Ratatoskr possessed authority in Tengu City far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
An airship hovering at an altitude of 15,000 ters, an underground facility as complex as an ant nest, and thousands of personnel planted as informants in every corner of the city and every walk of life.
If she wanted to, Kotori could even alter the structural map of Tengu City, turning it into a combat fortress.
Of course, this power was explicitly restricted to be used only for conquering Spirits. After all, if it were used for personal purposes, or maliciously manipulated by an organization like a mafia, Tengu City would probably have long beco a lawless, notorious demon's lair.
(Well, consider it a preventative asure just in case Shido and Yutsuki-nee's relationship gets strained.)
Temporarily making up an excuse in her mind that she could use to fool her superiors if questioned, Kotori exhaled and unwrapped a new Chupa Chups, putting it in her mouth.
"How is the investigation going?"
"Commander, the target has been confird."
Soon, a reply ca from the crew. With Ratatoskr's intelligence network, as long as Kotori wished, investigating the style of underwear the girls at Raizen High School wore every day would be a piece of cake. Finding two lost amusent park tickets was child's play.
(Seriously... unable to refuse her brother's request, I still have a long way to go as a Commander.)
Sighing helplessly in her heart, Kotori chuckled, pressed the comm button, and said.
"Shido, we found them. Kouhai-kun's tickets are at—"
...
"A girl with a blonde side-ponytail, wearing a white shirt and a dark blue pleated skirt, dressed like a gyaru?"
Arriving at the station plaza, Shido looked around, searching for soone matching Kotori's description.
"Ah, found her."
Soon, Shido spotted the target on a public bench near the fountain.
How should he put it... She was a very fashionable girl. Aside from the features Kotori described, Shido also saw earrings, necklaces, and other accessories on her, and her nails were painted. In addition to the shirt and skirt, she was also wearing a black jacket, but not in the usual way; instead, she had the sleeves tied around her waist like a belt.
And right now, in her hands, she was holding two amusent park tickets.
"That girl... isn't she from the batting cage..."
Shido couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. If he rembered correctly, she was the girl who hit a ho run in the batting box next to him.
[Furthermore, that outfit... is the uniform of Shido's school, right?]
"Eh? Is that so?"
Shido widened his eyes in surprise.
[Shido... you really need to train your observation skills better.]
Being told this by Kotori, Shido awkwardly rubbed his nose. But after being reminded by Kotori, he finally noticed that the uniform the girl was wearing was indeed Raizen High School's, it was just that because of the way she wore it, he hadn't realized.
(Is she a student at our school...)
Guessing this was aningless. Shido walked up, intending to strike up a conversation with her.
"Excuse ,—"
"Ah, sorry. I am not in the mood right now, go find soone else."
rely looking up to glance at Shido, the girl lost interest and lowered her head again, waving her hand as if shooing away a fly.
—He was treated as soone hitting on her.
The corner of Shido's mouth twitched slightly, his feelings very complicated.
"Um... you misunderstand. I just want to ask, are the two tickets in your hand yours?"
"—?!"
Hearing this, the girl's shoulders trembled guiltily, but she quickly cald down and asked defensively.
"What do you an by that? Of course they are mine, why else would they be in my hands?"
"No, both of these tickets are for today. If you are going out alone, there is no need to purposely buy two admission tickets, right?"
Hearing Shido's words, the girl stood up from the bench, put so distance between herself and Shido, and showed a disgusted expression.
"Hah? What do you an by that? How gross. Is this sexual harassnt? I am going to call the police!"
"Eh?!"
How did his question just now get interpreted as sexual harassnt? Shido was completely dumbfounded.
[Hoh ho~ This girl has guts— Shido, let her call the police. I want to see who ends up getting arrested in the end.]
"Don't cause trouble for !"
Shido subconsciously roasted her.
"Wh-What do you want? Don't co any closer—"
Seemingly frightened by Shido's words, the girl was a bit startled, picking up her phone, actually preparing to call the police.
"Wait, listen to explain! Calm down! Calm down!"
While taking care not to agitate her and keeping his distance, Shido explained.
"Actually, a junior of mine also had two amusent park tickets exactly like yours. He accidentally lost them while on a date today, so I am helping him look..."
Hearing Shido's words, the girl was stunned. She stared at Shido for a mont before asking hesitantly.
"Are you... Itsuka Shido?"
"Eh? You know ?"
Seeing his perfect disguise actually being seen through, Shido couldn't help but be stunned.
