A/N
Kurumi has always been different, so I also wanted this chapter to be different.
It proved to be a big pain but I hope you will still like it!
Another day, another date.
Shidou felt like one of those cheesy TV show characters, where several protagonists were competing for someone, where one date followed another.
(I have to say that's kind of what's going on here... except that there's no limit to who can win!)
Today, however, Shidou was more serene.
It was Kurumi's turn, and she seemed to have a less busy schedule than the others.
As a proof, she had given him an appointment at the end of the morning, and had warned him that they would be back at the end of the afternoon at the latest.
Shidou had therefore been able to enjoy a much-needed sleep in.
While brushing his teeth, he immersed himself in his memories.
Kurumi, nicknamed the Worst Spirit, had always been difficult to get close to: not only because she was known to have slaughtered more than ten thousand humans, but also because her character was confusing to say the least.
She claimed that she wanted to devour Shidou in order to get his reiryoku, but she regularly helped them in their fights against DEM or the forces they were facing.
She was not an ally, because of her unpredictable temperament, but she was not an enemy: this is how Shidou had long perceived her.
She had her own goal: to accumulate enough energy to go back in time and kill Phantom, the First Spirit.
However, after the decisive battle against DEM, to which she had greatly contributed, Kurumi had "surrendered".
She agreed to let Shidou seal her powers and entrusted him with the rest... while embarrassedly admitting that he could have sealed her a long time ago.
Kurumi had confessed to Shidou that fighting alongside him had made her finally accept what had happened, and that she wanted to move on.
It couldn't have been an easy decision; Kurumi had been fighting alone for years in order to fulfill her purpose.
To give up, to accept that all her victims would remain victims, and to move forward carrying her burden... must have taken incredible fortitude.
Soon after, Kurumi had moved into the Spirit Household, right next to the Itsuka house.
From what the others had told her, she was always friendly, polite, and sometimes mischievous: in short, the usual.
However, there was still a certain barrier between her and the others (although she got along particularly well with Kaguya).
Maybe it was due to the fact that they had been living there for a longer time, or that they had at one time clashed.
Or, that Kurumi, after so many years on her own, had a hard time trusting people again and forming real bonds with them...
Shidou could only hope that this barrier would fade with time.
Once he had finished washing up, he quickly checked the time, and quietly set off.
Kurumi was waiting for him in front of the house, dressed as usual in an elegant black dress, worthy of a damsel from a rich family.
"Hello, Shidou-san."
"Hello, Kurumi."
And as usual, she wore a small, impenetrable smile.
Suddenly, she raised an eyebrow with her eye not hidden by her hair.
"Oh? Are you not complimenting me on my outfit?"
"Err...sorry, but I feel like you haven't changed anything from what you usually wear."
"Fufu... correct, Shidou-san."
Apparently, Kurumi just wanted to test him.
Shidou decided to respond to her provocation.
"In case it wasn't clear, what I meant was that you were as beautiful as usual, so I didn't need to point that out."
Normally, Shidou would never come out with such a line without burning with shame. But in this case, it was a joke, and he knew Kurumi would understand it.
That's why he was able to keep a serious tone.
As he had expected, Kurumi immediately saw through him.
"Oh, I see you have made some progress..."
She laughed a little, and then, once she calmed down, gave him a small wave of her hand.
"If you want, we can go."
"Of course!"
However, he noticed that Kurumi was staring at him.
When she saw that he didn't understand, she stepped forward, and locked arm with him.
"Kurumi?!"
" Please, Shidou-san. This is how you walk around, on a date."
Shidou immediately understood that it would be futile to struggle, and surrendered to the soft, warm touch.
" Fine... ojou-sama."
Kurumi's smile widened at these words: he didn't know if she was reacting to his reply, or to being able to hold his arm, but he thought she looked very cute like this.
They set off quietly, chatting about all kinds of things on the way. Apparently, the place Kurumi wanted to take her to was about a half-hour walk away.
They could have taken the bus, but she wanted to take the time to chat with him and enjoy a quiet walk.
"Did you get the rest you needed?"
"Yes, thank you... I really needed it after these days..."
"Oh? Have your previous dates been hectic?"
"Err..."
Shidou realized that it might not be wise to tell the one he was dating that the last three had resulted in mutual declarations and polygamy.
There were two risks: one, that Kurumi would be offended by the fact that he had multiple official companions... and two, that she would think their date would end the same way.
"I hit a nerve, it seems. Forgive me, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't push it further."
"Ah... thanks..."
But luckily for him, Kurumi retreated.
"If you don't mind, we'll start with a snack."
She also deftly changed the subject.
"Since you got up quite late, you must have had a late breakfast, so a snack will be more appropriate than a meal..."
"That's true. You've really thought of everything for me, Kurumi... thank you."
Kurumi beamed.
Shidou's thanks were sincere: he could see that Kurumi had done everything to take care of him and make him feel good.
He didn't usually let his... conquests take the initiative, but...
(I have to say, being pampered like that... is also nice.)
Their walk was, thanks in large part to Kurumi guiding Shidou, very elegant.
Many people turned around as they passed, surprised by the aura they gave off as well as the cute couple they were.
They finally arrived at their destination: the walk had not made Shidou tired at all, on the contrary, he had enjoyed it.
The place Kurumi had chosen was not a surprise to Shidou.
It was a neko café. Simply put, a cafe... but filled with cats.
This kind of place was quite popular with families... and girls.
And since Kurumi was... almost a cat fetishist, it wasn't surprising that she knew and enjoyed places like that.
"Ara, Shidou-san. I have a feeling you just thought something very rude."
"Eh?!"
For a moment, Shidou feared that Kurumi had the power to read thoughts.
She gave him a slightly creepy smile.
"Your face is so easy to read..."
"Argh..."
That was a thought he was often given. He had absolutely no talent for hiding his emotions.
So, resignedly, he explained to Kurumi what he had been thinking (omitting the part about his possible fetish for cats).
The latter, although slightly suspicious, nevertheless shook her head.
"Hm. You're not entirely wrong, but you should know that I choose the establishments I frequent carefully. Some neko cafes are unsanitary and are veritable cat prisons and use them as slaves to lure people in and sell them tasteless and overpriced drinks."
It was a fact: after all, it was a business like any other. Likewise, there were many disreputable maid cafes.
"A true neko cafe is a place that serves as a bridge between humans and cats, where both parties can rest and relax. A place where cats can come of their own free will, leave when they feel like it, and be pampered if they wish. A place where humans can coexist with them, while enjoying tasty food, to recharge their batteries and get their fill of catness!"
Kurumi's eye burned with a fiery flame as she laid out her neko cafe ideal to Shidou.
(Catness?... I guess that's a term she made up...)
While Kurumi continued her plea, Shidou turned her attention back to the front of the café.
It was colorful, but not extravagant: the menu and prices were clearly displayed, and two huge cats playing together were painted on the front, leaving no doubt as to the nature of the establishment.
Eventually, Kurumi finished her speech about the greatness of neko cafes and how important it was to only endorse the "real thing", and Shidou hurriedly offered to let her in before she could start talking about it again.
When they entered the café, Shidou was surprised to see how much more like a normal living room it was than a café.
There was thick carpeting, tables, but also armchairs, bean bags, cushions, toys on the floor, and even an electric fireplace.
