Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Kotori reveals that her Healing Flame is her own Spirit ability, confirming Lingmeng’s deduction that she could recover from fatal injuries.
• Kotori and Kurumi resume their fight. Kurumi attacks with clones and special bullets, but Kotori’s wide-area strikes, healing, and apparent ability to recover from death make her a natural counter.
• When Kurumi heals herself with Zafkiel’s Dalet and prepares to escalate, Kotori suddenly collapses and warns Shido and Lingmeng that she is losing control.
• Shido rushes to protect Kotori, and Lingmeng steps in front of him. Kotori then rises in a terrifying, apparently uncontrolled state and transforms Camael into a cannon.
• Kurumi’s clones shield her from Kotori’s devastating blast, but the attack melts the ground and destroys Kurumi’s arm and part of Zafkiel’s clock. Kurumi is left kneeling, stunned by Kotori’s strength.

Character developments and interactions

• Kotori shifts from confident combatant to a frightening, unstable version of herself, suggesting her power comes with a serious risk or cost. Despite that, she continues fighting with overwhelming force.
• Kurumi begins the battle amused and confident, but her attacks fail against Kotori’s defenses. After unleashing her own recovery ability, she is badly overwhelmed and left shaken.
• Lingmeng recognizes the tactical mismatch between the two and explains it to Shido through a humorous gaming analogy: Kotori’s area attacks and durability counter Kurumi’s clone-based fighting style.
• Shido remains confused about the mechanics of the fight, but his instinct is to protect Kotori. Lingmeng protects him in turn, and Kurumi mocks their show of loyalty.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Kotori’s immense strength is paired with a dangerous loss of control.
• Protection and loyalty: Shido and Lingmeng put themselves between Kotori and Kurumi despite the danger.
• Tactical advantage: The battle emphasizes how abilities that directly counter an opponent can outweigh their usual strengths.

Key plot points and events

• Kotori, appearing out of control, continues attacking Kurumi and ignores Shido’s and Lingmeng’s pleas to stop.
• Shido shields Kurumi with his own body. Lingmeng intercepts Kotori’s fire attack with an Ice Shield and urges Shido to get Kurumi to safety.
• Shido carries Kurumi away, while Lingmeng redirects Kotori’s next blast into the sky, then knocks her unconscious with a hand chop.
• Lingmeng confirms Kotori will recover after resting. Kurumi, exhausted and unable to continue fighting, accepts that the battle is over.
• Lingmeng heals Kurumi’s injuries, including restoring the arm Kotori destroyed. In playful payment, Kurumi kisses Lingmeng.

Character developments

• Shido acts on instinct to protect Kurumi, despite her earlier attempt to devour him.
• Lingmeng risks herself to protect Shido and Kurumi, then shows compassion by healing Kurumi rather than treating her as an enemy.
• Kotori behaves violently and irrationally, forcing Shido and Lingmeng to restrain her; she is left unconscious but expected to recover.
• Kurumi is surprised by her enemies’ mercy. She remains teasing and flirtatious, responding to Lingmeng’s kindness with a kiss.

Significant themes

• Compassion without conditions: Shido insists that saving someone needs no reason.
• Peace over vengeance: Lingmeng chooses to heal Kurumi after stopping the fight.
• Trust and unexpected bonds: Kurumi begins to recognize Shido and Lingmeng as unusually kind, if perhaps foolish, people.
• Humor amid danger: The rescue and aftermath are softened by teasing, awkwardness, and Kurumi’s playful “payment.”

Character interactions

• Shido challenges Kotori’s attack and protects Kurumi; Lingmeng shields him and later takes Kotori down.
• Shido and Lingmeng reassure one another that their friends are safe.
• Kurumi questions why they saved her, then thanks Lingmeng in her own teasing fashion by kissing her.

