Chapter 1 Tobiichi Origami
The first time I encountered Shidou, it could be described as quite early compared to everyone else.
Perhaps with the exception of Mio and Kotori, it would be the first. In any case six years ago, the meeting already occurred around elementary school age.
Well to be more precise, the Shidou of that time was a Shidou who had traveled back to the past from the future.
I’m not particularly saying that the length of time spent is proportional to strength of one’s feelings. On the contrary, there are limits to being rewarded for intense feelings.
It is salvation and also a curse. If this was completely proportionally, if love came at a first-come first served basis, I surely couldn’t compare to Kotori.
However, reality was by no means like this. I also can’t boast of having the most long-connection with him.
Someone who appeared after me, someone who hasn’t been seen yet, or perhaps--someone who now no longer exists, there’s always the possibility of anyone wining his heart.
-------Shidou. Who is reflected in your eyes now?
The sky was clear, the winds were calm. Today’s forecast called for clear weather.
As if drawn in a picture, it was the perfect day for laundry.
Itsuka Shidou rolled up his sleeves delighted, in high spirits as the dehydrated laundry was packed into a basket and he entered the garden.
“Hmm--the weather is lovely.”
Smiling with narrowed eyes, he hung the house clothes on the clothesline rod with his own hands to dry. Of course, he stretched out the wrinkles so they wouldn’t leave marks when drying.
The Itsuka residence’s washing machine also had a drying function. But when the weather was nice like today, he wanted to expose the laundry to as much sunlight as possible. It may be less efficient, but there was a feeling of irresistible warmth to have it dry evenly outside.
One of the few obsessions in Shidou’s life, it was a hobby that wasn’t a hobby. It was similar to a coffee connoisseur grinding beans or a music lover examining speakers. An onlooker would see no great difference, but for the person in question the difference was wide. It would be troubling to ask why. Humans have long since been creatures that have pointlessly cared about and loved matters like this.
“Alright, this should do it.”
Taking a small breath, he gently wiped away the sweat on his forehead.
The unstained laundry neatly lined up under the brilliant morning sunlight. His lungs gained a sufficient sense of exhilaration and satisfaction. Shidou smiled in accomplishment as he stretched.
Then, as if to match that timing, someone from the streets called out to Shidou.
“--Good morning, Shidou-san.”
“Hmm?”
Looking over there, he found four girls dressed in the same uniform.
A white sailor suit decorated with a checkered blue collar and tie. It was a uniform indicating a junior high student in this city.
One of the four had greeted Shidou--a gentle girl with a rabbit doll on her left hand.
Her name was Yoshino, one of the former Spirits girls living in the mansion soaring next to the Itsuka residence.
“Ah, good morning, Yoshino. Everyone is here really early today.”
As Shidou replied while taking a step towards them, a girl with her hair tied in Odangos--Mukuro nodded.
“Mun. There’s only a few more days of schooling remaining. Muku wants to make as many memories as possible.”
“……I don’t care, but it can’t be helped since everyone is going……”
Muttering a supplement to Mukuro’s words, it was another girl living in the same mansion, Natsumi. While making a grumpy face, she fidgeted with the tips of her hair with her fingers.
Listening to this, a girl, who was holding a bamboo sword together with her school bag, shrugged her shoulders.
Shidou’s real little sister--Takamiya Mana. A tear-shaped mole underneath her left eye and her hair was tied in a ponytail. Although she was wearing the same sailor suit as everyone else, her stance had a more grand awe-inspiring authority than being just cute.
“Oh, so you hate it huh. Who was the first person that got up and was waiting for Mana and the others? After being invited by Kanon-san, someone has been preparing for it since yesterday--”
“……!”
Natsumi hurriedly raised her head, reaching out to stop Mana’s remarks.
However, Natsumi, who suffered from chronic exercise deficiency, couldn’t catch up to Mana who excelled in kendo.
As the silhouette of those two intertwined for just a moment, Natsumi was soon panting and out of breath. Looking at the situation between those two, Yoshino and Mukuro couldn’t help but laugh.
“Haha--”
Looking at this, Shidou also couldn’t help but smile.
Time flew by so quickly. It has already been a year since they started junior high school.
Because they transferred in as third year student, it wouldn’t be long until graduation. But it seems that everyone had founded what they wanted in school life.
“--Oh everyone. Sorry, sorry, did I keep you all waiting?”
