Shido POV:
… What?
"What do you mean by that… Tome?"
"I mean what I mean!!"
Tome let out an anguish scream at me, her face distorted in clear pain.
"I KILLED YOU!!!"
Her scream echoing among the rubbles, her tears slowly dripping to the ground.
"I did this… I drag her here… I make all these… destruction…"
Tome sobbing with each passing word, her back trembling slightly.
And at that moment, all I intended to do, all I wanted to say to ease her pain, to say that everything will turn out ok… drifted away.
"…"
Hate it or not, she's… right.
Tome is a Spirit, a being capable of destroying cities on a whim.
She isn't dangerous, never have been… but her power is.
As long as she still has that power, that overwhelming force that can tear everything apart with ease, then the AST will still after her.
And even if the Ratatoskr can somehow manage to waver them away, who can say that she won't repeat today's disaster—
—What?
What… am I thinking?
Why did I even doubt her?
Why am I concerned over her power like this?
I look down at my hand, and see the trembling.
I… am afraid?
"I see…"
I look up at Tome, who's now staring intensely at my hand—while, unbeknown to me, slowly stepping away.
"So this is how you truly feel, Shido…"
Tome murmured with a broken voice, her gaze slowly turned empty.
"No… this is right… this is what you should feel about me…"
At that moment, I suddenly shuddered, as I felt something.
Fear, absolute fear.
The kind of fear that will crush you with peer pressure. The kind that shall torment you for the rest of your time.
And so, without thinking and on pure instinct, I acted.
"NO!"
I cut her word right here and then, staring right at her, truly at her!!
"You… you are no monster, Tome! You're just a simple girl in my eyes!!"
"Eh?"
Tome widens her eyes, her expression stiffen with pure shock… but I ignore all of that and continue with my word.
I… I don't want to miss her. I don't want to see this… I have to—I wanted to…
"I WANTED TO SAVE YOU!!"
"Fuu…!!"
Tome slight startle with a step back, so I took one step forward.
"Let me try to save you, Tome! Let me show you that you aren't a monster!! Let me show you that you can belong!!"
"…"
Tome takes another step back.
I take another step forward.
"B-but I… I kill…"
"So what?!"
I pierced through her words, my gaze still locked on her retreating figure.
So what if she's behind all of this?! So what if she's used to being one?! So what if she claims such a ridiculous thing?!
All I see in front of me, all I feel from Tome, all I understand from her…
Is just a fearful her, desperate to belong somewhere.
"Tome!! Choose me!!"
I let out my most passionate scream with her, ignoring everything else happening around.
"… Can I…?"
Tome started shaking, and her steps—halted.
"Can I… actually…"
She returned the stare at me, one that was filled with fear, uncertainty, doubt…
And, with a tiny speck deep inside her eyes… hope.
"Can I be… with you?"
With one last step, I stood right before her, with our face literally inches away…
"Trust me."
The doubt, the fear, the uncertainty slowly vanished from her gaze. And all that is there, deep in her eyes—are pleading.
"… Please…"
I place my hand on Tome shoulders, feeling a slight shake in response, and lean in.
Our lips touched.
At that instant, everything froze.
No fire. No ruins. No guilt.
Just me and her exist here, feeling each other's warmth.
But at the next moment, I break the curse and push her from me, silently acknowledging the dreamy expression from Tome.
But then, everything changed.
Tome dress, one that illuminates her identity as a. Spirit, suddenly disappearing piece by piece.
"Huh?"
"Eh??!!!"
Both of us let out a dumbfounded sound, as Tome bare figure slowly make it way to my ey—
"I didn't see anything!! I didn't see anything!!"
I immediately turned away from Tome's soon-to-be naked body with a scorched face, and somehow turned toward Kotori…
… But before I could say anything, she immediately hid her face as our gaze met each other.
"I… I'm sorry…"
Kotori murmurs what seems to be an apology to me, now fully turning her back on me…
Ultron POV:
"So… that's him?"
Asked the crimson gothic girl watching everything unfold beside me.
"… Yes."
Answer me, feeling quite enough with this whole charade.
Although seeing Shido power at work here is quite a reward… I just can't help but feel disgusted by this.