• Kurumi refuses sealing: After jokingly encouraging Kurumi, Lingmeng is surprised when Kurumi kisses Shido too, thanking him for protecting her. The kiss does not seal Kurumi’s powers. Kurumi declines to return with the group, explaining that she must retain her power until she fulfills a long-held wish. Lingmeng respects her choice but asks her not to harm innocent people; Kurumi agrees.
• Kurumi questions Lingmeng: Kurumi asks whether Lingmeng can travel through time. Lingmeng says she can revisit the past, but cannot change events without risking paradoxes. Disappointed, Kurumi accepts that she must rely on her own abilities. She then asks who Lingmeng really is; Lingmeng only describes herself as “a Spirit passing through.”
• Kotori reveals her past: Back aboard the Fraxinus, Lingmeng, Shido, and Kotori undergo examinations. Shido falls asleep from exhaustion, and Lingmeng speaks privately with Kotori. Kotori confirms that she became a Spirit five years earlier for reasons she does not understand, and that Shido sealed her powers at the time. Neither remembers what happened immediately afterward. Ratatoskr later recruited Kotori as the Fraxinus’s commander after discovering Shido’s sealing ability.
• Kotori’s loss of control: Kotori says that when her powers returned, she was overwhelmed by an urge to destroy. Medication is barely keeping it under control, and she does not know what caused it. Lingmeng recognizes a possible connection to Mosaic, a woman she met in the past who seemed to possess Spirit Crystals capable of turning humans into Spirits, but keeps the suspicion to herself.
• Lingmeng meets Reine: After leaving Kotori, Lingmeng heads to Shido’s medical room and finds Reine waiting outside to check on him.
  Character developments and interactions: Kurumi shows gratitude toward Shido and respect for Lingmeng, while remaining determined to pursue her personal wish. Lingmeng continues to act tactfully and compassionately, while maintaining mystery about her own identity and withholding her theory about Kotori. Kotori is candid about her past but remains frightened and uncertain about her loss of control.
  Themes: The chapter explores secrets and hidden identities, the risks and limits of time travel, the struggle to control dangerous power, and the tension between personal goals and protecting others.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng and Reine visit Shido while he sleeps. Reine explains that Kotori became a Spirit five years ago and is now fighting a destructive urge that could overwhelm her within two days. If she loses control, she will no longer be herself.
• Kotori’s Spirit Power must be sealed, and Shido is responsible for doing so. Although Kotori’s affection for him is already at its maximum, she is looking forward to a date with him, so the Ratatoskr team plans to arrange one.
• Shido dreams of the moment Kotori first became a Spirit: young Kotori, surrounded by flames, warns him away, but her power blasts him aside as he tries to reach her.
• Shido wakes to Lingmeng joking that surgery has turned him into a girl. He panics, then realizes it is a prank. Lingmeng admits she also tried whispering suggestions to him while he slept, joking that she would marry him if they worked.
• Shido asks about Kotori and learns she is safe for now. Reine tells him to ask Kotori directly and leads him away.
• By evening, Shido has learned about Kotori’s transformation and the danger of her losing control. He is troubled that he cannot remember witnessing it, while Lingmeng encourages him to focus on sealing her power.

Character developments

• Shido wakes from a painful memory of failing to reach Kotori and becomes increasingly anxious about her safety. He also confronts the unsettling gap in his memories.
• Kotori is revealed to be in serious danger despite her strong feelings for Shido; her wish for a date offers a possible path toward sealing her power.
• Lingmeng remains playful and irreverent, teasing Shido but also offering to help if Kotori loses control.
• Reine acts as the source of crucial information and guides Shido toward speaking with Kotori himself.

Significant themes

• Love and responsibility: Shido must use his bond with Kotori to protect her.
• Memory and trauma: Shido’s dream recalls the frightening event that he cannot consciously remember.
• The danger of losing oneself: Kotori’s destructive impulse threatens to erase her identity.
• Humor amid crisis: Lingmeng’s teasing briefly lightens the mood, contrasting with the seriousness of Kotori’s condition.

Character interactions

• Reine explains Kotori’s condition and the plan for Shido’s date with her; Lingmeng agrees to attend the planning meeting.
• Lingmeng teases Shido after he wakes, while Reine checks on his wellbeing.
• Shido’s concern for Kotori drives him to demand news from Lingmeng, after which Reine directs him to seek answers from Kotori herself.
• As they walk, Lingmeng tries to reassure Shido that sealing Kotori’s power can resolve the danger.

Key plot points and events

• Shido and Lingmeng visit the Tengu City Self-Defense Forces Hospital to see Mana, who was badly injured by Kurumi. They’re told she is undergoing treatment and can’t receive visitors.
• They run into Origami, also hospitalized after the fight. Shido admits he came mainly to see Mana, then awkwardly adds that he meant to visit Origami too.
• Shido carries Origami back to her room. Her flirtatious behavior on the way unsettles him, while she pointedly ignores Lingmeng.
• Lingmeng heals Origami’s injuries with a touch, surprising her. She explains that she had intended to heal Mana but, unable to visit her, healed Origami instead.
• Origami asks what happened after she lost consciousness. Shido recounts Lingmeng’s rescue and battle with Kurumi, then mentions that a flame-wreathed Spirit appeared—without naming Kotori.
• Origami urgently asks about the Spirit of Flame. After an uncharacteristically polite request to Lingmeng, she reveals that Efreet killed her parents five years ago.

Character developments

• Shido feels guilty for forgetting Origami was injured while he was focused on Kotori, and tries to make amends by helping her.
• Lingmeng shows compassion by healing Origami, despite Origami’s cold treatment of her.
• Origami reveals a deeply personal reason for her hostility toward Spirits: she believes one of them killed her parents. Her urgency and unusual politeness suggest the subject has shaken her.
• Shido and Lingmeng recognize that the Spirit Origami means may be Kotori, creating a painful conflict between what they know of Kotori and Origami’s claim.

Significant themes

• Guilt and care: Shido’s regret prompts him to attend to Origami, while Lingmeng’s healing reflects her concern for others.
• Trauma and hidden truths: Origami’s past reframes her attitude toward Spirits and raises questions about what really happened to her parents.
• Conflicting perspectives: The characters must reconcile Origami’s account of Efreet with their own understanding of Kotori.

Character interactions

• Shido tries to reassure Origami and help her physically, while Origami remains focused on him and dismissive of Lingmeng.
• Lingmeng and Origami exchange tense remarks, but Lingmeng heals her regardless.
• Origami’s questioning turns the conversation from a report of the battle into a revelation about her family—and leaves Shido and Lingmeng stunned by the implication.

