Unidentified Summer Vacation
“Shido! Lets go to the bath together!”
Any normal guy’s heart would skip a beat at such a suggestion from a girlー especially when the girl in question is an absolute beauty with night-colored hair and crystal-like eyes.
But Shido, whom the words were directed at, only forced a difficult smile in return.
Perhaps Tohka noticed the meaning behind Shido’s reaction; as if she just realized what she had just said, she instantly turned around and started throwing a fit.
“It- it’s not like that! I didn’t mean getting into a bath together! Going in naked with Shido… No… No! It’s not like that!”
Tohka’s cheeks were dyed with crimson as she desperately denies the thought. Forcing a smile again, Shido pats her head in an attempt to calm her down.
“It’s fine. I know.”
“Muu...”
Tohka, finally calmed down, let out a soft murmur.
As Shido slightly shrugs, he looks around. Maybe, Shido too, would be flustered by Tohak’s words had it not been a situation like this.
That’s right. The place Shido and co. are right now is not Shido’s home, but in a seaside lodge.
Tohka meant to go together to a place where men and women are separated. Or so her intention was.
‘It’s the summer holidays after all, let’s all go on a trip together!’
A few hours earlier, Shido’s sister, Kotori, said that out loud.
Even when faced with the words coming out of the blue, it is clear to Shido that it is pointless to resist Kotori in her commander mode. However, Tohka, Yoshino, Kaguya’s and Yuzuru’s eyes sparkle up the moment they hear the words. So there was no choice but to follow the majority.
Eventually, after quickly preparing themselves, they were teleported by <Fraxinus> to a seaside hotel named “Fensaril” which <Ratatoskr> has fully reserved.
“Hey, what are you two doing?”
Everyone calls out to the unexpected two. It is seen that there are two girls standing there. One of the girls has a twin tail tied up by black ribbon - Kotori. The other is wearing a sun hat and has a rabbit puppet in her left hand - Yoshino.
“The bath is so big... I’m looking forward to it.”
“Hey Hey Kotori-chan, where is Yoshinon’s tailored cloth. At this rate Kaguya-chan and Yuzuru-chan will get ahead of us!”
Says Yoshino and Yoshinon, who are excited.
“Right, right. Here I come. Shido and Tohka too.”
“Umu!”
Tohka answers loudly while walking to an open-air bath, followed by Kotori and Yoshino.
Along the way, Shido calls out to Kotori.
“So, why a trip all of sudden again?”
“Hmph. It’s a summer vacation. Do you intend to lock the Spirits up in the house? The stress and memories can build up at the same time. Isn’t that reasonable?”
That’s right. Tohka, Yoshino and the Yamai sisters are not humans. But a specifically designated disastrous life form.
Even when they have the majority of their power sealed away at the moment, they are not ultimately dangerous. However, if their mental state becomes unstable, the sealed Spirit Power will flow back, and it becomes a big problem.
For that, Kotori and <Ratatoskr> closely monitor the sealed Spirits’ mental state.
“Well, yeah. But that’s still too sudden.”
“Can’t help with it can we? If we said it in advance we might get ourselves a pestilence. Also, it would be meaningless if the Spirits get stressed.”
“Pestilence?”
“It’s Tobiichi Origami”
“Uh...”
Shido sweats out a drop.
Tobiichi Origami is Shido’s classmate, and a member of the AST, a squadron whose goal is to eradicate the Spirits. It goes without saying that her relationship with Tohka isn’t the best. Her presence will definitely cause Tohka’s stress level to raise, or make her unable to sleep.
“Yeah. But she would slip in here somewhen for sure”
“...!?”
Even when Shido tries to lighten the mood with a joke, Kotori raises her head up high.
“Like I will let that happen! The security here is perfect! Not even a cat will enter!”
“It’s just a joke... what’s gotten into you?”
As Shido says, Kotori shrugs.
“Nothing. It’s because you said nonsense.”
Kotori snorted and continued.
“You don’t have to put that mood up today.”
“Huh?”
“We have the Yamai sisters’ case before. Even the awaited school trip got screwed up, right? On the other hand, even if it’s not going to happen again, at least just let it go.. OK?”
“Kotori...”
Shido scratches his head and draws a breath.
“I see. Thank you.”
Kotori puffs her cheek and turns away.
“Hmph. It’s just a trip for Tohka and the others.”
“I kno-”
As Shido says, an explosion happened outside of the hotel.
“Nu!?”
“Aah!”
