A date with a Spirit... and her puppet. Seven days to thaw a frozen heart.
Shidou Itsuka has sealed the powers of Spirits before—but never one quite like Yoshino Himekawa. Shy to the point of silence, the gentle Spirit speaks only through Yoshinon, the irreverent rabbit puppet on her left hand. And Yoshinon? She's not impressed.
With a localized rain cloud parked stubbornly over Tengu City and the forecast calling for seven straight days of downpour, Shidou has one week to win over both the gi
Date A Live IF: A Do-Over Date With Yoshino - The Distance Across the Fish Tank and Yoshinon's Bombastic Declaration
The rain had been falling since morning in front of the Tengu Aquarium.
Itsuka Shidou held his umbrella and gazed at the girl standing before the entrance. Water-blue hair. A yellow raincoat. In her left hand, a rabbit puppet wearing an eyepatch. Himekawa Yoshino—the Spirit girl he'd made a promise with at the library yesterday.
When Yoshino noticed Shidou, she gave a small bow. Her lapis-blue eyes wavered with unease.
"Morning, Yoshino. Glad you came."
"...Good morning."
Her voice was so small it nearly vanished into the sound of the rain. Shidou stepped up beside her.
"Oh my, Shidou. Looking handsome again today. Yoshino here checked herself in the mirror three times this morning, you know."
"Y-Yoshinon!"
Yoshino turned bright red and clutched the puppet to her chest. Shidou couldn't help but laugh.
"You never change, do you."
"Oh, I'll take that as a compliment. Now then, shall we go? I'm so looking forward to the aquarium."
Shidou nodded and started walking. Yoshino followed half a step behind.
The Tengu Aquarium sat in the heart of Tengu City. With eight hundred thousand visitors a year, it was one of the city's landmarks. Adult admission was eighteen hundred yen. Its giant tanks were famous, and on holidays it bustled with families.
But today was a weekday morning. The entrance was nearly deserted.
"I'll go buy the tickets, so wait here for me."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino gave a small nod. He headed for the ticket machine.
(Now then. Today's mission is to have a good time with Yoshino. And to keep Yoshinon in a good mood.)
Shidou repeated Kotori's instructions in his head. Yoshino could only hold a conversation through her puppet, Yoshinon. If Yoshinon didn't take a liking to Shidou, Yoshino wouldn't open up either.
(Get along with the puppet, huh. That's a pretty tough mission.)
Shidou bought two tickets and returned to Yoshino.
"Here, let's go."
When he held out the ticket, Yoshino took it in her small hands. Her fingertips were trembling faintly.
"Um... are there... a lot of people?"
Yoshino glanced past the entrance. It was less crowded than a holiday, but there were still parents with children and couples inside.
"It's fine. It's a weekday, so it's not that crowded. Besides, if anything happens, I'll protect you."
Shidou said it while looking into Yoshino's eyes. Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
"Oh my, protect you, he says. Isn't that wonderful, Yoshino? Shidou's going to protect you."
"...Yoshinon, quiet."
Yoshino covered the puppet's mouth. Shidou gave a wry smile and headed for the entrance.
When the automatic doors slid open, a cool breeze washed over them. The smell of water. A faint hint of chlorine. The interior was dim, with blue light flickering everywhere.
"Wow..."
Yoshino let out a tiny gasp. Light pouring down from the ceiling reflected off the tank water, casting wave patterns across the floor.
"Beautiful, right? I like this place too."
When Shidou spoke, Yoshino gave a small nod. Her expression seemed to soften, just a little.
"Yoshino, look, there are jellyfish over there. So floaty and cute."
Yoshinon pointed at the tank with the puppet's hand. Yoshino timidly drew closer.
Inside the tank, translucent jellyfish drifted slowly up and down. Bathed in the blue light, they looked almost magical.
"...Beautiful."
Yoshino murmured softly. Not through the puppet—her own voice. It was quiet, as if melting into the blue light of the tank.
Shidou looked at Yoshino's profile. The tank's light illuminated her water-blue hair, making it sparkle. Long eyelashes. A small nose. Lips parted just slightly.
(...She's cute.)
