Arusu Maria's consciousness was currently resting within the endless sea of data.
Actually, whenever she acquired new information, Maria would dive into the core of this computer space at night, trying to analyze and dissect what love is.
Analysis failed—! Analysis failed—! Analysis failed—!
It was like an infinite loop caused by a bug. No matter how much ti passed, the computer with the strongest computing power in Ratatoskr, capable of perfectly simulating the entirety of Tengu City, always brought Maria this disappointing answer.
However, even so, Maria had no intention of getting discouraged, still repeating this required course day and night.
Perhaps it's because I am an artificial intelligence with incomplete emotions. Maria evaluated herself like this in her heart.
Created in a situation not even intended by her creator, for Maria, who didn't even know the aning of her own existence, only one question constantly gnawed at her heart—what is love?
Why did this question arise? She didn't even have mories of it. Yet, she had an urge to understand it no matter what.
Just for this one question, she trapped Itsuka Shido in the computer world and asked Yutsuki and the other Spirits to co to this world to help her understand what love is.
[Acquired new data on "love"... Storing in database... Database update... Complete...]
Not understanding what giving up ans was perhaps a good thing for her current self.
With a determination as if to grind an iron pillar into an embroidery needle, Maria began her work.
[Starting data analysis... Analyzing date records... Analyzing... Analyzing... Judgnt conclusion... Incomplete.]
Incomplete? Not an analysis failure!? Maria couldn't help but feel a pleasant surprise.
—Maria? Why are you in my bed again?!
Everything that has happened so far is not aningless. I've indeed started to approach the answer.
—Hey, hey! Maria, get up... Ah, she won't wake up. Then, although it's a bit cruel—~
As long as I follow this path, very soon Shido... everyone... will be able to... and I too... uuu~
—Oh, oh, there's a reaction. Hurry up and get up, Maria.
Uuu... no good... Shido... uuu... breathing...
...
"Uuu... am I saved?"
Sitting up abruptly and opening her eyes, Maria shook her head sowhat groggily. After her vision gradually cleared, she saw the boy whose face was written full of helplessness—Itsuka Shido.
Maria showed a warm smile and said to Shido.
"Good morning~ Shido."
"Good morning... Wait, that's not right! Why are you in my bed again?"
The boy first responded reflexively, then imdiately woke up and retorted with a karate chop towards Maria.
Maria tilted her head in confusion and tried to answer, "Sorry, the expected data to process exceeded my estimates, so I got up a bit late..."
"That's not an explanation at all... Forget it, you go down first. I'll change clothes and go prepare dinner."
The boy sighed. Although his face still carried doubt and distress, he didn't force or bla her much. Maria thought this gentleness was one of Itsuka Shido's charms.
"Understood."
"Also, next ti, please don't co sleep in my bed again. Got it?"
"...Yes."
To Shido's request, Maria quietly averted her gaze and answered plainly.
...
"Shido, aren't you going to school today?"
"Eh? Today is a day off."
Hearing Maria's words, Shido said sowhat confusedly.
"I see... Indeed, there is no need to go to school on a day off. That was thoughtless of , sorry."
"No, no, there's no need to apologize." Shido hurriedly waved his hands to deny it, then asked, "By the way, Maria, do you want to go to school?"
Maria gently nodded.
"Yes... School is a good place... There are still many things I want to do."
Being able to interact with various people, sitting at the sa desks with everyone and spending ti together. Although the knowledge learned was already recorded in her database, it gave Maria an unprecedented feeling of freshness.
"Is that so... well, we still have to go to school after the day off is over, so don't worry."
Hearing that school is a good place, Shido showed a sowhat subtle look on his face. After struggling for a mont, he still held back from pouring cold water on Maria.
"Putting that aside, today is a day off. Is there anything you want to do?"
"Things I want to do?"
"For example, a whole day of cooking special training, playing gas endlessly... In short, whatever you want to do."
So that's what it ans—A look of understanding appeared on Maria's face, followed by an innocent smile.
"Then, I want to go on a date with Shido."
"..." Shido froze for a mont before snapping back to reality, giving a dry cough and saying, "O-Oh! Although that's definitely possible... is there anything else you want to do?"
Other things? Maria tilted her head in confusion. Clearly, this was what she wanted to do the most, but seeing Itsuka Shido's expression, it seed he thought her answer was not the correct one.
Mhm, aning doing things you normally couldn't do on a rare day off... Although I feel like going on a date with Shido is the thing I want to do most.
Maria closed her eyes. After pondering for a mont, suddenly a flash of inspiration hit her, and she proposed to Shido.
"Then, I want to go play with Yutsuki and the others. Girls this age often go out to play with their close friends, right?"
"Oh, oh, that's a pretty good idea. I also very much agree with increasing the bond with everyone."
Having received Shido's support, Maria nodded excitedly.
"Then, I'll quickly contact Yutsuki and the others... Oh no, then I won't be able to go on a date with Shido!"
"I say..."
