"s a.n.a.lysis Officer as well as Raizen High School"s physics teacher, Murasame Reine."——Nn, you"ve arrived, s.h.i.+n."
A nickname that has no relation to his name as usual (He got too lazy to correct her), Reine pointed at the seat beside her. She must want him to sit there.
After which Kotori sat down beside him as though trying to surround s.h.i.+dou. ......Having the same seating arrangement as two months ago when he cleared the galge training. It brought back some unwanted memories.
"......Well then, the thing you wanted me to see is?"
As s.h.i.+dou finished saying, Kotori showed the monitor placed on the table.
As Reine moved the mouse by her hand, the screen showed an image.
Beautiful girls of multi-colored hair appeared in sequence, on the top of the ill.u.s.tration, it showed the t.i.tle [Fall in Love•My•Little•s.h.i.+dou2~Love, is it scary~]"
"A sequel......!?"
"Aaah, wrong one. It"s this."
s.h.i.+dou"s body shook in shock, Reine once again manipulated the mouse. The image darkened.
"Ho, hold on a second! What was that just now!"
"You"ll grow bald if you harp on the small details, s.h.i.+dou."
Hafuuu, Kotori sighed as though it were an annoyance.
"Those were not minor details! Are we going to have another galge training!? It"s about time you——"
At this moment, s.h.i.+dou shut his mouth. The screen which had just darkened, showed another image.
——In a narrow alley, for some reason, Kurumi was facing a girl with a ponytail.
"Nn? This is......Mana?"
That"s right, the girls that were inside the image, were Kurumi and Mana.
"Yeah, this is yesterday"s image.——Look at the surroundings."
"Wha......?"
s.h.i.+dou frowned. In the corner of the plain-looking residential area, several humans wearing mechanical armor could be identified.
"AS......T?"
Squeezing out his voice while half stunned.
AST, Anti-Spirit Team. Superhumans who don mechanized armor, in order to destroy the dangerous creatures that view the world and humans as their enemies, Spirits. He could not be wrong after encountering them a couple of times prior.
In the image, s.h.i.+dou"s cla.s.smate Tob.i.+.c.hi Origami"s figure could be seen.
Also, each member was outfitted with heavily exaggerated weapons. Yes——just like when a Spirit materializes during a s.p.a.cequake.
"Nn. I don"t know why, but there was an AST response at the street yesterday. One of our crew members took a camera and proceeded to film the process——I got a shock after confirming it you know?"
"Wh, why would the AST......"
"There"s a high chance that it"s because of the presence of the Spirit."
Kotori said as though it didn"t concern her, s.h.i.+dou gulped hard.
"But now that you said it......a s.p.a.cequake didn"t occur right? The surrounding citizens did not evacuate, if the Spirit were to rampage——"
"......Well, they must have the confidence that they will kill it before it rampages then."
"......"
In regards to Reine"s words, s.h.i.+dou held his breath.
Right. But why standing over there, is the existence of the girl who claims to be the sister of s.h.i.+dou, Takamiya Mana.
"Wh, why is Mana?"
The next instant after s.h.i.+dou spoke. Mana"s figure glowed with a faint light, after which a white mechanical armor appeared all over her body.
"Wha......"
It was slightly different in shape from the other AST members, but without a doubt it was using a wiring suit.
As though responding to the opponent, Kurumi spread out her arms, at the same time the shadows at her feet crept up Kurumi"s body, forming a dress.
Decorations in her hair, her torso was wearing a bustier, equipped with a dress that had frills and lace. All of that were highlighted with black which reminded people of the dark night, as well as a red sheen just like blood.
And lastly, her hair was tied at an uneven length.
It was just like——the minute and hour hands of a clock.
"Astral, dress......"
s.h.i.+dou spoke while in a daze.
Astral dress. The Personal Territory that a Spirit possesses. A membrane of divine might which protects the Spirits.
Kurumi raised her right hand above her head. Following that, shadows once again crept up her body, enveloping her right hand.
At this moment, Kurumi"s body flew up high into the sky.
"Eh——?"