Shidou muttered inwardly. Then he immediately shook his head.
(No, what am I thinking? This is a mission. A mission.)
Shidou pulled himself together and stood beside Yoshino.
"Do you like jellyfish?"
"...Yes. They're floaty and pretty."
Yoshino nodded slightly. Watching her profile, Shidou wondered how to keep the conversation going.
"Shidou, did you know? Yoshino borrowed a jellyfish picture book from the library once. She's been wanting to come to the aquarium ever since."
"Th-that's..."
Yoshino hurriedly hugged the puppet. Even her ears were red.
"Oh, no need to be shy. Shidou, Yoshino was so excited last night she could barely sleep. She even got up thirty minutes early this morning."
"Yoshinon, stop..."
Yoshino protested in a small voice. Shidou couldn't help but laugh.
"I see. So you were looking forward to it. That makes me happy."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino glanced up at him. The moment their eyes met, she flustered and looked away again.
"...Yes."
Her voice was truly tiny. But Shidou heard it clearly.
The two of them walked slowly through the aquarium. Colorful tropical fish. A huge ray. A moray eel hiding in the rocks. Yoshino took her time looking at each tank.
"Hey, look at that. Clownfish."
When Shidou pointed, Yoshino brought her face close to the tank.
"...They're small. Cute."
The corners of Yoshino's mouth loosened, just a little. Shidou didn't miss that change.
(Yes. She's relaxing, bit by bit.)
Shidou pumped his fist in his mind.
That was when it happened.
"Oh my, you two look like you're having quite a lot of fun. Just like a couple."
Yoshinon suddenly said that. Shidou's heart skipped a beat.
"A c-couple..."
"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Shidou, your face is bright red. Are you that happy to be on a date with Yoshino?"
"Sh-shut up! It's nothing like that!"
Shidou's voice cracked. For a high schooler with zero romantic experience, this kind of teasing was bad for the heart.
"Hmm. But Yoshino's hand has been looking like it wants to hold yours this whole time. Have you noticed, Shidou?"
"Yoshinon!"
Yoshino turned bright red and squeezed the puppet tight. Shidou looked at Yoshino's hand. A small hand. White, slender fingers. Sure enough, it was hovering near his own, trembling slightly as if it had nowhere to go.
(Hold hands?)
Shidou swallowed hard.
(No, wait. This is a mission. Holding hands so Yoshino doesn't get anxious in the crowd is a rational decision.)
Shidou told himself that. Then he slowly reached out.
"...Here. So we don't get separated in the crowd."
When Shidou held out his hand, Yoshino's shoulders gave a startled jump. Her lapis eyes darted back and forth between his hand and his face.
"...Um."
"It's okay if you don't want to. I won't force you."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino shook her head.
"...I don't... mind."
Yoshino timidly touched Shidou's hand. Her fingertips trembled faintly. Cold. But somehow, that coldness was pleasant.
Yoshino's small fingers gently wrapped around Shidou's hand.
"Oh my, they're holding hands. Isn't that nice, Yoshino? Shidou's hand is warm, isn't it?"
"...Yeah."
Yoshino nodded slightly. Her voice melted not into the rain, but into the sound of bubbles from the tank.
Shidou squeezed her hand back. Soft. And cold. But she was definitely here.
(...This is bad. My heart's starting to race.)
Shidou felt his heartbeat quicken. This was a mission. It was supposed to be a mission.
"Shidou, your hand's really sweaty. Are you that nervous?"
"What! N-no! It's just, uh, because it's hot!"
Shidou felt like his face was on fire. Yoshino let out a small giggle.
"...Shidou, you're funny."
Yoshino laughed softly. The moment he saw that smile, something burst open deep in Shidou's chest.
(Ah, damn. She's cute.)
Shidou cursed inwardly. But the curse was somehow sweet.
Still holding hands, the two of them stood before the giant tank.
The Tengu Aquarium's centerpiece: a massive tank holding eight hundred tons of water. Eight meters tall, twenty meters wide—and beyond the enormous glass, thousands of fish swam. A large shark. A school of sardines. A manta ray gliding gracefully.
"...Amazing."
