Chapter Summaries

Summary

• During a sunset date in a hilltop park, Tohka enjoys the scenery and the kindness she has encountered, but admits she still suspects people may be deceiving her because of AST’s attacks.
• Tohka begins to understand AST’s hostility: although she cannot control her appearances or the destruction they cause, she feels responsible for the damage and wonders if she should disappear.
• Shido and Lingmeng urge her to consider staying in the human world. Shido promises to help her learn, find food and shelter, and face problems as they arise. Lingmeng cannot guarantee Tohka’s future, but insists that the choice should be Tohka’s and hopes she chooses to live.
• Shido passionately affirms Tohka’s right to exist and offers her his hand. As she reaches for it, Lingmeng spots a distant sniper and warns them. Shido pushes Tohka out of the way and takes the bullet.
• Badly wounded, Shido reassures Tohka that his choice was his own and that she is not to blame. He tells her that no one else has the right to deny her existence, then loses consciousness and stops breathing. Meanwhile, Origami and the AST are positioned nearby; permission to fire had been granted.

Character developments and relationships

• Tohka shifts from enjoying the date to confronting her guilt and doubting whether she deserves to live among humans. Shido and Lingmeng’s acceptance gives her a reason to consider staying, but Shido’s apparent death leaves that hope bound up with grief and shock.
• Shido moves from quietly enjoying the date to openly defending Tohka’s right to live. His willingness to take a bullet for her demonstrates that his support is more than reassuring words.
• Lingmeng acts as both a candid voice of support and a practical ally. She respects Tohka’s freedom to choose rather than promising an outcome she cannot control, and reacts urgently when she spots the sniper.
• Tohka, Shido, and Lingmeng grow closer through their honest conversation. Tohka trusts them enough to ask whether she can continue living, while both insist that she is not alone.

Significant themes

• The right to exist: The chapter challenges the idea that danger or social rejection makes someone undeserving of life.
• Choice and responsibility: Tohka feels guilty for destruction she cannot control, while Shido emphasizes that his own sacrifice is a choice—and that Tohka should choose her future for herself.
• Trust and compassion: Tohka’s suspicion reflects her history of rejection; the date and her friends’ acceptance offer a fragile alternative.
• Self-sacrifice and its cost: Shido’s defense of Tohka turns their hopeful conversation into a sudden tragedy.

Key plot points and events

• After Shido is shot by Origami, Tohka and Lingmeng believe he is dead. Tohka blames Origami and resolves to avenge him, despite Lingmeng reminding her of Shido’s plea not to kill.
• Tohka transforms, summons Sandalphon, and attacks Origami and another AST member with a devastating strike. Both escape the blow but are badly injured.
• Aboard Fraxinus, the crew panics over Shido’s failing vital signs. Kotori remains confident that he will survive, while Reine monitors events and Kannazuki reacts in his usual inappropriate manner.
• Lingmeng considers cremating Shido, but Spirit Power manifests as blue flames around him. The flames heal his wound, and Shido wakes, astonishing Lingmeng.
• Kotori confirms that Shido can recover even after dying and orders him and Lingmeng transported to Fraxinus so he can stop Tohka.
• On Fraxinus, Lingmeng learns Kotori is Shido’s sister—and challenges Shido’s claim that his sister was dead. Kotori immediately confronts him about what he has told people.

Character developments and interactions

• Tohka is overwhelmed by grief and returns to her Spirit form, believing the world will never accept her without Shido. Her anger puts her at risk of violating the restraint he taught her.
• Lingmeng is loyal to Shido and tries to protect Tohka from taking revenge. After Shido’s apparent death, her comic thoughts about cremation give way to shock and concern when he revives.
• Shido survives a fatal-looking injury through mysterious Spirit Power, raising new questions about his nature.
• Kotori demonstrates that she knows about Shido’s unusual resilience and acts decisively to send him back into the crisis. Her composure contrasts with the crew’s alarm.
• Lingmeng’s blunt remark about Kotori being “dead” creates an awkward, comedic exchange and reveals that Shido has misrepresented his family situation.

Significant themes

• Grief and revenge: Tohka’s loss threatens to undo the lessons Shido taught her.
• Compassion and restraint: Lingmeng urges Tohka not to kill, appealing to Shido’s belief in treating others as one wishes to be treated.
• Hidden powers and identity: Shido’s miraculous healing suggests a connection to Spirit Power that neither he nor Lingmeng understands.
• Comic contrast: Dark events—Shido’s apparent death and Tohka’s rampage—are repeatedly undercut by irreverent humor.

Key plot points and events

• Kotori reveals that Tohka believes Shido has been killed by the AST and is attacking them in a rage. The AST is badly outmatched, with Origami’s defensive Territory finally breaking.
• Ratatoskr sends Shido to the battlefield without protection. His arrival distracts Tohka just as she is about to kill Origami, and she catches him.
• Tohka’s weapon, Sandalphon, has accumulated dangerous energy. To stop her from releasing it at Origami, Shido asks her to kiss him. The kiss seals Tohka’s powers: Sandalphon crumbles and her Astral Dress disappears.
• Tohka asks whether Shido will keep dating her. He promises to go on as many dates as she wants. Ratatoskr moves to retrieve them before the AST sees them.
• Kotori then explains Ratatoskr’s mission and Shido’s Spirit-sealing ability to Lingmeng. Lingmeng sums it up as dating Spirits, winning their affection, and kissing them to add them to Shido’s “harem.”
• Kotori reveals that she knows Lingmeng is not an ordinary person, addressing her as the “Element Maker.”

