Everyone was staring dumbfoundly at the giant circles of flame.
A Flame Spirit has just arrived, and caught the attention of everyone. Almost. Origami was still struggling against a Kurumi Clone, but was ultimately powerless. Tohka was just confused.
However, the three people who were most shocked were Mario and Shido. The Flame Spirit wasn't just some stranger. It was Shido's adoptive little sister.
"Kotori...? Why...?"
Kurumi's shock quickly turned into a smirk. "Could you please leave us be? Your flames don't scare me." Zafkiel manifested behind Kurumi again. "Because you're not the only one with a cool toy!"
"You've gone a bit overboard, Kurumi." Kotori simply replied. "Now kneel. I've come to repay you."
Kurumi giggled. "Well, this is fascinating! You're going to punish me?!" Mario felt like he heard that somewhere before. "You think you can?"
"Yes." Kotori replied again, slowly descending upon the school roof. "If you don't want a spanking, then dispel your clones and your angel."
Kurumi's teeth were still wide with a smirk. "You seem to have tremendous confidence in your power! But such assumptions will lead to death. But my Zafkiel will-"
"Shut it. Stop bragging and come at me, you black swine!"
Mario could almost feel the racism right there. Shido was just too shocked to do anything.
"Very well then!" At once, all the clones started sprinting towards Kotori. She simply smiled.
"Camael!" She started preparing her axe. Mario gritted his teeth on the sight of that axe.
"It's useless!" Kurumi was about to use another one of her time powers as she raised her guns to her angel of time, Zafkiel. Kotori took one swing and unleashed a flaming projectile. It instantly turned the Kurumi clones to ash. She took another downward swing and dispelled of the Kurumi clones pinning all the victims. Mario, Tohka, and Origami fell to the ground. Shido only stood upright. He caught a bit of his breath when Kotori landed in front of him.
"Kotori!" Shido shouted. "That's...!"
Kotori turned to Shido with a serious look. "Stay put, Shido. Right now, you'd die instantly."
Kurumi giggled as everyone turned to her. Thankfully, Mario recovered. "I truly hope that you did not believe that this was all I had in store for you!" She aimed her guns at Zafkiel behind her and shadows formed around the '1' again. She fired at her own head. Kotori braced herself and blocked an incoming strike from an above Kurumi. She jumped back when Kurumi fired her gun.
"Wonderful! Just splendid!" Kurumi cackled while swinging her arms and firing bullets. "I would expect less from the first Spirit that was subdued by humans! This is great! This is amazing!"
"You're annoying. You need to chill out a little." Kotori said, despite her literally being a flame Spirit. She swung her axe straight down, in which Kurumi jumped back.
"In that case, allow me to follow your suggestion, and take it slow!" Zafkiel emerged again. "Zafkiel! Zayin!" She fired shots at Kotori.
"Kotori!" Shido yelled, still sitting down. "Watch out! That's-"
Kotori was instantly frozen in time. Just like Mana was.
"It does not matter what power you have if you are frozen in place." Clones of Kurumi emerged from the shadows as they surrounded Kotori, and they fired their guns. Blood was squirting out of Kotori despite her being frozen in time. The real Kurumi aimed her gun at Kotori's forehead. "Fare thee well." She fired, as Shido and Mario quickened their breath. She cackled as Kotori laid lifeless. "Oh my, it looks like I'm through with you already!" She spoke to the lifeless Kotori. "What a shame? I fight a strong being like you once in a blue moon!"
Mario felt like he heard THAT before.
"Well, I suppose you two are next. Shido. Mario. I..." Kurumi stopped when she heard flames. Blue flames were healing Kotori's body, just like Shido does when he dies.
"Geez, you really know how to run that mouth of yours." Kotori stood upright once more, just like Mario standing with all his might. They all looked at Kurumi. "I'd much prefer you being overwhelemed by fear, having just lost your will to fight."
Kurumi huffed and went into a sassy position. "You WILL know your place soon enough! Aleph!" Zafkiel appeared again as she fired at.. the Kurumi clones. They all disappeared to combine into one ultimate power. The real Kurumi then shot herself.
