After Shidou quietly closed the door without making a sound, he shifted his gaze to the corridor and started walking forward.
This was a hospital corridor. Considering the patients' emotional state and safety, one was supposed to walk slowly here.
However, as if to vent the tangled emotions that had nowhere to go, Shidou's pace unconsciously grew faster and faster.
He pressed a hand against his chest to suppress the violent pounding of his heart, his footsteps echoing sharply through the otherwise quiet hall.
Earlier, he had come to this hospital intending to visit his sister—Takamiya Mana—whom he had never met before. But he unexpectedly learned that she was undergoing special treatment and could not receive visitors.
Just as Shidou was about to leave in disappointment, he happened to run into Origami, who was also injured.
Unable to withstand her persistent pleading (and pestering), Shidou escorted her back to her room. Thanks to his quick reflexes and skilled evasive maneuvers, he barely managed to escape in one piece.
However, what truly weighed on Shidou's mind was what Origami said just before he left her room.
"About what happened yesterday. I want you to tell me what happened after the battle with Tokisaki Kurumi. There should have been another Spirit who appeared in the sky—a Spirit wearing a kimono-like Astral Dress, one who controls fire."
"!"
What Origami was talking about could only be Kotori.
"Five years ago, a massive fire broke out in the residential district of Nankamachi. Before my very eyes, that fire burned my parents alive—the Spirit who controls flames was the one who caused it."
"!!!"
Shidou avoided the topic and awkwardly brushed it off with poor acting, managing to escape somehow.
"...!"
Eventually, Shidou—who was walking quickly toward the exit—suddenly stopped when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.
Only then did he remember that he had forgotten to turn it off upon entering the hospital.
After hurriedly stepping outside, he took out his phone and pressed the call button.
"Hello...?"
"...Hello, Shidou?"
"Reine?"
Since he had answered so hastily, Shidou hadn't checked the caller ID, but judging from the drowsy tone of voice and the familiar way of addressing him, he instantly knew who it was.
"Yes. You've already gone to visit Mana, haven't you?"
"Ah... yeah, well, I suppose you could say that."
"? That's an unclear answer."
"Well... actually, she seems to be undergoing treatment right now, so visitors aren't allowed."
"...Oh, is that so?"
After saying that, for some reason, Reine let out a slightly displeased murmur—something rare for the usually expressionless analyst.
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing... More importantly, Shidou, can you come back to Fraxinus for a bit? It's about Kotori."
"——!"
The moment Reine spoke that name, it was as though a fishbone had gotten stuck in Shidou's throat—he couldn't utter a sound.
The image of Kotori he had seen before leaving Fraxinus, and Origami's words from moments ago, churned in his mind, making him feel that things were taking a turn for the worse.
"Koto... Kotori? What happened to her?"
"...It's probably not as bad as you're thinking. After some discussion, we decided to hold a strategy meeting."
"A... strategy meeting?"
"Shidou, making Kotori fall for you will be quite a challenge. However... this time, we have an overwhelming advantage—one that we didn't have when we were dealing with Tohka or Yoshino."
"An... advantage?"
Shidou thought for a moment and immediately understood what she meant.
After all, Kotori was his sister—someone who had lived with him for years.
"...Exactly. The reason is simple. Unlike the other Spirits who suddenly appeared with no background information, this time our target has spent years by your side. Her likes, hobbies, favorite places, desired things—everything. We already have a vast amount of intel that no other Spirit could compare to."
"Th... that's true."
Reine was right. Although Kotori in her commander mode was not an easy girl to deal with (especially when she blackmailed him using his embarrassing past), the detailed information they had about her far surpassed that of any other Spirit.
In a sense, she was the easiest target to plan a strategy for.
"Therefore, we've decided to gather all the crew members who are familiar with Kotori to discuss the date plan scheduled for two days from now. That's what the strategy meeting is about. We'd like you to attend, Shidou."
Since it concerned his sister's well-being, he had no reason to refuse. Shidou nodded firmly.
"I understand. I'm not sure how much help I can be, but please let me assist."
"Thank you. Fraxinus will send for you soon. Could you head home first?"
"Alright, I understand—oh, right, Reine."
Just as he was about to take a step forward, something Origami had said flashed through his mind.
"...Hmm? What is it?"
"....Nothing."
"...? I see. Then, see you soon."
Reine hung up. Shidou wordlessly ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket before walking forward with heavy steps.
He didn't say it.
Because right now, he still knew nothing about what had truly happened five years ago. He couldn't speak carelessly.
If Kotori were to find out...
No matter what, regardless of whether Kotori had truly caused Origami's parents' deaths five years ago, Shidou's current mission was clear—he had to make Kotori fall for him and seal her Spirit power.
....
"Shidou!"
When Shidou arrived on board Fraxinus via the teleportation device, Reine and Tohka were already waiting for him in the transport room.
"Oh! Isn't that Tohka? You're awake—"
Before Shidou could even finish his sentence, Tohka suddenly threw herself at him.
"Uu... uwaah!"
Caught completely off guard, Shidou froze as Tohka wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and hugged him with all her strength.
"Umm! Shidou! You're okay! I'm so glad!"
"Yeah... thanks to you."
Shidou smiled wryly and patted Tohka's shoulder, urging her to let go.
Tohka's strength was simply too much for him to handle.
"Mm... okay," Tohka replied, nodding.
However, just as she began to release him—
"...Hm?"
Her brows furrowed in puzzlement as she leaned closer to Shidou's neck again.
Maintaining that posture, she sniffed repeatedly, as if trying to identify a certain scent.
"Wh... what is it, Tohka?"
"No... I just smell something really annoying. How should I put it... it's a nice smell, but the more I smell it, the angrier I get. Ah! That's it—it smells like Origami!"
Tohka said this with a tight, serious expression.
Such an amazingly sharp sense of smell...
Shidou's heart skipped a beat.
Though Tohka could be a bit of an airhead, when it came to weird instincts like this, she was second to none.
"It... it must be your imagination..."
"...Really? Yeah, maybe. There's no way Shidou would have Origami's scent on him—unless he did something like betray me for that woman."
"...! R-right! No way that would happen!"
Cold sweat trickled down Shidou's forehead.
Fortunately, Tohka's intelligence wasn't her strong point, so she didn't catch his nervous fumbling. If she found out he had gone to the hospital and gotten that close to Origami...
Sandalphon — Halvanhelev: Final Sword, Warning.
"...We should get going now, Shidou."
Reine, who had been quietly watching from the side, swayed slightly as if sleep-deprived and spoke up.
Her timely words saved Shidou completely. He gave her a grateful look.
"Ah... yes, sorry."
"...Good. Then, follow me. Tohka, could you play with Yoshino for a while?"
"Mm... okay."
Though she puffed out her cheeks in protest, Tohka obediently agreed and turned to leave.
"...Alright, let's go."
Swaying as she walked, Reine led the way. Shidou followed silently behind her.