Character developments

• Shido risks himself to reach Tohka and prevent her from killing Origami. Though embarrassed by the situation and unsure how he survived being shot, he remains committed to saving Spirits through connection rather than force.
• Tohka moves from grief-driven fury to relief and affection when she sees Shido alive. After being sealed, she openly asks for continued dates, and his promise makes her happy.
• Origami reaches the point of surrender after her Territory breaks, but Shido’s arrival gives Tohka a reason to stop attacking her.
• Lingmeng watches the battle and Shido’s sealing method with disbelief. The ending makes clear that she has been concealing her identity and is more significant than an ordinary observer.
• Kotori acts decisively as commander, directing Shido’s intervention and later explaining Ratatoskr’s purpose—while keeping Lingmeng’s identity in view.

Significant themes

• Love and communication over violence: Shido saves Tohka and Origami through emotional connection, not combat.
• Misunderstanding and reconciliation: Tohka’s belief that Shido is dead fuels her rampage; seeing him alive changes everything.
• The absurdity of the sealing method: The serious mission is undercut by the comic contrast between world-threatening Spirits and Shido’s dating-and-kissing solution.
• Hidden identities and future conflict: Kotori’s recognition of Lingmeng as the Element Maker sets up a larger mystery.

Character interactions

• Kotori and Shido’s sibling relationship is close but teasing: she throws him over her shoulder, dismisses his questions, and sends him into danger with little protection.
• Shido and Tohka share a dramatic reunion, followed by a kiss that seals her powers and a tender promise of future dates.
• Tohka’s attack on Origami is interrupted by Shido, sparing Origami and ending the immediate threat.
• Lingmeng questions Kotori about the situation; Kotori postpones answering until the crisis is resolved, then explains Ratatoskr’s mission before exposing Lingmeng’s disguise.

Key plot points and events

• Kotori reveals that Lingmeng is a Spirit named Element Maker. Ratatoskr identified her after finding no local records and checking its Spirit files.
• Lingmeng’s danger rating has risen from B+ to SS after she defeated DEM’s strongest wizard, Ellen Mira Mathers. Lingmeng is alarmed by the “strongest Spirit” label and jokes that it makes her a target.
• Kotori tells Lingmeng that Shido must date and kiss her to seal her powers. Lingmeng refuses and escapes using her abilities.
• Three days after sealing Tohka’s powers, Shido is struggling with the embarrassing things Tohka said at school. He also wonders why Lingmeng disappeared.
• Kotori tells Shido that Lingmeng is a Spirit and asks him to date her. After reading Lingmeng’s file, Shido accepts that it is true.
• Shido learns there are other Spirits besides Tohka and Lingmeng, and that he will need to find and seal their powers too. Though reluctant, he agrees to help because he does not want them to suffer as Tohka did.
• Kotori says Lingmeng is still in the city and tells Shido not to let her leave if he sees her again. Shido then heads out to shop for groceries.

Character developments

• Lingmeng learns that her official status has changed dramatically, but remains wary of attention and firmly rejects the idea of dating Shido to seal her powers.
• Shido moves from disbelief about Lingmeng’s identity to acceptance. Despite his embarrassment and reluctance about the dating-based mission, his sympathy for the Spirits leads him to continue helping them.
• Kotori remains direct and strategically focused, treating Shido’s task as necessary while using teasing and bluntness to push him into action.

Significant themes

• Duty versus personal choice: Lingmeng refuses the solution imposed on her, while Shido feels compelled to help the Spirits.
• Identity and secrecy: Lingmeng’s ordinary appearance conceals her Spirit nature, and Ratatoskr’s investigation exposes it.
• Power and danger: Defeating Ellen makes Lingmeng famous and feared, even though she has no desire for the “strongest” title.
• Comedy and embarrassment: Shido’s romantic mission clashes with his reluctance, while Tohka’s innocent remarks create social chaos at school.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Kotori discuss how Ratatoskr uncovered her identity; their conversation ends when Kotori proposes a date with Shido and Lingmeng flees.
• Kotori explains Lingmeng’s identity and the Spirit-sealing mission to Shido, who questions the plan but ultimately agrees.
• Shido’s concern for Lingmeng persists despite his lack of information about why she left, while Tohka’s provocative-sounding comments draw unwanted attention to him at school.

Chapter summary

• Kotori tells Shido to go shopping for dinner and reminds him that Tohka will be joining them. Shido agrees, though he is still worrying about Kotori’s instruction to ask Lingmeng on a date.
• At the supermarket, Shido unexpectedly runs into Lingmeng while they both reach for the last package of meat. Lingmeng is shopping for discounted vegetables because money is tight. After she lets Shido keep the meat, he invites her to dinner; delighted at the prospect of a proper meal, she accepts immediately.
• At Shido’s home, Kotori and Tohka greet him. Kotori, wearing her white ribbon, warmly calls Lingmeng “big sis,” leaving both Lingmeng and Shido bewildered. Lingmeng finds the sudden contrast with Kotori’s stern Commander persona unsettling, while Shido explains the ribbon-based change in her demeanor.
• While Shido cooks, Lingmeng tries to watch television but finds every channel unsuitable and gives up. Tohka grows hungry and asks when dinner will be ready. Lingmeng offers to help Shido in the kitchen, though he initially insists that she is a guest and needn’t work.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido is anxious about how to approach Lingmeng, but their chance meeting gives him an opportunity to invite her home. He is considerate, sharing the meat and offering her dinner.
• Lingmeng is revealed to be struggling financially and living frugally, yet she accepts Shido’s invitation eagerly. She becomes increasingly fond of Kotori’s “big sis” address and volunteers to help Shido.
• Kotori shifts from her commanding persona to an affectionate, innocent younger-sister role, confusing Lingmeng and Shido. Her warmth helps Lingmeng feel welcome.
• Tohka is enthusiastic about Lingmeng’s arrival and impatiently anticipates dinner.
• The group’s interactions are playful and informal: Shido and Lingmeng share confusion over Kotori’s behavior, Kotori teases them, and Tohka’s hunger keeps the focus on the meal.

