Chapter 33: She was an inverse?!

Shido stood there, speechless, unable to process what had just happened. He had never seen anything like it before. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered under his breath, trying to make sense of it all. He looked down at Hikaru, who was still lying on the floor, gasping for air. She looked up at him with confusion in her eyes. he raised his glance again to meet that of Diva, "Huh...?" His eyes grew wide at the difference between the look on her face now and a moment ago. "Uh. Um... What was that?" "What are you taaaalking about? Please stop. It's creeeepy. Please don't speak. Please don't let your spittle fly out of your mouth. Please don't breeeathe. Don't you understand that you're simply existing here is contaminating the air? You don't, do youuu?" "..." How much better it would have been if this were a silent film. The incredibly bizarre behavior of the girl made his mind ponder such idiotic things despite the obvious danger he was in. "Uhhh. Y-you're..." "You just don't liiiisten, do you? Won't you just immediately disappear? Your existence is unpleasant. Do you know why I don't stomp on your pathetic head? Because I would rather not touch you at all, not even with the sole of my shoooe." The gorgeous face. Beautiful voice. Lilting speech. The only sharp edge to her lay in her words. "...!" The arena's roof twisted unnaturally and then exploded with a tremendous roar. The massive spotlights hanging from the ceiling crashed to the ground in pieces. "Wh-whoa?!" The world around Shido trembled, but his focus shifted quickly as he noticed a large piece of the ceiling hurtled toward Hikaru. "...Shit!" Without a moment's hesitation, he darted towards her and covered her body with his own, shielding her from the falling debris. "Zadkiel!" he called out, and the temperature in the air suddenly dropped. Frost formed on the debris, and the sound of cracking ice echoed throughout the arena as Shido's ice cage formed around them, shielding them from harm. The last of the debris fell to the ground with a resounding thud, and for a moment, everything was still. Shido looked down at the girl he had protected. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and steady. She nodded, her eyes wide with shock. "Y-yeah. Thank you...You're getting the hang of your powers..." Hikaru said as she slowly stood up. "ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, I still have a long way to go," Shido chuckled modestly, brushing off the praise. "..." "Oh deaaar?" "...?" He looked up. There was nothing left that could be called a ceiling anymore. In its place, the night sky showed its face, colored with the light of the moon and drifting clouds. Wait. That wasn't all. He could see several human shapes in mechanical armor moving in the darkness. "The AST!" he cried, a tremor in his voice. His time was up, it seemed. The AST members danced nimbly through the sky as they entered the arena. He'd been told that CR units were fundamentally unsuited to indoor fighting, but in a place this large, that wasn't an issue. Several wizards spread out to surround the stage, weapons ready. But Shido noticed something wasn't quite right. Yes, this was the same old AST he'd come to know. But for whatever reason, several unfamiliar Western faces were in their ranks. "Shido! We've done enough. Pull out for now and bring Hikaru with you!" Kotori shouted through his earpiece. "Got it." He nodded and turned to Hikaru. "let's go" "..." She nodded in agreement "Now, heeere we go. Join me, everyone." A lazy voice came through the speakers on Fraxinus, accompanied by cheerful music and shrill cheers. The main monitor at the front of the bridge Showed a girl in a frilly costume singing and dancing, with a carpet of purple glow sticks spreading out before her. The picture quality was terrible, and it was clear that this was not an official concert DVD released for general sale. It was a bootleg video that Nakatsugawa obtained using his many connections. "..." Standing next to the captain's chair, Shido gaped at the video. Or to be more precise, at the girl dancing happily in the center of the screen, singing in that beautiful voice. There was no doubt—this was the Rindoji girl he'd come face-to-face with the day before, Diva. "Miku Izayoi...hmm? I never dreamed she was a Spirit," Kotori said, staring at the video from the captain's chair. "You know her?" he asked. "Well, her name anyway. And a few of her songs from commercials and TV shows." Kotori dropped her eyes to the profile page by her hand, frowning. "She made her debut about six months ago. She's had one smash hit after another. Her singing is amazing, and her voice is so beautiful, that some people even go so far as to call it an audible narcotic. She's this mysterious idol who never does TV appearances, no pictures in magazines, nothing. Seems like she's the kind of idol to have a big cult following." Kotori put a hand to her chin and sighed. "The Spirit is an idol. At the very minimum, she's been living unnoticed in this world for six months. And was she living a life like this? Ah! Kurumi's got nothing on this one." Shido twitched at the name Kurumi. That Spirit had transferred into his class as a human being. But now he had an option he hadn't possessed back then. "So is she