While Shido was sprawled on the ground, Koushi entered the classroom first, quickly found a corner seat, and with a "thud," collapsed onto the desk, burying his face deep in his arms, leaving only a back view that looked as if his body had been hollowed out.
However, he was outwardly as steady as an old dog, but his heart was already in turmoil:
Inner monologue: Damn it! This morning, I was so busy gossiping about Shido that I almost forgot about serious matters!
Damn it... the information overload is burning out my CPU! I need to quickly sort things out!
First, let's sort out my identities: I, Koushi Hōoin, am a pure man in my true form, a transmigrator, and Shido's good buddy. At the same time, I'm also Phoenix-in Chinatsu—that blue-haired, long-legged Herrscher of Reason who pulls out Gundams at the drop of a hat! And if that wasn't enough, there's also a mischievous child, Aqua, practicing Taixu Sword Qi on the moon, inside my body! It's a three-in-one deluxe package!
Koushi lay on the desk, beginning to investigate his potential points of exposure.
Shido and Kotori clearly smelled a rat and felt something was off about me. Where was the problem? Surveillance? I clearly drew the curtains properly every day! Could it be that I was caught cross-dressing... no, in my Chinatsu form, in a corner I didn't know about?
Or did the time I took leave to slack off... no, to diligently research, perfectly coincide with the time Chinatsu was causing trouble outside? That's too much of a coincidence! Too many coincidences become inevitability, I understand that principle!
He shook his head, then thought of Kotori's recruitment offer:
Tsk, although with my Oscar-level acting and shamelessness, I successfully sold myself for a good price to the little devil Kotori, temporarily stabilizing the situation.
They clearly haven't discovered the ultimate equation: Koushi = Chinatsu! Otherwise, what would be aimed at me now wouldn't be a lollipop, but a Manifestation Device!
...But if they knew that the Spirit they wanted to "conquer" and the long-lost sister were actually a man who constantly hung out with them and called them brothers (at least most of the time)... that scene is too beautiful, I dare not imagine it.
Now I need to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.
So, now the question is—do I continue this act?
Act! I must act! I'll act even if it kills me!
Otherwise, what should I do? Should I stand up now and confess deeply to Shido: "Brother, I'm sorry, the sister you've always been looking for, and that crazy beautiful woman who caused a massacre at the night market, and also that foodie who kept yelling 'more money' at home yesterday, were all me!"?
Leaving aside whether Shido's worldview would collapse on the spot and he'd grab Sandalphon to purge the family, just thinking about my image, which I've maintained for over a decade—wise and mighty (in my opinion), dashing and uninhibited (self-proclaimed)... Damn it, social death would be the least of my worries!
This is like pressing my old face to the ground and repeatedly rubbing it with Tohka's "Last Sword"!
How will I ever get by in the underworld after this? How will I have the face to extort Kotori's pocket money and maids?!
Finally, he made up his mind, clenching his fists (under the table):
Yes! For the safety of my chrysanthemum, and even more for my priceless old face! This persona must be welded onto me! From today onwards, I am a pure, occasionally chuunibyou, somewhat sister-complex, hot-blooded citizen Koushi Hōoin, who knows nothing about Spirit incidents but is willing to help for his (forgotten) sister and (generous) rewards!
Disguise! It is my destiny! Complaining! It is my cover! As long as I complain fast enough, awkwardness and the truth won't catch up to me!
Steady, Koushi! You are a man who can deceive Ratatoskr's elites! Yes, that's it, continue with my persona as a "mysterious immortal dark magician and doting older brother," perfect!
In short—I'd rather be considered a pervert than expose myself as a cross-dressing big shot (big mist)!
This wave is a battle to defend my dignity and integrity (if I still have any)! I, Koushi, will never give up!
(Outwardly, Koushi remained motionless, lying as if just catching up on sleep, but his hands under the table had silently clenched into fists, firming his resolve to continue the act.)
(His prone body trembled slightly, whether from stifled laughter or lingering fear.)
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And just as Koushi was engaged in this fierce inner struggle while lying on the desk, Shido finally, dragging his battered body and mind, entered the classroom, enthusiastically escorted (or rather, hijacked) by Tonomachi Hiroto, along with the gossip-finished trio of Aoi, Mai, and Mii.