“Oh? What is it?”
Tohka, Yoshino and Yoshinon lost their balance in surprise. And in the same manner, Shido too.
“Ah, that huh? That’s a firework. A firework. Don’t mind it.”
Kotori lets out a clear yet unnatural voice.
Tohka’s face sparkles in interest.
“Firework. That’s a firework right. A BOOM and sparking. Can I take a look?”
“N.. no!!”
Tohka’s words are suddenly stopped by Kotori’s louder voice, and her shoulders shake.
“W... Why, Kotori? Why did you have to shout...”
“Sorry. I scared you, didn’t I? But hey, it’s bath time now, right? Let’s go.”
“Umu”
Tohka nodded even with her face still shocked.
Shido twisted his neck in a strange manner, and followed Kotori.
----
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Obviously obvious, Tobiichi Origami is being chased by guards in the forest behind the hotel
“Damn! Where’d she go!”
“This is Point A! Lost sight of the target! She must be nearby! Don’t drop your guard!”
The men thoroughly search the forest for Origami, who is hiding on a treetop. Despite dressing like local people, they are equipped with night vision goggles, readily taking a stance with non-lethal tasers, and filling the atmosphere with tension.
The exact number is unknown, but there are at least twenty or thirty men. Compared to normal hotel’s security, the number is absurd.
“Shido”.
Origami softly says out the name so that no one can hear, and sharpens her focus.
It’s August. It goes without saying that high school is on break. Origami, on the other hand, still has her duty and training as a member of the AST, and cannot count on a seaside trip with Shido.
So she intended to meet with him on her day off. But even then, Shido was not at home today.
There, while transmitting a weak signal of maiden’s sense in search for Shido, she found him to be at a seaside somewhere far from Tengu city.
Unbelievably, like one in a thousand chance, Origami quickly prepares herself, uses all tactics and measures she has at disposal, and follows her maiden sense to where Shido is.
And that which awaits her, is this absurd security.
“......”
To confirm something, Origami took out her phone, and called shido.
But Shido would not answer her call. No matter how many times she tries, she would end up being responded to by the call center.
“......”
Origami cuts her call in silence. Undesired thinking brainstorms in her head. To be exact, it’s Shido tied to a chair and Tohka in black dominative bondage suit.
(AAAHHH! Tohka forces me here against my will!)
(Kukuku. You will live with me here from now on.)
(O.. Origami will come and save me!)
(Pointless! My underlings are waiting for her in the forest! It’s impossible for her to get here! Let’s just forget her and enjoy this. Shido...)
(Stop it! I have a person I like in my heart!)
(Huehuehue...)
(AAAAAAAAA)
Origami closed her eyes and grinded her teeth.
“Shido!”
Why would Tohka have such a large residence building, or set up this big trap, are questionable, but that is not needed now.
“......”
Origami looks down. There are two men searching for her.
“Aach. No intruder found. Why do we have to do an all-out search like this?”
“Don’t let your guard down. You’ll get yelled at by the commander.”
“Anything but that. It’s hundred times scarier than the intruder.”
They walk slowly while chatting.
“......”
Origami silently jumps down from the tree, and lands a knee drop on the back of the right man’s head.
“Ach...”
The man fell down to the front with a cry.
The other man hastily raises up his gun, pulls the trigger, and lights up the night’s darkness for a moment with a firework-like gunfire. But there was no way that shot would hit. Origami easily dodged the shot, and hit the man’s belly.
“Uug”
The man falls at the spot, unable to move anymore.
Origami quickly takes his equipment from his hand, and follows her maiden’s senses.
“I’ll save Shido. No mercy for anyone in my way.”
“Fraxinus please reply! Something is in the forest!”
A screaming voice can be heard from the speaker of the battleship <Fraxinus>, which is stationed above the hotel.
“What is it!?”
As Shiizaki replies with a troubled tone, the guards replies painfully.
“I do not know! But there is someone! Damn, Kakehara and Awashima are downed! What the hell is this one!! AHHHH”
“Please calm down! Anyway please explain the situation clearly...”
On the monitor is the map of the surrounding area, and the position of thirty or so guards.
But the moving signals decrease one by one.
It hasn’t been thirty minutes since the intruder is confirmed, but ten guards have been downed.
To be clear, it’s strange. It’s unexpected. This could not have been a loner’s work.
“What about the commander!?”
“In the bath with Tohka-chan and the others! Let’s contact her later”
“What about the vice commander!?”
