Closer Than Ever
Spirits. A mysterious existence that brings destruction wherever they go. Also, lovely girls who yearn for attention. Can you quench the fire that burns in their hearts? Or will you make it burn brighter?
Tengu City, 6 am.
The sunlight broke through the curtains, breaching into the dark room. By mere coincidence, the angle was just right to hit him in the eyes. The early beams of light gently dragged him from dreamland, blinding him briefly as his eyelids opened. With a soft groan, he closed his eyes again, rubbing the grime away as he sat on his bed. Or at least he tried to, for something rested on his body, weighing him down. Something warm and… soft to the touch. What could that be? He wondered, still half asleep.
The mysterious weights shifted under the blankets that covered him, in response to his movements. The softness pressing against his body helped to jog his brain into fully awakening, and as he connected the dots, Itsuka Shido's eyes widened. Pulling the blanket up in the air, his suspicions were confirmed.
"Yaah~ Boy, don't pull the blankets, it's cold!~" Said the ash-grey-haired woman lying on top of him.
"N-Nia?! When did you get here? And you too, Natsumi!" The blue-haired young man tried to crawl away from them, but a second pair of arms held him in place.
"Hmm? What are you talking about? Don't you like to wake up with a pretty onee-san resting on top of you like this?~" Natsumi said, slowly climbing further on top of him like a cat, her jade-colored eyes glistening with the morning light.
"She's right, you know? Not every kid from your age can have two charming, beautiful girls on their bed first thing in the morning, fufufu," Nia said, following Natsumi's motions, pinning Shido on the mattress.
"W-who said I wanted that t-to begin with?!" He blurted out, avoiding their gaze to try and hide the faint blush he knew was starting to creep into his face.
"No need to be so coy, Boy. As a mature lady, I know what cute young men like you enjoy," She boasted, tugging at the hem of her light blue tank top.
It was only then that Shido registered what they were wearing. Nia's top left her abs completely exposed, and her matching pajama shorts barely covered her thighs. Natsumi, on the other hand, had a white oversized shirt. The loose collar hung down, giving him a peek at her bosom, and by doing so, Shido found out she wasn't wearing anything under the shirt. He hoped the same wasn't valid for her other underwear.
"Ne, Shido, it's still early. Why don't you have some fun with these two sexy onee-sans, huh?~" Natsumi's slender fingers cupped his cheeks as she inched closer to his face. Nia did the same, her turquoise eyes gleaming with excitement.
Shido felt his heart thumping inside his chest. It was too early in the morning for this kind of excitement, he thought. But he would be lying to himself if he didn't admit it felt a bit enticing, tempting. However…
"Good morning, Onii-chan!~ Hurry and get up to–" The door of his bedroom was all but kicked open as a young lady, her fiery red hair tied into twin tails by two white ribbons, barging in with a spring in her feet, very energetic and eager to greet her precious older brother. "What the hell is going on here?!"
Naturally, Kotori didn't expect to find said precious brother under two girls with whom they shared the house, especially with them wearing so little clothing.
Seeing the immediate mood swing from his sister, Shido pushed the two girls back, putting his hands up in defense.
"K-Kotori, this is not what it looks like, I can explain!"
"Sure, let us hear all about it…" She replied, her face now changed from [Imouto Mode] to [Commander Mode]. The other two girls couldn't help but laugh lightly.
. . .
"Sigh~ Such a busy morning already..." Shido let out a tired breath from his lips as he cooked, carefully flipping the pancakes on the frying pan. Attending to popular vote, he was almost done with a quite tall pile of those, placing them on the table where a group of girls waited excitedly for their breakfast. One, in particular, had water in her mouth as the plate of steaming pancakes rested in front of her.
"Thank you, Shido!~" Tohka said happily, picking up her serving and covering it is syrup.
"Tohka, don't use too much syrup, or the others won't have for them," He told her, looking at the short one next to the princess. "Here you go, Yoshino."
With her plate of pancakes in hand, Yoshino took a bite of the treat, cooing in delight and slapping the table, giving Shido her approval. The reaction always managed to get a smile from him.
"Nothing like some homemade pancakes for breakfast. Tohka, can you pass me the butter?" Nia said, sitting with a cup of coffee and enjoying her food.
"And why are you here again?" Shido asked the grey-haired lady. She was there yesterday for dinner, but he didn't remember Nia saying she would stay overnight.
"Well, I was kinda tired and dinner made me drowsy, so I decided to make you some company~," She said, smiling as she sipped her drink.
"Meaning you wanted another free meal…"
"Well, can you blame me? You have impeccable cooking skills, Boy," The compliment was welcomed, but he hoped she wouldn't freeload as much, although he didn't mind cooking for the girls. It was part of his routine for a good while now.
"Fufufu, just so you know, I was the winner of the 587th Yamai showdown, a challenge to cook pancakes. So I shall be the judge of these–" Kaguya took a bite from her pancakes, shoving it into her mouth, and she instantly cooed in delight, her eyes sparkling. "So fluffy!~"
"Statement: keep eating like that and Kaguya will end with many extra numbers in her waist," Yuzuru said, taking a more polite bite from her food.
"What was that?!"
"Nushi-sama, can I have more pancakes?" Mukuru asked him, raising her plate.
"Sure, here you go, Muku. And you should eat too before Tohka finishes everything," He said, turning to the red-haired girl on the other end of the table.
Kotori, now wearing her black and red ribbons, had her arms crossed and a minor frown plastered on her face. She kept giving Shido the side eye, despite starting to eat her food when she noticed Tohka staring at the last pancake. Shido had explained everything to her, but she was still miffed about the scene earlier in his bedroom.
"Now now, Kotori-chan, no need to be sulking all morning. It isn't Shido's fault for falling for a sexy onee-san like me," Natsumi, still in her adult form, teased the short redhead, showing a smug grin.
"Natsumi–"
"Oh, is that so?" Whatever Shido was going to say got cut by Kotori, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Yoshino and Yoshinon shrunk in their seats, being quite literally in the middle of the crossfire. Tohka watched both sides staring at each other, with a mouthful of pancakes. Nia also watched with an amused face, contrasting with Muku's neutral expression. He pleaded that they wouldn't start an argument right now, but his request was mostly ignored.
