mbled again.

"............!"

And, after Yoshino had pondered for a while, she finally consented with hesitation.

"Okay, well then........"

After saying that, Shidou rearranged his thoughts.

He had his wallet just in case but if he was this wet, it would be difficult to enter a shop.

Shidou placed his hand on his face for a while, and then he poked the intercam.

"............Hey, Kotori. If it's about a resting spot, is our home okay?"

And right after saying that. Kotori made an exaggerated shocked voice.

"Wow. Haven't seen you for quite a while and you turned quite daring. If you are planning on pushing her down please be careful."

"....Hey."

"I know. ........Well, there is no other place to go anyway, I will specially permit it then."

"Roger."

Shidou made a short reply and then, talked to Yoshino.

"Well then......let's go."

Yoshino while remaining silent, gave a small nod.

"....Umu."

While Tohka was rubbing her stomach and sighing, she was following Reine as they walked through town in the rain.

She was feeling somewhat bad from having not eaten anything yesterday afternoon, and for not having slept much.

But, the reason for this uneasiness was not from her lack of sleep or from her empty stomach—Tohka somehow understood that.

"............"

Tohka clenched her teeth, and *splash* kicked the wet ground.

But even if she were to do something like that, there was no way the irritating swirling in the bottom of her stomach would just end.

And Reine who was walking in front of her suddenly stopped walking. Tohka stopped right on the verge of bumping into her.

"....How about we go and have our lunch first. Is this place okay?"

Right in front of them was a building with a colorful signboard. If she wasn't mistaken, this place was a family restaurant.

Tohka made a big nod.

"Un..It would help if you were to do that. My stomach is so empty that I think I am going to die."

"....Well then, let us enter."

When both of them folded their umbrellas and entered the shop, following the shop attendant, they settled down at the end of the non-smoking area.

Immediately, they skimmed through the menu and placed an order.

While waiting for their orders to come, in order to calm her stomach, she drank the water the attendant placed on the table in one gulp.

"....Tohka."

Reine, faced Tohka with her pair of eyes decorated by thick and cloudy eye bags.

"What?"

"....Before the food gets here, I would like to have a little talk....is that okay?"

"Nu..Well, I don't mind but....What kind of talk is it?"

Tohka, in order show that she was alert, she lifted her body from the table and nodded.

The woman known as Murasame Reine was ......hard to understand because she seemed to always be thinking of something—and because of that habit, it felt like she could see through anything—it felt a little irritating.

Whether or not she realized what Tohka was thinking at that moment, Reine remained in a dreamy mood and took out a machine like object from her bag, and then unfolded it on the top of the table.

"What is that?"

"........Aah, please don't mind this."

While saying that, Reine was using her other hand and *click* *click*....and lightly operated it.

She focused intensely on the terminal, filled with curiosity but Tohka finally managed to ignore it, and returned her sights back to Reine.

When she did that, Reine returned her eyes back to Tohka and opened her lips.

"....Well, I am not good at making conversation so I will get straight to the point. Tohka, the reason you are irritated—no, it would be better if you could— can you tell me the reason why you have been irritated and the origin of it?"

"—Kuh."

From Reine's words, Tohka unintentionally gasped.

"Uh, I am not really—"

"....As expected, you can't forgive Shin for meeting up with another woman."

Shin. A nickname only used when referring to Shidou.

"Wha, why did shidou appear right there.."

"....Oya, is it not related to him?"

"........"

Tohka placed her elbow on the table, and then scratched her head in a sign of surrender.

And after making a big sigh, she said in a suffering voice.

"..I don't understand."

"....Don't understand what?"

Reine tilted her head to the side as she replied. And Tohka whose face was down, lifted her face up.

"Umu......Even I don't know myself why it turned into this kind of feeling."

She seemed to be troubled as she continued her words.

"Yesterday....shidou, left the school and——that, kissed or whatever it's called, that girl."

Kiss. Just that single word, caused pain around her chest area.

"....Aah, it would seem so."

"It's not really...It isn't any of my business who shidou meets with and where, and whoever he kisses. I am not supposed to find any faults in it. ..But, the moment I saw that, it was already—How should I put it? It was rather—yes, it was a rather bad feeling."

"..........Fumu."

"When I realized what had happened........I started raising my voice. What's more....Right after that, the rabbit said that girl was much more important to him than me....I was already—sad, and scared, to the extent that I couldn't do anything, and I became unable to understand what happened at all........I don't even understand what this means......this is the first time this happened."

And once again she made a big sigh.

"As expected..........Is there something wrong with me?"

