It had been resolved so easily. Even someone as tough as me had taken quite a hit this time."
Touko Aozaki gazed deeply at Shirou and spoke calmly.
"By the way, Ritsuka. This is a little sudden, but could you run an errand for me? Go to the shopping district and buy a kilogram of beef."
"That's so sudden! Why do I have to do something like that?"
Touko Aozaki winked at her through her glasses. "This is part of the preparations for conquering the city. Please, Ritsuka."
"Don't you two start fighting while I'm gone!!!!"
After shouting that toward the two people inside, Shuze Ritsuka disappeared through the entrance.
Once the apartment's owner had been sent away, only Shirou and Touko remained in the cramped room.
"Shirou... My name is Shirou Amamiya."
Touko Aozaki laughed at the boy's proactive introduction.
There was no mockery in her gentle laughter. Instead, it carried a warmth that felt almost enveloping.
"You're quite serious, Shirou... Mm, I like people like you."
She narrowed her eyes and continued, "In that case, I'll introduce myself properly as well. Nice to meet you. I'm Touko Aozaki."
Ever since the night in the forest a few days ago, Touko Aozaki had taken notice of Shirou Amamiya's existence.
A mysterious boy who had appeared in Misaki City without warning, as if summoned by some stage mechanism.
His strength was unfathomably deep, and all of his actions so far seemed to point toward a single purpose: protecting Aoko.
Just who was this child?
Why had he appeared at precisely this time...?
That this boy would help her younger sister defeat her was the reaction Touko Aozaki ought to have had.
In fact, that was what she had thought until yesterday.
However, after meeting Shirou in person today, she had