Unable to comprehend what just happened in the image, s.h.i.+dou let out a stupid sound.
However in the next instant, s.h.i.+dou understood.
The equipment on Mana"s shoulders let out a bright light, hitting Kurumi"s stomach.
——Kurumi"s body trembled.
But, why. Instead of saying it was due to fear from terror, it was more like she was letting out a giggle.
After that, she recovered herself after a few seconds.
Kurumi let out a surprise attack as though trying to counterattack, however, before that, Mana"s attack pierced through Kurumi"s body.
This time, inside the narrow alley, fresh blood was splattered.
After which, Mana"s blade of light, cut off Kurumi"s head who was lying on the ground motionless facing up.
Not even a chance to attack Mana was given.
Just like that Kurumi"s life was taken.
"Guh......"
He couldn"t help but turn his head while covering his mouth.
Because of the over realistic scene, the reality of it came after a while. After Mana had completed Kurumi"s dissection, s.h.i.+dou then realized that puking feeling at the back of his throat.
His teeth made *kachi kachi* sounds, even though it wasn"t cold, his body couldn"t help but tremble.
Having a human——strictly speaking they can"t be said to be human, but an existence with an appearance no different from that of a human, killed.
Although it was just an image, but having seen that spectacle. No one could blame s.h.i.+dou for reacting that way.
——Mana in the screen, turned around as though she had completed a mission. After dispelling the CR-Unit she was wearing, returning to her previous attire.
s.h.i.+dou frowned. He felt that there was something wrong.
There was no smell, nor feel, just looking at the scene made s.h.i.+dou feel that way, yet Mana who was the culprit of this incident, did not seem to feel anything from what she just did.
It is fine to feel guilt.
It is okay to be frustrated.
It is alright to despair.
Even so, she did not even feel a shred of accomplishment.
The brutal a.s.signment. To put it in a single sentence——That"s right, she has gotten used, to, it.
Repeating such an a.s.signment countless of times, just like that, Mana already did not care anymore.
"This, is......"
s.h.i.+dou voiced out, after forcing that disgusted feeling back down.
"......It"s just like how you saw it. Yesterday, Tokisaki Kurumi was killed by AST"s Takamiya Mana. It wasn"t from serious injuries nor drowning, just totally, perfectly, without any hesitation behind her actions, her existence was erased."
"But that, is——"
However, s.h.i.+dou did not manage to continue.
Because just now, he saw it with his own eyes. Kurumi was helplessly murdered——
At this moment, s.h.i.+dou"s shoulders trembled.
He had almost forgotten due to the shock from the videotape. There was clearly a contradiction in the video.
"But Kurumi, today she, went to school normally......"
As s.h.i.+dou spoke, Reine and Kotori crossed their arms at the same time.
"......That"s correct. We are clueless as well."
"After s.h.i.+dou mentioned Kurumi, I was still thinking that an illusion appeared."
Kotori shrugged her shoulders as though making a joke.
However s.h.i.+dou did not reply to her actions. Thinking furiously, he spoke.
"Under those kind of circ.u.mstances......she revived?"
s.h.i.+dou peeped at the image. At that moment, the AST members were starting to deal with Kurumi"s corpse and bloodstains.
Looking at Origami"s figure in the video, he finally understood what her reaction meant this morning.
Feeling shocked was natural. The girl who had been killed right in front of her eyes yesterday, has calmly reappeared today.
"What do we do huh.——At present there"s nothing we can do."
"Is that......so?"
The previous images still surfacing constantly in his brain, but his breathing and pulse have recovered more or less. s.h.i.+dou relaxed his tightly gripped fists on his knees, speaking as such.
At the same time, Kotori adjusted her posture.
"——But we still, have to do something."
Saying that she let go of her arms, using her right index finger to point at s.h.i.+dou.
"Since Kurumi is still alive, we must continue the battle. If I remember correctly, tomorrow is the opening anniversary of s.h.i.+dou"s school, am I right? By today, you must ask Kurumi out for a date. If you work hard and are lucky enough, you maybe able to seal off her power with just one try."
