The setting sun was settling down into the sunset-filled Tengu City. Trains were passing by, Shido was walking, everything seemed normal.

Except it was not. He was thinking about what Origami said back then. Five years ago, her parents were incinerated by the Tengu Fire. All thanks to the flame Spirit. Kotori can't control her own powers, and now both girls are scared. Shido remembered Mario looking a bit scared when facing Efreet too. Everyone at once was in peril.

"Nobody has any connection to what really happened." Shido thought to himself. "Saving Kotori is something only I can do."

"Aren't you a bit glad? After all, you'll be discharged tomorrow." Ryouko was talking to Origami while she was still in the hospital bed. "You can take it easy for one more day. I heard school was closed anyway. You should relax once in a while." She then took off.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh, I almost forgot." Ryouko turned to Origami. "Some top-of-the-line equipment will be delivered to the base two days from now. Because it's not something you can see every day, look forward to it."

"The Ocean Park? That theme park with a ton of pools?" Shido was planning with Reine and Kannazuki about the date with Kotori.

"That is correct." Reine confirmed. "Everyone at headquarters agreed that it's the venue most likely to make your date with Kotori a success."

"Indeed!" Kannazuki half-shouted. "The image of the commander's innocent and racy figure glimmering in a swimsuit is something that can only be burnt into our eyes during this time of the year and at that wonderful place!"

Shido just.. gave Kannazuki the death stare. "Could you please keep that to yourself?"

Reine coughed. "There is still one more thing, Shin: I have organized a training session for you."

"A training session? Count me in! In order to save Kotori, I'll do anything!"

Reine just nodded at this. Shido would probably take back those words very soon.

"Aaah.. ha ha.." Mario felt warmth. Mario and Luigi. Brothers by blood, finally reunited, all was right in the world.

"Alright, Mario, give me the scoop." Luigi's voice lowered. "How bad is it?"

"Really, really bad. We should be fine. With you by my side... We might be able to barely survive."

"Barely is an understatement." Luigi quivered. "I've seen that flame spirit."

Mario put his hands on a table. "I know! And that's why I need all the help I can-a get! Especially with someone like my brother! Can I count on you, Luigi?"

"Okie-dokie!" Luigi beamed. "I'm-a not running away when my brother's in danger!"

"I heard." Reine tuned in. "Kotori's date will be in Ocean Park. Although I have doubts about Origami Tobiichi appearing due to her condition, you may have to attend the date regardless. You can never leave it to chance."

"Ah. Okay. Should I-a bring Luigi to the park?" Mario questioned. "He's-a eager to help out, and he's equal to-a me in combat, if only slightly weaker!" Mario commented, with Luigi's spite going unnoticed.

"I'd prefer if you'd do that, yes. It could get suspicious with otherworldly beings overtaking the park. It's real good that the first person you united is one that's most human. Like your brother." Reine commented while Mario turned to Luigi.

"You hear-a that, Weeg?" Mario grinned. "We get to go on an adventure together-a again! It's not as eventful as the Mushroom Kingdom, but I-a have SOOOOO much to tell you and show you! You're-a gonna be so awesomely proud of me!"

"...I'm already awesomely proud of you, Mario." Luigi smiled.

"Aww, you're-a gonna make me cry again." Mario giggled again as he went out the front door. "Come on, Luigi! Let's-a-go!"

"Okie-dokie!" Luigi followed quickly behind and gently shut the door.

Shido definitely took back those words he said about doing anything to save Kotori. His current location with Tohka and Yoshino was a swimsuit shop of all places. Everyone was gawking at the scene except for Shido who just wanted to die inside.

"...how can buying swimsuits with the two of them be considered training?" Shido only know questioned his own judgement.

"You need to be comfortable with seeing girls in swimsuits." Reine blatently replied. "It'd be disastrous if your mind were to wander while you're on the date with Kotori."

"K-Kotori's life is on the line here! I'd never do such a thing!"

And he did such a thing. Within 3 seconds of turning his eyes, he saw a woman in swimwear. Reine decided to remind him. "Did you forget your heart rate is being monitored? You're gawking right now."

"I-I'll do my best!" Shido stood upright.

"Excellent."

