The next day, when his alarm clock woke him from sleep, Shidou was confused.

However, the first thing he remembered... was that he had other dates to attend to.

Indeed, that was the reason why his alarm clock had rung so early.

(... oh...)

While he accepted the thing peacefully (after all, it wasn't his first date), he remembered something else.

(...I love Kaguya. She loves me. And we... confessed...)

That meant that technically...they were now a couple. A genuine couple.

But that was a problem.

Because, in his situation, Shidou couldn't really afford to go out openly with one of the Spirits. He had to maintain an equality, an equivalent level of affection with the others...

However, carried away by his feelings, he had not thought about the was certain of how he felt about Kaguya, and the fact that she felt the same way about him filled him with happiness, but ...

(But... didn't I just cause a disaster?)

Shidou examined the situation, trying to remain calm.

Kaguya and he had come home together, but they of course didn't sleep in the same room.

Thus, they had not yet announced it to the others. He wasn't wearing an Incam during the date either, so unless Ratatoskr had spied on him, they didn't know about it either.

The Spirits had also made a pact of non-spying during the dates. So, theoretically, no one knew that he and Kaguya were dating.

On top of that, Shidou had a date with Kotori (who had won second place in the draw) in an hour.

(...do I still have to go? I found out that I love Kaguya, but... wouldn't it be disrespectful to cancel? Yes, actually, canceling to tell them 'sorry, I love Kaguya' would probably cause a spacequake that would engulf the entire Earth).

Shidou felt guilty.

Going on a date when he already loved someone... having already made "official" his relationship... was like cheating on Kaguya, while offering others an "empty" date since he had already made up his mind.

No, in fact, it was as if he was not a double timer but a quadruple timer. Something like that.

He had two choices.

He could either go on a date and tell Kotori that he loved Kaguya and that they had declared their feelings.

Or he could go on the date but pretend that nothing had happened. He would hide the truth and postpone the moment he'd had to reveal it.

Shidou could not decide which of these solutions was the best... or rather, the least worst.

Pressured by time, he decided to rely on his judgment during the date, according to Kotori's mood and attitude to make his decision.

While trying to calm his anguish and guilt, Shidou dressed in haste.

There was only one thing he didn't know, which would be decisive.

Kotori had also made her decision.

Her decision to tell her brother her feelings, her true feelings.

Not as a sister, not as a Spirit, not as commander of Ratatoskr... but as a woman.


Finally, Shidou arrived right on time at the place chosen by Kotori, in front of one of the biggest shopping malls in Tenguu City.

She was probably planning to go shopping, or something like that.

"Oh, hi, Shidou."

"Hi, Kotori... eh?"

Something immediately struck Shidou.

She was wearing her black ribbons.

When her ribbons were black, Kotori was in "commander mode".

She was acting more mature, more confident, but also mightier.

On the other hand, when she was wearing white ribbons, she was in "little sister mode". In this case, her behavior was more "cute", more innocent, more naive.

She had therefore decided to act as the commander for their date, at least for now. Shidou preferred that, to be honest.

If Kotori had picked up her little sister's ribbons... Shidou would have looked like an awful siscon in the eyes of everyone else.

Having a date with a little girl calling him "Onii-chan" would probably have resulted in his arrest by the police.

"Shidou, don't you have anything else to say to me?"

Kotori's voice was exasperated. She turned around, pointing insistently at her clothes.

Kotori wore an outfit that was very different from what Shidou was used to.

Usually she wore either her pyjamas at home, her schoolgirl uniform, or her Ratatoskr commander's uniform.

Today, she had jeans, a white shirt and a black jacket. It was a stylish outfit, but quite unusual for a little girl.

On the other hand, this outfit highlighted her red hair, which stood out all the more.

Kotori looked like a little manga delinquent: the kind of super handsome main character who would knock out gangs with her bare hands.

(Well, I have to admit she'd be able to do that, even if she would lack feminity...)

"I know you're thinking something harsh, baka Shidou!"

"Uarhghhhhhhhh?!"

At the same time, Kotori gave Shidou a kick in the stomach worthy of a fighting game move.

"Uarhghhhhhhhh? What's going on, Shidou? You can't even form words properly anymore?"

"Ko...Kotori..."

Shidou, holding his stomach, could hardly catch his breath.

"I think what you meant to say was: 'you look great, Kotori!' Don't you?"

"Err... yes, it's true... you look great, Kotori."

"Thank you, Shidou. Come on, hurry up. We have a date, right?"

"Ah... yes, we do..."

They entered the mall, but contrary to what Shidou had thought, Kotori did not go around the stores.

Apparently, she had a very specific target in mind, judging by the way she guided him through the alleys of the mall.

Shidou didn't even have time to window shop, and when he asked Kotori if they really had to go that fast, he received a Kotori Punch™ that silenced him.

They finally arrived in front of a...

"A... a bar?..."

"Yes."

They were in the food area of the mall, where various fast-food and restaurant were established.

Despite the early hour, they were open, but Kotori had guided Shidou to a bar, which looked rather suspicious.

With its wooden sign, vintage and dark interior, it looked like a yakuza's lair one would see in old dramas.

"Kotori, are you sure this is where you want to go for our date?"

Kotori glanced at him with an angry look.

"Yes. Come on, don't be a sissy and get in."

It was quite strange to see a little girl leading a high school student into a bar, even though most people were convinced that the high school student was actually pushing the girl inside.

In fact, the passers-by who saw them did contact security.

Later, following numerous reports and rumors about the incident, many posters advising girls not to follow strangers were posted in the mall.

