An impossible scenario was happening before Shido Itsuka.

Origami got up groggily, life back in her eyes. "I.. did it happen again...? Ah... I'm sorry. I've been spacing out from time to time lately."

"That's..."

That confirmed Shido's theory. Devil and Origami were different. From the mere sight of Mario to trigger it, goodness knows what would happen if a Spirit were present.

"Ah..." Origami smiled. "It's nothing to worry about! I'm probably just anemic or something! A-anyway..." The white-hair blushed. "I'm guessing you read the note I left on your desk...?"

"Yeah. You're free Saturday?"

Origami covered her face, immediately turning for the exit. "That's all I wanted to say!" She bolted and slammed the door behind her.

Once she was gone, Shido ran to the railing and looked down. "Mario! Are you okay?"

Mario rubbed his head, giving Shido a thumbs up. "Uh huh. Sure-a thing. I don't-a know why Origami turned-a Inverse on sight, but I believe I have a theory."

"Go on. Shoot."

"Somehow, the Origami of-a the old world is Devil, and-a forcefully takes over the Origami of-a this world. It-a seems I'm some sort of trigger for her."

"Her trigger for you must have been as deep-rooted as the Spirits. Then again, you two DID legitimately fight to the death while I was kidnapped... and thwarted her time and time again while I was dating Spirits."

"We've-a got two princesses on our side, and-a Origami's got none. I don't-a want to see her harming either of-a them."

"I know. I trust you." Shido leaned his arm on the railing, still looking down on Mario.

"So, what's-a your plan?"

"Take her on a date, obviously. Kinda my job."


Of course, explaining all of this to Kotori and Reine was nothing short of awkward as the imouto awkwardly recounted Shido's tale. "So, let me get this straight, you made this world as a result of you and Kurumi using time powers to save Origami's parents who should've died five years ago in order to rewrite the history that follows."

"Pretty much it." Shido confirmed.

Kotori sighed. "I see..." She folded her arms. "Now I understand why you've been acting weird since yesterday."

Reine absentmindedly tapped her tablet. "However, Origami Tobiichi, who shouldn't have Inversed, has done so in this world and now exists as Devil. I've reviewed the encounter with her and Shin to prove he's not lying. Origami hasn't the faintest idea she's a Spirit."

"Well..." Shido tried to think. "Mario did theorize that the Origami-before-we-changed-the-timeline is Devil forcefully taking over the Origami-after-we-changed-the-timeline."

"You speak of this numerous times. Shin, you, Kurumi, and the otherworlders all have knowledge of the original world, correct?"

"Yeah..." Shido looked down on the table aggain. "However, can't exactly get Kurumi to confirm. She's gone dark."

"Her powers are the cause of this, and I assume there's a reason on why you all remember." Reine went back to tapping her tablet. "During Miku Izayoi's time as a Spirit, Mario and Luigi have not been affected by her Spiritual powers. Once asked for clarity, Luigi gave an apparent word-of mouth that it was Monarch's passive Spirit Waves."

Shido looked up at Reine again. "Monarch?"

"Mm." Kotori replied. "The big dragon they call Bowser."

Reine continued. "Passive Spirit Waves are being in direct line of Spiritual powers. I'm led to assume that Mario's world operates under different rules. Regarding all of this with Kurumi, perhaps her time travelling bullet had inflicted Spirit Waves into you, as well as people caught in her shadow. Due to also being hit by Kurumi's bullet, it's possible Origami's old memory may randomly surface upon seeing either Mario or the Spirits, thus instantly awakening as Devil."

"And as long as Devil exists - " Kotori finally put the lollipop out of her mouth " - there's only one thing Ratatoskr - and therefore you - can do."

Shido nodded. "Already relayed it with Mario. Make her fall for me. Kiss the girl, save the world. Engage: Kiss, as I like to call it."

"...terrible operation name. Even worse than my 'hyperdimension' project name." Kotori went back to her usual berating. "Saturday's your time, right? So let's get moving before all hell breaks loose."

"Nice red flag. Need to work on those more." Shido fired right back.


A white-haired man was staring at a large screen in a dark lit room. Grinning all the while. Everything was going according to plan, except for one setback on another account.

The ash-haired woman entered, immediately calling his name. "Isaac."

