It was now 11:47 PM. In just a short while, the guessing ga with Natsumi would reach the end of its third day. Based on what happened yesterday, once the clock hit midnight, Natsumi would appear here.
Shido, Kotori, Yutsuki, Miku, Tohka, and Kaguya were all gathered, waiting for her arrival.
"Hmph—so it really was that thousand-faced witch who took my other half away? Once this is over, I will make her pay the proper price—only then will my anger settle."
"You already said the real part out loud in that last sentence, Kaguya."
With an annoyed sigh, Yutsuki lightly chopped Kaguya on the head, who was fuming with furious.
Now that they knew none of them were Natsumi in disguise, there was no reason to keep it a secret anymore. So Yutsuki suggested to Kotori that they explain everything to everyone.
If Shido's answer turned out to be wrong, maybe soone else could notice sothing he had missed—just like she did.
After thinking it over, Kotori nodded without objection.
"If we answer wrong… will we disappear from this world? I'm so scared, darling, honey~"
"I don't see even a single trace of fear on your face, Miku…"
Looking at Miku—who was sitting between her and Shido, happily hugging both sides like a winner in life—Yutsuki couldn't help but complain with a dark expression.
"Well, it's because I believe darling and honey will definitely solve everything~ Ah~ honey's cheeks are so soft and nice~"
As she said that, Miku clung to Yutsuki and affectionately rubbed her head against her.
"I swear…"
Yutsuki held her head in frustration. Honestly, she was starting to regret telling everyone the truth.
"Shido, are you okay? If you're nervous, I can share my kinako bread with you. They say on TV that eating helps you relax when you're stressed."
Tohka offered her favorite kinako bread to Shido like she was cheering him on.
"Thanks, Tohka. I'm fine. If you're hungry, you should eat it."
Shido gently patted her head.
"Mm! As long as you're okay, Shido!"
Tohka nodded happily, then took a big bite of the bread. A soft, blissful expression spread across her face.
"Mmm~ kinako bread really is delicious."
Shido couldn't help but smile. While he thought what TV described was more about stress eating, when it ca to Tohka, eating really did look like pure happiness.
Sitting on the sofa, Shido took a deep breath and cald his uneasy feelings.
"What's wrong, Shido? Is there sothing bothering you?" Yutsuki asked, noticing his thoughtful expression.
"No, it's nothing really…"
Shido shook his head with a wry smile.
"If you have sothing to say, say it. Right now, we can't afford to miss any detail."
Kotori said while sucking on a lollipop.
"Yeah… I was just thinking… even if I give the correct answer, will Natsumi still find other ways to ss with ?"
"Isn't that obvious? Thinking everything will be solved just by winning or getting the right answer—Shido, you should already know better after what happened with Miku."
"Yeah… true."
Shido glanced at Miku and nodded in agreent.
"Ehhh? Darling and honey are so an—I've already reflected on my mistakes!"
Miku puffed her cheeks in protest after being dragged into it. Shido quickly apologized with an awkward smile.
"Well, yeah. Even if we answer correctly, Natsumi will definitely co up with sothing else to tornt Shido."
Kotori frowned. Although Ratatoskr promoted peaceful solutions, they couldn't just let Natsumi keep doing whatever she wanted.
"Then how about this—when Natsumi appears, I capture her imdiately? I've learned so grappling techniques from competing with Yuzuru before."
Kaguya suggested.
"Give up. Do you want to end up like the other day?"
"Uh…"
Kaguya froze instantly.
Yutsuki sighed helplessly. Of course she had thought about capturing Natsumi—and even tried. The result proved that unless it turned into a real fight, even if everyone surrounded her, it would only cost Natsumi a bit more spirit power to turn their clothes into cloth.
"When we reach the bridge, we'll cross it. For now, let's focus on the problem in front of us."
"Yeah."
Shido nodded. Compared to that concern, solving this question ca first. After all, before rescuing everyone, his conclusions were only guesses.
Tick. Tock.
In the Itsuka household living room, the wall clock continued ticking toward midnight.
As the mont approached, everyone's expressions grew serious.
Click—
Both hands pointed to 12.
The space in the center of the living room suddenly warped. A broom-like angel appeared, and within the mirror at its tip, Natsumi's face was reflected.
"Oh? Quite a crowd today. What, couldn't figure out the answer and ca for help, Itsuka Shido?"
Natsumi looked surprised—but not even a hint of panic showed on her face. It was as if she was completely confident she wouldn't be discovered.
And Shido understood why. Without Yutsuki organizing all the clues, he would never have noticed who she was impersonating.
