For her, those flames were a nightmare—the blaze that stole everything. Kill. She'd kill, no matter what. Her past five years existed for that alone.
Finally found—the enemy who took her parents. Joining AST, mastering the Realizer, all for this moment.
Fueled by hatred and curses, she—Tobiichi Origami—reached for power. No matter the cost, all to kill Ifrit—Itsuka Kotori.
"Oh, oh my, how interesting. I can see it vividly, like a scene before my eyes. So thrilling!"
"…You don't need to take Kurumi's place just because she's out."
"Hehe, too bad. I'm Tokisaki Kurumi too. It's my right."
Nearly 10 a.m., Tenga Station East Exit. The girl sat overlooking the area, tailing—er, observing—Shidou and Kotori's date. Previously, it was about assessing Spirit strength or emergency response, but today, it was personal. She meant to go alone since Kurumi was bedridden, but somehow, Kurumi's voice came through the comms, giving her an instant headache.
"…That's called sophistry, or so someone said."
"Oh? First I've heard. I'll keep it in mind."
Her argument was nonsense but technically correct, making it worse. The voice was the maid Kurumi. Karma, perhaps?
"Ugh… Fine, stay with Kurumi and don't break the monitor. I remember how to rebuild it, but it's a hassle."
"I know. By the way, you made this after arriving here? You're good with machines."
"Not really. I just followed instructions. Don't ask me to innovate—that's too much work."
"Instructions you stole a peek at, right?"
"What do you take me for…?"
She thought to herself, Well, mostly accurate. She'd replicated designs from stolen blueprints, nothing more.
Then, she spotted Kotori joining Shidou. The date was starting.
"So, will this be Kotori's last date? Your thoughts?"
"…With Shidou? No issue, I think."
"Kihi, you rate Shidou highly. Influenced by 'me'?"
Her words echoed the girl's own to Kurumi once. Maybe Kurumi's feelings for Shidou rubbed off, but the girl smiled under her robe—not just that.
"I won't deny it. But my trust in Shidou has other reasons."
"Care to share? Or is the secretive you hiding this too?"
"…It's simple—huh?"
Her words cut off. While talking, neither took their eyes off Shidou and Kotori… but the group grew. Tohka and Yoshino, plus her puppet, joined.
"That's Tohka and Hermit… Isn't this Kotori's date?"
"The world might have triple dates—three girls, one guy."
"My idea of a date is two people. That'd be absurdly rare."
What kind of playboy? Shidou might be a world-saving one, but still. She watched, analyzing. Shidou looked surprised, but Kotori?
"…No, Kotori's okay with—"
"—Wow, Shidou, bold move. I'm looking forward to this."
Nope. She was pissed. The girl and maid Kurumi felt the intensity. Her smile was scarier, practically radiating an aura.
"She's mad."
"…Very mad."
Shidou looked terrified too.
"Is Shidou okay?"
"…I think so."
Her voice betrayed a hint of doubt.
Despite the rocky start, Shidou's group reached their destination: Ocean Park, a popular theme park with a water area (pools) and amusement area (rides). They were in the water area. June, slightly off-season, meant fewer crowds.
"Why a pool now? It's off-season."
"Exactly. Crowds ruin the mood."
"Really…?"
The girl figured any place with a loved one was fun, but maybe crowds did kill the vibe—more family outing than date.
"I wouldn't know. Never done this."
"Hehe, reading a man's heart is a lady's charm."
"…Do ladies wear maid outfits daily?"
Her idea of a lady clashed with Kurumi's, but if she said so, fine. Kurumi had worn wilder outfits, secretly kept by the girl. Maybe show Shidou one day…
She saw Shidou shyly compliment Kotori's swimsuit. Obvious move—praise a girl's effort. Kotori, used to giving orders, blushed but quickly countered coolly.
"Where's it cute…?"
Tough question. Kotori in a cute swimsuit, his lifelong sister. How would Shidou reply?
"Uh… your budding chest is irresistible."
"What!?"
"…Oh."
"Shidou's… that type."
Kotori flushed, slightly pleased. The girl and maid Kurumi recoiled. Was this Shidou's idea or Fraxisnas' crew via his earpiece? Either way, problematic.
"That crew… all weirdos?"
"Maybe Shidou's true feelings. 'I' look slimmer clothed, so maybe he—"
"Don't say that when Kurumi wakes."
Normal Kurumi might laugh, but now? Disaster. She recalled Shidou's reaction to Hermit's swimsuit, stirring unease. (Note: Fraxisnas' crew are odd, but this was Kannazuki's call.)
Despite Hermit's minor chaos, the date progressed. Kotori seemed pleased by Shidou's praise, and she instantly saw through disguised Ratatoskr agents, naming them flawlessly, earning the girl's respect as a commander.
"…Is Kotori in a good mood?"
"No. She's cooling off as time passes."
"Not my imagination…"
Kotori looked bored, arms crossed, ignoring lunch. Far from smitten. Was it Ratatoskr's obvious support or Shidou's awkward escort? He seemed off, overly tense, despite their lifelong bond. Was it her strength or the looming deadline?
"I thought Shidou had this, but will he make it?"
"No need to worry."
The maid's calm certainty startled the girl, her tone identical to Kurumi's when she found an answer.
"What do you mean? She's not in the mood to seal—"
"You're missing the point. Date or not, Kotori's power can be sealed."
