I Became a Spirit in Date A Live, but I Refuse to Date

Then—

"What did you just say...?"

"...!"

Lingmeng and Kurumi looked shocked at the same time.

Lingmeng knew perfectly well that Shido would never say something like that of his own accord. Someone aboard Fraxinus had put him up to it.

But—

Why had they approved an option that looked like something only Kannazuki would pick!? (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

That was what Lingmeng couldn't understand.

With Kotori and the others there, that option should never have been approved, let alone passed on to Shido.

Yet somehow it had been. Lingmeng had no idea what Kotori and the others were thinking.

If Lingmeng had been the one choosing, she probably would have picked it without hesitation too. But there was a time and a place for that!

Seeing the two girls' stunned expressions, Shido finally realized how shameless his line had been.

He hurriedly tapped his earpiece, sounding close to tears.

"Kotori, I've been a pretty good brother to you, haven't I...? Why are you throwing me into the fire again...?"

Kotori's flustered voice came through his earpiece.

"What do you mean, 'again'...? When has Fraxinus ever set you up? What just happened was an accident... an accident!

"J-just come up with some excuse and smooth things over!"

"..."

Shido fell silent. He clearly had strong objections to the claim that Fraxinus had never set him up.

But this was no time to dwell on that. He needed to clear up the misunderstanding first.

So Shido scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Uh... would you believe me if I said I was only joking?"

"You can."

Kurumi answered the moment he finished speaking, though Shido had no idea what she meant.

He tilted his head in confusion.

"I can what?"

"If it's you, Shido, then my panties—"

With that, Kurumi stepped into the shadow