Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Shido reassures Kotori that his executive-committee duties are minor compared with her responsibilities as commander of Fraxinus.
• Lingmeng uses a theatrical “Instant Transmission” pose to take herself and Shido to the Underground Shelter.
• The next morning, Shido attends a joint Tengu Festival committee meeting at Rindouji Girls’ Academy. Ai and the other Raizen committee members are absent because they are rehearsing for the festival’s stage competition, so Lingmeng, Tohka, and Origami accompany Shido instead.
• At the academy, Lingmeng enthusiastically admires the uniformed students, embarrassing Shido. The four eventually reach the conference room and take the Raizen seats.
• Miku Izayoi arrives as Rindouji’s festival committee chair. Recognizing her, Lingmeng, Shido, and Origami hide under the table, wary of being discovered—especially Shido, whom Miku knows from his disguise as Shiori.
• Miku conducts the meeting without noticing them. Later, Lingmeng and Shido report the encounter to Kotori aboard Fraxinus.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido shows concern for Kotori’s workload, but is uncomfortable being caught between Tohka and Origami as they quarrel over him. He also remains anxious around Miku.
• Kotori responds shyly to Shido’s praise, then listens to his account of the meeting.
• Lingmeng is playful and unembarrassed about admiring the Rindouji students, though she shares Shido’s fear of Miku recognizing them.
• Tohka and Origami continue their rivalry, arguing over Shido during the walk. At the meeting, Tohka is the only one who does not understand why the others react to Miku.
• Miku appears as a poised, commanding student leader. Her arrival instantly unsettles the trio who know her.

Significant themes

• Everyday duties alongside extraordinary lives: the characters take part in ordinary festival planning despite their unusual responsibilities and relationships.
• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Tohka and Origami’s bickering highlights their competing attachment to Shido.
• Disguise, recognition, and anxiety: Shido’s past as Shiori makes the prospect of meeting Miku particularly risky.
• Humor through contrast: Lingmeng’s dramatic antics and open admiration clash with Shido’s embarrassment and the group’s later attempt to hide.

Key plot points and events

• After discussing Miku with Kotori, Shido agrees to approach her as a girl, since Miku hates men. The festival committee work should provide opportunities to meet her.
• On September 11, Shido leaves school to change into “Shiori” before the committee members gather at Tengu City Plaza. Lingmeng follows, hoping to watch over him in case anything goes wrong.
• Shido successfully puts on a school uniform, cardigan, wig, makeup, and voice changer, though he worries that cross-dressing is becoming too familiar.
• Lingmeng waits outside the men’s restroom. Shido’s friend Tonomachi arrives, misunderstands the situation, and kicks open the stall door to “rescue” Shido with tissues.
• Tonomachi finds Shiori instead. Shiori accidentally says Tonomachi’s name, making him suspicious when she also looks familiar.

Character developments

• Shido/Shiori: Reluctantly accepts another disguise to get close to Miku. He is increasingly skilled at transforming but uneasy about how natural the routine is becoming.
• Lingmeng: Supports Shido’s plan and keeps watch, while privately masking her eagerness to help him.
• Kotori: Treats the plan as a promising opportunity and pushes Shido toward the disguise.
• Tonomachi: His overconfident, intrusive attempt to help creates an immediate risk of exposing Shido’s identity.

Significant themes

• Disguise and identity: Shido’s transformation raises questions about how easily he can shift between roles—and whether he is losing the ability to see cross-dressing as unusual.
• Friendship and embarrassment: Tonomachi’s exaggerated idea of “best-friend” loyalty leads him to ignore privacy and cause trouble.
• Comedy amid danger: The elaborate plan to approach Miku is interrupted by an awkward, potentially revealing mishap.

Character interactions

• Kotori and Lingmeng tease Shido into accepting the Shiori disguise.
• Tohka and Origami notice Shido leaving but do not know why; Lingmeng gives him an encouraging, knowing gesture.
• Lingmeng waits outside the restroom while Shido changes.
• Tonomachi barges into Shido’s stall, startling Shiori and leaving her to improvise as he tries to work out why she seems familiar.

Key plot points and events

• Tonamachi fails to recognize Shido beneath his feminine disguise and instead assumes Shiori is a girl in love with him. He tries to embrace and kiss Shiori, who shoves him away and runs.
• Lingmeng sees Shiori flee and hears Tonamachi searching for his supposed “future wife.” She tells him Shiori is already hers, claiming Shiori took her first kiss, and warns Tonamachi to give up.
• Lingmeng catches up with Shiori, who has been surrounded by Tengu Festival committee members Ai, Mai, and Mii. They mistake him for a stranger, and he explains that Shido wants to take the day off and has asked Shiori to fill in.
• The girls agree, then become curious about Shiori’s relationship with Shido. Lingmeng arrives, hugs Shiori, and declares she’ll go wherever he goes, leaving the committee members speculating about their connection.

