y. But—

"There are two choices. To run, or to stay."

He heard Kotori's voice. After hesitating for a bit,

"...How can I run away, at a time like this..."

"You're such an idiot."

"...Say whatever you like."

"That was a compliment. —I'll give you some great advice. If you don't want to die, then stay as close to the Spirit as possible."

"...Okay."

Forming a straight line with his lips, Shidou sat down in front of Tohka's feet.

"Huh—?"

Tohka's eyes opened wide.

"What are you doing? Hurry and—"

"I know that...! But right now it's the time for our conversation. Something like that, don't worry about it. —You want the information about this world right? If it's something I can answer, then no matter how many questions you have I'll answer them."

"...!"

Tohka made a surprised face for an instant, and then sat down, facing Shidou.

"——"

Her body wrapped in a wiring suit, Origami was holding a giant gatling gun in her two hands.

Readying herself and pulling the trigger, an unbelievable amount of bullets were scattered onto the school building.

Because her territory was expanded, she pretty much couldn't feel the recoil, but it was originally a large radius gatling gun that would be mounted on battleships. Facing the bombardment from all directions, the school building gradually became full of holes.

However—this was not the anti-Spirit equipment that uses the realizer. It was just simply equipment to destroy the building and force the Spirit out.

"—How is it? Has the Spirit come out yet?"

Coming over the intercom inside the headset, Ryouko's voice could be heard.

Ryouko was right beside Origami—but in the midst of the gunfire her raw voice could not reach.

"I still can not confirm it."

Without letting up on the attack, she replied.

While shooting her own gun, Origami opened her eyes wide and swept through the crumbling school building.

They were at a distance where normally one would not be able to see anything, but the current Origami with her territory expanded could even read the words on the paper posted on the bulletin board by the side of the building.

Then—Origami narrowed her eyes slightly.

Class 2-4, Origami's classroom.

Due to their attacks, the outer wall had completely collapsed—she saw the figure of the target, the Spirit.

However—

"...Nn? That's—"

Ryouko said in a doubtful voice.

After all, inside the classroom, other than the Spirit, a human, what looked like a young man, was confirmed. —Probably a student who was too late in escaping.

"Wh-Who's that. Is he being attacked—?"

While narrowing her eyebrows Ryouko let out her voice.

However, as if she hadn't heard it, Origami continued staring at the classroom.

She felt that the figure of the young man beside the Spirit was familiar.

"——!"

Origami's eyes opened wide.

After all—that young man was Origami's classmate, Itsuka Shidou.

"—Origami?"

From beside her, Ryouko called her in a puzzled voice.

However Origami didn't answer, she simply gave a command in her head.

A command to the realizer wrapping her body, for the fastest speed.

"What are you doing, Origami!?"

"—It's dangerous. Please avoid acting randomly on your own."

As expected, they noticed the anomaly. The transmissions from Ryouko and headquarters came at around the same time.

However Origami could not be stopped. She immediately dropped the gatling gun, drawing the close range anti-Spirit laser blade <No Pain> from her waist, and charged towards the school.

Within a classroom faced with a rain of bullets, looking at and talking with a girl.

...Obviously, it was the first time he had such an experience in his life.

Probably due to Tohka's power, innumerable bullets, as if avoiding the two of us, drove themselves into the school building.

But even then, seeing bullets pass in front of his eyes was not an everyday experience. He felt like if he so much as moved a bit he would be hit, so Shidou stayed perfectly still as he continued the conversation.

The contents of the conversation was nothing special.

Tohka asked the questions that she never had the chance to ask anyone, and Shidou answered. Just this simple exchange was enough for Tohka to give a satisfied smile.

Exactly how long had they talk—when inside Shidou's ear, he heard Kotori's voice.

"—The numbers have stabilized. If it's possible, try asking a question too Shidou. We really need the Spirits' information."

Being told this, Shidou thought about it a bit then opened his mouth.

"Hey—Tohka."

"What is it?"

"Just exactly... what kind of being are you?"

"Mu?"

At Shidou's question, Tohka frowned.

"—Don't know."

"Don't know? ..."

"It's the truth. There's nothing I can do about it. —I don't know how long ago it was, but I was suddenly born?there. That's that. My memories are distorted and vague. I have no idea about things such as what kind of being I am."

"I-Is that so...?"

Shidou said while scratching his cheek, and Tohka hmpfed and crossed her arms.

