Date A Live - Volume 15 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue: Reunion Time 

Although it was often said that the starry skies incorporated an unreachable realm, Shidou had actually swam in outer space already. In other words, it felt like the body was falling into a quasi-meteor shower. Even if it was by mistake, he still didn’t think to capture it in his palm. 

After all, the stars were beautiful because they were so far away. While viewing the night sky full of stars spreading in sight, Shidou breathed a light sigh. 

A few days after sealing Mukuro’s spirit power, Shidou was on the roof of the Spirits’ mansion next to the Itsuka residence, gazing at the night sky. 

The reason was simple——by Shidou’s side laid a sleeping girl who had hoped for this in earnest. 

“——Mukuro.” 

As Shidou called out her name with a soft voice, Mukuro used her fingertips to move her long hair before he became visible in her line of sight. 

“Un, what be the matter, Nushi-sama?” 

“Is this really okay? If you want to see the stars, Kotori can prepare a better viewpoint for us……” 

“Uncalled for, Muku shall henceforth bide hither, nay? Alas, hither accommodates.” 

“I see.” 

As Shidou answered shortly, he slowly loosened his mouth and turned to the stellar vaults of heaven again. 

Then, while catching glimpses of the twinkling stars, Shidou extended his right hand and tried to open and close his palm several times. 

This was not to poetically grasp the stars within his own hand, but merely to confirm if the physical capacities of his right hand had returned to normal. 

Even though Shidou’s right hand had been, in a sense, demolished on the battlefield, it was finally at the level of its previous dexterity after complete regeneration. 

Well, that was to be expected. In order to promptly restore the part that had been lost to such a dire extent, there was no choice but to borrow the power of <Camael> and the medical Realizer apparatus. 

However, the acclimation of the treatment, as well as the Mukuro’s concealment, were also done as fast as possible. It was thanks to the efforts of those who had regained their memories of Shidou after having those recollections sealed by <Michael>. 

If one must say, after seeing his injuries, the Spirits thought, “If only we hadn’t forgotten about Shidou, then this wouldn’t have ever happened.” And so, he had a hard time appeasing the Spirits who kept blaming themselves for letting it transpire in the first place. 

In contrast, Mukuro’s current state seemed almost deceptively cute as she had listened to Kotori’s orders and undergone several medical examinations. 

After his treatment and her inspection had been wrapped up today, Shidou saw Mukuro for the first time in a while as she requested to see the stars together. 

“——In olden days.” 

"Eh?" 

While scanning the astronomical empyrean above, Mukuro muttered something almost inaudible, causing Shidou to turn his attention towards her. 

“Muku oft espied the welkin alongside Ane-sama. Muku… loves such times in sooth.” 

"Oh… I see." 

Shidou was likely thinking the same thing as he quietly replied. 

That is to say, Shidou knew that using <Michael> had created a pseudo link between the two of them, allowing their memories to mesh, which he had seen during a dream. 

In said dream, Shidou distinguished a feeling of relief coupled with happiness from the bottom of his heart. Surely, it must have been the emotions that Mukuro had memorized at the time. 

“Wherefore…… did Muku not perceive it then. Ane-sama, Father, and Mother had all loved Muku.” 

“……Mukuro.” 

Shidou swayed his neck back and forth before continuing. 

"You couldn’t do anything about it. No one wants to be alone. It’s natural that we try to preserve our own place somehow…… I know you just made a little mistake.” 

“Nushi-sama……” 

Mukuro looked towards Shidou before slowly lowering her eyes. 

"Aye…… I faith Nushi-sama bears semblance to Muku. Mayhap thus expounds why…… Muku perceives relief when beside Nushi-sama.” 

Mukuro’s expression eased down after finishing that sentence. 

Having said that, similar to how he had seen Mukuro’s past by sharing the same dream, it naturally meant that she had also viewed his memories as well. It was then that Shidou felt somewhat bashful, his cheeks turning beet red. 

“Hm, say, amongst those visions finds Muku an unfathomable one.” 

“Eh, what is it?” 

“Wherefore didst thou, whenas singly in thy abode, prop thine arms against thy waist and verbalize, ‘Ougi Roaring Flash Blast Wave’——” 

“Ahh, that’s totally unrelated to me. I bet you just dreamt that on your own." 

Shidou gave a nonchalant reply as if to shield himself from Mukuro’s words. 

Mukuro, feeling strange, moved her neck in thought. 

“Hmm… is that so? ……Well.” 

While seeming as though she was not fully convinced, Mukuro turned once again to face the sky. 

After a passing period of time, the two of them silently returned to their stargazing. 

Unaware of how long it had already been, Mukuro uttered below a whisper. 

“Ne, Nushi-sama.” 

“Un, what’s wrong?” 

“Muku’s hair…… Wilt thou aid in trimming it?” 

“Huh?” 

In response to Mukuro’s words, Shidou widened his eyes. 

When Shidou had offered before to cut it…… Mukuro had showcased a strong feeling of refusal. Additionally, the fight against Inverse Tohka had occurred precisely since she had accidently cut a few strands of her hair. 

“Is it really fine, Mukuro?” 

“Um…… Muku rather wishes for a novel guise.” 

