Agreement

Though a powerful urge to retaliate surged within her, the thought of the girl’s identity and the two voices she’d just heard made her hesitate.

Yisha took a step back, widening the distance between herself and the white-haired girl.

True to her reputation as the AST’s most skilled operative in Tengu City, Yisha’s keen eyes caught the girl’s hand emerging from beneath her skirt as she retreated. A weapon, she surmised, was likely concealed there.

‘To be struck twice in the abdomen and still retain consciousness and the ability to reach for a weapon? A truly formidable opponent.’

Yisha continued her retreat, ensuring ample space between herself, the girl, and Shido. As she distanced herself, she couldn’t help but notice the girl’s gaze fixed solely on Shido, her eyes filled with such profound concern that Yisha felt an inexplicable pang of jealousy.

“Thank goodness, Origami. I’m so relieved I stopped Yisha. Are you alright?”

The young man, wiping away the cold sweat that had beaded on his forehead from fear, rushed to the girl’s side, his face etched with worry.

The girl’s azure eyes, as vast and clear as the sky, remained fixed on Yisha with wary intensity. Only when Yisha raised her hands in a gesture of surrender did the girl’s delicate form relax, collapsing gracefully into the young man’s embrace.

“It hurts terribly. I might need to go to the hospital.”

Origami’s voice was so faint it was almost imperceptible. Shido had to lean in, his ear nearly touching her lips, to catch her words.

“Don’t worry, I’ll call an ambulance to get you there immediately.”

He swiftly pulled out his phone and began dialing for emergency services. Yet, before the call could even connect, the device was abruptly snatched from his grasp.

“There’s no need. We’ll handle the emergency care ourselves.”

Yisha ended the call with a decisive tap, her gaze sweeping down at Origami, who met her stare with an equally defiant glare.

“Dancer, this is none of your concern.”

Truth be told, had it not been for their recent skirmish, Origami would never have unmasked her opponent’s identity so swiftly.

Six months prior, Yisha had made a singular appearance in Tengu City. Origami, the girl selected to dance at that time, had been the one to confront her. As the most formidable close-combat specialist within the Tengu City AST, Origami had, quite naturally, delivered a direct punch to Yisha’s face.

Their close-quarters battle had concluded with Yisha taking a punch to the chest, while Origami sustained a collapsed chest and a fractured calf. Given the intimate nature of their fight, and the Dancer’s renowned ability to nullify any spatial domain, no one else dared to intervene. Even a brave young woman who rushed in was swiftly incapacitated by a kick to the face from Yisha, effectively deterring any further involvement.

It wasn’t Yisha’s appearance that had allowed Origami to recognize her. Instead, it was the distinctive fighting style—targeting meridians, seizing vital points, and paralyzing the body to render an opponent utterly defenseless—that had left an indelible impression.

Had Origami encountered such a fighting technique before, she wouldn’t have suffered such a crushing defeat.

“Are you certain? While you might have endured those two blows, numerous nerves were assaulted. Are you truly confident you can still walk, let alone contend with potential internal bleeding?”

“Tch!”

Origami clicked her tongue in irritation.

Indeed, Yisha’s words rang true. A searing pain now consumed her abdomen. While her initial collapse into Shido’s arms had been partly intentional, the intense abdominal agony had also genuinely threatened to bring her to her knees.

“Michael!”

As the girl’s call echoed, a verdant moon-wheel materialized behind her head. Origami gazed at her, and though her face remained obscured by a mask, that particular Angel was instantly recognizable to anti-Spirit forces across the globe.

“Nurse!”

Yina offered no verbal response. Instead, she transformed the moon-wheel into a cascade of bandages, then, with the practiced hands of a physician, began to meticulously wrap Origami’s injured areas.

During the process, Yisha, under the pretense that the bandages needed direct skin contact, deftly lifted Origami’s clothing just below her chest. Concurrently, her safety shorts were discreetly lowered a touch. This exposed almost the entirety of Origami’s waist, presenting Yisha with a tantalizing expanse of pale, delicate skin. Her gaze lingered, particularly on the faint glimpse of a white bra visible through the fabric and the subtle hint of black lace panties peeking out from below.

Initially, Yisha had instructed Shido to avert his gaze. Origami, after all, was a young woman; how could she be so exposed in front of a boy?

Yet, swayed by Origami’s words, Shido eventually turned, his eyes taking in the revealing sight.

“I don’t trust any of you. You are Spirits, and Shido is human. He will observe you to ensure you don’t attempt anything untoward. If you refuse to let him watch, I would rather go to the hospital and expose your presence.”

Ultimately, Origami agreed to accept treatment, promising not to disclose the day’s events. This concession was secured by Yisha, who offered a future opportunity for Shido and Origami to go on a private outing.

‘Why would you use me as a bargaining chip?’

Shido’s anger flared.

‘Because this girl is clearly interested in you. Targeting a person’s interests is fundamental to any negotiation.’

