Shido POV:
—Aaaaaand it can be that bad.
The place, according to the ticket on the map, wasn't that far off. In fact, the place's only a few meters from the stall, blending with other buildings in a relatively narrow alley.
"Hm…?"
Tome, for some reason, also tilted her head as she stared at the building with a puzzle look.
The building has some western castle look to it, I admit… but what's clearly wrong is at the bottom of the "Dreamland" sign…
"Rest (2 hours): 4000 yen. Stay: 8000 yen…"
… I checked the ticket, the sign and the bottom again, my dread slowly creeped in.
This place, without a doubt—IS A LOVE HOTEL!!!!!!
Why, in God name, can they think of such an indecent option for the date????!!!!!!!!!
After confirming what I see is the real deal, I immediately—drag Tome away from the damn place.
"E—eh?!"
"I took a wrong turn, Tome! Don't worry about it!"
Tome let out a surprising scream with my sudden actions, but I quickly assured her of my "mistake" and left the place behind.
Seriously—who the heck even approved this plan?!
Kotori POV:
"Phew… thank God…"
Collapsed on the commander chair, I slowly let out a relieving sigh.
After almost getting caught by the duo, I really need at least such a moment.
"Thanks for the delay, Reine."
"No problem, commander."
I waved my hand at Reine, as she nodded her head back in response.
"Everyone, report me the status."
After some few minutes to regain composure, I returned to the ongoing mission.
… I need this to succeed, no, I have to make this a success.
For if I fail this one, there shall be no salvation for them…
"Everything's still in progress, boss."
"Although…
As their concerning voice speak up, the screen show me the
—And it, somehow, shows that her mood is slowly decreasing!!
"… What?"
Panic slowly creeps in my heart, as I look back at the screen of the duo… and realize.
Shido is dragging Tome away from the hotel, and his rash in turn affects her mood.
"Shido… you idiot!!'
I let out an angry scream at the screen, knowing that he won't hear me whatsoever…
Shido POV:
"What do we… no, what do you plan to do next?"
As we finally got away from that building and slowed down the pace, Tome asked with a rather curious voice.
… Hm… Maybe I should try that? I've sometimes been there, but that's the only place I, uh, kinda knew.
"Well… I was thinking—"
"Please have one."
As I began to mention the place for her, someone suddenly appeared between us with a packet of pocket tissues.
I, still not comprehending what the heck was this, take it as Tome still stares at the packet in confusion.
"What… is this?"
"That's pocket tissue. You mainly use it to clean yourself."
"Huh…"
Nodding her head with my response, Tome reluctantly took the packet and thoroughly checked it all… when her brow suddenly narrowed down.
"This is… Shido, what is this?"
Tome shows me her packet back, and I narrow my eyes down following Tome's earlier action.
There's no information revolving the packet whatsoever, but a simple line.
[If you're happy… then hold hands.]
That—and the illustration of a couple holding hands. A weird packet, to say the least.
I then look at my own packet to check its back, and it's the same line with Tome's packet.
Suddenly, a television in an electronics store by our side suddenly broadcasts a weird show.
Among the voices from the show, I can hear a familiar voice—one I just heard hours ago…
Its content, albeit oddly, is all about how one should hold the other hand to increase affection.
… What the?
Seriously, how can anyone think of this plan?! Especially from a secret organization with top notch technology?!
Why??!!
How can Kotori even approve of this plan, since she's the one responsible for this whole Spirit thing?!
"Shido… what is that?"
Tome, watching the same thing as mine, asked with a hint of caution as her eyes narrowed dangerously.
… No idea what she's thinking right now, but I need to act fast!
"Well you see… that's a television, and what show on it is called a TV show."
"Tee…Vee?"
Tome mumbling the word back at me with a broken vocab, looking between me and the TV.
"Well… you can see it as something we use for entertainment."
"Entertaiment…"
Tome finally expressed an impressing yet curious look, finally settling on the talkshow—
—But her face quickly turned into a sour expression as the talkshow went on.
"… Was entertainment—supposed to be fun?"
As her question reached me, I looked back at the ongoing show—and facepalm.