Significant themes

• Unexpected connection: Shido’s worries about finding Lingmeng are answered by an unlikely supermarket encounter.
• Hospitality and belonging: A simple dinner invitation brings Lingmeng into Shido’s family gathering.
• Financial hardship and everyday life: Lingmeng’s discounted shopping contrasts with the supernatural circumstances around the characters.
• Identity and changing personas: Kotori’s ribbons signal sharply different sides of her personality, while Lingmeng reflects on her changed life and growing attachments.
  The excerpt ends before dinner is finished or Lingmeng’s offer to help is resolved.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng helps Shido prepare dinner, revealing that she is an experienced cook because she has had to feed herself on a tight budget since her parents died.
• The meal is a success, especially with Tohka’s enormous appetite. Kotori jokes that Lingmeng would make a good wife and suggests she marry Shido; Tohka misunderstands marriage as a way to get their cooking every day.
• In Commander Mode, Kotori asks whether Shido has invited Lingmeng on a date. He has not, so Kotori arranges for him to walk Lingmeng back to her hotel and use the opportunity to ask.
• Shido nervously invites Lingmeng on a date. She refuses, joking that she had thought of him as a brother and accusing him of wanting to sleep with her, then admits she understands he wants to seal her Spirit powers.
• Lingmeng says she does not want to date him, even though she regrets the danger her Spacequakes pose. She can partly control their frequency and range, but still fears harming people.

Character developments

• Lingmeng shows practical kindness by helping cook, while her comments reveal her self-reliance and limited means. She is aware of Shido’s mission and remains unwilling to pursue a relationship as a means of sealing her powers.
• Shido is grateful for Lingmeng’s help and follows Kotori’s plan, but is visibly awkward about asking her out. He genuinely recognizes her concern about causing harm.
• Kotori shifts between affectionate little-sister teasing and decisive Commander Mode, actively trying to set Shido and Lingmeng up.
• Tohka enjoys the meal and is reluctant to see Lingmeng leave; her innocent misunderstanding of marriage provides comic relief.

Significant themes

• Care and hospitality: Sharing a meal brings the group together and lets Lingmeng contribute to Shido’s household.
• Duty versus personal choice: Shido’s date invitation is tied to sealing Lingmeng’s powers, but Lingmeng insists that she must choose for herself.
• Responsibility and fear of harm: Lingmeng’s refusal is complicated by her sincere worry that her Spacequakes could hurt others.
• Comedy and misunderstanding: Kotori’s matchmaking, Shido’s embarrassment, and Tohka’s literal interpretation of marriage keep the scene light despite the serious stakes.

Character interactions

• Shido and Lingmeng cooperate warmly in the kitchen, earning praise from Tohka and Kotori.
• Kotori teases Shido about marrying Lingmeng, then privately urges him to ask her out.
• Lingmeng and Tohka share an affectionate goodbye, while Kotori ensures Shido walks Lingmeng home.
• At the hotel, Lingmeng jokes with Shido before plainly refusing his invitation and explaining that she knows its real purpose.

Plot points and events

• Shido tries to persuade Lingmeng to date him so he can raise her affection enough to seal her. Lingmeng rejects him, saying she sees him only as a friend and has no interest in dating. When Shido probes into her emotional distance, she angrily insists she would rather die than go on a date with him, then teleports him home.
• Back at Ratatoskr, Shido reports his failure to Kotori and Tohka. Tohka worries that they might hurt Lingmeng, so Shido explains the situation to her.
• The next day, Lingmeng goes for a walk and notices someone following her. She turns it into a chase, then surprises her pursuer in an alley—only to discover it is Tohka.
• Tohka has skipped breakfast while waiting for Lingmeng, so Lingmeng buys her steamed buns. Tohka eats more than a dozen, leaving Lingmeng with only five hundred yen and little money to live on.
• Tohka explains that Shido told her Lingmeng is a Spirit. She then asks Lingmeng to go on a date with him, saying she understands how difficult life can be before Shido seals a Spirit.

Character development and interactions

• Lingmeng firmly rejects Shido’s romantic approach and keeps her deeper feelings guarded. Her harshness appears partly protective: she would rather distance herself than risk Shido getting hurt. She is also playful and resourceful, but her generosity toward Tohka quickly worsens her money troubles.
• Shido genuinely wants to help Lingmeng, but his attempt to reach her emotionally backfires. He accepts the rejection with visible disappointment and admits he struggles with dating without Ratatoskr’s guidance.
• Tohka shows concern for both Shido and Lingmeng. Though impulsive and forgetful—especially around food and keeping Spirit matters secret—she approaches Lingmeng out of her own concern, not at Shido or Kotori’s request.
• Kotori remains the practical coordinator, teasing Shido about his failure and advising him to explain the situation to Tohka.

