A/N: Welcome back! Time for another chapter!

Chapter 5, "Approaching Nightmare & Haunting Ruler" is one of the most heavily updated chapters to date, so be sure to read closely!

"Itadakimasu!"

Shido felt his anticipation rose when the voice of the various inhabitants of the Itsuka household, overlapped, signifying the beginning of dinner time.

It was quite a bit later than usual. Since he, as the chef, had invited Miku -the only Spirit he had sealed who didn't live near his residence- to come over his house, Shido wanted to wait for her so she could join the dinner.

Unfortunately, she didn't come as quickly as Shido had expected. It was almost half an hour since he called her, and she hadn't shown any signs of being here yet.

He didn't mind waiting for some more minutes, but some of the Spirits there certainly would. Left with little choice, he decided to begin dinner without Miku.

Despite the various different appetites that the Spirits had, all of them did share something in common; his cooking. That was one of the few things he could take pride with, not that there was much else to boast about.

However, tonight, they would notice something was different with his food.

"What is this, Shido? This is really delicious!"

Tohka's bright smile and excitement seemed to rise to even higher levels than usual.

"...Is this, pasta?"

Origami looked questioning, but she was devouring her food at a rate faster than usual.

Shido smiled. Of course, Origami would be the first to identify it. He supposed that deserved a reward.

"Yeah. I tested a new recipe, does it taste good?"

"This tastes like the dish served by the angels themselves!"

It was Kaguya who answered. Of course, she was being overdramatic as usual, but Shido knew her complements were genuine.

"Praise. This food is on a different class than your usual serve."

Shido felt his ego was stroked gently. Even Yuzuru wasn't immune to his new recipe.

"Wow..."

Natsumi, for once, appeared speechless, and she only stared at the food on the plate with wonder on her eyes.

"It's delicious..."

Yoshino was gently slamming the table beside the plate – a natural reaction if hers when she ate something good – while the puppet on her hand stared to him.

"Shido-kun, did you learn to cook better or something?"

Shido merely nodded sagely at Yoshinon's question.

He was very satisfied that the girls liked his food. It was because the food today was the result of another hellish training made by his sister.

Since Nia's rescue, Kotori had subjected him to various training, just like the ones he suffered through to date the Spirits.

Only, it was worse because it was not just dating skills this time. Things like his cooking skill, conversational skill, and even artistic skill were also beaten into his head…

"All of that pays off in the end, huh? It's unfortunate those three didn't get to test it…"

He glanced to the three empty seats in the room.

Ones that should be occupied by his sister Kotori, the guest Miku, and the newest girl, Nia.

"..."

All of a sudden, he could feel a vibration in his pocket.

"Hmm?"

Knowing that it came from his phone, he quickly drew it out and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello? Darling?"

He knew the owner of this voice. Izayoi Miku, the Spirit he had been waiting.

Usually, her voice would sound more affectionate. But this time, she sounded anxious, which already set alarm bells in his mind. Shido prepared himself.

"What's wrong, Miku?"

"Uh, I guess I must first say sorry for being late..."

Miku seemed to just recall that she had to come to his house. Shido smiled at her consideration.

"Ah, that's fine with me. But, we had to start dinner without you. Have you eaten something?"

Living separately or not, he was concerned about the idol's health.

From the phone, Shido could hear a giggle. Not expecting a laugh, he became concerned.

"Miku?"

"Ah, nothing. I just feel happy that you would wait for me. But darling, I can't go there now."

Her voice became ominous now, and she seemed to purposefully keep her voice down.

"Huh? Why?"

"...Maybe you wouldn't believe me, but here, right now, I'm tailing Tokisaki Kurumi."

The news pierced his ears.

"What!?"

Shido tried to keep his voice to a minimum.

However, his effort was for nothing as the girls' attention were directed to Shido since he answered the call.

"Did you just say that you are tailing Kurumi? Are you sure that's her?"

He decided to speak normally, revealing the information he heard just now to the Spirits around him.

As they heard the news, all Spirits present in the room let out a collective shudder of surprise.

"She looked a little different, but I'm sure that's her."

Miku sounded sure that she wouldn't mistake her for anyone else. However, that made Shido remember someone.

Sonogami Rinne.

For some reason, he couldn't stop nervousness from creeping into his voice. "Is she with someone?"

"Yeah. Do you know who is it? I was never told that she had a friend." Miku questioned back.

"I... kind of know her. Her name is Sonogami Rinne, another Spirit. In any case, Miku, stop following them." Shido's tone became serious.

"...I'm sorry, darling, but I can't." Miku replied, her voice stern.

"Why!? Following them is like chasing after death! I'll go there and take care of it!"

Shido didn't even want to think what would happen if she was noticed.

"But if I don't follow them, you won't have any means to reach her. Now, I'm in a mall and there is an anime festival right now. Not even you can find them in this kind of crowd."

