daylights out of me—!” 
Towards Shidou’s abrupt appearance, the two exposed astonished expressions. Shidou took in a deep breath and continued. 
“About that, you two, do you still remember me?” 
He clenched his fist and asked so in earnest. However—— 
“Uh, that…… Sorry, but I don’t know who you are.” 
“……Me neither. Let’s go, Yoshino, Yoshinon.” 
“Aha— sorry about that little boy, find someone else to ask, won’t you?” 
The result was as stated. After Yoshino and Natsumi had shown their incredulity, both of them quickened their pace as they brushed past Shidou. 
“Ah……” 
Shidou could not even extend his hands towards them, only managing to fall onto his knees on the spot, motionless. 
“This must be some joke…… what’s with this……” 
Dumbfounded, he forced out those words. 
After realizing that Tohka and Origami were complete strangers to him, unknown dismay and helplessness had assailed Shidou’s entire body as he rushed about in order to question the other Spirits if they still remembered who he was. 
Kaguya and Yuzuru from the neighboring class 2-3 had paralleled Tohka’s shocked expression. Nia, who lived in a high-level apartment within the city, had regarded Shidou as an impolite fan and slammed the door in his face— 
—On the other hand, Miku, once hearing his voice, had screamed, “Kyaaaaaa!? Some strange guy called ahhhhh!?” No further contact could be established afterwards. 
Having tried what he could, with the last ounce of his remaining hope, Shidou came to look for Yoshino and Natsumi…… yet the outcome was no different from the others. 
Shidou feebly scratched his hair. 
Nothing had changed compared to yesterday. Everything was as it was supposed to be. The views Shidou saw were no different from those in his memories. 
Except one thing. ——The Spirits alongside his friends, everyone had forgotten all about Shidou. This single aspect instigated in him a certain sense of bewilderment as though he had been tossed into a parallel world. 
“Damn…… ‘Don’t know me’. What’s with this!? Someone, anyone, does anyone recognize me……?” 
Shidou supported his forehead with his hands as he contemplated like his life depended on it. However, the only ones left were the worst Spirit, Tokisaki Kurumi, whose whereabouts were currently unknown; Shidou’s enemies, DEM’s Westcott and Ellen; along with the Spirit who had vanished right in front of Shidou without leaving any tracks—— 
“————” 
In that instant. 
Shidou held his breath slightly. 
He uttered with his trembling lips the name that surfaced within his mind. 
“Mu…kuro……” 
Exactly. Mukuro. Hoshimiya Mukuro. The Spirit who possessed the key- shaped angel <Michael> that is capable of sealing almost anything in existence. 
Her powers exceeded that which the naked eye could discern by far. As a matter of fact, Mukuro had used this ability to seal off her own heart. 
That was the reason Shidou had called out her name, not because of the possibility that she might still have him in her memory. 
“Muku envisages. Nushi-sama need not utter another vocable. Entrusting all to Muku will suffice.” 
The sentences she had left behind when they were about to part yesterday reverberated inside the depths of Shidou’s consciousness. 
That time, Shidou had been unaware of the meaning lying behind those words, and now the irregular phenomenon which had befallen him perfectly interlocked with that excerpt in his mind. 
Merely by placing an invisible lock on the heart, the angel <Michael>, in the shape of a key, could seal the target’s emotions. 
Shidou wondered if this ability extended to even meddling with a person’s memories. 
“Could… all this be your doing, Mukuro……!?” 
Shidou pressed his mouth, his expression gradually being infiltrated by a shudder. 
Of course, this was just a conjecture. There was neither concrete evidence nor a founded basis to his speculation; it was simply a guess within the scope of Shidou’s imagination. 
However, such abnormal circumstances would not have occurred out of the blue. If one had to consider that there was a Spirit pulling the strings from the shadows, Mukuro’s name would without a doubt be mentioned. 
“…………” 
Shidou silently lifted his head. He stretched his hand towards the wall, setting his body upright and sighing in a low whisper. 
Indeed, Shidou found himself in a labyrinthine situation, as if he had lost his way. Despite wanting to consult his grievances with someone, he could only discover that the worst case scenario had betided him such that no one remembered him. In reality, he was at a dead end. 