"Damn it." Kotori cursed. Kotori ran at top speed towards Shido, who was starting to get ganged up by two Kurumi clones. Shido quickly got knocked back.
"Shido!" Mario cried.
"What are you doing?!" Shido shouted.
"Tearing her to pieces! Camael!" Kotori shouted after being ganged up by several clones of Kurumi. Clones got quickly scattered via flames. The real Kurumi ducked for cover.
"Just what the hell is with you? Zafkiel! Dalet!" Kurumi screamed. While she was doing her time spell, a clone came up to Mario.
"Yeah! Show us what you got!" Mario was now more determined than ever to stop Kurumi, and as such, he went, revved up a little wind-up room, then ran up and tried to jump on Kurumi. The clone dodged, sadly. But that didn't mean that Mario didn't run up to Kurumi Clone and uppercutted her in the gut. "We're ready for more, Kurumi! Come on! You're fighting-a Mario! I want to see you GIVE it all you-a got!"
Kurumi was recharging herself with Dalet to heal the wounds. She just stood like a puppet.
"Is that all you got?" Kotori taunted. "You can start getting serious at any time now."
"I shall make you regret ever uttering those words!" Kurumi's eyes twitched, ready for battle. "ZAAAAAAFKIIIIIEEEEEELLLL!" She screamed.
"As if I'd let you do that!" She started a swing of the axe when Kotori suddenly stopped by a mild... snap. "Oh no..."
"Kotori!" Shido yelled. Mario was still dispelling clone after clone.
"Aaahahahahaha!" Kurumi got up as she pointed her gun at Kotori. "Your time is up, I'm afraid!"
"Kotori!" Shido waddled to Kotori. "Are you okay?!"
Kotori raised her head, as her eyes were glowing now. "Camael! MEGIDDO!"
Mario physically gasped on what they are seeing. The axe lost it's sharp edges, as it raised up and became a giant cannon. The cannon was used to obliterate Mario before back in the Mushroom Kingdom, and now it was back with a thirst for Kurumi blood.
Kurumi was starting to panic. "My temporal selves!" The Kurumi Clones retreated from fighting Mario and went to guard the real Kurumi.
"Turn them to ashes, Camael!" The cannon fired at once and Shido & Mario blocked their eyes. This prevented them from witnessing the mass genocide of Kurumi Clones and tearing a hole through Zafkiel itself. Kurumi went limp as if to surrender.
"Pick up your gun." Kotori commanded as Shido & Mario turned to Kotori. "This battle isn't over yet. This battle hasn't concluded yet. Let's keep fighting to the DEATH, Kurumi. Enjoy the fight you desired! The battle you longed for!" Kurumi still wasn't responding as Kotori's eyes still glew a bright red. "If you can no longer raise a gun, you should just die."
"Kotori!" Shido interrupted. "She really will die if you keep this up!" He ran up to Kotori. "Ratatoskr said to resolve issues about Spirits without killing them, is that not true?!" Shido stepped back as Kotori ultimately ignored her big brother as flames went into the cannon. "Hey! Kotori!" Shido turned to Kotori's face. She was GRINNING. Her grin and eyes widened. Shido was horrified. He had to do something. Mario already had the right idea as he was running towards Kurumi to get her out of the way.
"Kurumi!" Shido yelled as he ran towards Kurumi and held his arms out as if he were a shield for Kurumi.
"Shido.. Mario... Don't... please..." Mario couldn't budge Zafkiel so he acted as a secondary shield.
"We'll be-a fine, Kurumi. I jump in lava a lot! No biggie!" Mario's smile was innocent, but on the inside, he was scared too. That was a big cannon, but Kotori losing her mind was much worse than just a simple fireball.
Mario looked at the cannon of Megiddo. He was reminded of Bowser. Those horns on Kotori reminded him of Bowser. The red eyes and grin reminded him of Bowser. Eventually..
Kotori's eyes stopped glowing. It was too late, however. The cannon fired towards Mario & Shido. "BIG BROTHER! MARIO! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" She screamed.
