"Oh? Back so soon? Alistair, I thought you said you'd be gone for a while," Chiaki said, opening the door.
"Things moved faster than expected." Alistair reached out, his hand sliding along her shoulder to her neck. He channeled his mana, forming a glowing brand on her skin.
"Come inside first! Don't just start groping me in the hallway," Chiaki huffed, her face turning pink as she swatted his hand away.
"I'm just giving you a protective charm. Your mind is always in the gutter," Alistair teased, stepping inside and closing the door.
"Protection? What kind of—wait. Is this... a superpower?" Chiaki touched her neck, her eyes widening as information flowed into her mind.
"It's magic," Alistair corrected, tapping her forehead with a finger. He bypassed her and headed upstairs to his room.
A moment later, Chiaki focused her mana. A spectral collar flickered into existence around her neck, with a faint chain extending toward Alistair's room.
"Protection?! This is a dog leash!" her face turned beet red. She had seen this kind of 'play' in certain manga, but she never expected to experience it in reality. Even though she knew it was just a conduit for energy, the psychological impact was undeniable.
Suddenly, a vision of Alistair yanking the chain, pulling her head back while he hammered her from behind, flashed through her mind. To her horror, she felt a jolt of excitement. He definitely designed it this way on purpose. What a pervert, she thought, though she didn't actually mind.
Inside his room, Alistair began planning his route. Chiaki is done. Next is... Yukiko? No, Liliana lives right next door. I'll check her place first.
He needed to prioritize those with zero combat ability. Kasumi and Rimu were at the top of the list. It was noon; Kasumi was likely at school, so he could catch her later. Rimu, the food blogger, was probably out at a cafe. He checked her social media; sure enough, she had posted a photo from a new dessert shop near Liliana's workplace.
Good. I can hit two birds with one stone.
But before leaving, Alistair stopped. Something in his room was resonating with his power—specifically, with his most reliable ability.
[THE WORLD]!
At his call, the tall, golden-armored figure manifested, floating silently beside him.
What is making my Stand react like this? Alistair searched his room. He knew no one had entered, so it had to be something he already owned. He scanned a box of 'junk' he had won from the gacha over the winter break. Most of it was useless—empty air or gag items.
He pulled out an old pocket watch.
The cover was engraved with a strange centaur-like figure. The top half was a man, the bottom half a horse, but the man's features were alien, almost divine.
"I don't remember this pattern being here before. Wait... there's text on the back."
Spiral Staircase Rhinoceros Beetle Desolation Row Fig Tart Rhinoceros Beetle Via Dolorosa Singularity Giotto Angel Hydrangea The Secret Emperor
A list of nonsensical words that Alistair vaguely recognized.
"This is... no way!" Alistair's eyes widened.
Tick—Tock—
He flipped the watch open. A single phrase was engraved in the center of the dial:
MADE IN HEAVEN!