Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Date a Live.
Shido's POV:
I expected that I would encounter a Spirit when I saw those storm clouds, but I never thought I would meet two at once, and they look to be twins on top of that. I notice that the powerful wind is actually blowing around them instead of through them. Are they both able to manipulate wind? Am I dealing with twin Wind Spirits?
I look at the girls to briefly check their reactions. Tohka and Origami are both surprised by the reveal, and so is Rinne, but I could also see wonder in the [Ruler] Spirit's eyes. Makes sense. Until I told her, the only Spirits she knew about were Tohka, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori and Kurumi. She never thought she would meet another Spirit.
Looking back at the twin Spirits, the one in the purple Astral Dress chuckles and smirks as she holds her right hand in a pose in front of her head. "Not too bad, Yuzuru. Although, I expected as much from my other half. Too bad it will all be in vain." She says with confidence. Though, the other half bit stuck out to me.
"Rebuttal: Much has been learned from our 99 battles. The advantage is clearly mine." The other Wind Spirit, who I now know is named Yuzuru, rebukes. Why is she talking like that, though?
The still nameless Wind Spirit chuckles. "Keep dreaming. We both know the only Spirit even suitable to be the Yamai's successor is me!" She shoots back.
"Deny: I am the one who will persevere." Yuzuru denies, not showing any emotion. "The name "Yamai" is not fit for one as lowly as you."
"Your words are hollow." The nameless Spirit smirks. "My Devil Sight has already shown me the inevitable end. It gave me a vision of you, Yuzuru, impaled and dying at the end of my Sturm Lanze!" She declares dramatically, giving off serious chuunibyou vibes.
"Refute: Your Devil Sight has never been accurate in the slightest." Yuzuru refutes, making the nameless Spirit flinch and gasp.
"Shut up! It has so worked before! And don't you dare make fun of me!" The nameless Spirit snaps.
The girls and I watch their exchange in silence, trying to get a grasp of the situation. From what I can understand, these two are trying to kill each other to succeed someone else, possibly another Wind Spirit. But aren't they twins? Why would they want to kill each other over some name?
"Shin, can you hear me?" I hear Reine's voice from my earpiece.
"Reine?" I reply.
"Good. I finally got through. Where are you and the girls now?"
"Um, in the middle of the road, I guess." I answer with uncertainty, still focused on the twin Spirits.
"Request: Kaguya, please provide information regarding the combat capabilities of your Sturm Lanze." Yuzuru requests from the other Wind Spirit, while also finally giving her name.
Kaguya chuckles and relaxes her stance. "My Sturm Lanze is beyond the scope of language. Simultaneously real and imaginary. It's an abstract concept created to pierce-"
"Summary: So, in short, it is nothing." Yuzuru cuts off Kaguya's explanation with a short summary, offending her twin.
"Huh?! What the FUCK?!" I flinch in surprise as Kaguya suddenly swears. "It's totally not nothing! You just have zero idea of what it is!"
"Ridicule: Lmao Sturm Lanze." Yuzuru mockingly laughs at Kaguya, still with her emotionless face.
Kaguya growls angrily. "You dare...! You will face my wrath for ridiculing me!" She exclaims, summoning a powerful gust of wind around herself as Yuzuru does the same.
We brace ourselves as to not get blown away by the strong winds. "This is bad! If they start fighting again, we'll get caught in the crossfire!" Origami says worriedly. I grit my teeth because I knew that Origami's right.
The twin Spirits charge at each other, ready to punch each other...
"STOP!" I shout as loud as I can.
Thankfully, they both heard me as they stop a mere inch away from each other, planting their feet against the ground and turning to look at us.
"Huh? A human?" Kaguya questions.
"Surprise: I cannot hide it." Yuzuru comments.
I suddenly feel a bit nervous having both their gazes on me. "Um... hi?" I greet them weakly.
"For what have you interrupted our sacred duel, human?" Kaguya demands with a glare. "Depending on your answer, I'll... uh..." She pauses for a moment, looking like she's trying to remember something before regaining her glare. "I'll skewer you with my Schatten Lanze!" She finishes her threat.
"Uh, wasn't it called Sturm Lanze?" Origami points out.