Mario bid his farewell to his adventures... or did he? Thankfully, SOMEONE saved Mario. He was quickly knocked out of the way of Megiddo. The last thing before Mario hit his head on the roof of the school and blacked out was green.
But all Shido saw was red.
The red reminded him of that time. Kotori was crying in a circle of flame over the body of Shido, laying down and bruised. "Big brother! Wake up! Please! Big brother!"
Shido couldn't as his eyes closed once more.
"Would you like me to operate?" An annoying doll voice came from Shido's unconsciousness.
"Y-yes please.. thank you doctor..." A shy voice followed.
Shido's eyes opened to Yoshinon in his face. "Not to worry! You can count on me!"
Shido's eyes turned to Yoshino as she gasped. "G-good morning... Sorry.. I was playing doctor..."
"Ah... it's fine." Yoshino felt relieved to hear this from Shido and left the sick bay. Shido turned his eyes to Tohka, also sitting down. She quickly fell asleep, her head slamming on the bed which jolted Shido up. "Tohka's here?"
"Shido... soy bun..." Tohka said, mumbling and half asleep.
He smiled and then pondered. "Why am I in the sick bay?"
"You've gained consciousness, Shin." In came Reine who parted the curtains. "I wish I could say the same about your friend." She gestured to Mario.
...and as if it were a miracle, Mario's head jolted up too. "What happened...?"
"Ah. Mario's awake." Reine said, not changing tone.
"You really surprised me!" Yoshinon was peeking from the curtain. "You woke up so suddenly!"
Yoshino appeared shortly after. "Sorry for startling you."
"Don't sweat it." He turned to Reine. "Reine, what am I doing here?"
"Following yesterday's battle with Kurumi, you were transported here while unconscious."
"And what about-a me?" Mario coughed from the distance. Shido & Reine turned. Reine continued.
"Mario, you fell unconscious too. Luckily, a man helped you flee the battle before you turned to ash."
"...?" Reine commanded the 'man' to come inside. When Mario looked at the 'man', he felt like he could cry of happiness. There, beside Reine, was a slightly taller version of Mario. He wore green, had a cap supporting an 'L' emblem, green shirt, blue overalls, a mustache, blue eyes...
"LUIGI?!" Mario couldn't believe it!
"Marioooo!" Luigi yelled. He ran up and yanked Mario out of his bed and hugged him tightly. Mario hugged him too, embracing Luigi.
"There, there, bro. I'm-a safe." Mario patted Luigi on the back. "I was so worried about-a you!"
"I was worried too bro!" Luigi had tears in his eyes. "Don't laugh at me for this, but I was so scared without you!"
"I was scared-a too, Luigi. You're okay and that's all that matters."
"What happened after the battle?" Shido asked Reine while the brothers were having their reunion. "Tohka's asleep, right?!" Shido's paranoia kicked into overdrive. "What about Kotori? Why did she look like that? And Origami-?!"
"Calm down, Shin." Reine blatenly replied.
"Mana's okay, right? And Kurumi, she's alive, right?!" He kept shouting and shouting. "And the entire student school as well, right-?!" It didn't take long for Reine to bring Shido's head to her... chest. Yoshino and Luigi quickly covered their eyes to avoid shattering their innocence.
"There there. Are you calmed down yet?" Reine said, petting Shido. She released him and Shido gasped for air. He just couldn't fine the words. "Don't worry. Everyone's all right. As far as I know, there were no casualties. Origami and Mana were taken away. They were probably transported to SDF Tengu Hospital. Kurumi somehow managed to escape. Tohka is, as you can see, she was hurt herself but insisted on staying by your side instead. She must've fallen asleep from exhaustion."
"Hey, whoever you just said, she sticks by you!" Luigi added in his own comment. "Just like my bro bounces! When my bro bounces, I bounce too!"
Shido turned to Luigi. "Um, sorry, who are you exactly?"
"Oh, right." Luigi sighed. He got pretty used to not being known. "So hey, I'm Luigi! I'm my bro's bro! Nice to meet you!"