As Kotori and Shidou entered the mall, the bartender gave them a bewildered look.

He was a tall man with a shaved head, wearing tinted glasses and a waiter's outfit. He looked like a mix between a yakuza and a butler.

The rest of the room was practically deserted, with only two other men drinking at one table.

In spite of its small size, surprising given the width of the front, the establishment was clean and well-kept.

The bartender put down the glass he was wiping, and put his hands on the bar, leaning towards the newcomers.

"Oi, brats. You don't belong there. Buzz off."

Shidou would have gladly obeyed, without even asking, but Kotori did not back down.

On the contrary, she leaned on the bar -on tiptoes, since she was a little too small to reach it normally-.

"Ha?"

The bartender leaned over as well, as if to intimidate her. His glasses slid down his nose, revealing his squinted eyes, even more frightening.

Kotori stared at him without flinching.

"Give me a strawberry milk."

"!"

The bartender's eyes widened.

(Kotoriiii, don't provoke him!)

Shidou screamed mentally. The only reason he didn't scream for good was that he was afraid of being executed if he did (by Kotori or the bartender).

However, against all odds, the tension suddenly subsided. The bartender no longer showed a hint of hostility.

Instead, he pushed his glasses back over his nose and lowered his voice.

"On the rocks?"

"Two. And an umbrella."

"I see. The monkey is in the banana field."

The bartender stood up and nodded at the bar's bathroom door.

Then he began to clean his glasses again without a word.

Kotori placed one bill on the counter, then signaled to Shidou to follow her.

(...what exactly just happened?...)

Shidou was confused.

When they arrived at the toilet door, Kotori knocked twice.

Immediately, an icy voice echoed like a whisper.

"What is the music of life?"

"Silence, my brother."

Kotori answered without hesitation.

A sound of a lock unlocking resounded, then the door swung on its hinges with a new murmur.

"Welcome home."

"What the..."

Shidou was stunned. His brain was struggling to process what had just happened.

Obviously, Kotori's previous exchange with the bartender was some kind of code.

Having identified him, the bartender had indicated a door that required a password to open.

This led to the following question...

(Kotori, what are you involved in?!)

Shidou looked at his little sister with a worried look.

Kotori paid no attention and crossed the doorway. After a moment of hesitation, Shidou followed her.

The door closed with a thud behind them, and the locks slammed.

Shidou could not believe his eyes.

A room three times the size of the bar they had just left stretched out before him.

It looked like some kind of market: multiple stalls were set up, separated by storage boxes and showcases.

The room was very clean, however, lit by numerous lamps on the walls. Red carpets marked out the aisles between the stalls, and loudspeakers played vintage background music.

Many people, who did not look like model citizens, walked among the booths.

It was probably some kind of black market, reserved for people living in the shadows. In any case, that was clearly the impression it gave.

"Oooh! Kotori-sama!"

"Seriously? Is that her?!"

"Kotori-sama!"

The welcome they received (well, Kotori received) was radically different from the one the bartender had given them.

Several men, all dressed in black suits and wearing various gold jewels, like godfathers, walked towards Kotori with broad smiles.

Shidou was completely lost.

"Kotori-sama?..."

Kotori answered him with a small smile.

She addressed one of the men.

"Oi, Bash. Is the bartender a new one? He treated me rather rudely."

"Ah... my apologies! Yes, he was hired last week! Please forgive him!"

The man named Bash, a colossus whose costume threatened to crack under his muscles, immediately bowed down, apologizing.

(Kotori is really incredible...)

Shidou, who remained silent, could not help but admire his sister's authority over such people.

He did not know what she had done to gain their respect and even submission, but perhaps he preferred not to know.

Kotori nodded slowly.

"It will be okay this time. Well, aside from that... do you have any good stuff?"

The atmosphere changed completely.

Bash raised his head, a glint in his eye, a smile on his face.

"Of course... first choice. I guarantee you'll reach heavens with it."

"Oh... I'll judge for myself. Do you have a sample?"

"Of course..."

The colossus reached into his pocket with one hand and pulled out a bag.

"Ko-Kotori?! Stop it!"

It was too much for Shidou. Even though he was terrified of this place, there was no way he would let his little sister touch drugs.

Because, it had to be drugs, right?

A hidden market, their shady looks, their behavior...

"Huh?"

Not only Kotori, but the other men gathered around them gave him a puzzled look.

"Eh?"

It was Shidou's turn to be surprised by their reaction. There was not an ounce of aggressiveness in their attitude, only astonishment.

Shidou looked at the bag that the man had just handed to Kotori.

It contained...

"A... lollipop?..."

Yes. It was clearly a lollipop.

"It's not just any lollipop, Shidou. It's a limited-edition Matcha Chupa-Chups."

"...this taste exists?"

"Pff, neophyte..."

"Kotori-sama, did you bring an ignare here?"

A chorus of negative comments immediately fell on Shidou.

Shidou looked around the booths, and on closer inspection, he noticed that they were all offering all kinds of sweets.

It looked a bit like a candy fair, except that the customers were not children but yakuzas and criminals.

Shidou had thought he was on a black market for drugs and weapons, but the reality was quite different.

"...Kotori, what is this place?..."

Kotori, who was busy tasting her matcha-limited super lollipop, raised her eyebrows.

"Oh? Didn't I tell you? I could swear ... it's simple, it's where us people from the dark side come to get their candies."

"What?..."

Everything pointed to the fact that Kotori was telling the truth, yet Shidou had difficulty accepting it.