"......Ha?"
s.h.i.+dou squeezed out words from his throat with his eyes turning to dots.
"N, no, such a thing has already happened——"
"Shut up."
s.h.i.+dou"s protesting voice, was interrupted midway by Kotori.
"It is precisely because such a thing happened, you know. It"s just like I"ve said, Kurumi"s power is still unknown. It could possibly, require certain conditions for it to awaken, or, it is only limited to that miraculous situation——It is highly possible that the next time she gets murdered, she could be out for good."
"Uu......"
It was true. Kurumi is safe this time (even though it is weird to say it like this), but she might not be able to revive the next time.
"Like I said, we can"t do it if we don"t act soon. The fact that Kurumi is still here has been witnessed by Tob.i.+.c.hi Origami. Most likely the news has already been relayed to the AST.——Of course, Takamiya Mana as well."
"......Ss."
Hearing that name, s.h.i.+dou showed a sorrowful expression.
Remembering the scene just now. Even though they had just met yesterday, but that girl who introduced her self as his own sister, just like that emotionlessly, using experienced methods to murder Kurumi—was unthinkable.
"......Understood. I"ll give it a try."
Before Kurumi gets killed again.
Before Mana murders again.
"——Let Kurumi, fall in love."
Although he was carrying a heavy determination, but he felt disgusted for some reason.
After confirming that s.h.i.+dou left the cla.s.sroom from the corner of her eyes, Origami slowly stood up.
Although the fact that s.h.i.+dou did not eat lunch, leaving Yatogami Tohka behind is indeed a cause for concern——However, that aside, there is something that she must do right now.
Pa.s.sing by Tohka who dejectedly let down her shoulders, walking towards the target"s seat.
"——I have something to say."
And then, throwing a cold stare, speaking to the owner of the seat
"It"s......Origami-san right. Do you want something from me?"
"Come here."
Origami curtly responded, and walked out of the cla.s.sroom just like that.
Kurumi used her finger to support her chin and hesitated for a few seconds, but when Origami walked to the corridor, she hurriedly stood up with a panicked face.
"Pl, please hold on. What is it?"
"......"
Origami peeked behind her.
Her eyes showed the figure of a girl trying her best to chase after Origami, moving those slender limbs that looked as if they would break if they were b.u.mped. Truly, she was a cute girl that everyone would try to protect.
However, now that Origami knows her true ident.i.ty, she only felt displeasure.
Just like that, Origami did not slow down, hurrying towards the rooftop door.
Before, she had also brought s.h.i.+dou to that location. Normally unfrequented by people, it was a convenient place where one could talk without any intervention.
"Haa......,haa......"
Perhaps it was due to running up the stairs in one go, Kurumi"s shoulders heaved, her hand leaning on the handrail.
After tens of seconds later, when her breathing returned to normal, Kurumi voiced out.
"About that......Is anything the matter? I haven"t eaten lunch yet......"
Origami faced Kurumi, her expressions not changing as she replied.
"You, why are you still alive?"
"Eh......?"
"——You, should have been dead yesterday."
That"s right. Origami yesterday, definitely saw it.
Kurumi who had her four limbs cut off and head smashed by Mana, perfectly killed.
Although she understood Mana"s strength, but Ryoko still a.s.sembled Origami and the other AST members, to surround the Spirit in case Mana wasn"t able to capture it.
"......"
Kurumi"s eyebrow twitched.
A few seconds later, using her right eye that wasn"t covered, she observed Origami"s face.
"——Aah. aah, you. It"s you. You were definitely there with Mana-san yesterday."
"......!"
The instant Kurumi ended her sentence, Origami swiftly retreated from her original spot.
There was no reason behind her actions. Just that her brain felt that something was off, warning Origami to escape.
"Well! Well! That reaction wasn"t bad at all. Splendid. Truly splendid. However."
"——Ss!!"
Origami held her breath. Before she managed to retreat, something grabbed her ankle.
Upon a closer look, Kurumi"s shadow had expanded without her noticing——From there, two white arms extended out.
