The reflection in the mirror showed a self completely different from usual.
Standing before the vanity mirror in her room, the young girl nad Tokisaki Kurumi couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
It was exactly as it sounded. The girl had already changed into a resplendent black and red Astral Dress. Her hair was tied into twin tails of unequal lengths, and in each hand, she held an exquisitely crafted, antique-style flintlock pistol.
But among all this, the most striking feature was undoubtedly the girl's left eye. Her originally clear, ruby red pupil had transford into a golden clock face.
It wasn't a colored contact lens or special makeup. Like a genuine tipiece, the hour, minute, and second hands in her left eye were ticking away, perfectly synchronized with the flow of ti.
"It's like a character straight out of an ani... It is a little bit embarrassing."
Despite saying that, an excited smile surfaced on the corners of the girl's mouth, clearly very satisfied with her attire.
Naturally so. Because unlike those fictional fantasies in ani, she was currently a special existence genuinely living in reality.
—I want you to defeat the Spirits and save the world.
Just a few days ago, the girl had accepted the request of a person nad "Mio", acquiring the power called "Zafkiel" to beco an Ally of Justice. And yesterday, she had successfully eliminated a wicked existence known as a "Spirit."
The profound sense of accomplishnt made her so thrilled she had almost been unable to sleep last night.
"Hehe~ Let eliminate you in the na of justice... that feels a bit off. I will protect the peace of this city—that's not quite right either. Isn't there a more imposing line?"
"Kurumi~~ Are you not ready yet? We're going to be late for school."
Just as the girl was standing before the mirror, racking her brains for the perfect entrance pose and winning catchphrase, her close friend, Yamauchi Sawa, was already waiting for her outside.
"A-Ah. I'll be right out."
Hearing her best friend's call, the girl snapped back to reality and hurriedly replied.
In an instant, the Astral Dress and the guns dissolved into specks of light and vanished, replaced by a standard school uniform. Her twin tails also unraveled, falling smoothly down her back as straight hair.
Finally, the girl put on a rose patterned dical eyepatch she had bought at an accessory store the day before, covering her left eye.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sawa."
"Hm? What's wrong, Kurumi? Why the eyepatch all of a sudden?"
"Ehehe~ Just suddenly felt like chasing a new fashion trend. How is it, does it look good?"
"Well... it's a bit weird, but it does look pretty on you."
"Right?! You should go buy one too, Sawa. We can be a matching pair."
"Eh? I think I'll pass."
And so, during that period of ti, the girl nad Tokisaki Kurumi lived an incredibly fulfilling life.
During the day, she lived a perfectly ordinary life as a high school girl you could find anywhere.
And at night, she transford into an Ally of Justice, slaying evil, fighting valiantly to protect world peace and the safety of her best friend and family.
She was so happy, so incredibly blissful—as if she had finally found the true aning of her existence, the girl was filled with extraordinary vitality every single day.
However, reality often diverges drastically from one's ideals.
The end of the dream arrived far, far sooner than she could have ever expected.
——————————
February 14th, Wednesday.
The bloodstained festival bearing the na of Saint Valentine—Valentine's Day—had finally arrived.
"OK, that should do it."
After preparing everyone's breakfast in the kitchen, Yutsuki checked the ti, grabbed her schoolbag, and prepared to head out.
Reaching the entryway of the Itsuka residence, while changing her shoes, Yutsuki happened to run into Yoshino and the others coming over from the apartnt.
"Ugh... Yutsuki-san... are you heading out this early today?"
"Yeah, I'm on cleaning duty today."
Yutsuki answered.
Of course, the actual reason was more than just that.
Right now, everyone held a beautifully wrapped box of chocolate in their hands. Yutsuki didn't even need to think to know that those were Valentine's Day chocolates ant for Shido.
"For Shido?"
"Mhm... That's right."
Yoshino nodded gently.
"Exactly! This is Valentine's Day chocolate filled with the deep, concentrated love of our adorable Yoshino-chan! A one of a kind, not for sale masterpiece!!"
Yoshinon shouted with imnse excitent.
