"Oh, Itsuka..Eh? What happened to you?"

It was morning and Shidou, who was dragging his heavy legs into the classroom, was called out with a puzzled voice by Tonomachi.

Well even if it wasn't him, looking at his current state, everyone would have had the same impression too.

Because whether it was his face or hands, his whole body was practically covered in bandages, on top of that his steps were staggering so much that it seemed like he would fall over anytime.

"..Aah, a little something."

Shidou gave a wry smile while saying so, then let out a small sigh.

Over to the side Tonomachi, as if he remembered something, suppressed his laughter.

"Oh yeah, I heard that net radio, what was up with that? It was pretty damn interesting."

Shidou's face twitched upon hearing those words.

"Y-you've already heard it? that..."

"Oh, I listened to it a little before I left the house. But... that's supposed to be a joke right? It would be scary if that were real."

"Ah..Hahahaha.. Yeah, y-you're right.."

Shidou let out a dry laugh and averted his gaze.

"Lea-Leaving that aside Tonomachi, what are you looking at?"

Shidou raised his voice in order to change the topic as it would be troublesome if he gained more interest in that radio broadcast.

Tonomachi looked like he was gazing seriously at the gravure page in the back of a manga magazine.

"Ah, this— Oh yeah, I also want to ask you about something."

"W-what is it?"

Shidou asked him back. Tonomachi was unusually serious and continued speaking.

"Nurse, miko, or maid.... Which one do you like most?"

"..Huh?"

Shidou let out a startled voice due to Tonomachi's unexpected question.

"It's been decided that the gravure costume for the next issue will be based on the readers' voting poll.. This is so troubling."

"..Ahh, is that so..."

Shidou replied with a sigh. Tonomachi seemed like he didn't mind and thrust the magazine towards Shidou.

"So? Which one do you like!?"

"Eh..errrrmm..then....the maid..?"

Shidou replied due to being pressured by Tonomachi's unusual vigor. In that moment, Tonomachi's eyebrows suddenly twitched.

"Wh-What's wrong?"

"——To think that you would like maids! I'm sorry but our friendship ends here!"

"...."

Shidou, scratched his cheek, then walked over to his own seat.

"H-Hey, where are you going? Itsuka!"

"....Our friendship ends here right?"

"Hey, What the heck? Aren't you being too serious. Don't you think a world where Maid lovers and Nurse lovers can coexist in peace is also kind of good? "

It seems like Tonomachi is in the Nurse faction.

Shidou placed his bag on his seat, all the while ignoring Tonomachi who threw the magazine on his table and followed him over.

At that moment, the girl sitting beside him who was reading a bulky reference book——Origami Tobiichi glanced towards him.

"...."

"O-Oh..Tobiichi, good morning."

"Good morning."

Origami replied in a monotonous voice and then tilted her head.

"Maid?"

It seemed that she heard the conversation just now. Shidou waved his hands all flustered.

"..Uh, n-no, don't mind that."

"I see."

Origami made a short reply and once again returned her sights towards the book.

"Good mornin—"

Immediately after, Tonomachi waved his hands towards her, but Origami's expression did not change in the slightest.

Tonomachi shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly, and started grinding Shidou in the side of his stomach.

"Although this happens every time. Why is it always you who always gets a reply back after a welcome? Y-You.."

"Ho-How should I know? Stop it already."

Shidou shook off the annoying Tonomachi, and arrived at his seat.

The door of the classroom rolled open, and Tohka entered.

Naturally, due to Tohka currently now living in the Itsuka family house, the route to school was exactly the same as Shidou's. However, if they were to go to school together it would probably appear suspicious, so Tohka had to leave a bit later after Shidou.

In addition to that, she was still affected by that terrible induction she received after moving into his house yesterday. He couldn't bear adding more fuel to the fire when 75 days haven't even past.

"...."

Tohka silently sat in her seat on the right side of Shidou's desk and without looking at him, she moved her lips.

"..Err, about..this morning, I'm sorry. Is your body okay?"

It seems she was still bothered about that matter this morning. Shidou scratched his cheeks while making a bitter smile.

