"So, she dropped the puppet during the AST attack?"
"Yeah, that's the gist."
"Got it. I'll send all available cameras to search."
"Thanks, Kotori."
Kurumi calmed a near-frantic Yoshinon, allowing Shidou to glean some details. Using the earpiece Ratatosk insisted he carry, he contacts Kotori on Fraxisnus. Glancing at Kurumi and Yoshinon nearby, he notes they've moved to a rain-sheltered spot. Kurumi holds Yoshinon's hand, soothing her. Shidou shudders, recalling Kurumi's fearless embrace of a volatile Spirit. Without her, things might've gone south. He's deeply grateful.
And that expression when she hugged Yoshinon—
"That Kurumi's impressive, calming a Spirit on the brink. More useful than you, Shidou?"
"Hey!"
"Kidding. But I'm shocked. What's your deal with her?"
"Well—"
He explained their chance meeting during the first silent manifestation, which earned Yoshinon's trust, but not their prior acquaintance. Kotori's teasing makes him hesitate.
Kurumi… what is she? A girl he met a month ago, where he recklessly vowed to help her, yet now he's relying on her. A bit ashamed as a guy, and—
"Just… a friend."
"Hmm. Sure, I'll let it slide."
"What's that mean?"
Kotori ignores his retort, continuing.
"Whatever. Keep talking with the Spirit and search on your end. Just waiting will make her anxious."
"Got it. Kurumi—"
"Not ideal, but we can't pull someone the Spirit trusts. She seems like a normal civilian. Get her to help with the search."
Tapping the earpiece, Shidou eyes the two. He hates involving clueless Kurumi, but Kotori's right—removing her would destabilize Yoshinon, already shaken without her puppet. Even Shidou sees that.
"Alright, sorry for the wait. I'll help find the puppet, Yoshinon."
"…!"
The girl, head down, clutching Kurumi's hand, looks up at Shidou's words, nodding.
"I'm… not Yoshinon. I'm Yoshino. Yoshinon's… my friend…"
"Yoshino…?"
Her faint voice names herself. Shidou repeats it; she nods.
"We must find your friend, Yoshino-san," Kurumi says, smiling.
Shidou turns, startled. Her words spur him too.
"I'll help however I can," Kurumi adds.
"Thanks, Kurumi. Let's go, Yoshino."
"T-Thank… you…"
Yoshino bows, her voice barely audible but clear. Shidou and Kurumi exchange nods. Spirit or not, neither can abandon a struggling child.
"Oh, take this. Might be wet, but better than nothing."
Shidou offers Yoshino his clear vinyl umbrella. She tilts her head, then grips it, marveling as raindrops bounce off, waving her free hand excitedly.
"…!"
"Glad you like it—?"
Rain stops hitting him. Looking up, a black umbrella shields him—Kurumi's.
"You'll get wet, Shidou-san. Use this."
"I'm fine. You'll get wet if I take it."
"No, I'm fine. Please, use it."
"No way, I can't let you—"
It's just rain, but seeing Yoshino—or Kurumi—soaked bothers him. A bit of male pride, too. He can't let Kurumi get wet for his sake.
"Shidou-san—"
"Kurumi—"
"…Um…"
A small voice interrupts their umbrella standoff. Yoshino, unable to watch, timidly offers her umbrella. Shidou realizes the irony.
"It's fine, Yoshino. We'll… share. No worries!"
A shared umbrella—a classic romantic trope.
"!"
Yoshino, surprised, nods and hurries off to find Yoshinon. Shidou sighs, then glances at Kurumi, heart racing at their closeness.
"Sorry, Kurumi. Only thing I could think of…"
"It's fine. Let's not lose Yoshino-san, Shidou-san."
"Right."
They continue the search, sharing the umbrella. Shidou prays his flushed face goes unnoticed, missing Kurumi's faintly red cheeks.
"Just friends, huh?"
Ignoring Kotori's smirking tone, Shidou focuses on finding Yoshinon.
A cute kyuu sound hits Shidou's ears two hours into the search. He exchanges looks with Kurumi—it's not her. So…
"Yoshino… hungry?"
"…!"
Yoshino blushes, shaking her head, but another loud stomach growl betrays her. She crouches, pulling her hood to hide, adorable. Shidou and Kurumi share a fond smile.
"Shall we rest, Shidou-san?"
"Yeah. Yoshino, let's take a break."
Eager to find Yoshinon, Yoshino shakes her head, but another growl reddens her face further. She looks down.
"No forcing it, Yoshino-san. If you collapse, Yoshinon will be upset," Kurumi says.
"Yeah. If you're down, we can't search. Don't push it."
Mentioning Yoshinon works. After a moment's hesitation, Yoshino nods reluctantly.
"Alright, then—"
Shidou pauses, hand on chin, thinking. He has his wallet for shopping, enough for three meals, but the quake-hit area has only closed shops.
"Hey, Kotori. Is my place okay for a break?"
He whispers into the earpiece, expecting Kotori's quick reply.
"Bold move, Shidou. No other options, so approved—but with Kurumi there, you sure?"
"?!"
He didn't forget, just focused on Yoshino. Resting at his place means inviting Kurumi too—after she declined last time. The hurdle's high. Kurumi watches silently, Yoshino tilts her head, and Kotori mustn't know. She'd tease him mercilessly, Spirit or not, shredding his dignity.
"Uh… my place okay for a break?"
Screw it. Feigning calm, he asks. Yoshino nods easily. Kurumi blinks, then laughs.
"You're still hung up on last time, Shidou-san."
"Ugh…"
"I trust you. I'll gladly join—special," she says, curtsying, finger to lips like before.
Flustered, Shidou scratches his cheek, her gesture disarming him. He's blushing more around her than not, he mocks himself.
"Last time, huh? Do tell, Shidou."
"Let's go, you two!"
Dodging Kotori's probe, he hurries them along. He'll face her grilling later, but for now, he escapes reality. Survival demands it, probably.
"Here, eat up. Let's find Yoshinon soon."
"Thank you… for mine too," Kurumi says.
"No big deal. Cooking for two or three's the same."
Shidou sets oyakodon bowls before Kurumi and Yoshino. At home, while Yoshino curiously looked around, he whipped up simple oyakodon with fridge ingredients. His above-average cooking skills made it quick.
"Let's eat."
Shidou sits, hands clasped. Kurumi follows, and Yoshino mimics, spooning a bite.
"…!"
Yoshino's eyes widen, banging the table, then gives a glowing thumbs-up. Shidou returns it, grinning. Kurumi, smiling at the scene, takes a bite—
"…!!"
My deliciousness made you cry.
A bizarre phrase hits Kurumi's mind. She's confident in cooking and underestimated Shidou's skills. But this—no amateur's work. The mastery in one bite, crafted in under ten minutes, overwhelms her senses. He's the real deal.
Yet, as a maiden, her pride won't yield.
"Shidou-san."
"What? Not to your taste?"
He panics, confident in his cooking but worried his common dish doesn't suit her refined palate.
Kurumi shakes her head, denying his concern.
"No, it's delicious. But—I won't lose."
"Uh… good luck?"
Lose at what? Shidou stays silent as Kurumi eats, deliciously but begrudgingly. Yoshino, meanwhile, devours her meal eagerly.