"........No, you are not sick or anything. That is a normal and healthy response"

"I-Is that so?"

"....Aah, it is nothing to worry about. But——it is better if we clear that misunderstanding first."

"Misunderstanding..?"

"....Aah, regarding that kiss, that was a total accident, and....it doesn't mean that girl is more important to Shin than Tohka."

After Reine said that, she glimpsed at the machine, as Tohka raised her face.

"Uh, re-really..?"

"....It is true."

"Bu-But shidou was.."

"....If he doesn't think of you as someone precious to him, do you think that he would go to the extent of putting his own life in danger just to save you?"

"——Ah.."

After being told that, Tohka was at a loss for words.

She completely forgot about the weird and indescribable swirl of emotion that were affecting her heart and stomach.

—Yesterday, didn't Shidou protect Tohka? Just like last month?

And what's more, in spite of knowing the chances of dying by getting shot by an assassin.

Tohka, while pushing her hands around her chest area, swallowed her saliva.

".........., I—"

I've been so stupid.

Tohka shook her throat to make a groan, and then scratched her head again.

And after that, immediately stood up from her seat.

"....Tohka?"

"Sorry, can we postpone today's shopping to another day?"

Tohka bit her lips before letting out her voice again.

"....I have to, apologize to shidou."

After hitting her jaw with her hands, Reine made a small nod.

"....Then go."

"I am grateful."

Tohka made a short reply and left the family restaurant taking the umbrella in her hands, she ran out into the raining town.

"........Fumu. Well, that is one problem solved....maybe?"

Reine muttered while being left alone, she glanced through some values from the graph being displayed on the small terminal.

The fact that Tohka's mind and body would be disturbed by this incident was expected.

Although she was pouting like a spoiled kid......If Tohka, really did think badly of Shidou, she would not have hated the girl that Shidou met up with.

Speaking in either ways, from the irritating feeling that she couldn't calm down herself, she learned a weird and indescribable terror and uneasiness......speaking of which would be the closest to the truth.

Because of that, even without her mood being fixed, the thought of changing Tohka's consciousness itself, was not really that difficult.

Yes—but, it was better if she could realize it by herself.

That fact—Shidou protected her, and what kind of meaning that holds, and when the time came, when she found that answer, she would know what she really felt.

"Well, jealousy is also a fine part of love."

She muttered while closing the terminal.

"....But, we have to be careful.?loveThat?could also be, the emotion that will destroy the world."

And then,

"——Sorry for the long wait! Here is the double cheese burger set rice with large servings of fried chicken, fried oyster set, mix grill, margarita, and the spaghetti bolognaise. And please be careful of the hot iron plate."

"....Un?"

And from the sudden appearance of the shop attendant, Tohka's high calorie meal was lined up on top of the table.

"Please take your time and enjoy."

The attendant lowered his upper part of his body by an angle of 45 degrees like he was used to it thus making a bow, and then left the spot.

Reine who was left alone, scratched her cheek in front of that abundant amount of food.

"......This is....troubling."

"Let's see........we have eggs, ah, there is also chicken meat. There's some rice left in the rice cooker too......I guess Oyakodon[2C 2]?is okay."

He roughly determined what menu to make from looking inside the fridge, and right after taking out the needed ingredients, he took a small peek in the direction of living room.

Over there was Yoshino who was curiously looking around things near her while sitting on the sofa.

When Shidou returned, he immediately changed his clothes but Yoshino's dress was still the same rabbit coat from before. Just as Kotori had said, even after getting bathed by rain, she was not wet at all.

Same as Tohka's light dress, this was probably that AstralDress or something.

"Could you wait for a few moments. I'll be done soon. ——Ah, if you are free you could watch the television."

"........?"

Shidou said that while peeling and chopping the spring onions, Yoshino tilted her head in curiosity.

"Un, there is a remote control there—yes yes, now push the top left button."

Following Shidou's instruction, Yoshino pressed the remote control button.

When she did that, the television along the wall turned on, and *Wahahaha!* such a voice echoed.

"——!"

In that instant, Yoshino's body cowered; the water accumulated in the sink rose, turning into bullets and were shot at the television screen.

"Wha..?"

"You idiot, even though I told you not to scare her."

In his right ear, he heard Kotori's criticizing voice.

And speaking of Yoshino, she opened her eyes that was shut tight, and lowered her head at Shidou　in panic.

"N-No........Don’t worry about it. Sorry to have scared you."

Right after Shidou made a dry smile, he resumed with his cooking.