"O-Oh..Don't worry about it.."

"Mu...."

Tohka made a small nod. And finally— Shidou had realized something.

"..Ah."

Several classmates were listening in on their conversation and were sending them stares of interest.

But, it seems Tohka had not yet realized it.

"Bu-But you were also at fault too. You suddenly..You know..I was surprised."

Because of Tohka's words, everyone listening caught their breath.

"To-Tohka..Why don't we have this talk later..?"

"Huh? Why is that?"

Tohka faced Shidou while tilting her head, and finally noticed the gazes coming from everyone.

"..Eh?"

Tohka gasped in surprise and sweat starting falling down her cheeks. She had remembered that yesterday at home it was explained to her that the fact that Shidou and Tohka were living together was a secret.

"I-It's not what you think everyone! It's not like me and Shidou are living together!?"

"——!?"

Everyone from the class frowned all at the same time.

"I-Idiot.."

Shidou muttered softly and then intentionally spoke in a loud voice.

"A-Aaah! In the morning when going to school we coincidentally bumped into each other! Were you okay Tohka!?"

"Mu..? U-Umu, no problem!"

Tohka seemed to have guessed what Shidou intended, although it was difficult, they matched their lies together.

Well, although it did look kind of forced..Originally, the talk of [a high school male and female living together] itself sounded unrealistic, he continued blabbering until everyone felt satisfied just in case.

..Well even so, there was still one person to Shidou's left side who wasn't satisfied..A female student was releasing a glare that would give anyone the chills.

"...."

Somehow, he felt like he would come out tattered. Shidou made a deep sigh.

—However, that problem would be resolved at a surprising speed.

The 4th period bell rang and echoed throughout the building, indicating that lunch break had started.

And at the same time,

"shidou! It's lunch time!"

"...."

At Shidou's desk— to the left and right, *Jyan*! tables were docked on both sides.

And of course, on his right was Tohka, and on the left was Origami.

"..Nu..What do you want? You're disturbing us."

"That's my line."

From Shidou's left and right, sharp gazes were exchanged from both sides.

"We-Well....Calm down. Isn't it okay if everyone eats together? Right..?"

When Shidou said that, reluctantly, Tohka and Origami quietly sat down. And then both of them took out their own bentos?[2B 1]. from their respective bags.

Shidou followed, bringing out his own bento, and placed it on the table. All of them opened their lids together, and then—

"...."

He saw Origami's eyes widen a little bit, and he cursed himself for being unprepared.

Shidou's bento was something he made for himself in the morning. And of course it was made along with Kotori's (although she hadn't been returning home this month).

Naturally— if it was necessary to prepare another person's portion of hurriedly prepared bento, it was Shidou's job to do so.

"...."

Origami gave Shidou a cold look, and compared Shidou and Tohka's bento boxes— checking the contents.

—The same menu was arranged inside both of their bentos, looking identical.

"Nu, wha-what? Even if you give me that look, I won't give it to you.."

Tohka didn't realize the seriousness of this matter and gave Origami a puzzled look.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Thi-This is.."

When Origami asked her question, Shidou burst out in a cold sweat and avoided eye-contact.

"Ac-Actually. This was being sold by the lunch vendor this morning and coincidentally Tohka was also there—"

"Liar."

Origami interrupted Shidou midway, and then removed Shidou's bento box lid.

"154 days ago, you bought this at the discount shop that is in front of the station for 1580 yen, and you are still using it. This is not something from the lunch vendor."

"H-How do you know something like tha-?"

"That isn't important right now."

No, he thought that this was kind of an important question, but he was overpowered by Origami and wasn't in a position to say anything. Like just now, his words would have been stopped halfway.

"Muu, what were you two talking about just now! Don't split up the group!"

From the side, Tohka who was feeling left out, raised her voice, puffing up her cheeks.

And, at that moment.

*Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-----------*

A loud alarm sounded and echoed throughout the whole town.

In an instant, the noisy classroom during lunch break, suddenly went quiet.

—It was the spacequake alarm.