"But why?..."

"Hm? That's simple. There are many sweets that come from abroad that are forbidden or too expensive to obtain. This kind of place exists to make up for that."

"But they're all..."

"People who don't necessarily work legally, yes. But they, too, have the right to buy sweets, and if they ever walked into a candy store, the manager would probably call the police, right?"

Shidou imagined yakuzas entering a candy store and had to admit that Kotori was right.

"It's not just them. There are also high-ranking police officers who pass through here, or JSDF officials, whose reputations would be ruined if they were seen in a candy store. Of course, they avoid coming on the same days to avoid conflicts..."

Kotori shrugged.

"None of that matters here. Only our love for sweets unites us. Whether you are a policeman or a crook, everyone has the right to taste sweets!"

"WELL SAID!"

"BANZAI!"

"SASUGA KOTORI-SAMA!"

Bash and the others began to sing Kotori's praises, as if she were the Messiah.

Shidou was amazed at the respect they had for her, but he changed his mind. Kotori in command mode was as scary as she was cool...

His discomfort gradually dissipated. Shidou realized that what had troubled him so much was the unknown, what he didn't know about this place.

He understood, and to some extent agreed with what Kotori had said.

Society had forced all these people to gather here to enjoy simple and pleasant pleasures.

Judging them for who they were and what they did was wrong. So Shidou decided to put aside his prejudices.

For the first time since he had arrived, Shidou smiled at Kotori.

"Kotori."

"Hmm?"

Kotori had just finished the sample that Bash had given her and seemed quite satisfied.

"Sorry... I'm a novice here. Can you show me around?"

"!... With pleasure!"


It was an original but fun experience for Shidou. When he was a child, he used to go to candy stores, but he had long lost that habit.

Kotori introduced him to many sweets that could not be found on the market, and he tasted some of them (as he didn't like eating between the meals).

On the other hand, he had to stop Kotori who insisted on trying everything she found interesting.

The salesmen, who were clearly smugglers, were surprisingly kind and accommodating.

Shidou had the impression that there was a sweet magic there, literally. A passion united these people, transcending all social barriers.

Finally, Kotori set her sights on a full container of limited edition lollipops. When Shidou saw the bill, he almost choked.

Luckily, Kotori paid with a special card provided by Ratatoskr. Shidou couldn't help but send a prayer of thanks to the organization.

(Nevertheless... I wonder if it is normal for them that Kotori spends so much on sweets? Is it part of her salary, or part of a professional expenses budget?...)

Shidou was pondering about that while Kotori was calling her subordinates to pick up her order later.

Shidou was worried about his sister's dental health, but she assured him that all her lollipops were sugar-free.

"Anyway, my Spirit powers protect me from any damage, internal or external, Shidou."

"Yes, but I wish you wouldn't rely on Camael to cure a cavity..."

Moments later, they came out of the hidden room and the bar.

Apparently, the bartender had received a serious lecture in the meantime, as he saluted the siblings with a formal posture when they left the place.

However, as soon as they were out...

"Come on, Onii-chan! Let's eat!"

"Eh?"

Without Shidou noticing, Kotori had taken off her commander's ribbons and put on her little sister's ribbons.

The transformation was instantaneous and so sudden that it took Shidou by surprise.

"Err...Of course... do you have a place in mind?"

Shidou wasn't sure whether, since Kotori was behaving like his cute little sister, he should take the lead.

She obviously had a plan, so he preferred to ask her opinion. After all, they were already in the food court of the mall.

"Mmh... here!"

Kotori held out her finger like a child would, pointing at a well-known family restaurant franchise: Gasuta.

"Ah... okay."

Shidou did not protest. He, too, loved the simple but delicious food they served.

Shidou was much more interested in "family" cuisine than in fast food and the like. Perhaps this was because he himself cooked many traditional dishes.

They entered the Gasuta restaurant, greeted by the waitresses, and were quickly led to a table. Despite the fact that the restaurant was located inside a shopping mall, the place was bright and there was a warm atmosphere.

Kotori ordered an omurice, while Shidou chose a curry dish. They waited quite a long time, compared to the few customers in the establishment at that time, but eventually enjoyed their meal.

For dessert, Kotori ordered an ice cream sundae and Shidou an apple tart, both of which proved to be delicious. The waitress informed them that all their desserts were homemade.

This partially explained why the waiting time was so long... While 100% homemade had its charm and appeal, it considerably lengthened the preparation time.

"Waaah, Onii-chan... it was great!"

"I'm glad you liked it, Kotori. Even though I must admit that I enjoyed it too..."

Kotori and Shidou were so full that they smiled stupidly. Despite their hectic daily life, they both felt a deep affection for each other.

"Huhu... I did well to carry out a reconnaissance in advance..."

"Heh?"

"Nothing, Onii-chan! Ugh... I have to be careful not to step out of character..."

"…"

Shidou acted as if he didn't hear anything.

Finally, they went to the cashier to settle the bill. Kotori wanted to pay, however, in order not to make her brother look cheap, she played the role of the little sister who had been given the credit card.

The waitress who cashed in was a little surprised to see siblings with a World Elite Mastercard.

While she was manipulating her touch screen, she apologized repeatedly, bowing each time.

"I am sincerely sorry for the wait... two of our cooking staff are absent, including the chef and his sous chef, so service is greatly slowed down. I would like to assure you that this is not representative of the quality of service that we wish to provide..."

"Err, it's okay..."

Shidou and Kotori were uncomfortable and almost felt guilty.