In all seriousness… their execution is, well, dumb. And that's being generous.
… Now I really wish that they never found out about my date.
"But still… what did they mean by holding hands?"
Tome, still watching the show, murmurs with a hint of curiosity.
"Can you explain it to me, Shido?"
She then turned to me tilting her head and, combined with her beautiful violet eyes, became more childish than she already is.
"Well, it would be better to show you…"
I lend my hand toward Tome, as she just stares at my action with an analytic look.
"Your hand, please."
"Mu?"
Tome showed a conflicting look for a bit, before slowly resting her hand on mine.
… Soft.
Her hand… is so soft.
If I hadn't seen her holding the broadsword which almost cleaved me away… I doubt that her hand ever hold something heavier than a bouquet—
—Wait?! Why did I think of that?!
I shake away a mental image that slowly forms inside my head and turn to Tome, who's seemingly still baffled about this act.
"This is how we hold hands, and we keep this as we walk."
"Umu…"
Tome let out a weird sound as we, or I, slowly began to walk away with our hand intertwined into the busy crowd.
… Honestly, I gotta pay my respect to the
"Hm?"
As we're walking around, Tome suddenly moves her head up and acts real weird, as if she's—sniffing?
… Seriously? I mean, I know that she's a powerhouse, but was she this sensitive?
"Shido… what's that?"
"Eh?"
Tome pointed toward a shop by the sideline, with me shooting my gaze following her finger… toward a bakery. And as if to solidify her question, her stomach let out a growl…
… So she can feel hungry after all, good to know.
"So… want to check that out?"
Thanks for the, eh, training beforehand, I smoothly asked her without, well, directly addressing her problem. In response, Tome light lightened with a single nod, answering my question without utter a single word.
With a faint smile of her reactions, I led her through the crowd and opened the bakery door, letting the faint smell of freshly baked bread outside…
Tome POV:
Mhm ~ So good ~
This kinako thing is so awesome ~ Why didn't I know of this sooner?
… Well, better late than never.
"You… really like that, huh?"
Shido asked me with a rather curious voice, and I excitedly nodded to him.
"Of course!! This Kinako's truly a godsend!!!"
… Hm?
Godsend? Why did I know that? Heck, I don't even know half of what that word means…
Hmph…
"Wow… well, glad you like it."
In contrast to my confusion, Shido let out a warm smile with understanding.
… And yet, despite his happiness—or at least try to, I can sense something from him.
A faint sensation, buried deep inside his heart.
In fact… I sensed that from the beginning, when we met again at that "school".
Despite the same from when we first met… he's—different.
Almost unrecognizable, but I can somehow see through him.
Hm…
"Do you have any more places?"
I asked him with a curious smile, bury my own thoughts deep in my mind again.
Shido, in response, oddly falls deeply silent for a long while.
"Well… We could—"
"Hey! Let's visit the amusement arcade!"
As he's gonna say something back to me, someone else abruptly cuts his line.
"Yeah! It's been a long time since we visited it! Let's go!"
It's a group of people, donning the same clothes as Shido here as they chat eagerly while heading somewhere.
… Although for some reasons, the way they behave here is—weird?
"What do you think about the Tengu amusement arcade? Do you think that it's obsolete?"
Hm…?
I turn around to check who is speaking, seeing a duo standing nearby.
"Personally, I think we should keep it. Not that Tengu city has many places for dating, though…"
"Yeah… you have a point…"
"… Come on!"
And, for some reason, Shido facepalm with a rather intrigued manner.
Weird…
"Tome… wanna check out that amusement arcade?"
"… Yeah."
Seeing his, uh, "expressive" expression, I warily agree with his request.
"Great, let's go."
With that, Shido led me in the same direction as the earlier people—Hm?
Wait… if I remember correctly…
I took one last glance at the talking duo, and finally, albeit faintly, realized something.
… Weird.
With something in mind, I took one more kinako bread and followed right after Shido…
Shido POV:
… I have nothing to say about their method. Not anymore.
As we waited for the tickets, I shot my glance around the center—and sigh.
