"Help! Save me! I'm going to die!"
A desperate voice rang out from somewhere. "Kurumi! Origami! Yoshino-chan! Mukuro! Natsumi! Kaguya! Yuzuru! Miku! Tohka! Somebody help me! Stop running and do something!"
"Stop shouting." Nia suddenly felt herself being lifted like a chick by the scruff of her shirt.
"Origami? Oh, thank goodness!" Nia exclaimed with tears of gratitude, seeing Origami holding her effortlessly in one hand while carrying Yoshino in the other arm. On her back was Natsumi, all while she darted through the shaking building like the wind.
"But why am I the only one being carried like this? It's so uncomfortable."
"Shut your mouth, or I'll drop you," Origami warned coldly.
"Okay, okay! So mean!" Nia muttered and promptly closed her mouth.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"This is so blissful!" Miku declared, grinning as the Yamai twins carried her out of the building, one holding her legs and the other supporting her upper body.
"Stop squirming around!"
"Warning: Any more unnecessary movement, and we'll abandon you," Yuzuru added flatly.
For the record, Miku was perfectly capable of running herself. She had, however, convinced the twins to carry her, claiming her... proportions made running inconvenient.
At the same time, Kurumi, Kotori, Mukuro, Mana, and others also hurriedly evacuated.
Soon, everyone gathered in the open schoolyard.
"Is everyone out?"
"Not yet. Tohka, Shido, and the superintendent are still inside," someone said.
"Shido!" Origami muttered, her resolve clear. She gently placed Yoshino and Natsumi down and unceremoniously dropped Nia onto the ground.
"Why is it always me?" Nia groaned in pain.
"Wait, Origami," Kotori interjected. "We're still in contact with Shido. Let's confirm the situation first."
Inside the classroom
"Shido!" Tohka cried, realizing the disaster caused by her uncontrolled spirit power. "I messed up again. I'm so sorry!"
"No, Tohka, this isn't your fault. Right now, we need to focus on getting to safety," Shido said, putting his earpiece in to communicate with Kotori. "Kotori, do you have any suggestions?"
"Stabilize Tohka's emotional state first," Kotori advised.
"And how do I do that?"
"Are you an idiot? Hug her gently and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, obviously."
"What?!"
"You've done it so many times before. Just do it!"
"O-okay."
Struggling to maintain his balance in the shaking building, Shido reached out to Tohka.
Suddenly, a loud scream of terror echoed. Shido turned and saw the floor beneath the superintendent collapse. Kuriu plummeted downwards with a cry of despair.
Shido lunged forward, grabbing Kuriu's hand just in time. However, the downward force was too great, and Shido began to fall along with him.
'This is it,' Shido thought. 'Without healing powers, a fall from this height will be fatal or at least cause severe injuries.'
But then, his fall stopped abruptly. A warm, small hand had grasped his other hand.
"Tohka!" Shido looked up to see her saving him.
"Ugh," Kuriu groaned, sweating profusely in terror.
Though the building's tremors subsided, the situation was still precarious. Tohka's strength was faltering, and Shido, clutching Kuriu, hung precariously in mid-air.
"Let go of me," Kuriu urged. "There's no need for you to risk your lives for an old man like me."
"Don't be ridiculous," Shido retorted. "I'll never let go. I've saved so many people—men and women alike—and I won't stand by while someone is in danger."
"This school really is full of heroes," Kuriu murmured. "If I survive, I'll make sure to commend you all publicly."
"Now's not the time for that!" Shido snapped. "Tohka, can you hold on?"
"I… I'm losing strength," Tohka admitted.
"What? Why?"
"Do you remember? Yesterday, on the rooftop, you kissed me and sealed my power. I can't use my full strength anymore."
"Ah!" Shido was momentarily stunned. "Let go, Tohka! Otherwise, you'll fall too!"
"I won't let go!" Tohka tightened her grip on Shido. However, the weight became too much, and she started slipping.
"Damn it!" Shido closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable fall.
But the expected crash didn't come. Opening his eyes, he saw that Origami had grabbed Tohka's arm.
Not just Origami—Kurumi, Yoshino, Kotori, Mukuro, Natsumi, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Miku, Mana, and even classmates Ayame, Mahime, Mihime, Kana, and Kanon had joined forces to pull them up.
With everyone working together, Tohka, Shido, and Kuriu were finally pulled to safety.
"Why?" Tohka asked, her voice trembling. "Why are you all so kind to me when I've caused so much pain and suffering?"
"Because we're friends," Ayame said simply.
"Do you all accept me?"
"Of course we do!"
"Do you forgive my mistakes?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but no matter what, we'll never blame you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Like they said," Shido added, gently patting Tohka's head. "No one blames you, Tohka. We all accept you."
"Thank you," Tohka said, tears streaming down her face, her smile radiant.
Kuriu remained silent for a moment before scratching his head. "I've seen so much light in all of you today. This is an extraordinary group. I'm genuinely honored to have witnessed this. Keep up the good work," he said, turning to Tama. "Please continue providing these students with an excellent education."
"Y-yes, of course," Tama stammered, still overwhelmed by the events.
As the tension eased, smiles spread across everyone's faces, bringing a warm sense of unity that no words could describe.
A/N:
That concludes the Public Lesson Arc. But now, we see that the powers of the Spirits are coming back. Much better to be Spirits instead of normal girls in a world of Date a Live, huh?