The man didn't turn. "Ah, Ellen. I'm hoping for good news. I'm in a good news mood today."

"Good and bad news." She responded. "After studying this 'Yoshi' creature's data, I can say the good news is that the new line of machines for mass production have been approved and ready for combat."

"Ah, excellent. I didn't think we could salvage otherworldly machines, especially with a different, much bolder directive than their usual... sporty types." Isaac air quoted. "Hit me with the bad news."

"Spirit 'Sister' has no sign of any inverting. We have put her in so much pain, yet nothing emerges."

"Is that so? Well, she's boring. But perhaps things can be better off this way."

"..What do you mean?"

"I'll save the answers for a physical demonstration." Isaac turned to Ellen, evil in his eyes. "In just a few days..."

"Roll out the Super Team."


Finally, the date begun. Shido was looking at a dazzling beauty in a blue skirt, blue jacket, and white shirt. All fitting herself rather well. Origami smiled as usual. "I appreciate you having invited me out here, Itsuka."

Shido blushed. "Uh... My pleasure." This was so awkward for him. Now he had to date Origami legitimately. None of that fake stuff after he sealed Kotori. "Since we're classmates and all, perhaps we could cut out the formalities...?"

"Understood!" Origami shook her head. "I-I mean... All right...!"

"Ah, thank you, Origami. I mean - I keep calling you that... it's just such a pretty name..."

"Thank you. I'm glad. My parents picked it for me... If that's what you want to call me, I'm fine with you using Origami."

"Ah, well..." Shido smiled. "If that's the case, you can just call me Shido."

"O-once I feel more comfortable." Origami cleared her throat. "So... What are the plans for today?"

"Good question..." Shido thought. Just like old times, options came in from the Fraxinus. They all seemed relatively... tame for Origami, as Shido pondered. This was his eighth Spirit, so he felt like he could handle things by himself more comfortably. But even then, something was nagging on the back of his brain. During his triple date with Origami, Tohka and Kurumi...


...Origami had dragged Shido to a love hotel, and this time, the roles were reversed.

Origami's eyes wavered, as she gasped in shock.

Kotori growled. "Hey, Shido. In case you aren't really aware of a woman's feelings, Origami's mood level had just plummeted and is mentally unstable. What were you THINKING, Shido?! Talk your way out of this one!"

Shido immediately complied, turning a corner with Origami following behind him. "Sorry, it wasn't down there, the exact location slipped my mind!"

"Ah, so it wasn't there...?"

Shido was freaking out over Origami being NORMAL. Normal being Origami flinging herself and Shido in there without a second thought. Well, there was always a fallback plan, and that was just plain ol' shopping.

The question is, what shopping? Kotori had just relayed the information to Shido that her emotions, while unstable, were rising a little bit. As Shido thought of what shopping to do, more choices came in. Surprisingly, nobody voted three (the usually worst option), but Shido, having never done this before, tested the waters a bit. Another flashback to when Origami wore a maid outfit and made Shido drink something purple...


Bowser Jr. and Kamek were walking in the streets. Something was weird. They were in public and not a single person had commented on their strange cartoony appearances.

The young prince stomped his foot, then turned back to Kamek. "This stinks! Why can't the Loser Bros. do all the work instead?"

"Because..." Kamek manifested a map, looking at it. "If Origami catches Mario, then it's immediate blasting. Can't risk Luigi going out either. The similarities are far too dangerous for them to be in public. It hurts me just as much as it hurts them."

"Does it REEEAAAALLLLLY hurt ya?"

"Of course. Without our alliance, then we would fall to Efreet's flames. Things are just... better this way. For everyone."

"Hah! Whatever you say! So why are we out here again?" Junior scratched his head.

"The reason we are OUT HERE..." Kamek sneered at Junior "is because we are to deliver this map to Shido Itsuka. It's supposed to help him raise Origami's level and stop her Spirit rampaging."

"Feh. It's gonna be no fun. With her added powers, she's actually a challenge!"

"We do NOT call people 'a challenge'." Kamek reprimanded.

Just then, they heard a faint cry, as they saw Origami run out of the building, her face entirely red.

She had her eyes closed, patting her cheeks with a flustered expression. "Why did I pick up those items...? They're... they're for... Haaah..."

