Chapter Twenty-Three: Preparations Before the Date

When he saw the rabbit doll hanging from Origami Tobiichi’s schoolbag, he instantly recognized it as the one that Yoshino had lost.

Su Mo gazed at Origami, quickly extricating himself from Hiroto’s persistent chatter and returning to his seat. He feigned indifference and greeted Origami, “Good morning, Tobiichi!”

“Good morning,” she replied.

Had it been anyone else, Origami would have ignored their greeting without hesitation. Yet Su Mo was different.

Looking at Origami, Su Mo’s gaze drifted to the rabbit doll on her schoolbag, and he casually remarked, “Do you like rabbits, Tobiichi?”

Origami, sensing his attention on the doll, nodded swiftly. “Yes.”

“What a coincidence, haha... I quite like them myself,” Su Mo said, forcing a nervous laugh. Speaking to an ice-cold goddess like Origami was intimidating; he had no idea how to start a conversation, especially since both of them tended to let conversations die an awkward death. “Um... Origami, I really like the rabbit doll you have. Could you give it to me?”

“Of course!” Origami nodded without hesitation, removed the doll from her bag, and just as Su Mo thought he had completed his task, her hand, which had been extended, suddenly pulled back. She spoke, “This is the first time you’ve asked me for something, and it’s the first time I’m giving you something. Such a solemn moment must be properly commemorated.”

“So, Su Mo, are you free tomorrow? It’s the weekend.”

“Huh?” Su Mo opened his mouth, staring at the rabbit doll so close at hand. He felt an urge to snatch it, but the thought of wrestling it from Origami made him shiver. Instead, he nodded instinctively, “I’m free. Why?”

“Then come to my house tomorrow. I’ll give you the rabbit doll myself.” Origami hugged the doll to her chest like a treasured relic, her expressionless face turned directly toward Su Mo.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Go... to Origami’s house?

As this thought took hold, Su Mo’s eyebrow began twitching uncontrollably. For reasons unknown, a sense of foreboding crept into his heart. Hesitant, he turned away and used his communication earpiece to contact Kotori on board Ratatoskr.

“Hey, Kotori, Origami says she’ll only give me the doll if I go to her house,” Su Mo whispered.

“Then just go. It’s not a big deal,” Kotori replied.

“But... couldn’t Ratatoskr sneak into Origami’s house and quietly steal the doll for me?” Su Mo was reluctant, so he pinned his hopes on Kotori.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but that’s impossible!” Kotori replied mercilessly, and after a moment’s pause, she continued, “After we discovered Origami had picked up the doll, we tried to infiltrate her house three times, but every attempt ended in failure. There are infrared alarms, mysterious tear gas sprays, and automatic sentry guns in key areas. Six of our staff have already landed in the hospital. So now it’s all up to you. Good luck, big brother!”

With that, Kotori hung up.

Su Mo was still reeling from Kotori’s words, stunned by the level of security at Origami’s house. Who on earth was she fighting against, to turn her home into something resembling the Pentagon? Even Ratatoskr was helpless.

Of course, there was still the option of blowing the whole place up, but that would cause far too much commotion.

With a sigh of resignation, Su Mo turned back around and, under Origami’s emotionless gaze, forced a smile. “Alright, I’ll do it!”

.........................................

Since tomorrow was Saturday, there was no need to go to school.

At that moment, Tohka came over, her round eyes fixed on him as she announced loudly, “Su Mo, tomorrow is the weekend. Why don’t we go on a date? I haven’t had a soybean flour bun in ages.”

She looked at him with pleading eyes.

“I saw you sneak one yesterday,” Su Mo exposed her lie mercilessly. He suspected Tohka’s invitation was just a ploy for food, since she had no money and wanted him to treat her.

If he hadn’t already made plans to visit Origami’s house, Su Mo would have gladly accompanied Tohka for a feast. Alas, he had obligations tomorrow, so he said, “I have something to do tomorrow. Maybe Kotori and Shizuki can keep you company. Sorry about that.”

“Oh...” Tohka pouted in disappointment.

....................

After school, Origami headed to the AST training base.

This was her daily reporting station. Though not a formal member, she trained diligently every day, determined to confront the spirit who killed her parents.

After a simulated battle at the base, Origami waited for the fatigue of using her arbitrary territory to fade before slowly standing up. Though the Realizer Unit allowed ordinary people to wield immense power, earning them the title of modern magicians, the strain it placed on the body was immense. Each use left her feeling heavy, and the time spent using it could not exceed half an hour, or it would become life-threatening.

To change out of her combat suit, Origami made her way to her locker.

If she used the emergency changing device, she could be dressed in an instant, but that was reserved for urgent situations due to the immense strain it placed on the brain. She rarely used it in daily life.

Upon reaching her locker, Origami found several teammates already there—those who had just participated in the simulated battle with her. She raised her hand in greeting, opened her locker, and took out her clothes and bag.

Some teammates glanced curiously at her belongings.

“Eh? What’s this?” one asked.

A neatly folded maid outfit with lace sat in her bag, alongside mountains of cosmetics.

“Wow, you’ve prepared so much! What are you planning, Origami?” Origami nodded calmly. “I have a date tomorrow.”

Her words prompted shrieks from the young teammates.

“Wow, really? Wait—hold on, I thought Origami was the one woman who would never be conquered by a man—”

“Captain! I propose we inspect Origami Tobiichi’s belongings!”

“Agreed!” Ryoko Kusakabe, AST captain, nodded in approval.

The teammates all crowded around.

Origami offered no objection. She had no intention of hiding her connection to Su Mo; in fact, she wished the whole world to know. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have declared in public that she was Su Mo’s girlfriend. She calmly handed over her bag.

Moments later, the teammates’ eyes, previously sparkling with anticipation, turned confused.

“Um... Origami, this little bottle is...?”

“A computer component to mix into food. Just a drop of energy will increase its power a hundredfold.”

“And this liquid with the pungent smell...?”

“In case of emergency, soak a cloth with it and cover the target’s nose and mouth.”

“These handcuffs and duct tape...?”

“They might come in handy!”

“...Let me confirm, you’re going on a—”

“A date.”

“...”

The entire AST squad fell silent.

Origami, oblivious to their intentions, tilted her head and continued changing clothes.