On the walls were wooden platforms for the cats, but also shelves with books for the customers to use.
The atmosphere was warm, and resembled the European family homes sometimes seen in movies.
There were a little less than a dozen customers, and about twice as many cats, napping or being petted quietly.
"Welcome... oh, Tokisaki-san!"
A young waitress with long brown hair dressed in a black uniform greeted them and seemed to recognize Kurumi.
"Hello, Karen-san."
The waitress named Karen, whose youthful features and enthusiastic attitude clashed with her "serious" uniform, looked at Shidou and Kurumi in turn.
Her lips stretched into a smile full of implication.
"Oh, oh, oh. I see, I see. I see."
"H-hello..."
Shidou, who was a little uncomfortable with her behavior, greeted her.
"Oh, sorry! Where are my manners... Welcome, Tokisaki-san's boyfriend!"
Karen bowed politely.
"I... I'm not..."
Shidou began his sentence without finishing it, deciding that it was pointless to correct her.
He didn't notice Kurumi's beaming smile.
Karen, on the other hand, reverted to waitress mode.
"Would you prefer armchairs, or a classic table?"
"Mh... I would like Shidou-san to discover the full potential of this place, so armchairs, please."
"Of course! Please follow me!"
Shidou wondered what she meant by that.
(I guess I'll find out soon enough...)
The waitress guided them to three armchairs located not far from the electric fireplace, featuring a low table presumably intended for drinks.
Once they were seated, she gave them each the menu of the establishment, and informed them that she would return in a few minutes to take their order.
The chairs were so comfortable that Shidou thought he could easily fall asleep in them.
But he forced himself, like Kurumi, to adopt a somewhat dignified posture.
He looked around, sniffing the air.
"What is it, Shidou-san? Did you catch the scent of someone you know?"
"Do you think I'm a dog?..."
Shidou grinned sourly, though he was aware that his behavior might look strange or even out of place.
"I was just thinking... it didn't really smell of cats."
Cats being living beings, they had natural needs.
To put it simply, it was easy to end up with a house that reeked of cat urine and feces when you had a cat.
Even when the cat did its business properly in a litter box, if it was not changed regularly, the smell quickly became strong and unbearable for those who were not used to it.
Older people's houses usually had that kind of sickening smell.
Kurumi smiled with pride.
"Exactly! That's how you can recognize a real neko cafe! The pale imitations reek of feces and used cat litter... but the real places use the best organic litter on the market! They are changed several times a day so as not to inconvenience the customers, and the establishment is at all times as clean as possible!"
"I...I see..."
Shidou was a little bewildered by Kurumi's eagerness to tell him about the glory of neko cafes.
The contrast was all the more surprising since he had a rather different image of Kurumi: a serious, strong, elegant person, with a cute side to her, but not a neko cafe otaku...
Shidou took advantage of a slight respite to look for the residents of the place.
He counted about twenty of them, but was not sure of his count: indeed, even if most of them were still, some were wandering around or disappearing.
The majority of the cats were dozing on beanbags, shelves, or even tables, but others had joined the other customers of the café.
They were being petted, fed with treats sold by the establishment, or observed with curiosity the children and adults who came to visit them.
It was clearly forbidden to carry the cats or to force them to come against their will: they were the hosts, and the customers the guests.
Photos were allowed, but without flash: the lighting was good, so it was not a problem.
Kurumi and Shidou placed their orders: she chose an assortment of doughnuts, while Shidou opted for an appetizing Liège chocolate.
It wasn't lunchtime yet, so in view of his chaotic diet over the past few days, Shidou thought it would be better for him to just eat the dessert, fast for the rest of the day and have a light dinner.
"Well, Shidou-san? What do you think of this place?"
Kurumi asked the fateful question as they waited for their orders.
At the intensity of her gaze, Shidou felt a cold sweat run down his back.
He knew from Kurumi's monologues that this was her favorite place, her secret base, her safe haven.
She would not accept any criticism about it: if Shidou gave an answer she didn't like, their date and her life would end here.
Fortunately, he didn't have to lie.
"I really like it. It's relaxing and warm. I can see why you like it so much. Thank you for sharing, Kurumi."
Kurumi looked ecstatic. She nodded her head, looking satisfied. Then...
"Oh? It looks like we have a guest..."
A black cat approached Shidou's chair, then with a supple leap, jumped onto Shidou's arm.
It finally settled down near Shidou's elbow, looking satisfied.
At the same time, the waitress arrived, and put their orders and glasses of water on the low table.
"Well, what do you know? Noir came ? That's rare..." she said, giving Shidou a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"
Kurumi's curiosity was piqued.
"Well... to put it simply, let's say he's one of our least social residents. He never mixes with customers, and runs away as soon as he's approached, even with food."
Shidou watched as the cat seemed quite at ease, and rubbed its nose against his arm.
"That's... hard to believe."
"You must have a special aura!"
Once the waitress left, Kurumi glanced enviously at Shidou.
"I've been coming for... um, a long time though, and she's right, I've never seen this one come close to me."
"Haha..."
Unable to change the subject, Shidou took a spoonful of his dessert, which he found delicious.
Kurumi also tasted her pastries with a satisfied expression.
(Mind you, if she's been coming for a long time, surely she tried the whole menu...)
"By the way, Shidou-san."
"Hmm?"
As Shidou drank some water to clean her mouth from the sweet taste of chocolate, Kurumi quietly called out to her.
"I love you."
"Gh-cough, cough!"
Shidou swallowed hard and was seized by a violent coughing fit.
With tears in his eyes, he struggled to pull himself together, while Kurumi, with her usual smirk, watched him wordlessly.
"You...you what?" he finally stammered.
"Ara? Did you hear me wrong? I said I loved you."
Several questions ran through Shidou's head, but the one that lingered the most was: why now?!
Based on his previous dates, Shidou was not fooled: he more or less expected his dates to end with a confession from Spirits.
It was a golden rule, no, a basic law of physics: confessions came at the end of a date.
In all light novels, games, manga, and anime... confessions came at the end in most cases!
Only those who wanted to be original or break the codes started with the confession! Or usually, this confession was fake, then the character developed real feelings, and made a real confession again!
The reason why Shidou was so upset was simple: Kurumi's action contradicted his training.
And besides that...
(What am I supposed to say?!)
Shidou took a deep breath in order to calm himself down.
"...Kurumi...why are you telling me this now?"
"To throw you off balance...I am kidding. I wanted to be honest with you...and with myself. Besides, I think it's more interesting to start our date this way. At least things will be clear."
"That's...one way of looking at it..."
Shidou was still baffled, but paradoxically, understood Kurumi's "logic" a little.
A date was a battlefield.
And Kurumi had chosen a different strategy than usual to increase her chances of success.
"Fufu... normally, this is the part where the dense hero asks 'but why..' and the oh-so-feminine girl explains."
Kurumi openly scoffed at the clichés of romance.
"But since I've already gone off script normally...I'll go back to the classics a bit so as not to confuse you too much."
"...I didn't ask for anything."
"Well, you're failing at your job, then. So play your part and ask me why, Shidou-san. After all...you succeeded in your original mission of seducing me. Don't you want to know how?..."