"..."

"..."

Origami opened her eyes, seeing Bowser Jr. and Kamek.

She paused, her expression shifting to a curious one, and the young prince taking every ounce of his being to not blurt out 'you gotta be kidding me'. A standstill as Origami blinked a few more times, and then held her head.


HE'S AN ENEMY.

KILL HIM.

ASSISTS MARIO.

DRAIN HIS SUPPORT.

No... Gotta fight it. I don't wanna black out agai-


"Ah, sorry about that, Origami!" Shido called out, walking out of the shop. "Everything's different than I remember it! I'll buy you a makeup... present..." Shido slowed his words down as he looked at the shorter duo. "Sorry, Origami, one sec." He ignored the face that Origami was already facing away, trying to control her emotions as he put one knee down. "What are you two DOING?"

Kamek slipped the map into Shido's jacket pocket. "Go there after your shopping trip." Kamek refused to elaborate and shuffled off, dragging Bowser Jr. off with him.

"Wait! Kamek! Come back! What the-"

"S-sorry, Shido, I don't know what came over me..." Origami turned back to face Shido and bowed her head.

"Uh... n-no worries about that! L-look, listen, just follow me, okay?"

"O-okay..."

Shido nodded and walked into a clothing store, looking around, and looked back at a flustered Origami. "Hey, it's okay. How about I buy you something from here as an apology present? What do you want?"

Origami jumped in surprise. "Oh, no, you don't have to do that!"

"Don't worry, just let me do this for you." Shido kept smiling, although something was still nagging on the back of his brain, making him feel a bit queasy. Still gotta tough it out, though. "In exchange, just let me be the first to see you wearing whatever you pick. That'll be thanks enough for me."

"Oh, Itsuka, that's very kind. You seem very used to this, though. That line was smooth."

"Ah, n-no, it's just... coming all naturally to me."

"Then I'll take you up on your offer. I'll make sure to pick something that you like." Origami went back to smiling, strolling down the shops.

Kotori muffled through the earpiece. "Mmmf. I don't like how little input Ratatoskr has here, but you seem to be handling everything fine, Shido. Guess I gotta commend you for doing this eight Spirits in by now."

"You sound almost jealous. Don't want another date, Captain Tsundere?" Shido teased back.

"Wah-hey-I, ghhhh!" Shido always felt a sense of accomplishment when triumphing over his sister. Speaking of sister...

Where was Mana...?

"Shin." Reine snapped Shido back. "Origami had went into the changing room. Don't lose track of her."

"She already picked something...?" Shido walked back into the shop, and as soon as heard screaming, he picked up the pace, heading straight for the changing room. "Origami! Is everything okay-" He pulled open the curtain.

"W-wait!"

But Shido's memory already captured the full image.

That was Origami in a school swimsuit with dog ears and a tail. Shido just had the heaviest rush of nostalgia ever. She even had the belt collar. Origami had DEFINITELY done this before, back when he was on his worst possible date with her. However, instead of a stoic expression, Origami was freaking out. Was the old Origami still in there...? Origami immediately tried to defend herself. "It's not what it looks like! I don't even remember picking out these clothes!"


Moving on, they were at a diner, with Origami poking at her food. "I'm sorry, there's something wrong with me today..."

"Hey, like I said..." Shido was on a more positive note. "Don't worry about it, I'm not bothered by it at all."

"Mm. Thank you..." Origami finally ate her food.

Shido heard something that needed to attend to. Not in front of Origami, though. So he stood up. "Sorry, quick bathroom break."

"Okay, sure." Origami dismissed an already leaving Shido. She sighed. She then noticed his unfinished food from across the table. And the spoon... He had been using it to... eat the food...

Origami's world got dark again.


Shido wiped his sleeve. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Origami, I had- UWAH?!" Shido had returned to find Origami holding Shido's spoon and slowly raising it to her mouth. "O-Origami?!"

Origami snapped out of it, light returning to her eyes as she stared at the spoon in horror, as she blushed. "Shido, I promise this is not what it looks like! Your spoon fell so I was just picking it up-"

"Hey, it's okay! Just calm down..."

But Shido could not believe his own words. He was panicking too. What if Origami's intrusive thoughts got the better of her one day...?