Significant themes

• Compassion versus unwanted intimacy: Shido’s wish to save Lingmeng is sincere, but she does not want romance to be treated as a condition she must fulfill.
• Emotional guardedness and self-protection: Lingmeng’s rejection suggests a desire to keep others at a distance, possibly to protect them as well as herself.
• Friendship and empathy: Tohka’s concern offers a gentler form of support than Shido’s direct romantic appeal.
• Everyday burdens amid supernatural stakes: The chapter shifts from sealing Spirits and teleportation to food costs, leaving Lingmeng comically short of money.

Key plot points and events

• Tohka persuades Lingmeng to agree to a date with Shido by pleading with her and promising to do whatever she asks. Lingmeng requests that Tohka call her “big brother” and hug and nuzzle her; Tohka happily complies, leaving Lingmeng overwhelmed and with a nosebleed.
• Tohka returns home and tells Shido and Kotori that Lingmeng agreed to the date. Though she forgot to arrange its details, Lingmeng texts Shido the meeting place and time: the Hachiko Statue at Tengu City Station, at 8:30 the next morning.
• Shido arrives more than ten minutes late because Tohka had tried to come along. Kotori’s team distracts Tohka with food, allowing the date to proceed.
• Following Kotori’s coaching, Shido compliments Lingmeng’s clothes, but the compliment backfires when he learns she is wearing a cheap tracksuit. A clumsy follow-up restores their rapport somewhat.
• Lingmeng says she has no destination in mind and expects Shido to have planned the date. Shido turns to Ratatoskr for help, and the crew votes on possible activities: a movie wins, followed by the aquarium, while one person chooses an inappropriate hotel suggestion.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng reluctantly agrees to the date out of affection for Tohka, not romantic interest in Shido. She treats it as an obligation to get over with and is eager to return to gaming.
• Tohka is affectionate and earnest, but misunderstands what a date entails—she imagines it as a group outing with two girls and Shido. She is pleased that she has helped bring Lingmeng and Shido together.
• Shido is anxious to make the date work, but is late and awkward, relying on Kotori and Ratatoskr for guidance.
• Kotori manages the situation from behind the scenes, coaching Shido and arranging to keep Tohka occupied. Ratatoskr’s crew acts as the date’s unseen planning committee.
• Lingmeng and Shido’s banter establishes their familiar, teasing dynamic: she scolds him and rejects his clumsy flattery, while he tries to recover without losing her good will.

Significant themes

• Reluctance versus obligation: Lingmeng’s agreement comes from Tohka’s pleading, not a desire to date.
• Affection and misunderstanding: Tohka’s innocent interpretation of dating creates both the chapter’s comedy and the circumstances that bring the date about.
• Orchestrated romance: Shido’s date is less spontaneous than it appears, with Kotori and Ratatoskr directing his choices.
• Comedic awkwardness: Lingmeng’s inner excitement around Tohka contrasts with her resistance to romance with Shido, while Shido’s scripted attempts at charm repeatedly misfire.

Plot points and events

• Kotori’s crew debates date plans for Shido and Lingmeng, ultimately sending them to a movie theater. Kannazuki makes an inappropriate suggestion and is dragged away by two musclemen as punishment.
• Shido asks Fraxinus to help choose a film. The crew is split, but Kotori selects School Days, despite Lingmeng’s preference for the animated Gun Battle.
• Lingmeng finds the romance film dull, then becomes furious and uncomfortable when nearby couples begin loudly displaying their affection. She and Shido leave before the movie ends.
• Shido tries to distract her by asking whether she has eaten. Lingmeng says she cannot afford breakfast because Tohka ate through her money. She eagerly accepts Shido’s offer to pay for food, openly treating him as a generous “buddy.”
• Fraxinus votes on where they should eat. An upscale French restaurant wins, and Kotori tells Shido to take Lingmeng there, with the crew arranging payment.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng remains blunt, independent, and uninterested in romance. Her irritation at the theater reveals her hostility toward public displays of affection, while her quick acceptance of a free meal shows her practical focus on food and money.
• Shido is considerate but uncertain, repeatedly relying on Kotori and the crew for decisions. He notices Lingmeng’s discomfort and tries to make the outing more pleasant.
• Kotori directs the date remotely, treating it as a strategy exercise and dismissing Kannazuki’s crude ideas.
• Fraxinus’s crew functions as a comical advisory panel, voting on nearly every choice. Kannazuki’s humiliation provides a running gag.

Significant themes

• The chapter contrasts the crew’s conventional idea of a romantic date with Lingmeng’s casual, non-romantic attitude toward Shido.
• Comedy comes from the mismatch between carefully engineered date plans and Lingmeng’s practical concerns—especially her hunger and dislike of forced romantic atmospheres.
• The story also pokes fun at public displays of affection and at the crew’s overinvolvement in Shido’s personal life.

Key plot points

• Shido takes Lingmeng to an expensive French restaurant. She enjoys the novelty, though she finds the food only average for its price.
• When dessert arrives, a masked, disguised “chef” serves them chocolate cake containing a powerful sedative. Shido collapses, but Lingmeng pretends to be unconscious.
• The intruder reveals herself as Origami, who drugged and subdued the restaurant staff before following Shido. Convinced he is cheating on her, she plans to tie Lingmeng up and take Shido to a hotel.
• Lingmeng resists Origami’s attack, easily dodges her, and knocks her unconscious with a teleporting strike.
• After reassuring Shido that Origami will recover, Lingmeng picks up the rope Origami brought and approaches her, leaving Shido uneasy about what she intends to do.