Yisha shrugged, her expression utterly innocent.

‘That’s not the point! Why am I being used as a bargaining chip? Don’t I have any human rights?’

Shido’s eyes blazed with fury, and the very air around them seemed to grow noticeably warmer.

‘Should I call your sister to sort this out? I had to exert considerable effort just to get her to agree to this condition.’

Yisha gestured upwards, her gaze instinctively darting away.

‘Look at me and say that again! Don’t you dare look away!’

Their silent exchange concluded, leaving Shido utterly distraught. His relationship with Origami was already a tangled knot after yesterday’s events, and now Yisha’s latest stunt had only complicated matters further. How was he ever going to explain this to Origami?

In a brief lull during the healing, Yisha subtly cast a glance at Shido. Observing his utterly distraught expression, the girl’s mood inexplicably brightened.

Regardless, the notion of her going on an inexplicable date with someone she barely knew was preposterous. Even if Yisha were on her deathbed, she likely wouldn’t agree, much less when it was merely a transaction.

Thus, with a mischievous inclination to exploit any opportunity, the girl sealed this peculiar agreement with Origami.

The healing process was remarkably swift. In a mere three minutes, Origami distinctly felt her injuries mend. However, a lingering question remained: why did she now feel utterly drained of stamina?

“Normally, Zadkiel’s healing works by stimulating your cells to accelerate their regeneration. I shouldn’t have to explain what cellular proliferation demands, should I?”

The verdant bandages seamlessly integrated into her body. Confirming the completion of the treatment, Yina decisively tore off the remaining strips she held.

The unused bandages then reverted to their original form, a luminous moon-wheel, which once again hovered serenely behind Yina’s head.

“Nurse, so you truly appear alongside the Dancer?”

Origami scrutinized Yina, attempting to discern any hidden meaning in her gaze. Yet, all she found was an expression as placid and unreadable as an undisturbed pool.

“You are Origami Tobiichi of the AST, aren’t you? I trust you will uphold your promise.”

Yina offered a respectful bow, making her request.

The girl watched her, a flood of information concerning the Nurse suddenly resurfacing in her mind.

Her initial manifestation occurred in a city ravaged by a widespread plague. The entire metropolis had been placed under lockdown. While medical Realizers had saved countless lives, the plague’s infectiousness had far surpassed all predictions. Even with masks and strict home confinement, its spread was only mitigated, and the devices proved incapable of eradicating it entirely.

On that fateful day, when the Spatial Quake alarm blared across the city, despair gripped nearly everyone. Seeking refuge in the designated shelters meant an inevitable surge in the number of infected individuals.

Yet, encountering a Spatial Quake meant instant annihilation, whereas the plague merely prolonged the inevitable march towards death.

Consequently, the citizens erupted in an unprecedented riot. While most infected individuals were isolated in hospitals, it was inevitable that some remained undetected outside. Moreover, for those near hospitals, reaching alternative shelters in time became an impossible feat.

Many chose to remain confined to their homes, refusing to venture outside, for the very nature of a Spatial Quake was its unpredictable randomness.

Even the local anti-Spirit forces had begun to despair, their ranks decimated by nearly half due to the plague. Previously, a single Spirit could prove a formidable challenge for an entire team; now, with only half their strength, victory seemed an impossible dream.

Then, the Spatial Quake struck.

They materialized in the sky, yet brought not the slightest hint of destruction to the city below.

Subsequently, beneath her Angel’s benevolent light, all who were bathed in its radiance were cured, utterly free of any lingering after-effects.

An astonishing idea sparked in the mind of the anti-Spirit forces’ captain: she proposed an agreement with the Spirit. They would not seek to eliminate her, but instead provide for all her needs. In return, the Spirit would resolve the devastating plague.

Ultimately, this unprecedented turn of events sent shockwaves across the globe.

Spirits were universally perceived as beings of destruction and ruin, their Angels born solely for slaughter. This belief had become an almost undisputed global consensus.

Yet, at this very moment, a Spirit emerged who displayed benevolence towards humanity, shattering all preconceived notions. Consequently, people everywhere began to ponder a profound question: could the formidable power of Spirits perhaps be harnessed for their own benefit?

Nurse—this became the Spirit’s codename. Following innumerable discussions and analyses of real-world cases, all anti-Spirit forces worldwide eventually received a singular directive.

If the manifesting Spirit was the Nurse, then even if she caused structural damage, they were not to engage in combat. Instead, their orders were to switch to surveillance, closely monitoring her to ensure she committed no other acts detrimental to humanity.

Origami offered a soft nod, signifying her commitment to the agreement. At this, Yina beamed, and even though only her eyes were visible, everyone sensed the warmth of her smile.

The girl attempted to rise from Shido’s embrace, but seemingly due to a drastic depletion of her stamina, her legs wavered, and she stumbled back into his arms once more.

“Origami!”

“It’s likely just physical weakness. Take me home.”