Tohka turned to Shido in delight. "This is amazing, Shido! Are all of these things swimsuits?!" Tohka pointed to a swimsuit while Yoshino was fiddling around with one. Seems like Shido already knew that this episode was gonna be the fanservice episode. He's in for a rough time.

"Y-yeah.."

"Then what on earth is this thing, Shido?"

"You don't know? It's-"

Origami randomly walked in. "Military Zapped Ultimate Grind Instrument. MIZUGI, the Japanese term for swimsuit. It's a new model of anti-Spirit combat equipment. Immediately upon activation, the embedded Realizers display their striking potency through the releasing of projectiles that had been compressed to the molecular level which can easily pierce through the armor of Spirits and disintegrate their bodily tissues beyond the point of regeneration."

The two Spirits gasped, while Shido was just protesting. "Origami?!"

Origami turned to Yoshino. "As I suspected. Hermit." Yoshino instantly cowared and clinged behind Tohka.

"Damn you!" Tohka said. "What are you doing here? Shido, is what she just said true?"

"How could it-" Shido was interrupted by Origami.

"It's true. Even with complete awareness of MIZUGI's existence, he brought the two of you here. I'm sure he was planning to strike after luring you into a false sense of security."

"Don't lie! Shido would never do something like that!"

"I-I don't think he would either." Yoshino quietly piped up.

"Isn't that right, Shido?" Tohka turned to Shido.

But he didn't even get to answer. Origami went above and beyond to imitate Shido's voice. "No. It's just as Origami says. I've been planning to kill you for a while now."

Tohka is gullible, soooo she fell for it. "W-what are you saying, Shido?!"

"How can you fall for that?" Shido turned to Tohka.

The sudden realisation hit her as she turned angrily to Origami. "You're a sly little fox, Origami! Were you making fun of me?!"

Origami was still talking in a flat tone. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Shido sighed. "Still, it's such a coincidence that we run into each other here of all places. How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine." Origami replied. "However, it was no coincidence." The security camera sparkled in the distance. "I'm happy to see you, Shido, but today I have business with Tohka."

"What?" Tohka felt a heavy weight all of a sudden.

"Do you remember the Spirit of flames that appeared out of the sky yesterday?" At least the sky wasn't falling. "You must have seen that Spirit. Tell me what you remember."

Tohka pouted, huffed, crossed her arms, and looked the other way. "I wouldn't tell you even if I knew anything!"

Origami clasped her own hands together in a prayer-like manner, and put them to the side of her cheek in a cutesy manner, and tilted her head to one side in an innocent matter. "Please."

Tohka and Shido gasped at Origami's technique. Tohka tried to retaliate. "S-stop that! What do you want?"

"I want you to tell me about the Spirit of flames. Please." Origami then bowed slightly which would most certainly break Tohka.

"Okay! I'll tell you, so just raise your head! It's so damn creepy! The Spirit of flames... Yes, she really was there. She was... She was red." Great job, Tohka. Society benefits from her.

"And?"

"And... uh... She was... powerful."

"Is that all?"

"..." Tohka turned to her last resort. "And she was all like WHOOOSH!"

"You're useless." Origami said the harsh truth.

"Wh-what?!" Tohka tried to get at Origami, but the Yoshino Shield stopped Tohka. "I was nice enough to help you! What's with that attitude?!"

"By the way, Shido. I only have the swimsuit for the P.E. Class. I'd stand out like a sore thumb if I had to go either to the pool or beach wearing it."

"Oh, well, yeah..." Shido was just lost. Why wouldn't he be? He has harem time and now it's gonna be the beach episode. Sort of. "Since we're already in a swimsuit shop, why don't you go buy one?"

"The opinions of one's peers are important when picking out swimsuits. Feedback from males are especially important."

"Pardon?"

"I need feedback from a male." Origami looked Shido dead in the eyes to let him KNOW that she was serious.

"Um..."

"I need it."

Shido caved in. Again. It's like a habit. "I-I can tell you what I think.."

Tohka gasped, and thus began the Western Showdown of Tohka and Origami. All for Shido. Shido was definitely in for an unfortunate experience. It's his job, so he'll have to get used to it. Unlucky him. Tohka pointed at Origami. "Got it, Tobiichi Origami? Whoever turns Shido on more gets the right to go on a date with him!"

