Date A Re:Live

S1 Chapter 18: Kurumi Fallacy, Part 5

By : Tohka_Yatogami

...

Summary

Even a similar story can take it's own path. Shido and Mana are amnesiac siblings living with their friend Kotori, however the past catches up to Shido when he nearly runs into a space quake, and his world changes as one girl asks... "Are you here to kill me?" (Stronger Ratatoskr, weaker DEM, games & movie are canon to story) [Shido/Tohka/Harem]

And here we are, after four chapters that comprised pretty much all of Episode 7 in the anime, we're finally moving on to events from Episode 8 in full. I'll tell you here that things are going to get crazy since not only does Shido ask Kurumi for a date... but so does the rest of his harem, all around the same time!

Yep, that's right, that actually includes Yoshino and Kotori this time. A three way date is hard, but a five way date? Yikes, we knew you well Shido... *laughs* just kidding, you'll survive Shido! Well, at least you'll survive physically. I did originally consider having Kotori and Yoshino take over some of the scenes, but then I remembered how Yoshino and Kotori's dates were shown during Mayuri Judgment to be just too different for that to work.

So I decided to just make up some new scenes, admittedly doing both that and trying to find the right moments to fit them in kinda worries me. Hopefully it won't feel all tossed around like a salad when I post it, I'm already partially worried that's how I felt with Ch 18 of A Dragon's Heavenly Bonds. I guess the best I can say is... wish me luck there everyone ^^;

Either way, as of this point in the story, Shido's only got a little time left before he learns the hard way that Kurumi is just as bad as she appeared to be... and also, we're gonna see a bit of mess in-universe as a certain character's presence in a certain situation causes a certain reaction to a certain other character... *giggles* I wonder which two I'm talking about, am I talking about Kurumi? I probably am, but... well, you never know :3

Alright, now time for Yoshino's data sheet before we begin. As a small heads up and reminder, I decide to not use Mizusagi as her last name. Yoshino's official last name will be Mizui instead.

-Yoshino Mizui, Code Name: [Hermit]-

Angel: Zadkiel, the "Freezing Puppet" - Zadkiel is a white mechanical puppet in the form of a rabbit, while technically a puppet its mechanical nature allows the angel brief movement through autonomous programming while Yoshinon isn't controlling it. When Yoshino puts her hands into the control panel area, Zadkiel can unless its full potential. If Yoshino is wearing Yoshinon when she's controlling Zadkiel, the latter will project her voice through Zadkiel if she needs to talk.

- Alternate Form: Zadkiel, Yoshinon Mode - Not exactly a form change, but just the state when Yoshinon's on Yoshino's hand. This causes Zadkiel and Yoshinon to temporarily be one and the same, allowing Yoshinon to talk through the Angel. If Zadkiel has something to say to Yoshinon, it can still communicate with her.

- Alternate Form: Siryon, the " Frozen Armor" - By shifting its body, Zadkiel will essentially 'equip' itself onto Yoshino becoming a set of armor for her to well. Using this technique also overlays some ice on Yoshino's Astral Dress. Yoshinon best defines the form as Yoshino essentially turning Zadkiel into clothing and then wearing it.

- Powers: Yoshino 's elemental affinity as a Spirit is the three phases of water, she can gather water molecules from the air and convert them into her spirit mana for her attacks, as a consequence she is weaker in areas with little moisture or extremely hot. The phase of water she uses depends on her choice or her emotional state if unconsciously used. She'll use the solid state of ice if afraid, sadness will cause her to use the liquid state and create rain, and if angered which she rarely enters... she'll use the gas form and burn what she touches with boiling steam.

Risk Factors: B

Spacequake: C

Spirit's Astral Dress: B

Angel: AA

Strength: 95

Consistency: 82

Spiritual Power: 199

Agility: 212

Intelligence: 152

Kurumi was standing by her school locker, and soon as she gets her non-school shoes on, she suddenly hears a knock by the locket and turns to see Shido was standing there while looking at her directly.

"Oh, well hello there Shido. Do you need something? Kurumi asked.

"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out tomorrow if your free." Shido asked, making Kurumi blink.

"Tomorrow? As in like tomorrow, tomorrow?" Kurumi questioned.

"Yep, tomorrow! If you want that is. I figured I could show you around town, show you some sights." Shido replied, hoping he didn't sound like a playboy with how he chose to word that last part. 'I need to think these replies ahead better!'

"Hmm... that sounds fun, hey wait a minute. Shido, are you by chance asking me out on a date without actually using the d-word?" Kurumi smirked, making Shido blush a bit from her tease.

