Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Inside a dimly lit room, the only illumination came from the faint glow of the computer screen.

A man sat hunched over, his face close to the monitor as he clicked the mouse with desperate determination.

On the screen, a vibrant scene played out.

"Can you think of me not as your sister, but as a woman?"

A pink-haired girl wearing an absurdly over-the-top astronaut suit confessed, her voice trembling with emotion.

A series of choices appeared on the screen, glowing like a beacon.

1. Of course.

2. Sorry, I can't.

3. Sure, but I'm not interested in women.

With practiced precision, the arrow hovered over the first choice and clicked.

"Thanks, Onii-chan!"

The girl leaped into the protagonist's arms with exaggerated enthusiasm, tears sparkling in her eyes.

"A long-distance relationship between Jupiter and Earth will be no problem for us!" she declared dramatically.

"I love you, big brother!"

The screen immediately shifted to the credits, scrolling at high speed. "CG Mode Completed" flashed in bold letters across the display.

"All right! Yes! I did it!"

Shido, visibly sleep-deprived with dark circles under his eyes, stand up from his chair and pumped his fist into the air. There were even tears glistening at the corners of his eyes, as though he had just conquered an epic journey.

It had been a grueling week since Shido started his "training." Finally, he had completed all the routes.

The sleepless nights spent navigating every possible scenario had borne fruit.

Slumping into his chair, Shido sighed contentedly. "I've officially conquered it… the ultimate forbidden sibling route…"

And yet, the moment of triumph left him with a mix of pride and mild horror. 'What kind of training even is this?'

...

Amidst the chaos of a burning city, the air was thick with smoke, and flames licked hungrily at every structure in sight.

The desperate cries of people echoed in the distance, but among them, a single voice rang out in sheer despair.

"Dad! Mom!"

A girl, barely 11 years old, with short white hair clinging to her sweat-drenched face, sprinted through the fiery maze of destruction.

Her small legs ached, but fear pushed her onward. Tears blurred her vision as she clutched a faint hope.

Turning from a corner, she froze.

"Origami!"

Her heart soared as her eyes fell upon her parents standing together amidst the fire, unharmed.

Relief washed over her, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she smiled. The tears threatening to fall were no longer of fear but of joy.

She took a step toward them, ready to call out... but then, without warning, a brilliant white light descended from the sky. It enveloped her parents entirely, an otherworldly glow that burned brighter than the surrounding flames.

The light consumed them, leaving nothing but silence where they once stood.

Origami jolted upright in bed, her breath ragged and shallow. Her small room was cloaked in darkness, the only sound the frantic pounding of her heart. She clutched the bedsheet tightly around her chest, her entire body covered with sweat.

Her trembling hand reached to wipe away the cold perspiration clinging to her forehead. But no matter how she tried to calm herself, the vivid nightmare clung to her, refusing to fade.

She glanced down, realizing she was still bare beneath the covers. The searing images of her childhood, the loss, the flames.

It all felt so real, as if she had been thrust back into that burning city all over again.

Origami sighed shakily, running a hand through her disheveled hair. Her pale blue eyes stared at the ceiling, her mind replaying the haunting memory.

No matter how many years passed, the nightmare refused to leave her. The shadow of that day, of that tragedy still loomed over her, shaping her very existence.

Tightening her grip on the blanket, she whispered softly, her voice cracking under the weight of sorrow.

"Mom... Dad..."

The room remained silent, offering her no solace.

...

Meanwhile, the Physics Preparation Room shrouded in a dim ambiance, carried an unusually change in the atmosphere.

Shido and Reine stood very close to each other, their faces only inches apart.

Their gazes met in silence, and the unspoken words in their eyes filled the room.

"Shin..." Reine's voice came in her usual low, tired tone, but it had a strange softness to it.

"Reine-san..." Shido whispered, barely audible, his voice laced with anticipation.

Reine's cold hand pressed against his cheek, her other hand following to touch his face gently. The coldness of her palms against his skin felt grounding yet electrifying.

Shido's breath stopped, his eyelids fluttering shut as if instinctively bracing for a moment he hadn't consciously realized he longed for.

"Done."

Reine's calm declaration broke through the thick tension. She stepped back, her mouth curved slightly upward, a subtle tease glinting in her usually indifferent expression.

Before Shido could process the changes, she flicked his forehead lightly.

"Ouch!" Shido winced, bringing his hand up to the spot.

"What was that for?"

"What are you doing?" Reine's tone was soft but firm, her tired eyes narrowing in mild reprimand.

Realizing he had jumped to conclusions, Shido chuckled awkwardly while rubbing his forehead to ease the pain.

But deep down, a pang of regret lingered, leaving a hollow feeling he couldn't quite understand.

Looking at his disappointed expression, Reine let out a helpless sigh then she slowly moved towards Shido again.

Before Shido could react, he felt a soft yet warm feeling spreading on his forehead again. All the stinging pain he felt earlier was now gone, replaced by a soothing feeling. 

Shido blinked in surprise while having a stunned expression.

When Reine pulled away, her usual lazy demeanor returned, but the faint, gentle smile on her lips remained.

"The pain should be gone now, right?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

For a moment, Shido could only nod absently, his gaze fixed on her smooth, slightly glossy lips.

The softness of her smile paired with her uncharacteristic gentleness was enough to render him momentarily dazed.

Reine seemed to notice and let out a helpless chuckle.

The stillness between them was abruptly shattered by the sound of the door creaking open.

"What are you two doing?"

Kotori stood at the entrance, her fiery eyes narrowing with suspicion as she surveyed the pair.

"Nothing." Reine replied in her usual monotone, stepping away from Shido.

"I just placed the earpiece on Shin's ear." Her response was cool and casual as she made her way back to her seat.

Kotori raised a brow but eventually shrugged. "Hmm, okay then."

Though the tension had visibly dissipated, Kotori couldn't completely shake off the odd feeling.

Something was off, but both Reine and Shido had returned to their usual selves. She decided not to dwell on it and walked further into the room, her focus shifting back to the training.

"Alright, Shindo." Kotori's voice sharpened, her commanding tone taking over.

"It's time to implement Stage 2 of your training."

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Merry Christmas! 🎊🎉