However, within his mind sprung up a hypothesis that allowed him to regain his resolve. 
Needless to say, Mukuro’s capabilities were overwhelming. Yet being cast aside into this entirely foreign oddity all alone was worlds apart from being able to infer roughly who the culprit that precipitated it was. 
That’s right. If Mukuro had undoubtedly locked up everyone’s memories with <Michael>’s power—— 
“——<Haniel>!” 
Shidou did a quick scan of his surroundings to ascertain that there were no bystanders and, with closed eyes, yelled out the name of an angel afterwards. 
In concert with his summoning, an angel in the form of a broom manifested in front his hand. Shidou swiftly inhaled a breath, mustered courage, and once again verbalized. 
“<Kaleidoscope>……!” 
As though responding to Shidou’s voice, <Haniel> emitted a pale silver light, its appearance ceaselessly morphing like clay. 
After a few seconds elapsed, a huge key-shaped staff materialized there. 
Correct. Shidou had in the past duplicated <Michael> and, with it, unlocked Mukuro’s previously sealed heart and soul. 
An angel answers to its host’s wishes. If the Spirits’ forgetting about Shidou was a ramification of <Michael>, would identically unlocking their memories carry the same effect? 

——However. 
“Eh……?” 
As Shidou maintained the posture of holding <Michael>, his entire body froze and became inflexible, letting out a brusque voice. 
Nonetheless, it was to be expected. 
Right on the side of the pseudo-<Michael> gripped in his hands, a miniature gate began to take shape as the front tip of a huge key appeared through there, piercing the fake <Michael>. 
“T-This is——” 
“——<Lock- Segva>!” 
Shidou widened his eyes in astonishment. Then, a sound which he felt as though he had heard it somewhere reverberated, and, with a clank, the huge key retracted within. 
In the blink of an eye, the pseudo-<Michael> Shidou had been holding discharged gently. It began undulating radiance as it turned back into its original form, <Haniel> before finally dispersing into particles of light fading into nothingness. 
“Ah——” 
Shidou stared at his now empty hands with broadened eyes. 
Afterwards, he threw his line of sight towards the front tip of the key floating in mid-air, issuing a quivering voice. 
“Mi-<Michael>……” 
As if responding to his voice, the ‘gate’ that had ruptured the space started to expand gradually—— 
Following closely, a girl flew out from inside the rift. 
With hair blonde as the Golden Fleece coiling around her neck and adorned in clothing of a design identical to that of Kotori, she was a young girl of a small stature. 
——Hoshimiya Mukuro had appeared. 
“Mukuro……” 
“Muahaha, an expedient fitting of someone as prestigious as Nushi-sama, by whom Muku’s heart was unfasten’d. Tis worthy of thy name, Nushi-sama.” 
The girl exposed a slight smirk. Shidou could only reflect on her words as he shuddered. 
To put it briefly, Mukuro had accounted for the possibility of Shidou transforming <Haniel> into <Michael> and making a move to unlock everyone's recollections. 
And at that moment in time, she had sealed the powers of his false <Michael> with the genuine one. 
There was no need to think of the reason. ——It was to seal off the released powers Shidou possessed so as not to let him open anew the lock on the other Spirits’ memories. 
Mukuro’s statements and deeds had perfectly verified Shidou’s hypothesis. 
“Mukuro…… So you’re the one who altered everyone's memories!” 
“Hm, verily. Sterling, ay?” 
Mukuro proudly stood with arms akimbo, causing Shidou to furrow his brows and shout. 
“Why! Why did you do something like that!?” 
“Wherefore? Hueh. What an aberrant enquiry in sooth.” 
Her face said everything about her unawareness as a carefree smile emerged on it. 
“With thus, Muku and Nushi-sama can sequester ourselves with each other. 
Nushi-sama need not brood further. Loving but Muku unescorted by surfeiting cupidity shall suffice in that stead.” 
“Wha……!?” 
Shidou was dumbstruck, unable to even breathe. 
The utterances of the girl before his eyes and the adorable guise on her face created a prominent, unequivocal incongruity, throwing Shidou into disorder instantly. 
