"No interference between me and Shidou-san."
Kurumi's words come as she dons her crisp school uniform, holding the designated bag, looking every bit the refined young lady. Her allure—ten passersby would turn twenty times—is otherworldly, yet to the robed girl, she seems more aloof, resolute. Even the girl, who usually complies without hesitation, falters.
"…If you say so, Kurumi, I'll follow. But are you sure?"
"Oh? You, of all people, should know my power best, aside from myself."
Of course. Excluding an unseen exception, the threats are two sealed Spirits, negligible AST, and Mana Takamiya, who'd appear if Kurumi acts. The girl's concern isn't them—it's Shidou… and Kurumi herself.
"I know. I'm talking about you. You get it."
"Fufu, how odd. I'm as usual."
Kurumi twirls before the mirror, her skirt flaring, then stops, facing the girl with a bewitching smile.
"Leave handling the puppy to you, but I need no support. Even against a Spirit, that doesn't change."
"…Fine. As my queen wills."
"Thank you. I'm off."
Unfazed by the girl's sigh, Kurumi curtsies elegantly and leaves—for school, no jest.
Sighing again, the girl stares at the door until a shadow creeps behind her.
"—Kihi, kihihi. I looked thrilled, didn't I?"
A Kurumi in a maid outfit emerges from the inky shadow, distinct from the one who left. The girl would know regardless.
"Thrilled? Kurumi?"
"Oh, yes. I've never seen myself so excited. But… your feeling wasn't wrong, was it?"
"…Thrilled, huh."
The maid Kurumi's cackle ends her words. The girl murmurs, surprised she missed Kurumi's emotional shift—perhaps even Kurumi herself didn't notice. To the girl, Kurumi wears a mask, hiding something. The maid calls her thrilled, a contradiction to her stubbornness.
"…I don't know what Kurumi's planning, but I'll move my way."
"Kihihi… overprotective, aren't we?"
"Oh… g-good… morning…"
"Hey, good morning!"
Yoshino flinches at Tohka's vibrant reply but holds her ground.
It's early morning, a school day for Shidou and Tohka. Their greeting with Yoshino has purpose. Ratatosk aims for peaceful spatial quake resolution through dialogue, including aftercare. Per the commander, Spirits should gain social skills for happy lives, eventually moving to the Spirit-only apartment built overnight next to the Itsuka house. This morning greeting doubles as Tohka-Yoshino bonding practice.
Shidou smiles—less worry needed. The shy Yoshino, once reliant on Yoshinon, now speaks clearly (for her). Tohka's unbothered, so Yoshino's lingering unease should fade. Kotori's voice crackles through his earpiece.
"Hey, why're you quiet, Shidou? Yoshino's got something to say."
"Huh? Oh, what's up, Yoshino?"
Noticing her glances, Shidou approaches. She hesitates, then speaks.
"…Um… where's… Kurumi-san…?"
"—!"
A question Shidou could've answered easily before, but now he freezes, unable to respond.
"What about a Spirit deemed 'evil' by all, unstoppable, bound for hell's depths. The worst Spirit. What would you do, Itsuka Shidou?"
The robed girl's words haunt him. Yoshino's question is obvious, but those words lodge in his heart, silencing him.
No need to hesitate. Kurumi's not a Spirit… right? She'd appear in town, smiling as always, nodding happily when told Yoshino misses her—a kind girl.
So why can't he answer?
"Shidou… san…?"
"What's wrong, Shidou?"
He snaps back, seeing Yoshino's anxious face and Tohka peering worriedly. Lost in thought too long. Waving it off, he pats Yoshino's straw hat reassuringly.
"It's fine. I'll bring Kurumi next time. She'd love to see you!"
"…Y-Yes…!"
Yoshino's worry vanishes, her eyes sparkling. Shidou smiles—she's clearly attached to Kurumi, who stayed with her when Yoshinon was lost.
"Hmph… Shidou, who's this Kurumi?"
Tohka pouts, feeling left out or sensing something. Assuming the former, Shidou starts to explain—
"Fufu, Tohka-chan, Kurumi-chan's Shidou's girlf—"
"Waaaah!! F-Friend! Just a friend! I'll introduce you later, okay!?"
Yoshinon, silent till now, nearly spills a bombshell. Shidou scrambles between Tohka and Yoshino to clarify. He forgot their initial misunderstanding. Secretly, he doesn't mind the idea, but that's for no one else.
"…I see, a friend…"
"Yeah…"
Tohka seems convinced, though something lingers. Shidou can't elaborate beyond friend.
"Shidou, you didn't forget today's training, right? Mentioning Kurumi carelessly and making Tohka jealous—what's that about?"
"Why would Kurumi make Tohka jealous?"
Another training session: don't make Tohka jealous. Shidou's confused—why would a friend like Kurumi cause that? He scratches his cheek.
"Hopeless. Penalty one."
"Why!?"
Kotori sighs, dismissing his protest. Her brother's Spirit-charming knack is separate from her frustration.
"Hey, good morn—!"
"…"
"…Morning, Origami."
"Good morning, Shidou."
Close call—her pressure felt devouring. Shidou sweats in the morning classroom. Dodging Ratatosk's jealousy traps, he greets Origami, his left-seat neighbor, correcting himself mid-sentence, recalling their deal after the Yoshinon mission: equal name-calling, since he uses Tohka's. Her house was… eventful.
Origami nods, satisfied, but her gaze sharpens on Tohka behind him.
"Came to school together?"
"Uh… yeah."
"I see."
Her iron mask holds, but a new, terrifying pressure radiates. Tohka, about to sit on Shidou's right, locks eyes with Origami, their glares clashing.
"Something you need?"
"Nothing."
Like dragons and tigers, their auras clash, crushing Shidou between them. It's routine—he's half-accepting this normal. Tohka's friendly to all but Origami, who harbors deep hatred for Spirits after their past battles. Their rivalry partly stems from Shidou, though he's oblivious.
Their stare-down breaks as the homeroom bell rings. Shidou urges Tohka to sit, relieved.
Their clashes pain his stomach, but they're proof of peace. He hopes for days laughing with Tohka, Yoshino, and her—
"—Guess what, class! We've got a transfer student!"
"Huh?"
Teacher Tamae Okamine's (Tama-chan) words and the class's roaring Ooooh!? snap Shidou from his thoughts. A transfer student—rare and exciting. The class buzzes, but Shidou tilts his head. Tohka just transferred; another so soon feels off, like someone pulled strings—
"…No way."
Just coincidence. Reality's wild enough with Spirits—he shakes it off. At Tama-chan's call, the transfer student opens the door—
The classroom falls silent. Shidou alone lets out a faint sound, like their first meeting.
She's delicate. Beautiful. Chillingly enchanting.
All the same. Her beauty outshines everything, yet Shidou feels… more.
"—I'm Tokisaki Kurumi."
He knows. How could he not? Since meeting her, she's never left his thoughts.
Her silken black hair, crimson eyes that draw you in. But her smile—different from memory. Captivating, devilish. His thoughts halt as she continues.
"I'm a Spirit—"
—Shidou-san.
Her final words are silent, lips moving alone.
"…Why…"
The class's murmurs, Tohka's and Origami's shock—none reach him. He stares at her smile.
Spirit. Spirit. No mistake—she said it.
"What would you do, Itsuka Shidou?"
The robed girl's voice pounds in his head. Stop, stop, stop! It's like calling Kurumi the worst Spirit. Impossible, he denies fiercely. But the voice won't fade.
The mad clock begins to tick.