It was at that moment that Shidou noticed Kurumi blushing slightly.
(She's doing her best to look strong but... is she as embarrassed as I am?...)
Kurumi was an expert at wearing a mask and acting.
At this very moment, she was still doing it.
Out of respect for her, but also because he thought she was cute like that, Shidou decided to play along.
"Okay... why?"
Kurumi smiled gratefully.
"If you insist..."
Shidou held back from objecting that she had literally forced his hand.
"Shidou-san. How do you know if you're... yourself?"
"Huh?"
But Kurumi's totally off-topic question caught him off guard again.
"Your tastes, your behavior, your values...all of these things, all of this information about you defines you. For example, if a person only knows one thing about you, they will define you as such."
"Um...yes?"
Shidou didn't see what Kurumi was getting at.
"But along with that... that factual information isn't everything. The way others see you... affects your own identity. After all, humans are social creatures. If you are recognized for something... you will subconsciously conform to that, to be recognized."
She pointed to Shidou's empty cup.
"If it's about tastes like that, it's easy. And that can change just as easily. But behavioral labels..."
Kurumi sighed.
"A person labeled 'cheerful' will have to behave like that, as well as a 'serious' person. To meet the expectations of others..."
"Ah, I see... kind of like a class rep."
"Absolutely. A class representative will carry the expectations of others on their shoulders and therefore will do their best to conform to them. Another example is someone who has a reputation for having a talent..."
Kurumi quoted several examples.
"But it also works for the negative aspects. People who are treated as 'bad guys' eventually convince themselves that they are. After all, it doesn't matter if they tell the world they are nice... if they are recognized by others as bad, then they will be."
It was true.
The majority decided what was and what was not.
If one person called blue 'green', and two people called green 'green', then green would be green.
It was as simple as that, and it applied to everything.
"Your identity, in part, is defined by others. By how they see you... how they treat you."
Kurumi's voice was full of melancholy.
"For years... I was considered a villain. My nickname... the Worst Spirit, illustrates that. And... I accepted this role. I acted like one, because I knew that my actions were inexcusable, and that even if I explained myself, my label would not change. My identity...would not change."
"I had resolved... to be the villain."
Kurumi smiled, but this time, it was a sparkling, sincere, warm smile.
Shidou's heart was stolen by that smile full of... love and gratitude.
"And you, Shidou-san. You were the first to look at me differently. To want to save me... to want, to offer me another identity."
Shidou thought back to their meeting. To his own fears, to his fear of Kurumi at first... and then to his resolve, to help her.
"You are the only one, who offered me the possibility to change. Not to be the villain anymore... to live differently. That's why I love you, Shidou-san."
Her words floated, and echoed for a long time in Shidou's head.
After what seemed like an endless amount of time, Kurumi sighed.
"...I...I didn't know it would be so embarrassing...my god..."
"K-Kurumi..."
Kurumi lowered her head, but she couldn't hide her rosy cheeks.
"Sorry, Shidou-san... I thought it would be easy, but... ahhh, saying all those things... it was embarrassing... but I'm glad I could do it..."
Kurumi mumbled to herself, while pressing her hands against her cheeks.
She was absolutely adorable, and her confession, combined with her uncharacteristically cute behavior, made Shidou's heart beat faster than ever.
Shidou himself was in a state of shock: he could hardly believe what he had just heard and what had just happened.
When he regained the ability to speak, it was to ask a question.
"Kurumi...answer me honestly..."
Kurumi shyly looked up at him, which nearly made him bend over backwards at such cuteness.
"Is it... really you, or one of your clones?"
"..."
Kurumi gazed at him with a round eye, before puffing her cheeks.
"...How rude...it's really me."
"S-sorry... it's just... it was so... surprising..."
"Don't remind me... it's embarrassing!"
"If it's embarrassing, you shouldn't have done it.
"Shidou-san, you're being rude! Have some respect for a lady's heart!"
"Ah, sorry..."
Shidou and Kurumi found themselves quarrelling, in a way that was not like them at all.
When they calmed down, Kurumi coughed.
"I... I just wanted to tell you how I felt. So... think about it. I'll listen... to what you think of me, at the end of our date, okay? Just tell me if... yes, or no, you feel the same towards me."
Her demeanor was strange again, but so cute that Shidou could only nod in agreement.
For several minutes, there was silence as Kurumi gradually regained her composure and normal behavior, while Shidou tried to calm his racing heart.
Shidou wanted to get up and go to the bathroom, so that he could sort out his thoughts. But it was then that he realized... he couldn't get up.
"...eh?"
"Shidou-san?"
Kurumi seemed as surprised as he was.
They were so engrossed in their conversation that neither of them had noticed that cats had gathered around and on Shidou.
The reason Shidou couldn't get up was because four cats had settled on his legs and were sleeping there.
"..."
As if time had returned to normal, Shidou then felt the weight and warmth of the kitties. And not only on his legs.
Other cats lay all around his feet, forming a wall.
Some of them had slid into his seat, against his sides, a look of pleasure on their faces.
And it did not stop there: more cats came to join them, as if they had waited for the end of their conversation.
In a few seconds, cats started to lie on Shidou's arms, literally pinning him to his seat.
Noir, the first one that had come along, deftly jumped on his head and curled up in a ball on it.
"Eh?!"
Shidou was buried under about twenty cats. In fact, almost all the residents of the establishment had come to him.
"Sh-Shidou-san, what did you do?..."
"...nothing."
(Good thing I'm not allergic...) thought Shidou.
"Are you sure? You didn't roll in catnip before you came?"
"Who would do that before a date?!"
"Hm. You're right. Besides, if I had, it would have kicked in much sooner..."
Kurumi looked genuinely curious and envious. However, the other customers in the cafe seemed rather jealous and unhappy.
In fact, some of them had been enjoying the company of the cats until now, but all of them had deserted to join Shidou.
"Mom, Mom, why did Mr. Kitten leave?"
"... It' s that mean boy over there who lured it away."
"Eeeh?"
" Basatard... He's dating a beauty, then he steals my heart's only solace?!"
"I have to kill him, without hurting the cats... ugh..."
Shidou heard various hurtful comments, but also some more disturbing ones.
"Would that mean that your charisma affects even the animals?!"
"Kurumi. Stop talking nonsense and help me..."
"Ara, sorry. But first, let me take some pictures... for my personal collection."
"Kurumiiiiii!"
Shidou, totally paralyzed by the mass of cats, could only groan, while Kurumi had fun at his expense and recorded the scene.
The managers of the place were stunned by Shidou's success, and had to deal with complaints from other customers.
After checking that Shidou had not brought any suspicious substances with him, they had to admit that there was nothing they could do if the cats simply preferred him to others.
A compromise was finally reached: the cats didn't seem to mind being petted by other people as long as they weren't being moved.
So a second crowd (of humans this time) formed around Shidou.
Kurumi took the opportunity to pet him as well, claiming that her hand was having trouble telling the difference between him and the cats.
It took some choice treats to eventually free Shidou from his feline prison.
He was then knighted on the spot by the café manager as a Great Friend of Cats, a status badge only awarded to those who managed to bond with all the guests in the establishment.
The card he was given gave him a VIP stay in all the neko cafes around the world, and Kurumi tried to convince him to go on a world tour with her to visit them.