Seeing Maria's suddenly changing expression, Shido thought so major problem had occurred. As a result, hearing these words, Shido couldn't help but blush and sigh.
"This is really troubling... Friends and Shido, which side should I choose?"
"Don't put on a face like you're trying to choose between two sides of a scale."
Ugh... But this is really hard to choose. Maria looked at Shido with a pouting face.
Right then, Itsuka Shido's younger sister—Itsuka Kotori—who had been quietly listening (?) to the conversation from the side, gave Maria a suggestion.
"Then, couldn't Shido and everyone just go out together? For example... go shopping together, that way both can be achieved at the sa ti. Very simple problem, right."
A look of sudden realization appeared on Maria's face.
"I see, there's also that way of thinking. Does Shido think this is okay?"
"As long as Maria thinks it's okay, it's fine."
"Then it's decided. I'll take charge of contacting everyone."
...Shido has a very capable little sister by his side.
Maria silently evaluated in her heart.
"And that's how it is. Maria wanted to go shopping with everyone today. Please get along well."
"Yes. Please take care of today, everyone."
At the entrance of Tengu Station, following Shido's explanation, Maria bowed gently to everyone.
"Oh, oh, leave it to ! Maria, I'll take you to a restaurant I recomnd and let you eat all the delicious food to your heart's content."
"Don't worry, Darling. A cute girl like Maria-chan, I welco her with open arms~"
"Ara ara—Although being invited by the Spirit of Fire is a bit unpleasant. But it sounds interesting."
"Kuku—Leave it to . Even as the manipulator of order, I will use my profound knowledge to let you appreciate the greatness of the Children of the Typhoons."
"But speaking of which, I heard from Kotori. Us and Shido are all planning to choose—Maria, you unexpectedly have the potential to be a harem protagonist too. Then, although I've said it many tis, please take care of , Maria."
Yatogami Tohka, Izayoi Miku, Tokisaki Kurumi, Yamai Kaguya, and Ryougi Yutsuki all responded very friendlily to Maria's request.
By the way, the others didn't co today because they had other things to do. Kotori also excused herself today because she happened to contact Reine in the real world. However, in exchange, they will also co out to play with Maria tomorrow.
(Author: "That's how it is in the original work. It's absolutely not because I was too lazy to think of lines for these people that I blocked them out!")
Then, the date between Maria and everyone starts just like this... Although I'd like to say that, unfortunately, right at the very beginning. A slight little problem occurred.
"Shido... why did you let Kotori call us over without even deciding on a destination?"
"Ahahaha—"
To Yutsuki's slightly piercing gaze, Shido laughed drily with extre awkwardness.
"Oh, oh, Shido! They're holding a kinako bread presentation event over there! (Author: 'What the heck is that?') As long as you participate, you can eat as much kinako bread as you want. I want to go there!"
"Darling, Honey—There's a maid cafe over there with lots of cute girls. Want to go take a look?"
"Ara ara, a rare chance for Shido-san. Could you help pick out so new underwear?"
"Kuku—Not far from here is a mysterious shop known only to . The wonder and greatness of black magic, let show you!"
Looking at the chaotic situation in front of her, Yutsuki couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.
But I kinda want to go to the maid cafe and the black magic shop... Forget I said anything.
"Ah—Calm down, I can't even finish listening if you say so much all at once!"
Faced with various requests, Shido couldn't help but feel a massive headache.
But honestly, walking on the street right now with Maria, Tohka, Kaguya, Kurumi, Yutsuki, and Miku—these six beautiful girls—naturally attracted a massive amount of attention from the crowd. And as the only male in this small group, Shido also felt a massive amount of murderous gazes.
It's indeed ti to quickly decide on a destination.
"Today's main character is Maria. Let's hear if Maria has anywhere she wants to go first."
"A place I want to go..."
After looking around, Maria suddenly fixed her gaze on one place.
"The clothing store... Last ti we went in, we ca out shortly after. This ti, I want to take a good look."
"Indeed... Except for the nun's outfit. I've never seen Maria-chan wear any other clothes."
Miku looked at Maria's clothes and said sowhat surprisedly. To this, Maria nodded sowhat embarrassedly.
"Mhm, the initial appearance setting was like this... However, I kinda want to try other clothes."
"I see. Then let's pick out the cutest outfit for Maria-chan."
Hearing this, Miku's eyes instantly lit up, and she enthusiastically proposed to Maria.
Ah, Miku's old habit is acting up again—Yutsuki felt the corners of her mouth twitch slightly.
She rembered during the cycle when Shido chose her, she stupidly asked Miku for advice on what won's clothes were most suitable for a date. As a result, the day before the date with Shido, Miku forcefully made her try on various won's clothes. Honestly, Yutsuki really wanted to seal this mory deep in her mind.
"Thank you, Miku! Then, I'll leave it to you."
Although she knew Miku would likely hold back a bit when everyone was around, looking at Maria thanking Miku with a face full of gratitude, Yutsuki couldn't help but sigh that newborn calves are truly not afraid of tigers.
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