"Uh... yeah, guess I am. So, what do you say?" Shido wondered.

"Alright, I'll go on a date with you. Although admittedly I'm a bit surprised you'd ask me that." Kurumi replied, smiling a bit while giving a silent giggle.

Shido blinked at her confused.

"I figure you might not want to consider what Origami likely told you." Kurumi replied, Shido prepared his poker face and tilt his head confused.

"Origami? Why would she tell me something about you, even if she did she gets nervous so often I tend to worry if she's just exaggerating something. She is kinda shy." Shido replied, making Kurumi blink a bit.

'She didn't tell him? That's odd, it seemed like she would have. Still, if he doesn't know then I can use this to my advantage and lure him in where I want him.' Kurumi thought, smirking and giggling internally. Externally on the other hand, she gives Shido a smile. "Oh never mind, I must have fallen for one of those occasional fake rumors."

"OK, is 10:30 by the station gates OK?" Shido asked, and Kurumi nods.

"I'll see you there, looking forward to it." Kurumi smiled.

Shido soon sees Kurumi head off, and once she was out of sight he drops his poker face and looks more serious. Soon Origami sees Shido from afar, and realizing he had asked her, sighs in relief as she walks closer and stops beside him.

"I w-was so worried she m-might catch onto you." Origami replied, shaking a bit as she held her neck again.

"Honestly, so was I. We may have just been lucky she didn't notice that I was faking that part." Shido replied, soon breathing as he stared off the direction Kurumi left. "I swear I'll get her to fall for me. I swear it. I'll see you back at the house Origami."

Shido heads out the school gates, and as she did, Origami rubbed her throat from where she had been grabbed by Kurumi once again, remembering the sight of Kurumi's clock eye firsthand. She still didn't understand why, but that eye felt... wrong.

"Why am I so obsessed with that thing?" Origami told herself, soon remembering the strange white hands themselves. "And just what were those shadows, should we really be letting Shido do his on his own?"

Phantom and Material B soon landing at part of the city, namely the park that Phantom and Kurumi had first met at. Phantom took a look around and used her mana to sense for anything of in the area's energy, getting her partner's attention as she began her searching through the area.

"Uh... OK, I'm lost here so please explain." Material B questioned, making Phantom flinch as she realized she forgot to tell her.

"(Yeah, I need to work on remembering I have a partner again after so many years.)" Phantom replied, chuckling as she sweat dropped. Soon turning. "(I'm trying to see if I can find any information that can help me figure out what caused Kurumi to change like she did after Saya died. That make sense Watcher?)"

"Oh, so you're basically-" Material B began, but soon stopped herself and blinks a bit. "Wait, did you just call me Watcher?"

"(It's a code name, consider it the equivalent to why I call myself Phantom. Every Spirit has a code name, and I decided to make that one yours based on your appearance.)" Phantom answered, and 'Watcher' looked down, wondering what Phantom was seeing in her Astral Dress to come to that name.

"...I have no idea what led you to that, but I guess it's not a bad code name either." Watcher replied, soon walking near Phantom as she resumed her search. "Though to ask, who exactly is Kurumi that you feel something's wrong with her now?"

"(Remember the two partners I told you about? Kurumi and that Saya girl I just mentioned were those partners, and probably the first real friends I had on this long journey.)" Phantom explained, recalling the memory.

"(I was nearly captured by a DEM Jabberwocky robot once, the only time they nearly got me. At that time, a girl came into the area and despite not knowing me or the situation, she chose to protect me. Zafkiel reacted, saying it really wanted to be bonded to her. She didn't hesitate to accept the role of a Spirit, even after I quickly told her the most shocking thing of all.)

-Flashback Start-

Kurumi saw her current self after having become a Spirit and gasped, the new outfit she was wearing that was partially made of light shocking her a bit.

"What the? Phantom, why am I wearing this?" Kurumi asked surprised.

"(Because you've become a Spirit, you're essentially still human but at the same time much more than one. This is power that when abused ends up as a Spacequake.)" Phantom explained, surprising Kurumi.

"(I'm sorry, but I figured I'd have to tell you more before you accepted the crystal. I promise I'll explain this to you, but right now defeating this machine is our top priority.)"

"B-but I don't know what to do." Kurumi said worriedly, soon feeling Phantom put a hand on hers. "Huh?"

"(Calm down Kurumi, listen to me carefully. Just believe in your power, and the crystal within you will protect you. This power entrusted itself you, so you must trust it in return.)"

Kurumi looked at her and nodded, the Jabberwocky rushed at the two as Kurumi closed her eyes.

