Chapter 52 52: Angry
After checking on Kotori, Shido and Mikoto headed to the JSDF Tengu Hospital to visit Mana.
However, their request was politely declined by the receptionist. According to the staff member, Mana was currently undergoing treatment involving "special equipment," and all outside visitors were strictly prohibited.
"Let's go, Shido."
Seeing Shido looking like he still wanted to say something, Mikoto gently tugged at the boy's sleeve.
"But..."
"If my guess is right, that 'special equipment' refers to the Realizers used for medical treatment. If that's the case, unless we can prove we're affiliated with the AST, there's absolutely no way they'll let us see Mana." Mikoto shook her head.
"I understand..."
Shido sighed. The use of Realizers was a national level secret. If that was the kind of treatment she was receiving, seeing Mana was impossible.
"Come to think of it, this has really been a busy week" Mikoto said on the way home.
"Yeah."
Shido nodded. Thinking back on it, ever since Kurumi transferred in, problem after problem had popped up back to back. And on top of all that...
"I have to go on a date with Kotori this weekend. Honestly, I have no idea what to do."
Thinking about having to conquer his own little sister, Shido scratched his cheek helplessly.
"A date with Kotori... this weekend?"
Mikoto tilted her head.
"Ah! I definitely didn't forget about my promise to you, Senpai! It's just..."
No matter how careless he was, Shido wouldn't forget his date with Mikoto a second time.
It was just that the date with Kotori absolutely had to happen this Sunday, and the rest of his time would likely have to be dedicated to preparing for it. If he failed, Kotori would be completely consumed by her destructive urges, and then everything would truly be over.
So, Shido told Mikoto everything that happened during his meeting with Kotori. He believed that this gentle girl would definitely understand his situation.
"I understand. Let's just push our date back to another day. It can't be helped."
Mikoto sighed, but she didn't blame Shido. It was a forced situation, after all—at least from Shido's perspective.
"Yeah. Leave it to me! Speaking of our date, I actually have a really good idea for it."
"Oh? I'll look forward to it, then."
Hearing Shido's words, Mikoto showed a happy expression. However, right after that...
"So, regarding the strategy meeting for conquering Kotori... I was hoping I could get your help, Yakumo-senpai." (TL:????? what is this harem protagonist saying bro??)
Snap!
Mikoto felt something inside her brain just completely break.
"Hey... Shido..."
"Umm... Yakumo-senpai?"
For some reason, Shido felt the girl's smile was terrifying.
"Two timing a lady on a date, then canceling her makeup date again, and finally asking her to help you figure out how to conquer another girl... If it were anyone else, you would have gotten at least one slap across the face by now!" Mikoto puffed her cheeks and said angrily.
"Ugh..."
Faced with Mikoto's intimidating aura, Shido guiltily took a step back.
"Anyway, I am absolutely not helping you with this! And I don't see why you would even need my help!"
After dropping those words, Mikoto turned and walked away in the opposite direction without looking back.
_______________
"Sigh... I ended up snapping at Shido..."
After leaving Shido, Mikoto walked alone down the street, her mind elsewhere and her mood slightly low.
Logically speaking, Shido's request wasn't unreasonable. Saving Spirits was Shido's job, and helping him was just the right thing to do, not to mention the target was Kotori, who had helped her and the other Spirits so much.
However, there were two reasons she got angry. First, having her dates completely ruined twice in a row—and both times because of other girls—made it impossible for her not to feel a tiny bit of jealousy.
But the more important reason was this: There was absolutely no need for a date to seal Kotori.
There were two reasons for this. First, Shido had already sealed Kotori once before. That meant Kotori's affection level was already high enough, otherwise, the sealing five years ago wouldn't have worked. Not to mention...
"Would a girl who doesn't love Shido say something like, 'A blood related sister can't marry him'?"
Mikoto sighed, realizing once again just how incredibly dense Shido was when it came to a girl's feelings.
From Shido's perspective, conquering Kotori was an unavoidable necessity.
But from Mikoto's perspective, the only reason she gave up her date was that Kotori worked so hard every day and had helped the Spirits—including herself—so much. She just wanted Kotori to have some alone time with Shido.
Under those circumstances, for Shido to turn around and ask her to help him figure out how to raise Kotori's affection—a completely unnecessary request—the already downmood Mikoto momentarily lost control of her emotions and completely exploded.
"I'll apologize to Shido tomorrow..."
Sighing once more, Mikoto looked up and realized that, without noticing, she had walked all the way back to the hospital.
"Yakumo-san?"
"Tobiichi-san?"
As a result, she ran into someone completely unexpected: Origami was just walking out of the hospital.
"Did you come to visit your teammate?"
"Yes. She is still unconscious, but her life is not in danger."
Origami nodded. Mana had taken a heavy blow fighting Nightmare at Raizen High. It was only natural for Origami, a fellow AST member, to come visit her.
"Regarding yesterday's battle, please allow me to thank you on Mana's behalf."
The AST had naturally noticed the incident at Raizen High. Although the troops arrived late, the battle footage had been recorded by the automated observation devices that got there earlier.
And naturally, everyone saw Miko protecting a student—and Mana—from Nightmare.
"It's nothing. It was just what I had to do."
"You really are... different from Nightmare."
As if confirming something for herself, Origami nodded.
"If Princess and Hermit are Spirits like you, then living as ordinary humans doesn't seem so bad."
Origami sighed. Spirits were existences that had to be eradicated—that was her long held belief. However, Mikoto protecting Mana yesterday had shaken her resolve. A Spirit protected a human; she protected her teammate.
"However, Nightmare and Efreet... As I thought, I still..."
But...not all Spirits were like that. Spirits who slaughtered humans without a second thought like Nightmare, or the one who caused a massive fire and murdered a certain boy right in front of her eyes like Efreet—those were the Spirits the AST absolutely had to eradicate. Or so Origami believed.
"Let's put Efreet aside for now, but please, you have to give up on Kurumi" Mikoto sighed and said upon hearing Origami's words.
"Why? Do you people intend to 'save' a Spirit like that as well?"
"That's right. But that's not the reason I'm asking you to give up on her. It's because she is far too dangerous."
If Shido intended to save Kurumi, then Mikoto would support him. But the reason she told Origami to give up on Kurumi was simply that she didn't want Origami to end up in danger.
"Can't you tell from Mana's injuries? If Kurumi had aimed for her head yesterday, she would already be dead."