Chapter 175

CHAPTER 3 PARALLEL THINKING The Spratul was flipped upside down. An explosion rang out as everything vanished—not only the garden, but the entire building, too. Sora was in the bath while Steph and the girls were resting in their rooms when the building disappeared—the four of them were shell-shocked at the wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see. “…Huh? Wha—? Huh…? Wh-what just happened…?” A confused Steph asked a question that the rest of the group already knew the answer to. The Spratul that Foeniculum had constructed was completely redesigned. Someone had spent the stream’s tips to remodel the entire set, including their house. Actually, they weren’t yet finished remodeling. Everyone aside from Steph could see who was responsible. “…I don’t get it. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it…” They spotted a figure floating high in the sky among a tumultuous maelstrom of black bubbles. It was Shiro. She was looking down and mumbling to herself, black bubbles appearing en masse from her smartphone. The group watched as with every word that left Shiro’s mouth, one of the bubbles popped and altered their surroundings. This much was clear: Shiro was spending a vast number of points to remodel the space to her own liking. That answered Steph’s question as to what had happened. The next question was: What was going to happen? No one present knew the answer. All they could do was watch in fear as Shiro—with overwhelming ghastliness—quite literally redesigned the world and herself in a way that was nothing short of apocalyptic… “I don’t get it, I don’t get it, I don’t get it, I don’t get it, I don’t get it—” Their house and the garden were erased, leaving nothing but a blank stretch of earth that then turned into a barren wasteland. Shiro’s long white hair grew longer, and the tips darkened. Ugh, I don’t understand anything. Not a thing. “Romance, affection, lovers, little sisters—I don’t understand…any of it…” As each word escaped her lips, another bubble popped in tandem. The Spratul, a spatial phase boundary, was the Fairies’ domain. And within the confines of their own domain, a Fairy’s powers were second only to a god’s—a power Shiro was harnessing for herself. Mountains erupted from the ground and formed valleys; the bloodred sky swirled with storm clouds, Shiro at their center. Clad in sinister, dark clothing befitting the atmosphere, she spoke once again. “But—I do know one thing… It’s as clear as day…” The world is an enigma. Few things are truly knowable. So when people discover one of the few knowable truths—something abundantly clear—they cling to it, build their entire thought process upon it. The only thing Shiro knew was what she could never comprehend. Her answer to this massive doubt? Let the clearest emotion within her—irritation—take over. Eventually, she remade the world into a fantastical hell and took the throne as its demon queen. She lifted her gaze, exposing a grin as she looked down at her brother and announced almost in singsong: “Hey, Brother. Who do you think you are, acting so cocky?” She was saying: It’s all your fault I’m so upset. “Why do I have to worry so much about you in the first place? Weird, right? Hee-hee, hee-hee-hee— Ahhh, I feel great. My mind is working smoothly. This is the first time in my life that I’m thinking so clearly. Feels like I could solve all the universe’s mysteries! Heh-heh, heh-heh-heh… Ah-ha-ha-haaa!!” Shiro spoke with a yet-unseen level of eloquence, her laughter exuberant enough to shake the heavens. Shiro usually had trouble articulating herself because of how quickly her brain operated. Her mouth wasn’t physically capable of keeping up with her mind. Therefore, her sudden eloquence was hard proof that her brain had ceased all thought. What felt like clear thinking was actually a delusion created by a stark lack thereof… Little did Sora and the others know—Shiro herself included—that this transformation signified, well— “I am Black Shiro—here to give Brother his final judgment. ” —a mental break. Shiro was babbling in the midst of a blinding, all-consuming fit of rage… “…Right! Now that things appear to be settling down, it’s time for some questions. ” Steph managed to snap out of her stupor before the rest of the group—perhaps because she was the most confused of them all. She smiled, then shouted, “First! What made Shiro blow a gasket this extreme?! Second! What does she mean by Black Shiro?! Isn’t that an oxymoron?! Third! Why are you naked, Sora?! Would it kill you to put some clothes on?!” “First! I’d like to know the answer myself!! Second! Another answer I’d like to know!! Third! I was in the bath—and I’m not naked!! Don’t be frickin’ rude! Can’t you see the towel?! This towel is the difference between a wholesome bath and breaking the law!! You better watch your phrasing!!” “Being ninety-nine percent naked means you’re effectively one hundred percent naked!!” “You can’t just write off that last percent!! Don’t you know it’s that very one percent that owns more than half the world’s wealth?!” “I don’t want to hear that when you’re buck naked!! Just stay away from me until you’re covered!!” “I am covered, though!! Wait—did my clothes disappear with the house?!” A silent Jibril and Emir-Eins remained vigilant to their bizarre surroundings. Meanwhile, Sora and Steph resorted to their usual back-and-forth routine amid the confusion, when… “That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Brother. ” …Shiro—or Black Shiro, as she called herself—spoke up. As she did, one of the bubbles popped, creating a massive pillar under Sora that lifted him into the air. “Whoooaaaaaa?! Now what’s happening?!” “M-Master?! I’ll come save you right awa— What the?!” “Report: Mobility compromised. AnalyzingEstimation: An invisible wall has been purchased?!” Jibril and Emir-Eins leaped into action once they heard their master’s shrill scream, but they found themselves trapped within an invisible cage—another product of Shiro’s tip spending. Eventually, the pillar that Black Shiro had materialized reached eye level. Wearing only a single towel, Sora quivered on top of the pillar. Were he to fall from this height, he’d surely perish. “That’s exactly what pisses me off, Brother. You’re so pathetic. ” Shiro, dressed in jet-black attire, sneered as she chided Sora. “You’re antisocial—weak both mentally and physically—an absolute loser. And yet here you are, setting up these half-assed flags with beautiful women like you’re in some sort of C-list rom-com. Nothing pisses me off more. ” She continued with a macabre grin. “You gotta follow through on all those flags. Didn’t they teach you that in school? Oh, that’s right. You didn’t go to school, ’cause you’re a pathetic NEET. ” “Hey, I’m not the only one who skipped scho— Never mind! I didn’t say anything!!” Shiro silenced Sora’s knee-jerk response with a smile before asking: “Hey, Brother? Do you actually want a girlfriend?” “……Huh? Um……?” He did, from the bottom of his heart. Desperately. He thirsted for it like water in a barren desert. Sora hesitated, unsure whether that was the right answer to give Shiro. But she simply asked another question. “You want one, even though you can’t talk to girls without your little sister being there? Seriously, you can hardly even breathe without me.” “” “If you really want a girlfriend, then indulge me: What do you wanna do once you have one?” “” “You have no idea, do you? I know you don’t. And that’s ’cause I know everything about you. ” “” “Yep. Everything. I know every single thing about you, Brother.” “H-hey, c’mon now—” Sora tried to get a word in edgewise, but… “Girls avoid you like the plague. Your personality sucks. You’ve got virtually nothing to offer outside of gaming. And you’re not even good enough at gaming to beat me without cheating. You’re like an infant who can’t even crawl yet. The multiverse’s ultimate lowest being, the bottom of the loser food chain. That’s the kind of loser you are. I know all this better than anyone else, no matter what you do to make yourself look good. Right, loser? Looooser! C’mon, try to deny it. You won’t, ’cause you’re a loooooooser. Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Looooser! ” “……I’m sorry…for even…being born…” Unable to refute his sister’s assertion, the most Sora could do was apologize to all of creation for his existence. “A loser like you, in a rom-com with a beautiful woman—no, multiple women? You’re not delusional enough to think you could actually ever date them, are you? That’s like a paramecium trying to date the world’s most popular superstars all at once. Surely you can see how absolutely insane that would be, right? Are you listening? Did I stutter? …I’m asking you a question here. Answer me already, you loser. ” “The only thing inherently wrong about all this is my very existence!!” “Ughhh, so annoying. Everything about you pisses me off. ” Tears streamed down Sora’s face as he saluted his sister, which proved only to annoy her even further. She tapped away at her phone. “But there’s good news for you yet, Brother. Everything’s gonna be okay. ” She spent another chunk of points, producing a storm of bubbles…and off in the distance… …something covered the gate with the A SPACE THAT ONLY COUPLES CAN LEAVE sign hanging from it. “You just need some training, and Black Shiro will break you in nice and slowly—together, just the two of us—behind closed doors. ” Shiro had erected a massive castle. She wrapped her brother in a gentle embrace and, with a kind, warm smile, told him: “You’ll learn your place. You’ll learn not to be so brazen. You’ll never again dare to want a girlfriend. I’ll condition you so that you’ll be desperate to apologize for even laying your loser eyes on a woman. Only then will you truly know your place. ’Kay? ” The moment she’d finished, two wings sprouted from her back and she took off into the sky. With Sora in her arms, Shiro flew toward the castle far off in the distance. The only thing she left behind was her boisterous laugh. “Very well! I don’t need to ask what’s going on anymore. It seems fairly obvious at this point. ” The three girls remained imprisoned within four invisible walls. They were left speechless, completely taken aback by the intense turn of events. Steph had been the first one to come to her senses. She then screamed: “That castle is a cheap love hotel, isn’t it?! It doesn’t get more inappropriate than that!!!” ““!!”” The two others gasped at the simple summation of the peril they faced. Indeed, Black Shiro had flown away with her brother to a castle-themed love hotel. A giant heart-shaped statue sat atop the castle, which was lit up in alluringly fluorescent purples and pinks. It was a hotel as seedy as they come… It couldn’t be misconstrued for anything other than a haven for perversion and depravity. “Penitence: Competition incapacitated via utilization of tips, followed by disciplining, brainwashing, and bondage of Master—a brilliant idea. Why didn’t this unit think of that? This unit is such an idiot.” “That’s not what we should be regretting right now!!” “…Lord Shiro is as cunning as always, I see. I’m quite impressed.” “You shouldn’t be impressed, either!! We have to bring them both back here, or the world is going to fall apart—!!” “But, little Dora, how are we to fight back without the tablet? It’s nowhere to be found.” “W-we’ll…just…!” How were they going to break out of their invisible prisons? Both Jibril and Emir-Eins were unable to use magic in the Spratul. To spend their tips, they needed Sora and Shiro’s smartphone or the tablet they’d been borrowing—both of which Black Shiro had disposed of, along with their house. The three ladies stood there in silence. They were out of options—or so they thought… “Hoo boy, I really up and screwed the pooch on this one!! Everything happened so fast, I forgot to turn the video back on!! You guys only had the audio!! Oh, but don’t worry, my dear viewers. I’ll release the video of Black Shiro later! ” Foeniculum chose this moment to burst onto the scene, shattering the silence. “Just where have you been?! Wait, did you say sound only? Were you watching—no, streaming—this entire time?! Why didn’t you stop Shiro?!” Steph shrieked at the Fairy, who had been recording them incognito. “Me?! Stop her?! Why would I wanna do that?! We’re just gettin’ to the real interesting part!! In fact, things couldn’t possibly get any better!!” Foeniculum answered her with a question and a twisted grin. “Geh-heh-heh, this is the perfect chance to rake in some serious dough. All I gotta do is make a few adjustments to the next game. This one’s a Fairy classic. And it’s called—” Over-the-top background music played as Foeniculum announced the title. “—the Save the Damsel in Distress from the Demon Overlord and Live Happily Ever After Game!!” A Fairy classic… Jibril had mentioned something about a turf war—one where Fairies painted over one another’s territories… Nothing about this game’s title suggested anything of that sort, though. The three ladies squinted with suspicion, unsure what the rules might entail. Foeniculum ignored them. “The rules are simple!! From here on out, we’ll be providing each contestant with their own share of the tips!!” The moment Foeniculum pointed, several poofs sounded. Three small flowers manifested near Steph, Jibril, and Emir-Eins. They showed a flat panel of light—a touch screen. “With the exception of our damsel—Sora—the four remaining contestants can use their tips to buy soldier units! As a bonus, I’m throwin’ in a stipend, enough to purchase one hundred soldiers each. Give it a try!!” Jibril and Emir-Eins shot each other a cautious look. Steph, on the other hand, appeared confused but nonetheless followed the directions. She proceeded to tap the INFANTRY button on her screen. Immediately afterward, a stream of bubbles surged from her flower screen and seeped into the ground. “Eeeep?! There are so many of them!! And they all look like me with a huge flower blooming out of my head!!” Steph shrieked as four clones of herself emerged from the earth. ““““Graaah… Urrrgh…”””” “And all they can do is make moaning noises?! This is getting creepy!!” “…They look more like zombies infected by a parasitic plant…” “Observation: Lady Dol often wears a flower in her hair. A vocabulary limited to Graaah and Urrrgh is similarly appropriate for Lady Dol’s intellect. Conclusion: This is a horde of Lady Dol clones. The horror.” Steph didn’t have a spare moment to get angry—especially at Emir-Eins’s particularly rude prognosis—before Foeniculum went on: “Eh, they’re just a bunch of NPCs that’ll shoot out soul points. I kinda skimped on their appearance, so just ignore those li’l details! Anyway, see those flowers on their heads? They’re loaded with soul bubbles that you can shoot at all the stuff Black Shiro made. That’ll paint it back to normal!!” The Fairy then began fiddling with her screen. Just like she said, one flower-zombie-Steph