'Believe, just believe... if anything can hear me please lend me the strength to protect everyone.' Kurumi thought, a small bit of sweat trickled down her side as she tried to keep calm.

[I am here Master, I will protect you.]

Kurumi opened her eyes to see the pair of guns known as Zafkiel. Phantom smiled as she saw it, looking at her.

"(This is Zafkiel, otherwise known as the 'Emperor of Shadowed Time', it's your Angel. These pair of guns will the sword and shield that shall be by your side whenever you wish for them to come.)" Phantom explained, soon turning at the Jabberwocky that was about to strike them.

"(Now trust yourself, trust that you can protect us!)"

Kurumi stared and breathed in as she wished for Zafkiel's power to save them, and as she did... she suddenly felt herself and Phantom knocked back as the two guns suddenly fired a blast of darkness, and it struck the Jabberwocky right in the chest.

The giant machine stopped in place as it suddenly glowed and exploded into shards, the two covering their faces as the shards of meal flew everywhere. Phantom winced a bit at the sight as she sent out a mosaic wave to clean it.

"(Better hope no one saw that.)" Phantom aid, her unseen face sweat dropping. She soon turned to Kurumi. "(Thank you for saving me, I'll always be thankful to you Miss... oh no, I never got your name. I'm sorry.)"

"Oh, my name is Kurumi. Kurumi Tokisaki." Kurumi replied, bowing a bit.

"(Thank you, Kurumi. Now that I've given you this crystal I have much to tell you. I've put you into a terrible fate and never got the chance to warn you. After that, I'll be going.)" Phantom said, but soon Kurumi looked at Zafkiel and...

"...I want to help you." Kurumi suddenly said, surprising Phantom. "That thing was after you, and you already said were protecting this power from someone who wanted to abuse it, right? I can't bear to make you take that burden alone. We're friends now, aren't we?"

Phantom gasped a that.

"(Friends? I... I've never had a friend before, for two whole decades I've been alone with only the task I have keeping me going. You... you really want to help me?)" Phantom asked, her voice shaking as if she wasn't sure this was real or not.

"I do, I promise." Kurumi confirmed, smiling as she took Phantom's hand.

-End Flashback-

Watcher teared up happily as Phantom finished her story, wiping her eyes clean, she sniffled a bit and showed her eyes sparkling in awe and admiration.

"She's such a sweet girl, you were so lucky to have her as a friend." Watcher cried.

"(Yeah, and it wasn't that long before I ended up inviting her best friend Saya, leading to her becoming my second partner. It seemed like for a time we could stop the DEM's attempts to kill anymore Spirits... but I was too confident in the change.)" Phantom sadly continued, making Watcher worry.

"(One day I sensed the current host of Haniel's crystal die, so I was forced to go get it before the DEM stole it. Unfortunately... I learned I was tricked, and then I felt Camael had its host die... and I realized to my horror that Saya had just been murdered. I went back and got the Camael crystal, but wasn't able to rescue Kurumi and she was taken somewhere to probably be kill. She somehow escaped after that, but she was more distant after... it was my greatest failure.)"

"My god... you had to see a friend of yours die?" Watcher repeated, and Phantom nodded.

"(For that reason, I began only seeing Kurumi out of necessity or if she wanted to see me herself, I only felt she had grown more distant from losing Saya... but then only a few days ago I realized the sweet girl I knew had vanished and I had left myself grow that way because I failed to spot the change.)" Phantom continued soon looking down.

"(When I realized this, and knew she was after Shido, I knew I couldn't delay things with her powers being sealed. If I waited any longer, she'd kill Shido without trying. She's the most powerful Spirit right now and for good reason.)"

"So... you think this is where we might find a clue?" Watcher asked.

"(I do, she became a Spirit here. If something in her spirit mana changed, this spot is the best place to notice the difference. Let the past expose the future. Now come on, let's search every spot here we can.)" Phantom replied, and Watcher nodded as she began sensing for mana in the area.

Shido and Tohka were seen walking home, the two holding grocery bags as they began bringing home dinner groceries. Shido looked at Tohka who still seemed a little down because of what happened to Artemisia.

"Sorry today's been a bit crazy. Oh yeah, did you get a chance to eat during lunch at school?" Shido asked.

"Yeah... I got to eat." Tohka replied, Shido smiled at that. Only problem... Tohka had lied, not wanting to bother him with what really happened.

-Flashback Start-

Tohka was sitting at one of the school desks, looking at her bento... and then her stomach growled as it demanded to be fed. However, Tohka didn't listen as she felt all sad and had no appetite.

"Shido..." Tohka sighed, feeling lonely. At that moment, the talkative trio walked in.