He heated up the pot that has water measured in it, and tossed in the sliced chicken meat and spring onions. And when it reached to a boil, he put in the beaten eggs.

And then he let it flow on top of the rice filled bowl. Finally he scattered Japanese parsley on top of it, and it was complete.

Since he was accustomed to this sort of work, it did not even take 10 minutes for him to finish cooking.

"Here you go, it's done. Let's hurry and fill our stomach so we can go and find Yoshinon okay."

While talking, he held the bowls with both his hands and headed into the living room.

He put one in front of Yoshino and right across her he placed his own portion, and he entered the kitchen again to get a chair, some chopsticks, and a spoon just in case, before returning to the living room.

"Now then, Itadakimasu.?[2C 3]."

Shidou clapped his hands together while saying that, and Yoshino imitated that movement then lowered her head.

Then she grabbed the spoon with her hand, took one scoop of Shidou's specialty oyakodon, and transported it into her mouth.

"..............!"

When Yoshino did that her eyes immediately opened wide, and *slam* *slam* starting hitting the table.

"Un?"

But when Shidou faced toward her direction, she turned her eyes away in embarrassment.

Afterwards, Yoshino looked like she wanted to tell him something, but instead she made an embarrassed face and found difficulty in putting it into words, *gu* she gave Shidou a thumbs up.

"O-Ou.........."

Shidou made a wry smile, and replied back by giving a thumbs up. It would seem that it was to her liking.

She was probably quite hungry; Yoshino opened her small mouth with all her might, and started munching down.

And—by estimating the moment when Yoshino would be finished her meal, Kotori started talking.

"Do you still want to rest? I still want more information if possible from the Spirit. Since this is a good chance, why don't you ask Yoshino how old is she?"

"A question?"

And when Shidou was asking back, Kotori immediately suggested him to ask questions.

"......Aah, I get it."

Shidou, as he had finished his bowl he exhaled a satisfied breath and then turned his eyes towards Yoshino.

"Hey......Yoshino. There are some things I would like to know though—can I ask you a few questions?"

Yoshino tilted her head in curiosity.

"Err..you seem to take care of it very preciously. That puppet—Yoshinon, what kind of existence is that to you..?"

When Yoshino got asked that question, she timidly opened her mouth with difficulty.

"Yoshinon, is ........a frie..nd, and also..........a he..ro."

"Hero?"

When asked again, Yoshino nodded.

"Yoshinon is.. ..my, ideal.. ..yearnings of.. ..myself. Unlike me.. ..not weak, unlike me.. ..not hesitant.. ..it's strong, and cool.."

"Your ideal self..huh."

Shidou scratched his cheeks, and recalled back the time when he met Yoshino inside the department store.

Well, certainly the current Yoshino compared to the Yoshino talking through the puppet, from the tone to the attitude it was like she was a different person. But—

"I..like this current Yoshino better though.."

During the time when Tohka appeared, he remembered the numbers of jokes accumulated from the puppet, he made a bitter smile.

Certainly, during that time Yoshino was talking cheerfully but—he could not bear it anymore.

Although it was hard to hear what she was saying, though she was awkward, Yoshino has been honestly answering his questions, and it was a good feeling.

But the moment Shidou said those words, Yoshino's face went *poof*, her face was blushed red. She then hunched her back and used the hood to cover and hide her face.

"Yo-Yoshino..? What's wrong?"

Shidou said that while was trying to peek, Yoshino lowered the hands that was holding onto the hood and, gradually raised her face.

"......Tho, those words, because.. ..it was the first time.. ..I have been told."

"I-Is that so..?"

Yoshino made a deep consent.

Well..originally she was a Spirit that has only a few chances at having a conversation with a person. It might be because of something like that.

"Shidou, was that.. ..in your calculations?"

And, over there Kotori asked such a question.

"Huh? Wha-what calculations..?"

"....Never mind. If that's wasn't then it's okay."

"Ha-Haah..?"

It was his sister that said something that didn't make sense, Shidou knitted his eyebrows.

"Don't mind it. There is not a problem for now—it just unexpected how calm you are, I guess the results of the 'living together training' are starting to show."

"....I wonder."

Shidou replied vaguely. Certainly he was calm to a certain degree but, he could differentiate whether it is from the results of the training or not.

But, he could not afford to be occupied by the other side. Shidou fixed his sights back to Yoshino, and asked the next question.

"So——Err, Yoshino, it seems that even though you were attacked by the AST, you rarely retaliate, what kind of reason do you have for doing that?"

When Yoshino got asked........she looked down again.

