"This is today's freshest salmon. Here are ice packs to keep it fresh. Thank you for your purchase!"
They secured fresh and cheap salmon. Mikoto looked very happy.
Shido looked around the shop that had suddenly appeared in the shopping district and found that most of the people inside were Fraxinus crew mbers. The shop manager was the "President", Mikimoto.
"That was faster than expected, and the salmon has ice packs too. As thanks, Shido, would you like takoyaki? Senpai will treat you."
The salmon was very fresh, and she had spent less money than she expected. Since both her ti and wallet had room to spare, Mikoto planned to treat Shido to sothing as thanks.
"Uh..."
[Why are you standing there, Shido? Take this chance and ask her on a date!]
The Spirit's mood value was stable, and her affection toward Shido had also risen a little. Kotori spoke at just the right ti.
"Uh... um... You don't have to treat . Instead... please go on a date with !"
"Eh?"
Mikoto froze instantly.
"Commander! Miko's emotional readings are in disorder!"
"Uu, was that too aggressive?"
Kotori had thought it was a good idea, but it seed to have the opposite effect. She bit down hard on the Chupa Chups in her mouth.
"Um... if you don't want to, then..."
Shido also noticed that Mikoto looked very flustered, so he quickly waved his hands.
"No, I'm willing."
But the girl smiled.
Although being invited on a date had truly left her unsure what to do at first—especially considering that she had been a man before crossing over. It felt like she was a cross-dressing boy tricking an innocent young man, and that gave her a feeling of guilt. Not to ntion, she was a Spirit. Maybe a missile would fly over during the date and kill Shido through so mysterious area damage.
Even so, there were still things she could not stop worrying about, so Mikoto nodded.
"Safe landing."
Sitting in the airship's control room, Kotori let out a long breath. Miko's emotional readings had stabilized, and that allowed her tense body to slowly lean against the control panel.
"Then... let's go."
Shido scratched his cheek. Though the other party had agreed to the date, whether he could successfully seal her Spirit power still depended on what happened next.
"Mm."
Mikoto nodded and walked out of the fish shop with Shido.
This was the shopping district, so it was also a pretty good place for a date. There were snack shops selling takoyaki and kinako bread, as well as shops selling clothes and small accessories. Even if they walked around for a long ti, there would be no problem.
"Good, good. Even though this is only his second ti conquering a Spirit's heart, Shido is doing pretty well."
Kotori watched the two of them chatting and laughing through the screen, then nodded in satisfaction.
"At this pace, maybe we can settle it today."
Because of Miko's special situation, if Shido could not complete the capture during her silent manifestation, things would probably beco very troubleso.
"No.That Spirit's affection toward Shido is not high. It's even dropping slightly as we talk."
Reine shook her head.
"What? Why is that?"
Kotori looked at the big screen. Just as Reine had said, even though their date looked smooth, Miko's affection value had not risen at all. It had even dropped a little.
[Hey, Shido. You didn't do anything rude, did you? That Spirit's affection is going down.]
"Don't joke around. How could I?"
"Shido?"
Shido, who was talking to Kotori, turned his head and found Mikoto standing beside him, quietly looking at him.
"Uh... um, Yakumo-senpai..."
"Mm?"
"Could it be... you don't like the shopping district?"
[There was no problem with the conversation earlier, and Yakumo-senpai didn't show any dislike. If her affection is dropping, could it be because of the date location?]
Shido thought that.
"Mm... strictly speaking, I don't like places with a lot of people."
Mikoto gave a bitter smile.
"Huh?"
"Because... I always feel like I don't belong. Like... I'm not accepted by this world."
[!!!]
The girl's eyes were dark, and her voice was full of despair. That made Shido rember how Tohka had looked when he first t her.
[As I thought, she's just like Tohka...]
"That's not true!!!"
Once he thought that, the feelings in his heart rushed out of his mouth.
"Huh?"
Mikoto was startled. She did not understand why the boy in front of her had reacted so strongly.
"That's not true!!! Yakumo-senpai is absolutely not soone who doesn't belong!!!"
"Sorry. I was joking just now. Forget it."
She smiled bitterly. She had unconsciously told him about the pain in her heart. Maybe she had scared him.
"Even if... even if this world refuses to accept you!!! I will stand by your side!!!"
But Shido understood. That girl had not been joking. Her pain was real.
[!!!]
Mikoto had never thought soone would say sothing like that to her. Shock instantly filled her face.
[Not bad, Shido. That Spirit's affection has risen.]
[Next, take her to the park. There should be fewer people there.]
Kotori's praise and suggestion sounded in his ear.