"It can't be helped. That's just the kind of thing a young, healthy boy will be interested in- achoo!" A puff of smoke emerged, and as it dissipated, Natsumi in her normal form now sat on the chair. The smug grin gave place to an annoyed look, followed by an eye-roll. "Oh, forget it…"
The turn of events seemed to please Kotori, for she had a small smile crossing her lips as she ate the rest of her breakfast. Things like this happened sometimes in the house. Ever since he came across Spirits, Shido's daily routine became much more lively and rather unpredictable. Sure, sometimes it felt like his heart would burst out of his chest, but some excitement was welcomed now and then. The thing is, it was just the start of the morning, and so much more could happen in a day of the life of Itsuka Shido.
Point in case, when they arrived at their classroom, he was greeted by his friends as usual, and then a known voice called him from behind.
"Good morning, Shido." A white-haired girl with bright blue eyes and a serene expression.
"Ah, good morning, Origami." He replied with a smile.
"Ne, Shido, why can't we sleep in the same bed?" Tohka asked, poking his arm with a small pout. The question caught Origami's attention and prompted Shido to gently push her to the corner.
"I told you already, didn't I? It wouldn't be proper for us to sleep like that…" He told her in a hushed tone so the other classmates wouldn't hear. The last thing he needed was for yet another misunderstanding to emerge from Tohka's lack of a common sense filter.
"But Nia and Natsumi were sleeping with you this morning, so why can't I?" She kept pressing him, her pouting now accompanied by puffed cheeks.
"They weren't supposed to be there to begin with. They snuck under the blankets while I was asleep and–"
"Shido, what's the meaning of this?" Origami cut him, hugging his arm and pulling the blue-haired teen away from Tohka.
"Wait, Origami–"
"Shido. Why am I hearing that other women were sleeping with you?" Despite her level tone, Origami wasn't particularly discrete with her voice level, and combined with her pressing his arm against her chest, the classroom's attention was starting to shift to them.
"Nobody was sleeping with me, it was just those two that snuck in and–"
"Shido, can't we sleep together?" Tohka mimicked Origami's move, hugging his arm and pressing it against her chest. Her big indigo puppy eyes begged him to acquiesce to her request, but he knew it wouldn't stop at her and soon enough, all the girls would be asking to do the same.
For a brief moment, he thought it wouldn't be that bad, but imagining everyone being cramped and piled in that small bed was enough to thwart the idea.
"No, we can't. Nia and Natsume snuck upon me while I was asleep. Plus, you have your own room, and Nia only stayed because she was too lazy to go back to her home after dinner…"
Tohka didn't seem convinced yet, but he didn't have much time to think about it as Origami tugged him back to her side.
"Shido. I would like to have dinner at your house tonight if you're free. You can consider it a date," said the white-haired girl, with a gleam of determination in her eyes.
"Eh? All of a sudden? I would need to–"
"Dinner."
"If you want, we can go on a date another da–"
"Dinner."
Insistent as always, Shido thought. Once Origami got an idea in her head, it was nigh impossible to remove it, so it would be easier for him if he just accepted the "invite".
"sigh~ Okay, then dinner is at my house this evening…"
"Ne ne, Shido, can we have katsudon for dinner? Can we?" The mention of food always made Tohka excited, especially if it was made by him.
"Man, you two are so lucky, Tohka-chan, Origami-chan. You get to eat homemade food practically every day. Meanwhile, I'm stuck with frozen dishes half the time…"
"It kinda makes you jealous, doesn't it?"
"Gross…"
The trio of the classroom, Ai, Mai, and Mii, popped into their conversation, catching Shido off guard.
"Y-you three were listening?" He stammered, fearful that they might have heard the part about girls sleeping on his bed. There were enough misunderstandings for today already.
"Hey, can I join you guys for dinner today? Kidding!~ Although Tohka does look absolutely delighted with the bentos you pack for her. Maybe I should start asking you to bring one for me too…" Because it was Ai making such a comment, Shido didn't feel nearly as embarrassed with the flirt, considering the blonde was always joking and playing pranks.
The soft sensation pressing further into his arms, however, was enough to make a faint blush appear on his face as the girls hugged him tighter. Tohka hummed happily about Katsudon while Origami inquired him further about who it was that snuck into his bed and asked him to keep his window unlocked tonight.
Meanwhile, miles away in the air, the Ratatoskr crew monitored their biometric and emotional meters from above in the skies. However, the commander's seat at the bridge of the invisible ship was vacant. The red-haired young sister watched the monitors intently from a remote screen, sitting in a secluded place in her middle school. So much so that she almost missed the comment from her Analysis Officer.
"Shin is more popular than ever, don't you think, Commander? … Commander?" Her tired eyes glanced at Kotori through another monitor, the young lady was laser-focused on the screen in her hand, which currently showed images of her Onii-chan being hugged on both sides by two spirits. Perhaps the sensation of being observed broke her from this trance.
"Huh? Oh, what were you saying, Reine?" Kotori asked as if nothing had happened. Reine waited a moment, but then simply shook her head.
"Nothing, I just am impressed that Shin's dating experience has bled into his normal life so well," She said, getting up from her seat.
"You think so? Heh, to me he's still the same dorky person as always. Baka Onii-chan…" The last bit was a very low murmur that only Reine picked up.
"Ah, what a lovely day. Shido-san surely must feel blessed for being surrounded by so many young beauties," Kannazuki commented.
"Yeah, I bet he's feeling pretty happy right now…"
Something in her monitors blinked, but when Reine went to check the alert, it wasn't there, everything was normal. Still, her tired eyes trailed back to Kotori. Call it her gut instinct, or the knowledge one gets after spending a prolonged time with another person, something felt off.
The day progressed rather uneventfully, or as much as possible with a group of spirits in the school. During PE class, the boys had to run laps while the girls had a day at the pool, a pleasing sight for the sore eyes of the lads running under the bright sun, even if at a distance. At that moment, a shared resentment for Shido's luck began to brew as his classmates realized this was potentially his life every day, regardless of it being (mostly) untrue. As a result, the laps turned into a chase, with the blue-haired young man running from the mob pursuing him. Good thing the spirit energy sealed within him gave a stamina boost, otherwise he would have been caught.
