This is not the date I wanted.

"I'm surprised you can eat and talk at the same time without choking."

Looking at the empty takoyaki boxes that were almost piled up like a mountain in front of her, Meng Yue couldn't help but complain speechlessly.

(Well, things can’t go as smoothly as expected. But there is still room for compromise.)

After comforting herself in her heart, Mengyue threw the empty cardboard box into the trash can next to her and trotted to catch up with Tohka.

31 Tiangong Tower, Heartache

==============================

Fifteen thousand meters above Tiangong City, inside the Fraxinus EX aerial ship.

"Report, Origami, Tohka, and Yumezuki have left the shopping center with Hoshimiya Rokuko and Itsuka Shido and are heading towards the city center."

"Tohka and Hoshimiya Rokuko's emotions and stress levels are both stable, and there are currently no signs of causing space shock."

"Very good, continue to observe, and notify the ground troops to be ready to support Origami and Mengyue sisters at any time."

"clear."

Calmly giving orders to the crew, Kotori, wearing a black headband, was holding a lollipop and sitting in the captain's seat, looking at the main screen thoughtfully.

In the scene, Mengyue and Origami are taking everyone shopping, while in the reversal, Tohka is competing with an unknown elf to seduce the boy who broke into her house in the morning.

Although at first glance it was just a common emotional battle between two women competing for one man, Kotori was very clear how dangerous the situation was. If either Tohka, who had become a reversed elf, or an elf whose spiritual power had not been sealed, went berserk, they would destroy everything around them.

(I have to seal their spiritual powers as quickly as possible, stabilize their emotions first, improve their favorability, and then - huh?)

While she was thinking, she suddenly felt a slight pain in her head. Qin Li couldn't help but frowned and pressed her temple.

(There I go again, that feeling.)

"commander?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

Shaking her head slightly, Kotori took a deep breath and continued to stare at the movements of the five people on the screen.

About two hours ago, Kotori got the information about Tohka's reversal and Origami's disappearance from the Yamai sisters. She skipped her afternoon class while having lunch at junior high school and rushed to Fraxinus EX to search for information about Tohka and Origami.

However, for some unknown reason, Origami's phone location response and Tohka's spiritual power response suddenly disappeared in the middle of the process. Having lost her target, Kotori could only conduct a carpet search throughout Tengu City.

Half an hour later, just when Kotori was getting anxious because she had no news about Tohka and the others, eyewitness intelligence of Tohka and Origami was suddenly provided in a cafe under her company.

Not only that, Qin Li also provided a detailed report on the current situation from Liang Yi Meng Yue.

The girl with long golden hair is an elf named Hoshimiya Rokuko. The boy who illegally invaded in the morning was actually her brother Gokawa Shido. Hoshimiya Rokuko sealed all the information related to Gokawa Shido, while Origami and the reversed Tohka recovered their memories for some reason.

To be honest, if it weren't for her trust in Mengyue, Qinli might have thought it was a prank played on her by someone. After all, her parents had only given birth to her as a daughter since they got married, so how could she have a brother out of nowhere?

(But something is wrong.)

Qin Li couldn't help but think secretly.

Why did he become a spirit? Why did he become the commander of this airship? How did he know the spirits like Shixiang Mengyue? How did he seal their spiritual powers?

Kotori was surprised to find that she could not give a reasonable explanation for any of these questions. The key parts of her memory were like being erased with correction fluid, leaving her past full of logical flaws.

The moment she realized this, Kotori decided to support Sister Yumezuki, Origami, and her brother named "Gokawa Shido" in their efforts to capture Rokuko and Tohka.

(It would be nice if it could be resolved smoothly without any incidents.)

Qin Li couldn't help but pray silently in her heart.

However, soon the crew reported bad news to Kotori.

"Report, Hoshimiya Rokuko's stress level is rising sharply!"

————————————————————I am the dividing line for shifting perspectives————————————

“Where to go next?”

"That's right..."

Origami looked around hesitantly. She had already visited most of the entertainment attractions she knew, so how could she think of any places suitable for a date?

"How's it going there?"

Origami said, pointing at the tall tower in the city center.

"Oh, the Tiangong Tower."

There was a hint of curiosity in Mengyue's eyes.

Tiangu Tower is the common name for the iron tower by the residents of this city. It is a comprehensive radio tower that was newly built when Tiangu City was rebuilt after the South Kanto Air Disaster in Japan 30 years ago.

Since there is an observation deck inside the tower and various commercial facilities are built around it, it is a well-known attraction in Tiangong City. On weekends, many couples and families often come to visit, making it very lively.

(Author: "This building has only appeared in games before, and this is the first time in a novel. I am very depressed why Shidao doesn't take the elf there for a date? Psychological trauma?")

"That's fine. I haven't been to that tower yet. It would be nice to go for a walk."

Without any particular reason to refuse, Mengyue agreed to Origami's proposal.

"What do you think?"

"Will going to that tower be able to make this man surrender?"

Looking at the tall tower in the distance with confusion, Tohka asked Origami.

"Eh... Well, there's a rumor that couples who kiss on the observation deck of this tower will become happy. And at night, the city seen from the observation deck is as beautiful as a sea of ​​stars. It's really romantic. I think it's a suitable place for a date."