“Somewhere unknown!”
“Aach! In time like this!”
Kawagoe scrapes his head. The only people currently on the airship are Kawagoe, Mikimoto, Shiizaki, Nakatsugawa, and Minowa. The ship, currently without its commander nor vice commander, is in total chaos. Amidst the turbulence, another report echoes in the airship.
“This is Saitou. Teshirogi and Kawanishi are found at Point D. Equipment stolen. Currently downed.”
“This is Point E! Found an unknown identity in the forest! Engagin- UGH!?”
“Kanbayashi! Kanbayashi!!”
A scream echoes throughout the airship as the crew tries their best to remain in control in the midst of chaos.
“Anyway, someone is in the forest, that’s for sure! We’ll search for any reaction.”
Shout Shiizaki as they begin the operation.
At the same moment, an explosion can be heard from the radio’s other end.
“There’s something!”
“Trap activation confirmed! The enemy has somehow been caught in a landmine trap at Point F!”
“Nonsense! Even if it’s non-lethal, no one can get away from it! If we send in more men...”
“Great! Kizaki and Yoshiwada’s Team, go press on the target!”
“Roger!”
A clear reply in Kawagoe’s instruction. However...
“The target is not at Point F. Are you sure this is the place?”
“There’s no mistaking it. Perhaps the intruder is blown away?”
“Understood. We’ll try to secure.. Na. U. Ga!?”
“What happened, Kizaki? Hey, hey! Wha, what the hell are you!?”
A scream and a continuous gunfire can be heard, lasting until the communication is finally cut.
“Don’t tell me... the landmine is set off to lure us out?”
The crew gulps Nakatsugawa’s words.
“Hey... What’s exactly in the forest?”
Minowa says in tremble. There is someone unknown in the forest. That person took down the guards one by one, sabotaged land mine traps, and is heading towards the hotel.
“A footage from Camera #5!”
Shiizaki shouts as the footage of the forest is shown on the main monitor.
Amidst the darkness and blowing wind, a girl rushes like a wind.
“What!”
The crew are shocked to see the identity of the intruder.
Shoulder-length hair. Delicate body. And a doll-like expressionless face. There is no mistake. That is Tohka’s enemy, Tobiichi Origami of the AST.
“It can’t be. Just one against that many...!?”
“But why is she here? How far does she think this place is from Tengu city?”
“What should we do?”
“Anyway, report it to the commander.”
Shiizaki tears out the foam before opening a direct line to Kotori.
“Sorry guys, can you go head without me first?”
After parting with Shido, Kotori unexpectedly stops in front of the women’s bath’s entrance, turns back, and is called out by two girls and one puppet.
“What happened, Kotori.”
“Are you not going to go into the bath?”
“Why? You like a bath, don’t you?”
Says Tohka, Yoshino and Yoshinon. Kotori looks slightly upward, scratches her cheek and answers.
“I’ll do it... Yeah. Washing my hand. I’ll follow soon so go ahead.”
“Umu. I see.”
“Then, we will wait.”
“Later~”
As Kotori says, they unknowingly reply and enter the restricted area. After losing sight of the girls, Kotori flutters her hand, puts a mini intercom in her ear, and opens a pocket terminal she brought from her room by hiding in a towel.
“It’s me. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Commander!”
As Kotori says, she hears Shiizaki’s hasty reply from the intercom’s other end.
“We have identified the intruder’s identity! It’s AST - Tobiichi Origami!”
Hearing Kawagoe’s words, Kotori’s eyebrows move in surprise.
“As expected, huh. I’ve had the impression it would be her since I heard there’s an intruder.”
“The target has entered Point G! We have twelve personnel downed! We’ve manually activated the traps to intercept her, but all were topped. I can’t believe this is a human’s doing!”
“Is she using a Realizer?”
“No. No sign of that! We think she disarmed the traps with her pure physical abilities!”
“Tch. What a monster.”
As Kotori curses, a map shows up on her mobile terminal’s screen.
“Wow! This is so great!”
Tohka shouts out in a loud voice as she enters the bath.
The wide bathtub is decorated with lining rocks and hot steam is flowing. Beyond that is a flat indigo line of ever-expanding water bodies. Ah, this must be what people call “ocean view”.
“It’s.. very wide.”
“The feeling of freedom is overflowing~”
Yoshino and Yoshinon, like Tohka, speak out with excitement. And, as if responding, voices can be heard from inside of the bath.