Plot points and events

• In the hospital, Origami asks Lingmeng for information about Efreet. Origami says she would kill the Spirit if they met, leaving Lingmeng afraid to reveal that Kotori is Efreet.
• Shido receives a call from Reine, giving him and Lingmeng an excuse to leave before Lingmeng has to answer Origami. Origami is left alone, visibly disappointed.
• Outside, Lingmeng questions whether Kotori could have killed Origami’s parents. Shido insists he trusts Kotori, and Lingmeng agrees to drop the subject.
• Reine summons them to the Fraxinus for a strategy meeting about Shido’s planned date with Kotori, set for two days later. School is suspended after a mass fainting incident, publicly blamed on a suspected gas leak; Lingmeng knows she was the “unnamed hero” who moved the victims to safety.
• Shido worries that waiting could put Kotori at risk. Reine explains that Kotori needs two days for medication to stabilize her. Shido believes the date is his last chance to save her, though the crew—including Lingmeng—knows a kiss would resolve the situation.
• At the meeting, Vice Commander Kannazuki rallies the crew to support Shido’s date with Kotori. Reine gives Shido and Lingmeng earplugs before the crew answers Kannazuki’s enthusiastic prompts with deafening, synchronized shouts.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng hides Kotori’s identity as Efreet from Origami, escapes the interrogation with Shido, and keeps the truth about how Kotori can be saved to herself.
• Shido shows unwavering faith in Kotori despite Origami’s accusation. He also takes the upcoming date seriously, believing Kotori’s future depends on it.
• Origami remains intent on killing Efreet and presses Lingmeng for information; her disappointment at their departure hints at her desire to continue the conversation.
• Reine manages the operation calmly, explaining the delay and preparing Shido and Lingmeng for the crew’s unusually loud meeting.
• Kannazuki leads the meeting with excessive enthusiasm, while the crew’s devotion to Kotori’s approval—and one bizarrely suggestive response—provides comic relief.

Significant themes

• Trust and loyalty: Shido’s faith in Kotori contrasts with Origami’s determination to take revenge.
• Secrecy and moral tension: Lingmeng must conceal Kotori’s identity to protect her, while Shido and the crew misunderstand the true stakes of the date.
• Comedy amid danger: The urgent plan to save Kotori is undercut by the crew’s absurd enthusiasm and Kannazuki’s eccentric leadership.

Key plot points

• The Fraxinus crew launches “Operation Make Commander Itsuka’s Heart Race” to help Shido’s date with Kotori. They choose Ocean Park, supposedly to please Kotori—but Lingmeng suspects the crew mainly wants to see their young commander in a swimsuit.
• On June 11, Shido is ordered to practice self-control by helping Tohka and Yoshino choose swimsuits ahead of the date. Lingmeng eagerly joins, while Reine says Ratatoskr will pay.
• Their shopping trip is interrupted by Origami, who has come specifically to question Lingmeng about Camael, the person believed to have killed Origami’s parents. Shido tries to deflect her, but the excerpt ends before Origami’s response.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng acts as the skeptical voice amid Ratatoskr’s enthusiasm, calling out the crew’s questionable motives. She is also openly excited about swimsuit shopping with Tohka and Yoshino.
• Shido is reluctant about the “training” but goes along with it. He and Lingmeng both recognize that Origami’s arrival threatens their plans.
• Origami remains cold and single-minded in her pursuit of answers about Camael, making clear that her appearance is deliberate.
• Tohka and Yoshino are cheerful about spending time together, while Reine organizes the outing and Kannazuki leads the crew’s over-the-top campaign for Kotori.

Significant themes

• The chapter mixes comedy with the serious consequences of Spirit-related trauma: Ratatoskr’s frivolous swimsuit plans contrast with Origami’s unresolved grief and determination.
• It also highlights the gap between the crew’s stated concern for Kotori and their less noble motivations, while Shido’s supposed self-control exercise underscores the awkwardness of his dating mission.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng and Shido struggle to explain to Origami why they cannot answer her earlier question. Tohka interrupts, sparking an argument with Origami.
• Yoshino tries to calm them down, but Origami’s presence frightens her because Origami once led the AST against her.
• When Tohka reveals that the group is going swimsuit shopping with Shido, Origami decides to come along. She admits she knows Lingmeng and Shido do not intend to tell her what they were hiding, and says she would rather keep an eye on them to prevent them from “seducing” Shido.
• Reine approves Origami joining, provided she does not detect Spirit Power and attack.
• At the swimsuit shop, Tohka is amazed by the selection and learns what swimsuits are for. Lingmeng tells her that Shido will be pleased to see her in one, prompting Tohka to enthusiastically join Yoshino in a swimsuit contest.
• Shido discovers that Reine has secretly arranged a contest: the person who makes his heart skip a beat will win a full-day date with him. Origami immediately decides to compete too.

Character developments

• Tohka remains openly jealous of Origami and eager to win Shido’s attention, but her excitement also reveals how unfamiliar she is with ordinary human activities.
• Origami shows a pragmatic side: rather than keep asking questions she knows will go unanswered, she chooses to monitor the group—and seizes the chance to compete for Shido’s affection.
• Yoshino is timid around Origami because of their painful history, yet still tries to prevent conflict.
• Shido is embarrassed and frustrated to learn he has once again been made the prize in a competition without his knowledge.
• Lingmeng acts as a cheerful guide and instigator, encouraging Tohka while helping the group navigate the awkward situation.

