"Is it an assignnt from the higher-ups?"
"No, it's an experintal unit sent over by DEM Industries. Theoretically, it's an armant capable of defeating a Spirit, but even a DEM Wizard was reduced to a cripple after driving it at its limit for just 30 minutes."
Ryouko sighed.
DEM Industries, fully known as Deus Ex Machina Industry, was one of only two corporations in the world capable of manufacturing Realizers. The vast majority of Realizers equipped by military and police forces worldwide, including the AST, were supplied by DEM.
"I suppose it was originally intended for Mana to use. However, since our precious Mana is currently fast asleep, we can only leave it here for gathering dust."
Ryouko let out another sigh. This equipnt was deployed here specifically for Mana's use, but now it had no one to wield it.
"Can't we use it?" Origami asked.
"Huh? Did you not hear what I just said? First of all, this is DEM equipnt. Second, using it carries the risk of turning you into a cripple. It's a completely unrefined experintal unit."
"But... if we don't use it, the AST will never be able to produce any decent results."
Origami frowned slightly.
[I don't deny the AST's spirit in wanting to protect Tengu City. However, it's also a fact that you lack the effective ans to do so.]
Recalling Mikoto's words, she realized that if she wanted to change the girl's perspective, she had to have powerful equipnt like White Licorice.
"Origami..."
No one understood the pain of constantly failing to produce results better than Ryouko. As the Captain, the pressure from the higher ups all fell on her shoulders. But on the other hand, she couldn't let her precious squad mbers beco sacrifices for trying White Licorice. For a mont, Ryouko fell into deep conflict.
"Let try it, Captain!" Origami pleaded loudly.
"Hah... I will submit a formal written request to DEM, but whether they approve it or not is another story. Also, you are absolutely not to push yourself! When I say stop, you must stop imdiately. If you cannot obey that order, I will absolutely not allow you to use it."
Origami was the Wizard Ryouko held in the highest regard. She wanted to believe in the girl's power. If a DEM Wizard can last 30 minutes, Origami should be able to handle it for at least 15 minutes, Ryouko thought.
"Understood!"
With the Captain's approval, Origami's eyes lit up.
[This ti, we will definitely produce results!]
That was the shared wish of both Ryouko and Origami.
"Phew..."
After dinner, Shido was called to the airship by Reine to double check the plans and arrangents for tomorrow's date.
He sat in the nearly empty break room, sipping a canned drink.
[Today was a really heart pounding day.]
The girls's swimsuits were simply way too cute. Whether it was Tohka, Yoshino, or Mikoto, just thinking about them now made Shido's heart race.
[Will everything really go smoothly?]
Thinking about his date with Kotori tomorrow, Shido couldn't help but feel sowhat uneasy.
Five years ago... his little sister beca a Spirit, yet Shido knew absolutely nothing about it. Even when he tried his hardest to recall it, all he got was a sharp, stabbing pain in his head.
"If only there were so kind of record."
"What record?"
Looking up, Shido saw Kannazuki, who had appeared beside him at so point.
"Ah... a record of the Tengu City fire from five years ago."
If he couldn't rember it himself, he at least hoped to find so outside information.
"If that's what you want, we actually have it—footage of the Tengu City fire from five years ago."
"Eh?"
The completely unexpected answer made Shido's eyes widen.
He followed Kannazuki to the briefing room where they had their strategy eting yesterday. Kannazuki played a certain news report from five years ago that Ratatoskr had intercepted and suppressed. On the screen, amidst the raging fire, the figures of Kotori and Shido himself appeared.
[!!!]
In an instant, a sharp, twisting pain shot through his brain like a spasm.
"Who... are you?"
In the video, standing near Kotori and himself, there was another "person." No, rather than a "person" it looked more like a pixelated blur, a distortion caused by terrible video quality.
"Umm... who are you talking about, Shido-kun?"
Standing right next to him, Kannazuki didn't even notice anything wrong with the blurry part of the footage. Yet, for so reason, Shido was absolutely certain—there was a "person" standing right there.
"Ugh!!!"
Accompanied by an unbearable, agonizing pain, Shido's vision went black, and he collapsed to the floor unconscious.
________________
The next day, Mikoto t up with Origami in front of the station as promised. The two went to the marine park, changed into their swimsuits, and entered the park, which featured a massive pool area.
[Uwaa... those stares are piercing...]
The mont they stepped in, Mikoto felt countless pairs of eyes staring in their direction.
But it couldn't be helped. It wasn't just Mikoto; next to her was Origami, wearing a blue one piece swimsuit. The plain but elegantly unique Origami, and the refined yet slightly cute Mikoto. Add to that the contrast between long silver hair and long straight black hair. When two beautiful girls with such distinct personalities walked together, not attracting attention would be the truly difficult task.
For a mont, the carnivorous guys stared openly without holding back, while the shyer ones would subtly sneak glances when they thought no one was looking. There were even guys getting their ears twisted and dragged away by their disgruntled girlfriends.
[Where is... Shido?]
Mikoto scanned the area, trying to find Shido.
[Ah, there he is, there he is.]
She spotted Shido on the other side of the pool. Coincidentally, he looked over at exactly the sa ti, and their eyes t.
Mikoto smiled and gave a small wave. Seeing this, Shido blushed adorably.
[A date with Kotori, huh... wait... eh?]
Not far from him, she saw Kotori, which was expected, but she also saw Tohka and Yoshino, which was completely unexpected.
[Reine-san...]
Co to think of it, she had received a call from Reine this morning asking if she wanted to go to the marine park. Because she already had plans with Origami, she had declined.
[If it was going to turn into this, what was the point of backing out of the date?]
Mikoto sighed. The whole reason she canceled her date with Shido was to give him and Kotori so alone ti. At this point, it was probably beyond saving. She just hoped Shido could still complete the conquest even with Tohka and Yoshino tagging along. But...
[This atmosphere...]
Even standing all the way across the pool, she could feel the tension radiating off Shido. It didn't look like things were going smoothly at all.
"Is sothing wrong?"
Noticing Mikoto staring across the pool, Origami asked.
"No, it's nothing. I just saw soone I know."
"Do you want to go over? I don't mind."
"No, it's better not to. Going over would just bother them."
Mikoto shook her head, abandoning the idea of joining a date that was already tense enough as it is.
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