Vol 6 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 3: Edit Time

Part 1

”… So, is there anything you want to explain, shi+dou?”

It was night After co out from Miku's home, shi+dou was transferred into the commander's room by Fraxinus transportation device What stood before him was his unusually imperious sister

”I'm… sorry…”

shi+dou, in cold sweat, knelt and said

shi+dou was at the center of the room, surrounded by Kotori and the other crews …It was like an accused person being judged in court

”What were those ”I hate you” and ”I don't approve of you” lines of yours? You were about to s that you feel like telling huh?”

”B-but… she was so wrong How could she treat people's life as nothing? No… That ”voice” of hers makes people fall in love with her so no one was able to tell her things that are wrong or cannot be done In that case, I would just…”

”Even so, you don't really have to tell that out loud, at least not during that time”

”Gu…”

Interrupted by Kotori's words, shi+dou could no longer reply anything

”Well it is true that Miku Izayoi may be twisted And she has to be properly counseled once her power is sealed Though, isn't that exactly the reason why her power has to be sealed as early as possible? Why did you have to ruin everything you cross-dressing freak?”

”…Wait, wasn't it you guys who dressed me like this!?”

Offended by Kotori's unreasonable words, shi+dou defended himself However, it didn't see that, shi+dou continued talking

”But anyway, hoas Miku's affection level? I didn't hear anything about it from the earphone”

”Well, Miku's affection level didn't really drop forcriticized by you, she still ed to calm herself down later ”

”See! There's no prob-”

”Yeah, there's no problee”

”……”

As shi+dou was about to raise his head, he dropped it down back instead

Looking at shi+dou, Kotori sighed heavily and put her legs together

”-Anyway, it can't be helped since you have accepted her challenge Just join the performance and leave the rest to us”

”Y-you would help me?”

”Of course Think about it, as <ratatoskr> founded for? Since the situation has co Are you people listening?”

”Yes, Madam!”

Kotori said as she placed her arether on her chest, and the crews responded to her

”That being said, Miku is an idol It won't be easy to win So shi+dou, ill you be perfor on the first day?”

”Eh? It is…”

As shi+dou spoke, he had a flashback He re to participate in the concert

”I think… it is a music band performance”

”A music performance? Haha, isn't that nice? It is your expertise after all

”Eh?”

Not understanding what Kotori said, shi+dou showed uncertainty Then, Kotori pressed the controller on her left side and turned on a video on the screen in the room

”Yike…!?”

Looking at the screen, shi+dou panicked

The screen was showing shi+dou sitting on bed in his roouitar He ht not be very skilled, but he was e

Though, the funny thing happened afterward He was too indulged in his oorld, playing his guitar and singing his own lyrics at the same time

Yes, it was during hislike a cool guy, showing a so that understands me” aura

Well of course, he then sealed this very h school due to embarrassment

”What a hard-trained skill you have got there huh… Pu~ At last it has become of use eh… kukuku…”

Kotori shook her shoulders, said as she tried to hold her laughter As shi+dou looked around, all the other crew hter as well

”Hey- W-why is this video…!”

”Well, we recorded it because it would become of use some day-… pu-puu!”

Just then, shi+dou in the video reached the cliuitar's strings exaggeratedly Kotori could no longer hold her laughter

”N-nooo! Please stop iiiiit!”

As shi+dou shouted, the music in the video stopped

Thinking that he was finally rid of eain In the video, shi+dou was shown sitting on the bed again, talking to the air, as if he was being interviewed

「Yes, yes, since I lack good coh playing guitar So I don't really feel like playing but instead, ”co” with it 」

”Hey!!! Please stop the video already!!!”

As shi+dou, with goosebued, the video was finally stopped

Seconds later, as Kotori finally caler

”Well, at least you're better than an inexperienced kid Well of course, I'll get you the best trainers From now on, I'll have you trained so hard that you can even play guitar while sleeping Mikimoto!”

