"This is truly an unexpected developnt."
Watching the beautiful tropical beach pool turn into an elegant and dignified banquet hall in just a few minutes, Shido couldn't help but voice his admiration.
However, it was rely admiration. If he were in his normal state, he would probably be unable to adapt to the atmosphere here and look flustered. But his current self was different. Both his body and brain were in an unusually elevated state of excitent. Perhaps this is what being injected with dopamine feels like, Shido thought.
He scanned the venue with a leisurely gaze. Then, Shido saw Tohka and the others.
"Hoh... this is truly a feast for the eyes..."
Shido exclaid in slight surprise.
Unlike the beautiful swimsuits he saw just now, Tohka and the others were currently wearing very elegant and modest long dresses. They were as beautiful as carefully cultivated flowers in a garden, making it impossible to look away.
However, among them, Shido didn't spot Ryougi Yutsuki among the Spirits.
"...Well then, since the second act, the ball, is about to begin, I should also make the corresponding preparations."
After a mont of silence, a smile returned to Shido's face. The current him took no more than three seconds to understand Kotori's intentions. As the light of Haniel shone upon him, his plain beach shorts transford into a dashing tailcoat.
Click, clack—
The sound of high heels striking the floor gradually approached. Shido turned his head and, seeing the newcor, revealed a teasing smile.
"Pfft. Is it finally ti for your grand entrance? Commander-sama."
"Yes. I was actually wondering if Shido would be unable to adapt to such a banquet hall and look completely flustered."
With her arms crossed, Kotori spoke with a slightly malicious tone. To this, Shido rely shrugged. Putting on the facade of a polite gentleman, he bowed and answered.
"Indeed. This is my first ti coming to such a place, so it's unavoidable to show so unnatural behavior in an unfamiliar setting. However, to be able to et soone as beautiful as you in such an occasion, no matter how nervous I am inside, I wouldn't want you to see my disgraceful side, milady."
"Ugh... You've really beco smooth talking, Shido."
Seemingly unable to handle Shido's incredibly cheesy lines, Kotori involuntarily turned her head to avoid Shido's gaze, her cheeks flushing red.
"I am deeply honored by your praise."
"I retract my previous statent... you've beco thick skinned. Phew... forget it."
Kotori clicked her tongue sowhat unwillingly. Then she sighed helplessly, reached out, and snapped her fingers.
Taking this as a signal, beautiful music began playing in the hall. The staff mbers, who were previously chatting and laughing, tacitly ford male-female pairs and began dancing in the ballroom to the music.
"Shido. Do I need to personally tell you what to do next?"
Kotori asked, closing one eye.
To this, Shido smiled knowingly, bowed to Kotori, and offered his hand to her.
"Would this beautiful lady be willing to dance with ?"
"I would gladly accept."
Nodding in satisfaction, Kotori relaxed her expression, took Shido's hand, and curtsied.
"Um, Kotori. Although we've reached this point going with the flow, I need to make sothing clear to you first. Your big brother here doesn't know how to dance at all."
Walking to the center of the hall, Shido suddenly said with a serious face.
"Hey, hey. Just when I was starting to see you in a new light, you're still the sa old Shido."
Kotori looked at Shido with disappointed eyes. To this, Shido could only offer a bitter smile.
"It can't be helped. How could I know how to do sothing I've never learned?"
Well, that's true. Although the fever and the influence of his berserk Spirit power made Shido's words and actions resemble a playboy, he couldn't possibly do sothing he knew absolutely nothing about.
(But, this is my brother, the Onii-chan I know.)
Kotori's lips curled up slightly.
"It's fine. This was expected. —Anyway, lightly hold my right hand with your left hand first."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Next, put your right hand around my waist."
"Got it."
"—!"
As Shido wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the friction between his palm and her waist, Kotori involuntarily let out a cute yelp.
"You..."
"Sorry, sorry, don't glare at like that."
