"Let you go? No way."
Shichen actually tightened his arms around Kyouno Natsumi.
She was tiny—smaller even than Yoshino—and her hair, though messy and fluffy-looking, was actually quite soft to the touch.
He wasn't the type who liked dolls, but girls who looked like dolls? Those he very much liked to hold.
"W-why?!" Natsumi couldn't help shouting.
Her voice had reverted to that of a little girl—young and clear—not like the seductive tone she'd used earlier.
"You're so cute I'm taking you home and raising you as my wife," Shichen said something very dangerous.
Of course, she was a Spirit. Her real age didn't match her appearance, so it wasn't exactly a crime.
"Eh—!" Natsumi yelped even louder.
"N-no way!"
Even though a tiny part of her felt happy, there was no way she could agree to that.
"Why not?"
"W-what do you mean why not…!? Who says yes to something like that the first time they meet someone?!"
"So it's because it's our first meeting? Then how about we slowly get to know each other?" Shichen loosened his hold a little and smiled down at her.
"Uu…" Being looked at like that made Natsumi too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
Since she chased beauty so obsessively, she was naturally very sensitive to good looks—and Shichen's face, plus the fact that he was male, left her a little flustered.
"W-why are you like this to me?" she muttered.
"Do I need a reason?"
"Of course you do!"
"Then the reason is that you're cute."
"As if!"
"It's true, Natsumi—you're really cute. I promise." His smile didn't waver as he placed a hand on her head and gently rubbed.
"Mmm…"
Even so, she still mumbled, "There are plenty of cute people. Are you gonna take every one of them home when you see them?"
"That'd be impossible. That would be a crime."
"Then why me?"
"Because you're also a Spirit. Spiriting you away doesn't break any human laws."
"It's because of that?!" Natsumi stared at him in shock. Her identity as a Spirit had finally become a plus in someone's eyes.
Up until now, every time she manifested, she'd only ever been hunted—no matter what she looked like.
Just what was up with this guy?
Good-looking, completely different from her, and he was seriously calling her cute…
"Um…" Natsumi hesitated.
"What is it?" Shichen asked gently.
"Do you… really… think I'm cute?"
"I swear to the heavens," Shichen said, raising his hand in oath.
It wasn't that he had some special "filter" for her—it was simply true. She was adorable: a small face with delicate features, messy hair that somehow made her look even softer. She was a living, breathing little loli.
And no, it absolutely was not because he was into lolis.
"Mmm…" Natsumi lowered her head, bluShicheng hard.
Faced with such earnest words, it was almost impossible not to believe him.
But she still didn't have much confidence. When she'd appeared like this before, nobody had accepted her.
That was why she'd changed herself—to become that perfect adult woman who could make people fall in love at first sight.
Maybe this guy's taste was just weird?
"I-it must be that you're just weird. I'm not cute," she muttered, trying to argue.
"Sigh… How come you just won't believe me?"
"I… I know myself better than anyone…"
"Do you now? Fine, then think of it this way: I'm the weird one. So if you stay by my side, won't you always be cute?" Shichen said with a grin.
"Eh?" Natsumi looked up at him, confused.
"Since I'm the 'strange' one who thinks you're cute, as long as you stay with me, you'll always be cute in my eyes, right?"
"Always cute…" Natsumi repeated blankly.
"Yeah. With me, you're the little princess. Isn't that nice?"
"I…" Natsumi's heart wavered.
It wasn't the "always cute" part that shook her—it was the sense that this guy really liked her.
If she stayed with him… wouldn't that be fun? Wouldn't that be happy?
She didn't know why, but a life like that suddenly seemed very appealing.
But she was a Spirit. The world rejected her very existence. If she stayed with him, wouldn't that bring him trouble?
In the end, someone like her wasn't supposed to exist.
"N-no… I don't want that…"
"What?"
"I said I don't want to be with you!" Natsumi raised her voice, sounding firm.
"Why?"
"Why… I'm not a kid, you know. I'm not going to fall for your sweet talk that easily! How do I know you won't sell me off or hand me over to someone if I go with you…?"
