February 9th, Friday evening, 5:23 PM.
The setting sun had already half-sunk behind the mountains, casting a golden orange halo over the sports field and school buildings. Looking at the empty, deserted campus, one couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of loneliness.
"Phew..."
Watching the appointed ti gradually approach, Shido took a deep breath, trying his hardest to keep his emotions calm.
He knew that Tokisaki Kurumi was currently waiting for him on the rooftop.
[Are you ready, Shido?]
Kotori's serious voice ca through his earpiece.
During class, Kotori had received reports from her subordinates about Kurumi's return to school. Although this sudden news inevitably shook her at first, her reliable nature quickly grasped the situation. Understanding the seriousness of the matter, she imdiately ordered the Fraxinus EX to remain on standby above Raizen High School, ready to provide backup.
"Yeah, I'm good to go."
"Ugh... Are you sure about this, Shido? As expected, it would be better if we went with you..."
Tohka said to Shido, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.
"It's fine, Tohka."
Shido gently patted Tohka's head, comforting her,
"My eting with Kurumi this ti is just to have a proper conversation; I don't intend to fight. Bringing others along might put Kurumi on guard, and I might also be looked down upon as a spineless coward. If it really is a trap, I'll imdiately call you guys for help. I'll be relying on you then."
"I see... Umu! Leave it to !"
Tohka's expression softened slightly, and she answered with renewed vigor.
"Shido, we will remain on standby here. If we sense anything abnormal, we will imdiately head over to back you up."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you, Origami."
"..."
"What's wrong, Origami?"
"Shido, I am also very anxious right now. Please comfort like you did with Yatogami Tohka."
"Ah..."
Watching Origami repeatedly sway her head in front of him, it took Shido a long mont to process it. With a wry smile, he reached out and patted Origami's head.
Then, confirming that the appointed ti was almost up, Shido left the 2-4 classroom and headed toward the rooftop.
[Shido, honestly, I personally do not recomnd you being alone with Kurumi. Kurumi's Angel is truly outside the norm. If so special situation arises, I cannot guarantee we'll be able to handle it in ti.]
While climbing the stairs, Kotori's warning suddenly ca through the earpiece.
"Yeah, I know, Kotori. But this is the first ti Kurumi has offered a chance to seal her Spirit power. Even if there's a possibility of a trap, I can't turn a blind eye to it. Besides—"
At this point, Shido paused for a mont, then spoke in a sowhat joking tone,
"In all our operations to conquer Spirits, when has there ever been a ti without risk?"
Hearing this, Kotori on the other end was left speechless for a mont, then let out a scoff.
[...Hmph. True. I've lost count of how many tis I've had to clean up the sses caused by your reckless actions, Shido. One more ti won't make a difference.]
"Haha..."
Shido couldn't help but smile bitterly.
[Speaking of which, Shido, do you know where Yutsuki-nee is right now?]
"Hm? Yutsuki? She went ho with the Yamai sisters just a while ago."
[...What?]
Hearing Shido's answer, the corner of Kotori's eye twitched slightly.
[Just to confirm, they do know about Kurumi returning to school, right?]
"Um... I haven't seen much of them today, but they probably know. After all, the news of Kurumi's return seems to have spread throu ghout the entire school."
Shido answered after thinking for a mont. Speaking of which, aside from seeing Yutsuki once in the morning, Shido hadn't seen the Yamai sisters or Yutsuki co to this classroom at all.
[...Yutsuki-nee, she's definitely figured sothing out and started acting on her own again.]
Kotori complained in a dissatisfied tone. Although she had no concrete evidence, based on past experience, she absolutely refused to believe that Yutsuki would just go ho as if nothing happened at a ti like this.
[I'll definitely interrogate her thoroughly later. Seriously, does Yutsuki-nee not understand the concept of sharing information?]
"Well... Yutsuki probably has her own difficulties for not telling you."
[I know that, it's just a minor complaint... Shido, you're there.]
While chatting with Kotori, before he knew it, Shido had reached the door to the rooftop.
[Good luck, Shido.]
"Yeah."
Shido swallowed hard, waiting for his racing heartbeat to calm down slightly before pushing open the rooftop door.
"Ugh—"
A brilliance incomparable to the inside of the classroom flooded Shido's vision, forcing him to instinctively squint his eyes.
Gradually, as his eyes adjusted to the harsh sunlight, Shido focused his gaze. He saw a young girl standing at the edge of the rooftop, gazing through the chain fence at the setting sun in the distance.
That girl possessed flowing black hair deeper than the darkest night, and fair skin more flawless than pure white snow. She was so beautiful she could inspire envy, looking just like Snow White from a fairy tale.
The girl stood quietly alone on the rooftop. The sunset cast her shadow onto the floor. The shadow stretched long and wavered unsteadily, like a candle about to burn out—so incredibly lonely and fragile.
For so unknown reason, a sudden pang of heartache and sorrow gripped Shido's chest.
"Kurumi."
Shido called out Kurumi's na.
Hearing Shido's voice, Kurumi elegantly turned around to face him.
"Ara ara~. Welco, Shido-san."
Saying that, Kurumi took a few graceful steps forward, arriving in front of Shido, lifting the hem of her skirt to offer a slight curtsy.
Faced with Kurumi's overly elegant gesture, Shido felt a bit at a loss.
"Um... I ca as promised, Kurumi."
"..."
Kurumi didn't rush to answer Shido's words; she rely stared silently at his face.
"Wh-What is it?"
Shido asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.
Seeing Shido's amusing reaction, the corners of Kurumi's mouth curled into a smile.
"Ara ara~. How terribly rude of . I just noticed that Shido-san has beco even more charming than the last ti we t, and I accidentally found myself srized."
"—?!"
Caught entirely off guard by Kurumi's sudden complint, Shido felt his cheeks heat up. Fortunately, it was evening; otherwise, without the masking glow of the sunset, he wouldn't have been able to hide the fact that he was blushing.
"N-No I haven't~ Even if you flatter , it won't work. I won't let my guard down, Kurumi."
[Shin... Your emotional level just showed a considerable spike...]
Reine's sleepy, deadpan roasting ca through the earpiece.
"Cough, cough! Let's get down to business!"
Coughing sharply twice to cover up his embarrassnt, Shido straightened his expression and looked at Kurumi with utter seriousness.
"You told earlier that as long as I t a certain condition, you'd be willing to let seal your Spirit power."
"Mhm. Exactly."
Kurumi nodded with a smile.
"Then, please tell . What is that condition?"
Shido's words caused the curve of Kurumi's lips to rise once again.
"Mhm, that condition is—"
Suddenly, just as the setting sun gradually sank below the foothills, in the instant Kurumi's lips parted. A static noise suddenly erupted within Itsuka Shido's world.
"—Ugh...?!!"
An intense wave of dizziness surged into his brain. It was as if every ounce of strength in his body had been forcefully siphoned away.
It wasn't a painful tornt, nor was it the weakness brought on by an illness. It had nothing to do with his personal consciousness—it was as if a third party had simply pulled the plug. His consciousness plumted toward a bottomless, abyssal darkness.
However, this indescribable sensation... Shido had experienced it before.
When his body was pierced by Origami's bullet.
When Ellen's sword pierced through his chest from behind.
And when Mukuro's Michael impaled his body, causing his entire arm to vanish.
"Kuru... mi..."
In the instant his consciousness faded, the final image branded into Shido's mind was Kurumi's bewitchingly beautiful smile.
That smile was truly too beautiful, yet at the sa ti, terrifyingly macabre. Standing with her back to the setting sun, she looked exactly like a Grim Reaper ready to drag Shido down to the underworld.
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