That made sense, he supposed. "But what if you are-"

Miku cut her off. "Darling, are you underestimating me? Following girls without being noticed is my specialty!"

Internally, Shido felt exasperated Miku could proudly proclaim that, but his worries trumped that feeling.

"This isn't just any stalking! The stake is your life!"

There was silence. Then a deep breath.

"I know."

Shido couldn't stop himself from standing up from his seat. "Then-"

Miku cut him off again. "Darling, you were the one who saved me. But, do you remember who saved you when I was hunting for your blood with my [Gabriel]?"

There was an honest, painful bitterness in her voice, which made him mind halt for a second.

"It was Kurumi..."

His eyes widened as he realized what she meant. Miku clearly still felt guilty about the night of that festival, the Tenou Festival back then in September.

"I hate to admit it, but I owe that girl one. If she didn't help you reach out to me that day, I wouldn't be saved, would I? So darling, please. I want to help you save her."

"Uh..."

Shido halted. Wasn't this the exact kind of conversation he had with Kotori a few hours ago?

He would risk his life trying to save Spirits. Kotori was calling him out on that earlier, going as far as to pin him.

Thus… what right did he have to stop Miku from doing so?

"…I think I understand your feelings a little, my cute little sister."

He was almost amused by the sheer irony of the situation, if it wasn't so serious.

"Fine. I'll inform Kotori about this. If she decides that we shouldn't approach them, I want you to leave that place immediately. If she decides that we should..."

He stopped for a moment. What would Kotori say, if this was between her and him?

"…Don't be reckless. If worst comes to worst, run. I can save Kurumi anytime from now. But, I will never be able to save you if you die, Miku."

Shido poured every bit of his concern and care for Miku at those words.

There was a surprised gasp. Miku was clearly caught off-guard.

"Uh, I... thanks, darling. I'll see you here."

She sounded flustered and hung up the call. He didn't have time to ponder about that, though.

"Hmm..."

Hearing the voice of her own hums had become something of a routine for Kotori.

It had always been like that for every date. When various plans and predictions were conflicting inside her head, especially when she was alone.

As she was deep in thought however, her phone vibrated.

"Oh?"

The only ones who would call to her phone when she was in Fraxinus would be her brother, the Spirits around him, and Reine. Who was it?

Kotori answered the call. "Hello?"

"Kotori?"

It was a familiar voice. So it was her brother.

"Shido? What do you want, calling me this late?"

She wasn't annoyed, but she didn't exactly like to receive a call in the midst of planning.

"Kotori, this is bad. Miku is in danger."

It was the sheer urgency in his voice that made Kotori groan. Another bad news, this soon?

"What? In danger? Explain what you mean."

"She accidentally found Kurumi, and now she is following her."

"Wait, what?"

She didn't mishear that, did she? Did Shido just say Miku was trying to follow Tokisaki Kurumi, after accidentally running into her?

THAT WOMAN-

"What!? Did your insanity affect her or something?! Why didn't you stop her?"

Kotori felt her throat would be hurt for screaming so many times in the last few hours. First Shido, now this?

"I wanted to, but she told me this through the phone, and she insisted to follow her. She is currently in some mall I don't know, where an anime festival is taking place."

For once, Shido sounded genuinely annoyed when talking about a Spirit.

"Che! Don't tell me she tries to follow Kurumi because she wants you to try and save her."

Kotori clicked her tongue, trying to suppress her annoyance. She hoped Miku wasn't that stubborn… right?

"Actually, that's exactly how Miku wants it to be."

And there went her hope.

"ARGH! Today is the worst!"

She didn't try to hold her scream back this time. It was official, Itsuka Kotori was cursed!

First, Shido got himself smitten by an unknown woman who was Kurumi's ally and now this-

"Wait, if Miku found Kurumi..."

A realization hit her.

"Shido, did Miku say anything about Sonogami Rinne?"

"Yeah. She said Kurumi was with someone, it's probably her."

"..."

That made things different. Kotori began to weigh things in her head.

Under normal circumstances, following Kurumi wasn't rational. Especially not now when she was in the middle of an open, public location like a mall. She could use the civilians there as hostages.

Trying to seal her powers now was out of question. Kurumi couldn't be persuaded with normal means and she was actively against it. So following her for the reason of sealing her was definitely pointless right now.

However, it wasn't the most frequent thing in the world to run across Kurumi. This evening might just be her plan, but this time it was most likely coincidence, so the chances of this being a trap was low.

Gathering information about Kurumi had always been impossible. But now an opportunity to do just that presented itself.

More importantly, they could learn about the enigmatic Spirit who requested a date with Shido this evening.

The date with her would go smoother if they had information about her.

"I'll be able to see that woman, too..."

Wait. No.

"No! No! I shouldn't let my personal feelings have a part here!"

