Meeting Natsuki and Natsume - Blindfolded - Dinner Preparation - Escort

Philip walked through the hallways of the mansion towards the dining hall. In all honesty, he doesn't want to eat, especially around a dining table because that's how he has been living several years ago

He just needed to go to the dining hall and eat with everyone because he will find it troublesome, especially when others would keep calling him to dinner or when others would question as to why he doesn't want to eat with everyone

So, instead, just this once, he would eat with everyone. Seeing all the maids and butlers being busy earlier could mean that there's an occasion or a celebration. Philip's just not aware of what occasion there is or who's celebrating what

'I'm so curious that I'm tempted to use Future Vision, Clairvoyance, or just read their body language'

「 I recommend that you don't 」

'Oh? Do you know something about this?'

「 I wonder... 」

'Fine... I'll hold myself back'

Philip continued walking down the hallway until he saw a few maids and one butler seemingly running away from him

'Hm? That's strange...'

「 ... 」

Philip continued until he almost reached the stairs. In the distance, he could see two silhouettes of two women running towards him

They are Natsume and Natsuki

Philip's eyes widened, not because he was slightly happy to see the two sisters, but the [Love Shard] shot from behind him towards Natsume and Natsuki

Surprisingly, he saw the [Love Shard] this time, but Natsume and Natsuki doesn't seem to see it

The [Love Shard] went towards Natsume and Natsuki. At first, it hovered between them and then it revolved aorund them rapidly

"Philip-san! We finally found you!"

Natsume shouted as she waved her right hand with a beaming smile

"Oh, what's up?"

Philip nonchalantly replied, but with warm eyes

"We've been looking everywhere for you, where have you been?"

Natsuki asked

"Oh, I was just in the laboratory, teaching Rue and Satou about Mana Stones"

"Ohhh"

Natsume and Natsuki exclaimed in amazement

"How about you guys, how have you both been?"

Philip asked with a warm smile. He could see the [Love Shard] hovering above both of their heads back and forth

They kept walking down the stairs and across the hallways in a slow pace. Natsume is on his left and Natsuki is on his right

"We didn't do much except for training"

"Training?"

"Yeah! Braudain and Ken taught us all about discipline and control of our fire"

Natsume explained

"Braudain and Ken? How would they know how to teach you control of your abilities?"

"Well, Braudain-san taught us about discipline and how we can improve our battle prowess without relying on our abilities..."

Natsuki explained

"That makes sense. He's a powerful general in their world and a very experience one at that"

"Yeah, he told us one of his stories about leading the army of Last Hope"

"..."

Philip reminisced about the time he visited Saykrandae. He watched as the last bastion of humanity was destroyed by the powerful forces of the Demon Lord. He had to save Braudain from the wave of undead gobline army as he ran away while limping

He also wondered if the Demon Lord in Saykrandae is one of the Demon God's children

"Ken-sama taught us how to control our fire abilities better. Apparently, he knows someone who can manipulate fire to a degree that almost like a god"

"Ah, that should be Fotià, the Fire God. I don't know Ken's relationship with Fotià, but I think they're pretty close"

"Oh, it's nice of him to teach us what he knows just by being with his friend"

"Yeah... Also, Ken is awake?"

"Yeah, he woke up around 5 hours ago. He looked so fresh, like he woke up from a very comfortable sleep after who knows how long"

"Ah, that would make sense..."

"Did you do something to him?"

Natsume asked as he tilted her head towards Philip

"Perhaps?"

"Oh..."

Natsume pouted

"Natsume"

"Yes, onee-san?"

"...?"

Philip looked at both the sisters with confused eyes. They began to talk to themselves

"It's time, isn't it?"

"It is"

"What are you guys talking about?"

"..."

"..."

Natsuki walked behind Philip and Natsume walked in front of him

Natsume reached fro Philip's head and held his cheeks

"...!"

Philip was startled as Natsume looked at his eyes with bright eyes. She was looking at him intently and with full of passion

The [Love Shard] hovered above Natsume's head as it spun and rotated rapidly while emitting a pink light

"This is my gift to you, as well as my true feelings!"

