I Became a Spirit in Date A Live and Refused to Go on Dates

After all this time, it was finally time to give the girl before them someone she could rely on.

...And now, a change of perspective.

"Yoshino..."

Yoshino wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as she softly called her friend's name.

She knew perfectly well that no one would answer, but she couldn't stop herself.

Just as she thought that—

"Hee-hee! Were you calling me, Yoshino? Your hero Yoshino has arrived!"

A shrill voice reached Yoshino's ears.

"...!"

Yoshino trembled at the sound, then quickly looked around.

No matter how she listened, that had been Yoshino's voice.

Then, at the boundary between the center and outer edge of the barrier, Yoshino spotted a familiar little figure.

The comical-looking rabbit hand puppet—Yoshino.

"Yoshino...!"

Yoshino cried out.

She didn't stop to wonder why Yoshino could still speak after being separated from her.

She jumped down from Zadkiel and hurried toward Yoshino.

"Yoshino... is it really you?"

Yoshino could hardly believe her friend had appeared.

The puppet's mouth opened and closed as she answered in her distinctive voice.

"Of course~ It's the one and only Yoshino! Honestly, Yoshino, have you forgotten what I look like after just a few days apart?"

"N-no... I just couldn't quite believe it..."

Yoshino shook her head faintly and spoke in a soft voice.

"..."

Then, as if she had noticed something amiss, Yoshino gently grasped Yoshino—or rather, the hand wearing her.

"Ah—You found us."

"Looks like she did..."

The voices of a girl and a boy followed.

Two people stepped out of the barrier's shadows.

Dim light fell across their faces. Once Yoshino saw them clearly, her eyes widened slightly.

The boy and girl before her were Shido Itsuka and Qian Lingmeng, the kind people who had helped her look for Yoshino a few days