Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Date a Live.
Yoshino's POV:
Damn, even though I'm only filling in the role, I have a lot of respect for Kotori. Being Commander of Ratatoskr is tough.
I stayed up late because I had to do Kotori's paperwork, which meant I didn't get as much sleep as I used to. Thank God I don't have to go to school, but even then, Miyoi said school was cancelled for the next few days due to what happened yesterday with Kurumi. So, we pretty much had the day off today and tomorrow for Shido and Kotori's date.
The only problem was that Tohka doesn't have a swimsuit, so we had to go to the store to buy one.
As for myself, I already have one. What, did you think I wouldn't have one after the four years I've spent living with Origami and Miyoi? Even in my past life, I liked swimming, so I always went with them to water parks.
And yet despite this, I was voluntold to join them in swimsuit shopping. This was because Reine made the argument that this was for Shido's training to get him used to girls in swimsuits, and since I was close to Kotori's age physically, me being there would make the training more effective. So, I ended up coming along with Shido, Tohka and Origami to shop for swimsuits.
I figured I'd go for another cute one-piece swimsuit, but for some reason, I felt myself drawn to pick a two-piece this time. "Oh? Feeling a bit daring, partner?" Yoshinon teases me as I pick a matching light blue bikini.
"I just feel like wearing this for some reason." I reply with a blush.
"Perhaps you're trying to woo Shido with your loli beauty~?" Yoshino teases more. I end up blushing even more, the thought strangely appealing. "In that case, maybe I should 'help out'? A wardrobe malfunction will surely make his heart skip."
"Don't even think about it." I say darkly, my puppet friend laughing in response. I'd rather NOT have to go through that embarrassment!
Shido's POV:
I still can't believe I'm doing this. I know we're going to a water park, but was this training really necessary?
We're just here to get Tohka a swimsuit! Why do I have to be here with them!? I'm already receiving looks from other girls just by being here! Hell, even Ai, Mai and Mii saw me, and I did NOT want to deal with them!
"Shido?" I hear Tohka shyly call out to me and turn to her, seeing her in a white one-piece that revealed a bit of cleavage and overall did a good job showing off her figure. "What do you think?"
"Uh, it looks really good on you, Tohka." I comment with a blush. Thankfully, that was good enough for Tohka as she smiles.
"And Tohka's off to a fantastic start! Shido's heart rate is through the roof!" Kannazuki comment surprises me. Are they seriously making a competition out of this!?
"I-Itsuka-kun." Origami calls me next as she opens her curtains, revealing herself in a black bikini. It was a bit normal among swimsuits, but then Origami shyly covers herself and suddenly she became a lot cuter.
"Ooh, and Origami matches Tohka! The power of shyness has been truly weaponized here!" Came Kannazuki's comment. They're seriously doing this...
"I think he likes it, Origami!" Tohka says, looking at Origami's swimsuit. "I like it, too! It looks great on you!"
"R-Really?" Origami blushes cutely. "But yours really shows off your beauty. It's no wonder how quickly became the most beautiful girl in our school."
"Really? I wasn't aware of that." Well, at least those two don't seem to care about the competition.
"You done looking at those two, Shido?" Yoshinon asks, popping her head out of the curtains of Yoshino's changing room. "Cuz now it's partner's turn!" She opens the curtains and...
Oh. My. God. How can someone so badass be so ADORABLE!? A matching icy blue bikini that that compliments her hair and eye color. I feel my entire face heat up from how cute she looks right now.
I then hear celebration music being played through my ear piece. "We have our winner." Reine declares.
"What?" I stupidly reply.
"It means your heart rate skyrocketed when you looked at me." Yoshino explains with a heavy blush.
"How can he not!? You look adorable, Yoshino!" Origami gives her compliments.
"I know, right?" Yoshinon chuckles. "And this is great since Kotori is also a loli! Having partner come along was a great call!"
Yoshino and I could only blush.
Yoshino's POV:
After buying our swimsuits and having Shido trained for tomorrow's date, we headed back to Fraxinus.
We're currently taking a break with some beverages, just to cool off from the swimsuit competition, and I catch Shido taking a glance at me. "Is something wrong?" I ask.
"Not at all." Shido replies. "It's just... Even though you're only a substitute Commander, you look really good in that outfit." Shido's compliment makes me blush.