Significant themes

• Romantic rivalry: The swimsuit contest and promised date turn affection for Shido into a competition.
• Trust and secrecy: Lingmeng and Shido’s evasiveness frustrates Origami, while Origami recognizes that pressing them will not help.
• Belonging and unfamiliarity: Tohka’s questions about swimsuits highlight her limited experience with everyday human life.
• Past conflict and uneasy coexistence: Yoshino’s fear shows that Origami’s former role against the Spirits continues to affect their relationships.

Character interactions

• Tohka and Origami trade insults and compete for Shido’s attention; Tohka treats the outing as her date, while Origami refuses to be excluded.
• Yoshino attempts to defuse the argument, but instinctively hides behind Lingmeng and Shido when Origami turns her attention toward her.
• Lingmeng reassures and coaches Tohka, while Shido patiently explains the shop—and then protests that he was never told about the contest.
• Origami’s rivalry with Tohka intensifies when she learns a date with Shido is the prize.

Plot and events

• Origami joins Tohka and Yoshino in the swimsuit contest for the chance to date Shido. Tohka and Origami escalate from modest swimsuits to increasingly revealing bikinis, leaving Shido flustered while the Fraxinus crew enthusiastically commentates and Lingmeng takes photos.
• Lingmeng, who has no interest in winning the date, considers buying a swimsuit for future trips to the pool or beach. She instinctively picks men’s swim trunks, then realizes that, in her current female body, wearing them would draw attention.
• Shido suggests she try a women’s swimsuit. Lingmeng initially refuses, insisting that she is a proud man and finds feminine clothing embarrassing—despite frequently making Shido cross-dress. She eventually agrees because she wants to be able to swim.
• At the shop, Lingmeng asks for a modest option. The assistant recommends a school swimsuit, which Lingmeng finds embarrassing and questions the store for selling. The assistant explains that some customers request them, then offers other styles. The excerpt ends as Lingmeng discovers those alternatives are extremely skimpy, bordering on lingerie.

Character developments

• Shido struggles to stay composed amid the swimsuit contest and handles Lingmeng’s awkwardness gently, though he privately recognizes her hypocrisy about cross-dressing.
• Lingmeng confronts the practical and social consequences of having a female body. Her pride initially clashes with her wish to swim, and she reluctantly accepts that she may need to wear women’s swimwear.
• Tohka and Origami become more competitive as the contest continues; Yoshino is also energized by Origami’s participation.

Themes

• The chapter plays with gender identity and bodily change, especially Lingmeng’s lingering identification as a man despite her female appearance.
• It also uses embarrassment, modesty, and double standards for comedy, contrasting Lingmeng’s demands of Shido with her own reluctance.
• The swimsuit contest highlights competition and objectification, with Shido uncomfortable as others enjoy the spectacle.

Character interactions

• Tohka and Origami compete directly for Shido’s attention, while Yoshino joins their renewed enthusiasm.
• Lingmeng photographs the contestants and banters with Shido, who tries to steer her toward a practical solution without pressuring her.
• Lingmeng’s tense exchange with the shop assistant exposes the mismatch between her desire for modesty and the store’s increasingly provocative options.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng rejects a series of bizarre, revealing swimsuits and reluctantly settles on a school swimsuit.
• She comes out of the fitting room wearing it and asks Shido what he thinks. He is speechless at first, then tells her it suits her.
• Reine reports that Shido’s heart rate is already higher than it was with Tohka or Origami, giving Lingmeng an early lead in the date contest.
• Lingmeng teases Shido about being attracted to her, then offers to pick out his swimsuit. Instead, she returns with women’s swimsuits intended for “Shiori,” Shido’s female form.
• When Shido points out that she cannot know Shiori’s measurements, Lingmeng recites them—and several personal details—with startling accuracy. She admits she learned some by touching Shido during his previous transformation and got the rest from Kotori.
• Lingmeng insists Shido try on the swimsuits, ignoring his refusal. Tohka and Origami’s renewed argument interrupts them and gives Shido a chance to escape.

Character developments

• Lingmeng shows growing confidence in her feminine appearance, despite her initial discomfort at wearing women’s clothing. She also reveals an intense, somewhat unsettling devotion to Shiori and a playful, forceful streak.
• Shido is flustered by Lingmeng’s appearance and by her invasive knowledge of his measurements. He remains caught between the contestants’ attention and tries to avoid being dressed in women’s swimwear.
• Tohka and Origami remain determined rivals, continuing to argue over who deserves to date Shido.

Significant themes

• The chapter plays with gender presentation and identity, as Lingmeng’s resistance to feminine clothing gives way to curiosity and excitement.
• Romantic rivalry and competition drive the scene, with Shido’s heart rate serving as a measure of who is winning.
• Boundaries and embarrassment provide much of the comedy, especially through Lingmeng’s insistence on dressing Shido as Shiori and her intrusive familiarity with his body.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng seeks Shido’s approval in the school swimsuit; his compliment embarrasses her, while his reaction boosts her standing in the contest.
• She then turns the tables by trying to dress Shido as Shiori, unsettling him with her detailed knowledge and disregard for his objections.
• Tohka and Origami’s dispute interrupts Lingmeng’s scheme, briefly drawing attention away from Shido.

