"Alright, this should do."
Stopping his steps, Shido smiled slightly and gently set Yutsuki down. Although she was a bit unsteady because of the high heels, the solid feeling of her feet on the ground still made her feel relieved.
"I was a little forceful, please don't be offended, Yutsuki."
"More than just a little forceful... forget it."
Glaring at Shido in slight annoyance, Yutsuki sighed helplessly.
Looking around, this was a lounge in the underground facility closest to the surface. Vending machines, monitors, and plants were placed against the walls, along with multiple tables and chairs.
Perhaps because the staff were all gathered working in the banquet hall room, there was no one else here besides Shido and Yutsuki. The lamps and other lighting equipnt were not turned on. Only the bright moonlight, shining through the skylight made of one-way glass on the ceiling, served as the sole light source in the room.
Regardless, still being inside the underground facility made Yutsuki sigh in relief.
"So? Deliberately bringing from the banquet hall to this deserted room, what exactly do you want to do, Shido? Let be clear first, I will resist to the death against anything indecent."
Seeing Yutsuki's sowhat guarded attitude, Shido couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head in denial.
"Rest assured about that. I don't have such vulgar interests as forcing myself on a woman."
"I see."
Yutsuki nodded gently. Actually, she didn't really think Shido would do such a thing. She just hadn't cald down from her panic yet and involuntarily made a teasing remark.
"The reason we ca here... actually, it's no big deal. The banquet hall was simply too flashy, and I'm a bit unused to it."
Shido shrugged and answered.
"Well... it's not like I can't understand."
Yutsuki sighed with a bitter smile. Honestly, even in her past life, that kind of high-society ball was a completely unfamiliar world to Yutsuki. Although this was just a simulated scene created by Kotori and the others, it still made Yutsuki so nervous she couldn't move freely.
"Also..."
"Shido?"
Vaguely hearing Shido mutter sothing in a low voice, Yutsuki showed a puzzled expression.
"It's nothing. Then let's begin—our 'date'."
Saying that, Shido spread his arms. Like a performing magician, accompanied by a crisp snap of his fingers, the surrounding tables and chairs all floated up and gathered towards the wall, clearing out an empty, open space.
Subsequently, the music used when dancing with Kotori began to play in the surroundings.
Just when Yutsuki thought Shido was going to ask her to dance, Shido suddenly took off his leather shoes and socks, placed them in a corner, and stood barefoot in front of Yutsuki.
"Shido, what are you..."
Yutsuki looked at Shido, completely baffled.
"Um... to be honest, Yutsuki, I only have the experience of Kotori leading just now. I'm a complete beginner when it cos to dancing."
Seemingly feeling embarrassed, Shido scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Yutsuki widened her eyes in surprise. This was the first ti she had seen him show a disgraceful side since Shido went berserk.
(No, perhaps I'm the disgraceful one...)
Vaguely understanding Shido's intention, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of Yutsuki's mouth.
"That's true... Honestly, I don't know how to do this kind of ballroom dancing either. If one person knew how, it would be fine, but two beginners wearing leather shoes and high heels will only end up stepping on each other's feet and hurting each other."
Nodding in strong agreent, Yutsuki bent down and took off the high heels from her feet. And then—
"I AM NEVER F***ING WEARING THESE THINGS AGAIN!!!!"
The poor high heels were violently thrown against the wall by Yutsuki. With a resounding "Crack—", they broke into two pieces, becoming scrap.
"Phew—Sorry. Bla yourself for choosing the wrong master."
"Pfft—Hahahahaha!"
Looking at Yutsuki, who looked like she had finally vented her frustration, Shido couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
"Sorry about that, I'm just this kind of rough girl."
Yutsuki rolled her eyes at Shido in annoyance.
"Not at all. I'm very happy. Yutsuki really is Yutsuki."
Reining in his laughter, Shido bowed slightly and offered his hand to Yutsuki.
"Then, milady, would you care to dance with ?"
"Of course, it is my honor."
Replying sowhat pretentiously, Yutsuki took Shido's hand and curtsied.
The beautiful lody flowed through the chilly, empty room. Shido, recalling the feeling of dancing with Kotori, held Yutsuki's right hand with his left, and wrapped his right arm around her slender waist, slowly spinning and dancing in the room.
Honestly, if soone else were watching this dance, they would probably give it a four-word review: "Too horrible to watch." And then cover their eyes, unable to bear the sight.
Stiff, clumsy, and even terrible. The two's steps couldn't match the rhythm of the song at all, and their movents were full of mistakes. If they were at a real ball, the two would definitely beco the center of attention in a bad way.
But the current Yutsuki and Shido didn't care about that.
"Ah, sorry. Did that hurt, Shido?"
"No. Yutsuki's feet are very soft, getting stepped on feels very nice."
"You masochistic pervert!"
"Thank you for the complint."
"That wasn't a complint, seriously."
Yutsuki sighed helplessly. In contrast, a bright smile hung on Shido's face.
"By the way, Yutsuki."
"What?"
"Although it's a bit late to say it. This evening gown looks incredibly good on you."
"...It really is too late."
The two looked at each other and simultaneously burst into laughter.
The dance continued.
Though they called it a dance, what the two were doing was long past being a ballroom dance.
The nervousness had long been tossed to the back of their minds.
The stiffness in their bodies vanished unknowingly.
The constraints of dance steps and postures were no longer cared about.
As if showing off their personalities, as if flaunting their passion, Shido and Yutsuki held each other's hands, dancing joyfully on this moonlit stage.
(This is really fun, but...)
The duration of one song is only so long. There were less than three hours left until midnight. After Yutsuki, Tohka was still eagerly preparing for her date with Shido.