I'm currently wearing my Commander uniform that was custom-made for me by Reine. The outfit itself is a blue commander's vest over a white shirt and a black skirt, as well as white leggings, a black bow around my neck, and a blue commander's hat. The vest, skirt, bow and cap all had gold trim, and I also wore a white wristbands. She even made an identical outfit for Yoshinon.
(A/N: There's a picture for Date A Live: Spirit Pledge of all Tohka, Yoshino, Origami, Kotori, Kurumi and Mayuri wearing Commander outfits. You'll know what I'm talking about.)
"By the way, Shido, didn't you say that you were trying to remember what happened five years ago during the Tengu Fire?" Kannazuki asks while Shido and I are enjoying our drinks.
"Yeah. Right now, I can only remember Yoshino saving me and Kotori." The protagonist replies, before his eyes widen. "Wait, are you saying you guys have footage of the incident?"
"Of course. This is Ratatoskr, after all." I reply. "Kannazuki, show him the footage."
"Right away, Commander!"
Kannazuki takes Shido to show him the captured footage, leaving me alone. I didn't go with them because I was already there for most of the important stuff.
I then hear footsteps and look up to see Reine approaching me. "Honestly, I'm surprised." She admits. "I know Yoshino canonically won the competition, but I didn't expect you to go through with your choice."
I sat in silence. "I don't know why, but I just felt like wearing that."
Reine hums. "How did you feel when Shido saw you in your swimsuit, or when you were declared the winner?" How I felt?
"I... I was admittedly embarrassed at first, but I didn't mind since it was Shido." I do my best to answer how I felt at the time. "And when I heard that I won, I felt... really happy that I made Shido's heart race so quickly."
Reine nods as she thinks about my answers. "Let me ask this question not to Yoshino Himekawa, but to Fuyu Hana. Have you ever held romantic feelings for a boy?"
I didn't expect such a question, and it made me seriously recount my past life. Did I really not have a crush on anyone?
...
...
...
"...No." I answer, the realization hitting me like a truck. "I had a couple close friends in my past life, but... none of them were boys. I never even met one that could make my heart skip a beat." I look down sadly. "I... I never had a love life."
"... I see. So, Shido was the first person you ever fell in love with. Girls who are in love feel more daring to show themselves off to the boy they love."
"I guess. But..." I start to tremble. "We both know that you rigged the Sephira Crystals to give us subtle feelings for Shido without even knowing him." I grip my skirt tightly. "A part of me is afraid that... these feelings aren't actually real."
It's honestly both scary and depressing. I'm finally given the chance to find love, and yet, there's a chance that that love will never be.
"It's true that I basically forced these feelings upon you and the other girls, but why should that stop you?" Reine asks. I look up at her as she kneels down to look at me. "Even though I know deep down that my plan is doomed to fail, I keep going, holding on to the slightest hope that I can regain the happiness that Westcott took from me." She places a hand on my shoulder. "Just as I work restlessly for my goal, so should you. Even if the love you feel is fake, you should fight to make it real."
My eyes widen at Reine's words. She's right. Even if this love was forged, I'm fighting to make it real. Just as Mio's striving to regain the happiness she's lost, I'm striving to make sure the happiness we were given continues to exist.
"You're right." I say, the doubt in my heart making way for new determination. "I shouldn't be doubting myself just because this love was implanted into me, because I'm fighting to make sure it stays."
"That's right!" Yoshinon says next to me. "And remember what Shido said before you were sealed. You're not fighting alone!" Yes, I'm not fighting alone. I have Shido, Tohka, Origami, Miyoi, Kotori and everyone in Ratatoskr. I have people I know I can count on.
Reine was pleased that I had cheered up. "Now that you're better, there's document reports from Shido's training that need to be evaluated and sent to the Director."
"Right. I better get to work." I say as I hop off the bench and fix my uniform.
"Oh, and even though I said to work restlessly for your goal, don't literally do that. Sleep is important."
I giggle at the irony of her statement. "I get what you mean." I make to the commanding center, but I stop to give Reine a smile. "Thanks for cheering me up...Mom."
Reine flinches at being called 'Mom'. "Please don't call me that. It's embarrassing, and... I don't deserve to be called that for what I plan to do."