Natsume closed her eyes and she pushed herself up as he tipped her toes

*Chu*

She reached Philip's face and gave Philip a deep kiss

"!!!"

Philip was startled and shocked at what Natsume did. It was happening so fast and he didn't expect for Natsume to do this at this moment. It was too late for him to read her body language

"Hup!"

It was then that his vision went black as a cloth was placed on his eyes. Natsuki put a blindfold around his eyes and tied it behind his head

"There's a surprise waiting for you in the dining hall"

Natsuki whispered close to Philip's right ear, which made him felt tingles that he never felt before. He could help but twitch and tilt his head to the right as his right shoulder shifted upwards. His ear are entirely red as his cheeks blushed

"Ha?!"

"Ey! No using Clairvoyance or X-ray Vision!"

Natsume then reached to his eyes and covered it with her hands after she pulled her lips from Philip's lips

"No using of Future Vision also!"

Natsuki exclaimed as she started to push Philip from behind

"C'mon! Let's go! Follow our lead!"

Natsume unnecessarily shouted, like she was catching someone's attention, as she is pulling Philip's right arm

"..."

Philip reached his left arm outwards to support his balance as he was slightly hunched over. He honored Natsume and Natsuki's request to not use any abilities, so he couldn't see anything in front of him at all

Though, the wind from his [Weather Manipulation] ability with the breeze constantly circulating around the mansion could tell him where he is currently. His [Extreme Self-Awareness] skill is also not helping as he could figure out the surprise for him at any moment

'Surprise? For me?? For what??? What would've I done for the entire mansion to plan this surprise in just one day???'

「 ... 」

'Is it belated Christmas or New Year because I was asleep at that period? But there are no decorations or fireworks as far as I know??'

「 ... 」

'Ahhh! It's probably my welcoming back since I just woke up yesterday after a six-month hibernation? That could be the case, there's no doubt about it...'

「 ... 」

'But why would Natsume kiss me and say that it was a gift for me??? Gift? Also, why do I have to be blindfolded??'

「 My god! Stop speculating and wait for the time that it's revealed to you! 」

'I couldn't help it! This is who I am... Surprises for me are not my specialty. I expect every possibilities that can happen so that I would neither be surprised nor disappointed. A neutral reaction is better than disappointment'

「 A true Embodiment of Neutrality... 」

'That's right!'

「 Even so, stop speculating. The system forcefully deactivated your Extreme Self-Awareness skill just this one time, even if you permanently activated it... Also, we have no power over the power of your logic, so me and the system is surprised that you can't figure this out 」

'But...'

「 No, enjoy this while it lasts. Appreciate what everyone prepared for you because you rarely get these 」

'Oh, okay...'

Philip gave up and let his mind be blank. He let Natsume and Natsuki guide him towards the dining hall carefully

"..."

"What do you feel, Philip-san?"

Natsume asked as she wrapped her right arm around his left arm as they walked side by side together. It's as if they are muse and escort, but the escort is blindfolded and walking awkwardly. Natsuki is also walking beside them to Philip's right as she support Philip's back with her left hand to urge him forward

"Uh... I don't know... Confused? Very confused"

"I see... That's okay! You won't be confused anymore in a minute!"

"O-okay"

Natsume and Natsuki smiled softly. They know that Philip is very smart and they expected him to not know about the surprise, even though there has been a few clues already, especially from Natsume's actions

It's either he's dense or a blockhead, which they don't believe at all, or what Tenshi said to them was true