Right after she grabbed the cuffs of the inner dress with the light film composition just like Tohka's AstralDress, she let out a voice that would sound like it would disappear.

"........I....hate, painful things. I also hate....scary things. Surely, those people too....whether its pain, or scary things, I think they....don't want it too. That's why, I...."

It was such a small and faint voice, Shidou could have easily missed what the she was trying to say.

But because of that—from those words Shidou, felt a piercing like wave to his heart.

"........Yoshino........you, just for a reason like that—"

But, Shidou did not finish the end of his sentence.

While Yoshino's whole body was trembling, she continued talking.

"But......it's because, I.. ..am, weak.. ..and a coward. If I am alone.. ..I am useless. I am.. ..scared of being hurt, when I can't, do anything.. ..the inside of my head.. ..will go crazy.., that's why, I might.. ..do bad things to everyone.."

Halfway through, it became a teary voice.

After sucking in her snot, she continued on.

"Thats why.. ..Yoshinon.. ..is my, hero.. ..when Yoshinon is.. ..with me, even, if I get scared.. ..he would say.. ..it's okay. And, then.. ..it will really turn out okay. That's why.. ..that's why."

"..........Kuh."

Shidou unintentionally bit his lips. He was gripping both his hands so hard, that blood might spurt out.

If he did not do that—he could not bear it anymore.

Yoshino. This small girl was. Too kind—and too sad.

Whether it was [pain] or [scary] things it was certain that she did not like it.

Thinking of the enemy, that had targeted her countless times with hostility, bad intentions and killing intent, and yet—still she decided not to hurt them. She chose to do that? Such a difficult thing?

Yoshino is—weak?

Yoshino's head was shaking from her own evaluation—there is no way, she is weak.

Aah, but, that is—cruel, and awfully cruel sense of mercy.

"——"

Without thinking Shidou stood up from his seat.

And then circled around the table and knelt down beside Yoshino—and just like that, he gently caressed Yoshino's head.

"..........,e..,err"

"I will."

"——,....?"

"I will—save you."

He said that and, Yoshino stared in wonder. Without caring about it, Shidou continued.

"I will definitely, find Yoshinon. And........hand it over to you. That is not all. I will make Yoshinon no longer need to protect you. You no longer need to go through those [painful] or [scary] things. I won't let them near you. I will—become, your hero."

While patting her head through the hood, he said that sentence that was totally out of character.

But—he did not stop there.

Because, in Yoshino's kindness, there was something important lacking.

It was only one problem which was: even if she has the mercy of a saint, that mercy would not be shown in return to her.

If that's the reason, then there was no choice but to have it be given from the outside.

No more, about what would happen to the Spirit or what not, it was no longer relevant to him.

To Yoshino. To this overly kind little girl, to have nothing save her, that kind of thing, he could not forgive it.

Yes—that was what he thought.

"..........? ..........?"

During that time, Yoshino's eyes were turning black and white but, after 10 seconds passed, she opened her lips.

"......Th..ank you....very m..uch."

"........Ou."

He was a little happy when Yoshino honestly said such a thing. He made a small nod.

But, during the occasion Yoshino was letting out her voice, he accidently turned his eyes to those cute lips......feeling uncomfortable Shidou averted his sights away.

"........? Shidou.. ..-san..?"

Yoshino was tilting her head while looking at Shidou.

"No, err, about that..........It’s about before. I'm sorry."

"Eh..........?"

"No..........how'd you put it......I kissed, you."

To put it in accurate terms it was not in Shidou's personality to bring up this kind of talk but............it might be an important matter to a girl. He put the meaning in the apology and said it.

But Yoshino was in a blank state and was staring in wonder; once again she tilted her head.

It was like; she did not understand what Shidou had just said.

"........What is, a kiss?"

"Eh? Aah, that is........lips touching together, like this.."

Even though Shidou explained to her, Yoshino made a face as if she did not understand at all, and then thrust her face up directly at Shidou's face.

"Is........it, like........this?"

"............Uh!"

It was a distance that, if he were to bring his face a little closer, their lips would touch.

His heart was about to fly out in this dangerous situation but, Shidou remembered his living together training with Tohka, and somehow succeeded in pretending to have a calm face.

"Uh, ah, aah........yes, it feels like that."

But Yoshino made a small groan, and again she said in a soft voice.

"....I, don't remember....clearly."

"....Eh?"

Hearing that reply, Shidou frowned.

But—at that instant.

"shidou..! I'm sorry, I was—"

Suddenly the door opened and Tohka who left the house early in the morning, while she was breathing hard on her shoulders, entered the living room.