Furthermore, the shadow continued to slowly grow in surface area, climbing onto the walls.
And from there, countless arms grew, restraining Origami"s arms and head firmly from behind.
"Ku——"
Although she struggled, but those slender fingers did not let go of Origami"s body. Instead, the strength increased, pressing Origami against the wall.
"Kihihi, hihi, it"s no use. Even if you struggle it is useless."
Kurumi laughed.
Kurumi wore a twisted smile on her face that could not be imagined a few minutes ago, letting out a laugh that would only cause a deep chill when heard.
"I was in your care yesterday. Did you properly dispose of it? My body, that is."
Kurumi approached Origami as she scratched her hair. Suddenly, the left eye hidden behind the fringe was shown. Pure golden in colour. The pupil did not seem to be the shape of an organ, twelve digits and two hands. That"s right——That was, just like a clock.
"Wanting to know about me, and wanting to make solo contact with me, don"t you think you are being too careless? And you even took the trouble, to choose a location where people would rarely go to."
"......"
It was just as Kurumi said. In the end, was she mistaken by how it ended so quickly yesterday——Or, was she mistaken after seeing Kurumi attend school today. Anyway, Origami had miscalculated. Threatening a Spirit with such words, she was too careless.
"You——, what is your......motive?"
Even though her throat was being held, she still managed to make a sound. After which, the corner of Kurumi"s mouth lifted.
"Ufufu, I wanted to attend school, I guess I"m not lying if I said that, right? But, even though I said that, the biggest reason has to be——"
After pausing for a moment, Kurumi brought her face closer to a distance where Origami could feel her breath.
"——s.h.i.+dou-san, right."
"——!!"
Hearing s.h.i.+dou"s name, Origami couldn"t help but keep silent.
Seeing that reaction, Kurumi looked extremely happy, her smile widening even further.
"He is excellent you know. He is the best. He really——looks. very. delicious. you. know. Aah, Aah, I"m impatient. I can"t wait any longer. I want him. I want his power. In order to obtain him, in order to become one with him, I have arrived at this school."
——A tremor. Origami felt her back was drenched in cold sweat. She totally, did not realize that a Spirit would be targeting a single person——and furthermore that person is s.h.i.+dou, it was completely out of her calculations.
However. A question surfaced within Origami in that time.
The phrase that Kurumi mentioned just now. What exactly was [his power]——
"......"
This train of thought, was interrupted by Kurumi.
Kurumi"s hand started to move across Origami"s body.
"Origami-san. Tob.i.+.c.hi, Origami-san. You are also——extremely, great you know. How wonderful, you look so delicious. Aah, I can"t stand it. I can"t take it. I want to eat you up right now."
Cheeks reddening, breathing heavily, her left hand moved to the chest, while the right hand played with the skirt.
Saying that, she extended her tongue, leaving a trail of saliva on Origami"s face.
"Ku......"
"Aah, aah, but I can"t. I mustn"t. Even though this would be a waste, but I must save this enjoyment till the last part."
Kurumi exaggeratedly shook her head, leaving a kiss on Origami"s neck, stepping away from her body.
"You, I am going to leave until after s.h.i.+dou-san.——May you become, even more delicious."
With that said, Kurumi turned around, walking down the stairs.
After her figure disappeared, the arms binding Kurumi once again went back into the shadow.
"......Cough, guh."
Origami crouched onto the floor and started to cough.
The expanded shadow along the hallway, as though it was returning to its master, started to shrink in the direction of the corridor.
"s.h.i.+, dou——"
Although she doesn"t know why, but Kurumi she was, targeting s.h.i.+dou.
It"d be bad if she didn"t inform headquarters about it. No, no matter how you think about it, they would never believe that a Spirit would be targeting an individual.
——If Origami is unable to protect s.h.i.+dou this time.
Origami grit her teeth, tightly gripping her fist.
"......Muu."
Tohka sat on the chair and looked up to see the clock on top of the blackboard.
Lunch break was almost over.
Stomach letting out a *Gururu* sound. Not eating anything since breakfast, Tohka who is a big eater was already on the verge of collapsing from hunger.