"..."

~~~

A few minutes later, the three of them entered the dining hall. Philip realized thsi because the dimensions and how the wind flow drastically changed. He could feel that he is in a large hall, which should be the dining hall. The space is similar to the library, but a little larger as there is a long table with a few decorations and paintings lined up across the walls, as well as potted plants

There is a large intricate chandelier hanging in the ceiling, with directional lights and ambient light from the corners of the ceiling. There also seem to be directional lights under the table for some reason. There are three candelabras scattered evenly across the table with several dishes that are covered with steel cloches

Along the table, in front of the chairs, are clean plates, spoons, forks, knives, rock glasses and wine glasses. The dining hall looked like a super fancy fine dining venue

There are 27 seats, including the 1 seat at the head of the table, where Philip will be sitting as the Homeowner of the mansion

The order of the seats will then go, from his right to left will be Tenshi and Ariii, then Terra, Sai, Katara, Alucard, and Ken, then Kyouko, Jude, Mathilda, Camille, Natsume, Bari, Natsuki, Mei'er, Natsu, Marielle, Bea, Sheena, Celine, Rue, Clara, Satou, Corleona, and Braudain

Of course, none of the people mentioned know where would they sit initially. There will be name tags placed in front of their plates

It was Tenshi who arranged these seats in consideration for relationships and groups, like having Tenshi and Ariii next to Philip. Tenshi because she's his wife and Ariii because she could be controlled by Philip, if she would ever wake up as Tenshi thought

Sai and Alucard will be sitting next to each other since they have a special relationship. Katara and Ken will also be sitting next to each other because Tenshi wants to tease them, considering their relationship in the past. Beside, Ken doesn't know that Katara is in the mansion, as well ws Sai, but Katara knows both deities are in the mansion

The head butler and head maid facing each other. The three sisters sitting next to each other and Mei'er's mother and little sister. Celine and Sheena together as squadron members, including Rue and Satou as they sit together. The individuals from Saykrandae will also be sitting together so they would feel comfortable

"..."

The three of them continued forward until they were met by Tenshi. The lights in the dining hall were dim as onlt a few ambient lights are open, the chandelier only having a few lights open, and the candelabras illuminating most of the table, as well as the light under the table

"I'll take it from here..."

Tenshi said with a smile. Both Natsume and Natsuki smiled back

"Both of you get ready also. Tell the others to get ready too"

"Okay!"

Tenshi whispered unto their ears that Philip couldn't hear. Philip didn't hear anything nor see her thoughts because Tenshi already consulted the system earlier to disable Soul Link without Philip realizing

At this point, Philip just realized it

'Huh? Soul Link is disabled? Is this surprise actually for me???'

Natsume and Natsuki already walked away and then Tenshi held Philip right hand

"C'mon, let's go"

"Tenshi? What's happening?"

"Hehe~ Just be quiet and you'll find it out later"

A few seconds later, Tenshi helped Philip sit down on a very comfortable chair. He cpuld feel the spaciousness around him, but there's quite a mass in front of him

"Stay here, okay?"

"Where are you going"

"Nowhere? Remove your blindfold when I tell you to, okay?"

"O-okay..."

Tenshi walked away and it doesn't look like she went far according to his enhanced hearing. He could also hear quietness and silence, as if he can hear a pin dropping from afar

His basic senses alone tells him that there are multiple people in front of him, some are close, some are far away, just from the changes in the wind, their breathing patterns, heartbeat vibrations, and various energy signatures that they're releasing, especially three individuals that he can classify

Sai, Katara, and Ken

'This is weird and odd... This is weird and odd...'

Philip kept repeating the same sentence in his head as he began to fiddle with the cloth in front of him, under the table. He feels like he's the center of attention for something he doesn't know about and it's making him very uncomfortable

He's close to using his abilities and peeking at what's happening

*Shff*

*Clink*

He heard something that was placed in front of him. It sounded like a dish or a saucer with something placed on it

"Alright, Philip... You can take off your blindfold now..."

"..."

Philip slowly lifted his arms and put his hands behind his head. He started to untie the knot to remove the blindfold

He did it so slow to emphasize being dramatic because this is what Philip's feeling. He's also shaking from either nervousness or coldness. Even if his body is immune to coldness, he's still somehow shaking

It was at this moment that the blindfold was removed as he pulled it down when his head is lowered

Without him realizing, his eyes were faintly glowing with white light. It then flickered into gold light

He slowly lifted his head and his vision flashed