"Can't believe we only managed to get two of these tickets instead of three. I don't think we have the money to split the cost of a third." Ai moaned, holding two aquarium tickets. The trio wanted to visit, but only managed to win two from an offer and couldn't get the third one they needed. She soon noticed Tohka. "Oh, hey Tohka."

"Why haven't you eaten lunch yet?" Mai asked, that's when the trio noticed Tohka was being unnaturally quiet and they heard her stomach growl. They moved in front of her and saw her sad face. "Oh no, what's wrong!?"

"Yeah, tell us everything!" Mii panicked.

Tohka looked at them, soon showing her crying tears to their surprise and worry.

"Shido isn't here right now, and then I began thinking of how we haven't really had any time together lately. When I began to focus on it..." Tohka began, soon not even continuing as she cried more, making the trio gasp before hugging her, surprising Tohka.

"Girl, don't you dare shed another tear!" Ai quickly began.

"Yeah, we're gonna make sure you don't feel sad about this anymore!" Mai added.

"That's right, we've got an anti-sadness charm guarantee." Mii finished, making Tohka blink confused.

Ai quickly held out the aquarium tickets to her.

"We can't use these pair of tickets with the three of us, but you and Shido are a pair too. It's the perfect date chance!"

Tohka gasped at that.

-End Flashback-

Tohka made a determined face as her flashback ended and the two walked into the house. Once they did, she quietly locked the door and closed the curtains, making Shido blink before he shrugged. At that moment, Tohka reached towards her shirt.

"Hey Tohka, we got some time before dinner, so do you want me to draw a bath for you first?" Shido asked, however he turned a moment after not hearing her reply and... soon wished he hadn't. Tohka had unbuttoned part of her outfit, making Shido suddenly panic. "Huh!?"

Tohka turned towards him, and soon Shido noticed that she wasn't wearing a bra!

"Why aren't you wearing a bra!?" Shido replied loudly, blushing red everywhere on his face. Steam firing out of his nostrils.

"Well..." Tohka trailed off, pointing to a spot in the room with a busted bra, Shido's eyes wander that way before wandering back and quietly muttering gibberish. "A few days ago, when all of us were changing..."

-Flashback Start-

The day before Mana ended up in the hospital, the girls were all in the 'Changing Room' as he decided to call it since it was meant for everyone but himself as he was the house's only guy unless Kotori's dad came back unexpectedly. Yoshino looked as Mana put on her bra, soon looking at her current lack of breasts sadly.

"Hey, don't feel bad Yoshino. You're younger so you'll grow soon enough." Yoshinon replied, making whimper a bit to her surprise. Mana clears her throat. "...And I just remembered you haven't aged a day for years. I'm shutting up now."

Yoshinon pops off Yoshino's hand and onto the ground in response. Mana kneels by her and rubs her head, making the Water Spirit look at her.

"Hey, I'm not exactly that big either. I'm only about at... 77 or 78 cm?" Mana replied, making herself sweat drop. "Besides, look at Kotori. She manages to... grow everyone without actually getting older, in just a single... moment."

Kotori turned at Mana as she began stuttering, turning her head. Mana slowly turning as she saw Kotori's breasts bounce a bit and then screamed to everyone's shock.

"It's not fair! I'm the older one of the two of us, and yet you went from 72 to 84 cm in a minute flat while gaining 7 cm of height!" Mana yelled in jealousy, making Kotori go red at that.

"D-Don't blame the fact I went through instant puberty on me! Saya's the one that made it happen!" Kotori countered.

"HEY!" Saya called out briefly, soon going back to sleep. As the two argued, Yoshino picked up Yoshino and moved away from the area. Origami sweat dropped a bit.

"Uh... I don't think the size of your boobs is that big a deal?" Origami tried to interject, hoping she'd end the fight. Big mistake.

"Then what's your size!?" Mana shouted, making Origami shake a bit. She got closer and Origami's shyness and nervousness kick in, soon gulping a bit she answers.

"...88 cm?" Origami softly replied, soon making Mana scream and causing her to shriek. "I'm sorry!"

*SNAP!*

"AH!"

Everyone turned to see Tohka's bra on the floor, having snapped in half and fall into two on the floor as she covered herself with her arms. The others all staring while Yoshinon covered Yoshinon's eyes.

"It... it broke..." Tohka said, feeling embarrassed. "And that was my last one too, why have they all kept breaking lately!?"

Origami blinked.

"Uh... Tohka, I think I should measure you." Origami replied, getting the measuring tape. Soon enough, Tohka slightly lifted up as origami checked over her bust line and then under it until... she gasped at the number. "Tohka, what size was the bra you were wearing meant for?"