"Confirm: The name has changed." Yuzuru confirms for Origami, making Kaguya glare at her.
"Unimportant! Now be quiet already!" Kaguya snaps at her twin.
"Inquiry: Why should I? The white-haired girl was the one who correctly pointed it out."
"Well, she should learn not to butt into conversations that don't concern her if she knows what's good for her!"
"Hey! Don't think I'll just let you hurt Origami!" I exclaim angrily at the threat to Origami.
The twins turn their gazes back on me. "Hoh? Are you, a mere human, challenging the Children of the Storm?" Kaguya asks with a smirk. She's clearly looking down on me.
"Keep this up, and you'll learn that there's more to this "mere human" than you think." I reply, getting ready to summon Soul Steel if need be.
"Humor: This one has a lot of guts challenging us." Yuzuru says, humored by my apparent attempt to challenge them. I'm just trying to defend Origami. I don't actually want to fight you two.
"Indeed. In fact, this actually presents an opportunity."
Yuzuru looks at Kaguya with interest. "Curious: An opportunity for what?"
Kaguya looks back at her twin, puffing her chest in confidence. "We've fought numerous times thus far: twenty-five victories, twenty-five losses, and forty-nine draws." She begins to explain. Wait, so they've fought 99 times already?! "At this point, there are very little ways for us to duel that we haven't already done." She lifts her right finger. "However, there is one aspect on which we have yet to decide who is superior."
Yuzuru perks up at Kaguya's challenge request. "Inquiry: Which is?"
Kaguya looks over at me with intent, and so does Yuzuru. Suddenly, I have a bad feeling about this...
Charm.
The challenge for their 100th duel... is charm.
In other words, Kaguya and Yuzuru, who are now hugging my arms, are going to attempt to make me fall in love with them, and the one who succeeds to win my heart first is the victor.
I'm used to having to make Spirits fall in love with me. But this challenge is the complete opposite.
So, we had to return to our class with Kaguya and Yuzuru in tow. Thankfully, I managed to convince to change their Astral Dresses to school uniforms to blend in, so they wouldn't stick out too much. Reine was able to make a cover story that the two are transfer students
Though, that doesn't make this situation any less awkward.
"Come on now, Shido. All you have to do is choose me. If you pledge your loyalty towards me, Kaguya Yamai, I'd gladly let you put both of your precious body and soul around my hands."
"False: No outcome will benefit from choosing Kaguya. Yuzuru trusts that you will choose wisely."
The two keep trying to seduce me, even running their fingers across my chest. I look at Tohka, Origami, Rinne and Reine, my face showing how much I don't like this.
"Well, this is... certainly interesting." My childhood friend giggles nervously, not sure what to think of this.
"This is the first time I've seen a Spirit trying to seduce Shido." My classmate says with a drop of sweat running down her cheek.
"I don't like this." My wife says, showing her displeasure of the situation. At least I have Tohka on my side.
"This is quite the mess you've gotten yourself into." Ratatoskr's Analysis Officer comments.
"Yeah..." I sigh.
I'm trying my best to ignore them, but they pull themselves closer. I can feel their breasts pushing onto me as they move their faces closer to mine. I was not trained for this sort of thing! Even with Kurumi, it wasn't this bad!
"Come on, Shido. Say it." Kaguya pressures me. "Who is the better woman? Me or Yuzuru?"
"Question: Do you prefer a beautiful woman, or a cheap floosy like her?" Yuzuru demands while also insulting Kaguya.
Of course, Kaguya didn't take kindly to the insult leaned back to glare at her twin. "Who are you calling a floosy?! You take that back right now!"
"Ignore: I am prettier than that trollop, Kaguya." Yuzuru ignores Kaguya, insulting her again.
"That's even worse! Stop this instant!"
"HOW ABOUT BOTH OF YOU STOP RIGHT NOW?!" I shout in frustration as I couldn't take it anymore. The twins back away, surprised by my outburst, and I'm pretty sure I surprised the other girls as well. Lowering my head, I take a deep breath to calm myself down before speaking. "Answer me this..." I look at Yuzuru first, then Kaguya. "Why are you two trying to duel each other for the hundredth time anyway?"