"...something about you seems familiar." Shido pondered.
"Oh, uh, have we met before? I don't think so. I did wake up at the same school where I saved Mario. Maybe you saw me? No, then again, you would've called me out..."
Shido sighed and looked downwards as Luigi continued on. "So it's not over yet?"
Reine, who was still there, confirmed this. "That is correct."
Shido tilted his head to Reine. "Where's Kotori?"
At once, Reine got Shido out of the bed and led him to the place where Kotori was kept. In the sick bay still was Mario, Luigi, Tohka & Yoshino.
"Mario..." Luigi got serious. "Who WAS that girl? Those flaming weapons were the same as Bowser's!"
"That was-a Kotori, the flame Spirit. She has Camael too, I-a think." Mario tried to guess.
"Have you seen the princess or Yoshi?"
"No.. Not-a yet." Mario sighed, then he turned to Luigi. "But I did make-a some new friends."
"Really?" Luigi was interested. "Who?"
"Well, for-a starters, there's Tohka over-a there, she loves food!" Mario pointed to Tohka. "Perhaps, even more than-a me! But not spaghetti. I love my spaghetti." Mario was stern. He then let go of that expression and turned to the quivering Yoshino. "That-a there is Yoshino and her bunny puppet Yoshinon! The former is-a very shy and the latter is-a very energetic! How does she split her-a personality that easily?" Mario pondered. "And Shido is the man who just-a left. His job is to seal all the Spirits."
"Ah. Okay. I gotcha. Say, I ran into so many adventures, this place is... kinda like our previous world. You know, where we lived with Mom and Dad and the family... But different. I'm just glad I ran into one of them - you." Luigi gently looked at Mario.
"Yeah. It's-a not the end though." Mario looked forward into nothingness.
"Yeah."
Meanwhile with Shido & Reine, they were observing Kotori in a small room aboard the Fraxinus. "She can't see or hear us in there." Reine warned Shido. "You're on your own from here on out."
Shido took note of that warning and walked through the automatically opening glass door. Well, not really glass anymore. From the inside, it was a regular wall. In there was Kotori, sipping tea. "Ah, Shido. I see you finally woke up." She chatted as Shido approached a seat in the opposite direction of her.
"Yeah." He pushed the seat out and then took his seat. He glared at Kotori with furrowed eyebrows. He had to get the truth out of her. "Who exactly are you?"
"Your cute little sister." Kotori beamed.
"Who calls themselves cute like that?" Shido chuckled, knowing that at least someone was enjoying the path to destruction.
"But I am, aren't I?" Kotori still beamed, leaning her fist on her chin.
Shido mentally sighed. "I can't deny it." Back into serious mode. "Kotori, are you a Spirit?" It didn't take long for Kotori's expression to match Shido. Angry, unamused, and furrowed eyebrows. The mental staredown competition engaged between the two. All Reine could do was watch.
"Would you believe me if I said I wasn't?" Kotori said, after a long period of uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah. I'll believe you if you say so."
"Are you nuts?" Kotori said, sadly looking at her tea. "You would rather trust what other people say instead of trusting your own eyes? That's something a smart person... would not do." She drank her tea again.
"If I didn't trust my little sister's words," Shido started. "I might be doing what is reasonable as a person, but I'd be a horrible brother." He smiled.
Kotori decided to tell Shido. "I'm human. Or at least, I intended to be one. However, the sensors over there indicate that I'm a Spirit now."
"What's going on?" Shido asked.
"I was a human born into the Itsuka family. That much is certain. But five years ago, I became a Spirit." Shido gasped at this. "Or perhaps a human who can weild Spirit powers would be more accurate."
"Is that even possible?" Shido suddenly remembered. Recollection flashed in his eyes. Flames everywhere. He saw Kotori crying. "Don't call me crazy, but I knew about that."
"What? But you didn't know anything until now?" Kotori was shocked to hear THIS news.
"No.." Shido clenched his head as he leaned on the table. "Earlier, I saw the details in a dream..." He was running towards Kotori, flames everywhere, circling Shido, ensuring to consume him alive. Despite this, he kept running to his little sister. "Kotori! Kotori!"