But Shidou firmly refused, fearing that he would choke to death buried under more cats if he tried it again.
Thus ended the first part of their date.
Kurumi and Shidou walked side by side.
Kurumi felt embarrassed, but also happy.
She felt that she had managed to catch Shidou by surprise by telling him how she felt at the beginning of their date.
But... being so honest, so direct, on such a subject, had been terribly embarrassing, so she'd lost all composure and behaved in what she felt was a rather inelegant way.
(If I could, I'd go back in time and change that... good grief, not having Zafkiel around anymore is really crippling.)
She was even thinking about this kind of thing in order to distract herself.
Because Kurumi was now apprehensive about Shidou's answer.
She thought she had a good chance, given their relationship, but... she was usually so cautious, almost paranoid, that a 99% success rate wasn't good enough.
And then... Kurumi knew that opening up to someone, trusting someone like that... was not easy for her.
She had been betrayed by the one she thought was her ally, when she thought she was saving the world...
She had been forced to kill her best friend, because she had been too naive.
This trauma still remained, and prevented her from trusting others: even if her reason knew it was unfounded, her unconscious still refused.
(But, with Shidou-san... I think I can do it.)
That warmth in her, that sweet feeling. What people called love, but for Kurumi, it had a different meaning.
Love was usually an attraction to someone else.
For Kurumi, it was something else.
It was the possibility to entrust herself to him. To entrust her being, her secrets, her feelings to him, and to receive his smile, his warmth in return.
Yes, love could take many forms.
And she was going to do everything to make this date happen.
After all, she had so much to tell him... but she wanted him to have a good time first.
(If he's having a good time, he'll open up to me more. He'll let his guard down... and I can drive the nail in!)
Yes, Kurumi, even in this kind of moment, was strategizing.
"Kurumi? Why are you smiling like that?"
"!"
Kurumi hadn't noticed, but a wide smile had blossomed on her face.
"Cough. I'm happy to have a picture of you surrounded by all those cats... Cat cuteness + Shidou cuteness = cuteness ten thousand fold!"
"...I don't know how you calculate..."
"Fufu."
Kurumi got away with a joke, or rather, a half-truth.
She was genuinely thrilled to have this picture, and had struggled to contain herself at the result.
She had to print it out to maybe decorate her room with it. But she couldn't risk the other Spirits seeing it... they might steal it from her.
(This picture is mine, only mine!)
As she pondered this, she noticed that they had passed their target.
"Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought. Shidou-san, we need to go back."
"Ah? Okay... I must say, I'm a little surprised you brought me to this area, Kurumi. I thought you preferred quieter places."
They were in one of Tenguu City's entertainment districts: karaoke bars, dart bars, arcades, video game stores, bowling alleys, sports complexes were all around.
Most of the passersby were young people or families, and a cheerful hubbub filled the street.
"Yes, that's true, but in this case, I have a soft spot for one of these places... you'll see."
"I can't wait!"
Kurumi guided Shidou to one of the widest storefronts on the street, full of neon, colorful cardboard boxes that was the width of two buses.
Illuminated letters proudly announced the name of the establishment to passersby:
TENGUU LASER TAG PALACE
"A... laser tag?"
"Not a laser tag, Shidou-san. The biggest one in Tenguu City... No, in Japan!"
Laser tag was a form of safe entertainment, quite common in the West, but very rare in Japan.
The principle was simple: teams of participants competed against each other wearing vests equipped with sensors simulating body parts and armed with guns firing lasers, in mazes or indoor fields usually plunged in darkness.
If a laser shot hit one of the sensors of the armor, the player was out for a while (he could not shoot anymore but could not be hit either).
A great feature of the laser tags in Japan and especially in Tenguu City were the refinements of technology offered (thanks to the Ratatoskr front, Asgard Electronics), such as radio communication or blaster shots instead of beams.
"Ah... yes."
Shidou smiled tightly, which surprised Kurumi.
"Mh? You don't like it?" she gasped.
"Uh... no, it's not that. Let's just say... I do."
Kurumi didn't understand his reaction.
"I... see? Well, let's go. I took a reservation for two people, so we'll be placed in a team..."
Teams were assembled with reservations like them, so it was certain that Kurumi and Shidou would find themselves mixed in with other players.
They entered the lobby (where the reception was located, but also a bar serving refreshments to players out of breath from running the maze), which was as large as a family restaurant.
The place had a space station-like decor: the walls and floor were black, decorated with multicolored neon lights, team photos and big screens showing the games in progress and the scoreboards.
Dozens of people were there, making one hell of a racket, which added to the music blasting from the speakers.
"Hm?"
"What is it, Kurumi?"
The astonishment Kurumi showed was not lost on Shidou.
"Maybe it's nothing... It's normal for this place to be crowded, but I feel like it's a little too crowded compared to usual."
"I feel like they belong to the same group," Shidou said, pointing to the crowd of people who were crowding the front desk.
"Yes. They're all wearing the same shirt."
About fifty people, probably more, were actually standing in front of the counter, looking irritated.
Taking a good look at the scene, Kurumi noticed that the group was taking up the whole place, and that the other customers, who were obviously not with them, were keeping a low profile and staying on the side.
Undaunted, she made her way to the counter, where one of the men in the group was in the middle of a conversation with the manager of the place.
"Excuse me. We have two reservations for ten minutes from now, under the name of Tokisaki."
"Huuh?!"
Kurumi deliberately ignored the man's aggressive growl and looked at the manager, who seemed about to faint.
"Ah... uh... well, you see... you're going to have to wait, for a while, because these gentlemen, are... they have priority actually... over..."
"I don't understand. We booked correctly, and paid in advance. What's going on?"
The two men were thrown off by Kurumi's calm tone (and also the fact that they were not used to seeing a pretty girl in a dress in this place).
But the leader of the group did not give up.
"I'll explain it to you, sweetie. Me and my group, the Fall Gladiators, have reserved this place for the afternoon! So you wait your turn!"
"The Fall Gladiators?"
"What, you don't know us?"
"I know there's a typo in your name, unless you're talking about the season..."
"What?!"
Kurumi closed her eyes and sighed.
"Take it easy, okay?"
Shidou stepped in to calm things down, but the man immediately barked at him.
"Who are you?! Her dog? I told you we have reservations! So you do what the others do and wait on the side!"
Kurumi turned to the manager.
"Is that true?"
"Uh...technically, no..."
"Then if they don't have a reservation, the problem is solved."
Kurumi's logic was flawless, but the manager couldn't really agree with her.
"My team and I are the national leaders in laser tag! So, you owe us respect...and by the way, let us play in priority!"
The leader's comrades loudly expressed their approval. The laser tag manager tucked his head into his shoulders.
"No. No matter what your rank is, it doesn't justify cutting in line."
"Shidou-san?"
Shidu, who had been fairly neutral until then, had just taken a step forward. His tone was calm, and almost cold.
"Haaa? Who's more important? Two brats and a bunch of noobs, or us, in your opinion?"
"You think you're the strongest, right? So let's settle this with a duel."
"A duel?!"
Shidou nodded at the bewildered expressions of the Fall Gladiators.
"My teammate and I against your entire team. Sudden Death mode. How's that sound? If we win, you leave and make a reservation another day. If we lose, we'll let you have the spot."
