Just as Tohka was locked in combat with the "Heavenly Judgment," whose movements were erratic and highly uncoordinated, the blade of Sandalphon continuously collided with the distorted spatial barrier, sparking dazzling light.
A familiar and agonizing scream, traveling from far to near like a meteor streaking through the battlefield's clamor, accurately pierced Tohka's ears—
"Tohka! Aaaahhhh—"
Tohka's body trembled violently! Sandalphon, which was about to swing down, abruptly froze in mid-air.
Maintaining the posture of holding the massive sword aloft, she subconsciously looked up toward the direction of the sound.
She saw a blue-haired young man flailing as he rapidly plummeted from high altitude—who else could it be but Itsuka Shido?
Her cheeks and nose were flushed red from the previous fierce battle and sorrow, and her eye sockets were still swollen, making her look somewhat disheveled.
At this moment, her amethyst-like eyes were filled with extreme shock and disbelief, as if she had witnessed the most incredible miracle in the world.
Her eyes met Shido's...
"Shi...do...?"
As if she hadn't yet grasped the situation, Tohka murmured softly, her voice as faint as a sleep talker's.
Simultaneously, Fraxinus precisely controlled gravity, and Shido's rate of descent suddenly slowed. Seizing the opportunity, he extended his hands and placed them firmly on Tohka's shoulders, which were slender yet contained astonishing power.
Aided by Tohka's ability to fly in the sky, Shido finally stopped falling, hovering somewhat awkwardly in mid-air, face-to-face with Tohka.
The frantic heartbeat of his near-death experience hadn't yet calmed down. Shido looked at the stunned Tohka before him, whose tear tracks were still wet, and forced out a reassuring smile, even though he himself was severely shaken:
"H-hello... Tohka."
"Shido... is... is that really you...?" Tohka's voice was still trembling. She reached out and cautiously touched Shido's cheek, feeling the real temperature and sensation. The confusion in her eyes was swiftly replaced by enormous ecstasy.
"Uh, yeah... it must be me." Shido nodded affirmatively.
Confirming that what she saw was not an illusion, Tohka's lips began to tremble violently. All the accumulated fear, sorrow, and despair instantly transformed into the immense joy of reunion, surging forth like a bursting dam!
"Shido, Shido, Shido...!"
She called Shido's name over and over, no longer able to suppress her excitement. She suddenly threw open her arms, about to tightly embrace the young man who had "returned from the dead" to confirm his real existence.
However, just as this atmosphere of emotion and joy was about to reach its peak, a cold, playful, and heavily displeased and mocking voice cut in like a biting wind, instantly freezing the air:
"Ah, what a touching reunion, young man~ ☆"
The "Heavenly Judgment" hovering nearby had, at some point, stopped her awkward evasive maneuvers.
She crossed her arms, tilted her head, and though her golden eyes burned with chilling, bitter flames, a dangerous curve played on her lips. The World Ender Consciousness within her was clearly enraged by this sight.
"But..." Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a sharp accusation, "Did you forget about my other half~ ☆?!"
She raised her hand, dangerous purple electricity crackling around her fingertips, and pointed forcefully at Shido and Tohka.
"In front of my other half, you dare to call out to, and even try to embrace, another girl, another Spirit~ ☆?!"
Her tone was filled with unbelievable absurdity and monstrous jealousy, as if Shido had committed some heinous crime.
"What," she slightly raised her chin, and a twisted smile, mixing mockery and fury, appeared on the face identical to Chinatsu's.
"Is my other half supposed to be like those wives in boring TV dramas—the kind who watch their husbands cheat and can only cry weakly and helplessly?! ~ ☆"
The instant her words fell, Spirit Power, more violent and destructive than before, erupted explosively from her small body like a volcano suppressed to its limits! The surrounding space wailed under the strain, as if it might shatter completely at any moment!