Then, there was a voice coming from the entrance. What followed afterwards were the smooth sounds of footsteps.
Wearing the same uniform as everyone else, it was Shidou’s little sister Kotori. Running towards everyone, her twintails were swaying back as they were tied by a white ribbon. After noticing Kotori’s voice, the girls all turned to face her.
“Ah, Kotori-san. Good morning.”
“No need to mind. Muku and the others have also just arrived.”
“Really? Yeah, Natsumi was in high spirits yesterday, so I guessed it would have been earlier than usual.”
“Wait……”
Natsumi’s face flushed a deep red color. However, after exhausting all of her strength chasing after Mana, she could only cough repeatedly this time.
“This isn’t anything shameful. It’s good to have fun at school.”
“……After all, just a year ago, someone clearly said school is hell wrapped in an oblaat, a containment facility, and villains there need no tombstones, so it’s not too unreasonable to turn hostile when trying not to admit to a fault now.”
After hearing Shidou say that, Natsumi looked away. Saying something so terrible……there was definitely the feeling of that being there.
“That’s not true. People grow up. Isn’t it natural to change your mind after a year?”
“……Mu, muu……”
Natsumi mumbled to herself while trying to cover up her mouth.
Then, Mana vigorously patted her back.
“Now, Kotori-san is also here, so let’s head out. The moments of youth are painfully short”
“Ouch……! I-I know……!”
Natsumi staggered a few steps as if to express “……I’m heading out” while glancing back at Shidou waving good-bye. Everyone else also waved in return.
“I’m heading out now Onii-chan.”
“We’re leaving now Shidou-san.”
“Mun, see you later Nushi-sama.”
“Okay, be careful on the way there.”
Shidou waved his hand as he watched those girls walk out on the street. After that, Shidou stretched out again.
“There’s still some time before school starts--”
After talking to himself, he entered back into the house to finish preparations.
Despite having said that, washing his face, preparing his meal, and changing clothes have already been done. Shidou rolled up his sleeves, tightened his tie, put on his blazer, and left home with his school bag in hand.
Despite having ample time, Shidou may have been inspired by Mukuro’s words.
It was now March during his third year in high school. There wasn’t much time left until the graduation ceremony. There will only be a few more times he would go into the school building which he had been attending for three years. Indeed, there were a myriad of sentiments for that place.
Especially--since that school contained so many special memories.
“………”
Suddenly, a faint hint of sentimentality struck his chest. Shidou turned to look up at the sky.
Aside from not wanting the tears to flow, for some reason he suddenly wanted to look up at the blue sky. The deep blue sky, it was a place where long vapor trails lingered faintly.
And--
“Good morning.”
“Nowa……!?”
At the very next moment, after he heard that voice in his ear, Shidou’s body instinctively bended back.
Shidou turned his eyes around in a flustered state. What appeared in front of him was a girl whom he had no idea how long was standing there.
Faintly pigmented hair that reached the top of her shoulders and a graceful face just like a doll, she was wearing a Raizen High School uniform just like Shidou.
Tobiichi Origami, she was Shidou’s classmate and another one of the former Spirits.
“A-Aah……good morning, Origami.”
Shidou quickly recognized the girl and replied with a forced smile. He corrected his unnatural posture and turned around to her direction. Although Origami’s facial expression didn’t change much, she still nodded back to Shidou in satisfaction.
“Hmm? By the way……”
Then, Shidou slanted his head a little.
This wasn’t the first or second time Origami had unpredictably appeared. Unlike Yoshino and the others, she lived in her own home in the city rather than the mansion next door. If she was going to school normally, she wouldn’t need to pass in front of Shidou’s house.
Perhaps guessing from his expression that he was thinking of this, Origami quietly moved her lips.
“--I want to go to school with Shidou. No good?”
“----”
Confronted by Origami’s gesture of slanting her head to the side as if peeking through his own expression, Shidou couldn’t help but be stunned as he took a deep breath.
Despite the change in facial expression being modest, that subtle gesture felt a little cute.
“Ah……no, it’s not no good. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
After Shidou finished speaking, Origami lined up next to him to walk side by side.
Shidou tried keeping the same pace as Origami while walking towards school.
Of course, if this was full-fledged sprint, Shidou wouldn’t be able to keep up with Origami. Even if she was just walking normally, Origami ought to be able to keep pace with Shidou one step at a time. ……Well, for Shidou who never had any experience walking with girls, he only began to notice this matter two years ago.
