"So, what really happened to you last night?"
Kotori crossed her arms as she looked at the guilty defendant.
Shido's lips twitched as he felt that he was being judged in the court for doing something bad. Meanwhile, Reine was sitting beside Kotori waiting for him to talk about what happened.
He could tell that, despite her plain expression, Reine was annoyed with him. Though he suspected she might have knew what had happened last night, it was just a hunch. Shido could only hope that she didn't actually know anything about it.
As the atmosphere became tense, there was only silence in the air but suddenly a cute sound could be heard on his side breaking the serious vibe between the three.
When they looked at the source of the sound, all of them revealed a helpless smile as Tohka was munching on her Kinako bread while having a satisfied expression.
"Nom nom nom!"
Shido, Reine, and Kotori exchanged glances before letting out a chuckle. Meanwhile, Tohka, completely unaware of the situation, simply continued eating the food Shido had brought her, happily focused on finishing every bite.
Though watching Tohka eating her food was relaxing, they had something more important to deal with. Returning to their discussion, Shido noticed Kotori's doubtful expression and Reine's unreadable face, prompting him to come up with an excuse.
He explained that while he was about to head home with Tohka, Origami had suddenly approached him, asking to talk. Shido agreed and sent Tohka home by herself, which made Tohka pout in response. Afterward, he and Origami went somewhere more private to avoid being overheard.
Upon reaching the staircase on the top floor, Origami confronted him directly, demanding to know if he was a Spirit. This revelation baffled Kotori; after all, she didn't know that Shido had been accidentally turned into a Spirit. While Shido had the ability to seal a Spirit's Reiryoku, he was still human. Meanwhile, Reine continued to observe silently, her expression unchanged.
Hearing Kotori's confusion, Shido gave a bitter smile, feeling guilty for deceiving her.
However, he pressed on, explaining that he had discovered he could use Tohka's Angel and Astral Dress. Because of this, Origami had accidentally witnessed him in action, which ultimately led to her confronting him.
"If that's the case, how did you end up not going back home last night?"
Kotori was initially shocked at the revelation that Shido could utilize the Astral Dress and Angel of the Spirit he sealed. If that was the case, then it was likely he could also wield her Elohim Gibor and Camael as well.
While Kotori is in deep thought, Shido knows that she is currently processing all the information she just received. He knew that he was safe but when he tilted his head to her side, he could see Reine's deadpan expression looking straight at him with cold eyes.
'She definitely knows!'
'...Ah, I'm a goner, she certainly hates me now.'
"Shido, what's wrong?"
Tohka's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She tilted her head, her purple eyes filled with concern as she stared at him.
"Ah, it's nothing..."Shido smiled bitterly thinking of a way to talk to Reine after this.
"Shido, you still haven't answered my question, and also where did you stay last night?"
"Uh, that..."
Not knowing what to say, Shido turned his head to Kotori's side and looked at Reine with pleading eyes. But what he received was only a silent treatment.
"I stayed at Origami's apartment..."
"What?!"
Kotori hurriedly got up from her seat and looked at Shido with disbelieving eyes.
Tohka on the other hand also got up from her seat hearing that Shido stayed at Origami's house. Her eyes suddenly well up in tears as she thought that Shido preferred to stay with Origami rather than her.
"Shido, you like to sleep with Origami more than me!?"
Tohka was so shocked that she dropped her favorite Kinako bread.
"That's not really the case here Tohka..."
Hearing her misleading words, Shido can only bitterly smile at her naive thinking.
Her puppy-like eyes glistened with unshed tears, gazing up at Shido with a heart-wrenching mix of sadness.
Shido felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, his bitter smile faltering under the pressure of the scene unfolding before him.
Meanwhile, Kotori's expression grew colder, the temperature in the room seemingly dropping as her twin tails swayed with irritation.
"Heh, is that true Onii-chan?" Kotori's voice dripped with icy suspicion, her crimson eyes narrowing sharply.
"W-Wait, it's a misunderstanding."
"Oh? Care to explain Shin?"
"Shido..."
Reine's monotone voice joined in, her deadpan expression masking any judgment as she quietly observed the situation. Yet her piercing gaze suggested that she was enjoying his dilemma just a bit.
Tohka, however, was oblivious to the tension her words had sparked. She continued staring at Shido with her large, teary puppy-dog eyes, the corners of her lips quivering as if she'd just been abandoned.
Her pitiful expression struck an invisible blow to Shido's chest. "Ah, geez! Alright, you guys win."Shido put his hands up in the air as he helplessly explained what happened.
He began to narrate how the serious talk between him and Origami turned into a fight. Origami began attacking him so he could only equip Tohka's Astral Dress and Angel. Kotori and Tohka listened carefully as Shido continued to narrate his lie.
Seeing as the two paid attention really well, Reine became speechless. Shido was becoming more and more good at deceiving people. Even Kotori in her Commander mode was swayed by his story.
In the end, Shido concluded his story with him being injured stopping Origami's continued assault and calming her.
"So you didn't come home because you are worried that Origami will do something outrageous because of guilt?"
"Y-Yeah, that's the gist of it."
Shido nodded hurriedly when Kotori filled in the missing pieces of his story.
"Well, I'm also certainly worried about Origami."
"Huh? You are?"
Shido was confused when Kotori said those words as he didn't expect Kotori to care for Origami.
"Yeah, you are a beast after all, you might suddenly have the urge to eat her in her vulnerable state."
"I-Is that how you always look at your big brother Kotori....?"
"Yeah, a beast that lusts on women, especially on his little sister!"
Kotori snorted while biting hard on her lollipop. She gazed at him coldly making Shido speechless at how his cute little sister treated him like a pervert.
"What?! Is that true Shido? You will eat Origami?!"
Initially, Tohka was angry that Origami had hurt Shido. Her cheeks were puffed as she scolded Origami for being a coward.
Yet, her initial anger was replaced by shock when she heard Kotori say that Shido might eat Origami.
"Tohka, I think you misunderstood the meaning of 'eat' that Kotori mentioned," Shido said, his voice tinged with exasperation as he tried to salvage the situation.
"Anyway, since you're here then everything is alright."
"Just don't vanish again without saying anything like last time."
"Yes ma'am!"
Shido can only lower his head as he can finally release a sigh of relief. He finally managed to make it through the day, but. There is still someone who he needs to talk with.
When he shifted his gaze to that person, she was also looking in his direction, her cold gaze told him that she hadn't forgiven him. Feeling her chilling glare, Shido hoped that he could live another day after he talked with Reine.