Kurumi tilted her head slightly, a strand of black hair shifting with the movement.
"Ara~ you're not surprised at all, Master-san," she said softly, yet with a probing tone. "Did… you actually already know something?"
Gabriel fell silent.
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if weighing how much of the truth needed to be revealed.
"Because our fates are connected," he finally said calmly, "I will answer."
A faint silence hung between them.
"And the answer… is yes. I already knew."
Gabriel opened his eyes again. His gaze remained obscured by his black bangs, yet it was clearly fixed on Kurumi.
"That's why," he continued, "I usually set up scenarios. To correct paths that have gone astray."
His hand paused in stroking the cat.
The Persian in his lap leapt down nimbly and walked away, as if sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"Did you forget, Kurumi?" he asked softly. "I'm not from this world."
He leaned back lightly in his chair.
"And by coincidence… I appeared right in the timeline that you and Shido created."
For a few seconds, Kurumi didn't respond.
Then a soft laugh escaped her lips.
"Fufu…"
Her eyes narrowed, different from her usual sweet smile. Sharper. More cautious.
"I see…" she murmured. "Not merely an anomaly… but an external variable to the system."
She crossed her legs gracefully.
"Master-san, do you realize how dangerous that statement is? If you truly are an entity unrecorded in the previous timeline… then your very existence is the greatest deviation."
Kurumi leaned forward, close enough to Gabriel.
"And you say you want to 'correct' the flow?"
Her smile softened again—this time carrying genuine curiosity.
"Very interesting… Then allow me to ask one more thing."
Her gaze locked onto Gabriel.
"Do you intend to save this world… or rewrite it according to your own will?"
Gabriel gave a faint smile, as if he had been waiting for that question all along.
"Ash does not intend to rewrite this world," he said calmly. "Only to ensure it doesn't fall into the same mistakes again."
A thin silence filled the space between them.
"If this world can be saved by Shido's hands… then I need not move."
His tone remained calm.
"However, if the flow veers off course again…"
His gaze fixed straight on Kurumi.
"I will be the unrecorded correction."
Then, without changing his expression—
"Ash will rewrite it," he added quietly.
He raised his right hand and touched Kurumi's forehead with the tip of his index finger.
"One more thing," he said lightly. "Your face is too close."
Gently, he pushed her back a few centimeters.
Kurumi blinked… then let out a small laugh.
"Ara~ Master-san, you're so cold," she teased. "Even though the atmosphere was already dramatic enough."
Her eyes glittered, a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"But I like your answer. 'Unrecorded correction'… how romantic that sounds."
At that moment, a café attendant approached their table. She wore a maid outfit with cat-ear headband on her head, her smile bright.
"Two pancakes and two iced chocolate drinks are ready," she said cheerfully, placing the order on the table.
"Please enjoy."
Before leaving, she produced two extra cat-ear headbands.
With nimble hands, she placed one on Gabriel's head and the other on Kurumi's.
"And… congratulations!" she added enthusiastically. "You two are this week's 100th couple!"
Kurumi tilted her head, the black cat ears atop her hair swaying slightly.
"Ara~"
Her smile widened.
Gabriel, on the other hand, stared at Kurumi wearing the headband.
And for some reason, a strange flash crossed his mind.
Morgan.
Wearing the same headband.
Tilting slightly, her expression blank… then mimicking a voice, "Nyaa."
Psst—!!!
Gabriel's face instantly turned red.
He quickly shook his head, as if trying to erase the image that shouldn't have appeared.
Quietly, Gabriel even manipulated his mana to calm himself down quickly.
Kurumi noticed the subtle shift immediately.
The maid also seemed to notice, and she leaned slightly toward Kurumi, whispering softly into her ear:
"Miss… it seems your boyfriend is embarrassed seeing you wearing that accessory. Try saying 'nyaa~' in front of him."
Kurumi covered her mouth with the back of her hand, letting out a small laugh.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked back at Gabriel.
"Ara ara…" she whispered softly.
The cat ears on her head swayed gently.
"Well then… does Master-san want to hear it?"
Gabriel didn't answer immediately.
He stared at her for a few seconds—calm, expressionless, giving nothing away.
But it was precisely because of that that Kurumi took the initiative.