However, she did not open her bento. Although s.h.i.+dou had told her to start eating......But Tohka felt that it would taste better if s.h.i.+dou ate with her, so she chose not to eat her bento.
"s.h.i.+dou......"
Students who were playing outside were already slowly making their way back into cla.s.s. Some impatient ones had already prepared for the next lesson.
However, there was still no sign of s.h.i.+dou to be seen.
"Uu......uu......"
Not knowing why, her eyes started to feel hot, and felt that it was getting difficult to breathe through her nose.
Slowly rubbing away her mucus, wiping her eyes. The sleeve of her uniform became damp. ——Just at this moment.
"——Aare? Did something happen Tohka-chan?"
"Why haven"t you eaten your lunch?"
"Cla.s.s is about to start already!"
The female trio entered the cla.s.sroom and spoke to Tohka, looks like they have eaten lunch outside.
They are girls who treat Tohka rather well. If she remembered correctly their names were Ai, Mai and Mii. Looks like they were so close because their names sounded similar.
"Uwaa! What"s the matter Tohka-chan! Don"t cry!"
"What what, who did this!?"
"I said the person who did this, step out!!"
The three people surrounded Tohka, speaking in harmony. The shoulders of the male cla.s.smates gave a violent tremor.
"No, it"s not like that! No one did anything!"
Tohka waved her hands hastily, explaining to the trio.
"Eh eh? Really?"
"Then, why?"
"Pollen allergy? Is it because of pollen allergy?"
Tohka shook her head, her eyes looking at the bento box by her hand.
"s.h.i.+dou, he"s, still not back yet. ......Also, thinking about how I haven"t been able to properly speak with s.h.i.+dou today, just like that, I don"t know why, I......"
Once she said it out, huge teardrops started falling from her eyes.
"Aaah! Tohka-chan! It"s alright to stop if you don"t feel happy!"
"But really now, I don"t get Itsuka-kun! How can he let such a cute girl cry!"
"Let"s chop off his head and feed it to the pigs!"
The trio shouted out in rage. Tohka once again stopped them in panic.
"No, it"s not s.h.i.+dou"s fault! It"s only, I......"
Tohka tried to rephrase her words with her limited vocabulary, first explaining that it wasn"t s.h.i.+dou"s fault, but the reason was that she had become too accustomed to having s.h.i.+dou by her side.
After hearing that, Ai, Mai and Mii all nodded their heads.
"So for Tohka-chan, as long as you can talk to Itsuka-kun, eat together with him and play together with him, you would be SUPER HAPPY right?"
Ai said. Tohka nodded her head.
"Guu, how innocent. This time it"d be useless even if Itsuka-kun kowtows a hundred times."
Saying that, Mai wiped imaginary tears away as though she were acting. Tohka"s eyes widened.
"Just as well, the bas.e.m.e.nt of my house has an iron maiden and a wooden horse[3B 3]."
Mii said with a serious expression, Tohka tilted her head.
The trio looked at Tohka, suddenly slapping their thighs with a "Yos.h.!.+"
"I"m giving it my all for Tohka-chan!"
Ai said that, taking out two pieces of paper from her pocket.
"Ah, Ai, that"s......!"
"Yes, tickets to the aquarium Tenguu Gojuusou......! Tomorrow"s the anniversary of our school"s opening right? Tohka-chan, take this, go there with Itsuka-kun tomorrow!"
"Ai! Then that means you and Kas.h.i.+wada-kun——"
Mai wanted to continue speaking, Ai extended her arm to stop her.
"Don"t say anymore! Tohka-chan will feel bad......"
As Ai said that, Mai and Mii grabbed Tohka"s shoulders with expressions of holding back their tears.
"Tohka-chan......! Please you must accept this......!"
"Ai! Please take it for Ai"s sake......"
"Nu, nuu......?"
Tohka felt that she couldn"t ruin the current atmosphere, after hesitating for a while, she innocently took the tickets from Ai. The very next instant, Ai collapsed.
"Tohka-chan......You and Itsuka-kun must reach......happiness......ah."
