Seeing that Kotori seemed concerned about him, Shido smiled and scratched his cheek.
"It's not too bad. Compared to what you do, Kotori, it's nothing."
After all, however hard an Executive Committee Member worked, it was still within the bounds of normal life.
But as the commander of Fraxinus, Kotori had taken responsibility for an entire vessel at such a young age. He could hardly imagine how difficult that must have been.
Kotori's cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her face away.
"It's nothing special..."
Once Shido and Kotori finished talking, Lingmeng pressed her right index and middle fingers together and held them against her forehead.
She struck the pose Goku used to perform Instant Transmission in Dragon Ball.
The gesture was completely unnecessary, but there was nothing wrong with indulging her inner anime geek now and then.
A moment later, Lingmeng and Shido vanished from Fraxinus and headed to the Underground Shelter where Tohka and the others were staying.
Time moved on to the following morning, and Lingmeng was strolling leisurely down the road.
Beside her walked Shido, with Tohka and Origami clinging to his left and right arms.
"So if this meeting is for Executive Committee Members, why are you three here?"
Shido looked at the three girls around him with a somewhat gloomy expression.
Up ahead, Lingmeng turned back and said with a smile.
"Oh, come on~ What's the problem~? Aren't you happy to have pretty girls keeping you company?
Besides, Ai and her two friends aren't coming. What's wrong with me, Tohka, and Origami filling in for them?"
"Fine... As long as you're happy."
He recalled Ai calling him that morning and saying—
"There's a joint meeting between all the schools for the Tengu Festival today. The Executive Committee Members from each school are attending."