Chapter 87 Volume 4 Chapter 20: The Girls’ Afternoon Tea (Part 7)
Shidou wasn’t unfamiliar with those who disregarded life.
Tokisaki Kurumi, who took countless lives according to her own will, was terrifying.
Tianqi Sanluoku, who destroyed many cities simply because she felt like it, was horrifying.
Their malice and killing intent were enough to make Shidou’s heart restless and uneasy.
But—the girl before him—
Standing before him, Izayoi Miku was clearly an exception.
There was no malice or murderous intent in her words or actions; she was as simple and innocent as a child.
Although she seemed to have adapted to human life quite well, her outlook on the world was vastly different from Shidou and the others.
It was no exaggeration to say that Miku being able to live safely until now was largely due to her Angel’s power.
“Don’t you… don’t you feel sorrow? Even if a friend who admired you so much… lost her life because of you… you don’t feel anything at all?”
“I do. Of course I feel sorrow—because she was one of the girls I liked.”
Miku pressed her index finger against her chin as if thinking, then continued:
“But, Shiori-chan, think about it. Since she liked me that much—shouldn’t she be willing to die for me?”
“……”
—He had reached his limit.
Normally good-tempered, Shiori clenched his fist so hard it nearly bled, then slammed it onto the table. He couldn’t endure it any longer.
He no longer cared about the Spirit’s affection level or mood. Kotori and the others weren’t listening anyway—he could say whatever he wanted.
“To… die for you?”
Tianqi Sanluoku, who had intended to just watch the show, snorted when she heard this girl say something so brazen and thoughtless.
As expected, a self-centered person.
If Izayoi Miku had the strength to back it up, then fine—if your fist is strong enough, your words become truth; might makes right.
But—from what she could see, Miku’s combat ability came entirely from the humans controlled by her Spirit power.
Even if thousands upon thousands of ordinary people gathered, they were nothing but a mob.
Even if Tianqi didn’t intervene, any fully powered Spirit who didn’t hold back could annihilate them in a short time.
When that happened, Miku—who had almost no combat power herself—would meet an obvious end.
So Tianqi really wondered how this girl could be both weak and so confident.
Even she herself didn’t dare say such ridiculous things like expecting others to willingly die for her.
Did Miku truly believe she could control others forever just by borrowing Spirit mana?
The power of the Ten Great Sephira Crystals was formidable, yes—but not invincible.
This girl was the perfect example of “half a bottle making the most noise.”
In the end, just a vulgar nobody—not worth mentioning.
But when Tianqi looked at Shiori’s flushed, furious face, one that could explode at any moment, she gave up on secretly teaching Miku a lesson for now and continued observing.
It was her first time seeing Itsuka Shidou so angry. Wouldn’t it be a pity not to enjoy this rare spectacle?
Miku’s words were indeed infuriating; under normal circumstances Tianqi would’ve taught her a harsh lesson.
But since she managed to make Shidou explode and provided Tianqi with such rare amusement, she would let it slide—for now.
Switching back to Shiori’s perspective, he fixed his sharp gaze on Miku and growled:
“Just because she… liked you…?”
“That’s right. Not just her—everyone likes me. They’ll all obediently listen to what I say.”
“Is that so……?”
Shiori slowly lifted his head, adrenaline flooding through him.
“—But I… hate you.”
“Oh my?”
Miku’s eyebrow twitched; she clearly hadn’t expected that.
“Tsk, what a good show… If I’d known sooner, I would’ve brought some sunflower seeds.”
At that moment, Tianqi Sanluoku really missed the half-finished sunflower seeds she used to dig out from the trash bin in her previous life.
All she had right now was cold tea.
“Arrogant, rude, unbearably vulgar! Someone like you still thinks everyone likes you? Ha! What a joke! How delusional!”
As he spoke, Shiori pointed at Miku with his right index finger.
“If everyone in the world approves of you… then I will deny you—deny your actions—ten times more!”
For several seconds, Miku widened her eyes, at a loss for words.
Letting out everything that had been suffocating in his chest felt unexpectedly refreshing for Shiori.
“……That’s it?”
Tianqi, who had expected to witness a fierce verbal battle, looked utterly disappointed.
Did this Itsuka Shidou not even know how to properly insult someone?
Or was he one of those good, well-mannered honor students who refused to use crude language?
It seemed she had overestimated him.
With a “hate iron for not becoming steel” mood—and also to maintain the act with Miku—Tianqi put down her teacup, dashed forward at high speed, and punched Shiori in the abdomen.
She held back this time and avoided hitting the liver.
Even so, suffering a direct blow from a Spirit caused Shiori to bend over like a freshly boiled shrimp.
“……Itsuka Shiori, don’t push your luck.”
“Ugh……”
After delivering the punch, Tianqi returned to Miku’s side with an indifferent expression.
Shiori endured the pain and glared at Tianqi’s emotionless face.
He understood well enough: Tianqi clearly wasn’t under Miku’s control. That punch was simply “offering the flower on someone’s behalf.”
“Oh? You hate me?”
Miku quietly looked at Shiori, the corner of her lips lifting into a frightening smile.
“How refreshing—such a rare word. I haven’t heard it in a long time. Tianqi-chan, go back and continue drinking tea. Don’t hit too hard next time.”
Hearing Miku’s command, Tianqi immediately returned to her seat and resumed drinking tea without even glancing at Shiori.
“Now that you’ve said that, I want you even more, Shiori-chan. I want to bully you until you cry your eyes out and say, ‘I like you the most.’ Hehehe… I wonder how long you can keep saying ‘I hate you.’”
“…I told you, I will never acknowledge you!”
Shiori was uncharacteristically firm—especially for someone facing a Spirit he needed to capture and seal.
His response only made Miku more delighted. A confident smile bloomed on her face.
“But you want to seal my power, don’t you?”
“……”
He said nothing—but that silence was the answer.
And that was Shiori’s weakness.
No matter how emotional he became, even if he cursed Miku all he wanted—if he couldn’t seal her Spirit power, nothing would be resolved.
Perhaps having seen through his thoughts from his expression, Miku clapped her hands as if inspiration had struck.
“Oh right… then, why don’t we settle this with a contest?”
“Huh?”
“Yes. Shiori wants to seal my power, and I want Shiori. But neither of us is willing to accept the other’s demands. If we keep arguing like this, won’t it be like two parallel lines that never intersect?”
“……”
Shiori fell silent.
“What nonsense logic is that? If the other side doesn’t agree, you just force them to agree using the simplest method.”
Tianqi was increasingly convinced that Miku was unbelievably childish.
Seeing that Shiori had no response, Miku continued speaking on her own:
“So—let’s settle it with a contest. Since the opportunity is rare, if *Raizen High School* wins the championship on the first day of the Tengu City Festival, I’ll let you seal my power. What do you think?”
“What…? The Tengu Festival?”
Shiori was dumbfounded. Why did it suddenly jump to the festival?
“That’s right. Isn’t it interesting?”
“Uh… and if *Rindouji* wins…?”
Miku smiled sweetly.
“Then Shiori—and the five Spirits whose powers Shiori has sealed—will all become mine.”
“What—there’s no way I could…”
“Itsuka Shiori, do you think you have the right to refuse? Don’t forget—Miku-san wants you, but it’s not like you’re irreplaceable to her. But on your side, you *must* seal her power to complete your mission. When did you get the illusion that this is a fair contest?”
Feeling the “Lost” vibes growing stronger, Tianqi cut in to push the plot forward.
“Tianqi-san is right. Well then, Shiori-chan?”
Miku asked sweetly.
“…Fine.”
And so, Itsuka Shiori could only nod and agree.
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