Lunch break went on as one would expect: Shido being surrounded by girls, and them arguing to see who would feed him next. In addition to Origami and Tohka, today the Yamai Sisters decided to join them, and they too wanted to play the lovey-dovey girlfriend role. In the face of their pleas, he couldn't refuse.
Time flew by and before he noticed, classes were over. Kaguya and Yuzuru went home ahead of them, but Shido had to make a grocery run since tonight's dinner would have extra guests. Naturally, Tohka joined him, and Origami decided to tag along, despite him insisting it wasn't necessary. The white-haired girl would have none of that, and as such, people in the market street got to witness this trio of high schoolers strolling around, the girls clinging to the boy's arms and with wide smiles.
There were a few odd looks here and there, while some of the old ladies let out light laughs. Surely, that young man was already a charming heartbreaker, they joked. Ignoring the embarrassment and the warm feeling in his cheeks, Shido went as fast as he could through the groceries. The faster he was done with it, the sooner he could avoid creating more misunderstandings.
The sun began to settle when they arrived at home. The other girls came to greet them, Muku in particular, immediately jumped at him, almost knocking him on the floor, if he didn't drop the grocery bags to hold her.
"Welcome back home, Nushi-sama," She said, nuzzling her face on his chest.
"I'm back, Muku. Did you have fun with the others today?" He asked, patting her head.
The short blondie looked up at him, nodding eagerly.
"Hai. Muku walked around the city with Yoshino and Natsumi, and we went to the park," Muku answered proudly.
"That's good to hear, good girl~" Shido petted her head further. He was happy to see she was adjusting so quickly to living together and being friends with everyone. At first, he felt worried Muku would keep attached to him alone, but it was hard not to befriend Yoshino. And Natsumi was only a matter of getting her to open up a little.
However, his actions did not go unnoticed. The blue-haired teen looked to the side and he found Tohka staring at him with her puppy dog eyes.
"Sh-Shido, I… I had fun at school too today, you know!" Her intentions were clear, Tohka wanted some head pats.
"Hai hai, good girl for you too," Tohka's ribbon twitched like car ears as she hummed happily with the gentle gesture. But at the same time, a pair of hands held his other arm.
Origami lowered her head a bit, putting his hand on top of her head.
"Shido," She said.
He patted her head too, but Origami stopped it to look at him with a rather bothered face.
"What?" She stared at him further, until the dots connected. "Oh, okay. G-good girl, Origami…" he couldn't help but remember the time she used his belt as a collar. He would probably never remove that image from his memory.
"Welcome back, Shido-kun– Hmm? Something interesting is happening, fufufu~"
It was the puppet rabbit, Yoshinon who called, poking the head around the corner, followed by the head of a young light blue-haired girl. Yoshino stared at Shido in silence, but it wasn't hard for him to guess what she was thinking about.
"You can come too, Yoshino," Shido called, gesturing for the girl to come closer.
Yoshino jumped from her hiding spot and skipped her way to him, getting in the head pat queue. "Welcome back," She said shyly, but with a smile adorning her lips.
To think he barely made his way into the entrance hallway. But things were not over yet.
"Shido, you slow poke, how much time does it take to buy some groceries and– Eh?! W-what's going on?" Kaguya turned around the corner and found the girls being praised by him.
"Agreement. Why are you all around Shido like that?" Yuzuru followed her sister's inquiry.
"Ah, this is–" He was going to explain, but Tohka requested his attention again, tugging on his arm.
"Shido…"
"Shido." Origami did the same on her side.
"Nushi-sama," Muku, still clinging to him like a lemur on a tree, also requested her pats and praises.
"Don't forget about Yoshino, Shido-kun~" Yoshinon poked him, as Yoshino herself looked up at him with her puppy dog eyes.
"Girls, at that rate I won't even make it to the kitchen…" He laughed lightly, picking up the groceries again and finally getting to the kitchen, still bogged down by the girls. Good thing Muku was pretty light, otherwise it would be quite cumbersome.
"Heh, look at you girls, acting so childishly all because of some head pats, isn't that right, Yuzuru?" Kaguya snickered at their antics, but when she turned to her sister, she was no longer there. "Yuzuru?"
Instead, the ginger was already next to him, holding his hand above her head just like how Origami did earlier.
"Request. Yuzuru wants to be praised too."
"Oi, Yuzuru!"
"Umm, what should I praise you for then…?" Shido asked, already caressing her head. However, Yuzuru remained silent, trying to think of an answer. her eyebrows rose as she seemingly thought of something.
"Today, Yuzuru scored six points more than Kaguya on a math quiz," She said, showering a victory sign with her hand.
"I see. Congratulations," Shido said, but just like Origami would, Yuzuru stared at him with a poker face. "R-right, good girl…"
"Wait a minute!" Kaguya joined the group, pointing a finger at her twin. "You may have had a higher grade on that test, but I did more laps on the pool today!" She then turned to Shido, her eyes shining with expectancy. "Right?!"
"Congratulations to you too, Kaguya. Good girl." The other ginger hummed happily, sticking out her tongue to her sister.
"This is starting to get out of hand. I better shoo them away before someone else–" He felt another tug on his jacket. Natsumi was looking away from him, fiddling with her hair.
"Erm… I tried some new clothes today at the mall with the girls. I think I… looked pretty good in a dress…"
"I would love to see you wearing it another day. Here here, good girl~" He said, patting her head too. Natsumi reacted similarly to Yoshino, looking down to hide her face, but he was sure he spotted a smile on her face.
Another thing Shido noticed was Nia leaning on the door frame, witnessing the scene unfolding. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of her wanting to be called a good girl too.
"Well, there's still space. Do you want me to pat you too?" Nia snickered, clicking her tongue and waving a finger.
"Tsk tsk, Boy, you can't call someone like me a good girl, because," She made her way towards him, cupping his chin and getting her face dangerously close to his. "I can be a very, very bad girl~"
The shocked face and his red cheeks sent Nia into a laughing fit as Shido tried to regain his composure, especially because now Origami, Tohka, and Muku were hugging him tighter.
