A week passed quickly, and the day of Shido's date with Kurumi finally arrived.
Walking toward Tengu Square, Shido glanced at his watch, it was ten minutes before their scheduled meeting.
As he passed by a shop with glass walls, he caught sight of his reflection and paused. Taking one last look at his appearance, he adjusted his outfit slightly. A small smile appeared on his face, and he nodded in satisfaction.
"Yup, still as handsome as ever."
Shido was dressed simply, a khaki-colored polo shirt paired with black jeans. Though his outfit was ordinary, his handsome face and composed demeanor gave him an elegance that outshined even those wearing branded clothes.
Suddenly, Kotori's voice crackled through the earpiece he was wearing.
"Shido, the target has already arrived at the destination."
"Got it." he replied with a nod.
Knowing Kurumi, it was no surprise she had arrived early. Unlike most girls who took their time and even showed up late for dates, she was the type who preferred to be ahead of schedule.
...
Shido walked toward Tengu Station and immediately spotted Kurumi standing there, patiently waiting. As if sensing his gaze, she turned in his direction and flashed a sweet smile before happily waving at him.
"Sorry, I'm late." Shido said with a light smile as he reached her.
"It's okay, Shido-san. I just arrived as well." Kurumi replied, though her eyes remained locked onto him.
For a brief moment, she felt her body heat up as she took in his appearance. There was no denying it, Shido looked incredibly handsome, even in his simple attire. Though, in her opinion, he was even more breathtaking during his Spirit Transformation.
As Kurumi gazed at Shido, he found himself doing the same, taking in her appearance with quiet admiration.
There was no denying it, Kurumi was a true beauty, even if she had a bit of a crazy side. His eyes subtly trailed from top to bottom, appreciating the way her black gothic dress complemented her. Her dark hair, tied at mid-shoulder, rested gracefully in front, framing her delicate features. Almost everything she wore was black, yet it suited her perfectly, enhancing her mysterious charm.
For a moment, Shido found himself dazed by her beauty. But he quickly snapped out of it, offering her a warm smile.
"You look beautiful today, Kurumi." he complimented sincerely.
Kurumi responded with an elegant laugh, her crimson eye shimmering with amusement.
"Fufufu~ Are you smitten by my beauty, Shido-san?" Kurumi teased, leaning in closer as she gently placed a hand on his chest.
Seeing her act like a flirtatious Onee-san, Shido felt a twinge of embarrassment as a faint blush flashed across his face. But he quickly composed himself, lightly pushing her away, just enough to create some space without causing her stumble.
"Alright, alright. Let's start our date." he said, trying to steer things forward.
"Ara~ Is Shido-san getting shy?" Kurumi chuckled playfully.
However, her teasing stopped when she suddenly felt something, Shido's hand gently grasping her own.
"Shido-san?" Kurumi's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
However, seeing that Shido remained completely unfazed, acting as if holding her hand was the most natural thing in the world, she found herself momentarily at a loss.
"Shall we?" Shido asked, turning to her with a calm expression, his fingers still gently wrapped around hers.
"Mn!" Kurumi nodded with a smile.
She wasn't shy as this wasn't the first time they had held hands but she had to admit, there was something undeniably reassuring about the warmth of his touch.
...
Fraxinus
"Well, I'll leave the rest to you Shido. I have a complete trust on you."
Seated in the Commander chair, Kotori's crimson eyes were fixed on the holographic screen in front of her, observing Shido and Kurumi's date unfold. Her posture exuded authority, one leg crossed over the other as she casually placed a lollipop between her lips. She looked every bit the boss she was.
Behind her, Yoshino and Yoshinon sat watching with keen interest. Yoshino's eyes sparkled as she admired Shido's striking appearance, her imagination running wild. Before she knew it, she was picturing herself in Kurumi's place, going on a date with Shido instead.
Like a knight in shining armor, Shido held Yoshino in a princess carry, riding a gallant horse as they traveled across a vast field of flowers. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed them in warm light, and as the horizon glowed in breathtaking colors, their faces drew closer, until, their lips met.
Yoshino suddenly snapped out of her fantasy, her face heating up instantly. Embarrassed, she quickly lowered her hat, trying to hide the deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
Kotori and Reine, who had been observing her, exchanged knowing glances. Seeing Yoshino lost in her imagination again, they couldn't help but let out small, helpless smiles.
"How are her emotional levels?" Kotori asked, turning her head slightly toward Reine.
Reine, glancing at her tablet, responded in her usual drowsy tone, "They're currently stable… actually, a little higher than usual. Nightmare seems happy with her date with Shin."
"That's good!" Kotori smiled, pleased that things were off to a promising start.
"Commander look." One of the Love Masters, Shiizaki, called out to Kotori while zooming in on the screen, drawing everyone's attention to a new development.
Kotori and Reine turned their attention to the holographic screen as it shifted to a new display. When they saw the display, Kotori's lips couldn't help but twitch as she should have known that this would happen.
"What are those two doing…?" she muttered bitterly, rubbing her temples.
On the screen, two familiar figures could be seen sneaking through Tengu Square, tailing Shido and Kurumi from a short distance.
Tohka and Origami, both dressed in casual clothes and wearing dark shades as if they were master spies, moved suspiciously through the crowd, clearly thinking their disguises were foolproof.
"Sigh Those two just can't calm down, can they?" Kotori muttered, exasperated by the mischievous antics of Tohka and Origami. She then spoke into her communication device, which was connected to Shido's earpiece.
"Shido, Tohka and Origami are following you."
"...I know." Shido's voice came through, tinged with a bit of helpless laughter. He was already aware of the two since he had met Kurumi and, knowing their antics, had let them follow along without making a fuss.