Character developments

• Lingmeng is curious and pleased to experience a fancy restaurant, but remains practical about its cost. She is unfazed by the sedative and quickly proves capable in a fight.
• Shido is awkward about the date and tries to clarify that Lingmeng is only a friend. He is alarmed by Origami’s plan and concerned for her after Lingmeng knocks her out.
• Origami displays extreme jealousy and possessiveness, stalking Shido and resorting to drugging the staff and guests to confront Lingmeng.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Origami interprets Shido’s outing with Lingmeng as infidelity and escalates dramatically.
• Misunderstanding and comic contrast: A simple meal between friends is treated as a romantic betrayal, while Shido’s anxious reactions contrast with Lingmeng’s casual attitude.
• Power and vulnerability: Origami’s sedative incapacitates Shido but has no effect on Lingmeng, whose Spirit abilities let her turn the confrontation around.

Character interactions

• Shido and Lingmeng share an awkward but friendly meal; Lingmeng teases him about having a girlfriend and calls him a “wimp.”
• Origami accuses Lingmeng of being a homewrecker, while Shido insists she is only his friend.
• Lingmeng challenges Origami after being attacked, defeats her, and then takes up Origami’s rope—suggesting she may retaliate or restrain her.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng searches the unconscious Origami for weapons, finds a dagger and handgun, and destroys them. She also discovers a blue pill and ties Origami up.
• Shido is still weakened by the earlier drug. Lingmeng revives him with an electric shock, leaving him able to move but badly shaken.
• Lingmeng identifies the pill as an aphrodisiac and suspects Origami intended Shido to take it. Shido refuses, so Lingmeng gives it to Origami instead. Though uneasy about leaving her bound, Shido leaves with Lingmeng to continue their date.
• At Kotori’s direction, they head to the amusement park for the date’s final stop. The crew debates whether Lingmeng would prefer a thrilling or relaxing attraction; Kotori chooses the Carousel, privately revealing that she herself is afraid of roller coasters.
• Lingmeng initially dismisses the Carousel as childish, then repeatedly rides it to keep Shido from taking her to other attractions and improving her affection toward him. Kotori urges Shido to move on, and an attendant eventually intervenes after they have ridden more than a dozen times. Lingmeng reluctantly agrees to leave.

Character developments

• Lingmeng remains mischievous and irreverent, using teasing, mock concern, and questionable methods to manage Shido and Origami. She also treats the date strategically, recognizing that staying on one ride limits Shido’s chances to win her over.
• Shido is embarrassed and physically vulnerable, but still shows concern for Origami before deciding to prioritize the date. He continues following Kotori’s guidance despite his discomfort.
• Kotori directs the date from Fraxinus, balancing the crew’s competing opinions while keeping her own fear of thrill rides secret.
• Origami is revealed to have carried weapons and an aphrodisiac, apparently intending to use the pill on Shido. She remains incapacitated and bound for now.

Themes and interactions

• The chapter plays comedy off the contrast between Shido’s earnestness and Lingmeng’s teasing, often provocative behavior.
• The date is treated as a tactical operation: Kotori and the crew advise Shido, while Lingmeng tries to thwart the goal of raising her affection.
• Lingmeng’s banter with Shido and her handling of Origami show how casual humor and more troubling boundary-crossing coexist in the scene.

Plot points and events

• Kotori concludes that an ordinary attraction won’t impress Lingmeng and tells Shido to take her on the roller coaster, hoping he can comfort her and build affection by holding her hand.
• Lingmeng remains completely unfazed by the roller coaster—and falls asleep on the first ride. At Kotori’s insistence, Shido rides it repeatedly, then suffers through the drop tower as well. Neither attraction gives him an opportunity to connect with Lingmeng; instead, he becomes physically ill.
• Lingmeng suggests another distraction after Shido throws up. Seeing people bungee-jumping, she takes him to the platform and encourages him to jump, promising to protect him.
• Shido hesitates, but Kotori urges him to go through with it. Lingmeng then kicks him off the platform. The bungee cord snaps, and she uses her powers to pull him to safety before he hits the ground.
• Lingmeng erases the staff member’s memory of seeing her use her powers. She and Shido recover on a bench, and Lingmeng heads to a vending machine for a drink.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido tries to follow Kotori’s dating strategy, but repeated rides leave him exhausted and frightened. He remains obedient to Kotori despite his protests, and his trust in Lingmeng helps him face the jump.
• Lingmeng is calm and playful throughout the dangerous attractions. She teases Shido and pushes him to try bungee-jumping, but when the cord breaks, she acts quickly to save him and conceals her Spirit powers.
• Kotori directs the date from the Fraxinus, becoming increasingly insistent that Shido keep trying attractions until he can hold Lingmeng’s hand. Her tactics disregard Shido’s distress.
• The interactions contrast Kotori’s calculated matchmaking with Lingmeng’s self-directed, teasing approach. Shido is caught between the two, while Lingmeng’s rescue demonstrates that her playfulness does not mean she is careless about his safety.

Significant themes

• Love cannot be engineered easily: Kotori’s planned “thrills” do not produce the desired romantic moment.
• Reversed fear and vulnerability: Lingmeng is unshaken, while Shido is the one overwhelmed and frightened.
• Power and responsibility: Lingmeng’s abilities protect Shido, but she must hide them from ordinary people.
• Comic misfortune: Shido’s miserable endurance and the freak equipment failure turn a date into a succession of disasters.