raised a finger and launched a stream of bubbles, which stuck to the invisible walls before bursting with a series of loud pops. The popped bubbles splattered like paint, reverting the area around them back to the way it was. The invisible walls dissipated, and the sinister terrain was once again a field of flowers. “And since Black Shiro has her own castle, I’m gonna give you three your own bases, too!!” Foeniculum shouted. Three gargantuan flower buds appeared out of nowhere in the opposite direction of Black Shiro’s castle. “Here’s the gist of things!! Contestants will purchase soldier units and deploy them around their respective bases! The units will then paint over the terrain and the enemy armies! Any units hit with soul paint will be out of the game!! There’s two hours to knock the other players out of the battle and rescue Sora!! Once those two hours are up, whoever holds hands with Sora wins the game and receives the coveted prize of coupling up for a day!!” Once she had finished giving her viewers a rushed explanation— “All right!! Now I just gotta get Black Shiro and the gang to agree to the game. In the meantime, please enjoy the footage from earlier while I figure this stuff out. ” —Foeniculum started playing the video of Shiro’s fall from grace. After double- and triple-checking that both her mic and camera were shut off, she turned to the three ladies and said: “So there you have it. You guys’ll be playin’, right?” “…I suppose I should ask: Do we actually have a choice?” “What’re you talkin’ about?! Of course you have a choice! Have I forced you to do anything against your will so far?!” Um, for starters, we’re trapped in your Spratul. Perhaps the past ten days of our imprisonment have all just been a figment of my imagination. Foeniculum shrugged off Steph’s suspicious scowl. “Besides,” she added, “it’s y’all’s day off. Spend it however you want. Just bear in mind that the gate is inside that castle, and Black Shiro has her brother all to herself—who knows what’ll go down in there. ” With a snicker, she hinted at the possible outcome. Of course, she wasn’t going to let anyone skip out on this game. The three ladies exchanged looks—and reluctantly raised their hands to pledge by the Covenants…… Shiro had taken Sora to her strange off-pink castle, where he found himself in an equally strange off-pink room. This quote-unquote throne room featured the gate out of the Spratul behind a heart-shaped throne, along with a similarly heart-shaped bed. Sora, unbothered, was trapped in a cage. “…Right-o, Shiro. Is it okay if your big brother asks what’s about to happen to him?” “Hey, Brother—asking me to state the obvious is another thing that makes you a loser. ” Shiro peered at Sora through the bars of his cage. She had a sphinxlike grin about her. Sora nodded. “So it’s safe to assume that things are exactly how they look. Okay, fully understanding how much of a complete and total loser I am… There’s something I need to be entirely honest with you about… Listen well, little sister of mine.” He looked directly into Shiro’s lifeless eyes and told her: “Your plan isn’t going to work.” “” Shiro paid no mind to Sora’s firm gaze or to his warning. She took another step closer to him. “It’s blatantly obvious that you’re making a mistake.” “” Intense fear welled up inside him as his sister took another step closer. “You said you’re gonna train me—I’m not against this. If that’s what it takes for you to forgive me, then train me all you want. In fact, if it’ll make me even a half-decent person, then by all means, go right ahead.” However. Shiro took another step toward her brother, who maintained his resolve. “No eleven-year-old girl should have a thing like that in her possession. Put it on the floor right now.” Sora was looking at Shiro—specifically at the disturbing paraphernalia she clutched in her hands. “And here’s the most crucial part: The human anus is an exit and most definitely not an entrance!! This kind of discipline resolves personality defects only in pornography!! You shouldn’t be capable of coming up with that kind of R-rated content!! And lastly—even losers like me have basic human rights, so I’m begging you here… Please stop what you’re doing!!” The resolve with which he tried to persuade his sister crumbled into groveling. A teary-eyed Sora shrieked as Shiro approached him, intent on robbing him of his purity. “Oookey-dokey! Sorry to jump in at the fun part, but I’m gonna have to stop ya there. ” Sora’s saving grace was the same voice that always appeared out of nowhere. “This is supposed to be an all-ages stream. Let’s keep it PG-13—and for gawd’s sake, Black Shiro, wouldja put that away already?! You’re gonna get our stream pulled!! Do you know how hard it is to blur that out in real time?” Foeniculum poofed onto the scene and promptly snatched the X-rated object from Shiro’s hands. “Also, how long do you plan on staying naked, Sora? I get wanting to give the viewers some fan service, but keep this up and it’ll veer into some nasty territory.” “Goddammit, I’m not naked!! And for the millionth time, I don’t know what happened to my clothes!!” “All right, all right. Both yours and your sister’s clothes got blown away in the explosion, but I found ’em. Here ya go.” “Hell yeah!! My favorite shirt!!” “Our soul paint can’t destroy your personal belongings. Now hurry up and make yourself decent, will ya?” Foeniculum chucked his clothes into the cage, which Sora donned as quickly as he could. In the very next instant—he and Foeniculum gulped as they felt an intense aura emanating from Shiro. “Why are you here…? Wait—you’re not gonna get in my way, are you? ” Is an eleven-year-old Immanity girl supposed to be this terrifying…? Foeniculum wondered. The sheer intensity of Shiro’s gaze appeared to shake the castle walls. Foeniculum’s face spasmed. “D-don’t you worry about that!! I’d never get in your way—I’m actually here to help you out, Black Shiro!! With a family-friendly game!!” She barely managed to justify things before jumping into the game’s rules. ……… “And that’s all you gotta do!! Whaddaya think?! Wanna give it a go?!” Evidently, Steph and the others had already consented. Upon hearing Foeniculum’s explanation, Sora was the first to ask a question. “So, uh… Between Spratul and Sprite Tune, I can’t help but notice a lot of things here sound like this one video game… So I gotta ask—you guys don’t know about our world, do you? I’m not gonna name names or anything, but the similarities are downright uncanny!!” Shiro and Foeniculum ignored Sora and faced each other. “Nope. I’m not gonna play your game. ” A grinning Shiro answered bluntly and apathetically. “Aw, really? ’Cause if you win, you and Sora will get to be a couple—” “I don’t care about being a couple with him anymore. I just want him to never again think about getting a girlfriend. So I’m training him to do just that. That’s why I don’t wanna play your game. Kya-ha-ha! ” She turned to her brother with a sinister grin, intent on getting back to his scheduled discipline. “Got it!” Foeniculum replied. “Then how about we add an extra clause for you if you win?!” Shiro stopped on a dime at the Fairy’s proposal. “If you can protect him from the other contestants for two hours, Sora won’t be able to get a girlfriend for the rest of his life. We can swear on the Covenants to make it happen!! How d’you like them apples?!” “WHAAAAAT?!” “……………………” Sora’s loud display of shock went in one ear and out the other. Shiro