Before he could finish, Kotori instantly bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!
"Urusai! Urusai! Urusai!!!"
Her fair cheeks rapidly flushed crimson at a visible speed, spreading all the way to her earlobes.
She abruptly jumped away from Shido, tightly clasping her hands over her meager chest, and forcefully turned her head away, leaving Shido with only a pouting side profile and slightly trembling twin tails, her voice rising due to embarrassment and anger:
"Who, who's a tsundere?! Idiot Older Brother! This is... this is objective analysis! It's a conclusion drawn from Fraxinus's big data! It has nothing to do with me personally! Don't you dare make wild guesses!!!"
Seeing her perfectly "hit the nail on the head" reaction, Shido blinked, a knowing smile appearing on his face, and he deliberately drew out his words:
"Oh—? Is that so—?"
"Of, of course it is!" Kotori insisted, her neck stiff, but her bright red ears completely betrayed her.
To cover her embarrassment, she casually grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it at Shido.
"Don't ask any more questions! Hurry up and prepare for tomorrow's date! If you mess it up, you'll see how I deal with you!"
Shido laughed as he caught the cushion, finding his sister's rare flustered and embarrassed state utterly amusing, temporarily casting aside his previous tension and confusion.
He knew that if he teased her any further, his sister might genuinely become enraged, so he decided to quit while he was ahead, nodding with a suppressed smile: "Yes, yes, I understand, My Lady Sister."
"Hmph!" Kotori finally turned back with a huff, but the blush on her face had not completely faded. To regain her composure, she immediately switched back to commander mode.
She began to seriously deploy tomorrow's support plan, but her deliberately stern little face and occasionally wandering eyes made her look adorably transparent.
(Seriously... Idiot Older Brother...!) Kotori muttered softly in her heart.
This small interlude significantly lightened the atmosphere of the previously somewhat heavy countermeasure meeting.
Under his sister's "guidance" and Fraxinus's support, Shido, besides feeling nervous, also felt a faint glimmer of anticipation for tomorrow's "date."
"So, Older Brother, tomorrow's date is crucial!" Kotori pressed her hands on Shido's shoulders, her eyes sparkling,
"This is an excellent opportunity to deeply understand Phoenix-in Chinatsu! You must seize it well!"
"Seize, seize it? What should I do?" Shido was a little bewildered.
"It's simple! Be natural, be sincere, just show your usual self!" Kotori began to impart her "strategy" insights.
"Listen more, ask appropriate questions, but don't touch on sensitive topics. Observe her reactions; if she appears shy or says one thing but means another, don't expose her, just go along with her words! Most importantly, make her feel relaxed and happy!"
"But... where should we go on the date? What should we do?" Shido was completely new to this.
"Well..." Kotori smiled slyly, "Fraxinus has already prepared several alternative plans based on the preferences of typical high school girls."
"For example, going to an amusement park to create shared memories, going to an aquarium to create a romantic atmosphere, or watching an interesting movie... The specific choice can be discussed and decided with her tomorrow based on the situation.
"Remember, the focus is on the process, on the interaction!"
She added: "Of course, Fraxinus will provide full support throughout, giving you advice at any time. You just need to relax and enjoy... uh, no, you just need to seriously execute the 'reconnaissance mission'!"
Shido's mood was complex as he listened to his sister's plan. On one hand, he was indeed full of worry and curiosity about Chinatsu and Koushi's situation.
On the other hand, going on a "date" with a girl he had just met, and with whom so many awkward things had happened, made him incredibly nervous.
(However... if I can learn more and help Koushi and Chinatsu because of this...)
Shido took a deep breath and nodded: "I understand, I will do my best."
"Very good!" Kotori clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"Now, get a good night's rest and recharge! Tomorrow will be the first step in the 'unveiling Phoenix-in Chinatsu's secret' operation!"
As night deepened, the Itsuka Residence fell silent, but both Shido and Fraxinus were actively preparing for the unknown "date" the next day.
Koushi Residence, deep night
Listening to the footsteps of Shido and Origami disappear down the hallway, Chinatsu's taut nerves finally relaxed, but what followed was a surge of anger that almost drowned her.
She spun around abruptly and stormed back into the apartment with murderous intent, slamming the door shut with a "bang."
In the living room, the culprit—Aha, wearing Koushi's skin—was leisurely sitting with his legs crossed, still tossing the earlier tomato in the air.
A lingering smile was on his face, as if he had just enjoyed a magnificent play.
Substantial flames almost spewed from Chinatsu's ice-blue eyes. Without a word, she rushed over like a blue lightning bolt!
"Eh?" Aha (Koushi) seemed to have just uttered a confused syllable when Chinatsu grabbed his arm and collar!
A clean, swift over-the-shoulder throw!
"Thud!" With a heavy, dull sound, "Koushi's" body was slammed onto the floor, shaking the cups on the coffee table.
But that wasn't all!
Chinatsu smoothly knelt down, her hands like iron pincers quickly twisting "Koushi's" joints, using standard grappling techniques to firmly lock him to the ground, her movements swift, vicious, and merciless.
"Ow ow ow ow—! Gently! Gently, Sister! My bones are breaking! Mercy, mercy!"
Aha immediately let out an exaggerated wail, like a stage actor. Although he was restrained, there wasn't much genuine pain in his tone; instead, it was full of the exaggerated sense of "playing along."
"Shut up!" Chinatsu growled, her grip tightening a few more points, her voice trembling with anger.
"You damn mischief god! What exactly do you want?! Why did you issue that kind of mission?! Why are you meddling in my affairs?!"
"Oh dear... I told you I came for fun..." Even while locked in a joint hold, Aha could still use Koushi's voice to produce that irritating, smiling tone.
"Look, how interesting it was just now! The panic of the innocent boy, the embarrassment of the tsundere girl, and the cold jealousy of that AST girl... Tsk tsk, what a vibrant clash of emotions! Isn't this much more interesting than the tragic brother-sister drama you set up yourself?"
"My business is none of yours!" Chinatsu was so angry she wanted to hit him again.
"Cancel that damned mission immediately! Get out of my construct!"
"Cancel the mission? No can do ~" Aha said with a cheeky grin.
"Rules are rules, even Aha can't just change them. Unless you come with a baseball bat... As for leaving..."
Chinatsu saw that threats were useless and knew that continuing to argue with this unreasonable guy was pointless.
She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, released her grip, stood up, and looked at him coldly.