The World Only The Girls Knows: Side Collection

Short One – Chapter 4

Note: Characters from the Light Novel will be Included as well.

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Original Title: The World Only God Knows / 神のみぞ知るセカイ

Original Concept by Tamiki Wakaki

Written by: wrathie

Author's Notes: This particular story is on a similar timeline as BRP/MW.

Author's Notes: No beta for this. I'm working through a load of stress.

Which ironically makes me write more. On a second, more important note. This chapter contains ALOT of hints of what's is in the works for Moonflower's Wish. Interpret it as you would!

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Katsuragi Keima, the Capturing God was not even going to bother with asking whether the girls had calmed down this time. He had not given up on solving this problem, in fact, he could already see the ending of this whole story. It was simply that he could not act on all that information that he gathered so far. That and he was concerned about the entire situation and the repercussions if he allowed Shuko to continue to mingle with the girls unattended. Was this the power and goal of the Weiss, to sow discord amongst the girls that he had captured? No, that wasn't it... if the Weiss had really planned all this, the situation would be even more chaotic than before. It should be just a lucky break for the Weiss to encounter such a strange situation where it's abilities and guise had the capacity to cause even more confusion and perhaps heartbreak than before.

However, it was also an unlucky break for the Weiss for Keima was certain that the Weiss was not causing any gaps in any of the girls' heart. In fact, he was pretty sure that it had just raised even more flags than before from how all of them were reacting. It seems that the competitive spirit to gain a foothold in his heart was heating up again.

It had been quite a peaceful week for once too... the real really wanted him out of the ideal but Keima digressed, this wasn't the time for inner monologues.

'So Mari-san is resting now... We have some time to go through the situation together before she wakes up.'

Haqua cleared her throat while looking away. She purposefully did not look at Tenri, who was currently absent-mindedly accompanying Shuko as the young girl continued playing her game on the PFP. Keima had so far resisted the urge to look at the games that Shuko had played, both for the sake of his sanity as well as his an unconscious fear that told him that it was dangerous if he did so. Keima had been in a few dangerous situations so far but this particular feeling of his came from his instincts as a God, it simply told him not to let his curiosity get the better of him no matter what.

'I concur... This situation is getting out of hand... and would stand to get even more if someone else visits you, Katsuragi.'

Tsukiyo sniffed a little unhappily as she stuck her nose up in the air snobbishly as she declared to all of them. She was not happy that her private time with Keima and Shuko was interrupted not once but twice and suddenly out of the blue she had two contenders for Shuko's attention! Tsukiyo was upset not only at that, but at the relative ease that the young girl was able to cling on to the other two girls. For their part, Haqua was just flustered and uneasy around her. Vulcan's sister, Diana on the other hand, had totally been won over by Shuko, oddly so. Thankfully for her, Diana had hid herself in her host, Tenri's body. The braided girl didn't seem too upset or embarrassed by Shuko's attention, which was odd for Tsukiyo, but she was still happy about it.
After all, even they had only met for a short smile, Tsukiyo was totally smitten with the adorable Shuko! She didn't care if she was not her and Keima's child now, to know that there was such perfection after Luna was just astounding!

Tsukiyo also knew that Vulcan liked the girl very much despite her misgivings about her claim of being her and Keima's daughter so she knew that it wasn't just her.

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'That would be a good idea, provided that all the parties involved are willing to talk about this right in front of her.'

Keima deadpanned softly as he glanced at Shuko. The young child was focused on her games and had been since half an hour ago when Vulcan had seen fit to stop the lecture she had given Diana. It had been a little amusing to see the serious, too serious Diana get flustered in front of people that she genuinely respected. One of them was of course her sister, Vulcan and the other two...

Diana's respect for Keima was plain to everyone, he was the individual who had helped reunite her with her sisters in a single day, at a great personal risk too, but the most important part was how it had effectively made him a living target as well. Another thing to not was how Keima already knew Diana had shown signs that she was attracted to him as well.

Well, the other sisters like Mercury, Minerva and Apollo had shown their interest as well but they had steered cleared due to their hosts. Diana on the other hand... well, it was a complicated matter that Keima was loathe to get involved just yet.

