The night breeze had finally died down, leaving Hozuki Nozomi standing alone before the ancient shrine, the strange offering still warm in his hand. After a moment of contemplation, he simply tucked the white panties with their distinctive blue bow into his Game Life System space. Where else would one store such an... unconventional item?
He still didn't understand why a slogan from the Axis Church—that ridiculous declaration about Eris padding her chest—had been presented as a sacred incantation. But Hozuki Nozomi had long ago learned to roll with the absurd. His capacity for accepting the inexplicable had been thoroughly exercised by this point. Whether this business involved the Goddess of Water or not, he'd deal with it when the time came.
More pressing was the Game Life System's side quest. All the conditions seemed to be falling into place. If he followed the prompts, he should be able to clear it perfectly.
But first, he needed to sort through what had just happened.
Several things didn't add up.
First: Yamauchi Mami. How had she ended up inside Mioko—inside the consciousness of a god? When had she been taken? And why her specifically?
Second: Mioko's actions. She'd deliberately removed Natori Sayaka and Teshigawara Katsuhiko from the situation, sending them home and likely erasing their memories. That suggested whatever was coming next wasn't meant for ordinary human eyes.
Hozuki Nozomi hated riddles. He hated cryptic warnings and vague prophecies. So rather than puzzle over the inconsistencies, he did what any sensible person with a cheat system would do.
"Game Life System. Guide me to the current location of the mastermind behind this incident."
Game Life System: "..."
The silence was almost audible. Even the system seemed taken aback by his blatant exploitation of its functions. This host, it reflected, really did slack off whenever possible.
But there was no helping it. The Game Life System existed to serve Hozuki Nozomi, its sole player.
[Ding!]
Golden arrows materialized in his vision, pointing decisively into the darkness.
Hozuki Nozomi nodded with satisfaction. "That's more like it."
Riddles were for people without options. When you had a cheat, you used it.
Deep in the forest outside Itomori Town, a dim wooden cabin stood hidden among ancient trees. Inside, a boy knelt before a small shrine, his posture reverent. The shrine's interior held a single statue—a grotesque figure wearing an ox-skull mask, its empty eye sockets seeming to stare into nothing.
Tano Ichiro's lips moved in silent prayer, black energy seeping from his body with each whispered word.
Suddenly—
CRACK.
The statue split vertically, a jagged line appearing from crown to base.
Tano's eyes flew open. "What—"
The crack widened. The statue crumbled.
"AHHHHH!" Tano screamed as backlash energy slammed into him. He writhed on the floor, clutching his head, his body convulsing. "How—how is this possible?! Lord God! Lord God, no!"
When the pain subsided enough for thought, rage replaced it. His face contorted with hatred.
"Unforgivable! Miyamizu... just you wait! I'll make you pay for this! I'll—"
The cabin door exploded inward.
"Oh, I'm waiting." Miyamizu Mitsuha's form stood in the doorway, but the voice was all Hozuki Nozomi. "What exactly are you going to do?"
Tano's face went white. "You—how did you find this place?!"
Hozuki Nozomi stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind him. His smile held no warmth. "I followed the stench of evil. You're very dishonest, Tano. Pretending to be a normal jealous classmate while worshipping an evil god behind everyone's back."
Tano's lips peeled back from his teeth. "So what if I am?"
"Yamauchi Mami." Hozuki Nozomi's voice flattened. "You're the one who lured her here and sacrificed her to your god, aren't you?"
Something shifted in Tano's expression. His fear warped into something uglier—a manic grin that didn't reach his bloodshot eyes.
"That's right!" The confession burst from him like a dam breaking. "I sacrificed her! Who told her to dump me?! We were perfect together, and then she sided with you, Miyamizu! She chose you over me! She deserved to pay!"
Black energy coiled around him as he spoke, feeding on his rage, his jealousy, his wounded pride. The evil god's corruption ran deep in his veins.
Tano's gaze crawled over "Miyamizu Mitsuha's" body, slow and deliberate. His tongue darted out to wet his lips.
"You know, Miyamizu... looking at you now, you're actually pretty cute." His voice dropped to something intimate, predatory. "Since you're here, why not join me? Serve Lord God together. I could make you happy—"
SLAP.