"An 84 cm like Kotori, I had to give him a few of mine. Why?" Tohka asked, not aware of the situation. Origami sweated a bit.

"Uh... Tohka, you're not that size anymore. As of now you're a..." Origami looked behind her, knowing she was about to feed the shark known as Mana. "...a 96 cm."

"Are you freaking kidding me!?" Mana screamed, getting the attention of Shido who was cooking downstairs.

"Huh? What was that all about?" Shido wondered.

-End Flashback-

"...And I haven't had a bra on since then since I haven't been able to go shopping." Tohka innocently replied, not realizing the full weight of that statement.

Shido suddenly went even redder and turned around, covering his nose and mouth as his cheeks swelled.

'Don't get a nosebleed, don't get a nosebleed, don't get a nosebleed!' Shido thought, unaware of Tohka reading something on a paper the talkative trio had given her. Once he calmed down and turned again... she was suddenly on the floor like a tiger with a ticket in her mouth.

"Wha? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... hold on a second." Shido stuttered, soon falling onto his butt on the couch as Tohka crawled closer. "I am very confused!"

Tohka got closer, doing some kind of breathing motion. Shido still confused to what she was doing, soon she dropped the ticket and stuffed it into her still view-able cleavage and Shido swore he went so red his ears ended up releasing steam as Tohka crawled over him.

'Wait, oh my god! Tohka... I'm not ready for this yet!' Shido thought as his brain shut down.

"Shido, I have a question for you..." Tohka began, Shido not responding. "Tomorrow, will you please go on a date with me?"

Shido suddenly had his face reset as he blinked, mentally sighing in relief.

'Oh thank god, false alarm.' Shido thought, soon swiping the ticket quickly. "Uh... sure thing Tohka!"

Tohka jumped off him and cheered.

"How wonderful! Ai, Mai and Mii really did know what they were talking about!" Tohka exclaimed happily, and Shido blinked in surprise. "Meet me by the station statue by 10 AM, see you then Shido! Don't forget!"

"Wait, did she just say 10 AM?" Shido panicked, but Tohka had already vanished from view and went... somewhere. "...Crap!"

Soon he heard Origami call him, and he answered it.

"H-Hey Shido." Origami called, sounding a bit nervous.

"Hi Origami, say you think you c-"

"Shido, I'd like you to take me on a date tomorrow. I'll make you by the station statue at 11 AM, OK? W-well then, b-bye for now!" Origami quickly replied, hanging up right after. Leaving Shido with his jaw open.

"...What!?" Shido gasped.

Soon the phone rang again, and he didn't bother to check the caller ID and thought it was Origami again so he just answered.

"Hello?" Shido replied.

"Hey Shido, Kotori here." Kotori replied, and Shido attempted to tell her something. "I want to actually go on a date with you, so meet me by the Station Statue at 11:30 AM. Bye!"

Shido screams as she hangs up.

[...Oh boy. I'm expecting a reaction from you in 3, 2, 1 and...]

"I'm on four dates now? Dang it, at that rate Yoshino's gonna call me for a date!" Shido shouted out loud, making Mio go silent and then sigh.

Soon the phone rings again to Shido's horror.

[I could have told you that would jinx it, but you didn't give me the chance so... sorry. I'm gonna go sleep and ignore your little harem drama this time.]

Mio did just that, and Shido hang his head down as he answered.

"...Hey Yoshino, yes to whatever you're about to tell me." Shido replied, having given up at this point.

"Really? OK, I'll see you at the Station Gate by 12 PM, OK?" Yoshino replied before hanging up.

Shido soon slumped onto the couch and went fully white, his ghost flying out of his mouth and wiggling to represent his panicky spirit.

"...That's it, I'm dead. I wonder if me or Mana's head is more heated and overcooked right now."

Back at Tenguu Hospital, Mana was about to eat some mashed apples when suddenly...

*ACHOO!*

Mana suddenly sneezed, she blinked before sniffling and wiping her nose.

"Where did that come from?" Mana asked.

Meanwhile at the DEM base on Arubi Island, Minerva was seen wearing anew CR-Unit, one with a snake like design to it. It was called the Basilisk. Something truly fitting for a slippery and venomous woman like herself.

"This new suit feels right, I feel so... strong!" Minerva smirked viciously, striking a wall and smashing it before it melts apart to her pleasant surprise. "That stupid Manticore has nothing on this one."

Westcott chuckled at her natural blood lust.

"This is the kind of personality I need from my top Adeptus numbers, vicious and without any restraint to hold them back. Oh, and that's not all there is with this CR-Unit. It has a special power source." Westcott replied, getting the insane wizard's attention.