However, they could see that she was right. The way the waitresses were tense, in a hurry, the impatience of some customers was palpable.

They didn't have a direct view of the kitchens, but both of them suspected that there had to be a big commotion.

After all, they had already experienced the same thing: in order to feed all the Spirits who came to their homes, it was not uncommon for Kotori to give Shidou a hand.

In fact, they cooked together quite often, with more than a dozen "customers" to satisfy (not counting Tohka who ate for five).

Shidou and Kotori exchanged glances.

"Kotori... are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think so, Onii-chan."

They turned to the waitress.

"Let us help you in the kitchen."

"...eh?"

The waitress, who was five years older than Shidou, gave them a bewildered look.

It wasn't every day that a high school student and his little sister, who could barely reach the counter, offered to cook in a restaurant.

"Huuh... I mean... that's very nice of you, but... our restaurants... well, I mean, only people with the right qualifications..."

The girl tried her best to politely refuse their offer.

Understandably, a restaurant chain, especially one as famous as Gasuta, could not hire just anyone, even if they lacked staff.

"Ahh... Onii-chan, show her."

"Kotori... you know I don't like that..."

"Liar. If you didn't, you wouldn't keep them on you."

"Uuhh..."

Shidou sighed, then with a gesture, opened his jacket to show the inside to the waitress.

"What... that's... no, impossible?! These are... Five stars Badges ?!"

On the lining of Shidou's jacket, eight badges were pinned.

"All eight... but... that means..."

Next to him, Kotori nodded his head.

"As you probably know, each of Japan's eight largest prefectures is home to a five-star restaurant serving traditional cuisine. The particularity of these restaurants is that they hold a cooking competition every month. Challengers must prepare a dish from the restaurant's menu, and are then judged by the chefs. If they succeed, they receive a badge, attesting to their mastery of that particular dish."

Each of the badges had a different shape, depending on the prefecture, but they all bore the name of its original restaurant, printed in a small font. A certificate was also given, but of course Shidoud didn't carry them with him.

These eight restaurants were called the Eight Gyms. Professional chefs considered that their restaurants were also used to hone their skills, like gymnasiums.

"It's infinitely rare for someone to even get a badge... after all, it's the equivalent of being able to cook a particular dish to the level of a starred chef. But, my Onii-chan managed to get all eight!"

"It's... it's impossible..."

" It's not. It is said that anyone who could acquire all eight badges could open their own familyor traditional restaurant."

The waitress watched the badges with round eyes, as if hypnotized.

"Yes... that's right..."

"So I think my Onii-chan has more than adequate qualifications to help you, right? You should also know that I was his assistant during all his trials!"

Kotori struck the final blow by puffing out her chest, while the waitress stepped back, as if struck by lightning.

Like most of the employees, she was very strict about the rules.

There was no doubt that under normal circumstances she would have politely refused.

This time, however, they were in a delicate situation, and a glimmer of hope had just emerged.

"Excuse me... could you wait a moment, please?"

She retreated into the kitchen. Kotori and Shidou heard a burst of voices, and a few seconds later the waitress returned, accompanied by a cook.

The cook seemed irritated, panicked, but also the one who was in charge in the absence of his colleagues.

He wasted no time and spoke directly to Shidou. Apparently, his colleague had briefed him on the situation.

"Hello. What is your name, please?"

"Itsuka Shidou."

The cook took out a small notebook that he kept under his apron and began to flip through it.

Kotori tilted her head and saw that it was a book listing those who had managed to obtain one or more badges.

The number of badges they had, their characteristics and the date they obtained them were noted in the book.

It was a quick and easy way to verify the claims of someone claiming to have them (of course, an ID could be requested).

In less than a minute, the cook found Shidou's name (also because no one else had managed to get all eight badges).

"Itsuka... Shidou..."

He opened his eyes: no matter what he read in his book, he began to shiver.

He slowly looked up and looked at Shidou.

"Endless Eight..."

This was the title Shidou had received after earning her eighth badge.

"Err... it's been a long time since I've been called that..."

Shidou scratched his cheek, clearly embarrassed, while Kotori crossed her arms with pride, like a master whose disciple had just been complimented.

"So, uh... if you want a little help..."

Shidou, feeling that they had clearly strayed from the subject, tried to get the conversation back on track.

Suddenly...

The cook dived to the ground, in a splendid dogeza.

"PLEASE! MAKE ME YOUR DISCIPLE!"

"Eh?"

"PLEASE! AGREE TO BECOME MY MASTER AND SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH ME!"

"Uh... that's not really why..."

Shidou was completely unprepared. He had apparently underestimated his own reputation.

In the end, it was Kotori who stepped in.

"We don't have time for this. You have customers to serve. Here's what I propose: Shidou and I will help you. He will take charge of the kitchen, and you will be able to observe and learn from him at your leisure during this time. Deal?"

"Kotori?"

Kotori had just changed ribbons again, and switched to commander mode.

The cook, still groveling, raised his head.

"OOooh! Thank you very much!"

Kotori turned to Shidou with an angelic smile.

"Come on, Onii-chan! Let's get to work!"

"Kotori... you should stop switching personalities so quickly..."


Shidou took 15 minutes to inspect the restaurant's kitchen.

He contrasted strangely with the rest of the cooks, who were running out of breath in the stifling atmosphere of the room.

He remained calm, inspecting the cold room, the stock of ingredients, the utensils, the cleanliness of the equipment. Shidou, as an experienced cook, knew that it was best to know your surroundings before you went into battle.

He also examined the menu and quickly gauged the skills of the other commis and cooks. He had to work with them, not for them: to do so, he had to know what they were capable of.

