After spending the entire morning teasing Inori, who was dressed in a maid outfit, Kurumi Tokisaki took a nap on Inori's lap. Around four or five in the afternoon, she received a distress signal from Tsugumi.
Through the monitor Tsugumi carried, Kurumi saw that the members of Shu Ouma's squad had all been captured and tied up inside a movie theater. The one who had bound them was none other than a visibly emaciated Shu Ouma—he looked as though he had lost ten pounds overnight.
"So they were all wiped out! How useless. Looks like it's my turn tomorrow. Well, the protagonist always shows up last anyway. I've still got plenty of cards in hand! Shu Ouma, which one do you want to play?" Turning off the communicator, Kurumi nestled back into Inori's arms. These idle days were unbearably dull. Thankfully, she would be leaving tomorrow.
"Inori, if I wanted to devour you, would you obediently let me do it?" Kurumi asked, lying on Inori's lap as she reached up to tug at her cheeks. A yandere gleam flickered in her wine-red eyes, fractured and unstable.
Tilting her head, Inori wore a puzzled expression. Kurumi-chan wanted to devour her? What did that even mean? She couldn't understand.
"You have one day to think about it, Inori. Tell me your answer at noon tomorrow," Kurumi said, closing her eyes with a faint smile as she enjoyed the warmth of Inori's lap.
...
Inside the theater, Shu Ouma crouched before a group of people tied up on the floor. He was pale, exhausted, and looked utterly miserable. Despite his hunger, he couldn't bring himself to eat.
"What kind of grudge do you people have? Was it really worth making something as atrocious as The Legend of the Four Divine Beasts just to torment me?" Shu said, his face turning green as his stomach churned violently. It felt as though he might vomit up his empty insides.
"Just a mere Shu Ouma! You dared to covet our sacred and beautiful Angel-sama—how could we allow that?" Tsugumi glared at him fiercely. Who would have thought that, even after nearly dying because of that cursed movie, Shu Ouma would immediately use his Void ability to subdue everyone else.
"So that's it—you were trying to protect Kurumi," Shu said, sighing. "You've got it all wrong. I never intended to make Kurumi my girlfriend." He scratched his cheek helplessly. He had become such a mild-tempered person that even anger felt foreign to him now.
"Hah, who would believe that? Confessing to a girl without wanting her to be your girlfriend? If that's true, that's even worse," Shibungi said coldly, his glasses reflecting a sharp glint of light. "Do you think you're the only one who loves Angel-sama? Why should it be you who gets to confess?" His tone was full of disapproval.
"It's a little complicated," Shu explained gently. "My confession was simply to let Kurumi know how I feel. I never expected her to accept it. I just didn't want to live with regret." Despite his sunken cheeks, he still smiled softly.
"Ha! And we're supposed to believe that?" Tsugumi spat, glaring at him with hostility. "You're just a pitiful Shu Ouma. Once I'm free, you're dead."
"Tell me, haven't you ever wondered why Kurumi—our Angel—came to this world in the first place?" Shu sighed, looking at them quietly.
"What do you mean? Angel-sama isn't from this world?" Tsugumi asked in confusion.
"I'm not denying that Kurumi has human emotions," Shu said. "But do you honestly think the powers she wields could ever belong to a human being?"
Tsugumi froze, unable to respond. She had always thought of Kurumi as something far purer and holier than any human—but she had never once considered the possibility that Kurumi wasn't human at all. Now that Shu had said it aloud, the idea made unsettling sense.
"Kurumi most likely isn't a being of this world," Shu continued. "And if that's true, then why did she come here? The answer lies in the apocalypse itself. But now that the virus is gone... do you really think she'll stay?" His words left the entire group silent, the air thick with despair. Everyone felt their hearts tighten painfully.
"Tomorrow is the deadline," said Segai suddenly, his face pale. He couldn't bear keeping such knowledge to himself any longer. If he had to suffer, then everyone would suffer together.
"No way!" Tsugumi's pupils trembled violently. But then, in a sudden outburst, she began to shout, "Shu Ouma, let me go! If you don't, I'll hate you forever!"
"Alright, alright. I get it," Shu replied softly, smiling faintly as he dissolved the Void binding them. He figured that by tomorrow, none of them would be in any condition to cause trouble anyway.
"Shu Ouma, aren't you sad? How can you still smile at a time like this?" Tsugumi asked, stretching her numb legs, her heart uneasy and fearful.
"Sad? Hah, I envy you... You can still feel sadness." Shu smiled faintly, his expression calm yet hollow.
"You... are you a monster?" Tsugumi's pupils shrank, and a wave of fear welled up inside her. Then she turned and fled.
...
"Where is Angel-sama?" Tsugumi asked the tea-haired maid when she couldn't find Kurumi anywhere in the hall.
"Lady Kurumi is in Miss Inori's room. She has instructed that unless it's urgent, no one is to disturb her. Would you like me to notify her, Miss Tsugumi?" the maid asked respectfully.