Ryougi Yutsuki knew that no matter how happy or blissful sothing is, it cannot last forever.
This wasn't just a simple date; it was a date to save Shido. Simply enjoying the date herself wasn't enough. Yutsuki had to make Shido's heart throb. However, with the earpiece taken away, Yutsuki had absolutely no way of knowing from Reine whether Shido's heart was throbbing or not.
"Say, Yutsuki."
As the dance music was nearing its end, Shido suddenly spoke.
"Honestly, although I'm very happy to go on a date with you, I don't feel that heart-throbbing sensation. If we just end it like this, I imagine you'd be in a tough spot. I'm not doing this to make things difficult for you on purpose. How about this: just answer three of my questions, and I will accept the condition to seal my Spirit power."
"Making demands even when asking a girl to kiss you, you really are thick-skinned. Forget it... I agree. If I can answer them, I will."
Although she was slightly annoyed by Shido's smug attitude, Yutsuki also knew that this was probably her only chance.
"OK, then question one."
Shido asked with a light smile,
"Yutsuki, what do you think of the current ?"
The current Shido? You an your berserk state? Hearing Shido's question, Yutsuki raised her eyebrows in surprise.
After lowering her head to think for a mont, Yutsuki answered.
"Now that you ntion it, you're amazing. Being able to manipulate Spirit power freely, and being very gentlemanly and considerate towards won. With you like this, whether it's protecting everyone or saving Spirits, one could say it's foolproof. To exaggerate a bit, the current you is probably the ideal, perfect Shido in mine, Kotori's, and everyone else's hearts."
"Thank you for the complint. Then, question two."
Accepting Yutsuki's praise without humility, Shido continued asking.
"Then, between the current and the past . Which one do you think is better, Yutsuki?"
"They're both the sa."
Yutsuki answered without hesitation.
"Whether it's the clumsy but incredibly hardworking Shido from before, or the flawless, perfect Shido now. To , Shido is Shido. There is no difference."
"...I see. As expected of Yutsuki."
To this unexpected answer, Shido couldn't help but shake his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Then the last question—"
However, before Shido could speak, the background music playing around them ended first. The entire space instantly fell into a dead silence, where even a dropping pin could be heard.
"..."
"Shido?"
Looking at Shido who had suddenly fallen silent, Yutsuki asked worriedly.
"The l-last question..."
As if his courage vanished along with the music, Shido struggled to open his mouth, voicing the question in his heart.
"...In your heart, what—exactly am I?"
"...Must I answer this question?"
After a long silence, Yutsuki asked with a bitter smile.
"...Yes."
"Is this question that important to you?"
Shido nodded silently. Yutsuki could feel the hand around her waist trembling uneasily.
Yutsuki sighed helplessly.
"Alright, to , you are an important family mber, Shido..."
"That's not the answer I want from you!!!!"
Shido interrupted Yutsuki with a volu nearing a roar.
"Shido..."
"I know! I know! Yutsuki can only answer like that! Now is not the ti to be asking this kind of question! I know all of this! But even though my logic understands it perfectly, my heart still can't accept it!"
He hated it. Shido really hated his current self.
Selfish, making things difficult, being unreasonable. Just like a spoiled child crying and throwing a tantrum to make their parents abandon work to accompany them.
But even so, he couldn't stop himself.
"Is it necessary? Is it important? Of course it is!"
He didn't want a specific result, he just wanted the answer. Regardless of whether it was the answer he hoped for.
Nothing frightened him more than maintaining this ambiguous, unclear mystery.
"Because, to Yutsuki, I—"
The words he wanted to blurt out were gently stopped by a slender, delicate finger.
"That's enough, Shido. If you say it, I probably won't be able to control myself."
With a gentle smile on her face, Yutsuki said softly.
"...Yutsuki."
"That's true. Not considering your feelings was my fault. If I keep dodging the question, Itsuka Shido won't be able to keep moving forward, right. I'll... speak my true feelings a bit."
Taking a slow, deep breath, Yutsuki continued,
"I really like the Yamai sisters. Although their chuunibyou and quietness make communication a bit difficult, whenever I'm with them, I can feel their straightforwardness and sincerity.
I am very fond of Natsumi. Even though she has an inferiority complex and easily gets negative, that is also her cutest trait. I admire Yoshino, not only is she well-behaved and cute, but she can also display imnse courage at critical monts. I respect Kotori-chan,even at such a young age, she stepped into a dangerous world to protect her brother.
I am a fan of Miku. Although her usual behavior makes one feel helpless, she always looks so beautiful and moving when singing on stage.
Origami, even now, I am amazed by her terrifying capacity for action. So far, I have never t anyone more proactive and aggressive than her. Honestly, I envy her very much.
And there's no need to ntion Tohka. Her feelings for you are probably the purest among everyone."
After listing everyone one by one, Yutsuki sighed helplessly.
"Every ti, I always wonder: why do so many good girls fall in love with you?"
"That's..."
Shido couldn't give an answer. However, Yutsuki clearly wasn't waiting for Shido's answer either.
"Shido."
Softly calling his na, Yutsuki leaned forward, her delicate body pressing slightly against his chest.
Under the bright moonlight, the girl in the evening gown was incredibly moving. Her half-exposed cleavage, her skin as lustrous as white jade, her delicate and pitiful face—everything was so beautiful, so beautiful that Shido couldn't look away.
"Compared to everyone else, my feelings might not be that pure. I won't claim that these feelings are eternal and unchanging. But there is only one thing I can say with absolute certainty."
Holding Shido's cheeks with both hands, Yutsuki gently stood on her tiptoes.
"Ryougi Yutsuki right now—is in love with you."
Within the room's walls, in the reflection cast by the moonlight, the lips of the boy and girl slowly touched together.
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