Shidou was a man who had sealed many Spirits in the past as well. To this day, he had been met with numerous bitter crises and complex relationships, having even experienced the formidable and terrifying malice of enemies. 
But——this time was different. 
The girl in front of him was a completely dissimilar being compared to the Spirits and people he had ever encountered until now. 
The worst Spirit, Tokisaki Kurumi, evoked fear in the hearts of people. In the face of her unending bloodlust and vanity, Shidou could only remain paralyzed. 
Similarly, when confronted with DEM Industries’ Westcott and Ellen, Shidou felt a sense of dread too. Before the inhuman, overwhelming animosity, Shidou was petrified in place. 
However, Mukuro possessed neither bloodthirst nor ill will. 
From the looks of her expression——it was pure, unadulterated benevolence; and love. 
“Lo, Nushi-sama.” 
Mukuro revealed a poised grin, her lips then beginning to move. 
“Dost thou adore Muku?” 
She spoke with excessively cute, yet also innocent words. 
But Shidou was at a loss for words of any kind. 
 
 
“A-Angh! It’s really been a while, everyoneeee! Ever since we parted, I couldn’t stop thinking about everyoneeeeee!” 
It was around noon on a rest day. Tap tap tap tap…… Just as the pattering of footsteps in the corridor had resounded, the greeting had already reverberated in advance. Miku soared into the living room of the Itsuka residence. 
“Ugh——” 
Her appearance in the scene sent a shudder down Natsumi’s spine, catapulting the elvish girl off the sofa as she scurried to pinpoint a concealed cache. 
To Natsumi’s chagrin, however, her speedy maneuvers were ferreted out by Miku, who, like a cat locked onto a mouse, pounced on her. 
“Yaa!” 
“Kyaa!” 
Being embraced with such intense passion from Miku, alongside her fervent statements, Natsumi frantically struggled in her grip. 
Watching the situation, the owner of the house, Kotori, let out a sigh. 
“What am I going to do with you, always making a noisy racket? Speaking of parting, didn’t we see each other just yesterday?” 
“Fu fu, stress dihkrishing haha houhohohoho…ah nutrients.” 
“……I haven’t the slightest idea of what you’re saying. Get your face off Natsumi’s belly first, and then speak.” 
Kotori batted half a glance at her. Miku contentedly lifted her head with a ‘Pfha!’ 
“Recharge complete——! Today’s tiredness has been driven away——!” 
Perhaps it was a figment of the imagination, but Miku’s skin seemed smoother than before. On the other hand, Natsumi, whose midriff had been marked by a sizeable hickey, thoroughly escaped. How horrifying! A vampire had unexpectedly emerged in the residential area of Tenguu City! 
Kotori could only shrug her shoulders as she turned her sights to the living room. 
The Spirits currently gathered inside the living room of the Itsuka Residence. 
Tohka and Origami sat on the couch, whereas the Yamai sisters were engrossed in playing video games on the television. Yoshino was hugging the lethargic and traumatized Natsumi, whose vitality had been completely drained by Miku. The dining table was occupied by Nia, who was scratching her head as she stared at a white notebook. It looked like she was racking her brains about the script of a manga. 
Although there was no special occasion for everyone to meet up, perchance they were just feeling merry, so everyone naturally convened at that house. 
Then, a fortissimo sound could be heard coming from the television. It would seem that the outcome of the battle between the Yamai twins had just been determined. Kaguya clung to her head as Yuzuru proudly puffed out her chest. 
“Ah——! Almost——! There!? Ah——!” 
“Victory. Despite the slight danger, this is Yuzuru’s win. The side dishes for lunch are now mine.” 
“Uguh!” 
It appeared that they had a wager. Kaguya slammed the floor in dissatisfaction. Kotori heaved a sigh once again. 
“I’m not against your competition, but keep in mind to maintain a balanced diet.” 
After finishing speaking, Kotori glimpsed at the clock. Twelve o’clock. Like the both of them had said, the time for lunch had come to pass. 
“……Hm?” 
A nonplussed sensation brewed within her as she thought of that. Habitually in the past, food was supposed to have been plentifully arranged on the dining table…… But today, any preparations for lunch had not even begun yet. 