The more she talked, the quieter her voice got. She no longer dared to look at him, clenching her lips.
"So… do you think I would?" Shichen asked softly.
"You… I… how would I know…" Natsumi muttered, eyes downcast.
"Exactly. You don't know. So don't you want to at least test it?"
"Test… it?"
"You're a Spirit. What are you afraid of? If I ever do anything bad to you, you can just kill me."
"T-that… that's no good!" Natsumi hesitated but quickly refused again.
"Why not?"
"You're definitely not normal. Even while you're holding me like this, I can't use my Spirit power at all. I can't even summon my Angel. If I go with you, it's like walking straight into the tiger's den."
"Am I really that scary?" Shichen asked, pulling an exaggeratedly hurt expression.
"You…"
Natsumi looked at him and suddenly couldn't bring herself to say it, but she still had to be firm.
"You're really scary!"
"Is that so? Well, if I'm that scary, don't blame me for what happens next," Shichen said, a wicked grin creeping onto his face.
"W-what are you going to do?" Natsumi tensed instantly at that smile.
"Heh. If you don't respond to kindness, that just leaves force. You're a Spirit anyway. Once I'm done kidnapping you, what's anyone going to do about it?"
"What? Y-you can't! You can't do that!"
"That's not up to you. I do what I want."
"This is a crime!"
"Sorry, but Spirits aren't covered by human law."
As he spoke, Shichen shifted his grip, scooping Natsumi up like a baby, one hand under her butt, the other around her back, holding her face-to-face.
"N-no! Put me down! I don't want to go with you!" Natsumi struggled, but her tiny body couldn't generate any real strength.
"Don't move. Otherwise, I'll have to get rough," Shichen said, giving her a light smack on the butt.
"Uu…!" Natsumi went stiff, instantly falling quiet.
"That's better. Alright—let's go home."
"Go… home…" Natsumi whispered the unbelievable word under her breath.
Holding her in his arms, Shichen stepped out of that isolated pocket of space. Then he dissolved it entirely and teleported straight back home.
Groceries would have to wait. Natsumi was more important.
"Shichen~ Why are you back so fast… eh? Who's that?!"
The moment he appeared, Tohka rushed toward him happily—then froze when she noticed the little girl in his arms.
The others turned to look as well.
"Hehe~ Tohka, don't panic. Let me introduce you. This is the girl I just kidnapped—her name is Kyouno Natsumi."
"K-kidnapped back?"
"And she's just a little girl…"
"Shichen, don't tell me you're into lolis?"
"He is always spoiling Yoshino…"
"Ahem. I am not a lolicon. Don't talk nonsense." Shichen denied righteously, then patted Natsumi's back. "Natsumi, we're home. Say hi to everyone."
"Eh? Already…? And everyone is…?"
Natsumi lifted her head from his chest and saw the white walls… and then the room full of girls, each with their own striking presence.
Her inferiority complex exploded on the spot.
"S-so pretty…"
"Oh my~ The little one has good taste," Miku laughed first.
"Yeah, I think so too," Nia nodded.
"Hehehe~ She just said the obvious facts," Kaguya and Yuzuru chimed in, satisfied.
"Shichen, she actually praised me for being pretty," Tohka said, delighted.
"Hmph. This little brat has an eye for quality," Kotori said proudly—despite actually being younger than Natsumi.
"Hello…" Only Yoshino stepped forward to greet her first.
"H-hello…" Natsumi quickly bowed her head and replied politely.
"Ahh~ Another loli as cute as Yoshino. No wonder Onii-san brought her back," Yoshinon cackled.
"C-cute?" Natsumi blinked, stunned.
"What's wrong with that?" Yoshinon asked.
"Do you… really think I'm cute?" Natsumi couldn't help asking.
"Of course you are—as cute as Yoshino," Yoshinon replied cheerfully.
"I-I see…"
"See? I told you—you are cute," Shichen said, rubbing her head again.
"Mmm…"