"Oh, that's really impressive. Getting chocolate from such a cute girl, Shido really is a guy to be jealous of."
Yutsuki patted Yoshinon's little head, teasing with a smile.
"Well then, do your best, guys. I'll be going now."
Saying that, Yutsuki turned to leave without any hesitation.
This was the other reason why she wanted to leave early today. If she witnessed the harem event of Shido accepting chocolates from everyone with that goofy, lovestruck smile on his face, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back her rage and would end up beating him so hard he wouldn't be able to get out of bed.
"Ah... Wait a minute..."
"Hold on! Biri-chan, don't be in such a rush to leave."
Right then, Nia suddenly sidestepped, blocking Yutsuki's path.
"Hm? Is there sothing else?"
Seeing Yutsuki's confused expression, everyone exchanged knowing smiles.
"Yutsuki-san... this is for you... thank you for always taking care of us..."
"Onee-chan... Please accept this."
"Here you go, Honey~. Happy Valentine's Day~"
"This is for you. You can throw it away if it tastes bad."
"Are these... for ?"
Staring blankly as everyone handed a box of chocolate to her, it took a mont before Yutsuki asked uncertainly.
"Well, since we've all been taken care of by Biri-chan so much, we decided to use this chance to give you a surprise. Didn't see that coming, did you?"
A triumphant smile spreading across her face, Nia pulled out the chocolate she had prepared.
"Here, Biri-chan. This is family chocolate made from leftover scraps, but packed to the brim with my heartfelt feelings."
"How is chocolate made from leftover scraps 'packed with heartfelt feelings'? And what the heck is 'family chocolate'?"
Yutsuki roasted her, utterly speechless.
"Ah~ Calling it giri choco (obligation chocolate) feels a bit too cheap, but calling it honi choco (true feeling chocolate) feels way too serious. For Biri-chan, calling it 'family chocolate' fits best, doesn't it?"
"...You didn't put anything weird in here, did you?"
"That counts as a spoiler. Please taste it yourself to find out. Look forward to it!"
"..."
After hesitating for a mont, Yutsuki accepted Nia's chocolate with a complicated expression.
"Well... how should I put this... I really didn't expect to receive Valentine's Day chocolate, so thank you guys."
Although feeling a bit embarrassed, Yutsuki honestly thanked everyone.
"As long as you accept it, Honey. By the way, the one I gave you is totally honi choco~"
"...Thank you, Miku. I'll savor it."
With slightly mixed feelings, Yutsuki replied with a wry smile.
...
(I never expected to receive Valentine's Day chocolate from everyone.)
Looking at the chocolates she had received in her bag, a small smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of Yutsuki's mouth.
Although she knew very well that aside from the bisexual Miku, none of them viewed her as a romantic interest, receiving Valentine's Day chocolate from girls for the very first ti in her life still cleared up a lot of her previously gloomy mood.
"Well, now I don't really have the right to get mad at Shido... Eh, whatever. Co to think of it, White Day is coming up next month. Should I prepare so return gifts?"
"U-Um!"
Just as Yutsuki was lost in thought, a girl suddenly stepped in front of her. Although Yutsuki didn't recognize her, judging by her uniform, she was a student at Raizen High School.
"Please accept this."
"Huh? Thank you..."
Yutsuki accepted the chocolate the girl offered with a confused look. Before she could even finish her sentence, the girl, her face completely red, turned and sprinted away.
"Is this... also a honi choco?"
Looking at the overly elaborate packaging box in her hand, Yutsuki fell into deep thought.
"Ara ara~ I did not expect you to receive a honi choco from a person of the sa sex. Yutsuki-san truly cannot be underestimated, just like always~"
"—?!"
Hearing that familiar tone and cadence, Yutsuki's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly turned her head toward the voice.
Soon, she saw a girl with flowing black hair, her left eye hidden behind her bangs, slowly walking toward her.
"Kurumi..."
A slight smile gracing her lips, Kurumi looked at Yutsuki and said with utmost gentleness,
"It has been a long ti...Yutsuki-san."
User Comments
0 comments from readers