"I..."
Shido still wanted to say sothing, but Mikoto gently shook her head. She did not want to continue this topic.
"Let's go to the park. There should be fewer people there."
"Mm."
———————
The park was quiet. There were not many people. Whether it was usually like this, or Kotori had deliberately reduced the number of people for their date, no one knew.
Shido and Mikoto walked along the path, talking about school, cooking, arcades, and other ordinary daily topics.
"Strange. Her affection still isn't changing."
Kotori bit her Chupa Chups and looked at the data on the screen.
"Could the device be broken?"
"It... should not be,probably."
Reine shook her head. A boy and girl on a smooth date, and yet data showing no rise in affection. Even as an analyst, she rarely used an uncertain word like "probably."
"Um... may we sit down?"
Mikoto asked.
"Sure. There's a bench over there."
The two sat on the bench and looked at the park scenery. Before long, Mikoto started to look a little dazed.
"Sorry. For so reason, I'm a little sleepy."
Noticing Shido's gaze, she gave an awkward smile.
"Then..."
[Wait, Shido. The choices are here!]
Kotori saw three options appear on the screen:
① In that case, do you want to go back and rest?
② Do you want to use my lap as a pillow?
③ How about coming to my house to rest for a while?
"Everyone choose. Within five seconds!"
The crew quickly chose their answers. Most of the votes gathered on ②.
"Looks like everyone's thinking the sa as ."
Kotori nodded in satisfaction.
"If we choose ①, the date ends here. For Miko, who can probably only be captured during a silent manifestation, we really can't stop here."
Shiizaki, known as "Nail Knocker," said.
"③ would be too aggressive. Though we don't know why, compared to Tohka, Miko clearly understands human society very well."
Kawagoe, "Bad Marriage" nodded.
[Did you hear that, Shido? Choose ②. Offer her your lap as a pillow!]
"Huh?"
Faced with this sudden option, Shido panicked.
"What's wrong?"
Mikoto tilted her head, confused by Shido's panic.
"Um... uh... If you're sleepy... I... I can let you use my lap as a pillow?"
Shido seed very embarrassed as he scratched his cheek and spoke.
"Huh?"
Mikoto froze for a mont, then shook her head.
"Thank you for the offer, but... um... I'll just close my eyes for a bit."
After saying that, she leaned against the bench and quietly rested her eyes.
[Huh? Why did it fail?]
"It would be strange if it worked, right?"
Facing Kotori's doubt through the microphone, Shido smiled bitterly and retorted.
[!!!]
Just then, he felt a small impact on his shoulder.
"Yakumo... senpai?"
Shido turned his head and saw that Mikoto, who had been resting her eyes, seed to have really fallen asleep. Because she had lost her balance, she had fallen against his shoulder.
The girl's peaceful sleeping face was right beside him. He could feel her sweet breathing near his neck. This sudden situation made Shido's heart start beating without listening to him.
Her moist lips were in a place he could reach by lowering his head slightly. Seeing the Spirit so defenseless made Shido's mind grow hazy.
[No, Shido. Though we don't know why, Miko's affection toward you is still low. If you kiss her now, the sealing will not succeed.]
"I know. Besides, I wouldn't kiss a girl while she's asleep."
Kotori's voice pulled Shido back to reality. He quickly shook his head.
[Still, she really is a defenseless Spirit.]
"Yeah."
Looking at Mikoto's sleeping face, Shido agreed. This was completely different from when he had sealed Tohka. Back then, if he had said even one wrong word, Shido might have been cut down on the spot.
About fifteen minutes later, Mikoto woke up.
"Sorry. I seem to have fallen asleep without noticing."
She gave Shido an apologetic smile.
"No, it's fine."
Shido waved his hands, telling her not to worry.
"It's ti for to go back."
Mikoto lifted the plastic bag holding the salmon. Most of the ice inside had already completely lted.
[Uu...]
A groan ca from the earpiece. It seed the date could not continue.
"Um, I'll walk you back."
"Mm. I'll trouble you, Shido."
The two left the park and, led by Mikoto, walked toward the shrine.
"This is fine. Thank you, Shido."
After walking for so ti, Mikoto turned around, bowed slightly to Shido, and thanked him.
"I had fun on today's date."
"Is... is that so? too."
"Thank you, Shido."
"I should be the one thanking you for agreeing to spend ti with , Yakumo-senpai."
The two exchanged farewell words.
"Oh, right. Please also thank the people who helped us with our date this afternoon."
"Sure, I got... it..."
But their last exchange before parting made Shido freeze in place.
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