This is not the date I wanted.

"Hey, Kurumi. I'm really sorry about yesterday."

Meng Yue greeted Kuang San in a casual manner.

"..."

However, Kuang San did not ask any questions in response to Meng Yue's voice. Her eyes were fixed on the shopping bag, as if she was thinking about the materials to choose for making chocolate.

(You actually ignored it?!)

Meng Yue couldn't help but complain in her heart.

"Hey~ Miss Kuang San, can you hear me?"

Then, Kuang San took out the dark chocolate, placed it on the chopping board, and cut it into pieces bit by bit with a kitchen knife. Her expression under her long black hair was extremely solemn.

Rather than making sweet and bitter Valentine's Day chocolates, the nervousness exuded by Kurumi was more like a new chef killing for the first time.

"...Kyousan?"

Meng Yue couldn't help but frown. At first she thought that he was ignoring her because of what happened last night, but now it seems that he was so tense that he didn't have the energy to observe his surroundings.

At this moment, while handling the chocolate, Kurumi accidentally moved her elbow and pushed the seasoning bottle off the kitchen counter.

"Oops."

"so close."

Fortunately, Mengyue was quick-witted and caught the seasoning bottle just as it was about to fall to the ground.

"Here. Be careful Kurumi."

"Hey...thank you Miss Mengyue..."

After taking the seasoning bottle handed over by Meng Yue, Kuang San was stunned for a moment before asking in confusion.

"Ms. Mengyue...why are you here?"

"I've been by your side for a while..."

Seeing Kuang San's question, Meng Yue answered with a smile.

"Do you need help?"

"Eh? But doesn't Miss Mengyue also want to make chocolates?"

"Well, since you don't seem to be in good condition, I'll help you out. It's not a complicated dish, and I can make some chocolate in my free time."

"I see. Even if you give salt to your enemies, you won't lose. You are truly worthy of being Miss Meng Yue, who is firmly seated on the throne of the queen. You have incredible confidence."

"What do you think of other people's worries?"

Hearing Kuang San's teasing, Meng Yue's eyes twitched slightly. In response, Kuang San couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ah, I'm so sorry. That's true. Since Miss Mengyue is so kind, I will respectfully obey your order."

After getting Kuang San's consent, Meng Yue came to Kuang San's kitchen counter to help.

"I'm so sorry about yesterday. I said some unpleasant words."

Hearing Mengyue's apology, Kuang San showed a hint of surprise in her eyes, then she smiled and shook her head.

"...No, I lost control of my emotions yesterday. Miss Mengyue is not wrong. I am very sorry."

"That's good. How's Shidou doing?"

After receiving Kuang San's answer, Meng Yue breathed a sigh of relief and continued with the work at hand while speaking calmly.

"...Yes, it was okay today. Origami-san seemed to have avoided many of the traps set by DEM, and the remaining dangers were dealt with by the other 'me' when no one was around."

"That's it..."

Meng Yue was not happy to hear Kuang San's answer, because she knew that the "remaining dangers" that Kuang San mentioned were all information obtained from the future after witnessing Shidao's death and going back in time.

"I'm sorry... I left you to bear it all alone."

Kuang San smiled and shook her head.

"No, I just said it, Miss Mengyue, there is no need to blame yourself. Originally, this was something I should have solved alone."

"but……"

Meng Yue wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Kuang San.

"Hey, Miss Mengyue, remember you said yesterday that you saw confusion in this little girl, right?"

"Hmm... I remember you said it was because of 'me'."

Of course, Meng Yue knew that the person Kuang San was talking about at that time was not herself, but Meng Yue from the future world that Kuang San traveled to.

"Um...did my future self say something too harsh?"

Thinking of everyone's comments about her that "what she says can easily make people angry", Meng Yue said somewhat uneasily.

Kurumi shook her head silently.

"No, it's completely the opposite. The future 'Miss Mengyue' is much gentler than the current Miss Mengyue...to the point where one can't help but act like a spoiled child..."

At the end of her speech, Kuang San's voice suddenly became as weak as the flapping of mosquito wings.

Hearing Kuang San, Meng Yue couldn't help but feel confused.

"Hmm? Then why do you say it's my fault? By the way, Kurumi, did you just say something - wait? What's with that burnt smell?"

This was not the burnt smell of the chocolate paste that she and Kurumi had made. Following the smell, she saw that the chocolate in Kotori's pot had already turned into black mud.

"What's wrong, Kotori?"

"Um, um. I just wanted to heat the chocolate to melt, but for some reason it became mushy instead."

Kotori replied, somewhat at a loss.

"Who told you not to chop the chocolate into small pieces and not to heat it over a slow fire..."

Seeing the miserable state of Kotori, Mengyue covered her eyes in dismay.

"…Sorry, Kurumi. I'm going to help Kotori, please keep an eye on it for me."

"Yeah, no problem."

Kurumi nodded readily.

"Sorry, Sister Mengyue... I actually don't know how to make chocolate..."

"It's okay. I'll teach you if you don't know how to make chocolate. Or rather, if you don't know how to make chocolate, just tell me in advance."