Plot points and events

• Fraxinus reports that Lingmeng’s affection for Shido has remained fixed at 70 throughout their date—friendly, but not enough to seal her. Shido worries he may have upset her.
• While buying drinks, Lingmeng loses her last 500 yen to a faulty vending machine. In anger, she kicks it hard enough to break it; the machine then dispenses all its drinks. She gathers them and brings them back to Shido, admitting what happened and asking him to arrange for the machine to be replaced. Ratatoskr promptly handles it.
• At Kotori’s prompting, Shido asks Lingmeng what is bothering her. She says she has no complaint about him beyond disliking that her first date was with a guy.
• Lingmeng agrees to explain what is on her mind, but only after Fraxinus switches off its listening equipment.
• She reveals that April 1 is her birthday and recounts a painful past: born in China, she lost her mother and father, then her grandfather and grandmother. After becoming an orphan, she found friendship at an orphanage, but a fire killed everyone there except her. She came to believe she brought misfortune to those around her and withdrew from others.
• Lingmeng then explains that she died in her former world after being struck by lightning from an amateur goddess, and was reincarnated as a girl in another world. There, powerful Mecha Girls hunted her because of her dangerous abilities. Although she could have defeated them, she avoided hurting anyone and lived in constant turmoil.
• Shido recognizes the story as Lingmeng’s own. She confirms she is from another world and asks him to keep the truth from Kotori and the others. He agrees.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng is shown as impulsive and comically short-tempered in the vending-machine incident, but also honest about what she did. Her backstory explains her guardedness, loneliness, and reluctance to harm others. By confiding in Shido, she shows a measure of trust.
• Shido remains concerned about Lingmeng’s feelings and listens seriously when she opens up. He promises to respect her confidence, even joking that he would not reveal the secret even if Kotori exposed his own embarrassing history.
• Kotori directs Shido’s efforts to learn what is keeping Lingmeng’s affection from changing and arranges for the broken machine to be replaced. Lingmeng’s familiarity with her prompts Kotori’s mild annoyance.

Significant themes

• Isolation and fear of loss: Lingmeng’s repeated bereavements leave her convinced that closeness brings tragedy.
• Restraint and responsibility: Despite immense power, she avoids harming others.
• Trust and privacy: Lingmeng shares her identity only after ensuring they cannot be overheard, and Shido honors her request for secrecy.
• Humor beside trauma: The vending-machine comedy and Lingmeng’s jokes contrast with the painful history beneath her guarded demeanor.

Chapter summary

• Lingmeng rejects Shido: Lingmeng tells Shido that although she was once a man, she has no romantic interest in men and sees him only as a friend. Shido is devastated by her blunt “good guy” rejection. She warns him that staying near her is dangerous, then leaves.
• Ratatoskr looks for another approach: Shido reports the failed attempt to Kotori, who assumes Lingmeng may be attracted to women. He insists he still wants to help her, but neither he nor Kotori has an obvious solution. Kannazuki proposes an idea that Kotori considers usable but perverted, leaving Shido uneasy.
• Money persuades Lingmeng to agree: Back at her hotel, Lingmeng reflects that she cannot date Shido simply because he wants to help. When he asks for one more date and promises it will be the last, she refuses—until Ratatoskr deposits a monthly allowance of 500,000 yen. She then agrees to meet Shido at a café at 8:30 the next morning, insisting she is not giving in to him.
• DEM targets Lingmeng: At DEM headquarters, Isaac tells Ellen that Lingmeng has been sighted in Tengu City and says he wants to capture her as a new test subject. He has already sent Wizards to do the job, judging them capable enough. Ellen, who still wants to avenge her earlier defeat by Lingmeng, is instead assigned a towering stack of paperwork.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido remains determined to help Lingmeng, even after being rejected, and is willing to try Ratatoskr’s next plan despite suspecting it may be improper.
• Lingmeng maintains her emotional distance and insistence that she will not fall for Shido, but her practical side wins out when offered substantial financial support.
• Kotori supports Shido’s efforts while recognizing the difficulty of winning over someone who says she is not interested in men. Her banter and physical reprimand of Kannazuki reinforce her no-nonsense command style.
• Ellen is frustrated by being denied a chance to confront Lingmeng again, while Isaac treats Lingmeng as a valuable experimental subject rather than a person.

Significant themes

The chapter contrasts genuine care with romantic expectation: Shido wants to help, but Lingmeng does not owe him affection in return. It also uses comedy and money to undercut the seriousness of the dating plan, while the DEM scene introduces a darker threat of exploitation and capture.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng arrives early for a paid date with Shido, already annoyed that he is late.
• Shido appears in women’s clothing and makeup. Lingmeng refuses to believe he is Shido and drags him into the restroom to verify, discovering that he is still male. She apologizes, and they agree to keep the embarrassing incident secret.
• Shido explains that he dressed up because Lingmeng had said she wasn’t interested in men; Kotori and the Fraxinus crew arranged his makeover. Lingmeng admits she likes how pretty he looks.
• Lingmeng confirms that Ratatoskr will not monitor or interfere with the date, as she had requested.
• Uncomfortable calling him Shido while he looks like a girl, Lingmeng proposes “Shidomi.” She recognizes it is a poor, improvised name, but Shido reassures her that he doesn’t mind.

Character developments

• Lingmeng’s skepticism and curiosity lead her to behave intrusively, but she feels guilty afterward and apologizes. Despite her resistance to romance, Shido’s makeover unexpectedly affects her.
• Shido shows embarrassment and vulnerability over the disguise, yet willingly accepts the crew’s efforts in hopes of winning Lingmeng over. He is relieved by her compliment and tries to soothe her when she becomes self-conscious.

