"Shiori! This thing called a hash brown is absolutely delicious! Especially with ketchup! No... it feels like anything becomes tasty with ketchup, could it be that ketchup is the pinnacle of human cuisine!?"
Early in the morning, having laid out the prepared breakfast on the table, Shiori watched Tohka—freshly washed up—praise her cooking with gusto.
Her originally stiff expression brightened a little, and she said with a smile, "That's because you have a fondness for tangy and sweet flavors, Tohka. Ketchup is just a condiment, it doesn't really count as cuisine."
"Hmm... but they're both edible, aren't they? If they're both food, why should ketchup be treated differently?"
"Well, it's not exactly discrimination..."
Shiori wasn't quite sure how to explain the difference between cuisine and condiments, as it was mostly a matter of common sense.
"Making such a racket first thing in the morning—you two really are full of energy."
Kotori's voice came from the staircase. Judging by the tone, this was clearly Commander-mode Kotori.
"Kotori, haven't you been resting well lately?"
Though phrased as a question, the clear concern on Shiori's face showed she was certain Kotori's condition was far from good.
Itsuka Shiori hadn't been in the best mood recently, mostly because her little sister had been looking exhausted quite often.
"Kotori, if you don't eat properly, you won't be able to perk up!"
Tohka wasn't one for subtleties, but she could see both Kotori's state and Shiori's worry, so she expressed her concern in her own way: "I… I'll share some of my hash browns with you!"
"No need, my appetite is perfectly normal."
Kotori didn't immediately address Shiori's concern. Instead, she walked straight to her seat and sat down before saying, "There have been some things going on lately, but the issue I was most worried about has been resolved."
"The rest won't bother me too much—I guess you could say I've been freed from the busywork."
"Oh..."
Shiori didn't know much about Kotori's work. She only knew that yesterday she'd attended some meeting, returned to the Fraxinus looking utterly worn out, but seemed much more relaxed once she got home.
"Don't look so worried. I am a Spirit, after all... even if I don't have much spiritual power right now."
She wasn't just putting on a brave face. Ever since the incident with Tohka, Kotori had been under immense pressure, especially because of what Artemisia had said.
The public collaboration between Schicksal and Ratatoskr was bound to affect Shiori's life, and Kotori had been racking her brains over how to ensure Shiori's daily routine wouldn't be disrupted.
Now that this biggest concern had been resolved, Kotori felt like the heaviest burden had been lifted.
While things like internal political struggles weren't exactly light matters, they weren't enough to keep her up at night either.
Her exhaustion today wasn't due to lack of rest, but rather the accumulated fatigue hitting her all at once once she finally relaxed, which was why she didn't look her best.
Though Shiori had far less experience interacting with Commander-mode Kotori compared to her little sister mode, they were still the same person.
Shiori could tell Kotori wasn't just putting up a front. So, her expression softened considerably. "That's a relief to hear."
"Let's have Durandal over soon, or maybe we should visit her instead. After all, she's the one who helped solve my biggest headache."
"Huh? Durandal?"
Shiori hadn't expected to hear that name now. Kotori's work was with Ratatoskr, and Durandal was with Schicksal—they didn't seem directly related. But putting that aside, Shiori found it unsurprising that Durandal was the one who helped.
Thinking of this, Shiori felt a bit embarrassed. "I feel like we've been relying on Durandal's help a lot lately."
"We really should do something for her in return... If we're visiting, I wonder what kind of gift would be suitable for a Valkyrie... Oh, right, Kotori, what was the thing you were most worried about?"
"If you want to know what Durandal likes, just ask Rita, right? I'll leave that part to you."
Kotori replied first, then explained, "I asked Durandal to arrange for a Valkyrie to act as your bodyguard—someone who'll protect you during school hours, to prevent any clever, shady characters from getting close to you."
"Ah..."
Shiori then remembered what Kotori had mentioned yesterday about certain people taking an interest in her. She hadn't realized Kotori had been worrying about this for quite some time.
As an ordinary high school girl, Shiori found it hard to grasp the idea of suddenly becoming a 'central figure.' It felt like she'd turned into some big-shot from a TV drama, complete with a personal bodyguard.
"Anyway, you and Tohka can just go to school as usual today. I'm not sure how the Valkyrie will handle your protection, but Durandal's judgment and choice of personnel should be reliable."
Kotori brought the topic to a close.
"Understood."
Shiori nodded.
Even though the biggest headache was gone, that didn't mean there were no other issues to handle.
After quickly finishing breakfast, Kotori returned to the Fraxinus, leaving Shiori and Tohka to head to school normally.
Along the way, Shiori specifically kept an eye out for anything unusual around her, or anyone who might be tailing them, but aside from making herself dizzy, she found nothing.
'Guess an ordinary person like me can't spot a 'secret agent's' protective surveillance... Since Kotori said to live as usual, I shouldn't overthink it.'
With that thought, Shiori returned to her usual mindset.
Influenced by Tohka's ever-energetic approach to life, they chatted and laughed their way to school, and amidst the somewhat familiar buzz of whispers, they returned to their seats in the classroom.
In this school, Shiori was something of a minor celebrity.
While she didn't have the supernaturally refined and perfect features of the other Spirits, that didn't mean she wasn't pretty.
With Shiori's looks, she could at least be called a 'once-in-a-century beauty,' and coupled with her friendly, approachable personality, she was quite popular with both boys and girls.
And then, a few days ago, this Shiori suddenly became inseparable best friends with an even more stunning beauty, often engaging in unusually intimate behavior, which naturally caught many people's attention.
Tohka had even publicly declared she wanted to be with Shiori forever, which was practically an open declaration of a yuri relationship.
Thus, the two's fame within the school had grown even further.
"Everyone, we have a new student joining us today."
Just as Shiori and Tohka were going about their usual routine, the teacher's voice drew Shiori's attention.
Following the voice of their homeroom teacher, Okamine Tamae, a pretty girl with shy demeanor and short hair—black on the outside, blue on the inside—walked into the classroom.
"This transfer student is from Estonia and will be studying with us this semester."
As she spoke, Tamae wrote the girl's name on the blackboard.
"Seele Vollerei..."
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.