Hozuki Nozomi's hand moved, and Tano Ichiro flew across the room, crashing against the wall before slumping to the floor. His cheek already swelled, a perfect handprint etched into his skin.
"Don't look at me with those filthy eyes." Hozuki Nozomi's voice held absolute contempt. "You're not worthy."
He advanced on the groaning boy.
"And since I've found you..."
Light bloomed from his body—pure, searing, holy. It filled the cabin, pushing back the shadows, burning away the accumulated filth of years.
Tano opened his mouth to scream.
No sound came.
The black energy surrounding him vaporized instantly. His body convulsed once, twice, then went limp as the corruption was forcibly expelled. The evil that had fed on his hatred dissolved like mist before dawn.
CRACK.
The already-shattered statue crumbled further, this time turning to dust entirely. Whatever presence had inhabited it was gone.
Hozuki Nozomi stood over Tano's unconscious form, watching dispassionately. The boy would live—once the evil energy dissipated, he'd return to whatever passed for normal in his life. Whether he'd learned anything from this experience was another matter entirely.
But that wasn't Hozuki Nozomi's concern.
He turned and walked out of the cabin, leaving it to the night.
Back at the shrine, Hozuki Nozomi let himself into Mitsuha's room and collapsed onto the futon. Sleep pulled at him almost immediately—a sign that the soul-swap was ending, that he'd soon return to his own body.
His last conscious thought was of the day's revelations. This mission was more complicated than it appeared. The meteor's destruction might not be simple celestial mechanics—an evil god's influence could be involved.
But that was a problem for another day. For now, he'd sleep, return to Sakura Dormitory, and tackle the next challenge when it arrived.
Morning light filtered through the curtains of Hozuki Nozomi's room.
He woke slowly, luxuriously, aware before opening his eyes that he was back in his own body. The familiar scent of his room, the soft weight in his arms—Shiina Mahiru's warmth pressed against him—all confirmed it.
Weekend. No classes. Perfect for sleeping in.
Click.
The door opened with barely a sound. Soft footsteps padded across the floor.
Hozuki Nozomi kept his eyes closed, a small smile tugging at his lips as he felt the covers lift and a smaller body slide in beside him. Shiina Mashiro wiggled her way into the space between him and Mahiru, found a comfortable position against his chest, and promptly closed her eyes.
A moment later, Shiina Mahiru stirred. She blinked at Mashiro, who had effectively nudged her aside and monopolized their shared warmth. With a fond, helpless smile, she patted her own cheeks to wake herself fully and slipped out of bed.
Time to make breakfast.
The moment Mahiru left, Shiina Mashiro's eyes opened. Her expression remained characteristically blank, but the tiniest curve touched the corner of her lips—a micro-expression of triumph that most would miss.
Mahiru was gone. Hozuki Nozomi was hers.
Today, she would have him all to herself.
Hozuki Nozomi was eventually roused not by alarms or obligations, but by Mashiro's subtle movements. He opened his eyes to find her propped on one elbow, watching him with those large, beautiful eyes. Her cheeks were slightly puffed—evidence of secret snacking—and a trace of something white lingered on her breath.
He reached up and stroked her golden hair. She leaned into the touch like a cat, eyes half-closing with pleasure. Then, apparently satisfied with this attention, she pounced back into his arms and rubbed her face against his chest in that unique way of hers.
Affectionate. Clingy. Utterly Mashiro.
"Hozuki Nozomi." Her voice was soft against his skin. "Rita is coming back."
His hand stilled for a moment, then resumed its gentle stroking. "Really? When? We should go pick her up together."
"The day after tomorrow."
Hozuki Nozomi smiled, genuinely pleased. Rita's return would be good for Mashiro. Nanami took excellent care of her, but they weren't in the same class—Mashiro spent her school days largely alone. Having Rita back meant she'd have someone at her side constantly.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. She accepted them all with quiet contentment.
After a while longer of comfortable cuddling, Hozuki Nozomi finally sat up, carrying Mashiro with him. "Come on. Time to wash up and start the day."
Today was the weekend.
And Kato Megumi was coming over.