Chapter 32

The hallway leading to the theater’s main entrance stretched ahead, eerily empty.

Rows of decorative paper lanterns lined the ceiling, their soft glow flickering against the polished floors. Festival banners swayed ever so slightly, stirred by a faint, unseen draft.

Normally, this place would be bustling—students chatting, latecomers rushing in, voices blending into a steady hum of excitement.

But now, silence reigned.

It made sense. The main event had already begun, and anyone who cared to watch was inside by now.

Sawa walked forward at a leisurely pace, the oversized bear costume making soft, shuffling noises with each step. Her bear-like costume hands swung at her sides as she glanced around, taking in the unusually quiet surroundings.

Her mind, however, was anything but quiet.

"No more work."

Kurumi’s words echoed in her head, making her frown.

"Just enjoy the festival, alright?"

Sawa sighed, rolling her shoulders.

“She makes it sound so simple…” she muttered. “But what does enjoying the festival even mean? Wandering around aimlessly? Watching performances? Playing those overpriced stall games?”

She wrinkled her nose.

“Ugh. I’d rather do something productive.”

A pause.

“…Then again, I guess that’s the problem.”

She slowed to a stop, staring at her reflection in a nearby glass display case. The round, plush bear head bobbed slightly as she tilted her head.

“...Do I really have that bad of a habit?”

Her brain immediately went on the defensive.

"What’s wrong with working hard? Being responsible is a good thing!"

“But I barely do anything for myself,” she countered, frowning. “At this rate, my entire life is just…”

She trailed off.

Ah…

It was as if something had triggered in her brain—a realization hitting all at once.

I already wasted a whole lifetime doing nothing but work…
What was all that effort even for…?

The question had never truly crossed her mind before. Why was I working so hard to begin with?

For others?

But where were they now?

And what about now…?

"You don’t need fun. You need progress. You need goals."

But… was she really in such a hurry to reach that goal? That dream?

No. She wasn’t. Not really...

Sawa exhaled, rubbing the fabric over where her forehead would be.

“This is so stupid. I’m arguing with myself over whether I should enjoy a festival.”

She sighed again, this time slower.

Kurumi’s words replayed in her mind, clearer than before.

"Actually relaxing."

She tapped her fingers against the plush bear paws.

“…Maybe she has a point.”

Her reflection stared back at her, unblinking.

“…Just this once.”

A slow, reluctant nod.

“Alright, fine. I’ll do it.”

This time, her voice held more conviction.

“I’ll treat myself to something nice.”

She turned toward the empty hallway, her steps lighter than before.

“…But where do I even start?”

As if the answer presented itself, her ears suddenly caught the sound of thunderous cheers not far away.

“Hm?”

She turned toward the source of the noise—just at the end of the hallway, behind the double-shut doors.

The main entrance to the theater.

The place she had been heading toward in the first place.

Sawa hesitated for a brief moment before continuing toward the theater doors. With each step, the cheers grew louder.

“Oh, right…”

A memory surfaced.

That girl with the Creepy behavior…

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Didn’t she say she had a part in this event?

Her pace slowed—not enough to make her reconsider entirely, but enough for hesitation to creep in.

Meeting that girl again would be… troublesome.

She exhaled softly, both hands resting on the door handles. Well… I’ll just stay far away from her. And if anything happens, I can always run again—

“Eh?!”

The moment she pulled the door open, a swift gust of wind rushed past her, pushing outward. The breath caught in her throat.

The shift in atmosphere was so sudden, so jarring, that it felt as if she had stepped into another world.

Darkness swallowed the theater. The only source of light came from the distant stage, casting long, wavering shadows.

Scattered throughout the audience, several lanterns flickered in the hands of devoted fans, their soft glow swaying like distant fireflies.

Stepping inside, Sawa moved quietly, slipping into the shadows along the narrow standing gallery—her hand gliding along the cold iron bar.

“Hm?”

As she walked deeper in, scattered whispers reached her ears. Most of the audience murmured about the winner of the event.

She shifted her gaze toward the stage, scanning the scene. A long line of performers stood motionless on the stage floor, as if waiting for something.

The conclusion was obvious—she was late. The main event had already ended.

Well, no point in turning back now…

Leaning against the bar, arms folded, she simply watched.

"Mm...? What is she doing...?"

Her eyes narrowed, and her head tilted in confusion.

"...T-That doesn't seem to be part of the event, right?"

Just as Sawa settled in, expecting to watch the usual coronation ceremony she was familiar with, something felt... off.

Not drastically different, but enough to make her uneasy—especially when it came to that perverted girl from before.

