Long-term salvation

“…We need to deal with the body.”

Hearing this, Su Shi turned her head away, not thinking about what had just happened, nor listening to the puffing sound made by the thing being fiddled with. Then, after a few seconds of silence, the light brown-haired girl, having made up her mind, cautiously asked:

"Would you like me to help you dispose of the body?"

Xiangzi: "...No need, someone will take care of it."

Feeling the eager gaze rolling across his face, Xiangzi's heart was filled with regret:

I should have worn a mask earlier!

Armed Miko Toyokawa Shoko (XI): Cohabitation Surveillance

"Name?"

"My name is……"

"Her name is Nagasaki Suyo, a student at Tsuki no Mori Girls' Academy."

Xiangzi sat upright, his new red and white shrine maiden's costume fitting the girl's body curves, making him look particularly sacred and noble:

"My favorite food is minestrone soup, and I often drink black tea. My aversion is to offal. If you want to assassinate me, you can simply replace the minestrone with offal macaroni. I am willing to take on this responsibility, to eliminate my relatives for the sake of justice and to eradicate the root of the problem."

"Saki-chan!"

Just as Su Shi was about to say something, he was forced back by Xiangzi's gaze. He had to shrink his head and sit in the interrogation room of the Future Props Research Institute - although it was called the "Future Props Research Institute", it was actually just an external publicity sign. The more important thing was the large GOC underground base located underground. In addition to this, there was a secret research base in the suburbs of Tokyo - the [fragmented pages] recovered during this period were stored there for interpretation.

"I think we need to erase the memory of Nagasaki Suyo."

Xiangzi said calmly, his expression not wavering in the slightest:

"Use excuses like the gas explosion to cover it up, and use hints or other means to get their mother to move. If necessary, let them leave Tokyo or even Japan. The Nagasaki family has the financial resources to support this."

"What?! I can't leave—everyone in the band, and you, Xiaoxiang..."

"Damn it! Compared to life, what's a mere band?!"

"Um..."

Watching the interaction between the two in front of her, Makise Kurisu sighed, and amid the others' stifled laughter, she placed the document containing Nagasaki Suyo's records on the table and said unhappily:

"I can tell. You high school girls in bands all have special skills. I don't know if it's friendship or something else that's keeping you going."

Hearing this, Su Shi lowered her eyes and glanced to the side cautiously, looking like a widow at a funeral, or a wealthy young widow who had been widowed for many years.

Xiangzi also didn't say anything, but just clenched his fists slightly with his hands on his knees.

After a few seconds of silence, Makise Kurisu, feeling helpless, rubbed her temples. Turning around, she saw Okabe Rintaro slumped in his chair like a dead fish. He had just helped her sort through a pile of physics data reports, and now he was being used as an "assistant" to record the conversation... Perhaps because he was too tired, Rintaro didn't jump up to refute, but instead blankly circled the book:

Everyone in the GOC branch has been very busy recently - testing new models, joining several new personnel, tracking cultists, verifying and handling supernatural phenomena, etc. This series of important matters has made everyone feel overwhelmed.

Because of this, even if Xiangzi was not being followed, she would most likely not be able to enjoy paid leave.

"Recently, disappearances have been on the rise in Tokyo. Inspector Kiichi Goto (from Patlabor) of the Metropolitan Police Department, and two female officers, Natsumi Tsujimoto and Miyuki Kobayakawa (from Arrest Warrant) of the Bokuto Police Station, are relaying information to us within the police system."

Saikawa Ayane, who stood behind Makise Kurisu like Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki, said this. Her face was not good, and her eyes were full of fatigue from working overtime for a long time:

"The enemy is well hidden, and we can't fill the city with cameras... The only good news is, Xiangzi, you're the enemy's target. We can only focus on you and see if we can find any trace of them - which is very dangerous. After all, 'A thief can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't be on guard against thieves for a thousand days.'"

Hearing Saikawa Ayane's words, Makise Kurisu turned her head to look at the exhausted faces of Rintaro and the others. She pursed her lips, looked at Nagasaki Suyo who was sitting opposite her, and said aloud:

"Ms. Nagasaki, we don't have enough personnel to protect and monitor you and your family around the clock, nor can we simply erase your memory. It would be foolish to lose our vigilance against the dark things we've faced, especially when the enemy will use you as a target to lure out our personnel. Therefore, we have decided to have a GOC officer provide close protection for you. After the cult is completely wiped out, we will erase your memory."

Hearing this, Su Shi's eyes lit up as he realized something, while Xiangzi next to him was stunned, then suddenly stood up and shouted:

"I refuse—"

"If there is additional allowance, it will be considered double overtime pay."