"Ah, Aiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
"Get a hold on yourself! The wound is still shallow!"
"......!?......!?"
Tohka not knowing what is going on, held the ticket and looked left and right.
It felt as though if she accepted it, she would be doing something wrong. Tohka returned the tickets to Ai"s hand with teary eyes.
"Fuooooo!"
Ai instantly revived.
"Ai!"
"It"s a miracle!"
"Wrong, wrong wrong."
Ai who suddenly calmed down, once again pa.s.sed the tickets to Tohka"s hands.
"You can"t return this Tohka-chan. Take this and go invite Itsuka-kun."
"In, invite?"
"Yes. Just say let"s go on a date tomorrow."
"......!"
With those words, Tohka"s eyes grew wider. A date, that is, referring to an activity where a boy and a girl go out and play.
——Ah, that"s wonderful.
After thinking deeply, it felt like she hasn"t gone out with s.h.i.+dou on a date recently. Having a date after so long. If it"s like that, it would be great.
However, there is still one problem.
"I, I have to invite......him?"
Tohka said while sweating in panic.
"Yeah. Just once, just once. Having the girl ask a guy once in a while isn"t that bad."
"B, but......What if I were to be rejected......"
Tohka looked uneasy as she said so. The trio shrugged their shoulders, sighing with a "Fuu".
"Ok ok. You can"t think about being rejected now, although if it fails we would still punish Itsuka-kun by parading him in public, but we are going to impart to you a secret move."
"Secret, secret move......?"
"Right. In short that means playing with a man"s l.u.s.t. If Tohka-chan were to employ such a move, you"d be able to obtain the power to control a country!"
"N, no, I don"t need such a thing......"
"Alright alright, first of all......"
Tohka listened to Ai talk about the secret move while nodding her head all the time.
When the last homeroom ended, s.h.i.+dou immediately rose from his seat, walking towards Kurumi"s direction.
At this moment, he could feel the coy gaze of Tohka at his right as well as Origami"s demonic, absolute zero stare on his left, he decided to ignore them as he continued moving forward.
"Kurumi, do you have a minute?"
Saying that, he pointed to the direction of the corridor, after which he walked out of the cla.s.sroom, Kurumi followed closely behind.
After walking to a location without people, he turned to face Kurumi.
"s.h.i.+dou-san, is something bothering you?"
"Aa, aaah. Sorry for being so sudden......Kurumi you, are you free tomorrow?"
"? Yes, I am."
"About that, if it"s possible, can I take you around the area for a walk......?"
"Eh? That"s......"
"We, well......To put it simply......that would be a date, I suppose."
Instantly, Kurumi"s expressions brightened.
"Really?"
"Ah, aah......Is that okay with you?"
"Of course. It would be my honor."
"Really, then......tomorrow at 10:30, I"ll meet you in front of the ticket station of Tenguu station."
"Yes, I"ll be waiting!"
Kurumi said with all smiles. s.h.i.+dou returned to the cla.s.sroom after raising his hand and said "Well then, see you tomorrow.".
At this moment, opening the cla.s.sroom door, he found Origami standing there.
"......Hyi......!?"
"——What did you say to her?"
Staring at s.h.i.+dou with a sharp gaze, her calm voice sounded out with no intonations.
"No, no, it"s nothing."
"Answer me. This is very——"
If I continue to be interrogated like this, I may leak it out by accident. After s.h.i.+dou made that self-judgment, he went past Origami, walking up to his desk and took his bag.
"I, I have to go first because of something! Tohka! Let"s go home!"
"Nu? Uu, umu!"
Saying that, he escaped before the interrogation. Tohka barely managed to react as she chased after s.h.i.+dou.
"Haa......Haa......"
Running a short while, after confirming that Origami could not catch up did he dare to slow down his footsteps.
"What"s with that all of a sudden, s.h.i.+dou!"
"N, no......In short that was, well......something like that, let"s go home first."
"Nn, umu......"
Tohka nodded her head still feeling confused.