"Big brother!" Kotori cried back. "Stay away!" But it was too late. Flames hit Shido as he got knocked back. Kotori cried, crawling towards her unconscious brother. "Big brother... Big brother!" She cried and cried.
Kotori stood up after hearing the story. "I still have doubts whether I was crying for you like a big baby, but for the most part, your account matches what I remember. Some of our memories were probably shared through the Path when I reclaimed my Spirit Powers."
"I see." Shido understood as Kotori walked towards a wall and stopped. "Kotori, what happened back then? How did you become a Spirit?"
"I wish I could tell you," She leaned on the wall and folded her arms. "But truth to be told, I don't have much memory of it. I vaguely know that SOMETHING happened, but I just can't remember the details. I remember about turning into a Spirit, but nothing about what triggered it."
"How could you forget something so important?" Shido asked softly.
"This is coming from the brother who forgot that his sister had been turned into a Spirit... but you're absolutely right. It was an event that twisted my very identity. There's no way I could forget it just like that. Maybe someone erased both of our memories? Well, that is a possibility. Eventually, Ratatoskr found me. I found out what was going on behind the scenes and decided I wanted to help the Spirits."
"But you lived normally after that fire, didn't you?" Shido asked, taking it all in. Meanwhile this conversation took place, Tohka had just awoken from her nap. She saw Shido... gone. She instantly got up and headed for the door. "What happened to your Spirit powers?" Shido asked. Tohka was asking Yoshino, Mario & Luigi where Shido went, and they all told her the correct direction. She ran off. Hopefully she makes it, despite their directions.
"You sealed my powers." Kotori answered.
"I did?"
"Yeah, don't you remember what I said yesterday?" Shido remembered. "I'll have your back for a while, Shido." That's right. "I don't know why or how, but you had the power to seal the power of Spirits away. That's why Ratatoskr chose you to act as a guidance for the Spirits."
"Then, does that mean my regeneration ability when I die-"
"It was originally mine." Kotori suddenly pointed down. "By the way, Shido, come over here now."
"And why should I do that?"
"Because I said so." Shido fell for it. As soon as he got up from his chair, his stomach had gotten a massive impact, mainly from Kotori's fist. Reine just slightly opened her mouth at the scene, not gasping at all. Shido fell to the floor, clencing his stomach. "I told you to be careful, didn't I?! At the moment, you are extremely vulnerable! Are you insane? You were fortunate that I regained consciousness and deflected the blast!"
"You... regained consciousness?" Shido asked, looking up at Kotori while still in pain. Kotori realised she spilled the beans. Shido slowly got up from his pain. "I knew you weren't yourself."
"Yeah.." Kotori started to shudder. "When I get my Spirit powers back, I lose control over them after a short while. I just feel the overwhelming urge to destroy... or to kill." Kotori stared at her trembling hands. "It scares me. I don't know what I'll end up doing." She clenched her fists as she tried to fight the pain. "I might've done something terrible five years ago too! What if I killed someone?!"
"Kotori!" Shido yelled. Kotori gasped as she got too carried away as Shido stepped closer to his little sister.
"Forget that... I said something out of character. I might've returned to my senses yesterday because you and and Mario stood in front of Kurumi. I'm kinda grateful for you two."
"Won't your Spirit powers return to me?"
"Unlike Tohka, I have pretty much drawn out all of my power. It won't happen naturally." Kotori grabbed her cup again. "It needs to be sealed again."
"Sealed?"
"It's no different from what you did with Tohka and Yoshino. You must make me go on a date with you, make me open up to you and..." Shido blushed upon what he needed to do. Kotori was worse. She dropped her cup as she collapsed on the floor. Shido ran for her.
"Kotori! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine..." Kotori was struggling. "Don't worry about me."
"B-but..." At that point, Reine came into the room, leaned down and looked at Kotori and Shido.
"Shin, that's enough for today. Leave the rest to me."
"Reine..."
"We need to talk outside. Come, now."
"I understand."