Mukuro seemed to reveal a sad smile while having her fingers rolling her long hair forward. 

“Needless to vociferate, Nushi-sama shall trim it for Muku, ay? Barring family, none may lay a finger on this hair.” 

Then she said that in a joking tone. 

Shidou was momentarily stunned but then responded. 

“——Ah, leave it to me!" 

After nodding, Shidou gently touched Mukuro’s head. 

The clang of the bell to which everyone was accustomed to started ringing throughout the school premises. In the corridors of Raizen High School, students that had been talking with friends began to prepare for class and head towards their respective classes. 

“Oh, it’s already time for homeroom. If we don’t hurry up, we’re not going to make it.” 

Nearly late, Shidou charged into the classroom while panting. He took off his scarf and using it to fan himself. The usual route to school was frigid as always, though on account of having broken into a run midway, Shidou was sweating a bit. 

"Umu, it was dangerous because Origami wanted to get inside Shidou’s jacket in the middle of the road!” 

"I am sorry about that matter. I am embarrassed and have no words. I would like to enter a hole if possible.” 

After arriving at school, Tohka retorted with her arms crossed. Origami, in a rare display of remorse, decided to bow her head down. However, at the next moment, she drilled her head into the hem of Shidou’s jacket. 

"Uwah!?" 

"H-Hey! You don’t regret anything, do you!?" 

"I just tried to enter because there was a hole. There is nothing wrong." 

“A lot of things are wrong!" 

Once again, Tohka and Origami began to bicker and quarrel. Shidou slightly sighed and attempted to persuade them to stop. 

One month had elapsed since the end of that event. The wreckage of the previous battle had been completely repaired, and Tenguu City also returned to the days as before. 

Both Tohka’s and Origami’s mental states have stabilized again. 

Of course, <Ratatoskr>, which had lost their base, was looking to rebuild its headquarters. Likewise, DEM’s goal of targeting the Spirits had not changed at all. 

But in this way, the city was restored to a tranquil state to the extent that he could enjoy his daily life once more. 

There were concerns regarding whether everyone could get along with Mukuro and if she still had some unease. However, Mukuro soon received an “Ahhh! So cute, so cute, so cute ahh! Small and soft, a type that hasn’t appeared up until now. Ahhhh!” from Miku. Her habits of familiarizing with the other Spirits occurred faster than expected. Rather, it would be better to say that it was subjected to a sympathetic response… that probably came from being the same victims of the same treatment. Well, it seemed she now kept a vigilant stance against Miku. 

“Okay, okay, calm down. It’s about time to go to homeroom. Even though we rushed here, we’re still going to be late.” 

“Muu…… Fine. Don’t give any more trouble to Shidou.” 

“Understood.” 

Shidou got between the two of them and tried to appease the conflict. 

Listening to his words, Origami and Tohka obediently agreed to a ceasefire. 

Rather, Shidou believed from the bottom of his heart that they became like this due to being on opposite sides. 

At that time——Tohka’s arrival had been accompanied by spacequakes and Origami had struggled to repel her along with the AST. If one were to view from that perspective, then things haven’t really changed. 

Mukuro as well——no, every Spirit should be able to understand each other. 

However, looking at Tohka and Origami, it seemed like some moral Shidou took out from a dream rather than being a real idea. 

“Mu? What's wrong, Shidou?” 

"Aren’t you going to enter the classroom?" 

"Eh? Ah, nothing’s wrong. We should hurry." 

After hearing both of their words, Shidou made a wry smile as he mumbled. 

Shidou rolled up his scarf and entered past the door into Classroom 2-4. He then sat down in his usual seat. 

——But then. 

"……Eh?" 

Shidou unconsciously stopped his pace. 

It seemed to be shrouded in an atmosphere that was far above the usual norm. 

How was he to describe it? It gave off an obtrusive and uneasy impression from not paying attention to something. As for why, the immediate cause soon became prevalent. 

There was a girl sitting right in front of Shidou. 

"Wha……” 

As he momentarily stopped breathing, the girl appeared to notice that Shidou had discovered her presence. Her eyes and lips were pleasantly raised to a slight degree. 

Dark lacquered black hair and perfect ceramic skin. This was not a figure of speech, that is, in these words described a bewitchingly beautiful girl. 

"You’re——" 

As Shidou emitted flustered voice, the girl's cherry lips turned into a grin and moved. 

“——Fufufu. Good day, Shidou-san. I’ve been waiting for a long time.” 

“What……” 

“Shidou.” 

Tohka and Origami immediately responded as if to keep Shidou from moving forward. 

However, instead of being cautious of Tohka and Origami, the girl simply laughed merrily. 

"My, my, what seems to be the problem? Homeroom is just about to start." 

"Don't mess with us! What are you planning?" 

"Why are you here?" 

Tohka and Origami glared at the girl without letting their guards down. The girl then glanced at Shidou while making strange hand motions as though she was beckoning to him. 

"Ufufu. I've decided to come back to school starting today. Please take care of me again, Tohka-san, Origami-san, and——Shidou-san." 

The worst Spirit, Tokisaki Kurumi, said so with a smile so gentle yet oozing with insanity.