"Huh?"
Shidou hadn't even processed what was happening before Tenqi Sanluo tossed him onto the stage, shoving the earpiece back into his ear in the process.
"Shidou! Are you okay?!"
"Ah… I-I think so…"
"No time to think—just pick option ②! Hurry, see if it works!"
Tenqi Sanluo's sudden appearance had completely disrupted everyone's rhythm, and with no better choice, Kotori could only let Shidou go up and try.
So, after clearing his throat, Shidou got up and began speaking.
"Ah, g-good evening… um, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Really, your singing was so beautiful—"
But as Shidou spoke, the girl before him visibly froze. Her smile stiffened right before his eyes.
Then, from the earpiece, a rapid beeping sounded.
"Th-this is…! Affection, mood, mental state… every value is dropping fast! What is going on?! Shidou, are you showing your lower half or something?! Or maybe you look way too pathetic right now?!"
"I—I'm not! And even if I was thrown up here, there's no way I look that bad—"
Even though he said that, Shidou still cautiously glanced downward.
Thankfully, nothing was wrong down there. So the problem must be something else.
"No choice—try the other option! Pick ①! Compliment her looks!"
"Uh, I-I think you're really pretty! It startled me!"
"Beep—beep—"
"Affection has dropped even further! She's basically reached the 'disgusted' level now!"
"What?!"
The panicked voices of the crew and Kotori filled Shidou's ears, infecting him with equal panic.
"Kotori, Kotori, what is—"
"I told you, Itsuka Shidou—no matter what you choose, it's useless."
Just then, Tenqi Sanluo's cold voice came from behind Shidou.
There was no need for the airship's crew to scan mood or emotional fluctuations. From the way Yuzuru Miku's expression changed the moment she saw Shidou's face, Sanluo could easily tell Shidou was doomed.
When Yuzuru Miku first glanced at Shidou's face, her expression had turned ugly. Though her face hardly changed, the disgust that flashed in her eyes was undeniable—despite them never having met before.
Sanluo didn't know the reason, but watching Shidou crash and burn made her genuinely delighted.
She didn't even have to lift a finger—Shidou would be forced to face his own incompetence. Nothing could be more satisfying.
"Tenqi… what do you mean by that?"
Miku opened her mouth as though to say something, but didn't continue. She instead looked past Shidou to Sanluo, her expression softening slightly.
"It doesn't mean anything. This guy followed the spacequake traces and ended up here. I thought it was interesting, so I followed him. Why? Miku, did I do something wrong?"
Sanluo acted casually, pretending she had no idea Miku found Shidou repulsive.
"No, it's nothing. I should have explained more clearly."
Miku shook her head, forcing a strained smile.
"Shidou! If nothing else works, try the last option!"
"Huh?! But…"
With the nonstop warning alarms, Shidou felt everything spiraling far beyond expectations.
"There's no other way! If Tenqi Sanluo hadn't talked to Diva earlier and calmed her a bit, her affection toward you would already be at 'cockroach level'!!"
"I didn't say anything weird though!!"
Shidou cried out in despair.
"What's wrong, Miku? Do you hate this guy?"
Pretending to be clueless, Sanluo quickly walked up onto the platform and stood beside Miku, staring at Shidou with malicious eyes. Shidou felt a chill run through him.
"…"
Miku remained silent. Her expression didn't change much, but her mood was clearly sinking further.
"Alright, Miku, I understand."
Just as Miku opened her mouth—possibly to act—Sanluo pulled a flintlock pistol from under her skirt and aimed it at Shidou's head.
"You want him dead, right?"
"!!!"
Staring into the dark muzzle, Shidou trembled violently, his heart skipping a beat.
The crew aboard the airship and commander Kotori instinctively held their breath.
Everyone knew what Tenqi Sanluo was.
And they all knew exactly how dangerous she was.
If she actually attacked, none of them could stop her.
"Oh my! I didn't expect Tenqi to carry a gun!"
Feeling the movement beside her, Miku turned and smiled gently at Sanluo—exactly as before.
"Miku, you didn't tell me you were a Spirit either. Compared to that, I think you've kept more secrets from me."
As Sanluo spoke, she casually thumbed the decorative hammer on the flintlock.
"Sorry—after I get rid of this guy, I'll make it up to you, okay?"
Miku said cheerfully, showing no fear about a "normal person" knowing her true identity.
"Of course, Miku."
The First Angel—Burning Immortal Flame—flowed into the barrel.
"Tenqi…"
"Itsuka Shidou, isn't this what you wanted?"
Before Shidou could finish speaking, Sanluo pulled the trigger.
"Bang—!"
"AAAAAHHH—!!"
A violent explosion rang out, and as the smoke cleared, the part of the stage hit by Sanluo was blown apart, flames burning fiercely around the missing chunk.
Miku exhaled in relief—until she noticed a hand gripping the broken edge.
Dangling from the edge by one hand was Shidou, miraculously alive.
In truth, Sanluo hadn't aimed at his head. She shot at his feet instead.
Even with the spirit-powered blast, Shidou would be injured—but that was fine. With her younger sister's flame spirit power inside him, his healing ability would keep him alive.
As expected, once the dust settled, his legs and feet, charred by the blast, were already regenerating under healing flames. His clothes couldn't be repaired, but thankfully the damage wasn't enough to leave him indecent.
"Tenqi…"
Even Shidou realized Sanluo had held back.
This attack was only a warning.
One look down told Shidou the stage was very high—falling would leave him shattered. He wouldn't die, but it would hurt terribly.
Miku slowly approached the dangling Shidou.
When she reached him, she smiled gently again—just as she had at Sanluo.
But—
"Hm? Why are you still hanging on? Why won't you fall? Why won't you just die?"
"Huh…?"
The mismatch between her expression and words left Shidou stunned.
"Um…"
"What right do you have to speak to me? Please shut your mouth. Oh, and don't make any sound. And don't spit while you talk. Actually, don't even breathe—don't you know your mere existence contaminates the air? Do you really not understand?"
"Wait, you—you're…"
Shidou was completely overwhelmed—emotionally and mentally.
"You really don't listen, do you? Could you disappear already? Do you know why I don't step on your hand to knock you off? Because I don't want my shoe soles touching trash like you. I don't even want my Tenqi getting involved with garbage like you, understand?"
"…Your Tenqi?"
Sanluo, originally ready to finish Shidou off, froze at that line.
"Hm? Was I wrong?"
Miku tilted her head innocently.