Yeah… the one who stood out the most among all the participants was none other than Miku.

 Sawa had already forgotten her name, but that girl’s behavior was undeniably strange on the stage.

Not that Sawa was surprised—That was always weird. But this time, things seemed to be spiraling out of control.

“...!”

Then it happened.

A deafening thunderclap echoed through the theater, shaking the very air.

And in that instant, Sawa's suspicions were confirmed.

---

The first day’s performers stood in a line on Tengu Square’s central stage, holding their breath. Their faces were tense, eyes locked on the MC, waiting.

It made sense. The performances were over, the votes had been cast, and now—finally—the top schools would be announced.

“Third place in the performance division—Senjo University High School!”

The room exploded with cheers and applause. Onstage, the Senjo performers shouted in joy, their relief clear.

Shido clapped politely. They had to have played well to place third, though he barely remembered their performance. He’d been right there, listening, but his nerves had been too overwhelming. His own turn had been next.

“Second place!” the MC’s voice cut through the noise, bringing the crowd back to silence in an instant.

Now, there were only two names in everyone’s mind:

Rindoji Girls’ Academy—the reigning champions, led by the idol Miku Izayoi.
Raizen High School—the unexpected challengers, whose last-minute performance had stunned the crowd.

Both had been incredible. That much was undeniable. Maybe it was the sheer aura the Spirits carried.

The MC hesitated, as if feeling the weight of the moment, then took a deep breath.

“Falling just short of the win—Raizen High School!”

Shido’s breath caught.

For a moment, time stood still.

Then the cheers erupted, deafening. The results flashed across the massive screen, confirming what he’d just heard.

Across the stage, Miku’s lips curled into a triumphant grin. Of course, she was smiling—because this meant only one thing.

“And taking the crown for first place in the performance division—”

A spotlight flickered on, landing directly on Miku.

“They really are powerful! The queens, Rindoji Girls’ Academy!”

“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The entire venue shook from the sheer force of the cheers.

“Sh-Shido…,” Tohka’s voice was small, barely audible over the noise. She stared at the rankings, her fingers trembling. “W-we lost…? I-it’s because I sang…”

“No! It’s not your fault, Tohka!” Shido said quickly. But she wasn’t listening. Her expression crumpled, her eyes glassy, on the verge of tears.

“Hee-hee! Hee-hee-he-hee…”

Miku’s giggling echoed behind them.

Shido didn’t need to turn around to know she was enjoying this far too much.

“Miku,” he muttered.

She smirked. “Seeee? Just like I said. This is what haaaappens when you rely too much on those little friends of yours.”

Ignoring the MC’s voice in the background, Miku sauntered up to him, stopping just inches away. Then, with a teasing flick of her finger, she tilted his chin up.

“Either way, a promise is a proooomise. You and the five Spirits whose power you sealed—” her grin widened— “are all mine as of todaaay, Shiori.”

“Ngh—”

“Hee-hee-hee. Please don’t look so scared. I’ll spoil you looots—”

“And so!”

The MC’s voice suddenly boomed over the speakers, cutting Miku off entirely.

“First place overall on this first day of the Tenou Festival goes toooooo… Raizen High School!”

“…What?”

Miku froze.

Her eyes widened, her smirk wiped clean off her face.

Shido and Tohka both blinked in stunned silence. He hadn’t even been paying attention, but—wait. What?

“This is a surprise!” the MC continued. “In the performance division, Rindoji did take the top spot with an overwhelming show! But… it seems they just weren’t up to snuff this year in the exhibit and booth divisions.”

Miku’s head slowly shook from side to side, as if trying to process what she just heard. “What…? What…?”

“And thanks to an incredible number of votes for their maid café, Raizen High School scrambled past and secured first place overall! There was some criticism during judging, but the passionate push of the staff gave them the edge they needed!”

Shido let out a helpless chuckle. He never could’ve guessed that Ai-Mai-Mii’s antics would end up saving them.

“Shido!”

Tohka launched herself at him, her entire expression flipped from despair to sheer joy.

Not even a second later, Kaguya and Yuzuru swooped in from either side, throwing their arms around his neck.

“Kah-kah-kah! Naturally! Once we step in, victory is assured!”

“Conformity. That is correct. No one can beat Yuzuru and Kaguya.”

Surrounded by them, feeling the warmth of their excitement pressing in, Shido finally let the realization sink in.

We won.

We won.

Against Miku. Against Rindoji.

“All right! We’ll now proceed with the award ceremony! Representatives, please step forward,” the MC announced, motioning for the three groups of performers.

But—

“…Please be serious. What is this—?”

Miku’s trembling voice cut through the celebration.