"No... It's fine," Tsugumi replied softly, her voice heavy with sorrow. She dragged her weary body back to her room. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it weakly, her body sliding down until she sat on the floor. Silent tears streamed down her face.
"Angel-sama..." she whispered, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs. She cried and cried until night fell, her eyes swollen and red. When she finally grew too tired to weep, she collapsed onto her bed, clutching the blanket tightly.
"Inori... Inori!" she murmured, her voice trembling as envy and resentment filled her heart. "Why... why is it Inori? Why does only Inori get Angel-sama's affection? Why her? I want it too! Inori, can't you share just a little with me?" Her grip on the blanket tightened and loosened again, and amid her tears, she drifted into sleep.
The curtains shrouding the window glowed faintly as dawn arrived—the long-awaited tenth day.
Bare feet touched the floor, her steps delicate and graceful.. Kurumi Tokisaki walked slowly to the window and drew the curtains aside. Her fingers brushed lightly across her collarbone.
That little Inori—leaving a mark on the back of her neck hadn't been enough; she had been greedy enough to leave another one on her collarbone.
Kurumi opened her wardrobe and chose a resplendent short gothic dress—black with shades of crimson. It was exquisite and luxurious, bringing out her alluring beauty. She looked every bit the graceful daughter of a wealthy family.
This was Kurumi's favorite dress—the very one she had once worn to a cruise banquet, where she had teased Gai Tsutsugami for sport. She believed it best represented her image.
"Today is the last day. I shall welcome my happy end in the most beautiful way possible." She placed a small hat atop her head, took a folding fan in hand, and gazed into the mirror. The reflection before her was elegant, charming, and breathtakingly lovely. Kurumi's eyes softened with self-admiration.
"Kurumi-chan, you'll always be the most beautiful. The one I love most is you," she whispered to herself.
She remained in that spell of self-enchantment until Inori slipped her arms around her from behind, resting her head on Kurumi's shoulder, eyes half-closed in bliss.
"Kurumi-chan..." Inori murmured softly, her voice filled with warmth.
Kurumi reached down to remove Inori's arms from her waist, then turned around and lightly tapped Inori's forehead with her fan, smiling with refined grace. "You're not allowed to touch me today. Today, Kurumi belongs only to herself."
"?" Tilting her head, Inori blinked in confusion. No touching? Why? But since Kurumi had said so, she didn't protest.
"Put on your maid outfit," Kurumi continued, her fan resting under her chin. "Today, you'll follow me everywhere—step for step." Her smile was dazzling, goddess-like in its elegance.
"Uuh..." Inori's face turned bright red with embarrassment. Walking outside in that maid outfit, where everyone could see her—it was unbearable! Her vision blurred as shame overwhelmed her.
"Kurumi-chan..." she whispered weakly.
"No complaints. No refusals. This is an absolute order—unless you wish to leave me," Kurumi said, lifting Inori's chin with her fan, her smile delicate yet edged with thorns. Inori stared blankly, stunned by her words.
"You belong to me, but I do not belong to you. Remember your place—you are my possession. You are not allowed to make demands of me. You have ten minutes to dress." Moving her fan away, Kurumi smiled serenely—yet there was a trace of distance in her expression.
Inori felt a painful ache in her heart. Today, Kurumi seemed so far away, so untouchable. To avoid feeling even worse, she quietly began to change.
It didn't matter if others saw her, if she felt humiliated, or even if she was bullied to tears—as long as Kurumi didn't push her away.
So Inori obeyed. She obediently put on the maid outfit and followed behind Kurumi without a word, staying close as ordered. Even when people stared at her oddly, she didn't care. She didn't dare to speak, afraid of saying the wrong thing. She only watched the noble, graceful figure in front of her, afraid to act spoiled or show weakness.
"Kurumi-chan, Inori will be good. I'll listen to everything you say. I won't ask for anything. So please, don't abandon me. I can't bear that despair again..."
...
"Angel-sama!" Tsugumi appeared before Kurumi—her face weary, her hair disheveled, clearly having slept in her clothes and skipped her morning wash.
"Go back. Wash up, dress properly, and show me your most beautiful self. Today, I want my happy end." Kurumi tapped Tsugumi's forehead with her fan, her smile poised and confident—a grace born of self-assured charm. Even in parting, she would be her most beautiful self.
"Angel-sama!" Tsugumi covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes again. But in her heart, she was utterly shaken. She turned and ran back to her room, her steps hurried and uneven.
"Angel-sama, you are as beautiful and radiant as ever—so pure and divine," she whispered through trembling lips.
With the maids' help, Tsugumi washed and dressed herself. Carefully, she took out the gothic lolita outfit that Miku Izayoi had once given her. Kurumi had once said it suited her best.
"Angel-sama! I will follow your light until death!" For the first time, Tsugumi allowed the maids to apply makeup for her. They covered her swollen red eyes, and she gently applied lipstick.