I Became a Spirit in Date A Live and Refused to Date

"Shido was just teleported near you. He should be there any moment now."

"I see."

As Lingmeng nodded, things unfolded just as Kotori had said.

Shido's voice rang out nearby.

"Sorry, I'm back!"

Shido came running over, his face full of apology.

"Oh! Shido, is your stomach all right now?!"

The moment Tohka noticed his return, she finished the soup dumplings in her hand.

She tossed the box into a nearby trash can and hurried over to him, delighted.

Shido could only scratch his cheek awkwardly.

"Haha... more or less? At least it doesn't hurt as much as it did."

"That's good. Oh, you haven't eaten yet, have you?! Come eat with us!"

With that, Tohka tugged at the hem of his shirt.

"Uh..."

Shido looked troubled.

To be honest, he had already eaten his fill on his date with Origami. He didn't want anything else.

But he didn't want Tohka to get suspicious, so he finally nodded and agreed.

Just then, Lingmeng spoke up.

"Um... I think I'll pass. I don't want to interrupt your date."

"Hm? You're leaving, Lingmeng? I wouldn't mind if you joined us."

"Yeah, but I have something else to do."

Tohka tilted her head in confusion, but Lingmeng didn't change her mind.

Her whole purpose had been to buy Shido time. Now that she'd done that, she had no reason to stay.

"I see... All right, then. You have to come along next time!"

Tohka looked reluctant at first, but she soon perked up again.

Lingmeng waved, promised she would come next time, and turned to leave.

"I'm back~"

Back aboard Fraxinus, Lingmeng called out in a strange singsong voice.

She returned to find Kotori staring intently at a screen showing Kurumi.

"Perfect timing, Lingmeng. Kurumi seems a little unsettled too. Could you