I leaned on my chair as I stared at the stack of papers on my desk.
It's been three weeks since I turned Kokabiel into ash in the alpine mountains.
"Leon?" Rossweisse's voice came from the doorway.
"Come in."
She walked in with a stack of files, but instead of the formal distance she used to keep, she came right over to me. I pushed back from my desk and she settled onto my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"The reports you wanted," she said, setting the files on the desk. Her silver hair caught the light from the window as she leaned against me.
"How is it?" I asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Actually really good. Revenue's up across all divisions. The tech investments are paying off greatly." She relaxed into me, her head finding its usual spot on my shoulder. "The board's thrilled."
I reached over to her to flip through the first report. Mishima Electronics had exceeded projections by fifteen percent. Not bad for a quarter.
The second file was even better. Our pharmaceutical division had landed three major contracts. The medical tech we'd been developing was finally starting to show returns.
"What about the investments I made last month?" I asked.
"Those startup companies you picked? They're all performing way above expectations." Her fingers traced idle patterns on my chest. "And the joint ventures with the Sitri Clan are starting to gain traction too."
I kept reading through the financial reports. Stock prices up, profit margins healthy, expansion plans on track. The numbers were good, but I could see patterns in the data that most people would miss. Market trends, investment opportunities, risk factors.
The NZT formula was working perfectly. The difference was incredible. Not just the enhanced intelligence, but the way I could process complex information and see connections others couldn't. Every business decision became clearer, every investment choice more obvious.
I toggled the enhancement up slightly, letting my mind work through the implications of each report. Within seconds, I could see exactly which sectors to expand into next, which partnerships to pursue, which competitors were vulnerable.
"Business is booming," I muttered.
"What's that mean?" she asked quietly.
"Just thinking about expansion plans." I closed the files and looked at her. "How's your training going, by the way? I know these past three weeks have been busy."
Her eyes brightened. "Really good, actually. The training sessions we started when we got back from are helping a lot."
We'd been having regular combat sessions almost every day since returning to Tokyo. Early mornings in the mansion training facility, just straight sparring. It wasn't like I could teach her much about magic or other things - she probably knew more than I did. But actual fighting experience? That was different.
"I can feel myself getting stronger," she continued. "Having a real opponent to spar against makes all the difference."
Of course, I had to hold back. A lot.
"And you're not overdoing it?" I asked. "I noticed you've been staying late in the training rooms too."
She bit her lip. "Just solo practice. Doing some extra training..."
Of course she was. What happened in that basement had changed her. She never wanted to feel helpless like that again.
You're improving faster than I expected. No need to push yourself harder." I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"I know. But I want to be useful to you. Not just..." She trailed off.
"Not just what?"
"Not just someone you have to protect all the time."
I tilted her chin up so she had to meet my eyes. "Rossweisse, you're important to me. I will always protect you. You don't have to prove anything."
Her cheeks turned pink. "I still want to be stronger."
"Then we'll keep working together." I kissed her forehead. "But stick to our schedule. You need rest too."
"Fine," she said with a small smile.
After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, she reluctantly got up and went to do her work.
I reached into the Workshop, letting the familiar starry void surround me. My projects floated in the darkness, their progress bars ticking down like countdown timers.
[Sacred Gear Extractor: 10 days remaining]
[E.V.E.: 9 days remaining]
The days passed faster than I expected, which is good. I checked my phone. April was almost over. In just a few days, I'd be starting my second year at Kuoh Academy.
Canon was getting close.
Speaking of which, I'm going to meet Sona today.
I looked at my clock and it's almost time.
=====
Kuoh Academy during vacation was eerily quiet. The hallways that normally buzzed with student chatter were empty, my footsteps echoing off the polished floors. Most of the classrooms were dark, chairs stacked on desks.
But the student council room had light spilling out from under the door.
I knocked twice before entering. Sona sat behind her usual desk, but she'd traded her school uniform for a crisp navy blazer and skirt.
"Leon," she said, looking up from a stack of documents. Her expression softened the moment she saw me. "Thank you for coming."
"For you? Always." I closed the door behind me.
I moved to where she was sitting and started massaging her shoulders.
My fingers worked through the tension in her muscles with practiced precision.
"Rough day?" I asked quietly.
"Just the usual devil business. Territory disputes, diplomatic meetings with other factions, managing the student council budget." She relaxed under my touch, her shoulders dropping as I found a particularly tight spot. "Sometimes I think running a normal corporation would be simpler."
"Trust me, it's not," I replied, working along the base of her neck.
When I pressed into a particularly tight spot between her shoulder blades, a soft "mmm" escaped her lips.