Kaguya blinks at my question. "Oh, right... We haven't mentioned it, have we?" She realizes that neither gave any context beforehand.
Apologies: We forgot to tell you. As the arbitrator, you have the right to know all the pertinent details." Yuzuru apologizes.
The two then explain that they were once a single Spirit known as Yamai, who suddenly split into two for reasons unknown to them. One day, Yamai will eventually become a single Spirit again, and the two are competing to see who will be known as the true Yamai.
And while the winner remains as the true Yamai... the loser will cease to exist.
...
This isn't right. Why should one of them have to disappear while the other continues to exist? I'll make sure to find a way for both of them to stay together. I'm sure that's what Yoshino would want, too.
... Wait a minute!
"Hold on. Tohka, didn't we hear this before?" I ask the one person here who was with me at the time. "About a Spirit suddenly splitting into two?"
Tohka's eyes widen. "Oh, you're right! I remember Yoshino saying something like that!" She exclaims.
The twins look at the two of us, surprised by the reveal. "You know someone who knows the original Yamai?" Kaguya asks.
"Sort of. Her name's Yoshino Himekawa. She's a friend of ours who's been a Spirit even before Yamai." I tell them, and then my own eyes widen. "That's it! She knows about Yamai splitting apart! Maybe she knows how she split apart in the first place!" The twins gasp at the news.
"He's right!" Origami exclaims in agreement. "If anyone would know how Yamai split apart, it would have to be a Spirit that's existed before Yamai!"
"And Yoshino is chronologically the Third Spirit." Reine points out. "Meaning it's very likely she was around when it happened."
The twins look at each other with wide eyes. "Unbelievable! A chance to learn to ultimate truth has appeared before us!" Kaguya exclaims excitedly.
"Demand: You must introduce us to this Yoshino Himekawa!" Yuzuru demands. I could hear that she's just as excited as Kaguya.
I chuckle. "Don't worry. I'll introduce you both to her the first chance I get, then we'll all learn the truth together." Both twins smile happily at the promise. Seeing them both look happy, especially Yuzuru, who hardly showed any emotion, makes me smile as well.
I could see the emotions in their eyes. They held excitement, but I could also see... hope.
Could there be a chance that neither of the twins wants the other to disappear as well?
Maybe with Yoshino's help, these duels can finally end.
Yoshino's POV:
"It's just as you said, Commander Yoshino." Kannazuki says. "There's a DEM airship also hiding, and they've placed a jamming field to block communication with anyone on the island."
I nod, already knowing this. "Keep watching them for now, but be ready to strike back when DEM makes their move." I tell them.
"What about their strongest? Ellen Mathers is still down there."
"That's why I'll be giving command to you when the fighting starts. I trust that you'll be able to hold off the enemy airship just fine."
Kannazuki salutes. "I won't disappoint you, Commander Yoshino!"
I nod. "As for me..." I smirk. "Well, there's a reason Kotori wanted me to stay behind."
Shido's POV:
Things have been hectic for me since the twins joined.
I blame Reine, who decided to teach them some things to help "win me over". First was the outdoor baths, where the twins switched the signs for the men's and women's bathing areas to trick me into bathing with them. It got really awkward when Tohka, Origami and Rinne also entered the bath. It ALMOST got REALLY BAD when the Talkative Trio entered the bath! I had to hide behind a big enough rock to keep from being seen, but thankfully, Rinne mouthed me to use Mist Dash to escape.
Of course, I still got in trouble with Okamine-sensei this morning when I was caught with the twins snuggling with me on both sides.
Anyways, after that, it was finally time for the main event. Beach time!
I stretch my body as I take in the sun's rays, having changed into my blue swim trunks. However, as much as I want to just relax and play with the girls, there's still the matter of Kaguya and Yuzuru.
Basically, I need to play things in a way that I'll be able to seal them both at the same time, since there's no way I'm choosing one over the other. Usually, Fraxinus would help me out, but according to Reine, DEM's set up a jamming field that blocks connection with them, which really sucks since Yoshino could make this really simple by telling the twins the truth about Yamai.