Great, now she was becoming stupid as well. She had to be calm and rational-

"Kotori, I don't want to press you, but we have no time!"

Shido seemed to be losing his patience. Kotori held back the urge to yell at him – it wouldn't help her or him – so she decided to be as stern as possible.

"I know! This matter involves lots of lives! I can't make the wrong decision!"

The two fell into a tense silence. Still, that seemed to work; Kotori knew Shido didn't want to interrupt her.

Problem was, she still needed to think – what to do with this turn of events?

"Why is Kurumi even in a mall in the first place?"

Origami told Kotori that she once managed to find Kurumi through beating up one of her clones who wandered around the city, citing that the real deal had always been observing and directing the clones from afar.

Considering Kurumi's personality, and Nightmare's record, there really was no reason for her to be in public locations like a mall.

"The only reason why she would do that..."

…Was when she wanted to pull off events like that confrontation at the school.

When she was regaining her strength with [City of Devouring Time]. That's the only plausible reason why she was there.

And that would mean massacre.

There was no longer any need to hesitate. "Shido, we will send you there."

"Roger that."

Kotori found herself almost smiling at the conviction in his voice. Right now, there was probably nothing he would so so long as Miku was safe.

"I will look for the mall with Miku's signature on it. As soon as I find it, I will transport you there. Prepare yourself!"

"Now, let our stalking begin."

Miku felt her heart would burst out of her chest with the rate it was beating, but she felt there was no time to ponder over her situation.

She was afraid, she realized. And was also excited at the same time. The combination felt strange.

Her two targets – Tokisaki Kurumi and Sonogami Rinne – were sitting together on a bench, Kurumi on the left and Rinne on the right.

Meanwhile, she, as the stalker in robe, was sitting to a bench to their right. It seemed she was still unnoticed by the two of them.

Their benches were situated behind a stage, where some singers were performing and sang some anime theme songs.

Kurumi and Rinne appeared to be enjoying her music. That meant, she had to add more things to her note in her phone.

On her phone's screen, there was an elaborate note.

Target(s): Tokisaki Kurumi, Sonogami Rinne.

What the targets are doing: Walking around to see and comment at various stands without buying anything (for roughly 30 minutes), sitting down on a bench while enjoying a musical performance (currently ongoing).

Notable details: Both targets are cosplaying, Kurumi wears an eyepatch, Rinne has a veil to cover her face, targets are maintaining physical contact with each other with apparent affection.

Analysis: Targets don't bring any money, targets are just here to have some fun, targets are good friends, targets are likely to have similar preferences with me.

It was honestly a little surprising.

She was never told Kurumi, the Spirit codenamed Nightmare, would have a friend to chat and do mundane things with.

"It seems… I have misjudged her?"

Tokisami Kurumi was not as lonely as she thought she was-

"Festivals sure are nice, aren't they?"

Miku stopped herself from editing her notes when she heard the voice she had identified as Rinne's.

"Are they? I personally think this one is lacklustre."

Kurumi said critically, before taking a look around, possibly to scan their environment.

Feeling her heart had jumped, she quickly pretended to play with her phone, while silently watching her surroundings with her eyes.

It was not as crowded as earlier, probably because the performance causing people to gather in front of the stage.

Fortunately for her, Kurumi didn't recognize the stalker right next to them, and sat back down.

"Uwah… that was close…"

Miku felt she had to agree with darling. Stalking these two felt like chasing after death.

But… she had to do it. She had to do this.

A moment later, Kurumi stood up. Miku leaned closer ever so slightly.

"We didn't buy anything to eat, did we?"

Kurumi spoke as if she had recalled something important.

"Now that you mention it, yeah. Let's go buy something."

Rinne moved to leave the bench, but then Kurumi suddenly moved to grab her in the shoulders.

"There's no need for both of us to walk for food. I'll get us something and you stay here."

Miku was a bit surprised. Kurumi was willing to do that for her?

Rinne sounded surprised behind the veil she wore. "Oh? Okay then. Thanks."

There was a smile on Kurumi's face. "Don't mention it."

If it was anyone else, it just a simple exchange, but Miku felt she had to note this one down.

"This feels so unreal… eh?"

Her phone received a message. It was from her darling.

It said 'Miku, I'm in the mall. Where are you?'

She quickly typed her reply.

'Darling, look for a stage with cosplayers singing. If you find it, go behind it and you'll find us. Be careful not to be seen by them.'

Miku then returned her focus to the Spirit who hid her face in the next bench.

She hoped her darling would reach this place first before Kurumi returned…

Roughly five minutes later, Miku noticed someone was running toward her from her right.

Whoever it was, they were very conspicuous. He or she wore a spiky, black and indigo helmet. It completely covered the wearer's face, though maybe it was transparent from the inside.