took a full ten seconds to ponder the offer before…agreeing to the conditions with a smile. “Mm. I can live with those terms. All right—I’ll play your little game. ” “No, it’s not all right!! Why’s it gotta be my neck that’s on the—?! Aieeee!!” Sora couldn’t stop himself from speaking up, but he was promptly silenced by Shiro cracking a whip outside his cage. “Sorry, Brother. I couldn’t hear you. Could you say that one more time for everyone? It almost sounded like you want to get a girlfriend despite how much of a total and utter loser you are… I must be hearing things, though, right? So—what were you gonna say?” “Just that I’m a loser!! A big loser at that!! You guys go ahead and set up the game, goddammiiiit!!” A sobbing Sora relinquished his human rights to his younger sister, when— “Excellent!! I’ll go give the others a refresher on the rules! Oh, and one more thing: In this game, you’re only allowed to use your own tip pool. Give it your all, okay?!” —the PURCHASE button on Shiro’s smartphone was disabled. Foeniculum disappeared with a small poof. A small flower appeared in midair beside Shiro. It had a built-in touch screen. Shiro glanced at the screen before closing her eyes in thought. Sora joined her in mentally scrutinizing the game’s rules. They could use soul tips they received from the viewers to buy soldiers and place them on the map. She needed to destroy her enemy’s units in order to defend her base and protect Sora. “So this is essentially your run-of-the-mill RTS—a tower defense game. Piece of cake. ” She snickered to herself and—without a moment’s hesitation—began tapping away at her flower screen. Sora knew this version of Shiro all too well. She’d already calculated her path to perfect victory. At this point, all she needed to do was press buttons. This was the face he wanted to see whenever they played on the same team. That same expression meant her opponents’ unstoppable and impending defeat. Sora was neither Shiro’s ally nor her foe in this game. He sobbed quietly to himself and thought: Ah—fare thee well, potential non-bachelor Sora… Thunder rumbled through the bloodred sky; the barren wasteland below stretched beyond the horizon. This eerie, postapocalyptic scene was rendered even ghastlier by the army of five thousand flower-zombie Stephs. At the very edge of the horizon stood Black Shiro’s base: the off-pink castle, where Steph’s legion of flowery ghouls was heading. Steph watched from her own base—a giant flower bud—via her screen while she racked her brain to figure out how the game worked. It didn’t take her long to discover that her soldiers would keep marching unless given specific orders to do something else. Black Shiro’s terrain was incredibly difficult to traverse—not only was there a valley filled with rubble, but she’d stationed her own soldiers who fired soul bubbles upon sight of enemy units. When these bubbles hit their targets, they splattered in a three-foot radius, reverting the area back to the one Black Shiro had created. The game screens could display either a bird’s-eye view or a first-person view of a single unit. Players could also change the direction their army marched or select multiple units and have them concentrate their fire at specific locations. However, just as Foeniculum had explained to the group, individual units came with a set amount of soul bubbles in their cranial flowers. Those units disappeared when their bubble reserves ran out. Therefore, no one could afford to fire off soul bubbles indiscriminately. Steph watched her army trudge through the valley without giving them any commands. Having her soldiers fire bubbles into the valley reverted it back to its original flower field, which acted like a bridge and made it possible for her army to cross. Perhaps she should have taken a longer route in order to save on her soul bubble stock. Steph finally had a handle on the game flow. Come on now, Stephanie Dola… Come on!! You need to hurry!! The rules stated that she needed to defeat Black Shiro and get Sora back within two hours—however!! “An eleven-year-old girl just kidnapped someone—her brother—and brought him to a love hotel!! Stopping her within two hours isn’t exactly a cakewalk!! We need to save him before it’s too late!!” Thus, every ka-ching that sounded signaled more tips going down the drain. Without giving it a second thought, she bought more and more soldiers—and plowed her way through the quickest route to the castle. The five-thousand-strong Steph army was currently crossing the bridge over the valley when all of a sudden the tail end of her troops vanished. “What? What’s happening?!” Her numbers were being depleted in the blink of an eye. She frantically switched to first-person perspective and saw something behind her rearguard troops—a Black Shiro with a flower blooming from her head firing some sort of beam—and then she lost the visual. “What the heck is that?! She’s not shooting soul bubbles!! Is that even fair?!” Her rearguard units were being blasted into oblivion by Black Shiro’s onslaught. Steph screamed as the tragedy unfolded. Foeniculum’s voice echoed from the screen beside her. “All’s fair in the battle of love!! Anyway, that’s just one of the equipment options for your units; take a look at your flower screen!!” A panicked Steph fiddled with the UI and eventually found the options Foeniculum was referring to. There were different kinds of units available besides the INFANTRY: 10 POINTS button Steph had been spamming, like SNIPER: 30 POINTS and PARATROOPER: 50 POINTS, among others. …Evidently, she could’ve been spending more on stronger units this entire time. The Black Shiro units firing at her were snipers, which attacked from outside her infantry’s firing range, rendering them defenseless. “You didn’t mention these options in the rules!! Talk about a paltry explanation!!” “You’re all in the same boat, princess!! What, you need the manual to spell everything out for ya?! Any gamer worth their salt has to figure out the tricks for themselves!!” “Well, excuse me, but I’ve already come to terms with the fact that I’m a terrible gamer!!” An upset Steph could only watch while her many soldiers were taken out in one fell swoop. As the beam plowed through her units, it also turned the terrain back to Black Shiro’s desolate, bloodred creation. That meant Steph’s flower bridge was gone, too. As it disappeared, the soldiers traversing it fell into the valley below. Meanwhile, Steph spotted figures overhead flying straight for her. “W-wait, what?! B-Black Shiro’s army has already made it this far?!” “That’s what happens when you send all your units out of your base!!” Steph shrieked as a small squad of paratroopers came speeding toward her. “Um, uh, how can I fight off those paratroopers?! Should I buy some snipers? Wait—I’m out of money!! I need to pull my infantry back— Agh, they can’t make it past Black Shiro’s snipers!! …Hold on… Is this already over for me?” “Sheesh, you suck at this!! How were you ever the chief minister of Elkia?!” “My work is primarily political by nature! Are there any administrative elements to this game?!” “Handling military funds and keeping track of your units fall well within that territory!! You’ve already failed to do both of those!!” …And just like that, almost too easily…Steph’s base was soul-bombed by Black Shiro’s paratroopers. With every attack that landed, a big chunk of the base was vaporized, leaving behind gaping holes for Steph to see the paratroopers for