Character developments and interactions

• Shiori/Shido is increasingly stressed by the disguise and the misunderstandings it causes. He escapes Tonamachi, then improvises a cover story to handle the committee members.
• Tonamachi interprets Shiori’s familiarity as romantic interest, revealing his confidence—and comic lack of insight. Lingmeng’s warning leaves him bewildered.
• Lingmeng openly acts possessive of Shiori, joking that he is already hers and pursuing him immediately after he runs off.
• Ai, Mai, and Mii are curious and theatrical: they quiz Shiori, react suspiciously to his knowledge of their names, and quickly speculate about his romantic ties.

Significant themes

• Comic dramatic irony: Readers know Shiori is Shido, while Tonamachi and the committee members misunderstand who he is.
• Identity and disguise: Shido’s feminine presentation creates both practical complications and unexpected social reactions.
• Jealousy and romantic ambiguity: Lingmeng’s possessive claims and the committee members’ guesses frame Shiori’s relationships as a source of playful confusion.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng introduces Shido, still disguised as Shiori, to three girls as Shido’s cousin. They accept the explanation and greet her warmly.
• Tohka and Origami arrive, arguing over Shido’s whereabouts. Lingmeng quietly tells Tohka to treat Shido as a girl for now; Tohka agrees.
• Origami immediately begins photographing Shiori and tries to lift her skirt. Tohka attempts to pull Origami away, but Lingmeng ultimately rescues Shiori by carrying her off.
• Lingmeng and Shiori reach Tengu City Plaza, where the Tengu Festival is being prepared. Their immediate goal is to find Miku.
• Kotori directs them to Exhibition Hall 1, where Ryudouji has a booth, and advises that Lingmeng stay with Shiori to protect her secret. Shiori agrees they should go together.

Character developments

• Shiori/Shido plays along with the cousin story but remains uncomfortable with the attention and exposure. Despite being protected by Lingmeng, she says she would rather be the one protecting Lingmeng.
• Lingmeng helps maintain Shido’s disguise and ultimately intervenes when Origami’s photography goes too far. She promises to protect Shido in either identity, though she initially encourages Origami’s photos.
• Tohka accepts Lingmeng’s request to treat Shido as a girl, then tries to defend Shiori from Origami.
• Origami shows her usual intense fixation on Shido, expressed through an enthusiastic, invasive photo shoot.
• Kotori continues coordinating the search and emphasizes the practical need to keep Shido’s identity concealed.

Significant themes

• Identity and disguise: Shido must navigate social situations as “Shiori,” with others helping sustain the cover.
• Protection and vulnerability: Shiori is exposed and embarrassed, while Lingmeng and Tohka step in to protect her.
• Boundaries and comedy: Origami’s over-the-top behavior creates farcical tension, but Shiori’s discomfort ultimately prompts Lingmeng to act.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng’s cover story lets Shiori meet the girls without revealing who she is.
• Tohka and Origami’s rivalry briefly shifts toward concern for Shiori, though Origami’s attention becomes intrusive.
• Shiori and Lingmeng share a playful, affectionate exchange after the rescue; Lingmeng calls Shiori her “prince,” while Shiori insists she hopes to protect Lingmeng someday.
• Kotori’s directions and warning reinforce Lingmeng’s role as Shiori’s companion as they head to meet Miku.

Plot and events

Lingmeng and Shiori look for Miku at the event venue, but her entourage initially makes it difficult to approach her. When Miku leaves the crowd and goes onto the stage, they follow her through a backstage passage and greet her. Miku recognizes them as the girls who previously left without explanation and stood her up after agreeing to visit her.
Their reunion begins with playful banter: Lingmeng compliments herself, bluntly alerts Miku that her skirt is revealing her underwear, and refuses Miku’s teasing invitation to show her own. Miku invites them onto the stage; Lingmeng jumps up easily, then helps Shiori up herself rather than letting Miku touch her. Miku notices Lingmeng’s possessiveness, while Shiori quietly checks with Kotori that Miku’s mood remains stable. Miku then asks why they stood her up, and Shiori begins to explain that they received an unexpected call from home.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng is confident, teasing, and quick-witted. She takes charge of approaching Miku and shows clear protectiveness—and possible possessiveness—toward Shiori.
• Shiori remains shy and easily flustered, but participates in the reconciliation. Conscious of the risk of upsetting Miku, she checks her emotional state through Kotori.
• Miku is warm and playful with the two girls, though she eventually shifts to a more serious tone to address being stood up.
• Kotori monitors the encounter remotely through the earpiece, reassuring Shiori that Miku is still in a good mood.

Significant themes

The scene balances flirtatious humor with the underlying tension of managing Miku’s emotions. It also highlights the contrast between Miku’s dazzling public persona onstage and the messier backstage setting, while Lingmeng and Shiori’s close bond becomes visible in Lingmeng’s protective gesture.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori apologizes to Miku for missing their earlier meeting, claiming a family matter came up. Miku accepts the excuse without suspicion.
• Miku learns that Shiori and Lingmeng are also on the Tengu Festival executive committee. They explain their absence from an earlier committee meeting with another excuse.
• The three admit they have all entered an area marked off-limits, and Miku proposes keeping it a secret. Fraxinus is secretly recording them, so the secret is already known to its crew.
• Miku and Shiori shake hands. Miku notices Shiori’s strong grip, and Shiori says she plays volleyball to explain her unusually sturdy build.
• Lingmeng, jealous of their contact, pulls them apart and declares Shiori belongs to her. Miku teases her, then invites Lingmeng to shake hands as well.
• Miku explains she likes stepping onto stages because she loves performing before an audience that wants to hear her sing.
• She notes that Shiori and Lingmeng did not recognize her as the famous, enigmatic idol. Shiori admits she does not follow celebrities; Miku says she will make them fans eventually.
• The three leave to return to committee work. As they follow Miku backstage, Shiori hurries after her and fails to watch where she is stepping.