"But I suppose some head pats won't hurt. I have finished the next chapter's draft! Praise me, please~" Nia said, waiting for her reward.
"I can't wait to read when it comes out~" He replied, patting her head playfully. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to get started with dinner and–"
"Darling!~ I'm home!~"
"For real now?"
None other than the famous idol, Izayoi Miku busted through the door, spinning like a ballerina and looking around for her darling. And there he was, surrounded by spirits in the middle of the kitchen.
"Miku, you came!" Tohka exclaimed, waving at her.
"Did you call her over?" Shido asked her, getting a nod from the princess.
"Hai!~ I sent Miku a message asking if she wanted to have dinner with us," Tohka answered, proud that she used the message function of her phone.
"Thank you for the invite, Tohka-chan, but… Darling, what's going on here?~" She said, scanning her beloved surrounded by beautiful girls, some of whom had his hands on their heads.
"Erm, this is… you see–"
"Head pats," Yoshino cut him short, also taking the opportunity to move his hand on top of her head.
"Shido is praising us for good things we did. Speaking of, Shido, I can swim ten kilometers during my training and scored the max grade on three tests last week," Origami said, already putting his hand on her head, but that would mean taking it away from Tohka, who refused to let go.
"Oh, I see. In that case… I'm going to kiss all of you girls as a reward!~" Said the idol, opening her arms and rushing towards the girls, who immediately scattered. At least now he was free to begin cooking, so as Miku went past him, Shido rested his hand on her head.
"Thanks, Miku, good girl~," He said half-joking, Shido did not expect Miku to look embarrassed after saying and doing what he did. Well, she still looked gorgeous like that. Shaking her head quickly, Miku regained her normal mood and chased the girls around to give them free kisses.
And during this entire convo, someone sat patiently at the table, seemingly ignoring the sequence right next to her. Kotori had her mind elsewhere, looking completely uninterested in whatever the girls were doing. Until Shido caught her attention.
"Do you want some head pats and praises from your Onii-chan too, Kotori?~" Shido asked casually. It wouldn't be the first time that happened, but contrary to what he expected, Kotori got up front the table, heading to the living room. Without saying much of a word. "Kotori?"
"That phase is gone already, Shido." Was Kotori's response, dismissing him with a hand wave. "Tell me when dinner is ready."
The response was normal, but Shido felt something strange with his sister, almost as if she didn't want to look at him.
The dinner table was pretty lively, with everyone gathered to enjoy Shido's cooking once more. The topic of talk changed between the girls, going on about their days and giving out a bright mood in the room. Once everyone was satisfied, Kotori offered to help with the dishes while the others moved to the living room to play some games. While he scrubbed the dishes, Shido let out a chuckle.
"Thought of something funny?" The redhead asked him.
"Not really. I was just thinking that it's been a while since you helped me with the dishes."
"If you want me to help around more, just say it." She sounded a bit annoyed with the roundabout jab at her. Passive aggressiveness didn't suit him at all.
"Oh no, I don't mean it like that. Remember how we would wash the dishes like this when we were younger? I told you many times I could do it myself, but you kept insisting on helping me."
The image of a younger Shido and Kotori came to mind, both of them at the sink just like now. Kotori had to use a stool to reach the sink, and one would scrub the dishes while the other rinsed and put them away to dry. It was a rather mundane memory, but a fond one, nonetheless. Kotori fell silent for a bit, reminiscing about it.
"Those were simpler times," He nodded. "It was just you and me all the time, and you didn't have to be a playboy, going on dates and seducing girls into falling in love with you~" She flashed a smug grin, prompting Shido to defend himself.
"Calling me a playboy is a bit mean, and I'm not seducing anyone. I really like everyone!" He faked some outrage, but his sentiments were honest.
Perhaps too honest. Upon hearing this, Kotori felt something piercing her chest. Perhaps it was just her imagination but for a brief moment… there was a hint of pain there.
"Ho? That's a big statement. Do you really feel that way about all the spirits you went on a date with?" She teased him further.
"Of course, they're all important to me and I care deeply about them," Shido said with confidence. Then, being finished with his part of the dishes, he dried his hands and gave his sister a head pat. "Naturally, that includes my little sister~"
The unexpected gesture caught her completely off guard. Seriously, she was the one who should tease him, not the other way around!
"C-c-cut that out, will you?!"
"What? Do you think you're too old to get praise from your Onii-chan?"
"D-definitely! Don't mess around like that!"
"Too bad, because to me, you'll always be my beloved, cute little sister~," He said, giving her a wink and leaving the kitchen, leaving a flustered Kotori to finish rinsing the dishes.
Kotori shook her head, dispersing whatever thoughts were forming in her head after that. Best to ignore those anyway. Once she was done, the red-haired girl joined the rest of the group, and as usual, she witnessed the others pilling up on her brother, trying to get a little bit more of his attention, or being obnoxiously clingy.
In her personal opinion.
And no, she wasn't the same. It's different with siblings, you see.
"The food was delicious, but I think I ate too much," Origami said, leaning on Shido's shoulder. "Shido, I'm sleepy."
"Then, shouldn't you go home before it gets too late?"
"I'm very sleepy."
"Umm… I can accompany you if you want."
"I'm very, very sleepy."
"Eh? Shido, I'm sleepy too," Tohka leaned on his other shoulder, despite having eaten more and being just as energetic moments ago.
Muku and Yoshino ran into each other while trying to get on his lap, so they resorted to rock-paper-scissors to decide who would claim that seat.
"Darling, I'm feeling sleepy too, would you mind if I stayed for the night?" Miku asked coyly, batting her eyelashes at him.
"Not at all. We have a room just for you." He answered with a smile.
"You have? I-I see, but I was thinking that we could, you know, share your bed–"
"There's no need to, we have plenty of space," His polite smile was relentless.
"Heh, don't worry, Shido. Onee-chan will definitely keep you company tonight~" Natsumi said, flaring her hair.
"How many times do I have to tell you to not sneak on my bed? It's more than once a week now…"
"Fufufu, look at all those sleepy heads. Shido, you should help them get ready for bed," Nia said, leaning from behind the couch and wrapping her arms around him. "And then, we can stay awake all night long~" She whispered into his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. The reaction got a light chuckle from her.
