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

"Hmm. Knowing her, she'll come after us again when she wakes up, right? We'd better tie her up now so she can't cause any more trouble."

"Uh..." Shido had wanted to stop Lingmeng at first, but if they left Origami alone, she would definitely pull something else. He kept quiet.

"Oh, we should search her before we tie her up, right? If she's carrying a knife or something, she'll get free in no time."

With that thought, Lingmeng began checking Origami with a mischievous smile. It was to prevent any surprises. Yes, that was all. She definitely wasn't taking the chance to cop a feel.

"Now, let's see what you've got on you." Lingmeng slipped a hand into Origami's pocket and, sure enough, found a Military Dagger and a Handgun.

She carries these around with her? Well, she's in the AST, so I guess that's fine. Good thing I checked first, or we'd have been in trouble.

Lingmeng promptly used her powers to burn both weapons without leaving so much as ash.

"Huh? What's this..." From Origami's right pocket, Lingmeng pulled out a pill about the same size as the one on the cake earlier, only blue.

"A Little Blue Pill? Ahem... Don't tell me this is..." Lingmeng coughed twice, tucked the blue pill into her own pocket for the moment, then tied Origami up.

"Well, that's done." Lingmeng lightly clapped her hands as she looked at Origami, bound before her.

It was the first time she had ever tied someone up. She had only seen it on television before. She never thought she would do it herself one day.

"Lingmeng... What am I supposed to do now?"

At the sound of Shido's voice, Lingmeng turned around.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. The drug hasn't worn off yet, has it, Shido?"

Seeing Shido slumped over the table, looking utterly drained, Lingmeng teased him.

"Wow, you're so wiped out. I guess we'll have to call the date off."

"!!!" Shido's eyes widened in shock.

"Haha, I'm kidding. I do have a way to get you moving again. Want to try it?"

Lingmeng smiled as she asked.

"I... guess I'll try?"

"You said it." Lingmeng narrowed her eyes with a wicked smile and walked over to Shido. Electricity crackled at her fingertips.

"Lingmeng, you're not going to..." Shido broke into a cold sweat at the sight of the sparks.

"Yep. Exactly what you're thinking. ╮(￣▽￣)╭" Lingmeng planted her hand on Shido's back, and the current shot straight into him.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Blue light instantly filled the restaurant. Shido screamed as his arms, legs, and even his hair twitched.

Still want to go online? Lingmeng thought with a grin. The scene looked a little too familiar.

Lingmeng took her hand away. "How do you feel? Can you move after that shock?"

"Ah..." Shido opened his mouth and breathed out a puff of black smoke. "I can move, but I think I just saw a river. Someone on the other side was waving at me."

"Oh, I see," Lingmeng said without a trace of guilt.

"Anyway, I found this on that girl Origami. She was probably planning to give it to you. Want to try it?"

Lingmeng set the blue pill in front of Shido and gave him a teasing look.

"No! Not even if it kills me!" Shido shook his head fiercely and refused without hesitation.

"Aw, she went to all the trouble of preparing it for you, and you won't even take it. You're so cold, Shido."

Lingmeng spread her hands helplessly.

"That's emotional blackmail, isn't it? If I'm so cold, why don't you take it yourself?"

Shido stared at her, speechless.

"Oh, don't get hung up on the details." Lingmeng glanced at Origami, who lay bound with hemp rope on the floor. "Let's have its inventor try it."

Lingmeng walked over to Origami, pried her mouth open, and slipped the Little Blue Pill inside.

Gulp. Soon after swallowing it, Origami's face flushed. Soft moans escaped her lips, while her body trembled as though some primal force inside her were about to burst free.

"What is that...?"

"A computer accessory. Commonly called Viagra. You could also call it an aphrodisiac."

"That's not the point! She was planning to make me take it, wasn't she?"

Shido's voice rose in alarm.

"She probably meant to take you to the Hotel, force-feed you the pill, then make sure the deed was done."

Lingmeng patted Shido on the shoulder and spoke in a grave tone.

"With a beautiful girl that desperate at your side, you've somehow managed to stay a virgin. That can't have been easy. Should I call it incredible self-control, or are you impotent?"

"I'd say the former! Mr. Shido is a perfectly healthy young man, thank you very much!"

Shido protested so vehemently that he referred to himself in the third person.

"Whatever. She's taken it now, so let's get going."

"Are we really going to leave Origami here like this?"

"She's in the AST. You have to trust that she can get herself out of this."

"Stop feeding me that kind of empty reassurance."

Shido looked at Origami on the floor with a conflicted expression. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to leave.

I feel terrible for Origami, but my main job right now is to date Lingmeng. I'm sorry!

"Okay, Lingmeng. Let's go somewhere else."

After apologizing to Origami in his heart, Shido left the French Restaurant with Lingmeng.

What's So Fun About a Carousel?

