This is not the date I wanted.

"Hmm... I feel like I forgot something very important..."

Looking at the palm of his hand, Shidou said uncertainly.

After hearing what Shidou said, Tohka and Rokuko looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

"...No, it's probably just my illusion."

Shidou smiled and shook his head, not continuing to dwell on this topic.

"I'm sorry, Tohka, Rokuko. I asked you to accompany me to school."

"What? So that's what you care about. Um! It's okay. After all, it concerns Shidou's safety, so of course I have to help."

"You don't have to mind, sir. It's a very fresh experience for Liu'er to be able to visit the school where you study."

"Although it caused quite a stir..."

Recalling the commotion caused by Rokuko's visit to the school under the pretext of a visit, and the murderous gazes of all the boys focused on him, Shidou couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Speaking of which, Shidou, what's for dinner today?"

Seeing Shidou carrying a plastic bag that looked quite heavy, Tohka asked curiously.

When asked by Tohka, Shidou's lips curled up into a smug smile.

"Haha~ Today I spent a lot of money to buy a piece of tenderloin. Not only is the meat elastic, but it is also tender and juicy. This will be the main dish for dinner tonight. Look forward to it, Tohka!"

"oh oh……"

Hearing Shidou's description, Tohka couldn't help but swallow her saliva greedily.

"That's great, Rokuko. We're having meat tonight, so we can eat to our heart's content."

In response to Tohka's words, Rokuko replied somewhat awkwardly.

"Well, that... Liu'er doesn't eat so much... He can eat in moderation..."

"Huh? But you weren't in the eating contest..."

"T-Tohka?!"

Rokuko quickly covered Tohka's mouth to stop her from continuing.

"Huh? What happened to the eating contest?"

Shidou asked with some curiosity.

"It's just a trivial matter... Sir, don't worry about it. It's getting late, so you should return home as soon as possible!"

As he said that, Rokuko blushed and pushed Shidou and Tohka's shoulders from behind, urging them to go home quickly.

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

Tiangong City, Ground Self-Defense Force Special Forces-AST military base.

Sitting in a coffee shop outside the base, Mengyue drank the cappuccino she bought and played with her mobile phone to pass the time.

"It's so slow... not ready yet?"

Looking at the silent door opposite, Meng Yue muttered impatiently.

Finally, the heavy iron door was opened, and Tobiichi Origami chatted with several women in military uniforms for a few words, then turned and walked towards Mengyue.

"how?"

After Origami sat down opposite her, Meng Yue couldn't wait to ask.

Origami nodded calmly.

"Mission accomplished. The bombs planted in the twenty-six shelters have been completely defused by Captain Kusakabe... Captain Higamibe and the others."

"Very good……"

Hearing Origami's answer, Mengyue couldn't help but lean back on the sofa and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Oh, that's a big help, Origami. If I had said anything, I would have either caused unnecessary trouble or been ignored. I'm glad it was resolved in such a short time. By the way, would you like something to drink? I'll treat you as a thank you."

"No, I appreciate your kindness."

Shaking his head silently, Origami looked at Mengyue and asked seriously.

"Meng Yue, did you also get the information about the bomb being placed in the shelter from Tokisaki Kurumi?"

"Well...it's just as you thought."

Meng Yue smiled bitterly and nodded without denying it.

Origami couldn't help but frown in confusion when she heard her words.

"What's going on? Didn't you say this morning that you had a disagreement with her when working with her?"

"Sa, I don't know if you ask me. Maybe she suddenly came to her senses and decided to forgive me."

Meng Yue shrugged helplessly.

"Very strange." Origami said, "In the previous few times, the target of DEM's attacks was Shidao. In order to prevent Shidao's spiritual power from returning to our bodies, Kuangsan provided you with information to ask you to stop DEM. I can understand this. But this time, the bombs placed by DEM are all in empty shelters. Even if the space earthquake alarm sounds, Shidao will not go to the shelter. The casualties can only be citizens. Why did Kuangsan tell you this information?"

"Maybe she can't stand DEM's actions and wants to be a righteous partner for once."

"Are you serious?"

"spread……"

Meng Yue spread her hands helplessly.

Well, Meng Yue herself felt that this was definitely a bit fake. Kuang San, who was called "the most evil spirit" because she had killed more than 10,000 people, actually cared about the lives of ordinary citizens. She herself felt that it was not convincing.

"Meng Yue, what is Kurumi's purpose? If she really just wanted to kill Shidao and take his spiritual power, she wouldn't have to spend so much effort. Are you... hiding something?"

After thinking for a long time, Origami stared into Mengyue's eyes and asked seriously.

"Um...that's right."

Mengyue nodded.

"But please don't misunderstand me. I'm not deliberately trying to hide it from you, but I'm only at the speculation stage right now, and this involves Kurumi's privacy, so I don't want to publicize it without permission if possible."