— — — — — —
On the Fraxinus bridge, the curve representing the Mood Value of the Heavenly Judgment on the main screen plummeted like a cliff dive. The monitoring of her Affection Level toward Shido instantly dropped below freezing point from the previously "Friendly Attention" range, spiraling down into a negative abyss worse than how one would regard a roadside cockroach!
"Warning! Heavenly Judgment Mood Value is rapidly decreasing! It has dropped below the danger threshold!"
"Affection Level toward Shido—rapid decline! Has dropped to 'Intense Disgust'! Still decreasing! About to break the negative value record! Current assessment... her malice toward Shido even exceeds that toward ordinary AST members, or even... cockroaches?!"
"This is bad!" Kotori shot up from the Commander's chair, the precious jewel in her mouth cracking audibly as she bit down.
"That Idiot Older Brother! He provoked that crazy personality! If this continues, both of them will be torn to shreds!"
A look of determination flashed in her eyes, and an ominous red aura began to faintly glow around her—she was preparing to enter the fray herself, using her Spirit power to intervene in this out-of-control conflict!
"Commander! Please wait a moment!" Just at this critical juncture, Kannazuki, in a rare moment of clarity, shouted loudly. Simultaneously, a familiar selection interface instantly popped up on the main screen:
[Emergency Situation! Facing the Heavenly Judgment enraged by jealousy (?), please select Shido's response strategy!]
Direct Confession, Extinguish the Fire with Love! (Order Shidoto immediately turn to the Heavenly Judgmentand loudly declare in the most heartfelt tone: "The person I love most is you, Chinatsu! Tohka is just my wingman, you are the home for my soul!" — Risk: May simultaneously infuriate Tohka and be dismissed by the Heavenly Judgment as a clumsy lie, resulting in immediate death.) Confess Everything, Exchange Heart for Heart! (Order Shidoto face the Heavenly Judgment, confess the danger of the Spirit power, his own mission (dating, kissing, sealing), express deep apology for involving Chinatsuand Koushi, and finally make a solemn vow: "I will never give up on you / Chinatsu! No matter what you become, no matter how many difficulties we face, even if you hate me or break my limbs, I will definitely find a way to bring you back from this painful power!" — Risk: The information load is immense and may exceed her Understanding, but it might be the only path of sincerity that addresses the core issue.) I Want Them All, The King's Declaration! (Order Shidoto spread his arms, display a confident (punchable) smile, and loudly announce: "Hmph, what a cute, pouting girl! Why fight over this? Both Tohkaand Chinatsu are targets I, Itsuka Shido, must save (conquer)! Only children make choices, I want them all!" — Risk: Extremely high probability of being simultaneously beaten up by both Spirits. Fraxinus may need to prepare for the worst.)
"What kind of ridiculous options are these!" Kotori was so angry her forehead steamed, but her gaze quickly scanned the three choices. Option 1 was too childish and carried huge risk, and Option 3 was pure suicide. Her sight finally settled on Option 2.
"No time to hesitate! Choose 2!" Kotori decided instantly, shouting into the microphone, "Shido! Listen to me! Do exactly as I say! This is the only chance we have!"
She took a deep breath, relaying the polished core meaning to Shido quickly but clearly:
"Tell her the truth! Tell her about the danger the Spirit power might bring, tell her about your predicament—that you must date and kiss the Spirits to seal their power! Apologize to her because your appearance is what dragged Chinatsu and Koushi into all of this!"
"Finally, swear to her—that you will never give up on Chinatsu! No matter which consciousness is in control of her body, no matter how much she resists, even if you have to tread through thorns and she breaks your legs, you must bring her back from this cursed power, back to your side!"
"Tell her that this world should have a place for her!"
These words were no longer frivolous conquest techniques, but clumsy yet incredibly heavy sincerity, stripped of all pretense and facing the core of the problem.
It handed the power of choice back to the girl who might be struggling deep within her consciousness.
Kotori clenched her fists, staring intently at the screen.
(Idiot Older Brother... the rest is up to you... and also... Chinatsu, can you hear me?)
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