Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

The next morning, inside the Itsuka Residence.

Shido was sitting on the couch, idly watching TV. Beside him, Kotori lounged with a lollipop in her mouth, lazily licking it as she focused on the screen.

The news broadcast displayed footage of the destruction caused by the recent Spatial Quake, with buildings reduced to rubble and entire streets left in ruins. However, what caught Shido's attention was the remarkable speed at which reconstruction had already begun. Workers and machinery were hard at work, and the area was already showing signs of recovery.

Shido blinked in surprise. "That fast?" he muttered.

He had to admit, no matter how many times he saw it, the resilience and efficiency of the people in this world never failed to amaze him.

Shido couldn't help but feel a little guilty about the sheer amount of destruction caused during his battle. Kusakabe was probably dealing with a major headache because of it.

However, he quickly reminded himself that Jessica and her team were the ones who had escalated things to such an extent. It wasn't entirely his fault. 

The media might officially report that the damage was caused by a Spatial Quake, but there were certainly organizations out there who knew the truth about what really happened.

Shido let out a sigh. "Well, at least it's over."

On the bright side, he had completed his quest and received a reward, which helped lift his mood. Not to mention, he had also gained an adorable loli Spirit. Though he wasn't sure what kind of trouble awaited him next, for now, he decided to enjoy this brief moment of peace.

After returning home, Shido helped Tohka move her clothes and belongings into her new apartment. Initially, she was overjoyed at the idea of living in a bigger place, one that was much larger than the Itsuka Residence.

However, her excitement didn't last long. The moment Shido mentioned that he would still be staying at the Itsuka Residence, Tohka's face immediately fell.

"Ehhhh?! No way! That's not fair!"

She puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot in protest. "If you're not moving in too, then I won't go either!"

Shido sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. He should have known this would happen.

After much negotiation, and by negotiation, that meant enduring Tohka's relentless pouting and complaints, he finally compromised.

"Fine, fine! I'll stay over from time to time, okay?"

That answer was enough to make Tohka's face light up instantly.

"Really?! You promise?" She beamed, grabbing his hands excitedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I promise." Shido gave a tired smile, thinking to himself that, in the end, Tohka always got what she wanted.

While moving Tohka's luggage into her new room, Shido and Tohka noticed Yoshino and Yoshinon standing timidly outside the doorway, watching them quietly but not stepping inside.

Shido paused and smiled. "Oh, right. This is a good chance to introduce you two."

Tohka turned her head toward Yoshino, her curiosity piqued. The moment she laid eyes on the shy girl, her eyes sparkled with recognition.

"Oh! You're like me, aren't you? A Spirit!" Tohka said excitedly, stepping closer. "That means we're the same! My name is Yatogami Tohka! Nice to meet you!"

Yoshino flinched slightly at Tohka's enthusiasm but slowly nodded. "U-Um... nice to meet you too, my name is Himekawa Yoshino."

For a moment, everything seemed to be going well, until Yoshinon decided to open her mouth.

"Ohhh~ So you're Tohka, huh? You look strong, but are you as dumb as you look?"

The room went silent.

Tohka's cheerful smile twitched. "What... did you just say?"

"Oh, nothing~" Yoshinon waved a tiny puppet hand playfully. "Just wondering if you're one of those muscle-head types who act before thinking!"

Shido barely had time to react before Tohka's mood did a complete 180. Her expression darkened, her aura flared, and a vein popped on her forehead.

"You little...! Say that again, I DARE YOU!"

And just like that, the two were locked in a heated argument.

Tohka and Yoshinon bickered back and forth, their voices escalating with each word. Yoshino, flustered, kept trying to calm her mischievous puppet down, but it was no use. Meanwhile, Shido just sighed, rubbing his temples.

He had already expected this outcome. Even he felt that Yoshinon had a natural talent for provoking people. If she existed in an RPG, she'd definitely be a top-tier aggro magnet for bosses.

"Alright, that's enough! Break it up, you two!" Shido finally stepped in, putting an end to their childish fight before things spiraled out of control.

Meanwhile, Yoshino, feeling embarrassed by Yoshinon's antics, bashfully bowed her head and apologized to Tohka.

Tohka, however, simply turned away with a sharp "Hmph!" arms crossed, still visibly annoyed by Yoshinon's words.

