Chapter Seven
Sucking Tokisaki Kurumi [Seeking Data]
To test his theory, Yu Hisashi went to the school building's rooftop.
"Found one…"
After rummaging through the Imaginary Number Space, he actually found a girl wearing a black-and-red dress.
Without his deliberate control, time, space, and all information within the Imaginary Number Space existed in a state of chaos.
To avoid imposing too heavy a mental burden on her, Yu Hisashi thought for a moment and decided to release her.
On the rooftop, the shadows receded. A slightly bewitching girl returned to the real world.
She wore a gothic lolita black lace dress, a gothic maid-style hairband on her head, her dark hair tied into twin tails draped over her fragrant shoulders.
Long bangs covered nearly half her face, but even the revealed half was breathtakingly beautiful.
The moment he saw her face, Yu Hisashi knew his earlier worries were probably overthinking it.
Seeming to sense the change in space, Tokisaki Kurumi slowly opened her eyes.
Her crimson pupils landed on Yu Hisashi before her. She paused slightly.
"That strange space… you control it?"
Looking at the boy before her, Tokisaki Kurumi instantly pieced together the whole story.
At the same time, the wariness in her eyes shifted into intense curiosity.
She was a master at manipulating time.
But the time and space there felt chaotic, elusive, yet faintly imbued with a peculiar order.
'To possess such an ability… no wonder the Phantom was interested in this boy…'
'Since it's just a Clone, I can study it further…'
Tokisaki Kurumi's eyes flickered slightly as she thought to herself.
She met the boy's gaze, speaking with a hint of confusion.
"Why release me? I caused a Spatial Quake, you know!"
"You want to go back in?"
Yu Hisashi asked, surprised.
"Ara ara."
"Mr. Hisashi, you might not know me… let me introduce myself. I am Tokisaki Kurumi!"
"The most evil Spirit!"
A seductive smile curled at the corners of the Spirit girl's lips as she stepped closer to Yu Hisashi.
"A Spirit as wicked as me… it's better to keep me locked up, don't you think?"
Yu Hisashi was speechless.
He specifically pulled her out of the Imaginary Number Space, and now she wants him to lock her back up?
What was the point of releasing her then!
"You want to study the Imaginary Number Space?"
Yu Hisashi saw right through Tokisaki Kurumi's thoughts.
"Imaginary Number Space…"
Tokisaki Kurumi's beautiful eyes glinted.
"Ara ara, is Mr. Hisashi going to tell me directly?"
"Give up. You won't understand it."
"Besides, you're just a Clone, right?"
Yu Hisashi's calm words struck Tokisaki Kurumi's ears. Her pupils contracted slightly, a thousand thoughts flashing through her mind.
'Has he met my other Clones before?'
'What is our relationship, then?'
She looked at Yu Hisashi's indifferent expression, unable to tell whether the boy's attitude toward her was friendly or hostile.
"It seems Mr. Hisashi knows something about me… In that case, shouldn't you hate me even more?"
"I've killed many humans, you know!"
Tokisaki Kurumi extended her slender, jade-like finger, gently tapping Yu Hisashi's forehead.
It slid from his brow to the tip of his nose, finally coming to rest on his lips.
"Or perhaps… Mr. Hisashi likes me?"
"Even though I'm just a Clone, I do have a physical body. I can do all sorts of things, you know?"
Tokisaki Kurumi's gaze was alluring. She was like a woman under neon lights, flaunting her charm while teasing Yu Hisashi relentlessly.
Watching this Kurumi test the waters against thin air, Yu Hisashi found it amusing.
Feeling the softness of her fingertip on his lips, Yu Hisashi had a thought.
He parted his lips slightly and took Tokisaki Kurumi's index finger into his mouth.
"Ara…"
Tokisaki Kurumi froze. Yu Hisashi's action was somewhat unexpected.
Just as she concluded their relationship must be leaning toward friendly, a tingling, electric sensation suddenly shot through her warm index finger!
In an instant, that thrill spread from her finger throughout her entire body.
Tokisaki Kurumi felt her body tremble uncontrollably.
A sensation she had never experienced before rose from the depths of her being.
Her red lips parted, but what escaped was a soft, seductive moan.
She tried to pull her finger back, but couldn't muster any strength.
A few seconds later, Yu Hisashi released Kurumi.
'Gotta say, the activation condition for this Giant Tongue Lash is abstract, but the effect is potent…'
Yu Hisashi looked at Tokisaki Kurumi, now limp as water and leaning against the wall, quite satisfied.
"Your Clone's combat stamina is lacking! Next time, send the real one!"
As Yu Hisashi's words fell, Tokisaki Kurumi dissolved into shadow and vanished from the spot.
'Pity. Didn't trigger an Ability Entry.'
Looking at the empty rooftop, Yu Hisashi thought with regret.
After leaving the rooftop, before class started, Yu Hisashi went to the restroom.
The moment he opened the door, a petite figure rushed out.
She crashed into Yu Hisashi's chest, nearly knocking him over.
[Ability Entry Triggered!]
[Congratulations, Host! Golden Entry Acquired: Spirit Binding and Commanding!]
[Spirit Binding and Commanding]: Spirit Binding: Can control spirits and assimilate them for personal use. Can also devour spirits for a slight permanent boost. Spirit Commanding: Can control living beings that have devoured spirits!
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I went into the wrong restroom!"
The girl's face flushed crimson with embarrassment as she bowed frantically to Yu Hisashi in apology.
She glanced up quickly at the boy before her, then fled as if running for her life.
He turned to watch the girl's retreating back, then looked back over his shoulder at the mass of black, miasma-spewing evil spirit lurking in the toilet stall. A thoughtful gleam flickered in his eyes.