Inaba Tsukiyo's appearance completely took Kotori by surprise, and she never expected Inaba Tsukiyo to make contact with Shiori without them noticing.
Actually, Kotori was a little worried that something bad might happen when Shiori came into contact with Inaba Tsukiyo.
After all, Inaba Tsukiyo used that medicated oil to punish the AST members who attacked them. Although Kotori had never experienced the power of this move herself, she had tried it on someone else.
This person was the ship's Vice Commander, a man named Kannazuki Kyohei.
Outwardly, he was a handsome man, but his personality was that of a complete masochist and pervert; each time he was punished, it brought him unimaginable pleasure.
This guy also loved to cause trouble, just like yesterday when he routinely courted death.
Kotori had originally planned to punish him by making him dig a hole and then fill it back up, but after remembering Inaba Tsukiyo's punishment, she changed it to that.
Perhaps too much medicated oil was applied, because Kannazuki Kyohei's screams during the punishment could be heard by everyone on the Bridge.
That kind of sound, if Kotori hadn't known his punishment involved applying medicated oil to a sensitive area, she would have thought he was dragged out for a "boy next door" experience.
The screams lasted for about half an hour, and she didn't know where this guy got the strength to maintain such a high frequency of screams for so long.
Kotori was a little worried about his condition, and when she had someone drag him out, she found him drenched in sweat.
His clothes were almost soaked with sweat, and when he was dragged over, there was a puddle of water on the floor, along with a strange flush on his body and a goosebump-inducing smile.
Once again witnessing the extent of this guy's masochism, Kotori somewhat doubted whether she was punishing him or rewarding him.
Of course, she didn't have the guts to experience that feeling herself.
She still remembered the expressions of those AST members after medicated oil was applied to them; that scene, like hell itself, even frightened her.
However, this was a good opportunity, a good opportunity to get close to Inaba Tsukiyo.
According to Shiori, she had already established an initial good impression with Inaba Tsukiyo, to the extent of being acquaintances.
According to their operational philosophy, their purpose was to have Shiori date Spirits, make them blush, and finally seal their powers.
Although Shiori had not yet passed her test (collecting all CGs), the time left for her was running out.
As the saying goes, before you can walk, you must learn to run.
Actual combat is the best way to improve. Although such a method carries great risks, with all the members of the Bridge backing Shiori, and Shiori's special constitution, there would definitely be no problem.
The next day, it was still the same supermarket, at the same time. Shiori, following Kotori's instructions, waited there for Inaba Tsukiyo to arrive.
"Is this really okay, Kotori? Staking out someone at their usual route, isn't that stalker behavior?"
"What does it matter~ Just think of it as a sacrifice for the Spirits, to help them escape the AST's pursuit and live happily."
"...You're not refuting that my behavior is stalking, Kotori. Are you trying to make your older sister commit a crime? If Police Uncle finds out, I'll be arrested!"
She didn't want to be arrested by Police Uncle; she was a good citizen who had never done anything bad, and she didn't want things to turn out that way.
"Don't worry, Shiori. With us here to support you, nothing like that will happen. Today, just follow the homework I gave you before, and with our help, continue as planned."
"...Even if you say that, I'm not at ease at all. And is it really reliable to make me use game-like methods to conquer girls?"
There was one thing Shiori didn't say: were Kotori's subordinates really reliable?
Although those subordinates outwardly had a lot of romantic experience, their romantic experiences were undoubtedly failures.
Whether it was through monetary offensives, curses, or otaku who applied two-dimensional methods to reality, were these guys' suggestions really reliable?
Shiori didn't dare to say these words out loud; she could tell that Kotori genuinely trusted these subordinates.
If Kotori knew that these subordinates were just thankless failures, she probably wouldn't be able to save face.
After all, Kotori was quite confident right now, and as a good older sister, she didn't want to hurt her younger sister's self-esteem.
"But, I never expected Miss Inaba to be a Spirit. That's truly surprising."
Shiori said with some emotion, recalling what Kotori told her yesterday, Shiori felt surprised.
Spirits are beings that bring catastrophic disasters to the world, and their appearance will bring a destructive future to Earth.
This was Kotori's explanation when she introduced Spirits to Shiori, and she also told her that she had a way to prevent the world's destruction: dating Spirits and conquering them.
When Shiori first heard about this, her expression was like, 'Are you kidding me?' 'Is today April Fool's Day?'
Kotori had no intention of joking; instead, she half-forced, half-willingly made Shiori join Kotori's organization and play an otome game, making her conquer the characters in the game.