Shido sighed, bracing himself for another argument, but thankfully, the tension quickly faded when he announced:

"Alright, since this is a special occasion, I'll cook a feast to celebrate your move-in."

The moment those words left his mouth, Tohka's mood did a complete 180. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately forgot all about her irritation.

"Really?! You'll cook a lot, right? A LOT, right?!"

Shido chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I'll make plenty."

With that, the night turned into a joyous dinner celebration. Tohka ate to her heart's content, savoring every bite with pure bliss. She was so focused on eating that she didn't even notice when her face became smeared with sauce.

Shido, watching her with a helpless smile, took a napkin and gently wiped the corners of her mouth. "You're such a messy eater, Tohka."

Tohka paused mid-chew, blinking at him before swallowing her food. Then, with a cheerful laugh, she grinned. "Uhehehe, your cooking is just too delicious!" she said happily, leaning in slightly as Shido gently wiped the crumbs from her mouth.

On his other side, Kotori was completely absorbed in her dessert. Every time she took a bite, her crimson eyes sparkled as if she had just discovered the meaning of life.

Shido sighed, smiling to himself. "Honestly… these girls."

Despite all the chaos, he couldn't help but feel happy seeing them like this.

Meanwhile, Reine ate with quiet grace, taking slow, deliberate bites as she savored the food. Her usual drowsy expression softened even further as she turned her attention to Yoshino, who sat beside her.

Noticing a small stain on Yoshino's face, Reine gently wiped it away with a handkerchief. Her gaze, though calm, flickered with a rare warmth, a quiet maternal love that Yoshino couldn't help but feel deeply.

Yoshino, on the other hand, ate slowly, cherishing this moment. The warmth of Reine's care and the lively atmosphere around her filled her heart with something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Belonging.

For a brief moment, she wanted nothing more than to lean into Reine or Shido's embrace and let her tears fall, but instead, she held them back and chose to smile brightly, genuinely, from the bottom of her heart.

Everything felt warm and joyful, until Yoshinon decided to break the atmosphere by teasing Tohka once again.

Tohka, already on edge from their earlier spat, immediately became agitated. Without missing a beat, she jumped back into another heated bickering session with Yoshinon.

Shido sighed and rubbed his temples. These two were starting to give him a headache.

Meanwhile, Kotori simply laughed, clearly entertained, even throwing Shido a playful look as if to say, 'Good luck handling that, Onii-chan.'

Reine, as expected, remained unfazed, calmly focusing on her meal while continuing to care for Yoshino.

As for Yoshino, though she felt a little awkward about Yoshinon teasing Tohka again, she couldn't help but smile softly. Watching everyone like this, no matter how chaotic, made her feel truly happy.

However, his night didn't end there.

After making sure everyone was asleep, Shido quietly slipped out of the house, leaving a clone in his room to avoid suspicion. He made his way to Origami's apartment, standing outside her door as he hesitated for a brief moment. It was already 11 at night, and after everything that had happened earlier, she was probably exhausted.

'Maybe she's already asleep…'

With that thought, he knocked gently, not expecting much of a response.

But before he could even lower his hand, the door swung open at lightning speed.

A slender hand shot out, grabbed him firmly by the collar, and before he could react, a pair of soft lips pressed against his, forcefully.

Origami had been waiting. Eagerly.

She couldn't supress her desire anymore and she just wanted to be one with him as soon as possible.

Shido didn't resist. Instead, he surrendered himself to her, allowing Origami to take the lead. Without a word, he reached behind him and silently closed the door, sealing them away from the outside world.

That night, the apartment was filled with sounds, soft gasps, rustling sheets, and whispers that melted into the darkness.

...

As soon as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the horizon, Shido bolted from Origami's apartment, flying at top speed toward his room. He couldn't afford to let Kotori or Reine notice anything unusual. If they did, he was sure Kotori's sharp instincts would immediately sniff out that something was off.

Upon reaching home, he swiftly changed into fresh clothes and headed to the kitchen, acting as if nothing had happened. He prepared breakfast, setting the table as the aroma of food filled the air. Kotori, still half-asleep, plopped onto the couch with her lollipop in hand and turned on the TV.

Shido glanced at her, noticing how immersed she was in the news. Taking advantage of the moment, he decided to check his rewards, something he hadn't had the chance to do last night, given how… preoccupied he had been.