[Discontinued] Date A Mysterious Being

Chapter 20 - Maid Café

"Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself, Shidou?"

That night. The instant Shidou left Miku's house, he was scooped up by Fraxinus's transporter device and immediately shown to the briefing room. Waiting for him there was the displeased face of his lady sister, even more oppressive than usual.

"I have brought you dishonor," he said, a cold sweat popping up on his face as he knelt and prostrated himself, still in Shiori mode.

He had been made to sit in the middle of the round table, showered in the gazes of the crew members seated around it. One of the people was Lucas. He felt like a defendant on trial. But with Lucas nearby, the only person on his side of understanding, he felt a little relieved.

"I told you not to lose your temper. Just when the Spirit's likability's about to go up, you say 'I hate you' of all things? 'I reject you'? You've really outdone yourself here."

"B-but," he argued, but was cut off.

"Enough. Kotori." Lucas said, and continued. "I understand why Shidou said that. And to be honest, I would have said the same if I was him. She takes the lives of other people, without caring a tiny bit. She probably doesn't even realize how much impact her actions have on the people around her. And with her 'voice', no one's going to know what happened."

"There was still no need for Shidou to say such things." Kotori told him flatly. "At least, not in that moment."

"Hngh..." Shidou groaned.

"It's true that Izayoi Miku's values diverge from the norm. She'll need some serious education after her power's sealed. But that's exactly why we have to lock away that power as soon as possible, isn't it? Why would you deliberately antagonize her, you cross-dressing pervert?"

"Uh. I'm dressed like this because of you, though." He raised his voice in protest of the absurd abuse, but Kotori paid him absolutely no mind. Although he felt like something wasn't quite clicking here, he decided it wasn't important in the moment and continued, "And, like, you say that, but how were Miku's likability and mood? I didn't hear any alarms through my earpiece at the very least."

"True." Kotori snorted. "Miku's likability and mood didn't drop that far. She was unstable for a second there, maybe because she was surprised at being rejected, but the numbers came right back up."

"See! So then-"

"Yes. There's no problem. If you can beat Miku in the performance contest, hmm?"

"...Haaah." He had only just lifted his head as a sign of defiance, and now his head fell forward once more.

"At any rate." Kotori let out yet another sigh and recrossed her legs. "Now that you've accepted her challenge, we can't change that. We'll take care of your committee work one way or another, so tomorrow, you go and negotiate with the performers and make sure you can get up on that stage."

"Y-you'll help me?"

"Obviously," she snorted, crossing her arms. "What do you think Ratatoskr is even here for? Now that it's come to this, we'll do everything we can to win. Have I made myself clear, crew?"

"""Yes, sir!""" the crew responded as one. (Except Lucas.)

"Huh? Umm..." He rummaged through his memory. He was pretty sure Ai-Mai-Mii had said they were going to be part of it.

"It's a band performance." Lucas told them, and Shidou remembered correctly now.

"Band, hmm? I see. That's good, isn't it? Shidou, You're good at that."

"What?" Shidou cocked his head to one side, not really getting what she was talking about.
Kotori tapped at the console before her to display a video on the large screen set up in the room.