Character developments

• Shiori keeps up her cover with improvised excuses and an awkward explanation for her strong hand, while feeling drawn to Miku despite the risks of her disguise.
• Lingmeng openly displays her jealousy and possessiveness toward Shiori, but sets those feelings aside enough to cooperate with Miku.
• Miku comes across as warm, playful, and confident. Her love of performing helps explain her attraction to stages, and she is intrigued by the pair’s unfamiliarity with her fame.

Significant themes

• Deception and secrecy: Shiori and Lingmeng conceal their real circumstances, while the supposed secret meeting is quietly monitored.
• Jealousy and affection: Lingmeng’s possessiveness becomes a source of playful tension.
• Performance and identity: Miku’s idol persona and love of the stage contrast with Shiori’s own performance of a feminine identity.
• Fame and ordinary connection: Miku is accustomed to being recognized, making Shiori and Lingmeng’s ignorance of her celebrity status unusual.

Character interactions

• Miku graciously accepts Shiori’s apology and welcomes both girls as fellow committee members.
• Miku flirts and jokes with Shiori and Lingmeng; Lingmeng responds with jealous bravado, which Miku finds adorable.
• Shiori and Lingmeng work to maintain their cover while trying to build rapport with Miku, and Miku invites them to become her fans.

Key plot points

• Shiori trips over stage equipment, falls, and is briefly pinned beneath it. Lingmeng rushes to help, panicking and insisting on a hospital visit, though Shiori says she is only hurt.
• Miku notices a scrape on Shiori’s hand and wraps it in her lace handkerchief, advising her to disinfect the wound later. She jokingly proposes marriage in return.
• Kotori points out that Shiori can use returning the handkerchief as an excuse to visit Miku again. She also warns Shiori not to neglect Lingmeng.
• Lingmeng becomes jealous of Shiori’s closeness with Miku. Shiori calms her with a head pat, and the group leaves together.
• Outside, Origami suddenly steps between Shiori and Miku, claiming she followed them “by the power of love.” Lingmeng finds a tiny tracker on Shiori’s skirt and crushes it, revealing that Origami had been tracking her.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng’s protectiveness toward Shiori is intense and comically excessive; her jealousy surfaces when Miku tends to Shiori, but a simple head pat quickly reassures her.
• Miku shows practical kindness by treating Shiori’s injury, while also flirting and openly expressing interest in her.
• Shiori is embarrassed by the attention but tries to manage the tension between Miku and Lingmeng.
• Kotori acts as a teasing strategist, encouraging Shiori to maintain her connection with Miku while keeping Lingmeng in mind.
• Origami’s abrupt, possessive intervention introduces a new complication. Lingmeng responds protectively and exposes Origami’s covert tracking.

Significant themes

• Affection and jealousy: Shiori’s growing closeness with Miku provokes Lingmeng’s insecurity, which Shiori addresses through reassurance.
• Protectiveness and boundaries: Lingmeng and Origami both position themselves as Shiori’s guardians, though Origami’s secret tracking crosses a boundary.
• Romantic comedy: The injury, marriage joke, head pat, and exaggerated jealousy keep the relationship tensions playful even as Origami’s arrival adds suspense.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng suspects Origami planted a tracker during their earlier photo session, a theory the others find plausible.
• Origami arrives, recognizes Miku from their previous fight, and distrusts her. Seeing Shiori’s injured hand, she assumes Miku may have hurt him and demands an explanation.
• Shiori nearly explains the injury, but Miku silently reminds him of their agreement to keep what happened between the three of them secret. Origami notices the exchange and imagines a wildly exaggerated, scandalous scenario.
• Miku senses Origami’s hostility and leaves, but invites Shiori and Lingmeng to her home for tea. With Kotori’s guidance, Shiori accepts so they can try to win Miku over.
• The next day, Shiori and Lingmeng visit Miku’s lavish mansion after school. While they wait for Miku to return, Lingmeng jokes about the pressures of idol life and describes rude comments she receives as an online video creator.

Character developments and interactions

• Origami remains suspicious and intensely protective of Shiori. Her jealousy and obsessive imagination turn the unexplained secrecy around his injury into a lurid fantasy.
• Shiori tries to reassure Origami but respects his agreement with Miku and accepts Miku’s invitation as part of Kotori’s plan.
• Miku stays charming and playful while keeping her motives unclear. She notices Origami’s hostility, avoids confrontation, and chooses to leave on her own terms.
• Lingmeng supports the suspicion that Origami planted a tracker, teases Shiori, and reveals that, despite her online following, she dislikes being mistaken for a man. She also guards her creator identity from people she knows.
• Origami and Miku’s wary exchange contrasts with the more relaxed banter between Lingmeng and Shiori.