“But, isn’t that a little bit uncertain?”
“? What is?”
On the way, Shidou asked while walking slowly as Origami curiously replied back.
“No, see, it’s the timing. I left home earlier than usual. Perhaps Origami made a great effort to come here, but there was also the chance of us completely missing each other.”
“Don’t worry. It’s within my expectations that Shidou is going to school earlier than usual.”
“Is that right? How on earth……”
“Woman’s intuition. The frequency is a business secret.”
“What frequency!? Shouldn’t it just be intuition!?”
“Love frequency.”
“No, phrasing it like that makes it sound like J-pop lyrics!”
Shidou shouted loudly, but Origami replied back to him as if nothing happened.
“Just kidding. --I was simply going to wait until Shidou came out.”
“No, in that case……how long have you been waiting?”
Being asked that, Origami relaxed her face and said “secret”.
Almost too small to be called a smile, but a faint smile nonetheless. However, considering in the past where Origami kept her emotions hidden behind an iron mask, this was quite the unimaginable change.
“…………”
One year had passed since that battle had ended. Little by little, Origami was also changing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, nothing……”
Likely due to the fact he was silently staring at her face, Origami replied back with a suspicious gaze. Shidou gave an unclear smile to dodge the question.
“I just think it’s rare for Origami to come here before school. Is it because graduation is coming soon?”
“That’s true. But also--”
“But?”
As Shidou asked again, Origami continued while raising her lips ever so slightly.
“--I wanted to walk once from this point of view.”
“……Huh?’
Despite him being confused over what she had said, Origami didn’t answer the question.
Immediately afterwards, she shifted the topic by saying “compared to that”.
“Are Kaguya and Yuzuru competing today? I don’t see them.”
“Hmm? Ah, right……it seems they’re competing on who gets to school first. Both of them said that they wanted to settle the tie-breaker before graduation.”
“Those two are still the same as usual.”
“Hahaha……that sounds about right.”
While still feeling a little confused, Shidou kept this causal conversation going while on the way to school.
“--Nooo--, only one more week until the graduation ceremony--! Reaaaaly, I’ll be so lonely when thinking that everyone will be gone--!”
The voice, which was not in the slightest lonely, was said in complete contrast to the contents of those words. It came from Shidou’s homeroom teacher, Okamine Tamae, or more commonly known as Tama-chan sensei.
She was a small woman wearing glasses with narrow edges. Despite her child-like face causing her to be normally mistaken of being a student, her glimmering eyes and glossy skin right now made her look even younger than usual. If someone said that she was a primary school student waiting for an outing, there may be people believing this until the last minute.
Nevertheless, Tama-chan was not at odds with her students. She was not the sort of person to weave sarcasm and bitter jokes into conversation. It would be too regretful to reluctantly part with her students in this manner.
But right now, her joy was much greater than the loneliness haunting her.
“Uhuh--but now it’s already like this, on the day of the graduation sensei might cry out--! Ah, so lonely, so lonely--!”
While saying that, Tama-chan sensei raised her left hand to make it more conspicuous--to be more precise, her mouth was grinning while showing off the shining ring on her finger. ……It gave the impression that she wanted someone to point it out.
“…….U-Uhhh, Tama-chan? That ring……?”
A student among those smiling raised his voice; it was Shidou’s undesirable friend Tonomachi.
Then, Tama-chan departed for the teacher’s desk as if waiting for someone to say that.
“Ah! Have you noticed it! Opps, that’s a real headache! I was trying to make it inconspicuous!”
Despite all of the students giving a “that’s a lie……” expression, Tama-chan didn’t notice and continued to exaggerate her movements as if illuminated by a spotlight.
“Actually sensei--will finally make her marriage debut ? ! Tada!”
With comical expressions just like in a manga, Tama-chan rolled those words off her tongue. Of course, even at this moment, she didn’t forget to show off the appeal of the ring on her left hand.
Perhaps it was the first time for everyone seeing Tama-chan in high spirits.
“Eh? And the other person is? A handsome prince with high income and high education! Nfufu, a gentlemen who perfectly escorts me on a date! His voice sounds just like a Snufkin!”
She began to talk about details about her marriage partner even though no one was listening. The image of someone who was too good to be true, the noisy Ai, Mai, Mii trio in this class had sweat dripping down.