Key plot points and events

• Shido flees when Lingmeng offers him a swimsuit to try on, leaving her to joke that she may persuade him another time.
• Tohka and Origami reveal extremely revealing swimsuits. Shido tells them to change, despite privately being flustered by what he saw.
• Asked to judge the swimsuit contest, Shido gives Lingmeng a slight lead because Reine’s earlier advice influences his choice. Tohka accepts the result mainly because Origami did not win.
• Origami misreads Shido’s hesitation as proof that he likes school swimsuits and records this supposed preference in her notebook.
• Lingmeng realizes someone has been forgotten. Yoshino calls for help from a changing stall: she cannot manage her swimsuit while her puppet, Yoshinon, occupies one hand.
• Shido and Lingmeng open the stall and find Yoshino struggling with her swimsuit. Shido is startled and visibly flustered; Reine declares Yoshino the unexpected winner based on his heart rate and blood pressure.
• Reine and Kannazuki tease Shido over his reaction, with Kannazuki making an increasingly outrageous claim about his preferences. Shido is too embarrassed and exhausted to respond.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido tries to act responsibly around the girls’ revealing outfits, but his reactions undermine his composure. He is repeatedly embarrassed by the others’ assumptions about his tastes.
• Lingmeng is playful but modest in choosing her swimsuit, and is surprised to win the first round.
• Tohka and Origami turn the contest into a rivalry: Tohka is openly relieved Origami lost, while Origami treats the result as a clue to Shido’s preferences.
• Yoshino is revealed to have been overlooked while the others focused on the contest; she needs help because Yoshinon’s presence makes changing difficult.
• Reine and Kannazuki, observing remotely, amplify Shido’s embarrassment by interpreting his reactions and teasing him.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and comic misunderstanding: Silence, nervous reactions, and incomplete explanations are repeatedly taken as evidence of preferences Shido never expressed.
• Rivalry and jealousy: Tohka and Origami’s competition shapes the group’s attention and nearly causes them to forget Yoshino.
• Embarrassment and responsibility: Shido tries to maintain appropriate boundaries, but his involuntary reactions become the joke.
• Care amid chaos: Despite the teasing and competition, the group rushes to help Yoshino when she calls out.

Key plot points and events

• Shido helps Yoshino put on her swimsuit, trying to stay composed despite his embarrassment. Tohka checks that Yoshino is all right, while Origami interprets Shido’s reaction as proof that he likes “little girls” and considers whether her own figure matches his preferences.
• Lingmeng remains strangely motionless when the changing-room curtain opens. Yoshino jokes through her puppet about Lingmeng wearing a school swimsuit, and Origami counters that sexiness matters more than cuteness.
• Shido approaches Lingmeng, assuming she is playing a prank, but she suddenly suffers a massive nosebleed and collapses. She says she is overwhelmed by Yoshino’s cuteness.
• Shido panics and cradles her while Tohka and Yoshino worry. Reine explains that Lingmeng is probably fine: Spirits have unusual constitutions, and Shido himself has survived serious injuries.
• Lingmeng quickly gets up, complains that Shido slapped her cheeks too hard, and insists she is fine—even as her nose continues to bleed.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido is embarrassed while helping Yoshino, then shifts into a protective, alarmed role when Lingmeng collapses. He remains concerned even after Reine offers reassurance.
• Yoshino is shy and apologetic, but her puppet enthusiastically teases Lingmeng about her swimsuit. She also shows concern for Lingmeng.
• Tohka reassures Yoshino and later joins her in worrying about Lingmeng.
• Origami bluntly analyzes Shido’s preferences, tests her own appeal, and remains composed during Lingmeng’s dramatic collapse.
• Lingmeng is revealed to be intensely susceptible to Yoshino’s cuteness; despite her theatrical collapse and enormous nosebleed, she is resilient and complains about Shido’s rough handling.

Significant themes

• The scene plays up the contrast between cuteness and sexiness as competing ideals.
• Comic exaggeration drives the chapter: Lingmeng’s harmless, extreme nosebleed turns Shido’s ordinary concern into a melodramatic emergency.
• The group’s teasing and mutual concern show the mix of rivalry, embarrassment, and affection among the characters.
  The chapter also includes an unrelated author’s note about the update delay and promotions for other novels.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng tries to stand after her earlier nosebleed, collapses again, and theatrically tells Shido, “So... don’t you ever stop...” before passing out.
• Shido decides to end the shopping trip and take her to the Fraxinus for treatment. Tohka and Yoshino have already chosen swimsuits, but Origami insists on staying to buy a school swimsuit.
• Origami assumes Shido has a school-swimsuit fetish because of his reaction to Lingmeng. Shido tries to deny it, but Origami calmly says she will indulge his tastes. He abandons the argument and carries Lingmeng away.
• Aboard the Fraxinus, Lingmeng receives a blood transfusion after examinations show that she is in mild shock from losing too much blood. While left alone to rest, she complains about being weak and bored.
• Lingmeng recalls how a glimpse of Yoshino’s body caused her to bleed far more than her dangerous fight with Ellen ever did. She imagines Ellen in a similar situation, and the fantasy makes her nosebleed again, rapidly draining the blood bag.
• Meanwhile, in Britain, Ellen senses an inexplicable feeling of being targeted. The scene reveals her privately enjoying strawberry cake and worrying that her subordinates might discover her childish taste.
• As Lingmeng gets her bleeding under control, someone nearby laughs at her persistent nosebleeds. She turns toward the voice, but the chapter ends before the speaker is identified.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng remains shamelessly lecherous and melodramatic, even while injured; her fantasies repeatedly worsen her condition. Her boasting about surviving dangerous threats contrasts with how easily she is undone by an embarrassing distraction.
• Shido is concerned for Lingmeng and prioritizes getting her medical care, while struggling to correct Origami’s assumptions about his preferences.
• Origami interprets Shido’s reaction as evidence of a fetish and responds with matter-of-fact determination to accommodate him. Her jealousy and rivalry with Lingmeng are implied.
• Tohka and Yoshino accept the end of the shopping trip without protest; both have already chosen swimsuits.
• Ellen is shown in a humorous, more vulnerable light: beneath her formidable public image, she enjoys cute cake and worries about being judged.
• The final exchange introduces an unknown visitor who teases Lingmeng about her recurring nosebleeds.