Not only that, the previously drowsy Origami was back to full awareness. The white-haired girl grabbed her purse and took something out of it, a dark brown bottle filled with a suspicious concoction.
"Shido, take this. One spoon should be enough to keep you awake for two hours, so I recommend drinking the whole thing."
"Won't that give me a cardiac arrest, though?!"
"Drink."
"Uoh! All that food suddenly gave me a lot of energy!" Tohka followed suit, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Statement. The Yamai Challenge number two hundred sixty-eight ended in a draw after forty hours of no sleep," Yuzuru said.
"That's right, no spell of Morpheus can defeat the Yamai Twins," Kaguya joined her sister confidently.
"Sleep is very important, you shouldn't be skipping it like that," He told them.
Yoshino, who won the match and was now sitting on Shido's lap, looked up at him.
"Even me?"
"Especially you, Yoshino. You need to sleep well, otherwise you won't grow." The comment struck a chord with her, but also Kotori and Natsumi.
"He's right, you know. And it's bad for your skin too! A-and you end with those bags under your eyes because you spent the weekend binging that game that everyone was talking about, but nobody played it to the end. And now they are laughing at you and calling you a tanuki…" The green-haired girl seemed to go down a bad memory lane.
"Well, I'm used to pulling all-nighters, but I can't say I like it. I wouldn't mind if we were doing something fun, though~" Nia said, scratching under his chin with her finger.
"Nobody is staying up late and that's final, you hear me? We still have school tomorrow." Shido reminded everyone, getting a collective "yes" as a response.
"Hmm, can I at least get a good night kiss, Darling?~" Miku pleaded, interlocking her hands.
"Oh! Shido, I want a good night kiss too!"
"Shido. If they get one, I want a good night French kiss too."
"Don't push it, Origami…"
"Nushi-sama…"
"Will you kiss onee-chan good night too, Boy?~"
"Fine, when you're all ready to sleep I'll do it," Shido scratched the back of his head, sighing in defeat. And just like before, the cheering was collective.
"Seriously, it's too easy to twist your arm," Kotori thought out loud, shaking her head.
"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you."
"Who said I wanted a good night kiss?!"
"Oh, you don't want one?"
"I– Ah, whatever, I'm taking a shower first…" She said, heading out to the bathroom.
The evening ended just fine, regardless of Origami's attempt to break in and help wash Shido's back. He did kiss them all good night as promised, leaving Kotori for last. He stood by the doorframe, looking at the short redhead sitting on her bed.
"Not feeling like sleeping yet?" He asked, getting her attention.
"What? Are you going to read me a bedtime story too?"
"Well, it's not like Muku didn't ask for one before, so I wouldn't mind," Shido made his way into her bedroom, sitting on the bed. "Life surely got a lot more lively around here, hasn't it?"
"If by lively you mean chaotic, then yes," She answered. Despite her comment, there was no malice in Kotori's voice. If anything, she sounded quite positive about it.
"There's not much we can do, and I gotta say, it's pretty fun to have them around."
"Huh, is that so?" Kotori raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking, you must be loving to be surrounded by pretty girls. That's any guy's dream, isn't it?" She pointed at him with a smug grin.
"I suppose…" He admitted, scratching the back of his head.
"And not only that, they're all head over heels for you. Do you know how many men would kill to be in your spot?"
"I have an idea," Shido remembered of the involuntary cardio session of this morning. "But it's part of the job, right?" This last bit got him a puzzled look from Kotori.
"So it's just a job for you, Shido?"
"Of course not, I still care about everyone. But sometimes it does feel like a task."
"Well, only you can seal spirits, so it's a task only you can do." She said, and after some thought, Kotori continued in a softer tone. "Sorry if I pushed this too much on you."
"Don't be, I'm glad I could help out all of them, and you too Kotori. And to be honest," Shido looked to the side, and even in the dimly lit room, Kotori could see a faint blush creeping up on his cheeks. "I might have some… deeper feelings involved."
When Shido looked back at Kotori, her puzzled expression gave way to something he couldn't quite discern. She just stared blankly back at him, as if scanning him with her eyes. Whatever it was, it faded away as the redhead showed a gentle smile.
"Isn't that cute? You're the one supposed to make them fall for you, Onii-chan~"
They exchanged a light laugh, and then Shido got up while Kotori pulled the blankets. Before he moved away, she tugged at the hem of his shirt.
"Oi, aren't you forgetting something?" She asked, pointing at her cheek.
Shido quickly understood what she meant, leaning in and planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Good night, Kotori."
"Good night, Onii-chan."
And with that, he was off to bed himself. The day was quite agitated today, and it was only now that the exhaustion caught up to him. So the young man quickly fell asleep, thinking of what to make for breakfast tomorrow, and about the girls in his life, who have become a great source of joy to him. Unbeknown to him, his sister laid awaken still, her face curled into a frown, shifting and turning under the blankets. Something inside her stirred, a feeling that she didn't like, and made an effort to hide deep in the back of her mind. But sometimes it surfaced, and this time she couldn't ignore it.
When Shido woke up the next morning, he felt perfectly rested and full of energy. Cooking breakfast was a breeze, and the walk to school was wonderful. He let the fresh air of the morning fill his lungs, making him lighter and vivid. Everything looked so beautiful under the early rays of light. The trees, the clouds, the birds chirping, the flowers, and of course, the lovely girls who resided next to him. But why retain himself to only them? Surely, every girl had their inner and outer beauty, and on this bright morning, he couldn't help himself but tell them just that.
So along the way, the blue-haired young man left a trail of ladies swooning as he used his charms on them. An outsider might look at him using the corniest lines in the book, but the delivery was so impeccable that he actually made them work. Sure, having Haniel enhance the ambiance helped too, creating some sort of dream bubble around him and any girl he flirted with. Back at home, the girls were left to wonder where Shido was, while they ate the breakfast that was left ready for them. All except for Kotori, who stayed in her bed for a while longer, staring at the ceiling.
Meanwhile, aboard Fraxinus, the monitors started to show some alerts. Sensors detected Spirit energy fluctuations, as well as some anomalies in mood levels. Nothing Reine and the crew weren't equipped to deal with, but what surprised her was the source.