“A-ré? That’s strange, how did I…… Uh, by the way, was I supposed to be making food?” 
A certain incomprehension made Kotori furrow her eyebrows. At that moment, Yoshino bobbed her head out from behind Natsumi, gazing at Kotori with worry. 
“What’s the matter, Kotori-san?” 
“Eh? Ah, it’s…… nothing. I was just getting hungry, so let’s have some pizza today.” 
Intending to get by perfunctorily, Kotori uttered so, only for the Yamai sisters to be electrified with excitement all of a sudden. 
“Truly!? Then I shall hope for a grand banquet of half dead poultry!” 
“Explanation. Kaguya wishes to eat a roast chicken pizza.” 
“Exactly that! Fufu——and pizza possesses no side dish——! What a pity, Yuzuru!” 
“Negation. The authority over side dishes is still in effect. Exchange Kaguya’s pizza toppings with Yuzuru’s pizza crust.” 
“Pizza crust!?” 
“Mercy. Here is some pity: You are given not crisp and brittle pieces, but bread with a soft texture.” 
Yuzuru consoled with a fake tender voice, triggering Kaguya to shriek. 
“You’re not human——!” 
“Obviously. I am a Spirit.” 
Well, Yuzuru, after observing Kaguya’s depressed manner, would have gladly rescinded their gamble and let her eat her pizza’s palatable parts. Kotori shrugged once more, reaching for the phone to order takeout. 
“……?” 
In that instant, an impression as if something was out of place surged through her as she looked towards the sofa where Tohka was currently seated. 
Be that as it may, Tohka did not do anything, merely hugging her arms with an intricate expression painted on her face. 
However, that was the very reason it was unusual. ——That’s right. There had undoubtedly been talks of putting an order for pizza, yet Tohka, let alone placing a request, had not even got up on her feet in loud cheer. 
“Uh, Tohka. What’s wrong? You can lie down if you’re feeling uncomfortable, okay?” 
“……——Nuu?” 
At Kotori’s question, Tohka was despondent for a few seconds, followed by an abrupt twitch of her eyebrows. 
“Ahh…… Sorry. I was just thinking.” 
“Chewing over some matter……? That Tohka? Even more important than pizza? ……No, I didn’t mean it that way.” 
She had unintentionally said something offensive, correcting herself in a hurry. 
But Tohka did not take it to heart——it would be better to say that her mind was being occupied by a matter of greater urgency, which caused her to ponder aloud in place. 
“Did something happen? For you to go so far…” 
“Muu…… Nothing much, it’s just that I met some weird boy at school yesterday.” 
“A weird boy?” 
“Umu. A boy I don’t know came into my classroom, and he even called Origami’s and my name. But after we told him that we didn’t know him, he had a hurt look and went out……” 
“Who’s that supposed to be? A fan of yours? Though it is quite weird, do you really have to be this bothered……” 
When she reached that point, Kotori suddenly jerked her brows while exclaiming an ‘Ah’. ——About the boy Tohka had described, Kotori was also well aware. 
“Is something wrong—?” 
Noticing a change in Kotori’s bearing, Miku doubtfully asked. With one hand propping her lower jaw, Kotori replied. 
“……Now that you mention it, I met a similar guy yesterday, too. When I woke up in the morning, I saw a boy I had never seen before making breakfast in the kitchen.” 
“Ehh!? How did that happen—! A horror movie—! A-Are you alright, Kotori- san!” 
“A-Ah, I immediately ordered him to get out. I even requested Fraxinus to consolidate their security, so things should be fine, I guess……” 
Just as Kotori’s speech ended, it was then Miku’s turn to exclaim ‘Ahh’ with a clap of her hands. 
“W-What’s wrong, Miku?” 
“C-Come to think of it, I had an encounter as well——! Yesterday, an unexpected call arrived——! Then some guy suddenly began to talk. It freaked me out——! And when I looked at the contact screen, it even displayed ‘Darling’!? I have absolutely no memory of ever recording it, so it scared me to death——!” 
As the Spirits listened to these accounts, each of them seemed to have recalled something, their expressions wavering. 
“Ne, Yuzuru, about that, is he not that person?” 