The duo were now at the park, watching over the sunset. Kamek had designated Shido to go here. It seemed familiar to him, too. Same park and same view that Shido got sniped at...

He quickly brushed that feeling off. That was then. This is now. Origami started this, and now Shido needed to finish it with Origami. But instead of rushing things, he was going to take things nice and slowly, as he struck up a conversation with Origami. "So, you quit the AST, huh?"

"Yes. Faiting constantly was one of the reasons. However, along the way, I also became disillusioned. I wasn't sure if killing Spirits was really the right choice..." Origami held her hands over her chest. "I'm sorry - you probably resent Spirits for killing your brother, but..."

Shido snapped back. "You don't have to apologize!"

"Eh...?"

"I don't think anything's wrong with what you said at all! I mean - my brother would've thought so too!"

"Itsuka..." Origami's eyes watered. "Sorry! I..."

Shido put both his hands on Origami's shoulders. The white-hair girl looked up at him with shaky breath, before eventually blushing again. She shook her head and stepped back onto the wooden railing -

- only to have the thing BREAK APART. Origami got startled and stepped further back, completely losing her footing as now she was falling from the very tall park cliff. "AAAAAH!"

"ORIGAMI!" Shido lunged forward and grabbed Origami, slicing his wrist on the blunt end of the wooden fence to grab her. "Ghhk-!" He ignored the searing pain and heaved her back up, both of them lunging back onto safe ground. "Hey... You okay, Origami...?" Shido grunted, putting his hands on her shoulders again as they both laid on the ground.

"Yes... I'm fine... thank you... Ah..."

"Ori...gam...i...?"

Shido's heart nearly stopped again. Origami was looking to the side, and Shido followed her gaze.

That was Camael patching up Shido's wrist.

Camael was a Spirit.

Spirits (and Mario) made Origami automatically black out.

"Spirit..." Origami blankly stated as her eyes went dark yet again.

"Origami - please!" Shido begged, but it was too late. Origami started to float upwards, before what could only be described as spider webs shot out of her, knocking Shido back. He winced in agony as he looked at Origami's state now. "That's... Devil."


Tohka's eyes opened as she and the other Spirits were outside on the Spirit Mansion balcony. "What... was that...? I felt something..."

Yuzuru also gazed into the horizon. "Shudder: I have a bad feeling."

And Kaguya pointed at the source. "Look! Over there!" All the Spirits followed Kaguya's command as they saw a large, dark spider-like web.

Luigi busted out of the main Itsuka houshold door, looking up at the Spirits. "Guys! What are you looking at-woah! Mama mia!" Luigi's eyes followed their heads as he also saw the spider web.

Kamek trailed behind Luigi. "Yes, it seems Devil is attacking... As long as Mario doesn't go anywhere near them, Shido should be able to save the day."

"One question!" Bowser Jr. trailed behind Kamek, having a train of three in a conga line as the young prince raised his hand. "Mainly, the lack of Mario in our general vicinity!"

"WHAT?!"

"MARIO?!"

"WHY DID YOU-"

The three and all the Spirits looked at another speck in the distance, a red plumber charging at the scene, leaping over railings.

Mario made a promise to Shido.

To help him to the very end.


"Shido!" Kotori snapped from the intercom. "What are you doing there?! You need to leave, NOW!"

Shido groaned as he got up. "I'm the one she's after! She's not fully transformed yet! This is my ONLY chance to seal her powers!" Shido darted again and put his hand around Origami's protective sphere, fighting against the defensive electricity, but to no avail as he got flung back again. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, Shido continued explaining to Kotori. "If I run now, the city's gonna become a warzone again...! I won't let her go THROUGH THAT AGAIN!"

Shido looked up, to see the Satan angel's cannons pointed at him.

Kotori formulated a plan. "We're gonna use some of Ratatoskr's finest technology to pierce through her defense. It'll open a hole, but only for about three seconds. I'm counting on you to-"

Shido SCREAMED. "KOTORI, LOOK OUT!" His pupils shrunk, seeing Satan's cannons change targets to the Fraxinus above them. Before anyone could even say anything, they fired and utterly annihilated the Fraxinus. "KOTORIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Shido fell to his knees, teary eyes witnessing the Fraxinus fall to it's doom once more. "N-no.." Shido cried with a hitch in his breath. "N-not again... ORIGAMI!" He screamed as Satan's cannons went back to their original target.