As she spoke, Meng Yue couldn't help but sigh, her expression becoming somewhat sad and a little self-blaming.

"I can only tell you that in this matter, Kurumi is probably the one who bears the most pressure and is the one who suffers the most."

"...I understand. Now that you say so, I won't ask any more questions for now."

Origami said as she stood up from her seat.

"It's almost time for dinner. Do you want to go back to your own house today, or go to Shidou's house for dinner?"

Meng Yue asked.

"I'm going to Shidou's house. I've made an appointment with Tohka and Rokuko. I'm going to teach them how to make chocolate."

"Hey... What a surprise, you actually agreed to something like this."

Meng Yue couldn't help but feel a little surprised when she heard Origami's words.

"Nothing... just trying to play fair."

Origami replied calmly.

"Would you like to join us?"

"I?"

Meng Yue was stunned at first by Origami's invitation, then shook her head with a wry smile.

"Forget it. I'm really tired today. I want to have a good rest."

"Is that so...never mind then."

Seeing Mengyue's refusal, Origami felt a little regretful, but did not insist.

"By the way, Origami, what kind of chocolate are you going to make?"

"A one-to-one scale chocolate statue of myself."

"Forehead……"

Hearing Origami's answer, Meng Yue's eyes twitched slightly.

"Any questions?"

"I'm actually confused by your confidence that there's no problem. How much excess sugar do you want Shidou to consume within the shelf life of the chocolate?"

"I see... We also need to consider nutritional balance... Then we should keep the degree of restoration... and reduce the proportion..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah~"

Looking at Origami who was muttering to herself with her head down, Mengyue sighed and opened the message box on her phone.

[DEM planted bombs in every shelter indoors, trying to use the citizens as hostages to threaten Mr. Shidao. ——BY Tokisaki Kurumi. 】

(What a hopeless idiot... Well, I was a little careless and I don't have the right to say that.)

Meng Yue couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Because the recent actions of DEM were directly aimed at the assassination of Shidao, although she thought about it, she ignored the possibility that the other party took ordinary people as hostages.

Twenty-six shelters. If Origami, who used to work at AST, hadn't persuaded her teammates, it's likely that she and Kotori's airship crew wouldn't be able to find and safely defuse the bomb in such a short time.

After thinking about the consequences, Meng Yue couldn't help but feel a little scared.

Continuing to browse through the mailbox on her phone, she saw a text message that Kotori had sent her not long ago, saying that she had met Kurumi at the mall and they took the opportunity to make chocolates together in a friendly manner.

As she spoke, when she saw this text message, Meng Yue really didn't know what expression to make.

(What is Kurumi thinking? I want to know.)

After complaining helplessly in her heart, Meng Yue deleted Kuang San's text message and walked back to the Gokawa family with Origami.

27 Enemy Side

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

"The plan failed."

At the headquarters of DEM Japan branch, Westcott looked out the window at the peaceful and tranquil Amamiya City dyed red by the dusk, and said helplessly.

"Failed? What happened?"

Alan, who was wearing a suit and standing behind Westcott, couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Well, I have been monitoring Fraxinus, and he has not made any special moves. Although Liangyi Mengyue is outside my surveillance, it is hard to believe that she can defuse all the bombs in such a short time. Let me see..."

As he spoke, Westcott summoned the "Divine Eclipse" to try to understand the truth of the matter. Soon, he obtained the information he wanted and breathed a sigh of approval.

"Let Tobiichi Origami convince the AST to dispose of the bomb. I see. What an unexpected blind spot. It reminds me of the feeling when my dog ​​bit me when I was a kid."

"AST..."

Alan did not expect that the ones who came to disrupt the situation were a group of magicians whom he had never taken seriously. He raised his eyebrows in slight surprise.

"Do you want me to give them some 'warning'?"

"...No, forget it. The reason we are stationed here is to help them annihilate the elves. They are just doing their job now, protecting the citizens from attacks by unknown terrorists. If you go, we will be suspected."

After thinking about it, Westcott shook his head and stopped Alan.

Although he could make up a similar reason to get the AST's higher-ups to disband the unit if he wanted, it would also cause a lot of trouble and increase the uncertainty of the plan. If possible, he wanted to avoid complications as much as possible.

"Well, strictly speaking, it can be considered a success..."

"Sir Westcott!"

Just then, the automatic door of the office suddenly opened, and Artemisia walked in hurriedly.

"Oh, what's up Ashcroft?"

Looking at his subordinate who suddenly came to visit, Westcott asked curiously.

"Please stop this ridiculous fight immediately!"

Completely lacking her usual dignity and elegance, Artemisia walked straight to Westcott's desk and shouted at him rudely.

"Artemisia!! Who allowed you to speak to Ike in that tone!?"

Seeing the other party's actions, Alan couldn't help but frown and reprimanded in a heavier tone.

"Alan, you are the one! Can you accept such a reckless battle?"