“Recollection. We have also come into contact. A male had rushed into our classroom before homeroom commenced and fiercely interrogated us, ‘Do you still remember me!?’” 
“……Ah——It feels like I’m in the same boat. At that time, I was pulling an all- nighter to work, then the sound of the doorbell *dingdong* *dingdong* came. I shooed him away, though.” 
“N-Natsumi-san and I too! Before we set out yesterday, a strange boy had wanted to talk to us……” 
“……Ah—, hm, that’s true. We were even followed. Dunno what that’s all about. It’s horrible whenever I think of it……” 
Being embraced by Yoshino, Natsumi could finally manage to murmur a reply with one eye closed. 
Kotori could not refrain from creasing her eyebrows as she took everyone’s testimonies into consideration. 
“A boy who’s met with all of us, huh……? No, everyone didn’t necessarily meet the same person…… but we can’t just ignore it and be too optimistic.” 
There was of course the possibility that he was simply a random pervert, although the same could be said for one of DEM’s staff members. 
Despite not knowing the exact objective of that boy, everyone present here was a Spirit that possesses cataclysm-level abilities. A precaution was better than none. 
“For the time being, let’s all be on the alert just in case. If anything were to happen, please inform me immediately.” 
“I-I see……” 
“Understood——! We’ll always keep in touch——!” 
“……Ah, even though a guard wouldn’t hurt, could you hand me a capable baby? I’m so spent now. Particularly…… if only you could give me a child who’s able, has a petite figure and a name that starts with ‘Nia’.” 
“……Um, Kotori, I’d like a change of name, what should I do?” 
The Spirits nodded with alacrity. ……Well, regardless of having discerned a bizarre demand from a certain someone, Kotori ignored that for the moment. 
Nevertheless, there was a single girl who did not provide a response. ——It was Origami. 
Mute ever since, she went through with being silence till the end while being absorbed in a staring contest with the floor. Though not one for words by and large, Origami’s current demeanor seemed somewhat distinct from anything in the past. Kotori stole a glance at her expression and vocalized. 
“Origami, are you feeling alright?” 
“……No problem, just a bit of a headache.” 
“Isn’t that a problem…… Don’t force yourself. If you’re feeling tired, I’ll take you home.” 
“……Forgive me for the inconvenience.” 
Origami answered in a weakened, frail tone, which was rarely seen from her. 
The worried Kotori walked towards Origami’s side, allowing the girl a shoulder to lean on. 
“Can you stand?” 
“……No pro——” 
In an attempt to rise, Origami suspended her arm over Kotori’s shoulder. But in that instant, Origami’s body abruptly lost any rigidity and looked as if it was about to collapse onto the ground. 
“Origami!?” 
“Wha……!” 
“A-Are you feeling okay!?” 
All of a sudden, the Spirits gathered in the living room uttered voices of shock. Nonetheless, that was to be expected. After all, the one who toppled over was none other than the stalwart girl Origami. 
“Guh——” 
As Kotori sucked in a breath, she was just about to call Fraxinus with her hand phone to seek aid. There was no saying where Origami’s present condition lay, thus bringing her to the medical clinic aboard the ship would be by far faster than sending for an ambulance. 
However, the moment before Kotori could even push the dial button, she stopped. 
“…………” 
The reason was straightforward. Origami, who had just been keeled over on the floor, got up like nothing ever happened. 
“Origami……? Don’t stand when you’re not feeling all that well. If anything were to happen to you!” 
Kotori called out to Origami in a flurry, yet she only shook her head as though everything that occurred just now was merely a joke. 
Then, she looked straight into Kotori’s eyes and spoke. 
“It’s nothing——I’m fine. I’m sorry to have worried you.” 
Her manner of speech, for some reason, seemed to carry a striking difference unlike any before. 
“…………” 
Cold sweat beaded on Kotori’s cheeks as she heard her. 
“O-Origami?” 
“Here. What is it?” 
“That, let me ask you, are you Origami?” 
“Eh? Yes, I am. What are you talking about?” 
Remarking so, Origami made a wry smile. Such expression permeating with vim and vigor jolted the Spirits aback. 
“H-Hii……!” 