"…What?"
Spirits open their hearts—fall in love—for sealing. Kotori, as his sister, already trusts him, but her romantic affection seemed low. Yet… she looked pleased despite her annoyance at Shidou's comment.
"…Is Kotori…?"
"Finally noticed? This date has no war value, but it's her date. You're denser than I thought."
"I'm not here to fall in love, so it's fine."
Stung, she retorted weakly, knowing it sounded like bravado. The maid was right—no strategic value. Kotori's power was already sealed once. The girl missed it, caught in the Spirit conquest flow. Kurumi's clone noticed because Kotori's feelings ran deeper than expected—she loved her brother.
But this date had no point. Kotori's body wasn't safe. She likely knew but wanted this—love, irrational, maddening. The girl hadn't felt it but knew it.
"Kotori's leaving."
"I'll follow."
"Snooping on a lady? You're as bad as Shidou."
"You know I'm a girl too, right?"
She added sort of, aware her robed anonymity lacked credibility.
Following Kotori, who looked off before leaving, the girl had a near-certain hunch.
"—Ah!"
"You okay, Kotori?"
As predicted, but not happily. Kotori clutched her head, collapsing in pain, tended by an analyst. The girl foresaw it—fear of losing herself, constant destructive urges. Her resilience was a miracle. And there was more.
"I'm fine… barely. Please."
"…You're already at fifty times the normal dose. More could kill you."
"Heh, as a Spirit, drugs won't kill me."
The dosage was near life-support. Even Spirits weren't invincible. Yet Kotori—
"Please. This is my date with Shidou—with Onii-chan."
She chose this date. Pure desire, raw will kept her going. Hearing this, the girl's choice was clear.
"Surprising."
"What?"
"You, sympathizing with Kotori. You always judged through 'me'."
"…Hm."
Back at her spot, the girl gave a small nod. True—she judged based on Kurumi's benefit. Shidou mattered because he affected Kurumi. Hermit mattered because Kurumi cared. Tohka, because she was Shidou's and Kurumi's friend.
All for Kurumi. Yet she felt for Kotori, who hurt Kurumi, puzzling the maid.
"…It's just unfair."
That was it. If Kotori were a normal Spirit, the girl would aid Shidou's rescue, no extra feelings. Watching this dangerous date, siding with Kotori, came from its unfairness.
"Forced power, faulty at that… yet bearing so much. I want her wish granted."
There was another reason, but she'd never voice it.
"How kind."
"Hardly. Worst case, I'll stop Kotori myself. But… no need."
Her gaze fell on Shidou, resolute as ever.
"I'm… actually more into amusement parks than pools."
There was the boy who saved Spirits.
"It'll work out."
"Kihihi, of course. Kotori just wants to date Shidou. She knows him best… and loves him."
"No need for meddling. Shidou just had to be himself with Kotori. I wanted her wish granted, but—"
"No farce. I understand a maiden's heart."
"Sorry for being dense."
She smiled, relieved. Tohka and Hermit went elsewhere, and Shidou and Kotori moved to the amusement park, resuming their date. It felt… normal, unpretentious, erasing all worries.
"You said Kotori bears burdens. Her role, Shidou's—they limit their time together."
"His sister, their commander… roles are troublesome."
As commander, Kotori's duty clashed with dating Shidou. This date, under the guise of Spirit conquest, was her chance—perhaps hindered by her tsundere nature.
"Speaking of roles… Kotori became commander after becoming a Spirit, right? Do you know when?"
"Guessing? When Shidou sealed her—five years ago—?"
She frowned, pausing. Shidou and Kotori on a bench looked fine, but a faint unease and odd mechanical hum hit her. Something approached. Scanning, she saw civilians, no Spirit activity from Kotori. It shouldn't be possible—then she looked up.
"—Tobiichi… Origami!?"
A bombardment targeted Kotori alone. Black smoke rose, civilian screams followed, the area scorched. Not the screams, not Kotori blocking missiles with flames, but Origami's act shocked her.
The maid, seeing through the feed, spoke coldly.
"Oh my… I thought Origami was smarter. How bold."
"Bold? She's starting a war!"
Origami wore a standard wiring suit, but her gear—missile pods, laser blades on both arms, two massive cannons—screamed warship, not typical AST equipment.
"She's targeting Kotori. War's not wrong."
"But why so reckless—?"
AST's secrecy, including Spirits, was known to Origami. Ignoring that, risking civilians—she wouldn't, based on the girl's research.
Research only scratched the surface. Only those close knew what drove someone.
She saw Origami's eyes, clashing with Kotori—filled with hatred, yet sadly kind. The girl knew those eyes, not from memory, but from watching them endlessly.
"—Kurumi."
"? What about 'me'?"
"…No. Either way, this won't end well—I'm repaying that debt."
No sitting idle. It wasn't directly Kurumi's fight, but Shidou's involvement made it unavoidable. And she had a personal reason—for both fighters.
Kicking off, she leaped into the fray. Fittingly, Origami's unit was white, like hers.
"Ifrit!! My parents'—enemy!!"
Origami's scream reached her. Her actions might be justified. The girl, another avenger, had no right to stop her.
"Guess you're kind too."
Despite her words, she mercilessly kicked the white figure.
"—Who!?"
The avenger from five years ago faced White. The girl's reply was, as ever, theatrical.
"Just a passing Spirit!!"
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