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 - Shopping District Date Is an Ice Labyrinth ~Yoshinon, a Cold Farewell
The rain had been falling softly on the Tenkuu City Station shopping arcade since morning.
The eight-hundred-meter covered street was lined with signs in every color. The sweet smell of taiyaki drifted from Tenkuu-ya. The scent of old paper wafted from the used bookstore, Kiryudo. Bitter coffee steam leaked from the café Aoi. Even on a rainy day, this place never lost its foot traffic.
Itsuka Shidou stood at the entrance.
His black, slightly wavy hair hung a little heavier in the damp air. His droopy brown eyes watched the sea of umbrellas. A small piercing—matching his little sister's—sat in his left ear. On the back of his hand, faint kiss marks from the Spirits he had sealed remained.
(A shopping arcade date, huh.)
Shidou muttered inwardly.
Yesterday at the aquarium, the mission had been a disaster—Origami's intrusion and Yoshinon's bombshell remark had wrecked everything. And yet, in the end, Yoshino had smiled, just a little. The moment he saw that smile, something deep in his chest had warmed.
(Today, I'm going to open Yoshino's heart.)
Shidou clenched his fist.
Just then, his phone buzzed. Ratatoskr's dedicated line.
"Shidou. Can you hear me?"
Kotori's voice was in Commander mode.
"Yeah. What's up, Kotori?"
"Yoshino's Spirit energy has grown even more unstable than yesterday. Ratatoskr's observation network is reporting that the Spirit-energy density in the rain clouds above Tenkuu City has exceeded three times the baseline."
Shidou's expression tightened.
"...You're saying she might go out of control."
"Yes. There's a high risk that before the sealing is complete, her power will backflow and run wild. In the worst case, the entire shopping arcade gets frozen solid."
Shidou looked out over the rain-soaked arcade.
A parent and child were happily buying taiyaki. A couple walked under a shared umbrella. Everyone here could be put in danger.
"...Should we call off the operation?"
Shidou asked quietly.
"No. The operation continues. If we abort now, Yoshino's Spirit energy will only grow more unstable. Besides—"
Kotori paused for just a moment.
"You can do this, Shidou. You're the only one who can open Yoshino's heart."
Shidou let Kotori's words sink deep into his chest.
Kotori trusted him more than anyone. He wanted to live up to that trust.
"...Got it. I'll make sure this works."
"I'm counting on you. I'll be monitoring from the Fraxinus. Contact me the moment anything happens."
The call ended.
Shidou slipped his phone into his pocket.
(Yoshino's Spirit energy is near its limit. Even so, I—)
Shidou looked toward the arcade entrance.
Yoshino was standing there.
Her fluffy, light-blue semi-long hair glistened, damp from the rain. Her large lapis-lazuli eyes wavered with unease. She was tiny—barely four foot eight—wearing a yellow raincoat, with a rabbit puppet fitted over her left hand, an eyepatch on its face.
"Yoshino. Good morning."
When Shidou spoke, Yoshino's shoulders jumped.
"...Good morning... to you."
Her voice was so small it nearly vanished into the sound of the rain.
"Oh my, oh my, Shidou. Yoshino checked herself in the mirror three times this morning, you know. She brushed her hair over and over."
Yoshinon said, moving the puppet's mouth.
"Y-Yoshinon!"
Yoshino turned bright red and hugged the puppet tight.
Shidou couldn't help but laugh.
"You never change, do you, Yoshinon."
"Oh, I'll take that as a compliment. Now then, you're going to show us around the arcade today, aren't you? I can't wait."
Shidou nodded and started walking. Yoshino followed half a step behind.
The distance between them was still a little wide.
(Closer than yesterday. But she's still on her guard.)
Shidou glanced at Yoshino. She was shrinking her shoulders, as if frightened by the eyes around them.
"It's fine. It's a weekday, so it's not that crowded. And if anything happens, I'll protect you."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Oh my, protect her, he says. Isn't that wonderful, Yoshino? Shidou's going to protect you."
"...Yoshinon, quiet."