Significant themes

• Comic contrast: Lingmeng’s powerful Spirit status clashes with her ridiculous physical weakness and lack of self-control.
• Desire and embarrassment: Attraction drives both Lingmeng’s fantasies and Origami’s assumptions about Shido, while Ellen hides her own harmless indulgence to protect her image.
• Public image versus private self: Ellen’s fear of appearing childish contrasts with her genuine enjoyment of strawberry cake.

Key plot points and events

• After a beach outing, Lingmeng has a nosebleed. Shido brings her hot water, believing it might help with a girl’s bleeding, and she points out that he has confused a nosebleed with menstruation.
• Shido’s curiosity about what a period feels like annoys Lingmeng, who is still uncomfortable with having a girl’s body. She punches him in the stomach, joking that the pain gives him a firsthand lesson.
• The two talk about the tiring swimsuit-shopping trip. Lingmeng admits she enjoyed photographing the girls, while Shido worries the pictures would cause trouble if anyone found them.
• Shido reveals that he and Kotori have no memory of August 3, five years earlier—the day Kotori became a Spirit and a fire broke out. Origami’s parents also died that day, possibly killed by Kotori.
• Lingmeng recognizes that Shido wants to uncover what happened and confidently offers to help him recover the missing memories. Shido doubts that amnesia can be cured so easily, then appears to realize something.

Character developments

• Lingmeng remains playful and sharp-tongued, but her anger over Shido’s question reveals how unsettled she still is by her transformation and monthly periods. She also shows concern beneath her teasing when she notices Shido is troubled.
• Shido is awkward but considerate: he tries to help Lingmeng, reflects on how he should better support Kotori, and is troubled by the mystery surrounding their shared past. He is also curious about Lingmeng’s experiences, sometimes without thinking through how his questions will sound.

Significant themes

• Identity and bodily change: Lingmeng is still adjusting to becoming a girl and the physical realities that came with it.
• Memory and the past: Shido’s and Kotori’s missing memories point to a consequential event connected to Kotori’s Spirit powers and Origami’s parents’ deaths.
• Care expressed imperfectly: Shido’s well-meaning but misguided help contrasts with Lingmeng’s teasing, while both show concern for one another.

Character interactions

• Shido’s attempt to help Lingmeng turns into awkward banter and a comic punch when he asks about menstruation.
• Lingmeng teases Shido about enjoying the swimsuit photos, then shifts to genuine concern when she sees his distress.
• Shido confides in Lingmeng about the August 3 mystery; she responds with reassurance and offers to help investigate his lost memories.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng uses her Mental Power to enter Shido’s mind and investigate the memories he and Kotori lost from five years earlier.
• While searching, she stumbles across embarrassing memories of Shido dressing up as “Shiori” to win her over. Lingmeng finds the scenes adorable and gets distracted before returning to her task.
• She discovers a memory fragment that is completely blank and bound by chains, suggesting the memories were deliberately sealed rather than lost in an accident.
• Mosaic unexpectedly appears inside Shido’s mental space. She claims she means no harm and says Lingmeng may examine the memories, but gives no clear explanation of her identity or role before vanishing.
• Lingmeng suspects Mosaic is connected to Shido and Kotori’s memory loss. She breaks the fragment’s seal and enters a memory of Tengu City burning five years ago.
• The memory ends this excerpt with someone shouting, “Kotori!”

Character developments

• Lingmeng demonstrates confidence in her abilities and curiosity about Shido’s past, but becomes wary when Mosaic appears. Her playful reaction to Shido’s “Shiori” memories also reveals her attraction to his efforts and her teasing, easily flustered side.
• Shido is cooperative but embarrassed by the memories Lingmeng uncovers, especially his attempts to act cute as Shiori.
• Mosaic remains enigmatic. She presents herself as nonthreatening and allows Lingmeng to continue, yet her unexplained access to Shido’s mind and evasive answers deepen the mystery.

Significant themes

• Memory and concealment: The chained fragment points to intentional interference rather than accidental memory loss.
• Trust and uncertainty: Lingmeng must decide how much to trust Mosaic despite knowing little about her.
• Comedy alongside danger: Shido’s humiliating memories provide comic relief before the story returns to the serious mystery of the past.
• The past resurfacing: The burning city signals that the recovered memories may reveal what happened to Shido and Kotori.