The person was also wearing a tight, dark purple suit with golden stripes and long, wrapped sleeves. Over it, the person wore a black and gold cloak with crimson spandex lining the inside, and a large black cape encircled the head.

It's very noticeable, especially if one was familiar with that one anime with giant robots and magical eyes, where the character who owned the costume, One, hailed from.

Miku raised an eyebrow when the cosplayer stopped in front of her. With a phone on hand, the person pressed a button.

That instant, she received a message. It was from Shido.

It said 'Miku, it's me, Shido. Right in front of you right now.'

"Wait, what?"

She stood up instantly. She had to examine the person claiming to be her darling in front of her.

"This height, this body build... yeah, it's darling!"

Miku was happy, but she couldn't spook the lond target. So she quickly held Shido by the arm and dragged him to a nearby shop.

Once inside, she finally turned toward her future husband and hugged him.

"Darling! You finally came!"

It felt as if a huge burden was off her shoulders. She was honestly getting nervous at having to follow two deadly Spirits alone.

"Ah, yeah."

Shido's voice sounded different from usual, Miku noticed. Probably because his pretty face was hidden under the mask.

Speaking of the mask… Miku released Shido and sent him a questioning look.

"...I know you must hide your identity, and cosplaying is the perfect way to do it. But... why One, of all people?"

"Kotori told me that this is part of strategy to stay unnoticed..."

Shido shifted uneasily as he spoke. It seemed her darling was not comfortable with the costume.

"But One's costume is like the most conspicuous cosplay costume of all time! How do you expect to hide yourself with that?"

Miku was starting to feel really worried. What if Sonogami Rinne noticed?

She turned to see how the target was doing-

"Eh?"

But, what caught her eye was something completely different.

Throughout the mall, she could see at least dozens of people wearing One's costume, just like her darling.

"What?" Miku couldn't stop herself from voicing her dumbfounded mind.

"Well, this is part of the strategy. If I wore this alone, then I will be noticed in no time. But if there were crowds of us, things are different."

Shido summed up the plan with a confident tone.

Oh… so that was how Kotori was doing it. Using the source anime as a reference, eh?

Miku couldn't stop herself form smiling. "Oh, so your little sister is a master stalker too."

"Hey... don't think you are having a private conversation right now."

Kotori's annoyed voice could be heard from the mask. Miku pouted at that, but she supposed that served to prove her point.

"See? She wouldn't even allow us to talk in private. Such magnificent skills!" She felt like laughing, but she stifled her giggle.

Kotori didn't sound amused. "Che... anyway, pay attention towards the targets! Don't let them out of your sight!"

She and her darling spoke as one. "Roger that!"

From inside the shop, the two of them acted as if they were just two people who agreed to meet up and go shopping together.

Miku noticed the other people wearing the One costumes also blended into the crowds, each with their own seemingly normal activities.

"Wait... who are these people helping us?"

The thought worried her. So she decided to tug Shido's cape.

"Darling?"

Shido turned toward her. "Yes?"

"Who are these people helping you?" If her hunch was correct, they were…

A sigh came from Shido's mask. "They are people of the Ratatoskr, and... everyone."

That confirmed her worries.

"Everyone? You mean the others, too?"

Wasn't that a bit too reckless? Miku was fully aware she was involving herself and her darling into danger. But to drag others was...

Then, as if Shido read her mind, he spoke again.

"Kotori said that Kurumi might be here to consume people's time. If she does it here...I don't even want to think about the number of casualties. So, just in case, the others are here, to stop her."

There were hints of annoyance in her darling's voice. Miku smiled a little at that. Despite agreeing, he clearly didn't want to put the Spirits in any danger.

Shido wasn't finished, however. "And anyway, they are your friends after all. If you are risking your life, how could they stand around and watch without doing anything?"

Miku felt her heart grew at those words. They really were great girls. And she didn't mean just to molest.

All she could manage was utter "Oh..."

She really should have thought about that.

But she could think about that later. For now, she had focus on this stalking.

"By the way, darling, Kurumi is currently away looking for food. That's why that girl is now alone."

Shido nodded. "Got that, Kotori?"

"Got it. I am informing the others."

Shido didn't understand how, or why, but he felt afraid.

He tried to keep himself calm and sound like his usual self as Miku spoke with him, which seemed to be successful. It seemed she didn't notice it at all.

But he couldn't deny it. He could tell that he was, at his heart, terrified.

"That Astral Dress..."

It was a beautiful clock dress with a shade of purple Shido had never seen before. It was decorated with golden extensions on the shoulders and hips, and with a curtain which reached down to her ankles.

Rinne herself also looked very different. Her face was covered with a purple, almost transparent veil and her hair – which was brown and only reached the neck back in the school – was now hot pink and long enough for its braids to reach the floor as she sat.

It looked very beautiful. All the Spirits Shido knew were, but Rinne was… for lack of a better word, hauntingly attractive. That was how different it felt.