"The result is inevitable. I will never give you a chance to go on a date with him." Origami still said in a blank tone.

Shido just turned his head a little and communicated with Reine. "Why did this turn into such a battle?"

Reine seemed not concerned. "Just go with it. It'll be good training for you."

Just then, three girls came in. A group of gossipers. Shido knew them well. Ai, Mai and Mii.

"Huh? Is that Itsuka?"

"What're you doing in a girl's swimsuit shop?"

"That's so lame..."

"I-" Shido couldn't retaliate. He had to stare in detail. Full detail. The three gossipers were also in swimsuits. "And so the day begins."

The three gossipers continued.

"Whatever."

"Let's just pick some other ones. We could try the school swimsuits."

"This is so lame..."

Reine was looking at Shido's stats. "Shin. I saw your heart rate peak. The date is theirs at this point."

"Don't even joke about that!" Shido was half-serious.

Just then, the door to the swimsuit shop opened with a thud. Shido turned to it and FINALLY he saw some sane people. Well, they weren't exactly human, it was just the famous plumber duo. Mario and Luigi! They both looked around the shop.

"Mama-mia, I think this is-a the wrong store! It's all girls' wear!" Mario looked around the shop, sudden bad thoughts filling his head. He turned to Luigi who instantly figured it out.

"If this is the wrong shop, bro, then why is Shido here?" Luigi pointed to Shido. Shido waved.

"Ah, hey, Mario, Luigi. Glad to see you're still doing well."

Mario pointed slightly at Shido's face. "Why does-a your face look like a tomato right-a now?"

Shido turned even more red at Mario's remark. "S-shut up! I'm in a tight spot here! Can you PLEASE stay with me so this doesn't have to be AS embarrassing?!"

Luigi was just confused. "What do you mean embarrassing?"

At that point, the curtain to their left opened. It was Tohka. "Here I am, Shido!" Out came Tohka, wearing a white swimsuit. Luigi kinda got the point and also turned red. Mario realised everyone was in for a rough time. "Oh! Mario! Green guy!"

"Luigi."

"Hello!" Tohka then realised her current outfit and went back to being nearly as embarrassed as Luigi was.

Kannazuki, however, was enjoying this to the full. "Now that's WONDERFUL! The simple design emphasises Tohka's true beauty! It's an exciting choice!"

"H-how is it.. you three?" Shido was red at Tohka's body while the bros were slightly less red. "D-does it turn you on, Shido?"

"What have you gotten into." Mario might as well have snapped.

Shido tried his best to respond to Tohka. "Um... well... yeah..."

"Thanks! Your words are encouraging!"

The curtain to the right opened. Now there was a bro for each date. Mario for Tohka and Luigi for Origami. Speaking of Origami, she was finished changing. "Shido." They all turned to the right as Origami was shown with a swimsuit more revealing than Tohka's.

"I feel REALLY bad for you, Shido." Luigi patted Shido on the back.

Kannazuki was still fanboying. "Yes! That's it! She's showing off some huge power levels! The dark color of the bikini emphasizes her fairness, and to top it off, she tied her hair up, revealing her slender neck!"

"..Oh. It's the dwarf that always attacks me." Origami said. Mario just sighed. "Shido, what do you thinl?"

"Eh... yeah... that looks good too..." Shido was getting redder and redder. Origami smirked at Shido's comment. Tohka was flailing her arms, however, like a baby.

"Damn you! How about this, Shido?! Mario?!" Shido and Mario turned to Tohka, who was now wearing a similar swimsuit to Origami, except it was more purple. She was naive, and was embarrassed and tried to cover up.

Kannazuki again. "Jackpot! A maiden blessed with a well-proportioned body and a shy personality fiddles with the hearts of men!"

Origami opened her curtain again. Shido and Luigi turned that-a-way now. She was just in a regular shirt now. "Shido."

"What's going on here now?" Kannazuki commentated.

Tohka was boasting, on the other hand. "Have you finally admitted defeat, Origami?" Origami just walked to Shido and took his hand. At first, Shido didn't know what he was getting into, but then he saw that his hand was going for Origami's clothing. Shido panicked a little.

"Raise my skirt."

