"To be more precise, it’s because he uses armor-type Magic Items that have been uniquely modified and utilizes their performance to the absolute limit. When I saw Yugo defeat the Gigantes—not just by enhancing his basic strength and speed, but by generating weapons and imbuing them with attributes—I knew he would be a tremendous asset to my goal."
Following Anhel’s remark, Setsuna corrected her, refining the point to better align with her own perspective. She glanced at Yugo with a faint smile before turning back to the rest of the group.
"Modifying an existing Magic Item like the Blaster, adding various functions, and drawing out performance far beyond its original specs... Yugo’s experience and his unconventional, flexible thinking make him an indispensable part of my Warrior Shrine Maiden Outfit Modification Plan. Furthermore, I’m intrigued by the technical skill of the person who modified the Blaster. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anhel Amber. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you as well."
"Haha, well, I'm honored... but I wasn't the one who did the core modifications on that Blaster. That was Fee, and he's in the hospital right now."
"Oh, is that so? To have such talent at such a young age... he certainly has a promising future! Now I'm even more interested in the boy."
Setsuna laughed happily, her interest piqued by both Anhel, who maintained the armor, and Fee, who had handled the foundational adjustments. Watching her, Raiha wondered how long it had been since she’d seen her friend so genuinely cheerful. Meanwhile, Setsuna pressed on.
"I’m sure you understand my position by now. To refine my Shrine Maiden Attire, I want to rely on the expertise of Yugo and the engineers around him, like Anhel and Fee-kun. I want us to build a strong relationship. To that end... I’ll be joining your party. You don’t mind, do you, Yugo?"
"Y-Yeah... I don't really have any reason to say no. If there's something I can do to help, I'm in."
"Heh, thank you. I wasn't worried, but it’s a relief to hear you say it. Now... it goes against my principles to be the only one receiving help. As a token of our new partnership, would you accept these?"
Having declared her membership in the party, Setsuna produced a book and a clear Magic Crystal from seemingly nowhere. She pressed the book into Yugo’s hands and tossed the crystal to Anhel before explaining what each item was.
"That book contains information on the Monsters, Magic Armor Beasts, culture, history, and Magic Items of Yamato. Don't you think your brother would enjoy it if you brought it to him next time you visit the hospital?"
"Whoa...! Fee would definitely love this! Thanks, Setsuna!"
"My pleasure. And that Magic Crystal contains data on my Shrine Maiden Attire and my Magic Item, the Dragon String Bow. I’ll provide the password later, so please use it as a reference for refining the outfit and developing new gear."
"Wait, are you sure? This has to be top-secret information, right?"
"For people from different backgrounds to earn each other's trust, shouldn't we start with a gesture like this? Besides, think of it as a sign of my Trust—I'm confident that none of you would ever leak this information."
Nodding in understanding, Anhel took the Magic Crystal and tucked it away into her cleavage. Raiha and Claire looked on in shock, while Yugo and the others simply gave wry smiles, knowing that was Anhel's most trusted spot for safekeeping. Setsuna turned her gaze back to Yugo, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke.
"Yugo, of course, I have something for you as well—something I know you've been wanting. To start with... how about a means of Long-range Attack?"
"!? !? !?"
"Why the surprise? I’m nothing if not thorough. I’ve already analyzed your combat data. That armor lacks a readily available Long-range Attack. I, on the other hand, am an Archer. In exchange for your help with my Shrine Maiden Attire, I’ll help you develop a Long-range Armament to add to the Blaster... it seems like we’ll have a very productive relationship, doesn't it?"
"Ru-Ruriko-sa— No, never mind. Forget I said that. But yeah, that would definitely be a massive help...!"
Recalling that this wasn't a Nichiasa show, Yugo swallowed the name that had almost escaped his lips and nodded vigorously. He was genuinely happy to have a new ally, and the chance to work on a Magical Girl costume was a dream come true. On top of that, getting a concrete Blaster Enhancement Plan was just the icing on the cake. However, it seemed Setsuna’s real proposal was only just beginning...
"And those are just the secondary benefits. I can also give you what you desire more than anything else right now."
"Huh? What I desire most? What are you talking about?"
"Well. Before I explain that, I have a proposal—"
Wondering what could possibly be more important, Yugo tilted his head and asked for clarification. Setsuna paused for a beat, peering up into his face with a playful, testing look in her eyes... before she spoke.
"—Would you like to enter a romantic relationship with me?"