“This is strange… There’s no way I could lose…”

“Uhhh, Izayoi?”

Miku ignored the MC entirely, staggering forward, her expression a mix of disbelief and desperation.

“I’m… Miku Izayoi. You know that, right? I’m… I’m…”

“…Miku.”

Shido spoke softly, steadying his own heartbeat before stepping toward her.

But the moment he moved, Miku flinched back.

“Stop… I—I won… I clearly won! Those girls… They didn’t even do anything right!”

“You can’t say that,” Shido replied firmly. “The students at Rindoji… they did their best.”

“I—I don’t care! I don’t care about that! I… I won…”

Shido scratched his cheek, feeling the weight of her frustration.

And, knowing full well how cheesy it would sound, he still said it anyway.

“It’s that whole… counting on your friends thing, y’know?”

Miku’s scowl deepened. “Fr-friends…?” she repeated, like the word itself left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Yeah.” Shido nodded, exaggerating the motion a little. “It’s true—we couldn’t compare to you in singing. But the students who worked on the maid café and our other exhibits? They made up for what we lacked.”

Miku’s hands clenched into fists. “Wh-what… is that supposed to mean? Please be serious… Friends? Ha-ha! Mere humans couldn’t possibly—”

“But mere humans built the bonds that defeated you.”

Miku’s breath hitched.

“Hey,” Shido continued. “Humans… are pretty amazing. So, Miku, you—”

“…lesson.”

“…Huh?” He frowned, barely catching her whisper.

“Friends? Bonds?” Miku’s head hung low, her voice dripping with something darker now.

Her fingers trembled, then stilled.

“I will teach you a lesson. All of that… is meaningless before me!”

Then, in an instant, her head snapped up.

Her arms spread wide.

Her voice rang out, sharp and commanding—

“Gabriel!”

The sound echoed through the venue.

And everything changed.

The entire venue shook as waves of energy rippled outward from beneath Miku’s feet.

From the shifting air, something massive emerged—a towering block of metal rising onto the stage. It gleamed under the lights, its form eerily reminiscent of a colossal church pipe organ, with long, slender silver cylinders extending from its thick core.

The audience, at first murmuring in confusion, quickly realized—this was no ordinary performance.

A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. Whispers turned to worried gasps.

But Miku… ignored them all.

With a single fluid motion, she swept her right hand through the air. A thin belt of light flickered into existence, tracing the arc of her movement.

No—not a belt.

The light curved, twisting around her body, thin glowing lines running across it, forming something unmistakable. A keyboard. A spectral piano or organ, floating weightlessly around her.

Shido’s breath hitched.

He had no idea why Miku had summoned her Angel, but one thing was clear—this was dangerous. For everyone.

“Miku! Stop! Listen to me! I—”

“Croon, chant, sing—Gabrieeeeeel!”

Miku’s voice rang out, overpowering him.

She spread her hands wide and slammed her fingers onto the glowing keys.

VWWWWWWMMMMMM!!

A horrific sound erupted from the colossal Angel before her. A deep, bone-rattling vibration pulsed through the room, reverberating within the silver cylinders before exploding outward in every direction.

The air snapped and shuddered. The sheer force of it shook the walls.

Shido felt it—every inch of his body reverberating with the sound.

“Unh…! Gah…?!”

His hands flew to his ears on instinct, but it was useless.

The deafening noise didn’t just crash into him—it sank into him. It burrowed deep, rattling his eardrums, piercing through his mind like a thousand desperate voices crying “please”—but twisted, amplified a thousand times over.

It was unbearable.

Like drowning in sound itself.

And then—

After what felt like an eternity, the storm began to subside.

The monstrous reverberation weakened, then faded completely.

“…! …!”

Shido hesitantly pulled his hands from his ears. A dull ringing remained, but… physically, he felt intact.

But something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

He could sense it before he could see it.

Something in the room had changed.

Even after the ringing faded from his ears, the silence remained.

Not a single whisper. Not a shuffle of feet.

Shido blinked, his breath quickening. A hall this packed, and yet… absolute silence?

Had Gabriel’s attack stolen his hearing? The thought flashed through his mind, cold and sharp. Given that an Angel—a "miracle made manifest"—was at play, something like that wouldn’t be impossible.

But then—

“Wha…?”

He heard his own voice. Clear as ever.

His heart pounded. If his hearing was fine… then why—?

His gaze swept the venue.

And he gasped.

Thousands of people stood in the crowd. Not moving. Not blinking. Not even breathing visibly.

Each and every one of them stood perfectly straight, their eyes locked on the stage in eerie synchrony.

A well-trained military unit wouldn’t stand this still.