Around 30 years ago, a threat towards people, the worst disaster, was referred to as spacequake, and looms as an omen for disaster.

"...."

At that moment, Origami had showed an expression of hesitation, and then immediately stood up from her seat and left the classroom at an amazing speed.

"..Eh?"

Shidou was in a confused state and could only follow her using his eyes..Well, although it was a little indiscreet, he couldn't help but think that he was saved by the alarm ringing at the perfect time.

While Tobiichi Origami was a student, she was also a talented individual in the Ground Self-Defense Forces' AST.

Meaning, she was heading towards the battlefront right at this moment— To kill the Spirits, just like the situation with Tohka before.

"...."

Shidou clenched his teeth.

He knew he couldn't stop Origami. But—

Over there at the classroom door, a girl's voice echoed in a dazed state.

"....Everyone, it's the alarm. Please evacuate to the underground shelter immediately."

The physics teacher dressed in a white coat— Reine, pointed her fingers towards the direction of the corridor.

After the students swallowed their saliva, they exited towards the corridor one by one.

"Nu? shidou, where is everyone going?"

Tohka asked while looking at the other classmates and tilting her head.

"Ah-Aah..to the shelter. There is one under the school."

"Shelter..?"

"Aah. For now, let's leave the explanation for later. We are going too Tohka."

"Nu-Nuu."

Tohka regretfully glanced at her untouched bento, and stood up following Shidou's instruction.

They followed the other classmates and exited to the corridor.

"....Shin. You're coming this way."

Riene caught Shidou by the collar.

"Uh, Reine-san? This way means.."

"....Isn't it obvious? We're going to the <Fraxinus>."

When Shidou questioned her, he raised his voice but not loud enough to allow the other students to hear them, and Reine replied.

"....It has only been one day....You might not have made your decision yet on what you will do from now on. But there's something we want to show you. The Spirits and the current situation."

Shidou swallowed his saliva to moisten his dry throat and clenched his fist.

"..I understand. I'll go."

Reine made a small nod sleepily with one eye open, and after looking at the students that were lined up, she faced towards the entrance.

"....Well, let's hurry. It won't be long before the spacequake."

"Y-Yes. And— Ah, Reine-san. Is it okay if we didn't bring Tohka along?"

He said as he glanced towards Tohka.

Speaking of Tohka, she was looking confusedly at the classmates that were lining up for evacuation.

"....Aah, it's about that— Umu, we will have Tohka evacuate to the shelter with everyone else."

"Eh? Is that okay?"

"....Aah. With her powers currently in a sealed state, Tohka isn't that different from other humans. Also, if she sees the battle between the Spirit and the AST, she might be troubled if she remembers the time it happened to her. I told you right? [Ratatoskr] wants to avoid having Tohka accumulate stress as much as possible."

"No, but...."

Right when Shidou wanted to say something, down from the direction of the corridor, a high pitched voice echoed.

"Ho-Hora, Itsuka-kun and Yatogami-san, even Murasame-sensei too! P-Please don't just stop and stand over there! If both of you don't hurry and evacuate, the dangerous is danger!"

Shidou's homeroom teacher Okamine Tamae, nicknamed Tama-chan, perked up her small shoulders and said that in a hurried state. The meaning of her words was confusing though.

"....Un, if we get caught we'll end up in an annoying situation. Let's go."

Reine made a signal with her eyes and faced her feet towards the entrance.

"Uh, ah wait a second—"

Although it was a little worrying, it couldn't be helped. Shidou made a small groan and scratched his head. He then took Tohka's hand and placed it in Tama-chan's hand.

"Sensei, I'm counting on you to take care of Tohka!"

"Fue? Eh? Ah, ye-yes, of course."

Tama-chan was quickly entrusted with Tohka, her eyes were in circles as if she was suddenly dumbfounded, while saying [I-I'm also a teacher too!"].

"shidou..?"

Tohka curved her eyebrows in uneasiness.

"Tohka, listen. Please evacuate together with Sensei to the shelter."

"What about you? What are you going to do shidou?"

"Ah..I, have an important task to do. Go on ahead without me. Okay?"

"..! Ah! Shi-shidou!"