"What?!" Shido couldn't believe it!

Luigi was panicking too. "Isn't that bending the rules?!"

And so was Tohka. "W-what are you trying to pull here?!" Origami ignored both the green coward and the purple princess and directed Shido's hand to her own skirt. Shido was sweating immensely. Origami then took her own clothing off to reveal a swimsuit.

"And there it is!" Kannazuki continued. "She got him all worked up by hiding it instead of showing it off! The art of teasing, less IS more! The thrill of a peek is unrivalled! Innovation has triumphed!"

Tohka was blushing too. "N-not yet! The battle isn't over yet!"

Just then, a quiet voice managed to be louder than anyone else. It came from a not yet opened curtain. "Shido... Shido... please... help me..." That quiet and tiny voice belonged to Yoshino, who stayed out of the duel. Everyone turned to the curtain.

"Yoshino?!" Shido shouted. "Excuse me, are you okay?!" He opened the curtain without warning, and there was a half-dressed Yoshino, struggling to put on a swimsuit, while getting tangled up in some places.

"I-I can't put it on with only one hand..." Yoshino's eyes were about to water.

Everyone was gawking at the scene, except Origami, because she's basically emotionless. A fanfare played in Shido's ear, similar to his first talk with Tohka. Reine added in her own commentary. "The winner of the date has been decided."

Shido managed to choke on his own spit while the Mario Bros. just judgingly looked at him.

"Crap."

"Never wanna go through that again." Shido was relaxing on Fraxinus with Kannazuki, in which the latter just simply chuckled.

"I had fun doing commentary on it. But you got to ogle girls in swimsuits. I'm sure it was effective training." Shido turned his head to Kannazuki. He never was this serious before.

"Right..." He turned back to his coffee. "I must save Kotori. I can't afford to fail tomorrow." He clenched his coffee cup, which was thankfully empty.

"Hmm..." Mario was laying on the couch next to Shido. Next to Mario was Luigi. "It will be quite a difficult-a task, let me-a tell you."

"Mario's right!" Luigi piped up. "For our future, we cannot let any more flame Spirits win!"

"Speaking of Flame Spirits, I still want to remember what happened five years ago... I don't remember how I sealed her powers back then."

Mario patted the back of the depressed Shido. "Don't-a worry Shido, I know you can do it! You're a superstar!"

Shido just softly chucked at Mario's optimism while Kannazuki already had an idea. "I don't know if it will be of any help, but how about watching the video of the fire?"

Shido turned his head. "There's a video?"

The TV was switched on in the Fraxinus room. Unluckily for the three, the video was of a great massive fire in Tengu City.

"Mama-mia... That's-a basically.." Mario started.

"What Bowser did to our Kingdom..." Luigi finished.

Mario clenched his fist. The power of Efreet seriously can't go unchecked for long.

The TV showed a reporter in a helicopter, over the fire. "The fire is spreading! I can feel the heat from all the way up here!" Explosions were also occuring, causing the reporter to flinch.

Kannazuki was the only human to comment. "A TV channel filmed this, but Ratatoskr prevented it from going on air. Now, this scene." Kannazuki pressed a button on the remote. There, the scene in front of them, was a flame Spirit and a lying Shido.

"There's Kotori and me." Shido stated the obvious.

"Continuing playback." Kannazuki pressed another button and the scene went by, zoomed in, and slowed down. It seemed that was the true scene. Except some square tiles... or mosaic, or whatever, flashed on screen. That wasn't normal. Mario and Shido gasped.

"Stop!" Shido commanded. The video paused.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Kannazuki was concerned. "There's nothing suspicious there." Apparently, Kannazuki couldn't see the figure.

"Who're you?!" Shido tried to talk to the TV to the figure. It wasn't doing much. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Who are you referring to?"

"Her there!" Shido looked at the figure, and then realised. "Huh? Why do I know that video noise is SOMEONE?"

"I've-a-seen this before... I think!" Mario struggled with his head. "My... memory is vague..!"

Flashbacks of Kotori turning into a Spirit rang into Shido's head, and flashbacks of Bowser burning the Mushroom Kingdom rang into Mario's head. Their eyes shook so much that they turned blank. Shido and Mario both went unconscious.