As she spoke, the <ceo> Mikimoto operated his controller

”Yes, Madaet the best facilities”

Kotori nodded her head, and looked at shi+dou once again

”So, what's the song title?”

Kotori asked nonchalantly shi+dou worked on his mind, and said

”…I'uess it's a remake”

”Well it won't be so interesting then-Minowa!”

This time, it was the

Minoho operated her controller

”Now, go and ask professional singers for help, and then choose the best song for the performance”

Nodded as Minowa spoke, Kotori continued asking

”So, what do you guys know about Miku's performance?”

”That… I can't possibly know that, can I?”

”Then… shi+zaki!”

Just like Mikimoto and Minowa, the <voodoo doll=””> shi+zaki started operating her controller

”Send some spies into Rindouji All-Girls Private School and find out the performance list on that day Is there a need to interrupt them?”

As Kotori heard of shi+zaki'safter, she swung her head

”This ht be able to help us, but it would sever Miku's ee to win even when she tries her best Winning ht be our priority, but it'll be better if we can ”

As coiven, shi+dou blankly stared at how Ratatoskrtheir work

”Wow… you guys look a”

”As I said, we have to go all-out since our target this time is an idol It's all thanks to that ‘soe”

”Gu… I'm really sorry for that…”

”Hmph, never mind It's not like we had any better choice that time Besides…”

Kotori took out her lollipop from mouth and turned her head to the side

”Well… it felt kinda good to see shi+dou getting angry at Miku that time…”

”Eh…?”

Kotori shook her hands, and put the lollipop back to her mouth

Part 2

”…Are you guys serious?”

Ryouko spoke softly, staring at the people before her

There were about 20 members crowded in the command room of japan Ground Self-Defense Force

The ones ere sitting beside her were the original ASTbefore her were supplementary members sent by the DEM Industries

Jessica, one of the supplementary members, spoke

”Of course Since you don't believe it, would you want ned by the top executives?

”Then let me rephrase it –Are you people crazy?”

Even as Ryouko questioned rudely, Jessica let out a smile on her face

Ryouko, stunned, took a look at the file again

What ritten on it was so unbelievable

-Spirit

Capture Operation

The girl as studying in Raizen High School? Tohka Yatogami had to be captured since she had been identified as a spirit

Though, this was still a little acceptable It was sure that Tohka Yatogami did look like the spirit

, and since there were symptoms of spiritual waves found within her, her existence could no longer be ignored

”Well, we can't possibly ignore a spirit doing dangerous thing like going to school, can we?”

Ryouko said as she read the order file

”But, well, what about this one?”

”What? What do you mean?”

”Don't play duet list?”

Yes Other than Tohka as suspected to be a spirit, there was yet another target

shi+dou Itsuka Details––confidential

”So does that mean that even this kid is a spirit…?”

”It's top secret Though, he's one of our ets”

”But this is…”

”Well, let's take it this way You are not obligated to understand the situation”

”Tsk…”

Ryouko, as she looked at Jessica, gritted her teeth and continued reading the order

”Wait, what is this… -Operation date, Septeuu City, Tenou Festival venue…?! What the heck are you guys thinking?! Isn't our equip us to carry out the operation in front of sois-- how are we supposed to fight a spirit at such a crowded place? Do you people even knohat you are planning?!”

Ryouko was so anxious that she was about to screa to face

Perhaps, the Tenou Festival venue would be the uu City on that day Yet, AST meht within the crowd of citizens

On top of that, the ones ould be directly carrying out the operation were the members sent by the DEM industry where as Ryouko and her other AST athering As they would not be on the scene, Ryouko would never s recklessly

”I don't understand why you people have to do this! What exactly is the reason for all this…?”

Contrary to Ryouko's reaction, Jessica let out a cool breath

”It's a cere –So, no reat one”

”Huh…? Ene about…?”

Ignoring what Ryouko said, Jessica stood up as she smiled sinisterly

”It's okay if you cannot agree with the operation Just complain about it to the top executives if you have an objection We would cease our operation if you can do that”

”W-Wait!”

