Kasumigaoka Utaha felt that there was always a limit to bad luck.
Clearly, today she had exceeded that limit.
The man in front of her, who called himself "Koma Sha," was wearing leather gloves. On this early summer night, he was dressed in a leather suit and high-top leather boots, standing before her with his head held high, talking eloquently.
His mask showed neither sorrow nor joy; the solemn face was covered in scratches, and only his eyeballs rolled around in their sockets—both eerie and ridiculous.
"It's decided. Let's go."
"The Ball is about to begin."
A ball?
What ball?
Who am I? Where am I?
(?д?≡?д?)...Σ( ° △ °)...ε=ε=ヾ(;?д?)/
Kasumigaoka Utaha gripped her backpack tightly, very reluctantly being pulled into the shop by the man.
Their destination was the door engraved with bright blue runes.
The girl couldn't refuse.
She did a rough calculation: if she turned and ran, even if the other person was just an ordinary adult man—well, it seemed she wouldn't be able to escape either.
Moreover, this leather-clad man didn't look like an ordinary person... Click.
The man pressed down the door handle and pulled it open.
Amidst the sound of grating metal, Kasumigaoka Utaha poked her head out from behind the man—
Inside the door, a massive waterfall crashed against jagged rocks, and the thick scent of moisture and moss rushed toward her!
The young girl pulled back her head and looked behind her.
Deserted streets, adult vending machines, flickering lights—a boring city.
She turned her head back.
Round stepping stones made of blue rock stretched into the distance. It seemed to be above a forest and a waterfall, with the flowing water rushing out horizontally like an open book.
One door separated two Worlds.
Kasumigaoka Utaha even noticed some small water droplets splashing from the impacted rock corners, landing on this side of the door and splattering on the man's leather boots.
All of this was real.
"After you, Minagawa."
Koma Sha smiled. He understood Minagawa Akane's astonishment; after all, this was only the second time she had used the Host's 'Anywhere Door' Ability—the last time was in a wooden cabin on a snowy mountain. Thinking back, she probably hadn't truly understood how terrifying and powerful this Ability was.
"The Host possesses god-like abilities. You'll get used to it slowly."
"Who knows, maybe next time we'll meet on the Atlantic Ocean."
Seeing the girl's hesitation, Koma Sha, who had spent a night with her, shook his head.
He still felt a bit of pity.
"I'll go first. Just follow me."
Pushing the door open, the man stepped inside first.
The water crashed even more fiercely against the World on the other side. Clusters of trees swayed and beckoned, mixing the fragrance of their leaves into the wind.
The scent of nature.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched his back, her palms unknowingly drenched in sweat.
Now, if I close the door and turn to run—
Would I make it?
The girl calculated the distance—the other man would probably walk two or three more rocks before turning his head to wait for her.
Close the door... run... "Minagawa!"
On a moss-covered blue rock not far away, Koma Sha treated it like a platform, standing on it and waving to the still-hesitating Kasumigaoka Utaha from afar.
As he moved, his foot kicked backward—
Bang.
A dangerous protruding edge was easily kicked to pieces by the man.
Kasumigaoka Utaha:...I can't escape.
If this door could be opened again after being closed... her reckless act of closing the door would reveal her false identity.
If this door could only be used once, and closing it meant the end... she would be saved.
So, should she take the gamble?
At the moment of life-or-death decision, Kasumigaoka Utaha's phone vibrated... [Little Darling: Is everything okay, Senpai?]
[Little Darling: Are you home?]
Kasumigaoka Utaha gripped her phone and remained silent for a long time.
On her face, the mask was still faintly burning.
mystery... superpowered people... the other side of this World... it was... truly exciting.
[I'm fine.]
After replying, Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and stepped inside.
She had stepped into a World of mystery.
"Hurry up, Minagawa!"
The man was still waiting.
Kasumigaoka Utaha carefully stepped onto the mossy rocks. To her surprise, the stepping stones that looked slippery from the rushing water felt exceptionally dry and rough underfoot.
It was as if the flowing water and green plants were all illusions.
She turned around to pull the door that hadn't closed yet—
It wouldn't budge.
As expected.
Her decision was correct.
This door couldn't be closed at all.
"What are you doing, Minagawa Akane? Forget the door. It will close on its own once you're inside."
Kasumigaoka Utaha gathered her courage and lightly hopped over the rocks toward Koma Sha.
She knew that she was about to face a group of extremely dangerous criminals.
There might be bloodthirsty lunatics or murderers among them, so every word and action had to be extremely careful.
Then, the one who could protect her and be used by her current identity... was him.
The leather enthusiast Koma Sha, who had spent a night with Teacher Minagawa.
"My Lord Sha."
Kasumigaoka Utaha imitated Minagawa Akane's tone and began acting all 'green tea' as well.
"Heh, changed your mind?"
Koma Sha pointed to the bank across the turbulent current, where a wooden cabin had abruptly stood for a long time.
"Let's go. It's late; the Host will be unhappy."
"Mhm."
Submissively, Kasumigaoka Utaha followed Koma Sha toward the opposite bank.
The bank was planted with lush green trees, and the ground was covered in grass. If she hadn't been so aware of her identity, Kasumigaoka Utaha might have momentarily felt the illusion of being on a camping trip.
Does the so-called Host have the Ability to move space and transfer living beings?
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought carefully. Perhaps she could share this information with Tsukisa?
The two of them, one after the other, approached the wooden cabin with heavy Hearts.
Koma Sha was pondering how to make excuses for 'Heart' and bring her under his command.
This woman... not only was she fun in bed, but her body had also been modified by the mist.
Although he couldn't risk touching her again, someone with the talent to easily accommodate chaos wasn't something that fell into his hands easily.
Perhaps, through that one night, she could be used for his purposes.
At least, before she was completely swallowed by the mist.
Koma Sha, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Both were thinking that, relying on the sentiment of 'that night,' they might achieve their goals... If Teacher Minagawa Akane knew, her spirit in heaven might feel comforted (as if).
The wooden cabin sat on a small hill on the high riverbank, with blue fog rising from the chimney.
As Kasumigaoka Utaha followed Koma Sha to the door, she could vaguely see another participant approaching from the dense forest in the distance.
On his mask, a black dog was painted.
"Stop staring."
The man thought this restless woman was about to revert to her old ways, and his tone began to grow firm.
He frowned. "You should be very aware of your current body, shouldn't you?"
"If you don't want to die sooner, I advise you not to easily do it with others..."
"There's a time and place for being loose."
Whether out of jealousy or something else, Koma Sha gave a cold snort after speaking and pushed the door open to enter.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what to say.
Just... great, Teacher Minagawa.
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