Kurumi faced her two adversaries with unshakable poise, her signature smile never faltering.
Origami's gaze was complicated, unreadable. Mana Takamiya, on the other hand, made a face as if she'd just bitten into something rotten.
"Tch. Hearing my name from your lips makes me sick."
Kurumi dipped her head in apology, sincerity woven into her tone.
"Ara, I'm terribly sorry."
She straightened, eyes glinting.
"But names matter, don't they? Being called 'Nightmare' all the time… well, it stings."
Mana's reply was ice-cold.
"Whether you're hurt or not is irrelevant. No one cares about your feelings."
Kurumi's smile flickered with mock sadness.
"Ara, how disappointing…"
"Enough! Nightmare—die!"
Mana's killing intent sharpened, her eyes narrowing to slits.
Blue light erupted around her as mechanical armor snapped into place, encasing her in a shell of gleaming white and cobalt.
Kurumi responded in kind. She raised her arms, the ground beneath her feet swirling into a blood-red vortex. Her school uniform melted away, replaced by a gothic dress, black and crimson, with asymmetrical twin-tails falling over her shoulders.
In each hand, she gripped antique pistols—her weapons of choice.
Kurumi aimed skyward, but before she could fire, Mana's Realizer beams tore through her, pinning her to the wall.
She gasped, blood pooling beneath her, yet her lips still curled into that familiar, unsettling smile.
Mana advanced, lightsaber humming, ready to finish the job.
But as she swung for Kurumi's throat, her blade stopped dead—held in place by a single finger.
Mana froze, eyes wide. The boy before her—Shuo Nangong—smiled, effortlessly holding her weapon at bay.
No matter how hard Mana pushed, the blade wouldn't budge.
Shuo glanced at Kurumi, and with a flicker of magic, her wounds closed, blood vanishing as if it had never been.
"Kurumi-chan, you were about to let this little fool kill you without a fight? That's not your style."
Kurumi blinked, genuine surprise flickering across her face.
"Ara, Nangong-kun? What a coincidence."
She offered him a grateful smile, playing the damsel for the moment.
Mana, furious at being interrupted, barked at Shuo.
"Who are you? Get out of my way! Don't interfere with my mission!"
He grinned, unbothered.
"Big words for someone so young."
His gaze flicked to Origami, lingering at the alley's entrance, worry etched across her face.
"If I'm right… you're Shiori's little sister—Mana Takamiya, aren't you?"
Mana's jaw dropped.
"How do you know my name? And my sister's—do you know Shiori?!"
Shuo shrugged.
"I do. But shouldn't you be more worried about what's happening right now? Aren't you curious who I am?"
Mana hesitated, suspicion clouding her features.
"Why are you helping Nightmare?"
She eyed him up and down.
"Are you her accomplice? But you don't have any Spirit power. Did you betray humanity to side with Spirits?"
Shuo laughed, genuinely amused.
"Tch, Mana, you've got quite the imagination. But you're not entirely wrong."
He stepped forward, tapping Mana's lightsaber.
A ripple of force shattered the weapon; Mana's eyes glazed over, and she collapsed, unconscious.
Shuo turned to Origami, his tone gentle.
"Origami, you're not still holding a grudge against Spirits, are you?"
Origami approached, wary of Kurumi but more open than she used to be.
"Not really. Since I learned the truth—and you brought my parents back—I've changed. But Nightmare… she's nothing like Tohka or the others."
"She's killed over ten thousand people. She's dangerous."
Shuo nodded.
"I know. But most of those people were scum. And Kurumi's story isn't so different from yours."
Origami flinched, sympathy flickering in her eyes as she looked at Kurumi.
Kurumi, sensing the shift, frowned in confusion.
"What are you all talking about?"
Shuo offered a reassuring smile.
"Origami, help me get Mana home. I need to talk with Kurumi."
Origami nodded, scooping up Mana and shooting Kurumi a cautious glance before leaving.
Kurumi watched them go, utterly bewildered.
What just happened? Why did they leave so suddenly?
And why did Nangong-kun say Origami's story was like hers?
Kurumi turned to Shuo, eyes narrowed.
"Ara, Nangong-kun, care to tell me what you're really planning?"
Shuo's voice was low, full of hidden meaning.
"If you want answers, meet me on the rooftop after school tomorrow. And make sure it's your real body, Kurumi-chan."
Kurumi's eyes flashed red, but her smile stayed sweet.
"You know me well, Nangong-kun. You even know I'm just a clone."
He met her gaze, unflinching.
"Oh, I know more than that. I know you want to use the Second Spirit's Angel—the foolish nun's—to uncover the First Spirit's identity."
"I know you're desperate for time, so you can use your Angel's power to go back and kill him, right?"
"I can tell you everything—if you show up."
Before Kurumi could respond, Shuo vanished, leaving her alone in the alley, lost in thought.
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