Meanwhile, however, the situation was getting worse in the hall and the kitchen.

Orders were piling up on the counter, the waitresses were getting more and more panicked, customers were getting more and more impatient.

It was a classic chain reaction: since it was also the rush hour, the situation was getting more and more serious by the minute.

It was even worse for the employees of this restaurant, who were used to a well set, peaceful routine.

Simply put, they weren't used to deal with the unexpected.

"Where are the orders for tables five, twelve and twenty-three?!"

"What?! Five left two minutes ago!"

"Aaaah! She was mistakenly served at table fifteen!"

"Oi! More curry!"

"I'm preparing the cabbage!"

"Desserts?! Where are the desserts?!"

"They should have been prepared ahead of time!"

"The customers at table three are gone!"

"Damn it! I just finished their order!"

"Send it to table thirty!"

"But they didn't order that!"

"Aaaaah!"

Everyone was getting louder and louder, and they felt it was only a matter of minutes before the dam broke.

In the middle of it all, a boy and his little sister came out of the locker room dressed in white aprons. This impromptu arrival seemed to stop time.

Everyone turned to the new arrivals.

The boy was wearing a hachimaki.

They could read his title on it: ENDLESS EIGHT in katakana.

"Let's go."

After a murmur to himself, Shidou started moving, followed by Kotori who had also put on an apron too large for her.

With a determined expression on his face, it seemed to multiply.

And suddenly...

Shidou prepared the missing ingredients, without making too much or too little, so that he always had enough to start a dish when an order arrived.

Shidou managed the cooking of the dishes, so that they were ready at the right time so that the waitresses could pick them up as soon as they were placed on the counter.

Shidou cleared the worktops of dirty plates, to free up space and save time for the dishwashers, optimizing their space.

Shidou prepared the plates before they left, making final adjustments and checks.

Shidou tasted the sauces and other accompaniments, adjusting them if necessary and preparing the proper portions.

Shidou prepared the desserts, from making the cake dough to measuring out the scoops of ice cream in sundaes.

Shidou gave clear and precise orders when an order arrived, so that it would be processed in the order of priority.

Shidou would even go out and serve a dish himself when the waitresses were too busy, while pointing out customers waiting to order.

He worked in perfect harmony with Kotori, who completed his tasks, as if they coordinated and shared a mental bond.

But in the end, Shidou fulfilled almost every existing role in a kitchen: from chef to sauce chef, pastry chef to commis, waiter to head waiter.

Shidou ran a restaurant all by himself.

"Endless Eight..."

One of the staff members whispered Shidou's title.

Shidou's title did not come only from the eight badges he had acquired in the various restaurants.

It also came from his ability to fill more than eight roles simultaneously, which normally required one person each, on his own.

Seeing him in eight places at once struck the other employees with immeasurable respect, but also with a sense of fear in the face of such talent.

Later, when one of the employees had the presence to film the scene, Shidou's skill would become known in the culinary world as the Eighth Shadow Step Symphony.

But back to the present, thanks to his efforts and those of Kotori, the Gasuta was getting back on track.

There were no more late orders, the flow was steady despite the crowds, the customers were delighted (it was said that their clothes exploded when they tasted the food) and the waitresses were smiling again.

Even better, the service was extremely fast thanks to Shidou, and the dishes were even better than usual.

Customers started tweeting about the Gasuta. As it was lunch time, everyone who was next door came to eat there, and within an hour, it was making a buzz.

An employee then had the idea of filming the interior of their kitchen with his smartphone and transmitting it to the room's screen, so that customers waiting for their meal and those waiting in line could see Shidou & Kotori in action.

Of course, this caused a delirious enthusiasm among the customers: not only were they offered entertainment while they were waiting, but they could also see the preparation of their dish.

The employees also felt that they were having a unique experience, one that they would later be able to tell their children and grandchildren about.

The harmony between Shidou and Kotori was perfect.

"Onii-chan! Four is ready!"

"I'm sending it! Oh, Kotori, prepare the fish for this one!"

"I'm already on it!"

"You're perfect!"

It looked like the siblings were dancing in the kitchen. A graceful waltz, a dance they led, juggling with the ingredients, the dishes.

They crossed each other without ever bumping or getting in their respective way, each of their gestures complementing the other.

"The rice is ready, Kotori!"

"Thank you, Onii-chan! I'm sending the curry!"

"Warm the vegetables, serve in thirty seconds!"

"Yes!"

The other cooks were working harder so that their efforts would not be wasted, and so that they could live up to their responsibilities.

However, as they watched Shidou and Kotori, they realized that...

"...are they smiling?"

"It seems..."

Despite the intensity of their fight, despite their concentration, Shidou and Kotori were smiling.

They were having a great time, and were smiling without realizing it.

It was fun. It was as simple as that.

It was fun for them to cook together, to act together, to succeed together.

So they were smiling. They were subconsciously proclaiming their joy, their fun to the rest of the world.

This image would remain engraved in the hearts of the other Gasuta employees but also of the customers who watched them on the room's screen.

Shidou even managed to solve unexpected issues.

"Endless Eight! We're out of applesauce for the next batch of apple pie!"

One of the pastry chefs was literally in a panic.

Apple pie was the dessert of the day, and with the rush, the most popular.

The difference with most restaurant pies was that here they combined two layers: one of applesauce and one of apple slices (most restaurants only made one layer of apple slices).

This gave extra taste and sweetness, but lengthened the preparation.

"Can't we just make some more?"