herself. …It was only a matter of time before the soul bombs hit Steph, kicking her out of the game. Certain of her demise, Steph chuckled defeatedly… “…Heh, it’s not even a question. I could never hope to beat Shiro at a game.” “Uh, more importantly—I can’t believe you’ve survived this long in a world where games determine all things!! Damn, that’s some incredible luck ya got!!” Foeniculum shuddered at Steph’s incomprehensible handicap but then said, “I’ll be honest, I don’t think even Black Shiro imagined she’d be able to take your base out this easily. She’s probably more surprised than anyone!!” “Heh, don’t spare it another thought. I can even picture the look on her face; she likely knew this was coming.” “I just took a peek at her, and you’re exactly right… You’re real perceptive, I gotta hand it to ya.” At roughly fourteen minutes into the game, this was practically a record for Steph. A single tear glistened in the corner of Steph’s eye as she looked up to the heavens and accepted her defeat. But then— —she gaped in astonishment upon seeing Black Shiro’s paratroopers get blown out of the sky. What was it this time? Steph pulled up the view from one of her soldiers who’d managed to make it past the barrage of sniper fire. “Oh… Right!! Why am I trying to do this alone?!” It was a group of flower-zombie Jibrils—snipers. Steph squealed with joy as they shot down Black Shiro’s paratroopers. That’s it. Our goal is to defeat Black Shiro—it’s a team battle!! With Jibril and Emir-Eins on my side, we may just— “Nope! Noooope! I know that’s not how these things work!! I’m starting to learn what these nebulous flags are that Sora and Shiro are always referring to!!” She wailed an instant later when Jibril’s snipers turned their rifles on Steph’s infantry as soon as they’d cleared Shiro’s units. “…Why oh why must we fight even when we share a common enemy…?! Why can’t we team up for this one…?!” “I mean…you were the one who tried to charge in first for the kill.” “Charge in first…? I did no such thing!!” “Then why didn’t you try to team up from the very start?” What…? “If your real goal was to stop Black Shiro, then working together should’ve been the obvious choice, right? But you didn’t do that. Instead, you went solo for the chance of becoming a couple with Sora for a day. Am I wrong?” “There’s a key difference between this game and the others: By rescuing Sora and holding hands, at least one of you will become a couple with him. As long as all the players vie for this position, then they’ll never want to team up—same goes for you, yeah?” Right. Over the past ten days of games, no one had managed to couple up with Sora. Steph found herself conflicted. Was this why she rushed her army’s charge? She was certainly eager to stop Sora and Shiro from doing anything unethical… Her intentions in this regard were earnest. But could she truly deny having any desire—even an iota of it—to become a couple with Sora? It was either admit her feelings, or— “I’m terrible at games; I simply failed to realize teaming up was an option!!” —admit to her incompetence. And after a moment of hesitation, Steph chose the latter. As soon as she shouted her reply, she caught sight of Jibril’s units. They were already at her front door. Steph held up both hands before any of them could begin firing. “Heh-heh… Go ahead. Pull the trigger… But promise me this.” Steph accepted her impending defeat and smiled with relief. “Protect everything that is ethical and peaceful in this world. I’m counting on you, Jibril…” With that grim final wish, Steph closed her eyes and waited for her death— “Um… I’m not going to shoot you…” —only to be answered by a shocked yet cheerful voice. “I can’t have you give up yet. I certainly won’t be able to defeat Black Shiro on my own.” The voice was coming from within the horde of flower-Jibrils. …Upon closer inspection, one of them lacked any cranial flora. Steph’s jaw practically dropped the moment she realized it was the actual Jibril speaking to her. “Wha—?! Is that you, Jibril?! Wh-why are you here?!” “Well, there’s no rule that states a player can’t leave their base. ” Their objective was to render the other players unable to fight. There was indeed no rule that prevented the players from leaving their respective bases. Moreover, Steph’s base was fairly easy to reach, given its lack of defenses. Jibril smiled confidently. “Furthermore…I was listening to your debate earlier, so allow me to retort: It is possible for us to team up.” “…Huh?” She went on to explain how that was precisely why she’d come here. “With Lord Shiro—that is, Lord Black Shiro—in such a state of disarray, I thought there might be the slightest of chances that I could defeat her. However, this was not this case… In fact, she appears to have an even greater edge to her than usual.” Jibril showed her screen to Steph as she spoke. It displayed Black Shiro’s troops moving every which way through a set of ruins. Despite having fewer numbers, she was able to position her units exactly where Jibril could least deal with them. They were getting crushed. “The only way to outdo this overwhelming advantage in skill is to create an overwhelming advantage in numbers—we need to work together.” “B-but…” “Yes, as the Fairy already stated, this shouldn’t be possible so long as the three of us want to become a couple with Master. In which case—we simply rid ourselves of this desire.” Jibril spelled out the one way to make this happen, which was: “We will swear on the Covenants not to hold hands with him at the end of the game.” “?!” “If you swear with me—then we’ll be able to team up, won’t we?” Sh-she’s right!! We can’t work together if we’re all after Sora. But if we throw that possibility out the door, then we’ll be able to cooperate!! It seemed unlikely that Emir-Eins would forfeit her desire to couple up with Sora…but still. If Steph and Jibril banded together, Emir-Eins would have no reason to fight solo— “B-but then…what will you be fighting for, Jibril…?” Steph questioned what the Flügel stood to gain in this strategy. “It’s quite evident that Lord Shiro—or Lord Black Shiro, I should say—has lost her mind,” Jibril replied with a tormented expression. “If Lord Black Shiro emerges victorious from this game, Master will be unable to fall in love with anyone—not just for the duration of this game, but for the rest of his life.” “!!” “Though I am hardly capable of even understanding romance and affection, there is no doubt in my mind that these are Lord Shiro’s true intentions.” And although Jibril claimed she couldn’t comprehend such emotions… “I, therefore, have no choice but to achieve an outcome that defies my master’s wishes—and indeed, Lord Shiro is one of my masters.” She cherished her duty as a servant over her own feelings. She was going to prioritize those most important to her—the people she loved. “We must prevent Lord Black Shiro from winning this game. That is my only goal, Dora. Will you join me?” Steph felt her chest tighten as Jibril bowed down before her. She’s right—my true goal is to bring Shiro and Sora back from that love hotel. And just look at Jibril. This elegant, proud, beautiful angel is asking for my help. I couldn’t possibly turn her down! “A-all right!! You’ve convinced me. I’ll work together with you—” She gazed lovingly at Jibril and went to take her by the hand— “Foolishness: Reconfirming stupidity of the Flügel race. This unit is flabbergasted. Siiigh…” —but just then, someone appeared from the gaping