"Kurumi, my clothes... did you take them?"
Feeling that far too many of his personal belongings were missing from the apartment, Ryuya finally couldn't hold back and asked Kurumi.
"Wha-What? Who... who would take your clothes! I'm not a pervert!"
With her eyes widening suddenly, Kurumi showed considerable shock at Ryuya's suspicion, followed by bewilderment, shyness, and a bit of nervousness.
In just a moment, Kurumi adopted a very disdainful and angry demeanor.
"You actually suspect me? Really now! You're a grown man, you probably just misplaced your clothes after washing them. What right do you have to suspect me?"
"Ryuya, where is the trust between people? The basic interaction? Can we even do this anymore?"
Having picked up quite a few internet phrases during her over-a-month-long interaction with Ryuya, Kurumi spoke faster and faster, reaching an overwhelming level.
"Hmm?"
"If you're so sure, then open your Shadow Domain and let me take a look."
Accustomed to Merlin's and Irisviel's antics of throwing tantrums, acting cute, and chatting, Ryuya felt the current Kurumi resembled Merlin caught red-handed sneaking food… the expression and the tone were exactly the same.
"O-Open the Domain?"
Her expression, which had been calming down, tensed up again. Kurumi looked at Ryuya, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Fine! But if you open the Domain and don't find your clothes, then you've wronged me! As an apology, you have to promise me one thing!"
Pursing her lips slightly, Kurumi seemed to have made a significant decision.
"Deal."
Ryuya nodded in agreement.
"Then let's go."
Spreading her Domain and signaling Ryuya not to resist, Kurumi enveloped both of them within the Domain.
A sensation akin to sinking into water with resistance washed over them as Ryuya and Kurumi entered her Shadow Domain.
"Kurumi, so this is your Domain?"
Upon entering the Shadow Domain, Ryuya found it to be a dark space. The ceiling area was transparent, allowing a view of the outside world.
Other than that, the surroundings within the Domain were pitch black, including the ground.
Inside Kurumi's Domain, Ryuya saw many things, everyday clothes and such. Apart from that, there were numerous clones.
It seemed the clones weren't aware of their arrival, as some were sleeping, some chatting, and others were...
"Don't look! Aaaah!"
Even though it was clones bathing, the clones and the main body were identical in outward form. Hurriedly blocking the bathing clones, Kurumi's face flushed red, clearly not expecting her clones to be so unrestrained within the Shadow Domain.
"…"
Remaining silent, Ryuya just noticed the curious gazes from the surrounding clones fixed on him. He had met most of these clones before, as during the over-a-month-long 'battles' with Kurumi, she often sent clones to distract him.
"Yah, Ryuya's here! Sit, sit! What brings you to our place today?"
"Yeah, didn't the main body say she was going to capture you? Has she succeeded?"
"I doubt it. Look at the main body's face, red like a child's."
"Makes sense. And the main body is clearly still a virgin. So embarrassing."
"Don't talk about embarrassment, none of us have experience. The main body isn't that embarrassing."
"But didn't she say she would definitely capture Ryuya today? Is this them captured now?"
"Don't know."
Watching the unrestrained clones whose chatter grew increasingly outrageous, a visible layer of dark mist seemed to form on the main Kurumi's face, clearly on the verge of exploding.
"All of you, SHUT UP!"
The powerful shout silenced all the clones within the Domain.
Composing herself, reassuming a cute and charming demeanor, Kurumi looked at Ryuya, "Alright, Ryuya-san, hurry up and look for your clothes."
"...Okay, I'll look then."
His clothes and items carried his scent. Seeing the clones' reactions, Ryuya confirmed one thing… the main body Tokisaki Kurumi indeed had feelings for him.
Closing his eyes to sense for a moment, he then opened them again, 'They're not here? Were they destroyed?'
Surprised not to find his clothes within Kurumi's Shadow Domain, Ryuya turned his gaze to the clones, "Do you know where Kurumi hid my clothes?"
"All of you, shut up!"
Before the clones could speak, Kurumi moved closer. She narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Ryuya, "It's time to fulfill your promise, Ryuya-san."
"Well..."
Pretending to be intimidated by Kurumi's presence, Ryuya smiled, "Alright, a promise is a promise. Kurumi, what do you want? Tell me."
"Hehe, let's go out first."
The blush on her face never subsided. Holding Ryuya's hand, Kurumi led the man out of the Shadow Domain.
Outside the Domain, "Ryuya, regarding you suspecting me, I am very angry. Now, I'm going to impose a rather severe punishment on you!"
"Go ahead, tell me."
Not worried at all that Kurumi would ask for something difficult, Ryuya looked completely at ease.
"I punish you to stay by my side for the next 24 hours! I have an important matter to attend to outside!"
Seeing Ryuya agree to her request, Kurumi spoke with a happy expression.
Meanwhile, inside Kurumi's Shadow Domain:
"Ara, ara, they've finally left. Do any of you have anything to say?"
Seeing Ryuya and the main body leave, one clone looked at the others.
"Anything to say? If I had to say one thing... can we take those clothes out now? They're the spoils of war for all of us!"
Wearing an utterly obsessively crazy, perverted girl expression, the speaking girl was the very clone Ryuya had held in his arms during their first encounter.
Walking over to another clone, she retrieved the clothes hidden by the group of clones and gently held them to her chest.
"Hey, hey, those aren't your spoils alone! Ugh..."
"Never mind, I want to smell them too!"
Similarly reaching for the clothes, instantly, all the clones began a battle without gunpowder smoke over Ryuya's clothes.