This is not the date I wanted.

"Just the two of us?"

Kurumi nodded affirmatively.

"Well, I want to be with Mr. Shidou. Even if it's just one more second, it will make me very happy."

“Hmm—yes, that’s how it is—”

Hearing Kurumi say such embarrassing words so easily, Shidou's cheeks became hot, and he turned his head away and answered in a somewhat embarrassed manner.

I was careless. Shidou couldn't help but curse himself in his heart. In this match, it wasn't just Shidou who was trying to conquer Kurumi, Kurumi was also trying to conquer him in her own way.

The one who falls in love with the other first will be the loser.

On the first day of the game, Kurumi took the initiative quickly and decisively, successfully catching him off guard.

"...I understand. I'll pack up and leave."

Going to school with Kurumi was a good start for Shidao, so he put away his extra arrogance and started to take Kurumi seriously.

Shidao returned to the house. Fortunately, he had prepared breakfast for everyone in advance. He only needed to bring his lunch box and school bag, and leave a note in the living room saying that he was going to school first.

Although he knew that Kotori was still sleeping, he still put on the communication headset just in case, so that he could contact Ratatoskr in case of emergency.

"Sorry for the long wait, Kuang San."

"fine."

When Shidou came out, Kurumi showed a charming smile.

"Then let's go."

As she said that, Kurumi walked briskly to Shidou's side and hugged his arm.

"Kuang, Kuang San?!"

Shidou couldn't help but feel his heart beating fast when he felt the softness of Kurumi's girlish body pressed against his.

"what?"

Kurumi looked at Shidou with a smile on her face.

"…Nothing, let's go."

After hesitating for a long time, Shidao still did not point out Kurumi's excessive physical contact. After all, it actually did no harm to him, and if he really shook Kurumi off, it would only reduce Kurumi's favorability.

When a man chases a woman, there's a mountain between them. When a woman chases a man, there's a piece of gauze between them. Now - Shidou had to admit that there was some truth in this.

(Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, form is...)

Repeating this sentence in his mind, Shidao pretended to be calm, and moved his body stiffly like a robot.

"Hum..."

Seeing Shidou's actions, Kurumi's smile widened and her body moved closer to Shidou.

Then, Shidou's movements became even more awkward.

When we reached the intersection of Ni-chome, we could vaguely see the traffic light on the other side of the zebra crossing flashing red through the morning mist.

So Shidou stopped and had a chance to catch his breath.

"…Hey, Kuang San! Do you think that in the eyes of others, we look like a close couple now?"

Unable to continue to fall behind Kurumi, Shidou launched a counterattack.

"Yeah, sure."

Kurumi nodded affirmatively.

However, the effect was minimal.

"Then why did you ask me this question, Mr. Shidou? Could it be that you are interested in me?"

With a smug smile on his face, Kuang San asked with a grin.

“Eh? I, I—”

Shidao couldn't help but be stunned, obviously he didn't expect to be outwitted by Kurumi.

"Who knows?"

"Haha, you're really not being candid, Mr. Shidou."

Kurumi looked at Shidou who was just going through the motions with a smile.

As they were chatting, the traffic light at the intersection turned green, and the two of them walked across the road.

At this moment, a sound suddenly rang in Shidao's ears. It was the sound of a vehicle moving.

In an instant, an inexplicable chill spread throughout Shidao's body.

It was just a tiny difference, but after training in the virtual world, Shidao was keenly aware of it. Not only did the car not intend to slow down and stop, but it was actually speeding up little by little.

"Kyouzo! Danger!!"

"Eh?!"

Before Kurumi could react, Shidou hugged her body and slammed her back onto the sidewalk.

The next second, a large truck rushed past the position where Shidou and Kurumi had just been, and as if it was running wild, it crashed straight into the wall.

"Expand——Haniel (Fake Witch)!"

At the critical moment, Shidao summoned the angel in his body, turning the wall into mud and absorbing all the impact of the truck's movement.

"Huh... so dangerous."

Seeing that there was no traffic accident, Shidou breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at Kurumi and asked worriedly.

"Kyousan, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Yeah...it's okay."

Standing up from the ground, Kuang San nodded, indicating that she was fine.