hole in Steph’s base opposite the one Jibril had entered. It was Emir-Eins, here to stop this alliance. She, too, stood among an army of soldiers that looked exactly like her. Do you people think my base is some sort of public park? Yes, come right in. You’re welcome to just stroll on through… Steph half expected Shiro to show up as well. Her gaze grew empty and distant. “Declaration: Impossible to form alliance by forfeiting desire to hold hands with Master. Pointless. A foolish idea. Stuuupid.” “What’s this…? Is that how you say ‘please kill me’ in your robot language? You learn something new every day. ” Jibril’s desire to team up flew from the gaping hole in Steph’s base the minute she was provoked. Emir-Eins calmly ignored Jibril’s palpable murderous intent. “Recommendation: Reconsider the purpose of personal tip allocation.” Personal tip allocation. She was referring to the tips each player received to purchase soldiers. Why would the viewers—Fairies looking to see real, passionate love—send tips to one person in particular? Emir-Eins was questioning their support for individual players. Steph and Jibril gulped. “Self-Evident: Viewers send tips to the individual they wish to see coupled with Master. They are backing their favorite player. Revelation: The true object of this game is a tip war to determine the best couple.” How could this notion possibly go unnoticed? A disturbed Emir-Eins continued. “Inevitability: Forfeiting any desire to become a couple will end the possible outcomes of Master × Lady Dol and Master × Irregular Number. Fans of these combinations will no longer send you two tips. Building an army will become impossible. Banding together is pointless. Stuuuupid.” “” Even Jibril’s expression tightened up when an expressionless Emir-Eins scoffed at her and Steph. Right… This is why Foeniculum said they wouldn’t be able to fight together. If Steph and Jibril forfeited their desire to become a couple with Sora, then Sora × Emir-Eins fans would be the only ones sending in tips. That would essentially amount to Emir-Eins fighting Black Shiro all alone… “Thank gawd you finally figured it out!! Ya had me scared the game was gonna end there for a hot second!! As the game master, it kills me that I can’t drop you guys any hints!!” The three ladies were relieved to have finally realized the purpose of this game, although Steph howled in fury at Foeniculum. “Why didn’t you just tell us that in the first place?!” “’Cause it’s more interesting this way!! Now that you’ve figured this out, what are you gonna do?! This is where the real game begins!!” That was indeed the most pertinent question here. Now what? Setting aside Steph as she thought about the problem at hand… Outwitted by Emir-Eins, Jibril was shaking with embarrassment. Practically groaning, she spoke up. “………I see. So our goal is to hold hands with my master. That being said, we still have a shared interest in defeating Lord Black Shiro…” She’s right! Our goals align until we’ve defeated Black Shiro! Jibril’s new suggestion had Steph excited—but that excitement was short-lived. “Idiot: Irregular Number’s intelligence is astonishingly low. Implementation of negative IQ scores recommended.” “………You should thank your lucky stars that I’m doing this for our masters. Otherwise, I would have blown a fuse long ago, despite all my benevolence. ” It took every fiber of Jibril’s being not to wring the cyborg’s neck, however— “Question: Irregular Number, do you think we could possibly defeat Black Little Sister with merely three times our current power?” “!” Jibril gritted her teeth, unable to argue otherwise. A few moments passed before Steph caught on. Emir-Eins was right… Even if they did join forces, that gave them only three times the firepower. And that might not even be an accurate estimate. It was anyone’s guess as to who was more powerful; that depended on whom the viewers most wanted to pair with Sora. And this was Black Shiro they were up against. The one and only Shiro… She, together with Sora, made up Blank—and even without Sora, she was the stronger gamer of the two. Not only that, but she was on the defensive—this was incredibly advantageous. Just as Jibril had stated earlier, they weren’t going to be able to compensate for that overwhelming advantage in skill with just any numbers—they needed equally overwhelming numbers. “Huh, b-but—do you mean to tell me that you think we’ve already lost?!” Emir-Eins wouldn’t come all this way just to tell them victory was futile. She must have had some sort of answer. Surely she was going to offer a way to defeat Black Shiro! At this point, even Jibril was willing to rely on Emir-Eins for a solution. Her face contorted from her sheer reluctance, Jibril waited for her sworn enemy to speak. “Cooperation: We shall form the Girl-on-Girl Alliance.” An intrepid grin spread across Emir-Eins’s expressionless face as she gave them her answer—an answer that left Steph and Jibril equally confused… Roughly one hour had passed since the game began. Shiro dealt with Steph and the others’ armies all while continuing to discipline her brother. Even with the PG-13 restrictions in place, she chose the cruelest methods of breaking his spirit bit by bit… “All right, Brother. Let’s say it a few more times. You are—what was it? ” “A loser. Despite my rock-bottom social standing, I commanded the beautiful Steph to fall in love with me. And yet I neglect her, because I’m a loser. The unattainably gorgeous Emir-Eins has feelings for me, which I neither affirm nor reject in the vain hopes that something will develop naturally. I didn’t feel a lick of regret when the stunning Laila referred to me as her darling, and—” That’s right… Sora was going through the long list of misdeeds he’d committed over the years. “—I’m a total pathetic loser at the very bottom of the loser hierarchy, where I belong— Eek?!” Sora finished his spiel with lifeless eyes but was met with a crack of Shiro’s whip. “You’re a total pathetic loser at the very bottom of the loser hierarchy of all living beings, where you belong—you can’t even remember a simple sentence? Loser. ” “It w-was highly inappropriate for a loser of my caliber to go and twist your words. I merely find it a bit difficult to compare myself to other living beings, considering how much of a gargantuan loser I am…!!” Sora had spent the last hour getting his inferiority drilled into his head. It had reached a point where he felt as if other living creatures, no matter how insignificant, shouldn’t even be lumped together with him just to prove his loserhood. And yet Shiro smiled tenderly at him. “…You’re not the only one, Brother. There’s other losers like you—other antisocial lady-repellant virgin NEET shut-ins. That’s why it’s important to include all other life-forms in our comparison. And there’s only one girl in the entire universe who will ever accept you the way you are. ” Bullshit… That’s not even possible. A girl like that could exist only in fiction. She’d have to be a living goddess. Sora slowly raised his head to argue as much, and then— “See? She’s right here, Brother. ” —through the iron bars of his cage, he laid eyes upon her: a living goddess, smiling at him… “Come on, Brother. You know that by now, don’t you? ” Ah… Ahhh… Shiro’s sweet whispers traveled through Sora’s ears and implanted themselves into his weary brain. “No matter how big a loser you are, Brother, I’ll always be there for you. ” Ahhh… Ahhhhh… Her voice melted through his sense of reason