With the help of Tohka and the others, the wings of the Demon King of Salvation were suppressed one by one.
Not missing this opportunity, Yutsuki brought the upper and lower limbs of her dark blue longbow together, transforming it into a pincer cannon mode.
Blue white lightning surged, and fine iron sand gathered from all directions into Ratziel.
(Ah... the timing is a bit bad... I hope I make it in ti...)
Looking at the ti displayed on her watch, Yutsuki anxiously pursed her lips without drawing the others' attention.
After all, right now, besides Kotori's airship, she was the only one confident in breaking Origami's Spirit power barrier in a single strike.
(Seriously, you're the one causing the most trouble.)
Looking at the inverted Tobiichi Origami curled up inside the barrier, Yutsuki sighed with a bit of anger.
(It can't be helped. Let be clear, this is the last ti I'm keeping you company, Tobiichi Origami.)
"Wake up already—you troubleso girl! Railgun!!"
As her voice fell, the iron sand gathered at the muzzle turned into an orange yellow beam, heavily bombarding the pitch-black Spirit power barrier, blowing a gap in it.
...
The sturdy barrier was finally broken. Thrown by Tohka, Shido passed through the barrier and flew right in front of Origami.
"—Origami!!"
Hugging the girl tightly in his arms, Shido shouted with all his might.
"No matter how many tis you break, I will fix you! No matter how many tis you fall into despair, I will definitely co to save you. So—don't die, live on!"
"...Shi...do..."
Origami, who had been like a corpse, showed a slight reaction to Shido's call.
"—Origami?!"
Seeing Origami regain consciousness, Shido felt a burst of joy.
However, upon seeing Origami's expression, Shido instantly lost his words.
Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks. As if her tear glands had collapsed, the girl sobbed uncontrollably.
In an instant, Shido understood.
Just like he had returned from the past. This Origami, was the Origami who had returned from the previous world.
"I... I... It was who... Dad... Mom and the others... It was ... I killed them..."
Even her voice was trembling. Origami choked and cried in Shido's arms.
"I know..."
Shido gritted his teeth and answered with difficulty,
"...Yes. This is the sin you must bear."
This was an incredibly cruel declaration.
Even if he changed the past, even if it didn't happen in this world, even if no one rembered this tragedy. But to Origami, it had definitely happened.
No matter how beautiful a lie was used to cover it up, it was aningless. If Origami wanted to keep moving forward, she had to admit this fact.
"I..."
Origami's body trembled slightly—
"—Ah, waaaaaaaaaaaaaah..."
Seemingly unable to endure it anymore, Origami tightly grabbed Shido's collar and wailed loudly.
Perhaps for Origami, the mont she killed her parents, her ti was frozen.
Now she had to face suffocating regret, pain, and self-bla. Shido couldn't imagine what Origami was facing right now.
And the person who chose to make her face this pain directly was none other than Shido himself.
With an unspeakable sense of apology, Shido silently hugged Origami a bit tighter.
Just like that day five years ago, Origami leaned in Shido's arms, crying out her pain.
After an unknown amount of ti, Origami gradually cald down.
"Thank you, Shido... Thank you for being willing to save ."
"Mhm. You're welco. I'm just glad you're okay."
Shido answered softly.
"Also... there's sothing I must apologize to you for."
"To ? Why?"
Shido asked in confusion. Origami let go of Shido's body, looked at him and said.
"The feelings I hold for you, Shido... are not romantic love."
"Eh?"
"I... rely relied on you. ...Treating you, who appeared there back then, as a substitute for my parents to fill the void. To keep myself from being weak, I chased after you relentlessly. I caused you a lot of trouble because of my selfishness... I'm truly very sorry."
Hearing Origami's apology, Shido exhaled and shrugged.
"Is that so? Then I'm truly honored."
"Eh?"
Seeing Origami unexpectedly widen her eyes, Shido smiled bitterly.
"Well, it's true there were many troubling things. Even if it wasn't romance, if I could et Origami because of it, I feel very fortunate. And as a man, being relied on by a woman makes very happy."
"Shido..."
"Well, if you really feel sorry towards . Then give a smile."
Seemingly to relax the atmosphere, Shido winked playfully.
"What you left with back then—wasn't just tears, right?."
"—"
Hearing Shido's words, Origami suddenly widened her eyes.
"I-Is that so..."
Then, although she was very clumsy, Origami shyly and trying her hardest, showed a—smile.
At the sa ti, the pitch black dress instantly turned into a flawless, pure white wedding dress.
That's great. A trace of comfort welled up in his heart, seemingly telling Shido that all his efforts were not unrewarded.
Then—
"Thank you. Origami."
(Thank you—for choosing to live.)
Slowly pulling Origami closer, Shido gently kissed Origami.
Instantly, the pure white Astral Dress turned into crystalline particles and disappeared into the night sky.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm"
After the problem was over, Shido suddenly noticed Tohka and the others puffing their cheeks, looking at Shido and Origami with resentnt.
"Um..."
Shido couldn't help but sweat awkwardly on his forehead.
