– – Jingle, jingle.
The door opens, and the bell rings.
Confirming the customer’s appearance, the cafe owner, Bakuro Yuika, smiles.
“Oh my, Mion. Get lost~”
“Yo, I’m intruding. …Looks like I’m really intruding, with that greeting”
The one with a subtle expression is Adashino Mion.
She looks around restlessly.
“Huh? Isn’t here?”
“If you’re looking for Kushina-chan, she’s still here~”
“Damn, I’m a bit late. And I was hoping to tease her”
Seeing Mion plop down on the counter, Yuika grins broadly.
“…you know?”
“Oh my~ You really hate Kushina-chan, don’t you~?”
“Ah, well… No, I don’t like her! You’re making things complicated!”
“Hehehe”
“Tch. Give me the usual, you devious shopkeeper!”
“Yes, coming right up~”
Giggling, Yuika picked up the teapot.
Mion rested her elbow on the counter, puffed on her pipe, and declared,
“When that guy comes back, I’m going to tease him to death.”
♢♢♢♢♢
A black robe adorned with beautiful scarlet embroidery depicting spider lilies.
I had transformed into my ‘Divergence’ attire, as if escaping from everyday life.
I’m not sure what changed, but lately, Hinata-chan has been a bit too much for me.
I might get purified by her cute power or something.
After all, I’m a member of an evil organization.
Even though I was about to face a battle with the Winged Guardian Exia, I felt more at ease here than at home.
“…Alright, that’ll do.”
With those words, the woman in the same robe as mine stepped away.
The warmth I had felt until just now vanished, and my consciousness returned from the floating sensation caused by the compensation.
The woman wore her hood low, but I knew her true identity—Kushibiki Kushina—and could see her face.
When I looked at her, Kushina covered her mouth and cheeks with the long sleeve of her robe.
“I’ve finished settling the Umbra compensation for coming here. You’re all set now, so get going quickly.”
“Roger that…”
I gave a drawn-out answer, my head still feeling a bit fuzzy.
For some reason, Kushina said “Geez!” and pointed her finger at me.
“Wh-when you come back, I’ll… I’ll hug you again, so do your best!”
“——”
My heart raced as I saw my childhood friend, her ears bright red, averting her gaze.
“O-okay…”
I felt like there might be some misunderstanding, but I didn’t have the composure to correct it.
Hurriedly nodding, I turned on my heel.
“I’m off!”
Just before I dashed out, leaving those words behind.
“Yeah. …Take care.”
I heard those slightly embarrassed words reach my ears.
“So you’ve come.”
At the intersection where the ‘Brute’ had rampaged a short while ago.
I was poised right in the middle of the national highway stretching straight from there.
A single Winged Guardian Exia was approaching.
…This should be two or three blocks away from her assigned area, but was it just a coincidence?
Well, considering her innate Lux ability, it’s understandable that she’d be the fastest to rush to the scene.
I’ll just consider myself lucky.
After all, I’m here to see my “oshi” up close.
“Today, I’ll definitely capture you.”
As soon as she appeared, she unleashed a punch attack—the gaze of the young ace of [Prim-Libra], Soehi Hinata, pierced straight through me.
“…!”
Ugh, my oshi is so cool today too! And cute!!! It’s divine enough to be just cool, but to be cute on top of that, are you serious? Hinata-chan is seriously a dual-aspect goddess!
Once again today, I savor the preciousness of my oshi.
And as I tried to burn her image into my eyes through my hood…
“…Hm?”
I suddenly felt something odd.
I quickly realized what it was.
It was her uniform.
The bottom had changed to a skirt.
Certainly, Hinata-chan’s original uniform in [Watayume] had a skirt.
But after a “certain incident” that happened recently, it should have been changed to shorts…
“Here I come!”
While I was distracted by irrelevant thoughts, Hinata-chan kicked off the ground.
Her usual speed.
But I could clearly see it.
Hinata-chan unleashed a sideways hook with her iron gauntlet.
At the same time as her initial movement, I lowered my body and avoided it by ducking under.
Without giving me a chance to breathe, her leg whipped out.
A kick wrapped in iron greaves aimed at my head.
Like the iron gauntlets, if it’s through those, it won’t be subject to [Contact].
The moment the iron greaves touched my hand, I activated 《Separation》.
I caught that strike, now devoid of energy.
And in doing so, I clearly saw it.
—All the way up to where her raised leg connected to her body.
“!?!?!?!?!?”
I thought.
—I still don’t understand.
Why did she go back to a skiiiiiiirt!?!?!?
I couldn’t stare.
Still in the position of catching her attack.
I used all my external eye muscles to turn just my eyes to the side.
“…I don’t think girls should have such bad leg habits,”
I managed to say with a voice that threatened to tremble.
However, Hinata-chan smiled confidently, as if she could see that I had averted my eyes.
“Usually, I only use my hands. —Just for you.”
“I-I don’t understand what you mean.”
“It means you’re such a formidable opponent that just my hands aren’t enough… you know?”
The lovely girl’s smile blossomed as she chuckled.
“Well, I don’t usually wear a skirt anyway.”
“That makes even less sense!?”
“Maybe because it’s easier to move in, hehe~”
For some reason, I could see two tiny horns growing on her head.
Ugh, I thought I’d feel more at ease outside of home…
Is [Divergence and Officer Soehi] even more dangerous than [Big Brother and Hinata-chan]!?
As I shuddered, she applied more force to my arm with a creak.
Damn, I forgot we were in battle, but by the time I came to my senses, it was too late.
“Haa—!”
Power was once again put into the leg I had caught, pushing my body.
As I lost balance and staggered,
Hinata-chan’s palm strike, now at close range, hit my chest.
It didn’t hurt as much as I had imagined.
But due to that impact, amplified by 《Acceleration》, my body was blown away.
As if aimed precisely, I was sent rolling into an alley.
“Ugh—oof”
I used 《Separation》 upon landing and flipped to spring back up.
However.
By that time, Hinata-chan was already within arm’s reach.
—This is bad, I’m going to get caught!
I braced myself, trying to guard with my arms reflexively.
But smoothly,
Those arms were entwined.
“…Huh?”
The sensation gripping my wrist was that of the hard iron gauntlet.
But above that.
Hinata-chan was tightly embracing me up to around my upper arm.
As if lovers were cuddling on a date.
Her soft body was touching mine.
“Ehehe, I caught you… ♡”
Hinata-chan smiled, beaming with a look that could melt hearts.
As I looked down at her, a wave was slowly building in my chest.
The impulse named [Contact], once unleashed.
“You’re not supposed to catch meeeeeee!!!”
As I screamed, my consciousness was swallowed by the compensatory Umbra.
“Kyaa♪”
As I pulled the petite body of my oshi closer, what came to mind was the smiling face of my childhood friend saying “Take care” with a shy expression.
—I’m sorry, Kushina. It looks like I’ll be hugging you again today for no reason at all.
Today was a clear day. The blue sky stretched far and wide.
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