“Kuku. As cheerful as ever. Well, we Yamai sisters have already been thoroughly enjoying the hot water.”
“Respond. So you finally come, Tohka, Yoshino, Yoshinon.”
Standing there, one Nio Statue-like figure throughly shows her slender body - Kaguya. And one glamorous figure who skillfully hides her chest and hip from the one who stands beside her - Yuzuru. The twins are also a Spirit like Tohka and Yoshino. They have entered the bath earlier.
“Kuku. We have waited for so long. Let us enter the castle with haste.”
Kaguya says as she beckons. But Tohka turns her head sideway.
“Umu. But wait a moment. It is said that we must wash ourselves before entering the bath.”
Says as she heads to the showering area, sits down at the placed chair, and starts to wash herself. Yoshino and Yoshinon also follow the suit.
“Mm.. What a good girl Tohka and Yoshino are. They can remember that.”
Kaguya and Yuzuru hear a quiet sound from beside.
Sitting there is Murasame Reine, Ratatoskr’s analyst. A woman whose trademark is her sleepy expression. Her chest size is impressive even when hidden under her clothes, but as the seal is broken, it bounces with the hot water. And in a tub beside her is a torn bear doll.
“U.. Speaking of which...”
“Accuse. We totally forgot.”
Kaguya and Yuzuru reduced their expression and contracted their shoulders.
The two look into each other’s face, rise up from the water, move towards Tohka and the other, and wash themselves. They are set to enter the bath with everyone again this time.
“Nnnn.. Umu. This sure feels good...”
“Yes. This feels... good.”
“Ahh... pinnacle of relaxation.”
Tohka, Yoshino and Yoshinon express their relaxation and completely get down into the bath. Kaguya and Yuzuru, who finally also regain their freshness, also return to the bath.
“Finally. This place is completed! It may be the mood without Kotori, but never mind that! Tohka, Yoshino, you look exhausted just by getting in. Wish to have a showdown with me?”
“Showdown?”
Tohka tilts her head as Yuzuru speaks up.
“Explain. Since this place is so wide. Let’s hold a 100-meter freestyle swimming competition between the spirits.”
“Oh!”
Tohka’s eyes sparkle hearing the words as Tohka herself stands up. But she immediately shook her head as she revised her idea.
“No. It’s indeed a fun idea, but Shido said you must not swim in everyone’s bath.”
“Hesitate. That’s...”
Kaguya and Yuzuru whisper and talk within themselves, before posing up.
“Then, let us change our game!”
“Suggest. Whoever can stay under the hot water longer wins.”
Yoshinon responds to the suggestion.
“Oh? I’m really good at that! Wanna have a match?”
“!!??”
The Yamai sisters are surprised by Yoshinon’s word. While Yoshinon is a separate personality, it only moves under Yoshino. No matter how long it stays in the water, it does not drown as long as Yoshino breathes. Winning against it is hopeless. The Yamai sisters once again whisper within themselves.
“Then how about this! It will be fair to everyone.”
“Suggest. This place is a dream garden where clothless young girls enjoy themselves. So, whoever makes the judge arouse the most wins.”
“The judge is, of course, Shido!”
“Explain. Reine’s chest is nuts. I got to touch it a moment ago, and it feels like I have seen the truth of the world. Whose body will aroust Shido the most? This is the details I have researched.”
A muddy voice can be heard from the other side of the wall.
“Oh please don’t get me involved!”
“Shido!? Are you there!?”
While the entrance to women and men’s baths are rather far from each other, the bath zone itself seems to be connected. Tohka raises her surprised voice.
“......”
To think that the Shido is just at the other side of the wall, it feels slightly strange. Tohka suddenly feels shy from being clothless to thin air, and returns down to the bath.
The Yamai sisters look into each other again, before turning their eyes to Tohka, as if predating on everyone.
“Kuku. I see, I see. So, Tohka, let us start from you!”
“Agree. You should thoroughly show its charm to Shido.”
“Wha.. What are you saying! Change the game now!”
Even with withdrawal, the Yamai sisters persist. They cornered Tohka who could not keep up. Ultimately, the competition of “Freestyle Swimming” takes place.
“Jeez... What are they doing...”
Hearing that which comes from the women’s bath across the wall, Shido lets out a weird laugh and slowly stretches his body. A feeling of relief from accumulated fatigue is removed from his skin. Shido relaxes his body and expresses his relaxation.
“Ah... Good hot water.”
He straightforwardly expresses.
