"One grilled rice ball and one fried chicken rice ball, that'll be 270 yen."
"Here, 270 yen, right?"
Putting the heated rice balls into a plastic bag, Shido took out his wallet and handed a few coins to the cashier.
"Yes, exact change. Thank you, please co again."
The automatic doors of the convenience store slowly slid open. Shido saw the girl with long brown hair leaning against a utility pole on the chilly street. She had white earphones connected to a CD player in her ears, her toes tapping out so kind of rhythm.
"Hum~ hum~~"
Looking up at the crescent moon hanging high in the night sky, the girl seed to be in a good mood, humming a light tune.
Seeing the girl like this, Shido couldn't help but smile with relief.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yutsuki."
"Oh, you're back. What did you get to eat?"
Seemingly noticing Shido, Yutsuki took off one earphone and turned to look at him.
"A grilled rice ball and a fried chicken rice ball."
"Eh? Is that enough to eat? That's not nutritious at all."
"Can't be helped. It's better than eating nothing."
Shido smiled bitterly, took out a rice ball from the bag, and tore off the wrapper.
"It actually tastes pretty good. Do you want so, Yutsuki?"
"Didn't you see just co out of a ran shop?" Yutsuki rolled her eyes in exasperation, sighed, and said, "Honestly, I even said it would be my treat if we just ate at the ran shop. But you insisted on buying rice balls from a convenience store."
Hearing Yutsuki's complaint, Shido awkwardly scratched his cheek.
Just now, after eting Yutsuki, his initially excited emotions were deflated by her sudden, inexplicable line. Coupled with his tense nerves finally relaxing...
As a result, Shido's stomach, which hadn't taken in any food from afternoon till night, let out an embarrassing growl right at that mont.
If he could, Shido really wanted to go back in ti and do it over again.
"Well... having said that, if we went into the ran shop together, and I ate with relish while you didn't eat anything, it would be a bit awkward."
"Since when did you beco a guy with such thin skin?"
Yutsuki looked at Shido speechlessly.
"Don't make it sound like I'm a thick skinned person."
"Aren't you? A playboy who's stolen the first kisses of many beautiful Spirits?"
"Ugh..."
Looking at Yutsuki's wicked smile, Shido was montarily left speechless. After a sigh of feeling caught between laughing and crying, he silently ate his rice ball.
Walking on the bustling streets of Akihabara, Yutsuki and Shido were currently heading towards the station.
(It's really unbelievable...)
Swallowing his food and stealing a glance at the side profile of the girl next to him, Shido thought to himself.
Originally, he thought his emotions would be much more excited when eting Yutsuki. He thought he would have so many things to tell her, and the scene of their reunion would unfold touchingly like in a light novel or manga.
But in reality, it was just an ordinary eting. Then they naturally walked together, casually chatting about various mundane topics as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Maybe, this is just who Yutsuki is.
"Are you listening to Miku's CD right now, Yutsuki?"
"Mhm, it's a new song. Miku's singing level is getting better and better."
After praising her, Yutsuki sighed with so regret.
"Sorry, Shido. I originally wanted to buy an extra copy for you. But it seems an insider took an album, so I couldn't reserve one."
"Ah... about that."
Hearing this, Shido smiled bitterly. Under Yutsuki's surprised gaze, he pulled out the autographed CD from his pocket.
"That insider... should be ."
Instantly, Shido felt Yutsuki's piercing glare.
"...Shido. As a fan who has always followed the proper channels to support idols. I despise you from the bottom of my heart."
"I am very sorry."
After a heartfelt apology, Shido and Yutsuki looked at each other and simultaneously burst into laughter.
"Alright, probably no one will hear us around here."
Stepping out of the noisy Akihabara electric town, Yutsuki took a slight detour, avoiding the bustling crowds.
After confirming no one would hear their conversation, Yutsuki slowed her pace slightly, and her voice beca serious.
"Tobiichi Origami, just like you, Shido, has mories of the previous world line."
"—!?"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Shido widened his eyes in surprise.
Without waiting to see if Shido had processed her words, Yutsuki continued explaining on her own.
"The reason is Kurumi's Yud Bet. Based on current intel, as long as two conditions are t: 'being hit by the bullet and going back to the past' and 'possessing Spirit power', one can retain mories of the previous world after the world changes."
"Wait, wait a minute, Yutsuki!"
Shido hurriedly called a stop, holding his head. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he asked:
"Since Origami retained mories of the previous world, then what's the deal with the Origami I saw at school earlier?"
"I don't know the exact details either."
Yutsuki shook her head and said,
"But in this world, Origami didn't go down the path of revenge like in the previous world, that's for certain. This is just a hypothesis, but perhaps because the information gap between the Origami of the previous world and the Origami of this world was too large, a conflict arose preventing them from rging smoothly. Ultimately, out of self-preservation, the Origami of this world made the Origami of the previous world a state that only switches under specific conditions."