"Itsuka-kun! Murasame-sensei too!? Where are the both of you going!?"

While hearing worried voices from the pair left behind, Shidou and Reine ran outside the school building.

"—Aah, both of you came. The Spirit will soon appear. I'm counting on you for the preparations, Reine."

From the captain's seat, Kotori said this to them, with Shidou and Reine having arrived on the bridge of the <Fraxinus>.

"..Ah."

Reine made a small nod, flapping back her white coat's hem, and sat down at her console on the lower bridge.

"—Now then.."

And, when Shidou remained silent, Kotori asked him a question while tilting her head.

"Although we are sorry that we didn't give you much time but have you made your decision? Shidou."

"..Uh—"

He choked. But, over from the bridge, a loud sound from the siren echoed.

"Wha..What?"

"An unusually strong Spirit wave reading has been detected! It's coming!"

A male crew member's shout came from the lower bridge, and Shidou's eyes were spinning from the confusion.

When Kotori heard the shout, *pachin* she snapped her fingers.

"Okay. Switch the Main monitor to the image of where the prediction site is."

When Kotori gave the order, a bird's-eye view of the town was projected on the main monitor.

It was the main street which was lined with many shops. Of course there were no human figures visible, as if it was a ghost town.

In the middle of that image, *Warp*.

"Eh..?"

At first, he had thought that the image projector was having some problems but— that was wrong.

The space.

The space, that originally was empty, distorted, it was as if a ripple on the surface of water was created by throwing a rock at it.

"Wha-What is this..?"

"Ara? Is this the first time Shidou has seen this?"

The moment Kotori said that, the space distortion grew larger—

He thought that a small light was produced on the screen, and together with the sound of an explosion, the screen had turned pure white.

"——!"

Although he knew that this was an event happening inside the screen, he instinctively covered his face with his arms.

After a few seconds, while slowly dropping his arms, he opened his eyes, and on the screen was a totally different scene from before.

In the town, a hole had opened up.

There was no other way to express it.

A portion of the buildings that were supposed to be lined up, were shaved off into a shallow bowl shape.

Shops, street lights, telephone poles, and even the surface of the road that was supposed to be there, everything, had disappeared.

What's more, maybe due to the after-effects of the explosion, the surrounding area looked as if a huge hurricane had struck.

This mess..it resembles that place about one month ago, the place where he first met Tohka.

Which means, just now, that was—

"..Spacequake.."

Shidou said in a shaky voice, Kotori [yes] consented.

"—This is the dimensional distortion that occurs when a Spirit comes over to this world. And the calamity of an outbreak-inducing nature."

"...."

He had seen the ruins of buildings many times but this was his first time seeing the moment the explosion occurred.

His palms were sweaty.

There were times when he tried to figure out the phenomenon in his head— and thanks to this experience, he finally felt like he understood it.

He understood the terror it causes— The town, the space where people live their daily lives, was destroyed, all in an instant.

"Well, at least this time the explosion was on a small-scale."

"It seems like it."

Kotori and a tall man right behind her— Vice commander Kannazuki Kyouhei, had commented.

"Good fortune— was what I wanted to say, but since this is the [Hermit] this much should be normal."

"Well, I guess so. Even among the Spirits, she has the docile-type disposition."

Shidou, still silent, pushed together his brows.

—That explosion just now, it was small-scaled?

At first, he didn't understand what Kotori and the others were talking about, but then immediately remembered.

That might be the case. Since the spacequake left a crater around 10 meters in diameter. From their perspective, it should be a small compared to the others.

Of course..even if he fully understood this now..

"..Hey, Kotori."

Something in Kotori and the others' conversation bothered Shidou. He opened his mouth to speak.

"What on earth is [Hermit]?"

"Aah, it's the code-name of the Spirit that just appeared. Wait for a moment— Can you zoom in on the screen?"

Kotori, pointed her finger towards the crew members on the lower bridge.

When she did that, the image zoomed in, towards the crater that was right in the middle of the town.

And with that, something changed on-screen.

"..Rain?"

Shidou quietly muttered.