The other person was Haqua, which was a surprise to Keima. The two of them had apparently interacted before the fiasco involving the goddess and had already developed a grudging respect for each other.

That respect had grown quickly when the two of them had teamed up to protect each other during that dangerous situation. Keima guessed that unlike Aoba, who was an intellect like the two of them, Diana was actually more in tuned with the 'world' then Aoba was. Why it was better simply boggles Keima's mind, but that was besides the point. The main point was that Diana had been humiliated and embarrassed beyond belief by the child/Weiss. So it was very surprising to see Diana accepting and even liking the child so readily.

Tenri on the other hand, had gotten over the initial shock easily, which was yet another surprise. Keima would have thought that his neighbour would be flustered beyond belief but she seemed to have her emotions in check as she looked around nervously around her.

Perhaps Tenri could sense how tense he was in actuality and that alone was enough for her to keep her focus on the fact that although Shuko was adorable, she was a Weiss. In the meantime, Elsi tried her best to coax Shuko elsewhere more convenient for the rest to hold a strategy meeting. Unfortunately, Shuko hadn't been happy about the idea and simply refused to budge from one of her 'mothers'.

'Shuko-chan, would you want to have some water? Your father and mother wants some privacy together, is that okay?'

Keima watched as Elsi took the direct approach, bending down to smile at Shuko cheerfully even as the young girl pouted at Keima after looking away from Elsi. It had taken a while, but Keima believed that he had came to a conclusion and a theory about what was the criteria that made Shuko view a girl as a potential mother.

Weiss gain power through the gap in a human girl's heart after all, if one followed that logic then...

Keima waited for a while after Shuko and Elsi left the room before clearing his throat to get the attention of everyone in the room once again.

'I believe that a by product of the Weiss's power is for it to tap into Mari's memories. By doing so it would enable the Weiss to pick out potential suitors for the title of a 'mother'. That could explain why Elsi was not chosen as a target to be a 'mother'.'

Keima explained his theory to the girls and for the most part, was easily accepted by most of them. The exception to that was of course, Haqua, who seemed a little outraged that she was considered someone who would ever get hitched with Keima.

'I-I would never! One must be blind to think that is possible! It must be your fault, Katsuragi, for making Mari-san think this way!'

Haqua's tsun-tsun side aside, Keima noticed that the other girls seemed satisfied by this development, a few of them even seemed proud of that development.

'Tsundere's aside.'

Keima gave Haqua a very dry look that made the demon turn redder than ever before she averted her eyes. Keima was the Capturing God, he was loathe to point that out to everyone but he had been aware of the feelings that resided in Haqua for a very long time now. It was inevitable, he supposed, but it still was something that he would rather ignore if he could.

'I believe that I've seen the ending of this particular story... as well as the source of the gap in Mari's heart. I'll end it tonight.'

The statement was delivered without hesitation, without emotion too as he waited patiently for the girls to properly wrap their minds around the idea. Just like he expected, most of the girls were simply staring at him incredulously. Were they simply shocked that he was able to see the ending so easily? Or were they just disappointed that this scenario that they were currently in would end just as quickly as it began? Or were they attached to Shuko already?

All those possibilities were possible and Keima was unsure which one, or if all of them were applicable to the 'captured' girls and goddesses in front of him.

'Keima-kun, you... would be willing to make... Shuko disappear?'

Tenri spoke out loud nervously and she blushed when the other girls nodded as well, and seeing that she was suddenly the spokesperson for all the girls present made her even more nervous.

Despite all that, Tenri was able to gather the courage to continue on, she swallowed nervously before asking Keima whether he'll be fine with that.

'A-After all, Shuko-chan... even if she is a Weiss... she likes you and Mari-san... just letting her disappear like that without telling Mari... it seems... cruel... Even if she might not remember, if she did, like us... it'll be... bad.'

Tenri finished nervously, her hands already ready to cover her face if Keima scolded her. But Keima did not have any intentions to do so as he simply narrowed his eyes and admitted that it was something that he didn't consider as well.

'That is true... if we ended it so abruptly... it might cause repercussions if something similar like that happened.'

Keima remembered the week in which all the Captured Girls regained their memories, if Mari ever had an episode like that without them explaining Shuko's disappearance it would mean the end of his life.