"My, my, Shidou-san. How daring."
Except for Kurumi, who was smiling, the whole room was stunned.
Suddden Death mode was a very rarely practiced game mode, and reserved for the elite.
The rule was simple; when you were hit, you were out of the game for good, unlike the classic mode where you could play again after a few seconds.
These conditions were extremely disadvantageous, not to say worse, for Kurumi and Shidou.
But Shidou had just suggested this straight out: Kurumi didn't know what his plan was, but she was sure it would be interesting.
Besides, she was quite good at it herself (which was why she brought him here). So there was no need to worry.
(Kihihihi...)
Kurumi felt the excitement building inside her.
Her instincts were telling her that something was going to happen.
The Fall Gladiators didn't have to accept this challenge, but they had just been challenged to a laser tag in public, before witnesses.
"You're nuts, kid. But we accept your challenge, on the terms you set..."
A responsible adult would have proposed a more balanced duel, but the man took pleasure in humiliating the weak.
He turned to the audience.
"Hey, you people! Get ready to leave, once we win, we'll stay until closing time!"
Then he clapped his hands.
"Come on guys, get ready! We start in ten minutes!"
The manager, on the other hand, was completely overwhelmed: he seemed to hesitate to object (because he hadn't been asked), then changed his mind and decided to comply.
He motioned to his assistants to go outfit the Fall Gladiators, while he typed on his computer.
The seventy-two men went to an airlock at the other end of the room. Kurumi and Shidou went the opposite way, to a similar hatch.
"Sorry, Kurumi."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Shidou looked somewhat ashamed.
"For getting you involved in this without asking your permission..."
"Don't worry about it. I like it when you take the lead..."
"Ugh..."
" Jokes aside, if you hadn't suggested this, I probably would have. They need to be taught a lesson."
Kurumi squinted her eye in Shidou's direction.
"And from the way you're acting... I assume you're hiding something from me. Are you, by any chance, a regular laser tag user? You sly devil."
Shidou smiled.
"You're one to talk...you too, right?"
"Kihihi..."
"Ehehe..."
Kurumi and Shidou had the same evil laugh. Their attitude and the atmosphere around them had completely changed and was now far from that of a couple on a date.
They looked like a criminal duo with bad intentions.
They were still giggling evilly as they reached the airlock that doubled as a changing room.
The room had several rows of lockers to store their belongings, but also a large armory: pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles (without scopes though, no optical equipment allowed), machine guns...
As opposed to the classic laser tags, this one opted for blaster shots and not classical beams (the principle of which was: as long as you held the trigger down, a straight beam came out and only stopped when you released it): it was therefore possible to shoot in bursts.
The play style was important for the players, but also the way to hold the weapon and therefore its size.
It was also possible to have custom equipment, which was of course very expensive.
"Hmf. No point."
"I agree."
"So, you too?"
"Kihihihihi."
"Ehehehehe."
On the other hand, neither Shidou nor Kurumi pretended to grab a weapon: they just giggled, and picked up the regular breastplate, without putting it on though.
The breastplate had several LED-lit areas on the shoulders, torso, and back, and if you were hit on any of them, you were "disabled".
When the manager arrived, sweating, he stared at them with suspicion. Nevertheless, he understood the situation.
"...You have lockers?"
"Yes."
Kurumi and Shidou answered with one voice.
It was possible to rent a locker permanently in a laser tag in order to store one's custom equipment.
These lockers worked like private safes: the facility and the owner each had a key, and it was impossible to open it without both.
Kurumi and Shidou each took out a golden key and handed it to the manager.
The manager grabbed them and when he saw them, his eyes widened.
"What...golden keys? But who..."
"Kihihihi."
"Ehehehehe."
Kurumi and Shidou laughed awkwardly, convincing the manager not to ask any questions.
He went to get the corresponding keys, unlocked the lockers with them, and let them get equipped.
A few moments later...
"Ara ara, Shidou-san. How elegant."
"Ehehehe. Thank you."
Shidou had retrieved an outfit from his locker: black combat pants and boots, as well as a long hooded coat (also black), which gave him the look of the grim reaper.
He was of course wearing his breastplate over it, as well as black glasses (with enhanced night vision made in Asgard Electronics) and an earpiece (for radio communication with his team).
In a sense, it was very similar to the outfit he had during the Chuuni-Ou Tournament.
And in each of his hands he carried a compact SG552 assault rifle with a retractable stock: a weapon suitable for urban combat, both at mid-range and in close combat.
These replicas were, of course, very light.
"Judging by the information I have...so would you happen to be the Grim Reaper of Chaos?"
"...And would you happen to be the Akimbo Maiden?"
"Kihihihihi."
"Ehehehehe."
Each ignored the other's assumptions, but they weren't fooled.
Kurumi had donned an outfit identical to her Astral Dress, for more freedom of movement.
And, she had a laser gun replica of Zafkiel's pistols: in fact, you could tell she looked very much like her usual Spirit form... without her mystical eye and with a laser tag breastplate.
"Let's see... I guess you're more of a close quarter type, right Kurumi?"
Kurumi nodded her head.
"You're right, Shidou-san. After all, it's hard to snipe with pistols."
She winked at him.
"But you... you must be an all-rounder, right? I guess if you need to, you can snipe by unfolding the stock of one of your guns."
"Ehehehe... nice touch."
Shidou bowed to her.
"It is an honor to team up with you, O Akimbo Maiden."
"The honor is all mine, Grim Reaper of Chaos."
Kurumi felt thrilled: teaming up with Shidou, who on top of that was proving to be a mythical laser tag player... it was a dream come true.
And Shidou seemed to be delighted to team up with her as well: she had wanted to cause his amazement and admiration by revealing that she was a legendary player... but the situation hadn't allowed it.
(This doesn't really sound like the date I had planned... but I'm okay with that too.)
In her original plan, Kurumi was supposed to teach Shidou the basics of laser tag, and blow him away with her performance.
Now, by a twist of fate, they found themselves in a fight that would have seemed to anyone else to be lost.
Two against seventy-two, with a "death" at the first shot.
A siren rang out in the airlock, and a robotic voice began a countdown.
In a few seconds, the door separating them from the maze would open, and the game would begin.
While she should have been stressed, Kurumi felt her heart rate slow down as the seconds passed.
Her red eyes darkened, taking on a cold hue, just like Shidou's. They were in their own world.
They were at home here. So there was no reason to be afraid.
The voice called.
"Four."
"Shidou-san."
"Yes?"
"Three."
"When this is over...I'd like to hear your story."
"Two."
"And I would like to hear yours."
"One."
"Kihihi. Sure."
"Zero."
"Come on...let our date (war) begin!"
The laser tag manager, his assistants, and a small crowd watched the big screens as they waited impatiently for the game to begin.
Customers who had made reservations and missed out on being robbed of their spot by the Fall Gladiators were of course there, but others had been drawn in by seeing tweets of the event.
The manager and his team had relayed the information widely: two abnormal teenagers had challenged the Fall Gladiators.
The golden keys they had provided to open their lockers were no ordinary keys.
These were keys to permanent VIP lockers, only given to champions who passed a series of challenges deemed impossible.
Only two participants had ever succeeded.
