After the final exams, summer vacation began. Sora, Lala, Rito, and Haruna were walking home together.
"Yay, it's vacation time!" Lala cheered, one arm linked with Sora's and a half-eaten ice cream cone in her other hand.
"Lala-san, every day is like a vacation for you two," Haruna quipped with a deadpan expression.
"U-um… Sora-san, Sairenji-san, do you have any plans for the break? If you're free, maybe we could all go camping together," Rito suggested, his eyes darting towards Haruna before quickly looking away, his voice full of hope.
Hearing Rito's suggestion, Haruna's heart stirred, and a hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes as she glanced at Sora.
"Sorry, Rito-kun. Lala and I already have plans to be away for a while, so we won't be able to make it," Sora replied, shaking his head with a touch of regret.
"Huh? Sora-san and Lala-san are leaving?" Rito and Haruna both asked in surprise.
"Haven't I told you and Sairenji-san yet? Lala has the blood of the most powerful race in the universe, the Devilukeans. But this girl has never trained properly, she just dismantles spaceships and makes troublesome little inventions, wasting her true talent. So, I plan to take her to another planet to train for a while."
Since Rito and Haruna already knew Lala's true identity, Sora didn't hide it from them.
"Well, even though we can't go this time, Rito-kun and Sairenji-san can still go together," Sora suggested with a knowing smile. "Sairenji-san, even though everyone misunderstands Rito-kun right now, you believe in him just like we do, right? He might not seem like much on a normal day, but he's the type of guy you can rely on when it counts. You'd be perfectly safe with him."
A twinkle appeared in his eye, clearly trying to set them up.
"Sora-san…" Rito was moved to tears. He wasn't a genius, but he wasn't stupid either. Sora-san was obviously creating an opportunity for him!
However, Haruna, who had already lost interest the moment Sora said he couldn't go, now felt a wave of irritation and even anger hearing him talk up Rito and try to push them together.
He stole my first kiss, he's engaged to Lala-san, and he flirts with Tenjōin-senpai, but he's always so lukewarm towards me. And now he's trying to set me up with Rito-kun…
The more she thought about it, the angrier and more wronged she felt. Her beautiful, gem-like eyes began to well up with tears.
"Sairenji-san, um… that is… if you have time…" Rito, completely oblivious to the change in her mood, was still nervously trying to set a date with her, fidgeting like a shy schoolboy.
The thought of going camping and spending time alone with Haruna-chan filled Rito's heart with happiness and anticipation.
"Sorry, I don't have time either."
"Rito-kun, Lala-san, my house is in the other direction. I'll see you later."
With a cold reply, Haruna reached the crossroads. She said her goodbyes to Rito and Lala and walked away towards her home without a second glance.
"Aww… Sora, Sora, why is Haruna mad?" Lala asked, tugging on his arm with a puzzled look as she watched Haruna's retreating figure.
"That's grown-up stuff, kids shouldn't worry about it. Just focus on your ice cream. If you want another one, I'll buy it for you later," Sora replied, tapping her on the head.
"Okay…" Although she was still confused, Lala trusted that whatever Sora said was right. She decided not to think about it anymore and happily went back to licking her ice cream.
"Sora-san, what was that all about with Sairenji? Was I being too rude?" Rito asked, feeling a little dejected. Haruna-chan's cold rejection had left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Don't overthink it, Rito-kun. Didn't you see she was mad at me?" Sora said, patting him on the shoulder.
At Sora's reminder, Rito realized it was true. When Haruna-chan left, she only said goodbye to him and Lala-san. The person she was angry with wasn't him, but Sora-san!
Rito felt a sense of relief and even gratitude, though he was still confused. He looked at Sora, seeking an explanation.
"Don't ask me why, I don't know either. A woman's heart is an ocean of secrets. How could I possibly guess what they're thinking?" Sora shrugged, then continued, "But Rito-kun, I took a serious hit for you this time, even making Sairenji-san mad. You'll have to make it up to me!"
"Mmm, I heard a nice new shop opened up next to the school. When we get back after the break, you can treat me and Lala to a big meal." Sora said with a grin, patting Rito's shoulder again.
Rito couldn't help but smile wryly. Given Sora-san's appetite, and especially Lala-san's, he knew his wallet was in for a rough time. But he did feel bad about the situation; Sora-san had only gotten on Sairenji's bad side because he was trying to help him. He had no reason to refuse and could only agree with a pained heart.
They dropped the subject and walked home, chatting and laughing. Rito, however, was somewhat distracted, replaying the scene of Haruna's cold rejection in his mind.
In his heart, the Haruna-chan he admired was always a gentle, kind, and understanding girl, not someone who would get angry and give people the cold shoulder for no reason.
To be honest, Rito was a little disappointed. A small crack had appeared in the perfect image of his goddess…
Noticing Rito's expression, a peculiar smile touched the corner of the great demon king Sora's lips.
An opponent this weak and simple isn't even fun to toy with…
"Lala, I'm heading over to Saki's place for a bit. I'll be back soon. Get the ship ready at home. We'll meet up with Mikado-sensei and the others tomorrow morning and head out."
Once they got home, Sora tossed his schoolbag aside and started changing as he gave Lala instructions.
"Okay!" Lala took out a bag of her treasured snacks, nodded, and bounced off to get things ready.
Activating his light speed, Sora vanished in a flash.
…
Inside the Tenjōin family villa, servants in formal attire were bustling about their work. In a spacious and luxurious room, Saki was clinging to Sora affectionately.
He had come to tell her that he and Lala would be leaving Earth for a while, so she wouldn't worry and think he'd gone missing when she couldn't find him.
"Aww… Sora, you're leaving with Lala for the vacation?"
"Damn it, that Lala! How dare she use such a despicable trick to monopolize my prince!"
Upon hearing Sora's words, Saki immediately became unhappy, her face filled with anger and unwillingness. She had been planning to go on a vacation with Sora as well.
"No way, I can't let that girl get her way! I want to go too, I want to go too."
Pouting, Saki insisted on going with them. Seeing their master acting like a complete child, Rin and Aya couldn't help but blush and turn their heads away.
"Heh… If Saki wants to go, I have no problem with it," Sora said with a playful smile, one hand supporting her bottom and the other toying with her soft, golden-orange hair. "But we're not going on a vacation this time. We'll be training for survival on a dangerous, primitive alien planet. It's going to be very tough. Are you sure you're up for it, Saki?"
"Er…"
Saki hesitated.
Training for survival on an alien planet sounded difficult and dangerous. She was a pampered young lady. How could she possibly endure that kind of hardship like that wild girl Lala…
"Then I guess I won't go… But Sora, you have to come back soon!" she conceded reluctantly, tilting her head up with a pleading look.
"Of course. My Saki is so beautiful and lovely, I couldn't bear to be away from you for too long."
Having already mastered the art of sweet-talking girls, Sora gently stroked her cheek and smiled with a charming and gentle expression.
"My prince…"
Gazing at Sora's handsome face, the girl's eyes softened, and for a moment, she was lost in a daze of love.
His heart stirring, Sora said no more. He leaned in and captured her alluring pink lips, carrying her towards the bed.
Rin and Aya blushed shyly. They knew Lady Saki and Lord Sora were about to do something shameful again. Not daring to stay, they turned to flee.
However, before they could take two steps, they felt a sudden pull from behind. With a cry of surprise, their bodies were sent flying backward…