Vol 12 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: An Invading UnordinaryPart 1

People ask “If winter comes will spring be far behind?” but, judging by today's date- 1st of December, this is still the beginning of winter and spring still looks far away.

As if to show that, maybe it’s due to the cloudy sky in the morning; it looks like it’s the coldest day of the season. Each time the branches of bared trees shake, Itsuka Shidou was forced to cover the gap of his coat collar.

The sky was white because it was covered with clouds, and the breath he gives out was also white. When the temperature is low, the reason why he feels the atmosphere is so clear might be because of the water frozen by the cold-------or maybe, it might be because germs and harmful substances were weakened by the cold. Well of course, it’s plausible enough to think that it’s because his senses were dulled.

In order to warm up his numbing hands, Shidou *Haaa* heated them up with his breath. His cold finger tips felt warm for an instant but------the water particles in his breath froze up and made it colder than just now.

“Haaa………….it suddenly feels like it got cold all of a sudden. I should have brought a muffler or gloves”

While rubbing his hands together, Shidou exhaled one more time. When he found out it was useless to exhale at his hands, the exhale this time was just a sigh.

Right now, Shidou was wearing his usual uniform covered with only one thick coat. He underestimated the cold thinking that it’s still okay even if it entered December but, apparently his thoughts were naïve.

What’s more, maybe he is suffering from the temperature change from night to morning; it seems that his morning body condition was poor. Maybe it’s a good idea to head back and take my winter clothing?

“Hnn…………….”

But, Shidou was currently mid-way in his path to school from his house. He would probably be late if he head back home now. Although, there’s still quite some distance left to school. What a half-assed position it was.

“Mu, are you cold, Shidou”

Shidou turned to Yatogami Tohka who said that while walking beside him. While the winter wind was blowing her night colored hair, her magical crystal eyes were looking up at Shidou.

She was currently wearing a duffle coat over her uniform, and was wrapped around with a plaid muffler. Incidentally, she was wearing mitten type gloves, and I think the shoe she was wearing was somewhat thick. Her outfit definitely works in the winter.

Now that he think about it, Tohka went out with the other spirits and Reine to buy winter clothing. She probably chose them during that time. The black coat and red muffler suits Tohka a lot.

“Yeah……………I looked down on December too much I guess. I’ll commute to school with warmer clothes tomorrow”

After Shidou said that, Tohka stared at Shidou’s face while [Fumu………] placing her hands on her chin. She then pointed at the muffler wrapped around her neck.

“Oh yeah Shidou, you can use this! It’s so fluffy and warm!”

“Eh? Nonono, then you’ll end up cold instead”

“Mu……………I don’t really feel anything you know? I have these gloves after all!”

After saying that, she moved her cute mittens around to show him. Shidou made a wry smile.

“No, I think gloves won’t keep your neck warm”

“Muu…………..”

After hearing Shidou’s words, Tohka was in thought for a while before, *Pon* she hit her hands together as if she thought of something.

“Oh yeah! I thought of something good!”

Tohka said cheerfully while unraveling one round of her muffler before handing over the hem of the muffler to Shidou while the other half was still wrapped around her neck.

“Here you go, wrap it around you. Both of us will be warm like this”

After saying that, Tohka made a satisfied smile.

“N-no, it’s okay………….”

However, Shidou refused with a wry smile.

That’s only normal. It’s true that Tohka’s method might warm both people up but, just what kind of sights will their classmates give them, on the day they come to school with one muffler wrapping around them, acting like couples seen in mangas……………..nope, he has an idea of what it will be like. He will probably be swarmed with envy, jealousy and killing intent.

But, Tohka did not back down. With the muffler still inside Shidou’s hands, she pushed him to wrap it around his neck.

“What are you saying. You’ll catch a cold you know?”

“No, well that might true but that’s not what I meant………….”

And, when Shidou was making a troubled look, *Dadadada* violent footsteps echoed from behind.

“Kaka! How foolish! Both of you are still here huh!”

“Passing through. You will not stop Yuzuru and Kaguya”

And while raising their voices, both shadows passed by Shidou and Tohka.

Yamai Kaguya and Yamai Yuzuru. Just like Tohka, they live in the Spirit mansion and are the twin spirits with identical faces. Both of them were wearing camel duffle coats above their uniform and fluffy earmuffs. Looks like, they are well equipped to protect themselves against the cold. Incidentally, Yuzuru was wearing normal gloves but Kaguya was wearing leather gloves with her fingers poking out.