“Hey……what’s with this super excellent thing? Does this person really exist?”
“Are you really okay? Did Tama-chan encounter a marriage scam……?”
“Isn’t that fiancé just part of your imagination?”
“Nfufufu! I won’t respond to anything today! The world is so beautiful! Life is beautiful!”
While saying that, Tama-chan raised both of her hands. At the same time, confetti flew around.
Apparently, Tama-chan had already prepared it in her pocket. This noisy cheer was unthinkable coming from her normally.
“Ahaha……”
Although the students were confused by Tama-chan’s festive manner, they still gave their blessings to her. Despite the wry smiles, everyone warmly watched over Tama-chan.
“Ah--……so even Tama-chan is getting married.”
“I didn’t expect that such a rare event would happen during my school days.”
“But when Tama-chan, who’s nicknamed Raizen’s Final Defense Line, is getting engaged, wouldn’t it cause the other teachers to feel anxious?”
While saying that, Ai Mai, and Mii turned around to look at the back of the classroom--or more accurately towards the female teacher who was standing there. As if guided by that action, the other students also turned their sights to there.
“……W-What is it? Why are you all staring to me?”
Suddenly taken aback by everyone’s eyes on her, the female teacher frowned while taking a step back.
She was a foreign woman characterized by pale Nordic blonde hair and white skin. Her pale skin made her flushed cheeks even more noticeable. While not necessarily child-like as Tama-chan,
her youthful appearance made it so that the dark color suit she was wearing didn’t match her looks.
--Ellen Mira Mathers
She was one of the founders of DEM, a rival organization to <Ratatoskr>, and also known as the world’s strongest Wizard.
“……Even though it’s nearly been a year, it still feels kind of strange.”
Shidou whispered as he smiled.
Then, Origami, who was sitting on Shidou’s right side, nodded lightly.
“I still don’t trust her.”
“Haha……”
Shidou gave a strained laugh at Origami’s sharp criticism. However, as someone who crossed blades with her on the battlefield, this may have been inevitable.
“Well, I was surprised to hear that she suddenly lost her memories……”
Since Shidou wasn’t at the scene at the time, the only heard the details after the fact--after the final battle a year ago, Ellen, who had lost Westcott, completely lost her memories and knowledge about DEM and Westcott after waking up from a coma.
Although the reasons were unclear, after waking up Ellen showed no malice or hostility and was only happy to be reunited with Woodman and Karen.
“It’s not impossible in of itself. Ellen was a strong follower of Westcott. The possibility of her losing her memories in shock of Westcott’s death cannot be denied. There’s also the possibility of her not being able to endure that fact and erased her own memories with the Realizer Manifestation Device. Or--”
“Or?”
As Shidou asked that, Origami continued speaking in a low voice.
“A Wizard has a transmitter embedded on their brain to operate the Realizer Manifestation Device. If something that precise was crafted for Ellen……”
“You mean……Westcott is responsible?”
--Westcott arranged for Ellen to lose her memories at the same time as his death……? Shidou frowned since this ran in contrary to that man’s usual style.
“I don’t know. It’s just a possibility.”
“……I see.”
Shidou scratched his head as he let out an “hmm?” sound.
“You may be thinking too much, if you don’t trust her……”
“As long as the memory loss may be her act, it’s impossible to deny the chance that her memory may be arranged to be revived after a certain period of time. In case of an emergency, I purposed to plant insurance in Ellen’s transmitter device.”
“I-Insurance……”
Hearing those words being said so calmly, Shidou felt cold sweat dripping down his face.
But Origami slightly shook her head at that moment.
“It’s not what you think. I didn’t purpose to place a bomb or poison in there. However, when Ellen is determined to have taken hostile action, the transmitter is programed to stop functioning.
Ellen without the Realizer Manifestation Device isn’t a huge threat.”
“Oh……so it’s like that……”
Shidou crossed his arms together in agreement to Origami’s words.
However, this may indeed be a necessary measure. As a Wizard, Ellen’s strength was quite literally the strongest in the world. Now that they lost the power of the Spirits, Shidou and the others would have no method to defeat her if she attacked with full hostility.
Despite having said that, at least during this year, Shidou didn’t find Ellen doing anything strange. Shidou once again smiled as he watched Ellen being swayed back and forth by the Ai, Mai, and Mii trio.