Character interactions

• Shido entrusts Lingmeng with examining his memories, unaware of the embarrassing scenes she encounters.
• Lingmeng’s mental search shifts from playful amusement at Shido’s past to alarm over the sealed memories.
• Mosaic and Lingmeng exchange a guarded conversation: Mosaic reassures her but avoids answering who she is or whether she caused the memory loss.
• Lingmeng breaks the seal alone and witnesses the beginning of the traumatic memory.

Key plot points and events

• Inside Shido’s memories, Lingmeng witnesses a childhood incident: young Shido and Kotori are trapped in a fire. Kotori, already surrounded by flames, loses control and blasts Shido, leaving him badly injured.
• Lingmeng wants to help, but realizes she is only a consciousness observing Shido’s memories. A mysterious voice asks, “Do you want to save him?” and her vision turns white, returning her to the present.
• Lingmeng concludes that the memory has revealed little beyond the siblings’ traumatic experience. The reasons Kotori became a Spirit, whether she was responsible for Origami’s parents’ deaths, and how Shido ultimately stopped her remain unanswered.
• Rather than explain what she learned, Lingmeng teases Shido by revealing that she found his hidden “Youth Training Manual” under his bed. Embarrassed, Shido defends himself and resolves to hide or dispose of the books.
• Shido then realizes Lingmeng must have discovered the books while exploring his memories. He protests that she invaded his privacy and reminds her they were supposed to be discussing Kotori.

Character developments

• Lingmeng is deeply affected by the children’s suffering and frustrated that she cannot intervene or learn the answers she sought. She quickly shifts back to humor, using Shido’s embarrassment to ease the tension.
• Shido’s painful childhood history is briefly exposed, but his familiar awkwardness and embarrassment return once Lingmeng changes the subject.
• Kotori is shown as a frightened child whose uncontrolled Spirit power harms her brother, suggesting that her transformation and the fire were traumatic for both siblings.

Significant themes

• Powerlessness and trauma: Lingmeng can witness the past but cannot change it; Shido and Kotori’s childhood suffering may have left lasting consequences.
• Memory and unanswered questions: The recollection offers only fragments, leaving major mysteries about Kotori’s Spirit awakening and the fire unresolved.
• Humor amid tension: Lingmeng’s teasing interrupts an emotionally heavy scene, while also exposing Shido’s vulnerability.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng watches Shido and Kotori’s childhood tragedy with sympathy, then returns to Shido’s present consciousness.
• She teases Shido about his private books and offers joking advice about hiding them from Kotori, Tohka, Yoshino, and Origami.
• Shido reacts with embarrassment and then indignation, accusing Lingmeng of snooping through his memories without permission.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng tells Shido about Mosaic, a mysterious, mosaic-covered figure with an androgynous voice whom she encountered in the United Kingdom. She suspects Mosaic may be a Spirit and asks whether Shido remembers seeing them.
• Kannazuki joins them and agrees to search Ratatoskr’s Spirit records. Before doing so, he plays helicopter footage of the fire that destroyed Shido and Kotori’s home five years earlier.
• The recording shows Mosaic standing between the siblings, confirming Lingmeng’s account. Ratatoskr’s records contain no information about the figure, so Kannazuki says the organization should investigate—especially if Mosaic can turn humans into Spirits.
• Kannazuki encourages Shido to make Kotori’s upcoming date special. Shido, unaware that the date is unnecessary, takes the task seriously.

Character developments

• Shido cannot consciously recall Mosaic, but seeing the footage sparks a strange sense of familiarity. He describes the feeling as being “like a mother,” though he does not understand why.
• Lingmeng continues to pursue answers about Mosaic and brings Ratatoskr into the investigation.
• Kannazuki proves useful and composed outside his usual teasing, helping uncover the old footage and search the records. His devotion to Kotori is also apparent.

Significant themes

• Memory and buried connections: Shido’s reaction suggests Mosaic may be tied to his past despite his lack of clear memories.
• Hidden identities and unexplained powers: Mosaic’s absence from all known records—and possible ability to create Spirits—raises the stakes.
• Duty and care: Shido approaches Kotori’s date as an important responsibility, while Kannazuki hopes she can take a break from her work.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng questions Shido about Mosaic, then shares what she knows.
• Kannazuki’s teasing joke about Kotori’s measurements briefly alarms Shido, who defends his sister’s privacy; Kannazuki explains the figures came from an official examination.
• Lingmeng and Shido watch the footage together, and she presses him about his unexpected reaction.
• Kannazuki urges Shido to give Kotori an unforgettable date, and Shido promises to do his best.

Key plot points and events

• Shido leaves the records room with Lingmeng, still unable to remember what happened after he passed out. Lingmeng plans to review Kotori’s memories later, but postpones it until after their date.
• Origami calls Shido, correctly infers that he and the others are going to Tengu Water Park, and announces she will join them. Shido worries that her presence could disrupt his important date with Kotori.
• At the water park meeting point, Shido discovers Tohka, Yoshino, Yoshino’s puppet, and Lingmeng have come too. Lingmeng explains that Reine asked them to accompany the pair.
• Reine says Kotori’s condition is currently stable with medication, but her Spirit Power could flare up during the date and make her lose control. The Spirits are there as protection, not simply to join the outing. Shido is uneasy about the crowded “date,” but Lingmeng assures him Kotori will not mind.