also a human being who has been given Spirit powers by Phantom like you, Kotori?" "...Mm." Kotori jumped a little in her seat. "I can't deny the possibility. And if that's the case, then it's no mystery why she stayed in this world. But then the reason for yesterday's spacequake becomes the mystery." "Oh..." Shido opened his eyes wide in understanding. A spacequake was the aftershock of a Spirit coming from the parallel world to appear in this one. Some Spirits like Kurumi could make space quakes happen of their own will, but it seemed unlikely that Miku would do that when she had a life in this world. He groaned as he scratched the back of his head. It wasn't that he was personally invested in the idea of her being human, but if they rejected the possibility, then they were back to square one. And there was one other huge problem. "We still don't know the reason for the sudden drop in likability, either," he said slowly. Yes. The nightlong meeting had amounted to naught. They hadn't managed to come up with an explanation for this. But Kotori shook her head. "Actually, about that, we did come up with one theory, even if we can't say for sure that that's it." "Huh? We did?" "Yes. I had my suspicions after looking at the results of yesterday's monitoring, but now that we know Diva is Miku Izayoi, I'm sure of it." "Wh-what exactly was it, then?" Shido asked intently. Kotori held out her hands as if to rein him in. "I'll walk you through it. Reine?" "...Yes. Look at this," Reine said from Kotori's left, and a graph popped up over the concert video of Miku on the main monitor. "What is it?" he said as he turned his eyes toward the graph. "...Mm-hmm. It shows Miku's mental state yesterday. Right up around the middle is when you started talking to her." He looked at the area. It was a sudden drop like something from a roller coaster ride. He couldn't even see the scale toward the end of the curve. "...She hates me even more than I thought, huh?" "...Well, we'll put a pin in that for now. Take a look at what comes after that," Reine instructed. He did as he was told and saw that the mood at the bottom of the graph abruptly began to shoot upward. "What...?" "...That corresponds with when Hikaru showed up." "And when it reaches this maximum value?" he asked. "...That's the moment she.... she starts kissing her" "wait... don't tell me!" Shido's mind was racing. "Yes. In other words..." Kotori returned her Chupa Chups to her mouth and snapped a finger up. "It's quite possible that Miku Izayoi is attracted to girls." "Wha—?" Shido was filled with deep despair. The reason was simple. Shido and Ratatoskr were attempting to secure the Spirits while also avoiding spacequakes by sealing each Spirit's power and putting them into a stable state. Shido's power was critical to making this plan workable—specifically, the ability to seal Spirit power inside himself with a kiss. And simply pressing his lips against a Spirit's wouldn't be enough. He had to raise his likability with the Spirit to the point where she'd consent to his kiss, at the absolute minimum. "S-so then there's nothing we can do!" he groaned despondently. He'd had his share of difficulties in attacking Spirits before, but he couldn't break through the wall of a physical obstacle like this. But Kotori's eyes widened with curiosity. "What are you talking about? You're on the Tenou Festival planning committee, right? Which means you'll have plenty of chances to talk with Miku before the festival." "Sure, fine, but Miku's not interested in guys, remember?" "It's not that she's not interested," Kotori said. "It would be more accurate to say she hates them." "That's even worse!" Shido shouted. Kotori shrugged in exasperation. "Did you think I would say something like that with no thought behind it? We've come up with a countermeasure." "Countermeasure?" he parroted. Kotori nodded and snapped her fingers. From out of nowhere, Kannazuki appeared He. was holding a Raizen High School uniform. But it was a girl's uniform. "Whoa, whoa, Kannazuki's finally lost it", Shido thought briefly, but then he noticed something strange. This uniform was new. And rather large. Yes. Large enough that it might be a perfect fit for a girl about the same height as Shido. "...Um." He took a step back, with a very bad feeling. But something blocked his way. In the next instant, grasping hands seized his arms and pinned them against his back. He whirled his head around and found Bad Marriage Kawagoe and President Mikimoto there. "Hey! Wh-what are you doing? P-please let go of me," Shido said, a cold sweat popping up on his face. Nailknocker Shiizaki appeared in front of him, makeup tools wedged between the fingers of both hands like throwing daggers, while Deep Love Minowa held up an assortment of wigs next to Kannazuki. "Wh-what is this?!" he shouted. But heedless of his cries, Kannazuki inched closer with his two subordinates. "It's all right. You needn't be afraid. You might feel some tingling at first at your feet, but that will change to pleasure soon enough. My colleague says it's the case, so there's no doubt." "K-Kotori?" Shido turned pleading eyes toward Kotori like a soldier on the losing side of a war, begging for his life. "Good luck...Onee-chan." She grinned adorably as she pronounced his death sentence and gave him a