"That suit has the memories of your most hated person build into them. You now have all her skills. Small story short, you have truly surpassed Artemisia because you've become her and more."

Minerva gave a sick grin at that.

"Finally, I've overcome that bitch! Speaking of which, what happened to her?" Minerva wondered, and in response she saw Westcott bring up an image of her state after Goliath crushed her easily. "Hah! She's finally ended up with what she deserved, that pretty face is gonna stay that way forever!"

"I'll need you to wait on standby for now. There's a very important mission I'm planning, but it will be a while before I can fully execute it. Right now, I need to focus on the efforts of Material A. I've already gotten her set up for what I'm about to pull." Westcott chuckled.

Suddenly he heard the door slam open as Ellen rushed in, though soon looking a bit green. Westcott and Minerva sweat drop at the sight. For some strange reason, when night fighting or in a CR-Unit, Ellen was... destructively clumsy and not in good shape. Just going up two flights of stairs would make her nearly puke.

"Ellen, breathe first and then tell me what's wrong?" Westcott sighed, putting a hand on his head and shaking it in response. Ellen nods and catches her breathe, soon straightening herself.

"Ike... Material B escaped its prison due to a... annoying pest. Worse is not only do we have no control of her, but the pest who freed her made sure our systems would refuse any data relating the project and its related research. We've lost all of it." Ellen stated.

Westcott's eyes widened, soon making his teeth grit.

"Minerva, I think you've just been given the first hint to your mission. You see... I have a certain Spirit I need dead." Westcott replied, taking a look at her. "She goes by the code name of Phantom. She's the Spirit that creates other Spirit. It should be fun for you since she seems to be a child."

"So, the root of the Spirits then? Heh, I'll enjoy making her bleed bit by bit!" Minerva cruelly smirks, walking off somewhere. "Let me know when the mission's green lit. I gotta warm myself up first."

Westcott nods, and soon grunts a bit.

"What about Material A's status, has she been compromised?" Westcott inquired, Ellen shook her head. "That's good, as long as we have her then any other loss of this kind still is one that we can spare."

Westcott walks up to a screen as he pulls up the face of the enigmatic Material A, smirking.

"Now, make sure to finish your goal... We have a grand prize only a few steps away after this point. I know you won't fail me." Westcott smirked, chuckling right after.

Reine sighed as she looked at Shido sitting across the table from him, Maria sweat dropping with a smile as she appeared in her hologram form in the middle of the table from a projector. Shido had just come in explaining the fact he planned a date with Kurumi... only to get a date with every Spirit as a result.

"Really Shido? I know you have a harem and have accepted it, but five dates on the same day when we have a specific spirit we need to worry about?" Reine asked sarcastically in response to him finishing his story.

[Probably could have made it four, but nope. He couldn't say no to Yoshino.]

Shido groans and slams his head down on the table, groaning loudly.

"What am I supposed to do now? I can't cancel on any of them or that'll make them feel bad, but I can't be in multiple places at the same time either. I'm so freaking screwed!" Shido groaned as he raised his head, only to slam it back down. "If only I could make clones of myself or something then I could work around this issue entirely."

"Well... we can't make clones of yourself, but we can help you get to multiple places at once in record time." Maria suggested, making Shido raise his head. "Remember the Fraxinus has teleporters. Right?"

Shido blinks before screaming and slamming his head on the table. Reine sliding a pillow under it.

"I feel so stupid now!" Shido yelled.

"I'm an AI and even I can feel that way, it's not as bad as you might think it is." Maria chuckled, rubbing her cheek a bit. "Don't worry Shido, me, Reine and the Fraxinus crew are on your side! We'll get you through a five date festival or we'd shame the skills of Ratatoskr!"

Reine sweat dropped at that, chuckling slightly to the side. Maria blinked at her response.

"What? What was wrong with what I said, please tell me." Maria inquired, Reine purposely whistling to avoid an answer. "You're no fun.

Kurumi soon began walking through the city, when soon she gets the sign of Phantom's presence in the area of the park that the two of them first encountered one another at, and she smirks a bit.

"Hmm... are you up to the usual antics you try hiding from me Phantom? Well, let's see if I can sneak a peek on your dark secrets."

Kurumi heads into the park, as Phantom and Watcher continue their search, Watcher suddenly notices some mana concentration in one spot after hours of searching and gasps. She grabs it and moves towards Phantom.

"I found some!" Watcher called out.