“Dumbstruck. A fever? Rather, Master Origami, has your brain……” 
“Someone——! Origami-san——! Save Origamiiiiii!” 
“Uh, is that how you think of me……?” 
Witnessing everyone’s inordinate reactions, Origami could only laugh. 
That being said, as if something had struck Origami’s mind right away, her expression took a steep decline. She observed everyone and opened her mouth. 
“Well…… forget it. More importantly, were everyone’s previous words serious? Has everyone genuinely——forgotten ‘him’?” 
“Eh……?” 
Origami’s words caused a twitch in Kotori’s brows. 
“‘Him’…… Don’t tell me, you mean that conundrum of a boy who had appeared before us?” 
Solely that person could be thought of when conjuring up the ‘him’ in the topic. Kotori fumbled with her lower chin and voiced so. 
Afterwards, Origami dynamically nodded her head. 
“Looking at it like this, you’ve really forgotten. As expected, this must be Mukuro-san’s doing……” 
“Mukuro?” 
Kotori tilted her head at the name which came out of Origami’s mouth. It was a name she had nary an impression of. 
“Well I never… did you also forget that? She’s the Spirit who inhabited the cosmos! Didn’t everyone confront her together before!?” 
“W-What are you saying, Origami……” 
Seeing the look of astonishment on Kotori’s face, Origami let out a dejected aspect as though she had understood everything. 
“……So that’s how it is. She worked quickly. Not only about him, but the memories of herself were ‘sealed’ as well. With this, she would have indeed escaped detection……” 
“About that, Natsumi-san. I’ve a favor to ask of you…… Is it possible for Natsumi-san’s <Haniel> to produce a copy of <Michael>?” 
“Eh……? Um, that thing called <Michael>, what’s it supposed to be? An angel?” 
“That’s correct. It is an angel in the form of a key possessing the ability to unlock or lock the functions of almost anything.” 
Origami turned her gaze towards Natsumi after speaking. The smaller girl responded while looking away so as to take cover from her potent scrutiny. 
“……Nope, that’s impossible. If don’t get how it works, making a fake without a model is a waste of time.” 
“I see……” 
With knitted brows and a grimace, Origami stroked the corners of her lips, mumbling something to herself. 
“……I didn’t expect the method of using <Haniel> to be out of reach too. Now that things are like this…… what should be done……” 
“W-Wait a minute. I don’t understand anything. Origami, what in the world have you been going on about? Who’s Mukuro? And the ‘him’ you said…… 
Do you know that boy by any chance?” 
Dithering, Kotori poured out her doubts. Hence, Origami looked attentively into her eyes and gestured. 
“Yes. Everyone ought to be familiar with him. Everybody——no, each one of us——was saved by Itsuka Shidou.” 
“Shidou……” 
The name Origami had just enunciated enkindled a slight furrow in Kotori’s eyebrows. …… it produced a nostalgic feeling of having heard it somewhere, but yet at the same time also unheard of before. It was a thoroughly subtle sensation. The other Spirits developed reciprocations akin to Kotori’s reaction. 
However—— 
“Ugh…… guh……?” 
Among the Spirits, one of them mirrored how Origami had been a few moments ago, pressing her head with her hand and tumbling onto her knees. 
 
“Hmhmhm, truly blissful. Ne, art thou not, Nushi-sama?” 
“……Ahh, it’s blissful Mukuro.” 
“Fufu, go to, go to.” 
At Shidou’s reply, Mukuro exposed a sincere smile from the bottom of her heart, swinging back and forth her hand that was clasped onto Shidou’s. 
“Ne, Nushi-sama. Dost thou love Muku?” 
“Of course, lots of love.” 
“Muku withal. Fufu…… ‘Tis pure bliss.” 
With her cheeks slightly reddened, the smile on Mukuro’s face intensified. 
“…………” 
Spotting her pristine expression of joy, Shidou could only grit his teeth. 
He was currently holding hands with Mukuro, walking down one of the main roads of Tenguu City at a leisurely pace. It appeared that their previous date had given her considerable enjoyment. Therefore, she proposed that both of them take another stroll together. 
“Ne, what is that?” 