“Kaguya! Yuzuru!”

“Fuu, time is precious. Sorry but we will be going ahead……….wait, what are you two doing?”

“Doubt. Playing a scene of walking a dog? Or is it that type of play even though it’s so early in the morning?”

The Yamai sisters who got in front of Shidou and Tohka but, they told them that while their eyebrows were frowned.

Shidou twitched his shoulders at that moment. Since Shidou was holding the hem of Tohka’s muffler, it looks as if Shidou was holding a leash extending out from Tohka’s collar.

“Nu? What do you mean?”

“Oi oi, don’t say it that will cause misunderstandings. This is………..”

Even though Shidou was trying to explain to them, Kaguya and Yuzuru turned their body around half-way through his sentence.

“I won’t say anything about someone’s taste but, I recommend you to not do such a thing in the public”

“Consent. Please think of Tohka who is made to follow your fetish”

“Like I said, it’s wro------

“Okay farewell! I can see the promised land!”

“Part. The Yamai’s are the child of the wind and the child of energy”

After leaving those words, the Yamai sisters ran on the path to school.

“Ah! Oi, you guys are still misunderstanding………….”

Knowing those 2, they won’t spread bad rumors about Shidou but……………there’s no saying that they might leak the information without any ill intent. It’s probably a good idea to clear this misunderstanding as fast as possible. While following them with his eyes Shidou talked to Tohka standing beside him.

“………hey Tohka. I thought of a way to warm up without borrowing your muffler” “Nu? Is there such a way?”

“Yeah……..RUN!”

After saying that, Shidou kicked the ground and Tohka followed him after a [Ooh!] shout.

They continued running for a few minutes while keeping up with the backs of the Yamai sisters which were gradually turning smaller-------they reached the school faster than expected.

“Haaa…………..Haaa…………….”

Shidou was panting heavily while placing his hands on his knees when he reached the entrance. Beside him, Tohka was totally fine and talked to him.

“Are you okay Shidou?”

“Y-yeah………..”

Shidou nodded while wiping the sweat off his forehead. It’s only normal to have a stamina difference with Tohka since she’s a spirit but…………the fatigue is worse than usual. As expected, he probably got a cold from the morning cold.

“Kaka! Not bad you two”

“Congrats. But, we are the champion when it comes to speed”

The Yamai sisters reached the school first but, they welcomed Shidou and Tohka with an unnecessarily cool pose. He thought of catching up in the first place but, it’s lucky that they waited for them at the entrance. Shidou fixed his breathing and raised his body before opening his mouth.

“You two, I’ll tell you this since you are misunderstanding something, just now-----“

“Un? Tohka was going to lend her muffler to you right?”

“Of course. We knew just by looking”

Both of them said it blandly. Shidou opened his eyes wide.

“Wait, you noticed!”

“Kaka, of course. Did you think my magic eye won’t see through it?”

“Consent. Just now, Kaguya teased Shidou because she got jealous”

“Wait…………! Don’t say random things! It’s not like I was jealous!”

“Escape. The smartest thing to do here is to retreat”

“Wai-wait there Yuzuru!”

After saying that with a cool face, Yuzuru ran off. Kaguya then chased after and they went into the school.

After seeing them leave, Shidou let out a big sigh.

“Seriously, they are unnecessarily energetic as usual…………”

“Shidou, let’s get inside the school too. Our finally warmed up bodies might get cold again”

“Yeah, you’re right”

After Shidou agreed with Tohka’s words, he took of his shoes and opened his shoebox.

And, he frowned his eyebrows in doubt.

“Hn……….?”

“My, what’s wrong Shidou”

“No…………..I don’t see my indoor shoes inside the shoebox”

Yes. Shidou’s hand grabbed nothing when he tried to take his indoor shoes out like usual.

“What. Did someone wear it by mistake?”

“Uuun…………that might be it”

Shidou gave a vague answer to respond to Tohka who opened her eyes wide.

Losing indoor shoes is a basic form of bullying but………….Tohka will feel insecure if he told her that.

Also, it’s true that Shidou does not know of anyone that would bully him……….well, his reputation in school has been dropping recently so he can’t deny that act at all and that’s just saddening.