Just before they could finish the job, though, a sword struck through some of them. Not just any sword, but Sandalphon.

Shido gasped. "Tohka!"

"Shido! Are you all right?!"

All the other Spirits landed, with Kaguya yapping the most as always. "Fufu, don't forget about us too!"

"Everyone! You're all here!" Shido cheered as he heard running from behind him, tilting his body to see Luigi, Peach, Kamek and Bowser Junior. "You guys too! Wait..."

"Hey, don't worry!" Luigi giggled. "Wouldn't want to leave you alone!"

"He says as he quivers." Natsumi commented.

"Wait, if you're all here, then..."

More footsteps could be heard, as someone took the role of being at the front of the back as he adjusted his red 'M' cap. Mario and all the others got into their battle poses.

"Shido..." Tohka leaned in, helping Shido get up. "Is that...?"

"Yeah. That's Devil. And more importantly - that's Origami."

"The transfer student?!"

Shido clenched his fist. "Fighting with her is too dangerous... I know we should all be running away, but... Everyone! I NEED your help to save her!"

Tohka went silent for a second, and then smiled. "You never need to ask us! You saved me. I owe you my life. Everyone did. Even when I thought worse of you, in the end, you had good intentions..." Everyone nodded at Tohka's statement. "Now it's our turn to help you! Just hold on, Origami...!"


Origami opened her eyes, squinting as her surroundings were nothing but pure white. "Huh.. where am I...? Did I... lose consciousness again? But I was... just with Itsuka... Ah!" Origami turned, to the /dark side/ of her consciousness, to find herself sitting and cradling her knees, in a dark mourning dress and shorter white hair. "Are you... me...?"

Origami's eyes wavered as she stared at her alternative self, the devil not uttering a single word. "What's... going on...?" Origami braved to step closer, as when her finger touched the dark side of her consciousness, it immediately started to flood the white. "Ah... AH?!"

The dark beams hit Origami's forehead, forcing her to relive the memories that lead to this impossible scenario.

Shooting at Phantom. Missing the target. Parents dead because of her. "Are these - my memories?"

The previous Origami looked up at her longer-hair self, recalling memories she never had. Not being a Spirit. Parents alive. Going to school with a smile. Eating dinner together. "Muh..."

The two clones stared at each other, their field of view spiralling and warping in an unpredictable pattern of black and white.


Satan's cannons kept firing. Kaguya and Yuzuru dodging effortlessly. "Now's your chance, Shido!"

"Thanks, you two!"

"Gabriel!" Natsumi and Miku chanted at the same time.

"Gabriel:Rondo!" Miku commanded as sound waves hit Origami's barrier.

"Gabriel:March!" Natsumi commanded, sending sound to Shido, Tohka, Yoshino and Mario, the latter warming up for another assault on at least one of Metatron's cannons.

But Miku couldn't focus on that, pouting at Natsumi's grown self. "You're such a copycat, Natsumi!"

"Well, I've always wanted to give this a try!" Natsumi teased.

Yoshino, Shido and Tohka hopped on Zadkiel's back, Yoshinon cheering. "Let's go!" Zadkiel dashed forward and leapt from side to side to dodge Satan's blasts. The cannons then forming a shield in front of Origami.

Yoshinon stopped, as it was Zadkiel. "We'll never get any closer."

"Gh...!" Yoshino pulled her hands out of Zadkiel and reached out into the air. "I'll get you to her, Shido...! ZADKIEL: SHIRYON!" The beast Zadkiel disappeared, as Yoshino's outfit started gaining additional armor of white and red. Zadkiel had essentially fused into her. She aimed her mittens forward and launched a torrent of ice toward Origami.

"HAAAAAAAH!" Tohka followed, swinging Sandalphon, creating another crack. It was ALMOST wide enough. "It's not enough, but everyone else is..."


Mario looked at the distance, seeing the crack, and seeing everyone adapt their Angels to the situation. He had to help somehow. A promise was a promise, but there wasn't much his frail Italian body can do...-

A chaos factor.

