Seeing Miku step onto the stage, Wanmie didn’t linger backstage and quickly hurried out, searching for any sign of Shinomiya.
Twenty minutes earlier, at the front of the stage.
“Shinomiya, are you sure this is the place where you got separated from Miss Ayase?”
Shiori brought Shinomiya back to the spot where they had first lost each other.
Shinomiya nodded, her small head turning as she searched the crowd, hoping to spot that familiar figure.
But after scanning the area, that person was still nowhere to be seen.
Shinomiya lowered her head, and a glimmer of tears shone in her jewel-like eyes.
She looked up at Shiori, two large teardrops pooling in her eyes.
“Big sister… Does big sister not want me anymore…?”
Seeing Shinomiya’s pitiful expression, Shiori felt a pang in her heart.
Miss Ayase actually made such a cute child cry—no matter what, I have to give her a good scolding later!
“How could that be? Miss Ayase isn’t that kind of person. You just got separated, that’s all. She might be looking all over the school for you right now.”
Shiori comforted Shinomiya, silently praying for Kotori to send some news soon.
Although today’s main task was to contact Miku Izayoi and retrieve Shinomiya’s Hand Puppet, Kotori had already switched to combat mode to prevent Shiori from messing up in front of Miku.
After all, that rabbit hand puppet was Shinomiya’s most important possession.
To ensure a successful sealing of Shinomiya, everyone on Fraxinus was determined to get it back, but they wouldn’t use underhanded methods unless absolutely necessary.
“Target located, Shidou.”
Just as Shiori thought this, Kotori’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Right now, Abysm is still backstage, but interestingly, she’s run into Miku Izayoi.”
“Okay, I’ll take Shinomiya over right away!”
Now that she knew Wanmie’s location, Shiori grabbed Shinomiya’s hand and prepared to set off, but Kotori stopped her.
“Better stay put with Shinomiya for now. Origami is still patrolling that area.”
“So… doesn’t that mean Miss Ayase is in a dangerous situation?”
Shiori had seen Origami’s hatred toward Spirits with her own eyes.
If Origami found Wanmie, not only would they fail to recover Shinomiya’s Hand Puppet, today’s entire concert might have to be canceled.
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
Inside the Fraxinus Conference Room, Kotori, sucking on a lollipop, stared at the big screen showing Origami and Wanmie’s locations, her face a bit serious.
“Origami’s been held up by the Ai, Mai, Mei Trio, seems like she’s maintaining order at the front of the stage. She probably won’t head backstage before the performance starts, so you can relax.”
“That’s a relief…”
Shiori let out a sigh.
But since the concert stage was open-air, if she walked with Shinomiya straight to the backstage now, Origami would definitely spot them.
It was better to wait for Origami and the others to leave before taking Shinomiya to Wanmie.
As the two spoke, Shinomiya’s face was already on the verge of tears, and a chill began to spread from her body.
Minowa Kazusa, who was in charge of monitoring Spirit emotion levels, suddenly cried out.
“Commander, Shinomiya’s emotional readings are plummeting! If this continues, hundreds of people could be frozen solid!”
“Shidou, hurry up and comfort Shinomiya.”
Kotori calmly took out another lollipop and ordered.
Hearing Kotori’s words, Shiori finally noticed the temperature around her was steadily dropping. She quickly looked at Shinomiya and reassured her.
“Shinomiya, I already know where Miss Ayase is. She’s looking for you too! But things are a bit complicated right now, so I might need a little more time before I can take you to her. Let’s play around here for a bit first, and when the time comes, I’ll take you to her.”
Shinomiya hesitated but nodded.
“Okay.”
After Shinomiya agreed, her emotional readings rose, and everyone in the Conference Room breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They’d all seen the footage from the AST’s battle with Shinomiya—freezing an entire area in a single moment.
If that happened in a crowded school, the consequences would be disastrous.
Time passed quickly, and soon the performance was starting.
The audience had mostly entered the venue.
As Wanmie left the backstage, Origami also returned to the area to help with post-event tasks, causing them to just barely miss each other.
At the same time, Shiori led Shinomiya toward the backstage.
But after only a few steps, they ran into Yatogami Tohka, who had come out looking for Shiori.
“Wow! Shiori, so you were here! Did you finish your work?”
“Uh… I just finished, yeah.”
Shiori scratched her head awkwardly.
“Did you finish your backstage work too?”
“Of course! I was the one who contributed the most!”
Tohka raised her chin proudly, a smug expression on her face.
But then she lowered her head, looked up at Shiori expectantly, and silently asked for a head pat.
Shiori smiled and reached out, but Tohka suddenly pulled her head back, eyeing Shinomiya behind Shiori with suspicion.
“Shiori, who is she?”
Shinomiya was startled by Tohka’s gaze and quickly hid behind Shiori.
Shiori hurried to explain.
“Um… She’s my friend’s little sister. She got separated from her sister, so I’m helping her look.”
“Really?”
Tohka was doubtful, but seeing Shinomiya’s timid demeanor, she didn’t press further.
Still, she couldn’t shake the sense of familiarity from Shinomiya.
She crouched down to inspect the girl more closely—the delicate girl in a dress, cute as a porcelain doll.
But even after a long look, she couldn’t figure it out.
“Yo, isn’t this Shiori-chan and Tohka-chan?”
Just as Tohka was studying Shinomiya, Denmachi Hiroto appeared, greeting them with a bright smile.
Shiori was a bit confused.
“I thought boys weren’t allowed in this area? How did you get over here, Denmachi-san?”
“Ah, my cute Rika-chan told me to come this way.”
Denmachi Hiroto pulled out his game console and gazed lovingly at the 2D girl on the screen.
Tohka was curious.
“Who’s Rika-chan?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you last time, Tohka-chan. She’s my new wife.”
Denmachi Hiroto showed the screen to a bewildered Tohka, who responded with an “I see” expression.
Shiori was speechless.
How can someone change wives faster than changing clothes?
“Speaking of which…”
Denmachi Hiroto put away his console and looked at Wanmie.
“A girl came to find me earlier, said she was Shiori-chan’s friend.”
The girl Denmachi mentioned must have been Miss Ayase.
Shiori guessed, but Denmachi’s next words nearly made her spit out her lunch.
“I don’t suppose Shiori-chan could give me her contact information?”
“Hey, Hiroto, what’s wrong with you? I thought you only liked 2D girls?!”
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