-------Shidou POV-------

---a few minutes ago---

"Are you ready, Shidou?"

Hearing Kotori's question, Shidou looked up at the main screen one last time.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.

Shidou looked at Kotori with determined eyes, and clenched fists.

"I'm ready!"

Kotori nodded with a wry smile.

her smile wasn't as confident as before, but that was enough to let him know that she was feeling nervous.

No matter how strict Kotori commander-mode is, how can she abandon her Onii-chan.

Looking at his little sister, Shidou replied with a smile and gently pat Kotori's head.

"Everything will be okay."

Shidou spoke softly to Kotori as he patted her head.

Surprised by Shidou's action, Kotori's face quickly turned red like her hair color.

But at that moment, Reine spoke up.

"Shin, hurry up and go to the teleportation platform, we'll get you as close to Rimuru as possible within a safe distance."

"Ah, thank you, Reine," Shidou said, quickly moving to the teleport platform.

---At the present---

The plan has been carried out.

Shidou was teleported right in front of Rimuru causing her to be wary of him.

In front of his eyes right was a girl wearing an outfit with the dominant white color that stand out from the surrounding battlefield.

Her silver-blue hair swayed slightly in the wind and her golden eyes seemed to shine in the middle of the night.

Her eyes weren't as innocent as they were in the morning.

Rimuru now looked like a predator in a state of alertness and watching its prey.

He knew that if she thought he was with the AST and against her, it would be difficult to make believe him.

But there's still a chance.

Shidou bit his lip to suppress his anxiety as he stepped forward.

Rimuru, while still looking at him with expressionless eyes, she opened her mouth.

"What do you want?"

Her words were not harsh, and her attitude was quite relaxed.

---But Shidou still felt a suffocating pressure.

If Rimuru wanted to, Shidou's head could disappear at any moment.

This girl could kill Shidou with ease--- he had seen enough to understand that.

Rimuru saw his nervousness and speak up.

"There is no need for caution. I don't want to harm you, nor want to be harmed by you... it's annoying."

"..."

Even now, the pressure from Rimuru has not eased. The fact that this girl can wipe out Shidou's existence with just a flick of her finger has not changed

But, to answer her earlier question?

Shidou was silent, and it seemed that Rimuru was waiting to hear his answer.

He never thought that Rimuru would ask him a question like this. Or rather, he didn't even think he had a chance to talk to her at all.

But if asked what does he want right now?

Even if all he needed to do was just make Rimuru realize that she was misunderstanding Ratatoskr's intention But......

What does he want?

"I want to DATE you!"

Shidou said and took a step forward in front of Rimuru.

Her face changed to surprise as soon as he finished his sentence.

Shidou stood still and waited for her response.

His body was shaking when realized he had just said something to someone who could make him disappear from existence for a moment.

5 seconds passed.

Rimuru just remained silent and looked at him as if she couldn't understand what he said.

"Are you kidding me?"

Her golden pupils looked at Shidou with an even scarier expression than before as if----

She wants to kill him.

But Shidou still spoke up

"---Not at all! I'm not joking!"

Shidou said, his voice more determined than ever.

Whatever it takes, he'll get her out of here.

"I and everyone in Ratatoskr don't want to harm you so please---"

He tried to convince her, but Rimuru intervene with his words.

"Don't make me repeat this. I don't need your help."

Rimuru frowned, showing an annoyed expression while saying that.

After sighing, she continued.

"Listen, no matter what, nothing can hurt me. There's no need for your worried."

"Even so, I won't care! I'll save you!"

Rimuru looked at him puzzled.

Then, she speaks after a long sigh.

"Then don't blame me. It's because you don't understand. I won't let you---"

"I won't blame you. But you're important so I won't give up!"

...

Both Rimuru nor Shidou didn't say another word.

The uncomfortable silence was disrupted by---

"Shidou!/ Shidou-san"

Slowly turned his gaze toward the source of that sound.

In the distance, Tohka and Yoshino were running toward Shidou.

The appearance of the two of them made Shidou seem to forget the fear he felt when facing Rimuru.

"Shidou, are you okay?" Tohka now came close enough, immediately ask about his condition.

Looking at Shidou right now, it may be difficult for anyone to say that he was fine but he still nodded slightly.

And it seemed like Shidou's nod wasn't convincing at all as the rabbit puppet on Yoshino's hand spoke up.

"Shidou-kun, there is no need to lie to us, but you'll have to thank us later---- hmm!!"

Yoshinon spoke but was quickly stopped by Yoshino.

"----I'm glad you're safe," Yoshino said in a small voice.

Hearing those concerned words, Shidou only smiled lightly.

After a while, Shidou asked.

"But...why are you two here?"

"Reine told us we needed to get to you because you need our help."

<So this is the plan...> Shidou thought to himself.

"ahaha.... ...Thank you two," Shidou said with a wry smile.

After talking to Tohka and Yoshino, Shidou turned around and faced...

"Rimuru...."

She was still there and was looking at Tohka and Yoshino 

She seemed to be paying attention to the two of them.

Shidou was dumbfounded when Rimuru's expression changed for unknown reasons.