"Shin…" She stared at the monitors, reading the data. Surveillance images popped up, showing Shido on his heartbreaker spree. Reine tapped her communicator. "Commander, I have some bad news…"
"Shido is what?!" Her voice echoed in the house. The girls in the kitchen looked up at the sound of hasty steps above their heads, and soon enough, a frantic Kotori slid into view, looking around. "Where is he?! Shido?"
"I think he left early, but he did leave breakfast early," Nia said, exchanging a confused look with the others.
"Damn it, of all times for it to happen, why now…?" The redhead asked no one, heading outside as she fixed her ribbons.
"Wait, Kotori. What had happened?" Tohka inquired her, realizing something was off.
"I don't have all the info yet but apparently Shido is out there in berserk mode again," She explained, and suddenly everyone changed their demeanor, understanding the gravity of the situation.
A berserk mode Shido meant…
"He's flirting with every girl he sees," Origami said, getting up from her seat with a determined face. "We must act quick."
She was a bit out of line, but Origami had a point. Acting like this, Shido could get himself in a mountain of trouble if he picked the wrong lady to try his charms on. Even if he had his spirit powers to protect him, the consequences could be pretty damming. Kotori tapped her earpiece.
"Reine, where is he now?"
"Based on his trajectory, Shin is heading to Raizen High School, although his speed is greatly reduced as he stops to chat with girls on the street," Reine told her, prompting Kotori to pinch her nose bridge. "You should be able to intercept him at the school."
"Got it. He's going to school. If we run, we can catch him before he does something really stupid," Kotori told the girls, who quickly got up and rushed after her and into the street. As usual, Muku, Yoshino, and Natsumi stayed at home, accompanied by Nia.
"Oi Miku, aren't you going to be in trouble with your classes?" Kaguya asked the young idol as they ran.
"Forget school, my Darling needs help!" Said the idol, lagging behind the group just a little. She wasn't exactly athletic but her workout routines were helping a bit.
"Question: why is Shido rampaging again?" Yuzuru asked Kotori, who clicked her tongue in frustration.
"I'm not sure yet, Reine is looking into it. Last time it was due to the links between us and him acting up, but…"
"Everyone is getting so well together, aren't we?" Tohka thought out loud, getting a confirming nod from the others.
If that was not the case, then what could be causing this imbalance within him?
"Whatever the case may be, we have to reach him before he goes on a real rampage again. Baka Onii-chan…" Kotori said, whispering the last part.
While they made their way to the school, Shido was already there, causing an uproar. The high school girls watched as this boy waltzed in, flashing his bright smile, waving and winking at them as he passed. Sure, they knew more or less who he was, but right now he looked so different, like one of those famous magazine models. Some swore Shido had a rosy pink aura of Prince Charming around him.
In the corridors of the school, he met yet another target, right in time to catch her as she slipped and fell. Never mind the mysterious sheet of ice on the floor that suddenly appeared. Shido stopped her fall, also grabbing the books she carried.
"Careful there, Okamine-sensei. We don't want you to get hurt, now do we?"
"E-eh?! I-Itsuka-kun? You're q-quite early today," Okamine-sensei stammered, feeling her heart skip a bit as the young man held her in his arms.
He gracefully helped her back on her feet, returning the books with a flair.
"Of course. I couldn't wait to see such a beauty like you, sensei~"
"B-b-beauty?! Itsuka-kun, you shouldn't say those things willy-nilly!" Okamine was already taking the semblance of a tomato with how flushed her cheeks became.
"I would never, promise. Classes are much more pleasant to watch when I get to admire such a pretty lady like you, Okamine-sensei," He said, sending her his trademark wink.
The poor teacher was left paralyzed in front of the classroom door, steam coming out of her head as she held her books. Surely her mind was overclocking, imagining the wedding and her future life as a wife. Shido sat in his place, chin resting on one hand as he admired the landscape through the window. Then he found his next target. Or rather, targets.
"Oh, good morning, Shido-kun. You're early today," Ai arrived in class along with her best friends.
"Tohka-chan is not here, yet?" Mai asked, followed by Mii's usual "Gross…"
Shido seized the opportunity, getting up from his seat and walking right next to Ai, his brown eyes never leaving the blonde. As he got a little too close to comfort, Ai moved away, backing off until she hit the wall. He followed with a classic kabedon, leaving the girl more than confused with the sudden advance.
"S-Shido-kun?! What gives?"
"Nothing much. I just wanted to give you this," He said, bringing up a small square bundle, wrapped in a colorful napkin.
"What is it, though…?" She asked nervously, accepting the gift with open hands.
"Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted me to cook you something? Well, consider your wish granted, and I'll be happy to fulfill any others you might have~" He said, grinning as Ai shook in place, her face beet red.
Sure, she teased him yesterday, but she wasn't ready for a response of that level. Neither were her friends, who witnessed the scene unfold. They even took a step back when Shido looked at them, his bright grin looking dangerously charming. And while the poor blondie looked for the right words to use, Tohka slid into the classroom, followed by Origami.
"Found you, Shido!" She exclaimed, grabbing him by the shoulders.
"Oh, good morning, Tohka. Did you enjoy the food I made for you?~"
"Hai! The french toasts were supper yummy and– No, that's not the time to think of food!'"
"What's going on?" Mai thought out loud, right when the Yamai Twins barged in from the other side of the classroom.
"There you are, Shido! We've got you surrounded!" Kaguya said, pointing at him dramatically.
"Statement: escape is not an option." Yuzuru followed. Both gingers closed the circle around him.
"Good morning to you too, girls. You too, Origami~"
"T-T-Tohka-chan! This is not what it looks like, I didn't really ask him to m-make me a bento and–" Ai tried to apologize to Tohka, but she wasn't sure what she was apologizing for. The raven-haired girl looked at her friend with a confused face.
"Don't worry about it, Shido is not himself right now," Kaguya tried to calm down the blondie, but that left Ai even more confused.
"He's not himself…? Then what's wrong with him?"
"Ah," It was then that Kaguya realized she couldn't give the real explanation. "Well, you see–"
"Explanation: Master gave Shido some shady concoction. He's hallucinating," Yuzuru told them with her poker face.