One was a mysterious boy who dressed in black and wore sunglasses, and who called himself Grim Reaper of Chaos.
The other was a gothic loli who went by the alias Akimbo Maiden.
They were urban legends, who rarely appeared, and usually challenged all participants without exception.
And they won. They won, no matter how many opponents they had.
Once, a coalition of players formed to defeat the Grim Reaper of Chaos. The labyrinth may have been large, but with enough people, they could completely surround it.
Their logic had been to overwhelm it with numbers: it would only take one person to touch it, after all.
Emboldened by the idea of taking down a legend, more than seven hundred players had gathered (which had caused problems for the facility, requiring them to rent breastplates and emergency weapons).
And the Grim Reaper of Chaos had crushed them. The video had gone viral, contributing to his legend.
As for the Akimbo Maiden, she had a similar reputation: she was demonically accurate despite the fact that she used pistols and, thanks to her two weapons, could neutralize anyone who came within her range.
Her reaction time was inhuman: as soon as someone entered her field of vision, she drew and fired, neutralizing them instantly.
And now these two legends were teaming up against a group of professionals.
Whatever the outcome of the fight, it was going to be a great show.
A stream was quickly set up: the crowd, both those on the spot and those on the chat room, held their breath as the airlock doors opened.
The game had just begun.
The leader of the Fall Gladiators had the alias Spartacus, the source of which was easy to guess.
Some of his comrades had also taken gladiatorial names, fictitious or not: others had not.
Just before the doors opened...
"Okay guys! We may be seventy-two against two, but we're probably being watched! So let's do this right!"
All of the Fall Gladiators had donned their uniforms (a copy of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces one) and picked up their weapons of choice.
Each one wore an earpiece with a microphone for radio communication.
"This is the first time we've entered the maze at full strength. We're breaking into nine teams of eight, got it? I'll name the leaders."
The Tenguu Laser Tag Palace was unique in that it allowed for adaptable battles.
Using technology derived from Asgard Electronics' Realizer, Tenguu Laser Tag Palace had the world's first adaptable fighting system.
Depending on the number of participants, it automatically created or removed spaces in the maze to create the optimal environment.
With a total of seventy-four participants, the maze was going to be the size of a park.
"...And me, for the first team. Is that good for you?"
"Yes, boss!"
"Come on! Let's go! I want symmetrical movement, constant communication, space between you, and clean shots!"
"Yes, sir!"
A few seconds later, the door to the maze opened with a hiss.
"Go! Go! Go!"
The Fall Gladiators rushed into the dark labyrinth in a line, weapons brandished.
The labyrinth in question was shrouded in darkness, lit only by neon lights at irregular intervals to maintain a certain tension.
The metal walls were several meters high: however, there were not only walls, there were also stairs, walkways, fences, open spaces... but no buildings as such.
"Teams 7, 8, 9! Go east and split up to cover the largest area! Teams 4, 5 and 6! Do the same to the west! Teams 2 and 3, follow me, we're going straight ahead!"
Spartacus gave his orders, while his comrades acknowledged via radio.
"Remember, stay on your team channels! Use the main channel only in case of emergency."
Spartacus was confident. He had always loved team shooting games, and liked to think of himself as a tactician.
(I'm going to crush these kids and show everyone watching that we're the best!)
He was the kind of person stupid enough to think he would gain the respect of others by fighting seventy-two to two (high schoolers).
"Only the machine gunners on automatic fire. The rest of you, single mode."
"Yes, sir!"
In a classic laser tag, all the guns fired a single steady beam: that's why all the guns had the same model.
But at the Tenguu Laser Tag Palace, blaster technology was used (made in Asgard Electronics, again).
It allowed to slow down the laser beam produced. This resulted in very short, but "slower" moving shots that traveled like bullets (although they were not affected by gravity).
Simply put, it was like the blaster shots of St*r W*rs weapons and of course 100% harmless.
It was possible to modify the weapons to fire in bursts, or even in bursts like the pump guns.
This was less accurate than continuous fire but more realistic and exciting because thanks to pre-programmed built-in micro-pulses, the lasers also produced noise on impact.
It was the only laser tag in the world to offer this and explained its success.
A few minutes passed without anything happening. Given the size of the place, and the fact that their opponents were only two, it was normal.
"Above all, check every nook and cranny: my guess is that they'll sneak up and then try to flank us, or from behind..."
This was the usual guerrilla tactic when outnumbered: harass the enemy by hitting where they were weak.
Spartacus gave his orders from the middle of the formation. His weapon of choice was an automatic rifle.
His team moved slowly down a straight alley. A movement caught his eye, but it was only the smoke from the smoke machines.
Everything was quiet: normally, music was played to motivate the players, but in the case of "pro" games, this was not the case.
"Come on, show yourselves, show yourselves..."
Suddenly, the voice of one of the team leaders rang out in his earpiece.
"Contact! This is team 9-"
A shot, undoubtedly from a pistol, echoed through the maze, and the voice stopped.
"Team 9? Who fired?"
Another voice answered him.
"This is Team 9! The leader is out of action! The shot came from in front-"
Another shot rang out, and the voice faded away.
In a Sudden Death match, when you were hit, radio communication was impossible. You were paralyzed for three minutes, then you had to evacuate the area.
Immediately, shots from various weapons were heard, and Spartacus realized that Team 9 was returning fire.
"Teams 7 and 8! Coordinate with Team 9 to pincer the enemy!"
"Yes!"
"Roger that!"
"Team 9, what is your status?!"
While giving his instructions, Spartacus moved his team forward to position themselves to cut off any retreat from the gunfire exchange, but also to go and help his teammates if needed.
"This is Team 9! We-"
Amidst the sounds of gunfire, everyone heard the same gunfire again.
Seven times.
Then silence returned.
"Team 9? Team 9?!"
"This is Team 7! We're on the scene and Team 9 is totally out of action!"
"This is team 8! We see you, we're coming!"
"Don't panic!"
At the same time, more gunfire broke out. Exclamations and confused shouts rang out.
"Damn it! Damn kids!"
Spartacus swore.
He had realized that his opponents were at least stronger than they appeared, for taking out an entire squad.
"Teams two and three! Join us! We need to launch a group attack!"
"We're coming!"
"Teams 4, 5 and 6! Go along the edge of the maze and support teams 7 and 8!"
"Roger that! Hold on! What-"
Bursts of automatic fire rang out to the west.
He heard confused shouts in the squad leader's channel.
"What?!"
"How did he do it?!"
"Wait! He's coming! Fire! Fire!"
"Somebody shoot him!"
More gunfire.
Then various voices were heard over the open channel.
"This is team 4! We are under enemy fire!"
"This is team 5! Same!"
"Everyone in Team 6 is down! I'm fighting back-"
Confused and panicked reports came in from all sides.
"Calm down! Clear the channel! Let your team leaders report!"
Spartacus tried to restore calm, in vain. Obviously, the squad leaders had been eliminated and the others were too panicked.
"Shoot him! Shoot him!"
"We're trying!"
"How the hell is he moving?!"
"Team 5! He's next to you!"
"Regroup! "
"What-"
Spartacus felt a cold sweat run down his back as he realized that...
(The kids... aren't together? I thought they were both in the east, on teams 7, 8 and 9...)