She doesn't have the same alertness as before.... maybe it's because of Tohka and Yoshino?

Maybe because she had never met another spirit.

Rimuru noticed that Shidou was looking at her.

When his eyes met hers.

She looked at him with expressionless eyes.

That look seemed to block his throat, implying that his words just meant nothing.

And then......

She turned and walked away.

"Wait!" Shidou said but his voice was too weak.

He didn't know what to say to her at all.

But when she heard his weak voice, she paused as if waiting to see what he would say.

Shidou was once again surprised by Rimuru's action.

Did she somehow start to listen to him?

Not sure how...

But he couldn't miss this opportunity.

"Rimuru, please come with me. Ratatoskr will protect you!"

Rimuru frowned, unable to ignore his words.

She turned around and started looking straight at Shidou making him nervous.

"I don't need your protection."

That sentence cut through Shidou's heart, knowing that he couldn't do more than this.

Shidou uses all of his reason to try and convince Rimuru.

He has nothing left to say.

....But if he didn't say something now, she would leave.

Shidou couldn't force her, even if what he wanted was for her sake...

"Shidou, is she a spirit?" Tohka asked and along with Yoshino looked at him as if expecting an answer.

Looking at the two of them, Shidou quietly spoke up.

"That's right... she's also a spirit, just like you two." 

Shidou said and looked towards Rimuru, who he failed to seal.

Even though he couldn't see his current self, Shidou thought that his face looked so pathetic that Tohka and Yoshino fell silent.

Tohka looked back and forth between Shidou and Rimuru...

And then... for some reason, Tohka started running towards Rimuru without warning.

"Wait Tohka!"

Shidou spoke up but it was too late.

Rimuru also now realized that Tohka was approaching him and turned around.

Tohka ran towards Rimuru catching her completely by surprise.

Shidou was worried that they would fight but...

Tohka ran over and hugged Rimuru.

------Tohka POV------

---A few hours ago---

As usual, Tohka went to school and returned to the spirit house.

While Shidou went out to buy things, Tohka also had nothing to do but play with Yoshino until the afternoon.

Maybe because she was too busy playing, Tohka forgot to change her clothes when she got home.

But that's not important, the important thing is...

Gru~ Gru~...

From Tohka's stomach, came an unpleasant cry.

"Why isn't Shidou back yet?"

Tohka said without expecting an answer, but after a while.

The door to the spirit house suddenly opened and it was...

Reine.

Both Tohka and Yoshino looked at Reine with disappointment.

As if understanding what the two were thinking, Reine spoke up.

"Shin has some urgent matters to deal with, so he'll be home late today."

Reine replied and left the lunch for Tohka and Yoshino.

After sitting back for a while to make sure Tohka and Yoshino finished their meals, Reine left saying that Shidou was fine and they should both stay home.

But even so...

Tohka felt uncomfortable.

The reason for this discomfort was not hunger or boredom- But Tohka herself also couldn't understand it.

And on the side, Yoshino also showed the same expression as Tohka.

"Shidou-san has been out for so long, could he forget about us?"

The puppet Yoshinon spoke up but received a frown from Tohka.

"Shidou would never do that. There must be something very important going on."

And after sighing, Tohka continued in a lower voice.

"But I could not understand---"

At that moment, a sound of explosion rang out, it reached the interior of the spirit house making both Tohka and Yoshino go on high alert.

Tohka was confused because of this.

She fully understood when Reine said that Shidou 'has important business' it could be that he was dating another spirit.

Even though Tohka was pouting like a child...But she wouldn't hate the girl that Shidou met.

Shidou protected Tohka, Yoshino, and possibly the other spirits as well.

But each time, he risked his life.

Tohka understood Shidou very well, she understood that he would risk his life to avoid seeing others suffer.

as she can't find a way to keep down her nervousness.

Then...

Tohka's cell phone rang.

This was the phone provided by Ratatoskr that Tohka had received, but this was the first time someone had called her.

She reached out and picked up the phone.

<<Tohka>>

Reine's voice came from the phone, attracting Yoshino's attention.

"What's happened, Reine?"

<<Um, Shidou needs your help right now--->>

With just those words, Tohka and Yoshino opened their eyes wide and immediately left the house as if they had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

Tohka and Yoshino ran to the place that Reine told them.

When they arrived, both Tohka and Yoshino were overjoyed to see that Shidou was safe, even though the surroundings had been destroyed to the point of only sand and dirt around.

Overjoyed, Tohka and Yoshino yell out.

"Shidou!/Shidou-san"

Both of their voices caught Shidou's attention.

As they approached, the two kept asking about Shidou and were delighted that he was fine.

Suddenly Shidou turned his gaze.

Curious, both Tohka and Yoshino also watched.

On the opposite side of Shidou was a girl, she had silver-blue hair that reached down to her back, and her golden eyes seemed to be analyzing Tohka.

Those eyes showed wariness and suspicion, the same look that Tohka had before meeting Shidou.

Tohka looked the girl straight in the eye, waiting for her next move.

But...

She just turned and walked away.

Tohka was surprised by that and turned to Shidou in the hope that he would take action.