However… for some reason, looking at Rinne's appearance now… it sent chills down his spine.

Something about it just terrified him.

"What is happening here…?"

It bothered him to no end.

"By the way, darling, who is that girl? I am sure I never heard about this Sonogami Rinne before."

Shido almost didn't register to Miku's question. The idol in Grim Reaper robe was a little bit closer to Rinne's position than him, and her back was turned on him.

He welcomed the distraction from his own mind, though.

"Well… you see, she is an ally of Kurumi who appeared just this evening. I have never met her before today, too."

Miku seemed to find that odd, as she turned from Rinne's direction to face him.

"Hmm? Does that mean you met her earlier today?"

Her thoughts were spot on. Shido nodded.

"Yes, and that's when she told me her name. I wasn't prepared to date her today, so I promised I would date her tomorrow. Kotori hasn't given her a codename yet."

The idol tilted her head, as if she was confused.

"You aren't prepared? Isn't preparation supposed to be your sister's job?"

"Well... it's kind of complicated."

He really didn't want to explain what he was feeling again. With that in his mind, he dodged the question.

Luckily for him, Kurumi finally returned with ice cream cones in both of her hands, approaching Rinne.

Miku immediately turned her back on him again when she noticed, and Shido did the same.

"Are ice creams fine? This is the only free food I can get around here."

Kurumi seemed a little annoyed when she said that.

"If you want to, I can get other foods for free. If I stretched my muscles a bit..."

All of a sudden, the goth girl grinned darkly in a true Nightmare fashion.

Shido gulped in understanding. Kurumi definitely meant robbery.

"No, no, it's fine." Much to his relief, Rinne seemed to be alarmed and against it. "Come on, gimme that."

Rinne extended her hand, but Kurumi deliberately moved her hand away as if she didn't want to hand over one of the cones.

Kurumi frowned. "Rinne, take that off. You can't eat while that's still on your face, right?" Kurumi smiled, referring to Rinne's veil.

Then, as if Rinne just realized it, her posture slouched. "Oh right. I was kind of used to it, so I don't notice."

As her hand moved to reach her veil, Shido tensed up, and he could tell Miku in front of him was, too.

Time seemed to slow down. Shido felt his anticipation, and anxiety, grew exponentially when Rinne slowly took off her veil.

What awaited beyond it-

"Is this what you want to see, partner?"

Made his heart stop entirely.

When Tohka heard Miku was tailing Tokisaki Kurumi, and a new Spirit named 'Sonogami Rinne' in some mall, she felt it only made sense for her to help Shido take care of it.

Ever since she truly understood what Shido had to do in order to save people like her – Spirits – Tohka understood there was no one else who could do the same.

So no matter what Shido chose to do, Tohka would give her everything to help him.

That included wearing this weird costume she was currently wearing now, no matter how uncomfortable it felt.

"What kind of weirdo would wear things like this, anyway?"

She had trouble when trying to force her thick, long hair into this goofy helmet thing, but with a little adjustment from Reine, the helmet seemed to… compress her hair?

Tohka didn't get it, but at least she could wear the full costume.

"My kinsman! Do not separate from me amongst these commoners! You might find yourself lost into the Sea of Souls!"

Kaguya was clad in identical costume with her, though she was much more enthusiastic than her with this sort of costume.

But Tohka felt it was just right for Kaguya to be like that.

"I am with you! Do you think we are close now?"

"Indeed we are! The crowds of our fellow Ones are dispersing, and starting to form a subtle encirclement to surround the target! Let us take position and prepare ourselves for anything!"

Tohka smiled behind her helmet. "Then, let's!"

Soon after finding a spot, Tohka finally got a good look of the target.

"So… that is Sonogami Rinne? She looks different…"

For some reason, looking at her appearance now reminded Tohka of her own Astral Dress.

Their Astral Dresses were nothing alike – Rinne's dress had different colors, was much longer and she also wore a veil – but the aura it had felt similar. The calm, serene flow of mana was so familiar it almost confused her.

Oblivious to her thoughts, next to her, Kaguya took out a camera.

"Hoo, is that her? She is different from the time we encountered her before. Now, both her figure and her dress is quite befitting of her status! If I have to put a name to it… her image reminds me of a ruler, I dare say even an empress. What do you think, my kinsman?"

Tohka mostly agreed with that assessment. But there was something else-

"She kinda reminds me of someone…"

Kaguya turned to face her. "That sounds very vague, my kinsman. Care to enlighten me with your wisdom?"

"I am not quite sure…" Tohka halted, there was someone. "Wait, look at that!"

A girl with a strange dress and an eyepatch covering her left eye came with two ice creams on her hand, approaching Rinne.

Who was that? Tohka couldn't remember any girl with an eyepatch.

