Koushi had just temporarily stabilized the delicate balance at the lunch table with his joking manner, and the group hadn't even had time to eat more than a few bites of their meal—
"Wooo—!!!"
The shrill, piercing Spatial Quake alarm, without any warning, tore through the midday tranquility like a cold blade stabbing into everyone's eardrums.
The atmosphere in the classroom instantly froze.
Almost the instant the alarm sounded, Tobiichi Origami stood up with a *swoosh*, her movements clean, precise, and without the slightest hesitation.
Her usually expressionless face was now overlaid with a layer of cold determination. She didn't look at anyone, nor did she speak any unnecessary words; she simply took a step, walking resolutely towards the classroom door, in the opposite direction of the evacuating crowd.
Shido could only watch that slender yet straight back disappear quickly through the doorway, holding an indescribably complex emotion in his heart.
He knew that Tobiichi Origami, the talented girl who held the dual identities of a student and a member of the Anti-Spirit Team (AST) affiliated with the Ground Self-Defense Force, was now heading to the battlefield—and her goal was to kill or drive out Spirits who had just manifested, like Tohka... Shido clenched his jaw hard, his fist unconsciously tightening beneath the table.
He could not stop Origami; this was her duty, and the path she had chosen. But—
"Hey, Shido."
Koushi lightly nudged him with his elbow, the cynical expression on his face receding slightly, replaced by a seriousness that suggested, "The time has come."
He lowered his voice and reminded him, "It's our turn to make an appearance now, isn't it?"
Shido took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and nodded: "Ah... yes. A Spirit is about to appear. We should set off."
His gaze involuntarily drifted towards the direction from which the alarm had come outside the window, his heart filled with worry for the unknown Spirit and nervousness about the mission they were about to undertake.
Just then, a voice that sounded somewhat listless yet was exceptionally clear and calm came from the classroom doorway.
"... Students, a Spatial Quake alarm has been issued. Please maintain order immediately and proceed to the underground shelter."
Murasame Reine, wearing her signature white coat and glasses, was standing at the doorway, pointing toward the corridor leading underground.
Her appearance and words were like stones thrown into a calm lake, instantly making the previously stunned students react.
Expressions of either tension or fear surfaced on the students' faces. They all swallowed, but still followed their usual training, quickly walking toward the corridor in an orderly fashion.
"Hmm? Shido, where is everyone going?" Tohka watched the students rush away, tilting her head in confusion, her purple eyes filled with bewilderment. She didn't seem to fully grasp the meaning of the "Spatial Quake alarm."
"Ah, ah, ah..." Shido quickly explained, "Everyone is going to the shelter located beneath the school. It's very safe there."
"Shelter?" Tohka repeated the unfamiliar term.
"That's right. Anyway, I'll explain the details to you later. Let's go, Tohka."
As Shido spoke, he also stood up, preparing to take Tohka and Koushi to the Fraxinus according to plan.
"Mm, okay." Although Tohka was still a bit confused, she had absolute trust in Shido.
She cast a reluctant gaze at the rich bento box on the table that she had barely eaten, but ultimately stood up obediently following Shido's instructions.
However, just as the three of them were planning to blend into the crowd and seize the opportunity to head toward the rendezvous point with the Fraxinus—
Reine quietly approached and whispered into Shido's ear at a volume that other students definitely couldn't hear:
"... Mm, let Tohka go to the shelter with everyone else."
"Huh?"
Shido looked at Reine in surprise, "Is that really okay?" Letting Tohka evacuate alone? What if she ran into trouble, or was discovered by the AST... "Ah, ah." Reine's tone remained steady. "Tohka, whose powers are sealed, is practically no different from a normal person."
"Furthermore, if she were to witness the fight between a Spirit and the AST, causing her to recall her own experiences or stimulating the seal, that would be troublesome."
"Didn't we say? For Ratatoskr, we will try our best to prevent Tohka from accumulating stress."
"No, but..." Shido was still uneasy. Letting Tohka leave his sight, especially during this chaotic situation.
Then, just as Shido was about to reply, a high-pitched and anxious voice came from the depths of the corridor.
"Hey, all of you! Itsuka-san and Classmate Yatogami, and Murasame Sensei too! Please... please don't linger there! If you don't hurry to the shelter, it will be dangerous!"
Shido's homeroom teacher—Okamine Tamae, small in stature and nicknamed Tama-chan Sensei, was trying hard to shrug her tiny shoulders, her face full of anxiety and worry, vigorously waving at them.
Because she was too nervous, her words even sounded somewhat incoherent.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"