Xiangzi sat down quickly, his face firm: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"That's good," Makise Kurisu said with a more pleasant smile, and the same thing happened to Saikawa Ayane standing beside her. The latter chuckled softly with her hands covering her mouth. "We must get along well, but don't forget our duties - the enemy will attack again."

Xiangzi raised his chin, his face fearless: "Yes, I will complete the task resolutely!"

Although he said so, when Xiangzi followed Su Shi back home, his heart was still full of emotion and resistance.

By this time, the luxury apartment building had been cleaned. The tragic death of the security guard had been faked as a car accident, and the GOC had distributed a pension to his family. The Nagasaki family's apartment on the upper floor had been equipped with energy monitoring equipment, and the glass had been replaced with high-strength bulletproof glass.

As for the biggest problem, Su Shi's mother, before returning home, she received a business exchange invitation from Atlas Company...the kind for a long-term business trip.

"So, Xiaoxiang, which room do you want to live in?" Su Shi asked with a smile. She clasped her hands together with an expectant smile on her face. "You can live with me, too."

"No need for that. A 'maid' can't live in the same room with a 'mistress,'" Xiangzi said sarcastically. "I'm clearly an armed shrine maiden. Why should I become a maid serving the master?"

"A personal maid is always more suitable than an armed miko. It won't attract other people's attention... Where are you going to put all those weapons? They're so heavy."

Looking at Su Shi's innocent look squatting in front of the pile of military supply boxes, Xiangzi suddenly felt a surge of anger in her heart. She stepped forward, grabbed Su Shi's wrist, pulled her up from the ground, and pressed her hard against the wall next to her.

From bottom to top, facing those light blue eyes that were slightly tearful due to pain, Xiangzi squeezed out words from between his teeth, filled with the anger of not being understood and the frustration brought about by the loss of all previous efforts:

"Do you know why I told you all that that night?! How determined do you think I was to cut off from 'daily life'? You jumped in front of me like a damn rabbit and crawled into the grave I prepared for myself - why are you so obsessed with me? We are not on the same path! I want to die on the battlefield, die in a dark corner, die in an 'unusual' life!"

"Why...why...do you have to remind me of the 'daily life' of the past?"

Xiangzi suddenly raised her head and looked into the eyes that were already blurred by tears. She asked in a painful voice:

"Nagasaki Suyo, why didn't you die right in front of me?"

The blue-haired girl growled, with tiny tears gleaming in her amber eyes.

Both of them panted in silence, letting the sticky sadness slowly dissipate into the air. The girls' warm breaths blocked each other's mouths and noses, making them feel almost suffocated.

After a moment's silence, Xiangzi let go of his hand, but the next second Su Shi held it again, intertwining their fingers.

"That moment."

Catching the blue-haired girl who was trying to escape subconsciously, Su Shi whispered:

"At that moment... I understood Xiangzi. Xiangzi and I reached an understanding in that moment - you are right, we are not on the same path, but that was 'Armed Miko Toyokawa Xiangzi', not 'Toyokawa Xiangzi'. I was attracted to the latter and saved by the former. I was attracted to the 'everyday' and saved by the 'extraordinary'... Thank you, Xiangzi, thank you for coming to save me. The moment you appeared, I was really happy."

"Now, can I hug you?"

Su Shi said this, and without asking Xiangzi's consent, she hugged him forcefully. She stroked his long blue hair and said gently:

"Xiangzi, you must have suffered a lot, right? Tell me, tell me everything. And when it's all over, please erase my memory with your own hands. That way, your weakness will belong only to me, and no one will ever discover your past weakness. How about this deal?"

"……up to you."

Armed Shrine Maiden Toyokawa Shoko (12): The Downtrodden Aristocrat Toyokawa Shoko

"Xiao Xiang, would you like some dessert?"

"Xiaoxiang, would you like some black tea?"

"Xiaoxiang, I want..."

Hearing the seductive music in his ears, Xiangzi paused and a blob of ink spread on the paper, forcing the frowning girl to pick up her handkerchief and carefully wipe it away - in the past few days, Su Shi seemed too enthusiastic, even fiddling with musical instruments in front of her from time to time, and rarely went to school.

Tsk, this ignorant woman still has feelings for me... I shouldn't have made a "deal" with her.

Taking a deep breath, Xiangzi put the cap on his pen and placed it next to his notebook. He turned around and said seriously:

"I'm not a maid, but neither are you, Miss Nagasaki Suyo. Please don't interfere with my work."

"Even though it's just little things like 'Nagasaki Suyo ate breakfast,' 'Didn't eat dinner,' or 'Picked out the entrails from the rice again,'" Suyo smiled gently, her eyes brimming with a maternal radiance unbecoming of her age, "Shoko is always observing me very attentively."

The corner of Xiangzi's eye twitched slightly.