Every item in sight struck Mukuro as new and odd, her eyes gleaming with a curious sparkle every few steps she took as she entered a conversation with Shidou. On each occasion, the boy would kindly respond. 
——In spite of that, Shidou was far from simply tagging along with her. 
Some time ago, after <Haniel> had been rendered ineffective, Shidou did his utmost to cajole Mukuro. 
Although he indeed loved her, he also regarded everyone as equally important. Shidou tried to persuade her to restore everyone to their former states. 
Yet Mukuro made no effort to reply. Besides, she harbored no amount of malice. Precisely owing to Shidou’s love for Mukuro, other women were supposed to be unnecessary. Furthermore, Shidou could not air his grievances without mincing his words precisely due to the presence of other women. Not in the least skeptical, she preserved such a system of values. 
That’s right. Mukuro was pure of heart just like that. 
However, this will of hers ran counter to Shidou’s aspirations. 
“…………” 
But Shidou could not abandon all hope merely because of that. 
In truth, the situation was nowhere near sanguine. As a matter of fact, Shidou had not even a single comrade, and the tool capable of breaking the status quo, <Haniel>, had been sealed by Mukuro. 
Nevertheless, he possessed but one method of finding a way out of this stalemate. Shidou silently touched his lips. 
——Through a kiss he could seal a Spirit’s power. 
Utilizing this mysteriously extraordinary ability that only Shidou could wield secured the means to an end. 
Via opening her heart, making her fall in love, and kissing her; Doing so would seal Mukuro’s power and subsequently return everyone’s memories sealed by <Michael> to their original state. 
Even so, this strategy was not without its flaws. 
First of all, Mukuro’s happiness level played a major role. It seemed that she was quite fond of Shidou; however, for someone who has been deprived of any support from Ratatoskr, Shidou had no way to determine whether her happiness level had crossed the threshold of being sealable. If so, he would be unable to act carelessly at will. Mukuro possessed <Michael>. Supposing that she discovered Shidou’s intentions, even his ability to seal spiritual power could very well be, in turn, sealed off like <Haniel>. 
The angel capable of sealing all existences of creation faced against the ability capable of sealing a Spirit’s power. Shidou had no idea which side would triumph over the other. If the worst were to befall him, Shidou would be out of possible moves. He could not take any rash measures. 
Moreover—— 
“……Mukuro. Why, must you……” 
The impetus behind Mukuro’s irregular monopolization of Shidou as well as why she had closed off her own heart in the first place and resolved to remain in the lifeless vacuum of space. 
Shidou believed that, under the circumstances wherein those reasons stayed undefined, even if her powers were successfully sealed, the source of the quandary would not be resolved. 
“Hn?” 
The words on the verge of leaking out of Shidou’s mouth caused Mukuro to slant her head a little. 
“Why, must you, do something like this? ……Say, I am, to you, ‘intimate’, right? What do you think that means?” 
“Muku hath earlier told. Such vocable cleaves to no veils. ……Well, if obliged.” 
Mukuro stood upright, pressing against her lower jaw with her fingers. 
“Ensuing Muku’s descent to the terrain in Nushi-sama’s bosom, Muku came by an aberration of a vision. Within that faint vision regard Muku Nushi-sama.” 
“A dream?” 
“Mn. ……Natheless, Nushi-sama took no part in said vision. Twas a dolorous one at that. Of a callow fledgling forsaken in loneliness from grasp, committing themselves to a family.” 
“Eh——” 
Mukuro’s confounding elaboration made Shidou wrinkle his brows. 
It was to be anticipated. After all, that dream was—— 
“Itsuka-kun!” 
In that very brief moment, as if to halt Shidou’s train of thought in the blink of an eye, a voice calling his name resounded from behind. 
“……Eh!?” 
Shidou broadened his eyes in surprise, looking back in amazement. 
There were a couple of reasons for his awe. The first was simple: ever since the previous day, Shidou had not been addressed with his own name by anyone other than Mukuro. Each and every one of his acquaintances and friends had been deprived of their respective memories, with the perpetrator being none other than Mukuro. Thus, it was no longer unorthodox for him to be not recognized by everyone. 
The alternative reason was that——the quality of the voice had sounded exceptionally familiar. 