"That's how it is. I was suddenly born in this world, and at that moment the mecha mecha group was already dancing in the sky."

"Me-Mecha mecha group...?"

"Those annoying people that zoom around."

It seemed like she was talking about the AST. Involuntarily Shidou gave a wry smile.

Then, from the intercom, a light electronic sound like the sound when you get a quiz question right rang out.

"It's your chance, Shidou!"

"Huh...? What is?"

"The Spirit's mood meter has already gone above 70. If you want to make a move then now's the time."

"Make a move... what should I do?"

"Nn, that's right. For the moment... try inviting her to a date?"

"Huh...!?"

Hearing Kotori's words, Shidou accidentally raised his voice.

"Nn, what's wrong shidou?"

Responding to Shidou's voice, Tohka looked at him.

"—! Don't mind it."

"..."

Even though he hurridly tried covering it up, Tohka stared at Shidou with a curious look.

"Invite her already. The best way to increase intimacy is to go all out like this after all."

"...Even if you say that, the moment she appears there's the AST..."

"That's even more the reason. The next time she appears, I'll leave it to you to escape with her into a large building. The aquarium or the theater or a department store, whatever is fine. If there is an underground establishment then that's even better. If you do that, then the AST probably wouldn't enter directly."

"...M-mm."

"What are you muttering about since a while ago. ...! A plan to eliminate me after all!?"

"W-wrong, wrong! It's a misunderstanding!"

He hurridly stopped Tohka, whose eyes grew sharp and balls of light appeared on her fingertips.

"Then tell me. What were you saying?"

"Guh..."

Groaning while sweat rolled down his face, a voice urging him on echoed in Shidou's right ear.

"Come on, just accept it already. Date! Date!"

At that moment the crew members in the bridge were probably also stimulated, as from the other side of the intercom, a thunder like chanting of date could be heard.

"Da●te"

"Da●te"

"Da●te"

"Argh I understand already!"

Shidou gave up and yelled.

In reality, it wasn't that he didn't understand Kotori's reasons, he knew that it was important to set a stage for the next meeting... but well, you know, he was slightly embarrassed.

"Hey, Tohka."

"Nn, what is it?"

"U-uhm... t-the next time."

"Nn?"

"Wo-won't you go... on a date with me?"

Tohka made a blank face.

"What's a date?"

"Th-that's..."

For some reason he felt really embarrassed, as he averted her gaze and scratched his cheek.

Then, at that time, in his right ear, a slightly louder Kotori's voice entered.

"—Shidou! AST is on the move!"

"Huh...!?"

In a voice that Tohka in front of him could probably even hear, Shidou didn't care and exclaimed.

Within a moment—outside the classroom that had since given off a very open-air feeling, Origami appeared.

"—!"

In an instant, Tohka's emotions grew dark, and she extended her hand towards there.

Then, without missing a beat, from the unrefined machinery in her hand a blade of light appeared, as Origami charged at Tohka.

Sparks like at a welding shop scattered around the area.

"Ku—"

"—How crude!"

Tohka let out a roar, shaking off Origami with the hand that stopped the blade of light.

"..."

Slightly clenching her teeth, Origami was blown backwards. —But, she immediately corrected her posture, and landed beautifully on the bullet-hole filled floor.

"Tch— It's you again."

Lightly shaking the hand that stopped the blade of light, Tohka said, as if filled with hatred.

Origami glanced at Shidou, then gave off a sigh as if she was relieved.

However she immediately readied the unfamiliar weapon and shot a cold gaze towards Tohka.

"..."

Seeing her state, Tohka stole a glance at Shidou, then thrust her heel into the floor below her foot.

"—<SandalphonKing of Slaughter>!"

Instantly, the classroom's floor bulged up, and from there the throne appeared.

"Wha..."

"Shidou, withdraw! Let <Fraxinus> pick you up at once. If possible try to leave with both of you!"

Shidou stood dazed, and then heard Kotori's yell.

"Even if you say that..."

Tohka pulled the sword from the back of the throne, and thrust it towards Origami.

The shockwave from that one swing, very easily picked up Shidou's body, and blew it outside the school.

"Uwahhhhhhh!?"

"Nice!"

At the same time that Kotori's voice rang out, Shidou's body was surrounded with a weightless feeling.

While feeling a strange floating sensation, Shidou was retrieved by the <Fraxinus>.