Finally, Mario, Luigi & Tohka were running down the halls of Fraxinus. Tohka's bird-eye view caught Shido around a corner. "Shido! There you are! I was so worried since you just disappeared!" She was still too innocent.
Luigi sighed. "I believe that's called... walking?"
"Who-a knows? Maybe Shido DID-a teleport!" Mario added to the spooky factor.
"Mario!" Luigi shouted. "You saw Shido walk with your own two optical receptors! Called EYES!"
"Are you all right?" asked Tohka, still beaming. "Does it hurt anywhere?"
"Sorry, you three, but could you all leave me alone right now?" Shido asked, depressed. The three followers suddenly stopped in their tracks.
"Shido..." Tohka silently said.
"What's-a eating him?" Mario asked.
"Hmm... maybe that flame disaster?" Luigi added.
"Two more days." Reine's voice sounded through Shido's head. "Kotori can only endure her own Spirit power for approximately two more days."
"What do you mean?!" Shido yelled.
"Once that time passes, she might cease to be the Kotori you know. Two days from now, on June 11th, you will go on a date with her. This will be our last chance to return her to normal."
Shido sighed. The truth had to be told.
Shido was also standing in front of a reception desk of a hospital.
"I'm terribly sorry." The receptionist apologised. "But not even her own family is allowed to see Takamiya Mana."
"Is her condition that grave?" Shido asked calmly but nervously.
"I'm sorry, but we've been ordered not to give out any information either."
"No way..."
A girl in a hospital gown came in, and she sported short white hair. This was Shido's classmate, Origami. "Shido." She said with no emotion, catching Shido off guard for like a whole second.
"Origami?" Shido then walked to Origami, who was using a wheel stand to support herself.
"I'm glad to see you're alright. How is Tohka?"
"Ah, she's fine as well."
"Dammit." Origami silently cursed.
"Pardon?" Oblivious Shido was not fortunate enough to hear the monotone girl cuss upon his ears.
"Never mind."
Next scene, they were in a hallway in the hospital. "I see. So you came to see Mana."
"Yeah, but they wouldn't let me." Shido and Origami were sitting on a hospital bed together. The sun was setting and orange filled the room. Something about this seemed real familiar but Shido couldn't quite place it.
"I can't tell you the details, but they're using highly classified equipment for her treatment. No one may see her until she's moved to the common ward. You'll get arrested if you try to break in. Is that the only reason you're here?" Shido snapped out of his thought process and turned to Origami who aksed the question. "You only came to see Mana?"
"O-of course I came to see you too!"
"I see." Origami narrowed her eyes.
Shido quickly stood up. "Well, it seems like this is gonna take some thorough planning. You should also hurry and get some rest in your room! Later!" Shido waved Origami off and quickly speedwalked down the corridor to get out of there as quick as possible. He was making good progress when he heard a thud on the floor that made him stop. He turned to Origami, who was now laying on the floor. "O-Origami!" He speedwalked back to Origami and lifted her up. "Are you okay?"
She tilted her head to Shido. "I don't think I'll be able to return to my room by myself. Help me."
"Excuse me?"
"Help me." Origami repeated.
"Okay..." Shido caved in. "Can you walk?"
"Not really."
"Then I'll get a wheelchair for you." Shido was about to walk off again when the back of his shirt was tightly gripped by Origami.
"I don't want a wheelchair. I'd only get motion sickness."
"Then what should I do?"
"Carry me."
"Come again?" Shido was now very concerned about Origami's behaviour.
"Carry me." Origami repeated, narrowing her eyes.
Shido was just dumbfounded, staring at her for a few seconds. "...right." It didn't take long for Shido to walk Origami down by giving her a piggy-back ride. It looked very awkward and Origami was not helping. "Origami, don't you think you're holding on a bit too tight?"
"Not at all." Origami clinged onto Shido tighter, and from there, Shido could feel something soft press on his back. To prevent any conclusions, he asked Origami.
"You're in Room 305 of the west building, right?" Shido asked, while his cheeks were going slightly red. Origami didn't answer as she kept... grabbing on to Shido. "Th-that tickles! Hey! Stop!"
