"Hmm... steak, garlic and onions, potatoes, tomatoes... for seasoning, let's buy a bottle of wine too... I think we still have so cornstarch and at tenderizer at ho. This should be about it."
"There really are a lot of things to b-buy."
Looking at herself and Yutsuki, each holding heavy shopping bags, although it wasn't a burden for the trained Origami, it still inevitably made her sweat a bit.
"Can't be helped, this is what it's like when there are many people at ho."
Yutsuki shrugged helplessly, looked at the ingredients in the shopping bags, and thought for a mont.
"I feel like we're still missing sothing... Right! We haven't bought desserts and snacks yet!"
"There's more?!"
Origami instantly felt like crying without tears.
She had to say, it was quite a rare sight for two beautiful girls in their pri to be running around the shopping district carrying bags like housewives. Origami could even vaguely feel the gazes of passersby directed at them, which made her thin-skinned cheeks burn with embarrassnt.
Moreover—
(Ugh... I can't find the right ti to speak up.)
Seeing Yutsuki already absorbed in so kind of focused state, Origami felt too embarrassed to ruin her mood at this mont.
(I should have just mustered my courage and said it directly when we were at the beauty salon.)
Origami thought with a bitter smile. That was clearly a good opportunity back then, but right as she was about to speak, she suddenly realized that what she was about to say was as shaful as lines from a shoujo manga, and she beca too embarrassed to say it.
(Ugh... what should I do? If Yutsuki-san goes back, it'll be even harder to say.)
Origami couldn't help but feel distressed. She didn't have the courage to say such things in front of many acquaintances. Although she could just say it over the phone later, she still felt it was better to express her determination face to face.
"Hmm... what's this?"
Suddenly, a photo fell out from Yutsuki's wallet in front of her and fluttered down to Origami's feet.
___________________
"Well then... this should do it. Ah—"
Yutsuki picked up the wallet in her pocket. She originally intended to take out so money to pay the bill later, but another important item fell out of the wallet.
Shido's maid photo—The Shiori in the picture was wearing a very cute cat ear headband, making cat paw poses at the cara, and blushing while awkwardly imitating a cat's ow.
This was during the Tenou Festival, one of the demands Yutsuki forced the other party to comply with using the lure of money. After that, this photo had been carried around by Yutsuki as a lucky charm.
Yutsuki hurriedly turned around and bent down as swift as lightning, trying to pick up the photo before it hit the ground.
In the nick of ti, just as the photo almost touched the dust on the floor, Yutsuki caught it.
(Thank goodness... hm?)
Yutsuki sighed in relief. Just as she was about to put Shiori's photo back into her wallet, she suddenly noticed that besides herself, another hand was pinching the other end of the photo.
Looking up, the owner of this hand was none other than Tobiichi Origami, who was following behind her.
Is she trying to help pick it up? Yutsuki thought.
"Origami, this is mine. Thank you for helping catch it."
"..."
"Origami?"
Seeing Origami suddenly lower her head in silence, Yutsuki tilted her head in confusion. However, she didn't say much more, just slightly increased her strength, trying to pull the photo out of Origami's hand.
"—!"
However, at the exact sa ti Yutsuki exerted force, Origami also increased the strength in her fingers, gripping Shiori's photo like an iron brand.
"Um... what are you doing?Tobiichi Origami-san."
Yutsuki looked at Origami with a fake smile. Finally, Origami slowly spoke up.
"I found this item on the ground. The owner is unknown, so naturally, the ownership belongs to the person who picked it up."
"What do you an the owner is unknown. Didn't I just say this is my property?"
"Do you have evidence to prove that?"
"...I have the digital data for this photo. That should be strong enough evidence, right."
"..."
"Then, you can give it back to now."
Saying this, Yutsuki tried to pull the photo out again. However, Origami showed no intention of letting go.
"I say, are you going to give it back or not?"
Yutsuki questioned, getting a little angry.