"You may not be the best, but I can think of worse mothers than you." No joke, the anime world is filled with all sorts of terrible woman who don't deserve to be mothers, some worse than Mio.
With that, I take my leave. There's work to do.
Third POV:
The next day, Shido is dressed for his date with Kotori, waiting by the front of the train station for her. He was pretty nervous about the date, but little sister's fate was on the line and he can't afford to screw up.
"We just dispatched Kotori on the ground level." Reine informs. "She should be arriving soon. Remember to stick to the plan."
"I know." Shido replies. Reine's timing couldn't be more perfect as Kotori finally arrives. He hasn't seen her for almost two days, due to him preparing for the day to seal her again. "Oh, hey Kotori." Shido greets her arrival.
"Sorry for the wait." Kotori says, all packed and ready for the date. She was wearing casuals, which weren't too much of a difference. However, she gives a little disappointed look and sighs. "You see a girl dressed to the nines and say nothing? Wasn't that the first thing I taught you?"
"Yeah. You dressed up just for me?"
"W-Well, it is a date, after all. And I'll at least give you a chance to do something." Kotori blushes slightly. "And it doesn't feel bad to be praised."
"Itsuka-kun! Kotori-chan!" They hear Origami call for them and turn to see her, Yoshino and Tohka arrive.
"Oh, hey girls. Glad you could make it." Shido greets them.
Kotori looks at the situation with a smug grin. "Oh, a group outing, huh? Interesting move, Shido. I'm looking forward to this."
Tohka presents her shopping bag. "Look, I even brought the swimsuits we bought yesterday!" She says excitedly.
"I brought mine as well." Yoshino says, raising hers.
"Swimsuit shopping, huh~?" Kotori asks, looking more smug.
"Yep! They even had a competition as part of Shido's training! And partner won!" Yoshinon says proudly, making Shido and Yoshino blush at the reminder.
"Yoshino, huh? So, that's your taste~" Kotori teases her brother more, but interally, she is happy because she also falls into the same category as the Water Spirit.
Shido clears his throat at Kotori's teasing. "Alright everyone, let's start moving to the waterpark!"
"Yeah!" Tohka, Origami and Yoshinon cheered, whereas Yoshino just nodded.
Yoshino's POV:
The inside of this water park could put most of the ones form my old world to shame. Once we were in, the girls and I split from Shido to the women's locker room to change into our swimsuits.
Everyone's wearing the same swimsuits as they did in canon, including myself and Yoshinon. Origami, as she wasn't with us in canon, wore the black bikini she bought yesterday.
"You sure you wanna wear that, Yoshino?" Kotori asks, commenting on my choice in swimwear. "I figured you'd go for the swimsuit you wore to woo my brother."
"Of course." I nod. "This date is about you after all. It wouldn't do for me to steal the spotlight."
Kotori smiles, accepting my answer. "Heh, thanks."
We exit the locker room to meet up with Shido, who was patiently waiting for us.
Now that we're in the pool area... My god, this has got to be the best water park I've ever seen!
"This place is amazing!" Yoshinon voices my excitement.
"Shido, can I to that lake?" Tohka asks excitedly.
"Sure. Go have fun." Shido replies.
With Shido's approval, Tohka heads for the lake. "Let's go, Origami, Yoshino!"
"Coming!" Origami follows the Malkuth Spirit.
"Enjoy your date with Kotori, Shido." I wave to Shido as I follow them.
"Make sure to compliment her looks!" Yoshinon follows up.
Shido's POV:
Tohka, Origami, Yoshino and Yoshinon leave to have fun in the pools, leaving me with Kotori.
"Well, you heard what Yoshinon said." Kotori says, gaining my attention. "Got anything to say?"
I look at Kotori and the white bikini she was wearing. "Your outfit looks... pretty cute."
She gives me a smug look. "You flatter me? So, what exactly about it is cute?"
It was then I was presented with three choices.
Yoshino's POV:
Being given a ear piece means that I can see the options given to Shido whenever he has to make an Absolute Choice. Right now, the options are as follows:
1: All of it! You're cute in anything you wear.
2: It looks simple, but the design is refined. You've got a really good fashion sense!
3: I love how it compliments your budding breasts...
And if I remember correctly, Kannazuki, being the masochistic lolicon that he is, made Shido say option 3, even though it got literally 0 votes!