And then, she saw Shidou and Yoshino's figure facing each other and would be kissing any at moment, *piki*, and her body stiffened up.

"Eh....?"

Right after, Shidou made an absentminded face.

"To—Too, To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-To-Tohka......!"

On his face, sweat gushed out.

"..........Hi...."

Yoshino probably felt something strange; she turned backwards, and leaked a soft voice.

But it might be something that cannot be helped. To Yoshino, Tohka should be the scary opponent that took her puppet away from her—and on top of that, Tohka who was quietly lingering around the living room entrance, a difficult to explain pressure was leaking out from her.

Incidentally from just now, a loud noise was coming out from the buzzer on his right ear indicating it is an emergency situation.

".............."

While being silent, Tohka made an awfully gentle smile, and just like that she slowly entered the living room.

-*Twitch*, such a feeling was transmitted to her hands. It would also seem that Yoshino's body was trembling.

"To-Tohka, this is...."

It was like his mental state turned into that of a man who got caught having an affair at the scene of the crime, Shidou hastily moved his hands.

But Tohka passed through the both of them, leaving the living room and headed straight into the kitchen, she then took out all the food and drinks from the refrigerator and shelves, and just like that she exited to the corridor.

From the door, *dadadadada* such footsteps could be heard—and the moment he thought it reached the second floor, this time *BAM*, the sound of the door being slammed could be heard.

........Looks like, she plans on shutting herself inside again.

And what's more, this time it's a siege with a sufficient supply of food in stock.

"Er,errr.............."

"........It turned into something annoying."

From his right ear, he heard a voice mixed with a sigh.

"Wh-What should I do now....?"

"For the time being, you can only leave her alone for now. Even if Shidou were to try and talk to her now, it'll only cause a reverse effect anyway."

"I-Is that so...."

He said that, and takes a glimpse at Yoshino that was sitting beside him.

But, wondering when it happened, Yoshino's figure that was supposed to be on top of the sofa suddenly disappeared.

"Are....? Yoshino?"

"——It looks like, she got [Lost] to the other world when Tohka's was approaching her. Having her puppet being taken away, must have been quite a traumatic experience to her."

"..I see."

Fuu, he exhaled a good breathe—and frowned because of a bad feeling.

It would seem that Yoshino remembered Tohka taking her puppet away.

Despite that....she said she could not remember the kiss with Shidou.

No, even yesterday she was definitely also in a state that she doesn't mind it; it might be perhaps that she holds no special emotion towards the act of kissing. Spirits have different knowledge and sense of values depending on what the matter is, there might be a possibility that it is like that.

But—in Yoshino's reaction there was, a little sense of discomfort.

Shidou touched his mouth, while moving his lips.

"Hey, Kotori....there is something that I am worried about. Can you investigate it for me?"

"What?"

Shidou, told her the questions that was floating in his mind.

"Fuun....I understand, I will send Reine to investigate it when she gets back."

"Ou, I'm counting on you."

And, when Shidou said that, Kotori continued on as if she remembered something.

"........Aah, yes yes, although I missed the chance to say this because of Shidou's interruption but we have some good news."

"Ah?"

"From the investigation we got from the images, we have confirmed the whereabouts of the puppet."

"Really?! Where is it now?"

"That is—"

When Kotori told him the location, Shidou’s cheeks twitched.

"U..............ugah!"

In the room in the deepest part of the second floor where Tohka rushed in, while eating the food that was within arm’s reach that she brought in moments ago, she raised those shouts. Well from others perspective, it was a stressful way of eating.

"What is this......What is this MOU..........! Gu, muguuuu...........!"

When Tohka was absent from home, Shidou invited the little girl from a few days ago in.

As an event that was the only thing that happened, there was no factor for making Tohka angry at all.

Shidou is Tohka's good friend. And that friend brought a new friend back.

It was no mistake that Tohka's correct method of interaction was supposed to be reconciling with Shidou and apologize for what happened a few days ago, after that [Welcome, and sorry about what happened before], while saying that and taking the little girl's hands.

But—she could not do it.

The moment she saw Shidou and the girl alone in the room, the so called [bad feeling] rushed through her whole body, and it became impossible for her to be in that area.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..............!"

Tohka devastated through the food one by one, and squatted down on the spot.

"..........shidou—"

—I want to apologize, to shidou. I want to reconcile— with shidou.

Those feelings were not a lie.

But......because the [bad feeling] was swirling inside her chest, she could not do it.

While being in the posture of sitting on the floor while grasping her knees, Tohka moaned in pain.