Yoshino covered the puppet's mouth.
The two of them walked into the arcade.
Inside, the sound of the rain felt a little more distant. Shops in every color lined the street, and people came and went.
"Wow... there are so many shops."
Yoshino let out a small voice. Not through the puppet—her own voice.
"Yeah. This is the busiest street in Tenkuu City. Food, clothes, books—they've got everything."
Walking beside Yoshino, Shidou began explaining the shops.
"That one there is Tenkuu-ya, the taiyaki shop. Their red bean paste is famous—there's always a line."
"...Taiyaki."
Yoshino stared at the taiyaki shop's sign.
"Yoshino, do you want taiyaki? Oh my, Shidou, Yoshino's absolutely fascinated by the taiyaki."
"Y-Yoshinon! I didn't say that!"
Yoshino shook her head in a fluster.
Seeing her reaction, Shidou smiled.
"Want to try one? Red bean or custard—which do you want?"
Yoshino timidly looked up at Shidou's face.
"...Red bean."
A tiny voice. But it was clearly her own choice.
Shidou lined up in front of Tenkuu-ya.
Five minutes later, he came back with two piping-hot taiyaki.
"Here. It's hot, so be careful."
Shidou held one out. Yoshino took it in her small hands.
"...Thank you... very much."
Yoshino held the taiyaki in both hands and blew on it, puffing her cheeks.
"...It's delicious."
Her expression lit up all at once.
(Yoshino really is cute when she smiles.)
Shidou muttered inwardly. Then he immediately shook his head.
(No, what am I thinking? This is a mission.)
Shidou pulled himself together and bit into his taiyaki.
"Man, that's hot. But it's good."
"Shidou, are you bad with hot food? How cute."
"S-shut up!"
Shidou's voice cracked with embarrassment. Yoshino giggled.
The two of them walked through the arcade, eating their taiyaki.
Yoshino stopped in front of the used bookstore.
"This is Kiryudo. They deal in old books. They've got picture books, too."
Yoshino gazed toward the back of the shop.
"...That picture book."
Yoshino pointed. In the back of the shop, a picture book about a land of ice was on display.
"Ah, that one. It's like the one you read at the library yesterday."
When Shidou said that, Yoshino gave a small nod.
"Yoshino, do you want that picture book? Shidou, why don't you buy it for her?"
"Y-Yoshinon! That's—I couldn't impose."
Yoshino hurriedly hugged the puppet.
"It's fine. It's cheap."
Shidou stepped into Kiryudo. The elderly shopkeeper looked up from the counter.
"Excuse me, I'd like that picture book."
Shidou pointed at the picture book about the land of ice.
"Ah, that one. It's the story of a girl who wanders into a land of ice. She's lonely, and cold, but in the end it turns warm. It's a good book."
The shopkeeper handed over the picture book.
Shidou held it out to Yoshino.
"Here. It's a present."
Yoshino took the picture book and hugged it tight to her chest.
"...Thank you... very much. I'll... treasure it."
Yoshino's voice was so small it seemed about to melt into the rain.
But Shidou heard it clearly.
(Yoshino's heart is opening, little by little.)
Shidou felt a solid sense of progress.
The two of them reached the small plaza at the center of the arcade.
Several benches were lined up, and a fountain quietly sprayed water. Because of the rain, there were few people around.
"Want to rest here for a bit?"
Shidou sat down on a bench. Yoshino sat beside him.
The distance between them was about a fist's width.
(Close. But not bad.)
Shidou looked at Yoshino's profile. Her light-blue hair, damp from the rain. Her long lashes. Her small nose.
"Yoshino, are you having fun today?"
When Shidou asked, Yoshino looked up at his face.
Her lapis-lazuli eyes gazed straight at him.
"...Yes. Walking with you, Shidou... is fun."
Yoshino said it in her own words.
Not through the puppet—her own voice.
And then, for the first time, Yoshino showed a natural smile.
A rainy-day shopping arcade. Beneath the dimly lit roof, Yoshino's smile was as warm as a patch of sunlight.