"Alright, everyone! Time to show your stuff!" Yoshinon announces. She was given her own ear piece.
"Everyone, make your choices." I follow up. "Oh, and Kannazuki?"
"Yes, Commander Yoshino?" Kannazuki responds.
"If you protest on our choices and be masochistic about it, I'm giving everyone else on Fraxinus permission to kick your ass." I threaten coldly.
"How cruel of you, Commander~! I can't wait!" His reply makes me pop a vein in annoyance.
"KANNAZUKI, FOCUS! YOU HAVE ONE JOB, DUDE!" Yoshinon yells as the decisions were finished.
1 - 58%
2 - 42%
3 - 0%
Just like in canon, no one even dared to pick the third option.
"Hmm, that is reasonable..." Kannazuki hums thoughtfully.
Then comes the conversation. "Option 1 is straightforward. There's no question there." Minowa comments.
"Option 2, on the other hand, makes him only care about clothing." Nakatsugawa gives his own comment.
"Option 3 is out of the question." Shiizaki flat out states.
"You're right."
Of course they are, Kannazuki. Now, with that logic, the most sensible pick is-
"Shido, go with option 3!"
My hair shadows my eyes as I pop multiple veins in agitation.
Shido's POV:
"Shido, go with option 3!" Kannazuki tells me.
Seriously, of all the options, you went with that one!? Oh, I just hope Kotori doesn't beat me up.
Gulping, I prepare myself for potential pain. "Uh, I love how it compliments-"
"Shido, don't you DARE finish that sentence!" Yoshino hisses loudly. "Option 1 got the most votes. Go with that one. Everyone else on Fraxinus, kick Kannazuki's ass!" Thank you, Yoshino.
"Hey! Quit staring into space and finish what you were gonna say!" Kotori snaps me back to attention.
I clear my throat. "All of it! You're cute in anything you wear."
My little sister immediately blushes the moment those words came out, holding her opposite arm in embarrassment. "Oh... How thoughtful of you. Wait, what were you going to say earlier?" She pauses and looks at me suspiciously, making me sweat.
"Um, I can explain."
"Relax, I won't bite. What were you going to say first?" She asks curiously.
I sigh and say the initial choice. "I love how it compliments your budding breasts..."
As expected, she's blushing way more before, this time out of anger as she covers her chest. "What did you say to me!?"
"Th-That was Kannazuki's choice! Yoshino stopped me!" I shout in defense. "She told everyone else on Fraxinus to beat him up for it!"
Third POV:
Over on Fraxinus, Kannazuki is being hit by nearly every object the Fraxinus crew could throw at him. "What's wrong with budding breasts!?"He shouts, trying to prevent a giant globe from hitting him.
"Oh shut up!" Nakatsugawa shouts, being the one who threw the globe.
"We'll send you off to dig up hot springs again!" Minowa adds.
Shido's POV:
Kotori calms down, looking pleased to hear that. "Nice that she's doling out his punishment in my place."
"Shido, I wanna do that!" Tohka calls out to me. I look at her, then at what she's pointing at.
"A water slide?" I hum.
"Yeah! It'll be fun if we go together!"
"That sounds fun. Wanna go, Yoshino?" Origami asks Yoshino.
"Sure." Yoshino nods.
"I'll probably get swept away when we hit the water, but I'm game!" Yoshinon also joins in.
"If that happens, you can just return to me."
"I'll pass." Kotori declines. "I'm no kid."
"Oh well." Yoshino shrugs, but then I see a smirk form on her face. "Then Origami and I will go as one pair, while Shido and Tohka will be the other pair." I don't mind that, but why is she-"
"On second thought, I'll go with Shido and Tohka." She changed tunes real quick!
"Forcing Kotori to let go and have fun... Our substitute Commander is quite clever." You can say that again, Reine.
Yoshino's POV:
Origami and I decided to go first. Since I'm smaller, I sit in front of Origami, with her arms wrapping around me from behind. We go down the slide, and damn was it exciting! So many twists, turns and roundabouts! I find myself screaming out of excitement with Yoshinon, while Origami is screaming out of fear. We soon reach the end and land in the water with a splash.
"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Yoshinon shouts in excitement.