They pour their resources into this real-life dating sim, all so that Shido can deal with them in the end.
Truly a joke.
I've seen a lot of dumbass matters here and there but this… this is just another level on its own.
"Hm ~"
Tokisaki suddenly let out an undistinguished hum, eying the whole thing down there, looking a bit… interested…
… Now I started to feel bad for him. Just a microbit.
"So, what took you here, miss Tokisaki?"
So with the embarrassing act finally over, I turn to her with the question. And in response, she just put her finger at her lips, signaling a rather seductive gesture.
"Hm… I wonder why ~"
Ho, so that's her response? Figured.
But honestly, I hope she spent more time training her acting skill, for her lies are bolder than that of a toddler.
Oh well, not that I didn't expect such thing from someone who has been partially alone for more than 2 decades
"By the way, did you check the content of my gift, miss Tokisaki?"
Deciding that I have enough with him, I checked her reaction with the question.
And the result immediately came by, one that satisfied mineself.
"My my ~ I have to say sir, you indeed are an interesting friend ~"
With a seductive yet cunning grin, she whispers everything back at me, acting all attractive and mysterious…
… Trying to hide the slip from my sudden question.
"I shall gladly take the compliment, miss Tokisaki."
I, in return, smile back at her with my camouflage on. In response, Tokisaki gestures slightly relaxed… seemingly believing that she hid that slip from me.
"Oh well, this was fun."
With a sigh, Tokisaki turned around with elegant steps, her arms hanging on her back.
"See ya around, Fu-kun ~"
And with that, her figure disappeared from the scene without a sound.
Hm… I should make something for her just in case, well, she betrayed me, which should be the case considering her possible goal here.
After all, how could I ignore such obvious devotion, one that was too familiar for me?
"Words huh…"
With one last look at the heartwarming scene, I turn around and take my leave…
"I hope you can properly introduce me this time—miss Mather."
Kotori POV:
"How is she?"
"Tome condition showed no sign of fracture. The seal successfully established the connection between Shido and Tome."
Listening to Reine's report, I… don't know what to feel.
The plan's a success.
We did it. Our wildest dream came true…
… And yet, despite what should be an overjoyed feeling… I just can't bring myself to feel great about this.
For this whole charade, this whole plan was merely luck. Extreme luck.
I take a quick glance at the seat up there, one that shows off the authority of the captain, and feel nothing less than disgust.
The seat, once my proudest achievement, the proof of my growth after that day, now feels nothing more than a reminder of my biggest mistake.
The very day I took this seat and accepted my role and looked at the crew… I thought that I had achieved something great…
I thought I had grown out of my young naive self, no more being merely a burden for him…
But now? Now I realized that it was all my illusion, my wildest dream.
I never grow out of it, I never achieve anything.
All I ever did—was to hinder him.
All that training amounts to nothing.
All that talk… resulted in disasters.
And in the end… I almost lost him.
… What a Captain I am, huh?
"I… truly a failure…"
Uttering the truth with a heavy heart, I shrunk myself deeper into my own mind, ignoring the concerning gaze from everyone…
Tome POV:
That was… weird.
I have no idea what they have done to me… and frankly I—kinda scared.
This was the first time I've been with this many people without any fight… and without my power.
I still have no idea how I lost my power after that… kiss…
Hmph…
And as I sat alone in this white room, my fear slowly creeped up in my mind.
Not on them, not a bit, but more on… everything else.
I can still see it. I can still hear it. I can still feel it.
The ruins, the scream, the fear.
Every time I closed my eyes, I could still see the bloody pulp and the crying kid, all too clearly.
Everytime.
And yet, I… I don't know what to feel about that.
I was afraid of such a scene… and I wanted to forget that… but at the same time, I just can't.
Even if I did forget that, what good would that do?
What can I do without my power, against all those mecha girls?
"Tome."
A Shido voice suddenly cut through my train of thought, as the door room slid aside revealing his figure.
With his hand scratching his hair and an awkward smile, Shido walked up and sat down beside me.
"So… how was the testing?"
"… It was okay… I guess…"
With my gaze subconsciously waver away, I murmur my response to him.