It was like staring into a mannequin factory.

"Wh-what is this…?"

Dread crawled up his spine.

Slowly, as if in a trance, Shido turned to Miku.

"Miku, you didn’t actually…!"

“Hee… Hee-hee… Hee…”

Her laugh was wrong. Unhinged. Like a wind-up doll running out of power.

“Friends, was it? Oh, how beautifuuuul. How wooooonderful.”

She grinned, stepping closer. “To think they were so fragile.”

Her fingers danced over the glowing keyboard once more.

And just like that—

The entire audience shifted.

Thousands of heads tilted downward at once, as if responding to an unseen conductor.

Shido's blood ran cold.

“Hee-hee! Whee-hee-hee! Now aaaaall your friends belong to me, you know?"

Miku's voice dripped with amusement.

“Say, Shiori… Those booonds you were so proud of? They mean nothing."

She tapped another key.

The performers on stage moved.

Without hesitation, they lunged forward, grabbing Shido’s arms in an iron grip.

“Wha—?! Hey! Let go!”

He struggled, but their hands were like steel clamps, their strength inhuman. They didn’t even flinch at his resistance.

Miku watched with a satisfied smile.

And then, with a slow, seductive strut, she stepped closer.

“Our contest? It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Her breath brushed his skin as she leaned in.

“Our promise? Meaningless.”

Shido froze as she traced a single, teasing finger along his body.

“Because anything in this world that does not happen in accordance with my wishes…”

She grinned, eyes dark with unchecked power.

“…cannot be allowed to exiiiiist.”

“Eee…?!” Shido shrieked, instinctively jerking away.

Miku giggled, her voice dripping with triumph.

“Hee-hee! Shiori, you, your Spirits, everyone—”

She grinned, running her hands over his body with smug possession.

“You all are mine—”

And then.

She froze.

Right at his lower body.

“…Hmm? Hmmmm?”

Miku cocked her head, her playful expression cracking. Slowly, she stepped back, staring at her own hand as if it had touched something… wrong.

Then, she clenched her fingers, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“That sensation…” Her voice trembled. “N-no, it can’t be…!”

Her breath hitched.

Panic flickered across her face. And then—

With an urgent snap of her fingers, she commanded:

“P-please check!”

Immediately, two of the entranced students appeared on either side of Shido.

Before he could react—

Fwip!

They yanked up the skirt of his maid outfit.

“Wha—?!”

Shido’s face burned as he flailed.

“H-hey! What are you—?!”

But the humiliation didn’t stop there.

Another girl stepped forward—her face eerily blank.

And then—

Yank.

She pulled his shorts down.

Along with his underpants.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!”

Shido’s scream tore through the venue.

A surge of pure panic erupted in his brain. He kicked, flailed, flung himself free from the students holding him back, scrambling to pull his underpants and shorts back up in sheer horror.

With shaking hands, he yanked his skirt back down, face redder than a setting sun.

The moment stretched in unbearable silence.

Then—

A choked gasp.

Shido lifted his head.

Miku…

Had backed away.

Her eyes—wide and horrified—stared at him as if she had just witnessed the end of the world itself.

Her hand trembled.

And then—

“Sh-Sh-Sh-Shiori…!” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

Her entire body shook.

“You… You’re…a-a-a-a-a-a…man…!”

The color drained from her face.

Shido winced.

“M-Miku! Calm down! I—”

But it was too late.

“Eeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!”

Miku’s shriek pierced the air.

Her floating keyboard of light snapped back in front of her—her fingers slamming onto the keys.

VMMMMMMMM!!!

A new melody burst forth.

And then—

The entire venue moved.

The performers on stage. The MC.

The thousands of audience members.

As one.

Their heads snapped toward Shido—and then, like a crashing wave—

They charged.

“GAAAAAAAAAH?!”

A tsunami of entranced bodies stampeded toward him.

From above it all, Miku’s voice rang out, vibrating with righteous fury:

“Now, repent! How DARE you deceive me?!”

Shido’s breath hitched.

His hands clenched into fists.

Nowhere to run.

In seconds, he would be swallowed whole.

Now that it had come to this, there was only one path left open to him.

“Dammit!”

Shido gritted his teeth and charged forward—straight at Miku.

He had no plan.

No backup.

Just one reckless hope: If he could take down the person controlling everyone, maybe—just maybe—he could break her spell.

The odds were slim.

But he had no other choice.

However—

“Wha—?!”

Before he could close the gap, an icy chill blasted through the air.

The temperature plummeted.

And then—

SHRRRRK!

A wall of ice erupted between him and Miku, cutting off his path.