The sound made my pulse quicken.
"How was your morning?" she asked, letting her head fall forward slightly.
"Productive. The quarterly reports were actually encouraging for once. Revenue's up across all divisions, and the tech investments are paying off greatly." My hands moved to her upper back, working out the stiffness there. "The board's thrilled, which means fewer headaches for me."
Sona leaned back into my touch, her usual composed mask slipping. "That feels amazing."
"You work too hard," I said softly, my hands moving to the base of her neck.
"Pot, meet kettle."
"Touche."
A soft sigh escaped her lips. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like. To just... not have responsibilities for a while."
I moved around to face her, my hands settling on her shoulders. "What would you do? If you had a day with no devil politics, no student council, no family expectations?"
She looked up at me, thoughtful. "I... I'm not sure. I've never really thought about it."
"Think about it now."
Her gaze became distant, considering. "Maybe... maybe I'd read something that wasn't a report or a textbook. Something completely frivolous."
"Like what?"
A faint blush colored her cheeks. "Promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise."
"Romance novels," she admitted quietly. "The really terrible ones with dramatic covers and impossible plots."
I couldn't help but smile. "That's... actually adorable."
"You said you wouldn't laugh!"
"I'm not laughing. I'm charmed." I tilted her chin up with one finger. "What else?"
"I'd... I'd want to go somewhere. Somewhere I've never been."
"Where?"
"Kyoto, maybe. The old temples. I've always wanted to see them during cherry blossom season, but there's never time."
Without thinking, I found myself leaning closer. "I could take you there."
"Leon..."
"I'm serious. After the school term ends. We could make a weekend of it."
Her breath caught slightly. "That sounds..."
"Like a date?" I finished, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper.
"Yes," she breathed.
The space between us had somehow disappeared. I could see the flecks of silver in her violet eyes, could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin.
"Sona," I murmured.
"Yes?"
Instead of answering with words, I closed the last inch between us.
Her lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly of the tea she'd been drinking earlier. For a moment, she froze in surprise, then melted into the kiss with a soft sound that made my heart race.
My hands cupped her face as she kissed me back, tentative at first, then with growing confidence. Her fingers twisted in my shirt, pulling me closer.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, her cheeks were flushed pink.
"Leon," she said softly, her eyes searching mine.
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me again."
This kiss was deeper. Her hands moved to my hair, fingers threading through it as I pulled her closer. She tasted like strawberries and something uniquely her.
Then the door suddenly opened without warning.
"Kaichou, I have the budget reports you—" Tsubaki froze in the doorway, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the scene.
Sona and I were still pressed close together, my hands on her face, her fingers twisted in my shirt. For a split second, nobody moved.
Then Sona's face went bright red as we sprang apart like we'd been electrocuted.
"Tsubaki!" Sona squeaked, her voice pitched higher than usual as she frantically smoothed her hair and adjusted her blazer.
I stepped back quickly, running a hand through my hair and trying to look like I hadn't just been caught kissing the student council president.
Tsubaki stood perfectly still in the doorway, a faint blush creeping up her neck as she processed what she'd walked in on. Her usually composed expression cracked slightly, embarrassment flickering across her features.
"The reports," she said quietly, her voice slightly strained as she stepped forward and set the folder on the desk, carefully avoiding eye contact with either of us.
"Thank you," Sona replied, her voice still breathless and shaky.
Tsubaki's cheeks were definitely pink now as she glanced between us, clearly flustered. "I... I should have knocked first. My apologies, Kaichou."
She turned toward the door quickly, obviously wanting to escape the awkward situation. "I'll be in the outer office if you need anything else."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us in charged silence.
"Do you think she knows?" Sona asked quietly.
"Oh, she definitely knows," I said, moving back toward her. "But I don't think she minds."
Sona's eyes met mine, and I could see the same hunger there that I felt. "Where were we?"
I reached for her again, but before our lips could meet, the air in the room suddenly shifted. Magic crackled through the atmosphere.
A bright blue teleportation circle blazed to life in the center of the room, sparkles and magical energy swirling dramatically.
"So-tan!" a cheerful voice called out as the light faded.
Serafall Leviathan stood in the middle of the student council room, her magical girl outfit practically glowing with energy. Her twin tails bounced as she spun around once, taking in the scene.
Her bright eyes immediately zeroed in on Sona's flushed face and my proximity to her sister, and her expression shifted from cheerful to dangerously protective in the span of a heartbeat.
"Leon-kun," she said, her voice still bright but carrying a tone. "We need to talk."
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