Albeit hard to see, I can clearly recognize—some at the
But still, to think they send this much just to help me with the date… then what's the point of putting me through that game??
What is she thinking about me, 10?!
… Whatever, I'm too tired for this.
"Here's the tickets. Have a nice day."
The employee smiles at us, who's definitely working at Ratatoskr, as she hands out the tickets.
I quickly take the tickets with grace, and then lead Tome inside.
… To be honest, I've never been in this place before. And I gotta be honest—this place looks lit.
Many arcade games end up with crowds standing, waiting to play, with the children running around between arcades. That, combined with the colorful lighting, make this place truly fit for youngsters to enjoy.
… Well, most.
I didn't find this attractive at all, to be honest. It is colorful, yes, but I just can't put my hand in how wrong it is…
Tome seems to share some similar thoughts as me, as she also seems a bit agitated with the surrounding despite her eagerness and curiosity of the place.
… Yep, wonder why Kotori thought this would wor—
Hm?
"Tome…?"
When I realized what just happened, Tome—already at a claw machine, staring at the plushies inside.
"… Do you want them?"
"Umu ~"
Tome let out a cute sound as she nodded her head, her eyes still on the plushies inside.
"Stand back, Tome. I'll try to get you one."
I step forward, put the coin in the claw machine and begin the mission to get those things for her…
… And immediately fail to grab one.
Somehow, despite the fact that I have it in the bag, it slipped away at the last minute!!
I inserted another ticket in, another failure.
Another insert, still fails.
I have no idea how much passed, how many tickets I inserted in this damn machine, how many tries I've been through… there's only a single result.
Fail, fail and fail…!
Seriously, am I gambling right now or what?! How can this machine feel more unfair than an actual slot machine?!
But after all that failure, after all that tried… I finally did it.
I—finally get a plush from that failure of an arcade!!
"Here you go, Tome!!"
With a satisfied smile, I turn back to Tome holding a… well… bread-thingy plush?
Tome slowly take the plush, her finger fiddle on the bread thing a bit—
"… Thank you, Shido."
—Before looking at me with her beautiful violet eyes, along with a soft smile.
At that moment, I felt a weird sensation burning at my cheek and quickly turned away.
"I-It's nothing, you're welcome!!"
I respond with a rather clumsy voice, but that's all I can say with my current situation.
And for that reason, I couldn't see her innocent expression—or a certain person standing afar…
Kotori POV:
"Fu—hahahaha!!!"
I let out a wild rant of mere laughing, unable to contain my excitement with the whole situation.
Who knew that my dear nii-san could be that lovestruck… How cute…
And to think the plan, as imperfect as it is, worked… Heh…
Oh well, it looks like I can plan to save others with this one…
"Haha…"
My laughter slowly came to a halt—as my heart quenched.
Not out of pain… but out of waryness.
…
"Reine, check the
"It's all stable, commander, and is steadily increasing."
Reine quickly informed me of her current status, as my brow narrowed further.
Everything's fine… but the feeling is still there…
Have I—forgot something?
… Hmph.
Shido POV:
Well, that, uh, a decent date, to say the least.
I mean, I at least make her smile… yeah…
"Uma!"
Tome, with her mouth full of fools, let out a cute yet satisfying groan, while I just wandered in my mind.
After that claw game, we did try out some other games… well, kinda.
All the games she had her hand on, as she pleaded for a try, resulted in total disaster.
… And that being lightly, all things considered.
She just casually destroys the boxing arcade with a casual swing. Same with the basketball, with a big hole tear through the arcade.
And by the time I realized… all the physical arcade games are all… well, let's just say that they're not fine…
Well… at least Tome has some more plush from the gacha machine.
This is one of the times I am glad to have Ratatoskr at my back. I don't know how I can repay the 2 obviously expensive arcades…
… I hope Kotori won't land a Rider Kick on me after all this…
Wait, will she?
"~ !"
As we returned the tickets back at the counter, I heard a weird rumbling sound, one that shook the whole place up—one that casually came straight out from Tome stomach.
Yeah, ain't asking what, how, or any questions remotely related to that.
"You're hungry?"