"That's the responsibility."

"Okay, okay, it's my duty."

Hearing these words that seemed to comfort a child, Xiangzi clenched her fists, and veins popped out on her forehead. But just as she was about to say something, the alarm on the desk beeped twice, and the screen immediately switched to -

Several people were standing outside the door of Nagasaki's apartment.

"...Are those monsters coming again?"

Su Shi, with a look of shock on her face, subconsciously grabbed Xiangzi's shoulders, but the latter did not reply immediately. Instead, he was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying:

"It's Deng and the others—Tang Takamatsu, Tatsuki Shiina, Rana Kaname, and that pink-haired girl—wait, you haven't been to school much lately!"

Su Shi: “…I forgot.”

How could going to school possibly compare to the fun of playing with a reluctant blue-haired octopus?

But the point is, what now? An awkward time with awkward people is bound to lead to awkward situations.

"I'll go outside... I'll hide in the house," Xiangzi stood up suddenly. She quickly put away the things on the table, and there was a hint of tension in her words. "Don't reveal my presence. It will be very troublesome to explain."

"perhaps."

Xiangzi's movements paused.

"Perhaps, it would be a good thing to meet them," Su Shi said softly, "and they might also look around, or want to stay here? You know——"

Su Shi bent down slightly, her light blue eyes showing some scheming and pride. She put her hands around Xiangzi's neck from behind, put her cherry lips close to the latter's ear, and whispered:

“I rarely say no to requests.”

"..."

"So, my maid, my personal bodyguard, my watcher, will you leave me?"

Xiangzi was so angry that she was shaking all over. She gritted her teeth and squeezed out a reply:

"will not."

"Very good, good boy."

Su Shi went to open the door in a good mood. As soon as she opened the door, she heard Chihaya Aine's shout:

"Soyorin!!! You haven't been to school or rehearsal in a few days! So we came to see you!"

Facing the worried gazes of his friends, Su Shi sighed and said calmly:

"I'm fine. I just encountered some difficult problems. If everything is ok..."

As the girl spoke, she turned slightly sideways, just enough for the newcomers to see what was inside the apartment—just enough for Chihaya Aine to see Shoko, who was a little overwhelmed and pretending to be broomstick-wielding, and the pink-haired girl's thoughts short-circuited, and even her mouth was speechless:

"That little blue-haired octopus! He always comes to mock me, saying that his level is not good enough for the MYGO group, and he even wants a senior from the music club to teach him how to play guitar! Wait... why is he in a maid outfit?"

Hearing this, the eyes of the girls from the former C group changed slightly, and then they rushed in, looking at the maid Xiaoxiang who was working with eyes mixed with surprise and more complicated emotions, while Su Shi, who was standing at the back, had the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and she looked in a good mood.

It's just a nightmare, Xiangzi thought. She avoided Gao Songdeng's gaze and looked up at Chihaya Aine:

"A senior from the music department told me that you've been practicing seriously. That's great. I commend you."

"Hey, hey, wait... wait, that's not right," the pink-haired girl, having regained her senses, pushed aside the others and glanced suspiciously back and forth between Su Shi and Xiang Zi. "Although I'm not involved, I still... ahhh, my mind is in a mess. Lenai, let's stay away from these guys... That's not right either. Why do I feel like I'm being persecuted?"

Ignoring the pink-haired girl who started scratching her hair with both hands, Li Xi stood in front of the lamp and looked at Xiangzi seriously. He then turned his head and glanced at Su Shi who was walking slowly from the side, and asked:

"What the hell is going on?"

"Actually it is……"

"Actually, it was this Ms. Nagasaki Suyo who, after a long period of tracking, found something on me and used it as a threat," Xiangzi said expressionlessly, but in his heart he was quite satisfied to appreciate the confusion and panic on Suyo's face:

"Because she longed for my body, she locked me in the basement and tortured me inhumanely. She tied my hands and whipped my body, trying to destroy my will bit by bit and shape me into the way she liked. Look, there are still wounds on my hands! If I had to prove it with my body..."

As she spoke, Xiangzi raised her hands to show the bandages on her fingers. Then, with a look of pain on her face, she placed her hands on the shoulders of her maid uniform, pretending to be weak and unwilling to take it off, with her eyes downcast, like those helpless female characters in movies:

"I was framed and had nowhere else to go, so I had no choice but to surrender myself to this 16-year-old JK widow rapist."

The girls all took a step back, their suspicious and wary eyes falling on Su Shi's face. The latter helplessly covered his face with his hands:

"My house is on a high floor, so where does a basement come from? And you're using too many labels in your words!"

The girls' gaze returned to Xiangzi's face, but the latter simply shrugged and said calmly:

"That was in her bedroom, the content was the same."