[TL/N: Read my new work - Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Date A Live World
"Tohka, Yoshino, and Kurumi are all settled, so… who's next?"
Alexander pondered for a moment. The next should be the twin Berserk spirit, right? Witch Spirit or maybe the Sister Spirit.
But where are they?
Alexander racked his brain. In the anime, they didn't appear until Shido went on a school break and traveled. Who knows how long that would take.
"Forget it. For now, let's focus on Kotori. She should be easy to find."
Alexander reviewed the possible locations where Kotori could be: at home, at school, or with Ratatosk. But which one to try first?
As he contemplated his options, a petite figure suddenly bumped into him.
Thud!
"Oof!"
The small figure let out a soft cry, stumbling as though about to fall. Acting on reflex, Alexander swiftly caught her before she hit the ground.
---
At that moment, it was like a scene straight out of a TV drama. Leaves floated down gently from above, and the sound of a melody drifted from a nearby shop.
"You okay?" Alexander asked as he helped steady her.
Standing before him was a stunning girl with long blue hair, a slender figure, fair skin, and delicate features.
The kind of beauty most men dream of—the classic "first love" vibe of the girl-next-door. Yet, Alexander felt something was off. He had an odd sense of déjà vu. Where had he seen her before?
"I-I'm fine. Thank you," the girl said shyly, lowering her gaze. "My name is Shido—uh, I mean, Itsuki Shiori. Thank you for helping me just now."
"Oh, it's nothing, really. Just a small gesture of—wait, 'Itsuki Shiori'?!"
Alexander's voice rose an octave. What the heck?! 'Itsuki Shiori'?!
No one else might know what that name meant, but how could Alexander not know? Shiori… isn't that just Shido cross-dressing?!
"See you later—no, wait, let's never meet again!"
Alexander waved hurriedly and turned to leave. His earlier excitement was now thoroughly extinguished. How ironic that he'd been thinking about this exact scenario. Would the girls in his house laugh if they found out?
Then again, maybe they wouldn't say anything. After all, one thing was clear: Alexander had a weakness for good looks.
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Seeing him leave so abruptly, Shiori panicked.
This can't be happening! I went through so much trouble just to… er, 'save' him. How could he just glance at me and walk away?!
Desperate, Shiori grabbed Alexander's sleeve. "Wait! Don't leave yet. To thank you, I have two tickets to Miku Izayoi's concert. Would you like to go with me?"
Alexander froze. The moment he heard those words, a shiver ran down his spine. Being pulled along like this by someone dressed like that? Goosebumps broke out all over him.
"This is a date, right? It has to be a date! What the heck, I'm a manly man—how could I go on a date with a guy cross-dressing as a girl? No way! I'd rather bend than be bent!!"
"I—reject—wait. Whose concert did you say?"
Alexander turned back to Shiori, suddenly realizing she'd mentioned a name.
"Miku Izayoi," Shiori replied, tilting her head in confusion. "She's supposedly a popular idol."
Shiori clearly didn't follow celebrities much, so the name didn't mean much to her. But for Alexander, it was a different story.
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Miku Izayoi.
The Spirit of Voice. Her real name was Tsukino Yoimachi. Once an idol, she had refused to succumb to the unspoken rules of the industry. For her defiance, she was slandered and ostracized by powerful forces. Even her fans turned their backs on her.
Fans, so-called devotees, could proclaim they'd live and die for their idols, but the moment a scandal hit—true or not—they were the first to abandon ship.
As a result, Miku was blacklisted and subjected to cyberbullying. Heartbroken and unable to even sing anymore, she withdrew entirely. That is, until she met someone—someone who transformed her into a spirit.
Reborn as Miku Izayoi, she rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Under her new name, she regained stardom and became an idol again. But this time, her feelings were different.
The fans who had once abandoned her now clamored around her, chanting her new name. Yet instead of joy, Miku felt only a deep, chilling resentment.
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Alexander's gaze shifted back to Shiori.
A concert by Miku Izayoi…? Now this could get interesting.