Chapter 242: Hot Bath ; Intuition (1/2)
As I remain seated at the table listening to Kotori's annoyed voice as she recounts events of the past few days, AI's voice resounds within my head.
{Father, I am detecting a slight amount of abnormal energy nearby.}
Where?
{From the entity in front of Father.}
Right now, I am seated in a manner that Reine Murasame is the one in front of me.
Assuming that she is the one AI is talking about, I can conclude one thing based on the information I have gathered so far - She is hiding something.
Simply put, AI doesn't inform me about such matters unless it is somehow related to Codes and Unknowns.
”So, is your memory any better now?” Kotori asks once she is done recounting.
”Yes,” I straightaway respond, deciding to continue acting as the original Shido Itsuka for now.
”In essence, you want me to go on dates with more of these 'spirits' and seal their powers in due time, right?”
”That's right,” she responds.
”There is one thing that I would like to know,” I say after nodding my head, ”Why do I have the power to seal spirits and why do you know about it?”
Kotori's expression immediately turns solemn as she says, ”We don't know why you have that, but we only managed to find out through Ratatoskr.”
She's lying.
”I see,” I respond nonchalantly.
”So, what now?” I say.
At this moment, a figure walks into the kitchen, startling me a little.
”Tohka?” I say dubiously while inspecting the girl who is now dressed in blue pajamas.
”Hello, Shido!” she responds with a smile covering her lips.
Turning my head to face Kotori, I ask, ”Why is she here?”
”Well,” Kotori responds, ”Even if her powers are sealed, there is a chance that they will return if her mental condition is unstable. Statistically speaking, she is more at ease with you around, so she will live here from now on.”
”Is that so,” I say while glancing at Tohka who just reached the fridge.
”And where will she be sleeping?” I ask.
”Don't worry. We can easily prepare a room for her in this house.”
”If you say so,” I respond before getting up from my seat, intending to head to my room.
”Ah, right,” Kotori suddenly says, ”I had prepared the bath for you.”
Oh, the bath. Well, if I am to act like the normal Shido Itsuka, I would need to do that, huh?
”Alright,” I respond before heading toward the bath after doing a quick scan of the house.
---
Sitting in the bathtub, I relish the sensation of the hot water against my skin as I use Clairvoyance to check the city out.
Due to the matter with the spake quakes, the city has been enhanced in more ways than one.
When an emergency alarm resounds, the citizens will make their way to nearby bunkers for max safety.
To them, the space quakes are natural phenomena and nothing more than that, however, the truth is quite different from that.
According to Kotori, space quakes occur when a 'spirit' appears.
Coincidentally, the term 'spirit' is seemingly what's used to refer to the Codes in this world.
This reminds me of the term that is used in the Rift, which is quite intriguing.
Why are Codes called in such a manner? What could have instigated someone to call us as such?
Leaving that aside, my responsibilities are sure strange. For some reason, I am now stuck with the fate of picking up girls.
Even if there is a proper reason for it, the notion is still strange…
At this moment, I sense movement on the other side of the frame separating the two sections of the bath.
Before I can check out what's going on, a naked figure absentmindedly enters the section I am in while gazing at a plastic cup of pudding in her hands.
The moment she reaches the tub, Tohka raises her head, only to be shocked as soon as she notices me.
”Shi-shido?!” a high-pitched voice escapes from her lips as she covers her breasts and privates using her arms.
Remaining calm, I gaze into her eyes and say, ”What use is there in hiding them when I've seen everything before?”
Upon hearing my words, Tohka's face flushes in a deep red as she motionlessly looks back at me.
”Don't mind it much, Tohka. Come on, get in the tub,” I say while patting the tub.
Tohka's mind blanks out as she looks forward with a confused expression on her face. I take advantage of this opportunity to telekinetically push her toward myself.