Raizen High School, where Shidou Itsuka, Tohka Yatogami, and now Kurumi Tokisaki attend, stood as a stage for tangled desires and fateful encounters. On a hill overlooking the school, a girl in white waited, like an audience member anticipating the play's start. Behind her, a shadow emerged.
"What's your intent?" Kurumi Tokisaki appeared, her breathtaking beauty undeniable, though clad in an out-of-place maid outfit.
"Hm? You? Something up?" the white-robed girl replied.
"As I said, what are you scheming?" Kurumi pressed.
"No idea what you mean," the girl deflected.
"Don't play dumb. Unlike original me, we're always connected. I know where you've been. You wouldn't forget that," Kurumi said, exasperated more than angry.
The girl turned, feigning confusion, but she'd known Kurumi would notice. This banter was just a way to pass time.
"Fair point. I knew you'd know," the girl admitted.
"You're appalled by my actions toward myself, yet you're no better," Kurumi shot back.
"I'll take it as a compliment," the girl said.
"It's not! Are you an idiot?" Kurumi snapped.
Unfazed, the girl sighed, "Pity," and turned back to the school. With time before the "curtain," she finally offered an explanation.
"Kurumi, you only tasked me with matters between Shidou Itsuka and that girl. I just spoke to Tohka Yatogami—nothing to blame me for," she said.
"That's called splitting hairs in the real world," Kurumi retorted.
"News to me. I'll keep it in mind," the girl said, dripping with sarcasm.
Kurumi sighed deeply. The girl's visit to Tohka wasn't exactly a favor to Kurumi, but it undoubtedly tied to Shidou—hardly a safe move, more a gray area. Beyond Kurumi's orders, the girl, supposedly on Kurumi's side, seemed to favor Shidou.
"For your plan?" Kurumi asked.
"You could say that. I need options. The more, the better—though it all depends on you, Kurumi," the girl replied.
A gust of wind stirred. Kurumi held her hair, staring at the girl. The robed figure's face remained hidden, stubbornly concealing her identity despite knowing too much. The white robe symbolized her enigma.
"What's your intent?" Kurumi asked.
The question was futile, a repeated ritual with a predictable answer. The mysterious girl's response was, as always, unchanged.
"Nothing's changed. Everything is—for my queen, Kurumi."
Slipping into indoor shoes at the school's entrance, Kurumi admitted her heart once danced at this routine. Attending the same school as him had thrilled her. But now, no excitement stirred. She'd severed that possibility herself. He shouldn't be here—
"Good morning, Kurumi," Shidou greeted, unchanged.
Hiding her shock, she closed her shoe locker and forced a smile. "Good day, Shidou-san. Sleep well?" Her words dripped with sarcasm.
He didn't flinch, brushing it off. "Yeah, thanks to you, I slept great."
"Oh? I thought I'd given you nightmares," she teased.
"Nah. I dreamed of dating you. I'm in a great mood," he said.
"...!" Kurumi froze.
Who is this? Shidou, obviously. But this unshakable strength—he was different from yesterday, yet every cell in her screamed it was him. His thoughts, his feelings—unreadable. Overwhelmed, she stepped back, a tiny retreat born of fear. Unnoticing, Shidou spoke with calm resolve.
"Also, Kurumi—I've decided to save you."
"Hah!" she scoffed, masking her shock with a cold smile. "Have you lost your mind? Or have I?"
"Maybe I'm a bit crazy. But I'm serious. I don't want you hurting people. I won't let Mana hurt you," he declared.
"Your naive ideals make me yawn. Retract that now," she snapped.
"Can't. Once I decide something, I see it through," he said.
"Are you an idiot, Shidou-san!?" she shouted.
What fueled her anger? His defiance? His sickeningly sweet words? Or his reckless disregard for himself? For the first time, Kurumi showed Shidou raw anger. Yet he didn't waver—he smiled.
"Maybe. But that's not all I want to say. Honestly, this is the real reason I want to save you. The other stuff's true too, though," he said.
"Oh? More infuriating words?" she sneered.
"Not quite. Too many people here. I'd rather say it alone—don't run, my lady," he teased.