"Hey~"

Meng Yue looked at the origami and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

Noticing Mengyue's reaction, Origami suddenly realized what he had just said. He shook his hands with a blushing face and explained in an attempt to cover up the truth.

"No, no! I didn't expect that one day I would be in that tower and be——"

"Hey, hey, I understand, you don't need to explain."

"Hmph, boring."

Exhaling silently, Tohka thought for a moment and nodded.

"Forget it. As long as I can make this man surrender, the location doesn't matter."

"OK! What do Gokawa and Hoshimiya think?"

After getting Tohka's consent, Mengyue confirmed with the other two.

"I have no problem. What do you think, Rokuko?"

Shidou also agreed.

however--

"..."

"Rokuko?"

Shidou showed confusion on his face. He didn't know why Rokuko, who had clung to him just now, was now silent, with his feet as still as if nailed to his feet.

"……………………don't want."

After a long while, Rokuko finally spoke in a voice as tiny as the flapping of a mosquito's wings.

[Everyone, please pay attention. Rokuko's condition has changed! His stress level has risen sharply! His mood is getting worse!]

At this moment, the warning from Kotori made Mengyue, Shidou and Origami's faces change suddenly.

"No... I don't want to go... that place... that place... No... No..."

His face gradually turned pale, and Rokuko hugged his shoulders with both hands, whimpering in a trembling voice.

(Does Rokuko know that tower?)

Meng Yue couldn't help but guess in her heart. She certainly wouldn't be so stupid as to think that an elf who could look down at the earth from the universe would be afraid of heights because of this iron tower that was only a few hundred meters high.

And judging from her exaggerated reaction, it's probably not just a simple acquaintance. Maybe it has something to do with Rokuko sealing his feelings and memories and choosing to drift in the universe.

"Ah - now that I think about it, the Tiangong Tower isn't that much fun. Let's go somewhere else."

There is no need to deliberately expose Rokuko's psychological scars now, Mengyue quickly changed the topic.

Understanding Mengyue's intention, Origami and Shidou quickly agreed.

"Yeah, that's true. Then let's go to another place. There are many famous dating spots in Tiangong City. We don't have to go to Tiangong Tower."

"It's okay, Rokuko. If you don't want to go to the Tengu Tower, go somewhere else."

however--

"So, she's going to give in, right?"

Suddenly, during the conversation between the three people, Tohka glanced at Rokuko and said coldly.

Hearing Tohka's words, Rokuko's shoulders shook slightly.

"I don't care. The duel with you is just a matter of convenience. If you lose the will to fight, then stay here and wait for this man to surrender to me."

(Tohka?)

After hearing what Tohka said, Mengyue thought something was wrong.

"... Stop... talking nonsense..."

Sure enough, after being provoked by Tohka, Rokuko's vision gradually became sharper. He straightened his back and walked towards Tohka step by step.

"Rokuko, are you okay? Don't push yourself."

Shidou said worriedly from the side.

"Don't worry, sir. Liu Er is fine."

Rokuko shook her head calmly, but the sweat on her forehead still told Shidou that she was showing off.

"Sir...I will never give it to you!"

"Well, it would be meaningless otherwise."

Feeling the hostility in Rokuko's gaze, Tohka curled up the corner of her mouth into a smile and turned to walk towards the direction of the Tengu Tower.

Rokuko followed without flinching.

Although they were very uneasy, seeing that they couldn't stop the two people, Mengyue, Origami and Shidou had no choice but to follow them and buy sightseeing tickets for them.

————————————————I am the dividing line for shifting perspective————————————————

The yellowish sunlight shines into this small space through the iron pillars outside the tower.

Light and shadow rotate in a cycle, and as the elevator shakes slightly, the scenery outside the glass window continues to rise.

——So boring.

This was the only feeling that Xingmiya Rokuko had at this moment.

Even in a universe that was thousands of times harsher than this environment, Rokuko had never felt such pain. His lungs were as weak as if they had been eroded by nicotine for decades, and every breath he took was as heavy as a lead block, while his heart beat violently as if he was trying to survive. A large amount of sweat oozed from his skin, constantly taking away Rokuko's body temperature.

Every time the elevator moved up a level, Rokuko's adverse reactions became more severe, as if her instinct was warning her not to go any further up.

(What on earth is going on?)

Rokuko didn't understand why his body became so weak just by climbing up the tower.

It is no exaggeration to say that she is now likely to fall down with a slight push from a five-year-old child, let alone Yatogami Tohka.

"Are you okay? Rokuko."

"If it really doesn't work, go back."

At this time, except for Tohka, everyone looked at her with uneasiness.

"No need... to worry..."

Rokuko answered incoherently. But in fact, it was very difficult for her to maintain her standing state, and she could only stand steadily with the support of Shidou.

[Sorry——, I forgot to tell you that my friend will come with me today.]

(Eh?)

Rokuko couldn't help but look confused. She didn't know when Shidou, who was standing next to her, suddenly disappeared. Instead, a high school girl in casual clothes was smiling and apologizing to her.

For some reason, Rokuko felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from that girl.