"Uh... sorry, I don't really get it."
Shido indicated he was completely lost. In response, Yutsuki shrugged and added:
"Well, in practice, it feels similar to having a dual personality. Just think of it that way, Shido."
"I feel like I'm being looked down on..."
Ignoring Shido's grumbling, Yutsuki continued:
"And as for the specific condition that turns Origami into a Spirit, you heard what I said over the broadcast, right?"
"Mhm, it's a Spirit's power, right."
Shido nodded. Recalling Origami trying to murder Kurumi a few hours ago, he clenched his fists in frustration.
He had indeed changed Origami's past, allowing the current Origami to live a peaceful life. But it seed "Origami" herself didn't think her sins could be erased so easily.
"Well, conversely, as long as you don't show Spirit power in front of her, Origami poses no threat."
Saying that, Yutsuki shrugged and winked at Shido.
"As for what you should do? Shido, you should know better than ."
"Mhm."
Shido nodded silently.
Going on dates with Spirits, making them fall in love, and sealing their Spirit power. Although it sounds ridiculous, it is Shido's only thod to save Spirits.
"I've already promised to go on a date with Origami, tomorrow."
"Hoh~ Aren't you quite capable, even though you're just idiot Shido."
Yutsuki teased Shido with a wicked smile.
"But Yutsuki, how did you retain mories of the previous world?"
Shido asked curiously.
In the previous world, the other party wasn't hit by Yud Bet to return to the past like Shido was. Yet in this world, Ryougi Yutsuki also knows about the previous world.
Kurumi is understandable, since she was the master of Zafkiel to begin with. But there was no explanation for why Ryougi Yutsuki hadn't lost her mory.
"Well... my situation is a bit different from yours, Shido. Rather than retaining mories, it's more like I received them."
"What does that an?"
Shido asked in confusion. To this, Yutsuki chuckled and waved her hand.
"Well, it's nothing major. Oh, we're here."
Saying that, the girl suddenly stopped. Shido realized that during their conversation, he had unknowingly arrived at the station entrance.
"Alright, this is all the intel I can give you. I'll see you off here."
"Eh?"
Hearing the girl's tone, which sounded like she was sending him off, Shido looked bewildered.
"Yutsuki... aren't you coming back with ?"
"Mhm, I'm not going back."
Yutsuki nodded.
"Then... where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"At a hotel, of course. Ah—you don't need to worry about money. With a 'little' internet manipulation, it's no problem."
Seemingly misunderstanding Shido's concern, Yutsuki showed off her pearly white teeth and gave him an "OK" gesture.
"Well then, rember to rest early when you get back, Shido."
"Eeeh? Wait, Yutsuki!"
Seeing Yutsuki actually turning to leave just like that, Shido hastily grabbed her.
"Is there sothing else, Shido?"
Yutsuki asked with a puzzled look.
"I..."
Shido opened his mouth slightly. For so reason, even though he had a ton of things he wanted to say in his heart, a strange sense of incongruity stuck in his throat, preventing him from making a sound.
(Ah—Are you an idiot, Itsuka Shido. Why did you co looking for her in the first place?!)
Cursing himself fiercely internally, Shido gritted his teeth and made up his mind to speak.
"Yutsuki... I want to seal your Spirit power."
Hearing Shido's words, Yutsuki's face didn't show any fluctuation. With a smile, she simply replied flatly:
"Why?"
"Because..."
Shido was instantly at a loss for words.
There it is again, this sense of incongruity.
For what? To save the Spirits, of course. So that Spirits won't have to show such despairing expressions. This is the answer Itsuka Shido has always held onto until now.
However, for so reason. At this very mont, facing Yutsuki, Shido felt a profound lack of confidence.
"Because... I want to help you..."
"Help ? Help with what?"
"..."
"Sorry, my joke went a little too far."
Looking at the silent Shido, Yutsuki sighed lightly.
"Jokes aside, you should have realized what I'm trying to say, Shido."
"Mhm..."
Shido nodded with difficulty.
"In this world, I can already control the occurrence of spacequakes. As long as I want to, I can quietly descend to the human world without drawing the attention of the AST or DEM. Moreover, I can decide when to return to the neighboring world of my own will. Household registration and things like that, I can easily forge a copy using my hacking skills. Naturally, I have no worries about money, housing, or daily life. Then, a question arises."
Saying this, Yutsuki paused slightly. Looking at Shido, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Shido, what reason do you have to seal my Spirit power?"
"—"
Completely speechless. Faced with Yutsuki's overly piercing question, Shido could only blankly open his mouth, unable to formulate a single answer.
"Then, since Origami's problem hasn't been solved yet. Isn't it better if I stay like this?"
Leaving this final sentence, Yutsuki put her earphones back on, turned around, and walked away with light steps.
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