"(You did? Quick, let me verify it!)" Phantom exclaimed, rushing over as she looked and... "(You found the real deal! Nice work, now we-)"

Phantom suddenly got a familiar feeling and sweated.

"(Oh no, Kurumi's coming here! Uh... quickly, give me the mana and then let me disguise you!)" Phantom panicked, Watcher panicked too and tossed it to her before the former contained it and then hugged Watcher's form close as she disguised her as a teddy bear with her mosaic.

"A teddy bear?" Watcher asked curiously?

"(I'm only a young child, it's the most believable thing I could think of this quickly!)" Phantom admitted in embarrassment. At that moment, Phantom turned as Kurumi walked into the scene, and Phantom pretended she was just humming around.

"Well, interesting to see you here Phantom-" Kurumi began, but soon stopped and blinked when she saw the teddy bear. Phantom looked at her as she sweat dropped. "Uh... as I was saying, I'm just curious you sense you were here."

Phantom giggled a bit.

"(I can't help it, this place is special to me. Its where we first met. As for this teddy bear... I'm allowed to act my age on occasion, right?)" Phantom questioned, making Kurumi turn her head, chuckling oddly at the question.

'How do I answer that without sounding so wrong with how I say it!?' Kurumi thought, slightly paling a bit. "So how's work been going on your end?"

"(Not as lucky as I'd like, the DEM's hiding what I'm looking for pretty well. I worry they either moved it or it was never here.)" Phantom answered, sighing a bit. Looking at Kurumi. "(What about you, how're you going with finding that boy you got interested in?)"

"Already did, and already proved it. Now all I need is to eat him and get the power I need." Kurumi chuckled darkly, making Phantom nearly toss her cookies and Watcher sweat as she worried she'd do it on her. "Well, I better be prepared. He's asked me on a date tomorrow."

Phantom stared in surprise as Kurumi giggled, spinning into a tree before disappearing into the shadows of her power. Phantom released Watcher who shook a bit.

"Did she feel unnatural to you?" Watcher asked, Phantom nodded. "Oh god, not just me then. Who's this Shido exactly? I think I heard you mention him around the time we began this search."

"(He's someone important to me, but his sister and I don't know I exist... and it isn't the right time for them to know me. You see...)" Phantom began, soon whispering the rest to Watcher who gasped in shock.

"No way..." Watcher breathed.

"(And I had no choice but to have him deal with Kurumi now. This is why we're searching, even if indirectly... I need to aid him when he already has a low chance of saving her. I couldn't delay or it he wouldn't have any chance.)" Phantom finished.

"...Wait, you said they don't know you exist. Couldn't you still go see him if you could... I don't know, just not say who you are? You could encourage his efforts by giving him a friendly warning and then say he'll learn how you know him if can seal the Spirits." Watcher asked, making Phantom freeze and blink.

"(...Watcher, have I told you how much I love having you as a partner yet?) Phantom asked, and Watcher shook her head. "(OK, then I love having you as a partner!)"

Phantom hugged Watcher, making the latter blink.

"Is it weird I kinda feel I'm an older sister here?" Watcher asked.

"(Nah, Spirits don't age physically or mentally. I'm as young as I look in mind too.)" Phantom giggled, making Watcher chuckle a bit.

Shido woke up the next morning about 9 AM, as he went outside to go get the mail... an invisible being appeared upside down before him.

"(Hi there Shido!)" Phantom greeted.

Shido screamed and fell on his back, gasping for breath before he suddenly blinked and realized what he was looking at. It was... a mosaic, and he recalled that Reine once told him about someone who was a Spirit who hid her appearance in a mosaic cover.

"Wait a second, are you..." Shido asked.

Phantom giggled before flipping around and landing on the ground, soon making a 'shh' motion before making an umbrella shaped barrier to cloak their vision from the outside world. Soon she gets closer to Shido.

"(Sorry about that, don't want anyone seeing either of us here. That's right though, the elusive Phantom at your service!)" Phantom replied, soon hugging Shido to his surprise. "(I've wanted to see you for so long, and now I'm finally doing it! Phantom's so happy!)"

This surprised Shido, making him look at her unseen face.

"Wait, you know me?" Shido questioned, and Phantom nodded. "Then that means you must know what me and Mana have forgotten, and how we lost our memories. Please tell me!"

[Do you know me by chance? I'd like to recognize who I am, what I am.]

Phantom gasped as she heard Mio's voice, the normally distorted voice she spoke with that didn't define a specific gender that barely sounded more female to have everyone call Mio as a girl for convenience? When Phantom heard it, she didn't hear the distortion, she heard a clear female voice... one she knew.

[That reaction... does that mean you know!?]