“No choice. I’ll have to put up with slippers then”

After saying that, Shidou borrowed a pair of visitor slippers from the office and headed to the 2nd year 4th class classroom with Tohka.

They then opened the class door and just when he reached to his seat------he stopped.

The reason was simple. It was already occupied.

It was a characteristic girl with shoulder-length hair, and had the arranged face that resembles a doll.

But, that’s not the weird part. It’s practically normal for girls to borrow other student’s seat to talk with their friends.

Things are different if the girl was under his seat with her knees on the ground and her cheeks on his chair, waiting for Shidou. He could feel his classmates pretending not to see this.

“…………..what are you doing, Origami”

Shidou asked with half his eyes opened.

Yes. She’s Tobiichi Origami. Shidou’s classmate-----and a new spirit he successfully sealed last month.

Normally, the spirits will be gathered to the spirit mansion next to the Itsuka house to live but, Origami said she could not throw away the house filled with the memories of her parents so she was still living in her own house. Because of that, her commuting time is a little off from Shidou’s.

After hearing Shidou’s words, Origami crawled out from under his table.

“I warmed it up”

“My chair!?”

“Not only that”

After saying that, Origami searched her pocket and took one indoor shoe out.

---It was Shidou’s indoor shoe, heated up by Origami’s body warmth.

“This too”

“………..You’re the culprit!”

After Shidou shouted, Tohka continued on and raised her voice too.

“Origami! You can’t take Shidou’s indoor shoes! Shidou had to use slippers because of that!”

“…………..!”

As if she got flicked by Tohka’s words, Origami looked at Shidou’s feet before bowing down.

“I am very sorry. I didn’t not think that far”

“N-no, please be careful from now on………….”

“This morning, my head was filled with the thought to act as a premium temperature regulator system that can warm Shidou’s seat and indoor shoes at the same time”

“That’s a certain method from the Azuchi Momoyama period right!?”

After Shidou shouted for a while, he sighed tiredly and switched on his indoor shoes.

He then placed his bag on the table and was about to take out his coat.

“Wait”

At that moment, Origami talked to Shidou to stop him.

“Hn? What’s wrong?”

“Shidou temperature regulator system –Ver.0”

After Origami said it in a flat tone, she thrust her hands into Shidou’s coat which was half taken off, and hugged Shidou’s body tightly. It’s as if, 2 people were wearing 1 coat.

“Wha………..!?”

“H-hey Origami! What are you doing to Shidou!”

Tohka got flustered and tried pulling Origami away. But, Origami clung onto Shidou with tremendous strength and would not let go.

But, after a few seconds, Origami lifted her face after burying her face in Shidou’s chest when she noticed something.

“Your temperature is already high. Shidou, do you have a fever?”

“Eh? Aah……….no, I ran quite a bit so my body temperature probably increased”

“I see. That’s good”

After Origami said that, she let go of Shidou’s body. She then turned around and changed her direction.

“Origami! Where are you going?”

“Somewhere”

After a short answer, Origami left the classroom.

While sending her off, Tohka *Pun* folded her arms.

“Seriously, I don’t have any time to lower my guard around her!”

“Haha…………how should I say this, Origami is Origami after all………”

Shidou sat down while smiling powerlessly.

Actually, the current Origami was slightly different from the Origami that they spent time with before.

This existence is the new Origami joined by the quiet Origami after the past was changed and the old Origami.

But, judging by what he saw just now, the attributes of the old Origami were coming out stronger than the Origami after the past change.

“Mu?”

However. Tohka twisted her head after hearing Shidou’s words.

“What are you saying? It’s true that her actions are intolerable but, it’s completely different from before you know”

“Really? I think it got more serious than before though……..”

“But, the old Origami will still cling onto Shidou no matter how forceful I pull her. Also, the face she showed when she was about to leave……………”

“Eh?”

Shidou opened his eyes wide in wonder.

“……………..”

Having left the classroom, Origami briskly walked down the corridor and reached an empty area before, leaning against the wall and crouch down.

“…….Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

She covered her face with both her hands and shook her throat.

The warmth felt by the palm of her hands. She did not look at a mirror but, she could easily imagine that her face was completely red.

“I, why did I do that”

Origami mumbled with her trembling voice and messed up her hair by scratching vigorously.