"Obviously... If it wasn't for you... Kousuke wouldn't have..."
"Um, what did you say?"
"It is nothing!! Take them back! Happy now?!"
Loudly interrupting Shido's words, the girl suddenly shoved the tickets in her hand to Shido, then turned around and ran away.
In the mont she turned around, Shido also saw a few clear tears sparkling in mid-air.
"Eh? Um..."
With his outstretched hand frozen in mid-air, watching the other party leave, Shido's face was full of question marks and bewildernt.
At the sa ti, he also felt the piercing gazes of the onlookers gathering around.
[That scene just now, in the eyes of others, must look like a frivolous and reckless scumbag abandoning a girl, right?]
Kotori snickered and teased him.
"Give a break..."
Glancing at the tickets in his hand, Shido drooped his shoulders, feeling very helpless.
"Anyway, let's give the tickets to Kousuke first."
—————————————
After that, Kousuke and Yutsuki returned to the batting cage together.
Kousuke first searched carefully around the coin lockers, then went to ask the staff if anyone had picked up any lost items, but all returned empty-handed.
The result was as expected. Honestly, Kousuke had already lost hope of finding them. But Yutsuki still had no intention of giving up.
"Well, I'll go look on the other side. It's fine, if we can't go to the amusent park, we can just take a walk in the park over there to kill ti."
Ryougi-senpai... is truly too handso. Seeing Yutsuki's cool blink when she turned around, he felt his heart lting.
Kousuke seed to understand why Yutsuki received so many confessions from girls at school.
"Alright, I cannot give up so easily either! I have to try harder!"
"Ahem— Young man."
Right at this mont, soone suddenly called out to stop him.
"Itsuka-senpai?!"
Seeing the person who arrived, Kousuke couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Why are you here? And wearing such weird clothes?"
"Ahem— I am not Itsuka Shido! Just a normal Passerby A passing by!!"
Shido coughed forcefully and emphasized.
"Ah... I am very sorry, I accidentally mistook you for soone else."
Although he didn't understand the reason, Kousuke still sensed that Shido didn't want to reveal his identity and played along.
"Mhm! Good that you know! Speaking of which, are these two amusent park tickets yours?"
"Th-This is it!"
Seeing the tickets Shido handed over, Kousuke said excitedly.
"They were dropped in the corner of the station. Honestly, making this kind of mistake right at the start of a date. You are lucky they were found by a kind-hearted person like , otherwise you definitely wouldn't have gotten them back. Don't lose them again."
"Okay! Thank you very much, Itsuka-senpai!"
"I am just Passerby A passing by! Now then, I shall take my leave..."
After emphasizing once again, Shido silently turned and left, leaving Kousuke with only a cool and handso back view.
(Senpai... Could it be he ca here on purpose because he was worried about ...)
Thinking of this, Kousuke couldn't help but feel his courage double. He took a deep breath and replied.
"Thank you, Senpai! I will definitely go all out on this date and not let your efforts go to waste!!!"
Perhaps it was an illusion, but after he shouted this sentence, Shido's footsteps suddenly staggered.
Then soon, Kousuke reunited with Yutsuki.
"Sorry for the wait, Kousuke."
"Ryougi-senpai, I found the tickets!"
"Oh, that is great. Where did you drop them?"
"Over at the station. Itsuka... No, they were picked up by a kind-hearted Passerby A passing by."
"... Pfft."
———————————
"Kotori, tell ... what in the world am I doing?"
Watching Yutsuki and Kousuke happily walk toward the amusent park, Shido put on an expression of doubting his life, and asked very emptily.
[Well... In my eyes, it's just that because of a bunch of boring pride and face saving issues, you ssed up a very simple matter by playing along. Purposely finding the tickets to give back to your junior so he can date Yutsuki-nee at the amusent park, you really are too stupid.]
"Haha... Indeed."
Faced with Kotori's scolding, Shido could only reply with a bitter smile, unable to refute.
[Well, although it was a stupid thing to do, it's very like you, Shido. I actually don't hate it.]
As she spoke, Kotori's tone softened a bit.
"Thank you, Kotori. Hearing you say that makes feel a bit better."
Shido couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Right, Kotori, can I ask you for one more thing?"
[Hm? What is it?]
"Help prepare a ticket for the amusent park."
[——Hey.]
Original Author's PS: While writing this short story, countless White Album scenes flashed through my mind. But after much deliberation... I still restrained the urge.
TL:Not , I really want to see Shido jealous more.
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