Although he had heard there was quite a debate over the treatment of Ellen’s status, but based on Woodman’s personal opinion, she was finally allowed to work as an employee of <Ratatoskr>.
And at that moment, when speaking of a vacancy in <Ratatoskr>’s positions--she was entrusted to the supporting role that Reine once had.
And so that’s how the story of deputy teacher Ellen began. In the past, she had tried to infiltrate the school as a traveling photographer, so some students who remembered her face were surprised. But she seemed generally welcomed by everyone.
“No, I wonder if Ellen-san is around marriageable age as well. Speak honestly Ellen-san. Is there anyone special? Hm? Tell all about it to Ai-chan. Now don’t worry about it, I won’t say anything to anyone else.”
“Ellen-san is so beautiful and looks to be able to find a boyfriend right away. But I don’t hear any rumors at all. Are you skillfully keeping it under wraps? Or is it some problem your partner is keeping?”
“Huh……no way, are you not interested in males? Oh, that really bother me……although Ellen-san’s feelings are nice, girls are a little……”
“Why did the conversation turn to me? Rather don’t drag me into the topic!”
Ellen screamed at the Ai, Mai, and Mii trio’s questioning. However, the trio didn’t care about this as they began touching Ellen’s body.
“After all, this suit is too scary. Go shopping with us next time Ellen-san! Your foundation is good, so you’ll definitely be popular if you dress up!”
“Ah, good idea. There are clothes that I want Ellen-san to try. There are some clothes that just don’t suit you. But Ellen-san has a nice body, so the style will naturally match that!”
“Yes. Your skin is so white and hair so glossy……tunku……what is this feeling? I’m not interested in girls but I’m getting nervous. As expected of Ellen-san, with a good dress you’ll be invincible and the absolute strongest.”
“S-Strongest……?”
As Ellen seemed to recall something, she pressed against her head to suppress a headache.
“What is this sweet noise--uh, my head……”
Feeling the touch from the Ai, Mai, and Mii trio to be unpleasant, she tried flailing her limbs to shake them off.
Sadly however, Ellen without the Realizer manifestation device was at the level where a game of arm wrestling against a (lower level) primary student would develop with great tension. She couldn’t break free from their claws as she was being unilaterally stroked.
Tama-chan, who was still in a euphoric state, said “Ufufu, get along everyone” while smiling.
“Hahaha……”
Somehow, home room was as lively as ever. Shidou laughed while looking out through the window.
--Then, the seat by the window, which had been left vacant for a year, entered into Shidou’s view.
“…………”
Shidou sighed as he looked towards the blue sky from the window.
“…………”
In the noisy classroom, Origami silently looked on at Shidou from the side.
His face was seen from the side--but Shidou wasn’t looking straight forward.
Looking at the empty window seat with no one there and then he eventually turned towards the sky.
His gaze looked lonely but also somewhat gentle.
Origami wasn’t a God, so it was impossible to fully read into Shidou’s heart.
But for the time being, there was one thing Origami was convinced of.
--That Shidou was thinking the same thing as Origami.
“…………”
No, but that is why Origami took this action.
She secretly avoided the teacher’s gaze and took out her phone to send a message to Shidou,
“……Hmm?”
After a few seconds, Shidou raised his eyebrows as if noticing something. Then, he took out his phone and looked at the screen.
After confirming Origami’s message, Shidou widened his eyes.
“Origami?”
“…………”
Origami replied with a small nod, returning Shidou’s gaze--after that her line of sight passed Shidou’s shoulders and towards the empty seat by the window.
--One year.
From the final battle against DEM.
From the fight against the Spirit of Origin.
After that girl disappeared.
One year had already passed.
“One year……huh. It’s gone by soon quickly.”
Nighttime, at the captain’s seat of the airborne ship <Fraxinus> which was 15,000 meters above Tenguu City, Kotori whispered while stirring the Chupa Chups stick in her mouth.
Unlike her white sailor suit worn during daytime, she was now wearing military clothes dyed in a crimson hue. The ribbon tying her hair also changed from white to black. It was <Fraxinus>’s captain, Itsuka Kotori’s commander mode.
However, since one year ago, the frequency of entering this mode and coming onboard
<Fraxinus> had gradually decreased.
But that was only natural. Around the same time one year ago, the Spirit of Origin disappeared and everyone lost their Reiryoku.
