Chapter Thirty-Seven: So, Make a Pact with Me (Desperately Need Recommendation Votes!)

Standing on the rooftop of Raizen High School, Su Mo leaned against the railing and gazed up at the sky. The brilliant blue above was utterly cloudless, and the searing midsummer sun fell upon him, casting a stark black shadow at his feet.

It was break time, so the whole school was filled with a cacophony of voices. However, the rooftop was secluded enough that almost no one ever came here. At this moment, only Su Mo and Kurumi Tokisaki stood on the rooftop.

Su Mo turned to look at Kurumi Tokisaki, who wore a smile on her lips and approached with light, almost dancing steps.

“My, my, didn’t you say you’d show me around the school, Su Mo? Why did you bring me here instead? Although, it is rather quiet—and there’s not a soul around. If someone tried to do something to me in a place like this, with my feeble strength as a delicate girl, I’d be utterly unable to resist,” Kurumi licked her lips and let out a coquettish laugh, as though deliberately tempting Su Mo into doing something improper.

Of course, anyone foolish enough to take her for a helpless girl would surely meet a miserable end.

Su Mo fixed her with a piercing gaze, his tone impatient. “I’m not in the mood for your guessing games. Since you’ve already admitted you’re a spirit, I’m curious—what are you doing here?”

Kurumi was dangerous, but Su Mo was hardly lacking in confidence.

Through his arrangements, the Ratatoskr airship was concealed high in the sky, ten thousand meters above, ready to provide both offense and retreat. Even if things turned dire, Fraxinus could retrieve him at any moment. This was precisely why he’d chosen the rooftop for their meeting. Moreover, under his orders, Tohka and Yoshino were on standby, prepared to act the moment Kurumi made a move. If she did, he would not hesitate to attack.

Indeed, Kurumi was formidable, but their side was hardly weak. With Tohka and Yoshino alongside him, it was the combined power of three spirits, and Ratatoskr’s crew stood firmly in support. While capturing Kurumi might prove difficult, defeating her shouldn’t be impossible.

In the anime, even exalted magicians like Mana, equipped with manifestation devices, had slain countless Kurumi clones. There was no reason to believe that all of them together couldn’t overcome her. And Ratatoskr, for all its oddballs, was not to be underestimated; their abilities rivaled the spirits themselves.

“My, Su Mo, you really do cut straight to the point. Who starts by interrogating a lady so bluntly?” Kurumi giggled, her eyes glittering with mischief. “If you must know my purpose, then of course it’s all for you. After all, I’m simply enamored with you, Su Mo. Just thinking of your gentleness makes my whole body tremble with a passion that fills me to the brim.”

Saying this, Kurumi’s expression became one of intoxicated delight, and a rare blush colored her usually pale cheeks.

Yet Su Mo only responded with a cold laugh. “Save that talk for someone who’d believe it.”

It wasn’t that Su Mo lacked compassion, but it depended on the target.

He knew almost everything about Kurumi Tokisaki, and that very knowledge told him just how dangerous she was. In all of the Date A Live saga, she was the only spirit whom the protagonist failed to seal, a testament to her elusiveness.

Besides, this was their first meeting; he hardly believed his charm could reach such heights that a spirit would fall for him at first sight. His skepticism was written plainly across his face.

“Your words wound me, Su Mo, but I’ll forgive you. No matter how many times you hurt me, I will always, always forgive you.” Kurumi pouted, her smile undiminished as she slowly drew closer, pressing herself against Su Mo’s chest in a teasing embrace. Her arms wrapped around him, and she whispered, “Ah, that’s the scent I remember. How wonderful—it’s so good to see you again.”

Taken aback by Kurumi’s sudden embrace, Su Mo stiffened, his expression turning awkward.

Meanwhile, aboard the airship, Kotori and Tohka watched the scene unfold.

“Damn it, she’s taking advantage of Su Mo!” Tohka gritted her teeth, her displeasure written all over her face. “Truly the most wicked spirit! Kotori told me she was evil, and now I believe it.”

Kotori nodded. Though she disliked seeing anyone hugging her brother, as the commander she remained the very picture of calm reason—though her expression betrayed a hint of unease. “This spirit, code-named Nightmare, seems a bit different from the descriptions. And judging by their actions, could it be that she and Su Mo have met before?”

Just then, Reine Murasame, standing at the control console, interjected, “Kotori, have you noticed something else?”

“What is it?” Kotori asked.

Reine manipulated the controls. In this world, the technology was advanced enough to grant ordinary people magician-like powers, and the airship Fraxinus itself was a marvel of another era. The device Reine used now could scan a spirit’s emotional fluctuations—effectively measuring their affection level.

After scanning Kurumi, Reine reported, “This spirit’s affection for Su Mo is consistently at maximum.”

“That’s impossible!” Kotori was stunned. Did this mean Kurumi Tokisaki’s favorability toward Su Mo was off the charts?

...

Elsewhere, Origami Tobiichi had already confirmed Kurumi’s identity as a spirit from the AST files.

The realization that a spirit was hiding in their class—especially one drawing close to Su Mo—filled Origami with unease. She feared Kurumi would harm him, and upon learning they were together, she grew so anxious that she hurried to the locker room, donned her manifestation device, and rushed to the rooftop.

Back on the rooftop, Su Mo was still reeling from Kurumi’s sudden embrace. As he was about to push her away, Kurumi released him first, stepping back and fixing him with an intense gaze.

“I’ve decided,” she declared, “from now on, Su Mo belongs to me alone.” Her shadow began to spread, dark tendrils quickly enveloping the entire rooftop. “Su Mo, be with me. This time, I won’t ever let you leave. You’re mine.”

Startled by Kurumi’s sudden transformation, Su Mo hastily retreated, his Summergate Edi sword materializing in his hand, his expression wary. “What are you trying to do?”

“What else but claim you for myself? You’re such a heartbreaker, Su Mo—if I don’t keep you close, who knows when you’ll run off again?” Kurumi’s eyes gleamed with playful intent. “So, make a contract with me.”