However, before Shidou could even sit down, Shinomiya reached out her small hand and slid a little stool over, then sat on it herself, her gaze never leaving Shidou.
A chill radiated outward from her.
Shidou forced a bitter smile and sat cross-legged in front of the small table.
As a Japanese, sitting cross-legged or kneeling was second nature, but Wanmie Ayase wasn’t used to it.
When she first came to this world, Wanmie had tried to adapt to local customs and learned to kneel like the locals.
But after only a few minutes, she couldn’t stand it and went to the nearby supermarket to buy two small stools.
Wanmie’s expression was calm as she looked at Shidou.
“No need for formalities. Let’s get straight to the point.”
The urgent matter now was to find Shinonina that Shinomiya had lost.
Otherwise, if Shinomiya kept like this, she’d freeze to death sooner or later.
Shidou’s expression darkened as he became serious.
“According to our investigation, the person who picked up Shinonina is a singer who debuted half a year ago. Her full name is Miku Izayoi. I think Miss Ayase has had more contact with this area, so you probably know her name, right?”
Pfft!
If Wanmie had been drinking water just now, she definitely would have sprayed it all over Shidou’s face.
The person who took Shinonina was Miku?
Could it be any more coincidental?
Miku Izayoi was also a Spirit like Shinomiya, and just like her, had basically fully integrated into human society…
No, they were originally human anyway…
But that wasn’t the point.
Although Wanmie had thought she knew every Spirit’s personality quite well from her previous life, actually interacting with them was a completely different matter.
The Spirits in the novels were always described in a one-dimensional way.
Take Shinomiya, for example.
Who would have guessed that when her emotions fluctuated, she could release such powerful cold air?
That wasn’t mentioned at all in the original work.
“Miss Ayase?”
Seeing Wanmie’s strong reaction, Shidou frowned.
His purpose for coming was not only to relay this news but also to ask Wanmie to contact Miku Izayoi and retrieve Shinonina.
“I’m fine.”
Wanmie calmed her emotions and continued, “Anything else to say?”
“We originally planned to help Shinomiya get her puppet back, but according to information online, Miku Izayoi has an extreme aversion to males, so what we’re thinking is…”
“You want me to go?”
Wanmie frowned.
When Shidou mentioned that Miku Izayoi took Shinonina, Wanmie had already guessed what he wanted.
She glanced at the wary Shinomiya nearby and shook her head with a smile.
“I’m afraid I can’t agree. Right now, I still need to take care of this child.”
After all, Shinomiya was brought by her. She couldn’t just abandon her.
Besides, from what she saw, Shinomiya only trusted her for now.
If she stopped watching over her and Shinomiya faced the AST’s attack again, it would be dire.
The AST would never spare Shinomiya just because she was small and cute.
Seeing Wanmie’s refusal, Shidou suddenly recalled Kannazuki’s mysterious, somewhat lecherous smile and felt a chill run down his spine.
He suggested, “Miss Ayase, I think we could take Shinomiya to Fraxinus. You should know that no one up there can threaten her.”
Wanmie gave a cold, bewitching smile, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
“Shidou-kun, don’t you think you should ask your sister Kotori if she agrees?”
“Uh…”
Shidou was about to reply when Kotori’s voice came through his earpiece.
“Idiot Shidou, can you stop making decisions so casually?!”
Shidou’s ears almost got deafened by Kotori’s shouting.
He hadn’t expected her to get so angry.
“W-what’s wrong?”
Shidou lowered his voice as much as he could, hoping Wanmie wouldn’t notice.
“Hermit’s Spirit Power isn’t sealed right now. If it suddenly bursts out, the consequences would be unimaginable—even Fraxinus can’t withstand it.”
Kotori sighed, pulling out the lollipop in her mouth and shaking it.
“I didn’t expect Abysm to understand Fraxinus better than you. She even considered this.”
“Kotori, so what you’re saying is?”
“Just as Wanmie guessed, Hermit can’t be brought to Fraxinus. If her Spirit Power loses control, everything’s over.”
“Then can we send someone to take care of Shinomiya…”
“My foolish Oniichan…”
Before Shidou could finish, Kotori sighed again through the earpiece.
“Don’t you see? Right now, Hermit only trusts Abysm. If we send people to look after her, it might cause an even bigger commotion.”
After Kotori’s explanation, Shidou finally understood.
But thinking of Kannazuki’s smile still made him uneasy.
Wanmie noticed Shidou’s change in expression and smiled.
“Looks like you’ve figured it out, Shidou-kun.”
Shidou gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Miss Ayase has a point.”
“Actually, I can offer you a way to contact Miku Izayoi and get Shinomiya’s puppet back smoothly.”
At Wanmie’s words, Shidou suddenly perked up.
It was obvious even without thinking that Kannazuki wouldn’t have any good ideas.
“Please, go ahead!”
“You just said Miku Izayoi is extremely averse to males, right? So why not disguise yourself as a girl? I’ve already thought of a name for you: Itsuka Shiori.”
Wanmie suppressed her inner delight, trying not to laugh out loud.
Itsuka Shiori was, of course, the fake female name Shidou used when cross-dressing in the original novel.
Ever since he started dressing as a girl, his cross-dressing image had soared in popularity, almost surpassing his original image.
Wanmie was naturally one of Shidou’s fans for his cross-dressing.
Now that the chance for Shidou to cross-dress was right in front of him, she had to encourage him.
However, Wanmie didn’t tell Shidou that Miku Izayoi was actually a Spirit.
From their earlier conversation, she guessed Kotori and the others didn’t know Miku’s true identity yet, so she kept it to herself.
Since Wanmie came to this world, the entire world line had been completely disrupted.
According to the original plot, Miku Izayoi should have appeared much later, but now she was here way earlier.
Still, Wanmie thought some things were better left unsaid—otherwise, what meaning was there in her coming to this world?
“W-Wanmie Miss…”
Shidou forced a bitter smile. He had hoped Wanmie would give him some good ideas, but it was still a bad plan.
In the Fraxinus Conference Room, Kotori’s laughter echoed one wave after another.
“Ha ha ha! Itsuka Shiori is such a good name! From now on, you’re Oniichan Shiori! Hahaha!”
“I…”
Shidou’s expression had become too complicated to describe in words, but he didn’t expect worse things to come…
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