Additionally, at the same time, Isaac Westcott, the leader of DEM and <Ratatoskr>’s enemy, had passed away. DEM, which had lost Westcott’s strong central pull and influence, was in the midst of internal strife even after a year due to the anti-Westcott factions. Of course, Kotori continued to despise their enemy, but grudges had no more meaning after their strength unavoidably weakened.
In any case, <Ratatoskr>’s greatest goal of sealing the power of the Spirits and allowing them to live a normal life has basically been achieved.
Of course, they would continue supporting everyone, so it wasn’t as if they would be unemployed. But since there was no appearance of any new Spirits and the fear of the reversal of Reiryoku was gone, it can be said that most of their urgent matters had already been completed.
“--Oya, is Kotori also remembering the old days?”
A voice was heard coming right next to the captain’s seat.
A girl in a <Ratatoskr> uniform was gazing towards Kotori while slightly shaking her long hair.
“It’s troublesome to always be considered a child by you, Maria. People will grow up. I am going to be a high school student next month. Being nostalgic for the past will only cause me to be more bothered by stiffened shoulders.”
“I feel like you’ve always been complaining about stiffened shoulders.”
As Kotori joked and shrugged her shoulders, the girl--Maria, suddenly smiled.
“Ah, hey. Even I will be occasionally jealous of you. Maria’s body doesn’t have that sort of problems?”
“To be precise, switching states arbitrarily is possible. I can basically turn it on. Negative information is also indispensable for reproducing human body functions.”
While saying that, Maria rubbed her own shoulders.
Yes, the girl standing in front of Kotori was not a human but the <Fraxinus> management AI using an inter-personal communication body to converse with her.
Created by the Realizer Manifestation Device, she had a prosthetic body that could fully reproduce the texture of human skin and even secrete bodily fluids such as sweat and saliva. To be honest, if Kotori wasn’t aware of Maria’s origins, there was no way she could tell that body was an artificial product.
“Wow, I wonder what that’s like.”
“Well, only on that point I will not yield. I also have my own reasons for my shoulders being susceptible to aches.”
In that manner, Maria proudly raised her chest. Kotori smiled unintentionally at those human-like words.
“By the way--”
Maria gave a strange look to the left side of the captain’s seat.
“What is Kannazuki beginning to do now?”
Over there for some reason, a tall man had his hands on the floor with his entire body trembling.
It was <Ratatoskr>’s vice captain, Kannazuki Kyohei.
“The Commander……the commander will be a high school student starting next month……even though I understand this, there’s a heartbreaking feeling when hearing it out loud once again……”
Kannazuki replied, crying while shaking his fist. Maria gave a look of disgust at the tears polluting the interior of the ship.
“You’re saying something without any meaning again……”
“No, no……even after becoming a high school student, the commander’s charm is not discounted. Just, just……! Between a middle school boss and a high school boss, there is an insurmountable wall……! It’s to cruel to understand that this is irreversible, the sadness of those parts swelling and inflating out--”
“…………”
Kotori lifted her feet in a silent manner and dropped her heel at Kannazuki’s medulla oblongata.
“Gyaun!”
Kannazuki squatted on the bridge just like a crushed frog. Maria’s expression of disgust grew even more profound.
“A-Aah……the weight of this kick……so this is……growth……? T-This way, even with loss, there is also something gained……the world is so beautiful……”
And so Kannazuki muttered while groaning with an expression full of ecstasy. Seeing the same expression as usual, Kotori exhaled out a big sigh.
“Really, restrain yourself a little more. Didn’t you only recently get engaged? Doing something like this will cause you to be hated by your partner.”
“That’s no problem. The commander is in another stomach. I really love my honey.”
“……Ah, yes. Speaking of which, I haven’t asked yet but what sort of person is she?”
“She’s a woman who looks like a junior high student even though she’s an adult.”
“…………”
Somehow this felt like being Kannazuki’s style.
Kotori sighed as if giving up as she stood up from the captain’s seat.
“Would you like to go back, Kotori?”
“Yes. The regular report is over now.”
“Is that so? --Oh, the transfer device is that way……”
Looking at the direction Kotori was walking, Maria tilted her head a little in curiosity.
“Ah--there’s a little business I have to deal with first.”
Kotori obscured her words as she left the bridge while waving her hand.
Then continuing along that passageway, she located at the document room located in the rear of
<Fraxinus>. As Kotori faced the camera on the door, the face recognition was automatically completed as the door opened with a beep sound.
