Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Raizen High School

Shido stood in front of his shoe locker, swapping out his outdoor shoes for his indoor ones. The hallway buzzed with energy as students streamed past him, chatting and hurrying to their respective classrooms. The morning rush was in full swing, with the familiar clatter of lockers opening and closing echoing through the school corridors.

Just before arriving at school, Reine had contacted him, letting him know that she was almost done checking Tohka's emotional levels. She mentioned that she would be dropping Tohka off soon, meaning she'd likely arrive at any moment.

Shido decided to change his shoes first and wait for Tohka by the shoe lockers.

After slipping into his indoor shoes, he stepped aside, leaning casually against the wall as he watched students from different grades stream into the school. Each of them carried a different expression, some were bright and energetic, chatting away with friends, while others looked completely drained, as if they hadn't gotten enough sleep. A few even wore grimaced expression as if they were forced out of bed and dragged to school against their will.

It had been a while since Shido felt this relaxed. He was in an unusually good mood this morning.

Though... it would be even better if Kotori hadn't lashed out at me earlier, he thought with a sigh.

As he waited, Shido spotted some of his classmates passing by and greeted them.

"Yo, Itsuka."

"Good morning, Itsuka-kun. It's rare to see you alone."

"Yeah, yeah. Where's Tohka-chan?" another asked with curiosity.

"Tsk, it's so lame..."

Tonomachi, along with the trio Ai, Mai, and Mii, waved at him before heading off ahead, leaving Shido standing there with a small, amused sigh.

As Shido watched the steady stream of students entering the school, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Curious, he opened his system and navigated to his inventory. His eyes landed on a particular item, the Random Skill Ticket, something he had obtained a while ago but never actually used.

Shido had been meaning to use the Random Skill Tickets for a while, but circumstances always seemed to get in the way, causing him to delay his decision until he eventually forgot about them. However, with some free time on his hands now, he figured this was the perfect opportunity.

With a single thought, Shido activated both Random Skill Tickets simultaneously.

Almost instantly, a system notification echoed in his mind, signaling that he had acquired new skills.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You acquired Thread Manipulation (Advanced Level)]

Ding!

[Congratulations! You acquired Null Magic Slip (Advanced Level)]

Shido's eyes lit up as he saw the new skills he had obtained. A grin spread across his lips, unable to hide his excitement.

Unbeknownst to him, a few female students passing by caught sight of his unexpectedly charming smile, causing them to momentarily stop in their tracks while their hearts skipping a beat.

Shido, however, remained oblivious to the reactions around him, his focus solely on the two newly acquired skills, Thread Manipulation and Null Magic Slip.

He pondered over Thread Manipulation, unsure whether it resembled the ability from "Tensura" or "The Eminence in Shadow". Regardless of its origins, he knew it would be a valuable asset in battle, especially in confined spaces. With this ability, restraining opponents would become significantly easier.

As for Null Magic Slip, Shido couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He was all too familiar with this one. It originated from "In Another World With My Smartphone", one of his favorite anime. While the show wasn't exactly a masterpiece, it had a certain charm that never failed to make him smile. Now, having the skill himself, he couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and amusement.

In that anime, the protagonist, Mochizuki Touya, also possessed this skill. Many people might dismiss it as unimpressive or plain, but Shido knew better. When used strategically, Null Magic Slip had the potential to be an incredibly powerful support skill.

Just imagine, an opponent charging at full speed, only to suddenly slip at the last moment. That split second of imbalance could decide the outcome of a battle. With precise timing, this skill could completely turn the tide in his favor.

Because of that, Shido was genuinely pleased with his new abilities. Thread Manipulation and Null Magic Slip were both powerful in their own ways, and the fact that they were only at the advanced level didn't bother him. He could always level them up in the future.

At that time… who could possibly stand against him?

"Shido!"

As Shido was laughing inside his heart, a cheerful voice suddenly called out to him.

Turning his head toward the source, he saw Tohka running up to him, happily waving with a bright smile on her face. Seeing her so full of energy made Shido smile in return. However, his expression briefly stiffened when he noticed the large bag of Kinako bread she was carrying.

For a moment, he was speechless. 'Just how much did she buy this time?' 

Still, he decided against commenting on it. After all, this was Tohka, her love for food was unparalleled. Instead, he simply chuckled and waited for her to reach him.

"Is your check-up finished?" Shido asked gently, placing a hand on Tohka's head and softly ruffling her hair.

"Un!" Tohka nodded, closing her eyes as she savored the warmth of his touch.

"That's good. Change your shoes first before we head to the classroom." he reminded her with a small smile.

"Okay!"

With enthusiasm, Tohka quickly switched to her indoor shoes, following his instructions without hesitation.

Once she was ready, the two walked side by side toward their classroom, just as the first bell signaled that class was about to begin.

...

"Good morning, Origami," Shido greeted as he reached his seat.

Origami glanced at him with her usual calm expression, but before she could respond, Tohka clung to Shido's arm, nuzzling against him like a spoiled cat.

Origami's lips twitched.

Although the three of them shared the same bed during their stay in the hot spring resort, that was only a temporary truce. Now that they were back at school, their rivalry had resumed its natural course.

However, the two didn't manage to bicker with each other as Okamine-sensei entered the class and made a sudden announcement.

"Good morning, everyone! Today, a transfer student will be joining us…"

The classroom fell into a hushed silence as the students exchanged bewildered glances. It hadn't been long since Tohka had transferred in, and now another new student was arriving?

Tohka and Origami shared the same confusion as Shido, who furrowed his brows in thought. 

'A transfer student? Around this time?'

Shido had a feeling he already knew who it was. He recalled the sequence of events and quickly pieced it together. After Tohka, the next transfer student could only be...

"Please come inside and introduce yourself…"

All eyes turned toward the classroom entrance. The door slid open, and a figure strolled in with a casual yet confident stride. As she reached the front of the room, she turned to face the class, revealing her identity.

Gasps and murmurs spread through the classroom. Many students widened their eyes in surprise.

Two long braids of jet-black hair draped over her chest, her bangs falling so long they veiled her left eye, leaving only her striking crimson right eye visible. Her smooth, porcelain-like skin gleamed under the classroom lights, giving her an almost ethereal presence.

She wore the Raizen High black school uniform with an elegance that made her look like a noble lady. The black stockings she wore only added to her seductive allure, making her seem almost unreal.

With a graceful motion, she picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name on the blackboard in neat strokes. Then, turning back to face the class, she flashed an perfect smile that sent chills down Shido's spine.

"My name is Tokisaki Kurumi. Pleased to meet you all."