Okay, let's head up to the rooftop and have lunch together, Shiori. We'll sit in our usual spot. Shiori seems really excited for me to try the bento she made.
"H-How is it, Aurelio? Is it good?"
"Yes, it's really good. Much better than anything you've made for me before, you've clearly improved."
She lets out a sigh of relief. You can tell she put a lot of effort into the food. And of course, while I'm eating, I'm inserting the Sephira into Shiori.
I've created an invisible barrier that's embedding and activating the Sephira within Shiori, making it the safest place to store them. Once everything is ready, I can just activate them all at once. Until then, they'll remain dormant within her, with Shiori now possessing the Sephira of Miku, Natsume, Origami and Yoshino.
"Shiori, say 'ahhh'." I scoop up some of the food and hold it up for her. She gets shy, closes her eyes, and opens her mouth to receive it.
"How was it?"
"It's good..." she says after swallowing.
"Shiori, how about I come over to your place tonight? We can chat a bit more. I'm free in the evening, so spending time with you is possible. What do you think?" I want to make Shiori lose confidence in Kotori.
"I-I want to... I mean, of course, you're always welcome," she says nervously, stumbling over her words a bit.
"Great, then let's head to your place together, sound good?"
"Yes, let's go..." She confirms as we finish our bentos.
"Hey, Shiori, wanna skip class? I have a fun place to take you."
"A date? I'm in!" Shiori accepts immediately. Since we're done eating, I stand up and start walking, with her following.
"Aurelio, where are we going?" She asks, not caring about the bad example of skipping class.
"Ice cream parlor."
"!!!" This excites her, as it implies a date. But the real reason isn't just a date we sneak out quietly and I guide her to an ice cream shop that Mukuro said she wanted to go to with me.
Arriving at the ice cream shop, I ask her to go place the order while I head over to a small plush machine. I spot a black dragon plush with golden details that's similar to the one Kotori has, so I decide to focus on winning that one. I easily grab it using my ability and go back to Shiori, who's already placed the order and was waiting.
"What were you doing, Aurelio?"
"...Getting a present for you. Here." I hand her the plush, smiling gently. She blushes as she accepts the gift.
"T-Thank you, it's so cute." She holds the plush carefully while observing it. Soon the server arrives with two ice cream cones. I see she's ordered one for me as well.
'I think two triggers are ready now.' I'm preparing some things for when Shiori inverts, though it's just a test, so I'm not sure if what I'm doing is truly useful.
We both start eating the ice cream.
"..." I notice she has a bit of whipped cream on her cheek, so I lean in a bit, wipe it with my finger, and taste it.
"!!!"
"It's as sweet as you are." I give a super cheesy pickup line. It should be enough to fluster Shiori, and judging by the furious blush on her face, it worked.
"...A-Aurelio, would you like to try some of mine?" She extends her hand with her ice cream, probably trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Sure, why not. Try some of mine as well." I extend mine to her. Mine is a combination of chocolate, strawberry, and cherry an interesting order that's not too bad.
I take a bite of hers, while she takes a bite of mine. 'Strawberry, chocolate... and cherry...' It's literally the same order, I don't understand why she thinks offering this to me would help her. The only difference is that mine has honey topping, while hers has sweet whipped cream with sprinkles.
"You know, Shiori, this is kind of like an indirect kiss." I say in a playful tone, which works perfectly to further fluster her. She just goes back to eating while staring at the table, her embarrassment palpable. I find this quite entertaining to tease.
"Shiori, how about we go to a karaoke place?" She nods quickly, accepting to get out of this situation.
I go pay the server while she heads outside, still carrying the plush and finishing her ice cream. After paying, I join her and look up a karaoke place on my phone. I take her to one with good reviews, and now we're in a private room alone.
"Shiori, I can't sing, but I really want to hear you sing, so why don't you show me your talent?"
"Okay! I'll surprise you..." She seems momentarily sad, probably remembering her failure in the competition against Miku, though she never stood a chance regardless of natural talent.
Shiori starts singing a song she chose, and I listen to her. What I'm trying to do is connect her Sephira to things the original owners liked and were connected to.
That's why I took her for ice cream because of Yoshino, gave her a plush because of Natsume, and brought her to karaoke because of Miku.
The date itself also represents Origami well. Of course, this connection is more for the Sephira to better connect with Shiori, but it can't guarantee anything. Still, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to do this.
After a few minutes of singing, Shiori stops as the song ends.
"S-So, what did you think?" She asks, seeking approval.
"It was really good. You've improved a lot since the competition. Have you been practicing?"
"Y-Yes, I trained a bit, in case it was needed, or if you... wanted to hear me." She says with a smile.
"Well, I can assure you, you've improved a lot."
"Hehehe, thank you... Wow, it's so late already... I need to make dinner." She happily thanks me, but then looks at the clock on the wall and realizes we've spent hours on this date.
"No problem, let's go together. I'll guide you to your place, that was the plan anyway."
She nods, and we head out of the karaoke room.
"Aurelio... w-would you... would you date me?" Shiori stops in front of me and asks. It's obvious she barely managed to ask and has no idea what to do or how she should properly ask someone out.
It's ironic, considering her job was to date spirits, yet she's so bad at asking someone out. It's quite amusing.
I think carefully about my choice. Normally, I would decline and say we should do this later when she's won me over.
However, the hesitation in her eyes tells me everything I need to know. If I reject her here and now, I'll likely ruin all my hard work. She'd probably never try to ask me out again.
And even if I were the one to propose, she'd likely refuse, making up some excuse or thinking I'm just pitying her.
"..."
"A-Ah... I-I said too much." Seeing my hesitation as a rejection, she turns to run, but I quickly pull her into a hug and kiss her.
'This is so cliché and predictable.' I knew she'd try to run. Her predictability is endearing. I like being the one in control of these situations.
After a moment of surprise, she returns the kiss. When we finally separate, I ask, "Does this answer please you?"
"Y-Yes..." She responds timidly, avoiding eye contact.
"Does this officially make us boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"Y-Yes, are we really... boyfriends and girlfriends now?"
"Yes, we are officially dating now."
"H-How do I know you're not just with me out of pity? And how do I know you don't hate the fact that I used to be a guy? H-How do I know you're not lying?"
Her hesitation increases, but it's nothing unexpected.
"Then how about tonight, I finally make you a complete woman?"
"Huh?"
"I'll take your virginity and fully consecrate you as a woman. Of course, only if you're ready. This is a big step, and I understand if you're not ready yet."
"B-But wouldn't that also be a guarantee that you're being 100% honest with me?"
"Yes, exactly. So, shall we head to your place after dinner when the others are asleep, and I'll take your first time?"
"Y-Yes, please make me a complete woman!" She speaks with a sense of urgency. I have to resist the urge to laugh. Who would have thought the day would come when she'd beg to be made a "real" woman.
"Alright, I'll do it. After dinner at your place, when the others have gone to sleep, I'll take your virginity."
Yoshino has practically disappeared from Shiori's mind. Shiori doesn't care about literally having sex with me just a few days after Yoshino's death.
Though this happened faster than expected, it's still within my predictions, so it's fine.
We walk together, with Shiori barely containing her excitement.