This training hadn't been going on for long when the girl she met yesterday turned out to be a 'terrifying' Spirit, and a Spirit who had thoroughly taught the AST unit a lesson.
Recalling the video Kotori showed her, Shiori nervously clutched her important parts.
Among those AST members, she recognized her classmate, a girl named Tobiichi Origami.
This girl was usually called an 'Ice Beauty' by her classmates because of her lack of emotional fluctuations and her outstanding looks.
She never expected that she was also a member of the AST, and even less did she expect that her icy face would crumble under Inaba Tsukiyo's medicated oil offensive.
That expression, as if she was about to break, was still very clear in her memory, but she didn't know what those water stains on the ground were all about.
'Given the combat power Miss Inaba displayed, even if I hadn't intervened, those delinquents wouldn't have caused much trouble, would they?'
Thinking about it, her act of chivalry yesterday was completely unnecessary.
Rather than saying she saved Inaba Tsukiyo, it would be more accurate to say she saved those delinquents who were looking for trouble.
If they had really taken Inaba Tsukiyo to a dark corner, it would probably have been those guys who were finished.
"Hey! Shiori! The target has appeared within the monitoring perimeter! Get ready! Go talk to her! You must seize the opportunity to go on a date with her! Make her blush!"
"I told you, you're making this too difficult for me."
Shiori scratched her cheek, a bit distressed. She felt her younger sister was practically asking her to commit a crime.
To actually want her to go on a date with someone she'd only met a few times—if she were in her girl form, it would be fine, but now she was in her Boy form. Wouldn't she be seen as a pervert?
Looking at Inaba Tsukiyo approaching, Shiori didn't know how to start the conversation.
"Um... that, what a coincidence, Miss Inaba. We meet again."
"Oh my? Mr. Itsuka. I didn't expect us to meet again; it really is quite a coincidence."
Inaba Tsukiyo said with a smile, but the 'coincidence' in her words made Shiori turn her head, feeling a bit uneasy.
This was no coincidence; she had been waiting here for almost half an hour. She was completely staking out the place, otherwise, she would have no chance to meet Inaba Tsukiyo.
"So, Mr. Itsuka, are you also here to buy groceries at the supermarket today? I remember you seemed to have bought quite a lot of ingredients yesterday, right?"
"Uh... that, this..."
Alright, the first difficulty had arrived.
Shiori hadn't expected Inaba Tsukiyo to remember the ingredients she bought yesterday. She had indeed bought a lot of backup ingredients yesterday due to the supermarket's special offers.
She hadn't expected Inaba Tsukiyo to remember this. How should she explain it now? Was it going to be GG before it even started?
"Wait a minute, Shiori! The options are out!"
Before Shiori could answer, Kotori's voice came through the earphone hidden in her ear.
Kotori, currently on the Bridge, sat in the Commander's seat, looking at the choices displayed before her, and ordered the members below to select.
The so-called choices were options set in a GALGAME to advance the plot.
Different options could very likely lead to different plot developments, and every step had to be chosen carefully.
①: I came to see you! I want to go on a date with you! (Decide the outcome with a direct approach!)
②: Actually, we had guests at home yesterday, and the ingredients I bought yesterday have all been used up. (Find other excuses to deal with it; highly likely it won't increase favorability.)
③: Because I thought you would also come to buy things today, I specially came to take a look. I didn't expect you to actually come. (Show your connection, and increase the other party's favorability through this method.)
The members of the Bridge all chose their answers. Almost no one picked the first option; most concentrated on the second and third.
Finally, the third option won by a single vote.
"It seems everyone has made their decision. Does anyone have anything to say?"
Kotori, sucking on a lollipop, looked at the options before her, then at the Boy and girl standing beside her, and asked.
"Although our goal is to date the Spirit, that invitation can only be made when there is a certain emotional foundation. If it displeases the Spirit, it is very likely to affect the favorability established yesterday."
The masochistic Kannazuki Kyohei on the side said, it was rare for this guy to say something like a proper analysis.
"Option two is good, but option three is more direct. Although I don't know if the other party can accept such a direct expression, it's worth a try."
"Alright, say it according to the choice, Shiori!"
"Um... because I thought you would also come to buy things today, I specially came to take a look."
"Oh, really? Mr. Itsuka is truly gentle. To consider me, someone you've just met, to such an extent."
"Ah haha~ Considering that Miss Inaba has just arrived in Amamiya City and doesn't have anyone else familiar, how about I take you around? There seems to be a special on fish today; would you like to go see it together?"
"Is that so? Then thank you, Mr. Itsuka."
In a place Shiori couldn't see, Inaba Tsukiyo slightly opened her eyes, a glint flashing within them.
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