Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Back on the battlefield, the AST's sudden barrage interrupted the intense clash between Shido and Kurumi.

The resounding explosions momentarily shook the air, scattering debris and forcing the two combatants apart.

Kurumi's crimson and golden clock eyes twitched in annoyance, her eyes glowing menacingly. "How impudent." she muttered under her breath.

The AST's interference was unwelcome and frustrating, a needless distraction from her pursuit of Shido. With a wave of her hand, countless shadows rippled around her, taking the form of her clones.

"Since you want to play, allow me to entertain you."

"Zafkiel!"

"Eight Bullet, Het!"

A giant clock materialized behind Kurumi as she sneered, redirecting a large portion of her clones toward the AST forces. Like a swarm of ravenous predators, they descended upon the AST units, their relentless attacks pushing Kusabe and hes team into a defensive formation.

Taking advantage of the chaos that Kurumi had unleashed, Shido propelled himself away from the battlefield. However, just as he attempted to flee, his path was abruptly blocked.

A familiar figure from the AST appeared before him, a girl with short white hair and piercing blue eyes. Her CR-Unit glimmered under the moonlight as her weapon remained poised, ready to strike.

Her gaze locked onto his.

"A male Spirit?" Origami muttered, astonished by the sight before her.

The moment her eyes locked onto the male Spirit, her breath hitched. He stood out starkly amidst the chaos, a beacon of both danger and allure. It was her first time seeing a male Spirit, and to her surprise, he was strikingly handsome and even otherworldly.

Her cheeks grew hot against her will as she was drank in his appearance. There was an elegance about him, a presence that commanded attention that left her reeling.

However, what truly ensnared her was the fiery glow of his crimson pupils. They were captivating yet terrifying, like a pair of bottomless abyss pulling her in, threatening to devour her entirely.

His Astral Dress is a mesmerizing combination of black and white, added to his surreal aura, accentuating his balance of purity and wickedness. The divine ring encircling his form symbolized that equilibrium perfectly.

For a fleeting moment, she felt lost. This man... this Spirit.... was unlike any enemy she'd faced before. Something about him felt familiar, intimately so.

It sent her heart into a confused frenzy, her chest tightening painfully. She couldn't explain why her body reacted this way. She clutched at her chest as if to steady herself, only for the feelings to intensify.

The stunning sight didn't just affect her. Even her usually stoic teammates and, shockingly, even her captain seemed stunned into a daze. Some lowered their weapons momentarily, unable to peel their eyes away from the Spirit's ethereal form.

One operative, a younger girl to Origami's left, almost dropped her rifle. Another let out an uncharacteristically quiet whisper, her cheeks flushing in awe.

Origami shook herself, clearing away the confusion and growing resentment bubbling beneath the surface.

'No. This is a Spirit,' she reminded herself vehemently.

'A creature responsible for the deaths of countless humans, including my parents. Handsomeness or elegance doesn't erase the fact that they are our enemy!'

Gripping her weapon more tightly, Origami steeled herself against the peculiar pull she felt toward him. She was a soldier, bound by her duty and her quest for revenge. No matter how surreal or captivating the male Spirit appeared, she refused to let those intrusive emotions sway her resolve.

Just then, Shido, staring at her from afar, subconsciously muttered, "Tobiichi..."

Her resolve that she built was instantly shattered when she heard his words.

Her eyes widened in shock. A Spirit, a being she deemed her mortal enemy, uttered her name with such familiarity that shook her to her core. Combined with the strange sense of déjà vu she felt earlier, her hunch that this Spirit was someone she had known or encountered before became more likely to be true.

But aside from that familiar sensation, everything else about him seemed shrouded in uncertainty and vagueness.

Pointing her sword directly at him, Origami locked her piercing blue eyes onto his glowing crimson ones. "Who are you? How do you know my name?!" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly despite the sternness in her tone.

Shido clenched his fists as his thoughts raced. He knew he had slipped up by blurting out her name, a grave mistake that could complicate things further. A bitter smile formed on his lips as he replied calmly, "That's not really important right now, is it?"

Before she could press him further, Shido condensed a brilliant orb of light in his right hand. With a swift motion, the orb detonated into a dazzling flash, engulfing the battlefield in blinding radiance.

"Ugh!" Origami shielded her eyes as she staggered backward.

Kurumi, mid-pursuit, hissed in irritation. "Kikiki, such tricks won't stop me!" she muttered, momentarily disoriented by the blinding light.

The AST soldiers scrambled for cover, their sight stolen by the luminous explosion. Even Kusabe cursed under her breath as the radiance left her temporarily helpless. Though the light attack caused no damage, it succeeded in blinding everyone, even if just for a few crucial seconds.

And for Shido, a few seconds were more than enough. With an explosion of speed, he darted away, leaving behind nothing but a faint shimmer of Reiryoku in his wake.

Origami quickly recovered her senses, turning to spot him soaring away at incredible speed.

"Come back here!" she yelled, fury lacing her voice. Her frustration grew as his evasive maneuver left her without answers to her burning questions.

Kurumi, however, wasn't about to let Shido escape either. Casting aside her fight with the AST, she redirected her focus to him.

A twisted smile appeared on her lips as she picked up her pace in pursuit. Her excitement seeped into her voice as she taunted him.

"Kikiki, you can't escape my hands, Shido-san! Why fight such a helpless battle when you know you can't win against me?!"

Shido flinched at her words, silently cursing her for shouting out his name.

'Kurumi, you idiot!' he raged internally.

'Why did I even give you my real name?' His teeth clenched in frustration. As much as he wanted to scold Kurumi for her carelessness, his priority was to get away safely.

Turning his head back for the last time, he could see Origami's face filled with shock and disbelief. Seeing her reaction, he could only smile bitterly and sigh at how he was going to solve this issue.

Behind them, Origami froze in her tracks, her mind in turmoil. Kurumi's careless slip of the tongue had left her stunned. "Shi…do?" she whispered, barely audible. Her blue eyes quivered as her grip on her weapon faltered. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Kusabe and her AST squad finally reached Origami's position. "Origami, what's wrong?" Kusabe's voice held genuine concern, but Origami paid her no mind. Her entire focus remained locked on the two fleeing Spirits in the distance.

Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of familiarity with the cold reality before her. Could the man she knew, someone she cared about and gave her a sense of hope—really be the Spirit now fleeing before her?

"No… it's not possible." she muttered, her voice barely holding together as the realization began to crush her resolve.

But despite her denial, the familiar feelings she felt earlier resurfaced, intertwining with the growing doubt in her heart. Her trembling hands lowered her weapon slightly, and her resolve fractured. She stared at the rapidly retreating figures of the two Spirits with a conflicted expression, unable to fully accept the truth that was gnawing at her mind.