Something deep in Shidou's chest gave a throb.
(...This is bad. She's way too cute.)
Shidou screamed inwardly.
"Oh my, what a nice atmosphere. Shidou, your face is bright red, you know?"
Yoshinon said, teasing.
"S-shut up! I'm not red!"
Shidou turned his face away in embarrassment. Yoshino giggled.
"...I want to walk more. With you, Shidou."
Yoshino said in a small voice.
Shidou gently took Yoshino's small hand.
"Yeah. Let's go to lots more places together."
Yoshino gave a small nod.
That was when it happened.
"SHIDOOOOOOOO!!!"
A furious roar echoed from the arcade entrance.
Shidou spun around in a panic.
Standing there was Yatogami Tohka.
Her night-colored hair glistened, wet with rain. Her crystal eyes burned with anger. She was tall, with a stunning figure. Clad in a Princess-type Astral Dress that blended violet armor and gown, she carried a massive greatsword on her shoulder.
The Angel Sandalphon. The strongest weapon of the Spirit Tohka—a single swing could slice a building in two.
"Shidou! Why are you on a date with Yoshino?! When you have me!"
Tohka brandished Sandalphon.
"H-hey, Tohka! Calm down! This is a mission!"
Shidou stood up to shield Yoshino.
"A mission? What mission?! You were on a date with Yoshino behind my back!"
Tears welled in Tohka's eyes.
"No! I told you about this! It's the operation to seal Yoshino!"
"I never heard that! All I saw was you walking happily with Yoshino! My Shidou, with another girl, somewhere I didn't know!"
Tohka's Spirit energy surged.
Sandalphon began to glow red.
"Tohka, please, put the sword down! This is a shopping arcade! There are people everywhere!"
Shidou tried desperately to soothe her.
But Tohka's jealousy and surging Spirit energy wouldn't settle.
"Shidou! Which matters more to you—me, or Yoshino?!"
Tohka shouted.
That was the moment.
Yoshino's body gave a violent shudder.
Tohka's surging Spirit energy had directly struck Yoshino's delicate mind.
"...Ah."
Yoshino's eyes flew wide.
Her lapis-lazuli eyes wavered, losing their light.
"Yoshino, it's all right now."
Yoshinon's voice suddenly turned cold.
Shidou felt a chill run down his spine.
"Humans only ever hurt you. I'll protect you."
Yoshinon whispered.
"Yoshino! Snap out of it! I won't hurt you!"
Shidou shouted.
But his voice no longer reached Yoshino's ears.
The light vanished completely from Yoshino's eyes.
—The next instant.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!!!
The ground of the shopping arcade froze in an instant.
White ice spread outward from her feet.
"UWAAAAAAAH!!!"
"What the—what's going on?!"
People fled in panic.
The sound of shattering glass.
The arcade's display windows froze white from the inside and burst outward.
"Yoshino! Stop! I won't run! I promise!"
Shidou planted his feet on the freezing floor and tried to run to Yoshino.
"Liar. Everyone says that, and in the end they get scared and run away."
Yoshinon shot back coldly.
A barrier of ice expanded around Yoshino.
"Tohka! Your Spirit energy set Yoshino off! Put the sword down!"
Shidou shouted at Tohka.
"I—I was just... I only wanted to be with Shidou..."
Tohka hurriedly dismissed Sandalphon.
But it was already too late.
Yoshino's Spirit energy had gone completely out of control.
Just then, Shidou's phone rang shrilly.
"Shidou! Yoshino's Spirit energy has broken through the danger level! Ratatoskr's observation network is detecting an abnormal Spirit-energy reaction at the Tenkuu City shopping arcade!"
Kotori's voice rang out in Commander mode.
"Kotori! Yoshino's gone out of control! Tohka's Spirit energy set her off!"
Shidou reported the situation.
"Tohka did? ...Damn, that stupid dog! Everyone, prepare for Yoshino's rampage! Support Shidou! Fraxinus, emergency launch!"
Kotori issued an emergency order to Ratatoskr.
"Yoshino! Loo
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