I asked Tome for confirmation, and she slowly nodded in contempt… with her cheek faintly reddened for some reason.
… I mean, she did look even more glorious at this state, but I definitely can't say that outloud. I've experienced enough with Kotori to learn how to keep my mouth shut.
"You should visit the new restaurant."
"Hm?"
I look back at the employee, feigning surprise, as she pointed to a direction—which is definitely Kotori's next plan for my date.
"I heard that their food's good. You should pay them a visit."
"… I see, thank you."
"You're welcome."
With her not-so-subtle-hint, I follow her direction to this Italian theme restaurant. We quickly settle in the empty place, with Tome quickly scanning the menu.
Wait, I never questioned this before but—did she know Japanese?
"Shido, what is this picture here?"
… And she answered that for me.
"Which one do you want?"
"Fumu…"
After a bit of looking through the menu, with me being her consultant, she finally decided on the order—which is all of them.
I tried to decide for her on this, thinking that she couldn't possibly have all of them. But as I turned to the waiters to clarify the whole thing—they've already gone.
I tried to call for them. No response… So all I can do is wait, with guilt building inside.
After an hour of waiting, with me explaining more about this world to Tome, the order finally came.
And oh boy, calling it a feast is quite an understatement.
They basically did make the whole menu for Tome, in less time than I thought it should take. They're so much in fact, that I need 3 tables to barely place them on.
But, the most shocking part was, I have a strong feeling that she could… scratch that, I believe she can eat them all in less time than it took to make them.
So, while she was proving my point, I was just sitting here drinking a cup of orange juice. Seeing her eating like this already makes me feel full.
So on to the next location… Should I pick the aquarium, or the cinema…
Gosh, what a headache ~
"Shin."
Hearing a faint voice calling for my nickname, I discreetly turn around to see Reine, donning a short dress with puffy trim, standing by the counter.
Looking back at Tome and making sure that she's still indulging in the food, I silently approach Reine.
"After this, arrive here…"
She quickly informed me of a place, one that quite caught me off-guard… but it could work.
But as I tried to nod back at Reine, I saw that she didn't look at me anymore, but instead—at my side?
"Shido…"
I froze hearing the call. It sounds all too familiar.
In fact, that voice—it's been with me the whole date.
I turned to my side, and saw Tome standing there looking between us.
I quickly turn toward the table, where the cleaned dishes lie. No stain, no crumb, only cleaned plate.
… Yeah, I should stop being surprised with this from now on.
"Hi, um, Reine."
Said Tome, as she greeted Reine for a second time today, albeit awkwardly.
"Hello, Tome-san."
Said Reien, as she greeted a confusing Tome with a nonchalant face… while I over here silent sweating bullet.
I hope she didn't hear that… or else I—have to lie again…
"Um… why are you… here?"
"It's simple, I work here."
Tome, without hesitation, immediately stated her question with Reine. And in response, Reien just simply answers her with her usual sleepy attitude.
"Work…?"
Tome, seemingly didn't seem to understand that word, expressing a comically confusing expression.
"It's something we are obliged to do, in short."
"Is that so…"
Tome, although still acting hesitant with Reine words, didn't push it further… although her eyes, for some reason, still linger between us.
"… May I ask you this, Reine?"
"You can."
Tome, weirdly enough, took a small breath in… before letting out a piercing look at Reine.
"Are you… Shido mom?"
… What?
Reine, same as me, was stunned with Tome hesitant yet serious question, her eyes gleaming with determination while she—didn't show much, as usual.
At that same moment, my mind started to run wild with countless questions… all leading to the same question.
Why?
??? POV:
No way… Did my eye deceive me?
But if it isn't, if what I saw is indeed real, then—it's really her?!
Why is she here—scrap that, how is she here?
Wait… Can't it be?
Was she—feigning her Lost status?
Was she not actually Lost'ed, but just merely hiding in plain sight—
—Awaiting to snipe us, the humans, down?!
No! Question for later!
I can't let this go unnoticed! I need to inform them, ASAP!!!
"Hello! Yeah, this is—!! I want to report something urgent…!!!"