Tohka: Yes, I Still Haven't Appeared

If that day's date had been a brief but beautiful experience...

Woooooo—

Without warning, the Spacequake sirens blared all around.

It was 5:20 p.m.

Shiori walked into the shadows with a grave expression and was transported back aboard Ratatoskr's airship, Fraxinus.

"Be careful, Shiori. This Spirit isn't one you know. She might attack you." Kotori sat in the captain's chair, a fruit-flavored lollipop in her mouth and the corners of her lips turned up.

"...!"

"Your opponent is a Spirit. Failure means death." Kotori sounded serious, but she looked utterly at ease, with no sign of panic—as though Shiori's life had nothing to do with her.

She noticed the nervous look in Shiori's eyes.

"Don't worry." Kotori aimed her finished lollipop stick and mercilessly flicked it at Kanazuki, who was posing beside the screen as if about to make a speech.

"Ah! The commander's loving discipline!" Clutching his struck eye, Kanazuki slowly collapsed with an ecstatic expression.

Kotori did not even look at him. She continued without expression, though her voice carried an almost cruel certainty:

"If it's you, big sister, you can come right back to life even if you die!"

What does that mean, Kotori? Before Shiori could make sense of it, she was transported nearby.

Her school stood before her. Just hours ago, that morning, it had been a normal building where Shiori had attended class and taken notes as usual.

Now it was a collection of broken walls. Their cuts were so clean that the desks inside the classrooms were plainly visible.

Shiori was hardly the sort of student who would cheer at the sight of her school in ruins. A faint sadness spread through her, then faded.

Thanks to humanity's advances in Realizer technology, damage like this could be repaired in a day or two.

Meanwhile, Qian Huanyue had also made her move. Before the alarm sounded, she had bought a supply of soybean-flour bread and packed it on her back.

Dressed in everyday clothes, she looked like an ordinary student. She slipped around the crowds as the Seraph of Thousand Blades cleared a path for her, then leaped into space and warped away.

Setting out from different places, the two headed toward the same disaster zone.

Shiori had just found her footing among the shattered walls when she turned and met a familiar figure's eyes—

"Whoa!"

She nearly cried out.

Beside the tilted noticeboard of the mathematics building stood Qian Huanyue, a bulging backpack on her shoulders.

Before Shiori could make a sound, Qian Huanyue covered her mouth.

"Shh—" Qian Huanyue held a finger to her lips.

"Huanyue!" Shiori looked at her in delight, then scratched her cheek a little sheepishly.

"Why are you here, Mr. Shido?"

"I... well..." Shiori stammered and took half a step back.

Qian Huanyue narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. Her expression said Shiori had better explain herself.

A red alert flashed aboard Ratatoskr's Fraxinus! Kotori bit down on her lollipop.

"This is bad! Shiori, her affection for you has dropped a lot since that day!"

Shiori's heart clenched.

"What should I do, Kotori?"

"Tell her the truth, big sister."

"Huanyue, I..." Shiori took a deep breath. "I'm actually with Ratatoskr."

"Our organization wants to live peacefully with Spirits," Shiori continued, her voice growing steadier. "Through dialogue, we seal their Spiritual Power... so they can become part of society and live normal lives."

"..."

Qian Huanyue fell silent and lowered her head slightly, letting the shadow beneath her bangs hide her eyes. She was doing it on purpose.

That moment of silence sent Shiori into a panic.

"So you're finally telling me, Shido?"

Qian Huanyue raised her head. There was none of the disappointment or anger Shiori had expected in her eyes. Instead, her eyes curved with a gentle smile, and a soft smile touched her lips. She seemed bathed in a warm glow.

Let me help you, Shido Itsuka. Then I can accept Ratatoskr and Fraxinus looking after me without any worries.

I won't have to feel as though being cared for is a privilege reserved only for Spirits.

Shiori froze. That almost impossibly perfect understanding pricked at her heart like a fine needle, leaving a lingering ache.

She would rather have faced angry questions than such restrained, considerate kindness.

Would things be awkward between them from now on?

Seeing that Shiori seemed to have misunderstood something, Qian Huanyue narrowed her eyes and flicked her forehead in exasperation.

"Hmph." She puffed out her cheeks in feigned displeasure. "Do you really think I have such a terrible temper?"

"Sorry!!" Shiori apologized instantly, pressing her palms together so fast they nearly blurred. It looked as though she might drop to her knees and bow if Qian Huanyue did not answer.

Qian Huanyue finally burst out laughing at her flustered expression. She reached over and straightened Shiori's windblown collar.

"Let me help you."

"Huh!?" Shiori instinctively shrank back, the tips of her ears quickly turning red.

"Shiori, say yes," Kotori said through the earpiece. "She's a Spirit. Staying with her will improve your chances of protecting yourself."

Kotori had said Shiori could come back to life even if she died, and she knew the secret within her sister: Shiori had sealed Kotori's Spiritual Power inside herself, and it would automatically heal her fatal wounds.

But even knowing Shiori had that protection, Kotori would much rather her sister got hurt less. It would not spare her the pain.

"Come back safe..." Kotori added softly, watching the screen with worried eyes. "...Big sister."

In the ruins, Shiori seemed to sense something. She looked up at the sky. She could not see where Fraxinus was, but she gave a small nod toward the clouds.

"Okay." She turned to Qian Huanyue and finally smiled with relief. "Huanyue, let's go together."