On September 22nd, at the sa ti Mikoto, Kotori, and the others were discussing Miku, another operation eting was also taking place at the AST base in Tengu City. Rather than a discussion, however, it was more like an argunt.
"I can't agree to this! Spirits are one thing, but what is the aning of attacking ordinary people? And at the Tengu Festival venue too. Do you have any idea how many people will be there?"
Origami angrily spoke to Jessica Bailey, who had newly joined the AST.
Not long ago, including Jessica, ten foreign wizards from DEM Industries had joined the AST. They also had special decision-making authority during ergencies.
This insane arrangent had already caused dissatisfaction among all the AST mbers, including Kusakabe Ryouko. In particular, during their first contact with Diva, Jessica and the others had ignored orders and attacked Mikoto, who would not have been a threat if left alone. That had made Origami especially displeased.
"Origami…"
Ryouko tried to stop the girl, whose voice had risen several levels because of her anger.
In fact, when Ryouko first ca into contact with this completely insane operation order, she had been even angrier than Origami. But because she had already protested, she understood that it was useless.
"Don't misunderstand. This is an order handed down from your superiors. Even if you complain to , it won't change anything."
Jessica stepped forward, roughly grabbed Origami by the hair, and pointed upward with her finger.
"If you're not happy with it… why don't you try disobeying orders?"
Then the woman provoked her with a mocking expression.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on my subordinate!"
Ryouko stepped forward and placed herself between Origami and Jessica.
"Hmph. Work hard for our plan. If you ss it up, I won't forgive you."
Jessica smiled smugly and left the eting room with her subordinates, mocking the AST mbers as they went.
"…"
On the other side, the AST mbers were so angry they nearly ground their teeth to pieces. But every one of them understood just how serious the consequences of disobeying orders would be.
That night, Origami lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She picked up the operation plan and read through it page by page.
[As expected, I should let Mikoto know about this.]
Origami picked up her phone, but then hesitated.
The mont she told Mikoto about this plan, it would an that Origami, as a wizard, had completely taken the Spirits's side.
[!!!]
Just then, one page of the plan caught her attention.
"Capture Raizen High School second-year student Itsuka Shido. Itsuka… Shido…"
Origami widened her eyes.
Shido…Shido. (TL:oh~? is it ti master origami start gooning out her new tiline self?)
Was that not the na of the boy Mikoto cared about?
By the ti she ca back to her senses, her fingers had already unconsciously dialed Mikoto's number.
However… there was no answer on the other end.
Early the next morning, when Mikoto woke up, she found six missed calls on her phone.
Yesterday, she had been so exhausted that she had not even heard the ringtone. Still half-asleep, she opened her voicemail.
The last remaining trace of sleep vanished in an instant.
"Good morning, Mikoto."
Mikoto ran to the Itsuka house. Aside from Reine, who had not slept and was desperately adding sugar cubes into her coffee, everyone else was still asleep.
Normally at this ti, Mikoto would calmly start cooking and prepare a delicious breakfast for everyone.
But today was an exception.
"Reine, wake Kotori up. Now."
"Understood. What about Shin?"
As if she knew this was an ergency, Reine nodded imdiately.
"Leave Shido out of it."
Today was the first day of the Tengu Festival. Shido had to compete in order to conquer Miku. Mikoto did not want him to know about this because it would only add extra pressure.
Five minutes later…
[Mikoto, listen to . On September 23rd at exactly 15:00, the Third Combat Unit will break into Tengu City Square. Their objective is to capture the suspected Spirits Yatogami Tohka and Yakumo Mikoto, as well as Raizen High School second-year student… Itsuka Shido. I'm sorry. I can't stop this. Orders from above are absolute. If… if I could beco stronger…]
The second half of the voice ssage was filled with Origami's helplessness toward herself and the entire AST organization, as well as deep frustration.
"I see. Trouble really does keep coming."
Kotori sat nearby with a mint Chupa Chups in her mouth to wake herself up, looking very gloomy.
The Miku situation was already troubleso enough. And now AST had to stick their foot in too. It was simply adding frost on top of snow.
"It doesn't sound like sothing AST would do. This order must have co from DEM."
Reine analyzed the situation. Most military Realizers used by countries around the world were provided by DEM Industries, and AST was no exception. Therefore, putting pressure on the nation and governnt to achieve certain goals was not difficult for DEM.
"That's definitely it. Especially the part about going after Shido. That clearly isn't AST's usual style."
Kotori bit her Chupa Chups and said.
"What should we do? Should we send Kannazuki out?"
Reine asked. The most important thing now was to co up with a counterasure. They absolutely could not allow DEM or AST to interfere with Shido's conquest of Miku.
"Let go!"
At that mont, Mikoto spoke.
"Compared to Kannazuki-san, I'm one of DEM's targets, so I should be able to act as bait. Also, with Tsukuyomi, I won't be captured so easily. If I'm really in danger, you can recover through the teleporter."
Although Mikoto did not know exactly how strong Kannazuki was in battle, the biggest problem was that DEM might use extre tactics, such as sending a few people to hold Kannazuki back while their main force headed straight for Tengu City Square.
If it was Mikoto, however, since she was one of their targets, they should not give up until they captured her.
"I understand. Then I'll leave it to you, Mikoto."
Kotori nodded and agreed to the girl's plan.
____________
[Now, the 25th Tengu City High School Joint Cultural Festival, the Tengu Festival—officially begins!]
Along with the executive committee's voice over the broadcast, the entire venue fell into a joyful uproar.
Right now, in Hall Two, Shido's class was running a maid café.
At this mont, Shido—no, Shiori—was on all fours in a pose of pure despair, giving off a gloomy aura.
Frilly.
Everything was frilly.
The cute maid outfit fluttered up and down with the girls' movents as if it were dancing.
If it was only that, rather than feeling despair, it should have been eye candy.
The problem was…
"Pfft… Shi-Shido, you really suit a girl's outfit too."
"Blunder. I cannot help wanting to laugh."
Facing the Yamai sisters's teasing, Shido looked down at the outfit he was wearing.
It was the sa as the other girls's outfits.
A cute, frilly maid uniform. (TL: as it should be~)
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