"You're going to confront Mio Takamiya?" Souta was stunned for a moment, then nodded in understanding. "Yeah, it's probably time. Dragging it out won't help. But... have you thought about how you want to deal with her?"
"Originally, I just wanted to destroy her," Kurumi sighed softly. "But now that her sins have been wiped away... if possible, I want everyone to have a happy ending."
"I can help with that." Souta pulled her a little closer. "If we can extract Itsuka Shiori's consciousness from Mio and give him a new body, that should count as a happy ending."
Mio's goal wasn't just to bring back Shinji.
If it were only about resurrection, she could've done that 30 years ago.
Back then, she held all the sephira crystals and could command every Angel. Using Zafkiel, she could've simply traveled back to the moment before Shinji died and prevented it. It would've been easy.
His death made her realize how fragile humans were. That's why she wanted to reincarnate him as a Spirit, just like her—granting him near-eternal life.
That goal triggered a long chain of disasters.
"That's my thinking too," Kurumi said, leaning into him. "I'll count on you to handle it when the time comes."
"No problem. Easy enough." Souta said casually. "Since you don't want to destroy Mio, to keep her quiet, we could give Shinji a long lifespan. As long as she has someone by her side, she probably won't act up."
"Even if she does, it won't matter." Kurumi smiled mischievously. "Once I become strong enough, she won't be able to do anything anyway."
Extracting Shinji's consciousness and placing it into a new body would still leave him human, just longer-lived.
That was far from what Mio originally wanted. She probably wouldn't be satisfied.
And Kurumi really wanted to see Mio unwilling but helpless—completely at Kurumi's mercy.
That... would be entertaining.
"When you do confront Mio, don't forget to let the group know," Souta said with a grin. "A lot of people know who she is. They'd probably love to see her fall from grace."
"Oh? That... actually sounds pretty fun." Kurumi's eyes lit up.
She imagined all her friends watching as that arrogant woman got put in her place—it sounded like a great time.
"We could even make it a group meet-up," she added.
"A group hangout, huh? Sure. Just let me know when. I'll help gather everyone."
Souta nodded, then asked, "By the way, is your Twelfth Bullet ready?"
"Took over three days to load, but it's done. Should be able to jump back a full thousand years. It's just..."
Kurumi sighed. "I've nearly used up all the time you gave me."
"I've got loads more," Souta smiled. "I exchanged tons of lifespan cards with points—saved just for you."
"Kurumi! That's way too formal."
Kurumi adjusted her position, lying on his lap in a duck-sit and cupping his cheeks in her hands.
"You're right. I shouldn't thank you anymore. After all..."
She squished his face into weird shapes.
Looking at his silly expression, she let out a soft giggle.
She was getting addicted to bullying Souta.
"Alright, I'm recharged."
Kurumi placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself up, getting off the couch.
As she moved, her legs in black stockings brushed against his, stirring up an inner fire.
"You still have to check out the newbie's world, right? I won't keep you. I should go too." Kurumi checked her phone.
Souta let out a resigned sigh as he felt the heat pooling in his gut.
Kurumi noticed his condition and gave him a knowing look.
"Souta... you're really full of energy, aren't you?"
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
"Hmm? You want something, don't you?"
She teasingly pressed her nylon-covered foot against his leg—then quickly pulled it back with a giggle.
"Not now~ We both have things to do. Be patient, okay?"
She patted his head gently.
"Next time, I'll make sure you're thoroughly satisfied. After all... I've been saving up a few clones."
Why are you saving so many clones?!
Are you trying to kill me with pleasure?!
Kurumi's smirking face left no doubt—she was in control.
A true queen mindset.
After that, they said their goodbyes, and Kurumi returned to the Date A Live world.
Before she left, Souta gave her a big stack of lifespan cards.
She had considered leaving a clone to take care of him, but ultimately decided against it—afraid the clone might beat her to getting intimate with Souta.
That, she couldn't accept.
She was first. She had to be first.
Even her past self didn't get a free pass.
"Alright, time to check on the newbie's world."
Souta opened the system phone and bought a world-travel card.
His plan was to jump to Kamado Tanjiro's side and find out if he was the one who got the invitation.
As for the time of arrival—that wasn't something he could specify.
In worlds with existing group members, the timeline matched real-time. The travel card couldn't be used to pick a past or future date.
You could only go to the member's "present."
He had confirmed this with the system while helping Kurumi gather "stored time."
"System, travel to—hm?"
Just as he was about to initiate the travel, the system phone vibrated.
He checked it—it was a private message from Kurumi.
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Souta, are you there?"
Kurumi: "Where's your iPhone? I want it. Can you give it to me?"
Souta: "Sure. I can create a new one for you."
Kurumi: "No, I don't want a new one. I want your phone. Come to my world and bring it—I need it urgently."
Souta blinked. That was... a weird request.
Why did she need his specific phone? There wasn't anything on it... wait.
Right. The phone had all her blackmail material.
"So that's what this is about."
Souta chuckled. It all made sense now.
After Kurumi returned to her world, thanks to timeline alterations, she likely gained memories from five years ago involving him.
Meaning she now remembered everything about the "Four Heavenly Kings" situation.
Souta: "That might be a problem. I already traveled to the newbie's world. Going back to yours now would waste the travel card."
Kurumi: "... I just left. You couldn't have traveled that fast."
Souta: "Time flows differently. It's already been an hour for me."
Kurumi: "You're lying, aren't you?"
Souta: "Nope, wouldn't dream of it."
Kurumi: "You're really not giving it to me?"
Souta: "Let me finish things here first. I'll come back later."
Kurumi: "Souta, if you suddenly gain some extremely embarrassing memories when you return to your world... don't blame me."
She's even threatening him now...
But Souta just smiled calmly.
He didn't have any shameful memories for her to dig up. Even if Kurumi traveled back into his past, she couldn't hurt him—she'd just tease him a bit.
Souta: "I won't blame you. If I get more memories with you, I'll only be happier."
Souta: "Anyway, I've got work to do. You should also go back to the past to evolve your sephira crystal too."