Most people would react that way when two arms suddenly snaked out from behind and wrap themselves tightly around your shoulders.
His whole body stiffened, and he turned his head. “Huh?” He stared in disbelief at the girl who had suddenly appeared.
“Hmm. You have awakened, then,” she said, grinning slightly. The eyes peeking out from the gaps in her long golden hair still boasted their golden gleam and were now scrunched up in apparent happiness.
His mind was instantly thrown into disarray. Not because the girl had emerged from behind him with absolutely no warning, but because of the girl’s incongruously happy expression.
There was no mistake. This was definitely…
“M-Mukuro?!”
Yes. The Spirit he had faced off against was leaning out of a door that opened into empty space to twine her arms around his shoulders.
“Wha—?!”
“H-how is she here?!”
“Panic. What is the meaning of this?”
The Spirits also cried out in surprise.
“Hm-hmm?” Mukuro glanced at them but quickly turned back to Shido. She stroked her fingers against his cheeks. “Such a hateful boy to keep Muku waiting. However, fine. I shall forgive you. I feel strangely jovial.”
“Hah… Uh… Huh…?” Shido stared blankly.
“Speak. You look as though you were bewitched by a fox. Ho-ho. Would this, then, be ‘love’?” Mukuro asked in a syrupy voice as she booped his nose.
“…?!”
Shido was extremely flustered. How else could he possibly react? This was the Spirit who had mercilessly rained asteroids down upon him the last time he’d seen her. The softening of her attitude—no, this was well beyond the level of softening. She was so different that he would have believed it if he’d been told she was a different person entirely.
Tohka, Kotori, and the others looked similarly shocked.
“Ah.” He had a sudden jolt of insight as to the cause of this new Mukuro. “Could this be…because your heart was unlocked?”
“…!”
The Spirits gasped.
The girl he’d seen in space and the girl here now. In between them was the moment he had opened her heart’s lock.
Her face so richly expressive, she was obviously different from the Spirit he remembered. Had this been her personality before she locked her heart away?
…No, even if that were the case, he felt like she was draping herself over him a little too much.
“M-Mukuro?” he said, sweat beading on his forehead. “How come you’re being so nice and friendly to me? Uh, I mean, it’s not a bad thing. I’m actually glad, but…”
“Hm-hmm?” Her eyes widened curiously for a moment, then: “Is it so strange that Muku would be struck by you, my lord, after you expended such effort to unlock her heart? Who was the impudent man who spoke of saving Muku and swore to make Muku happy from the moment our eyes met?”
“Hnngh…”
That pretty much summed it up. Shido knew the pain and anguish he’d gone through to eventually resolve to save the Spirits. But from Mukuro’s point of view, he must have looked like a playboy who showed up out of nowhere, screaming “I love you.”
“My apologies. I cherish thee and I cannot help but tease.” Mukuro laughed merrily at his troubled expression. “I speak no lie. The instant Muku’s heart was opened, your heartfelt appeals and ceaseless efforts caused a flood of gratitude. That is the truth… However, the more direct reason I feel an affinity for you, well…”
Mukuro twirled a finger as if setting her thoughts into motion, then snapped that finger to a halt.
“Simply because, I suppose.”
“…Oh, come on,” Shido responded with a sigh.
Mukuro didn’t seem to be joking as she continued. “You may attempt to investigate the whys and wherefores of likes and dislikes, but I’ve said just about all there is. Simply because. My lord feels close to Muku.”
“Close?” He cocked his head. Well, it was totally normal to like a person whose opinions and tastes aligned with your own, but what kind of closeness would Mukuro have felt for Shido?
She let out a peal of carefree laughter as he was lost in thought.
“No matter,” she said. “More importantly, you shall fulfill your pledge to me.”
“Pledge?” he parroted.
“Mm.” She nodded firmly. “You told Muku you would make her happy. You would make her your flesh slave. I cannot quite discern what a flesh slave might be, however. You will explain it to me, yes?”
The Spirits all frowned dubiously.
“Wha—?!”
“Shido, is that true?”