Without warning, he thought that the screen turn darker, *drip**drip*, rain started to descend.

But— that wasn't what interested him, he no longer cared about the rain.

In the middle of the area that looked like a crater, they were able to detect the figure of a small girl.

"—?!"

A shock hit his heart, as if it had been grabbed by an eagle's talons, and passed throughout his whole body.

Standing still in the middle of the enlarged screen, was the figure of one girl. And what's more— he recognized of her.

"Ah, that is.."

Covered by a hood with rabbit ears like accessories, was a blue haired girl.

She looked to be around 13 to 14 years old, wearing a large coat and innerwear made from a mysterious material.

And on her left hand, with a comical design, a rabbit puppet was equipped.

If Shidou's eyes and brain were working properly..then that was without a doubt—

The girl he had encountered yesterday when he was returning home from school.

"—? What's wrong Shidou?"

Seeing Shidou act strangely, Kotori spoke in a dubious voice.

Shidou, after gazing at the screen once, reasserted himself.

"I-I've met that with that girl before.."

"What did you say? When did this happen?"

"Just yesterday..when I was returning home in a hurry, rain started falling—"

Shidou, going through his memories, spoke briefly about the events that happened yesterday.

After hearing Shidou talk for a while, Kotori pointed her fingers to the crew on the lower bridge.

"Send the Spirit wave reading from yesterday at 1600 to 1700 to my terminal, ASAP!"

And then she lowered her sights to the screen she was holding, and scratched her head in frustration.

"..It didn't recognize the main numerical value of the disorder huh. It was the same with Tohka last time..Shidou, why didn't you tell me this at home yesterday?"

"Do-don't say something impossible. I didn't know she was a Spirit when I first met her..!"

At the same time Shidou was shouting, the speaker that was installed on the <Fraxinus> bridge roared with a loud sound.

"—!? What, is going on—"

"—The Spirit did appear..So we aren't the only ones taking action."

Shidou's finger tips twitched a little from Kotori's words.

"The AST..huh?"

"Yes."

He glanced towards the screen— Smoke swirled around the place where the Spirit was — which was now being called [Hermit]. Probably, a missile or some sort of explosive was launched at her.

And surrounding her, a small number of humans wearing heavy mechanical armor were floating around.

The Ground Self-Defense Forces' Anti-Spirit Team, in short, the AST.

Different from the organization, [Ratatoskr], which was led by Kotori and the others, they were a special team holding military power that aimed to eliminate all Spirits.

Inside the smoke, a small silhouette *Hop*, jumped out— It was [Hermit].

The girl with her left hand tucked into a puppet came out. She twisted her body to escape from the surrounding AST members holding their ground, and leapt into the sky.

The AST members immediately responded, and pursued [Hermit] all at once.

And with the weapons that were installed into their armor, an innumerable amount of ammunitions were fired.

"—! Look out!"

Reflexively Shidou had shouted— but the warning didn't do anything useful across the screen. The large barrage of bullets and missiles released by the AST members hit [Hermit]'s body mercilessly.

"Those guys....doing that to that girl.."

His eyes opened wide, and he was grinding the back of this teeth.

"....What are you trying to say after all this time?"

As he did that, Kotori, had said that while having her eyes halfway open.

"Didn't you learn anything when this happened to Tohka? To the AST, it doesn't matter what appearance the Spirits take. The only thing that matters is their sense of duty to protect this world; To those people, they would reject any dangerous existence and follow their survival instincts like animals."

"But..even so!"

The moment Shidou opened his mouth, from the smoke, the girl leapt into the sky once again.

But- [Hermit] wasn't fighting back and was only running from place to place.

"That girl..Why doesn't she fight back?"

"This isn't unusual. Even among the Spirits [Hermit] is a very docile type."

"..Then—"

"If you're asking for the AST to have mercy, it's useless— As long as that girl is a Spirit, they won't stop."

"..Kuh!"

In response to the flat out answer, Shidou bit his lip.

No..Even if he were to repeat himself, he already knew the answer.

Her disposition, or her personality, to the AST it doesn't matter.