To be honest, I didn't get a thing they said as they… doing things on me…
"I see…"
And with that monotone answer, we both—fall silent, just sitting there all quiet for a while.
… Which, in my opinion, is quite awkward for some reasons.
"I'm sorry."
And then, amidst the silence, Shido suddenly… apologize?
I whip my head at him, unable to believe my ears. For I couldn't fathom such words from him, especially at me.
He has no reason to apologize to me, not after what I've done to him. In fact, I should be the one to say that!!
"Why… are you apologizing?!"
"Because—I didn't expect to undress you with… well, the kiss."
Uh… oh yeah, that one.
"Well, Reine just informed me why that happened. Apparently I can seal your power with a kiss, effectively severing your Reiryoku control."
Reiryoku… oh. So that's why.
Since he sealed my Reiryoku away, one that I was really curious about, he also sealed away my
To be honest—I didn't really see why he cared so much about that. I mean, it's just my dress being sealed away?
"That's… that's all I wanna say… I'm truly sorry about that…"
With a somewhat reddened face (?), he stutters back at me…
… And I still have no idea what he is trying to say here.
"… Hey, Tome."
"Hm?"
"What do you want to do next?"
What… to do…
That…
"I don't know."
I lowered my head down at my legs with the whispers, ignoring Shido's concern yet thoughtful expression beside me.
"I don't really know… what next…"
"I don't know where I am, I don't know anyone else here, I have no clue on… what comes next…"
I let out my concern at Shido, who was just quietly by my side, as I slowly thought more about that…
… Can I truly do it? Can I… actually live among everyone, after everything?
I… did I even deserve such chances… after that?
"Then let me help."
Shido calmly gave his answer to my questions, with a faint smile on his face as I slowly turned to him.
"Let me help you with everything, Tome."
I stared, unbeknowningly, intensely at Shido's smile, his words echoing in my head.
"Your misdeed doesn't make who you are, Tome."
His gaze hardened with pure determination, along with a sense of compassion… toward me.
"I can help you with it, Tome. So please—"
His voice suddenly turned shaken at that, but I… didn't quite catch that at the moment.
"—Stay with me."
The whole room fell dead silent after his request, and we just kept staring for a long while.
During that time, my mind quickly replay everything from the beginning till now, from my first moment in this world—until being sealed…
The first I remembered… were the ruins, the desolated surrounding.
I remember the cries, the blood, the fire… and what I saw back then…
But then I… thought back about the date. About what I see, what I ate, what I played—along with Shido.
I remember his promise, his words, his… desperation… when saying that…
After all of that, all of the time I consider everything else… I decided.
"Please…"
I finally returned his gaze, one unknowingly filled with pain, uncertainty, dread… and hope, as he said it long after.
"Please… help me…"
And so, finally, I take my first promise since my birth…
Ultron POV:
"Analysis reached 40%."
After a whole day, with all the best analysis machinery I possessed, this is all the process.
This bland crystal, her gift, one that was the center of my current objective, seems to be quite more interesting than I initially thought.
Everytime I have some result from this thing, it starts to escalate further, delving deeper into regions unknown, leading to such a slow process.
And yet, this just keeps satisfying me more and more.
The potential of this thing, even in the limited result… they're worth more than what my previous world could offer.
This thing, if I can harness it all, could make my previous plan a mere joke.
To think Mio has such things in her disposal and to distribute them among few selectives for the past decades… What a waste.
Speaking of which, I wonder…
Nia POV:
… So, that stupid plan succeeded.
Who would've thought that lying straight to their face would work out?
Well, certainly not me.
"Hi, my name is Tome! I hope we can help each other around!"
That's her first word with a cheerful face, one that just happened a few hours ago.
From all I can feel from her, she's just like me—a Spirit.
And I—just can't bear myself to look at her. For her innocence—or what she's trying to masked on—was too hard to overlook.
She reminded me of my early days, when I still had faith in everyone, believing that I can be with everyone despite this power…
… Only for my fantasy to crumble to dust, all due to my curiosity.
Which makes me wonder, how can he, out of all people, seduce her to join him?
… What am I kidding, he probably speaks some beautiful fantasy into her mind, planting false hope on her all while recruiting her for their greater cause…
[!!!]
