Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Shido and Origami stood facing each other at the top of the staircase, their surroundings echoing with silence.

The heavy tension in the air seemed almost suffocating.

After Tohka had left the school, Shido and Origami had made their way here, seeking a private place to solve the unspoken matter between them.

Origami's intense gaze, filled with seriousness, never wavered as she silently looked at Shido.

On the other hand, Shido remained calm, his expression a mix of patience and unease. He wore a helpless smile to mask the uncomfortable feeling pressing on his chest.

He understood what was coming, the confrontation was inevitable. Yet, the cold atmosphere gnawed at his composure. Regardless, Shido was determined to face this head on and prepared for what Origami would throw at him as he waited for her to speak.

Finally, the unbearable silence shattered. Origami who was maintaining her serious expression, spoke plainly yet her trembling voice betrayed her emotions.

"What's the meaning of this, Itsuka Shido?" despite the seriousness in her tone she can't mask the quivering of her voice.

Shido hesitated for a moment before talking, but "Origami, I—"

Origami cut him off, her voice was slightly rising. "Is it you? Are you that male Spirit from last night?" Her question trembled in the air as her eyes, already reddened, glistened with unshed tears.

The pain in her voice struck a chord deep within Shido, and he couldn't help the bitter smile that spread across his face. Looking at her anguish expression, he realized just how deeply this truth hurt her.

Without offering an excuse or a denial, Shido met her gaze and nodded calmly, answering her question with a steady voice, "Yes, that Spirit is indeed me."

The moment the words left his mouth, a powerful gust of wind swept through, and in a flash, a photon blade appeared, its tip pressing firmly against his chest. Origami's eyes brimmed with both pain and hatred as she glared at him. Tears began spilling over as she gritted her teeth, the sound grinding like cracking stone.

"Why?!"

"Why didn't you deny it?!"

"Why didn't you say it wasn't you?!"

She shouted with her trembling hands clutching the weapon that threatened to pierce his heart. Her face contorted with sorrow, and her words came out in gasping sobs.

"Why?! Why?! Why?!"

"Why are you a Spirit?! Tell me!!!"

Her composure fractured completely, her voice shifting to a half-crazed laugh that sent chills down Shido's spine. "Then, this whole time, you've been lying to me… From the very beginning, you were actually a Spirit…"

Her voice softened as fresh tears welled up in her reddened eyes. "Then five years ago…" She trailed off as she remembered someone who saved her during Tengu City incident in the past.

Her trembling lips formed the last word as she broke into quiet sobs of pure pain. "Why…?"

Her vision blurred with tears, but she managed to make out Shido's handsome frame through the haze. Seeing her like this, Shido's heart felt as if it were splitting in two.

He clenched his fists tightly. For the first time, he truly felt like a terrible person, a heartless bastard, for causing Origami such agony.

"I'm sorry, Origami... for lying to you…" Shido's voice was heavy with guilt, each word spoken like an anchor sinking into the depths of his soul.

Yet before he could continue, Origami became frantic again.

"Why are you apologizing?!" she yelled, her sobbing breaths turning uneven. Her hands trembled so violently that the photon blade nearly pierced deeper into his chest.

"Do you think saying sorry will fix everything?"

A stream of conflicting emotions poured out as she gasped for air. "Why didn't you tell me? Why are you—" Origami's words were cut off as her voice cracked into incoherence, overwhelmed by her pain.

Watching her in this state shattered Shido's resolve to keep his distance. He made a split-second decision, a gamble relying on the System's assurances that his Spirit body's ability was the real deal.

Without hesitation, he took the risk.

Stab*

Origami's eyes widened as the photon blade pierced through Shido's chest. Her vision, still blurry from tears, cleared just enough for her to witness her blade fully piercing through him, exiting his back in a sickeningly vivid sight.

"Eh?"

"Shi…do?" she whispered, her voice faltering in disbelief.

Origami's eyes widened in horror as the sword pierced through Shido's chest.

The sight of him, standing with her weapon lodged through his chest, shattered all the hatred she had left. Origami watched his pale face with blood flowing freely and staining his uniform, yet he still smiled and reveal a warm and gentle expression devoid of any blame.

Shido coughed, blood trickling from his lips "Origami…" Shido's voice was weak but he still managed to speak with genuine emotion.

"I know you feel betrayed… that I lied to you."

"I know how much you hate Spirits, especially because of what happened to your parents…"

His voice broke momentarily as he struggled to maintain his composure, though the pain of his wound was searing.

"But, Origami… not all Spirits are evil."

"They never wanted to bring destruction or death. They just want to live... just like everyone else."

Each word he spoke felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. Meanwhile, Shido cursed internally, gritting his teeth against the unbearable pain.

'Damn it… It hurts like hell! If I survive this, I swear I'm getting a pain-nullifying skill!'

Origami, stunned into silence, remained frozen, her tears continuing to fall freely.

Shido looked weakly directly into her teary eyes.

"If my death can give you peace… I'll gladly accept it."

Blood spilled from his lips, but he endured, finishing his statement with all the strength he could muster.

Origami's trembling stopped. Her lips quivered as she gasped, her voice cracking. "N-No… I… No!" Panic surged through her as she grasped the reality of what she'd done.

The weight of her earlier actions came crashing down, and she dropped her photon blade, quickly pulling it out of Shido's chest.

"Shido!" she cried out, catching his collapsing body. Blood gushed from his wound, soaking her hands as she desperately tried to stop the bleeding.

"No! Please don't die! I'm sorry! I'll never do that again!"

"Please… Shido, stay with me!"

Her tears streamed relentlessly down her face as she sobbed, her voice filled with desperation.

Leaning against her for support, Shido's breath was faint. His vision dimmed, but he managed to lift a bloodstained hand to wipe the tears off Origami's face with his thumb.

"Don't cry…" he whispered softly, his voice barely audible. "You won't be pretty anymore if you cry."

Origami hiccupped and tried to wipe away her tears. "Mn! I-I won't cry!" she answered through her sobs, her hands trembling.

"Good girl…" Shido whispered with a faint smile, his eyes filled with warmth. He wanted to pat her head, but the excruciating pain made it impossible to lift his arm further.

As his strength drained completely because of the massive loss of blood, his consciousness finally slipped away. His last fleeting memory was of Origami's frantic cries.

"Shido! Shido! Wake up! Shidooooo!"