thumbs-up. (...) The distant chimes of the ending bell reverberated in Hikaru's ears. Because it was the eleventh of September. Monday. Today, the general student population of each school began to prepare for the Tenou Festival. She let out a heavy sigh as she made her way down the empty corridor, her footsteps echoing through the deserted halls. "Dame it!" Hikaru cursed under her breath, her cheeks flushed with both annoyance and humiliation. Her hand instinctively reached up to scratch her head, a nervous gesture driven by the discomfort coursing through her veins. "I'll kill this spirit" she muttered, unable to let go of the events from the previous day. Sleep eluded her as she replayed the humiliating encounter over and over in her mind. "Ah, let's just forget about it.., I'll have my revenge anyway, and this time I won't let my guard down," With renewed purpose, Hikaru straightened her posture and lifted her head, casting off the shackles of self-doubt. As she continued on her path toward the vibrant festival, a passing girl caught her attention, seemingly lost in her thoughts. "...!" Hikaru's breath caught in her throat, a gasp escaping her lips as her eyes widened in surprise and captivation. Her long, flowing locks of vibrant blue seemed to dance in the gentle breeze, creating an ethereal aura that encapsulated her presence. The standard Raizen High School uniform that she wore fit her perfectly, hugging her slender figure and accentuating her youthful grace and poise—a flower hair clip nestled among her tresses, adding a touch of whimsy to her enchanting appearance. "Wha—?!" this was the first time she felt something like that. Her heart raced, a surge of warmth spreading across her cheeks. Each breath became shallow as if the very act of breathing had become a foreign concept. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the girl, captivated by every detail and nuance of her being. Time seemed to stand still, the world fading into insignificance around them. Yet, amidst the enchantment, a sudden pang reverberated through her being, weakening her to the point of near collapse. "What's happening?" she questioned herself, struggling to regain her composure. With great effort, she managed to steady herself and made her way toward the nearby restroom, (...) At an altitude of twenty thousand feet above Raizen High School, Kotori stared at the monitor with her mouth agape as she gazed at the graph of a certain girl. "Her too?!" she mumbled, struggling to make sense of the bewildering situation. "Captain, love, mental state, and all other parameters are at their max for the first time!" one of the members exclaimed. "because of my brother's cross-dressing? What is wrong with those spirits?!" Kotori shouted in frustration. Bzzt! Bzzt! "Captain, something weird is happening with Hikaru," "What is it?" Kotori asked urgently. "Her mood is at its peak, but her spirit power is simultaneously unstable and stable at the same time" the team member explained. "How is that even possible?" "It's like she's going inverse, but in the other way around..." the member trailed off. "...Wait! you mean she's an inverse returning to her normal spirit form?!" Kotori exclaimed. "That appears to be the most logical explanation, Captain," "...Send Shido to where she is now!" Kotori ordered. "YES!" the members replied, swiftly carrying out the command. (...) The sound of the water echoed through the empty hallway of the school, filling the silence with its gentle rhythm. With a trembling hand, Hikaru splashed some cold water onto her face, hoping to alleviate the dizzying sensation that still lingered within her. "I feel terrible, did i eat something bad?" she thought to herself, "i have to go back—?!" As Hikaru looked up at the mirror, her reflection stared back at her, but something was wrong. "What the—?!" The girl in the mirror had undergone a grotesque transformation. Her once-flowing black hair had turned into long, golden strands that seemed to writhe and slither like serpents. The color of her eyes had morphed into a chilling shade of shining red, resembling the glow of malevolent rubies. What was even more unsettling was the eerie smile etched upon the reflection's face, a smile that conveyed wicked delight despite the absence of any actual expression. Before she could even process what was happening, Hikaru found herself falling to the floor. "...Ugh!" she felt a pain that she shouldn't feel from such a fall. However, given how weak she felt, it was hardly surprising. "...!" as she opened her eyes again, Her gaze instinctively darted towards the ceiling, only to be met with a horrifying sight. It was as if a colossal mirror had materialized on the ceiling, distorting and reflecting everything around her. But instead of her own body lying there, she saw the figure standing there, the eyes of the figure fixated on her own. "Who are you—?!" Confusion gnawed at Hikaru's mind as the boundaries of reality blurred before her eyes. In an instant, the figure from the mirror shattered the glass-like barrier, emerging from the shattered shards to stand directly in front of her. The figure's gaze bore into Hikaru's soul, its intensity paralyzing her with fear. "Who I am... you say?" The figure leaned close to her face, "we have the same face, so what do you think?" the