Given their losses, he had naively thought their opponents had concentrated on that side. Hence his plan to catch them from the rear.
But in truth, they had split up?
Were each of his brats putting a thirty or so pro players to shame?
That was...
"Impossible..."
The leader of the Fall Gladiators felt trapped. As if he was becoming aware, that all the control he had thought he had was just an illusion.
"Who are they? What the hell..."
Meanwhile, the shots continued to ring out. The ceiling of the building was lit up with flashes of blasters.
A few minutes earlier...
"Kihihihihi!"
Kurumi had spotted her targets. As soon as the door to the maze opened, she and Shidou had separated.
Their plan was simple: start with a direct strike to shake the enemy.
Given their "pro" behavior, it was obvious that they would split into several groups instead of forming a single troop.
When she saw the thirty or so players moving in the same direction as her, Kurumi took off.
Her steps were light and fast: her physique, her Spirit constitution (even with her powers sealed) and her light equipment were perfect for her role.
She sped past a squad of eight people, separated from her only by walls.
One of them saw her, but it was too late for him: she had already fired, neutralizing him instantly.
What followed was a repetition of this scene.
Kurumi was constantly running, taking advantage of the gaps between the walls of the labyrinth to shoot and hit her enemies.
At some point, the other teams arrived: perhaps they thought they would overwhelm her with numbers.
Kurumi proved them wrong, using a technique that earned her her nickname.
Its name was Timeless Akimbo Gunslinger Arte.
His particularity was an unparalleled accuracy, but above all, an impressive fire rate.
Automatic weapons fired in bursts to compensate for accuracy with quantity: the logic was that a forest of guns would always find their target.
Semi-automatic or manual weapons followed the opposite logic.
But the Timeless Akimbo Gunslinger Arte gave Kurumi exceptional accuracy and rapid fire, perfect for dealing with groups of enemies.
It was as if she was juggling her guns as she fired, dodged, and switched her angle of aim.
Each of her shots hit an enemy.
Her accuracy was absolute, despite her movements, those of her enemies, and the obstacles.
Her technique was a combination of several factors.
First, her mastery of pistols, thanks to her years of experience with Zafkiel.
There was also the complete lack of recoil on laser tag weapons.
But more importantly, Kurumi was perfectly ambidextrous.
Being ambidextrous didn't mean being able to do two separate things with each of her arms.
No, it meant being able to control both arms at will regardless of the context and action.
She also had an excellent sense of direction and perception of her surroundings.
Simply put, her eyesight was not 20/20 but rather 60/20.
This perception allowed her to accurately calculate each of her shots, and to perform them thanks to her ambidexterity and expertise with the pistol, then to connect them thanks to the absence of recoil.
If she had missed any of these traits, the Timeless Akimbo Gunslinger Arte would not have been achievable.
Naturally, Kurumi quickly routed her opponents, who retreated in complete disarray.
Somewhat disappointed by their level and bored, she decided to go find Shidou.
Kurumi was more curious to see his style than anything else: she doubted he needed help.
She climbed some stairs, made sure there were no enemies around, and then stood at the highest spot in the area.
With her inhuman vision, she was able to see what was happening on the side of Shidou's combat zone.
"Kihihi... come on, Shidou-san. Amaze me."
"Wait! What..."
In a wide alley, without any cover, which often gave rise to fierce gunfights.
A man, or rather a high school student, was walking alone toward a dozen men.
His black outfit would have been inconspicuous if not for his breastplate, whose blue LEDs sparkled in the darkness.
He was holding two compact assault rifles, pointing at the ground.
The men had just noticed him,
"It's the kid! Fire!"
One of the men let out an exclamation, and his entire team fired, filling the air with lasers and blasts.
Shidou, or rather the Grim Reaper, calmly watched as the cloud of fire raced towards him at the speed of light.
Then he dodged them.
When they saw that their volley had not hit him, the men were stunned.
Shidou resumed his walk.
This made them react.
Again, a hail of shots rained down on Shidou.
And again he dodged them.
He could hear his opponents shouting in panic.
They sounded delicious.
The Grim Reaper raised his weapons and licked his lips.
Then, he ran, firing at his victims, several of whom were immediately incapacitated, while the others retaliated in vain.
Shidou went down a side alley and spotted more Fall Gladiators.
He charged them, like Death itself, and claimed his due.
Though he was surrounded, Shidou dodged every shot, fired back, and took down his opponents, dancing in the shadows, embodying the darkness.
Shidou's strength rested in his movements... or rather, in his innate talents, dubbed 'L'œil de Dieu" and the 'Tonnerre Libéré'.
Kurumi watched the scene, laughing out loud.
"Kihihihi! Shidou-san...no, Grim Reaper of Chaos, magnificent, magnificent!"
She cheered loudly for her teammate.
He was just making mincemeat of his enemies.
While Kurumi relied on her surroundings to protect herself from enemy fire or to neutralize them before they could fire, Shidou was diving right into the fray.
And he managed to dodge all the shots that were aimed at him. Or rather, only the shots that threatened him: he ignored the others.
When you saw him, it looked like a movie, like the man dodging bullets in M*trix.
It looked surreal, and so easy. Kurumi knew it wasn't.
As a veteran of laser tag, and knowing the legend surrounding the Grim Reaper, she knew what was at work.
"L'œil de Dieu..."
L'œil de Dieu (God's Eye) was one of the two talents of the Grim Reaper of Chaos.
According to what he had stated in an interview, his eyes were capable in laser tag to see each and every shot of blaster that aimed at him, and to predict their exact trajectory.
Even more impressive was that he could separate and process the information for each shot, while still seeing the whole picture.
Kurumi saw Shidou dodge another barrage of shots.
These movements were fluid, minimal, and perfect.
"Tonnerre Libéré..."
Tonnerre Libéré (Freed Thunder) was Shidou's second skill.
It allowed his muscles to react with the speed of a reflex to information transmitted by L'œil de Dieu.
A blaster shot, though slowed to a projectile, was faster than human reaction speed.
The human limit of conscious reaction time (as opposed to a reflex movement) was estimated to be one-tenth of a second.
A reflex was a movement programmed by the body, and therefore, almost instantaneous.
For example, upon receiving a blow to a specific nerve, the muscles would tense.
A conscious reaction, on the other hand, was reflexive and took place in this order: first, the eye saw, then transmitted the information to the brain, the brain considered, made its decision, then transmitted it to the muscles, which moved.
This succession was very fast, but in Shidou's case it was instantaneous.
L'œil de Dieu made it possible to combine the first two steps.
Tonnerre Libéré combined the next four steps.
Shidou acted consciously, but with the reaction speed of a reflex.
This allowed him to dodge the laser shots, a fact that was considered impossible because it was beyond the limits of a human being.
Note: He had tried to apply these talents in his daily life, but without success: it seemed that he could only use them for laser tag.
Shidou had the reputation of being an untouchable player, and he literally was.
Soon the screams of the Fall Gladiators died down as they retreated, falling prey to two inhuman teenagers (as they literally weren't humans).
The situation was problematic, to say the least, for the Fall Gladiators.
Two squads had been completely annihilated; counting the other casualties, their total losses amounted to four squads, or thirty-two players.
That left them with five squads, forty players (since it was a Sudden Death match, the eliminated players had to leave the field).