At any rate, I only have Reine helping me out right now. She's gonna be manipulating the twins in secret, instructing them on what to do to "make me fall for them". Hopefully, this goes well and I'll be able to save them both.
The twins eventually arrived in their swimsuits, which were exactly identical except for the coloring, with Kaguya's being white with black polka dots and Yuzuru's being black with white polka dots. Really fitting the whole twins motif. Per Reine's instructions, they asked me to apply sunscreen on them, which got really awkward as they kept moaning and squirm while I applied it. They both mentioned me being really good with my fingers. I didn't know I was that good at applying sunscreen.
Though, at some point, Tohka, Origami and Rinne also joined us, with the first two wearing the same swimsuits back from my waterpark date with Kotori, and Rinne wearing the swimsuit we bought back in Eden. Seeing this, Reine also came by, suggesting a game of volleyball between the six of us.
The teams were myself, Kaguya and Yuzuru verses Tohka, Origami and Rinne. This was so I could strengthen my bond with the twins, bringing me a step closer to sealing them. Gotta admit, Reine's really good at adapting to the situation.
Although... Kaguya and Yuzuru... don't seem to work well together. Every time the two try to make a counterattack, they just ruin their attempts by bumping into each other and then arguing about it.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, Yuzuru!" Kaguya yells after bumping into Yuzuru yet again, which leads to Tohka's team getting another point.
"Counter: That's my line! Don't get in my way, Kaguya!" Yuzuru shoots back.
"What do you mean?! You're in my territory! Don't overstep your bounds!"
"Rebuttal: I didn't think dimwitted Kaguya would make it in time!"
"What did you say?!"
"Girls, calm down!" I plead in a feeble attempt to calm them down, but the two keep glaring at each other with gritted teeth.
"Kaguya-chan and Yuzuru-chan just keep fighting..." Rinne says, worriedly pointing out the obvious.
"I feel sorry for Itsuka-kun." Origami, I appreciate the pity.
"Hah! If those two keep fighting, victory will be easy! How pathetic!" Tohka, on the other hand, mockingly laughs at the twins.
Then out of nowhere, the two orange-haired girls stop arguing, their gazes fixed on the opposite team. I think Tohka just flipped their switch with that insult.
The game resumes with Tohka serving again. She throws the ball into the air and punches it, sending it right towards me. My own reflexes, honed, but training, barely saved me from getting nailed in the face by the volleyball and I manage to knock it into the air, though I still stagger back from the force of Tohka's serve. "Nice, Shido!" Kaguya praises me for my block.
"Kaguya! Setup now!" Yuzuru calls to her twin.
"Understood!" Kaguya runs over and jumps into her. The moment Kaguya lands on her hands, Yuzuru vaults Kaguya into the air, high enough that the chuunibyou girl reaches the ball. With a fierce cry, she rears her arm back and slams the ball, shooting it past Tohka, Rinne and Origami and crashing into the sand, kicking up a gust of wind that blew all three girls' hair.
We all look at the twins, amazed by their sudden display of teamwork as they celebrated with a double high-five, though after a few seconds they blink and separate from each other. "I mean, don't get too excited, peon. You should be grateful I allowed my feet to step on you." Kaguya goes back to insulting her twin to cover up her embarrassment.
"Nasty. Now my hands are extremely smelly. You know what the stink reminds me of? The smell of old dried and fermented fish." Yuzuru insults back, also blushing in embarrassment.
"My feet don't smell like that!"
They're back to insulting each other, but their teamwork and moment of celebration told me all I needed to know that I was right. Behind all those insults and arguments, they don't actually hate each other. They truly care for each other like sisters and want the other to survive. They hope that, by learning the truth of Yamai's past, there will no longer be a need to fight each other to death.
Hopefully, Reine can reconnect with Yoshino so we can make that happen.
This is the start of the twins' 100th duel, but this time, Shido remembers what Yoshino hinted about them way back during the day they officially met. This gives the twins a chance to learn the truth of their separation, as well as hope that they can actually live together.
Next chapter, however, will be Shido's first official encounter with DEM, and the fight that follows. How will Ellen adapt once she realizes she has more to worry about than just Tohka and the twins?