Yoshino looked up at the tank. Her lapis eyes reflected the blue light, shining like jewels.
"Right? This is the best part."
Shidou stood beside Yoshino. Still holding her hand.
"...Beautiful."
Yoshino murmured softly. Not through the puppet—her own voice. There was no trace of the unease from before.
Shidou looked at Yoshino's profile. The tank's light illuminated her cheeks. Her expression was utterly peaceful.
"...Yeah. Beautiful."
Shidou said it while looking at Yoshino, not the tank. Yoshino noticed his gaze and tilted her head.
"...Shidou?"
"Huh? Oh, no, the fish! I meant the fish are beautiful!"
Shidou hurriedly turned his eyes back to the tank. Yoshino giggled again.
"Oh my, Shidou, were you staring at Yoshino? You can be honest. Yoshino doesn't seem to mind at all."
"Yoshinon, stop..."
Yoshino hugged the puppet. But her lips were smiling.
Shidou screamed internally.
(Damn it, Yoshinon. Always butting in.)
But he'd gotten to see Yoshino smile, so... maybe it was fine.
That was when it happened.
"Oh my, is playing couple fun? But Yoshino, even this guy doesn't seriously care about you—"
Yoshinon's voice suddenly turned cold. Shidou felt a chill run down his spine.
"Yoshinon, stop..."
Yoshino's voice trembled. The light faded from her lapis eyes.
"I mean, it's true, isn't it? This guy's just like everyone else. He'll be scared of you and run away, guaranteed. He's being nice now, but sooner or later his true nature will show."
"Th-that's not..."
Yoshino shook her head. But her voice was so frail it seemed about to vanish into the rain.
"What's not? Yoshino, you don't know anything about this guy, do you? And yet you're holding hands and getting all full of yourself. How stupid."
"Stop..."
Yoshino's eyes welled with tears. And then—
Crack.
A white line shot across the tank's glass.
"What—"
Shidou's eyes went wide. The glass of the tank was beginning to freeze white from the inside.
(This is bad! Yoshino's spirit energy is destabilizing!)
Shidou gripped Yoshino's hand tight.
"Yoshino, look at me."
Yoshino kept staring at the tank, trembling. Yoshinon's voice spun round and round in her head.
"See? Look. The tank is freezing because of you. You hurt people, just like I said. Who could ever love someone like you?"
"...Stop."
Tears spilled from Yoshino's eyes. The ice on the tank spread further.
(No good. At this rate, Yoshino's spirit energy will go out of control.)
Shidou stepped in front of Yoshino, blocking her view of the tank.
"Yoshino. Look at me."
Shidou placed his hands on both her shoulders. Her body was cold as ice.
"I won't hurt you. I promise."
Shidou looked straight into Yoshino's eyes. Her lapis eyes wavered.
"I'm not scared of you. I won't run away. So look at me. Not the tank—me."
Yoshino's gaze slowly turned toward Shidou.
"...Shidou."
Yoshino's voice was trembling. But her eyes definitely reflected him.
"That's right. I'm right here. So it's okay."
Shidou wrapped both hands around Yoshino's. Cold hands. But warmth was slowly returning.
The ice on the tank began to melt.
"...Hmph. Not bad."
Yoshinon muttered quietly. There was no coldness in that voice anymore.
Yoshino squeezed Shidou's hand back.
"...I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. I should be the one saying sorry. You were suffering, and I didn't notice."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino shook her head.
"...It's not your fault, Shidou."
Yoshino's voice was still small. But there was definite will behind it.
Shidou gently stroked Yoshino's head. Her water-blue hair was soft as silk.
"Thank you, Yoshino."
Yoshino nodded slightly.
That was when it happened.
"Itsuka Shidou."
Shidou thought his heart was going to leap out of his chest. He turned around to find a girl with a white bob cut standing there.
Tobiichi Origami. Second-year at Raizen High. Shidou's classmate, a member of the JSDF's Anti-Spirit Team, AST. And a girl who expressed her affection for Shidou in ways no ordinary person could comprehend.
"O-Origami!? What are you doing here!?"
Shidou's voice cracked. Origami looked expressionless
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