"Impossible! Our stock of apples is only enough for the dressing and the top layer!"

"Hmm..."

Shidou examined his options in seconds.

They could go to the nearest supermarket and buy applesauce. But there were several buts.

First, the billboard for the daily special announced homemade applesauce. Anyone could recognize a supermarket applesauce, it would seriously damage their image.

Second, even if they did, it would take time to make such purchases, and would completely break their rhythm.

In order to anticipate the next orders, they would have to start preparing the next pies now.

They could also announce that they were out of apple pie, but that was really the last resort.

Shidou turned to the pastry chef.

"If we use it only for the top layer... will we have enough apples for the rest of the service?"

The man looked puzzled.

"Uh, yes..."

"Do we have plenty of fresh cream and eggs?"

"Yes, we do!"

"Perfect. Let's slightly change the dessert of the day."

"Huh?!"

Shidou smiled.

"It's no longer an apple pie, but a French Norman pie. To make it simple, we replace the applesauce with a mixture of eggs, sugar and fresh cream: the top layer of apples remains. It is a French variation of the apple pie."

"Oooh!"

"Come on, let's get to work!Kotori, can you ask someone to do the modification on the billboard?"

"Right away!"

The substitute proposed by Shidou was a huge success, to the point that it later became the restaurant's flagship dessert.

LINE

Finally, once the rush hour over, the lunch service finished and the kitchen thoroughly cleaned, Shidou and Kotori took their leave.

They had just completed a sort of impromptu meeting to give advice to the restaurant employees on how to better manage this kind of unexpected event.

Since the evening service was less intense, they would normally be okay.

Nevertheless, thanks to the siblings, the lunch turnover had exploded, and the restaurant had benefited from a lot of advertising.

"MASTER! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

"THANK YOU, MASTER !"

"ENDLESS EIGHT! MAY THE GODS WATCH OVER YOU!"

"Err... it wasn't much."

Shidou said so while taking off his hachimaki.

The siblings, who had already taken off their aprons, were standing on the threshold of the restaurant, greeted by all the restaurant staff (which caught eyes in the mall's gallery).

Apparently, most of the cooks now seemed to regard Shidou as their master and were bowing to him.

Shidou always found it difficult to accept the compliments he was given, and he felt that he had only helped out and did not deserve the praise.

"Don't be shy, Shidou."

Kotori (again in command mode) gave her brother an ironic smile.

Shidou smiled back at her, and then he turned to the staff of the restaurant.

"I mean... thank you all. I had a great time... so if I could help you, even just a little, I'm glad. Thank you for welcoming us."

"WOOOOH! MASTER! THIS IS TOO MUCH HONOR!"

" HE' S NOT A MASTER... HE IS A SAINT! A GOD!"

"GOD! THANK YOU!"

"THANK YOU!"

"COME BACK WHENEVER YOU WANT, GOD!"

While Shidou's words were both sincere and reassuring, they had the effect of making his audience prostrate in front of such kindness.

It took Shidou and Kotori a good ten minutes to calm them down, before they could leave.

One of them convinced Shidou to take a souvenir photo with them, which was then framed and displayed in the kitchen like a relic.

Kotori and Shidou were walking quietly, enthusiastically recalling their experience.

"Wow... that was something, wasn't it?"

"Yes... even though the way they idolized you made me think of an otaku bunch..."

"You're a bit tough, Kotori..."

"Heh. By the way, Shidou..."

Kotori looked a little embarrassed.

"I know we're both pretty busy, but ... would you like to come back here from time to time? Just the two of us, I mean... I had a lot of fun today, so..."

Kotori wasn't especially a fan of cooking. But cooking with Shidou made her happy.

It was the kind of activity that was just normal, not especially fun for her alone, but she enjoyed doing it with someone. Someone she loved.

"!... Of course!"

"Thank you, Onii...erm. Shidou."

Kotori quietly clenched her fist as a sign of victory.

In her date plan, Kotori had not foreseen this event.

She had followed the flow, and was happy to have done so; it had allowed her to unlock some time alone with Shidou in the future.

It took several minutes before she remembered that she had to follow the rest of the schedule.

"Ah, Shidou... This way."

Kotori guided Shidou through the streets to a natural park, which was free to enter.

Tenguu City was a high-tech city, but had been careful to leave several green spaces like this one.

In this case, the park reproduced quite well traditional Japanese gardens, relaxing, far away from the noise of the city center.

It was a very popular place for couples on weekends.

As it was mid-afternoon, the place was quiet, so much so that Kotori and Shidou had the impression to move in a different world.

They walked in silence for about ten minutes, without saying a word, just enjoying each other and the relaxing atmosphere of the place.

At the bend in the road, they found themselves surrounded by fields of blue flowers. Blue roses, to be exact.

"Wow... it's beautiful..."

"Right?"

Shidou got lost in contemplation of this magical, unreal vision.

Sometimes, small gusts of wind raised bursts of petals, which twirled freely and got lost in this blue universe.

Shidou, intrigued, walked up to an information board at the edge of the path describing the variety of the flower.

"Blue...Wish? This is the first time I've heard of it."

He continued reading.

"Oh..."

Apparently the Blue Wishes were blue roses. But their existence was a mystery.

In fact, fields of these flowers had appeared thirty years ago, without anyone knowing how or why.

Scientists had analyzed them and had concluded that they were indeed roses... with the only difference being that they were blue.

Their color was beautiful, they did not damage the ecosystem and did not present any danger, so people began to cultivate them in the same way.