Origami definitely came to school normally. But, the moment she saw Shidou’s shoe box, the Kinoshita Tobiichirou Hideyoshi inside Origami’s heart, shouted “I have to warm my masters indoor shoes”. The moment she noticed, she was hugging Shidou’s indoor shoes, and was placing her head on Shidou’s chair as if she’s a criminal waiting for the guillotine. Now that she thinks back, what the heck just happened really?

But on the other hand, of course for the previous action too but; more importantly, was it not a mistake to fail in warming up Shidou’s gym clothes by wearing it under her uniform? I am satisfied if Shidou is warm. It’s definitely a win win situation. As expected, she had to register for the spot before anyone else could take it. The name will be registered with Origami Po-. It’s a witty naming formed by the Pot used to boil water and the Po that means the cheeks blushing. Those thoughts exist at the same time.

This chaos occurs because the consciousness of the Origami of the old world and the Origami after the world was reconstructed mixed together in the first place.

And, both sides are definitely Origami but, whenever Shidou is in front of her, the senses of the latter personality will take over.

This body belongs to the Origami after the world was reconstructed in the first place. It’s because a balance was set that the old Origami does not have the dominant position after the merge.

But, the the consciousness of the new Origami is around [Feelings to Shidou 30%: standard 70%] and once it reaches [Feelings for Shidou = 120%], the balance will end up getting destroyed.

“Will he think of me as a weird girl…………..”

Origami murmured with a sigh and *Kin kon kan kon*the class bell rang as if to respond to her.

“Ah………….I have to go now”

She can’t stay like this. After Origami made a simple fix to her hair by combing it with her fingers, she placed her hands on her knees and stood up.

But, right when Origami turned the corridor corner *Bosuun* she bumped into someone.

“Kyaa”

“Ah, sorry…….wait, it’s Origami?”

The person there was Shidou who she separated with at the classroom just now.

“So you were here. And that voice just now………”

“Nothing. More importantly, why is Shidou here?”

After Origami asked, Shidou scratched his cheeks while answering.

“No………………you’re acting a little weird so, I came to see why…………”

“………………..!”

Origami felt her heart jumped. Shidou was concerned for Origami. Those thoughts alone made her heart warm.

But, her body moved faster than her feelings.

“I am so happy. Actually, I feel a little sick so I want you to examine me. More specifically, my breast and lower half”

While saying that, she grabbed hold of Shidou’s hand. Shidou [Hii!] gasped.

--Eh? Ehh? What am I doing!? Even though she was confused, Origami’s body continued moving without any hesitation.

“Doctor, please. Do it gently but boldly”

“Tohkaaa! Tohkaaaaaa! I knew it, nothing changeeeddd!”

Shidou’s shout echoed throughout the school before class started.

Part 2

“……………………”

In a corner of the underground facility owned by <ratatoskr>and located inside Tenguu city; the Commander- Itsuka Kotori was sitting alone.</ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr>She’s a characteristic girl with her hair tied with 2 black ribbons, a crimson red jacket placed on top of her shoulders and a chupa chups inside her mouth. Her cute face fits her age range but, her expression right now, looked troubled like a war veteran.</ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr>Nonetheless, it can’t be helped. That’s because, documents of the Spirit they successfully sealed last month- <devil>were at Kotori’s arm’s reach.</devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil>. That’s the inverse Spirit they are most cautious about, and stand beside the worst Spirit- <nightmare>Tokisaki Kurumi.</nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare>Her identity is the former AST Tobiichi Origami. Other than the detailed data of <devil>, the documents Kotori is looking at had the results she gained after listening to Origami in an investigation.</devil></nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare><devil>“……….Fumu”</devil></nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare><devil>While groaning a little, she dropped her sights at the data entry.</devil></nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare><devil>The information about the personality merge and the world reconstruction was really interesting but-------the part that attracted Kotori the most, was about the information on Origami traveled back to the Tenguu city of 5 years ago by Kurumi’s angel <zafkiel>.</zafkiel></devil></nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare><devil><zafkiel>Yes. Origami traveled back 5 years to save her parents by confronting a certain existence.</zafkiel></devil></nightmare></devil></devil></ratatoskr>

<ratatoskr><devil><devil><nightmare><devil><zafkiel>---