"I won't."
"On what grounds?"
"Shiori's things are Shido's things, and Shido's things are my things."
Pfft— Yutsuki almost spat out a mouthful of blood, angered by Origami's Jaian logic('What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine). Heaven be her witness, since coming to this world, she had never seen such a shaless person who could twist right and wrong without the slightest guilty conscience.
Wait, she actually had seen one, but it seed to be the exact sa person.
"...Sigh. Forget it, I'll give this to you."
If she forcefully snatched it, the tragic outco would probably be the photo ripping in half, unable to withstand the tearing force of two Spirits. Thinking of this, Yutsuki sighed helplessly and was the first to let go.
Anyway, the digital image had long been copied and saved by Yutsuki on several USB drives, and there were also photo albums at ho prepared for collecting and viewing.
(Shido: "—Achoo!!!!!!!!!")
Seeing Yutsuki let go, Origami didn't hold back either. She withdrew the photo without hesitation, pressed it against her face, took a long, deep breath, and after a long while, slowly sighed with emotion.
"The world is so beautiful."
Yutsuki felt the corners of her eyes twitching constantly.
"I say... you're the Origami from the previous world, right."
Obviously, the only person Yutsuki knew who could shalessly do such perverted things in public was the Tobiichi Origami from before history was changed.
To this, Origami nodded without denying it.
"In your perception, you might be right. But in reality, the past and the current have always been the exact sa person from beginning to end."
"Oh, so that's how it is."
A look of realization appeared on Yutsuki's face.
In this world, once history is changed, it doesn't create a branching point to generate a parallel world. Instead, the resulting impact directly overwrites the current spaceti to change reality. In other words, although they always use "previous world" and "this world" to distinguish them, in reality, there has always been only one Tobiichi Origami.
If you had to categorize it, the current Origami should be like Kotori, undergoing a personality shift triggered by a certain object.
As for the trigger, Yutsuki didn't even need to think to know it was Itsuka Shido and objects related to him.
"Ryougi Yutsuki, I have a question I want to ask you."
"Hm? What question?"
Gently placing the photo against her chest, Origami stared at Yutsuki and spoke up.
"How exactly do you view Itsuka Shido?"
In an instant, Yutsuki's expression beca quite subtle.
"Uh... is this question very important?"
"Very important."
Origami nodded seriously.
"Back then, you clearly had many opportunities to kill directly. But in the end, you still chose to accept Shido's wish. It's clear how important Shido is to you."
As the person involved, Origami knew very well that her matters had no direct connection to Ryougi Yutsuki. Yet, apart from Itsuka Shido, she was the person who paid the most attention to her affairs.
Clearly, from Ryougi Yutsuki's standpoint, the Origami back then was unquestionably a target that needed to be eliminated directly. But in the end, she still chose to trust Shido and let Origami live.
"But, as far as I know, in your daily life, your interactions with Itsuka Shido aren't as intimate as Tohka and the others."
Because Ryougi Yutsuki almost never experienced Spirit power backflow due to emotional fluctuations, the number of dates between Yutsuki and Shido wasn't many. Moreover, Yutsuki wouldn't actively initiate a date request like other Spirits; most of the ti, it was Itsuka Shido who took the initiative to find Yutsuki when he needed sothing.
As she spoke, a serious emotion appeared in Origami's eyes.
"So, what is Itsuka Shido to you? What kind of feelings do you hold for Itsuka Shido? I want to know these things."
"I see..."
Seemingly understanding the reason Origami invited her out today, Yutsuki sighed lightly. She sat on a public bench by the road, set the shopping bags aside, leaned back lazily, and looked up at the blue sky.
"...Before, when Shido sealed my Spirit power, he said this to ."
After a long ti, Yutsuki slowly spoke.