Mario heard Phantom toss those words to him. So does that mean he could pull through if he thought things through? He saw how Natsumi copied Miku's Angel. Gears were turning in his head. "Natsumi! This is gonna sound-a weird, but use Kaleidoscope on-a me!"

"Huuuh... Okay. I'm gonna assume anything works..." Natsumi shrugged, still in a teasing tone due to being in an adult body, as she aimed her palm at Mario. "Haniel:Kaleidoscope!"


Shido got launched back yet again from trying to open the crack. At least it wasn't trying to repair itself, instead Satan's cannons focusing on doing the heavy lifting.

"Shido! You can't-!" Tohka helped him get back up again.

"I've gotta! Origami's in there! Who else is gonna open this thing?!"

"It's-a-me."

Tohka and Shido turned, and effectively lost their minds. Had Anon rubbed off on Mario?! Because-

"How..." Tohka almost dropped Sandalphon. Not that it would matter because - "How are you weilding... SANDALPHON?!"

Mario proceeded to howl in pain as he raised the sword up. "SAND...AL...PHON..."

"GaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEGHHHHHHHH!" He screamed in both pain and all his frustration with Origami as he swung the sword down, finally making the crack big enough for Shido to get into. "Aaah.. It's... I did it... It's-a finished... and so am I...

Mario collapsed on the floor.

"Mario!" Shido reached out to Mario, only for Tohka to grab his wrist.

"We'll take care of Mario. You take care of Origami." Tohka looked at Shido with a stern look.

"Right!" Shido nodded and dashed towards the shield yet again. "ORIGAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" He yelled again as he tried to reach in, electricity still trying to push him back. "Origami... Origami...! Open up! ORIGAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"


Origami's consciousness was now black, with only a very few faint bits of white, as the shorter hair revealed the truth. "I killed Mom and Dad."

However, the new Origami would not back down this time. "That didn't happen in this world! Itsuka's older brother - or rather, Itsuka himself saved them...!"

"Then what about the memories I have...? Are you saying you can just pretend this never happened?"

"I..." Origami stepped back, the false but true memories she had playing at her emotions. They definitely felt vivid enough to feel real. Origami clutched her face.

"I am you. And you are me. Even if the world is remade, those memories won't disappear."

Origami fell to her knees, the darkness of her subconsciousness physically starting to infect her, her hands still not prying away from her own face, eventually covering her eyes as she started to sob.

"It's over for me. So you too, should..."

"Stop...! Just stop it! I'm not... I'm not...! Someone..." The darkness was up to her chin. "Someone please...! Somebody save me...!"

"ORIGAMI!" Shido's voice yelled out, causing the two Origamis to stir and look up at the singular bright light within the endless darkness.

"Origami, can you hear me?!"

"Itsuka?!" The newer Origami jolted.

"Why... why is Shido..." The older Origami never fluctuated her depressed emotions.

"Don't try and shoulder this on your own!" The light slowly got bigger, chipping away at the darkness. "Don't you remember?! I told you you're not alone! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ALONE! No matter how many times you try to destroy the world, I'll find a way to fix it! No matter how many times you're on the brink of despair, I will save you!" The crack got bigger.

The newer Origami was speechless, tears rolling down her eyes.

Even the old Origami choked up. "Shido..."

The crack got even bigger. "Give me your hand, Origami!" And then, they saw it. Physically falling down was Shido himself, offering his hand as he fell down. "I need you!"

The two Origami's, faces completely damp with tears, floated up, and reached both their hands to Shido.


Origami slowly woke up in the real world, still covered in a barrier. Shido still reaching his hand. "ORIGAMIIIII!"

Origami couldn't take it anymore and slowly floated down, Shido acting quick and embracing her in a hug.

"I..." Origami winced. "Thank you, Shido... If you weren't here, I might've done something I regretted. The truth that I killed Mom and Dad will never fade... The sin of me killing everyone... Thousands of innocents... will never fade... Even if I'm in a world where it never happened..."

"Origami..." Shido hugged tighter, close to crying himself. "That's... right.. you're gonna have to bear that cross... But.. it's okay... After all... A promise... is a promise." Shido remembered Mario's words. "If you're lost... rely on me..."

"Shi-" Origami's throat had closed in pain, unable to hold anything back anymore. The waterworks absolutely pouring from her eyes. And after that, there was no stopping it. Her shoulders gave out, her nose started getting runny, and Shido's reassuring words were all but enough to fully break Origami.

