Hii Hibiki: No, no, no!

Mio Takamiya—or rather, Phantom was the more fitting name for her at the moment.

After all, she was not yet whole. Her other half, Reine Murasame, was still aboard Ratatoskr's Fraxinus and had not merged with her. She could not yet be called the complete Mio Takamiya.

Resting her chin lightly on her hand, her figure shrouded in a blurry mosaic glow, she quietly recalled the Spirit who had arrived in this world without her involvement.

She had examined the lingering traces of the girl's Spiritual Power time and again. She was unquestionably a true Spirit—not one Mio had created, nor a Spirit Crystal from her own body that had suddenly gained consciousness.

She was a Spirit formed by a Spirit Formula from another world, a being from beyond this one.

Magicians in that world had used an ability similar to this world's Spirit Formula, gathering the natural magical power within the earth's surface into a single point to give birth to her—an Otherworldly Spirit.

In that sense, she was a being much like Mio Takamiya.

As for why she had arrived in this world, Mio Takamiya had an idea. Was it not obvious? The girl was clearly weaker than she was.

That world's Spirit Formula was incomplete and had sent her here by mistake. Part of her Spirit Particles had been returned to that world, leaving certain aspects of her exceptionally weak.

As an Origin, she was incomplete.

But that did not mean she was harmless.

So the plan to have Shiori play "Shido" really would not work after all.

Little Shido was not male, either... A Spirit like the one associated with the ninth sephira was a rare exception. Forcibly brainwashing the Spirits and changing their subconscious minds might have serious drawbacks.

Mio Takamiya had no choice but to adjust the conditions for sealing them slightly. Fortunately, the seals were proceeding as they should.

There was one surprising thing.

Qian Huanyue seemed to like Little Shido, too. Her affection had already reached the minimum needed for her to be sealed.

But Little Shido did not have the ability to seal her completely.

Mio could say without exaggeration that the amount of Spiritual Power she possessed was second only to her own.

The amount Little Shido could seal might, from Huanyue's perspective, feel like no more than a drop in the ocean.

Qian Huanyue's control over her Angel was as immature as Mio's had been when she was first born.

Mio Takamiya's thoughts drifted back to the distant past.

If I'd mastered my Spiritual Power and my Angel back then... If I hadn't been so naive and softhearted...

Maybe my dearest Shinji... wouldn't have died...

As she remembered, a smile both cruel and sorrowful crossed Mio Takamiya's face.

There was no turning back for her now.

Ever since Huanyue's arrival, Mio had watched everything in the guise of Phantom.

She knew full well that Qian Huanyue had never truly unleashed her power—and that was undoubtedly a good thing.

After all, this was the world Shinji had loved. If Mio was ever forced to use her Angel to stop Huanyue...

But it seemed that would not be necessary now.

Thank goodness, Mio thought.

Huanyue's emotions seemed remarkably stable. Her heart was a little too soft, but—

To Mio, that was the best "virtue" she could have.

Perhaps a sudden, fatal blow would work?

Then Mio would not have to use her third Angel, the Angel of Nothingness, to erase Huanyue from existence.

So...

Thank goodness.

At that thought, Mio's eyes softened, and she gave a small smile of relief.

Qian Huanyue would not interfere with her plan. She might even become an ally.

Mio no longer needed to consider how to kill this Otherworldly Spirit. Besides, if her plan ultimately failed, perhaps being brought to an end by Huanyue would not be such a bad outcome.

So thought Mio Takamiya, whose many attempts to take her own life had failed.

"Achoo!" Qian Huanyue took the handkerchief Kurumi offered and wiped her nose.

"A cold?" Hii Hibiki could not help wondering.

"No, no, I don't have one." Qian Huanyue shook her head. "I just feel like someone with bad intentions was talking about me behind my back, or something."

"That sort of thing only happens on TV."

"Maybe your performance outfit is a little too breezy?"

"Spirits don't catch colds. And I'm only showing my arms and legs. Is that really so revealing?"

"Not revealing at all," Hii Hibiki replied calmly. She used Spiritual Power to make another dazzling performance outfit, this one with cutouts at the sides of the waist. "So how about trying this midriff-baring one, Huanyue-chan~?"

"No way!" Qian Huanyue narrowed her eyes. A vein seemed to pop on her forehead, and her expression turned dangerous.

She edged toward Hibiki with unmistakable mischief.

"Seraph of Thousand Blades."

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Hii Hibiki's cheeks as she slowly backed away. "Um... Huanyue-chan, what are you going to do to me...?"

"What. Do. You. Think?" Qian Huanyue smiled without warmth and snatched up the outfit Hibiki had just made.

The newly summoned Seraph of Thousand Blades obeyed its mistress and lifted Hibiki into the air.

"Eek! I'm sorry!!!" Hii Hibiki shrieked. "Huanyue-chan... what are you doing? Mmph!!"

Hii Hibiki was dragged into the changing room by force.

"My, my~" Kurumi blinked and sipped her black tea with keen interest.

"Mmph! Save me, Xiying!"

"Hibiki~ You brought this on yourself." Her friend Yangliu Xiying betrayed her with an innocent yet wicked smile. "I want to see you dressed like an idol, too."

"No!!" Seeing her friend revel in her misery, Hii Hibiki felt as though the sky had fallen.

After a bout of wailing,

Hii Hibiki emerged wearing the performance outfit she had made moments ago, her face a picture of utter despair.

With its cute, puffy details, the outfit looked lively and adorable on Hibiki. It brought out her youthful innocence beautifully. Even though it exposed her waist and legs, along with a little of her back, it did not look suggestive in the slightest. It suited her perfectly.

On Huanyue, though, it would have an entirely different effect. If Shiori saw her dressed like that, her face might grow hot.

Qian Huanyue stood to one side, covering her mouth as she laughed with delight.

"Hmph~ Hmph~ Hmph~ Serves you right~"