In stark contrast to Shido’s flustered demeanor, Origami’s tone remained remarkably placid. Nevertheless, her faint voice had successfully conveyed her unspoken message to him.

“But…”

Shido glanced at Yisha, hesitating.

“Ah, Miss Tobiichi, let’s just go our separate ways. We shouldn’t be a third wheel here—oof! Ugh…”

With a slight lift of her mask, Yisha’s right arm wrapped around Yina’s neck, clamping a hand firmly over her mouth. Yisha smiled, gesturing with her left hand for them to depart safely.

“I think it would be best if Shido took her home quickly. As the only gentleman here, Shido should properly fulfill the duty of escorting a young lady home.”

“Right, I’m off then.”

Watching the departing young man, Yisha sighed inwardly. Before any sentimentality could take hold, however, a certain imp needed to pay for her actions.

“Yina, darling, can you tell me why?”

The tone was impossibly gentle, yet Yina, held tightly by the neck and waist, felt her life might well be forfeit.

“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”

“Yes, I suppose I should release your mouth first. Now, you should carefully consider what your very first words will be once you regain your freedom of speech. Otherwise, hmm?”

Yisha loosened her grip on Yina’s mouth, but to prevent any further mischief from the little imp in her arms, she moved her hand to Yina’s armpit.

“Anything you’d like to say? Do tell. My Yina would never administer hallucinogens, would she?”

The tone grew even softer, but Yina distinctly felt the pressure from the fingers on her armpit and waist intensify.

“Th-that… Eek!!!”

“I told you, didn’t I? To consider your first words carefully. If you can’t offer a satisfactory explanation for all this, then I’ll have to ask you a few questions myself, won’t I, Yina?”

A warm breath ghosted against her ear from the small mouth, and with the words came another surge of pressure from the fingers. Yina, firmly grasped, instantly felt her ability to resist vanish.

Through years of constant companionship, Yina had grown intimately familiar with Yisha, and in turn, Yisha had learned Yina’s every vulnerability, including the precise locations of her ticklish spots.

“I, I… I just wanted to…”

Yina averted her face, refusing to look at her, but it was useless. Yisha had no intention of letting her off the hook.

“Wanted what?”

With a firm hand, Yisha twisted Yina’s head back, their gazes locking.

“Wanted—”

Feeling the heat so close, Yina’s vision began to blur.

“That medicine wasn’t supposed to have that effect! It was meant to help you and Itsuka relax, but I don’t know what it touched, and it turned into a hallucinogen!”

The girl’s face puffed up with annoyance, resembling a pufferfish.

Yisha considered poking it, but given Yina’s current mood, she decided against it.

“Alright, can we just calm down now?”

Understanding the reason, Yisha immediately raised a white flag, requesting a truce. However, a truce always required mutual agreement.

“Why? You go out getting hurt every day, then come back expecting me to heal you. Have you ever considered how I feel? Do you know how terrified I’ve been seeing you collapse recently? You only have one life, why do you keep doing this?!”

Yina’s fists repeatedly struck Yisha’s chest. The force was light, typical of a young girl’s strength, yet her heart was far from calm.

“But you know, don’t you? Our objective, our enemy, our ultimate goal. How can I not do these things?”

“But what about me? Have you considered…”

Her words abruptly ceased, and the girl’s eyes widened involuntarily.

Yisha embraced her, not a polite hug, but one so tight there was barely any space between them. Every scent of shampoo, body wash, and even their breaths were clear. Yina could even feel the beat of Yisha’s heart.

“I have considered it. But I cannot bring myself not to do it. I have no choice. The contract demands it, the promise demands it, and for all of you, it demands it too.”

Yina could feel Yisha’s body trembling. She, too, was afraid. The Eurasian Great Disaster had already served as a stark demonstration of their enemy’s immense power.

The information available to them was so scarce. Every encounter with it was approached with the expectation of death.

“Please, don’t push yourself so hard, okay? They’re safe now. So, promise me, witness this new era with them, can you?”

There was no response. Yina knew Yisha wouldn’t reply, for she disliked promises without certainty.

“At least, no matter what, please remember that I’m still by your side.”

The embrace tightened further. Yina smiled contentedly, involuntarily holding the girl in her arms.

This was her sister, and the promise just made—Yisha would remember it, and Yina herself was determined to fulfill it. She had to.

[Ahem, as much as I hate to interrupt, we’ve had quite enough of this PDA. Can you two let go now?]

The voice from a phone in a pocket shattered their peaceful moment. Both reacted instantly, separating as if nothing had happened.

“Hello? What is it? Speak quickly.”

Yisha retorted, annoyed. To have an outsider interrupt a family conversation—it was fortunate it was her, or she might have gone berserk.

“Why don’t you come to my place for dinner tonight? It’s hearty and delicious.”

“No n—”

“And the item you’re trading for will be given to you.”

“Location. Arrive before five PM.”