Jessica ceased her steps Though, it wasn't because Ryouko tried to stop her She turned her head to Ryouko, as if she thought of so else

”-Oh yes, I forgot to tell you so Please, do not reveal this operation to Tobi+chi Origami”

”Origami? Why? She is one of our best AST members, there's no reason she-”

”Just for this tih possibility that she would interfere with our operation Besides, it's not like she is needed that much since you old seniors won't directly participate in the operation, is it?”

”I don't recall you having the authorization to ement here”

”I'm sorry but that is also one of the orders by the top executives Well, good luck”

As the conversation ended, Jessica left the roo with the other DEM members

”Gu! Why, why is this happening?”

Ryouko, angered, pounded the table with her fist

Books and other documents on the table moved for a little and a few pieces of papers fell onto the floor

-At that moment

”Huh?”

Ryouko noticed a document with ”shi+dou Itsuka” name on it She frowned

”Now that I think about it, ”shi+dou” sounds so familiar Where have I heard of that name”

As she spoke to herself, she recalled what Jessica said

”Origami restricted to participate -Oh yes”

Ryouko was shocked as she turned her eyes big and round

shi+dou Itsuka The naami told her about

Part 3

”Hey shi+dou, ya know Love is such a great thing”

It was September 13th, a day after the promise with Miku

As Tonomachi spoke in a similar facial expression as Tohka's when she was put into trance using ”onii-chan” honorific, shi+dou sighed

”What happened?”

Tono response, continued speaking

”I think I met my destined one”

”Uh huh So you found another cute girl soain huh?”

”Yes, yes It was yesterday I irl”

”Oh is that so”

”In the guy's washroom”

”P-pu!?”

shi+dou coughed as he heard what Tonoh, it seely as he held his ar his head hard

”I can understand your response, shi+dou She actually hid in the toilet just to wait for me”

”No way”

”It irl even knew my name”

”No that's because”

shi+dou scratched his hair Ignoring that, Tono

”This must be a twist of fate She hid there just to stay alone with me I should have asked her for her name”

”Oh, really”

”Hey What's wrong with you? You think I was lying? I wasn't, it's true She's about your height, and she has body size si was that I felt like I have known her for a long time Yes, yes, she was just like you”

For an instance, shi+dou thought that Tonoirl was actually shi+dou hi how Tono

shi+dou, thinking that he shouldn't get himself involved in this slapstick any further, stood up

”Huh? Where are you going?”

”Thanks to your recoe of the implementation, you jerk!”

As shi+dou said, Tonomachi let out a smile

”Haha, really sorry about that Well since everyone's working so hard, you can actually look forward to being the one to take the award on the stage if on”

”Uh huh, then I'll be looking forward to it”

shi+dou said as he walked out fro that contains costumes he just took from a cabinet Then, he had to switch into shi+ori and to join the students ere preparing for the perfor the festival

”So,where should I change ?”

”Won't it be fine if you just do it in the guy's washroom like yesterday?”

As shi+dou mumbled to himself quietly, Kotori answered

”No, it would be bad if ain”

”Then won't it be fine if you just change in the girl's washrooin with?”

”Won't there beso?”

”What are you worried about? Are you worried if there's any girls in the washroo? It would be just fine if you paid ”

”No, this is not the problem”

”Anyway just hurry Or I' under your skirt”

”Alright”

After struggling so much, this would be the final answer he obtained, if he rejected it, there simply wasn't any other way anyirl's washroom

”Guess no one is inside”

shi+dou took a peek into the girl's washroo there was no sound in the washroom, he entered into it

At a very sudden moment, three of the rooms were opened

”Ah-, got saved at last- ”

”I thought there was no need for a toilet at such a place, guess it is still quite handy sometimes eh”

”Yeah, we almost became subjects for the perverts”

Ai, Mai and Mii, in relief, came out of the rooms in the washroom Then, they let out ”Huh? Huh? Huh?” sound and stared at shi+dou, who just stepped into a forbidden territory

As shi+dou ran away from the washroom, he heard some loud voices from his back

”Wuahhhhhhh!?”

