Kapitel 19: A Kiss Shared Beneath the Setting Sun

The list of names for the Spirit appeared on a hologram in front of the Fraxinus crew, surveying through one by one to determine the best choice. The name "Misako" suddenly enlarged, prompting Kotori to shout, "Kawagoe, isn't Misako the name of your ex-wife?!"

The next name displayed was which led Kotori to grumble.

"Mikimoto, how do you even read this?"

"Clarabelle."

"Rejected!"

Frustrated, she demanded "Doesn't anyone have any better ideas? Something like 'Tome' or anything simple would be fine!"

Meanwhile, Shido, listening the absurd suggestions through his earpiece, he rubbed his temples, a vein practically throbbing on his forehead.

'Tome my ass.'

He decided to ignore the comedic chaos happening inside Fraxinus as looked back at the Princess. Her eager and expectant expression made him sigh with a small smile.

"Tohka."

"From now on, you'll be Tohka."

The Spirit's eyes momentarily blanked but it quickly lit up with joy.

"Tohka! I am Tohka!" she exclaimed excitedly, her face bright with happiness as innocent giggles escaped her lips.

"Shido, my name is Tohka!"

Her unrestrained delight was infectious, and Shido found himself softly patting her head making her pur like a kitten.

Looking at this side of her, a warm smile graced his features.

Even when he used his Observation Haki, he sensed Tohka's heartfelt joy.

For a moment, it seemed all was at peace.

"The familiarity gauge is now at it's maximum!"

Kotori's voice came through the earpiece, elated as she announced the good news.

However, the joyful atmosphere was abruptly shattered.

"Commander!" one of the crew members shouted, their voice grave.

Kotori immediately tensed.

"What's the matter?"

"The AST is on the move." the crew member reported.

"They've pinpointed the Princess's location."

"They're coming..." Kotori muttered with a hint of regret. Timing was critical, and if the AST had waited just a bit longer, Shido might've been able to fully secure Tohka's trust completely.

Despite her belief in Shido's growing skill, Kotori couldn't help but worry, it wasn't an ideal situation.

"Shido, can you hear me?" Kotori's voice snapped him back to the present.

"Yeah, what's the status?" Shido replied, already knowing what's going on through his Observation Haki.

"The AST is on their way to your location. Their target is Princess." Kotori confirmed.

Shido frowned.

He couldn't help but pity the strike team, many of them were good individuals, but they were trapped in a corrupt system.

Letting them act freely would only endanger Tohka further, especially since her Reiryoku made her easily trackable.

Looking at Tohka, whose face still glowing with happiness, Shido sighed.

He didn't want her innocence and newfound joy to be crushed so quickly. Determined, he reached out to her.

"Hey, Tohka, wanna come with me?" he asked with calm tone.

"To… together with Shido?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"Yeah." Shido said with a small grin.

"Where are we going?"

Shido gently took her hand.

"Your home."

"My… home?" Tohka repeated, uncertainty flickering in her gaze.

"Yes, but there's a little problem." Shido explained.

"With your Reiryoku unleashed, you'll be easily tracked by AST, and they'll keep bugging us."

"AST? What is that?" she asked with an innocent look on her face.

"Those girls who were fighting you before" Shido clarified.

"Ah! Those Mecha-Mecha Squad in the air!" she exclaimed, her phrasing making Shido burst out laughing.

"Ahahaha. Yeah, they are the ones." Shido chuckled.

He quickly regained his composure and added.

"Tohka, I know that this is unbelievable for you but we have to seal your powers so they won't be able to find your presence."

Her cheerful demeanor faltered, replaced by hesitation. "But... But… I will be powerless, and I won't be able to fight them if they find me." Anxiety clouded her features.

Shido gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. You have me. I'll protect you."

Seeing the confidence in his gaze, Tohka felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. For some reason, she felt she could trust him with her whole being. Gathering her resolve, she nodded with determination.

"Okay! What do I have to do?"

Shido was taken aback for a moment by her serious expression, as though she was ready to charge into battle right then.

He hesitated before replying, "Well, we just have to… kiss."

"Kiss?" Tohka repeated, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. "What's that?"

Shido chuckled softly, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Just leave everything to me." he said gently.

