Above Tengu City, where the spacequake had torn open the sky, a stealth-cloaked airship hovered—its command deck buzzing with tension.
On the main screen, the cameras tracked a blue-haired youth sprinting toward the edge of a smoking crater.
Kotori Itsuka swung her legs from the command chair, her Gothic Lolita ensemble—red and white with a black ribbon—offset by the lollipop perched between her lips. "Reine, status report! How's the Princess holding up?"
Reine Murasame, calm as ever, her long silver hair framing her serene blue eyes, replied without missing a beat. "Extremely unstable. She could lose control at any moment."
Kotori bit down on her lollipop, then turned to the golden-haired Kannazuki. "All hands on alert. The real show's about to start!"
"Roger, Commander."
"Wait—Commander! There's another male showing up near the Princess!"
A voice crackled through the comms, urgent.
Kotori's eyes widened. "Who? Patch him through—now!"
The screen flickered. Suddenly, a new figure appeared—standing motionless in midair between Itsuka Shido and Yatogami Tohka.
Shuo Nangong.
His arrival startled Shido, who stared at him with nervous suspicion. Shuo, for his part, gave Shido a once-over, brows knitting in confusion.
Why did Shido look so delicate? And why was he wearing a girl's uniform? Was he… cross-dressing?
Before Shuo could ask, a voice drifted up from the depths of the crater—cool, exhausted, unmistakably feminine.
"You… you're here to kill me too?"
Both Shuo and Shido turned, instinctively drawn to the source.
She stood poised on the armrest of a crystalline throne, violet armor flowing around her like a royal gown. The seams and skirt shimmered with ethereal light, a purple butterfly crystal adorning her midnight hair. Her eyes—pure, flawless, and heartbreakingly lonely—locked onto Shuo's.
In that instant, he saw it all: the pain, the isolation, the desperate need for connection.
He wanted to protect her.
"The First Spirit… Princess," Shuo whispered.
But Tohka, seeing Shuo ignore her, moved with regal grace—gripping the sword hilt protruding from the throne and drawing it free.
A massive, ornate blade, gleaming with dreamlike light.
She raised it high, unleashing a violet slash that screamed past Shuo's ear, gouging a hundred-meter trench into the earth. Buildings, roads, trees—everything in its path was obliterated.
Shuo didn't flinch. He just smiled, eyes twinkling with admiration.
Shido wasn't so lucky. The collapsing rubble threatened to bury him alive.
Shuo blurred forward, catching Shido in his arms and whisking him to safety.
He figured Kotori would have backup plans if Shido got hurt, but it never hurt to earn goodwill.
But then—holding Shido—Shuo realized something was off.
Shido's body was too soft, too delicate. And… was that perfume?
"Mm…" Shido—no, the girl in Shuo's arms—let out a shy gasp, cheeks tinged pink.
Shuo froze.
"A… girl?"
"This Itsuka Shido is actually a girl?!"
"Wait… Shiori?"
Holy crap—Shido had become Shiori!
Before Shuo could process the shock, Tohka strode over, sword raised, eyes wary.
"Who are you? Are you here to kill me too?"
Her speed was unreal—she'd barely registered Shuo's movement, and now he was an unknown threat.
Tohka's words snapped Shuo out of his daze. He shrugged, flashing a disarming grin.
"Why would I want to kill you, Foolish Princess?"
With a single step, Shuo was suddenly right in front of her, admiring the legendary "foodie princess" up close.
He lifted his hand, gesturing at her enormous sword.
"Come on, Princess. Put away that toy. It won't even scratch me."
Tohka puffed her cheeks in indignation. "I am NOT a fool!"
She swung her blade again, aiming to cut down this infuriating human.
Steel rang out—two massive swords clashed, sparks flying.
Tohka stared, stunned. Shuo was now dressed in a Spirit's Astral Dress, his armor a shimmering blue, wielding a blade identical to her own Sandalphon.
Her eyes widened. "You… you're dressed just like me. Are you a Spirit too?!"
Shuo couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Thank you, system—matching Astral Dress for the win.
He smiled, voice gentle but teasing. "Looks like this Foolish Princess needs a little lesson."
He placed his left hand on her Sandalphon, and with a flicker of intent, the sword vanished—confiscated in an instant.
Tohka blinked, suddenly empty-handed.
"My Angel… Where did it go? You—human! Give it back!"
Her voice was a mix of fury and panic, eyes locked on Shuo.
Before he could answer, a hail of missiles streaked down from the sky, targeting both Shuo and the Spirit Princess.
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