"Shido, it's getting late. Let's make the Amusement Park the site of our final showdown."

Not long after they left the restaurant, Kotori gave the order through his earpiece.

"Okay..." Shido nodded to show he understood. "Lingmeng, let's go to the Amusement Park for our last stop."

"Fine by me."

When Shido and Lingmeng arrived at the Amusement Park, the crowds bustling past the entrance took them both by surprise.

"Wow, there are a lot of people here," Lingmeng remarked.

"It's the weekend, after all." Shido scratched his cheek.

"So what should we ride first?"

"Well..."

Lingmeng's question left Shido stumped again.

"Ah, the choices are up again?" Kotori muttered, resting her chin on her hand with a Chupa Chups in her mouth.

Three options appeared on the big screen—

① "Try a thrilling ride"

② "Try a relaxing ride"

③ "Don't ride anything; just look around"

Before long, the crew's votes were in. Options ① and ② had three votes each, while ③ had none.

"Girls don't like rides that intense. If they go on one now, she'll definitely get upset. Commander, option ② is the safer choice."

That was the female crew members' explanation.

"That might be true for an ordinary girl, but she's a spirit. She's faced live ammunition, so why would she be afraid of a mere amusement-park ride? Besides, Lingmeng has acted like a tomboy from the start. We think she'll enjoy it."

That was the male crew members' rebuttal.

"Commander!" all six crew members said in unison.

"Sigh." Kotori spread her hands. "Shido, pick a relaxing ride."

"Got it..." Shido smiled and pointed at the Carousel ahead. "Lingmeng, want to ride that?"

"Yes!" The female crew members struck triumphant poses and cheered at the men, who looked bitterly disappointed.

"Commander, why..."

"Enough. I'm the commander, so I decide!"

The male crew members seemed about to ask why Kotori had chosen option ②, but her glare shut them up.

Did you think I'd tell you I'm afraid of things like Roller Coasters?

Kotori kept that thought to herself.

"The Carousel?" Lingmeng looked at the ride ahead, where children and couples sat on the horses.

"How old are we? Wouldn't that be a little childish?"

"Uh... Would it?" Shido scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Look, there are lots of couples riding it. It should be romantic, right?"

Lingmeng gave him a deadpan stare. "Even if it is, riding it with you wouldn't be romantic in the slightest."

Lingmeng had no interest in accepting Shido's invitation. If she was going to ride it with anyone, she would much rather go with beautiful girls like Tohka or Origami than with a grown man.

"Shido, let's go again." The background music ended, and the Carousel slowed to a stop.

Lingmeng sat on a white horse, speaking to Shido behind her.

You might be wondering, "Didn't you just refuse? What changed your mind so fast?"

Lingmeng insisted she had not changed her mind. She had simply realized that if she stayed on the Carousel until the date ended, she and Shido would have fewer chances to interact. Then he would not be able to raise her affection for him.

I'm a damn genius! (￣▽￣)

Shido was puzzled by Lingmeng's sudden smile. He had no idea why she had abruptly taken a liking to the Carousel, but he decided to go along with it.

"Excuse me, could we go one more—" Just as Shido started to ask the attendant, Kotori cut in, her voice agitated.

"You idiot, Shido! Don't you get it? Lingmeng wants to stay there so you can't raise her affection! Hurry up and pick another ride!"

"Hiss..." Shido clapped a hand over his ear. Kotori had shouted so loudly that she had nearly burst his eardrum.

"Why are you yelling? You nearly deafened me!"

"Never mind that. If you keep dawdling, I'll release your embarrassing secrets!"

Shido's eyes widened. If the people he knew found out about his embarrassing past, he might have to change his identity and transfer to another school.

"Okay, I get it. Calm down." Shido answered into his earpiece in a panic, then turned to Lingmeng. "Um... Lingmeng, we've ridden this so many times already. Why don't we try somewhere else?"

"Huh? The Carousel is so much fun. Why not ride it a little longer?" Lingmeng pretended to be unhappy, though she knew she was lying through her teeth. She did not want to stay here either!

"But..." Shido had no idea how to answer her. Then a voice came to his rescue.

"Could you two please try another attraction? You've ridden the Carousel more than a dozen times. We need to let the other guests have a turn."

Shido and Lingmeng turned toward the speaker. Shido could not place the attendant at first, but he thought he had seen her aboard Fraxinus.

Did Kotori send her?

After wondering about it for a moment, Shido quickly agreed.

"Right, Lingmeng. You heard the attendant. If we stay here, we'll inconvenience the guests behind us."

"Tsk. Turning down paying customers," Lingmeng muttered with a pout.

Shido's mouth twitched. "I don't think money's the issue."

"Yeah, yeah. Fine. I'll go look somewhere else."

Lingmeng waved a hand and gave in to Shido's request. Her plan had failed, and she was still a little annoyed.