Anyone would have said that was enough, but seeing two high school students annihilate fifteen pro players each had turned them off.
For the time being, they were all grouped together on a bridge, accessible only by two staircases on the sides.
From this bridge, they had a view of the rest of the labyrinth and could even shoot at those below, while taking cover if necessary.
It was a good position, but in a normal game, you were very vulnerable on the sides because of the stairs: holding this position even as a squad was hard.
For forty players, however, it was a different matter.
One of the squad leaders approached Spartacus as he surveyed the area from the bridge.
" Boss, are you sure about this? I'm willing to bet the game is being broadcast...it's kind of a shame to be hiding out."
"I know, but have you seen who we're up against? Those kids aren't normal... and from what the survivors are saying, it's probably... the Akimbo Maiden and the Grim Reaper of Chaos!"
His interlocutor winced.
"...Yeah, that sucks. But it's not our style to stay holed up..."
He glanced at their teammates. A third stood by the deck railing, weapons raised.
The other two-thirds formed lines that stood at the corner of each staircase.
"We have no other option! Besides... if we can beat them, no matter how, we'll be done again! We have to force them to come to us... it's a challenge to them!"
The positions were completely reversed, and Spartacus himself had completely switched gears.
Even the others found him pitiful, but said nothing: they knew he was like that, and somehow having no shame in turning his coat was a strength.
The squad leader nodded, unconvinced.
Spartacus frowned.
"Anyway, if they get close, they're finished. Given the small space, there's no chance we'll miss them if they come in close. And we're under cover, behind the bridge railings."
The bridge did indeed have barriers that came up to the waist: perfect for taking cover and being protected from enemy fire.
"My plan is flawless! We just have to wait for them to come!"
Just as he said this, a detonation echoed.
A laser shot pierced the space, hitting one of the men on the bridge, who was immediately eliminated.
"Eh?"
By the time one of them let out a dazed exclamation, another shot took out another player.
"SNIPER! TAKE COVER!"
Spartacus shouted what everyone had realized.
Every man on deck crouched down.
" They can shoot from this far?"
Suddenly, a bright object split the air in a parabolic trajectory and struck the breastplate of a player.
Eliminated.
"What?!"
Fffffttt.
And another one.
"Huh?!"
Incomprehension struck them.
They were all taking cover behind a railing.
There was no higher point in the labyrinth: how could they get hit?
Spartacus saw the projectile.
"Darts!"
In laser tag, it was possible to equip one's weapon with darts, harmless projectiles with flat plastic heads (contained in magazines like "real" bullets) and fired by compressed air.
They were intended for people who didn't like lasers and for beginners, but almost no one used them.
Blasters had far greater range and accuracy; darts were only usable at close range, and even then.
As a third dart fell from the sky and took out another player, Spartacus lost it.
"FIND THAT SNIPER AND TAKE HIM OUT! QUICK!"
If he had thought calmly, he would have understood the situation.
He just thought they were exposed, or that their enemy had climbed somewhere to hit them despite their position.
When the fourth dart hit, one player spotted the trajectory.
"To the west! There! Follow my fire!"
"But... how can it hit us from here?!"
The designated position was indeed ten meters below.
"Never mind! Fire! Fire! Fire!"
The remaining thirty-six players, even those who had previously been hiding in the stairs, were now on the deck, firing at the indicated position.
Yet the sniper did not move.
He simply fired a fifth dart, which hit the mark.
"How?!"
"Our shots... they are hitting a wall!"
"How can he hit us when we can't?"
"Especially with darts?!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Right on target, Shidou-san. Now... coordinates, 25.082197, -87.780214."
"25.082197, -87,780214. Roger that. Fire."
Kurumi saw a dart fly out, then fall back and take out another Fall Gladiator.
"Hit. Nice shot."
"You're welcome. Without you, I couldn't do it."
"Still... you're a monster."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Kihihihi. Careful, they're firing back."
From where she was, Kurumi saw a shower of shots raining down on Shidou's position.
However, Shidou, safely hidden behind a wall, did not move.
He sighed.
"They still don't get it?..."
"Correction. 387, -0141."
"387, -0141, copy. Fire."
"Hit. Yes, it's pitiful."
Optical weapons (i.e. lasers) only fired in a straight line. So all you had to do was hide behind an obstacle to stop them.
But while the Fall Gladiators were equipped only with blasters, Shidou had made sure to take dart magazines as well.
Darts were gravity-driven projectiles, so they followed a parabolic trajectory.
With Kurumi as a spotter, Shidou could shoot projectiles with a curved trajectory to ignore barriers and obstacles, much like artillery fire.
Since there was no wind here and almost no humidity, all he had to do was to calculate the coordinates, taking into account the weight and speed of the projectiles, so that they would land correctly.
Of course, this was absolutely surreal, and further proof of their talent.
"Correction. 003, 002."
"003, 002. Roger."
Shidou calmly adjusted his aim, and fired, hitting another target.
After a few more hits, their opponents panicked and deserted their position.
Kurumi and Shidou pounced on them like lions on antelopes, feasting on their cries and desperation.
The match was broadcasted worldwide in all the laser tags of the world.
The Grim Reaper of Chaos and the Akimbo Maiden became world famous.
Scientists were even invited to appear on TV shows and claimed with certainty that they were not human, with extensive documentation of their performances.
And they were not wrong.
After the game was over and having signed hundreds of autographs, Kurumi and Shidou decided not to play a second round.
Mainly because if they had decided to do so, no one would have wanted to face them.
Instead, they went to a plaza, where they bought cold drinks and ice cream to cool off.
They sat down on a bench and talked for a long time, exchanging anecdotes and stories about their laser tag aliases.
Shidou confessed that he had kept newspaper articles about the Grim Reaper of Chaos in one of his chuuni-boxes (the boxes that Kotori had seized and used to blackmail him).
Kurumi replied that she often went to laser tags incognito and just sat and listened to people talk about her, then sighed mysteriously without anyone noticing her.
It was a bit like an episode of intimate confessions, where everyone confided their most embarrassing secrets, or in this case, the most amusing ones for them, as (almost) ex-chuuni.
Shidou pointed out that one day they should organize a triple date with Kaguya. He was sure it would be memorable.
Kurumi agreed, since she had dealt with Kaguya before, and Kaguya had adopted her as her Master (without her approval).
And this time, unlike her other dates, there was no long, exciting love confession at the end.
No sudden realization, no resolution, no hesitation.
No, this time, Shidou already knew the outcome from the start. And because of that, he had not been able to find the right moment.
The right time, to tell her...
"That reminds me of the time when-"
"Kurumi."
Shidou cut Kurumi off, and she looked at him with a surprised look.
"Ara? Shidou-san?"
"Sorry. But... my answer, is yes. Yes, I love you."
He looked at her with a wry smile.
Kurumi paused for a second, before she realized.
Her cheeks colored with a lovely blush, submerging her face with an awkward expression so unusual for her.
"Ah..."
Even the wordy Kurumi was at a loss for words.
Shidou didn't give her time to search for them.
He slowly leaned forward, and gently, so gently, took her by the shoulders before placing a kiss on her lips.
Even though they had kissed before...
This was Tokisaki Kurumi's first true kiss.