Significant themes

• Trust and secrecy: Shiori’s promise to Miku complicates his attempt to reassure Origami and leaves her suspicious.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Origami’s concern for Shiori is mixed with romantic obsession.
• Public image and online harassment: Lingmeng’s comments highlight the scrutiny and abuse faced by entertainers and online creators.
• The gap between appearance and reality: Miku’s inviting manner conceals uncertainty about her intentions, while Lingmeng’s unseen online persona invites assumptions about who she is.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori and Lingmeng visit Miku after school, with Shiori planning to return the handkerchief Miku used to bandage him. Kotori has ordered him to use the visit to get closer to Miku; Lingmeng comes along as his bodyguard and because Miku invited her too.
• Miku’s fan initially mistakes Shiori for a fan and tries to turn him away, but Miku recognizes his voice and welcomes both visitors. Shiori returns the handkerchief, which he has carefully washed. Miku jokes that she would have preferred it unwashed, as a keepsake of Shiori.
• Miku invites them in, dismissing the girls she had already planned to host for tea. They reluctantly leave after Miku reminds them she had invited Shiori and Lingmeng first.
• On the way inside, Lingmeng clings affectionately to Shiori. Shiori privately worries to Kotori about what would happen if Miku fell for him while believing he was a girl. Kotori offers no real solution, while Lingmeng jokingly suggests surgery.
• At Miku’s home, the three share freshly brewed black tea. Shiori is impressed by its flavor, but Lingmeng seems unable to appreciate it.

Character developments and interactions

• Shiori is conscientious and somewhat awkward: he cleans the handkerchief before returning it, tries to follow Kotori’s plan, and worries about the consequences of Miku becoming romantically interested in his female disguise.
• Miku is playful and openly affectionate toward Shiori, teasing him about the handkerchief. She also prioritizes her chosen guests over her other admirers, showing her confidence and the influence she has over them.
• Lingmeng acts as Shiori’s escort but is chiefly eager to spend time close to him. Her teasing, possessiveness, and private scheme to obtain a handkerchief he has used highlight her devotion.
• Kotori directs the visit remotely but responds to Shiori’s concern with a flippant suggestion rather than practical help.
• Miku’s fan group demonstrates both the devotion she inspires and how readily the girls yield to her wishes. The visit also echoes earlier occasions when Miku chose Shiori and Lingmeng over other plans.

Significant themes

• Disguise and identity: Shiori’s fear that Miku may fall for his assumed female identity underscores the trouble caused by his disguise.
• Affection and possessiveness: Miku’s teasing and Lingmeng’s clinginess reveal competing, playful forms of intimacy with Shiori.
• Celebrity, devotion, and influence: Miku’s admirers treat her with reverence, while her personal choices can disappoint them without diminishing their loyalty.
• Comedic misunderstandings: The handkerchief joke, Shiori’s anxious aside, and Lingmeng’s outrageous “solution” keep the visit lighthearted.

Key plot points

• Lingmeng, Shiori, and Miku spend several hours chatting about ordinary things. Miku enjoys their company, and Kotori says Miku’s affection for them is rising, advising them not to rush the sealing process.
• As Lingmeng and Shiori prepare to leave, Miku abruptly asks them to transfer to Ryudouji starting the next day. She offers to arrange tuition, grades, and uniforms, but they object that such a decision cannot be made so casually.
• Miku then uses Spirit Power to command them to take off their clothes. Shiori is affected, but Lingmeng is not.
• Lingmeng refuses, calling the demand sexual harassment. Shiori also objects. Miku realizes her power does not work on them and suspects they had been pretending during their earlier meeting.
• Miku asks whether they are Spirits. Lingmeng confirms that she is one, and Miku is delighted at the prospect of meeting other Spirits.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng remains blunt and teasing, but weighs the risks of exposing Shiori’s secret against revealing that Miku’s power has no effect on them. She chooses to refuse openly.
• Shiori tries to follow Kotori’s guidance and politely resist Miku’s demands, while also apologizing for having deceived her. His disguise makes Miku’s command especially risky.
• Miku shifts from warm, playful conversation to an attempt to control the two through her Spirit Power. Once she learns Lingmeng is a Spirit, her alarm gives way to excitement and curiosity.
• Kotori provides tactical guidance remotely, but the sudden transfer request and Miku’s coercive command leave the pair improvising.

Significant themes

• Trust versus manipulation: Miku’s friendly conversation contrasts with her use of power to get what she wants.
• Identity and secrecy: Lingmeng’s and Shiori’s hidden circumstances complicate how they can respond to Miku.
• Agency and boundaries: Lingmeng and Shiori resist Miku’s unwanted command rather than submit to it.
• Belonging: Miku’s excitement at discovering another Spirit hints at her desire for connection with others like herself.

