This Is Unbearable

"Huanyue!" Tohka called out in surprise when she saw her.

"Tohka!" Huanyue walked over with a grin.

This was, of course, a Spacequake shelter.

"Wow, Tohka, who is this?" Ai leaned forward curiously, examining the silver-haired girl with the unique aura before her.

"This is incredible," Mai said, putting down her phone and moving closer as well. "To think we'd get to see another super cute girl with such a different style from Tohka's."

"This is unbearable." Mii adjusted her glasses. Though her tone was helpless, her eyes were clearly filled with curiosity.

Qian Huanyue's purple eyes lit up. Weren't these the Ai, Mai, and Mii trio?

The three who had made the world's greatest mage, Ellen Mira Mathers, suffer.

Thinking of DEM's world's greatest mage being toyed with until she was utterly disheveled by these three girls—

Qian Huanyue was in such a good mood that her voice became several degrees sweeter.

"I'm Qian Huanyue, Tohka's friend~" She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair swaying gently with the motion. "Nice to meet you all~"

Her overwhelmingly adorable reaction stunned all three girls for a moment.

Ai was the first to recover. "So, is Huanyue also a transfer student? Like Tohka?"

"Not at all." Qian Huanyue shook her head.

Mii pushed up her glasses thoughtfully. "Qian Huanyue... What an interesting name."

"It really is." Mai nodded in agreement, then looked at Mii as if she had discovered a new continent. "Huh? Mii didn't say 'this is unbearable' this time?"

"Of course there are times when I don't say that!" Mii coughed lightly and turned her face away. "It's not like I say it every time!"

"Aww~ Mii is embarrassed."

"Wow! Let me see! Ah! It's true! Though that makes sense—Huanyue-chan is so charming that even I, as a woman, nearly lost my head. If I were a man, I'd definitely be unable to stop myself from pursuing her."

"Ah? Haha... is that so?" They were really energetic. Qian Huanyue gave an awkward laugh.

"Shut up! This is unbearable!"

Though Tohka had also been infected by the relaxed atmosphere and wore a smile, her gaze kept drifting toward the shelter entrance, worry showing on her face—Shiori was not in the shelter.

Qian Huanyue gently slipped out of the trio's encirclement, moved close to Tohka, and asked in a low voice, "Are you worried about Shiori?"

After all, Tohka had never been able to hide what she was thinking.

"Yeah..." Tohka nodded honestly. "I'm a little worried she might be in danger. After what happened last time..." Tohka still vividly remembered how Shiori had nearly been shot by a sniper last time.

"Then don't worry. She'll be fine."

Tohka seemed to feel a trace of unease, but after being reassured, her furrowed brows relaxed.

"Mmm."

Qian Huanyue rubbed her hair. She felt that if she did not do this, Tohka would rush out in a panic. "Don't worry, little Tohka. I'm here, after all."

"Their relationship is unbelievably close."

"Ah~ I'm so jealous. I want someone to pat my head too."

"This is unbearable."

Shiori was indeed fine, and she was even getting along quite well with Yoshinon.

Yoshinon had a very low threshold for laughter. Even tiny, insignificant things made her burst into laughter, making the conversation much more relaxed.

AST had already received authorization to attack the building, and artillery fire began spreading through the surrounding area.

"...!" Yoshino's expression became gloomy again. She looked like a frightened little rabbit and instinctively wanted to unleash her Spiritual Power.

"Oh dear, how tactless~ Those bad people outside are going to bully Yoshino again, Shiori-nee."

Remembering what Qian Huanyue had once said and considering Shiori's safety—

Kotori made a swift decision.

"Shiori," Kotori's voice came through the earpiece, calm and decisive. "Talk to Hermit in a moment. After that, we'll use Fraxinus's power and the teleportation device to move you somewhere else."

Shiori immediately understood.

She moved closer to Yoshino and met her eyes. "Yoshino, please trust me. Will you let me take you somewhere safe?"

Yoshino looked timidly at Shiori, then at the artillery fire drawing ever closer outside the window, before lightly nodding.

"...Mm, I trust you... Shiori-nee..."

Fraxinus's teleportation device activated immediately, transporting the two of them to Itsuka House.

Yoshino felt her vision shift in an instant, and an unfamiliar place appeared before her.

But the sound of artillery fire was gone.

"Huh? How amazing. Could Shiori-nee be a Spirit like Yoshino too? How interesting~" After confirming that they were safe again, Yoshinon burst into laughter once more.

"I'm not a Spirit." Shiori scratched her cheek, then said seriously, "Would you like to live a normal life, Yoshino?"

"You wouldn't have to be chased, you wouldn't be hurt, and you could live without fear..."

Shiori held out her hand.

"If you want that, take my hand. I'll save you!"

"...!"

Yoshino's eyes widened.

"Oh my~" Yoshinon said in a rare serious tone. "Is what Shiori-nee said true? Can Yoshino really live that kind of life?"

"Yes! You can!" Shiori promised. "As long as I seal Yoshino's Spiritual Power..."

"Oh?" Yoshinon's voice suddenly turned serious. "But how can Shiori-nee guarantee that Yoshino won't be harmed after losing her Spiritual Power?"

Though the puppet had no expression, her voice carried obvious concern. "What if innocent Yoshino is being deceived, and this is actually a trap?"

Yoshinon's expressionless puppet face somehow looked rather gloomy.

Shiori's heart skipped a beat!

Was she being too hasty?

Kotori gave an especially reliable reminder through the earpiece.

"Shiori, if she hasn't developed dependence or affection and her resistance is too strong, the sealing won't work. Tell her that."

"Oh! Okay, Kotori." Shiori took a deep breath, looked at Yoshino again, and lowered her head in apology. "Sorry, Yoshino. I was a little too hasty."

"Actually, if Yoshino can't accept it, then the sealing can't be done. Every choice and decision is up to Yoshino herself," Shiori said, doing her best to keep her words from sounding too blunt.

"So... can you trust me?"

Yoshinon's tone became much lighter. "That sounds much more reliable~ Yoshino, what do you think?"

"I... am willing to trust Shiori-nee."