November 22th, Wednesday.
"Doma-san has work again today."
At Hie Shrine, Mikoto, dressed in her shrine maiden outfit, was sweeping the shrine grounds, while Shido helped her nearby.
"Yeah. Since it's a serial murder case, I guess it can't be helped that he's busy."
It was not as if they could not understand Doma's departure. Just yesterday, a new victim had appeared.
"Even so, I feel like—Doma-san doesn't actually care about inheriting the shrine at all."
Mikoto suddenly said. She had co here to teach Doma the knowledge necessary to manage a shrine, and to help him maintain this shrine on his own after his wife's passing.
But judging from the current situation, rather than teaching him, what Mikoto was doing was closer to temporarily serving as the shrine's substitute caretaker while Doma went to the police station for work, making sure the place did not beco completely empty.
The right way was teaching a man how to fish, while the wrong way was rely giving him fish. After Mikoto left, Doma would still be half baked when it ca to shrine matters.
"Could it be that Doma-san wants to catch the culprit with his own hands and avenge his family while Yakumo-senpai is keeping the shrine running?"
Shido suddenly said.
"That's possible."
Mikoto sighed. They were his daughter and wife, after all. The hatred of losing one's family could be terrifying.
"But if that's the case, this is bad."
However, there was a problem here. A very serious problem. Mikoto looked at Shido and sighed.
"Yeah, it's bad."
Shido also looked at Mikoto and showed a helpless expression.
The reason was simple. No matter how one looked at it—Doma was trying to challenge the most wicked and worst existence among the Spirits, Nightmare, with a human body.
Just yesterday, Origami had decrypted the AST's official data.
"Found her. Ono Hina, Wizard of the AST Izu City garrison unit. Rank: Sergeant First Class."
On the screen, am image of Hina wearing a wiring suit proved without a doubt that Mikoto's guess had been correct.
There was only one thing that surprised them: Ono Hina's status record.
"M.I.A. Missing in action. Strange. In the AST's official records, that girl is not listed as K.I.A—killed in action."
Origami pointed to one line in the records and said.
"In other words, the AST currently can't confirm whether Hina is dead or not."
Mikoto thought for a mont and said. Although this did not match Doma's statent, thinking carefully, a girl who had already been missing for two weeks, and during a period when this serial murder case was happening repeatedly, would naturally make people assu the worst.
But no matter what, this ant they had to consider the possibility that Hina was still alive.
"But in that case, maybe Doma-san can still get his daughter back. That's really good, Yakumo-senpai."
Shido suddenly said.
"Mm, yes."
Thinking that father and daughter might have a chance to reunite, Mikoto nodded and showed a relieved smile.
"This is…"
At that mont, Origami seed to discover new information.
"What is… it…"
Shido was about to ask, but his words stopped halfway through. The reason was simple. Displayed on the computer screen was a girl clad in red and black Astral Dress. It was soone they could absolutely never mistake: the worst Spirit, who had once blasted a human into pieces right before Shido's eyes—Tokisaki Kurumi.
"I never thought it really would be Kurumi."
Shido said.
"Yes. Although we once ruled her out as a possibility, the AST base observed Nightmare appearing in Izu City and treated her as a suspect in the serial murder case."
Mikoto showed a headache ridden expression. Although she did not want to believe it, Kurumi, who had a record of killing people, truly was highly suspicious right now.
"It would be good if we could ask Doma-san about the details."
Shido said.
"Yes."
Mikoto nodded. Leaving Hina's situation aside, was Doma's wife, Yuko-san, actually missing or dead? Was Doma's target really Kurumi?
The person involved was clearly right before their eyes, yet they could not ask him. Because—it would be difficult for them to explain to Doma why they knew about Spirits and Wizards.
Doma's family had been killed by a Spirit. If they carelessly revealed their identities as Spirits, it might have the opposite effect.
"Hey, senpai."
Shido thought for a mont, then spoke.
"Mm?"
Mikoto tilted her head.
"I want to go look for Kurumi."
He said that.
Shido believed that if this matter was Kurumi's doing, he had to find a way to stop her. And even if it was not Kurumi's doing, perhaps she might know sothing. Finding Tokisaki Kurumi herself was another quick and effective solution besides laying everything bare to Doma.
"That's true. But Shido, if you want to go look for Kurumi, please make sure either I or Origami accompanies you."
She was a Spirit who treated Shido as a target, after all. Going alone would be far too reckless. Considering that Miku and Natsumi were not the battle type, this matter should be left to either herself or Origami.
"Mm, then I'll be counting on you, Yakumo-senpai."
Seeing that Mikoto agreed with his idea, Shido nodded gratefully.
"However, Shido, how do you plan to search for Kurumi?" (TL:just find so place that have cat lmao~)
With Ratatoskr's support, it would be one thing, but with just the two of them, finding Kurumi would not be that easy.
"Mm. For now, let's try searching through the city late at night."
Shido thought for a mont. The serial murders all happened late at night. Whether it was Kurumi or the culprit, they should be active at night.
And so, once night ca…
"Let's go, Shido."
After Miku and Natsumi fell asleep, Shido and Mikoto quietly left the inn.
"Where are you going?"
However, before they had gone far, the two discovered Origami, who should also have been asleep, waiting ahead of them.
"As expected, we can't hide it from Origami."
Mikoto sighed.
"Actually…"
And so Shido explained his plan.
"In that case, I'll join too."
Origami nodded. She did not stop the two of them. She simply walked silently to Shido's side, hugged his arm, and said:
"Let's go, Shido."
"Huh? Wait…"
In the cold night, the girl's body warmth and softness left Shido at a loss. They were clearly going to search for Kurumi, yet for so reason, their posture had beco almost like they were on a date.
"Ehehe, let's go, Shido."
At that mont, Mikoto also hugged Shido from the other side with a smile.
"Huh? Yakumo-senpai too…"
As a result, for so reason, the situation beca one where Shido was embraced on both sides by two girls. The three of them maintained a posture very far removed from investigation or searching as they strolled through the neon night light of the city.
[Aren't we supposed to be looking for Kurumi and the murderer?]
Along the way, Shido silently retorted in his heart.
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