Character developments and interactions

• Shido remains concerned about Kotori and takes the date seriously, while feeling awkward and frustrated that others keep joining it—and that he may need protection.
• Lingmeng reassures Shido, agrees to help watch over the group, and plays an easygoing but somewhat mischievous role. Her remark that she will see him at the water park foreshadows her own arrival.
• Origami demonstrates her sharp observation and bluntness by deducing the outing’s destination and inviting herself before Shido can object.
• Reine acts cautiously, arranging a protective escort because Kotori’s condition remains uncertain.
• Kotori is not yet directly involved in the conversation, but her health and the importance of the date shape everyone’s decisions.

Significant themes

• Care and protection: The outing is both a date and a precautionary mission to keep Kotori and Shido safe.
• Romance versus group obligations: Shido hopes for private time with Kotori, but the Spirits’ presence turns the date into a group event.
• Uncertainty and foreshadowing: Shido’s forgotten memories and Kotori’s unstable Spirit Power leave unresolved risks hanging over the day.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng takes Tohka and Yoshino along while Shido goes on his date with Kotori. Kotori is initially puzzled that Reine arranged the outing, but reassures the girls they are welcome.
• Lingmeng notices Kotori’s special outfit and compliments her. Tohka and Yoshino agree, while Kotori’s teasing remarks and stolen glances reveal she hopes Shido will notice too.
• Shido misses the hint until Lingmeng privately prompts him. He then compliments Kotori, who blushes and hurries ahead, pretending to dismiss the praise.
• On the way to the water park, Lingmeng asks why Origami, who had said she would come, is absent. Tohka and Yoshino are relieved, and Yoshino recalls Origami’s hostility toward her.
• Shido spots Origami waiting at the entrance. The group realizes she has come after all, and Kotori appears quietly displeased by the unexpected addition.

Character developments

• Kotori shows a softer, more self-conscious side beneath her Commander persona: she dressed up for Shido and wants him to notice, though she masks her embarrassment with teasing.
• Shido is well-meaning but oblivious; Lingmeng’s reminder helps him recognize Kotori’s unspoken wish and respond thoughtfully.
• Lingmeng acts as a perceptive, playful mediator, smoothing over awkwardness and helping Shido navigate Kotori’s hints.
• Tohka and Yoshino feel reassured by Kotori’s welcome, but their shared relief at Origami’s absence highlights their discomfort around her.

Significant themes

• Unspoken feelings and communication: Kotori’s indirect hints contrast with Shido’s inability to read them until someone intervenes.
• Affection shown through small gestures: A sincere compliment makes Kotori feel seen, even as she tries to hide it.
• Tension among the Spirits: Origami’s past behavior leaves Tohka and Yoshino wary, foreshadowing possible conflict at the water park.

Character interactions

• Kotori reassures Tohka and Yoshino that their presence is welcome.
• Lingmeng notices Kotori’s outfit and privately nudges Shido to compliment her; Kotori reacts with visible embarrassment.
• The group discusses Origami, revealing the others’ unease around her. Her sudden appearance at the entrance interrupts their plans and unsettles the mood.

Plot points and events

• Shido’s group arrives at the Water Park for Kotori’s rare date with him. Origami appears, having promised the day before that she would join.
• Shido introduces Origami and Kotori, though both already know who the other is. Origami immediately clings to Shido and declares that they are lovers; Tohka pulls them apart.
• Kotori politely greets Origami, but Origami ignores her offered hand and kneels in an elaborate greeting, calling her “dear sister-in-law.” The public spectacle embarrasses Kotori, who hurries into the park.
• Lingmeng reassures Shido that Kotori probably isn’t truly upset. Origami insists her greeting was appropriate, while Lingmeng points out that doing it in public was inappropriate.
• At the changing rooms, Shido expects the women to go to their own area. Instead, Lingmeng and Origami follow him into the men’s changing room, leaving him shocked and protesting.

Character developments and interactions

• Origami remains bold, literal-minded, and unconcerned with social norms. She openly presents herself as Shido’s future wife and treats Kotori as family.
• Shido tries to keep the outing orderly but is repeatedly embarrassed by Origami’s antics. His awkward introductions and protests contrast with her confidence.
• Kotori attempts to be courteous, despite already knowing of Origami from Fraxinus. The greeting catches her off guard, and she retreats to escape the attention.
• Tohka shows immediate jealousy and hostility toward Origami’s closeness with Shido, while Yoshino is startled and keeps her distance.
• Lingmeng acts as a practical commentator and mediator, pulling Origami along and explaining that her behavior is unusual even by her standards.

Significant themes

• Social boundaries and embarrassment: Origami’s disregard for convention turns an ordinary outing into a public spectacle.
• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Tohka reacts strongly to Origami’s claims and affection toward Shido.
• Family and belonging: Origami’s “sister-in-law” greeting humorously casts herself as already part of Shido’s family.
• The fragility of Shido’s plans: His attempt to make the date run smoothly is quickly undermined by the group’s clashing personalities.