Key plot points and events

• Miku asks whether Shiori is a Spirit or Wizard. Shiori explains that he can seal Spirits’ powers, allowing them to live safely among humans.
• Shiori and Lingmeng admit they sought Miku out to offer her a seal. Miku believes them, but refuses: she is content with her life and sees no reason to give up her power.
• Lingmeng and Shiori warn that Miku’s Spirit Power could endanger people and attract attacks from AST. Miku is amused by the prospect of AST’s “Mecha Girls” visiting, making her even less willing to accept the seal.
• When Shiori raises the recent Spacequake near Tatsunami Station, Miku reveals that she caused it on purpose, not because she lost control.
• Shiori asks why. Miku says she loves performing onstage and begins describing how, while passing Tatsunami Station, she noticed a concert at Tengu City Dome and realized she had never sung there. The excerpt ends before she explains what she did next.

Character developments

• Miku is open and playful with Shiori and Lingmeng, but firmly independent. She trusts their account of the sealing power without agreeing to be sealed. Her admission that the Spacequake was deliberate reveals a more calculating and potentially dangerous side.
• Shiori is eager to help Miku and increasingly concerned about the risk her powers pose to others. He tries to persuade her sincerely rather than force the issue.
• Lingmeng takes a practical, candid approach, emphasizing the danger of Spacequakes and AST’s response. Her arguments falter when Miku finds the prospect of AST’s attention appealing.

Significant themes

• Safety versus autonomy: Miku values her freedom and comfortable life more than the protection sealing might offer.
• Power and responsibility: Miku’s deliberate use of a Spacequake raises questions about the consequences of using Spirit power for personal aims.
• Trust without agreement: Miku accepts Shiori and Lingmeng’s sincerity, yet still rejects their proposed solution.

Character interactions

• Miku teases Shiori after he is surprised that she believes him, establishing a light, friendly rapport.
• Lingmeng and Shiori work together to persuade Miku, but their appeals to safety and avoiding AST do not sway her.
• Shiori’s concern clashes with Miku’s confidence: she thanks him for caring, while insisting there is no need to worry.

Key plot points

• Lingmeng realizes Miku caused the Spacequake hoping to clear a stage so she could sing. Miku cheerfully confirms it and shows little concern that anyone might have been hurt.
• Shiori and Lingmeng challenge Miku’s disregard for life and her belief that the girls under her influence would willingly die for her. Miku insists that possessing them matters more than whether their affection is genuine.
• Shiori openly says she hates Miku, and Lingmeng joins her, condemning Miku’s arrogance and her treatment of people as toys. Their resistance only makes Miku more intrigued and eager to make them love her.
• When Miku points out that they still need to seal her Spirit Power, she proposes a contest: if Raizen High School wins the first day of the Tengu Festival, she will allow them to seal it. Lingmeng asks what happens if Ryudouji wins.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido/Shiori breaks from his usual conciliatory approach and forcefully rejects Miku, driven by her callousness.
• Lingmeng backs Shiori, calmly arguing that coerced devotion is not love and openly declaring her own hatred of Miku.
• Miku remains charming and playful, but her responses reveal a deeply warped view of love and human life. Rather than being offended by rejection, she finds it exciting and treats the conflict as a game.
• Kotori warns Shido through his earpiece not to provoke Miku, but he ignores her.

Significant themes

• Love versus control: Miku equates having someone with loving them, while Lingmeng and Shiori insist affection cannot be forced.
• Different values of life: Miku sees the possible deaths of her fans as a practical inconvenience, exposing how far her outlook is from ordinary morality.
• Defiance and consequences: Shiori and Lingmeng speak honestly, but their confrontation risks jeopardizing their goal of sealing Miku’s power.

Key plot points and events

• Miku proposes a contest at the Tengu Festival: whichever school wins its event gets the prize. If Ryudouji wins, Shiori, Lingmeng, and the Spirits Lingmeng has sealed must become Miku’s.
• Miku chooses the first day, when performances are mostly musical, and announces she will perform herself. Her popularity as a mysterious idol gives Ryudouji a major advantage.
• She challenges Lingmeng and Shiori to perform too, arguing that the contest is the price of having a chance to seal her Spirit Power. Lingmeng accepts despite the poor odds.
• Back aboard Fraxinus, Kotori reprimands Shiori for provoking Miku and Lingmeng for joining him and risking the Spirits without consulting them. The pair argue that Miku must be treated as an equal and challenged rather than indulged.
• Kotori confirms Miku’s affection for them remains extremely high despite Shiori’s rejection. She concludes that the real issue is whether they can beat Miku onstage.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng suspects Miku’s contest is a trap, but accepts it out of defiance and because she believes Miku must be confronted on equal terms. She also stands up for Shiori before Kotori.
• Shiori/Shido regrets his blunt rejection of Miku but maintains that her disregard for human life and reliance on her enchanting voice are serious problems. Kotori’s scolding leaves him with little defense.
• Miku reveals both her desire to possess Lingmeng and the other Spirits and her confidence that her fame can secure victory. She frames the contest as a choice, though the stakes leave the others little room to refuse.
• Kotori acts as the team’s stern strategist, criticizing their recklessness while recognizing that Miku’s abnormal values make sealing her power urgent. Her crew watches the reprimand unfold.