Feeling Meng Yue's helpless gaze, everyone couldn't help but turn their heads away in embarrassment.

"Remember, first of all, if you want to melt the chocolate, you need to cut it into pieces so that it can be heated evenly. When heating it, put the chocolate in a small pot and heat it over a low fire over hot water. Be careful not to let the temperature exceed 50 degrees Celsius, otherwise it will deteriorate..."

Patting the head to comfort the depressed Kotori, Mengyue helped clean up the kitchen counter while explaining the steps of making chocolate to everyone.

"Tohka, don't eat the chocolate ingredients!"

"Niya, it's too dangerous for you to hold the kitchen knife like that! Cat hands! Cat hands!"

"Yakuya. Just process the edible gold foil and silver beads at the end."

"Nanabi, you... unexpectedly did a good job. Keep it up."

"..."

Looking at Meng Yue who was taking care of everyone like a mother, for some reason, Kuang San showed a complicated expression.

22 Explosion, Chaos

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

Today, under the "personal protection" of Origami Tobiichi, Gokawa Shidao's campus life can be said to be quite exciting in a sense.

First of all, as soon as she entered the school, Origami took out infrared scanners, heat detectors, magic detectors and other complex instruments to check Shidou's shoe cabinet without saying a word. Only after confirming that there were no dangerous items such as bombs did she allow Shidou to use the shoe cabinet.

Honestly speaking, Shidou felt extremely embarrassed when he felt the strange looks of "what are they doing?" from the students around him.

However, this is just the beginning.

After class, Origami used the excuse of "forgetting to bring textbooks" and without saying a word shared a table with Shidou. While the boys in the class, led by Tenmachi, looked at Shidou as if they wanted to cut him into pieces, she stuck close to Shidou.

Then after class, when Shidou was about to go to the toilet to relieve himself, Origami followed him into the boys' toilet without caring about the shocked looks from the boys.

"I will be alert to the situation around me, so don't worry and release your Beep---Ibarashido."

Origami said seriously.

"How can it be released?!"

Shidou couldn't help but scream.

Even though the morning class was only halfway through, Shidao inexplicably felt physically and mentally exhausted. Thinking that Kurumi was no longer in school, he wanted to ask the teacher for leave and leave early.

"Ah? Asking for leave? You don't seem to be feeling unwell, right? Cold? Stomachache? Go to the health room and take your temperature. If it's over 38 degrees, you'll be allowed to take leave."

"Forehead……"

However, unfortunately, Teacher Xiaozhu did not have any classes in the morning, and the Chinese teacher on duty in the office was known among students for being rigid and stubborn, so Shidao's plan to leave early was unfortunately aborted.

During lunch break, Origami offered to "test the poison" for Shidou.

Well, although he didn't think that the bento made by Yoshino might have been poisoned, he thought it was not an excessive request, so he agreed.

But Origami, why are you using my chopsticks?!

"...Hmm, it seems that there is no poison. Shidou, please enjoy it slowly."

"Ha... I'm starting."

Looking at the trace of transparent saliva left by Origami on the chopsticks, Shidou hesitated for a moment, then changed the direction of the chopsticks and ate with the other end.

"..."

I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but Origami seems very regretful.

Then in the afternoon, since Class 2, Grade 4 had a physical education class, Shidou said goodbye to Origami temporarily and went to the boys' locker room to change into their gymnastics uniforms.

Honestly, even though he felt a little sorry for Origami, Shidou was truly relieved.

——Crack.

"—?!"

Shidou, who was about to take off his shirt, suddenly shuddered, raised his head and looked around nervously.

"Hmm? What's wrong Gokawa?"

Tonomachi looked at Shidou with a puzzled look.

"Um...did you hear the sound of the camera just now?"

"Huh? Are you trying to say there's a voyeur photographer? What nonsense are you talking about, Gokawa? This is a men's locker room, who would be interested in secretly taking photos of a bunch of stinky men naked."

"Well...that's true."

Maybe it was just my illusion. After comforting himself, Shidou closed the curtains of the dressing room just in case.

……

"——Tsk."

Hiding in the bushes outside the men's locker room, Origami, holding a SLR camera, couldn't help but click his tongue.

"I didn't expect Shidou to notice it... I have to find a way to deal with the noise of the camera next time."

“——!——!!”

There was a faint chirping sound beside her, and Origami looked down, only to see that "Nibelcol", who had just been unable to move due to the dual suppression of her spiritual power and random domain, was constantly trying to break free from her restraints.

"This is the seventh one... and the eleventh time including the trap. It was a close call."

Origami muttered with lingering fear. If she hadn't seen Kurumi's clone and ran over from the women's locker room out of worry, she would have probably missed this "Nibelcol".

(That’s why I said that we should have ambushed here from the beginning.)

Origami said with a blushing face after hearing "her own" voice echoing in her mind.

"Shut up! You just wanted to spy on Gokawa-kun changing clothes, right? By the way, why did you take pictures just now? If you were discovered, people would think you're an incurable pervert."

(Because the timing and perspective were perfect. And you didn’t say no.)