"Gulp…"
Shido swallowed. His throat felt dry from tension. If this answer was wrong too… he had nothing left.
Smack!
"Ow!"
Sothing hit his back hard. Turning around, he saw Yutsuki looking at him with slight annoyance.
"Seriously, what's the point of hesitating now? Just say it clearly, Shido."
"You're right."
Even if the answer was wrong, the only thing they could do was move forward.
For now, believing in this answer was enough.
That slap hurt—but it gave him courage.
"You look confident. So, who will you na, Shido?"
Shido exhaled, pointed at the angel, and declared firmly—like a certain young detective:
"Natsumi—the one you've been impersonating is… Yoshinon!"
Hearing that, Natsumi's expression turned serious.
"Yoshinon… you an the puppet Yoshino wears?"
"That's right. All this ti, you've been pretending to be Yoshinon."
"…Can you tell why?"
Natsumi rested her chin on her hand and asked calmly.
Shido looked straight into her erald eyes and began explaining.
During the past few days of dates, he had felt sothing off about Yoshino—but after she disappeared when he accused her, he dismissed it as imagination.
The discomfort wasn't from Yoshino.
It was from Yoshinon.
When Yutsuki pointed out the existence of a "fourteenth suspect," Shido realized it.
When Yoshino and Yoshinon visited his house, Yoshinon suddenly popped through the door gap and startled him. He dropped his phone, which almost hit Yoshinon—but Yoshinon dodged it perfectly.
But Yoshinon relies entirely on Yoshino's senses. At that mont, Yoshino was outside and couldn't have seen the phone falling.
Also, when he checked past events, Yoshinon talked about being at Origami's house. But without Yoshino, Yoshinon is just a normal puppet—it couldn't know that. Natsumi, however, could easily learn it by reading Origami's diary or disguising herself.
"But you spoke. If you had left everything to Yoshino, you wouldn't have been exposed. But you tried to add information to reduce suspicion—and that beca your fatal mistake."
Shido pointed again.
"So—what's the result, Natsumi?!"
"…Well—"
Sweat ford on Natsumi's forehead. She fell silent.
Her reaction already gave the answer away.
—Crack!
A small crack appeared on the mirror and rapidly spread. Blinding light filled the room, forcing everyone to close their eyes.
When the light faded, the people Natsumi had taken were lying on the floor.
"Yuzuru!"
"…Confused. What happened, Kaguya?"
Kaguya quickly hugged the dazed Yuzuru. Seeing she was safe, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Thank goodness…"
After confirming everyone was safe, Shido finally relaxed and let out a deep breath.
"Nice job, Shido."
Yutsuki patted his shoulder approvingly.
"You too, Yutsuki. You helped a lot."
Without her, he would've been completely misled.
"Well, helping is what makes happiest. Now then—"
Blushing slightly, Yutsuki turned toward the corner.
Natsumi was crouching there, hiding under her oversized witch hat.
"Natsumi. Shido got it right, didn't he?"
Surrounded, Natsumi trembled and slowly raised her head.
"…Eh?"
Shido froze.
The girl before him was nothing like the mature, seductive woman from before. She was small, thin, pale, hunched over, with lifeless hair and eyes filled with insecurity.
"…Just like Yutsuki said…"
Kotori muttered.
Realizing everyone's reaction, Natsumi touched her face—and panicked.
"This is bad!"
Yutsuki sensed trouble. She had predicted the gap between Natsumi's real form and her disguise—but revealing it now wasn't voluntary. It must be a penalty condition set by her angel.
"You saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it you saw it AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH——"
Natsumi scread in rage.
"You saw my secret again…! I won't forgive you! Never! I won't let any of you go!"
She raised her hand and shouted:
"Haniel—!"
Blinding light filled the room again.
"Yu—Yutsuki?"
When the light faded, Yutsuki saw Shido staring at her in shock.
"Shido… why are you so tall? Did Natsumi make you bigger?"
But then—
Her hands were smaller.
Her voice softer.
Her long hair was now short.
Her clothes hung loosely.
"…Wait…"
Looking around, she saw small girls in oversized clothes.
The furniture looked huge.
She realized instantly.
It wasn't Shido who changed—
It was them.
They had been turned into children.
"Hehe… serves you right. Stay little forever."
Laughing darkly, Natsumi flew away through the ceiling.
"Wait! Natsumi!"
Shido shouted, but she was gone.
His face turned grim.
"Yutsuki, are you okay?"
"Well… we got completely hit. Honestly—"
She shrugged, sighed deeply, then said:
"That was amazing."
"…"
Shido could only stare at her, speechless.
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