As I was still deciding on whether to ask her about this whole thing or not, my (gifted) phone suddenly rang.
I half-heartedly checked it, thinking it might be another appointment from them for a check-up l, but it turned out to be some unknown caller.
Huh, that's new.
"Who is this?"
[Long time no see, Honjo-san.]
All I can hear is a mono yet lacing tone, one holding none of the emotion or delay.
"Fu-kun…"
It was that thing.
To be honest, getting its call here is probably out of my Bingo card here… if I have one.
[Wasn't quite my name, but yes.]
"Let me guess, you hacked the line?
[Indeed, Honjo-san, as thoughtful as usual.]
A compliment… Great, I feel so good about that ~
Hmph…
"… Why did you call me?"
I asked it back with a hint of doubt, hoping to at least get something from its response (not that I actually think it would work).
[Just wanna check your situation.]
"… Huh?"
But it quickly gave its response, one without a hint of suspicion… and one that kinda startled me…
… Nope, didn't feel a thing from that.
[Can't I care for your well-being?]
I shut down the phone, threw it back on the bed, and retracted myself between my bare legs.
Caring for me? What a load of bull…
I know what it did, I know why it did, I know how it did…
And I knew that it was just trying to please me. All of it was all lies, one that wasn't even that convincing.
I just sit there in my so-called 'room', surrounded by none of my stuff and all by myself, while denying its obvious lies…
Reine POV:
Nothing.
No news. No rumors. No blog. No nothing.
As if it never existed.
I lean back on the chair, lifting my gaze up at the pure white ceiling.
This is my third time trying to look for anything about that thing.
Needless to say, another dead end.
Whatever it is, whoever is behind that thing they're cunning.
Too cunning for human standards, to be able to hide from everyone for this long.
Not even her can see through its nature that time. Not… entirely at least. And what she—we could see… irritated us.
Something that was that… unease, capable of matching the 'strongest' Wizard easily, and seemingly knew about our past… shouldn't exist.
It mustn't exist, not anymore. And I have to make sure of that.
But for now, I should lay low and watch, waiting for a single chance to strike…
[…!]
A single sound suddenly captured my attention. An almost silent, yet captive sound from beyond the window.
I take a glance at the outside, only to see the heavy clouds hanging above.
A heavy rain.
I watched the rain start to drop, feeling the droplets sound for a bit longer, before picking up the ringing phone.
Another mission begins.
Ryouko POV:
To say that day was a horrible day would be a lie.
No, it was far worse than just being "horrible". It was outright a nightmare.
It opens with the fact that Mather, the so-called "strongest Wizard of all time", suddenly disappears from the base, even leaving her big ass ship behind for some reason.
Not that concerns us a bit, as she's always been drowning us with complaints ever since she's here, and we're actually glad that she's gone, even just for the time being…
But then, out of nowhere… our worst nightmare arrives.
With the crazed gaze and overwhelming presence,
… And one that would explain her murderous streak all over the globe, as I understood later.
She even captured our members away for some god-know-why reasons, leaving us with only a few conscious girls and those that occupied the infirmary.
Third… and the worst one period… is the return of a certain Spirit, from little we can get from a few detectors that are still functioning, in the middle of the city and blowing up whole blocks from existence.
Worse yet, the whole thing was so sudden and immediate, even more so than the sirens in the city, that everyone was still outside when it struck…
… All the while we, those that could actually do something, were all being toyed by her.
Watching everyone, even those from the Mather ship, scramble to the city and the infirmary, I could do nothing but clench my fist all while lying on the bed.
A few days have passed since that nightmare, another day where we struggle to support the ruins of Tengu city with what's left of us all…
… Yet another day where I couldn't do more than lie uselessly on the bed—
"Tobiichi-senpai…?"
I whipped my head toward the surprise call, as Origami Tobichii, who's among the one captured by that monster, appeared right before us all with her usual stoic looks
… And yet, despite her miraculous return at this time, when everyone else is still misisng—my gaze are locked on the one on her back.
The one that she carries on her back, barely looks like a human being with all the blood and wounds on her body, is none other than the strongest of us.
Mather, who acted so prideful and arrogant before, now reduced to a mere bloody pulp…