Chapter 51 51: Operation Fluffy Fluffy
After that, the Fraxinus quickly used the teleporter to pick up the three of them, leaving Mana behind to be recovered by the AST backup squad that arrived shortly after. She was sent to the JSDF Tengu Hospital. According to Reine, that facility housed Realizer equipment used for treating AST personnel.
The unconscious Kotori was taken into the Fraxinus and placed inside an isolation chamber with doors as thick as a bank vault.
"I'm sorry, Shin. I'm afraid I cannot let you interact with Kotori as she is now."
Even though she was currently unconscious, no one could guarantee that the Kotori who woke up wouldn't be in that same slaughtering mode. Until they could suppress it with medication, Reine rejected the group's idea of staying by Kotori's side.
"What about you, Reine-san?"
Mikoto was a bit worried. If the Kotori who woke up was dangerous, then it would be dangerous for Reine too.
"Ah, you don't need to worry about me."
"Is that so? Then we'll leave Kotori to you."
Although she didn't know the reason, it didn't sound like Reine was speaking without basis. So Mikoto nodded, and together with Shido and Tohka, returned to the Itsuka house.
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At dinnertime...
"Shido... looks really depressed."
Tohka looked at Shido, who was sitting in the living room, staring blankly at the TV. By the way, the news was currently broadcasting a report about the massive fainting incident at Raizen High School, explaining it away as respiratory poisoning caused by a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit.
"It can't be helped."
Mikoto sighed. He failed to save a Spirit, both his blood related sister and step sister ended up unconscious, and he dragged the entire school into the mess. For Shido, who valued others far more than himself, this was undeniably a massive blow.
"I want... to do something... for Shido-san."
Yoshino, who had also come to the Itsuka house, looked at the dejected Shido and whispered. For someone as introverted as her, just speaking her mind in front of others was already an amazing feat.
[Oh my, having so many girls worry about him... Shido-kun really is a lucky pervert, isn't he? Well, it can't be helped. For the sake of our cute Yoshino-chan, let Yoshinon teach you a method that is guaranteed to work!]
The rabbit puppet, Yoshinon, on Yoshino's hand spoke up.
"Ooh! That's amazing, Yoshinon! What kind of method is it? Tell us quickly!"
Tohka said excitedly.
[Ahem. Let's call it 'Operation Fluffy Fluffy'. Actually, all you have to do is this... and then this...]
Yoshinon whispered.
[What are they doing over there?]
Sensing something strange, Shido turned his head and saw the Spirit trio huddled together a short distance away, whispering among themselves. Occasionally, he would hear voices saying, "Eh?" "F-For Shido's sake..." "But isn't that a bit too..."
[Sigh...]
Normally, he would be very curious, but right now, Shido's mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Kurumi and Kotori.
Just then, a tiny figure appeared in front of Shido. It was Yoshino.
"Umm... is there something you need?"
Looking at Yoshino, who looked like she was trying to muster her courage but still showed a timid expression, Shido asked.
[Do your best, Yoshino-chan! Didn't you say you wanted to help Shido-kun?]
"Mhm... I'll do my best."
Finally, with Yoshinon's encouragement, Yoshino gently climbed onto the sofa, sat sideways on Shido's lap, and gently wrapped her arms around him.
"W-Wait... what are you doing!?"
Looking at Yoshino, who had suddenly hugged him, Shido panicked.
[There, there, Shido-kun.]
Without missing a beat, Yoshinon flopped onto Shido's head, stroking his head back and forth as if comforting him.
"Ugh..."
The soft, fluffy sensation of the young girl in his arms made Shido's heart race. However, the Spirits's attack was far from over.
"Shido..."
"Tohka!?"
Shido turned his head and saw Tohka, who had sneaked over to his right side at some point. She sat next to him and pulled him tightly into a hug.
And so, Fluffy Fluffy +1.
"Wait, what is wrong with everyone today!?"
Completely failing to understand what was going on, Shido tried to struggle.
"Honestly, Shido. When girls are going this far for you, if you still refuse, it would just make us too pitiful."
"S-Senpai!?"
Before he knew it, Mikoto had also come to his left side and hugged him along with everyone else.
And so, Fluffy Fluffy +2.
When Mikoto heard that Yoshinon's "Operation Fluffy Fluffy" was literally just everyone hugging Shido at the same time, she was a bit hesitant about this seemingly unreliable strategy.
However, thinking about it from a boy's perspective... was there really a boy in existence who would be unhappy being hugged by three beautiful girls at the same time? Probably not.
Although it was very embarrassing, for the sake of cheering Shido up, Mikoto agreed to Yoshinon's idea.
"Ugh... Uguu..."
In the end, surrounded by a massive amount of fluffiness, Shido's brain also turned completely fluffy.
Yoshinon's Operation Fluffy Fluffy—Massive Success.
The next day, Kotori's condition seemed to have stabilized.
"Umm... I'll just wait for you here, Shido. Say hi to Kotori for me."
Considering that the siblings must have a lot to talk about, Mikoto, who had come to the airship with Shido, decided to wait in the break room to give them some alone time.
"Yeah."
Shido nodded, and under Reine's guidance, arrived at Kotori's room.
His heart heavy with questions, the boy began talking to his seemingly healthy and energetic sister.
First, it was confirmed that Kotori was one hundred percent human—at least, up until five years ago. The turning point was the great Tengu City fire five years ago. At that time, Kotori acquired the power of a Spirit, triggering that disaster and gaining the unpleasant code name Efreet.
After that, Shido sealed Kotori's Spirit energy, which was how Ratatoskr discovered Shido's special ability. From then on, Kotori became the Commander of Ratatoskr, working tirelessly so that Shido could save Spirits by going on dates with them.
However, even with that cleared up, many questions remained. Both Kotori and Shido had missing memories regarding the Tengu City fire. Shido didn't remember his sister becoming a Spirit, and Kotori didn't remember how she became a Spirit and how did Shido sealed her. It was as if someone had intentionally erased those memories.
But what was even more troublesome than the lost memories was that to resolve the crisis Kurumi brought, Kotori had take all of her Spirit energy. Shido had already guessed as much yesterday. After all, if she wasn't going all out, it would have been impossible to break through two layers of Mikoto's barrier while in a sealed state. However... Shido didn't expect that he would have to seal Kotori again by kissing her.
What was even worse was that having taken back all her power, Kotori was constantly plagued by an intense, destructive urge. This meant they only had one short day to go on a date and raise her affection level.
"Shin, I will use medication to keep Kotori as calm as possible the day after tomorrow. I'm counting on you. Take Kotori on a date that day and conquer her."
June 11th, Sunday. The day that would decide Itsuka Kotori's fate had been decided just like that.