“We’re going on a trip so pack up quickly”
Even as he got that in his face, he must thank Kotori for this.
Shido’s body has endured many things in these past few months, and could not rest his mind nor body. This “one day of peace” really only comes once in a while for him.
Shido quietly looks into the azure line of water, and lets out a small breath.
“Ah... what a bliss...”
“Dammit, dammit! What is this!? What the hell is this!! Wasn’t this supposed to be a security job!? No one told me the enemy is a goddamn monster!!”
“Calm down! It will add to the enemy’s favor!”
“Point G, respond! Dammit, Hamaki and Urata are down!”
This is about 800 meters from that blissful place.
An invisible enemy lurking in the forest. Useless instruction. Downed allies. The guards of Ratatoskr are already in a state of panic.
“A... Anyway, don’t let the enemy get close to the hotel!”
“Shut up! We already know that! We can’t do anything if we can’t even see the enemy!”
The bush on the right waves.
“Hiii!”
Kasai the guard points his taser and repeatedly pulls the trigger until the mag is emptied. But even as his ammo runs out, he does not stop pulling the trigger, keeping on pulling it. His eyes become bloodied as he looks at nothingness and keeps pulling the trigger.
“Hey! Stop that! There’s nothing!”
“Stop wasting ammo! Change your mag. Maybe....”
Ishida sharpens his focus. Hiding behind Kasai is a delicate girl. She crosses from tree to tree like Spiderman, and quietly approaches Kasai. A moment later, Kasai is knocked out just as he sees a flash from the intruder. His gun falls on the ground and his eyes turn white. It seems Kasai was hit in the neck with a strong force.
“Ka... Kasai!”
Ishida points his gun, his eyes fixed on the girl. But she twists her body and uses Kasai as a human shield, avoiding the electric bullet.
“Wha...”
From that position, the girl uses the gun she had stolen from another guard, and fires it without waiting a moment to the two remaining guards.
“Guh...”
“Gah!?”
The two guards fell on the ground after they let out a moan of pain.
“The target is fighting at Point H! We have more than 20 men down!”
“The traps are not hit!”
“The intruder does not show signs of stopping!”
“Tch.”
Kotori curses the bad news reported.
At this rate Tobiichi Origami will enter the hotel. The trip with Shido will be ruined.
Kotori sharpens her focus and talks into the intercom.
“Do not let the target into the hotel. Intercept her before she tops Point H! I grant the permission to partially use Realizer. Leave it to Kannazuki”
The crew becomes even more uneasy at Kotori’s words.
“What? Hesitant to use a realizer? If it’s Kannazuki he’ll...”
“No. Not that, commander.”
“The vice commander is not on the airship at the moment.”
“Huh!? What do you mean! Where did he go in a desperate time like this!”
“Sa...”
Shiizaki replies with a troubled tone. Kotori scratches her head in fury.
“Aach! For goodness’ sake, why in time like this!”
“What is it commander?”
“Is it not clear to you!? Tobiichi Origami is charging in and Kannazuki is gone to somewhere we don’t know!”
“Oh! That’s a big problem. What should we do?”
“It’s obvious! Find her! Also, just in case, prepare the Change Key! If she gets into the hotel...”
Kotori stops there, noticing a very familiar discomfort.
For some reason, it is a very familiar voice. And it is not muddily coming from the intercom, but clear as if it’s right in front of her.
“.....”
Kotori takes her eyes off the screen and looks upwards.
At the women’s bath’s curtain stands a tall man, wearing headphones and holding a pathetic microphone in his hand, smiling like a pervert.
It’s Kannazuki Kyouhei, the man Kotori has been searching for. The vice commander of Ratatoskr and vice captain of Fraxinus.
“What are you doing.”
“Right back at you commander. I expected you to have already entered the bath.”
“......”
Without words, Kotori clenches her fist and delivers a hard uppercut to Kannazuki’s chin.
“UGH!”
“Peeking at a women’s bath in time like this!?”
“It’s a misunderstanding! I don’t do such low things as peeking! I am a gentleman!”
“What the heck are you saying! What is that pathetic explanation meant to be!? You just wanted to take a peek!”
“Not at all! These are all recording devices! In fact, I’m the type that gets turned on by sound only!”
“Like. I. Care!!!”
“Gyah!!”
Kannazuki thanks Kotori for her corkscrew punch aimed at his stomach, before falling down to the ground.
“Point H has been topped!”