"Thirty years ago, huh?... about the same time as the first spacequakes... I wonder if it's a coincidence."

Yet, when Shidou saw them, he felt nostalgic.

For a fraction of a second, a scene played out before her eyes: a smiling girl holding out a blue rose that before that was red.

"Huh?..."

The scene disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Shidou doubted for a moment what he had seen, but...

"It's funny. These roses are about the same color as your hair, Shidou."

Kotori stood behind him.

"Ah... that's right."

Kotori was right, the deep blue of the roses was reminiscent of the color of Shidou's hair, or her other little sister, Mana.

Shidou turned and smiled at Kotori.

"It really is a wonderful place... thank you, Kotori."

"...yes, it is..."

Kotori seemed to hesitate.

Then she decided to continue.

She wanted to confess her feelings to Shidou.

All her feelings.

She had thought it over carefully, and she had come to the conclusion that if she didn't confide in him what was in her heart, she would be a coward.

"This is one of the things I want to protect. I want to protect the Spirits, the citizens, and places like this."

She was probably talking about her duty as a commander. Despite her young age, Kotori had gone through many hardships, at least as much as Shidou, during their adventures.

"...that's also why I have to send you to 'fight', Shidou."

Kotori's voice became a whisper.

"It wasn't enough for me to put you in danger when you sealed me in... I also had to put you in the front line..."

"Kotori. Stop."

Shidou could see that his sister was plagued by guilt. But...

"We have already talked about this, and I will repeat it to you as many times as necessary, Kotori. I'm glad I was able to save you and the others, no matter the cost. Please don't blame yourself for that."

"That's easy for you to say!"

Kotori's rebuttal took Shidou by surprise.

He did not expect such a reaction from her.

"I know that you are sincere... but that's exactly why it's hard for me... Shidou, you don't mind putting yourself in danger. You're almost willing to do it... sometimes I think you're suicidal..."

"Err..."

"So put yourself in my shoes. My duty... my reason... and even you... all of you tell me that I am right to send you to fight to save the Spirits. But I..."

Kotori clenched her fists, trembling with emotion.

"When I see my idiot big brother get hurt badly... every time it happens... when I hear you, see you suffer without being able to do anything... every time, I wonder why I'm sitting there sending you to be butchered !"

"Kotori..."

"You tell me not to worry... that you accept it... but in my situation, could you accept it?! Could you not blame yourself?!"

Kotori was shouting now. Her voice, carrying her feelings, broke the silence of the field of roses.

Her scarlet eyes reflected the intensity of her anger, the extent of her sadness, the frustration at her powerlessness.

"If you saw me take a bullet in my heart, swim in my own blood... if you saw me go through a whirlwind of ice, or a hurricane of cutting blades of air... If you saw me being pierced by a sword, or enter a deadly whirlwind of reiryoku... Or, be overcome by my powers and suffer agony... would you be able to not blame yourself?!"

Shidou shuddered, as if he had just received an electric shock.

Kotori had just mentioned only situations... things that had happened to Shidou.

She remembered every time he had been in danger, every time he had been hurt.

Shidou finally answered.

"...no... I couldn't... how could I..."

It was the only possible answer, after all. Just imaging this happening to Kotori because of him...

Logic, reason, duty, loyalty... what were these things in the face of the suffering of a loved one ?

All these things could motivate an action, but would never be enough to console oneself afterwards.

"The worst thing... is that there were times when a little voice was whispering to me: 'everything is fine. Shidou can heal,' as if that justified my brother's suffering! As if that was enough to make me ignore it!"

Kotori breathed heavily. She still wore her commander's ribbons, but she seemed to have forgotten them.

When she spoke again, her voice was broken.

"...so don't ask me the impossible, Shidou. Don't ask me not to blame me for making my beloved brother suffer... for making the man I love suffer."

"!..."

Kotori raised her head, looking at Shidou in the eyes.

Then, slowly, she took off her ribbons, letting her beautiful red hair flow.

"If I suffer so much, when you are hurt... it's because I love you. I love you as an older brother... but I also love you as a man."

Kotori's face was slightly red with embarrassment, but serious; her voice was composed.

She was only expressing a simple truth, her feelings.

"Is it so abnormal for someone not to want to hurt the one they love?"

"…"

Shidou was too stunned to speak.

He had trouble understanding what was going on. He had always seen Kotori... as his sister, regardless of the fact that they were not related by blood.

Hearing her express her guilt came as a great shock to him... but when Kotori's "confession" followed, a multitude of contrary feelings overwhelmed him.

Perhaps he had misheard? Maybe his siscon brain was playing tricks on him?

However, Kotori seemed to read the confusion in his eyes.

She sighed lightly at having such a dense brother, before taking a breath.

"Shidou... I love you. Not as a little sister... not as a Spirit, or commander of Ratatoskr... I love you, as a woman loves a man. No... I have always loved you."

Kotori's gentle voice, full of tenderness and love for him, seemed to awaken Shidou.

While a thousand questions were swirling in his mind, strangely, he suddenly understood the true meaning behind Kotori's previous gesture.

If she had taken off her ribbons... it was to free herself from her own "limits".

Her ribbons meant that she was either Shidou's little sister, the Spirit Efreet or Ratatoskr's commander.

By taking them off... she was none of them.

She was just... Itsuka Kotori.

A simple girl... expressing her feelings to the one she loved.

And now...

Kotori was waiting.

She was waiting for Shidou's answer.

At that very moment, fear was seizing Kotori, in spite of all the courage she had gathered to confess everything she felt to her brother.