“Uh. Um…”
“Whoa… Not cool…”
“N-no!” Shido protested. “That’s a— Okay, maybe it’s not a misunderstanding, but I had a good reason—”
“Hold up.” Kotori stepped forward and stopped him. “You mind, Mukuro?”
“…Hm-hmm?” Mukuro frowned suspiciously and looked at Kotori. “What are you?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Shido’s little sister, Kotori.”
“Ho-ho? And what business does the little sister have with Muku?”
“Shido’s not in tip-top shape at the moment. He’s still recovering from the damage he took slamming into the ground with you in his arms. He wasn’t lying to you, though. Just give him a little time. Till tomorrow, at least.”
“Hm-hmm.” Mukuro paused thoughtfully, then rubbed her chin as her mouth relaxed happily. “I see, I see. So, he was injured while aiding Muku. ’Tis a shame. I shall wait, then. Tomorrow, yes?”
“Yes!” Kotori said. “Thanks. Big help. If you’d like, you can rest here until—”
“No need.” Mukuro spread out her hands as if to cut Kotori off and untangled the arms that had been wrapped around Shido’s shoulders. She slowly pulled herself up straight. “I accept these circumstances. I look forward to tomorrow with anticipation, my lord.”
She waved a hand and returned to the door open in empty space, smiling. The moment she stood up straight, the door pulled into itself like a whirlpool, leaving only the infirmary wall.
“…”
Silence reigned for a time. Eventually, however, Nia exhaled loudly, like she couldn’t stand the strain any longer.
“Pwaaah! That was freaky, right? That was the Muku?” she half shrieked. “She sure was a whole lot different than y’all said!”
The other Spirits also sighed as the tension dissipated.
“Shock. It is just as Nia says. I had pictured a more unsociable Spirit. And Shido, what exactly is a ‘flesh slave’?”
“Is it because. Shido unlocked her heart? Um. I am. Curious.”
“Hmm. But she was cuuute, wasn’t she? Small, but the curvy parts were cuuurvy. Hee-hee-hee! You love her, too, darling?”
“…Miku, you’re creeping me out. Shido, you’re even creepier.”
“Listen, that was the choice I had to make,” he protested weakly, and everyone glared at him. He sighed helplessly and touched his shoulder, still faintly warm from Mukuro’s embrace, as he looked at his sister. “Kotori.”
“Yeah. Sorry for going ahead and filling your dance card for you.” She averted her eyes apologetically. “Anyway, when we were fixing up Fraxinus, I had them put in new equipment, separate from the medical pods. You’ll be resting up there today.”
“New equipment?” he asked with a slight frown. “How is it different from the pods?”
“You’ll see,” she replied, crossing her arms. “I’ll vouch for the results, though. You’ll be completely recovered by tomorrow.”
“Got it.” He nodded in return, then said, “Thanks, Kotori.”
“Huh?” She stared at him blankly. “Wh-why are you thanking me?”
“It’s just, you bought me this extra night because you were worried about me, right?”
“Wha—?!” Her face nearly burst into flames, and she shook her head hurriedly. “Wh-what are you talking about? We’re obviously not set up to support you properly yet, that’s all!”
“Ho-hooo!” Kaguya cried with a grin.
Nia clicked her tongue in fond exasperation. “Look up tsundere in the dictionary and there’ll be a picture of you, li’l sis.”
“A-anyway! Tomorrow’s the big day! Make sure you’re in top form and raring to go!” Kotori shouted as she snapped a finger out at Shido and left the infirmary.
“Ha-ha!” Shido smiled as he watched her go. “Well, I guess I’ll give this amazing medical equipment a go, then. Oh, that reminds me. She left without telling me where it is.”
He scratched his head, and Miku clapped her hands together.
“Aaah. We’re also allowed to use those facilitiiies. We can show you the way!”
“Oh yeah? Then, please and thank you.”
“Yes, please leave it to uuus. Hee-hee-hee!” Miku chuckled with a pleased air.
“…?” Shido cocked his head curiously to one side.