“Why?
He can’t just rely on you guys for every single thing.”
Shiratori tilted her head.
“But didn’t we agree at the start?!
You were supposed to help us resolve the signal jamming and keep communications open—”
“Hold on a second.”
Abruptly cutting off Kotori’s voice, Shiratori turned and began walking back.
“Ah…
Hey!
Where are you going?”
“…”
“…Shiratori?
Where are you going!”
“Where am I going?
I don’t know.”
Shiratori glanced in the direction of the laptop, then pulled open the room’s curtains.
“Honestly…”
Fed up with Shiratori’s bizarre logic, Kotori let out a helpless sigh.
She simply could not fathom what was going through this Spirit’s mind.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m closing the channel.”
Feeling an itch of faint dissatisfaction, Shiratori responded.
Kotori wanted to demand an explanation, but knowing she was dealing with a mechanical Spirit, pushing her to the point of anger would mean losing all their previous progress.
Resolved never to ask for Shiratori’s help again, Kotori gave a small nod.
With that, the laptop was shut.
“…”
Shiratori placed her hand over her chest.
Her heart was beating at a completely serene, steady pace.
Curious, really.
She had clearly gone back on her promise to Kotori, yet why hadn’t her heart rate fluctuated in the slightest?
While part of her composure might have stemmed from genuinely considering Yoshino’s best interests, it still felt strange that there wasn’t even a ripple of emotion.
“Really quite unbearable.”
Deciding not to dwell on it, Shiratori shook her head.
“Strange, there seems to be a fragrance here too.”
…Speaking of which, ever since she entered the room, Shiratori had caught a faint scent that seemed to grow richer with every passing moment.
Opening the drawer beside the bed, she found a coiled, spiral-shaped object—much like mosquito incense—burning away inside.
It appeared to be the source of the aroma.
“Another tool used for that kind of activity?”
Clearly picking up on the brain-stimulating compounds within the scent, Shiratori began to wonder if Origami was genuinely using these items with a specific objective in mind.
Closing the drawer, Shiratori scanned the bedroom far more meticulously than before.
“…That fellow actually sleeps in such a huge bed.”
For some reason, the room featured a double bed, making the entire space feel unnaturally cramped.
What seemed even stranger was that, unlike the other furniture, this bed appeared brand-new—as if it had only been unpacked a day or two ago.
Precisely around the time Shido had submitted his request to visit Origami’s home.
Two pillows were arranged neatly on the bed, their pillowcases embroidered with the words “No Problem” in bold POP font. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“…”
She flipped one of the pillows over.
The other side was embroidered with “No Problem” as well.
It seemed that if Shido were knocked unconscious today, he wouldn’t even have a choice left once he landed on this bed.
Why?
Because the sound of running water was drifting from the bathroom—Origami was currently taking a shower.
Everything was clear now.
Origami’s entire setup was aimed toward taking things to the bed.
She had specially bought a double bed and spent days preparing every detail.
From the vitality-boosting tea at the start to the energy incense hidden in the nightstand—if events unfolded according to Origami’s plan, both parties would likely end up mutually ruined by the end.
“They’re just classmates…
why go to such lengths?”
In a way, Shiratori suddenly felt that this matter was far more profound than mere emotional entanglements.
“This is the last room—”
Just then, Shido pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“…”
“Um…
Shiratori, did you see Yoshinon in this room?”
Hearing Shido’s question, Shiratori shifted her eyes to the top of the wardrobe.
The comical rabbit hand puppet sat perched up there, utterly alone.
Without a doubt, that was Yoshino’s hand puppet—Yoshinon.
Yet Shiratori shook her head, causing a momentary flash of disappointment across Shido’s face.
“Ah, I’d better check one more time just in case.”
As Shido stepped further into the room, Shiratori took the initiative to step aside.
After a quick search, Shido’s eyes successfully picked out Yoshinon resting atop the wardrobe.
“So it was here after all…
Looks like even Shiratori has moments where she overlooks things.”
It was a relief he hadn’t blindly trusted Shiratori’s words; confirming things himself really was the best approach.
Deep down, Shido felt genuinely glad he had decided to take another look.
Moving nimbly, Shido grabbed the hand puppet from the wardrobe, stuffed it firmly into his coat pocket, and tiptoed back toward the living room.
“…Seems he isn’t completely unworthy of trust.”
Pinching her chin with one hand, Shiratori watched the closing bedroom door, lost in thought.
At that moment, a clinking sound echoed from outside the bedroom—it seemed Origami had finished her shower.
Shido managed to sit back down in the living room just in time before Origami stepped out of the bathroom, making it back by the skin of his teeth.
“Ah…
that’s right.”
Shido suddenly muttered to himself.
While his primary objective of visiting Origami’s place had been accomplished, he still had a personal goal: to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Origami.
He wanted to discuss Spirits.
Since Origami seemed to hold a slight favorable impression of Shiratori, could that potentially shift her perspective on Spirits?
Earlier, when he was pinned beneath Origami after drinking the spiked tea, he had expected her to do something extreme to him.
Yet all she asked was for him to address her by her given name rather than her family name—a detail that stuck in his mind.
Even though he had been led by the nose ever since stepping into her apartment, constantly losing control of the conversation due to the subtle coordination between Shiratori and Origami…
this truly was an unparalleled opportunity.
Both of them had arrived.
“Origami, there’s something I want to ask you—”
However…
“EEEEK?!
O-O-O-Origami!
Why are you coming out wrapped in only a towel?!”
Drenched in moisture, the damp towel clung to her body, highlighting her curves while radiating a seductive, mesmerizing beauty.
“Shiratori!
Qu-Quickly help Origami change into her clothes!”
Shido hastily turned his back and covered his eyes to prove his innocence, praying that Shiratori would step in to rescue him.
“No, I am leaving now.”
Yet the response he received shattered his last remaining hope, leaving him trembling.
“You are welcome to visit again next time.”
“Mm.
Farewell.”
The two spoke in completely matter-of-fact tones.
Still, why was Shiratori so utterly unbothered by Origami’s state?!
Facing a situation like this, shouldn’t she feel at least a little shocked?!
Even in one’s own residence, walking out wrapped in just a towel while a male guest was visiting was completely unheard of!
“Shido.”
Amidst his internal complaints, Shido heard someone call his name.
Judging by the voice, it was Shiratori.
“…Ah, what is it…
Did you help Origami change into her clothes…?”
Knowing it was impossible, Shido let out an awkward laugh, slowly turning his body toward the door while peeking through the gaps of his fingers.
“…I look forward to your choice next time.”
Leaving behind a completely cryptic line, Shiratori closed the front door behind her, abandoning Shido to deal with Origami alone inside.
“…Huh?”
Shido let out a bewildered sound.
The sudden shift in topic left him unable to process her meaning in time.
Then, Origami leaned in close.
“EH?!!!!!!”
Question marks in his head were instantly replaced by wild panic.
Shido let out a sharp shriek, so loud it could be heard clearly even from the outside.
Yet Shiratori acted as if she heard nothing, walking to the edge of the corridor.
With a light leap, she executed a flawless, physics-defying backflip, landing cleanly on the top of the apartment building.
“…The time is near.
A faint Reiryoku fluctuation has appeared.”
She was naturally referring to Yoshino.
Sensing the unstable space in the atmosphere, Shiratori cast her gaze toward it.
“Let me see what you’ll do next, Itsuka Shido.
I am quite curious about your actions.”
Dangling her legs off the edge of the roof, Shiratori sat on the railing, leaning back to gaze up at the overcast sky.