"(You have a second voice? How did you create it, tell me!)" Phantom declared, making Shido face fault and Mio sigh, Phantom at the reaction he gave. Shido got back up in a few seconds after the sudden shock. "(But you're right Shido, I do know. Unfortunately... I can't tell you.)"

"W-What? Why not!?" Shido exclaimed.

"(It's simple, I just can't. Not yet anyways. The time isn't right, but...)" Phantom giggled as she pats Shido's head. "(If you can seal more of the Spirits, then I can tell you. So if you want to know, you'll need to keep going, starting with Kurumi.)"

Phantom jumps up and sticks onto the wall.

"(Oh yeah, before I go? I'll help you out since I heard about that date with Kurumi you have today. A piece of advice, a warning, and a brownie points tip.)" Phantom said, showing three of her invisible fingers.

"(The advice is Kurumi is quite playful, she tends to twist things into her favor. However, a twist back to her own will not have a follow up since she doesn't like dragging things out. The warning? She's the strongest Spirit out here right now, don't let her emotions get negative or you'll probably die... badly. Finally, the brownie point tip? She really loves cats, so try getting anything cat related you can on hand. With that, I'll take my leave.)"

Phantom prepares to take her leave, but before she can...

"Hey wait, can I ask one question at least?" Shido asked, and Phantom blinks before nodding. "Tell me... are you an ally to Ratatoskr? Someone we can trust and not fear or question?"

Phantom smiles.

"(I may be secretive, but its only due to necessity Shido. I assure you that I have no reason to harm or hinder Ratatoskr... after all, the DEM wants me dead as much as any other Spirit. I'm the reason they've failed to gain a crystal.)"

Phantom soon flies off, though stops in midair.

"(And here's one last gift for showing you trust me. The reason Tohka got away from the DEM, the reason you reunited with her? I saved her, but I had to make her a Spirit. Take care of her, you're the only thing she has left now.)"

Shido gasps as Phantom vanishes and the umbrella barrier disappeared, and he stood there shocked at the revelation.

[So, she's the reason Tohka and you reunited, though needing to make her a Spirit... I don't think I wanna know why it was a necessity. I wonder who Phantom really is?]

"...You and me both, but now more than ever I'm fully serious about saving the Spirits." Shido replied, looking out at the sky. "Not just because I want to, but now I know it may help me and Mana find our answers. Maybe yours too."

[I'll be by your side Shido, we're in this together. Now you better get ready for Tohka's date, she's up first and you have less than an hour to get ready.]

Shido's eyes widen as he checks the time, panicking as he sees its 9:15 now.

"Oh crap, I gotta hurry!" Shido exclaimed, running back in the house. At the same time, far away from Shido's neighborhood, Kurumi was sitting near the tallest tower of the city. Smirking a bit.

"Be prepared Shido, because today I'm going to make you and your powers all mine."

Woo, and Shido finally asked Kurumi out on a date, only for each of his harem girls to do the same... all with a 30-minute time gap between them, is fate mocking Shido? You're just too nice to say no to your girls, aren't you? *giggles* Well, as of this chapter everyone... Kurumi Fallacy is now officially the longest arc, and we're still not anywhere near done with it!

It also seems Material B, who we'll give the code name Watcher for the sake of convenience, is already getting along with Phantom smoothly, helping her out with her work. I wonder what that trace of Kurumi's spirit mana is gonna tell her? The happy thing at least is she finally got to meet and have a small talk with Shido, something she's been wanting to do for a while. Unfortunately, she had to lie about realizing who Mio was for some reason.

Also, we finally saw Phantom's version of the memory of her and Kurumi's first meeting, and you can already see the big contradiction. Phantom told Kurumi she was a Spirit almost instantly, but if you check back in Chapter 16, you'll notice Kurumi doesn't remember that detail. Not to mention when you look at Saya's memories... you see just how altered her memories are and how little she realizes it... 0_0

To anyone questioning the scene with everyone in their bras and why I even have that in here? There's a few reasons, the first? This IS a harem story, I need some harem hi-jinks every once in a while, even if it's only just between the girls. The second? I really wanted to do something like the bra scene from this arc which was funny on its own, though had to rework it so Tohka's not aware she needs to wear it, but may need to buy new ones. The Third? It was just too perfect a lead up to how Tohka asked Shido for a date for me to not try! ^^

OK, with the main issues out of the way now, see you all next time for the five way date extravaganza! Truths will be revealed, and all of them connect to one single point. So until then, stay awesome everyone!

-Spirit Bond Levels-

Tohka - 77%

Origami - 60%

Yoshino - 50%

Kotori - 69%