The trio seemed to have already reached their own (incorrect) conclusions about the source of Shido's "injuries," and with knowing smiles and exclamations of "seriously," they each went about their own business.
Tonomachi, however, remained glued to Shido's side. He nudged Shido with his elbow, a lewd... no, a knowing expression, the kind only brothers understand, on his face, and asked in a low voice:
"Hey, Shido, don't hide it, tell me honestly, which one do you like?"
Shido looked at him with a puzzled and speechless expression: "...Huh? What 'which one'? You don't think I'd suddenly fall for Aoi, Mai, or Mii, do you?" Just imagining that scene made Shido feel like his trouble list was about to grow by several more items.
"Who asked you about that!" Tonomachi, with an expression that said, "You underestimate me," mysteriously pulled out a comic magazine with a flashy cover from his bag, quickly flipped to the colorful photo section at the back, and held it in front of Shido's eyes.
On the page were several cute anime girl characters dressed in different themed outfits.
"Look at this! Nurse, shrine maiden, maid... Which outfit do you like?" Tonomachi pointed at the magazine, explaining excitedly, "They say the next issue's color page styling will be decided by reader votes! It's so hard to choose!"
"...Ah, ah, is that so." Shido's reply was filled with a weary sigh. All he wanted now was to sit quietly in his seat and let his body and mind rest.
But Tonomachi didn't mind his coldness at all, pushing the magazine even closer, almost to Shido's face, and pressed: "So! Tell me quickly! Which one do you like?"
Shido, overwhelmed by the other's unusual persistence, just wanted to get rid of the entanglement quickly. He casually scanned the options and blurted out: "Uh, well... then... maid...?"
The moment Shido said "maid," Tonomachi's smile instantly froze, his eyebrows twitched violently, and his eyes became sharp and... indignant?
"Wh-what's wrong?" Shido was startled by his sudden change of expression.
Tonomachi pointed a trembling finger at Shido, as if he had seen something unforgivable, and said in a pained voice: "—I never thought! You'd actually like maids! I'm sorry, Itsuka! Our friendship... ends here!"
Shido: "..."
He looked speechlessly at the dramatic Tonomachi, silently scratched his cheek, then turned and walked directly to his seat.
"Ah, hey! Where are you going, Itsuka!" Tonomachi called from behind.
Shido didn't look back, answering in a calm tone: "...Our friendship, hasn't it already ended?"
"What! You're taking it too seriously!" Tonomachi immediately put on an expression that said, "You can't take a joke," and quickly caught up, putting an arm around Shido's shoulder. "Why can't maid-lovers and nurse-lovers coexist peacefully? Don't you think a world like that would be pretty good?"
(It seems Tonomachi is definitely a staunch nurse faction.)
Shido sighed helplessly, too lazy to bother with this lively character anymore, and placed his school bag in his seat. Just as he relaxed, he felt a calm, unmoving gaze fall upon him from beside him.
It was Tobiichi Origami, already sitting in the adjacent seat, engrossed in a thick technical book. She had looked up at some point, her blue eyes quietly watching him.
"...Ha...Hello... Origami, good morning." Shido greeted her somewhat awkwardly, feeling that his idiotic conversation with Tonomachi might have been overheard by her.
"Good morning." Origami replied in a flat voice, then tilted her head slightly, her gaze seeming to sweep over the magazine still in Tonomachi's hand, and softly uttered two words: "Maid?"
She heard it after all! Shido's cheeks flushed, and he quickly waved his hand to explain: "...No...nothing! Tonomachi was just messing around, don't mind him!"
"Is that so." Origami only said those two words, then returned her gaze to the book in her hands, as if she had just confirmed an irrelevant piece of information.
"Good morning~" Tonomachi then leaned over, waving at Origami, trying to make his presence known.
However, Origami didn't even lift an eyelid, her expression unchanged, completely ignoring his greeting.
"Sigh..." Tonomachi shrugged dramatically, his face full of frustration, then vented this annoyance on Shido, constantly nudging Shido's side with his elbow, and complained in a low voice: "It's always like this! Why does Origami only greet you! Damn it, damn it! This isn't fair!"
"I... I wouldn't know! Stop it! It hurts!" Shido grimaced from his nudging, forcefully shook off this resentful guy, and finally, relieved, sank back into his seat, exhausted.
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