Despite being called a document room, there were no books or documents lined up here. Instead, there was a dedicated terminal that could be used to access the <Ratatoskr> database.
Of course, if it was just basic data, it could be viewed from Kotori’s personal terminal. In this manner, it wouldn’t be possible to browse more specialized information or top secret materials that were forbidden to be taken outside without authorization.
And--
“……Oh?”
Kotori, who stepped into the room, lightly raised her eyebrows.
“Is there something you want to investigate, Shidou?”
“……!”
Hearing Kotori’s voice coming from behind, Shidou, who was sitting in front of the terminal, looked back with startled shoulders.
“A-Aah……just a little.”
Shidou forced a smile as sweat traveled down from his forehead. At the same time, his body deliberately moved to shield the terminal screen from Kotori’s view.
“Hmm……”
Kotori narrowed her eyes slightly--
“Ah--”
A large yell followed by a finger pointed off to the distance.
“!? W-What is it?”
As Shidou took the bait and raised his face, Kotori kicked off against the floor and pushed his shoulder aside to see the terminal screen.
“Ah!”
“……What? The Spirit Composition Formula……and also <Zafkiel>? Opps, I thought you were thinking up something terrible like fishing through everyone’s medical checkups.”
“I-I would never do that!”
As Kotori said that with her eyes half closed, Shidou screamed as his face turned reddish. Well, in the first place, those photos are set with a protection program so they can’t be seen with the male staff’s authentication rights.
“So, what did you want to know?”
“That’s……”
Shidou faltered as he looked away.
After a few minutes of silence, Kotori lightly sighed.
“……Is it about Tohka?”
“…………”
As those words were muttered out, Shidou was clearly holding his breath. Kotori then sighed once again.
--Yatogami Tohka.
That name was special among Kotori and the others.
With the exception of Kotori, she was the first Spirit whose powers Shidou had sealed.
Just like the Spirit of Origin, a pure Spirit that lacked a human foundation.
And also--the Spirit that disappeared in front of everyone one year ago.
In the world where everyone was saved and lived a peaceful life, she was the only Spirit that wasn’t saved. That was--the girl named Tohka.
Tohka was a gentle, cheerful, and optimistic girl who could make everyone full of energy. Even if she didn’t dare say it, the memories of Tohka were deeply ingrained in Kotori’s heart. Shidou should be the same, but this was--
“……It doesn’t matter that you’re thinking about Tohka. I’m not telling you to forget her.
--But, Shidou.”
As Kotori said that while looking directly into Shidou’s eyes, Shidou lowered his eyes as if he was resigning to that idea.
“……I know. I don’t think I’m going to attempt another Spirit Ceremony or try to recreate
<Zafkiel>. I just wanted to know more about Spirits.”
--If there was the slightest possibility of something changing by just knowing--
Those words weren’t muttered from Shidou’s mouth, but Kotori managed to understand it. She let out a few more sighs as she scratched her head.
“……I’m not intending to stop you. Moreover, the really dangerous information has been set up with a protection program. Look and think it over until you’re satisfied. Just--it will be very painful.”
“…………If I don’t do anything, it will be even more painful. ……Because like that, I feel like I have accepted Tohka’s disappearance.”
“…………”
Not being able to reply back to his, Kotori lowered her head.
Then, seeing Kotori give a similar look, Shidou awkwardly scratched his cheek.
“……But, forget about it, I’ll stop here today. After all, there are still things to do tomorrow.”
“……Yeah, that’ll be good. If you can’t get up in the morning or sleep too late, I will dance on your stomach.”
“You have to spare me……”
Shidou shrugged, closing the terminal screen as he stood up.
However, just as he was about to leave the document room, he suddenly stopped and turned around to Kotori.
“Speaking of which, Kotori--”
“What’s up?”
“What did you come here to investigate about?”
“…………Ah--……”
Hearing what Shidou had asked, Kotori quickly looked away.
The reason was simple. After all Kotori--she wasn’t the type that could give wise advice to Shidou.
“……Haha.”
Shidou felt a sense of relief, lightly waving his hand as he walked away from the reference room.
“--Looking back, Spacequakes really are gone.”
They were at a coffee shop in the outskirts of Tenguu City.
The JDSF commanding officer of AST, Kusakabe Ryouko, said that while taking a sip of the famous royal milk tea.
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