A crew’s voice resound in Kotori’s intercom.
“What? Hey Kannazuki! What are you doing down there! Get up!”
But even shaking Kannazuki’s shoulder did not wake him up like usual. Maybe he really lost his consciousness.
“That’s what you got from being useless in time like this...!”
A totally unfair word. Kotori looks back at her terminal screen.
“Can’t help it now! I don’t want to use this, but since everyone’s in the bath maybe there’s a chance. Transfer the control to my terminal! Change Key approval! Seaside hotel, “Fensaril”, Transform!”
“HUH!?”
The crew reacts unanimously to Kotori’s words.
Human wave of guards. Numerous land mines. Ill-intent made Trap holes and net traps. Countless number of tasers and rubber slug bullets.
While topping this unbelievable level of security and interception on her own, she sets her eyes on the hotel.
“Wait for me. Shido.”
Finally stopping at the backdoor, she takes out a maiden’s obligatory item, the plastic bomb, from her bag. She then proceeds to place it on the door’s knob, set the detonator, close her ears and press the switch.
An explosion blasts the door away. Origami charges through the smoke and enters the hotel. Torn electric wires can be seen inside of the door’s mechanism. There must have been electricity running through the knob, and she would be knocked out if she touched it carelessly. It was the correct decision to defuse it with an explosive.
However, until Shido is saved, she cannot let her guard down. Origami draws a breath, takes out a terminal from her pocket, and lets her maiden sense move her again.
“East Wing. Third Floor.”
Origami mutters and runs through the hotel’s corridor without taking her shoes off.
Seeing a sentry gun at the corridor’s end, another maiden’s item is taken from her bag: The 9mm pistol. Origami fires onto it and causes its explosion. She then proceeds to evade traps on the floor as she moves into the objective.
The trap inside the room, on the other hand, proves to be more difficult due to its smaller scale, but the room being bright makes it easier to see where the traps are. And above all, Origami too also set up similar traps in her room, so she understands their detection range and weaknesses like the back of her hand.
Without wasting a movement, Origami hides herself before Shido even reaches the front of his room.
It is unknown if there are any more traps, but explosives will hit shido at this range. Origami fires her 9mm pistol onto the knob to do a safety check, before heading to the door.
“....!?”
She hears a low rumbling sound, and feels a shake in her leg.
“Earthquake?”
Guessing the cause, she quickly disregards it for it is not important now.
“Shido. I am here to save...”
She stops her words right there.
There is no one in the room.
“.....?”
Origami can’t have mistaken the room, but to make sure, she uses her maiden sense to confirm Shido’s position once again.
“...! This is...”
Origami’s eyes widen as she realizes Shido’s position is moving. For an instance she thought Shido was just moving to another room, but she is wrong.
That’s right. The hotel had changed its shape a moment earlier.
“What does... this mean...”
As Origami wonders, the door Origami busted earlier shuts in from above with a metallic sound.
Then, a smoke-like matter flows from the vent’s edge.
“Kuh...!”
Origami points her gun at the shutter, and pulls the trigger repeatedly. But the caliber of her 9mm pistol is too low and could not even make a scratch against the reinforced shutter.
There is no other choice but to use an explosion. Origami reaches into her bag for another of her maiden items, but her consciousness starts to fade as she drops onto the ground.
Her eyelids close. Feeling like the consciousness is being pulled elsewhere. Even as she bites her mouth in resistance, the sleepy feeling flows into her head.
“Shi... do.”
Origami calls out Shido’s name in a blurry tone.
----
“By the way, what time is it now?”
While nodding off in the hot water, Shido opens his eyes again.
Gather at eight at the lounge for dinner, or so Kotori said. Better not be late. But Shido cannot find any clock in the Bath.
“Hnn...”
Shido sighs, gets out of the bath and walks to the changing room. Even a minute late will result in an embarrassing punishment game. Absolutely must not be late. Additionally, staying too long in the bath isn’t really good.
Shido wraps his towel around his body and enters the changing room.
“Fuu...”
It seems there’s a missed call. The screen shows the name “Tobiichi Origami” as Shido checks on it.
“Origami...?”
It seemed like an urgent matter. Shido touched on her name on the screen.
Kotori once told Shido to never compromise this place. But Shido does not even know where this place is. Just calling her to check things out will not be a problem.
Shido presses the call button.
“.....!”
Origami wakes up to her phone’s vibration from her pocket. Moving her powerless hand to take it, the screen shows the name of Itsuka Shido.