Literally, Mari might not look like it, but from how she took in Elsi easily, Mari was an individual who took friendship and kinship very strongly. Making Shuko disappear without a trace and without an explanation would be the most efficient way but at the same time, the most alarming for Mari as well if she did not know what was going.

Unfortunately like Keima said, since Shuko was unlikely to actually cooperate with them, it would be up to them to make a little show for Mari and Shuko.

'She is a Weiss, Tenri... despite her appearance as well as her... traits and knowledge, she is still a Weiss. I have never seen an example of a possessed individual becoming better off due to a possession. Mari, my mother, is being possessed by a Weiss... but I do acknowledge and is thankful for your concern, Tenri. Time is however still the essence.'

Keima's answer made the other girls nod in recognition. They had forgotten that despite how adorable and cute Shuko was, she was still a Weiss and being a Weiss, she was probably hurting Mari somewhere.

Keima had a pretty good idea on what the gap in Mari's heart was, it was quite obvious after all...

'So... what is the gap in Mari-san's heart, Katsuragi?'

Tsukiyo asked softly even as she waited patiently for her answer, the petite blonde didn't seem too happy about the development but had mellowed down considerably after hearing that Mari might be suffering at the moment.

'The most likely conclusion that I can draw is that it was probably due to the unique situation we are in... as well as my indecisiveness.'

Keima answered matter-of-factedly but his answer made the entire room stunned, most of the girl's jaw actually dropped a little. It was probably an exaggeration at this point, but it was true that everyone was both scandalized that Keima could answer that question so casually without feeling embarrassed or ashamed of himself. That was not even considering how he was able and willing to include himself and that... situation as a cause for all this without even sounding guilty.

'I-In the end, it WAS your fault after all!'

Haqua's howl spoke for everyone that was present.

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'Say Ah~~'

Tsukiyo smiled even as she started feeding Shuko some ice-cream. Tsukiyo knew instinctively that she was spoiling the young girl, but Shuko had been very disappointed that she had not been able to spend time with her mother and father like she wanted to.

Although the idea of all the 'mothers' but one leaving to lessen the confusion had been mooted, none of them had been able to come to consensus on who should leave and who should stay.

Well, the only exception to that rule was Tenri, who had been quite happy to bow out if not for Diana, who insisted on staying to stop Keima from corrupting the young child even more.

Tsukiyo and Vulcan agreed with the sentiment, but not with Diana's actions. Vulcan could tell that her younger sister was very smitten with the young girl and not for the first time, wondered what had happened to the serious side of Diana. That was actually quite a rhetorical question, Vulcan knew exactly what was wrong with Diana.

Diana had utterly fallen in love with Keima, that was despite all the despicable things that Keima was capable of and it really had Vulcan fuming. Diana's host too was being a little too accepting of the situation for her liking but Vulcan had never really considered Tenri a love rival at all. In fact, Diana was more fond of a jealousy streak than her host.

Ironically, it was exactly Tenri's own passiveness and contentment with the current situation that Keima viewed Tenri more favorably than Diana. As the Capturing God, he knew that the time for him to make a decision would come eventually, but for now, it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie. He had no interest in the internal politics and squabbling of the girls. His primary objective and goal at this point was to stop the denizens of Old Hell and to seal all the Weiss away and for that purpose, he needed the Goddess's aid and thus could ill afford any bad blood between them.

Bad blood between the girls themselves would be troubling too, but internal power struggles was unavoidable due to how he was stalling. Such was the Capturing God's complex life, everything and anything could lead to a good or a bad end.

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Still, Vulcan herself was unsure what Diana saw in that young girl for her to actually dote on her so much. Even if Haqua was hesitant in approaching and interacting with Shuko, she looked happy when the young child tried her best to engage her in the best of her abilities. Even if it was something out of Haqua's depth, the devil was happy enough to indulge in her wilfulness for more than necessary

Seeing that most of Shuko's attempts to get her 'mother's' attention was through her PFP, Vulcan knew that she was already 'tainted' by her 'father'.

Keima had theorized that it was probably the Weiss that was affecting them, causing the potential 'mothers' to react favorably to Shuko. This theory was proven when Tsukiyo made a remark about how Shuko had very beautiful dark brown hair and Haqua blinking and saying that Shuko had inherited her hair color instead.