"Shido! Hey, are you okay?!" Kannazuki was worried.

"Mario!" Luigi yelled as he quickly scurried over to Mario. "Stay strong, bro!"

Shido was now in the town square, awaiting the inevitable.

Kannazuki was talking to him over the earpiece. "Sorry, Shido, I did something I shouldn't have when you got back last night."

"It's okay." Shido is such a nice guy. "The footage does bother me, sure, but today I don't have time to worry about it."

"You're right. We'll be here to support you the best we can. Be confident. You're a mighty playboy who's already made a number of Spirits fall for you."

"...thanks." Classic Kannazuki, always making the situation awkward.

Reine added in. "Shin, I beamed Kotori on the surface. She should be there soon. We're counting on you."

"Okay." Shido ended the communcation, and just sighed. He was going to be in for a very rough time, it seemed, and it was barely over. In fact, it just started. He heard footsteps, and those footsteps belonged to someone with coral twin-tailed hair, and black ribbons. "Hey, Kotori." As usual, Kotori was wearing a cute outfit that did not suit her bossy attitude at all.

"Sorry for making you wait." Kotori also sighed. "You see a girl dressed to the nines, and you say nothing? Wasn't that the first thing I taught you?" Back to Tsundere Kotori.

"Yeah. You dressed up just for me?"

"W-well, it is a date, after all. And I'll at least give you a chance to do something." Kotori was slightly blushing. "And it doesn't feel bad to get praised." She quickly got over it and continued walking. "Alright, let's get this date thing started already."

"Y-yeah..."

In came a very high-pitched "Yay!" from a certain puppet. Shido realised and didn't turn. The voice belonged to Yoshinon.

Yoshino just went with a simple "Yeah..."

"I'm looking forward to it!"

Accompanied Yoshino were Tohka, Mario & Luigi.

"Oh boy, going to-a the ocean park sure will be-a nice, eh Luigi?"

"Yeah! It'll be a fun time for everyone involved!" Luigi went along with Mario.

Shido stuttered. "W-what're you doing here?"

Reine lifted her head up from Fraxinus. "Ah, I forgot to mention. They'll be going with you on this date. We decided it'd be best today."

Kotori was all the smug. "You made quite the interesting move, Shido. I'm looking forward to this."

Tohka presented her giant shopping bag. "Look, I even brought the swimsuits we bought yesterday!"

Yoshino silently raised hers. "Me too."

Mario and Luigi raised their bags. "Aah, they're not-a swimsuits, but we're-a still going! They're more like-a uh.. swimming trunks!"

Kotori narrowed her eyes in MORE smug. "Oh my, you sure are kind, Shido."

Shido was dreading this, but Tohka was loving it as her gasps filled the entire ocean park. And what a sight it was. A giant pool surrounded by mountains and palmtrees. Waterfalls entering the giant pool as well as multi-colored slides going all sorts of inner directions. Everyone was now in their swimsuits. This was Shido, Mario, Luigi, Tohka & Yoshino. Tohka was obviously the one to yell. "Amazing! There're mountains and lakes inside the building!"

"S-so much water!" Yoshino quietly shouted.
"IT'S SO EXCITING!"

"Shido!" Tohka pointed to the wave pool. "Can I go in that lake?"

"Sure."

"Let's go, Yoshino!"

"S-sure!" They both ran off towards the wave pool like total children. Mario just sighed.

"Ah, the joys of-a being young! Well. Hope-a your date with Kotori goes-a well!" He gave a thumbs up.

"Y-yeah... I support you too, Shido!" Luigi jittered. He and Mario then ran off to supervise Tohka and Yoshino.

"They look like they're having fun." Shido turned to the voice. It was his little sister, Kotori, wearing a white swimsuit. She folded her arms and turned to Shido. "What? Got turned on by your little sister?"

"Of course I don't!" Shido bickered back.

"What're you doing, Shin?" Reine said from the communicator. "Shouldn't you give her some praise?"

Shido coughed. "Kotori."

"What?"

"It's just that... bikini looks good on you. I-it's cute."

Kotori was flattered at first, but then fumbled her eyebrows. She went smug again. "Oh, thanks. Did Reine or Kannazuki order you to praise me?"