The trio gave that understanding reaction. As odd as it sounded, it made perfect sense. As Ai let out a sigh of relief, a commotion could be heard outside. Students raised their voices in awe of something, or rather someone. At last, Kotori and Miku entered the classroom.
"That's why I told you to wait outside, now everyone is looking at you," Kotori complained. "Onii-chan!"
"But my Darling needs my help, I can't just stand still– Darling!" Miku went straight to a tackle hug the moment she spotted him. And now the crowd that followed them here witnessed the famous idol Izayoi Miku embracing Itsuka Shido as if they had known each other for a long time. And did she just call him "Darling"?!
"Ho? Isn't that Itsuka's little sister?" Tonomachi, who was among the crowd, spotted the short redhead.
This was the last thing Kotori wanted, a crowd near her rampant brother. She clicked her tongue in frustration. What would they do if Shido decided to use his powers now? She had to act quickly, but the discrete options were practically impossible, especially with the presence of a famous idol. Lucky for her, Origami had a plan.
The white-haired girl moved in swiftly, getting behind Shido and karate-chopping him in the neck, letting his unconscious body fall into Miku's arms.
"E-eh? Darling?!"
"Origami, what was that about?" Tohka asked, rather angry that she hit Shido.
"Cognitive recalibration. When he wakes up again, he'll be himself again," She stated as if it was common knowledge. To Tohka, it seemed to make sense.
"I see. Well, what now?"
"Let's take Shin-kun to the infirmary," Said Reine, who just joined them, making her way through the crowd, and pulling a flustered Tama-chan by the arm. "Okamine-sensei, can I ask you to disperse the students?"
"... And then we'll have three children…"
"Okamine-sensei,"
"Eh? Oh, okay! Please take good care of Itsuka-kun, Murasame-sensei! Alright, everyone, give space and go back to your classrooms. Classes will start soon," said the brunette, giving the space needed for the girls to make their leave.
-/-
Now aboard Fraxinus, the girls gathered around Reine as they monitored Shido from the other side of a glass pane. He woke up back to his normal personality, but he was starting to feel the burning sensation of the spirit energy flow building up within. It was manageable for now, but the situation could become dangerous at the drop of a coin.
"So, did the readings show why he got like this again?" Kotori asked Reine, now in [Commander Mode].
"As expected, the energy flow within Shin's body is having trouble circling between himself and you girls. However…"
"However?"
Reine pulled up a hologram overlay on the glass pane, showing the readings, not only from Shido but from all the girls.
"As you can see, the metrics for everyone are as positive as they can be. As far as we can tell, you girls are pretty happy with him."
"Of course! Darling has been nothing but the best to us, right girls?" Miku said, getting nods from the others.
"W-well, I can't deny I do feel better when Shido is around…" Natsume said, looking to the side and poking her fingers together.
"You have zero complaints from me. That Boy is just wonderful~" Nia added.
"Humu, Nushi-sama is very attentive to Muku."
"Then why would the energy flow build up again? Something is not adding up," Origami concluded, inspecting the readings herself.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I have a hypothesis but I'll need some time to confirm it. For the time being, I suggest you girls spend some quality time with him. It should help to stabilize the links and buy us some time." Reine then opened the door to the room, letting the girls rush in to check on him. "Wait, a minute, Commander." She said, signaling to move to a more secluded place.
Kotori glanced at her brother for a moment, surrounded by the other girls, before following the white-haired woman. Once they were out of earshot, the real talk could begin.
"Alright, what's the real situation, Reine?"
"I already explained it, everything seems fine."
"But you said you had a hypothesis right? Knowing you, you already have some level of certainty on it, and what's worse, the fact you wanted to talk in private tells me it's not a good thing," Kotori went straight to the point. The sooner they could resolve this situation, the better for his well-being.
"Well then, I'll be as straightforward as possible, Commander. We monitor the mood levels of spirits such as happiness, anxiety, stress, agreeableness, anger, and others, but not all of them. I think in this case, a metric that we don't monitor is causing the issue," Reine explained, observing Kotori's reactions with attention.
"Okay, and? What's that new metric?"
"Before I tell you, there is something I need to ask you, Commander. Your honest response will be crucial," She warned the short redhead, looking her right in the eyes.
"Shoot it."
With all the exams done, Shido was released from observation. He was a bit worried about the scene that formed at school earlier, but Kannazuki assured him Ratatoskr was already working on containing the online rumors about Miku's appearance in public. He would still need to explain their relationship, but that could be explained by bringing up Shiori, his "cousin". Still, flirting with any girl he saw in the street, first thing in the morning. Those memories, hazy as they were, would haunt him for the rest of his life, just like his black archives- correction, his chuunibyou phase.
Reine advised him to take it easy and enjoy the free day to rest and have some quality time with the girls. Consider it a date, were her words. Good thing it was Friday, so he wouldn't miss much. Or so he thought, hoping it wouldn't take much longer than the weekend to figure out what was wrong with him. he even received a few messages from his friends, wishing him a speedy recovery and advising Shido to not drink or eat suspicious foods, no matter how much Origami asked him to. The moves he pulled on Tama-sensei and Ai were particularly embarrassing.
But now he was back at home, currently sorting out dinner, this time with Tohka, Origami, and Yoshino helping. They insisted as a form of not stressing him too much. And if that was any indicator, Shido could expect to be quite pampered for a few days. Not that he was complaining, but it felt a bit odd to be on the receiving end. How to put it? He got used to being the pursuer in their relationships. Later that night, he got a call from Reine. She asked him to meet in person, so he excused himself for a bit.
"Shin, how are you feeling now? Any changes?" She asked, her tired eyes flipping between him and the data on the display.
"I feel fine, but I still have that burning sensation, like a fever," This was the best way he could describe it.
"So it is subdued but still present… Did you notice any changes in the girls recently? Anything strange or out of the ordinary?"
"Not that I can remember…"
"Try to make an effort, the clue could be in some minor detail," She ushered him, leaving Shido to do some deep thinking.
He closed his eyes, tapping on his knees, and scratching his head, but there was nothing he could think of. Nothing weird with the girls, or at least for their standards.