Significant themes

• Agency and equality: Lingmeng and Shiori believe they cannot build a genuine relationship with Miku by simply yielding to her.
• Power and coercion: Miku’s popularity and proposed stakes make the contest heavily favor her, despite her presenting it as fair.
• Responsibility and teamwork: Lingmeng and Shiori act without consulting the Spirits, forcing them to face the consequences together.

Key plot points and events

• Kotori reminds Lingmeng and Shido that they have already agreed to compete against idol Miku Izayoi at the Tengu Festival. Ratatoskr will handle the event’s administrative work, while the two of them must focus on preparing a performance.
• Lingmeng realizes she is expected to perform too and regrets agreeing, but Kotori insists there is no backing out.
• Kotori asks what they will perform. Lingmeng jokingly suggests playing the suona, leaving Kotori unimpressed.
• Shiori recalls that Ai, Mai, and Mii are forming a band. Kotori sees this as an opportunity to use Shiori’s musical experience and plays a video of Shido as a middle-schooler performing on guitar and dramatically declaring that the instrument is the only thing that understands him.
• Lingmeng, Kotori, and the crew laugh at the embarrassing footage. Shiori is mortified, but Lingmeng comforts her—while also teasing her about the “adorable” phase.
• Kotori decides Shiori will receive intensive guitar coaching before the festival. Lingmeng says she can learn most instruments quickly and identifies the violin as her strongest instrument, though the others are surprised and skeptical.

Character developments

• Lingmeng is reluctant to perform but shows confidence in her ability to learn instruments quickly. She also proves supportive of Shiori, even if her comfort comes with affectionate teasing.
• Shiori/Shido is exposed as a former guitar-playing “brooding” middle-schooler. Though humiliated, her past practice may now help the group’s performance.
• Kotori takes charge of turning the unexpected competition into a serious effort, organizing training and preparation.
• Ratatoskr’s crew supports Kotori’s plan, while sharing in the laughter at Shido’s old video.

Significant themes

• Embarrassment and growing up: Shido’s discarded adolescent persona resurfaces, showing how awkward phases can become funny in retrospect.
• Teamwork and responsibility: Having agreed to compete, Lingmeng and Shido must rely on each other and prepare together.
• Practice and potential: Shiori’s guitar experience and Lingmeng’s quick learning offer different strengths for the upcoming performance.

Character interactions

• Kotori directs Lingmeng and Shido, balancing teasing with practical leadership.
• Lingmeng laughs at Shiori’s humiliation, then tries to reassure her; Shiori’s exasperation shows their comfortable, familiar relationship.
• The crew’s shared reaction to the video turns Shido’s private embarrassment into a group joke, while Kotori channels the moment into a plan to train Shiori.

Key plot points and events

• Ratatoskr intensifies preparations for Shido and Lingmeng’s music competition against Miku. Kotori orders custom instruments, commissions an original piece, and sends someone to gather intelligence on Miku’s school. She refuses to sabotage the rival, hoping Miku will perform at her best and accept a narrow, fair defeat.
• Lingmeng says she has a secret plan to help offset Miku’s popularity, though she keeps its details to herself. Kotori admits that, despite being annoyed that Shido and Lingmeng accepted the challenge on their own, she enjoyed seeing them stand up to Miku.
• At a Ground Self-Defense Force meeting, Ryouko learns DEM plans to capture Lingmeng and Tohka, both confirmed Spirits. Shido is also listed as a target, but DEM refuses to explain why.
• The operation is scheduled for the crowded Tengu Festival at Tengu City Plaza. Ryouko objects that a Spirit battle there could endanger civilians and expose Realizers, but DEM’s Jessica says the mission will proceed unless higher-ups cancel it. She adds that Origami must not be told.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng shows growing confidence and initiative: she promises to address the popularity gap through an undisclosed strategy. Her comment that Ratatoskr’s preparations are becoming excessive underscores the pressure she feels.
• Kotori is both pragmatic and personally supportive. She prioritizes a fair victory that Miku can accept, and unexpectedly reveals that she appreciated Shido and Lingmeng confronting Miku.
• Ryouko displays strong concern for civilian safety and suspicion toward DEM, challenging both the mission’s targets and its location.
• Jessica remains cool and dismissive, treating the dangerous operation as an executive decision and withholding information about Shido.
• The contrast between Ratatoskr’s careful, fair-minded competition planning and DEM’s reckless capture plan heightens the tension surrounding the festival.

Significant themes

• Fairness versus victory: Ratatoskr wants to win without sabotaging Miku, even while deploying extensive support.
• Secrecy and trust: Lingmeng conceals her strategy; DEM withholds Shido’s significance and orders Origami kept uninformed.
• Power and responsibility: The planned operation places civilians at risk, raising questions about the duty to protect them.
• Escalating stakes: A school music contest is unfolding alongside a potentially dangerous confrontation involving Spirits and DEM.