Although he did feel surprised......Well, there"s no need to ask further. s.h.i.+dou entered the corridor, changed his shoes at the entrance and walked out of school.
On the way back.
"Ab, abababababababout that s.h.i.+dou......!"
Tohka who was always very fluent, voiced out looking slightly panicky.
"Nn? What"s the matter, Tohka?"
"Aa, aaah. About that......ah!"
At this point Tohka was flipping through her bag in search of something——For reasons unknown she furtively looked around , looking down while blus.h.i.+ng.
"Wh, what"s the matter? Did something happen?"
"It"s, its nothing......! Let"s hurry up and go home!"
Tohka looked around as she forcefully said, seemingly wanting s.h.i.+dou to lead the way as she slowly followed behind.
"What"s with her, that fellow......"
Despite feeling curious about Tohka"s peculiar actions, but they continued to keep it this way as they walked home.
Although he wasn"t sure why, but on the way back, Tohka still did not show her face.
Not long after, they finally reached the Itsuka residence and the apartment made for Spirits to live in.
"Ooh, then goodbye then. Are you eating dinner at my house tonight?"
At this point, s.h.i.+dou"s greeting with his hand raised as usual——was cut short midway.
The reason was simple, Tohka did not walk towards the apartment, but towards the Itsuka residence.
"Tohka? Aren"t you going to change your clothes first?"
"! It"s, it"s fine, hurry up and open the door already!"
"Haa......Well, whatever you say then."
She still had to go to the Itsuka house for dinner anyway. So there wasn"t any problem about coming early. s.h.i.+dou took out the key from his pocket, opening the door.
"I"m home."
Since the door was locked, it meant that Kotori still had yet to return home, but he said it out of reflex anyway. Taking off his shoes at the entrance and entering the house, just like that he walked to the living room, lightly stretching at the sofa after placing his bag down.
"Nn—......"
At this point, a *kacha* sound could be heard.
Looks like Tohka who had followed behind s.h.i.+dou had just locked the entrance. Tohka entered the living room with her head still lowered.
"Nn? It"s okay if its unlocked? After all Kotori is returning home soon too."
"......"
However Tohka did not make a reply, instead she put down her bag, reached her hand inside, taking out two ticket-like objects.
"s.h.i.+, s.h.i.+dou, if it"s okay with you......that."
After that, she suddenly raised her head as though she just remembered something.
"Th, that"s right, I must do it properly huh......"
"Properly......? Do what?"
Just as s.h.i.+dou was left in confusion, Tohka hastily ran towards the windows of the living room, pulling the thick curtains.
"Hey, hey, Tohka......?"
"Just a moment! Okay, start preparations!"
"Preparations......? Wh, what is......?"
However, Tohka still did not reply.
This time she took out a memo from her bag, placing it on the table.
Then, she placed her hands on her hips with a troubled expression, slowly rolling up her skirt. A technique girls often use to temporarily shorten their skirt. Tohka"s healthy thighs gradually showed themselves.
"Hey, hey, Tohka......?"
Unable to understand the reason for Tohka"s actions, s.h.i.+dou frowned while his face was dripping in sweat.
Next Tohka loosened the b.u.t.terfly knot on her uniform, unb.u.t.toning her s.h.i.+rt from the top. The second......the third......she actually undid four of them. From the gap between the s.h.i.+rt, Tohka"s white chest could be glimpsed, s.h.i.+dou couldn"t help but turn his eyes away.
"Wh, what are you doing Tohka!? If you wanted to change then you should do it in your own house——"
"s.h.i.+, s.h.i.+dou!"
Tohka interrupted s.h.i.+dou"s words, using her mouth to hold the tickets, going on all fours, making the pose of a female leopard. On a side note, her face was as red as a cooked tomato.
"Like, like this......!"
"Wh, whawhawhat are you doing......!? What in the world is this!?"
s.h.i.+dou spoke in confusion, Tohka looked regretful as she said "It, it doesn"t work......!", taking out the ticket from her mouth. ......Doesn"t work or not, he totally did not get a single clue of what she"s thinking.
However Tohka looked at the memo on the table once more,
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