“Ah..”
Origami answers his call while letting out a blurry voice.
“Hello? Origami?”
“Shi.. do?”
“Yeah it’s me. You don’t sound right.”
“I’m glad... you’re safe...”
“Huh?”
Shido lets out a pondering voice in response to Origami’s words.
“What do you mean by safe? Oh, never mind that. Do you have anything calling me?”
“Shi... do.. I... ran away... from Yatogami Tohka...”
Shido is bewildered by the words possessing no articulation.
“Uh... I can listen to the short story, but can the long talk be for later? Tohka is in the bath right now...”
“..!!??”
At that moment, Origami’s face refreshes from her dilemma as if lying.
“Bath?”
“Huh?”
“She’s in there?”
“Yeah... what of it?”
“......”
Origami abruptly rises up and picks up the third of her maiden items, the hand grenade, and quickly throws it onto the shutter, exploding it and causing a blast of noise in the room.
“Whoa Origami! What was that sound just now!?”
“Wait for me. I will be going now.”
“Sorry, can you say it again? I couldn’t hear it-”
Origami cuts the call as she heads on to the bath.
Cutting the call out of the blue after a blasting sound.
“What is up with her?”
In the end, her business remains unclear. But if it’s really important she’ll call in again. As Shido comes up with the aforementioned summary, he checks the time on the screen and returns to the bath.
“Wha...!”
From outside of the women’s bath, Kotori operates her terminal with distress as she lets out a voice of dismay. The target, who should have been stopped by the shutter of the transformed hotel and sleeping gas, has regained consciousness, blown away the sutter and escaped the room.
“What’s the meaning of this!? Didn’t we release the gas!?”
“There is no mistaking it! She has completely stopped her movement once!”
“Then why did she get up again?!”
“We.. do not know sir.”
Shiizaki raises her voice in distress. Kotori grinds her teeth and resumes operation of the terminal.
“Guess there’s no other way now... No more keeping the look. Run Fensaril’s at full capacity and block the target’s movement!”
“Roger!”
With the sound of an earthquake, the corridor of the inn transforms like a puzzle. Moving to the right and left. The shape of the wall, floor, and ceiling, which changed vertically and horizontally, had a kind of surrealism and beauty. In other words, it is a feeling of being thrown into a big clock or an engine with a complicated mechanism. Ordinary humans may have suffered from their primitive fear of being snarled by a giant.
But Origami, in her current state, is stronger than anyone in the world. Her head is clear. Her mind is fresh. Her body is full of power. She has control over her full body like she never had.
“There.”
Origami discards her bag as she mutters and looks over. Noticing the wall opens and closes in an instant to connect to another path, she jumps up to the ceiling before leaping down to another corridor. A flawless move as if she has thoroughly understood the hotel’s transformation mechanism.
Origami is even surprised at herself. To the senses. To the instinct. To the intuition. As if the light shines upon the path she ought to take, she sees through the opening in the transformation mechanic.
Shido is in the bath. And wearing a towel into the bath is against manners. He must be naked right now. If Origami can get into the bath in the same manner, she and Shido would clothless together. Just by imagining it makes Origami’s pulses beat faster.
The Synchronization between heart and body has exceeded 400%. It is the first time she fought with such a feeling. She fears nothing anymore.
In order to cut off Origami’s path, the hotel’s floor transforms and closes the path.
“......”
But Origami did not waver. She takes out her hand grenade from her pocket, pulls the pin and throws it forward. The path of glory opens again before her with a powerful sound of explosion. Origami follows the guiding light and reaches the last barrier.
A blue curtain with the word “Man” written on it. Shido must be in here, the men’s bath.
“Shido. We’ll become one now.”
Opening the curtain, Origami then takes off her sweaty clothes and the underwear she specifically chose. After that, she walks into the bath zone clothless.
“.....!”
Midway, she notices something. From among the changing rooms, only one is used.
“This is...”
Origami is drawn to it without realizing it, like a bug drawn to a light. When she reaches the spot, she claps her hand and looks down.
“Guh!”
From somewhere in the hotel, a loud explosion sound occurs, as the ceiling comes falling down. Seems like Tobiichi Origami, whose path is cut, used some explosive. What a reckless girl. Kotori expresses her frustration on her face.
“So you wanna play it like this huh... fine by me. If this is how you play-!”
Kotori stops her words there. The terminal suddenly stopped showing maps and making noises.
“What... Come on! What’s up with this!?”