[Unfortunately, I cannot marry you. Because I still have Tohka, Yoshino, the Yamai, and the others. If I did that, it would an abandoning them to enjoy happiness all by myself. But I swear! I am willing to stay by your side for the rest of my life! Until the very mont I die, I will stay with you and treat you as my family!!!]
Even today, Yutsuki clearly rembered the words Itsuka Shido said to her back then.
"To , Shido is family. My most important family in this world."
A smile unknowingly ford on the corners of her mouth. Yutsuki looked at Origami and said calmly,
"But at the sa ti, just family. So beyond that, I don't plan to force anything."
Listening to Yutsuki's words calmly, Origami pursed her lips and asked.
"Does that an... you don't have romantic feelings for Shido?"
"Well... right now DEM is constantly eyeing this place like a tiger watching its prey. We never know when everyone might fall into a crisis, so enjoying daily life and relaxing a bit is enough. I don't have the courage to engage in romance during warti."
Yutsuki replied with a light smile and a shrug.
"Is that so..."
Origami said softly.
"..."
"..."
For a mont, both seed to be thinking about sothing, and the atmosphere fell into an indescribable silence.
After a long while, Origami was the first to speak.
"I like Itsuka Shido."
"I know."
Yutsuki nodded gently.
"I like him. I like him very much. I love him so much I want to date him, kiss him, want to *BEEP* with him, have him *BEEP* my whole body, mouth *BEEP*, foot*BEEP*, hair *BEEP*, anal *BEEP*, do all kinds of *BEEP* play, then marry him, have his babies, and live a 'happy' and joyful life."
"There are way too many censored words in the middle there!"
"So, I won't concern myself with your reasons."
Ignoring Yutsuki's retort, Origami continued without changing her expression.
"Even if you plan to stay stagnant, I won't make concessions because of it. I will use every ans to pursue him, seduce him, and make him completely infatuated with ."
"Then why did you ask all this..." Looking speechlessly at Tobiichi Origami who suddenly made a perverted declaration, Yutsuki let out a long sigh. "Well, since you've already made up your mind. Then do your best."
"...But, I will respect Shido's decision."
At this mont, Origami's tone beca incredibly solemn.
"If in the end, the person Shido chooses isn't ... I will choose to withdraw."
The instant she heard this, Yutsuki looked at her with a shocked expression.
"Origami..."
"By the way, do you have any more of this photo? If you do, let's schedule a ti next ti. I'll pay whatever amount of money."
Holding Shiori's photo, Origami proposed to Yutsuki very seriously. Yutsuki instantly had black lines down her head.
"...You really are Tobiichi Origami."
"Looks like before I go back, I need to go buy a photo album..."
Origami muttered softly like this, then carefully put the photo into her handbag.
"—!"
The mont the photo was put into the bag, Origami's body shuddered violently, and a large amount of sweat spread across her forehead.
"Could it be... you changed back?"
Looking at Origami, whose entire aura had undergone a massive change, Yutsuki asked with uncertainty.
"Ah... ah... guh... ahhh..."
Mumbling inexplicable syllables with an open mouth, Origami's face gradually turned bright red, like an overripe tomato, her eyes spinning in panicked swirls.
"Yutsuki-san. T-That's not right, what just happened was—what I wanted to say wasn't, ah—although it isn't wrong, it's just not right, anyway—I am very sorry!!!!"
"Mhm, mhm, I know. Just calm down first."
"Right, I must return this to you. Eh? What's wrong with my hand."
Saying this, Origami seed to want to take the photo out and return it to Yutsuki, but at the sa ti, Origami's left hand defied its master's will and pressed down firmly on her right hand.
Yutsuki felt that she was actually witnessing soone fighting with another version of themselves in reality.
"It's fine. I said I gave it to you, there's no need to return it."
Yutsuki waved her hand with a bitter smile. She had a premonition that the mont the photo was taken out, Origami would definitely change back to her past self, and then shove the photo back in. Thus falling into a aningless endless loop.
(Welco back, my family.)