Themes

• Appearance and identity: Shido’s feminine presentation makes Lingmeng question who he is, even though his identity has not changed.
• Romance and persuasion: Shido’s willingness to transform himself reflects his determination to appeal to Lingmeng, while her reactions hint at feelings she would rather resist.
• Boundaries and trust: Lingmeng’s invasive “verification” crosses a line; her apology and their agreement to keep the incident private begin to restore their rapport.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Shido’s date begins with irritation and disbelief, shifts into an embarrassing confrontation, and settles into awkward but warmer conversation.
• Lingmeng’s compliments and nickname show growing fondness, while Shido’s reassurance helps ease her embarrassment.
• Kotori and Ratatoskr remain offstage but shape the date by arranging Shido’s appearance and agreeing not to interfere.

Plot points and events

• Shido adopts the feminine name Shiori for the date with Lingmeng. With Kotori absent, he lets Lingmeng choose where they go.
• Lingmeng jokingly suggests getting a hotel room, startling Shiori, then reveals she has another destination in mind: an anime convention.
• At the convention, Lingmeng teases Shiori about fitting in among male cross-dressers. She asks a cosplayer whether she is a man, only to learn that Sotei Chiaki is actually a woman. After complimenting Chiaki’s Kaneki costume, the pair part ways.
• Lingmeng and Shiori explore the convention. While Lingmeng shops, takes photos, and playfully acts out a JoJo fight with a DIO cosplayer, Shiori needs the bathroom. Confused by the unmarked doors, he enters the women’s restroom by mistake and leaves embarrassed.
• When Shiori returns, Lingmeng has disappeared, and he calls out for her.

Character developments and interactions

• Shiori/Shido is shy and inexperienced on the date, but tries to be agreeable and considerate. His feminine presentation and manner are explained as the result of being made to dress as a girl and play many otome games the day before. The restroom mishap highlights his discomfort with how others perceive him.
• Lingmeng is playful and teasing, but also takes the lead in planning the date and introducing Shiori to the convention. She becomes absorbed in the event and may not have heard him leave.
• Chiaki is friendly and unbothered by Lingmeng’s blunt question, briefly connecting with the pair through her cosplay.

Significant themes

• Gender presentation and mistaken assumptions: Shiori’s appearance complicates ordinary expectations, especially when choosing a restroom.
• Embarrassment and vulnerability: Shiori’s nervousness contrasts with Lingmeng’s confidence and humor.
• Shared experiences and fandom: The convention gives the pair a chance to spend time together, even when Shiori does not understand all the activities.
• Playful intimacy: Lingmeng’s hotel-room joke and ongoing teasing test Shiori’s comfort while keeping the date lighthearted.

Plot points and events

• At a crowded convention, Shiori and Lingmeng lose track of each other. Shiori searches for Lingmeng, while Lingmeng searches for Shiori; Lingmeng considers using her powers to find her but decides against risking detection by the AST.
• Shiori meets Liangyi Mengyue, a cosplayer carrying a custom bow, who offers to help with the search. The two hold hands as they look, and each blushes at the closeness.
• Lingmeng is approached by an unidentified girl accompanied by someone with blue hair. Soon afterward, Lingmeng and Shiori reunite, and Lingmeng hugs Shiori in relief.
• Lingmeng thanks Mengyue for helping. Recognizing Mengyue’s anime-inspired costume, she enthusiastically discusses it with her. Mengyue describes her elaborate bow, Ratziel, and pretends its laser effect is a powerful weapon; Lingmeng plays along.
• Shiori, unable to follow their anime talk, worries that Lingmeng is neglecting their date. Lingmeng notices and ends the conversation, though she and Mengyue exchange contact information. Mengyue jokingly says she might pursue Shiori herself.
• As Lingmeng and Shiori leave, Lingmeng asks where Shiori wants to go as an apology for losing her. Shiori has no preference—until they receive a flyer for a newly opened haunted house offering half-price admission. Shiori focuses on the discount.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng shows concern when Shiori disappears and avoids using her powers to keep their date—and herself—safe. She is friendly and excitable around Mengyue, but eventually notices Shiori’s discomfort and redirects her attention to their date.
• Shiori is anxious about losing Lingmeng and eager to make the date meaningful. She is shy around Mengyue, especially when complimented, and feels left out during the anime conversation.
• Mengyue is helpful and outgoing, offering to search for Shiori and bonding quickly with Lingmeng over cosplay. Her teasing remark about pursuing Shiori introduces a playful hint of rivalry.
• The chapter’s interactions shift from the pair’s anxious separation, to Shiori and Mengyue’s warm first meeting, to Lingmeng and Mengyue’s enthusiastic fandom connection, and finally back to Lingmeng and Shiori’s date.

Significant themes

• Affection and jealousy: Shiori wants Lingmeng’s attention, while Mengyue’s flirtatious teasing lightly complicates their date.
• Trust and safety: Lingmeng chooses not to use her powers in a crowded place where the AST might detect her.
• Cosplay and shared interests: The convention brings characters together through creative self-expression and fandom.
• Comedy and awkwardness: Misunderstandings, exaggerated role-play, and Shiori’s embarrassment keep the reunion lighthearted.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori suggests visiting a discounted haunted house, and the ghost-fearing Lingmeng reluctantly agrees to go with him.
• Inside, Lingmeng clings to Shiori while insisting she is not scared. Shiori teases her by pretending to be a monster, then apologizes when she gets upset.
• A falling head startles Lingmeng into rushing back into Shiori’s arms. He reassures her that it is only a prop and promises to protect her.
• Growing confident after a monster-free stretch, Lingmeng boasts that she is the “Strongest Spirit.” A costumed vampire then frightens her, and she punches him unconscious before realizing what she has done.
• As Lingmeng recovers, a bat flies into her face, provoking another scream; the chapter ends on the renewed scare.