Plot points and events

• AST leader Ryouko is furious when Jessica excludes Origami from an operation, claiming it is an order from above. Seeing Shido Itsuka’s name in the paperwork, Ryouko realizes Shido is the “lover” Origami once mentioned—and suspects this explains why Origami has been barred.
• On September 13, Shido and Lingmeng plan to ask Ai, Mai, and Mii about joining their stage performance.
• Tonamachi tells them he has fallen for a girl he met in the men’s restroom. Shido recognizes that the girl was actually himself, dressed as Shiori, and panics as Tonamachi explains his supposed signs of fate.
• Lingmeng covers for Shido by identifying the girl as Shiori Itsuka, Shido’s cousin. Tonamachi jokingly asks Shido for permission to pursue her, but Shido and Lingmeng both reject the idea.
• Tonamachi reports that idol Miku and performer Qian Meng have announced appearances at the Tengu Festival. Shido already knows about Miku, but is unfamiliar with Qian Meng, prompting Tonamachi to explain who she is.

Character developments and interactions

• Ryouko’s anger at the AST’s orders shifts into alarm and suspicion when she connects Shido to Origami.
• Shido struggles to keep his cross-dressing identity secret and is embarrassed that Tonamachi has fallen for his female persona.
• Tonamachi is earnest about his feelings for “Shiori,” though he remains oblivious to her true identity; he mistakes Shido’s distress for jealousy or interference.
• Lingmeng helps protect Shido’s secret, while joining him in firmly discouraging Tonamachi.
• Tonamachi’s excitement about festival news contrasts with Shido and Lingmeng’s lack of surprise about Miku’s announcement.

Significant themes

• Hidden identity and mistaken impressions: Shido’s disguise creates romantic confusion, while the “cousin” explanation sustains the misunderstanding.
• Personal feelings versus institutional control: Ryouko’s frustration highlights how AST orders can override individual judgment and affect Origami’s involvement.
• Romantic comedy and friendship: Tonamachi’s sincere pursuit, Shido’s embarrassment, and Lingmeng’s complicity drive the chapter’s humor.

Key plot points

• Tonamachi enthusiastically tells Shido and Lingmeng about Chimeng-chan, a hugely popular masked content creator with ten million followers. She sings, writes music, draws, games, and is rumored to perform an unreleased song at the Tengu Festival.
• Shido worries that Chimeng-chan might attend Ryudouji and perform alongside Miku, making their festival challenge even harder.
• Lingmeng pinches Shido when he dismisses the creator’s fame, then takes his hand and leads him away. Tonamachi assumes the pair are going on a date.
• Shido notices the similarities between Lingmeng and Chimeng-chan—blonde hair, a braid, beauty, and a similar voice—and suspects they are the same person.
• When Shido confronts her and threatens to look Chimeng-chan up online, Lingmeng finally admits it.
• Shido browses her videos, discovering her odd challenges and unusual performances. The chapter ends as he reaches a particularly revealing-looking clip, leaving his reaction unresolved.

Character developments

• Shido remains skeptical of internet celebrity culture, but becomes curious once he connects Chimeng-chan to Lingmeng. He also worries about the festival competition and about finding a safe place to change clothes.
• Lingmeng is revealed to have a secret life as a wildly successful creator, despite previously describing herself as only “a little famous.” Her embarrassment and attempts to stop Shido from viewing her videos show how private she is about her online persona.
• Tonamachi is an unabashed fan whose excitement provides most of the information about Chimeng-chan’s popularity and talents.

Significant themes

• Hidden identities and public personas: Lingmeng’s masked online fame contrasts with how she presents herself to Shido.
• Fame and self-perception: Lingmeng’s “small-time” description clashes comically with her enormous following.
• Performance and embarrassment: Her videos range from creative work to bizarre fan challenges, suggesting she is willing to make herself ridiculous for her audience.
• Competition and pressure: The possibility of Chimeng-chan joining the Tengu Festival raises the stakes of Miku’s already difficult challenge.

Character interactions

• Tonamachi’s enthusiastic praise contrasts with Shido’s indifference, while Lingmeng quietly reacts to the conversation.
• Lingmeng’s pinch and sudden hand-holding add playful tension to her interactions with Shido.
• Shido teases Lingmeng by searching for Chimeng-chan, forcing her to confess.
• Tonamachi misreads their departure as a date, adding a light comic moment.

Key plot points and events

• Shido discovers Lingmeng’s online videos and photos, including images of her dressed as a girl. Lingmeng explains that she became known for comedic videos despite initially intending to make serious content, and that she dressed up only after fans pressured her to mark reaching one million followers.
• Lingmeng reveals she now earns tens of millions of yen each month, prompting Shido to complain that she still lets him pay when they eat out. She jokes that food tastes better when someone else pays.
• Lingmeng offers to wear one of the outfits for Shido when they return. Embarrassed, he rushes to change the subject and head back to the Fraxinus.
• After Shido changes back into Shiori, he and Lingmeng go to the school music room. They hope to join Ai, Mai, and Mii’s band in time to compete at the Tengu Festival.
• Tohka and Origami catch up with them, each having feared the other might have taken Shido. They immediately resume their familiar rivalry.
• A harsh rehearsal sound and an argument come from the music room. Two unfamiliar students storm out, leaving the trio with too few band members—and apparently no lead singer. Lingmeng asks what happened, just as the trio notices the group at the door.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng’s polished online image contrasts with her embarrassed, reluctant attitude toward her videos and cross-dressing photos. Despite her success, she is stingy with her own earnings and enjoys teasing Shido.
• Shido is shocked by Lingmeng’s online persona, then flustered by her suggestive offer. His attempt to keep their visit on track is interrupted by Tohka and Origami.
• Tohka and Origami show concern for Shido, but their mutual suspicion quickly turns into their usual competitive sniping.
• The chapter ends with Ai, Mai, and Mii frustrated after a band dispute, creating an opening—and a problem—for Shido and Lingmeng’s proposed involvement.

