The next day, due to yesterday's Spatial Quake's "precise demolition" of Raizen High School, the entire school happily received a temporary holiday.
The sun was just right, perfect for an outing (and staking out Spirits).
Koushi pondered that Tohka would silently manifest today, meaning Itsuka Shido's lucky day had arrived!
As a good brother, he absolutely had to create an opportunity for him! And also... watch the show.
He had already arranged to meet Shido and Tonomachi Hiroto early, under the pretense of "a trio's celebratory street stroll for not having school."
"Yo! Shido! How can such a beautiful day be wasted! Let us embark on the grand voyage of conquering the shopping street!"
Koushi placed one hand on his hip and pointed towards the commercial street, his tone as exaggerated as a stage actor's.
"That's right, that's right! Shido, I heard a super awesome crepe shop just opened on the shopping street! And they have a limited edition today!"
Tonomachi Hiroto excitedly chimed in from the side, the two of them going back and forth, a complete idiot duo.
Itsuka Shido covered his face, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"I'm telling you guys... I'm just here to buy groceries..." He sighed helplessly, with obvious dark circles under his eyes.
And so, a scene unfolded on the shopping street: Koushi and Tonomachi Hiroto, those two clowns, walked side by side in front, sometimes exclaiming loudly at models in display windows, sometimes laughing so hard they bent over from boring cold jokes, perfectly embodying "chuunibyou teenagers have more fun."
Following a few steps behind them, Shido looked haggard from lack of sleep, one hand on his forehead, trying to distance himself from the two guys in front who radiated a "I don't know them" aura.
Last night's review meeting... it was torture. Replaying his conversations with Tohka and Chinatsu over and over, being criticized from head to toe by Kotori and that unreliable group of advisors, he barely slept... Shido sighed inwardly, feeling his eyelids fighting to stay open.
"Groceries? Even better!"
Koushi's eyes lit up, and he clapped Shido on the shoulder.
"As the saying goes, 'a clever cook cannot make a meal without ingredients,' the importance of ingredients is self-evident! Let Hiroto and I, your strongest assistants, share this heavy burden!"
"Right, right! We'll help you carry them!" Hiroto nodded immediately, his eyes practically screaming "free meal."
Shido looked at his two "close friends" on either side, one with a sunny smile that hinted at "mischief," the other with a calm expression that conveyed "no refusal allowed," and sighed helplessly.
He had indeed planned to buy ingredients today. Now with two extra "bodyguards" and "meal-scroungers," the plan didn't seem to have deviated too much.
These two guys' intentions were practically written all over their faces.
"...Alright."
He did need to shop, and he also somewhat enjoyed this rare, ordinary moment without having to think about Spirits, Spatial Quakes, or complicated emotions.
He even temporarily put the issues with Chinatsu and Tohka out of his mind.
The trio walked noisily towards the shopping street. Shido calculated the household's food inventory, preparing to replenish some vegetables and meat.
Koushi and Hiroto, meanwhile, debated which flavor of crepe was supreme.
The trio became a small procurement team.
Shido walked ahead, checking off ingredients against his phone list, while Koushi and Hiroto faithfully played the role of bag-carriers, their hands quickly filled with various vegetables, meats, and seasonings.
"Oh! Shido, this beef looks good!"
"Buy a few more potatoes, we can make mashed potatoes with meat sauce!"
"Wow, this fish is so fresh!"
Hiroto was particularly active, constantly offering "suggestions," as if he himself were cooking to entertain guests.
Although Koushi didn't say much, he would simply point to an ingredient and say, "This one's good," when Shido hesitated, with a precision that surprised Shido.
Seeing his two friends so "enthusiastic," Shido's slight helplessness turned into warmth.
Although he knew they were most likely after tonight's dinner, this everyday scene of friends bickering and shopping together indeed alleviated his tension and fatigue of the past few days.
Meanwhile, in an exquisitely decorated dessert shop, Itsuka Kotori was contentedly scooping a spoonful of pancake covered in strawberries and cream, while Murasame Reine sipped her black coffee in small mouthfuls.
"Mmm~ Holidays are truly the best."
Kotori narrowed her eyes, enjoying the pleasure brought by sugar.
"Let's temporarily forget about those troublesome Spirits and DEM Industries."
Reine softly "hmm"-ed, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd outside the window, but a hint of imperceptible worry still lingered deep in her eyes.
On Shido's side, he was carrying the freshly bought vegetables, listening to Koushi and Hiroto's meaningless debate about "whether corn should be added to croquettes," while enjoying this hard-won peace.
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