"Hum?" Kaguya turned again, and saw the new girl. "Ho, what's with the Nightmare girl? She dresses differently than her usual blood red and shadow black ensemble. Is it to blend into the crowds of commoners?"

Tohka stared at Kaguya. Did she hear that right?

"That eyepatched girl is Kurumi!?"

"Huh? You can't recognize the Nightmare on sight? That's dangerous, my kinsman! Do not allow her admittedly well-thought out disguise to fool your eyes!"

At Kaguya's words, Tohka blinked, and focused on the eyepatched face.

…On second thought, that was Kurumi's face, alright. How could she not recognize it?!

"I can't believe it! She made fool of me!"

"Seems the legends saying the ability to change your physical form is indeed one of the great magics of darkness… it is truly unfortunate our position isn't close enough for us to hear the words coming out from their mouth! Perhaps they could be talking about the secrets of their magic!"

She felt she agreed with Kaguya's assessment; Kurumi was definitely talking with Rinne now. However, Tohka could only see them talking at this range, not hear the talk.

Her attempt to get closer was stopped though, when she saw Rinne suddenly moved her hand to the veil covering her face.

"Ohhh! My kinsman, stay back. I shall immortalize the moment this Spirit reveals her face and present it to our commander!"

Kaguya was a lot more excited than she expected, but Tohka too gulped in anticipation.

Slowly, Rinne took off the veil-

"…Eh?"

Crimson eyes stared back.

Tohka felt her body shiver.

"What… what is this…?"

It was almost as if her blood suddenly turned into ice.

She felt her ever reliable instincts were telling her… this Spirit, Sonogami Rinne, was dangerous.

"But… why?"

The only time she ever felt like this was when she fought bitterly with the newly awakened Origami…

But even then, it didn't quite compare to the feeling coming from those eyes. Origami never made her feel like running away.

"Wh… who are you?"

When Yoshino heard Miku was endangering herself, she couldn't sit still and watch.

She had seen the person several times before, but she had only ever talked with Tokisaki Kurumi once, during that day in the Tanabata Festival.

It was a short encounter, but from the short time Yoshino talked with her… she wouldn't really say the supposed Nightmare Spirit was a bad person.

Yoshino simply couldn't sense it. After years of being hunted by the AST, she could almost tell when people was looking at her with ill intent. Kurumi didn't have it.

However, she also recognized Kurumi was more than willing to hurt Miku, if her friend got in the way of the Spirit of Time.

So she would help Shido, her savior, her hero, to help Miku.

Even if that meant wearing… this strange costume.

"Yoshino, are you alright?"

Next to her, her new best friend – Natsumi – was also in the same costume as her.

"I am fine, Natsumi-san… just a little uncomfortable with this costume."

In truth, Yoshino felt a little envious with the green-haired Spirit. Natsumi was far more comfortable with the 'One' costume than her, and even recognized it on sight.

More than that, Yoshino couldn't have Yoshinon in her hand with this costume, so she had to take Yoshinon off and kept him within her costume, tightly on her chest.

Compared to Natsumi, who could move easily and smoothly within this costume as gracefully as if she was the actual character, Yoshino felt nervous and fidgety with this costume.

"Does the costume hinder you? Should I use [Haniel] (Witch of Forgery) to help you turn into One so you don't need to wear the costume? That would require me to draw more of my powers from Shido though, but if it is for Yoshino, I will-!"

At the increasingly panicked tone, Yoshino knew Natsumi would seriously do it if she didn't say anything, so she decided to grab Natsumi's hand to take her attention,

"No, no! I am fine, really! I am just a bit nervous without Yoshinon…"

"Ah… I see…"

Yoshino sighed in relief at being able to stop Natsumi, but she was also thankful for the offer.

"Natsumi-san really is a good person…"

"Thank you, Natsumi-san… I appreciate the thought, but I want to wear this costume like you. Natsumi-san looks so cool with it, so I want to try it, too…"

Natsumi's helmet twitched. Yoshino found that a bit strange.

"Eh? What's wrong, Natsumi-san?"

"N-no, nothing!"

Natsumi then muttered something under her breath, something like 'cute' and 'angel' but Yoshino couldn't make out what she said.

"L-look! The Ones are moving! They must have found the one we have to stalk! Sonogami Rinne, was it?"

At Natsumi's words, Yoshino found that it was true. Even from this position, Yoshino could see a finely dressed young woman, Sonogami Rinne, sitting on one of the many benches.

"Whoa… she looks beautiful…"

For some reason, Yoshino was reminded of Tohka's Princess form when she saw this Spirit's Astral Dress, even though the two weren't similar at all.

On her side, Natsumi grunted. "Humph… why is it so easy for the other Spirits to be so effortlessly beautiful, but I am not?"

Yoshino frowned slightly at that statement. "Natsumi-san, you are beautiful, too. Shido-san proved as much."