With an exaggeratedly sweet, playful expression, she raised both hands near her face. Her fingers curled into small claws, her shoulders slightly lifted.
Her body leaned forward.
"Nyaa~"
The sound was soft, flowing gently. Deliberately playful.
A few nearby patrons glanced over briefly, smiling at the couple who seemed to be play-acting cutely.
Gabriel remained silent.
No flushed face this time.
No nervous movements.
He simply stared at Kurumi with an unreadable expression.
Then—
"Not bad," he said, his tone flat.
Kurumi blinked.
Gabriel continued, maintaining the same calm demeanor.
"Better than you expected."
Silence.
For the first time since they had sat there, Kurumi Tokisaki lost control of her expression for a fleeting second.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"A-Ara…?"
Her smile remained, but now mixed with a rare hint of awkwardness.
Gabriel tilted his head slightly, observing her.
Not with a teasing look.
But like an observer who had discovered an intriguing new phenomenon.
"So you can react like that too," he said softly.
His gaze softened just a little.
"Kurumi."
{Note: Gabriel remained calm thanks to the lingering effect of his mana manipulation}
The name came out without a title. Without any playful tone.
And precisely because of its simplicity—Kurumi's cheeks flushed another shade deeper.
The hands that had been forming little paws slowly lowered, while her heartbeat felt slightly faster than usual.
"Master-san…" she murmured softly this time, without a laugh.
For a moment, their little game shifted into something quieter.
***
Two days had passed.
As a domino effect of the small steps Kurumi had taken under Gabriel's guidance, Raizen School had been unexpectedly closed for two days.
The official reason was vague.
The real reason—well-structured.
Now, the sun hung nearly at its zenith over Tengu City.
The clock showed eleven in the morning.
Gabriel was walking side by side with Moegami.
Technically—a date.
Practically—a briefing for the next stage of the scenario.
Only two people knew the full picture: Gabriel and Kurumi.
Meanwhile, Kurumi herself was preparing the "accidental incident" between Shido and Natsumi—a trigger designed to make Moegami experience an Inverse upon witnessing a Spirit.
And as could be expected… Shido would appear as the hero.
Classic. Effective. Dramatic.
But that was for later.
For now, they were inside an herbal and tonic shop.
The shelves were lined with glass bottles, dried roots, hanging leaves, and labels reading "stamina booster," "vitality enhancer," and "natural energy."
Moegami stood stiffly.
Her white dress was covered by a thin cream jacket. Her face burned bright red.
Cradled in her arms were various herbal and tonic packages, their effects… far too specific.
Some for physical strengthening.
Stamina boosters.
And aphrodisiacs in moderate doses.
"I-I really don't know why my body dragged me here on its own!" she panicked.
She stared at the items in her arms as if holding something forbidden.
"T-This too!! What is this!? I really don't know anything about these things!"
Gabriel stood beside her. Calm. Too calm.
He touched his chin, pondering.
The influence of residual memory from the previous timeline.
Most likely an effect of the subconscious imprint from the earlier version of Origami. Emotional memories not fully erased, searching for familiar patterns.
The invitation to go out together had become a trigger.
But… shouldn't this have happened with Shido?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Moegami turned, glancing at Gabriel who was simply observing.
"Do something!" she whispered tensely. "Don't just watch!"
Gabriel blinked slowly.
"All right," he replied calmly. "Let's go to the clothing store after this."
Moegami froze.
"…What?"
"Before that," Gabriel continued, "we'll go to the cashier to pay for the items you picked."
He glanced at what she was holding.
"Seems you have a liking for things like these."
Moegami's face immediately flushed all the way to her ears.
"I-I don't like them!" she protested quickly. "These aren't my choices! It's a reflex I can't logically explain!"
She lowered her gaze slightly, her voice dropping.
"…And even if it is a reflex… it doesn't mean it represents what I actually want."
Her last words came out softer than she realized.
Gabriel studied her for a few seconds.
"Relax," he said finally. "I'm not judging."
He walked ahead toward the cashier.
Moegami paused for a moment, then followed with small steps, her face still blazing red.
The "sensitive" items remained cradled in her arms.
And for some reason—her heartbeat wasn't entirely steady.
___
How do you like it? (•_<) tehe~
Support me! Don't forget to leave comments, your best reviews, add it to your favorites, and give all your power stones~!!!