To them, they only cared about taking down the enemy that causes harm to this world.

—The method that could overthrow this situation..there was only one way.

Shidou clenched his fingers in a fist so tightly, he thought that blood was about to flow out. Quietly, he cleared his throat.

"..Kotori."

"What?"

"..If it wasn't because of her Spirit power..that girl would have never been targeted by the AST, right?"

When Shidou said that, Kotori knitted her eyebrows together, and her eyes faced Shidou.

"Yes— That's absolutely right."

"The spacequakes..they wouldn't have occurred right?"

"Yes."

Shidou kept quiet for a moment, he took a deep breath, and continued speaking.

"—And I can make that happen?"

"If you still don't believe me after seeing Tohka's present condition, then I don't mind if you doubt me."

"...."

After Shidou scratched his head, he used both his hands to pull his cheeks.

He gently lifted his down cast eyes, and reasserted his determination.

"Help me with this, Kotori! ..I— want to save that girl..!"

"—Fufu.."

Kotori, looking happy, made her candy rod stand up.

"Now that is—— My Onii-chan."

She turned to face the crew on the lower bridge, and shouted.

"All members prepare for a Level One capture!"

"ROGER!"

The crew members began manipulating their consoles all at once.

While Kotori was gazing upon this scene, she licked her lips.

"Now then—— let us begin the?DateWar!"

"—Hey, Tama-chan sensei."

Tohka who had evacuated to the established large-type underground shelter in the school, as if to suppress her rustling feelings, grabbed the hem of her skirt tightly, and asked Tamae who was sitting right beside her.

"Ya-Yatogami-san even you have started calling me that.."

Tamae faced towards Tohka, Tamae had now calmed down to a degree compared with a while ago.

But Tohka, disregarding Tama's sigh of rejection, continued her words.

"That sound just now, what was that? What on earth is this place?"

"Wha-What are you saying. That alarm just now was the spacequake alarm. Because there might be a chance a spacequake might occur, everyone has been evacuated to the underground shelter since it will be safe here."

"Spacequake..? What is that?"

Tohka tilted her head, and Tama-chan wore a 'surprised' expression.

"Eh? What is a spacequake? You don't know?"

"....Muu."

After being told that, Tohka made an awkward and unhappy face.

It would seem that this 'spacequake' thing, was a word that everyone knows.

There might be a chance that she had asked a bad question. Tohka had been warned by Shidou to avoid doing things that might stand out. 'To be extremely ignorant is okay but try to avoid crossing the line that could lead to exposing yourself.'

And, not knowing how to handle the silence, Tama-chan shook her hands in panic.

"Ah, no no, it's alright. I guess that, there are still people that don't know."

"..Nu, sorry."

Tama-chan said [no no] once more, and raised her finger.

"A spacequake is a general term for occurrence of a large scale disaster. Well, in simple words, one day suddenly in the world somewhere, *DON*, an explosion will occur. Although there are many theories taught like the 'Atmospheric Pressure Alteration theory' or 'Plasma theory' but the real cause has still not been clarified."

"—An explosion, you say?"

Through Tama-chan explanation, Tohka raised her eyebrows.

"Yes. The biggest one to date was around 30 years ago. The Eurasia Sky Disaster. There were around 150 million casualties, it was the worst disaster since the dawn of history."

"Wha-What's up with that, wasn't that dangerous!"

"Yes. That is why everyone evacuates to the Shelters— Well, although there haven't been any spacequakes that big since then— in this neighborhood, for the past few years there have been small scale explosions occurring frequently."

From Tama-chan's lecture, Tohka's eyebrows came together closely.

"The-Then why isn't shidou here at this dangerous time, where did he go?"

"Eh..? Eh, errrr....that is...."

Tamae, adjusting her glasses awkwardly, looked over to the other students that were sitting around.

"...."

While remaining silent Tohka, started gripping the hem of her skirt that was in her hands more tightly.

"....shidou."

*Thump* *Thump*

Around the area of her chest, she heard these sounds.

For some reason she didn't know....She had a bad premonition.

And then, when the throbbing in her heart reached a climax. -->>

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