But...

Shidou just lowered his eyes to the ground, he didn't even dare look at the girl.

Tohka's heart felt like someone was squeezing it.

That girl was a spirit, an existence despised by this world.

But Shidou, won't leave anyone behind... right?

Shidou... he... didn't make a sound.

Even though she didn't understand what was going on between the two of them, Tohka could see the despair in Shidou.

This was the first time she saw Shidou who had saved her, fall into this state.

He's still trying to save that girl---

And he might risk his life again...

Tohka had to stop that.

Before it happens again.

Without thinking, Tohka ran towards the girl.

She understood that her actions were foolish as she was sealed, she would not be able to fight if needed.

But at the same time, She felt the need to save that girl and help Shidou...

-------Rimuru POV-------- 

As Rimuru turned around as soon as she noticed one of the two spirits next to Shidou rushing towards her.

With her speed, Rimuru could easily dodge if she wanted to but...

Rimuru for some reason, felt like she didn't want to dodge the person rushing in front of her.

And when Rimuru realized---

She was held in the arms of the strange girl.

Her actions made Rimuru completely unable to understand what she was trying to do.

The girl's embrace didn't use much force but it surprised her so much that when Rimuru noticed, her head was on the girl's shoulder.

"...please stay with us."

The girl whispered in a soft voice.

Rimuru was confused by what was going on and tried to make sense of the current situation.

"What... "

Rimuru spoke up, trying to grasp the situation.

Despite her confused look, that girl still hugged Rimuru gently and spoke up.

"Please don't hate Shidou...."

Rimuru immediately fell silent at the girl's words.

What's the meaning of this?

"That's not enough to convince me."

Rimuru spoke, standing her ground.

But that girl continued talking.

"That does not matter!"

The girl exclaimed.

With a small force, she pulled Rimuru's shoulder and the two broke free of the embrace.

The two faced each other as she continued.

"Thanks to Shidou, I now have a new, happy life! And I don't want to see anyone else being harmed like I was before."

Confused, Rimuru takes a look to see the expression of the girl.

Rimuru was now able to see more clearly the girl who hugged her.

She was almost as tall as Rimuru with long black hair and a face that could only be described in one word 'beautiful'.

She has mysterious eyes, almost like crystals that reflect various colors of light in all directions.

Then, suddenly Rimuru felt someone tugging at the sleeve of her astral dress.

Rimuru already knew it was the other spirit so she slowly takes looked at her.

When she looked down, her gaze caught sight of a cute little girl around 13-14 years old.

The hand that was holding Rimuru's astral dress was a white rabbit puppet.

The puppet was using its two small arms to grab her sleeve while raising its head.

Seeing Rimuru looking down, the puppet opened its mouth.

"Yo! Yoshino also has something to say." The puppet said, it let go of Rimuru's sleeve and pointed at the girl who was controlling it.

... This girl... is controlling a puppet to talk to Rimuru?

"---I was also saved by Shidou..." She said in a low voice and seemed like she was too shy to talk.

But then the puppet in her hand open its mouth and began to speak.

"That's not all! That's not all! Shidou-kun once had returned Yoshinon to Yoshino when we got separated. "

The puppet said and repeatedly waved its hands.

While the puppet continued to talk, the girl controlling it was lowering her face to prevent Rimuru from seeing her expression.

Still confused about what's going on though.

But Rimuru couldn't help but feel bad for the two of them.

Spirits in this world are considered monsters, hunted mercilessly.

But each of them still has their feelings.

They still feel sad, angry, and happy--- but no one cares.

"Hey, your name is Rimuru right?" The girl now asked.

Rimuru nodded lightly.

Upon receiving Rimuru's nod, she smiled brightly and spoke up.

"My name is Tohka, Yatogami Tohka."

"...I'm Yoshino....and this is Yoshinon"

The atmosphere between the three of them became lighter.

Until Tohka asked.

"What do you think, Rimuru?"

"huh?"

"...About coming with us."

Rimuru took a moment to think.

Although Rimuru didn't want to get too involved in this world, however...

Once she became a Spirit, Rimuru was directly involved with it.

She continued to doubt the Ratatoskr organization.

After all, spending a large number of resources to save the spirits and prevent space quakes.

Sounds like a very good thing to do.

But everything must have a cause.

If approaches this organization, it's maybe easier for her to find it.

But when it comes to sealing, just thinking about the sealing method, Rimuru couldn't stand it.

But what if the answer is still no?

Rimuru looked at Shidou.

He was still just standing from afar and looking at Rimuru.

Rimuru will try to see his reaction.

If Ratatoskr would respect the spirit's decision, then Rimuru would consider their supervision while in this world.

But if they're not then...

"Itsuka Shidou"

Her voice seemed to surprise him.

"I will agree to be under Ratatoskr's supervision on one condition."

Rimuru said with a firm voice and paused to wait for Shidou to receive the message.

"I don't want to be sealed."

After hearing Rimuru's words.

Rimuru thought that Shidou would feel disappointed---

His surprised face slowly changed to a lighter one.

"Thank you very much, Rimuru."

---END CHAP 9---