"Wha-? No! I meant it!" Shido lied, but he had to, in order to seal this Flame Spirit... in an ocean park."

"You flatter me. What exactly about it is cute, then?"

Shido was suddenly presented with a choice of options. He had to make an Absolute Choice.

1: All of it! You're cute in anything!

2: It looks simple but it's very well thought out! You've really got a great fashion sense!

3: I can't have enough of your budding breasts...

"Time to show our skill!" Kannazuki shouted. "All personnel, choose!" At once, every Ratatoskr member around the world chose. "Hmm, this is reasonable result."

Conversations began in Fraxinus. "There's no way saying option 1 would have bad results!"

"Option 2 makes him only care about the clothing."

"Option 3 is out of the question."

"You're right..." He thought long and hard, but then again, he's Kannazuki. "Shido, go with option three!" Everyone in Fraxinus gave Kannazuki a death glare.

"Okay..." Shido prepared himself. "I can't have enough of your budding breasts..."

Kotori blushed and went angry, and covered herself up, of course. "W-what're you even saying?!"

"I just-"

Kannazuki was hit by nearly every object that Fraxinus could hold. "What?! What's wrong?!" He tried to prevent a giant globe from being thrown at him. "What's wrong with budding breasts?!"

"Just shut up!

"We'll send you off to dig up hot springs again!"

Tohka pointed at a giant water slide. "Shido, let's do that!"

"...A water slide, huh?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun if we go together!"

Yoshino quietly stated. "I'll pass. I'd lose Yoshinon again."

"I'll pass too." Kotori normally stated. "I'm no kid."

"You're-a never to old to have an adventure, Kotori." Mario folded his arms.

"Let's go together, then, Shido!" Tohka grabbed Shido's arm and linked her own arm with his, looking like a couple. Shido gave Kotori a look of 'help me'.

"Wait. I'll go too after all."

Reine nodded. "Good job, Tohka. Even if we sent them on a date, I was sure Kotori couldn't let go and have fun."

Meanwhile, on top the slide, Shido was trembling. "I don't mind the slide, but why THIS position?" The position Shido was talking about was Tohka and Kotori basically sandwiching Shido with Kotori in front and Tohka behind him.

"Off we go then!" Tohka yelled. Everyone was now in a death trap. Down they went, with Shido and Kotori screaming in terror, and Tohka screaming in joy. Twists, turns, roundabouts! The position didn't work too well, though. The three passengers fell off the slide early, and came slamming down into the pool. Yoshino was quivering at the sight of what she just saw.

"That-a landing was so unexpected! 10/10!" Mario gave a thumbs up.

"T-too scary... 6/10..." Luigi was shaking too.

Tohka was beaming. "That was fun, Shido!" Shido emerged from the water, having a clinging Kotori hugging him from behind.

"Big brother..." Kotori was half-crying. Her hair was damp and long and un-twin-tailed.

"Kotori? You..." But Kotori was crying for a different reason. She slumped forward and pointed. "Could you get my ribbons please?" She pointed to the floating black ribbons in the water.

Tohka was explaining the ride to Yoshino, Mario and Luigi. "It was swoosh and then whoosh then whee then splash!" Tohka was doing all sorts of arm movements to get the job done.

"That was insane." Kotori was finally done adjusting her ribbons to her hair again.

"Kotori, why did you put on black ribbons today?" Shido noticed.

"What? Got a problem with it?"

"That's not it."

Kotori went deep. "White won't do. I'm weak when I put on the white one. I have to be the black, strong me." She narrowed her eyes.

The dinner scene in the ocean park was a lot more unsettling than it should've been. Sure, Tohka was excited. "This's great, Shido!" Food was basically piling on the table due to Tohka's bottomless stomach."

"It's delicious!" Yoshino was happy too.

"Really? Good to hear." The only ones not having a good time were Shido and Kotori. The ones not at a table were Mario and Luigi. The bros were having a table seperate to themselves, having an eating contest, which of course, Mario was easily winning. Shido turned to Kotori, whom she had a bored expression on her face. Shido quietly turned and quietly communicated with Reine. "Reine, how are the values of Kotori's mood and affection gauges?"

"They didn't fall but they didn't rise either. No changes whatsoever."