before corroding every crevice of his mind. “I’ll make all your food. I may not be the best cook, but I can learn. I can take care of you in other ways, too, like with money. All you have to do is let me pat you on the head while you play your mind-numbing games. There… That’s a good boy. ” He could feel the warmth of her hand stroking his hair through the iron bars. Sora’s thoughts began sinking beneath the intense weight of Shiro’s tender love—a love that accepted him for who he was. “Sorry for being so hard on you. But it’s all for your own good. ” Hard on me? What’s she talking about? Sora couldn’t come up with a single thing she’d told him that fit that description. Everything she’s said so far is an undeniable fact… This goddess is merely enlightening me. Intent on giving in to the sensations on his scalp…Sora closed his eyes— “I’ll make sure aaaall your desires are met, Brother… Even your carnal—” “…Aaaand stop right there. Time out. You sailed right past that foul line…” Foeniculum appeared out of nowhere, just in the nick of time to bring Sora out of his trance. Whoa?! What the—? What was I just thinking about?! “Grrr—why do you keep stopping me?! I had Brother right where I wanted him!!” “You were starting to get a li’l too descriptive… Try to allude to it more without actually saying it. We gotta keep things PG-13, after all… Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad about jumping in on things, but rules are rules…” Sora gasped in utter shock even as Shiro lashed out at Foeniculum. H-holy shit!! I was this close to being my little sister’s sugar baby…!!!! Calm down. Think this through, Sora, eighteen-year-old virgin!! I had some hope in Shiro’s ability to help facilitate my evolution from loser to decent human being, but becoming my eleven-year-old sister’s gigolo?! That would bring me from loser to something worse—it’d make me the scum of the earth!! A fierce conflict unraveled within the confines of Sora’s mind as the two girls bickered. “Also—as the game master, I’m not really supposed to say this, but…it’d make for a pretty lame ending if you lost without your head in the game. Maybe focus a little more on the task at hand.” Foeniculum’s grimace was met by a suspicious scowl from Shiro. Only a short amount of time had passed since she’d last looked at the screen, which she turned to once more. “What…the…?” Shiro’s relentless grin finally vanished as she groaned in shock. The screen—which had once shown her army obliterating Steph’s—now had her own army being painted into oblivion with the enemy’s advance. “H-how did they get this strong? …No—how did they get this many units?!” It wasn’t strategy or positioning that allowed the girls’ forces to overpower Shiro’s. It was raw numbers. The trio’s units engulfed Shiro’s army like a tidal wave. “What’s…happening?!” Shiro merely wailed in confusion as she watched the unmanageable disparity in numbers play out. So—what was happening? The answer to Shiro’s question could be found in the unlikeliest spot: Steph’s base. “Now, what should we do next? Should we have little Dora strip for us? ” “Uuuuhm?! Would me stripping actually serve any purpose?!” “Negative: Significance of Irregular Number stripping Lady Dol exists. This unit may also do the stripping. Selection: Whom would you like to strip you?” “You want me to pick?! But I…can’t pick between you two— No, I don’t want either of you to strip me!! This is going on the Linkernet!! I’m not into undressing in public!!” “Don’t be shy, Dora. I’ve seen your body before. There isn’t a single inch of you that you need to feel ashamed about. ” “What? Wait… J-Jibril, does that mean—?” “Evaluation: Now that’s what I call girl-on-girl, Irregular Number. Massive amounts of incoming tips confirmed. This unit will reinforce the right flank of our front line.” “Is that so? We should have you play with Dora next; that will give me a chance to increase my numbers as well.” “Hey!! Heeey?!! I’m a person, too, you know! You can’t just play with my emotions like this!!” The more the girls canoodled, the more the tips came pouring in. Every time the trio partook in girl-on-girl play with each other, a violent symphony of ka-chings followed, which in turn meant Jibril and Emir-Eins purchased more and more soldiers. This was what was happening. This was Emir-Eins’s Girl-on-Girl Alliance… ………… …… Forty-six minutes earlier: “Cooperation: We shall form the Girl-on-Girl Alliance.” A puzzled Steph and Jibril listened as Emir-Eins began explaining her idea. “Amendment: We three cannot join forces because the only form of support we’ll receive will be on an individual level: for each of us to become Master’s girlfriend. New pairings must be formed.” And by that, you mean…? the other two ladies’ gazes implored. Emir-Eins calmly continued. “Confirmation: The rules state: Two contestants who finish the game holding hands will become a forced couple for a day. This is not limited to a single couple. This unit presumes two contestants other than Master can be paired up as well.” Emir-Eins pointed out a loophole in the rules before elaborating. “Proposal: We players should create our own rules: She who captures Sora and Shiro one hundred and eighty seconds before the game ends will be deemed the winner. Losers will surrender unconditionally. Winner dictates which two couples will form. These will be the terms of our alliance, which we three will swear on the Covenants.” “…Um, huh…? What happens after that?” Steph wasn’t following. Jibril jumped in to help her. “We’ll be able to receive tips from individuals who support our pairings.” “Affirmative: Specifically, viewers who ship Irregular Number × Lady Dol, this unit × Lady Dol, and this unit × Irregular Number. Tips may also come from those who ship Little Sister × Lady Dol, Little Sister × this unit, and Little Sister × Irregular Number—expanding the tip potential for a total of nine different possible couples.” In other words, they were going to work together until they defeated Black Shiro and won Sora back, and then— “Wait a moment—that doesn’t really count as us working as a team, does it?!” “Yes, that’s what makes it an alliance. ” “Affirmative: Defeat Black Little Sister and rescue Master—this is the common desired objective among all viewers except those who ship Little Sister × Master. The alliance will cease once the objective is complete. We will return to our respective bases to resume the turf war—the battle for who will take Master’s hand. Krieg.” In other words—they weren’t just vying to pair up with Sora. They were also inciting a tip war that would decide a second pairing. Emir-Eins had come up with this plan, which Jibril comprehended easily. Meanwhile, Steph thought… …They’re both starting to sound like Sora. He’s poisoned their minds… And thus, the three raised their hands and made the famous unbreakable pledge: Aschente—… ………… …… And thus, the fans of girl-on-girl action proved to be lucrative tippers. The trio’s alliance had amassed well over three hundred thousand units— “Um!! I can’t keep up with the controls!! Can somebody please help me?!” Steph shrieked as she failed to maneuver so many units at once. “Is it just me, or am I getting way more tips than both of you?!” “Obvious: Viewers’ most desired pairing: this unit and Irregular Number. Clearly.” “And in order to give the viewers what they want, you, Dora, need to earn the most money. ” They were correct—the viewers wanted to see a Flügel × Ex Machina couple. In order for