”A p-pervert!”

”A molester!”

”Why did that happen right when I just wanted to enter”

shi+dou ran in the hallith a barely crying face

Eventually, he ended up changing in <fraxinus>

He regretted not going with such a sie his clothes He slapped his face as he told hiret it anymore

shi+dou who just switched into shi+ori, in the hope of participating in the performance, reached the music room situated in the fourth floor of the school He heard that Ai, Mai and Mii see there as well

Well, they should have practiced for a lot before this The chance of shi+dou joining them would be really slim at time like this

As shi+dou thought to hirabbed his shoulder from his back

”Finally found you, shi+dou Where have you been?”

”I won't let you go from now on”

”Tohka and Origami? W-Why are you two in this place”

shi+dou asked, with both his eyes turned round The hands ere on his shoulder belong to Tohka and Origami, ere supposed to be in the classroom

”Uhn I was looking for you after you were lost suddenly I orried that you were kidnapped by Origami”

”I was thinking if Tohka Yatogalad you're still fine”

The two glared at each other as they spoke Much to their annoyance, they turned their heads to the side

As shi+dou helplessly smiled at them ”huh”, shi+dou let out a voice and turn his head

He was right in front of the music room Pass the door, he could hear two kinds of noise, one that sounded likeplayed badly with another one that sounded like quarreling

”What is happening inside?”

As he gently put Tohka's and Origami's hands down, shi+dou moved closer to the room in curiosity

Right at this time, the door was opened violently and shi+dou was knocked in his nose

”Ouch !?”

”Hmph, just do whatever you people want!”

”Yeah right! We have nothing to do with this anymore!”

Not noticing shi+dou, two unfairls, completely furious, went down the stair

”S-shi+dou, are you okay!?”

Seconds after that, Tohka, worried, h the pain was so excruciating that tears were about to come out from his eyes, shi+dou answered ”I'm okay” and shook his hand

Then, so in the music room

”What a bunch of fools, I won't ”

”Well, Ai What should we do? There are only three of us left”

”Let's not care about music, we have to find a vocalist for now Huh?”

Mii noticed shi+dou, Tohka and Origa in front of the music room and raised her eyebrows

In the next instance, she told Ai and Mai about them-

”Capture them!”

Then, they rushed at the three

”Oh, so that's how it is Things happened before we realized it”

Ai said as she tilted her head

Truth be told, Ai didn't do that intentionally, nor did she do that as she treated shi+dou and the other two as idiots It was, siami when she rushed at her just now

Now, there were six people in the ami

shi+dou told thee during festival as well as explaining to them that it was Miku Izayoi who asked hi them know his secret mission

”Hether for shi+ori to keep her promise!”

Ai said as she hit her chest Perhaps due to overdoing it, she groaned

”Hey, it's us who should feel bad since we're the ones who are desperately looking for new members”

”A, it no longerus! At last we're saved”

”Eh?”

As he heard what Mii just said, shi+dou was distressed

”Ah, actually, Tohka and Origa me”

”Oh really? But they”

Mai said as she pointed her finger to shi+dou's back Origa the instruments

”Hey you two”

shi+dou sirls replied

”I don't really knohat all this is about, but I can't have you lose the competition”

”Yup, leave this to me!”

The two girls glared at each other and tilted their head

”Uh with each other-”

”Yeah Let's beat Izayoi!”

”Let's do this for shi+ori-”

As Ai, Mai and Mii said, the tillingly agreed As he saw this, shi+dou could finally take a breath

Aside froain when he wasn't around, shi+dou thought that it would also be less stressful to have the two join the band as he didn't knoell they could do

”Hmm, wouldn't it be bad for all probationary student council members to practice in a band?”

Mai said as she held her chin with her finger shi+dou answered calmly

”Oh, no worries about it I had asked someone to help with that”