"Best water slide I've been on!" I laugh in agreement due to the adrenaline from the water slide.
"That was kind of scary... but also exhilerating!" Origami says after calming her nerves.
We then hear three more screams, two from fear and one from excitement, as Shido's group takes their turn on the slide. However, just like in the anime, they end up falling off the slide early. Whether it was from the impact of them hitting the water or from the droplets of water that hit us from the splash afterwards, Origami and I ended up flinching. "Oh, that didn't go so well." Origami says, worried about our friends.
"There may have been an error in their positioning." I calculate.
Tohka is the first to emerge from the water. "That was fun, Shido!" She beams. Shido then emerges as well, with a ribbon-less clinging to his back.
"Onii-chan..." Kotori's half-crying, now meek without her black ribbons. "My ribbons..."
Shido sees the problem and goes to get Kotori's ribbons and gives them to her. "So, why did you decide to wear the black ribbons today?" He asks.
After finishing to adjust her ribbons, Kotori narrows her eyes at Shido. "Got a problem with it?"
"No, but-"
Kotori interrupts him with a pointed glare. "White won't do. I'm weak when I put on the white ribbons. I want to be the strong, black ribbons me."
After we had dinner, and Shido and Kotori broke away from us, we decided it was best to leave the two alone as to not get in the way of Shido's mission. So, we decide to go on the jungle cruise.
"How are things with Shido?" I ask for a status report.
"We're getting good results so far." Kannazuki reports. "I wonder if Shido can do this. The Commander looks mad."
"In reality, this is just what Kotori needed." Reine clarifies Kannazuki's misunderstanding. "Shin made the right call there. We've blown this date out of proportion instead of letting it be."
"Shido is Kotori's older brother, and has been since her family adopted him. He knows and understands her better than any of us." I give a small smile. "Just let things run its course. It'll all work out." With that said, I sign off.
As we get off the jungle cruise, I feel the date coming to a close. With Origami standing with us as a friend instead of an enemy, there shouldn't be anything stopping Shido from sealing Kotori.
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
...And I just HAD to jinx it.
"That's the Spacequake alarm!" Origami gasps.
"Is another Spirit coming!?" Tohka asks in alarm.
"Of all the times..." I growl under my breath. Who could possibly be coming now?
"Commander Yoshino!" Kannazuki shouts in alarm.
"I know. I heard the alarm."
"Yes, but the Spacequake is forming right at Shido and Commander Itsuka's location!"
...WHAT!?
"Yoshino, what's wrong!?" Origami asks, seeing my eyes widen in alarm.
"Shido and Kotori are in danger!" I shout urgently. "They're right below where the Spacequake's happening!" I only give Origami and Tohka enough time to react with horrified gasps before I quickly dash off, splitting my Spirit Power between making me move faster and preparing my own Spacequake to stop it.
"Spacequake in 3...2...1!"
Right as Kannazuki's countdown ends, I see the Sqacequake beginning to form. Wasting no time, I create my own Spacequake right next to it, making the two harmlessly cancel each other out.
I let out a breath of relief. Shido and Kotori are safe for now.
"Um, partner?" Yoshinon asks, sounding nervous. "Spacequakes are color-coded to each Spirit, right? That one looked white." Yes, we know that Spacequakes are colored to match the Spirit's Sephira Crystal, so a white one means...
My eyes widen when that train of thought reaches its conclusion, and I look up to the sky once more. Where the white Spacequake had formed, I see a figure obscured in a golden light, with what looked like wings coming from their back. To the untrained eye, the figure looked like... an angel.
"Yoshino!" I hear Tohka and Origami finally catch up to me, but my gaze stays on the Spirit in the air, and the two look up at her with me. "Who is that? Is that the new Spirit?" Tohka asks from my left side, while Origami gasps from my right. "What's wrong, Origami?"
"It's her..." Origami says shakily. "She's the Light Spirit that tried to kill me five years ago."
Tohka gasps. "You mean the same one that also tried to kill Shido!?"
I glare at the Light Spirit in the air. Yes, this is her.
The one who stole Metatron from Mio, who I fought to retrieve it from, but ultimately let get away...
The one who became known as the 'Mad Angel'...
Minerva Riddell.
Of course things weren't gonna be that simple. Minerva's back, ladies and gentlemen, and she's here for Round 2!