that to happen, Steph needed to be the one to capture Sora and Shiro. Unfortunately, Steph didn’t have the gaming prowess to see this through. What happened at the start of the game spoke volumes to this fact. Therefore, to make a JibEm couple happen, the viewers needed Steph to defeat the two women after the trio’s alliance defeated Shiro—the odds of which were practically zero if Steph was left to her own devices. The viewers knew they needed to pump Steph’s army with cash while the Girl-on-Girl Alliance was still in play. The problem was, Steph’s army had grown too large for her to control properly. She needed Emir-Eins to help guide her, and even then her units weren’t fighting at a reasonable capacity for their size. Both Jibril and Emir-Eins wanted to work on their own armies, but— “Revelation: The Girl-on-Girl Alliance can bring in tips for purposes other than changing the outcome of this game.” And thus, Emir-Eins revealed her second ace in the hole. “Announcement: If this unit amasses four hundred thousand points in tips—this unit shall kiss Irregular Number.” “Wait, what?! Are you being serious, Emir-Eins?!” Emir-Eins is going to kiss somebody other than me? Jibril of all people…? As an emotionally perplexed Steph shrieked, Jibril put her foot down. “Not in a million years. I’d rather lick a pig’s ass. ” “Agreement: Kissing Irregular Number… Ew. But we must face the truth. We need more power.” This was true—as hard as it was to believe. Despite their insurmountable advantage in troops, the Alliance had yet to overwhelm Black Shiro. They needed even more tips, or else she was going to take them out. “Presentation: Increased tip procurement possible should Irregular Unit make a similar offer. Current firepower is too low to defeat Black Little Sister. Question: Will Irregular Unit put her own inhibitions before her master?” “! !! ~~~~~! ……!!” …Jibril couldn’t come up with a single retort. She clutched her head; her expression twisted from the inner conflict she faced—a rare sight. Steph watched with bated breath—until Jibril finally made her decision. “…How about if we’re tipped over four hundred thousand points, I’ll kiss little Dora?” she forced herself to say. “Wha—?! Why me?!” Steph replied with a shriek. Emir-Eins nodded. “Test: Appropriate firepower must be acquired by whatever means necessary. But let it be known: This unit will do anything to defeat Black Little Sister and steal Master back. Anything.” They could give kissing a trial run, but Emir-Eins was willing to go way further than that—even by kissing Jibril. “So…Dora. Do I have your consent?” “Ummmm?! My first kiss isn’t for sale!!” “Of course, Dora. I won’t force you to do it… If you really don’t want to…” “Wait, Jibril—don’t look at me like that!!” Calm down. Calm down this instant, Stephanie Dola. You only feel this way because this space amplifies your love for others— Steph convinced herself to turn down the dejected Jibril; she knew her feelings for the Flügel were mere delusions— “Opportunity: This unit shall also kiss Lady Dol for four hundred thousand points. Only if she wants to, though… Do you not want to share a kiss with this unit?” Emir-Eins made a similarly sad puppy dog face and approached Steph from the opposite side of Jibril. …No, you see… I-it’s not—like that— …………………… And thus, a teary-eyed Steph agreed to their terms, so long as it was on the cheek. “Report: Just barely able to procure necessary firepower. The right flank is moving in to destroy the final line of defense.” “Then leave the left flank to me—this is our last push. ” The two women homed in on Black Shiro’s last line of defense with a kiss. Steph, meanwhile, had her hands on her cheeks, both of which had been kissed by Jibril and Emir-Eins. She stared off into space. …Oh, dear grandfather…… Your darling Stephanie just sold her body for money… That said, she was less embarrassed about being kissed than she was relieved that she didn’t have to pick between the two women. In fact, Steph was in tears because her heart was beating so fast from the two kisses. No matter how this game ends, I may find myself at a loss. Because even if they beat Black Shiro, rescued Sora, and by some strange miracle, Steph came out on top… Whose hand will I hold…? The agonizing decision had shattered Steph’s heart into pieces… There was no way to know how many units another player commanded. Yet despite her perfect positioning and controls…Shiro’s army was being dominated. Shiro quickly figured out that her enemies had amassed more than twenty times the man power of her own troops. She had no clue how Steph and the others had managed to pull it off. Rather—she couldn’t tell how they’d managed to join forces. Nevertheless, the trio’s combined armies were tearing through her defensive line, so Shiro furiously revised her tactics and worked desperately to resist the onslaught. “…Hey—why am I not good enough for you…?” The words slipped out of her mouth as she tapped away at her screen—but her question… “Mmmnn?! Mmmnn, mmmnn! Mmnnn?!” …wasn’t for Sora, who flailed around in his cage, bound and gagged. “Even though…I can do anything Brother wants me to?” It was for the great army that pushed through her defensive line. “I can even make him food—maybe not as good as Steph can, but I can try.” For the people who made that great army possible. “My boobs may not be as big as Jibril’s, but they’re still growing.” Those who were funding Steph and the others. “I may not be as beautiful as Emir-Eins! But I’ll learn how to do my makeup and wear pretty clothes!!” Her question was for…the viewers. “I can’t become his girlfriend like they can—but I can do everything else!!” She was making a plea to Sora × Shiro shippers out there. “So why…? Why aren’t you giving me any tips?!” she screamed—cursing those who tried to steal her brother away from her. And yet Shiro already knew the answer to her own question. This was a game for the viewers to decide who would become Sora’s girlfriend. Were Shiro to win, the game would end with Sora single—not only that, but he’d never be able to get a girlfriend for the rest of his life. The Fairies wanted to see love and romance; only a handful of them would even consider supporting Shiro’s outcome. I know this. I know this, but—!! “…Is finding love…really that important…?!”” The great army had made its way to her castle. She was about to lose. Picturing what that would mean, Shiro shouted herself hoarse. “Is it wrong for me to want to be with him forever, even if we can’t be lovers?!” Her brother was going to hold hands with somebody other than herself. Even if it was only for a day, Sora and his girlfriend were going to share a tender gaze, a genuine smile… “…No… I don’t want that to happen… NOOO!!” Shiro imagined the scene—and finally began crying. Large tears ran down her cheeks and landed on her screen as it displayed what was unfolding—and she knew. There was no longer a way for her to stop the great army that had broken through her defenses… Falling to her knees, a sobbing Black Shiro—no… “…I…only have Brotherrr… I don’t need, anyone else…!!” This was Shiro doing the crying. She’d unknowingly released herself from her delusion. “…Don’t take…Brother away, from meee…” This was her only plea; her sole desire. Without even realizing she was back to normal, she screeched at the top of her lungs: “Don’t, leave me all alooone!!” Shiro covered her face with her hands and began wailing. She didn’t even notice who was standing behind her…