"...As you wish," she replied, averting her gaze to hide her flushed face, leaving quickly with a promise to meet after school.
"What a hassle," Kurumi muttered on the rooftop, stepping gracefully before slamming her foot down in frustration, ruining her elegance.
He's a problem. If he'd cowered in fear, she could've ended it painlessly. Unaware, her thoughts held a twisted concern for Shidou.
"No choice," she said, kicking the ground.
A shadow spread, engulfing the school.
She'd underestimated his foolishness, his kindness. If he still spouted such nonsense after seeing her truth—
"Let's show him more nightmares—right, ?"
"All good, Shin?" Reine's sleepy voice asked through the earpiece, a replacement for the one Kurumi "lost."
"Yes. Ready anytime," Shidou replied.
After school, at Kurumi's designated time, Kotori was absent on other business. Shidou trusted her, per Reine's urging, but his focus was solely on Kurumi.
She hadn't glanced at him all day, a reversal from her transfer days. It amused him. His heart was a paradox—calm yet exhilarated. He knew his plan was foolish, but it aligned with 's strategy: date and charm Spirits. Kotori would approve—it was an extension of that.
"Good. Your morning talk with Kurumi was promising. Her emotional readings fluctuated significantly," Reine said.
"You… heard that?" Shidou groaned.
"Yes. Kotori was thrilled. Don't worry," Reine assured.
Not reassuring. Kotori's "thrill" was surely teasing fodder. Shidou's face burned with embarrassment, a mini black-history moment. Morning's bravado—fueled by a dream of dating Kurumi—let him speak boldly, but the cheesy lines ("my lady"?) mortified him now. The dream was real, though.
"Kotori's gonna roast me," he muttered.
"No big deal. You'll say more such lines dealing with Spirits," Reine said.
"Spare me…" he pleaded.
No orders prompted his morning theatrics—just pure, cringeworthy bravado. He only hoped Kurumi wasn't put off.
Cooling his flushed face, he moved toward her—
"Guh!?" A sudden lethargy forced him to one knee. Fighting it, he stood, scanning around.
It wasn't just him. Others had collapsed, unconscious. Unlike them, he was less affected.
He recognized the scene—from yesterday.
"Kurumi…!" he growled.
"No doubt. A strong spiritual wave's been detected around the school—a wide-area barrier draining humans," Reine confirmed.
"Eager lady…!" Shidou muttered.
She wouldn't wait for him to reach their meeting spot. No more delays. But first, a concern. Pushing his sluggish body, he moved—
"Shidou…!" Tohka's voice called.
"Tohka!" he shouted, turning.
She clutched her head, pained but conscious, unlike others. Relieved, he rushed to her.
"You okay, Tohka?" he asked.
"Y-yeah… but my body's heavy…" she said.
"Like mine. Why are we fine?" he wondered.
"Shin, your body, sealed with Spirit power, is protected. Same for Tohka, a Spirit despite being sealed," Reine explained.
"Spiritual power…" Shidou muttered.
Kurumi knew this. She'd know the barrier would barely affect him. She was too sharp to miss that. This wasn't to stop him—it was a provocation, like before. She was calling him.
Bring it on.
"Tohka, rest here," he said.
"Shidou…?" she questioned.
"Don't worry. I'll save you—and Kurumi," he vowed, patting her head before running.
He knew his destination. Like before, he was drawn upward. Unlike then, he embraced it fully. No hesitation—he had his answer for Kurumi. The barrier's weight couldn't stop him; strength surged as he climbed.
"Shin, before you meet Kurumi, here's what we found…" Reine began, sharing a truth.
Shidou's face mixed sadness and joy. "Yeah, figures," he said, smiling.
It made sense—her nature, her sin. Yet it fueled his resolve to save her.
He reached the door. No one ordered him; he chose this. The door opened.
"Late for a war date? Not impressive," Kurumi teased.
Red and black danced—her beauty stopped time. Shidou, for the first time, embraced it. She was breathtaking, unmatched. He knew—that's why he was here.
"Sorry for the wait, Kurumi," he said.
"Oh, I nearly died waiting, Shidou-san," she replied.
The girl adorned in madness and the boy enchanted by it—the curtain rose on their stage.