"Hmph... well, we'll specially forgive you just this once. Origami."
Fortunately, Tohka didn't plan to make things too difficult for Shido, just snorting lightly to express slight dissatisfaction.
"Eh?"
Shido suddenly noticed a trace of strangeness. Tohka's tone was less like speaking to a transfer student she had just t a few days ago—and more like a rival she had been competing with for a long ti.
"Tohka, do you rember who Origami is?"
"Hm? What strange things are you saying? ...Ugh, speaking of which, it's true I had completely forgotten her until just now..."
Tohka couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.
Could it be? Shido hurriedly asked Miku.
"Miku, do you know who Ryougi Yutsuki is?"
"What are you saying, Darling. Of course I know who Honey is... Huh?"
(As I thought.)
Seeing Miku's reaction, Shido beca even more certain of his thought.
When he sealed Kotori before, the mont he kissed Kotori, her sealed mories were awakened through the Spirit power path.
There is an invisible path connecting the sealed Spirits and Shido. Perhaps after sealing Origami's Spirit power, the mories of the original world were shared with everyone through these paths.
An unexpected pleasant surprise.
"That's great, Yutsuki... Eh?"
Just as he wanted to share this joy, Shido suddenly noticed.
Ryougi Yutsuki was no longer here.
[Well then, next, everyone head to the Fraxinus for a checkup first.]
Kotori said this.
[The newly sealed Origami naturally needed one, and the other Spirits had also deployed their Astral Dresses and Angels. Just to be safe, everyone naturally needed a full body checkup.]
"..."
[Shido?]
Seeing Shido indifferent to her words, Kotori couldn't help but feel a bit confused.
"Sorry Kotori, can I co over a bit later?"
Shido said slowly. Hearing this, Kotori seed to understand his thoughts.
[Do you want to go find Yutsuki-nee?]
"Mhm..."
[I understand...]
Seemingly understanding Shido's feelings at this mont, Kotori just sighed helplessly and didn't stop him.
Or rather, she should be feeling the sa as Shido right now.
[I've already sent people to investigate in Akihabara. Shido, you just search in Tengu City.]
"Mhm. I got it."
Shido nodded in understanding.
After saying goodbye to everyone, he quickly rushed into the dim streets.
(I will definitely find you!)
Shido swore indignantly.
Appearing so suddenly, and after the problem was solved, leaving without a word, not even letting anyone say a word of thanks. No matter how you look at it, it's too unfair!
(Maybe like Tohka said, you chose this path to protect everyone, but—)
Shido gritted his teeth, his running legs involuntarily speeding up.
Where is she? Where are you, Yutsuki?
Firmly capturing every scene caught by his eyes, Shido constantly tried to find Yutsuki's figure in them. And constantly thinking about places Yutsuki might go.
Shopping district - No.
School - No.
Bookstore - No.
Ani rchandise store - No.
Cat gathering place - No.
(Kurumi: Phew~,he almost caught instead of Yutsuki-san...)
...
Itsuka Shido felt an unprecedented sense of loss at this mont.
In the end, he had almost run through the entirety of Tengu City, yet the ending couldn't be as romantic and beautiful as Shido envisioned. Searching until the end, Shido still didn't see Yutsuki's figure.
Moreover, a reply ca from Kotori's side; they didn't find Ryougi Yutsuki in Akihabara either.
Could it be that Yutsuki has already left this city? If so, Shido really is powerless.
(Where exactly are you, Yutsuki?)
Shido couldn't help but drop his head in dejection, taking bitter steps back ho.
Crunch—!
Lying on her side on the living room sofa, Yutsuki relished a bite of potato chips, comfortably watching an ani playing on the TV.
"Yo—You're back really late. Shido."
Seeing Shido walk in from the entryway, Yutsuki turned her head and greeted him.
"————————————"
Shido seed unable to comprehend what had happened, his mouth hanging open blankly.
"What's wrong? You have a stupid look on your face. Too tired?"
Yutsuki glanced at Shido in confusion, but seeing Shido had no reaction, she ignored him. Continuing to watch TV, she casually opened a can of cola and took a big gulp.
"Ah~~~~~~ That hits the spot——————"
"—!"
Shido finally seed to snap out of it. Looking at Yutsuki lying on the sofa, he asked in disbelief.
"Yutsuki—Why are you here?"
"What a strange question. Why can't I be here?"
Crunch— Taking another bite of potato chips, Yutsuki looked at Shido in confusion.
"Uh—"
For a mont, he felt speechless. Then, seemingly understanding sothing, the corners of Shido's eyes twitched slightly.
"Could it be... you left without a word because the live broadcast of your ani was about to start?"
Hearing Shido ask this obvious question, Yutsuki rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"What else? I have no interest in blinding my eyes watching your kissing scene with Origami. Besides, this week's new episode is really good. I specifically recorded it and replayed it several tis. Do you want to watch it together, Shido... Shido?"
Yutsuki looked in surprise at Shido, who was kneeling on the ground, leaning forward in defeat.
Ah, although he found her... but how to say this—
He was so tired, he felt like he couldn't love her anymore.
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