"Really?" Origami asked quietly.
The elevator ride seemed a lot longer than it was.
"Origami...?" Shido asked. Origami was being weird again. All that was heard from the elevator was heavy breathing. "H-hey.. Listen to me..." Shido stopped cold when he felt a lick. "Huh? What's happening to me here?!" As soon as the elevator arrived, he made a beeline to Room 305 and set Origami down on her bed. "I think I'd better be going now!" But Origami STILL wasn't done. Shido gulped as a knife was directly in front of his face.
"Peel it." Origami was also holding an apple.
"Okay..." And thus, the apple was peeled. He presented the pieces to Origami on a plate.
"Feed me." Origami requested.
"Come on, you can do THAT yourself."
"I was told to avoid strenuous physical activity."
He sighed as he brough an apple peel to in front of Origami.
"Put it in my mouth if-"
"OKAY!" Shido shoved the apple peel right into Origami's mouth mid-sentence, catching her off guard. For once, she looked shocked. Shido smirked. His smirk quickly faded when Origami pulled Shido's hand and started sucking on it to get all of the quality of the apple. Now he was just more confused. "H-Wha-Origami?! Hey! ORIGAMI! St-stop that!" After Origami was done with her... 'treat', she let go.
"Thanks."
"W-was that enough?! I really do have to head back!"
Origami pulled out a thermometer. "My temperature needs to be measured. I can't do it myself. I was told to avoid strenuous physical activity-"
"I get it!"
Shido was the one sitting down and Origami was.. sitting on Shido's lap. "Why am I the one sitting down to measure your temperature?" However, Origami got a little too close. "Origami, what're you doing?!"
"When Kurumi transferred to our school, her every action managed to turn you on." Origami departed her hospital robes for a bit revealing... something. You probably know. I'm not saying it, heck you. "I judged that taking the dominant position would be most effective."
A long time had passed. It felt like eternity, but the sunset made the room red. "I'm really leaving this time."
"Just one more thing." Origami STILL wasn't done. Shido turned to Origami, who was looking down. "Tell me what happened after we fought Kurumi yesterday. If I'm not mistaken, another Spirit appeared. Her Spiritual Armor reminded me of someone, and that person could control fire. I lost consciousness because of what Kurumi did to me. Tell me if you noticed something about that Flame Spirit. It doesn't matter if the detail is minimum."
"W-well, I passed out soon after you did... so I don't know the details either."
"I see."
"What about that Spirit?"
"Five years ago, she started the inferno in Tengu City. My parents were burned to ash before my very eyes. That culprit is the same Spirit who controls fire. I've been looking for her all this time. I have always been looking for her. I finally found her. At long last. I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill her, no matter what. I will do it myself. My 5 years in training has led up to this. For the sake of this moment, I joined the AST. I acquired a Realizer. I have learned several skills and abilities. All of this, to defeat the culprit. I will have my revenge against the Spirit of fire. All of this... to kill Efreet."
Shido couldn't believe the 'war cry' that Origami came up with.
Mario rang the doorbell to the Spirit Mansion next to the Itsuka residence.
He sighed. "No response, huh."
Luigi looked over. "Is that normal?"
"...Well, there's usually a ventriloquist, or a purple princess..."
"Princess? Peach is here too?" Luigi exclaimed, clearly a bit shocked and... a bit new to this whole ordeal.
"No, not-a Peach. Tohka. You know what? I'm just-a inviting myself. Pardon the intrusion!" Mario opened the door.
"They leave it unlocked...?" Luigi commented, looking around. "Woah, wowie-zowie, what is this place?"
Mario presented. "The Spirit-a Mansion! It's where all the Spirits that Shido sealed live! It's-a quite... overly large, but whatever."
Luigi sighed again, as he just put his hands on his hips. "Mario, you're really gonna have to catch me up on all this."
"I know, but... I-a missed you, bro!" Mario broke down again as he ran to hug Luigi.
"I missed you too!" Luigi couldn't contain it himself as he hugged Mario back.
And for once, everyone was happy.