"I'm trying, Reine-san, but nothing comes to mind. Muku was clingy as usual and she went out with Yoshino and Natsumi to explore the city, Kaguya and Yuzuru had some challenges between them, Miku gushed over the girls, Tohka ate plenty, Origami tried to give me energetics, Nia teased me again… and Kotori was normal too. I don't see what could cause this problem, sorry…" He said, feeling a little defeated. Did he do something wrong?
Seeing this, Reine tried to reassure him.
"Don't beat yourself over it, it's not something completely under your control."
"I see," Shido didn't sound convinced, letting out a sigh. "To think just yesterday everything was normal. Maybe I shouldn't bother the girls so much about them sneaking on my bed at night…" This caught Reine's attention.
"Shin, can you repeat that?"
"Eh? What? The sneaking on my bed thing?" Reined nodded. "Well, it happens now and then– And it's getting more frequent– mostly Natsumi's doing, but also Nia, whenever she's around. And I'm sure Miku and Origami would try it too if they were in the house more often…" He said, hiding the faint blush on his face by looking away from Reine.
"I see…"
The silence began to worry him a bit. Maybe that was the cause? But if that was the case, then…
"Reine-san, do you think I should, you know, let them?" Just the question itself was rather embarrassing, imagine sharing a bed for real. Not that he found them unattractive, quite the opposite, and that was the problem. He wouldn't be able to get any sleep!
"No, or not yet, at least. But it does explain a few things," Reine said, reviewing the data again. "You said this happened last night, right?"
"Yeah…"
She stared at him for a rather long moment, then put her tablet on the table, leaning forward.
"Listen, Shin, I have an idea of what is the source of the problem, and I might have the solution, but you must understand. This will require your full commitment. Once you begin, you can't go back, got it?"
The call to action seemed to bring back his resolve. Whatever uneasiness that hovered over his head a few minutes ago was dispersed by motivation.
"Got it. I will do whatever it takes," Shido said confidently. He would go to any lengths to protect those who were important to him. Seeing the determination in his eyes, Reine finally told him her plan.
"Shin… you must have sex with Kotori."
"Eh?"
Earlier that day, aboard Fraxinus
"Kotori… do you feel sexually frustrated?"
There was a moment of silence between them as if the world had been frozen by Zadkiel.
"EH?!" The redhead shouted, covering her mouth once she realized the others could come here. "What kind of question is that, Reine?" The redhead whispered, clearly embarrassed.
"It's a direct question, do you feel sexually frustrated, yes or no?" Reine insisted in her tranquil speech.
"O-of course not! Why would I be s-sexually frustrated?! I don't even think about s-s-sex or anything like that. What do you take me for, a pervert?!"
"No, it's a normal thing for your age. Plus, Miku, Yuzuru, and Nia have more mature figures, and Natsumi can transform at will. Considering your body type, feeling insecure would be natural and–"
"I'm not insecure! Who cares about boobs anyway?! They're super overrated and only gross perverts care about them that much!" Kotori shouted, seemingly forgetting about this being a private conversation.
Reine stared at her for a few seconds, then typed something on her tablet and showed it to Kotori.
"Here, I just adjusted a new metric for 'Sexual Frustration'. Your levels skyrocketed just now." Upon hearing this and seeing the graph, Kotori's face began to match her hair color.
"T-t-this doesn't mean anything, y-you measured it after asking me that question, s-so the data must be biased…"
"You're right, the data model is incomplete and it would be impossible to make any predictions based on that."
"Right? There's no way this is the problem–"
"But I have a data point from yesterday to compare," Reine's answer made Kotori's blood freeze.
"You… you have?"
"Yes. Yesterday, MARIA detected an anomaly in the metrics. I wasn't sure what it was, but it was a fluctuation in your emotional levels."
"When did you find that?" Kotori asked, uneasily.
"The anomaly was detected early in the morning. Then, I set some generic trackers on your readings to monitor things out."
"And…?"
"Some minor mood fluctuations spread during the day, but the interesting data point appeared late at night," Reine pointed at the time. "Were you still awake at that hour, Kotori?"
Kotori slowly covered her face, nodding.
"I see…"
"I want to die…"
Seeing the turmoil of her commander, Reine let out a sigh, lightly hitting Kotori with the tablet.
"It's normal to have those feelings, you know? You may act like an adult in charge of this team, but you're still a teenager. There is no need to feel ashamed," Reine reassured her, but that didn't seem to move Kotori a lot.
"That…"
"Hmm?"
Kotori looked up at Reine again.
"That's not the bigger problem…"
"And that would be?"
"..."
"Wait, wait, wait. Reine, you're telling me to have–"
"Sex, yes."
"With–"
"Kotori. Your adoptive sister, may I remind you." She emphasized the last part.
Shido was speechless. Was this for real? She wouldn't joke at a time like this, so Reine must be serious.
"... Why? Where did that come from?"
"Long story short, Kotori's sexual frustration is the cause of the imbalance in your sealed spirit energy. Similar to how you seal spirits, the way to solve this is by relieving her from it."
"By 'relieving her from it' you mean…"
"Intercourse," She completed for him, keeping her serene tone. "Do you know how it works, Shin?"
"Y-yes, I do! I mean, I've never… you know," Why did it have to be this? As if flirting around wasn't embarrassing enough, now Shido was going through this talk.
"That's to be expected, I would be surprised if you already had personal experience. Don't worry, I've prepared a training course for you."
"Training course? You mean a light novel?"
"Technically an eroge, but you got the gist. The most important is Kotori's emotional state, so you don't have to worry that much about your performance–"
"Can we stop talking about it?" He pleaded. Something about how Reine was addressing this felt wrong with him. Perhaps it was her voice, always tranquil and level, but Shido thought she was taking this too lightly. It was his sister they were talking about.
Surprisingly, Reine seemed to read his mind, or perhaps it was written on his face.
"Shin, as I said, this will require your full commitment. Nobody else can seal spirits, and considering the relationship between you two, the situation is even more delicate. I'm taking this very seriously, do you understand?"
He couldn't argue with that. Plus, Shido knew Reine cared about Kotori. It was just this embarrassing situation that clouded his judgment for a moment. But he said it himself, didn't he? He will do whatever it takes to save those important to him. Even… this.
End of Chapter