"I know, I know!" Natsumi humphed. "But it is still frustrating, to see someone like that. And she didn't even show her face!"

"Hum…" Yoshino wasn't frustrated, but she was curious. "I wonder how does she look like under the veil?"

Yoshino felt if Yoshinon was awake, he would have made some kind of gruesome comment about having large scars or something else just as bleak.

"Who knows? Let's just wait until… hey, is that Tokisaki Kurumi?"

From somewhere, a girl with a nice black and white dress and an eyepatch on her face appeared.

She looked different, but Yoshino wouldn't mistake that for anyone else.

"It is Kurumi-san. She looks a bit a different, though…"

"Why the cosplay, though?"

"Maybe it is her hobby?"

"Hobby is an understatement, Yoshino. That dress… that detail, it is too complete for it to be a simple hobby. At that level, it might as well be professional!"

Yoshino smiled lightly at Natsumi's rant. It seemed Honjou Nia was a good influence on her.

It was then Yoshino noticed Rinne was about to take off the veil covering her face.

"Oh!"

At that, she immediately became attentive. She couldn't hear them from this far, so she had to at least pay attention-

"…!"

Behind the veil were crimson eyes.

The eyes gazed at her.

Yoshino felt a scream was about to tear her throat.

"I…"

Breathing felt difficult. She couldn't stop herself from trembling. She felt like she wanted to run, but her legs refused to move as if they were frozen.

"I…"

What was this feeling…? It felt like… it felt like she was being chased by the AST again… it felt like the time before she created Yoshinon…

"But why…? Why am I…"

When Origami heard Izayoi Miku was trying to convince Shido to help her with Tokisaki Kurumi, she felt her respect for the idol rose.

It was not like she disliked Miku or anything of the sort. She simply saw the Spirit of Sounds was someone who shared the same fate as her, as a human who was recently turned into Spirit.

That was the extent of her feelings for her fellow Spirits, really. As someone who used to hate Spirits with a burning passion, that was about the most she could feel toward them now.

But, both in the past and in the present, Tokisaki Kurumi was an exception.

Origami would be the first person to say she didn't like Nightmare – not only the Spirit was dangerous to Shido's life, the woman was also dangerous to her lover's chastity and manhood.

Such a thing only belonged to the one most worthy to become Shido's bride, Tobiichi Origami. Only she and she alone was worthy of that.

Thus, Tokisaki Kurumi had to be destroyed.

At least, that was how it had always been, up until the time travel trip.

"When she decided to help me, for some reason."

To begin with, the whole fiasco – her finding the truth about her parents, her turning Inverse, history being rewritten – was only made possible because of Tokisaki Kurumi was willing to lend her power to herself, and then to Shido.

According to Shido, Kurumi had shot him with 2 bullets from the Angel of Time, the time travel bullet and the bullet which could connect their senses together.

Origami wasn't a fool. Kurumi had said, 'even I would be afraid to enter the real thing without trying it once.' She had claimed to use Origami as an experiment.

That was definitely a lie. If she was to be an experiment, then Kurumi would have used the bullet she used on Shido to watch over her actions in the past.

Kurumi didn't do so. The Nightmare Spirit, for whatever reason, was respecting her privacy and her wish, to change the past.

"Why would she do that?"

Origami couldn't think of many reasons to do so, from what she knew of Kurumi's personality.

It was inconceivable that Kurumi had forgotten one of her own abilities. It was also impossible for the crafty Spirit to be afraid to use it, since she used one on Shido without hesitation soon after.

The only possibility was, Kurumi was sympathizing with her wish.

That also made Origami remember. Kurumi had mentioned that time travelling backwards to 30 years ago would consume up enough mana to kill a Spirit.

"That would mean Kurumi intends to time travel to that period of time."

For what purpose, Origami didn't know. But it probably had something to do with the 'First Spacequake' which killed 150 millions people and devastated Eurasia.

Origami could guess what Kurumi's intention was… but she would not make presumptions.

The thought led her to an important, overlooked fact; she didn't know Tokisaki Kurumi.

Kurumi was not the person she seemed to be. Origami was convinced of that. If she was the unrepentant, mass-murdering psychopath of a woman she claimed to be…

"Then she would not have helped Shido to save me."

Perhaps others would say Kurumi merely wanted to see if history could be rewritten. Perhaps that was true.

But it was fact Kurumi had a hand in what Origami would call her salvation. She felt it was only right, if she could help to repay the debt in kind.

Call it her intuition, but Origami was almost certain Miku felt the same in regards to Tokisaki Kurumi. After all, the idol too, owed Kurumi that much during the Tenou Festival.

Thus, she would do everything in her power to help Shido and Miku tonight.

Wearing this costume was nothing but a mere triviality in her quest.

"Question. Master Origami, do you think these costumes Kotori has provided us will be effective?"