Kotori and Shidou were not related by blood. In fact, their relationship was legally, "biologically" possible.

They were legally part of the same family, but their relationship would not be strictly speaking incestuous.

However...

There was no doubt that Shidou, until now, considered her as his little sister.

He did not see her as a Spirit either, but as his precious family.

The question was: was there any chance, however slim, that he could consider her as a woman... and reassess his feelings about her?

Even if it was only a small chance... Did Shidou feel a different kind of love for her?

Or was there a chance that his feelings, whatever they were, might one day blossom into something else?

And even if there was... could he overcome his doubts, his hesitations?

Kotori didn't know.

Yet that was not what frightened her. What she was afraid of was what would happen to their relationship if he rejected her.

By doing so, Kotori was certain that their relationship would never be the same again.

How could it be, after that?

Someone once said that human relationships were similar to chemistry.

If there was a reaction between them, the two would be transformed...

And Kotori waited for Shidou's reaction.

When he finally spoke, his voice was strangely neutral, as if devoid of emotion.

"Kotori... are these your feelings?..."

Shidou's answer was a question.

A silly question, from Kotori's point of view... but she knew that if she got carried away, the present moment would not return.

"Yes. That's what I feel... that's what I think. From the bottom of my heart."

"I see..."

Shidou closed his eyes.

"Kotori... forgive me. Forgive me, for worrying you and not understanding what you were going through all this time..."

Shidou's apology was sincere. He regretted not having sensed the depth of Kotori's guilt earlier.

He blamed himself for having had the arrogance to believe that telling her not to blame herself was enough to settle things.

And most of all, he regretted not having understood earlier how his sister felt about him.

Shidou could hardly imagine how Kotori had suffered, torn between her reason, duty, emotions, and a brother who did not realize that she loved him differently.

Yet, to his astonishment, Kotori's confession did not surprise him that much.

It was the same feeling as when one forgot the name of a song, or something they had known: when the answer was revealed, they sighed or thought "but of course...".

That was pretty much how Shidou felt. He knew it, without knowing it.

No, to be exact, his heart knew it, but his brain didn't.

He calmly welcomed everything that Kotori's confession implied.

(Kotori is seeing me as her big brother... and as the man she loves.)

It was a fact.

(And me ... how do I see Kotori? ...)

When Shidou asked himself this question, he realized that upon serious consideration, it was not so easy to answer.

Kotori meant a lot to him.

She was his little sister, the one who had supported him during the darkest years of his life.

She was the one who helped him save the Spirits from their loneliness.

She motivated him, sometimes harshly, but for his own good, while trying to protect him.

Shidou loved the simple moments of daily life that he spent with Kotori, but also the incredible situations in which she sometimes put him in.

He had realized this, but Kotori had grown up. She wasn't just his cute and kind little sister, nor was she Ratatoskr's commander: she had her own personality.

Like a flame, Kotori was sometimes proud, sometimes calm.

She fluctuated, changed, but in the end, the heat she radiated was incredibly gentle.

Yes, Kotori's warmth was very important to him.

Shidou opened his mouth again, looking for words.

"Me... I love you as my family."

Kotori felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart.

She looked down.

"...I see..."

"But..."

Surprised, Kotori stared at Shidou again.

He seemed shy, almost... flustered.

"I... I feel like there's something else going on. What you told me... I don't know. I feel like part of me was expecting it. And was relieved to have confirmation of it..."

Shidou stammered, uncertain.

" Now I know... how you feel about me, Kotori. And as strange, as disgusting as it may sound coming from your brother... I think, part of me is happy about it."

"!"

"I don't know, if it is possible. I don't even know if it's real, but... I still feel like... I feel... something different for you."

Shidou finally finished his sentence.

It had required courage and determination worthy of praise.

Relationships between brothers and sisters, even if they were not related by blood, were condemned almost everywhere, regardless of country, religion, or culture.

And for those concerned, this notion of "evil" was engraved even more deeply.

Yet Shidou had disregarded all this.

He had searched deep inside himself for his true feelings in order to be as honest as Kotori had been.

"I understand... thank you, Shidou."

Kotori nodded slowly.

Then, without warning...

"Hmm?!"

Kotori grabbed Shidou's head, drew him to her, and kissed him.

The contact of her lips on his made Shidou react instinctively.

Kotori and Shidou didn't exchange a little seal kiss, but a real adult kiss this time.

Their first.

"Mmmh...ah..."

When Kotori released him, she plunged her fiery gaze into Shidou's, while licking her lips mischievously.

"Hey, Shidou... did your heart go doki?"

"...Yes."

Shidou blushed, but admitted defeat.

"Hehe... so if it's true... then there's hope for me."

And despite this twisted logic, Shidou found nothing wrong with it.

He himself was not sure.

But perhaps...

Perhaps, he loved Kotori, as a woman.

No, not maybe.

As the wind swept across the field of roses, and his sister's loving and confident gaze pierced through it, Shidou was certain.

Even if it meant being called a siscon, a monster...

Itsuka Shidou loved his sister, Itsuka Kotori.

And thus, Shidou's second date concluded.


A/N

Kotori's date!

To be honest, I had to use a wheel of names to draw the next date as I couldn't decide so imouto was the winner!...which proved to be the hardest. Kotori and Shidou usual interactions are usually "commander/servant" and "sister/brother" so it was not easy to find ideas.

And there is also the "incest" stuff... Honestly, I have nothing against incest if the feelings are there. But society isn't that convenient...

Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter (and enjoyed/found the references?). Please let me know if that's the case.