Shido stopped communicating and looked at Kotori. "So she's completely indifferent?" He thought to himself. "I can't seal her like this." He watched her take a sip of her orange juice from her cup. Kotori then coughed on the juice, although it did seem to exaggerate.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it just went the wrong way." She got up and walked somewhere.

"Where're you going?"

"Asking a lady where she goes when she stands up... That'd be a fatal mistake if it wasn't me."

Shido watched her walk off and sighed. He then noticed Tohka and Yoshino were staring at him. "What?"

"You're back to your usual self." Tohka commented.

"Did you have a fight with Kotori...?" Yoshino quietly said.
"You seem relieved that she's gone." Yoshinon.. not-quietly said. "You're so obvious, Shido."

"Eh? Really?" They both nodded at the same time to his question. "I'm gonna... go use the restroom." He then walked onwards. The Mario Bros. didn't even look his way when he walked by. He was now at the restroom. "Reine, am I really that nervous? Tell me the values of my mental monitors."

KANNAZUKI replied to Shido. "Ah, Shido. Reine isn't here to do an analysis right now."

"I see." But then he stopped. He saw a lab coat go behind two vending machines in the restroom. He got curious and went closer.

"Shido, don't!" Kannazuki tried to warn him, but Shido went and hid in front of the vending machine to listen in to any conversation.

Behind the vending machines were Reine and Kotori. "Are you all right, Kotori?"

"Yeah, but it was a close call." Kotori held up her arm. "Please."

"I've already given you 50 times the normal amount this morning. Any more would-"

Kotori weakly smiled. "I'm a Spirit now. I won't die to some drugs. Please. I'm on a date with Shido-with big brother... Please... This might be our last... If this fails, I won't be myself tomorrow. I want to enjoy my date with big brother before that..." Reine caved in and pulled out a needle.

Shido had to listen to all that dramatic tension. There's a deadline. This wasn't just a fanservice episode. It was a fanservice episode with plot. Reine was done injecting Kotori with drugs and then left the scene. She stopped and turned to notice Shido. When Shido realised his presence was acknowledged, he moved forward. Reine followed him, in which Shido struck up the conversation. "Reine, how long has Kotori been like that?"

"Since she regained her Spirit powers."

"Then why? Why didn't you tell me?"

"She asked that we don't tell you. She didn't want you to go on a date with her out of mere pity."

Shido gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Reine continued. "So please, pretend you didn't see that. It's for Kotori's sake."

"I got it."

Kotori returned to the diner and saw Shido alone at a table with piles and piles of empty dishes (from Tohka) were on his table. "Shido? Where's the other four?"

Shido ignored this. "Kotori, let's change and head over to the theme park part!"

"Huh?" Kotori was confused but instantly clicked in. "You got orders from Fraxinus? This place isn't working out, so we switch to the amusement park? Not that I mind."

"That's where you're wrong." Shido fidgeted with his earpiece until it came into his hand. He tossed it to the ground.

"Shido...?"

"I just like theme parks more than pools."

"Huh...?"

"Don't worry about the four. I sent Tohka and Yoshino off on the jungle cruise here. And I'm pretty sure Mario and Luigi can handle themselves." He then took Kotori's hand, in which Kotori was speechless. "Let's have some fun. It's been a while since we've been to a theme park. You better brace yourself, Kotori."

Kotori was more than excited.

Things were looking grim in the AST HQ. Origami and Ryouko were looking at some equipment. "Is this the 'exciting equipment'?" Origami asked.

"Yeah. It's the prototype DW-029 Annihilator Gear, the White Licorice. It's a crazy unit that has firepower equal to a whole AST squad."

"With this, defeating Efreet might be possible."

"In theory, it should defeat Spirits. And... other worldly beings." Ryouko got flashbacks to her hot springs trip with Mario's interruptions. "But you can't use it. You've neither got the permission nor the skill. DEM's specialist wizard was vaporized after using it for just 30 minutes full power. But why do you bring up Efreet?" She then continued. "I see. So that thing on the footage from the other day was Efreet? She did have flames..."

"Footage?"

Origami was now witnessing said footage. There it was, in flesh and blood on footage, Efreet, also known as Kotori. Origami glared eye-to-eye with that footage. "Kotori.. Itsuka!"