“O-Origami!?” 
Turning his head back to catch a glimpse of the girl standing there, Shidou could not help but vociferate. That’s correct. The person who had called out Shidou’s name out of nowhere was his classmate, the Spirit Tobiichi Origami. 
Still, Origami had conformed to everyone else’s behavior during their meeting yesterday. What exactly had she done to flee from the clutches of <Michael>’s ability—— 
“——Uh, ah……” 
Amid his grave musing, Shidou noticed at long last. 
Origami had addressed him not as Shidou, but as Itsuka-kun. 
To boot, the aura which the girl before his eyes had been giving off was immeasurably milder than that of the usual Tobiichi Origami. 
“D-Don’t tell me…… you’re the Origami of this world?” 
Shidou’s eyes rounded like full moons as he spoke. 
“Ah, un…… Long time no see——saying that would be a bit odd. After all, I have frequently come face to face with Itsuka-kun.” 
Origami forced a laugh ‘ahaha’. 
In his very sight, the smile entirely uncharacteristic of Origami firmly convinced Shidou. ——The girl now situated before his eyes was simultaneously Origami, yet also not Origami. 
Shidou had once borrowed the power of the angel of time and travelled back in time, thus rewriting history. 
Within Origami’s body, there existed both the Origami of the former world and the Origami of the new world at the same time. 
In spite of that, rather than stating that the two split personalities were partitioned extremely well, it would be better to say that both individualities had merged into a brand new Origami…… Nonetheless, it was crystal clear that this person was the Origami of the world after it had been altered. 
However, another matter entered his mind at present. Shidou interrogated, restraining his urgent delirium. 
“Origami….. You, still remember me!?” 
“Of course. ——Even though the me on the surface seems to have her memories locked up. No, to be accurate, those memories were extracted out of their conduit, right?” 
“……!” 
Origami’s words suppressed a breath from Shidou. 
But this was sheer good luck. When Shidou had been isolated and without help, a friend came into view. This fact had become something akin to a cardiac stimulant towards the apprehension-engulfed Shidou. 
Granted so——the current state of affairs would not be changed that easily. 
“……Hueh?” 
Beside him, Mukuro glanced at Origami’s face with a gaze of incredulity. 
“Thou art…… a leman of Shidou’s. A branch in sooth, thy memories ought to have been made fast.” 
Mukuro sighed in displeasure, stretching her right hand forwards. 
“——Well, it matters not. Whilst wherefore <Michael>’s catch was unbarr’d remains unknown, howbeit, a spare lock shall do.” 
Then, in mid-air, a glowing key staff manifested. 
“……! Mukuro!” 
Shidou could not hold back from yelling at the top of his voice. His actions were to be expected. His newly appeared comrade being sealed again would be outright unacceptable. 
However—— 
“That won’t do!” 
For some reason, Origami had shouted first, outside of Shidou’s expectations. 
“If an angel manifests here and now——it’ll be detected! By that person……!” 
“Whom?” 
“That person……?” 
Origami’s statements rendered Mukuro’s and Shidou’s heads askew. 
Then, at the next split instant. 
“——Huh.” 
Shidou’s eardrums perceived a clank sound being transmitted from above. 
As though drawn and mesmerized by that noise, Shidou lifted his head upwards. 
Afterwards, he spotted a young girl with hands crossed and perched still on top of a street lamp. 
Her long, enchanting, windswept hair was of the color of the Delphic night. 
Her crystalline, diamantine pair of twinkling eyes, which possessed a dreamlike radiance, was tranquilly staring down at Shidou. A jet-black Astral Dress almost resembling darkness itself condensed into matter, twined round her body. If now were to be the evening, her veneer would flawlessly coalesce into the sky. 
“Wha——” 
Looking back at the girl seeming to exude magnificent rays like that of the Sun, Shidou was unable to eschew widening his eyes even more. 
——This girl, he had an impression of her. 
“Found you, wench. ……Un? Along with other strange people. Towards Spirits——Hmph, the man from that time. Perfect, just burn into ashes together.” 
Exposing a solemn and stern expression as cold as ice, Tohka declared so with a morose tone which echoed a death sentence.