Behind her, Yuzuru – her student, which she was proud of – voiced her concern.

Origami turned around to face her, who was also clad in the same costume as her.

"Although it is conspicuous, it is a fairly well-thought out strategy to have numerous people posing as Ones. It is, after all, a reference to the anime source."

She had to praise Kotori's strategy. Her student didn't seem convinced, however.

"Relent. Yuzuru admits she can see the advantages of the strategy are quite useful in the current situation. Doubt. Be that as it may, Yuzuru couldn't help but think not being spotted at all would be safer. We could still be recognized this way."

Origami had to admit, that possibility was not zero. But-

"Izayoi Miku has been following our targets without alerting them, and she has informed Shido of her location as well. If the two Spirits failed to notice her, I doubt they could recognize us."

"Shock. Yuzuru didn't consider that information. No, Yuzuru didn't think of that logic at all. Wonder. As expected, Master Origami is observant."

Despite herself, Origami had to admit hearing Yuzuru praise her didn't sound bad at all.

"Observation. The Ones are dispersing ahead of us. Proposal. Should we move?"

At Yuzuru's statement, Origami nodded and together they both quickly took position near the escalators of the mall as soon as the other Ones had split up.

"That is Sonogami Rinne, I presume."

Origami was a little surprised at the Spirit's current form. It was vastly different than the one she saw a few hours ago, right after the school was over.

"Curious. That Sonogami Rinne, she looks very different from before. Praise. She is very beautiful… Yuzuru is impressed."

Yuzuru was clearly of the same thought process as her, judging by those words.

"…I think this is the second time I see a Spirit undergoing such a drastic physical change on the body through the invocation of the Astral Dress."

That realization bothered Origami a bit.

"Question. When was the first time?"

"…When I Inversed, apparently my hair also grew in length, from what I see in Ratatoskr's records."

Yuzuru snapped her neck to her direction, as if she was horrified by her answer.

"…Apology. Yuzuru hasn't noticed until Master Origami pointed it out. Yuzuru also apologizes for any ill memories Yuzuru brought up with her question."

Origami shook her head. "No, it is fine. I am the one who brought the topic up. I intended to share my observation with you."

Yuzuru bowed her head a bit. "Gratitude. Yuzuru is thankful for the piece of information. Hypothesis. Does Master Origami think the physical change on this Spirit is significant?"

"It is possible, and I can come up with a few theories if it is, but there are too little information and too few samples to draw any conclusion. For now, let us focus on our mission.

"Agreement. Let's prepare our cameras."

Quickly, Origami took out the camera she had always brought with her just in case she wanted to take Shido's photo.

It was around the same moment, another girl approached Sonogami Rinne on the bench, two cones of ice cream in her hand.

Origami narrowed her eyes. The dress and the hairstyle were different, and there was an eyepatch, but that was definitely-

"Tokisaki Kurumi…"

"Curious. Her appearance is also different."

Instantly, Origami understood why Kurumi had a different appearance. She had appeared often enough for both the AST and the DEM to recognize her on sight, after all.

"To cosplay a disguise… impressive."

Both her and Yuzuru kept silent. There was no need to speak anymore, they simply had to wait for the opportunity.

…Which came sooner than expected, as Kurumi seemed to be asking the other Spirit to take off her veil, which was obliged.

Reflexively, Origami inhaled a deep breath. Maximum concentration would be necessary for this.

Soon, Rinne's hand moved to take off the veil on her face-

"Kuh!?"

Crimson eyes awaited behind it.

Origami felt its gaze had physically pressured her entire body.

"W-what…?"

Her hands were shaking, she couldn't raise her camera to take a photo – no, her entire body was trembling.

Origami recognized this feeling. She had experienced it, many times. But… it was never this bad.

"What's happening…?"

Fear. Overwhelming fear. There was nothing else which could explain what she was experiencing.

"But… how…? How is she…"

"Whoa…! As expected, the beauty underneath that veil would be the elegant type to match her dress!"

Shido heard Miku's voice in front of him.

But his mind was completely overwhelmed.

Those beautiful, crimson eyes.

He had seen it before. Something told him.

Memory… a strong memory, was telling him.

Once again, his vision flickered.

What he saw was somewhere bright, bathed in light.

"Please die, Itsuka Shido."

His heart skipped a beat at those words.

"In order to repeat it all once more..."

It sounded apologetic. It didn't at all sound like a death threat.

"Until you can find your happiness..."

He saw Rinne approach him.

"[Paradise Lost]!"

Agony assaulted his body.

Suddenly, his strength was gone.

"Eh..."

He fell to the ground. His vision then blurred.

"Wh... what the..."

Everything went black.

How was the extended chapter? It was quite challenging, so share your thoughts in the reviews, please~

Thank you for following "Alternate Reincarnation" this far!