Diana had chipped in by saying that she thought Shuko was wearing glasses when she obviously was not. So it wasn't much of a surprise when Shuko said she didn't know what they were talking about and asked Keima for clarification on what she looked like.

Embarrassingly for all of them, Keima had taken it as a challenge and declared that Shuko had light green hair, heterochromia with one eye colored brown and the other green.

Shuko had turned out to be like that in an instant and although she remained adorably cute, it was a sure sign that Shuko was a Weiss after all despite everyone's wishes for her to be real.

Well, the only exception to that wish was Elsi and Keima, the two of them were handling and coping with this situation in a different manner than the other girls were doing. The 'mothers' were content in sheltering and indulging in Shuko, speaking with her and reading to her while Keima discussed with Elsi at great lengths on how they were going to end this charade for everyone involved.

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'Keima-kun.'

It was Tenri who suddenly interrupted the two of them and the two members of the Katsuragi household looked up to see Tenri clutching her own wrist nervously before continuing. Despite looking down initially, Tenri gathered the courage to ask Keima again whether he was fine with it.

Whether he was really okay with letting Shuko disappear without giving Mari a chance to know what was going on or to help her without even letting her spend more time with Shuko. Keima paused before giving Elsi a look. The younger demon knew what he wanted and she hurried over to coax Shuko to help her wash the dishes from dinner.

Mari had not woken up from her faint thanks to Elsi and Haqua's fiddling with their raiment, even if Keima felt a little bad in treating Mari like that, the alternative was even more harmful for Keima.

It might seem to be a good idea for Mari and Shuko to spend more time with each other in first glance. For a Weiss to occupy Mari's heart meant that Mari had a sizeable gap in her heart, one that had been eating into her for quite a while.

Letting a child like Shuko, who Mari obviously liked would in theory help Mari close that gap inside her heart.

But that was not the case at all. Even if Mari was hypnotized or even if she truly believed that Shuko was her grandchild through the use of memory modification, it would only serve to widen the gap in her heart instead.

Keima wasn't entirely sure whether the gap in Mari's heart was due to loneliness at being left behind by her children due to what had happened over the past few weeks, despair over how complicated his state of affairs were or perhaps worry for the future but he did knew that the Weiss choose to materialize as that form for a reason.

'Yes. It is indefinitely better for Mari to spend less time with Shuko. The mere fact that the Weiss choose that particular form to appear in is a good indicator that it is a form that would increase the gap in her heart. A Weiss does not help an individual, Tenri. All the Weiss I've met so far have used their powers to increase and expand the gap in their host's heart. There has been no indication that this particular Weiss has done so differently, letting Shuko spend time with Mari is not advisable.'

Keima's reasoning was delivered coolly and it made all the girls uncomfortable. They were used to Keima being detached but seeing him behave and speak so coldly towards someone who obviously liked him was uncomfortable to all the girls.

'Another thing to note is that all of us have already been influenced by the Weiss... I am not exempted from the influence of the Weiss.'

Keima twitched a little as he inhaled deeply before adjusting his glasses and continuing.

'Haqua, you knew about the situation and yet was still willing to accept the Weiss... just that one fact had me on edge and suspicious. To what extent is the Weiss manipulating us in the first place? It has been able to endear itself into our hearts despite us knowing it is a Weiss. To put it simply, it is trying to get us to accept that Shuko is not a Weiss and even if she is one, she is a harmless one.'

Keima's train of thought was a dark one and it made Tsukiyo narrow her eyes while saying that it might not be that way, that it could be just Keima over-thinking things.

'Yes, that is true... but do you want to take the chance, Tsukiyo?'

Keima rebutted shamelessly even as he stood up and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

'I've seen the ending for this. Even if it hurts all of you, even if it might be me over-thinking things. I would not allow Katsuragi Shuko to exist any longer in this world. Not when she is just a pale imitation of the things that we secretly desire in another. Nothing good would come in having the wool being pulled over our eyes by a Weiss. It ends tonight.'

It was probably the coldest thing that Keima had ever said to all of them, probably, one could never know truly know with Katsuragi Keima.

Author's Notes: Oh that's right, please pardon me for any mistakes. This chapter comes fresh from the oven!