“The explosion just now causes the machines to malfunction! Cannot confirm the target’s reaction!”
“WHAT!?”
Kotori angrily throws the terminal onto the floor.
“Hurry up with the restoration! There’s an alien on the board! Just finding the reaction will do, or it’ll become troubled!”
“What’s troubled?”
“.....!”
Kotori shivers to an unexpected voice. Behind her stands a figure in Yukata who seems to have just gotten out of the bath, Tohka, with her neck twisting.
“T... Tohka. Also everyone...”
Behind Tohka stands Yoshino and Reine, also in Yukata, and the Yamai sisters who are in their normal clothing. Seems like everyone has gotten out of the bath.
“Umu. Sorry, Kotori. We originally planned to wait for you, but you’re quite slow so I got hungry first.”
Tohka’s stomach rumbles.
“I, see....”
Kotori replies with a weird tone. But seeing Reine making a suggestion, Kotori slightly looks away. Maybe not making Tohka and the others feel uneasy is the best course of action.
“......”
Time over. Kotori lets out a sigh, and speaks softly into the intercom.
“I’ll be out for a while. After you find her reaction, use any means possible to capture her. Also, transform away the destroyed parts.”
“Roger!”
Hearing the crew’s reply, Kotori turns to Tohka.
“Kuku. Great timing. Follow us, Kotori.”
“Accompany. We are going to meet up with Shido.”
“Huh? Hey, wait-.”
Kotori is dragged away by the Yamai sisters and forced to go to the frontline.
“......”
Beautiful.
Origami expresses her satisfaction. Her heart is fulfilled. Ah, the world is a beauty.
The room which has been disturbing Origami has finally opened. She slowly shifts her focus to the bath.
The appetizer has been finished. Now, to the main dish. However,
She can hear the footstep and talking sound of several people from the corridor. Maybe she took too much time with the appetizer.
“Kuh...”
Thoughts run in Origami’s head. Run away? Hide? Take on the enemy here?
And without wasting a second, she decides.
“Tch.”
Origami’s body has exhausted due to overuse, and it would be difficult to take on many opponents now. She expresses her frustration, takes all of her clothes and hides in a large locker.
“Ah....”
She realizes one thing. That her hand is holding Shido’s underwear, and her own is left outside.
“Shido! It’s dinner time!”
“Kukuku. How long are you going to reside in there! Do not tell me you are caught in Hypnos’ curse!”
“Warn. Spending too long in the bath is not good for your health. Take caution.”
Without precaution, Tohka, Kaguya and Yuzuru enter the men’s bath.
“Ah.. W.. wait!”
Kotori’s attempt to stop them falls on deaf ears. But it is not like there are other guests, so she drops it and follows in.
“He~y! Shido!”
“Hnn... Ah... Tohka?”
Tohka hears Shido’s response from the bath.
“Umu. It’s dinner time!”
“Ah! It’s time huh? Sorry, I thought I checked the time, but I fell asleep. I’ll get out now, so can you go ahead of me?”
“Okay! Got it!”
Kotori shows her relief. Had he not, Kotori suspects Shido would have been taken by Origami. While she cannot rest assured yet, knowing that Shido is fine is a relief. Kotori takes a deep breath.
But at that moment, Kotori finds the closet opened, and the clothes all over the place.
“Good grief. Messing things up because there’s no one else...”
Kotori picks up the clothes and puts them back in the closet. But at that moment.
“Huh?”
Kotori stopped for a moment. Looking over the mess of clothes, and gulps.
On a large bath towel lies a large short-sleeve shirt, and a denim pant. Things are fine up to there, for they are the same clothes Shido wore.
But the problem is from there. Clearly, there are women’s silk underwear and bra.
“Eh... this is...”
Just once, a thought that Shido has done it, flashed. But Kotori did not say that Shido would steal a girl’s underwear. Moreover, a man’s underwear Shido should have worn is missing.
“Don’t tell me...”
In Kotori’s brain is an image of Shido in crafty make-up, twisting his waist, saying “Call me sister” and sending out a kiss. Kotori dismisses her thought by shaking her face rapidly.
“Oh yeah. I did tell him to understand what it is like to be a girl. But... I didn’t mean like thi...”
“Hm? What’s up, Kotori.”
“.....!”
“What happened?”
“No, nothing! Let’s go, quickly! Yeah?”
“U.. Umu.”
As Kotori suppresses her messy thoughts, she pushes everyone away from the changing room.
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