"I never thought that there would be a day when Mr. Shidao would come to my rescue."

"Well, I've practiced dealing with situations like this before. It's better to get hurt than anything else."

Shidou smiled and shrugged, then walked over to the truck to check on the owner.

(Shidou-san's shoulders are... unexpectedly broad.)

Staring at Shidao's back in a trance, recalling the memory just now, Kurumi couldn't help but sigh.

"Eh? Isn't this the owner of the fish stall? Hey! Wake up!"

After restoring everything to its original state, Shidao woke up the unconscious driver.

"Hmm...a kid from the Gokawa family?"

After opening his eyes, the uncle in the fish shop shook his head, obviously still a little confused.

"Are you okay? You just ran a red light and stopped here?"

"Is that so... Strange... I remember that I was going back to the store after stocking up... and then after I arrived at Ni-chome... I suddenly lost consciousness for no apparent reason."

"You must be driving while tired. You should take care of your health while working. It's dangerous to drive like this."

"Ahahaha... How embarrassing. Sorry to trouble you, kid. Next time you come to the shopping street, I'll give you some fresh fish as a thank you gift."

"I appreciate your kindness. But I still have to go to school, so I'll leave first."

After saying goodbye to the uncle in the fish shop, Shidao returned to Kurumi.

"Okay, let's go, Kurumi."

"Yeah, that's true."

Then, what surprised Shidao was that, for some reason, on the rest of the way, Kurumi didn't stick close to him like before, but walked side by side with a distance, a little stiffly.

Although this made Shidou not as nervous as before, it also gave him a slight shock.

(Did I do something that made Kurumi hate me?)

Shidou couldn't help but think depressedly.

Then, in the dark where no one noticed...

【Failed.】

[Damn it! Why was he able to dodge? I should have just crashed into him and died!]

[It's more difficult than I thought. ]

[What should I do then…]

Such whispers were heard.

14 A little noise in daily life

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

After entering the classroom, before Shidou had sat in his seat for long, he heard a hurried sound of footsteps approaching quickly.

"Shidou!"

"Shidou."

The door of the classroom was suddenly opened, and then Tohka and Origami hurriedly came to Shidou.

"Shidou, are you okay?!"

"Did Tokisaki Kurumi do anything to you? Do you feel anything wrong with your body?"

Seeing the two people with worry written all over their faces, Shidou couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. Although he had left home early, Tohka and Origami arrived at school almost at the same time as him. Looking at their slightly breathless appearance, it was not difficult to guess that the two hurriedly set out to school after knowing that he and Kurumi were acting alone.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry to have made you worried."

"Well, I'm glad you're okay."

"There's no need to apologize, Shidou. As long as you're not in danger."

After seeing that Shidou was fine, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"——Hehe. Ms. Tohka, Ms. Origami. Good morning, both of you."

Just then, Kuang San walked over here and greeted the two of them politely.

"Krang San..."

Instantly, Tohka and Origami's faces were filled with alertness.

"Oh my god, I'm really on my guard. I just want to go to school with Mr. Shidou. Why are you two so dissatisfied?"

Kuang San smiled slightly and dealt with the hostile gazes of the two people with a leisurely attitude.

"Ah... the transfer student, Yatogami-san, and Tobiichi-san started arguing over Itsuka-san?"

"Shura Field?"

"It's the Shura Field."

Listening to the rumors going around the class, Shidou, who was sandwiched between the three of them, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat of embarrassment.

"By the way, Mr. Shidou, are you free at noon? Can you share lunch with me?"

"Eh?"

Shidao was a little confused as he didn't expect Kurumi to invite him at this time.

Although he was somewhat embarrassed in public, he did not reject Kuang San. After all, having lunch with Kuang San was his original plan.

"Well, that's fine with me. But..."

"I want to go too! I want to have lunch with you too! Shidou!"

"I can't bear to leave you and Shidou alone, I want to go with you too!"

Just as Shidou thought, Tohka and Origami insisted on going together.

"Well, of course no problem."

To Shidao's surprise, Kurumi did not make things difficult for Tohka and the others, but nodded in agreement very readily.

"Is it okay, Kurumi?"