And finally.

She let it all out.

Origami cried.


Origami still called out in sniffles. "I need to... apologize to you too, Shido... The feelings I felt for you were probably not love or affection... It was just dependancy. I just latched onto you since you were there when my parents died..."

Shido simply smiled, letting go of the hug. "I'm honored. It's only because you relied on me that I was able to save you."

Origami couldn't help but let the tears flow again, her hands utterly quivering. "Shido..."

And yet, Shido reached out to grab Origami's wrists, like Tohka did earlier. "Oh, right, I should give these back to you. Tears weren't the only thing you left with on that day. Right, Origami?"

Origami smiled.

It was all enough.

The faints oranges, darks and blacks completely shattered, leaving nothing but angelic blues and whites. Her Inverse dress had faded, and now was replaced by her regular Astral Dress.

"Shido... I... All this time, I was fighting against you... but your methods... they always... seemed to work..."

Shido put her hands on Origami's shoulders. "Because I don't need a sword to do this."

He pulled her in and kissed her, the shield finally disappearing, Satan finally disappearing, and Origami's Astral Dress finally disappearing like shimmering stardust in the night. All the Spirits watched the spectacle, even the Mario cast couldn't help but wipe a tear from their eyes. Except Luigi, who was once again carrying Mario as support.


Kotori simply smiled as she was on all fours, watching the CCTV monitor fizzle out. "We certainly did overdo it, but I'm glad we're all alive."

The Fraxinus, however, was certainly not. All the crew members in pure shock and fear, the ship in a state of disrepair.


However, a bit of canon diverging was still possible. Shido was lounging on one of the couches in the Spirit Mansion. The school had temporarily closed. Not really surprising, considering the fate of the world was in the balance yesterday. He turned once he heard the door open (with no doorbell), but that was, once again, not surprising when he saw the culprit. A white short-haired girl with blue eyes. Starting today, she would move in with the other Spirits. It might take some getting used to, though.

Origami bowed. "I am eternally grateful to you for letting me stay here."

"Mmmmh..." Shido simply acknowledged. "I'm glad you're on the winning team this time, Origami..."

"Shido? Are you not feeling well?" Origami tilted her head, although showed no sign of expression. "It's okay. I will use mouth to mouth to make sure I end up sick instead."

"A sick Spirit is even more worrying..." Shido joked. "Regardless - I'm glad you're back to your old self, Origami. Just in time, too. Tomorrow's the start of December and school's gonna open up then. For a little while until the holidays, anyway... Haaah..."

He turned his head away from Origami and sneezed. "Must have a cold." He grimaced as he slowly got up and went out the front door, probably back to his own house.

Origami silently waved Shido off, and her ears twitched when she heard Bowser Jr. accusingly point at her. "And what is SHE doing here?!"

Kotori walked downstairs too. "She's a sealed Spirit just like everyone else now. We have a truce, and she's joining our side starting today."

Origami bowed to Bowser Jr. "I am deeply sorry for everything I did. I hope to start fresh with you."

The young prince gave it a long thought. "...Mmmmh. Fine. Just don't let it happen again." He stormed off.

Kamek was also in the same room. "That means he trusts you."

Kotori, putting the lollipop out of her mouth, looked down on the short wizard. "Ah. Right. Speaking of comically inept protagonists, how's Mario's condition? Heard he copied Sandalphon."

"He's still recovering, but it's going to take him time. My magic soup can only do so much. It'll have to be a lot of natural healing..."

"I see. I'll bank on him and Shido recovering tomorrow. Onii-chan has already used up one too many sick days to go on dates. Should thank the stars that Tamae is so forgiving." She shrugged as she also went out the front door.

Origami waving her off too.

No matter how chaotic her new life may be.

She could shoulder all her emotions on Shido... and have some herself.

And so...

With that new found emotion...

Origami smiled.


A/N: Hey there! Origami arc finally concluded! With a little bit of foreshadowing of the next arc in the final section! I'm aware the anime adaptation of Itsuka Disaster sucks, so for that arc, I'm gonna be mostly following the Light Novel - and praise be to ya, it will actually be a multi-parter. See you next time!