Character developments

• Lingmeng is revealed to be intensely afraid of ghosts and horror despite her proud, tough persona. Her fear makes her cling to Shiori, but she also reacts with startling strength when startled.
• Shiori remains calm and playful, teasing Lingmeng but also comforting her and promising not to abandon her. He finds her unusually vulnerable side endearing.

Significant themes

• Bravado versus vulnerability: Lingmeng’s claims of fearlessness repeatedly collapse when confronted with scares.
• Affection and trust: Though embarrassed by her dependence, Lingmeng seeks Shiori’s protection, and he responds reassuringly.
• Comedy through contrast: Lingmeng’s dramatic terror contrasts with her ability to knock out the actor meant to scare her.

Character interactions

• Shiori gently teases Lingmeng about her fear and “girly” behavior, briefly upsetting her before he apologizes.
• Lingmeng repeatedly clings to Shiori, while he comforts her and promises to stay by her side.
• Lingmeng’s response to the vampire turns the haunted-house performance around: she scares and incapacitates the actor, prompting Shiori’s concern and disbelief.

Plot points and events

• Still frightened from the haunted house, Lingmeng runs ahead of Shiori. When a swarm of bats, a mummy, and Frankenstein’s monster confront her, she panics and accidentally defeats them—burning the bats and swinging the two workers away.
• Shiori arrives afterward, recognizes the damage Lingmeng caused, apologizes to the performers, and follows her.
• Lingmeng reaches a pond with a key and an exit door on the far side. She finds a crying child, Sakurako, on a narrow bridge and kindly offers to help her find her parents.
• Sakurako reveals her monstrous face and grabs Lingmeng. Lingmeng panics and swings her around until Sakurako is flung into the pond.
• A Kappa then grabs Lingmeng’s ankle and tries to pull her into the water. Lingmeng clings to the bridge and, in desperation, creates a powerful whirlpool that loosens the Kappa’s grip.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng is powerful but easily frightened; panic repeatedly makes her lash out with overwhelming strength, often without realizing the damage she causes. Despite her fear, she shows compassion toward Sakurako before discovering the girl is part of the haunted house.
• Shiori acts as Lingmeng’s concerned companion, trying to keep up and taking responsibility for apologizing to the haunted-house employees.
• The performers—the mummy, Frankenstein’s monster, Sakurako, and the Kappa—are revealed to be workers trying to scare visitors, but Lingmeng’s reactions prevent them from explaining themselves.
• Lingmeng’s encounters with Sakurako and the Kappa turn her from fleeing through the attraction to fighting back, culminating in her use of Spirit powers.

Significant themes

• Comedy through misunderstanding: Lingmeng mistakes employees’ scares for real danger and never hears their explanations.
• Fear versus power: Although Lingmeng has immense abilities, terror governs her behavior and unleashes them accidentally.
• Kindness amid fear: Lingmeng genuinely tries to comfort Sakurako before the frightening reveal.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng is swallowed by a sudden whirlpool in the haunted-house pond, which knocks out the Kappa actor. Though soaked and exhausted, she later reunites with Shiori and claims the two actors had been picking on her—despite both lying unconscious in the water.
• Shiori comforts Lingmeng and leads her to the exit. They clear the attraction, but he quickly refuses the staff’s offer of a commemorative photo, worried the unconscious actors’ condition might come to light.
• Lingmeng insists afterward that she was never scared, though Shiori remembers her nearly crying. Since her clothes are drenched, they stop at a clothing store.
• Lingmeng buys a tomboyish outfit and decides to discard her damaged tracksuit. She also encourages Shiori to try on new clothes, but her suggestions—such as a swimsuit, bunny suit, nurse uniform, and maid outfit—are far too embarrassing for him. Shiori declines, and they head to the register.

Character development

• Lingmeng quickly recovers from her distress and returns to her boastful, teasing manner, denying that she was frightened. Her willingness to replace her worn-out clothes also reflects her new financial security and growing comfort indulging herself.
• Shiori shows concern for Lingmeng and tries to reassure her, even while privately recognizing that her account of being bullied does not match what he sees. He is also embarrassed by Lingmeng’s provocative outfit suggestions, though he briefly considers cooperating to improve her affection for him.

Themes

• Contrasting appearances and reality: Lingmeng portrays herself as a victim and later as fearless, while the unconscious actors suggest a very different story.
• Affection and awkward courtship: Their date is marked by Shiori’s efforts to be considerate and Lingmeng’s teasing attempts to dress him up.
• Identity and comfort: Lingmeng’s preference for menswear, and her discomfort with wearing a bra, underscore her continued identification with her former life as a man.

Character interactions

• Shiori comforts Lingmeng after the haunted house, takes her hand, and guides her out.
• Their teasing continues afterward: he calls out her denial of being scared, while she reframes it as “caution.”
• At the store, Lingmeng seeks Shiori’s approval of her outfit, then playfully pressures him to try on clothes. He firmly resists, and she ultimately respects his refusal.