Significant themes

• Public persona versus private self: Lingmeng’s online comedy and photos reveal a side of her that she would rather keep from people she knows.
• Pressure and personal boundaries: Her cross-dressing photos resulted from persistent fan demands, not a genuine change of preference.
• Embarrassment, teasing, and affection: Lingmeng uses humor and flirtation to unsettle Shido, while he struggles to respond.
• Teamwork and conflict: The band’s internal dispute threatens its performance, setting up the need for new members.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng, Shiori, Tohka, and Origami encounter Ai, Mai, and Mii after the trio’s two unmotivated band members are dismissed. Origami effortlessly stops the trio’s playful attempt to pounce on Lingmeng and Shiori.
• Lingmeng and Shiori explain that they want to challenge Miku Izayoi and ask to join the band. Ai enthusiastically agrees, hoping to protect their “virtue” and strengthen the group’s chances of winning the festival competition against Ryudouji.
• Ai assumes Tohka and Origami are joining too. Although the original request came only from Lingmeng and Shiori, both girls volunteer to help Shido win and protect their friends. They agree—somewhat reluctantly—to perform together.
• Shiori confirms she has arranged for someone else to cover her Executive Committee duties, clearing the way for the group to practice.
• The band assigns instruments: Ai plays bass, Mai keyboard, and Mii drums. Lingmeng will play violin; Shiori can play some guitar. Origami claims she can learn guitar in a day, while Tohka, who has no musical experience or favorite singer, is left with the possibility of becoming lead vocalist.

Character development

• Lingmeng is composed and practical, while her dry inner joke about playing a suona reveals her irreverent humor.
• Shiori is cautious and responsible, having arranged backup for her festival duties; she also helps keep Tohka and Origami from fighting.
• Tohka eagerly joins to support Lingmeng and Shido, despite not knowing what is happening or how to play music.
• Origami shows her usual confidence and competence, volunteering to master guitar almost immediately. Her protectiveness toward Shiori also fuels her participation.
• Ai, Mai, and Mii are passionate, determined performers. Their competitive drive explains why they dismissed members who lacked commitment.

Significant themes

• Teamwork and shared purpose: The growing band forms around a common goal, even among people with clashing personalities.
• Commitment and ambition: Ai’s group is determined to win, and they refuse to keep members who only plan to make a token effort.
• Protectiveness and friendship: Tohka and Origami join largely to support and defend Lingmeng and Shiori.
• Comedy through contrast: The group’s serious competitive plans collide with Tohka’s total lack of musical knowledge and Origami’s astonishing self-assurance.

Character interactions

• Origami physically restrains Ai, Mai, and Mii when they rush Lingmeng and Shiori, establishing her decisive, protective role.
• Ai warmly welcomes Lingmeng and Shiori, while the band members enthusiastically praise their instrument choices.
• Tohka and Origami initially trade chilly glances, but they are persuaded to cooperate for the performance.
• The chapter ends with Ai trying—and failing—to find a musical role or preference for Tohka, who answers every question with “No!”

Plot points and events

• Ai, Mai, and Mii give Tohka a tambourine, theatrically presenting it as a legendary instrument only she can master. Tohka plays it successfully and is delighted by the trio’s exaggerated praise.
• The trio then argue over who should become the band’s lead singer, admitting that none of them sing well and that competing against Miku Izayoi will be difficult.
• Shiori remembers a song Kotori gave him and plays it for the group, claiming it came from a relative in the music business. The trio assume he should sing it, and, despite his protests, he performs it.
• Lingmeng, Tohka, and Origami praise Shiori enthusiastically, but the trio give a more measured verdict: his singing is neither bad nor especially good. Shiori recalls that Kotori had suggested using a professional recording for the performance—a plan he recognizes as lip-syncing.

Character developments and interactions

• Tohka eagerly accepts the tambourine and enjoys playing it, responding happily to the trio’s playful encouragement.
• Ai, Mai, and Mii show their close but comically fragile friendship as they squabble over which of them should sing. They then quickly redirect the problem by making Shiori perform.
• Shiori is put on the spot and sings despite his uncertainty. He understands that he is only an average singer and remembers Kotori’s practical, if questionable, workaround.
• Lingmeng records Shiori’s performance and cheers him on like an overexcited fan. Tohka claps, while Origami silently approves.

Significant themes

• Encouragement versus honesty: The trio’s theatrical praise helps Tohka feel confident, while their candid response to Shiori contrasts with the group’s enthusiastic support.
• Teamwork and performance: The band struggles to assign roles and prepare for a major musical challenge, especially with Miku as their rival.
• Comedy through improvisation: Characters repeatedly solve problems—or evade them—with playful exaggeration, quick excuses, and last-minute schemes, culminating in the suggestion of lip-syncing.