“What…? No way!”

Shido's eyes widened in shock.

And then—

He heard familiar voices behind him.

“Mmm. Heh-heh. Pretty dangerous. You can’t go doing that, hmm?”

“I… I will protect… Miss Miku.”

Shido whipped around.

And there—

A large rabbit puppet loomed over him, its voice carrying a low, throaty edge.

And on its back—

Yoshino.

Her soft blue hair fluttered, her expression distant, her Astral Dress partially unlocked.

“Yoshino?! Why would you—?”

His words cut off.

Her gaze.

The way she said "Miss Miku".

That was the name Miku’s devoted fans—the Rindouji students—used.

Just like Ai, who had been "asked" by Miku.

A horrible realization struck him like a hammer.

“No way. Not you…”

And then—

WHOOOOOOM!!!

A violent gust of wind exploded through the venue.

“Ngh…!”

The sheer force slammed into Shido, knocking him onto his back.

Above him—

A bold, mocking laugh echoed.

“Keh-heh… Fool.”

Shido looked up—

And froze.

Floating in the air, adorned in their Astral Dresses—

Kaguya and Yuzuru.

Kaguya, gripping her massive lance with ease.

Yuzuru, her pendulum weapon swinging ominously at her side.

Both were watching him—but their eyes...

They weren't themselves.

“The fact that you would attempt to deny Miss Miku shows that you lack wisdom.”

“Affirmation. A thoughtless and reckless act. I will not allow you to lay a finger on Miss Miku.”

The air around them trembled with power.

Even them…?!

A heavy dread settled in Shido’s chest.

The sound from Miku’s Angel—it had placed even the sealed Spirits under her control.

Then—

A chilling giggle.

"Hee… Hee-hee. Ha-ha-ha-ha…!

Shido turned—

And found Miku grinning.

Her violet eyes sparkled with delight.

“Oooh? What’s this?” she purred, savoring the moment.

Her fingers danced over the floating keyboard, lips curling in twisted amusement.

“You’re just awful, aren’t you, Shiori?”

She tilted her head, mockingly.

“To think so many Spirits were here… And every single one is just my type.”

A shudder ran through her.

“Aaah… This is good. No—this is amaaazing.”

She twisted in place, as if the excitement was too much to contain.

“At last… I have no need for you anymore.” Her voice dripped with satisfaction. “I’ll get rid of you and spend my time playing with the Spirits. Now, do it.”

Miku’s fingers slammed against the glowing keys—

And in an instant, Yoshino and the Yamai sisters turned to Shido, their eyes dark with hostility.

Shido took a step back, his pulse quickening.

But just as the situation seemed to turn against him—

The stage trembled.

“Huh? What’s happening?”

“??”

Both Shido and Miku glanced down as the wooden platform beneath them shook violently, rattling as if an earthquake had erupted beneath their feet. But that wasn’t the truth—far from it.

Before they could process what was happening, the floor suddenly split apart.

Crack!

A rupture tore through the stage as thick, vine-like tendrils burst forth, twisting like living thorns. They lunged at the massive rabbit puppet, coiling tightly around it and slamming it into the ground, sending up a swirl of dust and debris.

Yoshino, who had been riding atop the puppet, let out a startled cry as she tumbled off, rolling across the stage before coming to a stop, her head spinning in confusion.

Before the haze could settle, the tendrils surged again—this time toward the Yamai sisters.

“—?!”

Kaguya and Yuzuru barely had a moment to react before the vines wrapped around them midair, their bodies yanked downward in an instant.

Thap!

A sharp impact echoed as they crashed against the floor, restrained in a tangle of writhing vines.

Shido’s breath hitched. “What the—?!”

Miku’s smile faltered, her fingers hovering over her keyboard.

“W-Wait… I’ve seen this before… Could it be—”

Just as the realization started to take shape in Miku’s mind, Shido was the first to catch sight of the one responsible for the chaos.

“I-Is that…?”

His gaze locked onto a figure standing at the far end of the theater, precariously balanced atop an iron bar in the gallery.

Dressed in what appeared to be… a bear costume?

Miku’s expression darkened as she narrowed her eyes. “Even though you’re one of my favorites… I’ll get mad at you, y’know?”

Shido, on the other hand, could only stare in stunned silence—completely unsure how to process the situation.

Unbeknownst to them, inside the costume, the figure wasn’t nearly as composed as they seemed. Though they stood tall, exuding an air of confidence, their body was trembling beneath the fabric, as if they had just wandered into something way beyond their control.

"Ahhh!!! I’ve really done it this time!!!"

Sawa screamed internally, resisting the urge to bolt.