Placing his hands delicately on her face, he cupped her cheeks, his fingers brushing lightly against her hair. Tohka's eyes quivered as warmth spread from his touch.

Her breathing momentarily stopped as their gazes locked.

"Tohka, close your eyes." Shido whispered with his voice tender.

She nodded meekly, her trust in him absolute, and did as he said.

Slowly, Shido leaned closer, their faces mere inches apart.

With deliberate care, he pressed his lips softly against hers, sealing her powers with a gentle, yet meaningful kiss.

Ding!

[Quest 1 Completed: Seal Princess's Spirit Power.]

The faint chime of the system's notification reached his ears, but Shido paid it no mind. Right now, his focus was solely on the girl before him, her trembling body in his arms far more important than any system notification. The faint spark of the kiss lingered in the air between them, carrying with it a bond that neither words nor powers could fully explain.

Then as Shido let go of her lips, Tohka's Astral Dress slowly dissolved into radiant particles of light. Standing before him now was her slender and shapely naked body, unadorned by her Spirit powers.

Her bare skin gleamed under the soft rays of the setting sun, her flawless figure was completely exposed for Shido to see.

Tohka blinked in surprise at her sudden change and instinctively pressed herself against Shido, hiding her naked body with his.

Her soft ample breast pushed firmly against his chest, her warmth was almost searing as she clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder.

"W-What happened?!" Tohka stammered, her voice flustered but still laced with trust as she tried to make sense of her sudden vulnerability.

Shido wrapped an arm protectively around her back, his body tense. Though he wasn't shy or easily flustered, the sensation of her softness pressing into him stirred something primal within.

His hand rested against the bare, delicate curve of her slim back, the smoothness of her skin unguarded beneath his touch. Her warmth radiated through his fingertips, sending an unsteady ripple of sensation that made his breath hitch.

His pulse quickened, his body heating up as an unfamiliar warmth settled low in his stomach.

For a brief moment, Shido couldn't stop his eyes from trailing over her naked body. The subtle curves of her waist, her perfectly round shape ass and the way her body seemed to fit perfectly against him.

A flicker of desire sparked in his mind, unbidden and surprising but he quickly erased the thought, inwardly scolding himself.

'Not now, Shido. Focus!'

"Tohka…" Shido's voice remained calm as he gently stroked her smooth back to reassure her. "This is normal. Your spirit powers are sealed now, and without them, your Astral Dress will disappear."

Tohka flinched when she felt his gentle touch against her back. Her face had a shade of pinkness on it but the rays of the sun set made it hard for Shido to see.

She hesitated before nodding slightly against him, her grip tightening. "So… this is because you protected me?"

"Yeah." Shido said softly. "So there's nothing to worry about anymore. You're safe now with me, Tohka. I promised to protect you, remember?"

Tohka's tension eased as she heard his soothing words. Yet she remained close, her vulnerability making her reluctant to pull away.

As she rested against him, a sudden realization dawned on her.

That strange, unexplainable feeling she had when she first laid eyes on Shido.

The odd and uncomfortable feeling in her chest resurfaced. It wasn't discomfort, but a closeness that felt foreign and yet, somehow, right.

Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, and she clung to him tighter, as if fearing that letting go would cause that strange warmth to fade.

Unknowingly, her closeness and trust made it harder for Shido to ignore the effect she had on him. Her warm breath tickled his neck, and her soft body pressed so intimately against him sent sparks through his senses.

He felt his control falter for a fleeting moment as his mind straying to the flawless beauty she revealed, her trust in him only amplifying the alluring pull she seemed to have on his emotions.

'I can't think like this', he told himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as he begin to chant a sutra.

"See no evil, hear no evil..."

With renewed resolve, Shido focused on her comfort instead. "Let's get you some clothes." he said, his voice light and reassuring.

He lightly stepped back, but Tohka grabbed onto him again, her cheeks flushed as she shyly muttered. "Stay… I feel safer when you're close."

Shido blinked, caught off guard, but then a faint smile formed on his lips. "Alright, I'll stay."

He placed his jacket over her shoulders, shielding her modesty and calming the fiery warmth coursing through his own veins. 'This is going to be harder than I imagined.', he mused inwardly while trying to keep his composure.