figure whispered, a voice that seemed so familiar. Hikaru tried to move again, but she realized that her limbs were no longer under her control. "He's coming, I think it's time," "...?" Before Hikaru could react, the figure extended its hand and placed it gently upon her eyes. A strange light emanated from the touch, enveloping Hikaru in its ethereal glow. "What are you doi..ng to m..e. ." Hikaru felt like she was about to fall asleep. "It's okay," the figure said in a calm, soothing voice. "You can sleep now." "Wha-" And in the next moment, Hikaru succumbed to the enveloping darkness, unable to resist the figure's grasp any longer. (...) "Not-Shido girl, why are you running?!" Tohka's voice reverberated through the air as she chased after a certain blue-haired girl. "We must find Hikaru swiftly," the girl responded. It didn't take them long to reach their desired location, their footsteps echoing through the corridors as they neared their destination. "Kotori, is this the place?" the girl called out through her ear-device "The spirit power has suddenly vanished, but this is the last known location. Stay vigilant," Kotori's voice echoed back. "Understood!" With cautious steps, she entered the restroom, her heart pounding in her chest. "Here we are," she whispered to herself, bracing for the worst but hoping for the best. But as her eyes scanned the room, confusion and awe washed over her. There stood the figure they had been searching for—Hikaru. Yet, something was undeniably different about her. Though sharing the same stature and build as Hikaru. Instead of her usual black hair, it was a shining golden hair, "Just like in my dreams!" she murmured, barely audible, as awe washed over her. And there, draped upon her form, was her astral dress—the attire Hikaru wore when harnessing her spirit powers. But this dress was unlike any she had seen before. Instead of the usual darkness, it shimmered in an ethereal white, adorned with intricate golden lines that wove a mesmerizing pattern across the fabric. It was as if the very essence of light had embraced her, casting an otherworldly glow that bathed the room. "Oh! if it isn't Tohka and Shiori?" Hikaru? Exclaimed as she turned around to face them. "Tohka?" she repeated in confusion, turning her gaze towards Shido. "She called me by my name, Shido. Is she okay?" "I'm not entirely sure," he responded, his voice tinged with hesitation. "You're Hikaru, right?" he asked, seeking confirmation. "How do you know that name... Oh, he was using that name even though he shouldn't remember it," she murmured, a mischievous giggle escaping her lips. "Uhh?" "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm perfectly fine. more importantly, why are you a girl?" Hikaru? Inquired, closing the distance between them. "oh! It's just a cros—" Shido began to explain, but Hikaru swiftly cut him off by grabbing him from down there. "Hmm, they're still here. You're just cross-dressing, which means we're amid the Miku Arc," she declared. "What the—" Shido took several steps back, his confusion deepening. "Oh! Sorry about that. I was just making sure you're my Shido. It would be disastrous if I ended up in the wrong timeline... Oops, forget what I said," she casually dismissed her previous statement. Shido remained puzzled, trying to comprehend what was happening and make sense of her cryptic remarks. "Hey, Shido, can you come here for a moment?" she requested. Shido hesitated for a brief moment, uncertainty clouding his thoughts. After all, he had no idea what she was planning to do. "Oh, don't worry. I won't grab your balls. Maybe later... but not now. We have more pressing matters to attend to," she clarified, her words leaving Shido even more perplexed. "..." In the end, he decided he would take the risk and get closer as she demanded, after all, what worse could happen, "So what is it?" Hikaru flashed a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "you'll love it, trust me" Before he could gather his thoughts, Hikaru closed the distance between them in an instant, catching him off guard. In an act both swift and unexpected, her lips met his in a gentle yet forceful kiss. "...!" His body froze for a moment, a jolt of energy coursing through him as their lips touched. It was a sensation he had never experienced before from her. As their lips parted, Shido could feel a tingling sensation lingering in his mouth. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped Hikaru's body, causing her astral dress to dissolve into nothingness. At that moment, she stood before Shido completely naked, her ethereal form radiating a mesmerizing glow. Shido's gaze widened in astonishment, his face turning scarlet as he averted his eyes. "Wha... What just happened?" he stammered, struggling to find the right words. Tohka, who had remained unusually silent throughout the ordeal, stood nearby, her demeanor inexplicably calm, devoid of any visible surprise or shock. Moments later, Hikaru's body was once again covered, as the familiar Raizen High School uniform materialized out of thin air. She grinned mischievously, and with a skip in her step, she sauntered down the hallway, leaving Tohka and Shido frozen in their places. "Let's see how this twist will change the timeline," she giggled with delight. "It's going to be quite the spectacle!"