"...Honestly. I'll lead you, just move to the rhythm of the music."
Letting out a long, slow breath to suppress the blush on her cheeks, Kotori took Shido's hand and they began to dance lightly.
At first, Shido's steps were quite clumsy, but as ti flowed, their synchronized breathing and the music flowing around them gradually helped Shido relax. Soon, his dance steps also beca bolder and smoother.
Of course, the fact that her heart was beating faster due to their bodies being pressed so closely together during the dance... Kotori would absolutely never let Shido notice.
"I'm really surprised. I didn't expect Kotori to be so good at dancing."
"Of course. It's only natural for a lady."
Hearing Shido's praise, Kotori raised her eyebrows proudly.
"Honestly, when I heard you wanted to dance with you, I was absolutely sure you were going to purposely fall hard while dancing, flip your skirt up, and show your printed panties to make my heart throb."
Kotori instantly blew her temper.
"That would be way too stupid?! I don't wear printed panties anymore anyway! Also, even to your sister, that's already sexual harassnt! Pervert! Monkey in heat!"
"Sorry, sorry. Just a joke—Ow, my foot! Don't step on my foot on purpose."
"Hmph, serves you right!"
Kotori snorted lightly. After a mont of silence, she asked softly.
"Say, Shido. Absence makes the heart grow fonder... you've heard that saying, right?"
Shido nodded.
"Mhm, I know. It ans that when soone changes drastically, you have to look at them in a new light. What about it?"
"You know, this saying doesn't just apply to boys. It applies to girls too."
Saying this, Kotori looked up, eting Shido's eyes directly, and smiled as if teasing him.
"Just like today, and it will be the sa in the future. I will keep moving forward, working hard to train myself to beco a woman full of charm. If you keep treating like a child, I'll leave you behind. Onii-chan."
"—!"
Hearing Kotori's declaration, Shido widened his eyes in surprise.
Just then, Kotori heard the cheerful sound of a horn playing in her earpiece. This was the signal that Shido's heart had throbbed.
"Hahaha... I truly concede to you, Kotori. Midnight... I'm really looking forward to it, Miss Cinderella."
Slowly exhaling through his nose, Shido said with admiration.
"Of course. Just wait and see. Phew..."
Though she said that, after knowing she had successfully passed the test, Kotori couldn't help but let out a deep breath, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly.
Subsequently, the music playing ca to an end. After Shido and Kotori bowed slightly to each other, they separated.
(Hm...?)
Suddenly, Kotori noticed that Shido's gaze was subtly glancing towards Tohka's direction, as if searching for sothing.
For a mont, a wicked smile appeared on Kotori's face.
"Speaking of which, Onii-chan. You'd better work hard."
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"As for , I'm currently not too far away from Onii-chan. But Yutsuki-nee... if you don't work hard to chase her, you might really never catch her."
"..."
Hearing Kotori's words, Shido's body suddenly stiffened. He raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Kotori without saying a word.
"Kotori, speaking of which. Counting five years ago and June of this year, we've kissed twice, right."
"Well... what about it? Bringing this up so suddenly."
Kotori nodded sowhat embarrassedly in admission, looking at Shido in confusion.
"Then, doing an adult kiss this ti shouldn't be a problem either, right."
"A-An adult kiss?!"
Kotori's cheeks instantly turned bright red.
Imdiately after, before Kotori could respond, Shido lowered his head and slowly leaned in close to Kotori's cheek.
"Wait! Shido, I'm not ready yet—"
Phoo~
"—Uya!?"
Then, feeling a sudden burst of hot air blown against her earlobe, Kotori couldn't help but shudder and let out a surprised yelp.
"Ahaha, as expected, Kotori is still just a child. You're ten years too early to ddle in Onii-chan's affairs!!"
"—Sh-Shido!!!"
Ignoring the humiliated and furious Kotori, Shido threw his head back and laughed heartily a few tis, then decisively slipped away.
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