Yutsuki thought silently in her heart.
"More importantly, let's hurry up and buy the rest of the things."
"Y-Yes..."
____________________
"Chef! Chef! My taste buds are very strict. If the prepared offerings cannot satisfy , my comrade, your ownership will be fully handed over to my disposal."
"Direct gaze. If it doesn't taste good, Yutsuki will have to play gas with Yuzuru and Kaguya all night tonight, got it!"
"Um... they probably intend to forgive you, Yutsuki."
Hearing the clamoring voices of the Yamai sisters coming from the living room, Shido said, caught between laughing and crying.
"Well, because of this, I must make a delicious al next, and accompany them to play all night before the first day of school."
Gently rolling up her sleeves, Yutsuki rummaged through the kitchen and asked Shido.
"Shido, where did you put the rubber bands? Give one to tie my hair."
"Ah... about that."
"Shido?"
Yutsuki looked at Shido with so confusion. She saw the other party scratch his cheek sowhat embarrassedly. After hesitating for a mont, he brought out a small gift bag from behind his back.
"Um... I suddenly realized you didn't seem to have a hairband to tie your hair in this world, so today I asked Tohka and Miku to help pick one out at that accessory shop."
"Is that so."
Yutsuki took the gift bag, her cheeks feeling slightly warm. Partly because she felt a bit ashad for mistakenly thinking Shido was double-timing, and partly because she realized their eting back then wasn't a coincidence, making her heartbeat speed up slightly.
"Shido... you really are an incredible playboy..."
Yutsuki whispered in an extrely faint voice.
"—? What did you say, Yutsuki?"
"Nothing at all~ Can I open it?"
"Mhm, of course."
Getting Shido's permission, Yutsuki unwrapped the package. Unlike the four-leaf clover from the previous world, inside was a hairband decorated with plastic glass in the shape of a crescent moon with a star sandwiched in the middle.
"Well... it's not bad."
Yutsuki chuckled softly, took out the hairband, and tied her long hair into a ponytail.
"It suits you very well, Yutsuki."
Shido couldn't help but exclaim. The previously slightly loose, flowing long hair was tied into a low ponytail, giving Yutsuki—who originally gave off a casual and indifferent impression—an added aura of virtue and elegance.
"Speaking of which, Yutsuki, did you go get a haircut?"
"Oh, you actually noticed? You've grown too, Shido."
Glancing at Shido in slight surprise, Yutsuki then said with a light smile.
"Well, this is nothing. Wait until you get to school tomorrow, the real surprise is waiting for you."
"?"
Shido tilted his head in confusion.
"Alright, prep work is done. Tonight's dinner is Western-style steak and potato salad. Shido, rember not to cut the beef against the grain."
"Understood."
...
"Say, Yutsuki, honestly, there's one thing I still haven't figured out."
Before carrying the finished dinner to the living room, Shido seed to rember sothing and asked Yutsuki who was in front of him.
"What is it?"
"Why, in this world, did you hide your real na and call yourself 'Hacker'? It wouldn't have mattered if you just said it, right?"
"What, so it's about that."
Hearing Shido's doubt, Yutsuki stopped, turned her back to Shido, and shrugged helplessly.
"Well, when I first hid my na from you all, how should I put it... a sense of guilt? Or self-loathing. But later, after I thought it through, I felt it was sowhat romantic, so I kept hiding it."
"Romantic?"
Shido felt surprised. Although a bit rude, in his impression, Yutsuki had no connection to such words.
"Because you see, if everyone didn't know my na. Then, when Shido calls out my na. Wouldn't I know 'that' imdiately?"
Saying this, Yutsuki turned around gracefully, her long brown hair dancing leisurely in mid-air.
Gazing at the girl before him, Shido was left speechless.
It was a gentle and joyful smile, pure to the extre, seemingly capable of stealing everyone's gaze.
"——that my Shido, has returned!"
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